Shincheonji special lesson 94: three important promises in Revelation

Where SCJ’s reading conflicts with the Bible

This lesson sums up Revelation in three promises: the promised teaching (the “new song,” Revelation’s fulfillment told plainly), the promised temple (Mount Zion, entered “Through the gate of one of the 12 Tribes, like the John Tribe, Matthew Tribe, or Simon Tribe”) and the promised pastor (the faithful and wise servant). It says that in Revelation 1:9-20, “John realized that he is the new John,” whose task is to testify to “The Betrayal and Destruction of the Tabernacle Temple.” It says that “For 2,000 years, the book has been sealed,” that critics who say members worship the new John are “silly,” and that “We should not listen to those words of people who don’t understand.” SCJ’s The Creation of Heaven and Earth (p. 54) states, “When the promised pastor comes everyone must go to him to attain salvation.” Revelation 1 says who John is and where he was.

1. 1. Revelation 1:9: John on Patmos

   The notes say that in Revelation 1:9-20, “John realized that he is the new John.”

   • Read the passage: “I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).
   • The John who received Jesus’ right hand (1:17) identifies himself by name, place and circumstances: a first-century believer exiled on Patmos, writing to seven churches in Asia (1:11). There’s no new John in the chapter.
   • He signs the book the same way: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things” (22:8). (See Lessons 39, 71 and 73.)

2. 2. Worshiping the new John: The question is salvation

   The notes call it “silly” when critics say members worship the new John, and tell students not to listen to them.

   • The deeper concern isn’t bowing down. It’s that SCJ’s book says “everyone must go to him to attain salvation” (The Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 54). That gives a man a role Scripture keeps for Christ: “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12); “there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
   • When Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet, Peter said, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal” (Acts 10:26). Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes when crowds tried to honor them (Acts 14:14-15). The angel told John, “Worship God!” (Revelation 22:9).
   • Telling students not to listen to critics before they’ve heard them prevents the comparison Proverbs recommends: “The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him” (Proverbs 18:17).

3. 3. “For 2,000 years, the book has been sealed”

   • The Lamb took the scroll and opened it in John’s vision (Revelation 5:5-9). John was told, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book” (22:10). (See Lessons 8 and 71.)

4. 4. John 16:25: Plain speech came at the supper

   • Jesus promised that “a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father” (John 16:25). Four verses later the disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech!” (John 16:29). SCJ’s own book says, “Jesus did, however, plainly explain the parables to his disciples” (The Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 299). (See Lesson 39.)

5. 5. The new song praises the Lamb

   • Revelation gives its words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe” (5:9). It’s praise for Christ’s redemption, not a report of fulfilled events in Korea. (See Lesson 49.)

6. 6. The gates bear Israel’s tribes

   • In the city, “the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel are written on the gates. … The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:12-14). There’s no John Tribe or Matthew Tribe gate.
   • Entry is for “those who wash their robes” (22:14), through Jesus the door (John 10:9). (See Lessons 60 and 83.)

7. 7. The promised temple

   • Believers are God’s temple now (1 Corinthians 3:16), built on Christ (Ephesians 2:20-22), and have already come to Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22). In the new creation, “the Lord God—the All-Powerful—and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). (See Lessons 63 and 90.)

8. 8. The faithful servant is a question for every disciple

   • Jesus asks, “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes” (Matthew 24:45-46). He asks it of all his followers, who must be ready because “you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (24:42). (See Lesson 18.)

9. 9. Reading “peoples, nations, languages, and kings” as churches and pastors

   • Revelation 10:11 commissions John to prophesy “about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings” (Revelation 10:11), the whole world. Test the lesson’s code on Revelation 5:9, where the Lamb’s blood purchased people “from every tribe, language, people, and nation” (5:9). (See Lesson 79.)

10. 10. The wise say “Teach me”

    The lesson says the wise say, “I am foolish. I do not know. Teach me,” and the wicked say, “I don’t need to hear.”

    • Humility is wise: “Let the wise also hear and gain instruction” (Proverbs 1:5). But wisdom also tests what it hears: “A naive person will believe anything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps” (Proverbs 14:15). The Bereans received the message eagerly, “examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Saying “Teach me” doesn’t mean accepting whatever is taught.

11. 11. “You’re not hearing these words by accident”

    • God does direct lives: “the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). But feeling chosen isn’t evidence that a teaching is true. Paul warned that even “an angel from heaven” preaching a different gospel is to be rejected (Galatians 1:8).