Shincheonji lesson 55: figurative war between Jerusalem and Babylon

Where SCJ’s reading conflicts with the Bible

This lesson’s board defines Jerusalem as the “Denomination (Church) of the Chosen People” and Babylon as the “Denomination (Church) of the gentile, where demons swell.” It calls the war a “War of doctrines,” fought with the “Word of testimony,” a testimony that tells others, “You are the reality of the beast with seven heads and ten horns.” A test question asks for “the three conditions people must meet for their sins to be forgiven,” with the answers: drink the blood of Jesus, understand the parables and keep the new covenant. It says God and Jesus will “hold us to a slightly different standard” in our time, and that “This is not a time of waiting anymore but a time of doing, a time of running, a time of fleeing.” SCJ’s The Explanation of Parables (p. 93) says the “Jerusalem that is recreated at this time is the Twelve Tribes of Mt. Zion, where the one who overcomes is,” and (p. 95) that “we must find the one who overcomes.” The most serious issue here is forgiveness.

1. 1. Forgiveness: Not three conditions

   The test asks for “the three conditions people must meet for their sins to be forgiven,” and gives: drink Jesus’ blood, understand the parables, keep the new covenant.

   Scripture says how sins are forgiven:

   • “About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
   • “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
   • “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins” (1 John 1:9).
   • The lesson’s own Romans 10 passage: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

   Understanding the parables isn’t a condition of forgiveness anywhere in Scripture. Mark 4:12, which the test cites, describes “those outside” (Mark 4:11-12), people who were rejecting Jesus. The thief on the cross understood no parables and was promised paradise (Luke 23:42-43). (See Lesson 14.) And in John 6, drinking Jesus’ blood means coming to him and believing in him (6:35, 47). (See Lesson 40.)

2. 2. James 2:19: Demons believe, and James’ answer is living faith

   The lesson says believing that Jesus existed “is the smallest, lowest bar,” since demons believe.

   • James is right that mere agreement isn’t saving faith. But his answer is faith that shows itself in action: “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 26).
   • James’ answer isn’t understanding the parables or finding a particular church. Saving faith is trusting Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10).
   • Romans 10:17, which the lesson cites, says faith comes “through the preached word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The message is Christ.

3. 3. A slightly different standard in our time

   The lesson says that, as with Noah’s ark or the Passover blood, “God and Jesus are going to hold us to a slightly different standard” now.

   • “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8).
   • “there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
   • “even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!” (Galatians 1:8).
   • The faith was “once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). There’s no newer standard for salvation.

4. 4. Luke 21: Jerusalem is the city

   The board says Jerusalem is a “Denomination (Church),” and the lesson uses Luke 21:20-21.

   “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near … Those who are inside the city must depart” (Luke 21:20-21)

   • Jesus continues: “They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles” (21:24). Armies, swords and captives describe the literal city’s destruction in AD 70. (See Lessons 12 and 44; Lesson 44’s new section isn’t live yet, so that link goes to the lesson page.)

5. 5. The new Jerusalem comes down from heaven

   The lesson says the new Jerusalem comes down “to the place where the Lamb is … Mount Zion,” and SCJ’s book says it “is the Twelve Tribes of Mt. Zion, where the one who overcomes is.”

   • The new Jerusalem descends “out of heaven from God” after “the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist,” and in it “death will not exist any more” (Revelation 21:1-4).
   • No organization on today’s earth fits that description. (See Lessons 41 and 51; Lesson 51’s new section isn’t live yet, so that link goes to the lesson page.)

6. 6. Babylon is a world city

   The board calls Babylon the “Denomination (Church) of the gentile, where demons swell.”

   • Revelation explains: “As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth” (17:18). Merchants weep over her lost trade (18:11-19).
   • “a haunt for every unclean spirit” (18:2) describes the ruined city after judgment. It isn’t a description of Christian denominations. (See Lessons 35 and 47; Lesson 47’s new section isn’t live yet, so that link goes to the lesson page.)

7. 7. A historical error: Ten tribes, not eleven

   The notes say that “northern Israel took 11 of the 12 tribes.”

   • The prophet told Jeroboam: “Take 10 pieces, for this is what the Lord God of Israel has said: … I will give 10 tribes to you” (1 Kings 11:31).
   • Benjamin stayed with Judah in the south (1 Kings 12:21).
   • And Babylon’s conquest of Judah came centuries after Solomon; Scripture links it to Manasseh’s sins (2 Kings 24:3). (See Lesson 53; its new section isn’t live yet, so the link goes to the lesson page.)

8. 8. The wars of Matthew 24 are real wars

   The lesson says the wars of Matthew 24 “are not physical wars,” because people have wrongly linked every great war to Christ’s return.

   • Jesus agrees that wars don’t signal the end: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come” (24:6).
   • His point is that ordinary wars are not the sign, not that the wars are figurative. (See Lesson 18.)

9. 9. Ephesians 6: The war is not against people or churches

   The lesson cites Ephesians 6 and 2 Corinthians 10 to say the war is fought with words, and that a spiritual nation is “like a denomination or a church,” with a king who “is like a pastor.”

   • Paul says: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness” (Ephesians 6:12).
   • “We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The goal is obedience to Christ.
   • Casting other churches as enemy nations and their pastors as enemy kings turns the war against people, which Paul says it isn’t. (See Lesson 6.)

10. 10. Revelation 12: The male child is Jesus, and many overcome

    The lesson says the male child of Revelation 12 receives the iron scepter, so “it is actually one who overcomes,” though “the male child is not alone.”

    • “the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne” (12:5). That’s Jesus and his ascension. The iron rod is his (19:15). (See Lesson 22.)
    • The victory over the accuser belongs to many: “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die” (12:11). Their testimony is believers’ faithful witness to Jesus, even to death.

11. 11. “You are the reality of the beast”

    The lesson says the testimony tells others, “You are the reality of the beast with seven heads and ten horns.”

    • Revelation’s beast has “ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,” and “all those who live on the earth will worship the beast” (13:7-8). It isn’t other churches or their pastors. (See Lessons 37 and 38.)
    • Christian witness in Scripture is to Jesus, offered “with courtesy and respect” (1 Peter 3:15-16), not accusing other believers of being the beast.

12. 12. The Lamb conquers, and his people are with him

    “They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14)

    • The victory is Christ’s, and those with him are all the called and faithful, not followers of one human overcomer.