Parables are not just simple stories, but contain the profound secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. These parables are seen as figurative language or a “secret code” that God and Jesus intentionally used.
Jesus spoke in parables for two main reasons:
- To fulfill Old Testament prophecies: Jesus spoke in parables to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet in Psalm 78:2, which stated, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter hidden things, things from of old”. This demonstrates Jesus’ prophesied identity as the Messiah.
- To protect the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven from the enemy: Jesus intentionally hid these secrets from those who belong to Satan, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, so they could not interfere with God’s plan. This is compared to military codes used to prevent secrets from being revealed during a war.
SCJ teaches that these parables were “sealed” or “hidden” for a long time, but Jesus promised a time when he would no longer speak figuratively but “plainly about the Father”. This “plain” or “open word” is believed to be revealed today, at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment, through New John, the promised pastor, who testifies to the realities of what Jesus spoke in parables.
Understanding these parables is considered essential for salvation. Those who understand the parables receive forgiveness of sins and salvation, while those who do not remain on the “outside” and are not atoned for their sins.
The parable of the sower (seed and field) is highlighted as the first and foundational parable to understand. Without comprehending it, no other parable can be fully grasped. The seed represents the word of God, and the field represents a person’s heart or the world/church.
How to Understand Figurative Language
According to Shincheonji teachings, understanding parables is key to understanding the secrets of heaven, which are necessary for salvation. Parables are not just stories to make things easier to understand, but are a way of hiding the secrets of heaven from those who do not belong to God. The parables contain hidden truths about the kingdom of heaven and are prophecies to be fulfilled in the future.
Understanding Parables
1.- Types of Parables
Immediate vs. Prophetic: Some parables convey moral lessons for immediate understanding, while others are prophetic and intentionally obscure until the related events unfold.
2.- Nature of Parables
Parables can be represented by objects, people, animals, geographic locations, and historical events. They are not always meant to be understood literally and can conceal deeper meanings. Romans 1:20
3.- Importance of Fulfillment
Prophecies are sealed in parables until they are fulfilled. When a prophecy is fulfilled, the meaning of the parable is revealed, which is crucial for understanding its realities. John 14:29.
4.- Humility and Spiritual Discernment
Humility is essential for understanding parables. Those with hardened hearts may struggle to grasp their meanings. Believers should approach scripture with the attitude of seeking God’s heart, testing teachings against scripture to discern true meanings. James 1:21
5.- Secrets of Heaven
The secrets of heaven refer to hidden truths about God’s kingdom revealed through parables. These secrets are related to prophecies and their fulfillment, and they are not meant to be understood by everyone but are revealed to those who belong to God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
6.- Discerning Good from Evil
Understanding parables helps believers discern who belongs to God and who does not. Those who grasp these teachings can differentiate between true and false teachings.
7.- Preparation for the Second Coming
Parables contain instructions essential for being prepared for Jesus’s second coming. They are critical for understanding biblical prophecies related to this event. Matthew 24:37-39
8.- Transformation Through Understanding
By understanding and applying God’s word, believers are transformed into His image.
9.- Role of the Promised Pastor
Shincheonji teaches that the promised pastor of the Second Coming (Lee Man Hee) is the one who can explain the parables, having seen the fulfillment of the prophecies and received the revealed word in Revelation 10.
10. Studying the Bible
The answers to the secrets of heaven are hidden within the Bible itself. Understanding parables requires diligent study of scripture.
11.- Meaning and Reality
Parables have both a meaning (the intended message) and a reality (the actual fulfillment). Understanding both is crucial.
Notes:
Lesson 06 – Those Who Belong to God and Those Who Belong to Satan
– “God speaks in visions and parables” (Hosea 12:10)
– Parables are used by God to speak prophecies in an intentionally vague or coded way to protect His plan from being thwarted by Satan.
Secrets of Heaven and Their Usage
1.- Definition and Purpose
The secrets of heaven are hidden truths about God’s plan and the kingdom of heaven, often expressed through parables and prophecies. God uses parables as a secret code to protect His plans, hiding the secrets of the kingdom from enemies like the Pharisees and Sadducees to prevent interference.
2.- Key to Salvation
Understanding parables is directly related to salvation and is a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of heaven.
3.- Differentiating Groups
Those who understand parables belong to the “you” group, receiving the secrets of heaven, while those who do not are considered the “them” group, remaining in darkness and subject to hell. Mark 4:10-14.
4.- The Open Word
The opened word refers to the ability to understand prophecies and parables once they are fulfilled. This understanding is a divine gift essential for salvation.
5.- Fulfillment of Prophecies
Parables are tied to specific prophecies, particularly in the books of Daniel and Revelation. The fulfillment of these prophecies is an ongoing reality, and recognizing this is key to understanding the true meaning of parables.
6.- Application of Understanding
Understanding parables should lead to action, such as preparing for Jesus’s second coming and living according to God’s will.
7.- Figurative Language
The Bible employs figurative language, comparing physical things to spiritual truths. Recognizing these comparisons is important for understanding parables.
8.- The Key of Heaven
The wisdom to know the secrets of heaven serves as the key of heaven, enabling one to understand the reality of God’s kingdom.
Conclusion
In summary, Shincheonji teaches that parables are a form of coded language concealing the secrets of heaven until the time of fulfillment. Believers must understand these parables through the open word and the testimony of the promised pastor (Lee Man Hee) to attain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven.
Additional References for more Exploration
In the teachings of Shincheonji (SCJ), parables are not just simple stories. They are understood as figurative language or a “secret code” that God and Jesus intentionally used to convey profound truths.
Parables as Prophecy
Within SCJ doctrine, parables are prophecies. This means that when you read a prophecy in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, you should expect it to be presented in parables, hiding its true meaning until a specific time. Prophecies and parables are deeply connected.
Jesus himself used parables for key reasons:
- To fulfill Old Testament prophecies: This was explicitly stated by Jesus, fulfilling Psalm 78:2, which foretold, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter hidden things, things from of old”. This shows Jesus acted according to God’s pre-determined plan.
- To protect the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven from enemies: God intentionally sealed or hid these truths from Satan and his followers so they could not interfere with God’s ultimate plan. This “sealed word” remains protected until God’s appointed time for its revelation.
The Unveiling: From Sealed to Open Word
SCJ teaches that Jesus promised a time when he would no longer speak figuratively but “plainly about the Father” (John 16:25). This “plain” or “open word” refers to the time when the true meaning of these parables and prophecies is finally understood, as their physical fulfillment appears.
This time of understanding is believed to be the Second Coming of Jesus and the fulfillment of the book of Revelation.
This is where New John, the promised pastor (Chairman Lee Man-hee), plays a crucial role. He is presented as the only one who has seen and heard the physical fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies. He is compared to Apostle John in Revelation, who saw the vision, but New John testifies to its literal, real-world manifestation.
Core Doctrine Illustrated through Parables
The SCJ Bible study uses parables to establish the foundation of their doctrine, emphasizing that understanding them is essential for salvation and entering the promised kingdom. If one does not understand the parables, they are considered “outside” and cannot receive atonement for sins.
The entire process is described as “prophecy and fulfillment,” where God makes promises (prophecy) and then certainly brings them to pass (fulfillment).
Mechanics and Categorization of Parables in SCJ
SCJ Bible study employs specific mechanics to decipher parables, focusing on their figurative meanings rather than literal ones. They classify them into different categories, often summarized by the acronym OPAGH:
- Objects: Such as the seed (the word of God), stone (Jesus, or the word of judgment/pastor with authority), fire (word that consumes and judges), yeast (teachings, good or bad), food (the word of God, or Satan’s teachings), and wine (doctrine).
- People: Like trees (people reborn by the word, or shepherds/organizations), prophets (individuals who embody or foreshadow future fulfillments), and blind/deaf (those who do not understand the word or prophecies).
- Animals: Such as sheep and wolves (true believers versus false prophets), ox (workers of God), beasts (false pastors, or those who act without reason/understanding God’s word), and birds (spirits).
- Geographic Locations: Such as Mount Zion (the church of God, or the place of fulfillment), Babylon (a church of Gentile demons belonging to Satan, or a prison), Jerusalem (God’s chosen people or church), and Galilee (where light shines, referring to Jesus’ ministry).
- Historical Events: Old Testament events serving as “shadows” or “types” foreshadowing New Testament fulfillments.
A foundational parable in SCJ’s curriculum is the parable of the sower (seed and field). The “seed” represents the word of God, and the “field” represents a person’s heart or the world/church. SCJ states that understanding this basic parable is the key to unlocking the meaning of all other parables.
Biblical Perspective (SCJ View)
SCJ claims that its understanding and use of parables is entirely biblical. They cite passages like Matthew 13:34-35 (fulfilling Psalm 78:2) and John 16:25 as direct evidence that Jesus himself used and promised the revelation of parables. They argue that Jesus’ explanation of parables to his disciples (Mark 4:34, Matthew 13:36-39) shows that truth can be revealed, and this pattern continues with New John revealing the sealed Revelation today.
Contradictions and True Understanding of Parables
Critics, however, argue that SCJ’s allegorical method often obscures the true meaning of the Bible. They point out that Jesus’ promise to speak “plainly” in John 16:25 was fulfilled in his immediate context, after his resurrection, when his disciples gained a clear understanding of his teachings (John 14:26). The parables were not meant to be sealed for thousands of years, but rather to reveal truths to those with receptive hearts, while concealing them from those hardened against God (Mark 4:11-12).
Furthermore, critics claim that SCJ’s interpretations add details not explicitly in the Bible and that their interpretations can be vague, general, or retroactive. They contend that the SCJ interpretation disregards the historical and literary context of the biblical texts, asserting that even the original biblical authors did not fully grasp the “true meaning” of what they wrote, with this understanding only being revealed through New John.
The traditional Christian understanding of parables is that they are illustrative stories, often rooted in everyday life, used by Jesus to teach moral or spiritual lessons about the Kingdom of God. While they sometimes conceal meaning from those unwilling to understand, they are primarily tools for teaching, with explanations often provided to those who sought them (Mark 4:34). The purpose is to make abstract spiritual truths more tangible and memorable, not to perpetually hide them until a specific future figure appears.
Efficacy of the SCJ Bible Study
SCJ promotes its Bible study as providing “clear, refreshing, and logical answers” to biblical questions, moving from “spiritual milk” (elementary teachings) to “solid food” (deeper truths, prophecy, and Revelation’s fulfillment). The study begins with the parable of the sower as the fundamental key to understanding all other parables. However, critics allege that the study methods involve deception and indoctrination, leading to a lack of critical thinking and submission to SCJ’s authority, rather than an independent biblical understanding.
In summary, for Shincheonji, parables are inextricably linked to prophecy, acting as a divine code that remains sealed until the prophesied physical fulfillment occurs in the present era, revealed exclusively through New John, the promised pastor. This interpretation forms the bedrock of their doctrine and their understanding of salvation.
Please take the time to check the Bible verses we’ve provided as references. Use them as a guide for your own understanding and discernment. It’s important to verify and confirm information with external sources, witnesses, and experts to ensure validity and transparency. Additionally, remember to pray for wisdom as you seek to identify any errors and ensure that your understanding aligns with biblical teachings.