Christianity

Christianity refers to the religious world that began with the first coming of Jesus Christ. It includes the churches, denominations, and believers who profess faith in Jesus and follow the teachings of the New Testament. However, in Shincheonji’s view, modern Christianity has become the “former heaven”—a spiritual kingdom that once carried truth but has since fallen into corruption, spiritual darkness, and disobedience to God’s will. While once chosen, it is now seen as replaced by the new heaven and new earth, where God’s promises are being fulfilled. Shincheonji teaches that the Christianity of today has become Babylon: spiritually fallen and disconnected from the will and word of God.

It believes that true Christianity began with Jesus and the early church but has since become divided, deceived, and spiritually blind. The thousands of denominations and conflicting doctrines are viewed as evidence of this betrayal, especially since many churches reject the fulfillment of Revelation that Shincheonji claims is occurring today.

The current Christian world is, in Shincheonji’s vocabulary, “the world of tradition” or “the first heaven and first earth” (Revelation 21:1), which must pass away to make room for “the new heaven and new earth”—that is, Shincheonji, the church created through the physical fulfillment of Revelation. Thus, Christianity is often used to describe the system of old spiritual Israel, which is now being replaced.

Shincheonji’s view on Christianity is complex and positions itself as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy in the present day—especially the Book of Revelation. It claims to represent a new or restored form of Christianity, distinct from what it sees as the “traditional” or “corrupt” Christian world. According to Shincheonji, today’s Christianity is no longer aligned with the will of God because it has failed to recognize the time of fulfillment and the promised pastor who testifies to it.

Shincheonji, meaning “new heaven and new earth,” identifies itself as the true, promised Christian church that appears at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment. It teaches that Jesus is the founder and head of the church—not Chairman Lee Man-hee—and that the organization was created according to God’s will to complete His covenant. Revelation is seen as the key to understanding the full meaning of the Bible, and Shincheonji believes it alone has received the “open word” (Revelation 10), allowing it to understand the sealed prophecies and explain their physical fulfillment.

Christianity is viewed as having failed to keep the covenant due to human tradition, false teachings, and ignorance of prophecy. As a result, traditional churches are likened to Babylon—a kingdom of confusion, spiritual adultery, and demonic influence (Revelation 17:1–5, Revelation 18:2–3).

Key Themes in Shincheonji’s View of Christianity:

• Self-Identity as True Christianity:
  Shincheonji describes itself as the new spiritual Israel—God’s new kingdom composed of 12 tribes created through the word. Its core structure, language, and mission are seen as the direct result of Revelation’s fulfillment. It teaches that it is not a break from Christianity but its final, prophesied completion.

• View on Traditional Churches (“Babylon”):
  Traditional Christianity is viewed as “Babylon,” described in Revelation 17–18—a kingdom of demons and spiritual adulterers. These churches are seen as corrupted by human traditions, theology learned from seminaries, and denominational divisions. Shincheonji teaches that such churches cannot interpret Revelation or testify to its fulfillment and are therefore spiritually dead and cut off from salvation. The “first heaven and first earth” (Revelation 21:1) refers to these institutions, now judged and removed.

• Understanding the Bible and Prophecy:
  The Bible is considered a covenant between God and His people. Shincheonji emphasizes figurative interpretation, especially for prophetic texts. The Old Testament was fulfilled at Jesus’ first coming; the New Testament—especially Revelation—is said to be fulfilled today in Shincheonji. The betrayal–destruction–salvation pattern is central to this fulfillment narrative.

• The Role of Lee Man-hee:
  Shincheonji identifies its founder, Chairman Lee Man-hee, as the “promised pastor” or “one who overcomes” from Revelation 2–3. He is said to have received the opened scroll (Revelation 10) directly from Jesus through an angel and now testifies to what he has seen and heard. This knowledge is believed to be divine, not learned from human teachers. Without this testimony, the sealed book of Revelation cannot be understood.

• Salvation and Entry into Heaven
  Entry into the Kingdom of Heaven requires knowledge, understanding, and obedience to the fulfilled word—“knowing and doing God’s will.” Faith alone is not enough. One must complete a six- to nine-month Bible study course through the Zion Christian Mission Center and be “harvested and sealed” with the word. Those who belong to the 12 tribes (Revelation 7, Revelation 14) can be saved. Those outside the church are often seen as spiritually dead or “sons of the devil.”

• Critiques of Traditional Christian Doctrines and Practices:
  Shincheonji critiques several mainstream beliefs:

  • Trinity: Viewed as man-made doctrine from church councils. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are understood to have distinct roles, not a shared essence.

  • Holidays: Christmas and Easter are rejected as worldly traditions not aligned with the second coming.

  • Bible Interpretation: Shincheonji emphasizes Revelation 22:18–19, warning not to add or subtract from the book. Only the promised pastor is believed to correctly interpret it.

• Persecution and Justification of Practices:
  Shincheonji believes it is persecuted by traditional churches and society, which fulfills Jesus’ promise that true believers will be hated. It justifies using “wisdom of hiding” (not revealing its name upfront) as a strategic method to avoid prejudice and allow seekers to hear the word first without bias (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

• Criticisms and External Observations:
  Former members and observers describe Shincheonji as a high-control group, using secrecy, fear, and guilt to maintain loyalty. Tactics such as dissimulation during recruitment, reinterpretation of past teachings, and emotional manipulation are often cited. Shincheonji’s responses to criticism typically frame dissent as persecution, reinforcing group solidarity and dismissing external information as spiritual poison.

Shincheonji’s Call to Christians:
Shincheonji sees itself as the fulfillment of true Christianity, not a departure from it. Members are taught that they are not leaving Jesus, but are instead leaving a corrupted system that claims to represent Him. True faith, in their view, means listening to the revealed word and following the physical fulfillment of God’s promises (John 14:29, Revelation 10:11, Revelation 22:16).

Key Verses:

• Matthew 7:21–23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

• Revelation 17:5 – “Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.”

• Revelation 6:12–14 – “The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed.”

• Revelation 7:4 – “Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

• Revelation 21:1 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”

See Term:

• Babylon