But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2 peter 3:13)
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle
The meaning of Shincheonji is the kingdom of God created by God to fulfill his will on this earth today, as it was in heaven, a creation created as a result of God's work for 6,000 years and the holy temple of the priests and people who will be saved together in the Lord.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle is working to revive all nations testifying what is revealed, seen and heard according to the will of God.
Shincheonji(新天地)
Shincheonji is an abbreviation for 'Shin Cheon Shin Ji', a Chinese character for new heaven and new earth, and means new tabernacle and new saints(2 Peter 3:13, Matthew 13:31-32, Revelation 14:1-5, Revelation 15:2--5). Just as Moses built the tabernacle on earth based on the image of heaven shown by God, Today's Shincheonji Temple was founded by the Promised Shepherd on this earth after seeing the spiritual kingdom of heaven. This is the kingdom of God created on earth as it has been done in heaven.
Church of Jesus (Jesus 敎)
Church of Jesus means that Jesus is the head of the Shincheonji Temple as indicated in the name.
Tabernacle (證據帳幕聖殿)
'Tabernacle' means a tabernacle which testifies reality of the book of Revelation when seeing and hearing and 'Temple' is a holy house where God is worshiped. The Temple of the Tabernacle is a temple of promise for all nations to be healed and to worship the Lord(Rev. 15:4-5).
■ The City of New Jerusalem Mark
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name[Rev. 3:12]
Throne mark of Shincheonji is a heavenly mark that symbolizes the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of spiritual heaven to the new heaven and new earth written in Revelation 4 and Revelation 21.
This is a mark that announces the arrival of God and His throne in Shincheonji, created in the image of heaven and it is currently registered as registration number 42-0001873 of the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
The circle two lines encircled represents the universe and the earth. The square in the circle stands for New Jerusalem, the holy city of God. The Bible on top of jasper and carnelian located in the center symbolizes God, the Word of eternal life (John 1:1, Revelation 4:2~3).
The cross in the center of the city represents the way out of the Word of God representing a well which is the spring of life of water and the way of Jesus' cross.
The twelve gates (Revelation 21:12~13) which has each of the three gates in the east, west, north and south are the gates of the twelve tribes. The trees in the city symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel bearing twelve fruits each month receiving the word of eternal life.
Being confined and starved for over a week forcing to quit Shincheonji...
Coercive conversion pastor is not forgivable
A young man full of energy over the age of 20 was forcibly kidnapped and imprisoned by others and he was unable to receive food for over a week. This incident happened not by other people, but by the family.
How was this possible? This happened because the consciences of Shincheonji congregants who could not inflict harm to their loved ones even if they were unfairly hurt were exploited. In addition, the family's love for each other was also used.
Converting pastors deceive their families and make them do illegal acts including kidnapping and confinement by wrapping Shincheonji members who are defined as heresy and rejected by the word "conversion"
Im Min Suk (pseudonym, Nam, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City) was also kidnapped and imprisoned for that reason without resistance. He said he was harassed by all sorts of abuse and couldn't even eat. He appealed that he could not forgive a coercive conversion pastor and officials. The following is the full text of Mr. Lim's appeal.
Before the incident happened on December 27, 2013, I was a college student who had a normal school life and family life like any other friends.
Although the family situation was not so good, and there were struggle in my father's business, I was living normal life relying on and trusting each other. There was father's vacancy due to busy business. But, my mother, my sister, and I were filling his vacancy, taking care of my younger brother.
On that day, my father, who was in another province for business came to Gwangju for year-end holiday after a long interval. It was the day when everyone gathered at home for dinner. Also, it is a day when an incident happened for me not to forget nor believe in my life.
After eating with my family, while drinking tea together, my aunt, who was living in Haenam, suddenly came to the house. It was unexpected visit. But, I was glad to say hello because she was friendly and took good care of me and my family.
My aunt said that there was a heavy bag of rice in the car and she wanted me and my Dad to help with it. I thought I had to help out with my aunt. So I headed to my aunt's car with my dad without a doubt.
However, there were no bags of rice in the car, and my cousin was sitting there. At the moment I open the car door and look inside, my older cousin covered my mouth and neck pulling me into the car. My father, who was behind me, lifted my body and legs and threw me into the car.
I’m so scared and shouted "Help me". But they covered my mouth harder and the more I struggled, the tighter they held my neck and limbs.
My mother took my cell phone and she went through all the pockets of my clothes, saying there might be other cell phones. I kept shouting to let go of me. But, my parents kept repeating "This is all for you." and took me somewhere.
So, we arrived a place which was a studio.
When we got out of the car, they dragged me to the studio holding my arms firmly to prevent me from running away. They even threatened to stop rebelling. I screamed for help on the stairs to the studio. But they lifted me up and threw me onto the studio bed with my mouth completely covered. They grabbed my arm and twisted it so that it couldn't move saying there may be a tracking device in my clothes. They ripped off my clothes and even checked inside of my underwear. It was so shameful, but there was no strength to escape.
When I asked the reason for doing this, they said that it was because I attend Shincheonji. They said I would be able to get out soon if I did what they told me to do.
That's how the confinement started not expecting how long it will last. They said that if I don't follow their order, it will last for months. The days I spent in the studio were terrible memories.
While being confined, all of my every move was monitored by my parents. The only space I could move around was small room and a bathroom. Even when I go to the bathroom, my parents didn't allow me close the bathroom door and watched me right in front of me. When doing it, my parents kept talking to someone on a burner phone and receiving directions.
My parents, who really loved and cared for me, forced me to write a memorandum of giving up the protective custody request and to sign a coercive conversion program agreement. At that time, I faced an unimaginable threat. When I kept refusing, he cursed me that I had never heard of in my life.
On a week after the confinement began, he said he would not give meals until I signed the consent form for the conversion program saying "You are no less than an animal and not even an insect. I can feed animals, but insect has no worth to be fed."
I really didn't understand why he is doing what he does in Korea, where religious freedom is guaranteed, regarding religion issue. I lost my words when I saw my parents' aggressive manner for the first time in my life.
I knew that a conversion program was illegal associating even kidnapping and imprisoning a person. Even if my parents did feed me, I did not bend my will that I would not receive the conversion program. While seeing me like this, my parents made a few calls with someone. They forced me to receive a conversion program harming themselves saying "It was a wish for a lifetime."
I was so amazed and embarrassed to see my parents in this way. Because my parents were hurting, I said that I would meet someone who is doing a conversion program even though I didn't want to. Then my parents suddenly become happy about it making a call somewhere.
The next night, my parents introduced me to a middle-aged man who came to the studio and said he was a lawyer who worked professionally in this matter. But later it turned out that he was Mr. Park, who works with Mr. Im who was a conversion businessman.
As soon as Mr. Park came, he started to groan at me and ordered me to sign a conversion program agreement saying he has seen a lot of people like me, so he knows how to deal with.
I was forced to meet him because I wasn't going to receive conversion program. I also didn’t like Park’s attitude toward people he’s never seen before. So, I just looked at Mr. Park without answering. Besides, it had been more than a week since my parents hadn't provide meals, so my body and mind were very tired. When I said nothing, Park said he is a busy man so if there is nothing to say, he counts five and leaves the room. My parents said that if I am willing to listen to the program, they would contact him again saying they were sorry.
The confinement continued even after Park left. I had no intention of listening to the conversion program which associates kidnapping and imprisonment avoiding the law. Also, my beloved parents became puppets of conversion businessmen an didn't listen to me. So the conversation couldn't take place. From then on, all I had in my mind was to run away from it if the opportunity came.
So, when my parents' surveillance was little loosen, I made a note asking help from the police to report it and threw it out of the bathroom window of the studio. Due to a report from a resident who found the note, I was able to come out of that studio in 16 days.
As a definite citizen of the Republic of Korea, a rule of law, I have the right to be guaranteed the freedom of the people. But the incident that I confronted tells us that it was not.
In Article 20, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it is clearly stated that ‘All citizens of Korea have freedom of religion.’ However, converting businessmen disregard these human rights and commit illegal activities by manipulating our parents to kidnap and imprison us. I knew these tings are happening secretly. It was unfair and resentful that there was nothing I can do since converting businessmen made my parents a shield to avoid the law.
For about two months after getting out of that incident, I suffered from a nightmare of being kidnapped again at night whenever I fell asleep. Because of the phobia of the surrounding environment, I was unable to go outside alone. Also, the harmony of our family has completely collapsed.
I am an obvious victim of the coercive conversion program. I know that converting businessman are scammers who use religion to fill their greed. That's why I can't forgive them any more for the way they control one's loved ones as shields to make money.
Converting businessmen who manipulate their parents to commit dirty illegal act are not being punished. So, there are victims of conversion programs like me and it will continue to happen thereafter. I sincerely ask you to abolish the illegal and inhuman conversion programs that are appearing in the Republic of Korea, where human rights must be guaranteed, so that they will no longer occur.
In addition, converting businessmen who have sprouted distrust in our family and destroyed happiness must disappear from Korean society. Even today, they are committing illegal acts that undermine the happiness of other families and violate human rights. I ask the government and judiciary of the Republic of Korea to protect the people so that victims like me do not occur again.
"After reassuring that practicing Shincheonji faith is approved...
abrupt abduction and confinement to force conversion"
Those who attend Shincheonji Church alone among family members are directly victimized by the prejudice that the existing church has created in our society with vested interests. They need to worry about something which you don't have to in Korea with guaranteed religious freedom.
That is they have to keep their beliefs as if North Korean Christians hold their breath in underground churches worrying about revealing their faith to the communist authorities. This is because if you reveal your faith you are dragged to people's court ending up with receiving all kinds of criticism and judgement from pastors and members of existing churches and being dragged to a conversion program if severe.
Victims of forced conversion say that the biggest victims of the “heresy frame” created by existing churches are the families of our society.
For this reason, victims emphasize that the heresy frame should disappear in our society. This is because if heresy frame which is the crystallization of the culture of exclusion and jealousy, that cannot openly reveal one's beliefs continues, there can be victims at any time. Yoon So Young (pseudonym, female, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City) raised her voice that the coercive conversion pastors who created these heresy frame spreading them to society should disappear. The following is the full text of Ms. Yoon's appeal.
How do you do?
I am writing this article to inform the government of the Republic of Korea, the public and the judiciary regarding damages of human rights caused by coercive conversion program and to appeal to coercive conversion pastors who is religious scammer for legal punishment.
Until October 13, 2013, I was a female college student living a normal life like any other age. Our family understood and trusted each other more than other families. My father and mother took care of me and my younger brother, who is a high school student, while doing private business together.
In the summer of July 2013, my parents found out that I was attending Shincheonji Church, and my parents said that if I am faithful to my studies and home, I can go to Shincheonji church. I said that I understood. So, I worked harder in my school life.
However, on October 13, 2013, I was kidnapped and imprisoned in a studio for a month in Kumho-dong with my cell phone taken away. There, I had to receive an unwanted conversion program evangelist Im who was a preacher at Gwangju A Church which was an existing church .
A few days after I was confined, I finally signed an unwanted (conversion program) agreement because I wanted to get out of there. When I agreed to sign, my parents suddenly became kind to me and kept saying thank you after they called somewhere.
The staff in charge of the conversion program at Church A forced me to admit that Shincheonji was wrong during the program. He told my parents that I was not ready to receive the program when I did not give the answer he wanted. When they heard that, my parents pressured me to answer right.
The parents who heard only the bad rumors about Shincheonji became completely different from what I knew.
In a studio with no external contact for nearly a month, I was given a confinement and brainwashing program. It was judged that I could not get out of there unless I deny Shincheonji.
Finally I gave them the answers they wanted and told my parents to go out. However, they persuaded my parents that I had not yet been converted and that I should never be sent outside saying I have to be moved elsewhere and receive a follow-up program.
My family who understands and trusts each other turned into a relationship that did not trust each other after the pastor of Church A intervened.
Exactly, from October 13th to November 10th, 2013, while I was confined, I received an unwanted conversion program from coercive conversion pastor. Afterwards, I came out of there. I had to suffer from indescribable mental pain and insomnia due to the long-term imprisonment environment.
But what makes me even more angry is that Mr. Im, a conversion program is still running a coercive conversion program while circumventing the net of the laws and the victims and its families have to bear the damage. It hurts me so much to think about how my family who support each other and trust the most distrusts and hurts each other.
In Korea, where there is freedom of religion, due to Mr. Im, a coercive conversion businessman, family was destroyed and human rights were violated. A coercive conversion businessman who are destroying our family, which has been living happily and ordinary, must disappear from Korea.
I ask the government and the judiciary to protect weak women like me so that victims like me will never occur again.
The New Year, the year of the white cow, has dawned. As we ring out 2020 with all the hardships extending from COVID-19, we wish you a new year filled with joy and gratitude. After the severe storm passes, the sky will reappear ever clear, ever bright.
In the new year, Shincheonji Church of Jesus promises to follow the will of Jesus, who bore the Cross out of love, and continue to act from love as light, rain, and air.
In 2021, we wish you a healthy year and a year of fulfillment and prosperity in God from the bottom of our hearts.
The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Evangelist: It's the time of fulfillment when Revelation is opened! Come and listen to the word to check the fulfillment!
Wheat: Hm?
Evangelist: Hello, this is Shincheonji, which has mastered the Bible and testifies to the fulfillment of the promised prophecies
Wheat: Um... May I ask something?
Wheat: What is the fruit of good and evil from the Bible? People know it as something to eat... But no one really explained, so I was always curious.
Evangelist: Ah~ So you're wondering what the fruit of good and evil is? In English, there's an expression "Adam's apple" Some believe the fruit stands for actual apples. However, to truly understand what it is, you first need to understand the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Wheat: The tree of the knowledge of... good and evil?
Evangelist: Yes, in the Bible, there is the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So there are these two types of trees. We can even say that these trees led to the existence of today's religion.
Wheat: Religion?
Evangelist: Yes, let's look into it together? In Genesis of the Bible, God created the heavens and the earth. That God, Jehovah, with the dust of the ground, created the first man, Adam With the breath of life, created a living spirit... and planted the Garden of Eden in the east to have him live there.
God: Adam! You shall rule over the garden, be fruitful, increase in number, and fill the earth! Adam! You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. However, look behind you! You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die.
Evangelist: This is how God made the first promise, the first covenant, with Adam. However...
Serpent(Satan): Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden?"
Women(Eve): He said, "you must not eat the fruit or you will die"
Serpent: Hahaha, how naive. You won't die. Rather, you'll be like God.
Woman: Really?
Evangelist: This is how the unprecedented event of eating the fruit of good and evil happened.
Adam: (While chewing) This tastes like wine diluted with water... What is this?
Woman(Eve): It's the fruit of good and evil.
Adam: Ah... What should I do? What should I do? Eve, let's go into hiding
Eve: To wh...where?
Adam: There, where God isn't at! I think it will be safe here...
God: Adam!
Adam: He's looking for us!
God: What are you doing there?
Adam: He wasn't trying to find us but he already found us! God... Um... I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid
God: Sigh... Come out first! Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?
Adam: I... because of Eve...
Eve: I... because of the serpent...
God: You will crawl on you belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing, and your husband will rule over you. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.
Evangelist: God could not stay together with Adam, who has broken the covenant and sinned, and as sinners could also take from the tree of life and eat, and live forever, God made cherubim and a flaming sword guard the way to the tree of life. This is the event where for the first time in the Bible, the tree of life and the tree of good and evil appeared, and man was made to return to dust, meaning death entered the world due to sin.
Wheat: Interesting!
Evangelist: What we should focus on here are the two types of trees. Due to the serpent and eating the fruit of good and evil, the sin has been passed down until today and death followed. Then, where are the two types of trees?
Wheat: Um... Wouldn't they both be in the Garden of Eden?
Evangelist: After 4,000 years passed since the eating of the fruit of good and evil, Jesus said something.
Jesus: You lack understanding! What goes into a man's mouth doesn't make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that's what makes him unclean.
Evangelist: In other words, Jesus meant that it isn't with food that people become unclean or sin. Why am I mentioning this? Because this means that the fruit of good and evil was not a literal fruit you eat with your mouth.
Wheat: If the fruit isn't a real fruit, then the trees aren't real trees?
Evangelist: That's right! If you look from Ps 78:2 and on, there are things hidden since the creation of the world, and there is the prophecy to speak those in parables.
Wheat: Then, what do these two tress stand for?
Evangelist: If you look at Prov. 3:18, it said that hose who receive wisdom are the tree of life. In Isa 5 as well, God mentions this.
God: Choicest vines were planted... but they were grafted onto wild vines and bore wild grapes! People of Judah! This refers to you.
Evangelist: This is the scene were God Iaments while explaining the people of Judah, the people of Israel, as plants and tress(Is 5:1-4).
Wheat: Then trees mentioned in the Bible refer to people?
Evangelist: You're right about 90%.
Wheat: What's a 100% correct answer?
Evangelist: According to the prophecy that the days are coming when there will be the sowing of two types of seeds in Jer. 31, Jesus came and sowed the seed, which is a secret of heaven, in this field, the church of Jesus, in Mt 13. On top of that, the devil sowed weeds and went away.
Wheat: Wha, wait. What's the meaning of seed?
Evangelist: in Lk 8:11, it says that the seed is the word.
Wheat: Then, the seed of heaven Jesus had sown was the word of Jesus and the weed the devil had sown would be the word of the devil!
Evangelist: That's right.
Wheat: Oh! I got it. Then, tress stand for people born of the word?
Evangelist: That's right! To be specific, a tree refers to a person who has their inner person born again of the word.
Wheat: I see!
Wheat: Then what are the tree of life and the tree of good and evil? I'm thinking they may stand for people but...
Evangelist: If you take a look at Jn 15, Jesus called him self the true vine and his 12 disciples the branches. He also said that if they remained in him, they will bear much fruit.
Wheat: The tree of life... is Jesus!
Evangelist: Yes, but that's about 80% correct.
Wheat: What? Can you explain it to me now?
Evangelist: Let's take a look at a parable in Mt 13. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a small seed sown in his field, which grows into a large tree, and birds perching in its branches
Wheat: Aha!
Evangelist: The tree stands for a person, birds mean spirits, and it shows that the Spirit of God perches on tress that belong to God and the spirits of Satan perch on tress that belong to Satan. Here, the person is explained with the parable of a tree, so the tree of life is a parable used to describe a pastor of heaven.
Wheat: I see! Then, the tree of good and evil would stand for the opposite, the pastor of hell!
Evangelist: You're right! in Dan 4, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the home of demons, was likened to a large tree. If you look at the tree, it has abundant fruits, birds have nesting places at the branches, and beasts of the field lived under it. So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was compared to the tree of good and evil.
Wheat: To think such secrets were hidden! But how does religion related to the two trees?
Evangelist: If you look at the meaning of the Korean word for religion, Jong Gyo(宗敎), Jong(宗) means best and Gyo(敎) means to teach, so they mean the best teaching. In English, the word religion means to reconnect.
Wheat: I never knew religion had such meaning!
Evangelist: Indeed, right? The first person chosen by God, Adam, ate from the tree of good and evil out of the two trees, and sinned, so sin entered the world and God had to leave. Now, with the best teaching, God, who is life, is able to be connected with people again with religion as the bridge.
Wheat: Religion did really begin from the two trees!
Evangelist: That's true. This is something all believers should know and pay attention to.
Wheat: That means we would need to go to the tree of life, but... where is the tree of life?
Evangelist: Shincheonji Church of Jesus testifies to the fulfillment of the prophecies in the book of Revelation. In Rv 22, there is the tree of life that bears fruit every month. The fulfilled reality of the tree is Shincheonji Church of Jesus and we are spreading this truth to the world. Would you care to listen?
Wheat: Yes, I would like to know more. What should I do?
