When Jesus first came to this earth, he spoke about the kingdom of heaven. He used many parables to explain how to get to this kingdom of heaven, what it would be like there, who could enter, as well as who will be left out. Have you been able to figure out how to enter the kingdom of heaven from reading Jesus’ parables? Where it will be? How do you get there? What do you have to do before entering?
For most Christians, we believed that Jesus’ words meant that he would come back and then bring people who say they believe in him back up to heaven in the spiritual realm. But in fact, Jesus and God promised to come down to earth and stay here forever. As you might have already seen in the title of this blog and in other posts, that promise to return to earth is in The Lord’s Prayer – something that is like second nature for many Christians to recite.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10
We also see a New Heaven and a New Earth that God returns to and dwells with His people there forever in Revelation 21:1-3.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven form God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them and be their God.’”
This might be drastically different than what you might have expected, but it is God’s plan and promise according to the Bible.
And that brings us to Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.
Breaking Down the Name
Shincheonji
Shincheonji, which means new heaven and new earth in English, refers to the place where God and the Holy City, New Jerusalem will come down to from heaven, and where He will dwell forever. We can see this promised in Revelation 21:1-3 as mentioned above.
God is very specific about where He dwells, and we can see it throughout the Bible. For example, in the time of Moses, God gave Moses detailed instructions that had to be followed down to the very last measurement in order to build a temple where God would dwell. God, who is Holy, cannot dwell or remain in a place with sin or in a place created by man’s own thoughts or desires.
That is why our church is called New Heaven and New Earth. It is a place that has been created anew. A church that has been established according to God’s Holy Word, where no sin is found, and the people there have sealed themselves with the Word of God. (Revelation 14:1-5)
Church of Jesus
Church of Jesus means that Jesus is the founder and leader of this church. In John 14:1-4 Jesus tells his disciples that he is going away to prepare a place for them and that when he comes back, he will take them to that place he prepared. What is that place that Jesus went away to prepare? The kingdom of heaven in the spiritual realm, the Holy City, New Jerusalem. The place that he promised to bring back to earth, and then call his followers to join him there. (Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:2)
The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony
This part of the name comes directly from Revelation 15:5.
“After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony was opened.”
A temple is a place where the Holy God dwells. The modern word for Tabernacle would be temple or church, a gathering of people, who are living temples for God (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16) and this temple is the only place where the testimony about God’s final and complete work is coming from.
Shincheonji’s theology, which you can learn more about here, teaches and testifies the fulfillment of the New Covenant that Jesus promised, that is, Revelation. How is this possible? Let’s think about it. If something is a prophecy, no one knows what it means until the fulfillment comes. When the fulfillment does come, the one who witnesses the fulfillment will be able to testify what they have seen and heard to others. This was also prophesied, that a witness/messenger would see and hear the fulfillment of all of the events of Revelation. And that person will testify the fulfillment of those events on behalf of Jesus (Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 22:8, 16).
This testimony of the fulfillment of the events of Revelation only comes from this church, Shincheonji. That is because that promised witness/messenger/pastor is here at Shincheonji testifying what was seen and heard. He is explaining the true meaning of Revelation and Jesus’ parables.
Therefore, heaven is not just some place where we go to after death. Heaven is a specific place where God dwells. For God to dwell in that place, it must be made from His Word and promise.
This is why Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is the Promised Temple, the place that God promised to come and dwell in, and the place that testifies His work and will.
We’re sure you must have many questions, so please feel free to contact us. If you are interested in joining our free, comprehensive Bible course at Zion Christian Mission Center, please indicate that in your message. Thank you for your time and we look forward to connecting with you!