The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, successfully concluded a Bible Seminar in Paris, France, on June 15, 2024. The event, part of the "2024 Continental Bible Seminar" series, attracted over 7,000 participants, including 1,000 European pastors, reflecting the growing interest in the church's teachings on the Book of Revelation.
The seminar's timing is critical, as Europe has seen a decline in Christian influence, with churches being repurposed as restaurants, bars, and clubs. This decline is attributed to Europe's modernization, industrialization, and secularization, coupled with the rise of liberal theology, atheism, and religious pluralism. These factors have led to a stagnation in the Christian population, which is expected to decrease significantly by 2050.
The event began with a discussion on "The Role of Pastors for the Spiritual Enlightenment of Christians Today" and continued with a video lecture by Chairman Lee Man-hee from the "Shincheonji Bible Seminar: Testimony on the Fulfillment of Revelation" held in Korea on June 8. Chairman Lee emphasized the importance of understanding and teaching the Book of Revelation without alteration, stating, "I hope all pastors will perceive these words and teach them to their congregants. You must teach your church members without adding or subtracting from Revelation."
Following Chairman Lee's lecture, Simon Tribe Leader Lee Seung-joo provided insights into the meaning of biblical prophecies and their fulfillment. He encouraged European pastors to learn and testify the words of Revelation through Shincheonji Church's Zion Christian Mission Center, which has produced over 100,000 graduates annually in recent years.
Pastors from various European countries expressed their admiration and eagerness to collaborate with Shincheonji Church. A pastor from Austria highlighted the church's focus on prophetic words, while a pastor from Poland shared his emotional response to seeing European pastors and believers united. Both expressed a desire to spread the teachings of Revelation further.
This seminar is seen as a potential catalyst for the revival of European churches, which have struggled due to various clergy scandals and a loss of trust. A representative from Shincheonji Church mentioned that numerous European pastors have inquired about learning Revelation from the church. In response, the church is preparing places and programs to facilitate this education and will further expand Zion Christian Mission Centers across Europe.
Looking ahead, Shincheonji Church plans to hold another Bible Seminar at the end of this year, inviting pastors worldwide to Korea to create a platform for unity within God's word. As of June 5, 2024, the church has signed MOUs with 12,538 churches in 83 countries, and 1,341 churches in 41 countries have joined Shincheonji Church and changed their signage. Additionally, 5,614 pastors are currently taking Bible education courses at Zion Christian Mission Center, indicating a growing global interest in the church's teachings.
For more information, visit https://www.scjus.org.
