religion

AMID wars and conflicts in many parts of the world, a peace-promoting Bible seminar concluded in South Korea, with over 1000 religious and social leaders in attendance, making it Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ)’s largest interfaith gathering for peace to date.

SCJ Chairman Lee Man-hee announced on the 6th that it had successfully concluded the “3^rd Special Lecture on Revelation for All Nations, which ran for three nights and four days from October 30th.

The Special Lecture on Revelation for All Nations is an international exchange program that seeks interreligious dialogue and peace, focusing on the prophecies and fulfillment recorded in the Book of Revelation. 

Beginning with the first session in February 2024, the program has expanded its participating countries and denominations with each session, establishing itself as a “platform for dialogue among global religious leaders.”

This third Special Lecture on Revelation for All Nations, themed “The Path of Understanding Guided by the Bible, the Path of Peace Walked Together by Religions,” attracted over 1,000 participants, including 440 religious leaders from 59 countries, making it the largest-ever event.

Last year, on the second Special Lecture on Revelation for All Nations, SCJ welcomed 120 religious leaders, while the first one was attended by approximately 80 leaders from 10 religious denominations in 28 countries.

Aside from the Revelation lecture, participants in the four-day event this year enjoyed the programs which include a joint prayer meeting praying for global peace, “Path to Heaven” ( True or False Bible Quiz),  a “Biblical Time Travel” performance, where participants experienced the heart of a shepherd in the Bible, and a “Roundtable” event to promote a culture of peace. Religious leaders commented that these exchanges, filled with laughter and tears, fostered “empathy and harmony.”

Leaders from various religious denominations, including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism, learned about the prophecies and fulfillment of the Book of Revelation and discovered similarities between scriptures and a message of peace.

The event also shared examples of “practicing peace,” the purpose of the Special Lecture. Venerable Sok Bunteuun, director of the Buddhist Higher Education Department of the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Religion, who participated in the 2nd International Lecture, explained that he has been promoting interreligious exchange by hosting lectures on the Book of Revelation at Buddhist temples in his country. 

“At this event, 215 people signed a pledge for religious peace and pledged to continue participating in future exchange programs. This was a historic moment where religious and social leaders made a tangible choice for peace,” he said. 

He plans to build on this achievement by hosting a “Religious Peace Education Camp” in January next year to further expand the scope of peace cooperation.

Following the case presentations, all religious leaders who participated in the 3^rd Special Lecture recited a resolution, vowing to “fulfill our mission of spreading peace and truth and guide humanity toward salvation,” pledging their commitment to peace.

A Shincheonji Church of Jesus official stated, “This special lecture confirmed that the Bible is not a scripture for a specific religion, but contains universal truth for humanity. It served as an opportunity to understand each other’s faith through the Word and restore peace and harmony, the inherent mission of religion.”

Chairman Lee Man-hee emphasized, “We must reflect on our past, when we criticized each other and strayed from God’s will, and be reborn as spiritual leaders who uphold the original values of spreading the truth and realizing peace. Let us achieve peace, which is both God’s hope and ours, through dialogue and communication.”