Shincheonji Bible Seminar in France Sparks Potential Christian Revival in Europe

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus recently hosted a Bible Seminar in Paris, France, that could mark a pivotal moment for Christianity in Europe. Held on June 15, the event attracted more than 7,000 participants, including 1,000 European pastors. This seminar is part of the "2024 Continental Bible Seminar" series initiated in the Philippines and organized in response to growing calls from pastors seeking a revival in Europe.

The seminar featured 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. In his lecture, Chairman Lee emphasized the importance of understanding the Book of Revelation, stating, "God's work is fulfilled according to the unalterable Book of Revelation. Everyone listening to this lecture must know who is being referred to in Revelation." He urged pastors to teach these revelations to their congregants without alterations.

Following Chairman Lee's lecture, Simon Tribe Leader Lee Seung-joo elaborated on the meaning of biblical prophecies and their fulfillment. He encouraged European pastors to learn and testify from Revelation chapters 1 to 22 through Shincheonji Church's Zion Christian Mission Center, which has seen over 100,000 graduates annually in recent years.

The seminar comes at a critical time for Europe's Christian community, where the influence of churches has been waning. Many churches have been repurposed into secular establishments like restaurants, bars, and clubs. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Europe's Christian population, which grew to 560 million in the 2000s, is stagnating and expected to decrease to 490 million by 2050.

Austrian and Polish pastors who attended the seminar expressed a profound desire to collaborate and spread the teachings of Revelation. "I was impressed that Shincheonji Church focuses on the prophetic words written in the Bible," said a pastor from Austria. A pastor from Poland remarked, "Seeing European pastors and believers united brought tears to my eyes. I want to share these words with more people."

The rise of liberal theology, atheism, and religious pluralism, along with clergy scandals, have contributed to the secularization of European society and a decline in Bible-based teachings. The Shincheonji Bible Seminar aims to counteract these trends by reinvigorating interest in biblical teachings and the Book of Revelation.

A Shincheonji Church representative noted the significant interest from European pastors in learning more about Revelation. "We are preparing places and programs where they can learn, and we will further activate Zion Christian Mission Centers across Europe to expand platforms for their education." The church also plans to host another Bible Seminar at the end of the year to invite pastors from around the world to Korea, aiming to create a unified platform within God's word.

As of June 5, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has signed MOUs with 12,538 churches in 83 countries. Additionally, 1,341 churches in 41 countries have joined Shincheonji Church and changed their signage. By the end of May, 5,614 pastors were enrolled in Bible education courses at the Zion Christian Mission Center.

For more information, visit Zion Christian Mission Center.