Tanzanian Bible Examination Reveals Significant Disparity in Revelation Knowledge Between Shincheonji Members and Protestant Pastors

A recent Bible examination conducted by Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Tanzanian cities including Dar es Salaam revealed significant disparities in biblical knowledge between church members and local Protestant pastors. The assessment, focused exclusively on the Book of Revelation, attracted 138 participants comprising 40 Shincheonji members and 98 pastors, creating an unusual interdenominational gathering centered on scriptural testing.

The examination structure included 10 main questions with 33 sub-questions derived entirely from Revelation content. Results showed Shincheonji members achieved an average score of 95 points, demonstrating near-perfect mastery of the material, while Protestant pastors averaged merely 7 points, indicating minimal familiarity with Revelation's content despite their ministerial roles. This striking performance gap underscores the importance of continuous biblical education for religious leaders.

According to church representatives, the examination's purpose was not to establish superiority but to provide participants with an opportunity for spiritual self-assessment. One participating pastor acknowledged the experience prompted serious reflection, stating that watching Shincheonji members confidently write correct answers made him reflect on his own faith and calling as a pastor. The pastor committed to studying Revelation through the Shincheonji Zion Christian Mission Center to better guide congregation members.

The theological foundation for this initiative stems from Chairman Lee Man-hee's emphasis on Revelation 22:18–19, which warns against adding to or subtracting from the words of Revelation. This perspective informs Shincheonji's approach to religious education and scriptural interpretation, maintaining that biblical scripture alone serves as the ultimate standard for distinguishing truth from falsehood.

This event follows a similar Bible examination conducted in Korea during 2024, where only one church pastor participated among 313 total examinees. The increasing participation of pastors in the Tanzanian event suggests growing engagement with Shincheonji's biblical education initiatives. A church representative noted that the Bible exam is not just about testing knowledge but about confirming whether one's faith is truly based on the word of God.

Since its establishment in Tanzania during 2018, Shincheonji Church has expanded to 2,440 members as of August 2025. The church continues pursuing Bible-centered faith dissemination through ongoing fellowship with local religious leaders, positioning these examinations as tools for ecumenical dialogue and theological development rather than competitive assessments. The event demonstrates how structured biblical education can foster interdenominational understanding and spiritual growth within religious communities.