Updated: Korean Bible instructor Man Hee Lee packs the Crystal Cathedral

UPDATE: According to Eric Lee, “We had over 600 request to follow up and learn more about the instructor and also the fulfillment of Revelation.”   Click here to see the official event follow-up press release.  And click here to see more pictures taken at this event.

I visited the former Crystal Cathedral today (it is now knows as Christ Cathedral), where throngs of mostly young Koreans and other believers came together to listen to the ministry of Instructor Man Hee Lee, a self-avowed expert on the Book of Revelation.

There had been some consternation in the week leading up to the event as a number of evangelical Christians complained that Lee is the head of a cult.  One woman at today’s service even ran up to the front of the church and started yelling.  She was quickly removed although Lee asked that she be allowed to speak – in the lobby.

The sermon was in Korean, but we were all given headsets and the sermon was translated into several languages including English and Spanish.

Lee was born in Korea in 1931, which means that he is 81 years old – and I have to say he looks pretty well kept for being in his eighties.  Lee claims a lineage that can be traced back for 500 years.  That may sound like a lot but Korea is an ancient country.   He also says that he was visited by Jesus himself, in Korea, and that he “saw and heard the events of Revelation.”

Lee’s lineage dates back to the Joseon empire, according to Wikipedia, which is when bronze making techniques were imported from China, according to PBS.  Koreans created the first world’s first metal moveable type in the 12th century.  By 1522, the German preacher Martin Luther was printing the first Bible’s produced on such presses, according to Wikipedia.  Lee referred to Luther today when he repeatedly admonished those at the service to read the Bible.

While urging followers to read the Bible fits in nicely with leading Evangelical thought, Lee does hold a controversial position in that he believes we are already “fulfilling Revelation.”  But his take on Revelation is not like anything I have heard before.  For one thing, Lee is expert at translating the book of Revelation in terms of analogy.  He sees much of the text as symbolizing ideas.

During the sermon Lee patiently made his way through each chapter of the Book of Revelation, explaining what he feels the symbols mean.  While he has been critized as a false prophet, he took false prophetst to task during his speech.

So are we in the end times?  That is hard to say.  There is no mistaking that we live in dark times considering all the unrest and death in the Middle East, and the horrible shooting here in the U.S. just this week, at a screening of the new Batman film in Aurora, Colorado.

I had a chance after the sermon to ask Lee about the Aurora shooting – and about the increase in atheism among our youth.  Lee paused then answered firmly in Korean that we need to be knowledgable in the Bible and that this is especially true of our young people.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • Dangit! I missed the Seminar! I wasn't able to go that day.

    Did anyone record the Seminar or is there another event coming up soon? I haven't been going to church for a while after our old pastor sold our church for his rent. I'm spiritually hungry for the word and I want to hear what the instructor has to say...

  • One word about this seminar: Amazing. I'm so glad I went to this event and it was free! I dont understand why anyone would want to persecute this man. He is just speaking God's Word according to the Bible, I mean is that so wrong? Hes doing a good thing. People need to stop persecuting and learn to bless instead. I am forsure glad I went.

  • i was there!!! this event was nothing like what i have been to before... i really enjoyed the flag performance and the worship. the worship felt very sincere and as we sang in different languages i truly felt like although many of us are strangers, we were somehow becoming one. As i listened to the instructor speak...i was really moved. although he is old..i can see that he is testifying with all that he had...it was a hot day too..and he would wipe his face with cloth when he could. he spoke through each chapter of revelation, as much as time would allow. this was in a matter of 2 hours too! who could do that!? although it was new to me and a bit fast..im glad there is a follow up study. i am definitely going to look into it b/c although i have a lot of questions, i dont want to miss anything b/c i didnt find the answers to them.

  • I was skeptical when I first hear about the seminar. There was so many different people out there who claim to know and understand the book of Revelation and what will happen at the end times. But because the seminar was for free and I didn't have much to lose, so I went. It was wasn't what I expected at all. Beside the warm welcomes and the great worship, I was truly amazed once Mr. Lee began to spoke. For a man who is over 80 years old, and who can speak of Revelation chapters 1-20 without taking a break for over 2 hours is unbelievable. He was very detailed and clear with each explanation. He spoke with a very humble and genuine heart--he only wanted to speak what he needed to say. Its really up to us if we want to believe it or not. I chose to believe.

  • this was a nice experience. it alwys pays off to find out for myself n that experience can't be taken away by anyone. nevr heard anyone speak so passionately about bible alone or have seen so many nice staff working with smile. truly was blessed morning

  • I liked him. He testified to us for 2.5 hours, and said there’s not enough time. There was something more… So I’m going to take their Follow-up Study. The seminar was so great that I just didn’t want to end it there. I really feel like God guided me there. Also, if anyone wants to judge, please do that after you hear his testimony. I am SURE you will change your mind.

  • I came to the seminar with curiosity of who this speaker was and what he had to say about his testimony of Revelation (from the flyer). I was surprised to hear his thorough summary of Revelation and how he speaks with such confidence and with so much knowledge. He did not say anything that was not from the bible. He has such a big heart to even share what he was shown from God. I was glad to hear there will be a follow-up to go in full details about Revelation, I would love to learn more and see what has been fulfilled. :)

  • It was an amazing experience, very hard to find elsewhere these days. I've never seen anyone speak about such a controversial topic with such confidence. He made his points very clear strictly through the bible. Hearing him at this seminar was a big wake-up call; I realized how ignorant of the bible I was.

  • I got a brochure for this seminar.
    I really want to go there. but, unfortunately I couldn't go. I can feel the time was very graceful.
    thank you for this article. God bless you all~~

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