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

  • Okay so I went to this seminar and I have to be honest, this guy went way over my head. He was quoting the Word left and right! I mean it seemed like with everything he said there was a verse to back it up. And I am definitely not use to this kind of preaching, but man he was like connecting the whole bible together ot and nt! The thing is he actually was making sense. Though I didn't understand it at first, it made a lot more sense when I reread the chapters he had explained, at home. His preaching sparked my curiosity, I had to sign up for more.

  • Wow! I heard so many negative comments leading up to this event, but after hearing him finally I was amazed. He is truly anointed by God. It was definitely different from anything I have ever heard. I really felt like I was taking part in what Isaiah says in 48:6-8, hearing new things, hidden things, things that I had never heard.

  • Everybody were saying, does she not read the bible? because he's talking all from the Bible. She needs to read the Bible. i didn't see or hear anything that stayed away from the Scriptures. I'm sohappy and grateful i was able to join the event yesterday. I was a noon believer, an atheist but i truly believe in the Bible now. The Bible finally makes sense to me!!! Thank you for the seminar, Mr. Lee! And thanks for posting this article, Santa Ana news team! You are awesome! :)

  • It was a very challenging testimony. Certainly different than what I had previously heard Revelation explained as. But should it really surprise us if Revelation fulfills differently than we were expecting? Isn't that exactly what happened at the first coming? I think I'm going to take the follow up classes to see how it's explained in detail before deciding if it's truth. I think it's only fair to hear the full explanation before passing judgment. But look at how many Pastors have taught us incorrectly about Revelation, starting with Hal Lindsey. I think this alternate explanation deserves to be heard out.

  • I went to the seminar not knowing what to expect but also having an open mind.. I was astonished at how clear the teaching was. it opened my eyes to the actual meaning behind scripture versus attempts to interpret them with no sound basis. I realized how little I really know about the Bible, which is prompting me to do the follow-up studies.

  • Honestly when I first received a flyer for this event and heard what it was going to be covering, I was crazy skeptical and thought it was going to be another one of those gimmick 'free, but please donate all your money here events'

    I was wrong.

    Luckily I brought my bible and a notebook with me because the speaker spoke without any sort of break which is impressive on itself. Especially considering a woman interrupted with some craziness on her own. He really did speak with a confidence that I've never seen before.

    I still have to confirm that all that he said was according to scripture, but so far so good. The book of revelation had always been a no-no for me, but now... i'd love to learn more in detail.

  • Thank you New Santa Ana for this unbiased and honest post. I believe everyone, believer or non believer should always have an open mind to test what they see and hear to verify for themselves what is correct and incorrect. I was actually at this event, and I was amazed at Instructor Lee's teaching. He truly is someone used by God and is able to testify to Revelation like no one else ever before. If this isn't truth and a clear understanding of Scripture then I don't know what is. Thank you again, and I truly hope all believers will be able to hear this teaching and come to find truth themselves.

  • Thank you Santa Ana also for your post. Though I wasn't at the event, your post provided lots of information on the instructor and the seminar. I feel like I got a good inside coverage on the event. :)

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