The Baptism of Ahn Sahng-hong and the Evolution of the World Mission Society Church of God’s Doctrines

The World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) claims that Ahn Sahng-hong was baptized in 1948 at the age of 30 in Nakseom Seventh-day Adventist Church, Incheon. However, historical records contradict this assertion. According to the official records of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ahn Sahng-hong was baptized on October 9, 1954, by Pastor Kim Seok-young at the Haeundae Church.

Ahn Sahng-hong’s Early Activities and Influence of Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine

Ahn Sahng-hong was deeply immersed in the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. After leaving the denomination in 1962, he founded the World Mission Society Church of God in 1964. His early teachings heavily borrowed from or referenced the doctrines of Ellen G. White, the founder of Seventh-day Adventism.

1. Early Writings:
   • His book A Letter to the Church of Laodicea was directed at Seventh-day Adventists, not as a critique but as a communication within the denomination.
2. Eschatology:
   • He adopted the Adventist interpretation of 1844 as a pivotal prophetic year and used it to predict the end of the world in 2012, directly reflecting Adventist eschatology.

Doctrinal Shifts: Pre-1978 vs. Post-1978

Before 1978, Ahn Sahng-hong did not present himself as the Second Coming of Jesus. The turning point came with the publication of the book God Has Come in the Flesh by Evangelist Eom Soo-in.

Eom Soo-in’s Book and Its Impact

• Linked Melchizedek and the throne of David to deify Ahn Sahng-hong as the Second Coming of Christ.
• Introduced concepts not originally part of Ahn Sahng-hong’s teachings, altering the doctrinal framework of the church.
• The WMSCOG subsequently adopted these interpretations, officially identifying Ahn Sahng-hong as the Second Coming of Jesus.

Ahn Sahng-hong’s Handwritten Notes and End-Time Predictions

Evidence from Ahn Sahng-hong’s handwritten notes and early publications reveals significant shifts in his doctrines:

1. Initial Claim:
   • Predicted the world’s end in 1971, derived from subtracting 40 years from 1844, the foundation year of the Adventist Church plus 168 years (2012).
2. Later Adjustments:
   • After 1980, emphasized "the throne of David," claiming a 37-year gospel ministry beginning at the age of 33.
   • Conflict arose between the years 1951 and 1948 as the starting point of this ministry.

Conflict Between 1951 and 1948

In his handwritten notes, Ahn Sahng-hong recorded that he began preaching the "truth" in 1951 at the age of 33. However, after his sudden death in 1985, confusion about the throne of David doctrine ensued.

• Kim Joo-cheol’s Revision:
  • To align the doctrine with the supposed 37-year ministry, Kim Joo-cheol retroactively set 1948 as the starting point, manipulating the timeline to fit the narrative.

The Collapse of the Throne of David Doctrine

When Ahn Sahng-hong passed away in 1985, the throne of David doctrine faced a major crisis.

• The original claim required him to preach the gospel for 37 years beginning at age 33. His untimely death made this calculation impossible.
• To resolve the inconsistency, the WMSCOG retrospectively applied 1948 as the starting year, despite no evidence supporting his baptism in that year.

Conclusion: Fabricated Doctrines and Distorted History

1. The 1948 Baptism Claim Is False:

   • Records confirm Ahn Sahng-hong was baptized in 1954 at the Haeundae Church.
   • The 1948 claim was fabricated post-1980 to support doctrinal adjustments.

2. Doctrinal Evolution:

   • Early doctrines were rooted in Seventh-day Adventist teachings.
   • Post-1978, Ahn Sahng-hong was deified as the Second Coming of Jesus, based on Eom Soo-in’s interpretations of Melchizedek and David’s throne.

3. Historical Distortions:

   • Ahn Sahng-hong’s life and teachings were altered to align with the evolving needs of the church.
   • The throne of David doctrine emerged as a stopgap measure to address inconsistencies following his death.

The claims of the WMSCOG lack biblical and historical substantiation. Ahn Sahng-hong’s actions and the shifting doctrines reveal a pattern of manipulation aimed at convincing believers. A careful, objective examination of doctrine and history is essential for discerning spiritual truth.