[Below is an excerpt from the testimony of Pastor Kim Jung-wook, a former member of the 7-member board of the World Mission Society Church of God. This testimony sheds light on how Kim Joo-cheol deceived his congregation, providing insight into the church's practices.]

Third: Denying the 1988 End-Time Prediction

In 2006, at the Okcheon Training Center, the General Assembly Chairman summoned pastors and, through Pastor Park No-kyun, gave the following instruction:

"From now on, our church will officially deny ever proclaiming the end of the world in 1988. Do not teach anything related to the '1988 issue' to the congregation. In some churches, older regional leaders have been teaching Jonah’s prophecy to new members; this must be strictly prohibited moving forward. All related materials, training manuals, and evidence in use at local churches must either be destroyed or sent back to the General Assembly for collection.
In the book 'The Bridegroom...,' there is no mention of the end of the world in 2012, only that it is the completion of the Jerusalem Temple. There is no reference to global destruction."

Supporting Evidence from 2003 Court Cases:

In 2003, during the Seongnam court case, the presiding judge requested testimony from Jang Gil-ja (referred to as "Mother"), who was a central figure in the case. Instead, a signed confirmation from the General Assembly board members was submitted, claiming to represent the church.

As a member of the board, I testified in court, which resulted in a guilty verdict against the defendant, Jeong Mo. The court's decision also influenced the Uijeongbu District Prosecutor’s Office to indict several psychiatrists involved in related cases. This legal battle, centered on forced psychiatric confinement, marked a turning point.

Later, in 2005, Pastor Park No-kyun mentioned reviewing court records and noted my testimony about the year 2012. He suggested that "a new interpretation of 2012" could be developed, which I believe was later reported to the General Assembly. Subsequently, the General Assembly began rolling out various measures in preparation for a post-2012 scenario.

Changing the Narrative:

The General Assembly’s decision to deny its 1988 end-time prediction through Pastor Park was perplexing. During my tenure as Director of the Department of Culture and Arts, I recorded the General Assembly Chairman’s sermons from the 1988 regular meeting. His sermons were forceful and resolute, proclaiming:

"Anyone who doubts the 1988 end-time prophecy is unfit to be a prophet. Any pastor who fails to properly proclaim the 1988 prophecy will be removed."

Under his leadership, members acted on this prophecy with unshakable conviction, reflecting a bold expression of faith in line with Ahn Sahng-hong’s teachings.

However, by 2006, six years before the 2012 prophecy, the General Assembly denied Ahn Sahng-hong’s statements and the church’s history regarding the 1988 prediction, choosing to cover up the truth.

Source:
"What is the General Assembly’s stance on the 2012 issue?" – First Letter (Author: World Mission Society Church of God)