[Shincheonji Elementary Seminar Lesson 6 Review]The Figurative Bowl, Scale, and Rod — Discovering Spiritual Meaning in the Word

October 29, 2025

Many people read the Bible yet find themselves wondering about the deeper meanings behind its imagery.

What does it mean when Scripture speaks of a bowl, a scale, or a rod?

These are not just ancient objects; they carry profound spiritual symbolism.

In the Shincheonji Online Seminar Series, Lesson 6: The Figurative Bowl, Scale, and Rod invites viewers to uncover how these metaphors reveal the nature of faith, truth, and divine judgment.


Understanding the Figurative Bowl


The lesson begins with the concept of the bowl—a vessel that holds something within.

Just as a physical bowl carries food, a spiritual bowl represents a person’s heart that contains the Word of God.

As Romans 9:21–24 reminds us, we are like clay in the potter’s hands—each formed for a purpose.

In this way, some hearts become “bowls of God,” filled with truth and life, while others become “bowls of deception,” filled with falsehood.


The speaker beautifully explains how the size of one’s bowl signifies the capacity of one’s heart.


> “If one cleanses himself, he will be a vessel for noble purposes.” (2 Timothy 2:21)




In other words, the Word of God purifies and enlarges the heart’s ability to receive truth.

The message challenges listeners to consider: What fills my bowl today?

Is it the food of life—truth—or something that only appears nourishing from the outside, like the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked for being “clean on the outside but full of greed inside” (Matthew 23:25–26)?


The Scale that Weighs the Heart


Next, the seminar explores the figurative scale, which measures not weight, but faith and deeds.

Revelation 6:5–6 describes a black horse whose rider holds a pair of scales—a symbol of judgment.

The scale of God measures with honesty and truth.


> “For the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 24:12)




Through these passages, we see that God’s Word becomes the standard by which faith is measured.

On the other hand, the scale of Satan is deceitful, built on distorted teachings and false measures—what Proverbs 11:1 calls “dishonest scales.”

At both the First and Second Comings, people are warned not to rely on corrupt spiritual merchants who manipulate truth for their own gain.


The seminar invites reflection rather than fear: it asks us to think about what we use to measure our own faith.

Are we judging ourselves by worldly standards or by the Word that endures forever?


The Rod that Guides and Disciplines


The third key symbol, the rod, appears in both comforting and corrective ways throughout Scripture.

Psalm 23 portrays God’s rod and staff as tools of comfort and guidance, while Isaiah 11:4 speaks of the rod as the Word that “strikes the earth” with truth.

This duality—comfort and correction—captures the balance of divine authority.


In this seminar, the rod is explained as not only the Word itself but also the person who carries it.

Those who possess the true Word become instruments through which God leads and disciplines His people.

Just as Moses was a true staff for Israel, while Pharaoh was a false one, believers are encouraged to discern between genuine and counterfeit guidance in their own faith journey.


More to Discover — The Hidden Authority


As the session continues, the speaker begins introducing one more symbol: the iron scepter—a theme that unfolds in the later portion of the lesson.

What does it mean to “rule with an iron scepter”?

Who receives such authority, and how is it connected to the Word itself?


These questions are not left unanswered—but to truly grasp their meaning, you’ll have to experience the seminar firsthand.


A Thoughtful Reflection


What makes this teaching compelling is not just its depth of biblical reference, but its invitation to self-reflection.

Instead of offering doctrine alone, it encourages the listener to consider the state of their own heart, their faith, and their source of guidance.

It’s a journey of discovery—one that blends reason with revelation, and intellect with humility.


Whether you’re a long-time Bible reader or someone newly curious about its figurative language, this session offers insights that challenge and inspire.

If you’d like to uncover the rest of the message and understand how the “iron scepter” ties everything together—
👉 Watch the full seminar here: [https://www.youtube.com/live/mMAHkoy2v9s?si=VX26jBgCGJXE5A9-]

0 Comments

[Shincheonji Graduation Ceremony] Graduates who have found the direction and purpose of life with less anxiety and emptiness due to Bible study.

 Hello, I'm greenteawannabe. Recently, one of the corrected relatives has been hospitalized after a major accident. Don't give up on life history, and it seems that life is something that healthy people don't know what will happen later on. I think a person's values are shaped by his or her attitude toward death. I think this is especially true when I hear about the accidents and wealth of healthy people around me. Most people choose to play and eat today even if they die tomorrow because there is only one life anyway, and death is inevitable. Even in the 15th chapter of the classic, the Apostle Paul also said that if the Bible's promise is not fulfilled, none of the people are more pitiful than us, and it is better to eat and play. (1 Cor 15:19, 32) Then, what about the view of life of believers who learned the Bible? This year, the Zion Mission Center surveyed about 1,000 of the graduates who took the Bible for six months and participated in the 116th graduation c...
Image

[Special Lecture on the Revelation of the World Invitation of Shincheonji church] As many as 521 world religious leaders will gather at the factual evidence debate.

Hello, I'm greenteawannabe. On October 30, about 500 free religious leaders from 61 countries gathered in our country to discuss the actual evidence. What is it that religious leaders of different denominations and sects, not their own scriptures, have come together for the Book of Revelation? The purpose of this meeting is to reduce conflict and promote dialogue among different religions, sects, and denominations. But why is it the Book of Revelation? The reason is that by learning and discussing the meaning and reality of the Revelation, the core of the Christian Bible, we can confirm how God's will is done to the global community and ultimately find the answer to peace by expanding the understanding between religions. That is why the number of religious leaders attending gradually increased as the program progressed, and on October 30th, it became a large-scale event attended by as many as 521 people. When I watched this program, I saw someone dressed as a monk or someone we...
Image

[Shincheonji's Peter tribes] The church will discover the talents of teenagers? The 2nd Peter Heavenly Culture Academy ended successfully!

Hello, I'm greenteawannabe. Do you remember the fact that the Peter Heavenly Culture Academy was held last July? On the 24th, the 2nd Heavenly Culture Academy was successfully completed. I spent time playing games and playing entertainment during my school vacation, but what time did the students participate in this Heavenly Culture Academy spend during that time? If I were to say this Heavenly Culture Academy in one sentence, it can be said that it is a time to discover one's own possibilities. The second phase of the Heavenly Culture Academy consisted of 9 classes for children and 22 classes for students, and about 400 students had a satisfactory month. I thought that it was a great merit that I could learn coding in my adolescence, which I could learn only when I was a college student. I'm looking forward to what various and rich programs Peter Heavenly Culture Academy will prepare for the third term of next year, which has given teenagers a varie...
Image

The Figurative Treasure and the Rich — Understanding the True Wealth of the Word

Many readers encounter the Bible’s language of “treasure,” “gold,” and “riches” and wonder what these words truly signify. Are these passages referring to physical wealth, or is there a deeper message beneath the surface? Lesson 9: The Figurative Treasure and the Rich explores these questions with clarity, showing how biblical treasure symbolizes something far more precious than material possessions. Through a gentle and thoughtful approach, the seminar explains that spiritual treasure represents the unchanging Word of God—something valued not for its physical worth but for the life and truth it carries. The seminar begins with the fundamental distinction between physical treasure and spiritual treasure. While gold and jewels are rare and precious, Scripture often uses them as metaphors for truth. Verses such as Proverbs 25:11–12 and Psalms 12:6, describing God’s words as silver refined seven times, present a compelling picture: true spiritual wealth lies in the Word itself. Even p...