World Mission Society Church of God

(WMSCOG)

From a biblical Christian perspective, the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) is dangerous because it preaches a false gospel centered on “God the Mother” and the Korean founder Ahnsahnghong, whom they claim is the second coming of Christ. Scripture is clear that Jesus’ second coming will be visible to the entire world, in glory and power—not in secret or limited to one person in a specific country (Matthew 24:23–27; Revelation 1:7). By exalting a human being as divine and teaching that salvation depends on belief in both “God the Father” and “God the Mother,” the WMSCOG denies the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). This turns people’s faith away from the true Christ revealed in Scripture to a counterfeit figure and organization.
The group is also spiritually dangerous because it uses fear, manipulation, and isolation to control members, claiming that only their church has the truth and that all others are doomed. Their works-based system—including required feasts, Saturday worship, and allegiance to the church—contradicts the gospel of grace found in the New Testament (Ephesians 2:8–9). By twisting Scripture and claiming new revelations that go beyond the Bible, the WMSCOG deceives people into following a false Christ and false gospel, leading them away from the true freedom, peace, and salvation found only in faith in Jesus Christ.

Branches

Wicca
Druidry
Heathenry / Ásatrú
Hellenism (Hellenic Polytheism)
Kemeticism (Ancient Egyptian Revival)
Roman Reconstructionism
Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism
Slavic Native Faith (Rodnovery)
Neo-Santería
Modern Satanism (LaVeyan, Theistic)
Shamanism (Modern/Neo-Shamanic)
Discordianism
Eclectic Paganism

WMSCOG

“The Bible testifies that God the Mother exists and gives eternal life.” (WMSCOG official site, “God the Mother”)

God the Mother

Ahnsahnghong as Christ

“Christ Ahnsahnghong is the Second Coming Jesus who restored the truth of the New Covenant.” (Introduction to the Church of God, WMSCOG materials)

Heavenly Mother (Zahng Gil-Jah)

“Heavenly Mother is the source of the water of life in this age.” (WMSCOG, “The Spirit and the Bride”)

Salvation

“Only those who believe in God the Father and God the Mother can receive eternal life.” (WMSCOG doctrine summaries)

Sabbath

“We must keep the Sabbath on Saturday, as Jesus and the apostles did.” (WMSCOG publications)

Passover

“We must keep the New Covenant Passover to receive the seal of God.” (WMSCOG teachings)

Christ's Return

WMSCOG teaches Jesus already returned spiritually as Ahnsahnghong in 1948.

Exclusive Salvation

“Only in the Church of God can one receive salvation.” (WMSCOG official statements)

Christianity

“The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deut 6:4); “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim 2:5)

God the Mother

Ahnsahnghong as Christ

Jesus said, “See, I have told you beforehand… if anyone says to you, ‘Here is the Christ,’ do not believe it.” (Matt 24:23–25)

Heavenly Mother (Zahng Gil-Jah)

“Jesus stood and cried, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.’” (John 7:37–38)

Salvation

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” (John 3:36); “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom 10:13)

Sabbath

“Let no one judge you in regard to a Sabbath day.” (Col 2:16–17); “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt 12:8)

Passover

“Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19–20); “When he had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down.” (Heb 10:12)

Christ's Return

“This same Jesus… will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Exclusive Salvation

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21); “Whoever believes in him shall not perish.” (John 3:16)

Objections

1. Claim: WMSCOG teaches that a living woman is “God the Mother.”

Christian Response: WMSCOG teaches that along with God the Father (or God the Father and Son), there is an essential divine “Mother” — specifically a living woman (Zahng Gil‑jah) — who is to be worshipped and is central to salvation. From a biblical Christian perspective, this is wrong because Scripture presents only one God, the Creator, and does not reveal a “God the Mother” who must be worshipped (Isaiah 43:10; 1 Timothy 2:5). It adds a divine person not found in Scripture, thereby compromising the doctrine of God.

2. Claim: WMSCOG asserts that their founder, Ahn Sahng‑hong (d.1985), is the second coming of Christ.

Christian Response: WMSCOG holds that Ahn Sahng-hong fulfilled prophecies of the Second Coming and is the Christ returned. Christians object because the Bible teaches that Christ (the incarnate Son of God) will return visibly and gloriously (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7), not covertly via a 20th century Korean founder. Assigning divine status or the Christ-return role to such a founder contradicts the New Testament’s depiction of Christ and the gospel.

3. Claim: WMSCOG teaches that salvation is only through their church’s specific observances and membership.

Christian Response: According to some sources examining WMSCOG beliefs, salvation in their system includes works such as observance of specific feasts (e.g., Passover of the New Covenant), Sabbath (Saturday worship), and membership in their church. From a biblical Christian viewpoint this is wrong because the New Testament teaches salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that no one should add works or insider membership as the basis of salvation (Galatians 1:8-9; Colossians 2:8).

4. Claim: WMSCOG re-interprets the Trinity in a way that contradicts Biblical teaching.

Christian Response: WMSCOG teaches a doctrine where God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct co-eternal persons but rather modes or different manifestations, and they bring in a “Mother God” as part of the Godhead. Christians object because the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity affirms one God in three distinct persons, and does not include a “Mother God.” Adding another divine person or shifting the structure of God undermines key Christian teaching on God’s nature (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; Hebrews 1:3).

5. Claim: WMSCOG’s emphasis on esoteric prophecy and their founder’s interpretation places human teaching above Scripture.

Christian Response: WMSCOG often emphasizes fulfillment of prophecy in the founder and uses special interpretation to claim only their church is the true church, while others are false (see their own statements about being the “last Church”). Christians object because the New Covenant teaching holds Scripture as the final authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and warns against “secret knowledge” or adding to the revelation of Christ (Revelation 22:18-19). When a human system claims exclusive truth and places its interpretations above Scripture, it becomes spiritually dangerous.

6. Claim: WMSCOG promotes a works-based religion rather than the finished work of Christ.

Christian Response: While WMSCOG affirms Christ’s sacrifice, critics note that their doctrine appears to emphasise strict observance of laws (Sabbath, Passover), recruitment, Church membership, and other practices as essential to tangible salvation. Christians believe this is wrong because the Bible teaches that Christ’s one sacrifice was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10-14) and that believers are justified by faith, not by observing a set of works (Romans 3:28).

7. Claim: WMSCOG teaches exclusive access to salvation through them and labels other churches as false or demonic.

Christian Response: Some sources say that WMSCOG teaches “all other churches are Spiritual Babylons … filled with demons.” Christians object because, while the Bible calls for discernment regarding false teaching, it also affirms the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12) and does not support a human-organization claiming to be the sole vehicle of salvation independent of Christ alone. Such exclusivity and denigration of all other believers fosters division and pride rather than unity in Christ.

8. Claim: WMSCOG’s theological novelties (Sabbath on Saturday plus other “third-day services,” new covenant emphasis, special feasts) depart from mainstream Christian orthodoxy.

Christian Response: WMSCOG holds that the Sabbath (Saturday) must be observed, Tuesday “third-day service” is required, and so on. Christianity acknowledges the moral law’s abiding nature but teaches Christ fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17) and freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1; Romans 14:5-6). Elevating particular days or extra-biblical services as intrinsically salvific is seen as adding requirements not mandated in the New Testament.