Identifying the True Messengers of God

Jesus Christ while reading the Book of Isaiah where the
PROPHECY as a PROOF of his AUTHORITY as a
MESSENGER OF GOD is written

A thread response to our Blog’s No. 1 Fan, ERIC from Toronto, Canada

  

I am right by saying this to you ERIC:

"I know you ERIC, if you cannot prove something TRUE, or you cannot REFUTE what I’ve just proven to be TRUE, your LAME EXCUSE and ESCAPE…

That’s MOOT! That’s LAME!"

Bro. Christian asked you this:

“The PROOF that he is the LAST MESSENGER is the PROPHECIES written in the BIBLE, and that’s what I am challenging you to DISCREDIT, prove to me that he is NOT THE RAVENOUS BIRD mentioned in ISAIAH 46:11, and the FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST (MIZRACH) composed of ISLANDS is not the PHILIPPINES.

If he is not the RAVENOUS BIRD – the MAN that will execute GOD’S counsel FROM A FAR COUNTRY in the FAR EAST (in Hebrew - MIZRACH) which COMPOSED of ISLANDS. Then tell to us WHO IS THE RAVENOUS BIRD?”

Look at what you answered to him:

"The RAVENOPUS bird and FAR EAST referring to PHILLIPINES is once again a MOOT POINT to argue as the MEASURE of s GOD-sent MESSENGER is if HE is TRUE TO THE WORD of GOPD".

The RAVENOUS BIRD and the FAR EAST referring to the PHILIPPINES is a MOOT POINT to argue…according to you, and it is not a MEASURE of GOD sent MESSENGER if he is true to the Word of God.  So to you (of course from your OPINION and SPECULATIONS as usual) having a PROPHECY in the Bible that pertains to a particular person, is not a MARK of IDENTIFICATION of being a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD.

Because you cannot REFUTE that's why it is a MOOT POINT, so there is no doubt that I really knew you well ha. Hehehehehe, that’s not unusual for you Eric. You always have an alibi for your IGNORANCE…

Don’t you think, if God really opened your SPIRITUAL EYES and EARS to His TRUTH and MYSTERIES. (Like you said your GOD not my GOD had done to you). Don't you think you will not be able to DECIPHER the meaning of that PROPHECY and answer the question?

In fact you said this to Sis. Catherine:

“…God only REVEALS the UNDERLYING SYMBOLIC truth to those HE decides to OPEN their SPIRITUAL eyes and ears.”

According to your SPECULATIONS again, God had opened you SPIRITUAL EYES and EARS (was there a SPIRITUAL EYES and EARS written in the Bible? Hehehehehe? Just asking.), so it means he revealed to you the meaning of his Mysteries and Symbolical statements, right? So there is no reason for you to avoid that question for it is clear what is meant in Isaiah 46:11 is SYMBOLICAL.

But because you cannot respond to that question and it is quite clear that you’re just using again an ALIBI to escape from it.   It would clearly appear then that your statement that I quoted above is just a mere BLUF or in worst case, a LIE. 

It is quite clear that the TRUE REASON is you cannot REFUTE nor DISPROVE Bro. Felix Manalo being the RAVENOUS BIRD as mentioned in that PROPHECY.  And of course you cannot prove that the Philippines is not the country mentioned in that prophecy as the place where the RAVENOUS BIRD would came from.

And you do not know that actually having a PROPHECY that pertains to the person being SENT BY GOD as His MESSENGER that is written in the Bible is really one of the IDENTIFYING MARKS of a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD.

Let us open our Bible and let us get the answers from there, for we are not Eric.

How do we identify the TRUE MESSENGERS of GOD?

This is written in the Bible, and I firmly believe that you do not know this Eric:

Isaiah 8:20  “To the LAW and to the TESTIMONY: if they speak not according to this word, it is because THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM.” [KJV]

The IDENTIFYING MARKS given by the Bible to be able for us to know and identify who are the TRUE MESSENGERS of GOD are TWO:

1: They speak according to the LAW

2: They speak according to the TESTIMONY

According to that verse if they will not speak according to this word:  “THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM”. 

LIGHT stands for the TRUTH, therefore if a person who come to us and tell us that he is a MESSENGER of GOD, these are the TWO things to consider, and the IDENTIFYING MARKS that will prove to us that he is indeed a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD. If he does not possess these TWO IDENTIFYING MARKS then he is not a TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD but a FRAUD or a FALSE MESSENGER.

Speaking according to the LAW

What is the LAW that the TRUE MESSENGERS should speak? Let us again get our answers from the Bible, to avoid making mistakes and contradictions like Eric is doing most of the time:

Psalms 78:1  “Give ear, O my people, to MY LAW: incline your ears to the WORDS OF MY MOUTH.” [KJV]

The TRUE MESSENGER of God must speak according to the LAW which means, what he will speak and preach is the LAW or the  WORDS OF GOD as Jesus emphasized:

John 3:34  “THE ONE WHOM GOD HAS SENT SPEAKS GOD'S WORDS, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit.” [Good News Bible]

And he will not speak only from his own thoughts:

John 7:16-18 “Jesus responded to them, "WHAT I TEACH DOESN'T COME FROM ME BUT FROM THE ONE WHO SENT ME. Those who want to follow the will of God will know IF WHAT I TEACH IS FROM GOD OR IF I TEACH MY OWN THOUGHTS.  THOSE WHO SPEAK THEIR OWN THOUGHTS ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR OWN GLORY. BUT THE MAN WHO WANTS TO BRING GLORY TO THE ONE WHO SENT HIM IS A TRUE TEACHER AND DOESN'T HAVE DISHONEST MOTIVES.” [God’s Words Bible]

So it is quite clear that the teachings of the TRUE MESSENGER of GOD as this verse say THE TRUE TEACHER, does not come from his own THOUGHTS, not from his own OPINIONS, SPECULATIONS, and ASSUMPTIONS, for what he taught is from the LAW or the WORDS OF GOD written in the Holy Scriptures. All his teachings were all based from the Bible or in other words PURELY BIBLICAL.  If you want to give glory to the one who sent you, you will use His words not yours, and that is SPEAKING ACCORDING TO THE LAW means.

Speaking according to the TESTIMONY

Now let us go to the second IDENTIFYING MARKS of a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD: “Speaking according to the TESTIMONY”

What is the meaning of TESTIMONY that is mentioned in the book of Isaiah, we’re not going to give our own opinion, we will get our answer straight from the Bible:

Revelations 19:10  “I bowed at his feet to worship him. But he told me, "Don't do that! I am your coworker and a coworker of the Christians who hold on to the TESTIMONY of Jesus. Worship God, because the TESTIMONY of Jesus is the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY!"  [GNB]

The Bible gave us a direct answer: TESTIMONY means SPIRIT OF PROHECY. Therefore TRUE MESSENGERS of GOD not only teaches pure WORDS of GOD from the BIBLE, but also posses for themselves the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY…

In other words they were PROPHESIED by the SCRIPTURES, and that is the PROOF of his AUTHORITY as the TRUE TEACHER or PREACHER sent by GOD. There is a PROPHECY written in the Bible that pertains to them as the PROOF or EVIDENCE that GOD has COMMISSIONED them to PREACH his WORDS.

That’s why we can clearly say now, that not all people who have the ability to read and explain the GOSPEL or the WORDS of GOD, for the BIBLE is readily available to anyone, is a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD. One must possess BOTH of these IDENTIFYING MARKS in order to be proven to be a TRUE MESSENGERS of GOD. Because no one is allowed to PREACH God’s words unless they are SENT or they are COMMISSIONED by GOD as His MESSENGERS to do this duty, as Apostle Paul scribed in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 10:15  “AND HOW SHALL THEY PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? Just as it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those preaching the gospel of good things!"  [English Majority Text Version]

This is how we’re going to TEST those who introduce themselves as MESSENGERS of GOD.

Examples of People from the Bible that have a PROPHECY as a PROOF of their AUTHORITY as TRUE MESSENGERS

1:  JOHN THE BAPTIST

Let us read the PROPHECY that is pertaining to JOHN THE BAPTIST:

Isaiah 40:3  “The VOICE of one that CRIETH, PREPARE YE IN THE WILDERNESS THE WAY OF THE LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” [Revised Version]

One of the distinguishing characteristics that pertain to a prophecy regarding God’s commissioning of His Messengers is that GOD DOES NOT MENTION THEIR NAMES IN THE PROPHECY. So it is absurd to think and say that we should find the name of the person being prophesied as a proof according to our detractors, that they are really the one being particularly mentioned.

The prophecy will never contain the NAME of the person that was being prophesied, but his MISSION and his DUTIES that he will accomplish were the ones being mentioned and described in the prophecy. Because mentioning the name would result for anyone to easily CLAIM the PROPHECY for himself, and simply say “THAT’S ME, BECAUSE THAT’S MY NAME”.

This will never going to happen, because God only gave the TRUE WISDOM to those people whom he sent the power to interpret the TRUE MEANING of the prophecy pertaining to the particular person whom He commissioned to be His Messengers. In other words, only the fulfillment of the prophecy or the one being prophesied can explain the prophecy’s TRUE MEANING.

And that what exactly happened when the prophecy about JOHN THE BAPTIST was fulfilled:

John 1:19-23  “AND THIS IS THE WITNESS OF JOHN, WHEN THE JEWS SENT UNTO HIM FROM JERUSALEM PRIESTS AND LEVITES TO ASK HIM, WHO ART THOU? And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ.  And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.  THEY SAID THEREFORE UNTO HIM, WHO ART THOU? THAT WE MAY GIVE AN ANSWER TO THEM THAT SENT US. WHAT SAYEST THOU OF THYSELF? HE SAID, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, AS SAID ISAIAH THE PROPHET.”  [RV]

As we can see in this event, it was JOHN THE BAPTIST himself who declared and explained that he was the fulfillment or the one being mentioned by the prophecy that was written in the Book of Isaiah [Isaiah 40:3]. And this is the proof of John’s authority as a TRUE MESSENGER of God.

And one thing more, THE PROPHECY PERTAINING TO A PARTICULAR PERSON CAN NEVER BE FULFILLED TO OTHERS EXCEPT THE SPECIFIC PERSON BEING PROPHESIED. The prophecy of God regarding His MESSENGERS have no double fulfillment.  The prophecy that pertained to JOHN, can never be fulfilled to anyone except to Him.

Let us get another example:

2: APOSTLE PAUL

Similar to John the Baptist, APOSTLE PAUL was also been prophesied by God in His Scriptures:

Isaiah 49:6  “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” [KJV]

And when the prophecy was fulfilled, it was APOSTLE PAUL himself who explained this:

Acts 13:46-47  “Then PAUL and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. FOR SO HATH THE LORD COMMANDED US, SAYING, I HAVE SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. [KJV]

It is clearly emphasized in these passages that indeed that prophecy is a sign or a proof of Apostle Paul’s genuine authority to preach the word of God, for it is a task which was foretold hundreds of years before his birth as his mission to the Gentiles.

3: the greatest among all MESSENGERS of God, the Lord JESUS CHRIST

Of course he would also have a prophecy as a proof of his authority since no one can deny that JESUS CHRIST is also a MESSENGER of GOD, and he is considered the GREATEST among them. Let us read the prophecy that pertains to him:

Isaiah 61:1-2  “The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; HE HATH SENT ME TO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND;  to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [RV]

As we can see in the PROPHECY never the name of JESUS CHRIST was mentioned, and only His mission and tasks assigned to him by the Lord GOD were described in detail by the prophecy.  And when the day that the fulfillment of the prophecy had taken place, similar to the two prophecies that we already shown, it was JESUS himself who explained that the prophecy’s fulfillment was himself.

Luke 4:16-21  “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as HIS CUSTOM WAS, INTO THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH DAY, AND STOOD UP TO READ.  AND THERE WAS DELIVERED UNTO HIM THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,  THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE POOR: HE HATH SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, To set at liberty them that are bruised,  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.  AND HE BEGAN TO SAY UNTO THEM, TODAY HATH THIS SCRIPTURE BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS.” [RV]

JESUS CHRIST himself read the book of Isaiah, go to where the prophecy about him was written, and explained that the prophecy was fulfilled in their ears, meaning they are listening to the person being mentioned in the prophecy as God has anointed to free the captives and to give sight to the blind, etc.

So as a RECAP of what we discussed about the DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS of GOD’S PROPHECY pertaining to His MESSENGERS that he commissioned to Preach His WORDS.

A. God does not mention the NAME of the MESSENGER that he will send in the PROPHECY

B. The MISSION and TASKS assigned to the MESSENGER were the ones being described in the PROPHECY.

C. God’s prophecies for His MESSENGERS can only be fulfilled to a particular person that was prophesied, and never to others.

D. Only the person who is the FULFILLMENT of the PROPHECY can explain the TRUE MEANING of the PROPHECY pertaining to him, and declare that he is the FULFILLMENT.

So it is clear now the IDENTIFYING MARKS of a TRUE MESSENGER of God, they must speak according to the LAW and TESTIMONY. 

When they preach they speak not based from their THOUGHTS, IDEAS, OPINIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, and SPECULATIONS, but from the pure WORDS of GOD written in the BIBLE. They let the Bible speak for them instead of speaking from their own words.

They have the PROPHECY from the Bible as a PROOF of their AUTHORITY as a MESSENGER of GOD to PREACH His Words to the people. They have a LICENSE TO TEACH and that is the PROPHECY of God’s COMMISSION that they are His TRUE MESSENGERS.

The AUTHORITY of Bro. Felix Y. Manalo as a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD.

Very similar to the EXAMPLES that we have shown which fulfilled the IDENTIFYING MARKS as mentioned in Isaiah 8:20 to be considered as a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD, is our Bro. Felix Y. Manalo. 

He Speaks according to the LAW: He never taught any doctrines in the INC based on his own IDEAS, THOUGHTS, SPECULATIONS and ASSUMPTIONS. People who witnessed him when he was still alive how he answer questions every time he was asked. He directly get his answers from the Bible and not from his own words. He does not tell lengthy stories and good provoking speeches just to convince people. What he upholds is the TRUTH written in the Bible, whether the people accept them or not. That’s why many people during the time when he was still alive hated him, for he does not hesitate to prove other religions wrong, and no one can defeat him, for his strong weapon is the written words of the Bible.

He Speaks according to the TESTIMONY:  Similar to Apostle Paul, John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, Bro. Felix Y. Manalo’s authority as the LAST MESSENGER of GOD was prophesied by the Bible, also from the Book of the prophet ISAIAH:

Isaiah 46:11  “Calling a RAVENOUS BIRD FROM THE EAST, THE MAN THAT EXECUTETH MY COUNSEL FROM A FAR COUNTRY: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” [KJV]

Isaiah 41:9-10  “THOU WHOM I HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AND CALLED THEE FROM THE CORNERS THEREOF, AND SAID UNTO THEE, THOU ART MY SERVANT, I HAVE CHOSEN THEE AND NOT CAST THEE AWAY; Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.” [RV]

Isaiah 43: 5 “From the FAR EAST will I bring your offspring, and from the FAR WEST I will gather you.” [Moffat Version]

These prophecies were fulfilled in the person of BRO. FELIX Y. MANALO which I promised to discuss these in complete detail in my next thread.  He is the only one who were able to explain in full detail the TRUE MEANING of these prophecies, and NO ONE UNTIL THIS DAY THAT CAN PROVE THAT HE IS NOT THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE PROPHECIES.

So I challenge all of the INC’s DETRACTORS to respond. For our detractors only can say that BRO. FELIX Y. MANALO is not the fulfillment, but they cannot prove to us who is the PROPHECY’S TRUE FULFILLMENT in complete detail so that they can prove that it is not Bro. Felix Manalo, they were just guessing and often their interpretations of the said verses were confusing and contradicting.

This is the PROOF of Bro. Felix Manalo’s authority to preach the TRUE WORDS of GOD, for he is a TRUE MESSENGER of GOD.  For he possess the IDENTIFYING MARKS of a real messenger.

Since Eric you boastfully saying that your GOD [Definitely not my God] had opened your SPIRITUAL EYES and EARS and revealed to you His UNDERLYING SYMBOLIC TRUTH, Answer Bro. Christian’s questions:

“The PROOF that he is the LAST MESSENGER is the PROPHECIES written in the BIBLE, and that’s what I am challenging you to DISCREDIT, prove to me that he is NOT THE RAVENOUS BIRD mentioned in ISAIAH 46:11, and the FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST (MIZRACH) composed of ISLANDS is not the PHILIPPINES.

If he is not the RAVENOUS BIRD – the MAN that will execute GOD’S counsel FROM A FAR COUNTRY in the FAR EAST (in Hebrew - MIZRACH) which COMPOSED of ISLANDS. Then tell to us WHO IS THE RAVENOUS BIRD?”

This thread is created for you to respond…

Is There Such Thing as an Eternal Church?

As far as I know there are TWO that I knew so well, that believed that there is such thing as an “ETERNAL CHURCH”, number one is the CATHOLIC CHURCH:

The CATHOLICS believed that the CATHOLIC CHURCH is the ETERNAL CHURCH.

“Here we have it, then. Everything is clear at last. The only priests acceptable to the Vatican are priests prepared to make an act of "genuine fidelity to the Conciliar Church." It is, therefore, not traditionalists who are making a distinction between THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE ETERNAL CHURCH, and the Church of Vatican II. This distinction is made by an official spokesman for the Conciliar Church. Since the seminarians at Econe have already promised their fidelity to the Catholic Church they cannot transfer it to the Conciliar Church.”

Source:  SOCIETY OF SAINT PIUS X DISTRICT OF ASIA

And secondly our Blog’s number one FAN and ever loyal – ERIC from TORONTO, CANADA:

He said:

“The CHURCH is ALL that GOD ELECTS and its the ETERNAL EXTERNAL CHURCH comprised of ALL of the ELECT”

The Catholic Church and Eric share the same belief that there is an existing ETERNAL CHURCH, and that this church was NEVER APOSTATIZED, for it is the church established by Christ in the FIRST CENTURY, though they may differ in some point:

for the CATHOLIC CHURCH believed that the ETERNAL CHURCH is the CATHOLIC CHURCH,

for Eric, the ETERNAL CHURCH is not an EARTHLY CHURCH but a CHURCH  continuously to exist in HEAVEN and those GOD’S ELECTED people were its members, so for him it is not an EARTHLY ORGANIZATION, anyone can be a member if God chose him or she to be a member, regardless of what they believed and what were their religion.

But the COMMON DENOMINATOR between the TWO is CLEAR, the CHURCH that was established by CHRIST never APOSTATIZED, for it is an ETERNAL CHURCH.

Here is now a BIG QUESTION…

Is there such thing as an ETERNAL CHURCH?

Was this phrase ever existed in the pages of the Holy Scriptures? Or let’s say we accept it that the phrase does not exist because it really doesn’t, but does any verse in the Bible at least can give us an idea that an ETERNAL CHURCH really does exist?

Does the Church Jesus Christ built in the First Century [33 A.D.] continued and really never was apostatized as what they believed? Can we really described that Church as ETERNAL?

What do you mean by the word ETERNAL?

Let us read from a dictionary:

ETER'NAL, adj. “Without beginning or end of existence.” [Webster’s 1828 Dictionary]

Very clear is the meaning of the dictionary regarding the word “ETERNAL” it means WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END OF EXISTENCE.

So in order for us to prove that there is an ETERNAL CHURCH we must prove first that the CHURCH of CHRIST mentioned in the Bible have NO BEGINNING and no END, if the Church passed these criterias then that’s the time we can conclude that there is really an existing ETERNAL CHURCH…

Does the Church mentioned in the Bible have no beginning?

Let us read:

Matthew 16:18  “And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” [American Standard Version]

So the first criteria to be identified as ETERNAL which means NO BEGINNING is not applicable to the CHURCH, because the CHURCH only existed right after it was built by Jesus Christ in the First Century. There is no Historical Record that a CHURCH ever existed prior to the time that it was built by Jesus in 33 A.D.

Can anyone prove that there is a Church existed before the time of Jesus? Go on Eric, and the Catholic Church is also welcome to respond.

Does the church really existed after it was built? A testimony from Jesus himself proved this:

Matthew 18:17  “And if he refuse to hear them, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH: and if he refuse to hear THE CHURCH also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.” [ASV]

See in Matthew 16:18, Christ built the Church, and in Matthew 18:17, Christ had proven that the Church that he built really does exist, by saying “TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH”…a clear proof that there is an existing Church, otherwise he would not be saying that, would he?

It’s quite clear that the first criteria to be identified as ETERNAL which says “NO BEGINNING”, is not applicable to the Church, for the Bible proved that it has a beginning – it was built by Christ in 33 A.D. in Jerusalem, and prior to that it does not exist.

Let us now try to examine if the Church will pass the second criteria to be called “ETERNAL” – NO END…

Does the Church built by Christ have no ending?

First thing to do, is to know what is the Church mentioned in the Bible?

Apostle Paul has this to say:

Ephesians 1:23  “THE CHURCH IS CHRIST'S BODY and completes him as he fills everything in every way.” [God’s Word Bible]

Apostle Paul said that the Church is the BODY OF CHRIST, was the Church the literal body of Christ that was nailed and shed blood on the Cross? Of course not, for this is just a METHAPOR, because the CHURCH is just likened to Christ’s body.

Then who are the Church or the Body of Christ?

Apostle Paul will again reply to us:

1 Corinthians 12:27  “NOW YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR.”

1 Corinthians 12:28  “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”  [King James Version]

The BODY which is also the CHURCH are the MEMBERS in particular. The CHURCH pertains to the MEMBERS for they are the BODY of Jesus Christ.

Since the CHURCH is the MEMBERS, were they ETERNAL? Do they have NO ENDING of EXISTENCE?

Well unless someone can prove to us that the MEMBERS were IMMORTALS, then go ahead…

Remember we’re talking about the FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS here, the ORIGINAL MEMBERS of the  CHURCH or the BODY of CHRIST that is mentioned in the Bible.

Were they ETERNAL? Do they not have an ENDING? Remember the first to have became members of this Church were the APOSTLES, weren’t they ALL DEAD?

Can someone proved that up to this moment there were still among the ORIGINAL MEMBERS of the FIRST CENTURY CHURCH that are still alive?

Why we are asking this question? Because they said that the CHURCH built by CHRIST is an ETERNAL CHURCH, and in order to be considered as an ETERNAL CHURCH we must be able to prove that this CHURCH have NO BEGINNING and NO END OF EXISTENCE.

So if the MEMBERS of the BODY OF CHRIST which is the CHURCH OF CHRIST really has an ETERNAL EXISTENCE, where they are now? Can anyone tell us?

The UNDENIABLE FACT: 

ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH OF CHRIST WHICH INCLUDE THE APOSTLES WERE CENTURIES DEAD ALREADY.

Can anyone object?

So there is no such thing as an ETERNAL CHURH, for the Church in the Bible HAVE A BEGINNING and HAVE AN ENDING of  its EXISTENCE. Unless you can prove otherwise, there is no way you can describe or call the Church ETERNAL…

For ETERNAL also means “FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING” as the ETERNAL GOD.  And that is not the Church for it has a BEGINNING and an END...

There goes your ETERNAL CHURCH DOCTRINE Eric, goes directly down the drain…..

Does Jesus Christ really promised that the Church that he built will never Apostatized nor Perished?

But the CATHOLIC CHURCH will surely raise an eyebrow, and will say

“JESUS CHRIST have a promise that the CHURCH that he built will never PERISHED nor APOSTATIZED…and that is the CATHOLIC CHURCH, the ETERNAL CHURCH, since it’s still exists until today.”

And of course to prove that, they will use the Bible, and their favorite VERSE [Even Eric is using this VERSE] is  Matthew 16:18 of which says:

Matthew 16:18  “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.” [Douay Rheims Version]

They said this is the promise of JESUS that his Church will never be APOSTATIZED nor PERISHED.

But does the VERSE actually said that? Try it folks read it over and over. Does that VERSE said that the CHURCH will never APOSTATIZED nor PERISHED?

What is meant by that VERSE as the GATES of HELL, what do that REPRESENT, does the GATES OF HELL also means APOSTASY?

Let us read the same VERSE from another version of the Bible:

Matthew 16:18  “So I tell you, you are Peter. And I will build my church on this rock. The POWER OF DEATH will not be able to defeat my church.” [Easy to Read Version]

So it is clear that the GATES OF HELL stands for the POWER OF DEATH. But which kind of DEATH that is being referred to by Jesus Christ that will not prevail against his Church?  Does this mean that the members or the Body of Christ will never die?

Because if the meaning of that passage is that the MEMBERS of CHRIST’S BODY or CHURCH will never die, so where they are now? Where are the APOSTLES and the FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS now, if they were still alive?

So it is quite clear and without doubt that Jesus was not referring to the DEATH which occurs when a person ENDS his BREATHING, but for the SECOND DEATH in the LAKE OF FIRE…

Revelations 21:8  “But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in THE FIERY LAKE OF BURNING SULFUR. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH."  [GWB]

So Jesus is promising in Matthew 16:18 SALVATION to the Church, that the POWER of the SECOND DEATH in the LAKE of FIRE will not prevail against them,

in simple words:

“the MEMBERS of his CHURCH will not go to HELL, because he will save them”

That is really what that VERSE means.

And it’s indeed TRUE, that Jesus will save his CHURCH as Apostle Paul clearly testifies:

Ephesians 5:23  For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and CHRIST IS HIMSELF THE SAVIOR OF THE CHURCH, HIS BODY.” [Good News Bible]

So Matthew 16:18 is not a promise that his Church will never PERISHED nor APOSTATIZED but the promise of SALVATION in JUDGMENT DAY…

He promised even the members DIED he will resurrect them:

John 11:25  “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, THOUGH HE DIE, YET SHALL HE LIVE;” [ASV]

We have clearly proven that the CHURCH that is mentioned in the Bible is not an ETERNAL CHURCH for IT HAS A BEGINNING, it was built by Christ in the FIRST CENTURY in JERUSALEM, and it has an ENDING for it’s ORIGINAL MEMBERS were all DEAD…

The NEXT POST will prove more that this Church has an ENDING for it’s TRUE MEMBERS had CEASED TO EXIST after the Death of the Apostles.

Also in My NEXT POST we will explain, what is the meaning of the word APOSTASY? Does the Church built by Christ never really was APOSTATIZED nor PERISHED?

What will happen to the people who lived to the period between 110A.D. to 1914A.D. The time where there was no TRUE CHURCH existed, and no TRUE TEACHINGS for there were no TRUE MESSENGERS from GOD, how they will be saved? 

Does the membership of the Church in order to be saved also required or applicable to those people that had lived in that specific period of time?

We will answer all of these in our NEXT POST…

The Philippines is in the Bible

     THE most common attack of our Detractors [one of the most Notorious of them is Eric from Toronto, Canada who always patronizing my blog and promoting it],  especially those who believed in the TRINITY Doctrine, or those who follow a doctrine not found in the Bible is the teaching of the INC regarding the Prophecy of the Bible that pertains to Bro. Felix Y. Manalo as the LAST MESSENGER of God.

They oftenly said to us:

“You are saying that we believe a teaching that is not found in the Bible, you often ask us where in the Bible we can read the word “Trinity”? Why? Is there a word “Philippines” in the Bible? This is a proof that the members of the INC also believed in a teaching that is not found in the Bible.

Asking a question such as: 

Is the word “Philippines” in the Bible?

Is a sign of ignorance, because the Philippines got its name only on March 16, 1521 [16^th Century] when it was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, and during that time it was named FELIPINAS [PHILIPPINES in English] which means  LAS ISLAS DE FELIPE “THE ISLES OF PHILIP” which was named after the King of Spain during that time – King Philip II, and the Bible was completed since 96 AD [First Century]. How could you find that word in the Bible? So it is absurd to even ask that question, and a real sign of GRAVE IGNORANCE among our detractors.

And another thing the INC never taught ever that the word PHILIPPINES is found in the Bible. So there is no reason for them to ask us that question at all, for it is not an INC’s doctrine.

But does the location, place or the land which was NO NAME YET by the time the book of Prophet Isaiah was written, which was named later  the PHILIPPINES really not mentioned in the Bible?

Well, before we go to that issue, let us ask our Detractors, a related question:

Does the word “IRAN”, IRAQ” and “TURKEY” in the Bible?

Of course no one among them would dare to answer YES. For it is an undeniable fact that these words cannot be found in the scriptures, for these names does not exist yet during the time when the Bible was written.

So we will ask them again:

Does the country of IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY mentioned in the Bible?

Do you think they would dare to answer NO? if ever they would dare to answer No, then they are committing a very big mistake for these countries were indeed mentioned in the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

The word IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY, of course can’t be found in the Bible because that names do not exist yet? But do those countries already existed when the Bible was written?  Would you dare to answer NO? Especially you ERIC?

No one would dare to answer NO as I said already, because it is a fact that all countries in the world already existed during that time, only their names weren’t, for some of them were NOT YET  DISCOVERED nor NAMED YET during the time the Bible was written.

But those countries are mentioned in the Bible for these countries already existed during the Bible was written. Since their names were not yet IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY, the author of the Bible as instructed of course by the Almighty used their OLD NAMES during that time.

PERSIA is the old name of IRAN, and it is mentioned in the Bible:

2 Chronicles 36:20  “And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of PERSIA:” [King James Version]

IRAQ is mentioned in the Bible as MESOPOTAMIA:

Acts 7:2  “And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in MESOPOTAMIA, before he dwelt in Charran,” [KJV]

TURKEY as ASIA MINOR  or plainly ASIA:

Acts 16:6  “and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in ASIA,” [Young’s Literal Translation]

Of course the word ASIA there would never mean the MODERN ASIA that we knew today as one of the seven continents, since that passage pertains to the propagation of the Gospel by Apostle Paul to the Gentile Nations.

The GREEK DICTIONARY has this to say about that word:

“G773

Ἀσία

Asia = “orient”

1) Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to TURKEY today” [Thayer’s Greek Definition]

These countries were mentioned by the Bible using their OLD NAMES, that’s why those were used for those NAMES already existed during that time as an identification of the said countries.

So is it wrong to say that IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY is in the Bible?

Would you mind answering this question our beloved detractors?

Now let’s go back to the PHILIPPINE ISSUE:

Does the PHILIPPINES have a name already existed during the time when the Bible was written?

Of course the answer would be a definitely NO! For what I have mentioned already that the Philippines only got its name in 1521 [16^th Century].

Does the PHILIPPINES have an OLD NAME during the time when the Bible was written?

Of course the answer again would be a big NO!,  for there is no record in History that the Philippines used an OLD NAME, like CHINA which was called CATHAY before.

Does the land, place, or country which was named later the Philippines already existed during the time when the Bible was written?

Would anyone among our Detractors, especially you ERIC, would dare to answer this question NO?

Of course no one with the normal state of mind would ever dare to answer that question NO. For it is an undeniable fact that all the lands in the whole world existed since the time of creation, so it is even proper and logical to say that the land or place which was later named the Philippines, already existed even before the time of Moses or even long before than the time when the Bible was written.

Does the land, place, or country which was later named Philippines mentioned in the Bible?

This is the PROPER QUESTION that they should ask the INC. 

If we ask them this question, I know that they would dare to answer NO, but the question is:

Can they prove that the country which was later called the Philippines is not mentioned in the Bible?

So let us go now where in the Bible the country of the Philippines which was no name at that time was mentioned:

Isaiah 46:11  “Calling a RAVENOUS BIRD from the EAST, the man that executeth my counsel from a FAR COUNTRY: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” [KJV]

The Bible specifically said that the RAVENOUS BIRD, which is a MAN that will EXECUTE GOD’s COUNSEL will come from a FAR COUNTRY FROM THE EAST.

What is the Characteristic of this FAR COUNTRY from the EAST?

Isaiah 24:15  “Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the EAST, even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the ISLES OF THE SEA.” [Revised Version]

See? Very clear were the descriptions of the Bible regarding the FAR COUNTRY from the EAST from where the RAVENOUS BIRD will come from. This passage said : “ISLES OF THE SEA” it is clear then that the FAR COUNTRY being mentioned is composed of ISLANDS.

There we have it our dear readers, these following Biblical Descriptions.

It is a FAR COUNTRY from ISRAEL from where the Prophecy was written, from the EAST, and it is composed of ISLANDS.

But the EAST is composed of three divisions.  NEAR EAST, MIDDLE EAST, FAR EAST,  which EAST is being mentioned by the PROPHECY?

Let us go have a look at Isaiah 46:11 in the Hebrew Bible, the original language of the OLD TESTAMENT:

The word EAST mentioned in the passage in English is mentioned in Hebrew as “MIZRACH”

And MIZRACH means:

“EAST. The Hebrew term, KEDEM, properly means that which is before or in front of a person, and was applied to the east, from the custom of turning in that direction, when describing the points of the compass, before, behind, the right and the left representing respectively east, west, south and north. Job 23:8-9.

The term as generally used refers to the lands lying immediately eastward of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Babylonia; on the other hand, MIZRACH, is used of the FAR EAST with a less definite signification. Isa 42:2; Isa 42:25; Isa 43:5; Isa 46:11.” [Smith’s Bible Dictionary]

This dictionary said, MIZRACH is used of the FAR EAST and he also mentioned Isaiah 46:11 as you can see above. So the RAVENOUS BIRD, the MAN that God will send to execute his counsel will come from a FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST, composed of ISLANDS.

Is the PHILIPPINES located in the FAR EAST?

"It cannot be without significance that the country which stands almost at the geographical center of the FAR EAST, THE PHILIPPINES, should also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root." (Asia and the Philippines,  written by a Jesuit Priest Horacio dela Costa, page.169)

And a prominent Historical Book affirms also:

"The PHILIPPINES were Spain's share of the first colonizing movement in the FAR EAST; The name means the ISLANDS OF PHILIP and refers to that grim ruler, King Philip II." [WORLD HISTORY by E. R. Boak, Preston Slosson, Howard Anderson, Page 445]

Can anyone among our detractors dare to prove that this is not the PHILIPPINES? If it is not the PHILIPPINES, can you kindly tell us which country it is that bears the said Characteristics as mentioned in the Bible?

Do you think Isaiah would not mention the name PHILIPPINES if that name already existed during the time he wrote the prophecy?  An undeniable truth that our country during that time have NO NAME YET, that’s why it was only described by the scriptures.

Remember Isaiah 46:11, is a prophecy about the coming of God’s Last Messenger and not about the emergence of a country.

The subject matter there is the RAVENOUS BIRD, it just so happen that the country where he would come from has no name yet. That’s why the prophecy did not mention any name of a country, and just described how we can be able to know and identify the country that is being spoken of.

So it is very illogical and absurd to insist that the name of the PHILIPPINES should be found in the Bible, because those people who are insisting that, is displaying their GRAVE IGNORANCE in BIBLICAL and HISTORICAL FACTS.

Some would say this upon realizing the teaching of the INC regarding the Philippines:

“It was so hard to believe that God would chose his LAST MESSENGER from a POOR and belonging to the 3^rd world country like the PHILIPPINES, why not He chose from AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM, etc? Why not from a strong COUNTRY which have highly educated persons, and from a STRONG RACE?”

Those people who oftentimes said this statement, are those who have a lack of knowledge about the scriptures, and often rely only on what they believed which is only the product of their own understanding and opinions. For they do not know the criteria of God in choosing his people and his messengers.

The Bible has this to say:

1 Corinthians 1:26  “for see your calling, brethren, that NOT MANY ARE WISE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE;”

1 Corinthians 1:27  “BUT THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE, THAT THE WISE HE MAY PUT TO SHAME; AND THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE THAT HE MAY PUT TO SHAME THE STRONG;”

1 Corinthians 1:28  “AND THE BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THE THINGS DESPISED DID GOD CHOOSE, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT, THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE HE MAY MAKE USELESS”. [Young’s Literal Translation]

The Bible has given us enough explanation on this issue. God chooses the weak to put shame the strong. He chooses the Foolish so that the Wise may put to shame, and so on.

Bro. FELIX Y. MANALO came from a WEAK COUNTRY and RACE. He has no HIGH STANDING in society, he has no HIGH EDUCATION, but God had chosen him to become his LAST MESSENGER, to SHAME the STRONG and the WISE.

Which he had done many many  times, during his battle against OTHER RELIGION’S FALSE DOCTRINES which often came from the STRONG COUNTRIES and RACE, which he succeeded, and contributed to the unstoppable growth of the Iglesia Ni Cristo until today. A fulfillment of God’s promise to his Messenger in these last days and to the CHURCH OF CHRIST [Iglesia Ni Cristo] which emerged in the time of the ends of the earth:

Isaiah 41:10  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:11  “Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.”

Isaiah 41:12  “Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.” [KJV]

So fellow brethren if anyone [or specifically Eric] ask you this question:

Is the word “Philippines” in the Bible?

You can simply say:

“The word PHILIPPINES is not in the Bible, but the country of the Philippines which was no name yet during that time the Bible was written was clearly mentioned as the FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST [MIZRACH], composed of ISLANDS as the place where the Ravenous Bird or the Messenger of God in these last days would come from or appear  as stated in Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 24:15.”

If he ask you again, just ignore him, for he is just displaying his GREAT IGNORANCE and CLOSE MINDEDNESS…

So as we go back to the TRINITARIANS we can ask them this:

Can you show us a PROPERLY TRANSLATED VERSE in the Bible that describes your Trinity which is the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT, as the THREE PERSONS in ONE GOD?

The PHILIPPINES has a passage in the Bible that described it, but do that belief that I mentioned regarding the TRINITY have a passage in the Bible that described it?

Can you show us a verse or verses other than the popular 1 John 5:7 of the King James Version which was proven even by the Trinitarian Bible Scholars to be a FORGED or a MISTRANSLATED VERSE?

We have proven that the COUNTRY of the PHILIPPINES is indeed was mentioned in the Bible. It is the FAR COUNTRY located in the FAR EAST composed of ISLANDS…

So it is QUITE RIGHT to say that the PHILIPPINES is in the BIBLE.

Now it’s time for you our beloved DETRACTORS to show yours. Prove to us that your TRINITY IS IN THE BIBLE….