The Prophecy Regarding The Church Of Christ That Emerged In The Philippines
AFTER FAILING TO refute the scriptural doctrines being propagated by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, critics of the Church now hurl the challenge: “What is the credential of the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines?” This we will answer in this brief article.
Biblically, our Lord Jesus Christ established only one Church. He called it “my church”:
“And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, …”
(Reference: Matt. 16:18 The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The Apostles called Christ’s Church the Church of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Bible)
This Church, the Church of Christ that was purchased with the blood of Christ, is composed of three groups of people as written in Acts 2:39:
“For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
(Reference: Acts 2:39 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, Emphasis Mine)
These three groups of people are referred to by the words “to you,” “to your children,” and “to all that are far off.” The first and second groups called by God into the Church of Christ were the Jews and Gentiles as proven in the epistle of Paul to the Romans, “even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles” (Rom. 9:24, Mounce).
The Gentiles were called as the “children” due to the preaching of the Gospel by Apostles Paul and Barnabas to the Gentile nations, and there were Gentiles who were converted to the Church of Christ (Rom. 16:4, 16). It should be noted that Paul and Barnabas were Jews. Hence, the Gentiles were called “children” of the Jews, not of the flesh, but in the faith. The first-century Church of Christ, therefore, was composed of Jews and Gentiles.
But the Church of Christ has a third group, the people who are “far off” whom the Lord God will also call to the Church. This “far off” refers to a different time and place not part of the first two groups who were already called in the first-century Church of Christ at the time of the apostles, which is why the Rieu Translation of the Bible renders “far off” as “to all those in distant times and places…” (Acts 2:39).
Which is this “far off” or distant place referred to in the prophecy? It is the “Far East” according to the prophet Isaiah:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring, …”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5 Moffat Translation)
Undisputedly, the Philippines is in the Far East and the only country where Christianity has taken its deepest root:
“It cannot be without significance that the country which stands almost at the geographical center of the Far East, the Philippines, also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root.”
(Reference: Asia and the Philippines, p.169, Emphasis Mine)
Detractors argue that the Far East is very vast and there are many countries in the Far East, so how sure is it that the prophecy points to the Far East in the Philippines? Is there a related prophecy that pinpoints its location? Let us read:
“Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ENDS of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One’.”
(Reference: Isa. 24:15-16 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
Undoubtedly, the Philippines is located almost at the geographic center of the Far East and is recognized as the only Christian country in which Christianity has taken the deepest roots. A country that recognizes the God of Israel and is comprised of 7,641 islands:
“The Philippines is an archipelago that comprises 7,641 islands.”
(Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines, Emphasis Mine)
“The Philippines … is the only Christian nation in the Far East.”
(Reference: International Security and the United States: An Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 614, Emphasis Mine)
Indeed, in the Philippines is where the Church of Christ emerged!
Why are we sure that the third component of the Church of Christ is the Church that emerged in the Philippines? By what name shall they be called? They shall be called by the name created by God for His glory:
“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:7 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
Which is this name made by God for His glory?
“…Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours.”
(Reference: John 17:11 GOD’S WORD® Translation, Emphasis Mine)
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Reference: Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The name made by God for His glory is the name Christ. By the name “Christ,” God is glorified. Hence, the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines, is the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Holy Scriptures that bears the name ― Church of Christ. This Church belongs to God, and He Himself calls those whom He added to the Church in order to be saved daily (Acts 2:47, KJV).
Does Christ recognize the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines as part of His Church? Yes! He categorically attested to this scriptural fact thus:
“I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. IN THE FUTURE there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
(Reference: John 10:16 Easy-to-Read Version, Emphasis Mine)
The members of the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines are the “other sheep” of Christ, but were not of the fold or flock of the Church of Christ in the first century, which is why Christ clarified that “I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here,” because the other sheep are in time and place that are truly “far off” “in the future.” The place is the Philippines, a far country, a country in the Far East, a place truly very far from Jerusalem where the first-century Church of Christ was established by our Lord Jesus Christ.
How about the time? Is this future mentioned in the bible also “far off” from the time when the first-century Church of Christ was founded, thus “to all those in distant times”? (Acts 2:39 Rieu Translation); Prophet Isaiah also prophesied concerning the time element involved:
“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5-6 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
The time element involved is “end(s) of the earth.”
Thus, the third Group of Christ whom God called are recognized as His sons and daughters at the time “ends of the earth.” The expression “end(s) of the earth” refers to a time entirely different from the “end of the earth.” Both are expressions of time, but the latter refers to the time when the world will meet its end, which is on the day of Judgment or the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mat. 24:3). However, the “end(s) of the earth” pertains to the time when the end of the world is near or at its doors (Matt. 24:33). Our Lord Jesus Christ gave signs that when seen happening, will signify that the end is near or that the time “ends of the earth” has already begun to unfold which are the beginning of sorrows or birth pangs:
“…when you see all these things, know that it is near ― at the doors. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
(Reference: Matt. 24:33; 24:6-8, Emphasis Mine)
The rise of nation against nation is the war predicted by Christ to herald the nearness of His second advent is described by the prophet Isaiah as “the indignation of the Lord,” the manifestation of “his fury upon all their armies” (Is. 34:1-2 NKJV).
Among the signs that portend the unfolding of the period “end(s) of the earth” is the war that would be rumored or widely talked about. In fulfillment, this war is World War One of 1914:
“Jesus now tells His followers how they could discern when the world was actually entering into the beginning of the birth pangs that would bring about the rebirth of Israel and ultimately the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. The approach of the end of the age would see several phenomena on the earth occurring at the same time. Those phenomena, would be: 1. Many nations rising up against many other nations 2. Kingdoms rising against kingdoms 3. Famines 4. Disease epidemics 5. Earthquakes in various places. In Mark 13 the word troubles is used by our Lord instead of disease epidemics… Wars between nations, or even between kingdoms, is and has been a common occurrence. History has recorded famines at various times. There have been times of great disease epidemics. There have been earthquakes in the past, but increasingly so in the present day. Jesus tells His disciples, however, to be awaiting a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War I (1914-1918)…”
(Reference: Matt. 24:6-8a., Footnote: Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The instruments of this war are likened to “chariots… as a whirlwind” and “horses… swifter than eagles.”:
“At that time it will be said To this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A dry wind of the desolate heights blows in the wilderness Toward the daughter of My people— Not to fan or to cleanse— A wind too strong for these will come for Me; Now I will also speak judgment against them.” “Behold, he shall come up like clouds, And his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered!”
“O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.”
(Reference: Jeremiah 4:11-13, 19 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The Book of Jeremiah mentioned a “war” likened to a “wind.” Wind, as mentioned in the verse came “not to fan or to cleanse” as the literal wind does, but it came up with “chariots like a whirlwind” and “horses [that] are swifter than eagles.” The use of these instruments or weapons of war, as described, is heralded by “the sound of a trumpet” (“air raid sirens” that were used to warn civilians to take cover during the Great War), which was prophesied to cause pain in people’s hearts. This is a war unlike any seen or occurred in the past:
“The First World War was unlike any war in the past. … This was the first war, ‘in three dimensions,’ the first war in which cities were bombed from the air and winged warriors fought among the clouds. Of course the airplanes of 1914 were not so fast, so formidable, nor so numerous as those of today… The soldiers had to turn themselves into beavers and moles and dig deep trenches…” (World History, Vol. 2, pp. 478–479, Emphasis Mine)
“The First World War: The British public’s very reasonable response to the growing number and severity of air raids from 1915 onwards was to take shelter. The scientist J. B. S. Haldane reported that in London as many as 300,000 went into underground stations, while another 500,000 slept in cellars and basements. Railway viaducts such as the Tilbury Arches in Stepney were also popular refuges, although the protection offered is doubtful. In Ramsgate, caves and tunnels in the chalk cliffs were employed as shelters for several thousand people.”
(Reference: https://www.military-history.org/feature/air-raid-shelters.htm, Emphasis Mine)
History attests that this is the First World War which happened in July 27, of 1914:
“The first great campaign on the southeastern battle grounds of the Great War began on July 27, 1914, when the Austrian troops undertook their first invasion of Serbia.”
(Reference: The Story of the Great War, Vol. 3, p. 923, Emphasis Mine)
All of the signs given by Christ to herald His second advent were fulfilled. Hence, the term “end(s) of the earth” is the time immediately before the second coming of Jesus Christ, starting from the time that the First World War began.
There is only one Church that passes all the criteria for being recognized as the third group of people that belongs to Christ – the Church of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo. As aforementioned, the Church of Christ was officially registered with the government of the Philippines (a country in the Far East) on July 27, 1914, exactly the same day marking the outbreak of the “First World War,” on July 27, 1914, coinciding with the prophecy of Christ almost 2,000 years ago. Moreover, as mentioned above, the Church of Christ is located almost at the geographical center of the Far East in a country composed of over 7,146 islands and is the only Christian nation that recognizes the God of Israel, where Christianity has taken the deepest root.
"FROM THE FAR WEST I WILL GATHER YOU"
Regarding the expansion of the Church of Christ from the Far East to the Far West, this, too, is attested by prophecy and its fulfillment:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you.
“Till in the far west men have awe of the Eternal, and in the east they see his brilliant deeds.“
(Reference: Isa. 43:5; 59:19 Moffatt Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The gathering of those to be called God’s sons and daughters would eventually reach the Far West (“from the far west I will gather you”) through the instrumentality of the late Executive Minister, Brother Erano G. Manalo, fulfilling this prophecy who established the first congregations of the Church in Ewa, Hawaii, on July 27, 1968. This was followed by another gathering of brethren in San Francisco, California. These are the official beginnings of the Church Of Christ in the Far West. According to the 1976 World Almanac, Hawaii and California are part of the region of the United States called Far West:
“FAR WEST: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii.”
(Reference: The World Almanac Handbook of Facts 1976, Bicentennial Edition, p.88, Emphasis Mine)
Today the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) has an international membership comprising 151 racial and ethnic backgrounds and maintains nearly 7,000 congregations and missions grouped into more than 178 ecclesiastical districts in 166 countries and territories on six of the world’s inhabited continents.
The Church of Christ, especially during its pioneering years, experienced severe persecution from many of its detractors. Yet, they were not able to hinder the speedy growth of the Church. Many were even perplexed as to how the Church of Christ, from such a small beginning grew to such extremities worldwide. This, to them, remains an enigma. But to the members of the Church of Christ, everything is the will and work of the Almighty God. It was the Lord God who has done this, He who said:
“… I work and who can hinder it?”
(Reference: Isa. 43:13 NRSV)
IN CONCLUSION
1
The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is supported by numerous biblical prophecies, affirming its identity as the third group prophesied by Christ and the Apostles. Despite countless attempts by detractors to challenge these prophecies, they are unable to refute them because it can not be denied that the evidence of each biblical prophecy regarding the Church of Christ has been concretely fulfilled.
2
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) as they were taught by Christ and His apostles in the first-century Church Of Christ. These teachings presented here are the path that leads to eternal life for all on that appointed day of Judgment:
Fundamental Beliefs of The "Iglesia Ni Cristo" (Church Of Christ)
WITH THE AIM of aiding others in achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a series of readings has been developed. These readings encompass a range of significant topics, from the nature and work of Christ to apostasy. We encourage all those who are curious or in search of truth to engage with these articles. They are designed to encapsulate the comprehensive doctrines and beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo…
God's Last Messenger
AFTER THE GREAT Apostasy, it was prophesied by the bible that the true Church Of Christ, necessary for man’s salvation, would reemerge in the Far East through God’s last messenger in these last days. This messenger’s mission is to restore the original Church Of Christ and its pristine teachings of Christ and to introduce the one true God – the Father…
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)