Gods Last Messenger
Isaiah 41:4 and 9-10
WHY WE FIRMLY BELIEVE BROTHER FELIX Y. MANALO IS GOD’S LAST MESSENGER WRITTEN IN THE PROPHECIES OF ISA. 41:4 AND 9-10
DESPITE THE initial skepticism of others and the subsequent scorn often directed towards our declaration that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger, as prophesied in the Bible, we steadfastly maintain our belief. This belief is founded on biblical testimony and the incontrovertible evidence of its realization.
Many people question whether there is such a thing as a last messenger of God in these last days. To address this inquiry, let us refer to God’s declaration as documented in Holy Scripture.
GOD’S LAST MESSENGER
What is the biblical basis of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in saying that there is indeed God’s last messenger? This is what is written in Isaiah 41:4:
“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:4, RSV, Emphasis Mine)
According to this verse, God is “calling the generations from the beginning.” It is indeed a biblical doctrine that God commissioned messengers in every period of time. God set apart Seth and his descendants (cf. Gen. 4:26); Noah and his descendants; Abraham, whom God made an everlasting covenant that He confirmed with his descendants (Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Israel); and God made Israel His nation. God commissioned Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt and established them as God’s nation. Moses was succeeded by Joshua who led the Israelites and conquered the land of Canaan. After the Israelites had settled in the land, God commissioned men to bring the Israelites out of bondage and be their leaders (they are called the “Judges”). Then the kingdom of Israel was established, and God continued sending them messengers to make known to them His will. God continuously sent prophets to Israel, such as Nathan, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. The last prophet was Malachi.
Israel then apostatized and fell away from God by transgressing His commandments (Daniel 9:11 NIV). Israel was replaced as God’s nation by the first-century Church of Christ, by continuing God’s promise and covenant He made with Israel by sending His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s greatest messenger. Hence, in the Christian era, God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham continues because it was handed down to those who belong to Christ and thus are Abraham’s seed. One need not be an Israelite in the flesh anymore to partake of God’s covenant with Abraham. One can have a share of God’s promises by having a relationship with Christ, who is Abraham’s seed.
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
(Reference: Galatians 3:29, NIV)
As God’s greatest Messenger, the Lord Jesus established His church (cf. Matt. 16:18). and gave His life for the salvation of His Church (cf. Eph. 5:25 and 23). The Lord Jesus is not the last of God’s messengers. When He ascended to heaven, the apostles took over not only the Administration of the Church but also the preaching of the gospel, having the authority of being God’s messengers. Apostle Paul was God’s messenger who spread the Gospel in the Gentile world. Thus, the Bible indeed tells the story of God’s continuous commissioning of messengers in every dispensation of time.
Also, according to Isaiah 41:4, God “will be with the last.” The word “last” refers to the last of God’s messengers. In verse 9 this is what God says:
“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last…
“You whom I took from the ENDS of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off’.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:4 and 9 NRSV, Emphasis Mine)
This verse is a prophecy regarding the “last” of God’s messengers. He said, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off.” The verse is referring to God’s last messenger because the time of God’s calling of this messenger is at the (timeline) “ends” of the earth, “You whom I took from the ends of the earth.” Also, the verse mentions that the person God has chosen will come from the “Farthest Corners” or from the NASB Translation of the Bible, “remotest parts,” or from the NKJV, “farthest regions.” Thus, God’s last messenger will emerge from a far region at the time “ends of the earth.”
WHY GOD SEND HIS MESSENGERS
The sending or commissioning of a messenger is God’s work, as mentioned in John 6:29:
“Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent’.”
(Reference: John 6: 29 RSV, Emphasis Mine)
God calls and commissions His messengers, and people must believe or accept whom God has sent. God only entrusted and gave His messenger the authority to preach His words.
“And how can they preach unless they are sent?…”
(Reference: Romans 10:15 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, God sends messengers in every dispensation of time to make His words known to men through His messengers.
THE "ENDS" OF THE EARTH
As previously cited in the Book of Isaiah, God’s last messenger is from the “ends of the earth.” This “end(s) of the earth” refers to a time different from the “end of the earth.” The latter is synonymous with the end of the world or the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?“
(Reference: Mathew 24:3 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
The apostles had asked Jesus the signs of the end of the world. Christ’s reply was that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars, which would be followed by a war involving nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. All these are signs that the end is at the very doors:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors…
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
(Reference: Mathew 24:3, 33, 6-8 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, in other words, these events would happen during the time “end(s) of the earth” which precedes the time “end of the earth.” Take note, that the first sign indicating that the time is in the “end(s) of the earth” is that “ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.” Although there have been many wars that happened in the history of the world, this “war” mentioned by the Bible will be followed by another war of the same kind, “see that ye be not troubled: for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Thus, many wars happened in the past. Still, only one “war” that was described as “nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” that would follow after the first “war” that would be rumored as “wars and rumours of wars” – this is the “Great War” (also called the First World War). The outbreak of the First World War was rumored or talked about throughout the world through Mores Code by the telegraphic lines that were already in place spreading the news of the outbreaks. The “Great War” or (World War One) which commenced on July 27, 1914, and ended on November, 1918. Then followed by another World War, the Second World War (1939-1945). Following the two World Wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes occurred in diverse places, magnifying and growing with much more intensity worldwide:
“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: Mathew 24:6-8 footnote, Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, the appointed time of the emergence of the church of Christ was the time called by the biblical prophecy as “end(s) of the earth,” is the time the “end of the earth” or the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is near, that began in 1914, the year of the outbreak of the First World War, the first sign indicating that the time is already in the “ends of the earth.”
The Church of Christ emerged in the Far East and was registered on July 27, 1914, specifically in the Philippines at the precise and significant moment — the commencement of the First World War on July 27, 1914. The connection between these historical events and biblical prophecy is not a coincidence but a profound and prophetic realization.
"JACOB, THE SEED OF ABRAHAM"?
We now already established that the “last” referred to in Isaiah 41:4 is the last of God’s messenger or the messenger of God called from the ends of the earth (cf. Isaiah 41:9). However, why others find it difficult to accept that the fulfillment of this prophecy was Brother Felix Y. Manalo because of what is mentioned in verse 8:
“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:8 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
Because of verse 8, others believe that the prophecy refers to Jacob, the son of Isaac, and to the ancient nation of Israel. However, careful examination of the biblical prophecy proves that the prophecy doesn’t referring to Jacob, son of Isaac, and to the ancient Israelites. Take note that the one prophesied is also called by the Bible as the “last”:
“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:4 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised, Emphasis Mine)
The verse said, “calling the generations from the beginning.” And the verse also mentioned that the one being prophesied is the last, “I the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.” Surely, Jacob, the son of Isaac and the ancient nation of Israel, is not the “last.” Also, the Bible mentioned that the one referring to by the prophecy was called from the “ENDS of the earth”:
“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ENDS of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:8-9, KJV, Emphasis Mine)
The prophecy states “Thou whom I have taken from the ENDS of the earth.” If this refers to Jacob, the son of Isaac, it would imply that he is the one in the prophecy as coming from the “ends of the earth.” It’s important to note that when Prophet Isaiah wrote this prophecy, Jacob, the son of Isaac, had already been deceased many centuries prior so this prophecy could not refer to the Jacob of old. However, others might argue that the one being prophesied was also called the “seed of Abraham.” The New Testament explains to us that members of Christ’s body are also “Abraham’s seed”:
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
(Reference: Galatians 3:29 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, not because verse 8 mentioned “Jacob” and “seed of Abraham” it follows that the one being prophesied is the literal son of Isaac. This “Jacob… seed of Abraham” is the the servant of God called from the “ENDS of the earth.”
GOD'S LAST MESSENGER AS THE "WORM JACOB"
The prophecy also called God’s last messenger, the messenger of God from the “ends of the earth” as “worm Jacob”:
“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:14 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
What is meant to be compared to a worm according to the Bible? In Psalms 22:6, this is what we can read:
“But I am [treated as] a worm [insignificant and powerless] and not a man; I am the scorn of men and despised by the people.”
(Reference: Psalms 22:6 AB, Emphasis Mine)
This prophecy referring to the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that to be compared to a worm means to be without strength, scorned, and despised. Thus, in the same comparison to Christ, God’s “last” messenger in the prophecy was referred to as “worm Jacob” to describe him as without strength and despised. But he was not helpless because God promised to strengthen and help him:
“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.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:10 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
God had chosen someone who was not learned or wealthy in order to confound the wise and the mighty (I Cor. 1:26-29). God’s promise to help and strengthen His last messenger was proven by the result of his work. The present stature of the Church of Christ that he preached clearly proves this.
Moreover, it’s not surprising that the Catholic and Protestant Churches, which are spread throughout the world, originated from influential, wealthy countries and are backed by their governments and citizens. In contrast, Brother Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia Ni Cristo emerged from a small, poor, and underdeveloped country without any support from any government body, and yet, it has spread globally at a phenomenal pace and is now considered a “global church.” Indeed, this is the fulfillment of God’s promise to His messenger from the “ends of the earth.”
"A NEW THRESHING INSTRUMENT"
The biblical prophecy also mentioned that God made the “worm Jacob” as “a new threshing instrument”:
“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:14-15 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
The “worm Jacob” referred to in the prophecy is the one whom God promised to make as a “new threshing instrument.” He would thresh the mountains and beat them small. What would make the worm Jacob “a new sharp threshing instrument” are the words of God which are “…powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12, NKJV).
The mountains that would be threshed by him through God’s words are not literal mountains but kings (Rev. 17:9-10) or rulers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). In other words, the mountains refer to false religions.
In fulfillment, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, through his preaching, exposed the errors and falsity of the doctrines of other religions. He showed that such teachings are diametrically opposed to the true teachings of God. The impact of God’s words or doctrines which he had preached is continuously being felt by other religious organizations.
One of the biblical truths that God’s last messenger will preach is also mentioned by the biblical prophecy:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you…
“You are my trusty witnesses, the servants I have chosen, to own me, to believe me, to see that I am ever the same; no god was formed before me, nor shall be after me.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5 and 10, Moffatt Translation, Emphasis Mine)
The servants of God from the Far East will be God’s trusty witnesses. The New Jerusalem Bible and New Living Translation clearly render that the servants from the Far East is God’s chosen servant or messenger who will witness that “There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be”:
“‘You yourselves are my witnesses, declares Yahweh, and the servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that it is I. No god was formed before me, nor will be after me…
(Reference: Isa. 43:10 NJB, Emphasis Mine)
“…You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be…
(Reference: Isa. 43:10 NLT, Emphasis Mine)
“First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,’ says the LORD.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:12 NLT, Emphasis Mine)
False religions teach false knowledge about God. In our time where many who proclaimed themselves as “Christians” but adhere to the belief that aside from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are also Gods, the Lord God sends His messenger in these last days to be His trusty witness witnessing that He alone is God, and there is no other God — there never has been, and there never will be. To His last messenger and His servants from the Far East, God said, “You are witnesses that I am the only God.”
Brother Felix Y. Manalo fulfilled this God-given task to witness that there is only One True God – the Father. This is the teaching of the Bible that today the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is the only one that upholds it. This also proves that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is indeed a true messenger of God:
“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? …”
(Reference: Malachi 2:10 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
“It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty.”
(Reference: Malachi 2:7 TEV, Emphasis Mine)
The fulfillment of God’s promises to His messenger, which was clearly proven by his work and by the continuing growth of the Church that he preached, only proves that the hand of God has done this:
“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:20 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
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
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Thus we firmly believe that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger because the prophecy regarding the last messenger was fulfilled through him. The message that he preached proves that he is indeed God’s messenger in these last days, witnessing that the Father alone is the only true God.
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WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors to an invitation to explore the prophecies of the last messenger of God, who worked to reestablish the true Church of Christ. To gain further insight into this subject, we invite you to visit the following link below, which provides information on various topics related to God’s last messenger:
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…
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)