The Bird Of Prey From The Far East...
(Isaiah 46:11)
Who does Isaiah 46:11 refers to, Cyrus or Felix Manalo?
Let us examine why we sincerely believe that Bro. Felix Manalo is the fulfillment of the prophecy mentioned in Isaiah 46:11:
“Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country, Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” (NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Various are the ways and means employed by the enemies of truth in order to hinder people from accepting the commission of Bro. Felix Manalo as God’s last messenger. Our critics have found prima facie evidence to prove that Cyrus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s concerning the ravenous bird. The evidence, they aver, is Isaiah 46:11 itself. They cite The Living Bible thus:
“I will call the swift bird of prey from the east—that man Cyrus from far away.”
(Reference: Isa. 46:11, LB, Emphasis Mine)
At first glance, it seems that our critics are justified in believing that Cyrus is the ravenous bird mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah. Our readers must take note of the fact that our detractors conveniently used Isaiah 46:11 of The Living Bible which was translated in a paraphrase style.
First, we must ask what is a paraphrase:
“To paraphrase is to say something in different words than the author used. It is a restatement of an author’s thoughts, using different words than he did.”
(Reference: Preface, The Living Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Take note of the above explanation. Is there any danger in this style of translation?
“There are dangers in paraphrases, as well as values. For whenever the author’s exact words are not translated from the original languages, there is a possibility that the translator, however honest, may be giving the English reader something that the original writer did not mean to say!“
(Reference: Preface, The Living Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Kenneth N. Taylor is the author of The Living Bible, a personal paraphrase of the Bible in English, which was first published in 1971. What can we learn about Taylor and his paraphrased translation:
“Kenneth Taylor, admitting that he had little or no knowledge of the Hebrew or Greek, made his paraphrase from the American Standard Version of 1901. It should not be forgotten that this work is a paraphrase of the Bible, and NOT a translation of it! As such it is little more than a short commentary on the Scriptures — i.e.: what Kenneth Taylor thinks the Bible says; his interpretation.
“Also in the Preface to the Living Bible, Taylor makes the statement that in any place where it is difficult to make a decision as to what the passage really means, he goes by his own beliefs!! “When the Greek or Hebrew is not clear, then the theology of the translator is his guide, along with his sense of logic.” The Living Bible, in far too many places, is an expression of the logic and theology of Kenneth Taylor.”
(Reference: THE LIVING BIBLE A Critical Analysis by Al Maxey, https://bit.ly/THE-LIVING-BIBLE-A-Critical-Analysis, Emphasis Mine)
Not only did the author of “The Living Bible” have little to no knowledge of the original Hebrew and Greek languages in which the manuscripts were written, but instead, he based his interpretation on an existing English translation (the American Standard Version of 1901) and diverged from the original meaning intended by the Testament’s author by implementing his own beliefs when a difficult decision was to be made about what a passage meant by the original author.
There is danger whenever the author’s exact words are not translated from the original language, thus giving the readers something the original writer did not mean to say. How much more when the translator inserts something that the original author did not say?
THE RAVENOUS BIRD
The ravenous bird will execute God’s counsel― (Is. 46:11)
God’s counsel is to bring his righteousness and salvation to those who are stouthearted and far from righteousness ― (Isa. 46:11-13)
The ravenous bird will snatch people out of the fire ― (Jude 1:23)
This is God’s counsel ― (Is. 46:13)
The name of the ravenous bird, a man, is not mentioned ― (Is. 46:11)
CYRUS
Cyrus shall perform all of God’s pleasure ― (Isa. 44:28)
God’s pleasure is that Jerusalem be built and the temple’s foundation be laid. Cyrus, King of Persia did this ― (Ezra 1:1-11)
Cyrus is to subdue nations before him ― (Isa. 45:1)
The kingdoms of the earth were given to Cyrus ― (Ezra 1:3)
Cyrus’ name is mentioned in the prophecy ― (Isa. 44:28; 45:1)
The above are merely some of the differences between the ravenous bird and Cyrus. The conclusion is inevitable: Cyrus is not the ravenous bird mentioned in Isaiah 46:11. Who then is the fulfillment? We sincerely believe Bro. Felix Manalo is the fulfillment of the said prophecy. We will therefore, proceed and unravel the prophecy and show its fulfillment by a deeper comparison of the two.
Let us first quote Isaiah 46:11-13, King James Version:
“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. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.”
(Reference: Isa. 46:11-13 KJV,Emphasis Mine)
We should notice three conditions that the Bible gives in order to describe this particular servant of God. The FIRST condition was the place of origin. Where was it?
A far country in the east or Far East.
The SECOND was a task that was given to accomplish. What was that task?
To execute God’s counsel by bringing people who are stouthearted to God’s righteousness. God’s righteousness is the gospel (Romans 1:16 and 17).
And THIRD are the people that God will send His Servant to. Who are they?
They are those who are far from righteousness, or far away from the true gospel.
So the question is, does Cyrus meet those biblical conditions, and could he be the fulfillment of the prophecy being the one referred to?
Definitely not!
Why not? What’s the proof? Let’s go over clearly what the Bible teaches about Cyrus. The first disqualifier is the place of origin; where is Cyrus from? Let us consult with the scriptures:
“During the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in fulfillment of the message from the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD prompted Cyrus, king of Persia, to make this proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, which was also released in written form …”
(Reference: Ezra 1:1 ISV, Emphasis Mine)
According to what we have read, Cyrus was from Persia thus, he was a Persian. In fact, he was the king of Persia, and Persia is not a far country in the east, as the prophecy describes. Originaly geographically Persia is in the near east a historic region of southwestern Asia associated with the area that is now modern Iran.
“What is the Near East?
Near East refers to the region of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, and Persia corresponding to modern Armenia, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and part of Turkey.”
(Reference: World History Encyclopedia s.v. “Near East,” Emphasis Mine)
Even students of history readily admit that Cyrus is from Persia (presently called Iran) a country geographically located in the Near East.
There are those who insist that Persia is specifically located in the Middle East because today, Iran is designated as part of the Middle East; however, geographically, this does not necessarily apply accurately. The two do not overlap, and ancient historians and archaeologists still refer to Iran as the Near East:
“The term ‘Near East’…
Today we say Middle East to designate this geographical area, but the two terms do not exactly overlap, and ancient historians and archaeologists of the Middle East continue to speak of the Near East.“
(Reference: c.f. https://www.worldhistory.org/ Near_East/#google_vignette, Emphasis Mine)
We must note that our detractors argue that Persia is located in the “Far East” to support their claim that Cyrus fulfills the prophecy of Isa. 46:11. As we can see, their argument lacks geographical support and has no footing to stand on.
Let’s look at another element of the prophecy in terms of the task or the assignment that God gave Cyrus to accomplish. Was Cyrus a preacher of the gospel, and was he assigned to preach the gospel to bring God’s righteousness near again to people? Let’s see what the gospel has to say about Cyrus:
“I say to Cyrus, ‘You are the one who will rule for me; you will do what I want you to do: you will order that Jerusalem be rebuilt and that the foundations of the Temple be laid‘.”
(Reference: Isa. 44:28, GNT, Emphasis Mine)
The Bible teaches the assignment of Cyrus, that Cyrus was sent by God to restore Jerusalem and to restore the temple, not to preach the gospel to those that were far from the gospel, or far from righteousness as Isaiah 46:11-13 described. That was not the assignment given to Cyrus. Cyrus cannot, therefore, be the fulfillment of that prophecy. How about the people that God sent Cyrus to?
Were those people far from righteousness, as the prophecy in Isaiah 46 indicated? Well, we have already learned that God sent Cyrus to restore Jerusalem and the temple, which was for God’s nation of Israel. What was the condition of Israel? Were they stouthearted or hard–hearted and far from righteousness? Far from God’s words? Far from His teaching? Far from His law, that they needed to be brought near to it again by Cyrus?
Certainly not!
Israel or the Israelites, although they were hard-hearted, they were God’s adopted children. To them belonged the covenant and the law, the right and privilege to serve and worship God; they had God’s promise. Here we can see the evidence of this as described:
“They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.”
(Reference: Romans 9:4 NLT, Emphasis Mine)
The Bible makes it clear here that Israel was not far from God’s righteousness, or far from God’s law. In fact, they were the ones that already had the law. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the messenger being mentioned in the prophecy written in Isaiah 46:11 is definitely not Cyrus.
Thus, it’s impossible that the passage refers to Cyrus. He does not fit or align with the prophecy. He is from the wrong place, and he did not do what the prophecy indicated. Why should we believe this? Because this is not merely an opinion; this is the truth because that is what is recorded in scripture.
Yet, to dispel any lingering uncertainty, let us take this a step further and not leave any room for doubt; critics argue that, in the prophecy, God proclaimed, “I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.” They claim because “Israel” was mentioned, they immediately and erroneously conclude that this prophecy pertains to Israel or the Israelites in ancient times.
What many have failed to take into account is that the Zion mentioned in this prophecy represents the “Church Of Christ” through the promised seed of Israel, which is “Christ,” whom God created for his glory (Acts 2:36; Philip. 2:9-11). So, the Israel mentioned in the Prophecy, is not the Israel of old but Israel of the promise (I Tim. 2:5, GNT) because Israel, the first nation of God apostatized (Daniel 9:11 NIV). Therefore, the Zion mentioned in the prophecy is the Church of Christ in these last days, and Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of it:
“Therefore the Lord GOD said: ‘Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.”
(Reference: Isa. 28:16 CSB, Emphasis Mine)
Hence, the stone laid in Zion mentioned in the prophecy’s cornerstone is no other than Christ, for Christ is the “Chief Cornerstone” of the church (Eph. 2:19-20 NKJV), the church Christ built and called it “My church” (Mat.16:18 NKJV). The church that was named after Christ Himself as the “Church Of Christ” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
Moreover, those who are members of Christ’s true church, the “Church Of Christ,” are also Abraham’s seed and heirs according to God’s promise through Christ as Abraham’s seed, continuing the covenant that God made with Abraham:
“If you belong to Christ, then you are ABRAHAM’S SEED, and HEIRS according to the promise.”
(Reference: Gal. 3:29 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
What is another critical note we must take into account regarding Cyrus?
During Cyrus’ reign, his task was to subdue nations (Isa. 45:1), not preach the gospel:
“‘This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:”
(Reference: Isa. 45:1 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, the ravenous bird from the east, whose task is to bring those who are far from righteousness to righteousness, is a man from a far country, in stark contrast, Cyrus was not only not from a far country, but his work was to “subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor,” and the task appointed to him was, “Jerusalem be rebuilt and that the foundations of the Temple be laid.”
THE BIRD OF PREY FROM THE EAST
If it is certain that Cyrus is not the messenger prophesied in Isaiah 46:11, then the question arises as to who satisfies the conditions outlined in the prophecy of Isaiah 46:11 and numerous other Biblical prophecies. The answer lies in none other than Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
Remember the three conditions that we learned about earlier from the prophecy that the Bible gives to describe this particular servant of God?
FIRST, the place of origin. What did we read?
A far country in the east or Far East.
What was the SECOND? The task or assignment given to accomplish. What was it?
To execute God’s counsel or His words by bringing His righteousness — God’s righteousness near to people. Gods righteousness is the gospel:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’.”
(Reference: Romans 1:16-17 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s assignment was to bring that gospel, bring God’s righteousness near, again, to God’s people.
And THIRD, the people to whom God will send a servant was an important part of the prophecy. Who were they? Those who are far from righteousness or far from the true gospel.
Isaiah 46:11 mentions the “man who executes God’s counsel”. This “man” is God’s messenger whose task is to bring God’s righteousness near to people so they can be saved. Brother Felix Manalo was a great evangelical preacher of the pure gospel. He never taught anything based on personal opinions but always read the Bible’s answers to questions. He was sent to people who, until actually hearing what he preached from the Bible, were not even aware of how far away from the truth they really were.
Further fitting the prophecy, Brother Felix Manalo was from a far country in the east known as the Far East; the Philippine Islands, which is in the geographical center of the the Far East:
“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)
A related prophecy supports the Prophecy of Bro. Felix Manalo’s commissioning in Isaiah 43:5-6 wherein it is stated that God’s with him, “Fear not: for I am with thee” and through this messenger, God will bring His sons and daughters from the Far East:
“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 Moffat Translation of this passage further strengthens this position that the “East” being referred to is none other than the Far East:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you, …”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5, James Moffat Translation, Emphasis Mine)
There are critics who have an issue with the word “far east” from the Moffat Translation. So the question is, why do we turn to this translation to validate our position?
We quote Moffatt’s translation of Isaiah 43:5, in which he uses the term “far east” instead of just plain “east” as other versions do. We believe Moffat’s rendition is more accurate because the word in the original Hebrew that he translated, “far east,” is “mizrach.”
Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible has this to say about this Hebrew term:
“EAST (מִזְרָח : קְדֶם) The Hebrew terms descriptive of the east differ in idea, and, to a certain extent, in application; (1) 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,… (2) mizrach means the place of the sun’s rising, and strictly answers to the Greek ἀνατολή (anatole) and the Latin oriens;… MIZRACH IS USED OF THE FAR EAST with a less definite signification (Is. xli. 2, 25, xliii. 5, xlvi. 11).”
(Reference: Smith Dictionary of the Bible, p. 637, Emphasis Mine)
The above is a testimony of a renowned Bible scholar that “mizrach” was the Hebrew term used in Isaiah 43:5, and that this word is the equivalent in English to “far east.” So Moffatt’s translation of Isaiah 43:5 is the more accurate one.
DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE BIRD OF PREY
One of the supporting prophecies attesting that Brother Felix Manalo is God’s Messenger is Isaiah 41:9-14. We are sure about this because the time element was specified. The prophesied servant would emerge in the period known as “ends of the earth” (Isa. 41:9):
“You whom I have taken from the ENDS OF THE EARTH, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”
(Reference: Isa. 41:9, NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
“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). 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 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Among the signs that portend the unfolding of the period “ends 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. 24:6-8 footnote, Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
It is during this period when the prophesied messenger in Isaiah 41:9 would emerge. This is no other than Brother Felix Manalo, who registered the Iglesia Ni Cristo with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914 — the exact same date when “World War One” broke out by biblical prophecy which marks the time “end(s) of the earth”:
“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)
It is no secret that Brother Felix Manalo is a Filipino. It is also a fact that his homeland, the Philippines, is in the east in a far country in the Far East — almost in its geographical center (Asia and the Philippines, p. 169). Surely, then, it could not be just coincidence that the prophesied messenger’s place of origin and the date of commencement of his mission were both fulfilled in Brother Felix Manalo.
But if these were not yet enough proof of him being sent or called by God as His messenger, as prophesied in Isaiah 46:11 and other related prophecies, digging a little deeper would lead us to understand that even the nature of his mission was prophesied in the Bible.
NATURE OF MISSION
Isaiah 46:11 describes the messenger from the Far East as a “bird of prey.” Just as a ravenous bird snatches his prey from the ground, symbolically, the work of salvation involves “snatching others from the fire” (Jude 1:23). Precisely so, since God’s messenger from the far east and from the ends of the earth would have to bring people out of the “South” and “North” which are holding them back. let us cite this passage once more for clarification:
“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5-6 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
In fulfillment, Brother Felix Manalo’s preaching function did involve “snatching” or “bringing out” people from two main religions—Catholicism and Protestantism, which were represented by South and North, respectively:
“Others have suggested in broader terms that Protestantism was the form of Christianity suited to the temper of the northern peoples, Catholicism to that of the southern. Plausibility is lent to the thesis because, in the final stabilization, northern Europe was largely Protestant and southern largely Catholic.“
(Reference: New Encyclopaedia Britannica Macropaedia, 15th Edition, Vol. 15, p. 547, Emphasis Mine)
There may be other countries in the Far East and other preachers who emerged in the World War I era, but there is no one else from such particular place and time whose mission entailed bringing people out specifically from those two mainstream religions — no one except Brother Felix Manalo.
MESSENGER FOR CHRIST
What is presented herein are only some of the scriptural testimonies proving that Brother Felix Manalo was sent by God as His messenger in these last days as the “bird of prey” to “execute God’s council” by preaching the true gospel and the true Church Of Christ so that people would be gathered in it and be assured of salvation. By believing ever so firmly in his election or calling as a messenger of God, we members of the Church Of Christ never intend to replace Christ for him. Rather, it is clear to us that the role Brother Felix Manalo fulfilled is no different from that of the apostles, that is, to speak on Christ’s behalf the genuine words of God so that man will heed His call and be saved through the sacrificial death of our dear Savior Jesus. As Apostle Paul said:
“…And he gave us the message that will bring people back to himself. So we are messengers for Christ. God is using us to call people. So we are standing here for Christ and begging people, ‘Come back to God’!“
(Reference: II Cor. 5:18-19 Bible in Worldwide English, Emphasis Mine)
IN CONCLUSION
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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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“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)