Why from the Philippines?
On the claim that the true church could have emerged from a ‘small and poor country’
FOR SOME, the fact that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) emerged in the Philippines appears to be a “red flag” — that is, something that suggests or calls attention to an inconsistency or irregularity, if not necessarily danger. Indeed, that this Church started in a not-so-well-known, “lower middle-income country” (unido.org), to some, raises suspicion of being a pseudo-religion or a false faith.
Hence, when this Church conveys the biblical teaching that it is God’s nation in these last days, some raise their eyebrows and ask, “How can your Church be the true Church if it started in a small and poor country like the Philippines? Why would God choose the Philippines out of all nations in the world to be the place from where the true Church would emerge?”
So, these bring us to the question: Does coming from a “small and poor” place not sit well with being of God?
'YOU WERE THE LEAST OF ALL PEOPLES'
Truth is, when certain facts in biblical history are factored in, one should not be surprised if the true Church in these last days would emerge in a “small and poor” country like the Philippines. In fact, the Bible proves that God does not take a country’s population, size, political strength, or economic status as His basis in choosing where His chosen people would emerge.
The ancient Israelites, God’s people of old, is a case in point:
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.”
(Reference: Deut. 7:6-7 New King James Version, Emphasis Mine)
Notice that it was not because of its size nor power that God chose the ancient nation of Israel to be a people for Himself.
'LITTLE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH'
If the magnitude and economic or political standing of one’s place of origin were determinants of being of God — as others seem to imply — then it would appear that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself could not be of God. Remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and this is how the Book of Micah describes this place:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
(Reference: Micah 5:2 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The Lord Jesus is unquestionably God’s begotten Son and greatest messenger, yet He was born in a small town. This alone proves absurd the contention that emerging from a small and poor place is not congruent with being of God.
'THE SCRIPTURE SAYS'
One needs to understand that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of biblical prophecies:
“The scripture says that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David and will be born in Bethlehem, the town where David lived.”
(Reference: John 7:42 Good News Bible, Emphasis Mine)
The Messiah, who was prophesied to be born in a small town of Bethlehem, is none other than Jesus Christ:
“Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king …”
(Reference: Matt. 2:1 GNB, Emphasis Mine)
'FROM THE FAR EAST WILL I BRING YOUR OFFSPRING'
Now, take note that there are also biblical prophecies about the emergence of God’s sons and daughters from the “far east” in the “ends of the earth”:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5 Moffatt Translation, Emphasis Mine)
“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:6 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Far east, the place of origin of these people of God, was further specified by related prophecies to be a country described as “islands of the sea.”:
“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 New International Version, Emphasis Mine)
On a related note, the expression “end(s) of the earth” the time of emergence of these prophesied God’s children, 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 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The prophecy mentions, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” It is during this period when the prophesied children of God would emerge which is the commencement or the beginning of the birth pangs. The Church of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered in the Philippine government on July 27, 1914 — concurrent with the outbreak of “World War One” by biblical prophecy, which marks the time “end(s) of the earth”:
“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) …” (Matt. 24:6-8 footnote, Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
(Reference: Matt. 24:6-8 Footnote, Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
“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. 2, p. 291, Emphasis Mine)
Notice that this was the same date the Church of Christ was registered with the government in the Philippines — a country “almost at the geographical center of the Far East” (Asia and the Philippines, p. 169), consisting of 7,641 islands and islets (worldatlas.com).
The connection between these historical events and biblical prophecy is not a coincidence but a profound and prophetic realization.
'HE CHOSE WHAT THE WORLD LOOKS DOWN ON'
The Almighty God has sure reasons when He chooses things considered unimportant or weak by people. For one thing, He would put to shame those considered powerful and wise, that no one can boast in His presence:
“God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God’s presence.”
(Reference: I Cor. 1:27-29 GNB)
The emergence of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, God’s nation in these last days, from the Philippines is a fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Yes, its country of origin may be small and poor, yet it does not controvert its divine election, but rather all the more proves that this Church is certainly of God.
IN CONCLUSION
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WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ. These teachings present the path that leads to eternal life for all people on the appointed day:
The Truth About Salvation
CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION with over 2.4 billion followers worldwide. It is composed of diverse faiths with thousands of denominations, such as Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Adventist—the list goes on. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that there are over 45,000 denominations globally, with more than 200 in the United States alone. Each denomination has its own unique set of beliefs and doctrines, especially when it comes to how one can achieve salvation. Do any of these religions truly teach the proper way of salvation?
Reach Out
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)