Church of Christ
Felix Manalo
Felix Manalo is said to be the restorer of the church of Christ, and "God's last messenger"
INC divides time into three periods: the era of the Patriarchs (from creation to the birth of Moses), the era of the Prophets (from the birth of Moses to the birth of Jesus), and the Christian era (from the birth of Jesus to the Last Judgment). Adherents believe him to be the last messenger of God in the Christian Era.
The INC says that Manalo is the "angel from the east", mentioned in Revelation 7:1–3 who started the INC at the same time that World War I broke out. This period of time according to INC is referred to as the ends of the earth (cf Is 41:9-10; 43:5-6) the time when the end of the world is near, even at the doors (cf. Mt. 24:3, 33), which began with the outbreak of a war of global proportions (cf. Mt. 24:6-7)[58][62] Felix Manalo is from the Philippines, which they say is in the ‘center’ of the Far East.[63] The ‘four winds’ in Revelation 7:1-3, they say refers to World War I and the four angels are the four leaders known as the big four(Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando) who they say worked on the prevention of the war.[64][65]
Manalo is also portrayed as the fulfilment of several passages in Isaiah and other books of the Bible.[32][33] Manalo's titles are "the last Elijah" (Mal.4:5) http://www.jahtruth.net/mal4.htm
4:5 Behold, I will send you EliJAH the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the "I AM" (Sura 43:61):
Who is JAH?
As the one who established the INC, Manalo was the chief administrator, chief theologian and spiritual leader of the church.[57] As such, he was the ultimate authority in all aspects of the church, and effectively "the foremost Biblical authority for all humanity and the divinely designated leader of a reestablished church of Christ in the modern world." His influence within the church caused people from other religions to call INC and its members "Iglesia ni Manalo" (Tagalog for Church of Manalo) and "Manalistas", respectively,[32] labels INC members consider as both pejoratives and blasphemous.[citation needed] http://www.jahtruth.net/nsongad.htm
Approximately 860 years after Moses had died, God warned the Levitical priesthood that if they continued to betray Him He would remove them from office; by reducing the Levitical priesthood to One priest - The High-Priest; because the Levites had abused their position and used their authority to make themselves wealthy and in so doing helped to make and keep the rest of the people poor and in the dark.
God therefore sent His Word to Ezekiel to warn the Levites to mend their ways and what He said is written in Ezekiel chapter 34. The following is a précis of what God said. He then gave the Levites approximately 600 years before He officially abolished their position over the people. (For a fuller and more detailed explanation of this please read "The Way home or face The Fire" by this author).
And The Word of the Lord came unto me (Ezekiel) saying, Son of man, prophesy AGAINST the "shepherds of Israel", prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the Levites:
Woe be to the Levites of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the Levites (the "shepherds of Israel") feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed (the Prophets, whom God has fed PERSONALLY with His TRUTH): but ye feed NOT the flock.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken (Isaiah 61 v 1 & Luke 4 v 18), neither have ye sought that which was lost (the 10 "Lost" Tribes of Israel): but with force and with CRUELTY have ye ruled them.
Therefore, ye Levites, hear the Word of the Lord: (John 1 v 14).
As I Live, saith the Lord God, surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became MEAT to every beast of the field, because there was no (good) shepherd, neither did my Levites search for My flock, but the LEVITES fed THEMSELVES and fed NOT My flock:
Therefore O ye LEVITES, hear the Word of the Lord;
Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am AGAINST the LEVITES; and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause THEM (the Levites) to CEASE from feeding the flock; neither shall the LEVITES feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver My flock from their MOUTH, that they (MY flock ) may not be MEAT for them (the LEVITES - the priests).
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold I even I will both search My sheep and seek them out (John 10 v 11).
As a SHEPHERD seeketh out His flock in the day that He is among His sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep.
I will seek out that which is "Lost" (the 10 lost tribes - the "House of Israel") and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken (Isaiah 61 v 1 & Luke 4 v 18 and THE COVENANT) and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will DESTROY the fat (poison) and the strong: I will feed them with JUDGEMENT.
And I will set up ONE Shepherd over them (the flocks - plural - the 2 kingdoms) and he shall feed them, even My "well-beloved" * servant, he shall feed them and he (ALONE) shall be their Shepherd (singular).
And I the Lord will be their God, and My "well-beloved" * (Matt. 3 v 17 - Son) servant a Prince (Son of the King - Prince Michael - the Arch-angel - Daniel 10 v 21 & Revelation 12 v 7) among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
And I will make with them a "Covenant of Peace" (Jesus is called the Prince of Peace - and the New Covenant / Testament reconfirms the Moral Law of the Old Covenant [The Torah] and adds a spiritual dimension to it).
And the tree of the field (Olive-Israel NOT Judah) shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land (England), and shall KNOW that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke (oppression) and delivered them out of the hand of those (the LEVITES) that served THEMSELVES of them (the flocks).
Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them (EMMANUEL - Matt. 1 v 21-23), and that they even the "House of Israel" (the 10 "Lost Tribes") are My people (Christian) saith the Lord God. (All 10 of the so-called "Lost" tribes accepted Christ as their Lord and are today called Christian Nations - at least by name if not by nature).
And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are MEN and I am YOUR God, saith the Lord God.
* The Hebrew word "David", which has been left, in Hebrew, in the English translations of the Bible, is not merely a name. Ezekiel could not possibly have meant David because David, the shepherd who became king, had already been dead for almost 500 years. The word David means "well-beloved" and should have been translated along with the rest of the sentence instead of being purposely left in Hebrew, by the translators, to mislead the reader away from the Truth, in order to allow the priesthood to survive, by refusing to recognise:- (i) that God was referring to Jesus, not to David, and (ii) Christ's God given sole authority and priesthood.
The Levitical priesthood has refused to obey God right up to this present day and still refuses to be removed and acknowledge The High-Priest whom God sent and who was The Word of God incarnated as Jesus Nazir (Nazir means The Truth), so that they could continue their lucrative business and maintain their power over the people. The town of Nazareth did not exist until the fourth century after the birth of Jesus. So he was not from the town of Nazareth but was really the Nazorean (the Truth) and a Nazarite (Numbers chapter 6) and so, yet again, the priests have hidden the Truth (see Luke 11:52).
They quote Ezekiel as God's Prophet but purposely do NOT quote and IGNORE the parts of Ezekiel that do not suit their purpose and then misquote God's words to Jeremiah to try to justify their continued existence. Just as their "so-called" christian counterparts do exactly the same with the New Covenant Gospels, especially Matthew's chapters 6 and 23 to try to justify their existence. I have therefore correctly quoted and explained what God actually did say to Jeremiah:-
JEREMIAH 33 v 18
Neither shall the priests the LEVITES (shepherds of Israel) want (lack) A man (NOT lots of men) before Me to offer burnt offerings (Matt. 3 v 11 & 12:- John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire: Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable Fire."), and to do sacrifice continually (Luke 9 v 23 - "And he said to them ALL, If any man will come after Me (follow the Shepherd), let him deny himSELF (SELF-sacrifice), and take up his cross (of SELF-sacrifice) DAILY (continually) and follow Me (be unSELFish and feed the flocks)."
Luke 9 v 24 "whoever will lose his "SELF"-life (daily) for My sake (continually), the same shall save it (his REAL Life - that of his spirit-Being or soul)."
The Levites say that Jesus was not a Levite and so could not become High-priest.
God tells us and it is written in both the New Covenant and in the Holy Koran that the Virgin Mary was from both the line of David and also from the Levitical line of Aaron, being cousin of Elizabeth (a Levite) and the daughter of Ann, who was from both the British royal family - the line of David and also from the line of Aaron (Moses' brother, who was the first High-priest of Israel). We are also told by God (not Mohammed) in the Holy Koran that Mary did, in fact, give birth to Jesus whilst still a virgin and that she travelled from her home in the West (England) to the East (Israel) to give birth to the miracle-son.
After The Crucifixion, during The Persecution of Christ's TRUE followers, who were called "Covenanters" or "Followers of The Way" (they were NOT called christians), Mary returned home to England, with her rich uncle Joseph of Arimathea, for safety and to spread the Gospel to "The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel" in England, where both Mary and Joseph of Arimathea are buried, in England, where Jesus grew up.
This is what Christ THE High-Priest said to YOU through the Gospel of Matthew:-
MATTHEW
6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt NOT be as the hypocrites [ARE]: for they love to pray standing in the churches and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward - they have been seen by men..
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, pray to thy Father in private (telepathically); and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6:7 But when ye pray, use NOT vain repetitions, as the heathen [DO]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking (repeating the same tired old phrases over and over every week).
6:8 Be NOT ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of (to be able to do His Will), BEFORE ye ask Him.
6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
6:10 Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will (Islam in Arabic) be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
23:1 Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples (the Apostles),
23:2 Saying, The lawyers and the politicians sit in Moses' [Law] seat:
23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe [of God's Law], [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their example: for they say, and do not (and make up their own laws against God's Orders - Deut. 4:2).
23:4 For they bind heavy burdens (the Talmud) and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not lift one of their fingers to remove them.
23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen by men: they make broad their phylacteries (small leather box containing Old Covenant- Testament texts, worn to remind them to keep The Law [God's Law]), and enlarge the borders of their garments,
23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the churches,
23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Priest, Rabbi, Imam, etc. (the church and the state were one at that time)
23:8 But be not YE (which included the Twelve Apostles who were also there) called priest (etc.): for One is your Teacher, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren.
23:9 And call NO [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ.
23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
23:13 But woe unto you, lawyers and politicians, hypocrites! for ye shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither allow ye them that are entering to go in (see Enoch 93:4 - 102:6 in the "King of kings' Bible" - by JAH, which also includes God's Holy Koran).
23:14 Woe unto you, lawyers and politicians, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
23:15 Woe unto you, lawyers and politicians, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one convert, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell-fire than yourselves.
Through their words and actions the Levites have prevented the Jewish people from accepting Jesus as their true King and his teaching (which they NEED to be able to survive) and the re-uniting of the twelve tribes as was also explained through Ezekiel in chapter 37:22 :- "And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be King to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all (ch.35 v 10):"
This has not happened yet because the Jews refused to obey God just as He prophesied they would on the first coming of Christ/Messiah (Greek/Hebrew).
However, it will happen on the second coming, at least to 24,000 of them (12,000 from the tribe of Judah and 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin, who together make up "The House of Judah - Jewdah"), and the rest will be executed for treason as The Lamb Prophesied himself 2,000 years ago to his Apostle John on the island of Patmos and it is written in the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse chapter 7.
To refresh your memory I will remind you that later on in the same Book - Revelation/Apocalypse, chapters 14 and 15, in verse 3 of both, it is written, and we are told, that the only people who will be redeemed from the Earth and will survive, including jews, are the 144,000 who alone have been able to learn to sing the New Song, which is the Song of Moses and the Song of The Lamb synthesised and harmonized. Note well chapter 5 verse 9.
14:3 And they sung as it were a New Song (Isaiah 42:10) before the Throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that "Song" except the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand (144,000), which were redeemed from the earth.
15:3 And they sing the "Song of Moses" (Old Covenant - Deut. 31) the servant of God, AND the "Song of the Lamb" (New Covenant), saying, Great and marvellous [are] Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] Thy Ways, Thou King of the holy people.
We have been told, by God, in Deuteronomy that The Old Covenant (written in the Torah - the five Books of Moses) is the "Song of Moses", as I have quoted previously.
It is therefore of critical importance for your own survival, according to what The Word of God told Isaiah, that any jewish person, from the tribe of Judah or the tribe of Benjamin, who wants to survive and also you, the reader of this Book, no matter what colour, race, or creed you are, you must learn the New Song and Live by it. Do NOT allow anyone (and I do mean absolutely anyone) on Earth to persuade you otherwise, or you will burn, because God says so, and He always means and does what He says.
ZECHARIAH 12 v 10
"And they (Jerusalem) shall look upon ME whom they pierced (whilst inside of the son of Mary body) and they (the Jews) shall MOURN for HIM (Jesus) as one mourneth for His only SON, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for HIS (own) firstborn.
In that Day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon (as they too are EXECUTED - for their treason).
The Valley of Megiddon is below the mountains of Megiddo - Har-Megiddo or in English - Armageddon - ARMAGEDDON.
TWO 2 comings NOT one. ME and HIM. The Lord God says so.
The same SPIRIT (God is SPIRIT not flesh and so is His Son) TWO bodies (ME and HIM).
We had therefore better take a good look now at the "Song of the Lamb" and how it affects the "Song of Moses" and harmonizes and synthesizes with it.
Remember God said that YOU must not add to or diminish anything from the Torah but He did not say that He Himself could not adjust the number of priests and the type of sacrifice He required, in order to stop His people from being misled, abused and exploited by them and thereby to perfect The Covenant People, at least the Faithfull ones amongst them. The number of Faithfull being only 144,000 out of all the millions of The Covenant People, so, if you want to be one of them, there is no room for deviation because The Way is extremely narrow (seek to enter at the Strait Gate) and YOU must do exactly as God says and not the opposite, as the priests tell you it is alright to do because they will get God to forgive you: they say. However, God says quite clearly and unequivocally that, "The soul that sins shall SURELY DIE", in which He includes all of the priests, because they all disobey Him.
The Song of The Lamb
The (Sacrificial) Lamb of God was Jesus the miracle-son, who was sacrificed, as the Second Passover, to redeem the people from the curse (penalty clauses) of The Law of The Mosaic Covenant under which all were guilty and worthy of death, for having broken it, and thereby set them free from the power of sin, through his teachings, if they accepted, digested and lived by them.
The Old Covenant came into being because Abraham did not withhold his miracle-son Isaac and was willing to sacrifice him to God. It was then ratified with the Israelite descendants of Abraham, through Moses, at Horeb in Sinai. Instead of sacrificing Isaac, God provided Abraham, once he had passed his test, with a ram (male adult sheep) to sacrifice instead of Isaac, foreshadowing the sacrifixion of Jesus (the Lamb) instead of Isaac's descendants.
In order not to have to execute the entire nation of Israel, under the penalty clauses of The Covenant, God decided to create a miracle-son of His own (the Virgin-Birth ,which was at Passover, in April, when new lambs are born, not at the time of the pagan Babylonian Festival of Yuletide in December) and sacrifice him (at Passover, again in April of that year, NOT at the time of Easter/Ishtar who is a pagan Babylonian fertility goddess . Her Ishtar eggs - a sign of fertility have nothing to do with Jesus) instead of the whole nation.
For a more detailed explanation of this please read "The Way home or face The Fire" which is a Book by this author and my "Passover" and other Booklets too).
Now we know who The Lamb is and what month he was really born and sacrificed and why, let us take a look at his "Song" or Covenant, written in the New Covenant/Testament.
It is imperative that I should point out to you here and now that anyone who has NOT signed up for The New Covenant, or is not fulfilling it in minute detail, is still under the penalty clauses of the Old Covenant (the death sentence) and are known as and are referred to by Christ as "The Dead" (see Matthew ch. 8:22).
Jesus came to abolish the priesthood except for himself alone as the sole representative of the priesthood, being both High-Priest and King, after the order of Melchizedek.
He told his followers including the apostles and it is written in the Gospel of Matthew, that they must not be priests (rabbi) and must not be called father:-
23:8 But be not ye called priest (etc.): for One is your Teacher, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren.
23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ.
Jesus told his TRUE followers, and it is written, again in Matthew, that they must NOT go to church and must NOT pray in church or in public, as the hypocrites DO.
6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt NOT be as the hypocrites [ARE]: for they love to pray standing in the churches and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (They wanted to be seen by men and they have been).
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, pray to thy Father in private (telepathically); and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Because He will answer you because you obeyed His instructions about how to do it, and when He does you will be so amazed that everyone will notice the change in you).
Therefore the parts of The Old Covenant that relate to the priesthood, churches and the animal sacrifices, for redemption from sin, are now OBSOLETE.
Let us now see how this affects the "Song of Moses" written in Deuteronomy. It does not affect the national and moral Law, in any way, exactly as Jesus himself stated clearly, and it is written, again in the Gospel of Matthew:-
5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy The Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from The Law, till all be fulfilled.
5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least COMMANDments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall EXCEED [the righteousness] of the lawyers and politicians (who were also priests because the church and the state were one at that time), ye shall in NO case enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
Therefore the death penalty for certain crimes (including idolatry) still stands today along with the rest of The Law as a deterrent to the committing of those crimes. If the deterrent is removed then those crimes will automatically be committed, and increase, along with a breakdown of order, leading to even more crime.
Before you are tempted to quote the Gospel of John chapter 8 and The Adulterous Woman story, for an excuse, I must point out that this story did not appear in the original New Testament and was added a long time later by powerful people who wanted to get away with committing adultery.
If it had happened then it could not have been as it is written because Jesus came to uphold The Law not to break it, as he stated clearly. In this story Jesus is reported to have said, "Go and sin no more" not "everybody go out and do it", as has happened precisely because of The Adulterous Woman story.
It could only have been a permissible act of compassion because the woman was truly repentant and because her husband begged for her to be spared and did not want to press charges against her, otherwise Jesus could not have pardoned her. There can be absolutely NO remission of sins without true and complete repentance.
The millions of mischievous people who misquote the letters of Paul and say that The Law itself was abolished, and that everyone can therefore break The Law with impunity, just as long as they say the words "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God", will burn, exactly as God says, for their crimes of misleading people and calling Jesus a liar, along with the millions who were misled from The Way, by them, because they chose to believe not the Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Jesus said, "He that is not with (and fighting for) me, is (automatically) AGAINST me."
When Paul said that Jesus had saved everyone from the curse of The Law he was referring to the Penalty Clauses of The Covenant which are clearly stated by Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"
Therefore, exactly as it is stated clearly by the Lamb himself in his Song, every one of the 144,000 who will be redeemed from the Earth must be keeping The Law, written in the Song of Moses, and NO OTHER - perfect harmony there.
God explained to you, via Moses, that those of you who will not LIVE by those Principles and The Law will DIE by The Law, and, contrary (the opposite) to what you have been told by priests of all denominations, He always says what He means and HE MEANS EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS.
Perhaps now you can see why God abolished the priesthood except for The High-Priest, for all time, after the order of Melchizedek. - JAH
Copyright © 1997 - JAH - all rights reserved.
In the very little time that you have left to learn the New Song, before Execution-Day arrives; for those who are still committing treason; you had, if YOU want to survive, better REPENT and start learning to sing The New Song, "for the Kingdom of God IS AT HAND." - on The Rock (Gibraltar) - FIRST (Isaiah 42).
You will be unable to do that without reading, digesting and Living "The Way home or face The Fire" by this author - JAH.
The Gospel according to Matthew at Glenfield. http://www.jahtruth.net/godgovmt.htm
16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Cephas - a little pebble or stone -John 1:42), and upon this Rock (the Truth - Matt. 7:24-27 that Peter had spoken) I will build my community; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
16:19 And I will give unto thee the "Keys" of the Kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Ephesians http://www.jahtruth.net/noti.htm
5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the community: and he is the saviour of the body.
5:24 Therefore as the community is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the community, and gave himself for it;
5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of [Living] water by the Word,
5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious community, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the community:
5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the community.
5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband.
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
6:2 Honour thy Father and Mother (Israel); (which is the first commandment with promise;)
<[To [the] Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]> JAH
John, The Gospel according to John
10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
10:2 But he that entereth in by the door (tells the Truth) is the Shepherd of the sheep.
10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
10:6 This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them.
10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
10:11 I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
10:14 I am the Good Shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known by mine.
10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16 And other sheep I have (the "House of Israel"), which are not of this fold (the "House of Judah"): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one Shepherd (Eze 37:22 and Genesis 49:10). http://www.jahtruth.net/noti.htm
10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the 'lost sheep' of the "House of Israel" (the Ten "Lost" Tribes of Israel who became Christ's, at least in name).
The Christian church I.e.(Church of Christ) has purposely wrongly translated the word "community" as "church" to try to justify their own existence and the "holy people" (Israel) as "saints" to deceive everyone and hide the Truth, so that they could then falsely claim to be Israel the church, instead of Israel the NATION.
You were told to preach the Gospel of the KINGDOM, not the church, to all NATIONS not churches, for a witness (Revelation 11 v 3) and then the end of Satan's rule would come - the end of the "Winter" age or dispensation NOT the planet (Matthew 24 v 14).
The Acts of the Apostles
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the community of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. I.e.(Church of Christ) Instead of (to be "True to The Covenant" - "Covenanters"), http://www.jahtruth.net/rabbis.htm
Galatians
1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the communities of Galatia:
1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Christ Jesus,
1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our (adopted) Father:
1:5 To Whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel (Christianity):
1:7 Which is not another (because they "call" it Christianity); but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the [True] gospel of Christ. I.e.(Church of Christ)
1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you (to be "True to The Covenant" - "Covenanters"), let him be accursed.
1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1:10 For do I now persuade men, or [does] God [through me]? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet PLEASED men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ.
1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not from man.
1:12 For I neither received it from man, neither was I taught [it], except by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the community of God, and wasted it:
1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the "Traditions" of my fathers (the Talmud).
1:15 But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by His grace,
1:16 To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Christ's Space-ship - Ark
"The New Jerusalem"
"Times Of Noah"
The Arks of Noah and Jesus. Life or death?
Although the Noah's Ark story belongs to the Old Covenant/Testament, frequent references to it, as a very important "Article of Faith", occur in the New Covenant and also in the Koran. In fact, Christ made a "Life or death" (yours) Prophecy, that, at the time when he would return to the Earth, conditions and attitudes on the Earth would be like they were in "the days of Noah".
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.
17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all.
17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
This Prophetical statement has never been fully understood or appreciated, by anyone, since it was first made, by Christ himself, 2000 years ago. Christ also said, repeatedly, "I AM NOT FROM THIS WORLD" (John 17:16).
Many people can see that, now, in the latter-half of the 20th century (the Last Days), those conditions are again plainly in evidence, especially Sodomy/homosexuality; lewdness and scoffing (Rev./Apoc. 21:8, 27 & 2 Peter 3 & 2 Tim. 3), for all to see and so, thereby, recognise "The Signs of The Times" (Matt. 16:3) and that Christ must come, or, as he said himself, be here NOW.
However, everyone has missed the crucially important point of this very eloquent, "Life or death" statement. That is, possibly, because they have not joined it to the other related-warning Prophecy, given by Jesus, which must be done, otherwise it is impossible to understand the full meaning and importance of the first statement.
Christ's second Prophetical statement was a warning about the many false Christs (and religious teachers) and false prophets, who, under Satan's control, would come at the same time, in order to deceive as many people as possible (everyone except "the very Elect"), in order to keep them away from the REAL Christ, who would at this time be upon the Earth, in human form, inside a new body from Joseph/Ephraim (Please see my "On The Way to Emmaus Again" Booklet), if this were not true, Satan would have no need to make false ones to keep the people away from the REAL One. The best place to hide a tree is in a wood.
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any [man] deceive you:
13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very Elect.
24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. (Search the Old Covenant Prophecies for where I will be). I.e.(Church of Christ)
This statement was NOT meant as a warning to people not to believe the real Christ who would be, as he said, on the Earth at this same time, but only against being deceived by the false ones, and by the false religion-teachers and prophets. I.e.(Church of Christ)
The first statement about the "Times of Noah" and the two crucially important points that were being made by Christ, that NO-ONE has understood, are that many, many people will believe and be deceived by false Christs; false prophets and the false religion-teachers of every religion but no-one will believe the real Christ, just as no-one believed Noah. That is what Christ really was saying, to YOU, that people would choose to believe anyone rather than believe him, and would take the "Quick and Easy-path" of Organised Religions, instead of The Way (2 Peter 2:14-15, 21 & 3:15-17).
The second, even more crucially important point to that statement, is that because no-one believed Noah and so did not REPENT and do as he told them to do, they ALL died. That is exactly what Christ was telling YOU, that is, that because the WHOLE world has been deceived by Satan (Rev./Apoc. 12:9) and will therefore refuse to believe the real Christ, as he himself Prophesied, you will, like the "Times of Noah", ALL be executed, except for the very "Elect/Chosen" who will believe and be invited to board his Ark (the "New Jerusalem"; please see my "Close Encounters of the Gibraltar Kind" Booklet).
Only the very few people who have stayed "spiritually-awake"; have not been deceived by Organised Religions into taking the "Quick and Easy-path" (please see my "Starwars - Fact NOT Fiction" and "The Real Darth Vader" Booklets) and have searched the Scriptures for the "Birth-marks" of the real Christ and from those "Birth-marks" that tell where the body he would use would be born; in what year; from which tribe; what he would do; where he would go, and, from the Truth he speaks; will recognise, kneel and serve the True Christ; board his Ark and be saved (Rev./Apoc. ch. 21).
EVERYONE else will burn just as Jesus said (Luke 19:27). This time, unlike the "Times of Noah", when water was used, there will be no more second-chances.
After the crucifixion and the disciples had been told about how the risen Christ had unlocked the Scriptures (Prophecies) "On The Way to Emmaus" (Please see my "On The Way to Emmaus Again" Booklet), Simon Peter then was able, with that certain-Knowledge, to write, in his second letter:-
1:19 We have also the more sure Word of Prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye TAKE HEED, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place, until the Day dawn, and the Morning Star arise in your hearts: (Revelation 22:16 - I Jesus am ............. the bright and Morning Star).
1:20 Knowing this first, that no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
1:21 For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke [as they were] moved by the Holy Spirit.
2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord (when he comes again in his new body) that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious (harmful) ways; by reason of whom The Way of Truth (the REAL Christ and The Way) shall be evil spoken of.
2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Simon Peter stated that "the SURE Word of Prophecy" was MORE to be taken heed of than even the voice from heaven that they had heard on the "Mount of Transfiguration", which came out of the "Bright Cloud" (UFO). Amen to that.
So, if you don't STOP listening to all, or any, of the false teachers of religions and following the "Quick and Easy-path"; I.e.(Church of Christ) search the Scriptures, for yourselves, as Simon told you to do, and find the "Signs" by which to recognise the REAL Christ, and then serve him and learn "The New Song"; you will die. There will be absolutely NO exceptions. – JAH
If you want help, read "The Way home or face The Fire"; soon.
The Way home or face The Fire.
by JAH
The ONLY Survival Plan for all human+Beings.
CHRIST promised, in The Gospel of John, that at His Second Coming, just before The End, He would show people clearly about God.
John 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father.
He said that just before the Last-Day, when everybody is due to be judged on his/her individual merits, He would come again and publish the Truth of God and enlighten the whole world.
24:27 For as the lightening cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
This is also described in The Book of Revelation / Apocalypse, chapter 10, where the Angel gives the apostle, John, a little book and when he eats it up (reads and digests its contents) it is bitter in his belly, but is in his mouth sweet as honey (easy to read, but not so easy to digest and do what it says).
10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the Prophets.
10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go [and] take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the "sea" and upon the "earth".
10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth as sweet as honey.
10:10 And I took the little book (white stone ch. 2:17) out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten (digested) it, my belly was bitter.
This Book is available now and is called 'The Way home or face The Fire' by JAH (see Malachi chapter 4). It explains the Truth about God; the True interpretation of The Holy Bible and The Holy Koran; the True reasons why what is happening now is happening and what is going to happen in the very near future in the world. It also explains the consequences involved in taking each of the two paths - The Way home or the way to The Fire.
JAH,
JAH Publications,
P. O. Box 561,
The Way Home - PMB 205,
Gibraltar,
(Via London).
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They don't make profits, but you will need to buy a copy (upon which your life depends). Send cash payment please for this 168 page authoritative analytical work. It is NOT a 'Religious Document' it is the TRUTH.
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The Way home or face The Fire
by JAH
The ONLY Survival Plan for every human+Being.
Introduction
... what follows is the beginning of a Biblical prophecy leading to the end of the world as we know it.
The scenario moves from way out in space to the depths of good and evil in the human soul. It is a True story, the instruction manual for survival.
Hoarding weapons and/or building bomb-shelters are not the preparations required for what is to come in this world. This, "The Way Home" is the ONLY Survival Plan that works.
If you like a book with a mission and want to survive, then read on. . .
CHAPTER 1
"Before the Beginning" (of human life on earth).
Thousands of Earth years ago, far away in THIS galaxy, on the Morning Star (Rev. 2 v 28), the Lord Guardian Of Divinity, King, Ruler and Guardian of the Universe (Sura 23:86), put down a revolution led by Lucifer (Iblis)(Revelations 12 v 7-9).
The Morning Star (Venus) is inhabited by immortal "Beings of Light" (Spirit/Energy) whose civilisation, based on "pure" love, is zillions of years old.
Lucifer, now known here on Earth as Satan (the opposer) the Devil (the liar/slanderer) from which the word D/ evil is derived; because of his selfish and arrogant nature, wanted to over-throw the Lord and to take His place, so that he could rule and inflict his own selfish opinion and evil desires on the heavens. He encouraged and misled many of the other inhabitants of the Morning Star, who people on Earth know by the name Angel, to join him and he then started a war against God (Rev. 12 v 7 & Isaiah 14 v 13-14).
Angels do not carry harps and have wings, they merely have a melodic sounding type of voice and they can fly. The very simple mentality of the people of the early biblical days, who had never seen anything on Earth flying, unless it had wings, led to the myth about angels.
Lucifer did not declare war and fight with honour but sneaked around murdering and fought dishonourably (John 8 v 44), as ALL terrorists do.
Prince Michael, God's eldest son, known by many names here on Earth, one of which is Jesus, Commander-in-Chief of the JEDI Knights, who have been the guardians of the heavens for zillions of years, fought with his knights, using the "Light" and the "Force", which is the force of love. God, who is pure love and the source and controller of His "Force", love, the greatest force in creation, defeated Lucifer and his followers, some of whom were misled, by lies, into fighting against God.
Unlike Lucifer who would have spared no-one, the Lord in His infinite wisdom and compassion decided to demonstrate His love and mercy to His enemies. God, knowing that Lucifer had invented lying (John 8 v 44) and had deceived many weak-willed angels into following him, decided not to execute them immediately but to give them a chance to learn the ERROR of their ways. If they GENUINELY repented, within a preset period of time, He would spare them; if not He would have no alternative but to destroy them (Malachi 4 v 6 & John 3 v 17-18 / 5 v 24-25).
The Lord then had to decide what to do with His prisoners, so that they could do no more harm and could be safely taught to be good. Being spirit/energy (Luke 9 v 55) they could not be punished, only destroyed using "fire" (not earthly fire), because they feel no PAIN and have no needs.
Not executing Lucifer and his angels outright created quite a difficult situation.
They had to be taught to keep the twelve laws of heaven; THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS. Ten of which were given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20 v 1-17) and the eleventh and twelfth which were given later on by Jesus, one of which God demonstrated and still demonstrates i.e. "love your enemies into being good." He did this by giving you a chance and the opportunity of learning to be good, even though you had intended, and actually tried, to kill Him. This demonstrates perfectly, God's gentle use of strength.
Jesus gave the new COMMANDMENT, "love one another as I have loved you," to his disciples (John 13 v 34 / 15 v 12). He was telling them to love their enemies and to teach them by loving them, because the disciples had originally been his enemies in the war (Rev, 12 v 7), or they would not have been here in prison (Isaiah 14 v 12-15)(Luke 9 v 55)(Rev. 12 v 8)(Sura 17:8 & 83:7).
Loving your enemies does NOT mean allowing them to do evil or to get away with doing evil, or allowing them to persuade YOU to do evil things, or to stop YOU from doing what God wants YOU to do. Just like when Satan used Peter to try to stop Jesus from doing God's Will and Jesus said to Satan, who was speaking through Peter, "get behind me Satan" (Matt.16 v 23).
The twelfth COMMANDMENT also given later by Jesus is "YOU shall NOT judge." He who judges another condemns himself (Matt. 7 v 1). This applies to ALL of you, especially in your courts. God has given HIS Judgements and Laws as well as THE COMMANDMENTS and anyone else's judgements and laws are TOTALLY ILLEGAL. IF everyone kept The COMMANDMENTS there would be absolutely no problems on Earth.
All the prisoners were given suspended death sentences, UNLESS they learned to be good. Those death sentences still stand and are only suspended until Judgement Day, YOU still are under the shadow of the DEATH SENTENCE (Exodus 34 v 6-7) (John 3 v 17-18 & 5 v 24-25).
________________
I have already stated, in the introduction, that this Book is fact, NOT fiction.
Before any of you start to fall into the trap of mistakenly thinking that this Book is a science-fiction novel based on "Starwars" by George Lucas just because I have used the word JEDI, I am going to explain to you something that George Lucas does not know, yet.
George Lucas quite naturally believes that he wrote "Starwars", when, in reality, he was told telepathically what to write in the original first three Episodes (4-6), by the very "Force" to which the films refer, and was "forced" to make only episodes 4-6, first, as a very important step in the preparation of mankind for the long-awaited TRUTH, about the real reasons for human life on Earth ("what on earth am I doing here?"), the meaning of life and its purpose, contained in THIS Book, from which episodes 1-3 should have been made, as I did my best, frequently, to tell him.
Unfortunately George Lucas has exercised his "Free-will"; ignored me and made Episode 1 - "The Phantom Menace"; with arrogant actors who publicly ridicule the real message and the real fans; which undermines the original theme and Divine Message; contradicts it and is mere fiction (lies), telepathically fed to him by the Dark-side force (Satan), to try to confuse everyone and undo the good (God's) message contained in the earlier three films (Episodes 4-6). This is Satan's standard-practice and very predictable. He has done it with the Old Testament; New Testament and Koran and the three major religions who claim to be based on them.
This Book is science-fact.
Not understanding that he was being told telepathically, Lucas thinks that "Starwars" came from his imagination, which is a perfectly normal human reaction that many people have had over the centuries. Rudyard Kipling thought that he wrote "IF", Oscar Wilde thought that he wrote "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Joe Darian thought that he wrote the words to "The Impossible Dream" and the list is endless.
Although "Starwars" is set as sci-fi in a distant galaxy to make it entertaining, it actually refers to this galaxy and life on Earth and contains the Truth, which is demonstrated symbolically.
What Luke Skywalker learns during the "Starwars" films, parts 4 - 6 incl., is what each and every one of you HAS to learn to be able to survive, get out of here and go HOME.
CHAPTER 2
"The Prison Reform School with no bars."
After making a study of the situation, God and the elders (of the Morning Star) decided to create a reform school, far enough away, where, for a chosen period, they could safely try to teach Lucifer and his angels to be good, whereupon they could come home (Revelations 2 v 28)(Sura 29:6).
The objective was for each and every one of you to learn, individually, to be like God (Matt. 5 v 48 & 19 v 17), which, later on in history, because people had lost their way and couldn't find it again by themselves, had to be demonstrated by a messenger, whose teachings taught the ONLY way back home.........
Iglesia ni Cristo[8] pronounced [ɪˈgleʃɐ ni ˈkɾisto] (English: Church of Christ; abbreviated as INC; colloquially Iglesia) describes itself as an independent Christian religion.[9] The church stresses its independence, saying that it is not a denomination or sect of any of the major groupings and is neither affiliated to any federation of religious bodies, nor itself an assembly of smaller religious organizations.[10] Other sources call it the largest entirely indigenous Christian denomination in the Philippines,[11][12] the largest religious organization that originated in the Philippine Islands, and also the largest independent Christian church in Asia.[13] It has also been cited as one of the largest and most powerful churches in the developing world.[14]INC is also one of the largest religious bodies of the world with 27 million adherents.[15] Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in outlook and theme.[16] INC, however, does not consider itself to be part of the Restoration Movement, which it considers as the "children" of the apostate Roman Catholic Church.[17]
Iglesia ni Cristo believes that it is the true church established by Jesus Christ in the first century, and that its registration in the Philippines is the fulfillment of bible prophesies that Jesus Christ's church would re-emerge in the Far East.[10]
Felix Y. Manalo officially registered the church with the Philippine Government on July 27, 1914[18] and because of this, most publications refer to him as the "founder" of the church.[19] However, the official doctrines of the church profess that Christ is the founder of the INC[20] and that Felix Manalo was the last messenger, sent by God to re-establish the Christian Church to its true, pristine form because the original church was apostatized. INC teaches that the apostate church is the Roman Catholic Church,[21] and proclaims that Catholic beliefs[22] shared by most Christians, such as the Trinity are proof of this apostasy. The church teaches that the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit are not biblical.[23][24][25] As of 2013, the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo is Eduardo V. Manalo, the grandson of Felix Manalo.[26]
Iglesia ni Cristo members are noted for bloc voting in Philippine elections[27] which is unique to the church due to their doctrine on unity and a practice that cannot be found outside INC.
The historical context of the Iglesia ni Cristo lies in a period of the early 20th century characterised by a variety of rural anti-colonialism movements, often with religious undertones, in the Philippines. United States missionary work was exposing Filipino culture to many alternatives to the Roman Catholic Church, which had been installed under Spanish rule. Some observers see the INC as an aggressive, materially successful, indigenous movement which became a major religious movement in only a period of fifty years. Some believe the success of the INC is attributed primarily to its leadership. However, the members of the Igelsia ni Cristo have full belief that the success of the church is the work and guidance of God.[28]
Pioneering years - 1913 to 1916
Felix Manalo, born on May 10, 1886 in Taguig, Philippines, was baptized a Roman Catholic. In his teenage years, Manalo became dissatisfied with Roman Catholic theology. According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the establishment of the Philippine Independent Church or the Aglipayan Church was his major turning point but Manalo remained uninterested since its doctrines were mainly Catholic. He started seeking through various denominations, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1904, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church,[29] entered the Methodist seminary, and became a pastor for a while.[30] Manalo left the Methodist church in 1913, and associated himself with atheist and agnostic peers.[31][32]
On November 1913, Manalo secluded himself with religious literature and unused notebooks in a friend's house in Pasay, instructing everyone in the house not to disturb him. He emerged out of seclusion three days later with his new-found doctrines.[31][33]
Iglesia ni Cristo's first chapel in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila.
Manalo, together with his wife, went to Punta, Santa Ana, Manila on November 1913, and started preaching. He left the congregation in the care of his first ordained minister, and returned to Taguig to evangelize. In Taguig, he was ridiculed and stoned in his meetings with locals. He was later able to baptize a few converts, including some of his persecutors. He later registered his new-found religion as the Iglesia ni Cristo (English: Church of Christ; Spanish: Iglesia de Cristo) on July 27, 1914 at the Bureau of Commerce as a corporation sole with himself as the first executive minister.[29][31][32] Expansion followed as INC started building congregations in the provinces in 1916.[34] The first three ministers were ordained in 1919.[33]
Continuing Growth - 1922 to 1950
In 1922, the INC's first schism, led by Teofilo Ora, one of INC's first ministers,[3][35][36] resulted in the loss of several congregations, along with their church buildings, in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.[30] Ora founded Iglesia Verdadero de Cristo which was later changed to Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus.[37]
The Iglesia ni Cristo chapel in Cebu.
By 1924, the INC had about 3,000 to 5,000 adherents in 43 or 45 congregations in Manila and six nearby provinces.[32] By 1936, the INC had 85,000 members. This figure grew to 200,000 by 1954.[34] A Cebu congregation was built in 1937—the first to be established outside of Luzon, and the first in the Visayas. The first mission to Mindanao was commissioned in 1946. Meanwhile, its first concrete chapel was built in Sampaloc, Manila in 1948.[32][38] Adherents fleeing for the provinces away from Manila, where the Japanese forces were concentrated during the World War II, were used for evangelization.[32] As Manalo's health began to fail in the 1950s, Eraño Manalo started to take leadership of the church. Felix Manalo died on April 12, 1963.[34][38]Felix Manalo started his preaching mission with only a handful of listeners in a small room at the workers quarters of a construction company. When he died, he left a well-established church with millions of members all over the Philippines. In only 49 years of existence, the Iglesia ni Cristo had 1,250 local chapels, and 35 large concrete cathedrals.[12] Felix Y. Manalo was a recognized and highly respected religious leader of the Philippines.[39]
International expansion - 1968 to 2010
The Central Temple build in 1984.
The first overseas INC mission was sent in 1968 on its 54th anniversary. On July 27, 1968, the church's former late Executive Minister, Erano G. Manalo (1925-2009), officiated at the first worship service of the Church outside the Philippines. This gathering held in Ewa Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii marked the establishment of the Honolulu Congregation, the first overseas mission of the Church. The following month, the Executive Minister was in California to establish the San Francisco Congregation and lead its inaugural worship service.In 1971, the Church set foot in Canada. In June 1987, the US Main Office (USMO) was set up in Daly City, California to assist the Central Administration in supervising the then 11 districts of the Church in the West. The first local congregation in Latin America was established in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1990. The following year, the Church reached Mexico and Aruba. From 2000 and beyond, congregations rose in the Central and South American countries. The first local congregation in Europe was established in England in 1972. The Church came to Germany and Switzerland in the mid-70s. By the end of the 1980s, congregations and missions could be found in the Scandinavian countries and their neighbors. The Rome, Italy Congregation was established on July 27, 1994; the Jerusalem, Israel Congregation in March 1996; and the Athens, Greece Congregation in May 1997. The predecessors (prayer groups) of these full-fledged congregations began two decades earlier. Meanwhile, the mission first reached Spain in 1979. The first mission in northern Africa opened in Nigeria in October 1978. After a month, the King William’s Town Congregation, in South Africa was established. A congregation was organized in Guam in 1969. In Australia, congregations have been established since mid-1970s. The Church first reached China by way of Hong Kong, and Japan through Tokyo also in the 1970s. Missions have also opened in Kazakhstan and Sakhalin Island in Russia. In Southeast Asia, the first congregation in Thailand was established in 1976 and missions have already been conducted in Brunei since 1979. In addition, there are also congregations in Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.[10] The INC started operating a radio station in 1969.[34] The Ministerial Institute of Development, currently the New Era University College of Evangelical Ministry, was founded in 1974 in Quiapo, Manila. It moved to its current location in Quezon City in 1978. As of 1995, it had 4,500 students and five extension schools in Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal. In 1971, the INC Central Office building was built in Quezon City. Fifteen years later, the Central Temple was added in the complex. The Tabernacle, a tent-like multipurpose building which can accommodate up to 4,000 persons, was finished in 1989. The complex also includes the New Era University, a higher-education institution run by the INC.[32]
Eraño Manalo died on August 31, 2009.[40] His son, Eduardo V. Manalo, succeeded him as executive minister upon his death.[26]
Three years since Eduardo Manalo assumed the office as the church's executive minister, INC has added outside the Philippines 65 local congregations, 20 congregation-extensions, and 57 GWS or Group Worship Services units that are being groomed to one day becoming extensions and eventually local congregations. Seven new ecclesiastical districts or large administrative units were added. These districts can comprise anywhere from ten to a hundred local congregations. These new districts are Northeast Asia (August 31, 2010), Southeast Asia (July 28,2011), Eastern Canada (June 16, 2011), Western Canada (June 16, 2011), Qatar (July 9,2012), United Arab Emirates (July 9,2012), and United Kingdom (July 9,2012). These figures do not include those in the Philippines. It has always been the policy of its administration to see to it that every local congregation has its own house of worship. In the Philippines alone, where INC Engineering and Construction Department undertakes the church's construction projects, 316 houses of worship, each with offices and housing facilities, were dedicated while 28 more were dedicated outside the Philippines from September 11, 2009 to September 7,2012. The biggest house of worship outside the Philippines can be found in Barcelona, Spain which can accommodate more than 1,000 worshipers at a time. INC bought the property from Jehova's Witnesses and it was dedicated on July 2012.
Approaching 100 years of expansion - 2011 to the present
The Philippine Arena in mid July 2013.
On August 17, 2011, INC led the groundbreaking of the church's most ambitious building so far- the Philippine Arena- on a 75-hectare field straddling Bocaue and Sta. Maria Bulacan. The 55,000-seater multi-purpose structure, touted to become the world's biggest and the most expensive indoor domed arena, is expected to be completed in time for the INC's centennial celebration in July 2014. Other major projects of the church as part of its centennial celebration are the EVM Convention Center, Iglesia Ni Cristo Museum along Central Avenue, Quezon City, the Legal Department Building and the INC Media Center Building inside the INC Central Office Complex in Quezon City, the 30,000 seat Philippine Stadium, and the Philippine Sports Center. In that area now called Ciudad de Victoria (City of Victory) will also rise the 600-bed capacity EGM Medical Canter and the New Era University- Bocaue Campus. One of the most significant of these "centennial projects" is the new College of Evangelical Ministry being constructed along Central Avenue. Three levels higher and more than double the floor space of its four-story predecessor. Eduardo Manalo has ordained 1,620 new ministers within the span of his three-year administration. [41]
In September 2011 the INC bought 59 parcels of land in Scenic, South Dakota for approximately $800,000,00. Scenic is a ghost town in western South Dakota. No plans for the land have been revealed by the church.[42]
Albert Martinez, Richard Gomez and Bong Revilla during the press conference.
In February 28, 2012 the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) holds simultaneous Grand Evangelical Missions (GEM) nationwide as part of its campaign for the year 2012 for the intensive propagation of God’s words. One of the 19 venues for the Grand Evangelical Mission is the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila with a total attendance of approximately 2 million.[43] The INC’s five ecclesiastical districts in Metro Manila, along with the other districts in the provinces of Bulacan and the Calabarzon participated in this event. GEM held at the following venues: Isabela Sports Complex, Isabela; Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex, San Jose, Tarlac; Gloria Town Plaza, Oriental Mindoro; Pili Freedom Sports Complex, Pili, Camarines Sur; La Union National High School Sports Complex, San Fernando City, La Union; Paglaum Sports Complex, Bacolod City; Cebu City Fuente Osmena; Tacloban City Convention Center; Pagadian City Gym, Zamboanga del Sur; Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City; Davao Agro-Football Stadium, Davao City; Gen. Santos City Gym; La Paz Plaza, Iloilo; Butuan City Sports Complex; Odiongan Sports Complex, Odiongan, Romblon; Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Palawan; Coron Gym, Palawan; and Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.[44][45]
In November 27, 2012, the grand press launch for Ang Sugo: The Last Messenger was held at the Quezon City Sports Club. Ang Sugo: The Last Messenger is a 2014 epic, biographical and historical film dramatising the life of Felix Ysagun Manalo, the first Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Manalo is regarded by the members of the church as the last prophet of God and restorer of the true church, whom they call Sugo (Tagalog, "messenger" or "envoy"). It will be the largest and the most expensive movie of the Philippine movie industry has created with more than US$7.5 million budget for the production.[46][47]
Administration and Organization
The INC Central Office as seen from a spire of the Central Temple
Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Ministers
Name Tenure of office
Felix Y. Manalo July 27, 1914 – April 12, 1963
Eraño G. Manalo April 23, 1963 – August 31, 2009
Eduardo V. Manalo September 8, 2009 – present
Iglesia ni Cristo has had three executive ministers (Tagalog: Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan), that lead the church administration in overseeing the faith of the brethren. Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, as the current executive minister, serves as the church's leader, and, in this capacity, manages the administration of the church.[48] Along with the deputy executive minister and other senior ministers, the executive minister forms the Central Administration of Iglesia ni Cristo.[49] All church ministers are male, however, there are a large number of female church officials. Ministers are encouraged to marry for the purpose of obeying the command to marry and multiply.
The Felix Y. Manalo National Historical Landmark
The Central Office in Quezon City is Iglesia ni Cristo's headquarters. The central office is one of several structures inside the central office complex. It houses the permanent offices of the central administration and most of the church's departments. It is here where about a thousand INC professionals and volunteers hold office. Contrary to claims, the central office is not the residence of the Manalos. Built in 1971 for US$473 thousand or ₱22 million. It has a cinema and theater, canteen and social halls. The building is currently estimated to be worth US$21 million or ₱1 billion.[50][51] It was formerly located in Manila during its early years, then in San Juan, and later in Makati before moving to its present site. It houses the offices of INC's administration. Administration and ministerial work are delegated into ecclesiastical districts (termed divisions prior to 1990) which are led by district ministers (formerly, division ministers). Ecclesiastical districts comprise 30 to 120 congregations (referred to as locales) on average. The ecclesiastical district's range is generally a single province of the Philippines; however, populous provinces often have more than one ecclesiastical district.[32] There were about 5,000 Iglesia ni Cristo locales in 96 countries in 2008.[34] 200 of these congregations, including 150 in 39 U.S. states, were outside the Philippines in 2001.[32] All locales were directly managed by Felix Manalo until 1924 when the first ecclesiastical district was organized in Pampanga.[33]
Architecture
Left side facade of the Central Temple.
Iglesia ni Cristo church buildings serve as places of worship and other religious functions, are "vehicles for glorifying God." These are described by Culture and customs of the Philippines, a book published by Greenwood Publishing Group, as structures "which employ exterior neo-Gothic vertical support columns with tall narrow windows between, interlocking trapezoids, and rosette motifs, as well as tower and spires." There are multiple entrances leading to the main sanctuary, where males and females sit on either side of the aisle facing a dais where sermons are made. The choir loft is located behind the dais, and in larger churches, baptistry pools for immersion baptism are located at the back of the church.[52] Meanwhile, Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita, an anthropologist from Ateneo de Manila University,[53] said that INC churches can be uniquely identified for "its exuberant use of fanciful forms and ornaments [and a] brilliant white facade whose silhouette is a cusped Gothic arch or a flattened Saracenic arch."[32] The distinctive spires represent "the reaching out of the faithful to God." Churches were started to be built in this style during the late 1940s and early 1950s with the first concrete chapel built in Sampaloc, Manila in 1948.[33]
2013 photo of Iglesia ni Cristo Temple (view from Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City foot bridge).
The Central Temple which opened in July 27, 1989 can accommodate up to 40,000 persons, and cost about US$2 million.[54] The Central Temple features octagonal spires, "fine latticework" and ribbed windows. Recent buildings are variations of Carlos A. Santos-Viola's designs on the Central Temple. These are designed to accommodate 250 to 1,000 persons while larger churches in Metro Manila and provincial capitals can accommodate up to 3,000 persons.[32] Prominent architects, such as Juan Nakpil (a National Artist of the Philippines for architecture) and Carlos Raúl Villanueva, had been involved in designing INC churches while the Engineering and Construction Department of INC, established in 1971, oversees the uniformity in design of church buildings.[52]
Uniforms
Ministers wear lounge suits during services, while Deacons and Deaconesses come in formal dress. The uniform for Deacons consists of either a Barong Tagalog (in the Philippines) or lounge suit (outside the Philippines), while for Deaconesses a white, cream, or beige terno and pañuelo ensemble (in the Philippines) or a white dress (outside the Philippines) is standard.
The choir uniform consists of plain, cream-coloured robes in the Philippines, and international locals use jade and cream robes abroad; the Central Temple Choir is the only group that uses robes of cream with pine green linings.
Beliefs and Core Values
The Iglesia ni Cristo holds beliefs that run contrary and at odds to many Christian professing religions. Some observers describe these beliefs as unique and distinct making it different from what is generally known as traditional Christianity. Doctrines such as the denial of the trinity and the necessity of membership in the Church for salvation are just a few examples of what sets the Iglesia ni Cristo apart from the major Christian religions of today.
Bible
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that the Bible is the sole basis of all their beliefs and practices. The following are some of their fundamental teachings which they believe are based on scriptures.[1]
God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes in the absolute oneness of God the Father who is the Creator and is the only true God. They believe this is the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.[1] Thus, the INC rejects the trinity as a heresy.[3][32] They believe that this position is attested by Jesus Christ and the Apostles.[33][55]
Christ and the Apostles are united in teaching how many and who is the real God. Similar to other true Christians, according to Apostle Paul, there is only one God, the Father—not the Son and more so not the Holy Spirit. The Apostles also did not teach that there is one God who has three personas who are also Gods. ... It [Trinity] is not found in the Holy Scriptures or the Bible, and if [Catholic] priests ever use the Bible to prove this teaching of theirs, all are based only on suppositions and presumptions.
— trans. from Pasugo (November 1968)[55]
The church believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God[1] and the mediator between God the Father and humanity,[32] and was created by God the Father. God sanctified him to be without sin, and bestowed him the titles "Lord" and "Son of God". The church sees Jesus as God's highest creation, and denies his divinity. Thus, INC theology is classified as Arian by Robin A. Brace, a British apologist, and Anne C. Harper, former director of publications of Gordon College in Massachusetts, United States.[30] Adherents profess Jesus' substitutionary role in the redemption of humankind. He is believed to have been "foreordained before the foundation of the world", and sent by God "to deal with sin". Members "are saved by Christ's blood" who died because of his "self-sacrificing love".[3][56]
Iglesia ni Cristo
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that it is the one church founded by Jesus Christ.[1] Adherents hold that Iglesia ni Cristo is the only true church of Jesus Christ as restored by Felix Manalo. The church recognizes Jesus Christ as the founder of the Church. Meanwhile, its reestablishment is seen as the signal for the end of days.[3][30][32] For example, its founding in July 27, 1914 coincides with the beginning of World War I.[57] They believe that the church was apostatized by the 1st[36] or 4th century due to false teachings.[33][58] The INC says that this apostate church is the Roman Catholic Church.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
— Isaiah 43:5 (New International Version)[59]
They believe that the Iglesia ni Cristo is the fulfillment of the passage above while "east" refers to the Philippines where the Church of Christ would be founded.[30][32][33][36][57] The INC teaches that its members constitute the "elect of God" and there is no salvation outside the Iglesia ni Cristo.[32][49] Faith alone is insufficient for salvation.[3][58] The Iglesia ni Cristo says that the official name of the true church is "Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo (in Tagalog)". The two passages often cited by INC to support this are Romans 16:16 "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you"[60] and the George Lamsa translation of Acts 20:28: "Take heed therefore . . . to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood"[61]
Felix Manalo on the cover of Pasugo
Judgement Day
The church believes that God set a day where He will judge all people. They believe that this day is also the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.[1]
Baptism
The church believes that baptism is done by immersion in water, and that it is necessary that people be baptised in the Iglesia ni Cristo to become disciples of Jesus Christ.[1]
Resurrection
The church believes in resurrection. They believe that all people will be resurrected, some immediately while others after 1000 years.[1]
Unity, Morality, Lawfulness
The Iglesia ni Cristo enforces all members to strict adherence to unity, maintain high moral standards and to respect and observe the rules and regulations of governments. Any form of discrimination is strongly discouraged. Divorce, annulments and legal separations, as well as extra-marital affairs and homosexuality are cause for separation.[1]
Felix Manalo
Felix Manalo is said to be the restorer of the church of Christ, and "God's last messenger" (sugo in Tagalog).[30][36]
INC divides time into three periods: the era of the Patriarchs (from creation to the birth of Moses), the era of the Prophets (from the birth of Moses to the birth of Jesus), and the Christian era (from the birth of Jesus to the Last Judgment). Adherents believe him to be the last messenger of God in the Christian Era.
The INC says that Manalo is the "angel from the east", mentioned in Revelation 7:1–3 who started the INC at the same time that World War I broke out. This period of time according to INC is referred to as the ends of the earth (cf Is 41:9-10; 43:5-6) the time when the end of the world is near, even at the doors (cf. Mt. 24:3, 33), which began with the outbreak of a war of global proportions (cf. Mt. 24:6-7)[58][62] Felix Manalo is from the Philippines, which they say is in the ‘center’ of the Far East.[63] The ‘four winds’ in Revelation 7:1-3, they say refers to World War I and the four angels are the four leaders known as the big four(Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando) who they say worked on the prevention of the war.[64][65]
Manalo is also portrayed as the fulfillment of several passages in Isaiah and other books of the Bible.[32][33] Manalo's titles are "ravenous bird from the east" (Isa. 46:11), "worm Jacob" (Ps. 22:6-7), "one shepherd" (John 10:6) and "the last Elijah" (Mt.17:10-11; Mal.4:5)
As the one who established the INC, Manalo was the chief administrator, chief theologian and spiritual leader of the church.[57] As such, he was the ultimate authority in all aspects of the church, and effectively "the foremost Biblical authority for all humanity and the divinely designated leader of a reestablished church of Christ in the modern world." His influence within the church caused people from other religions to call INC and its members "Iglesia ni Manalo" (Tagalog for Church of Manalo) and "Manalistas", respectively,[32] labels INC members consider as both pejoratives and blasphemous.[citation needed]
Eschatology
See also: Christian eschatology
Members believe that when a person dies, his/her body and soul both die and go into the grave where both would remain until the Second Coming of Christ. Upon his return, all dead members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, including Manalo, would be resurrected to join living INC members. They would be rewarded by living in the Holy City together with God the Father, Christ, and Manalo. After 1,000 years, a second resurrection would occur, and non-INC members will experience second death which is the Lake of Fire (Dagát-dagatang Apóy).[3]
Practices
Iglesia ni Cristo congregations in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila
Worship and prayer
The church conducts regular worship services, one during the week, and one during the weekend. It is conducted in the local languages (for example, English, Tagalog, Spanish, and German). It involves singing of hymns, prayers, studies of the bible, collection of voluntary offerings, and benediction[66] Both God the Father and Jesus are worshiped.[67] The ministers of every congregation in a given worship service use the same sermon outline prepared by the executive minister. Deacons and Deaconesses guide worshipers to their seats and collect offerings.[58] The Singing of hymns is led by the locale's choir. The first hymnbook, termed as Himnario, which contained about 300 songs, was published in 1937. Children's worship services are held every weekend. They use similar lessons as the standard worship services taught using the Socratic method (question and answer).[33] The church teaches that willfully forsaking the worship service is a grievous sin,[68] thus members are expected to attend the congregational worship services twice a week without fail.[69]
The church encourages its members to make prayer a part of everyday life. Thus prayer before various activities, such as taking meals and going to sleep, are commonly practiced.[70] Prayers recited in rote repetition are not observed.[71]
The August 1939 issue of Pasugo
Evangelism
Since February 1939, the church has been publishing Pasugo[3] (English: God's Message) in both Tagalog and English.[36] As of 2010, the God's Message Magazine also features a Spanish Section and in 2012 it has a German and Japanese Section. Bro. Felix Manalo wrote its first editorial where he stated the publication's purpose, including the propagation of the faith.[33] Issues contain articles which detail INC doctrines and refute doctrines which it considers as heresy, such as the Trinity.[30][58] It also features information on church history, educational programs and missionary achievements, including lists and photographs of newly dedicated chapels. In 2001, it had a monthly circulation of 235,000 copies.[32] For the year 2009, there more than 4,152,546 copies of Pasugo distributed worldwide.[72]
Brethren are encouraged to help in missionary works, such as Bible studies and to distribute copies of the God's Message Magazine (Pasugo).
In the Philippines, radio and television programs are produced, and they are broadcast on 1062 kHz DZEC-AM radio, DZEM 954 kHz, the Net 25 television station operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, the broadcast division of the Iglesia ni Cristo and GEM TV, the sister station to NET 25 and Iglesia Ni Cristo channel, also owned by the INC and Iglesia ni Cristo TV broadcast on cable.
In North America, a television program called The Message is produced in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is currently aired in the United States and Canada and some parts of Europe. Each 30-minute program is hosted by one of a panel of INC ministers, who share the main beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo with a television audience.[73] The INC use to maintain an hour long time slot on The Filipino Channel and airs two among many of its programs including the INC Chronicles and Ang Tamang Daan. It has since stopped and instead GEM-TV began broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on DirecTV channel 2068.[74] Live streaming of INC Programming is now available at www.incmedia.org
The Iglesia ni Cristo congregation in Waipahu, Hawaii, United States
Outreach
From the beginning, the INC has continuously extended help not only to the well-being of local townspeople but also to protect the environment through its various humanitarian services.[75]
The INC has outreach programs, such as its "Lingap sa Mamamayan (Filipino: Care for the People)", offering free medical and dental services,[76] community cleanups[77] and tree planting projects.[78] In California, Daly City twice declared a week in July as "Iglesia ni Cristo Week" in recognition of the efforts of the INC members in community service events such as community beautification projects, blood drives, and food distribution sessions.[79]
Coinciding with the 67th anniversary of the local congregation in the Barangay of Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, the INC launched a program called "Vigorous Environmental Concern for Mankind" which included programs to support the "clean and green" programs of the local government. The INC conducted Linis Bayan (Filipino: Clean Town) and Lingap sa Mamamayan within the local area.[80]
On July 7, 2012 the INC Lingap sa Mamamayan gained three Guinness world record seal in beating the three current records in The most people involved in a dental health check, The most blood pressure readings taken in 8 hours and The most blood glucose level tests in 8 hours. Tarika Vara, the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records was so impressed with the whole organization as she observed how dedicated the volunteers were in helping other people in one whole day even without fee.[81]
Political involvement
INC members are noted for bloc voting in Philippine elections,[82][83][84][85] although INC has the biggest conversion turn-out, between 68 and 84 percent of its members voted for candidates endorsed by its leadership, according to comprehensive surveys conducted by ABS-CBN.[86] This is in part due to their doctrine on unity. Some reports say that the INC can deliver 2 million members of voting age,[87] although pollsters believe the actual figure is closer to between 1 million and 1.5 million.[88] Others[who?] argue that the INC vote is only significant in close-run elections, noting that some INC-supported candidates lost in the election. Businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. lost to Fidel Ramos in the 1992 Philippine presidential election.[89][90] Michael Defensor, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III in 2007 and Ruffy Biazon in 2010 were endorsed by INC but lost in the senate election.[91][92] INC endorsed Rafael Nantes and Jamie Eloise Agbayani but lost in the 2010 Quezon and 2007 Pangasinan gubernatorial elections respectively.[93][94]
Ever since former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon created a lasting friendship after asking Felix Manalo for advice, the INC has been known for its strong political influence. Not all candidates in Philippine politics however embraced support from INC. Diosdado Macapagal has refused INC's support during his runs for Vice President in 1957, and re-election for President in 1965 – in which he lost to Ferdinand Marcos. In the 1969 presidential election, INC supported Senator Sergio Osmeña Jr. earlier in the campaign but has swung behind Marcos who won the election.[95] The INC supported Ferdinand E. Marcos until he was ousted in 1986.[88]
In 2002, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that INC leader, Bro. Eraño Manalo himself wanted to support Panfilo Lacson.[96] Eraño saw that Lacson will likely succeed Estrada.[96] This worried Arroyo during her 2001-2004 term as President.[96] But that did not prevent President Arroyo from courting the church. The church eventually offered their support for Arroyo’s presidential campaign in the 2004 elections.[97] Arroyo dismissed rumors that she paid off the INC to support her candidacy. In an open letter to the INC which was read in all INC chapels across the country, Mrs. Arroyo said "I would never taint their (INC) sincerity by offering money for it".[98] Newspaper reports say that the Philippine Congress decision to uphold the decision on September 2005 rejecting the Arroyo impeachment complaint over alleged election fraud and corruption was swayed largely by INC influence.[citation needed] Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr. says otherwise and wrote an op-ed piece for The Sun·Star Pangasinan stating that Representative Joey Salceda "had wanted to pit the INC against the Catholic church by so timing the congressman's 'news' with another expose on the bishops' receiving Pagcor "sin money" for their projects."[99]
The support of the INC was reportedly sought out for passage of the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008. In 2008, the INC and the Catholic Church were again pitted against each other when health advocate RH Advocacy Network (RHAN) sought the support of the INC to counter the firm opposition of the Catholic Church and President Arroyo to the bill.[100] Representative Janette Garin of the first district of Iloilo said the INC's stand could determine if the bill gets passed in the House of Representatives. She said the opinion of the Iglesia ni Cristo is “important” in determining the fate of House Bill 5043.[101]
On July 27, 2008 on the occasion of its 94th Anniversary lawmakers, governors, mayors, councilors and other government officials cited the meaningful role of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Filipino society. Rep. Annie Susano of Quezon City's second district where the INC's executive offices are located, along other government officials said that the INC continues to contribute not only to the spiritual development of the Filipino but also in shaping the country's destiny. Susano said INC also plays a crucial role in improving the socio-economic condition of its followers and other Filipinos, at home and abroad.[102] A year before, on the same date, President Arroyo declared July 27 of every year as "Iglesia Ni Cristo Day" to enable millions of INC followers in the Philippines to observe the occasion with fitting solemnity. President Arroyo’s proclamation was based on a resolution of the House of Representatives authored by Rep. Annie Rosa L. Susano.[102] On July 8, 2009, Arroyo declared that July 27 of every year as "Iglesia Ni Cristo Day" making it an official national working holiday.[103]
In 2010, Iglesia ni Cristo has declared support for Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas for president and vice president respectively. Aquino won the election but Roxas lost to Jejomar Binay.[104] In 2010, Iglesia ni Cristo withdrew their support from President Noynoy Aquino.[105]
In 2011, the organization purchased Scenic, South Dakota, an abandoned "ghost town" with a saloon, a roadside jail, and 46 acres (18.6 ha) of surrounding land. The church has not announced its plans for the property.[106]
Geographic distribution and membership
Countries and territories with official INC presence
Countries and territories with no official INC presence
According to the March 2012 issue of PASUGO Magazine (p. 24), the Demographics of the Iglesia ni Cristo then was composed of 112 countries and 7 territories comprising 120 races.[2] As of 1996 the membership of the church puts it between 4 to 10 million.[a] In 2000 Philippine census by the National Statistics Office, 2.3 percent of the population in the Philippines are affiliated with the Iglesia ni Cristo, making it the third largest religious denomination in the Philippines after the Roman Catholic Church and Islam, respectively.[108] The majority of INC members are Filipino ex-Catholics, while most non-Filipino members converted prior to marrying Iglesia ni Cristo people.[36] The earliest non-Filipino converts were American soldiers stationed in the Philippines.
Membership is conferred through immersion baptism of adults. The church rejects infant baptism. Newborn children of members are instead dedicated to God through a Congregational Prayer, led by an ordained minister of the INC.[109] Members who are not living in accordance with the church's teachings may be excommunicated or expelled from the Church, and thus lose salvation (as opposed to the perseverance of the saints). Grounds include adultery, alcohol intoxication, consumption of blood and marriage to members of other faiths.[3][49]
People who wish to be baptized in the INC must first submit to a formal process taking at least six months. Once someone officially registers with their local congregation, the person is given the status of Doctrinal Instructee, as they are called within the Iglesia ni Cristo, and taught the twenty-eight lessons concerning fundameninnings in the Philippines. These lessons are contained in the doctrine manual written by Eraño G. Manalo entitled Fundamental Beliefs of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). This book is given to ministers, evangelical workers, and ministerial students of the INC. Each lesson is usually thirty minutes to one hour in length. After hearing all of the lessons, the students enter their probationary period during which they are obliged to attend fifteen once a week group prayer meetings, wherein they are taught to pray and are guided in their adjustment to the INC lifestyle. When the sixth month comes, the students who have been active in attending the twice a week worship services and whose lifestyles are in accordance with INC doctrines are screened before being baptized. During the screening they are asked questiolve and at least the age of 12. Newborn children of members are instead "offered" or dedicated to Christian service during the worship service. The child offering in the INC is done through a prayer led by an ordained minister of the INC.[110]
Members who are not living in accordance with the doctrines taught in the INC are admonished. Those who continue in violation of INC doctrines after being admonished are expelled from the INC. Certain violations, such as eating blood or marrying non-members may result in mandatory expulsion.[111][112]
Criticisms
Unbalanced scales.svg
This article's Criticism or Controversy section may compromise the article's neutral point of view of the subject. Please integrate the section's contents into the article as a whole, or rewrite the material. (September 2009)
See also: Felix Manalo controversies
The Iglesia ni Cristo has come under fierce criticism from apologetics groups and other mainstream religions mainly due to disagreements over their doctrines and beliefs regarding the interpretation of the Bible. They have also been criticized by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for their political influence.[113] According to PCIJ, the INC's use of its clout mirrors the way in which the Catholic Church has tried to influence the Philippine government.[113]
Religious
Karl Keating
Karl Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers accused Jose Ventilacion, an INC minister, of breaking an agreement in 1990 for a one-on-one debate made by the two organizations in National City, California (part 1, part 2). Instead of a one-on-one debate, Keating says that Ventilacion had three helpers assisting him, and that "they" allegedly were shouting at him during the debate. The head projector at the side of Mr. Ventilacion was not also in the agreement. Keating views the church as being built on a set of "anti-catholic" doctrines, and that their lessons, as well as their God's Message magazine are dedicated more to debunking Catholic and Protestant beliefs and doctrines, although he did reveal the extent of his studies concerning the church save for his own account of the debate he had with Ventilacion.[114][115] Catholicism and Protestantism remain among the predominant religions in the Philippines especially in Luzon and Visayas islands.[116] Keating also states that the INC began as a Protestant sect, comparing its doctrines with those of the American Campbellites saying it "heavily borrowed" from the latter.[114] Keating criticized the Iglesia ni Cristo for teaching that the Whore of Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church and that the Beast of Revelation is the Pope, a belief shared with some other Christian religious organizations,[117][118] and an assertion which the Catholic Church denies. Keating says the this INC position is based on a Latin-language version of gematria, in which numerical values of the letters in a name or phrase are added to find a number with symbolic significance. When applied to an alleged title of the Pope, Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of the Son of God), the resulting number is 666, which is one of several alternative numbers known as the "Number of the Beast." Keating says the Iglesia ni Cristo also claims that "Vicarius Filii Dei" is engraved on the Pope's tiara[119]. The INC's source for this claim is a Seventh-day Adventist Church book.[115][120][121] "Vicar of the Son of God" is not among the many official titles traditionally used for popes, neither past nor present, although Vicar of Jesus Christ one of the most prominent papal titles.[122][123]
Catholic Answers rejects the Iglesia ni Cristo's interpretation of certain Bible verses and use of some translations to support its doctrines. They also criticized INC's use of the George Lamsa translation of Acts 20:28 as proof that the true church is called "Church of Christ". They argue that it is not based on the original Greek. In Greek, the phrase is "the church of God" (tan ekklasian tou Theou) not "the church of Christ" (tan ekklasian tou Christou), in which the Church of Christ contends that the following phrase "which he has purchased with his blood" greatly proves that the said original Greek is exposed to confusing interpretation, that if the "Church of God" is the correct interpretation, the following phrase directly contradict the teaching that God is immortal(1 Timothy 1:17) and that God is a spirit (John 4:24), has no flesh and bones (Lk. 24:36-39). [124]
Charles Caldwell Ryrie
Charles Caldwell Ryrie has criticized the INC for misquoting his Ryrie Study Bible regarding John 1:1 in the May/June 1984 issue of the Pasugo.
“
"In the annotations of his Ryrie Study Bible he had this to say about the phrase in John 1:1 and the Word was with God. In this verse the Word (Christ) is said to be with God (that is, in communion with and yet distinct from God). Therefore, when Dr. Ryrie says, that the Word is distinct from God he is saying the Word is not the same, but rather separate or different from God." (Pasugo 1984, pp. 14-15)
”
Ryrie has been quoted as saying, in a letter to Robert Elliff, the author of the book, Iglesia Ni Cristo: The Only True Church? "Anyone can look in my Study Bible and see how conveniently this author [the INC] omitted the last phrase in the note of John 1:1. The full note reads: “In this verse the Word (Christ) is said to be with God (i.e., in communion with and yet distinct from God) and to be God (i.e., identical in essence with God).” If that is not clear enough to say that I believe in the full deity and equality of Christ, let anyone read the notes at John 10:30 and 20:28. The doctrinal summary in the back of the Bible under Trinity is also quite clear. "[125]
Evangelical apologetics response
Let Us Reason Ministries, an online apologetics research group, criticized the INC for holding the belief that it has the sole authority from God to interpret and preach the Bible, while other religions do not. They also say that the INC intentionally misinterprets and misappropriates verses to agree with their doctrines and that they use fallacious arguments against other religions,[126] stating: "Unfortunately they ignore the whole history of the Church in the zealous rebuttals against Catholicism. Nothing is out of reach of their researchers to demean and belittle. Some of the greatest scholars in languages and history are ignored or misrepresented as they present what they believe is correct. I suspect that many know better in what they teach."[127] They also reject the INC's doctrine that one can only be saved if they are a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.[128]
According to The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry, some of the beliefs of INC are contrary to mainstream Christianity.[129] The Bereans also refute the INC belief that Felix Manalo is the "angel from the east" in Revelation 7:1-3, since the "angel from the east cried with a loud voice to the four angels"(Rev 7:2) but according to them Manalo was never consulted by the Big Four(Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Orlando) and Manalo was never involved in ending World War I.[130]
Members Church of God International response
Main article: Conflicts between Iglesia ni Cristo and Members Church of God International
On April 18, 2005, MCGI members headed by former INC member Marcos Mataro scuffled after a scheduled religious debate with members of INC in a Jollibee outlet in Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines. Apalit Mayor Tirso Lacanilao said "scores were injured", but that there were no serious injuries. The MCGI radio program Ang Dating Daan (ADD) and Iglesia Ni Cristo had been trading accusations in their respective television programs. This had even led to an exchange of lawsuits. It was reported that the clash began when an ADD follower identified only as "Mataro" provoked INC followers.[131]
Local police, on orders of the town mayor had gone to the restaurant and tried to stop the debate for lack of a mayor's permit. The police had been instructed to transfer the venue of the debate either at the ADD convention center or at the INC chapel in an effort to prevent any trouble. Mataro insisted on pushing through with the debate, however, assuring no trouble. Leaders of the MCGI group said they do not trust the local policemen. Mataro shouted, which reportedly provoked some INC members to a confrontation, and led to a free-for-all.[132][133]
On April 27, 2008, Mataro was shot dead by two unknown assailants in San Simon, Pampanga.[134] Murder charges were filed against Nickson Icao and Felizardo Lumagham, both of Macabebe, Pampanga and alleged members of INC, before the San Fernando prosecutor's office.[135] Mataro's killing could also be linked to his pending attempted homicide case before the Apalit Municipal Trial Court and Quezon City Regional Trial Court.[136]
Secular
Ross Tipon
The main accusation of restraining press freedom arises from the church's legal action against the publication of writer Ross Tipon's book, The Power and the Glory: The Cult of Manalo. The INC says the book contains "outright blasphemy" against Manalo by likening the INC to a criminal syndicate.[137][138] Tipon, represented by lawyer Fervyn Pinzon, said stopping publication of the book infringes on his right to free speech. An attorney representing the INC, Abraham Espejo states "direct assault on freedom of religion and seeks to destroy the image of the INC" and "The publication of the criminal manuscript will trigger social unrest, Millions of people may come out in the streets and this may lead to violence." The INC seeks PHP1,000,000 in damages from Tipon and the unknown publisher.[137]
Unbiblical Beliefs
Vehemently oppose the Biblical revelation of the Triune God.
Believes in the absolute oneness of God the Creator in the Person of the Father.
Believes the Son as the literal Word (which has no pre-existence) who became man. He was given power by the Father to do supernatural miracles. He is not God.
Believes in an impersonal Holy Spirit, a power sent by the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is not God but one of the spirits sent by God.
Believes the Father (Creator) and Son (creature) must be worshipped. The Son must be worshipped because the Father says so.
Believes a person must hear the "gospel" from authorized INC messengers and INC ministers. They are the only ones who have God's Holy Spirit in order for them to understand the Bible.
Believes the official name of the church is "Iglesia ni Cristo" while other names are not.
Believes a person must be a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), be water baptized, follow the church rules (must avoid the eating of "dinuguan," avoid joining labour unions, avoid court sessions, do block voting, be under compulsory church attendance, practice giving to the church) and perform his good deeds as an INC member in order for him to be saved.
Believes Felix Y. Manalo is the fulfillment of Isaiah 43:5-7; 46:11, and Rev. 7:2-3 prophecies.
They also believe in "soul sleep," a belief that at death, the souls dies. There is no consciousness. (A belief of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church - Ellen G. White).
How to Start a Conversation with an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Member
First, you can place a Christian tract on top of his working table or hand it to him personally. If he/she is a zealous I.N.C., he/she will be the one to open up the door of conversation.
Methods of Witnessing to an INC Member
Pray that the Lord will open a door for a spiritual conversation between the both of you.
Suggest a topic for both of you to discuss preferably on essential teachings (e.g. deity of Jesus Christ, Salvation, Authority, etc.). Do not dwell on peripheral issues such as the eating of "dinuguan", tithes, manner of clothing, etc. for these cannot contribute to a person's salvation.
Always bear in mind that when an INC says "God" what he has in mind is always the "Father." Therefore do not ever say to him, "I will prove to you that Jesus is God" because you have just said, "I will prove that Jesus is the Father." Rather say, "I believe the Scripture not only tell us that Jesus has the nature of 'man' but also has the nature of 'God' as well. Could we check that out?"
Always say, "The INC authorities said..." rather than "You said..." to avoid offending the person you're talking to. This will also prevent him from building more walls against the gospel.
Whenever the INC member quote a passage supporting their set of beliefs do not just jump to another passage to prove your point. Rather, explain first the context of the passage he just quoted before proceeding onto another supporting verse--do this only when you feel that he has fully understood your explanation. Remember "the Scripture supports each other and does not contradict one another."
Always throw a set of question so that he could think it over. Like this example below:
Christian: Who are you expecting to come during the last day? Is it the Father or the Son?
INC: The Son (If he says "the Father" then you can point out Rev. 1:7 and ask him, "Who is the One coming with the clouds that was "pierced?" Surely it doesn't mean the "Father" for according to the INC's doctrine, He is "Spirit" in John 4:23)
Christian: Now Who is the One speaking in Rev. 1:8 about Him being "the Alpha and the Omega... who is who was and who is to come, the Almighty?"
INC: Well the One speaking is the Father, of course.
Christian: But wait, haven't you told me awhile ago that in verse 7 the One coming with the clouds is the Son. Then why did you understood verse 8 as the Father talking since it says very clearly "who is to come, the Almighty?"
You can also ask him, "Are you willing to go to hell just because of someone else's false teachings? Surely you won't get the INC ministers to be your advocate when you face God on the day of judgment. Can you?" And if he says "Of course not!" Then you can say, "That's right! Even I do not depend on someone's else's preaching, rather I investigate and study it myself."
Before parting ways, ask permission if you can pray for him. If not, then lift him up in prayer during your private moments with God.
Things to Remember Before Witnessing to an INC Member
Be sure to know his theology first before embarking on witnessing. Know why he believe what he believe.
Study every Scripture passage that they misquote and twist in order to explaining that Jesus Christ was only human.
Be very familiar with your Bible so that there will be no idle moments for him to interrupt what you're saying.
Be alert on every explanation he presents so that you will have something use these against the INC's false doctrines.
Do not forget to share him the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE BACKGROUND OF THE PLAN
In order that we may understand this great Plan, the Bible narrative, first of all, takes us away back in thought to the remote past before ever the Earth or the Universe existed. The opening words of the Bible simply state, "In the beginning God..."
Logical thinking demands that there must have been what is known as a ‘first cause’ as the beginning of all things that now are. It is believed that this ‘first cause’ had the power of thought and that it was capable of transmuting thought into action; and, in fact, the power of turning thought into substance. The Bible makes the claim that this ‘first cause’ is the mysterious Personality of God, Who Himself is uncreated and eternal, complete within Himself (self-existing - YHWH - "I AM") and possessing all wisdom. David the Psalmist declared, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" (Ps. 90:2).
Of the substance of His Own Being (Spirit - energy), and from His Own Being, the Father created the Son, who himself is spirit, being of one substance with the Father. There also proceeded forth from the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth. Thus was the Godhead constituted, still one in spirit and unity, but manifested as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The human mind is surely incapable of comprehending the infinite nature of God. Zophar, in the Old Testament - Covenant story, wished to emphasise this fact to Job when he said, "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?" (Job 11:7-8). We can but behold the glory of His handiwork in nature and accept, by faith, the Divine revelation which we have been granted, realising that we may spend all eternity still discovering more of His greatness.
"In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Now follows what the Bible calls ‘Heaven’, which became the abode of God, Who created the angelic host, spiritual beings (of light - energy) whose chief attributes are wisdom and strength (2 Sam. 14:20; Ps. 103:20). They also inhabited Heaven. Among the angels there was a higher order of archangels, amongst whom were Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer. Further creative activity by the Godhead followed, in which the Heavens (Universe) and the Earth were made (Gen. 1:1, John 1:1-5, Heb. 1:1-3). This seems to be the divine order, and the Book of Job declares that the angelic host rejoiced greatly at the creation of the Earth, "When the Morning Star’s inhabitants sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7).
While the Son (Michael - Dan. 10:21) sat upon the Throne with the Father in Heaven, the archangel Lucifer (created from energy - Sura 7:12) and his followers were sent to the Earth after the war they had fought against God (Rev. 12:7-9), once it had been created to be the prison for these sinners as a result of the Divine Judgement against them. Isaiah, chapter fourteen, supplies a clue, for here is revealed the story of the great fall of Lucifer who fell through arrogance, and because of his jealousy of the Most High. Thus it is written: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the Morning (Star)! How art thou cut down to the earth, which did weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like (take the Place of) The Most High. Yet, thou shalt be brought down to hell (Earth), to the sides of the pit (Hell-Fire)." (Isaiah 14:12-15). This passage marks the beginning of evil in the Universe. When Lucifer said, "I will", (his will not God’s Will) sin began.
Here is the beginning of the great controversy (war) that has waged ever since between the forces of good and the forces of evil, involving both Heaven and Earth as its battleground. It is against this background that we must seek to understand the present struggle for world control with all its attendant and varied suffering. Only with this background and knowing our part in it can we understand the great Master Plan, which has as its object, the ultimate defeat of all evil and the complete restoration of the Earth to its former perfection. The first creative act, stated in Genesis chapter one and verse one, refers to the dateless past, and so provides scope for all the geologic ages referred to by the scholar.
Reading from verse two of this chapter, we are informed as to how the earth was renewed and restored from the chaos that had come to it. The only creative acts described here are those of animal life and human life. Thus, man came on the scene as the highest form of creation, being made in unity - human, +being (soul - fallen angel) and spirit to be gradually reformed into the likeness and eventually the image of God (Matt. 5:48). He was placed in the midst of a most beautiful and perfect environment. And God looked upon all He had made, and behold it was good.
The renewed Earth was then marred by Lucifer, now known as Satan ("the Opposer"), seeking to recover his lost control of his followers here on Earth. As a result of Satanic attack, man fell from his perfection and innocency and brought down with him the realm of nature. A death state took the place of eternal youth. A process of change and decay in man and in nature took the place of deathless perfection. Man has had to struggle with death and the curse to this day. After a dreadful run of evil during the first generations of the Adamic race, in which sin multiplied upon the Earth, bringing forth every conceivable form of suffering, the cleansing and correcting measures of the great Master Plan went into action.
"What was buried shall be rediscovered. Truth shall be revealed as being the Seed of Life." - an Aztec prophecy.
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