Prophecy: God's Last Messenger

 

“Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isa. 46:11

The prophecy also tells us whom God would use as his instrument in bringing his children from the Far east into the church of Christ. In Isa. 46:11, it was prophesied:

“Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

God’s instrument is a messenger who is likened to a bird of prey or to a ravenous bird. God would call him from a far country in the east or the Far east to execute messenger is likened to a ravenous bird because the people—god’s sons and daughters—to whom he was sent are being held back by “the north” and “the south”. 

That’s why God said, “I will say to the north, give them up! And to the south, Do not keep them back!” The north and the south that are holding back God’s people signify the two large and dominant religions from where the sons and daughters of God would be taken out through the instrumentality of the messenger. They are Catholicism and Protestantism as can be gleaned from the book The reformation:

“… In the north the Protestants were in control—Lutheran churches in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the northern and central states of Germany; Calvinist or reformed churches in Scotland, the Netherlands, Hesse, The Palatine and a few of the western German states. In the south the Catholics were in control—Spain, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, and elsewhere in southern Germany.” (p.366)

Protestantism, which dominates the north and the Catholic Church, which dominates the south represent the north and south, respectively. From these two religions, the sons and the daughters of God would be snatched out by the messenger, thus, he is likened to a bird of prey. As a fulfillment of the prophecy, majority of those who became members of the Church of Christ in these last days came from the Catholic Church and protestant denominations.

The ‘worm Jacob’

The humble beginnings of the messenger of god and his work in these last days is being reflected by the phrase “worm Jacob” in Isa. 41:14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you, says the Lord”

Jacob, a son of Isaac, was not the one being prophesied here through, because when this prophecy was declared, he was long dead (Gen. 49:33). The one signified by the phrase “worm Jacob” is a “new threshing sledge” (Isa. 41:14-15). And God also declared that when the new thing would come, the former or old things should no longer be remembered:

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…” Isa. 43:18-19

The old or former thing is ancient Israel, the first nation of God (Isa. 44:7). He has “given Jacob [or Israel] to the curse” (Isa. 43:28). Hence, Israel ceased to continue as his nation. This is why God said that he would make “a new thing”. That is his commissioning of the messenger ascribed as “worm Jacob” in the prophecy of Isaiah.

‘From the ends of the earth’

When would this new ‘Jacob’ emerge as prophesied? From “the ends of the earth” as stated in a verse preceding Isa. 41:14.

“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘you are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away’.”

The “ends of the earth” is equivalent to what Christ referred to as the time when the end of the world is near, “at the doors” (Matt. 24:33). When his disciples asked him when the end of the world or his second coming would take place, He said: “when you see all these things”, that is, the signs of his coming, then, “[the end] is near—at the doors” (matt. 24:33). One of the signs given by Christ that the end of the world is near or that the time is already at the “ends of the earth” is that there would be a war that would be rumored or heard around the world (Matt. 24:6-8).

FULFILLMENT

The fulfillment of this is the first world war which broke out on July 27,1914. This was the time when the “worm Jacob” would be called by god (Isa.41:14). Fulfillment in the person of Brother Felix Manalo who first preached the Iglesia Ni Cristo in the Philippines and had it registered with the government on July 27, 1914.

But others insist that the Jacob prophesied in Isa. 41:14 is the seed or descendant of Abraham as stated in verse 8.

How can be Brother Felix Manalo be the seed of Abraham if he is a Filipino?

One should understand that in the Christian era, those who are counted as the seed of Abraham are not the children in the flesh but “the children of the promise” as pointed out in Rom. 9:6-8:

“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called’. That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”

In relation to this, Apostle Paul taught that Christ is the one and only seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16). But, if Christ is the one and only seed of Abraham, how can anyone else be counted as the seed of Abraham? Apostle Paul said that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).

The ones belonging to Christ are the members of the Church He built, His church (Matt. 16:18) or the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28). Hence, they are counted as Abraham’s descendants according to the promise. This is why the messenger of God in these last days was ascribed in the prophecy as Jacob, seed of Abraham, not in the flesh but according to the promise.

God’s covenant transcended

The following prophecies show that god also bestowed upon his messenger in these last days that which he bestowed upon Abraham, Jacob’s forebear:

“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, And is said to you, ‘you are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand’.” Isa. 41:9-10

The one prophesied in these verses has the covenant of God. God said to him: “You are my servant… I am your God.” Likewise, God told Abraham:

“I will keep my promise to you and to you and to your descendants in future generations as an everlasting covenant. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.” Gen. 17:7

Hence, the covenant of god made with Abraham and his seed transcended to God’s messenger in these last days, thereby granting him and his converts the exclusive privilege to serve and worship god.

Why ‘worm Jacob’?

God’s messenger in these last days is called ‘worm Jacob’ because he was mocked, belittled, and despised by the people just like Christ, who is alluded to as “a worm” and would be “scorned by men and despised by the people” (Ps. 22:6-7). Indeed, harsh were the insults and severe were the persecutions hurdled against Brother Felix Manalo and the Iglesia Ni Critso especially during its early years. 

But, how would God’s help and strength be manifested to his messenger who is called “worm Jacob”? the prophecy states: “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them, and make the hills like chaff” (Isa. 41:15)

The “sharp teeth” or instrument that god’s messenger in these last days would use in carrying out his missions are god’s words described as “living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). The “mountains” represent kings or kingdoms (Rev. 17:9-10), “rulers of darkness” or the false religions in this world (Eph. 6:12).

FULFILLMENT

As the fulfillment, the messenger of God in these last days was able to triumphantly persuade many people to come out of false religions and join the true church. All the tirades and criticism that were unrelentingly marshaled against Iglesia Ni Cristo failed to prevent its rise. While at first, this church would be ignored, hated, and deserted, god promised to make it great:

“You will no longer be forsaken and hated, A city deserted and desolated. I will make you beautiful, a place of joy forever and ever.” Isa. 60:15

Brother Felix Manalo looked beyond what was merely apparent and humanly possible. He held on to these promises of God. And the Almighty kept them.

Glowing testimonies

Here are some of the numerous testimonies of neutral observers who are non-members of the church. In 1983, Manila Magazine reported:

“Iglesia ni Cristo: from ridicule to reverence”

“Felix Manalo formally started the INC in a makeshift bamboo chapel… he and the church were ridiculed and looked upon with scorn by the predominantly Catholic populace. …But gallant as he was, Manalo preserved though all the mockery.”

“Slowly, the Iglesia ni Cristo gained recognition and following that unbelievably spread afar and wide, around the country and all the way to the west.” (p.33)

Dr. Robert Reed of the university of California, in the US, in his work published in 1990 said:

“… the INC has been transformed into the most dynamic and powerful indigenous belief system in the Philippines. Growing at a phenomenal rate… this upstart community of faith may have recently surpassed Islam as the nation’s second largest religion. …Indeed, the INC… may be the most successful form of ‘Indigenous Christianity’ emanating from the Third world in this century.” (Patterns of Migration in Southeast Asia, pp. 154-155)

In 2001, Dr. Reed updated on the Iglesia Ni Cristo, describing its spread and progress worldwide as “from an obscure Philippines faith to a global belief system.” Its strides, even in the US, “has been nothing less that spectacular” (Journal of the Humanities and school Sciences of southeast Asia and Oceania, 2001)

[and etc…]

All these, including the success of the social and educational programs of the church and more importantly, the strong faith of its members in thousands of local congregations throughout the world who are now rendering the true worship to god, helping spread the message of salvation and supporting all the endeavors of the church, are proofs that the ‘worm Jacob’ has triumphed!

‘Our glorious power is from God’

Considering the fulfillment of God’s promised wondrous works for this Church, we, Iglesia ni Cristo members, acknowledge that “our glorious power is from god and is not our own” (II Cor. 4:7)

Though today, while most of mankind are grieving in helplessness, we, the recipients of a priceless spiritual heritage, make these declarations of faith and resolve of the Psalmist also our own.

“My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Ps. 121:2

“…You have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.” Ps. 71:7-8

Our exultation in the triumphs of this church leads us to thank and praise God and to be faithful to him even more. We look forward to where the glorious state of the church will reach, thus: “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end” (Isa. 60:20). This refers to the certainly of our salvation—our most important glory.