Prophecy: The True Church

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:16

 

Christ called them his other sheep to distinguish them from his sheep that were already in the flock during his time. Christ said “I have other sheep that are not of this fold”, because it would still be “in the future” that they would be made into one flock. 

What did Christ mean that his other sheep would be made into one flock? He would make them the Church of Christ for, according to apostle Paul, “the flock” is no other than “the Church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood”(acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Clearly then, aside from Christ’s sheep in the first century Church of Christ, there are other sheep that also belong to him. As to who these other sheep of Christ are, a related prophecy by the apostle peter enlightens us thus:

“For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the lord our god will call.” Acts 2:3

Apostle peter showed here that three groups of Christ’s sheep that composed entirely of the flock or church of Christ, all of whom were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. The first group, to whom the phrase “the promise is to you” refers, were the Jews who were the first ones to be called in the Church of Christ, and the second group, to whom the phrase “and to your children” refers, were the gentile converts who were born of the Jew’s preaching (I cor. 4:15).

The third group, to whom the phrase “to all who are afar off” refers, are the prophesied other sheep of Christ. The Jewish and gentile converts were the sheep of Christ called into the fold then as was stressed by the apostle Paul: “Even us whom he called, not of the Jews only, but also of the gentiles” (Rom. 9:24). On the other hand,

Christ pointed out that his other sheep were “not of this fold.” Referring to the flock or Church of Christ in the first century to which the Jewish and the gentile members belonged. They were yet to be called, “as many as the lord our god will call”, “in the future” from “afar off” place, the related prophecies confirm.

“From the Far East will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you.”

Isa. 43:5 (MOFFAT TRANSLATION)

“Far East”

Accounts in biblical history show that it has been god’s policy since the beginning to set apart people whom he gives the right and privilege to serve him and inherit his promises. From Seth’s descendants, after Adam and eve’s son Abel was murdered by his brother Cain, to that of Noah’s after the great flood, to Abraham’s from which the nation of Israel descended, and to the Christian era with the establishment of the Church of Christ by the lord Jesus Christ, this policy of god’s choosing and electing people is clearly evident. Every time a chosen generation of people turns away from god, he chooses and sets apart a new group of people to replace the old.

So when the first century Church of Christ fell into the apostasy after the death of the apostles, God set apart another group of people to become his chosen servants.

According to the prophecy, they are the descendants whom god would bring from the Far East and whom he would gather from the west.

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” Isa. 43:5-6

Certainly, this concerns god’s policy of electing or setting apart a people of his own because he considers them his sons and daughters. And the east, the place “afar” in the prophecy, is the far east, as clearly rendered in another translation of the same prophecy, thus: “From the far east will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you.” Isa. 43:5 MOFFAT TRANSLATION. In fulfillment of the prophecy,

FULFILLMENT

In fulfillment of the prophecy, the Philippines which as pointed out by a Jesuit priest and historian, horacio de la Costa (Asia and the Philippines p.169), is a country in the Far East, is where the Church of Christ (iglesia ni cristo) emerged in latter times. Although, besides the Philippines there are other countries in the Far East, it is in this country where the church of Christ emerged. Undeniably, the prophesied place of emergence of the other sheep of Christ, or members of the church of Christ had found fulfillment in the Philippines.

“Far west”

Even the place where the Church of Christ that emerged in the far east would extend its missions was also prophesied and fulfilled just as it was stated in the prophecy thus:

“So shall they fear the name of the lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The spirit of the lord will lift up a standard against him” Isa. 59:19

That which would proclaim god’s glory from the rising of the sun, the true church of Christ, would reach the west. The prophecy further specifies that the gathering of the children of god in the west who would proclaim his praise would start in the far west: “From the Far East will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you.” (Isa. 43:5, MOFFAT TRANSLATION). 

And such an event where “in the far west men have awe of the eternal” would come into fruition at a time when “in the east they see his brilliant deeds,” (Isa. 59:19) or when the Church of Christ already has a glorious stature in the far east. Indeed, as prophesied, after more than 50 years of fruitful and glorious existence in its country of origin, the Church of Christ crossed the seas to the far west.

FULFILLMENT

This was in fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the gathering of god’s children in the part of the world. Through the instrumentality of its present Executive minister, Brother Erano G. Manalo, who went in the united states in July 1968 for this purpose, the members of the church of Christ who migrated to this region of the world were gathered together with the establishment of the church’s congregations in Hawaii and California, both states of the USA that are situated in the far west (The world Almanac book of facts, 1976, p.88). 

From those states in the far west and from then on, there was no looking back for the church of Christ that has succeeded in breaking cultural and racial barriers by establishing congregations in practically all habitable continents of the world. Today, after more than nine decades since its re-emergence, the true church can be found in 90+ countries and territories worldwide and counts among its members 110+ diff. nationalities.

“From the ends of the earth”

Not only was the place of re-emergence of the true church of Christ and where its missions would reach prophesied, but also even the time of its re-emergence. The prophecy specially states that god’s sons and daughters “from afar” would come “from the ends of the earth” (Isa 43:6). The biblical expression “ends of the earth” refers to that period of time when the end of the world is near or what is also called as the last days.

We can thus be definite about this period through the signs of christ’s second coming. The gospel according to Matthew narrates:

“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24:3

Obviously, the time of emergence of the Church of Christ in the Philippines is not at the end of the world because that will be the “day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (II pet. 3:7), but rather at the “ends of the earth”. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten us when the ends of the earth is, as revealed in his answer to the query of his disciples about the signs of his second coming thus: “so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the very doors,” and there are things that would be seen that signify we are at this period. In the previous verses in this same chapter of gospel according to Matthew, the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned these signs:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Matt. 24:6-7

FULFILLMENT

The event that would herald the period “ends of the earth” was a war of global proportion that would be followed by another war of the same magnitude. Recorded in world history was the First World War that broke out on July 27, 1914 (The nations at war, p.8). Lets make up a list the signs of the prophesied war and facts about the first world war, and here it goes,

SIGN
-it would involve nations and armies of nations war, (Matt. 24:6, 33; Isa. 34:1-2)

FACT
-Unlike any war in the past, the first world which broke out in 1914, was named as such for its global scope (Arthur Boak,Preston Slosson and Howard Anderson. World History, p. 478)

SIGN

-it would break out at a time when “many shall run to and fro, Knowledge shall increase,” Would be rumored or widely known (Dan. 12:4; Matt. 24:6)

FACT
-With the invention of the telephone, and telegram, and radio, as well as the airplane, thus it news about the war quickly spread to diff. parts of the world. (pp. 542-544)


SIGN
-“horses swifter than eagles” and “whirlwind-like chariots” Used (jer. 4:13, 19)

FACT
-WWI first made use of modern weaponry would be in warfare. Airplanes were likened to “a kind of aerial cavalry”, while tanks to modern Version of ancient chariots (pp. 478-479; David M. Howard Jr. Fascinating bible Facts, p. 216)


SIGN
-Different kinds of people would Hide in caves to cover themselves (Rev. 6:15-16)

 FACT

-Millions of soldiers and civilians were responded to have taken cover in trenches and subterranean caves (H.W Wilson. The great war, p.225)

SIGN
-Four messengers “standing upon The four corners of the earth” Stop the war “land” (Rev. 7:1, young’s literal translation; Jer. 4:11, 19) 
 
FACT 
-Four leaders representing four powerful would nations met and agreed to make a treaty from blowing upon the officially ending WWI (world history,p.494)


and that first world war was followed by the second world war that started on sep. 1, 1939. Thus, the time “ends of the earth”, the prophesied time for the emergence of the true church of Christ in the Far East, began in July 1914. It was, therefore, no coincidence, but as the fulfillment of the prophecy, that the Church of Christ or Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914.

“They will hear my voice”

How was Christ able to establish this church when he was already in heaven at that time?

The lord Jesus Christ indicated in his prophecy that his other sheep “will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (john 10:16)

Christ explained how his other sheep, even without his physical presence, would hear his voice in the following words:

“He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16

There are those whom when listened to, it is actually Christ who is listened to. And they are the messengers of Christ, for he emphatically declared that “he who receives any messenger of mine receives me; receiving me, he receives the one who sent me.” (john 13:20)

Christ did not have to come down from heaven in 1914 in order for his other sheep to hear his voice and for him to re-establish his church. He had a messenger in the person of Brother Felix Y. Manalo who preached the Church of Christ and those who listened to and received his preaching in effect listened to our lord jesus Christ.

The lord emphasizes the importance of listening to and obeying his words taught by his messenger in order to be established or built as among the members of his church thus:

“Therefore whoever hear these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matt. 7:24-25

Those who heard and obeyed the teachings of Christ are set on the rock. As testified to by the apostle Peter, the rock or the foundation stone on which they are set is our lord jesus Christ: “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of jesus Christ of Nazareth,… This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” (acts 4:10-11)

In other words, those who heard and believed in the teachings of Christ through the preaching of his messenger are built upon Christ as the rock or chief cornerstone. Christ declared that what he built upon himself is his church:

“And I also say to you that you are peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18

Hence, those to whom the teachings of Christ were preached by the messenger were built as members of the church which the lord addressed as “My church”—the Church of Christ. Through the instrumentality of god’s messenger in these last days in the person of Brother Felix Y. Manalo, Christ was able to re-establish his church in the Philippines in 1914. Members of this church recognized by our lord God as “My sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isa. 43:6) And concerning God’s children, apostle paul testifies:

“The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of god, and if children, then heirs—heirs of god and joint heirs with christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.” Rom. 8:16-17

It is for this reason that the members of the Church of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in these last days are firm in their faith and conviction that the church to they belong was established by our Lord Jesus Christ and as such, this is the church that belongs to god and to Christ and they are the true children of God and heirs of his promised salvation.