s the world heads towards what the Bible calls as “the last days”, the number of religious organizations continues to increase. Each of them claims that they can guarantee salvation. The founders and leaders of these organizations even introduce themselves as the “God-sent messenger” in our times.
Among them is Mr. Felix Manalo, the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo, which was established in July 21, 1914. This religion is teaches that Mr. Manalo is the “last messenger of God at the end of the world”
The Iglesia ni Cristo, which was established by Mr. Felix Manalo, is one of the religious organizations that propagate many unusual doctrines. One of them is the Santa Cena, which they celebrate in the morning and where they solicit donations. Likewise, they do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as a God, but a mere human being. And of course, they introduce Mr. Felix Manalo as the last messenger of God, at the end of the world.
This is how the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo introduce their leader and teacher, Mr. Felix Manalo. Mr. Pedro Reyes Villanueva says in an article entitled
“Ang Huling Sugo ng Dios sa Wakas ng Lupa,” on p.7 of the July 1956 issue of their
“Pasugo”--
“Maliwanag na ating natiyak, sa pamamagitan ng mga hula ng Banal na Kasulatan, na si Kapatid na Felix Manalo, ay huling sugo ng Dios sa wakas ng lupa. Kaya huling sugo, gaya nang ating napag-aralan, ay sapagka’t pagkatapos ng gawaing kanyang isinasagawa, samakatuwid baga’y ng pangangaral ng mga dalisay na salita ng Diyos, ay wala nang iba pang sugong darating kundi ang kakilakilabot na paghuhukom, o ang katapusan ng pag-iral ng sanlibutang ito.”
[We have confirmed, through the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures that Brother Felix Manalo is the messenger of the God at the end of the world. Like what we have studied, he is the last messenger because, after fulfilling his task, which is to preach the pure word of God, no other messenger shall be sent after him anymore, until the terrifying Day of Judgment, or the end of this world.]
According to this article, Mr. Manalo was made messenger of God at the end of the world, and no other messenger will be sent after him anymore, because he is God’s last messenger. How does this church explain what the Bible refers to as “the end of the world”? In a book entitled
“And Mga Pangunahing Doktrina ng Biblia” (The Fundamental Doctrines of the Bible) written by their current leader-teacher, Mr. Eraño Manalo, he says:
“Magkasing-kahulugan ba ang wakas ng lupa at mga wakas ng lupa? Hindi, magkaiba ang ekspresyong mga wakas ng lupa at ang mga wakas ng lupa …”
[Are the expressions “the end of the world” and “the ends of the world” synonymous No! “The end of the world” is different from “the ends of the world.”]
According to them, the “end of the world” refers to the second coming of Christ. (This does not refer to the time when the INC was established in the Philippines.) Their explanation implies that, God has not yet made Mr. Manalo His messenger, because, according to their “Pasugo”, Mr. Manalo is the last messenger of God, at the end of the world. That means that, Mr. Manalo will be sent by God on the second coming of out Lord Jesus Christ. Is there a need for a messenger if our Lord Jesus has returned? To whom will Mr. Manalo be sent? Isn’t it that when our Lord Jesus returns, He will gather all who remained true to Him?
If we will look back at the time when Mr. Felix Manalo was anointed, we will realize that he obtained his authority from devils. Based on an invitation they issued in celebration of their church’s 5th founding anniversary, Mr. Manalo would be anointed by Catholic bishops and Protestant pastors. It says--
“Ang pagpapatong ng kamay sa kapatid na Felix Manalo na tutungkulin ng mga obispo at mga pastor ng mga iba’t ibang Iglesiang natatatag sa Kapuluan, na ang …”
[The laying of hands to, or the anointing of, Brother Felix Manalo will be officiated by the bishops and pastors of the different churches that have been established in the Philippine archipelago …”]
Therefore, the authority of Mr. Manalo to head a religious organization was only given to him by the leaders of the different religious organizations, specifically the Catholic and the Protestant churches.
On the other hand, how did the ministers of the INC describe the churches and the leaders of those churches who anointed Mr. Manalo? According to the
August 1961 edition of their
“Pasugo”:
“Kaya sa wakas ng lathalaing ito, dapat na nating itakwil and mga paring katoliko at mga pastor protestante, sapagka’t sila’y mga ministro ni Satanas! Dapat din nating itakwil ang Iglesia Katolika at ang iba’t ibang iglesia Protestante, sapagka’t sila’y hindi sa Diyos, kundi sila’y kay Satanas, o sa demonyo.”
[As a conclusion to this article, we must turn our backs against the Catholic priests as well as the Protestant pastors, because they are ministers of Satan. We must also turn our backs against the Catholic Church and the different Protestant churches because they are not of God, but of Satan, or the devil!]
How must we treat them a religious leader who derived his authority from the priests and pastors who, according to him are ministers of Satan? How does the Bible introduce a messenger of God? What signs does he manifest? Is it true that Felix Manalo is the last messenger of God at the end of the world? What expressions, “end of the world” and “last messenger” mean?
