God's Messenger in the last mission of salvation

THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (Church Of Christ), which was officially registered in the Philippines on July 27, 1914 is God's final mission of salvation, prophesied to emerge at the "ends of the earth" or in the last days--- the period when the world's end is already near (Matt 24:3,33,6-8). No other work of salvation comes after it, for it immediately precedes the day of harvest or judgment Day (Rev. 14:13-16; Matt. 13:39).  Thus, the man sent to carry out this divine mission, brother Felix Y. Manalo, is God's Last Messenger.

Brother Manalo's task was described in biblical prophecy as that of a ravenous bird---"a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes [God's] counsel, from a far country" (Isa.46:11, New King James Version). The people to whom he was sent by God were being held back by the "north" and by the "south" (Isa.43:5-6, Ibid.); hence, his mission was to save them or to "snatch them from the fire" (Jude 1:23, New International Version) and bring them near
god's righteousness or the gospel, which is His power to salvation (Isa. 46:11-13; Rom. 1:16-17). The north and the south from whose clutches the Messenger would free God's people our time represent Protestantism and Catholicism, respectively (Modern Times and the Living Past, p.346; The Reformation, p.366).  Historically, the pioneer members of the Church of Christ in these last days, prior to their conversion, were from these  last days, prior to their conversion, were from these religions.

The work of God's Messenger in these last days was also revealed by means of a vision to Apostle John, who prophesied about" another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.  And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads'" (Rev. 7:2-3, NKJV).

Angel, from Greek angelos, means "messenger" (Webster's Third New International Dictionary, p. 82) and the task of the one seen" ascending from the east" was to "seal" God's servants on their foreheads. the seal of God is the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of their inheritance, and sealing is done by reaching the gospel (Eph. 1:13-14).

As prophesied, the work of this messenger of God would commence at the end of the sixth seal and the beginning of the seventh--a period marked by two specific  events: people hiding "in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains" (Rev. 6:15).

The "wind" refers to war wherein "chariots like a whirlwind" and "horses [that] are swifter than eagles" would be employed (Jer. 4:11-13, 19).  This found fulfillment in the First World War--" the first war in three dimensions" in which "cities where bombed from the air" (World History, p. 478) through airplanes that were used as "aerial cavalry" ("horses swifter than eagles"). The tank, "a kind of armored automobile which could move even on rough grounds because it was built like a tractor" was the fulfillment of " chariots like whirlwind", was also first used in this was.

The four angels holding back the wind or war were the four leaders of nations who signed the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I.  They are known in history as the  Big Four:  Orlando of Italy, Lloyd George of Great Britain, Clemenceau of France, and Wilson  of America (World History, p 494). As these events unfolded, God's messenger would be seen "ascending from the east" or whose work had begun to take off.

No one can refute the fact that the messenger being referred to is Brother Felix Y. Manalo, for no other person in the whole world perfectly fits the biblical description of his mission. And as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo throughout the world fondly commemorate hiss 130th birth anniversary on May 10, 2016, their hearts are filled with gratitude to God for counting them worthy to be beneficiaries of this last work of salvation, begun by His messenger in these last days.

By DENNIS C. LOVENDINO
Editor in Chief
God's Message May 2016
Special Issue.