THE BEAST WITH THE NUMBER 666

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
Revelation 13:18

THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO, Church of Christ in English, always views the various criticisms of our detractors as a good opportunity to answer them, to expose their veiled motives, and to enlighten them – God willing – to win them over to the true Church built by Christ, the Church of Christ. Their vain attempt to becloud our doctrinal belief is a healthy sign that the impact of our preaching is continuously being felt by all sectors of the so-called Christian Churches.

Here in the Philippines, we have not heard from the Baptist for a very long time although we know that they are still around somehow. The Evangelical Torch Committee, Manila, Philippines, published a pamphlet entitled “Tunay Kayang Anghel si Manalo?” (Is Manalo Truly an Angel?)

How do the Baptists erroneously explain Revelation 13:18, 14 regarding a deceitful man, compared to a beast, with the number 666? We quote and translate for your convenience page 7 of their pamphlet: “The name Felix is a Roman name, Manalo on the other hand is not a Latin word but Tagalog. If we are to analyse from Tagalog-English and Latin, this will result: The word ‘Manalo’ in English is ‘Win’ – English-Tagalog Dictionary of the Department of Education, R.P., and in Latin ‘Win’ is ‘Vencedora,’ taken from the Latin book ‘La Vida Vencedora,’ in English ‘The Life That Wins,’ Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois. If every Roman name can be counted by number, let us see what the number is of the name Felix Manalo which in Latin is ‘Felix Vencedora’”

Is this teaching of the Baptists based on truth?

OUR ANSWER:

1. Never did Brother Felix Manalo use FELIX VENCEDORA as a title,
appellation, or as a name. The name FELIX VENCEDORA is a by-
product of the fertile imagination of our cynics.

2. It is not true that the word WIN (MANALO) is VENCEDORA in Latin.

3. Vencedora is a Spanish word: “Vencedora, n. conqueror, victor, foiler;
adj. Victorious (Fucilla Spanish Dictionary, Spanish-English – English-
Spanish, by Joseph G. Fucilla, p. 298, Follet Pub. Co., Chicago – New
York)

4. Manalo, “Win” is not Vencedora in Latin: “Win, v. vincere, superare,
victoriam adipisci or parere” Cassells’s New Latin Dict. Latin-English –
English-Latin, p. 879, by D. P. Simpson, Funk & Wagnalls Co. New
York)

5. Even if Arabic numbers were substituted to Roman letters having
numerical values, the name FELIX VINCERE, or FELIX SUPERARE, or
FELIX VICTORIAM will not yield the total 666. We invite our dear
readers, especially our detractors, to try counting the numerical
equivalents.

The writer of the above cited pamphlet together with all the members of the Evangelical Torch Committee are ignorant of the fact that “La Vida Vencedora” is not Latin but Spanish or if they know this, they had conspired among themselves to use the English-Tagalog Dictionary to show that MANALO in Tagalog is WIN in English, but in proving that WIN in English is allegedly VENCEDORA in Latin they did not use the Dictionary. The veiled motive is quite evident.

Is the number of the name sufficient to ascertain who is referred to as the deceitful man mentioned in Rev. 13:11, 18? “And I behold another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. …Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.” According to the above cited verses the man with the number 666 is a beast. Why is this man called a beast; is he really a brute like a four-footed animal? Daniel 7:17 explains thus: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings…” (KJV) The meaning of beast is king. The name of this beast, a king, has a number; the number is 666.

Our detractors, the Baptists, should have known that Brother Felix Manalo was not and has never been a king. He is not, therefore, even to considered as the man likely to possess the number 666. The Baptists must look somewhere, they must start with a king. If they do not know how to proceed in determining who is referred to in the prophecy we exhort them to read carefully this article.

Rev. 13:11 further mentions that this beast is like a lamb. Who is the lamb to whom the deceitful man, a king, had likened himself? Jesus Christ is the Lamb according to John the Baptist. (John 1:29) In what way will the beast, a king, liken himself to Christ, the Lamb of God? Christ warned His disciples to beware of ravening wolves (beasts) or false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing. (Matt. 7:15) Apostle Paul testifies that Christ is King of Kings. (I Tim. 6:14-15) It is not the clothing alone that this beast will imitate in Christ, but will also usurp Christ’s exalted positions as King of kings.

The book of Revelation further reveals in the previously cited verses that the beast has two horns. What is meant by horn? Amos 6:13 reveals: “Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?” The word horn means strength or power.

Let us now summarize the various clues given by the book of Revelation in order to easily pinpoint who the fulfillment of the prophecy is:

1. His clothing is likened to that of Christ’s;

2. He usurped the exalted position of Christ as the King of Kings;

3. He has a crown to signify his position as king;

4. He possesses two kinds of power;

5. His name or title bears the number 666.

Let us now collate the various evidences to prove and expose who actually is the deceitful man whose name bears the number 666:

1. “The Clothing of the Priest Saying Mass…The priest vested for mass is likened to that of Jesus Christ…” (Siya Ang Inyong Pakinggan – “Hear Ye Him” page 195, by Enrique Demond, S.V.D.)

2. Clerical Privileges…This privilege was based on the consideration that those who in the highest sense, take the place of the King of Kings.” (Modern World, page 162, by Francis Betten & Alfred Kauffman)

3. “Q. Who is the Holy Pope or Supreme Pontiff?

“A. The Bishop of Rome, VICAR of JESUS
CHRIST…Father and shepherd of Christians.

“Q. What is that which is placed on the head of the Pope,
called tiara?

“A. Three crowns of silver or gold attached to a high
headgear and the three crowns are placed one on top of
the other in layers of equal distance.” (Translated from
Pilipino: from a book entitled Compendio Historico de la
Religion (Historical Compendium of Religion), edited by
D. Josef Pinton in Spanish and translated in Pilipino by D.
Antonio Florentino Puansen, page 589)

4. “The Popes were not only devoted spiritual Fathers, but firm and valiant civil Governors…” (Faith of Our Fathers, p. 113, by James Cardinal Gibbons)

“To sum up in a few brief sentences the titles of Catholic Priest:

“He is a king…” (Ibid. page 320)

5. “On the pope’s crown in the Vatican museum is the recognized and most used title of the pope. VICARIVS FILII DEI (VICAR OF THE SON OF GOD). The word VICARIVS is on the top of the threefold crown. The word FILII on the second circlet; and the words are made from dark, shining precious jewels. The word DEI is on the under part of the threefold crown and is made of 100 diamonds.” (Studies in the Scriptures, p. 215 by Pastor Charles T. Russell).

Regarding the title of the pope, VICARIVS FILII DEI, it is inevitable to use our wisdom for the Holy Scriptures clearly advise us to do so: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Rev. 13:18, KJV) Verse 17 of the same chapter clarifies that it is the number of the name of the beast, the deceitful man.

Mr. Webster defines WISDOM: “…the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding…” (Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language,p. 1678)

The recognized and most used title of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church is VICARIVS FILII DEI. Using our knowledge of Roman numerals with their corresponding equivalent in arabic numbers, here is what we will obtain:

* “V. 1. the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet: from
the Latin V… formerly used interchangeably in
English with U both as a vowel and as a consonant.”
(Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American
Language, p. 1606)

V = 5	F	D = 500
I = 1	I = 1	E
C = 100	L = 50	I = 1
A	I = 1	_____
R	I = 1	501
I = 1	_____
V = 5	53
S
_____
112

VICARIVS	112
FILII	53
DEI	501
	_____
Total	666

The clothing of the pope (a priest of the highest order in the Catholic hierarchy) is likened to that of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Catholic bookModern World admits that one of the clerical privileges of the pope is that he “takes the place of the King of Kings”; he has a crown, called the tiara, to signify that he is a king; he possesses two kinds of power, civil and religious (he is the chief of state of the Vatican and head of the Roman Catholic Church); and lastly, as computed above with wisdom, the pope’s title or name bears the number 666. The sound and inevitable conclusion is that the pope of the Roman Catholic Church is the beast with the number 666. This is not an imagination of the Minister of the Church of Christ for no one can dispute the fact that we gave you the clues direct form the Bible and the equivalent evidences in fulfillment of the prophecy. Unlike the Baptists who resort to sophistry in order to mislead people in understanding who factually is referred to as the beast with the number 666.

What mark was given by the beast to all those whom he had deceived? “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.” (Rev. 13:16, KJV)

Are there people who have mark or sign on their right hand or on their forehead? “The sign of the Cross is made by tracing three small crosses with the thumb of the right hand, first on the forehead…The sign of the Holy Cross is the mark of the Catholic…” (Translated from Pilipino, Siya ang Inyong Pakinggan – Ang Aral Na Katoliko (Hear Ye Him – The Catholic Teaching), page 11).

How true indeed is the prophecy and its fulfillment in the pope of Rome! All Catholics, from all walks of life have the mark, the sign of the cross.

Does the sign of the cross or the mark on their right hand and forehead signify salvation? “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Rev. 14:9-11, KJV)

Who, therefore, is the beast, the deceitful man, with the number 666? The Pope of the Roman Catholic Church!

Who is “Felix Vencedora”? There is no such person in the Iglesia ni Cristo. Then who is he? I leave that to the fertile imagination of the Baptists.

The Church and the city of Jerusalem: A HISTORIC RESTORING

The historic return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity was repeated by the restoration of the Iglesia ni Cristo to Jerusalem after being held captive by the apostate church – the Catholic Church.
AFTER ALMOST 2,000 years of exile from the city of Jerusalem, the Church of Christ has finally been restored to its original abode where it was founded by the Lord Jesus Christ in the first century. On the last day of March a year ago, the fulfillment of the divinely-inspired mission to restore the Iglesia ni Cristo to its place of origin in Jerusalem, Republic of Israel, has undoubtedly made its mark in the history of the Church.


The first-century Church in JerusalemRecorded in the Scriptures is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ founded His Church in Jerusalem (cf. Mt. 16:18; Lk. 12:32; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Version). After declaring that He would build His Church, Christ told the apostles that He “must go to Jerusalem” (cf. Mt. 16:21). From there, the Lord and His apostles propagated the words of God in Galilee and Judea. After Christ’s ascension, the apostles and some 120 disciples gathered in the city of Jerusalem and became witnesses to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost.

The Administrator of the Church in Jerusalem then was Apostle James the Less. His authority and the primacy of the Jerusalem Locale over the other locales of the Church in the first century were recognized by the other apostles like Peter and Paul. In fact, when the controversy arose regarding the implementation of the Mosaic tradition among the Gentile converts, it was to Jerusalem where the elders and the apostles went and it was Apostle James who made the final decision after hearing the opinions of the bickering groups.

History, however proves that the Church which flourished in Jerusalem suffered great persecution that caused its members to disperse and wander to different parts of Palestine. Despite their difficult situation, the early Christians painstakingly propagated the gospel among their Hebrew kindred.

How did the Church in Jerusalem vanish into oblivion, thus, making necessary its restoration after almost 2,000 years? Roman imperialism and apostasy were the factors that led to the annihilation of the Church of Christ in Jerusalem. The Christians were already forewarned of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman legions that as early as 66 A.D., they began to leave the said city.

When the city rebelled against Roman rule in 70 A.D., it was ransacked and totally destroyed. By then, the Christians from Jerusalem were already in Pella, a city in Transjordan. Some historians say that this group became the Ebionites, an obscure Jewish-Christian sect – so obscure, in fact, that they were later on forgotten by history.

When a group of “Christians” reappeared in Jerusalem in 120 A.D. or after the death of the apostles, their beliefs and practices were no longer similar to what the apostles and the original Church in Jerusalem upheld. This was expected because during that time, apostasy had already crept into the Church. Various unscriptural beliefs surfaced and, as a result, the Church gradually turned away from the true Christian faith. What then prevailed was the apostate church.

With the apostasy overtaking it, the true Church of Christ in Jerusalem had to be restored.

God’s abode forever

King David established Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel over 3,000 years ago. It became the center of the Jewish religion as Solomon built God’s temple there. But not even the turning of the Israelites away from God could change His decision to make Jerusalem His permanent home. Nor could the conquest of Jerusalem by Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar stop God’s will that His chosen people be returned to this beloved city. The historic return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity was repeated by the restoration of the Iglesia ni Cristo to Jerusalem after being held captive by the apostate church – the Catholic Church.

According to the Holy Scriptures, God has chosen Jerusalem as His permanent home:

“O Lord, you have chosen Jerusalem as your home: ‘This is my permanent home where I shall live’, you said, ‘for I have always wanted it this way. I will make this city prosperous and satisfy her poor with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation; her saints shall shout for joy’.” (Ps. 132:13-16,Living Bible)

Jerusalem is God’s abode forever. “Jerusalem” symbolizes three things: (1) the literal Jerusalem or the capital of Israel also called Zion – a home of God; (2) the Church whose members are registered in heaven – the home of God in spirit; and (3) the heavenly Jerusalem or the Holy City – the New Jerusalem – God’s home where all those to be saved will live with Him.

Bible scholars attest to the fact that Jerusalem symbolizes the Church:

“ZION

“A name for Jerusalem (Matt. 21:5; John 12:15); or symbolically, for the church of Christ (Rom. 9:33).” (Master Study Bible: Authorized King James Version, p. 1840)

The true Church, the Church of Christ, would carry out God’s promise that Jerusalem would be His home forever. To fulfill this, the Lord prophesied that He will bring His people home again:

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring the happy news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns. The watchman shout and sing with joy, for right before their eyes they see the Lord God bring his people home again.” (Is. 52:7-8, LB)

Those who would be brought home will come from the distant east, thus, distinguishing this fulfillment from Israel’s return led by Ezra and Nehemiah:

“Do not be afraid – I am with you! ‘From the distant east and the farthest west I will bring your people home’.” (Is. 43:5, Today’s English Version)

Emancipation from Babylonian captivity

But before the restoration of the Church to Jerusalem would take place, God prophesied that His chosen people in these last days or the members of the Church of Christ must first take off the slave bands from their necks:

“Rise from the dust, Jerusalem; take off the slave bands from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For the Lord says, When I sold you into exile I asked no fee from your oppressors; now I can take you back again and owe them not a cent!” (Is. 52:2-3, LB)

This signifies freedom from enslavement. According to prophecy, what held God’s people captive is “Babylon and all it represents” (cf. Is. 52:11, Ibid.) A book entitled A Verse by Verse Commentary on Daniel and the Revelationstates that “the term Babylon is used exclusively as a symbol of apostate Christianity” (cf. p. 843). This clarifies that the Catholic Church is the modern Babylon which has apostatized from the first-century Church of Christ and has held God’s people in bondage for close to two thousand years. Thus, those from the Far East will be taken out by God from the Catholic Church and would be brought back to the true Church.

The throwing off of the yoke of enslavement will occur at the “ends of the earth” (cf. Is. 52:9-10, LB). “Ends of the earth” is the time immediately preceding the end of the world or Judgment Day heralded by signs, among which is the outbreak of a great war (cf. Mt. 24:3, 6-8), the First World War being the fulfillment. Thus, the freedom from enslavement prophesied by the Scriptures would coincide with the First World War which broke out in 1914.

The emergence of the Church of Christ in the Philippines, a country in the Far East, in 1914 is the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the emancipation of God’s people from modern Babylon. The establishment of this Church right at the very heart of Catholicism in Rome on July 27, 1994 symbolizes its complete emancipation from the apostate church.

After being delivered from the captivity, the Church of Christ must now return to its former home. This was fulfilled when the Church was officially established in Jerusalem last year – when the true Church finally returned to its original abode.

The carrying out of the restoration

The work of the Church’s full restoration began when the messenger chosen by God from the Far East in the person of Brother Felix Y. Manalo started preaching the Iglesia ni Cristo. From the Philippines, God’s people in these last days also had to be gathered in the Far West. This was fulfilled in 1968 when the first two overseas locales of the Church were established in Hawaii and in California.

This Church also had to be restored first in the city which is the seat of apostasy – Rome, Italy. This was fulfilled in 1994 when the locale of theChiesa di Cristo (Italian for Church of Christ) was established in the city of the seven hills. And on the third month of 1996, the Church was finally restored to its original home, Jerusalem, the city founded by King David.

During the restoration worship service, Brother Eraño G. Manalo declared that it was God’s will that they were allowed to complete this important mission. He proclaimed that this is God’s plan and design and, thus, no one can hinder it. The Church Administrator stressed to the brethren present in that worship service that right before their very eyes, the Almighty God has brought His people home again.

Indeed, the restoration of the Church of Christ in Jerusalem last year is God’s will - another manifestation that the Almighty God continuously fulfills all His promises to this Church. The establishment of the Iglesia ni Cristo in this city is a historic unfolding, a historic restoring of God’s chosen people to their original home.

When Wars will be No More

While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more.
THE SUN DID SET ON that epochal 9 / 11 but it did not see the end of terror and violence. Violence resurfaced and continues to lurk in varying scales in some other countries – in Spain, Iraq, Indonesia, UK, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, to name a few.

The repugnant results of conflicts, the dissolution of which remains to be a dream of nations, are unspeakable, to say the least. Terrorism, for one, has derailed the economic growth of many nations. Those who escaped violence in the form of wars, atrocities, and murder are left in outrage if not total shock over their grueling experiences. The rest of us who “peek” at the senseless violence in various parts of the world through TV newscasts or webcasts – some in real time or as they happen – could not help but be affected by the sight of the victims and the displaced, weeping at their misfortune.

Furthermore, others have lost their own peace of mind because their lives are but a day-to-day struggle against the worsening economic crisis, aggravated by the calamities and disasters that bring more miseries to their lives. Corruption and injustice also worsen these tragedies to individual and familial levels. These problems of humanity cannot be consigned to history. For now.

Questioning God’s purpose
Because of these, people look for someone to put the blame on as they yearn for peace. The sad part of it is that, there are those who blame God, wondering why He allows such things to happen.

Some people today have profound questions to God that had also been asked in the past:

“Why do you make me see such trouble? How can you stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere. The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil men get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.” (Hab. 1:3-4, Today’s English Version)

Injustice, destruction, violence, and troubles are also the realities in many countries today. Though many people unequivocally condemn acts of senseless violence and atrocities, the condition of the world today remains basically the same as that during the time of the prophet Habakkuk:

“Their armies advance in violent conquest, and everyone is terrified as they approach. Their captives are as numerous as grains of sand.

“Then they sweep on like the wind and are gone, these men whose power is their god.

“But how can you stand these treacherous, evil men? Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and you cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong. So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are?” (Hab. 1:9, 11, 13, Ibid.)

Today, there are also ruthless individuals, terrorists, and even bandits who hold people captive, kidnap them as hostages and then, demand for a lofty amount as ransom. Kidnapping, abhorrent as it is, “has become a big business in many countries” as “kidnappers globally take home well over $500 million each year, and the figure is rising” (FP Foreign Policy magazine, July / August 2002, p. 29).

Who should be blamed?Is God the one to be blamed for all the lawlessness and the sufferings prevailing in this world today? No. It has always been the intention of God to bestow on man not only what is good but also what is best for him. This is why God set a condition for man to attain such blessing from Him, that is, man should walk in and follow the way that He teaches:

“… I am the LORD your God, the one who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go.” (Isa. 48:17, TEV)

Blessings and successes are what God intends for man on the condition that he should listen to and obey His commands:

“If only you had listened to my commands! Then blessings would have flowed for you like a stream that never goes dry. Victory would have come to you like the waves that roll on the shore.” (Isa. 48:18, Ibid.)

Many people of this world, however, disobey God’s commands, instead of satisfying this condition set by Him. That is why even if God wants the best for mankind, what has befallen mankind are sufferings in this world. God is not to blame for the present problems of this world. God says:

“But I did command them to obey me, so that I would be their God and they would be my people. And I told them to live the way I had commanded them, so that things would go well for them.

“But they did not obey or pay any attention. Instead, they did whatever their stubborn and evil hearts told them to do, and they became worse instead of better.” (Jer. 7:23-24, Ibid.)

Many people do what their hearts desire by wallowing in wickedness instead of obeying what God wants them to do. So, things have not been well with them. If someone is to be blamed for the atrocities and sufferings pervading in this world, it is none other than man himself.

Panacea or an aggravating factor?Others may not reconcile the verses we have just cited with the fact that there are many religions and “religious” people today. But, has the increase in the number of religions helped in the improvement of people’s lives and in the attainment of peace? The Bible enlightens:

“The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” (Isa. 59:8, New King James Version)

God, through the Bible, describes the religions established by the people of this world as “crooked paths”. These brought injustice and disorder to mankind instead of peace and goodness. Hence, the rise of these religions is one of the causes of man’s sufferings.

Also, despite these religions, many people remain wicked and disobedient to God’s laws. This resulted in many terrible disasters, difficulties, and destruction for the people of this world. He said:

“When that happens, I will become angry with them; I will abandon them, and they will be destroyed. Many terrible disasters will come upon them, and then they will realize that these things are happening to them because I, their God, am no longer with them.” (Deut. 31:17, TEV)

A hope for peaceThe good news is, despite this terrible condition of the world today, God promised to grant peace:

“The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace” (Ps. 29:11, Ibid.)

The ones to whom God will give peace are the people of His nation. In the Christian era, the nation of God where peace is found is the “body” referred to by Apostle Paul when he declared: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15, NKJV). The one body wherein the peace of God is found is the Church headed by Christ (Col. 1:18, Ibid.). This Church is described by Apostle Peter as God’s “nation, His own special people” who “obtained [His] mercy” (I Pet. 2:9-10, Ibid.). The apostle was referring to the one “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19, Ibid.), that is, the Church of Christ (Acts. 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

But, in the first place, why should people be at peace with God through Christ? Apostle Paul teaches:

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

“And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col. 1:21:-22, 20, NKJV)

People need to have peace with God because they have been separated from Him and have become His enemy because of their sins. Fortunately, Christ suffered and died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. But, for whom did Christ offer His life? For the Church, which is His body as stated by Apostle Paul:

“… Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Eph. 5:25, TEV)

Indeed, it is the Church of Christ that was redeemed by Christ’s precious blood:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

In short, above worldly concerns, man should strive to enter the true Church, the nation of God in the Christian era, to attain peace with God or to be brought near to Him. Let us not forget that the true cause of people’s misfortunes is that God is “no longer with them” (Deut. 31:17, TEV).

Wars will be no more
While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more:

“… Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.” (Isa. 2:4. Ibid.)

That place where violence and mourning will be no more is the Holy City, described in the following prophecies:

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. … And the days of your mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. 60:18, 20, NKJV)

There will be no injustice and oppression in that land promised by God:

“Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done. Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.” (Isa. 32:16-17, TEV)

That land promised by God for His people is a land of rejoicing:

“Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy.

“I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help.

“The LORD says, ‘I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten’.” (Isa. 65:18-19, 17, Ibid.)

While still sojourning in this earth where living dangerously is a daily reality, the people of God continue to be assured of His protection as long as they follow His laws:

“Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall.” (Ps. 119:165, Ibid.)

“… He [God] protects me and saves me from violence.

“The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me … In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.” (II Sam. 22:3, 5, 7, Ibid.)

In these times of dangers and troubles, the worship of God by His people and praying inside the house of worship are even more relevant because He promised: “… in this place [temple] I will give peace” (Hag. 2:9, NKJV). And, whenever His people are filled with sorrows, they direct their thoughts and set their vision on the promised Holy City, then, move on.

THE ORIGIN OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST's ALLEGED DEITY

Thinking that the belief that Christ is God is the original Christian
teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, many people suppose that the
Iglesia Ni Cristo only invented the teaching that Christ is man and not God.
Is this really so? What is the original belief of the early Christians
concerning Jesus Christ?

What the Bible teaches about Christ

To shed light on this subject, we will trace the origin of the doctrine of
Christ's alleged deity. But first, we must be reminded of what the Bible
teaches concerning the true nature of Christ. The Lord Jesus introduced
Himself thus:

"But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I
heard from God; this is not what Abraham did." (Jn. 8:40, Revised Standard
Version)

Christ clearly stated that He is a man who has told the truth which He
heard from God. That there is God from whom Christ heard the truth is
another proof that Christ is different from God.

Christ's teaching about His nature is what the apostles affirmed. Apostle
Paul taught:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5, New King James Version)

The only Mediator between God and men is a man and not another God. Apostle
Peter and Apostle Matthew taught that Christ is man. Peter declared that
Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested by God ( Acts 2:22, Ibid.). That Christ
is conceived and born of a woman is expressly stated in the Gospel of Christ
according to Matthew (Mt. 1:18:20). Therefore, the claim that Christ is God
contradicts what the apostles taught. Likewise, to introduce Christ as God
contradicts the very statement of God that He is neither man nor a son of
man (Num. 23:19). God neither allows Himself to be both God and man, nor
does He allow man to be both man and God (Ezek. 23:2; Hos. 11:9).

Thus, the original teaching concerning Christ as recorded in the Bible is
that He is man.


The early warning

It is not surprising that there exists today teachings about Christ that
differ from the teachings of Christ and His apostles. As early as their
time, the apostles warned about the possible deviation from the original
teaching concerning Christ. Apostle Paul said:

"I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon
your full and pure devotion to Christ - in the same way that Eve was
deceived by the snake's clever lies. For you gladly tolerate anyone who
comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and
you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and
the gospel you received from us!" (II Cor. 11:3-4, Today's English Version)

Those, therefore, who teach and believe in Christ's deity are like those
who gladly accepted a "different Jesus" during the time of the apostles.
Apostle Paul called such teaching a different gospel, one that is
unscriptural.

The apostles, who were entrusted to teach the pristine teachings of Christ,
rebuked those who refused to accept that Christ is man:

"Watch out for the false leaders - and there are many of them around - who
don't believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human being with a body
like ours. Such people are against the truth and against Christ." (II Jn.
1:7, Living Bible)

During the time of the apostles, there were people who were easily taken
away from the true teaching taught by Christ and His apostles. They denied
the humanity of Jesus Christ. According to Apostle John, these people are
against the truth and against Christ - or anti-Christ (Jn. 1:7, NKJV).
Bible commentators also have noticed this:

"When we read Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, it becomes clear that
many problems faced the church within its own membership.

"Paul's other letters also reveal controversies and power-struggles in the
midst of encouragement and growth...Some people tried to mix Christian and
non-Christian religious beliefs. The first letter of John speaks of those
who once belonged to the Christian community but had now departed. They
denied the true humanity of Jesus Christ." (Handbook to the History of
Christianity, p 73)

While some apostles were still alive, some Christians departed from the
truth by denying the humanity of Jesus Christ. Thus, Apostle John in his
letter addressed these people. He gave a warning to the Christians, lest
they would be misled (II Jn. 1:7).



The formalization of the dogma

The apostles tried as much as they could to ward off the false teaching
about Christ in its inception. But after their demise, the altered doctrine
about the true nature of Christ proliferated. In fact, observers have
noticed many other developments in the history of the Church. In his book,A
Concise History of the Catholic Church, Thomas Bokenkotter said:

"Like its workship, the faith of the Church underwent some development,
and, in fact, its chief dogma, beliefin the divinity of Jesus Christ, was
not defined until the Council of Nicaea in 325." (pp. 58-59)

The doctrine on the deity of Christ was defined only when the Council of
Nicaea convened in the fourth century - over 200 years after the Bible had
been completed; all the apostles were already dead at that time. Even prior
to the formalization of the Christ-is-God doctrine, there were people
already upholding this doctrine. Ignatius of Antioch was found to have
written on this issue:

"The earliest time known at which Jesus was deified was, after the New
Testament writers, in the letters of Ignatius, at the beginning of the
second century." (Systematic Theology, p. 305)

Hence, the teaching that Christ is God did not originate from the apostles.
This started to be formally taught only after the Bible had already been
completed and when all the apostles of Christ were already dead. The warning
of Apostle Paul ( II Cor. 11:3:4) concerning the teaching of a different
Jesus, thus, started to be realized.



The point of conflict

The doctrine of Christ's deity is simply not apostolic. No wonder it has
become a point of countless debates and arguments from the time of its
inception until now. After the time of the apostles, Arius, a presbyter from
Alexandria was among those who rejected this dogma:

"The problem of the relationship between God the Father and His Son Jesus
Christ became an acute problem in the Church soon after te cessation of
persecution. In Western Europe, Tertullian, for example, insisted upon the
unity of essence in three personalities as the correct interpretation of the
Trinity. Hence the dispute centered in the eastern section of the Empire. It
must be remembered that the [Catholic] Church has always had to fight
Unitarian conceptions of Christ...

"In 318 or 319, Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, discussed with his
presbyters 'The Unity of the Trinity', One of the presbyters, Arius, an
ascetic scholar and popular preacher, attacked the sermon because he
believed that it failed to uphold a distinction among the persons n the
Godhead ... Arius, who was backed by Eusebius of Nicomedia ( to be
distinguished from Eusebius of Caesarea) and a minority of those present,
insisted that Christ had not existed from all eternity but had a beginning
by the creative act of God prior to time. He believed that Christ was of a
different ( heteros) essence or substance than the Father. Because of the
virtue of His life and His obedience to God's will, Christ was to be
considered divine. But Arius believed that Christ was a being, created out
of nothing, subordinate to the Father and of a different esssence from the
Father. He was not coequal, coeternal or cosubstantial with the Father. To
Arius He was divine but not deity." (Christianity Through the Centuries, pp.
142-143)

Take note that Arius lived in the fourth century. Thus, the teaching that
Christ is God was debated upon and remained unacceptable to some even up to
the fourth century. Such acute dispute was seen to be a potential problem
that could cause animosity and division among the officials of the Catholic
Church. This was seen also as a grave threat to the unity of the empire.
When the dispute became so intense, drastic action was taken:

"The controversy became so bitter that Alexander had Arius condemned by a
synod. Arius fled to the friendly palace of Eusebius, the bishop of
Nicomedia... Since the dispute centered in Asia Minor, it threatened the
unity of the Empire as well as that of the Church." (Ibid., p. 143)



Catholic council fails to resolve the dispute

When the controversy regarding the nature of Christ became serious, the
unity of the empire and of the Catholic Church was threatened. Because of
this, the emperor stepped into the scene to settle the dispute:

"The emperor therefore stepped into the controversy and extended
invitations for a great council to be held at Nicaea (325)." ( A Short
History of Christian Doctrine, p. 51)

The emperor's intervention over this doctrinal dispute was simply not
right. How could an emperor who knew nothing of theological issues being
discussed solve such a delicate problem? Thus, Lohse further comments:

"The first emperor to become a Christian, Constantine had basically no
understanding whatsoever of the questions that were being asked in Greek
theology. In the controversy over the doctrine of Trinity he saw nothing
more than unnecessary bickering of theologians, which might best be avoided
by eschewing all speculation and by living together in love and harmony. At
the same time Constantine was concerned about keeping or restoring
ecclesiastiacl peace. After all, the church had an important service to
perform in his empire." (Ibid.)

Constantine was only concerned about keeping or restoring peace and unity
and the important role that the Catholic Church would have in his empire.
Thus, whether or not the disputing officials of the church agree on Christ's
alleged deity of on His humanity was of no bearing to Constantine as long as
they would settle to only one stand that could promote unity. So, what did
Constantine do to influence the bishops who convened so that his interests
and wishes would be served well? Lohse records:

"For the first time in its history, Christianity in the Roman Empire was no
longer the persecuted religion ...From a pure external point of view the
change in the situation was evident to the bishops in the fact that they no
longer needed to move about secretly nor did they have to use the normal
means of travel to visit one another. They now had the privilege of coming
to the council by means of transportation provided by the state, i.e., means
which were intended for use by ranking state officials. At Nicaea the
emperor provided lodging for the bishops in his palace. It was there, too,
that the discussions took place, and in the presence of the emperor at
that... It is understandable if the bishops showed their gratitude by
generous effort to oblige the emperor.

"In the course of the long discussions which now took place at Nicaea the
emperor intervened personally several times." (Ibid., pp. 51-52)

The hospitable granted to the bishops by no less than the emperor himself
was enough to influence their decision on the issue. In fact, they could not
help but yield to the demands of the emperor as an expression of their
gratitude for all the favors they had enjoyed during the meeting. Thus, when
the decision was to be called for, it was the emperor's will that prevailed:

"The Council could not agree and after two years, impatient at the delay,
the Emperor Constantine appeared and addressed the assembly, ordering them
to agree on the divinity of Christ( how could the emperor claim divinity if
the Savior's was denied?)." (Challenge of a Liberal Faith, p. 60)

Finally, in 325 A.D, the council concluded with the decision in response to
the order of the emperor. From then on, Christ has been recognized by the
Catholic Church as God:

"Thus, for example, it was not until 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea,
that the Church defined for us that it was an article of faith that Jesus is
truly God." (Discourses on the Apostles' Creed, p. 206)

The issue on what the Catholic Church, the official religion of the Roman
Empire, must stand for concerning Christ might had been settled, but the
disputes and arguments over the issue on Christ's alleged deity did not
stop. Rather, the council was hit by more serious attacks. Louis Berkhof has
this to say:

"The Council of Nicaea was convened in A.D. 325 to settle the dispute...
the decision of the Council did not terminate the controversy, but was
rather only the beginning of it. A settlement forced upon the Church by the
strong hand of the emperor could not satisfy and was also of uncertain
duration. It made the determination of the Christian faith dependent on
imperial caprice and even on court intrigues." (The History of Christian
Doctrines, p. 86-87)

It has now become obvious that what Catholics and Protestants uphold
concerning Christ's deity is an unsettled controversy. Christ did not teach
this teaching - neither did His apostles. Thus, this teaching must be
rejected. Moreover, those who recite the Nicene Creed, also known as the
Apostles' Creed, that contains the declaration of an erroneous faith
concerning the nature of Christ must be reminded of this:

"The Council of Nicaea set many precedents. The Emperor called it,
influenced its decision-making and used his civil power to give its decrees
virtually the status of imperial law. The Council introduced a new kind of
orthodoxy, which for the first time gave non-biblical terms critical
importance. The Creed's own form of expression was influenced by the heresy
it outlawed...

"Nicaea was followed by more than half a century of discord and disorder in
the Eastern church, which at times spilled over into the west." (Handbook to
the History of Christianity, p. 160)

The teaching on Christ's deity is not the original teaching, rather it is a
man-made doctrine and, thus, is worthless in the sight of God (Mt. 15:9).



What the apostles admonish

Having been forewarned of the surge of false teachers who would teach a
false Jesus, Iglesia Ni Cristo members are so vigilant that they may not be
led astray. Apostle Paul admonishes us:

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to
you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (II Thess. 2:15, NIV)

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes that its teaching concerning the
nature of Christ - that He is man - is the very teaching that the apostles
had taught. This is the original doctrine upheld by the early Christians,
not the dogma formulated by the bishops of the Catholic Church and
formalized at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. For the members of the
Iglesia Ni Cristo, nothing can be more important than to uphold the true
words of God that serve as a firm foundation upon which every Iglesia Ni
Cristo member is anchored. Such is the characteristic that they should
possess for them to become firm and steadfast:

"Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about
by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who led others
into errors by the tricks they invent." (Eph. 4:14, TEV)


References

Berkhof, Louis. The History of Christian Doctrines. Michigan: Baker Book
House, 1937.

Bokenkotter, Thomas. A Concise History of the Catholic Church. New York: An
Image Book Doubleday, n.d.

Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the Centuries. Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House 1967.

Crock, Rev. Clement H. Discourses on the Apostles' Creed. New York: Joseph
F. Wagner, 1938.

Dowley, Tim. Eerdman's Handbook to the History of Christianity. England:
Lion Publishing, 1977.

Lohse, Bernhard. Translated by F. Ernest Stoeffler. A Short History of
Christian Doctrine. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966.

Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology. Philadelphia: The Judson
Press, 1907.

UGAT NG KAWALAN NG HANAPBUHAY

Sa sa mga ipinagmamalaki nating pangunahing katangian ng ating ekonomiya ang maraming Pilipino na bihasa sa Ingles at kaalaman sa iba’t ibang trabaho. Ito ang naging daan sa tagumpay ng industriya ng business process outsourcing (BPO), lalo na ang mga call center. Kung gayon, bakit hanggang ngayon ay malaki ang ating suliranin sa hanapbuhay? Mahigit 2.8 milyon ang walang trabaho sa ngayon.

Tinataya ng World Bank na 10 milyong Pilipino ang walang trabaho o hindi sapat ang hanapbuhay sa kasalukuyan. Batay sa isang milyong Pilipino na nadaragdag sa labor force taon-taon, kailangang makalikha ng 14.6 milyong trabaho hanggang 2016. Umaabot sa kalahating milyon ang nagtatapos sa kolehiyo at unibersidad bawa’t taon, ngunit maraming kumpanya ang nahihirapang makakuha ng kailangan nilang empleyado. Sa industriya ng BPO, halimbawa, isa lamang sa bawa’t sampung aplikante ang natatanggap.

Ang ugat ng suliranin ay ang hindi pagkakatugma ng mga kursong iniaalok ng mga paaralan sa pangangailangan ng mga industriya at negosyo. Sa madaling sabi, mali ang kurso. Kailangan natin ang masusing pag-aaral upang maituwid ang ganitong sitwasyon. Dapat matukoy sa nasabing pag-aaral kung anong uri ng mga hanapbuhay ang mangangailangan ng tao sa malapit na hinaharap, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa ibang bansa, yayamang hindi naman natin mapipigilan ang ating mga kababayan na nagnanais mangibang-bayan.

Sa panig naman ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad, dapat maging mabilis sa pagbabago ng kanilang mga kurso upang maiangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga industriya at negosyo. Maganda ang ginawang pagbabawal ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sa pagbubukas ng mga bagong programa sa ilang mga kurso gaya ng business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management, and information technology education, na nagkabisa sa school year 2011-2012.

Naniniwala ako na ito’y magandang hakbang sa tamang direksiyon at makatutulong upang maibsan ang hindi pagkakaangkop ng edukasyon sa pangangailangan.

(Durugtungan)

                                    

                                          --by ROBERT--

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

LIFE NOWADAYS is full of problems, hardships, and difficulties. Many people today cannot fully satisfy their basic needs, as many are not properly fed, clothed, sheltered, and educated. Though they aspire for things that could give them a sense of security and contentment, such as what is commonly considered as the “good things in life,” not many enjoy such things.

This failure to live a worry-free life has brought much frustration and unhappiness to many. Hence, the pursuit of happiness remains to be the focus of many people in their lives. The Declaration of Independence of the United States (July 4, 1776) qualifies “the pursuit of happiness” as one of the “unalienable rights” of people.

In our time, scholars who are seeking to understand happiness more, and finding ways to lift its level, have been searching on this problem: What makes people happy? Sifting through their data (for their study in 2002), psychologists Diener and Seligman of the University of Illinois “found that the most salient charactereristics shared by the 10% of students with the highest levels of happiness and the fewest signs of depression were their strong ties to friends and family, and commitment to spending time with them” (Claudia Wallis, “The New Science of Happiness,” Time, February 28, 2005, p. 33).

Other data unearthed by positive psychologists show that “performing acts of altruism or kindness … connecting with other people seems to be the most fundamental finding from the science of happiness” (Ibid., p. 36).

Furthermore, on the question, “Does wealth make people happy?” research has shown that “once your basic needs are met, additional income does little to raise your sense of satisfaction with life. … neither education nor, for that matter, a high IQ paves the road to happiness” (Ibid., p. 33), Research further shows that “there is much more to happiness than financial security” (Gregg Easterbook, “The Real Truth About Money,” Ibid., p. 41).

There are also studies on the planet’s happiest peoples done by other researchers. Interestingly, many poor countries ranked high in ratings. Dyland Evans, author of the book Emotion: The Science of Sentiment, concluded that “money doesn’t guarantee happiness” (Ibid.). In relation to this, author Gregg Easterbook quips, “we often gives us more social anxiety than satisfaction” (Ibid., p. 40).

Based on these researches, there are other steps to raising one’s level of happiness prescribed by scholars but these cannot guarantee a permanent one. What then will?

The happiness of
God’s people: a desired state
There is a state of happiness that God teaches and offers through the Bible. This is what His people desire to attain even though they are in the midst of suffering. The Psalmist articulates:

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4, New King James Version)

The Bible teaches a desire state of happiness – to delight in the Lord – that is different from what is commonly known by the people of this world. Those who fulfill this will “rejoice in the Lord,” for they have received a blessing far greater than the things of this world:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, …” (Isa. 61:10, Ibid.)

The people who can truly find delight in the Lord are those who have been clothed “with the garments of salvation” or have been promised with salvation. In the Christian Era, those who have been “clothed with the garments of salvation” are the ones who “were baptized into Christ [and] have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27, Ibid.). They “were all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13, Ibid.) which is the Church that belongs to and is headed by Christ (Col. 1:18).

The proof that those who were brought into this Church have been clothed with salvation was declared by Apostle Paul:

“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.” (Eph. 5:23, Today’s English Version)

This Church which Christ will save is the Church of Christ He redeemed with His precious blood:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.: (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Because of the promised salvation, members of the true Church of Christ can truly rejoice in the Lord even in the midst of troubles and difficulties in this world. Furthermore, trials and persecution do not cause them to despair because they rightly view such experience as “sharing Christ’s sufferings,” and they will “be full of joy when his [Christ’s] glory is revealed” on His Second Advent (I Pet. 4:13, TEV). For this, Apostle Peter exhorts them:

“Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ’s followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you. … if you suffer because you are a Christian, don’t be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ’s name.” (I Pet. 4:14, 16, Ibid.)

Facing anxities
While the true people of God also have their material needs in this world where economic problems are numerous and become more sever, they are not anxious about them. Instead, they always work hard and are being guided by Christ’s admonition:

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.” (Matt. 6:31-32, Contemporary English Version)

Thus, members of the true Church should not worry even though there may be times when they lack some of the things they need in this life, because they can expect God and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:24) to help them with the good things that they need in this life. As God’s servants, they believe that God will never forsake His people. King David, who himself experienced and had observed the manifestations of God’s loving-kindness, attested:

“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” (Ps. 37:25, NKJV)

Thus, instead of worrying in the face of hardship, the true servants of God ought to have confidence and hope when it is their turn to be in trouble:

“Now it’s your turn to be in trouble, and you are too stunned to face it. You worshipped God, and your life was blameless; and so you should have confidence and hope. Think back now. Name a single case where a righteous man met with disaster.” (Job 4:5-7, TEV)

God’s people know that it is inevitable for them to experience great difficulties in this life but as long as they live righteously He will never forsake them.

Finding joy in obedienceGod’s people find joy in fulfilling His commandments:

“I am unimportant and despised, but I do not neglect your teachings.

“I am filled with trouble and anxiety, but your commandments bring me joy.” (Ps. 119:141, 143, TEV)

The faithful consider as their top priority obeying God’s commandments, happen what may. They know that in obedience, they would also have the love of God and Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ inspires them:

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. … that My joy may remain in you, and that our joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11, NKJV)

To love and to be loved by God and Christ is the greatest source of happiness. Hence, for true Christians, no problem is too big for a solution. After all, God’s love and power are much greater than all the combined problems in this life. Moreover, they have the Holy Spirit to comfort them, as promised by Christ:

“I will not leave you bereaved, I come unto you;

“And I will ask the Father, and another Comforter He will give to you, that he may remain with you – to the age; the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive …” (John 14:18, 16-17, Young’s Literal Translation)

Furthermore, God’s people do not seek comfort in worldly pleasure, because they know the “the world is passing away” (I John 2:17, NKJV – it will end soon and those who do evil will be destroyed (II Pet. 3:7-10). However, “he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:17, NKJV).

Hence, them members of the true Church ought to value most the great love that our God and our Lord Jesus Christ gave them and never exchange this for anything or anyone in this world. Such love is a “perfect” one as qualified by Apostle John (I John 4:17).

Towards eternal happiness
Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ promised eternal happiness to the members of His Church:

“I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn to gladness.

“.. Now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you.” (John 16:20, 22, TEV)

Where will this eternal happiness be experienced by God’s faithful servants, among whom are the true members of the Church of Christ today? God declares through the Bible:

“For behold, I create new heavens and new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.” (Isa. 65:17-19, NKJV)

Life in the new heaven and new earth is eternal and blissful – there will be no more sorrows there (Rev. 21:1-4). It is one that all of us must seek to attain. And because the hope of God’s people is anchored not on empty words but on the promise of the Almighty God, they, therefore, seek joy in His reassuring words while living in this world and looking forward to the attainment of eternal happiness.