CHURCH OF CHRIST IN LAST DAYS

On this day marks the 109th Anniversary of the emergence of the Church of Christ in the Far East corner of the world, the Philippines on July 27,1914. We firmly believe that its emergence is in accordance with the prophecy of the Scriptures regarding the establishment of Christ's flock in these last days. However, many people would ask, why did Iglesia ni Cristo arise only on July 27,1914?

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PROMISED
THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
WILL RE-EMERGED

It was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who prophesied that multitudes of His disciples will be led astray. However, even though the first century Church Of Christ will be apostatized, this is what the Lord Jesus promised:

“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 NKJV)

Although the first century Church Of Christ will be apostatize, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “other sheep I have.” He called them His “other sheep” because they “are not of this fold.” He will bring them also and they will hear His voice and they will be “one flock.” The “fold” or “flock” the Lord mentioned refers to the “Church Of Christ” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa). Thus, when the Lord Jesus said that He has other sheep “not of this fold,” what He meant is that He has other sheep not of THIS Church Of Christ (referring to the first century Church Of Christ).

The "other sheep" mentioned by the Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:16 are not of the Church Of Christ of the first century. Remember that the first century Church Of Christ was apostatized. The Lord promised that “them also I must bring.” He also said that “there will be one flock.” The word “flock” is referring to the Church Of Christ. Thus, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ saying "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock..." refers to His promise of rebuilding the Church Of Christ.

Therefore, even though the first century Church Of Christ was apostatized, Christ will rebuild His Church. The Church Of Christ will re-emerge. Who are Christ's "other sheep"? When and where it will emerge? Apostle Peter answers these questions:

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39 KJV)

This verse shows that the Church Of Christ the Lord established is composed of three groups of people: (1) "For the promise is unto you" - the Jews (cf. Acts 2:36); (2) "and to your children" - the Gentiles (cf. I Cor. 4:6); and (3) "and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."

Thus, the "other sheep not of this fold" that the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in John 10:16 is the third group of people that comprised the Church that the Lord Jesus Christ founded and will came from "afar off," When and where the third group of people that comprised the Church that the Lord Jesus Christ founded and who Christ called as His "other sheep" will emerge? In a related prophecy, Isaiah 43:5-6, this is what is written:

“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5-6 KJV)

The Bible said, "bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth." The children of God that will come from afar will emerge in the time the biblical prophecy calls the "ends of the earth."

The Bible explained that the "end of the earth" is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 24:3), while the "ends of the earth" is the time when the end is near (cf. Matt. 24:33). The Lord Jesus Christ gave signs indicating that the time is already at the "ends of the earth" or the end is near:

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors!
“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. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matt. 24:3 & 33 & 6-8 NKJV)

The first sign that Jesus gave as an answer to His disciples’ question about the signs of His return and the end of the world was a war that would be dramatically different from all other wars that preceded it. What would make this war so unique is that the news of its battles would quickly spread both far and wide. This Great War prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ found fulfillment in the war that was once called “the war to end all wars,” or the First World War which began on July 27, 1914 (Story of the Great War, edited by Francis J. Reynolds, et al. New York: P.F. Collier and Son, 1916. Vol. 2, p. 291).

The Prophet Isaiah not only prophesied when the children of God will emerge (from the ends of the earth), but also the place where they will emerge (from the Far East):

“From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you." (Isaiah 43:5 Moffatt)

The Philippines where the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) emerged is in the Far East:

“The Philippines were Spain's share of the first colonizing movement in the Far East." (Boak, Arthur E. R., et al. World history. Madison United States Armed Forces Institute, 1942, Vol. 2, p. 445.)

The gap between the first century Church Of Christ and the Church Of Christ that emerged in the Philippines is because the first century Church was apostatized. Although apostasy took place in the first century Church Of Christ, however, Christ promised that He is going to re-establish the Church Of Christ. Hence, the emergence of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in the Philippines in 1914 was the fulfillment of Christ’s promise of re-establishing His Church.