Siya ba ay Dios, o Tao?

 

Ang isa sa mga ikinatatangi ng mga aral na sinasampalatayanan ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa hanay ng mga relihiyong nagpapakilalang Cristiano ay ang nauukol sa tunay na likas na kalagayan ni Cristo.

Kinikilala ng Iglesia ni Cristo ang mga katangian at karangalang taglay ni Cristo – Panginoon (Gawa 2:36), Tagapagligtas (Gawa 5:31), Tagapamagitan (I Tim. 2:5), pangulo ng Iglesia (Efe. 5:23, Magandang Balita Biblia), Anak ng Diyos (Mat. 3:17).

Kaya, mataas ang pagkalilala at pagpapahalaga ng Iglesia ni Cristo kay Cristo dahil ito ang itinuturo ng Biblia. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga katangiang taglay Niya, hindi Siya ang tunay na Diyos. Ang aral na ito ng Iglesia ni Cristo tungkol kay Cristo ay hindi matanggap ng marami dahil inaakala nila na ang orihinal at naunang mga aral ng mga unang Cristiano ay tunay na Diyos si Cristo na nagkatawang-tao.

Kaya, kapag ipinangangaral ng Iglesia ni Cristo na si Cristo ay hindi Diyos, nagkakaroon agad ng maling isipan ang ibang tao na ang ganitong aral ay ibang-iba sa mga aral ng mga unang Cristiano sa panahong nabubuhay pa ang mga apostol.

Kung susuriing mabuti ang Biblia at maging ang mga natala sa iba’t ibang aklat ng kasaysayan ay lubos na mauunawaan na ang itinuturo ng Iglesia ni Cristo na si Cristo ay tao at hindi tunay na Diyos ang siyang nauna at orihinal na paniniwala ng mga unang Cristiano.

Ang pananampalatayang ang Ama ang kaisa-isang tunay na Diyos ang siyang itinuro mismo ni Cristo: “Pagkasabi ni Jesus nito, tumingala Siya sa langit at nagsabi, ‘Ama, dumating na ang oras. Luwalhatiin Mo ang Iyong Anak upang luwalhatiin Ka rin ng Iyong Anak… At ito ang buhay na walang hanggan – ang makilala Ka nila, Ikaw na kaisa-isang tunay na Diyos, at si Jesu-Cristong sinugo mo” (Juan 17:1, 3, Salita ng Buhay).Tiniyak ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo na ang Ama lamang ang dapat kilalaning kaisa-isang tunay na Diyos.

Patungkol naman sa Kaniyang sarili, sinabi ng Anak na Siya’y “sinugo” ng Diyos.

Ukol naman sa Kaniyang likas na kalagayan, ganito ang pagtuturo mismo ng Panginoong Jesucristo na mababasa sa Juan 8:40

“Datapuwa’t ngayo’y pinagsisikapan ninyo akong patayin, na taong sa inyo’y nagsaysay ng katotohanan, na aking narinig sa Dios…”

Hindi ba’t ang higit na nakakaalam ng tunay na likas na kalagayan ni Cristo ay walang iba kundi Siya mismo? Malinaw ang Kaniyang pahayag mula sa Biblia na Siya ay tao. Ito rin ang katotohanang itinuro ng mga apostol (I Tim. 2:5; Gawa 2:22-23, MB; Mat. 1:18)

PATOTOO NG MGA MANANALAYSAY

May tala sa kasaysayan na nagpapatunay na noong simula, naniniwala ang mga Cristiano na si Cristo ay tao sa likas na kalagayan. Ganito ang pahayag ng historyador na si Bernhard Lohse na sinipi sa isang aklat: “… Gaya ng isinulat ng isang mananalaysay ng Iglesia, na si Bernhard Lohse, sa kaniyang Motive im Glauben (Motivation for Belief):

‘Ipinagunita sa atin ni Ario na si Jesus, tulad ng pagpapakilala sa kaniya sa mga Ebanghelyo ay hindi isang Diyos na lumakad sa lupa, kundi isang taong totoo. Mangyari pa, sa kaniyang pagiging tao ay pinatunayan ni Jesus ang lubos niyang pakikisama sa Diyos.’ ” (The Jesus Establishment, p.175) 1

Sa isang aklat kasaysayan ay binanggit kung ano ang paniniwala kay Cristo ng mga tinatawag na Apostolic Fathers na sumunod sa panahon ng mga apostol – Siya ay isang banal na tagapagpahayag ng kaalaman ng tunay na Diyos. Walang sinasabi sa tala ng kasaysayan na kinikilala na noon na si Cristo ay Diyos:

“Ang karaniwang Cristianismo… ay kumikilos sa higit na mga payak na kaisipan. Ganap na tapat kay Cristo, kinilala nito na siya, unang-una bilang banal na tagapagpahayag ng kaalaman ng tunay na Diyos at tagapagpahayag ng isang bagong batas ng simple, marangal at mahigpit na moralidad. Ito ang palagay ng mga tinatawag na ‘Apostolic Fathers’, maliban kay Ignacio…” (A History of the Christian Church, p. 37) 2

Pinatunayan naman ng isang aklat na tinatawag na Old Roman o Apostles’ Creed (humigit-kumulang taong 100 AD) na walang tinataglay na paniniwala tungkol sa Cristong Diyos ang mga unang Cristiano. Ano ang sinasabi sa Kredong ito? Si Cristo ang bugtong na Anak na ipinanganak sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo at ni Birhen Maria. Walang binabanggit sa kredong ito ukol sa Cristong eksistido na noon pang una. Kaya, batay sa mga tala ng kasaysayan, nang mga panahong iyon ay wala silang tinataglay na paniniwalang si Cristo ay Diyos (The Philosophy of the Church Fathers, p. 190-191) 3

Ang paniniwalang si Cristo ay tao ang orihinal na paniniwala ng mga unang Cristiano. Kaya, sa pagtuturo ng Iglesia ni Cristo na si Cristo ay tao, itinataguyod lamang nito ang orihinal na paniniwala na mga unang Cristiano.

PATOTOO PA NG IBANG MGA AWTORIDAD

Sinasang-ayunan ba ng mga awtoridad Katoliko ang katotohanan na hindi nga tinawag na Diyos si Cristo noong una? Sa aklat na pinamagatang Ang kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo: Ang Diyos ng mga Kristiyano ay matatagpuan ang ganito: “Kaya’t hindi maaring sabihin na tinatawag nang Diyos si Jesus noong mga kaunaunahang araw ng kristiyanismo” (p.32) 4

Hindi Diyos ang Panginoong Jesucristo sapagkat hindi raw maaaring sabihin na tinatawag nang Diyos si Jesus noong mga kauna-unahang araw ng Cristianismo. Bakit? Ayon naman sa ibang mga nagsuri “… malaya na ngayong tinatanggap kapuwa ng mga Protestante at Katolikong teologo at tagapagpaliwanag ng doktrina: na batay sa nakakalap na pangkasaysayang impormasyon, hindi inisip ni Jesus na taga-Nazaret na Siya’y Diyos…”

(The First Coming, p.5) 5

Kung ni hindi pala inisip ni Cristo na Siya’y ay Diyos, paano, kung gayon, nagkaroon na paniniwala na si Cristo raw ay tunay na Diyos?

Sa aklat-Katoliko na At Nagsalita ang Diyos sa Pamamagitan ng Kaniyang Anak, “Ipinahahayag ng ilang dalubhasa na utay-utay na binalangkas ng Simbahan ang pananampalataya sa pagka-Diyos ni Jesus na impluho ng mga ibang relihiyon” (p.181) 6.

Ayon naman sa ibang mga mananalaysay, bumangon ang  paniniwalang si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos nang lumaganap ang Katolisismo sa mga bansang pagano (The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls, p.90). 7

Ayon sa isang historyador, ang pinakaunang nagpahayag na Diyos si Cristo pagkatapos na panahon ng mga manunulat ng Bagong Tipan ay si Ignacio ng Antioquia – isa sa tinaguriang unang ama ng Iglesia: “Ang kauna-unahang panahong nalalaman na si Jesus ay diniyos ay pagkatapos ng panahon ng mga manunulat ng Bagong Tipan, sa mga sulat ni Ignacio, sa pasimula ng ikalawang siglo” (Systematic Theology, p. 305). 8

Ayon sa aklat na A History of God: “… Ang doktrinang si Jesus ay Diyos na nasa anyong tao ay hindi naging pinal hanggang noong ikaapat na siglo. Ang pagkakabuo ng paniniwala ng mga Cristiano tungkol sa pagkakatawang-tao (Enkarnasyon) ay isang unti-unti at masalimuot na proseso. Natitiyak natin na hindi kailanman inangkin ni Jesus na Siya’y Diyos (p.81). 9

Ikaapat na siglo na nang pormal at opisyal na ipahayag ng Iglesia na isang alituntunin ng pananampalataya na si Jesus ay tunay na Diyos. Sa aklat ng Iglesia Katolika na Discourses on the Apostles’ Creed, ay ganito ang isinasaad:

“Kaya halimbawa, noon lamang 325 A.D. sa Konsilyo ng Nicea nang ipaliwanag ng Iglesia sa atin na isang alituntunin ng pananampalataya na si Jesus ay tunay na Diyos.” (p.206) 10

ANG IPINAGPAUNA NG MGA APOSTOL

Dapat ba nating ipagtaka kung may lumitaw at lumaganap na paniniwala tungkol sa Panginoong Jesucristo na ibang-iba naman sa ipinangaral ng mga apostol? Hindi, sapagkat ito’y ipinagpauna ni Apostol Pablo:

“Nguni’t ako’y natatakot, baka sa anomang paraan, kung paanong si Eva ay nadaya ng ahas sa kaniyang katusuhan, ang inyong walang malay at malinis na mga pagiisip na kay Cristo ay pasamain. Sapagka’t kung yaong paririto ay mangaral ng ibang Jesus, na hindi namin ipinangaral, o kung kayo’y nagsisitanggap ng ibang espiritu na hindi ninyo tinanggap, o ibang evangelio na hindi ninyo tinaggap, ay mabuting pagtiisan ninyo” (II Cor. 11:3-4)

Kaya, buhay pa ang mga apostol ay ipinagpauna na nila na may mga magtuturo sa mga unang Cristiano ng iba sa kanilang ipinangaral. Ang ganito ay hidwang pananampalataya at hindi ikaliligtas (Gal. 5:19-21)

Bagaman sa pananaw ng marami ay ibang-iba ang mga aral na sinasampalatayanan ng Iglesia ni Cristo tungkol kay Cristo – na Siya’y tao sa likas na kalagayan at hindi Diyos – ay hindi naman ito naiiba sa katotohanang itinuturo ng Biblia. Ang pagtuturong si Cristo ay tao at hindi Diyos ay pagbabalik sa orihinal na mga aral na sinasampalatayanan ng mga unang Cristiano.

Nota: Ang mga reperensiya sa wikang Ingles ay isinalin sa wikang Filipino.

Sanggunian:
1 Lehmann, Johannes. The Jesus Establishment. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1974

2 Walker, Williston. A History of the Christian Church. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970

3 Wolfson, Harry Austryn. The Philosophy of the Church Fathers. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1964.

4 Sevilla, Pedro., S.J. Ang Kabanalbanalang Isangtatlo: Ang Diyos ng mga Kristiyano. Philippines: n.p., n.d

5 Sheehan, Thomas. The First Coming: How the Kingdom of God became Christianity. New York, USA: Random House, Inc. 1986

6 Sevilla, Pedro  C., S.J. At Nagsalita ang Diyos sa Pamamagitan ng Kanyang Anak. Quezon City, Philippines: n.p., n.d.

7 Davies, A. Powell. The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls. USA: Penguin Books, USA, Inc., 1956.

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

9 Armstrong, Karen. A History of God: The 4,000-year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, New York: Ballantine Books, 1993.

10 Crock, Clement H. Rev., Discourses on the Apostles’ Creed, New York City: Joseph F. Wagner, Inc., 1938

Source: PASUGO, God’s Message; May 2010 edition, Volume 62, Number 5, ISSN 0116-1636, p. 20-22, by MICHAEL M. SANDOVAL

The Father is Saviour, and Jesus is Savoiur is Jesus God?

If Jesus saviour, Jesus Christ is not God then why do we need Him if we have the Father for salvation? If He is just a man, how can a man give salvation?

It is true that God the Father is saviour (Isaiah 45:21-22) and that Jesus Christ is also a saviour(John 4:42;Ephesian 5:23)However to assume that Christ is also God because He is a saviour is to ignore the teachings of the bible on how He became saviour:

“It was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the saviour of the people of Israel, as He promised”(Acts 13:23TEV)

“Him God has exalted to his right hand to be Prince and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31 NKJV)

Clearly, therefore, Christ is saviour because He was exalted and made as such by God. Now, if Christ being made saviour made Him God, then comes the absurd conclusion that Christ became God because He was made as such by another God.

The bible also teaches that Christ Himself needed salvation from God(Heb.5:7) Could this have meant that one God “offer up prayers and supplications” “to another God “ who was able to save Him from deaths? Surely not, as this directly contradicts the doctrine of the bible that “there is one God, the Father of whom are all things”(1Cor.8:6)

To further ask, “why do we need Jesus if we already have the Father for salvation?” and “ How can a man (Jesus) give salvation” is to overlook, to say the least, the biblical pronouncements on the manner through which the Father will grant salvation. The Father will grant salvation through “ the man” He has ordained, Jesus Christ. The bible explains thus;

“ and now all glory to Him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord....”(Jude 1:24, Living bible)

“Because He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead”(Acts 17:31 NKJV)

As Jesus was ordained or appointed to be “the man” through whom God will judge the world, it is Him (Christ) who will come on the “end of the age”(Matt.24:3,NKJV) to bring judgement on all(Jude 1:14-15, TEV).

Jesus will grant salvation or the right to “inherit the kingdom” to His sheep (Matt. 25:31-34) or the members of His Church (John 10:16; Acts 20:28 Lamsa translation;Eph.5:23) because God gave Him the authority to give eternal life(John 17:2), indeed, Christ became Saviour by virtue of the authority given to Him by the God the Father. With regards to the nature of Christ’s being the bible explicitly declares of Him through whom salvation is to found;

“...... Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through Him......”

Salvation is to be found through Him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us” (Acts 2:22; 4:12 TEV)

Dahil Tinawag na Alpha at Omega “King of Kings at “Lord of Lords” sa Apocalipsis 1:8; 22:12-16; 17:14 Dios na?

  

Itong mga talatang ito ang ginagamit ng ilang Theologians lalo na ng mga Trinitarians na batayan para patunayan na ang Panginoong Jesuscristo ay Dios din.

Sa paniniwalang ito lalo na ng mga Trinitarians, ay malaki ang kanilang dapat ipaliwanag kung bakit ang Holy Spirit na sa paniniwala nila ay kapantay din ng Ama at ng Anak, ay hindi tinawag na Alpha at Omega King of Kings at Lord of Lords?

Hanggang ngayon po wala pa silang paliwanag ukol sa Holy Spirit kung bakit hindi tinawag ng gayon.

Kung susundin natin ang ganyang pangangatuwiran na dahil sa tinawag sa magkahalintulad na titulo ay Dios na?

Ilang mga halimbawa ,

Si apostol Pedro din pala ay magiging Dios din dahil tinawag din sa katawagang kahalintulad ng sa Panginoong Jesucristo na “BATO” o “Stone”.

Dito po sa Juan 1:42 si apostol Pedro ay tinawag na “Stone”

“ And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, He said, You are Simon the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas (which translated is, A stone)”.[KJV]

Samanatalang ang Panginoong Jesus naman ay tinawag ding “Stone” sa Gawa 4:10-11

“ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this name does this man stand before you whole. This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner.” [KJV]

Nakita na po natin na parehong tinawag na “STONE” si Apostol Pedro at ang Panginoong Jesuscristo pero nangangahulugan po ba ito na Dios din sa apostol Pedro?

Magpatuloy po tayo....

Sa ganyang kaisipan pa din na kung susundin natin na dahil sa may pagkakapareho ng katawagan ay Dios na, eh di lahat pala ng Kristyano ay Dios na rin?

Bakit po? Kasi po sa 1 Pedro 2:4-5 lahat ng Kristyano ay tinawag na “ living STONE”

Sipiin po natin ang talata...

“ For having been drawn to Him, a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God;you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” [KJV]

Nakita na po natin kung ano ang samang ibubunga kung sakaling paniniwalaan natin na dahil may magkaparehong katawagan ay pareho na ng kalagayan? Katulad po ni Cristo at ng Dios, at ni Cristo at ni apostol Pedro? Mas higit po ni Cristo at ng lahat ng Kristyano?

Maaring sabihin po ninyo na magkaiba naman ng kahulugan ang mga iyan?

Tama po kayo!

Iyan po ang pinakapunto ko na, hindi komo tinawag sa magkaparehong katawagan ay magkapareho na ng kalagayan.

“ALPHA AT OMEGA” Ang una at huling letra ng Greek alphabet. Ito ay parehong ikinabit sa Panginoong Jesus at sa Ama na Siyang tunay na IISANG DIOS, na ang ibig sabihin ay “UNA AT HULI”. Iyan po ay may magkaibang kahulugan ayon sa pagkakabit sa kanila.

Ang Ama ay “ALPHA” dahil sa Kanya nagmula ang lahat (1Corinto 8:6) at “OMEGA” dahil Siya ang nagtakda ng paghuhukom (Gawa 17:31; 1Corinto 15:28) o ng katapusan (Mateo 24:36)

Sa kabilang banda naman ang Panginoong Jesucristo ay “ALPHA” dahil Siya ang “panganay sa lahat ng nilalang” (Colosas 1:15) panganay sa lahat ng nilalang hindi ibig sabihin Siya ay pinakaunang tao sa mundo, panganay in the sense na bago pa lalangin ang mundo “nauna” na siya sa isipan ng Dios. Nauna Siya sa “plano” ng Dios. (1Pedro 1:20 salin ni Juan Trinidad)

OMEGA ang Panginoong Jesus dahil sa pamamagitan Niya huhukuman ng Dios ang sanlibutan sa araw ng paghuhukom (2 Corinto 5:10; Gawa 17:31).

Bakit tinawag na Lord of Lords at King of Kings?

Ipinaliwanag po ng biblia na Siya maghahari at “ lilipulin na niya ang lahat ng paghahari, at lahat ng kapamahalaan at kapangyarihan.”

Kung magkagayo'y darating ang wakas, pagka ibibigay na niya ang kaharian sa Dios, sa makatuwid baga'y sa Ama; pagka lilipulin na niya ang lahat ng paghahari, at lahat ng kapamahalaan at kapangyarihan. Sapagka't kinakailangang siya'y maghari hanggang mailagay niya sa ilalim ng kaniyang mga talampakan ang lahat niyang mga kaaway “ (1Corinto 15:24-25)

Ayon sa paglalarawan ng biblia ang pagiging King of Kings at Lord of Lords ng Panginoong Jesucristo ay mas mababa doon sa Ama na Siyang tunay na Dios, at sa pagpapatuloy ng biblia...

“ Sapagka't kaniyang pinasuko ang lahat ng mga bagay sa ilalim ng kaniyang paa. Datapuwa't kung sinasabi, ang lahat ng mga bagay ay pinasuko, ay maliwanag na itinangi yaong nagpasuko ng lahat ng mga bagay sa kaniya. At kung ang lahat ng mga bagay ay mapasuko na sa kaniya, kung magkagayo'y ang Anak rin ay pasusukuin naman sa nagpasuko ng lahat ng mga bagay sa kaniya, upang ang Dios ay maging lahat sa lahat. “ (1 Corinto 15:27-28)

Kaya po ang Alpha at Omega, Kings of Kings, Lord of Lords ay may pagkakaiba ang kahulugan at pagkakagamit. So kung i-a-argue nila na Dios ang Panginoong Jesucristo dahil taglayNiya ang ganoong titulo ito ay isang maling argumento at pangangatuwiran. Ito ang tinatawag ng mga logician na "fallacy of equivocation".

Who's God sits on the throne, Is it Jesus? The Father, or the Trinity God of the Trinitarians?

 

Let us examine some of the verses that the Christ-is-God proponents used as a supporting evidence that Christ is God and is the Second person of the so called Trinity God. One God in Three Persons!

We will not discuss, whether the word “TRINITY” is in the bible because if you are a regular bible reader, you will agree with me that it cannot be found on the bible.

So, instead of arguing with the word Trinity we will examine some of the verses they are using to prove the Trinity and that Christ is God.

Let us start with this...

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne [of God]."   (Rev. 5:6, NIV)

Trinitarians also imply that the slain Lamb (obviously the resurrected Christ) must be God because He is in the center  of God's throne in this verse.

The question now will be like this: 

 Are they correct?


 Is Christ God because the verse mentioned He is in the center of the throne?

Our answer is NO! He is maybe mentioned as in the center of the throne but not the who sits on the throne.

There is never any doubt that the one seated on God's throne in Rev.4 and 5 is God the Father.

Let us qoute Rev.4:10-11: 

"They [the 24 elders] lay their crowns before the throne and say: `You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things."  (Rev. 4:10-11 NASB.)

The Lamb is never called God, nor does he sit on the throne of God in these two chapters.

The Lamb is clearly differentiated from God:

"And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea---all living beings in the universe---and they were singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!" (GNB)

So why is the Lamb standing in the center of the throne of God?

Well here is how it reads in the original Greek:

 "And I saw in midst of the throne (en meso tou thronou) ... lamb standing...."

Thayer tells us of this NT Greek word meso::

"in midst of, i.e. in the space within, tou thronou [`the throne'] (which must be conceived of as having a semicircular shape [c-shaped]: Rev. iv. 6; v. 6."

Thayer continues with an explanation of Rev. 5:6 that meso means

"between the throne and the four living creatures and the elders (i.e. in the vacant space between the throne and the living creatures [on one side] and elders [on the other side], accordingly nearest the throne."

(p. 402, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Baker Book House.)

 
Another trinitarian New Testament expert A. T. Robertson also takes this to mean:

 "before" or in front of the throne. (Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. vi, p. 328.)

Here some of many  trinitarian translations use "between" here rather than "in the center of".

 "between the throne and the four living creatures"

(1) RSV

(2) The Jerusalem Bible

 (3) NASB

 (4) NAB (1970 ed.)

 (5) NRSV

 (6) The Amplified Bible (1965)

 (7) MLB (1969)

 (8) Beck's The Holy Bible in the Language of Today (1976)

 (9) C. B. Williams' New Testament in the Language of the People (1963)

 (10) REB(

11)Living Bible.

But no matter how you wish to translate en meso tou thronou, it is obvious that the Lamb's being there does not make him God.

Simply look at Rev. 4:6 and the complete Rev. 5:6.

We have seen in Rev. 4:6 that the four living creatures are en meso tou thronou just as the lamb is in 5:6...

 If that means the Lamb is God, then it also means the four living creatures are God!

Trinitatrians your God now will not be a Trinity, but Sixnity, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit, The Four Living Creatures! Absurd and Rediculous!

A further examination of Rev. 4:6 reveals this additional information concerning "en meso tou thronou" and the throne of God.

Let us take a look at the KJV rendition:



 "in the midst of the throne and around the throne."



This could mean that they are positioned around the throne so that each one is standing in the center of each side.

For that reason, the translators of TEV and GNB translated it:

"surrounding the throne on each of its sides."

CBW and Beck both translate:

 "in the middle of each side of the throne."

This understanding and these renderings by modern trinitarian Bibles correlate well with Ezekiel's vision of God's throne at Ezek. 1:15-22 where the 4 living creatures (Cherubs) are stationed at each corner of the throne (or chariot which supports the throne).

It could also mean the four living creatures are in the central position in heaven.

For this reason, The Jerusalem Bible reads:

"in the center, grouped around the throne itself."

The above gives us good evidence for determining what en meso tou thronou may mean for the position of the Lamb in Rev. 5:6.

Or merely examine all of the scripture in question. Rev. 5:6 reads literally in the Greek:

"And I saw in midst of the throne [en meso tou thronou] and of the four living [creatures] and in midst of [en meso] the older persons lamb having stood as having been slaughtered."

Again we see the four living creatures in the "midst" of the throne, and also the Lamb is in the "midst" of the 24 elders. The 24 elders, then, must also be in the "midst" of the throne with Jesus.

 So, this trinitarian "evidence" means the 24 elders are God too!

 Worse!

It's getting worse my dear Trinitarians!

Is it really the Trinity sits on the throne?

Let us take a look at Revelation 21:3

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne. saying, `Behold the tabernacle of God is among men and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His peoples, and God Himself shall be among them."

Is the loud voice from the throne is of God?

Let us furhter study....

Let us take a look in verse 5:

"And He who sits on the throne said, `Behold I am making all things new.'

(NASB)

We have seen that although the first voice was from the throne, it was still not from God.

The second voice was from the one who sits on the throne from God.

This is very clear that God is the one sitting on the throne, no one else!

Another vision of God in heaven is noteworthy.

 "Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God."  ( Acts 7:55, TEV.)

 

If Christ is part of the so called Trinity, one God in three distinct persons then why is it in the verse we can read that He is standing at the right side  of God?

Is this a different Jesus?

 Of course not! That is the same Jesus, the Son of God.

Very clear in this verse Christ is not God.

So, who sits on the Throne?

My answer is, it is the Father Who is the ONLY TRUE GOD (John 17:1,3)

(Disclaimer: This is just my own view, and not the official doctrine of INC. If you are interested to know more about the doctrines of Iglesia Ni Cristo, please don't hesitate to visit our locale nearest you.

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True Church & False Ones

Many people believe that the term ‘church’ in reference to that which is of Christ encompasses “all" churches that believe in Christ. Thus, they find it very difficult to accept that there is only one true Church, and all others are false; they find such a statement he­retical, divisive, and offensive. But the teachings of the Holy Scriptures show a clear distinction be­tween the Church that truly belongs to Christ, and those that do not. How can those false churches be recognized? "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, dis­obedient, and disqualified for every good work" (Titus 1:16, New King James Version).

It is through their works, their deeds—and even their purported religious practices—that churches that are not of Christ can be identified. But how could this be? Aren't all acts done in the name of Christ accepted by Him? Doesn't the religios­ity of believers make them automatically worthy? No, because their zeal is misdirected, according to the apostle Paul: "I can say this about them: They really try to follow God, but they do not know the right way. Because they did not know the way that God makes people right with him, they tried to make themselves right in their own way. So they did not accept God's way of making people right" (Rom. 10:2-3, New Century Version).

Because of man's sins, he has been separated from God (Isa. 59:2), and is destined to be punished on judgment Day (II Pet. 3:7). So man needs to be reconciled to God through Christ (II Cor. 5:20). Thus, it is very important to know and follow God's way of having people put right with Him.

Some may point out that they go to the extreme to prove their servitude to God and the Lord Jesus. They af­flict their body with all kinds of pain and penance (e.g. self-flogging, exces­sive fasting, etc.), believing that such practices will make them worthy and acceptable. But is such the case? No, according to the Bible: "Such prohibi­tions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings. They do indeed have the outward appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed religious observances, false humil­ity and asceticism; but they have no value at all in restraining people from indulging their old nature" (Col. 2:22-23, Complete Jewish Bible, emphasis ours).

Such asceticism or self-infliction is based on man-made rules and teachings, and thus does not make one of God or of Christ. Churches teaching these are therefore false ones.

Others have been duped by those who claim that they received visions or heard an angel of God speaking to them, or that even Christ had com­missioned them. But God Himself de­nounces such people: "Your 'prophets' describe false visions and speak false messages they claim are from God, when he hasn't spoken one word to them at all. Thus they repair the walls with whitewash!" (Ezek. 22:28, Living Bible). Churches founded and preached by self-ascribed visionaries like these are therefore false ones.

With so much falsehood concern­ing service to God, how can one en­sure that he is not being misled? In order to serve the Creator truthfully and eventually attain salvation, what should one be prepared to do? Apos­tle John instructs the following: "My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and exam­ine what people tell you. Not every- one who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preach­ers loose in the world" (I John 4:1, The Message).

One then has to carefully weigh and examine the various churches and self-professed preachers. One needs to determine that the ones he listens to are truly of God and of Christ. But one may very well ask, "What should be the gauge or standard in determin­ing who truly is from and of God?" By the Law and Testimony, according to the prophet Isaiah: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20, King James Version).

The Law refers to the teachings or commandments of God (Ps. 119:104-105, The Complete Apostle's Bible). Thus any true preacher (and church for that matter) which belongs to God would preach solely the commandments of the Father. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, being the greatest messenger of God proclaims the following: "Jesus an­swered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me'" (John 7:16, New International Version).

Even if a preacher claims that his teachings are in harmony with those of God written in the Bible, still he also has to prove that he has the testi­mony. Revelation 19:10 reveals which testimony this is: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Wor­ship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy'" (NKJV).

This then is how the true Church and the true preacher can be recog­nized; they not only teach the true gospel without addition or subtrac­tion (Matt. 5:18), but they also have the testimony of the prophecy that they belong to God. Because of this, which is the only Church in our time that possesses these qualities? How can it be recognized? Christ says: "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).

Before ascending to be with the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ proph­esied concerning His other sheep or true disciples who would eventually be called into the fold or flock, which is the Church of Christ: "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).

At what time, and from where would these other sheep of Christ emerge? At a distant time and place, according to the apostles: "For it was to you that the gift was promised, to you and your children, and to all those in distant times and places whom the Lord our God calls to him" (Acts 2:39, Rieu Translation).

The prophecy mentions three groups that would comprise the Church of Christ in its totality—(1) "to you," (2) "and to your children," (3) and "to all those in distant times and places." The Jews who believed in the preaching of Christ and the apos­tles and became baptized members of the Church were the fulfillment of the first group. The second group was the Gentiles who also entered the true Church of Christ during the time of the apostles. They were non-Jews, or those who came from different races and cultures:

"GENTILES

"A term used by Jewish people to refer to foreigners, or any other people who were not a part of the Jewish race" (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 487).

Thus, the Jews and non-Jews who believed in Christ and became mem­bers of His Church at that time were the fulfillment of the prophecy re­garding the first two groups of people called by God (Rom. 9:24). The third group, meanwhile, would come from distant times and places. Which time and place are being referred to? The prophet Isaiah, in a related prophecy, informs us of the following:

"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, NKJV).

God would begin calling those to be recognized as His sons and daugh­ters who are the other sheep of Christ at the time "ends of the earth," firstly in the East then in the West. The East, specifically, is none other than the Far East: "From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you" (Isa. 43:5, Moffatt Translation).

How could the time "ends of the earth" be determined? In a conversa­tion with His apostles, the Lord Jesus made known the following: "Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, 'When will all this take place? Will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?' ... 'Just so, when you see the events I've de­scribed beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.' ... 'wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the be­ginning of the horrors to come'" (Matt. 24:3, 33, 6-8, New Living Translation).

According to Christ, the time "ends of the earth" or when the end of the world is near, would be heralded by a series of events, beginning with a well publicized war. The fulfillment of this conflict is none other than the First World War which broke out on July 27, 1914: "The first great campaign on the southeastern battle grounds of the Great War began on July 27, 1914, when the Austrian troops undertook their first invasion of Serbia ..." (The Story of the Great War, p. 291).

The only Church in our times in which these prophecies have been fulfilled is none other than the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), that emerged in the Philippines—which is in the region known as the Far East, and was officially registered on July 27, 1914, prophetically coinciding with the outbreak of World War I. The Iglesia ni Cristo had its first worship service in the West on July 27, 1968 in Ewa, Hawaii, and is now firmly en­trenched in many countries and ter­ritories all over the world.

This is why the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo continue to invite people to follow the instruction of the apostles to "carefully weigh and examine" the teachings being upheld herein. By so doing we can clearly see that the "law" or true command­ments of God are being observed, and because of this, coupled with the ful­fillment of biblical prophecies, we are sure that we belong to God and to our

Lord Jesus Christ. And since we are the children of God, then we can look with not only optimism but with full assurance to the following:

"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, NKJV)

By Donald H. Pinnock

(God's Message | June 2011 | Volume 63 | Number 6 | ISSN 0116-1636 | pages 29-31)