FROM THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE TO THE BASILICA OF THE CHURCH OF ROME
My POINT BY POINT RESPONSE to Joe Ventilacion’s article on Facebook.
Which is the church of Christ?
Here is his article with my REPLIES:
THE GREAT DIFFERENCE OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO TO THE OTHER SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF TODAY”
My REPLY:
Protestant churches and cults like INC have common target-the Catholic Church. The INC as a peculiar cult is not unusual as most cults if not all cults are unique from one another.
Ventilacion said:
After failing to refute the scriptural doctrines being propagated by the Iglesia Ni Cristo, critics of the Church now say that the Church of Christ is just the same with other churches that call themselves Christian.”
My REPLY:
As usual, INC PRIDES itself as ” victorious” in discussions or on debates. Are they really irrefutable? Hmmm … Not really! The basic tactic of INC is deception and I MUST say that they are REALLY GOOD at it, they are PROFESSIONAL liars! Sorry for the harsh words but that is what it is.
Joe Ventilacion added:
They say this because there are also other churches, especially in the United States, that are called by the name Church of Christ. They aver that if the true Church is called in the Bible as the Church of Christ, then what about the other churches that are not affiliated with the Iglesia Ni Cristo but are also called by that name? Are they also true churches since they bear the same name?
It is true that the name alone does not prove that a certain group that carries the name CHURCH OF CHRIST is classified as a true Church.
MY REPLY:
Ventilacion conceded that name alone does not prove that a group is the the true church of Christ, yet INC minister always employ this argument that theirs is the true church of Christ. On the other hand History affirms that the true church of Christ is the Catholic Church and no SINGLE historical that INC can show us, yes NOT one! If we take those very references that INC misuses, we will find out if we read deeper into them that they unanimously point to the Catholic Church. That is 100% fact.
Ventilacion said:
The truth is, the Iglesia Ni Cristo does not say that the name alone is the proof that it is the true Church. There is something that makes the Iglesia Ni Cristo unique when compared to the many churches or religious groups in the world that call themselves Church of Christ.
My REPLY:
All of them including INC are FAKES! It’s ONLY THEIR LEADERS who named and FOUNDED them. To say that it is the ” CHURCH OF CHRIST” is another BIG LIE. Christ has nothing to do with them as far as their foundation is concerned. They deliberately named that way to claim something and to deceive the innocents.
Ventilacion said:
There is no controversy concerning the Church of Christ that existed during the time of Christ and His apostles – it is a genuine or a true Church because it was our Lord Jesus Christ who established it.”
My REPLY:
The Church founded by Christ was NOT NAMED “Church of Christ”. There was NO CONTROVERSY for 1000 years as Christians agree that the true church of Christ is the Catholic Church. Furthermore, The true church of Christ is the church that was given mission to preach to ALL NATIONS and that is true UNTIL Christ coming.
Let us read:
Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
[18] And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Thus, the church which is the body and Christ who is the head stays together, so that the mission of Christ to save us will be fulfilled. Christ saves, teaches and preaches the gospel the church or his body.
The existence of the Catholic Church from its very foundation up to now tells us that IT IS THE TRUE OR GENUINE church of Christ.
The hallmark of a cult are claims of prophecy that COMPLETELY negates that Christ’s Church is indefectible, hence it only serve to REPLACE it with their VERY OWN CULT.
Ventilacion said:
However, there are so many claimants today who say that their church is the one who truly belongs to Christ.
How would we know the true Church from the many claimants? The Roman Catholic Church claims it is the true Church because it was allegedly started by Christ. This claim is irksome or irritating to the Eastern Orthodox Churches because they claim that the true Church did not start from the western side of the empire but from the eastern part.”
MY REPLY:
Ventilacion is ignorant, the Catholic Church never claimed that the Church started in Rome or from the west. The Orthodox churches together with the Catholic Church all agree that it started in Jerusalem. The Catholic recognise that the Orthodox churches were once part of the Catholic Church who are on schism. There are movement of reconciliation towards unity.
Ventilacion said:
Even the Mormons claim to be the reorganized church of Jesus Christ. Some even think that all of these Christian churches in existence today were started by Jesus Christ.”
My REPLY:
INC, like the LDS or Mormon church claims many similar things like apostasy of the church that built and headed by Christ. Manalo and Joseph Smith were confused about the churches around them. One claimed to have seen Angel while the other claimed to be one. What is sure about them is, they both just made it up or were deceived by darkness.
Ventilacion said:
This article will discuss the great difference of the true Church from the false ones. First, Christ did not intend to build many churches but one. He called it “my church”:
“And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church . . . “ (Matthew 16:18, The New Oxford Annotated Bible).
The apostles called Christ’s Church as 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).”
My REPLY:
Ventilacion just stated above that the true church cannot be known by its name alone, yet it’s his and INC’s FOREMOST argument. Moreover, it was NOT THE APOSTLES who said, it’s ONLY George LAMSA who translated it that way. Other translations says ” Lord” and in original language in Greek which the Acts was written it says “God” or “Theou”. This also proves the DIVINITY of Christ as Lord and God were translated interchangeably.
Ventilacion said:
WHAT DIFFERENTIATE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST FROM OTHERS?
Apostle Peter spoke of the uniqueness of the true Church of Christ when he said that:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2nd Peter 1:19 KJV).”
My REPLY:
The TRUE CHURCH built by Christ is so unique in MULTIPLE WAYS.
1. It was found BY JESUS HIMSELF, he did NOT USE proxy. Christ said,” I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH” and not,” somebody will built it for me”. (Matthew 16:18)
2. It was prophesied that it has NO END.
Isaiah 9:7 NASB
[7] There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”
Luke 1:32-33 NASB
[32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; [33] and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
The true Church of Christ then is unique as it was prophesied to last until the end of time. This is also echoed in Matthew 28:20.
3. Unique as it received the sole authority to teach all nations. (Matthew 28:18-19)
4. Unique as it was prophesied and fulfilled to be truly universal or Catholic, unlike INC which can be said that its all over the world, yet it’s mostly Filipinos.
There are many ways that the true church founded by Christ is unique, these are clear and all reasonable and NOT contrary to the plain biblical teachings.
Ventilacion said:
What is being confirmed by the “sure word of prophecy” that the true Church of Christ has? That the members of the Church were CALLED and CHOSEN by God according to the pronouncement of Apostle Peter:
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away (2nd Peter 2:10 NLT).
My REPLY:
The history of salvation can be summarise easily. The covenant of God started with a couple, (Adam and Eve) then to a family (Noah and his Family) to a tribe, (Jacob) to a kingdom or a nation(Israel with David) When Jesus came the extent of his mission is to all men. God calls everyone and to all nations. (Catholic). The claim of Manalo and INC ministers concerning an alleged prophecy is self-serving and WITHOUT true basis. Manalo concocted prophecy for himself by twisting verses of scriptures to his likings. They don’t stand under scrutiny and would be exposed as BIG LIES.
Ventilacion said:
What is the fortune in store for those whom God has called and chosen by virtue of their calling and election confirmed by the “sure word of prophecy”? Apostle Peter further states:
Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2nd Peter 2:11 NLT).
Therefore, members of the true Church of Christ will be given by God a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of their calling and election, confirmed by the “sure word of prophecy,” they are sure of receiving salvation.”
My REPLY:
Of course the reward from God is eternal life with God in heaven. However, Manalo is a mere man and cannot create his own heaven that he promised to his members. The members of INC only became part of the body created by Manalo, NOT to Christ’s true church/body. These victims however do sincerely believe that INC by Manalo is the real one. May God have mercy and enlighten them back to the true fold.
Ventilacion said:
WHICH CHURCH AMONG THE MANY SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF TODAY HAS THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY?
The IGLESIA NI CRISTO has the “sure word of prophecy” of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles. These testimonies are the bases of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in claiming that it is the only true Church today and has the right to be called as the chosen people of God in these last days.
We begin to quote the “sure word of prophecy” issued by no less than our Lord Jesus Christ as it is written in John 10:16 ETRV:
“I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future, there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
MY REPLY:
The so called ” prophecy” about INC is without real foundation. Notice that Ventilacion ISOLATED this single verse. INC ministers do usually employ this tactic as they could misuse the verse more easily. They then read it OUT OF CONTEXT to make their own story of legend.
What is the context?
We know that Jesus came first for the Israelites who are HIS PEOPLE.
John 1:11 NASB
[11] He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ also sent his apostles FIRST the the Israelites.
Please read:
Matthew 10:5-6 NASB
[5] These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; [6] but rather go to the lost SHEEP of the house of Israel.”
THE ISRAELITES are God’s chosen people and HIS FLOCK. Jesus prophesied the inclusion of the non-Israelites or Gentiles to HIS FLOCK.
John 10:11 NASB
[11] “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:13-16 NASB
[13] He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, [15] even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”
Christ is the good shepherd, he will bring them, and it’s his voice that they hear and NOT MANALO’s. Christ did not say that “THERE WILL BE ANOTHER FLOCK AND ANOTHER SHEPHERD”. Furthermore, although this was a prophecy that would happen in the future, Christ never said that it will be after nearly 2000 years.
When did this happened or it’s fulfilment started?
Let us read:
Acts 10:34-36 NASB
[34] Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, [35] but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. [36] The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)-
Acts 15:8-9 NASB
[8] And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; [9] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”
St. James quoted an OT prophecy:
Acts 15:17 NASB
[17] So THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES who ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’
Clearly, Jesus also CALLS the non-Israelites to his flock as he IS THE SAVIOUR of the world. To both Jews and Gentile alike. This of course INCLUDES the Philippines. It makes sense as what the mission Christ gave to the church is to ALL NATIONS and until Christ return.
Ventilacion said:
Aside from the first-century Church of Christ which is the flock during the time of Christ and His apostles, Christ prophesied about having a flock in the future. The flock or the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28 LAMSA) of the future is coming from distant lands and distant times. Apostle Peter told us that the true Church of Christ is composed of three groups of people as written in Acts 2:39 (The Last Days Bible):
MY REPLY:
Sorry Joe but there was NO GROUPING made mention in here. St. Peter is basically saying that the PROMISED of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit GIVEN is FOR ALL. These includes the adults, Old and the young. It is ALSO those who were near and TO ALL DISTANT LANDS as opposed to the idea of a particular place (Philippines) and at the end of time. St. Peter said,” and ALL those in distant LANDS AND TIMES”. Again this echoes the same idea in Matthew 28:19-20.
Ventilacion said:
These three groups of people are referred to by the words “to you,” “to your children,” and “to all those in distant lands and times.” The first and second groups called by God into the Church of Christ were the Jews and Gentiles as proven in the epistle of Paul to the Romans, “even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Romans 9:24).”
My REPLY:
It’s well refuted above. The Jews is the flock and people of God, then the Gentiles are called next. There are ONLY TWO GROUPS. St. Peter never said what Ventilacion said above. HE is just parroting what Manalo made up.
Ventilacion said:
The Gentiles were called as the “children” due to the preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas to the Gentile nations, and there were Gentiles who were converted to the Church of Christ (Romans 16:4, 16). It should be noted that Paul and Barnabas were Jews. Hence, the Gentiles were called “children” of the Jews, not of the flesh, but through the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15). The first-century Church of Christ, therefore, was composed of Jews and Gentiles.”
My REPLY:
Note that when St. Peter preached in Acts 2:39, St. Paul was NOT CONVERTED yet, neither the Gentiles were CALLED at that time. It will not be until Cornelius was called in Acts 10. Ventilacion is CLEARLY a deceptive one as he has no respect of the Scripture which is the word of God. While it’s true that St. Paul called himself “father” (in Acts 4:14-15 ) and called the Christians children, it WAS NOT BECAUSE they were Gentiles, rather it was him initiated them to the gospel, maybe he was the one who baptised them. A Gentile christian elder could in fact baptise and preach the gospel to others and even to a non-Christian Jew. The arguments of Ventilacion is CLEARLY UTTERLY ABSURD. His interpretation of the verses above is OUT OF CONTEXT.
Let us read:
1 Corinthians 4:14-15 NASB
[14] I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [15] For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.”
The above verses do not support INC’s lies.
Ventilacion said:
However, the Church of Christ has a third group, the people who are from “distant lands and times” whom our Lord God will also call to the Church. Which is this “far off” place (Acts 2:39) or “distant lands” (TLDB) referred to in the prophecy?
“From the far east will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you” (Isaiah 43:5 Moffatt).
MY REPLY:
This INC minister has no qualms in lying and no honesty in him. Isaiah 43:5 refers primarily to the promised made by God for the Israelites who were dispersed in their diaspora. Israelites were taken as captives. This is why God said that he will BRING THEM and GATHER them from the EAST and FROM the WEST, which basically means from wherever they are and NOT ONLY from the east. Another lie from INC minister.
Ventilacion said:
Undoubtedly, the Philippines is in the Far East:
“The Philippines were Spain’s share of the first colonizing movement in the Far East . . .” (Boak, Slosson & Anderson, World History, p. 445).”
My REPLY:
No one questions that the Philippines is in the “Far East”yet even if we assume that the phrase far east is in the Bible it is in different context. “Far East” is a term specific to a part of the globe coined in modern usage.
Ventilacion said:
Indeed, it is in the Philippines that the Church of Christ emerged. Thus, the members of the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines are the “other sheep” of Christ but were not of the flock or the Church of Christ in the first century because in time and place they are truly “far off.” The place is the Philippines, a far country, a country in the Far East, a place truly very far from Jerusalem where the first-century Church of Christ was established by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
My REPLY:
What is the point of reference when you say “FAR COUNTRY”??? If you are in the Philippines is it a far country? Is it Israel? If it is then the idea of BRINGING THEM and gathering them from the east and from the west in Isaiah 43:5 is the PROMISE of God to bring them back to Israel and NOT ABOUT the INC of Manalo.
Ventilacion said:
How about the time? Is it also “far off” from the time when the first-century Church of Christ was founded? Prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning the time element involved:
“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 —“ (Isaiah 43:5-6).
My REPLY:
Ventilacion and INC’s teachings on these verses is childish or immature. As I stated above. These verses is the promised of God to BRING and GATHER the ISRAELITES back to ISRAEL from THE ENDS of the earth. The verses mention the FOUR DIRECTIONS and NO “time element” as claimed by INC. It only exist in their imagination.
Ventilacion said:
The time element involved is “ends of the earth.” The end of the earth is the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and is also called the end of the world (Matthew 24:3 KJV). However, before the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, there shall be an occurrence of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes in many places (Matthew 24:3, 6-7). All these happenings will occur when Christ’s second coming is at hand (Matthew 24:33).
MY REPLY:
” Ends of the earth” is simply the directions mentioned in Isaiah 43:5-6 as state,” east, west, north and south”. The desperate twisting of meaning of the text is evident. Moreover, Ventilacion DELIBERATELY omitted or failed to mention that along with pestilence, famine and wars IS THE COMING of many False Christ and false prophets. This is to hide that FACT that Manalo is ONE OF THEM.
Let us read:
Matthew 24:4-6 NASB
[4] And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. [5] For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. [6] You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” Matthew 24:11 NASB [11] Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Matthew 24:24-25 NASB
[24] For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. [25] Behold, I have told you in advance.”
The above verses are being fulfilled to this day. Many cults after cults are deceiving many along with their “claims of prophecy”. They are indeed prophesied above.
Ventilacion said:
The war predicted by Christ to herald the nearness of His second advent is described by the prophet Isaiah as “the indignation of the Lord,” the manifestation of “his fury upon all their armies” (Isaiah 34:1-2). The instruments of this war are likened to “chariots like a whirlwind” and “horses swifter than eagles” (Jeremiah 4:13). The people during this war cannot hold their peace when they hear the alarm of war (Jeremiah 4:19).
History attests that this is the First World War which erupted on July 27, 1914. History testifies that “the First World War was unlike any war in the past. This was the first war in three dimensions: the first war in which cities were bombed from the air, and winged warriors fought among the clouds” (Boak, Slosson & Anderson, World History, pp. 478-479).”
My REPLY:
Let us assume that WWI is the fulfilment of Matthew 24:5-7 then the coming of the anti-Christ and false prophets to deceived many is also true. This is fatal to the INC stand as it ONLY point to the fact that MANALO is a false Christ.
“Chariots like the whirlwind” the INC claim that this pertains to war tanks as the barrel of these tanks can move to different directions. This is another lie as tanks with movable barrels was NOT IN USE in WWI. The theory concocted by Manalo in all its angles are crystal clear LIES yet many ignorants still fall on their deceptive trap of woven errors.
Ventilacion said:
“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, Vol. III, p. 923).
This same history book testifies to the use of airplanes, a kind of “aerial cavalry,” “horses swifter than eagles.” The fulfillment of “chariots like whirlwind” are the tanks, a kind of armored automobile which could move even on rough grounds because it was built like a tractor (World History, p. 479, Ibid.).
All of the signs given by Christ to herald His second advent were fulfilled. Hence, the term “ends of the earth” is the time immediately before the second coming of Jesus Christ, starting from the time that the First World War began. Thus, the Church of Christ which emerged in the Philippines, a country in the Far East, in 1914, is the fulfillment of the prophecy written in the Holy Scriptures.
Regarding the expansion of the Church of Christ from the Far East to the Far West, this, too, is attested to by prophecy and its fulfillment in due time:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring and from the far west I will gather you.” “Till in the far west men have awe of the Eternal, and in the east they see his brilliant deeds” (Isaiah 43:5; 59:19 Moffatt).
On July 27, 1968, the Church of Christ began its expansion from the Philippines to the western hemisphere and is now firmly established in many parts of the world.
The Church of Christ is not clutching to idle claims that it is the true Church like what other religions are doing, but the Bible itself proves the Church’s authenticity. It has a sure word of prophecy that confirms its calling and election from God.”
My REPLY:
It is THE TRUE CHURCH that proves the authenticity of the Bible. This FACT alone should open the eyes of any sincere person. It’s the Catholic Church that defined for us and make it binding which books belong to the Bible.
We had exposed with any doubt their errors, deceptions and their grave misuse of Scriptures. We can only pray that those who read this article will be moved by the Holy Spirit and guide them back to Christ’s TRUE Church. May the Truth prevail! Glory be to God always and forever!