THE PHILIPPINES IS IN THE BIBLE?

The most common attack of our DETRACTORS especially those who believed in the TRINITY DOCTRINE or THOSE WHO FOLLOW A DOCTRINE NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE is the teaching of the IGLESIA NI CRISTO regarding the PROPHECY OF THE BIBLE that pertains to BROTHER FELIX Y. MANALO as the LAST MESSENGER of GOD.

They oftenly said to us:

“You are saying that we believe a teaching that is not found in the Bible, you often ask us where in the Bible we can read the word “TRINITY”? Why? Is there a word “PHILIPPINES” in the Bible? This is a proof that the members of the IGLESIA NI CRISTO also believed in a teaching that is not found in the Bible.

QUESTION: Is the word “PHILIPPINES” in the Bible?

ANSWER: Is a sign of IGNORANCE, because the PHILIPPINES got its name only on MARCH 16, 1521 (16^THCENTURY) when it was discovered by FERDINAND MAGELLAN, and during that time it was named FELIPINAS (PHILIPPINES IN ENGLISH) which means  LAS ISLAS DE FELIPE (THE ISLES OF PHILIP) which was named after the KING OF SPAIN during that time – KING PHILIP II, and the Bible was completed since 96 AD (FIRST CENTURY). How could you find that word in the Bible? So it is absurd to even ask that question, and a real sign of GRAVE IGNORANCE among our detractors.

And another thing the IGLESIA NI CRISTO never taught ever that the word PHILIPPINES is found in the Bible. So there is no reason for them to ask us that question at all, for IT IS NOT AN IGLESIA NI CRISTO DOCTRINE.

But does the LOCATION, PLACE or the LAND which was NO NAME YET by the time the book of PROPHET ISAIAH was written, which was named later  the PHILIPPINES really not mentioned in the Bible?

Well, before we go to that issue, let us ask our DETRACTORS a related question:

QUESTION: Does the word IRAN, IRAQ and TURKEY in the Bible?

ANSWER: Of course no one among them would dare to answer YES. For it is an undeniable fact that these words cannot be found in the scriptures, for these names does not exist yet during the time when the Bible was written.

So we will ask them again:

QUESTION: Does the country of IRAN, IRAQ and TURKEY mentioned in the Bible?

ANSWER: Do you think they would dare to answer NO? if ever they would dare to answer No, then they are committing a very big mistake for these countries were indeed mentioned in the pages of the HOLY SCRIPTURES.

The word IRAN, IRAQ and TURKEY of course can’t be found in the Bible because that names do not exist yet? But do those countries already existed when the Bible was written?  Would they dare to answer NO?

No one would dare to answer NO as I said already, because it is a fact that all countries in the world already existed during that time, only their names weren’t for some of them were NOT YET  DISCOVERED nor NAMED YET during the time the Bible was written.

But those countries are mentioned in the Bible for these countries already existed during the Bible was written. Since their names were not yet IRAN, IRAQ, and TURKEY, the author of the Bible as instructed of course by the Almighty used their OLD NAMES during that time.

PERSIA is the old name of IRAN, and it is mentioned in the Bible:

2 Chronicles 36:20  King James Version

“And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of PERSIA:” 

IRAQ is mentioned in the Bible as MESOPOTAMIA.

Acts 7:2  King James Version

“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in MESOPOTAMIA, before he dwelt in Charran,”

TURKEY as ASIA MINOR  or plainly ASIA.

Acts 16:6  Young’s Literal Translation

“and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in ASIA,”

Of course the word ASIA there would never mean the MODERN ASIA that we knew today as one of the SEVEN CONTINENTS, since that passage pertains to the propagation of the Gospel by APOSTLE PAUL to the GENTILE NATIONS.

The GREEK DICTIONARY has this to say about that word.

THAYER’S GREEK DEFINITION

“G773

Ἀσία

Asia = “orient”

1) ASIA proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to TURKEY today”

These countries were mentioned by the BIBLE using their OLD NAMES, that’s why those were used for those NAMES already existed during that time as an identification of the said countries.

Would you mind answering this question our beloved DETRACTORS?

QUESTION: So is it wrong to say that IRAN, IRAQ and TURKEY is in the Bible?

Now let’s go back to the PHILIPPINE ISSUE:

QUESTION: Does the PHILIPPINES have a name already existed during the time when the Bible was written?

ANSWER: Of course the answer would be a definitely NO! For what I have mentioned already that the PHILIPPINES only got its name in 1521 (16^th Century).

QUESTION: Does the PHILIPPINES have an OLD NAME during the time when the Bible was written?

ANSWER: Of course the answer again would be a big NO,  for there is no record in History that the PHILIPPINES used an OLD NAME, like CHINA which was called CATHAY before.

QUESTION: Does the land, place or country which was named later the Philippines already existed during the time when the Bible was written? Would anyone among our DETRACTORS would dare to answer this question NO?

ANSWER: Of course no one with the NORMAL STATE OF MIND would ever dare to answer that question NO. For it is an UNDENIABLE FACT THAT ALL THE LANDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD EXISTED SINCE THE TIME OF CREATION, so it is even proper and logical to say that the LAND or PLACE which was later named the PHILIPPINES, already existed even before the time of MOSES or even long before than the time when the Bible was written.

QUESTION: Does the LAND, PLACE or COUNTRY which was later named PHILIPPINES mentioned in the Bible?

ANSWER: This is the PROPER QUESTION that they should ask the IGLESIA NI CRISTO. 

If we ask them this question, I know that they would dare to answer NO, but the question is:

QUESTION: Can they prove that the country which was later called the Philippines is not mentioned in the Bible?

So let us go now where in the BIBLE the COUNTRY of the PHILIPPINES which was no name at that time was mentioned.

Isaiah 46:11  King James Version

“CALLING a RAVENOUS BIRD from the EAST, the man that executeth my counsel from a FAR COUNTRY: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

The Bible specifically said that the RAVENOUS BIRD, which is a MAN that will EXECUTE GOD’S COUNSEL will come from a FAR COUNTRY FROM THE EAST.

QUESTION: What is the characteristic of this FAR COUNTRY from the EAST?

Isaias 24:15 New International Version

“Therefore in the EAST give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the ISLANDS OF THE SEA.”

ANSWER: See? Very clear were the descriptions of the BIBLE regarding the FAR COUNTRY from the EAST from where the RAVENOUS BIRD will come from. This passage said: “ISLANDS OF THE SEA” it is clear then that the FAR COUNTRY being mentioned is composed of ISLANDS.

There we have it our dear readers, these following BIBLICAL DESCRIPTIONS.

It is a FAR COUNTRY from ISRAEL from where the PROPHECY was written, from the EAST and it is composed of ISLANDS.

But the EAST is composed of THREE  DIVISIONS.  

NEAR EAST

MIDDLE EAST

FAR EAST

Here's the link:

Far East

The “FAR EAST”  is an English term mostly describing EAST ASIA (including the Russian Far East) and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.  The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century, denoting EAST ASIA as the "FARTHEST" of the THREE "EASTS", beyond the NEAR EAST and the MIDDLE EAST.

Significantly, the term evokes cultural as well as geographic separation; the FAR EAST is not just geographically distant, but also culturally exotic. It never refers, for instance, to the culturally Western nations of Australia and New Zealand, which lie even farther to the east of Europe than East Asia itself.

FAR EAST in its usual sense is comparable to terms such as the ORIENT, which means EAST; the EASTERN WORLD; or simply the EAST.

SOUTHEAST ASIA and the RUSSIAN FAR EAST might now be INCLUDED IN THE FAR EAST to some extent.

QUESTION: Which EAST is being mentioned by the PROPHECY?

Let us go have a look at Isaiah 46:11 in the HEBREW BIBLE, the original language of the OLD TESTAMENT.

The word EAST mentioned in the passage in ENGLISH is mentioned in HEBREW as “MIZRACH”

In the DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE “MIZRACH” means:

SMITH’S BIBLE DICTIONARY: William Smith, page 154

“EAST. The Hebrew term, KEDEM, properly means that which is before or in front of a person, and was applied to the east, from the custom of turning in that direction, when describing the points of the compass, before, behind, the right and the left representing respectively east, west, south and north. Job 23:8-9.

The term as generally used refers to the lands lying immediately eastward of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Babylonia; on the other hand, MIZRACH, is used of the FAR EAST with a less definite signification. Isa 42:2; Isa 42:25; Isa 43:5; Isa 46:11.” 

This dictionary said, MIZRACH is used of the FAR EAST and he also mentioned Isaiah 46:11 as you can see above. So the RAVENOUS BIRD, the MAN that God will send to execute his counsel will come from a FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST, composed of ISLANDS.

QUESTION: Is the PHILIPPINES located in the FAR EAST?

ASIA AND THE PHILIPPINES,  written by a Jesuit Priest Horacio dela Costa, page 169

“It cannot be without significance that THE COUNTRY WHICH STANDS ALMOST AT THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER of the FAR EAST, THE PHILIPPINES, should also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root.”

And a prominent HISTORICAL BOOK affirms also.

WORLD HISTORY: by E. R. Boak, Preston Slosson, Howard Anderson, page 445

"The PHILIPPINES were Spain's share of the first colonizing movement in the FAR EAST; The name means the ISLANDS OF PHILIP and refers to that grim ruler, King Philip II." 

Can anyone among our DETRACTORS dare to prove that this is not the PHILIPPINES? If it is not the PHILIPPINES, kindly tell us which country it is that bears the said characteristics as mentioned in the Bible?

Do they think ISAIAH would not mention the name PHILIPPINES if that name already existed during the time he wrote the prophecy?  An undeniable truth that our country during that time have NO NAME YET, that’s why it was only described by the scriptures.

Remember Isaiah 46:11 is a PROPHECY about the coming of GOD’S LAST MESSENGER and not about the emergence of a country.

The subject matter there is the RAVENOUS BIRD, it just so happen that the COUNTRY where he would come from has NO NAME YET. That’s why the PROPHECY did not mention any name of a country0 and just described how we can be able to know and identify the country that is being spoken of.

So it is very illogical and absurd to insist that the name of the PHILIPPINES should be found in the Bible, because those people who are insisting that, is displaying their GRAVE IGNORANCE in BIBLICAL and HISTORICAL FACTS.

Some would say this upon realizing the teaching of the INC regarding the Philippines:

“It was so hard to believe that God would chose his LAST MESSENGER from a POOR and belonging to the 3^rd WORLD COUNTRY like the PHILIPPINES, why not He chose from AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM, etc? Why not from a strong COUNTRY which have highly educated persons, and from a STRONG RACE?”

Those people who oftentimes said this statement, are those who have a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE about the SCRIPTURES and often rely only on what they believed which is only the product of their OWN UNDERSTANDING and OPINIONS. For they do not know the CRITERIA OF GOD in choosing his PEOPLE and his MESSENGERS.

The Bible has this to say.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28  Young’s Literal Translation

“For see your calling, brethren, that NOT MANY ARE WISE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE; BUT THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE, THAT THE WISE HE MAY PUT TO SHAME; AND THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD DID GOD CHOOSE THAT HE MAY PUT TO SHAME THE STRONG; AND THE BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THE THINGS DESPISED DID GOD CHOOSE, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT, THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE HE MAY MAKE USELESS”.

The Bible has given us enough explanation on this issue. GOD CHOOSES THE WEAK TO PUT SHAME THE STRONG. HE CHOOSES THE FOOLISH SO THAT THE WISE MAY PUT TO SHAME, AND SO ON.

Bro. FELIX Y. MANALO came from a WEAK COUNTRY and RACE. He has no HIGH STANDING in society, he has no HIGH EDUCATION but God had chosen him to become his LAST MESSENGER, to SHAME the STRONG and the WISE.

Which he had done many many  times, during his battle against OTHER RELIGION’S FALSE DOCTRINES which often came from the STRONG COUNTRIES and RACE which he succeeded and contributed to the unstoppable growth of the IGLESIA NI CRISTO until today. A fulfillment of GOD’S PROMISE to his MESSENGER IN THESE LAST DAYS and to the CHURCH OF CHRIST (IGLESIA NI CRISTO) which emerged in the TIME of the ENDS OF THE EARTH.

Isaiah 41:10-12  King James Version

“FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AMTHY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. BEHOLD, ALL THEY THAT WERE INCENSED AGAINST THEE SHALL BE ASHAMED AND CONFOUNDED: THEY SHALL BE AS NOTHING; AND THEY THAT STRIVE WITH THEE SHALL PERISH. THOU SHALT SEEK THEM, AND SHALT NOT FIND THEM, EVEN THEM THAT CONTENDED WITH THEE: THEY THAT WAR AGAINST THEE SHALL BE AS NOTHING, AND AS A THING OF NOUGHT.”

 So fellow brethren if anyone ask you this question.

IS THE WORD “PHILIPPINES” IN THE BIBLE?

You can simply say.

“The word PHILIPPINES is not in the Bible, but the country of the Philippines which was no name yet during that time the Bible was written was clearly mentioned as the FAR COUNTRY from the FAR EAST (MIZRACH), composed of ISLANDS as the place where the Ravenous Bird or the Messenger of God in these last days would come from or appear  as stated in Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 24:15.”

If he ask you again, just ignore him for he is just displaying his GREAT IGNORANCE andCLOSE MINDEDNESS.

So as we go back to the TRINITARIANS we can ask them this.

Can you show us a PROPERLY TRANSLATED VERSE in the Bible that describes your Trinity which is the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT, as the THREE PERSONS in ONE GOD?

The PHILIPPINES has a passage in the Bible that described it, but do that belief that I mentioned regarding the TRINITY have a passage in the Bible that described it?

Can they show us a VERSE or VERSES other than the popular 1 John 5:7 of the KING JAMES VERSION which was proven even by the Trinitarian Bible Scholars to be a FORGED or a MISTRANSLATED VERSE?

We have proven that the COUNTRY of the PHILIPPINES is indeed was mentioned in the Bible. It is the FAR COUNTRY located in the FAR EAST composed of ISLANDS.

So it is QUITE RIGHT to say that the PHILIPPINES is in the BIBLE.

Now it’s time for you our beloved DETRACTORS to show yours. Prove to us that your TRINITY IS IN THE BIBLE.