|
The Pasugo states that a "Church Minister" [whoever that is]
related Manalo's three-day closet experience to the now cardinal doctrine
of the INC that Manalo is "God's Messenger from the Far-East", in their
private interpretation of Revelation 7:2,3. What they won't tell you
is that Manalo didn't introduce this doctrine until after the church
split over charges of immorality against him in 1922. Author Donald
Platt (Counterfeit? 1981, page 87-88) writes:
"During this time, charges of immorality were lodged against Manalo,
and some members left the church. The most serious of these defections
was the "Ora Rebellion" of 1922, led by Teofilo Ora and Basilio Santiago,
resulting in the loss of the congregations in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
One result of this challenge to Manalo's authority was the development
of the "Sugo" teaching, in which Felix claimed to be the fulfillment
of a prophecy in Rev. 7:1-3, the "angel ascending from the rising of
the sun". Since no other church had a leader who was the fulfillment
of prophecy, then the Iglesia ni Kristo was the only true church, with
God's only true messenger. This teaching helped firmly establish Manalo's
authority over the church."
In fact, this doctrine was not added to the church's Articles of Incorporation
until the amended version in 1948.
Besides the questionable placement of this account in the 1986 Pasugo
article, was this really a commission from God, or was Manalo's claim
as "God's Messenger" an attempt to strengthen his authority over his
remaining followers?
|
