The article critiques the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) interpretation of Isaiah 59:19, which they claim predicts the church’s western expansion to California and Hawaii. It argues that this interpretation is flawed, as the Hebrew term “maarab” simply means “west” and does not imply a specific geographical region like the western United States. The article asserts that the verse refers to the spread of God’s judgment rather than the spread of a church, emphasizing that the context of Isaiah 59:18-20 is about God’s wrath being revealed across all directions. It concludes by urging INC followers to reject this misinterpretation and embrace the true gospel to avoid God’s judgment.
In biblical prophecy, dual fulfillment is a recognized interpretative approach where a prophecy has both an immediate historical fulfillment and a later, spiritual or ultimate fulfillment. This method is evident in various parts of the Bible, where prophecies addressed to Israel or specific situations are seen as prefiguring larger, more significant events, especially in relation to the coming of Christ or the establishment of the Church.
The initial context of Isaiah 59:18-20 indeed speaks about God’s judgment against sin and the redemption of those who turn away from transgression. The historical fulfillment of this passage likely refers to God’s intervention in the affairs of Israel and the nations surrounding it, warning of His wrath and promising redemption to those who repent.
Isaiah 59:19 also has a spiritual fulfillment, particularly concerning the re-establishment of the true Church in the last days. While the original context of the verse involves judgment, the phrase “from the west” can be seen as part of the prophecy’s ultimate fulfillment in the end times, when God’s true Church will spread from the East to the West.
INC teaches that the true Church, after its apostasy, was re-established in the Philippines (the “Far East”) in 1914, fulfilling several biblical prophecies, including Isaiah 43:5-6. The expansion of the INC to the “West” is seen as a continuation of this divine mission. The global spread of the Church, including its move to California and Hawaii, is viewed not just as a geographical achievement but as a fulfillment of God’s plan to gather His people in preparation for the final judgment.
Critics of INC’s teachings, as seen in the article, tend to restrict the meaning of Isaiah 59:19 to the immediate historical context of God’s judgment. However, using dual fulfillment interpretation, many prophecies have both immediate and future meanings. For instance, Hosea 11:1, which originally referred to Israel’s exodus from Egypt, is later applied to Jesus Christ in Matthew 2:15, demonstrating that prophecies can point to multiple fulfillments.
Similarly, while Isaiah 59:19 may have referred to God’s judgment during Isaiah’s time, it is not unreasonable to interpret the phrase “from the west” as having a spiritual fulfillment in the establishment of God’s true Church in the West in modern times. Just as Israel’s historical experience prefigured greater spiritual realities, the spread of the true Church can also be seen as part of a larger divine plan leading up to the final redemption.
The article argues that INC would have to accept that their organization is part of God’s judgment if they claim Isaiah 59:19 applies to them. However, God’s judgment and the establishment of His true Church are interconnected. Just as Isaiah 59:20 speaks of redemption for those who repent, the Church’s mission is to call people to repentance and salvation. The spread of the INC to the West could be seen as a fulfillment of the Church’s role in preparing people for the ultimate judgment, offering them a path to redemption through adherence to the true gospel.
True Iglesia Information 