Who is God’s messenger in these last days?

The article challenges the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s claim that Felix Y. Manalo is God’s prophesied messenger in the last days, asserting instead that the Bible designates Jesus Christ as God’s final and ultimate messenger. Drawing from passages such as Hebrews 1:1-2, the author argues that God’s revelation in these last days comes solely through Jesus, who is far greater than the prophets. The article emphasizes that apostles, including Paul, were eyewitnesses of Christ and conveyed His message with divine authority. By contrast, Felix Y. Manalo does not meet the Biblical criteria for being a true messenger or apostle, as he did not personally know or witness Christ, making the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s claim theologically incorrect.

The article’s claim that Felix Y. Manalo cannot be God’s messenger because he did not personally know Jesus relies on a misinterpretation of Biblical teachings about messengers. While it is true that the apostles needed to have personally known Jesus and witnessed His resurrection, this qualification is specific to apostleship, not to all messengers of God. The Bible contains numerous examples of prophets and messengers who were called by God without ever having personal knowledge of Christ, such as the Old Testament prophets, who played vital roles in delivering God’s word.

Additionally, the author misinterprets Hebrews 1:2 by asserting that it identifies Jesus as the “last” messenger. The verse emphasizes that God has spoken through His Son in these “last days,” but it does not state that Jesus is the final messenger in an absolute sense. Rather, it points to Jesus as the culmination of God’s revelation—His ultimate and most important message to humanity. However, this does not mean that no other messengers can be sent by God to teach or proclaim His word.

By insisting that only those who personally knew Jesus can serve as messengers, the article overlooks the broader Biblical teaching that God can raise up messengers in different contexts and eras to fulfill His purposes, even if they do not have direct, personal contact with Christ.