Felix Y. Manalo in Isaiah 46:11
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My pastor told me that the one prophesied in Isaiah 46:11 is not Felix Manalo, but Cyrus. Why don’t you believe that Cyrus is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 46:11?
Russelly Brookner of Seattle, WA
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Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: We’re very thankful to you, Russelly Brookner from Seattle, Washington, for that question, also for the opportunity to give you a different point of view from that of your pastor.
Prophecy in Isaiah 46:11
Brother Bob: You know, since we’re discussing a particular prophecy and what it’s referring to, let’s examine the prophecy, and learn what are the conditions that one has to meet in order to be the fulfillment of that prophecy. The particular prophecy in question for today is recorded in Isaiah 46:11. And let’s read that verse, and even continue down all the way through verse 13. Here’s where it’s recorded, here’s what it says:
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
[Isaiah 46:11-13 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, we should notice three conditions that the Bible gives in order to describe this particular servant of God. Place of origin was the first. What was it? A far country in the east or Far East. The second, the task that was given to accomplish. What was it? To execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people.
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- Place of origin: a far country in the east or Far East
- Task given to accomplish: execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people
Brother Bob: God’s righteousness, as we have learned from other lessons, Romans 1:16 and 17, is the gospel. So, his role: to preach the gospel. And the third, people that God will send this servant to. Who were they? They are those who are far from righteousness, or far away from the true gospel.
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- People that God will send this servant to: those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: So, we pose the question: Does Cyrus meet those Biblical conditions? Could Cyrus be the fulfillment of that prophecy, being the one referred to there?
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QUESTION: Does Cyrus meet these biblical conditions proving to be the one referred to?
Brother Bob: He can’t! Why not? What’s the proof? Let’s go over clearly what the Bible teaches about Cyrus. For example, in terms of the place of origin, where is Cyrus from?
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QUESTION: Where is Cyrus from?
Brother Bob: The Bible teaches this in Ezra, chapter 1, verse 1, wherein it says this:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
[Ezra 1:1 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Let’s pause there. We [already have] our answer. According to what we have read, Cyrus was from what place? Persia.
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Cyrus was a Persian
Brother Bob: In fact, he was the king of Persia, and Persia is not a far country in the east, as the prophecy describes. Persia is in the near east. Let’s take a look at another element of the prophecy, in terms of the task or the assignment, that God gave to Cyrus to accomplish. Was Cyrus to preach the gospel? Was it his assignment to preach the gospel, or to bring God’s righteousness near again to people?
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QUESTION: Was Cyrus a preacher of the gospel to bring God’s righteousness to people?
Brother Bob: Let’s find out! Isaiah 44, verse 28, reads this way:
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
[Isaiah 44:28 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible teaches the assignment of Cyrus, teaches that Cyrus was sent by God to restore Jerusalem and to restore the temple, not to preach the gospel to those that were far from the gospel, or far from righteousness as Isaiah 46:11-13 described. That was not the assignment given to Cyrus. Cyrus cannot, therefore, be the fulfillment of that prophecy. How about the people that God sent Cyrus to?
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QUESTION: How about the people God sent Cyrus to?
Brother Bob: Were those people far from righteousness, as the prophecy in Isaiah 46 indicated? Well, we have already learned that God sent Cyrus to restore Jerusalem and the temple, which was for God’s nation of Israel. What was the condition of Israel? Were they far from God’s words? Far from His righteousness? Far from His teaching? Far from His law, that they needed to be brought near to it again by Cyrus? We can read the answer to that in Romans. In the book of Romans, chapter 9. Let’s listen together to what’s recorded here in verse 4, [it’s described] like this:
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
[Romans 9:4 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible makes [it] clear here that Israel [was] not far from God’s righteousness, or far from God’s law. In fact, they were the ones that already had the law. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the messenger being mentioned in the prophecy written in Isaiah 46:11 is definitely not Cyrus.
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The messenger being mentioned in the prophecy written in Isaiah 46:11 is definitely not Cyrus
Brother Bob: It’s impossible. Why? He does not fit that prophecy. He is from the wrong place [and] he did not do what the prophecy indicated. Why should we believe this? Because this is not merely an option that we feel, an opinion that we feel, but this is the truth, because that’s in the Bible.
Who is the bird of prey from the east?
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, if Cyrus is definitely not the messenger prophesied in Isaiah 46:11, then who is the one who fulfills the conditions described in the prophecy of Isaiah 46:11 and many more Biblical prophecies? It is none other than Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
Remember the three conditions that we learned about earlier, from the prophecy that the Bible gives to describe this particular servant of God? First, place of origin. What did we read? [A] far country in the east or Far East. What was the second? The task or the assignment given to accomplish. What was it? To execute God’s counsel, or His words, by bringing His righteousness—God’s righteousness.
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- Place of origin: a far country in the east or Far East
- Task given to accomplish: execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people
Brother Bob: God’s righteousness is the gospel. Romans 1:16 and 17.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
[Romans 1:16-17 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: [Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s] assignment [was] to bring that gospel, bring God’s righteousness near, again, to God’s people. Number three, the people God will send a servant to was [an] important part of the prophecy. Who were they? Those who are far from righteousness, or far from the true gospel.
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- People God will send this servant to: those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: Brother Felix Manalo was from the Philippine Islands, which is the Far East, a far country in the east. He was also a preacher of the pure gospel, never teaching personal opinions, but rather, always reading the Bible’s answers to questions. He was sent to people, who, until actually hearing what he preached from the Bible, were not even aware of how far away from the truth they really were.
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Brother Felix Y. Manalo:
- from the Far East (Philippine Islands)
- preacher of the pure gospel
- sent to those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: That’s the reason why members of the Church Of Christ, from which this program is produced, believe it cannot be Cyrus. It’s not Cyrus, but instead, Brother Felix Manalo. He brought the true gospel near to people—brought those who were far from it, in false religions, brought them back to the true gospel, in fulfillment of the prophecy. He is the fulfillment of what is recorded here in the Bible.
When you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, visit us at incmedia.org.
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Brother Bob: Why? There, you are going to find various series of programs all dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow our Facebook pages at Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates, as well as Iglesia Ni Cristo Media.
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Brother Bob: There, you can view more of our shows. If you want to see how, for example, how the Church gets involved with our communities, you can go to incgiving.org.
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incgiving.org
Brother Bob: If you want to find a house of worship that is nearest to you, so you can join us and our worship services, visit the iglesianicristo.net.
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iglesianicristo.net/directory
Brother Bob: And if you have questions you’d like addressed here on the show, please email them to us at answers@incmedia.org.
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Brother Bob: Thank you all for joining us. We’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible!
