Revelation 7:2-3 The Angel Ascending from the East

WHY ARE WE CERTAIN THAT BROTHER FELIX Y. MANALO IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY REGARDING THE "OTHER ANGEL" ASCENDING FROM THE EAST?

THE BELIEF THAT Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s messenger in these last days is one of the fundamental doctrines the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) upholds. We believe that his commissioning as God’s last messenger is based on the words of God written in the Bible.

This study will focus mainly on Revelation 7:2-3, one of the passages of the Holy Scriptures that prove the truthfulness and validity of this doctrine. It reads as follows:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’.” (New King James Version)

THE “OTHER ANGEL” OF

REVELATION 7:2-3

There are key words in Revelation 7:2-3 that must be studied closely in order to acquire a clearer understanding of the prophecy in question. The first word that needs clarification is the term “angel.” There are people that when the word “angel” was mentioned, what immediately comes to their mind is the common concept that “angels” are heavenly beings and spirit in nature, traditionally portrayed as a human-looking being with wings on its back and a halo above its head.

THE MEANING OF THE

WORD “ANGEL”

However, the word “angel” does not only refer to spiritual beings but also to human beings sent by God. The word “angel” itself comes from the Greek word “aggelos” which means “messenger”:

“Agg’-el-os: … a messenger; … by impl. a pastor: -angel, messenger.” (Strong’s Dictionary of the Greek Testament, p. 7:32)

To say then that there was “another angel” means that there was “another messenger.” Thus, in Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible, the opening sentence of the verse reads:

“And I saw ANOTHER MESSENGER going up from the rising sun, having a seal of the living God.” (Rev. 7:2, emphasis ours)

THE WORD “ANGEL” DENOTES OFFICE AND

NOT THE NATURE OF THE ONE BEING SENT

The term “angel” denotes the office or duty of the one sent by God. Even Catholic authorities testify that the word “angel” denotes not the state of being but the office of the one being sent by God:

“They are called ‘Angels,’ from a Greek word which means messenger. The word ‘Angel,’ therefore, does not  express the nature of these spirits, but rather the offices…” (Crock, Clement H., Discourses on the Apostles’ Creed, p. 72.)

Thus, the word “angel” literally means “messenger” and does not denote the nature but the office of the one sent by God.

THERE ARE HUMANS CALLED

“ANGEL” IN THE BIBLE

There are people who strongly opposed that the “another angel” mentioned in Revelation 7:2-3 referred to a “human being” because for them the word “angel” is exclusive for heavenly beings only. However, this belief is based only on their own understanding and not on biblical facts. There are humans called “angel” in the Bible. In Matthew 11:7-10 of Douay-Rheims version, John the Baptist was explicitly called “angel”:

    

“And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?

“But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings.

“But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet.

“For THIS IS HE OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN: BEHOLD I SEND MY ANGEL BEFORE THY FACE, who shall prepare thy way before thee.” (Matthew 11:7-10, Douay-Rheims, emphasis mine)

Referring to John the Baptist, the Bible said, “Behold I send my angel before thy face.” It is clear here that John the Baptist was called an “angel.” Take note that Douay-Rheims is a Catholic version.

In many English versions of the Bible, the word used is “messenger.” However, in the Greek text of Matthew 11:10, the word used is “aggelon”:

“idou ego apostello ton ANGELON mou pro prosopou sou, hos kataskeuasei ten hodon sou emprosthen sou.” (Matthew 11:10, Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th Revised Edition, emphasis mine)

The Greek word “aggelon” used to refer to John the Baptist is the same word used to refer to the Angel Gabriel:

“kai apokritheis ho ANGELOS eipen auto: ego eimi Gabriel ho parestekos enopion tou theou kai apestalen lalesai pros se kai euangelisasthai soi tauta.” (Luke 1:19, Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th Revised Edition, emphasis mine)

Because the word “anggelos” indeed meant “messenger” that’s why many English versions of the Bible translated the “aggelon” of the Greek text of Matthew 11:10 as “messenger.” Thus, Douay-Rheims is not wrong in translating it as “angel” because the Greek word used by Matthew 11:10 (referring to John the Baptist) was also the same Greek word used by Luke 1:19 (referring to Angel Gabriel).

THE USED OF THE WORD “ANGEL”

BY THE BOOK OF REVELATION

                                                           

Others accept that there are humans called “angel” in the Bible and this word literally means messenger. But they insist that the Book of Revelation used the word “angel” referring only to “heavenly beings.” Again, this belief is also based only on their own understanding and not on biblical facts.

The Book of Revelation used the word “angel” about 83 times, and used it referring both to heavenly and human beings. In Revelation 5:11 reads:

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” (Revelation 5:11 NKJV)

The Book of Revelation used the word “angel” in this verse referring to “heavenly beings.” However, the Book of Revelation also used the word “angel” referring to human beings. Revelation 2:1 reads:

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things say He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” (Revelation 2:1, NKJV)

The “angel of the church of Ephesus” mentioned in the verse we quoted above was one of the “seven angels of the seven churches” the Book of Revelation mentioned:

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:16,19-20, NKJV)

The “seven angels of the seven churches” were also the “seven stars” mentioned by the Book of Revelation. The Bible itself explained that the “wise” or those who turn many to righteousness are likened to stars:

“Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3, NKJV)

The “seven angels of the seven churches” were the pastors or bishops of the seven churches that were likened to “stars.” Even Catholic authorities testify that the “seven angels of the seven churches” mentioned in the Book of Revelation were indeed referring to “bishops of the seven churches”:

“Angel: the guardian angel of the Church, or the church itself, or, and this is the common view, the bishop of the church. If St. John addresses the bishops, he regards them as the incarnation of their respective churches.” (Footnote of Revelation 2:1, Douay-Rheims)

Thus, the Book of Revelation used the word “angel” referring both to heavenly beings and human beings.

THE ANGELS WHO ARE SPIRIT IN NATURE AND

THE ANGELS WHO ARE HUMAN BEINGS

We have already established the fact that the word “angel” means “messenger.” We must also take into consideration the biblical fact that “messengers” (“angels”) who are spirit in nature or heavenly beings are sent by God for specific purposes like the Angel Gabriel:

“And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.” (Luke 1:19 NKJV)

Angels who are spirit in nature were sent to bring specific message, and afterwards they went back to heaven. Another example is the angel sent to Cornelius:

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.” (Acts 10:1-5 NKJV)

Like other heavenly angels sent to men, the angel sent to Cornelius brought to him a specific message saying “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.” Why Cornelius was commanded to send for Apostle Peter? Acts 10:31-34 and 42 answered this question:

“And said: 'Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.' And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say." Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.

“And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:31-34, 42 TEV)

Apostle Peter is indeed a messenger of God, and remember that the word “angel” means “messenger.” Through an angel, God commanded Cornelius to send for Apostle Peter because he is the messenger that will preach to him the Gospel of the Lord.

Thus, the messenger (angel) who is spirit in nature is sent by God to bring a specific message, and afterwards they will go back to heaven. The messenger (angel) who is human in nature is the one sent by God to preach to men the Gospel of the Lord.

THE ‘OTHER ANGEL” OF REVELATION 7:2-3

BEARS THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD

What makes us so certain that this messenger (angel) in Revelation 7:2-3 is not spirit in nature? Let us examine the function of the “another angel” mentioned by Revelation 7:2-3. The Bible explicitly said that the “another angel” or messenger bears the seal of the living God and would seal His servants:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’.” (New King James Version)

 What does this mean that the “angel” of Revelation 7:2-3 bears the seal of the living God and his task is to seal the servants of God by biblical terms? In the following verse, we can find the answer:

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14, NIV)

The seal is the Holy Spirit. The sealing function is the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord. Those who are sealed are the ones who believed in the words of truth or the Gospel of the Lord that were preached.

Thus, the angel or messenger spoken of in Revelation 7:2-3 is not a being that is spirit in nature, but rather a human being who is a preacher of the Gospel.

A MESSENGER FROM THE EAST

We already established the fact that the word “angel” means messenger” and denotes the office and not the nature of the one being sent, and that the messengers (angels) who are spirit in nature are those sent by God to bring a specific message and afterwards will go back to heaven, and the messengers (angels) who are human in nature are those sent by God to preach the Gospel of the Lord.

The “other angel” of Revelation 7:2-3 is a messenger who bears the seal of the Living God and his task is to seal the servants of God, thus, this angel (messenger) is human in nature because the Bible testified that the “seal” is the Holy Spirit and that “sealing” is the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord.

Another indication given by the prophecy to identify the one being prophesied in Revelation 7:2-3 is that this messenger is “ascending from the rising of the sun”:

‘And I saw ANOTHER MESSENGER going up FROM THE RISING SUN, having a seal of the living God.” (Rev. 7:2, emphasis ours)

Other translations of the Bible rendered “ascending from the rising of the sun” as “ascending from the east”:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God...” (Rev. 7:2-3, NKJV)

Thus, the one being prophesied in Revelation 7:2-3 is a MESSENGER FROM THE EAST sent by God having the seal of the Living God and tasked to preach the Gospel of the Lord.

WHAT MAKE US MORE CERTAIN

THAT BROTHER FELIX Y. MANALO IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE “MESSENGER” PROPHESIED IN REVELATION 7:2-3?

The Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and Apostle Paul also came from the East. So, what make us certain that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is the fulfillment of the “another angel” (messenger) prophesied in Revelation 7:2-3? The Bible gave the specific time of the fulfillment of the prophecy mentioned in Revelation 7:2-3. In fact, the Book of Revelation also prophesied the events before and after Revelation 7:2-3 giving us a clearer understanding to identify the one being prophesied in Revelation 7:2-3.

Apostle John saw the “another angel ascending from the east” at the end of the “sixth seal” and before the “seventh seal.”

REVELATION 6:12-13

WHEN THE SIXTH SEAL WAS OPENED

The Bible already appointed what to take place before the “another angel” was seen ascending from the East. Revelation 7:2-3 was at the end of the “sixth seal.” Revelation 6:12-13 prophesied what will take place at the beginning of the “sixth seal”:

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” (Revelation 6:12-13 NKJV)

According to the Book of Revelation, when the “sixth seal” was opened there was a “great earthquake.” Although there were many “great earthquakes” happened in the past, but the Bible explicitly tells us that this “great earthquake” is followed by the “sun became black as sackcloth of hair,” the “moon became like blood,” and the “stars of heaven fell to the earth.” These distinguished the “great earthquake” of Revelation 6:12-13 from other earthquakes occurred in the past.

The fulfillment of this “great earthquake” is the earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon, Portugal. The Lisbon earthquake is one of the strongest earthquakes recorded, felt in a radius of about forty times larger that the United Kingdom and claimed 6,000 lives (The Physical Earth, pp. 28-29).

We are certain that the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 is the fulfillment of the “great earthquake” prophesied in Revelation 6:12-13, because this is the earthquake followed by the “sun became black as sackcloth of hair,” the “moon became like blood,” and the “stars of heaven fell to the earth.”

The fulfillment of the “sun became black as sackcloth of hair” and the “moon became like blood” is what history called as the “Black Friday” of May 19, 1780 (The New International Encyclopedia, volume VI, p. 502).This is how the said event was described:

“On that day, referred to as New England’s Dark Day or Black Friday, the skies over New England and New Jersey were as black as the boots of the British soldiers, prompting many agitated colonists to seek solace and salvation in taverns or churches. The newspapers of the day commented upon it and many diarists recorded it in their journals. In the Diary of the American Revolution, Frank Moore noted that 2 o’clock in the afternoon was the darkest period, when a candle was needed to see anything. “The dunghill fowls went to their roost, cocks crowed in answer to each other as they commonly do in the nights; wood-cocks, which are night birds whistled as they do only in the dark; frogs peeped; in short there was the appearance of midnight.” By four o’clock, “there appeared quick flashes or coruscations, not unlike the aurora borealis.’ (Frank Moore, Diary of the American Revolution, Charles Scribner, New York, 1859, pp. 805-807.)” [Wikipedia, s.v. “Black Friday”]

The fulfillment of the “stars of heaven fell to the earth” that followed the “sun became black as sackcloth of hair” and the “moon became like blood” is the “meteor shower” of 1833. In the night of November 12, 1833, hundreds of meteorites (also called “falling stars”) seen in the whole eastern part of the United States (N.E.S., p. 1217).

Take note of the following:

Revelation 6:12-13 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” (Revelation 6:12-13 NKJV)
(1) “there was a great earthquake”	1755	The great earthquake in Lisbon
(2) “and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.”	1780	The “Black Friday”of New England
(3) “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”	1833	“Meteor shower” seen in the whole eastern part of the United States

REVELATION 6:14-17

AT THE END OF THE SIXTH SEAL

The “great earthquake” followed by the “sun became black as sackcloth of hair,” the “moon became like blood,” and the “stars of heaven fell to the earth” mentioned in Revelation 6:12-13 is followed by the coming of the “great day of their wrath”:

“The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.  Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:14-17 NIV)

Because of the “great day of the wrath” the “sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” The “great day of the wrath” prophesied in Revelation is not the Day of Judgment (How could the “other angel” ascending from the east will seal the servants of God if the Day of Judgment already occurred before him?). The “great day of the wrath” mentioned by the Book of Revelation is not the Day of Judgment, but a war which also mentioned in the prophecy written in the Book of Isaiah:

“Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!  The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.

“All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.” (Isaiah 34:1-2, 4 NIV)

Prophet Isaiah also mentioned the “sky rolled up like a scroll” that the Book of Revelation also mentioned. The Book of Isaiah also mentioned “wrath” of the Lord. He says, “Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!  The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.” Thus, the prophecy is referring to a “great war.”

The hiding in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains of the “kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man”” mentioned by the Book of Revelation took place during the Great War of 1914-1918. This is the testimony of the history:

“The First World War was unlike any war in the past…This was the first war in ‘three dimensions,’ the first war in which cities were bombed from the air and winged warriors fought among the clouds. Of course the airplanes of 1914 were not so past, so formidable, nor so numerous as those of today…The soldiers had to turn themselves into beavers and moles and dig deep trenches…” (W.Hist., pp. 478-479)

The Great War of 1914-1918 was the first war which cities were bombed from the air, thus people have to hide themselves in the air-raid shelters. The soldiers had to turn themselves into beavers and moles and dig deep trenches.

Also, because of this “great war,” according to the Book of Revelation “The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place...” The “sky” or “heaven” mentioned by the Book of Revelation refers to the “heavens of men” (Lev. 26:19), and the “glory of the kings” (Is. 14:18). The “mountains that were removed” refers to “kings” (Rev. 17:9-10).

The prophecy indeed came to pass. The emperor of Russia, Austria and Germany were dethroned, and also the kings of Greece and Bulgaria, because of the First World War. Also, the government of these nations was changed (Modern Times and the Living past, p. 687).

The “islands” that were “removed from its place” were the “colonies.” The colonies of Germany in the Pacific were transferred to Japan and England after the Great War (M.T.L.P., pp. 707-707).

Thus, the “great war” referred to by the biblical prophecies is the “Great War of 1914-1918” also called as First World War (WWI).

REVELATION 7:1

THE FOUR ANGELS HOLDING BACK THE WIND

Take note that the Book of Revelation also prophesied that after the “great day of the wrath,” the “four angels” seen holding back the “four winds of the earth”:

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.” (Revelation 7:1 NKJV)

The “wind” mentioned here in the Book of Revelation refers to a “war”:

“At that time it will be said To this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A dry wind of the desolate heights blows in the wilderness Toward the daughter of My people, Not to fan or to cleanse, A wind too strong for these will come for Me; Now I will also speak judgment against them.’ ‘Behold, he shall come up like clouds, And his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered!’

“O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.” (Jeremiah 4:11-13, 19 NKJV)

The Book of Jeremiah mentioned a “war” likened to a “wind.” A war not seen or occurred before. A war with “chariots like a whirlwind” and “horses swifter than eagles.” This is the fulfillment of the prophecy:

“The First World War was unlike any war in the past…This was the first war in ‘three dimensions,’ the first war in which cities were bombed from the air and winged warriors fought among the clouds. Of course the airplanes of 1914 were not so past, so formidable, nor so numerous as those of today. They were really more important as scouts (a kind of ‘aerial cavalry’), photographing enemy movements from above.” (W. history, pp. 478-479)

The planes were first used as war machines during the First World War, used as “a kind of aerial cavalry.” Also, the battle tanks were first used in the First World War:

“…British had invented the tank, or land battleship – an armored automobile which could move on rough ground because it was built like a tractor.” (W. History, p. 479)

Thus, indeed, the First World War was unlike any war before it. Thus, we have already established that the “wind” mentioned in Revelation 7:1 refers to a “war.” However, the Book of Revelation mentioned that the four angels “holding the four winds of the earth.” Does this mean that the Book of Revelation referring to “four wars”? Revelation 7:1 is not referring to “four wars” although it mentioned “four winds” because the verse also mentioned the following: “...holding the FOUR WINDS of the earth, THAT THE WIND should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.”

Take note that the Book of Revelation also mentioned “that the WIND should not blow on the earth” although it mentioned “four winds of the earth.” Actually, the verse itself explained why it mentioned “four winds of the earth.” Let us again quote Revelation 7:1:

“After these things I saw four angels STANDING AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, HOLDING THE FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH, THAT THE WIND should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.” (Revelation 7:1 NKJV, emphasis mine)

The verse testified that “four winds of the earth” only means “the wind at the four corners of the earth.” This is how other translations of the Bible rendered this verse:

‎”After this I saw four angels in their places at the four points of the earth, keeping back THE FOUR WINDS IN THEIR HANDS, so that there might be no moving of the wind on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.” (Rev 7:1 Bible Basic English, emphasis mine)

Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth “keeping back the four winds in their hands.” Truly, the Bible is referring to the “wind at four corners of the earth.” The “four corners of the earth” refers to the “four directions of the earth” (I Chron. 9:24). Thus, “the wind of the four corners of the earth” is referring to the war at the four corners of the earth or a world war.

As already been discussed, the word “angel” came from the Greek word which literally means “messenger,” and messenger means “sent.” According to Apostle Peter, the kings, governor or leaders of nation are “sent by Him”:

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” (I Peter 2:13-14 NKJV)

Thus, the “four angels standing at the four corners of the earth” are four leaders of nation representing the world, holding back the “wind at the four corners of the earth” or the world war. Revelation mentioned that the “four angels” were seen “after this” (after the “day of the great wrath” mentioned in Revelation 6:14-17). Thus, the Bible prophesied that the “four leaders of nation” will hold back the Great War. The following is the fulfillment of the prophecy:

“Orlando of Italy, Lloyd George of Great Britain, Clemenceau of France, and Wilson of America who were called the Big Four when they met in Paris to confer concerning the Treaty of Versailles.” (World History, p. 494)

These leaders of four great nations were collectively called by history as the “Big Four.” They met at Paris in 1919 to talk about the Treaty of Versailles.

REVELATION 7:2-3

THE “ANOTHER ANGEL” ASCENDING FROM THE EAST

Revelation 7:2-3 explicitly mentioned that during the time when the “four angels” holding back the “wind of the four corners of the earth,” the “other angel” was seen “ascending from the east”:

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." (Rev. 7:1-3 NKJV)

The “other angel” ascending from the east was a contemporary of the “four angels.” These make us more certain that Revelation 7:2-3 was not referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, nor other messengers of God from the past.

But, the prophecy also explicitly said that the “another angel ascending from the east...And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels.” Because of this statement of the biblical prophecy, others immediately dismiss Brother Felix Y. Manalo as the fulfillment of Revelation 7:2-3 because he did not had any communication with the “Big Four.”

To understand what the biblical prophecy meant when it said that the other angel “cried a loud voice to the four angels,” let us refer to the preaching of John the Baptist. The preaching of John the Baptist was depicted in the prophecy of Isaiah as a “cry in the wilderness.” He said, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”,’ ” (cf. Jn. 1:23, NKJV). Why is John’s preaching depicted as a “cry in the wilderness”? Below is the account of the evangelist Luke:

“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight”.’

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” (Lk. 3:3-4, 9, Ibid.)

John’s preaching was contrary to what the people believed during his time. Hence, his preaching was likened to a “CRY in the wilderness” – a lone and righteous voice among the multitudes of his time.

In like manner, the function of the angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God was to seal the servants of God in their foreheads for their salvation, whereas the work of the “four angels” had something to do with destruction.

So, the biblical prophecy mentioned that the other angel “...cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” only shows that the work of the “other angel” was contrary to work of the “four angels.”

The “four angels” were granted the power “to harm the earth and the sea” or they had the authority either to continue the war or to stop it. Such really was the case as recorded in history:

“Early in May, 1919, the representatives of Germany were invited to the Peace Conference and asked to sign the treaty which was handed to them. They objected to the hard but just conditions which the treaty imposed upon their country and spent several weeks in pleading for easier terms. Some minor changes were made in the treaty, and on June 16th the final conditions were presented to the Germans, who were told that if they did not accept them the Allies would resume operations against their country. When faced with this possibility, Germany gave way and agreed to accept the terms of the Allies.” (History of the United States, p. 594)

History affirms that it was within the power of the “Big Four” to resume military operations against Germany. Had the Germans refused to accept the provisions of the treaty, the Allied powers would have certainly resumed operations against them. Hence, the cry: “Do not harm the earth and the sea.”

In contrast, the work of the “other angel” is to seal the servants of God. What is meant by “seal” and how is “sealing” of the servants of God done? Let us again quote Ephesians 113-14:

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14, Ibid.)

The Holy Spirit is the “seal” and the act of “sealing” is the preaching of the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, unto those who believe. This sealing function is done by God’s messenger (cf. Rom. 10:14-15). “Sealing” or preaching the Gospel is a work leading to salvation, unlike the work of the “four angels” or the “Big Four” who were granted the power “to harm the earth and the sea.”

The Bible also explicitly mentioned that the “other angel” is “ASCENDING from the East” when the “four angels” was seen holding back the “four winds of the earth.” So, during the time when the Big Four met in Paris in 1919, the work of the “other angel” was already “ascending.” The prophecy indeed came to pass. In the year 1919 (five years after the Church was registered in the Philippine government on July 27, 1914), there were already 21 local congregations of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) throughout the City of Manila and the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga. The young Church was already spreading throughout Luzon (Northern Philippine) which already attracting attention. 

REVELATION 8:1

WHEN THE “SEVENTH SEAL” WAS OPENED

Revelation 7:1-3 were at the end of the “sixth seal.” The Book of Revelation also mentioned that when the “seventh seal” was opened there was “silence in heaven for about half an hour”:

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1 NKJV)

As already mentioned, the “heaven” refers to “heavens of men” (Lev. 26:19). Also take note that “one day to God is one thousand years to man”:

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (II Peter 3:8 NKJV)

One day to God is one thousand years to man. One day is 24 hours. Dividing one thousand years with 24 hours is “one hour is 41 years and 8 months.”

One day       =        One thousand years

24 hors        =        1,000 years

1 hours        =        41 years and 8 months

Half hour     =        20 years and 10 months

Did the prophecy come to past?

First World War ended on November 11, 1918

Second World War started on September 1, 1939

         YEAR               MONTH               DAY

          1939                      9                       1

          1918                    11                     11  .

          20 years              9 months          20 days

 

CONCLUSION

Thus, the fulfillment of the events prophesied that will occur before and after Revelation 7:2-3 give us certainty that Brother Felix Y. Manalo was indeed the fulfillment of the “other angel” ascending from the east prophesied in this verse.

“there was a great earthquake” (Rev. 6:12)	1755	The great earthquake in Lisbon
“and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” (Rev. 6:12)	1780	The “Black Friday” of New England
“And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” (Rev. 6:12)	1833	“Meteor shower” seen in the whole eastern part of the United States
“great day of the wrath” (Rev. 6:17; Is. 34:1-2 and 4 )	1914-1918	First World War
Four angels standing at the Four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth (Rev. 7:1)	Nov. 11, 1918 – the armistice 1919 – the “Big Four” met at Paris	The Big Four
Another angel ascending from the east (Rev. 7:2-3)	Dec., 1918 – the work of Bro. Felix Manalo was given recognition from other pastors	Brother Felix Y. Manalo and the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in the Philippines
“there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Rev. 8:1; II Pet. 3:8) 1 day = 1,000 years One hour = 41 years and 8 months Half hour = 20 years and 10 months	Nov. 11, 1918 and Sept. 1, 1939	The period between the end of the First World War and the start of the Second World War: 20 years, 9 months and 20 days