The December 1st Worldwide Bible Exposition mounted by the Members Church of God International (MCGI) once again welcomed various spiritual inquiries of guests coming from different parts of the globe.
Hosted by MCGI overall servants Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon, the event held last December 1, 2017 is regularly conducted by the religious organization with the objective of bringing the Gospel of Christ closer to people.
With the help of God, answers based on the Bible were given to the queries of visitors coming from a number of remote points including Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and East Timor among others.
Trials of Mankind
From Hong Kong, a Roman Catholic visitor asked Bro. Eli about the trials a man encounters in his life. Specifically, she said, “Why are the trials of humans distinct and varied? How would we know if it is God who is testing us or if it is satan?
Bro. Eli began his response by saying that satan does not have the power to test us. The international televangelist then read Deuteronomy 13:3, explaining that it is God who tests people and His intention in doing so is to prove one’s love to Him.
If you are able to prove your love to God, said Bro. Eli, you then won’t have to worry about anything as it is written in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (King James Version)
However, for when trials come, Bro. Eli cited the writings of Saint Peter in I Peter 4:12-13:
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (King James Version)
Further, God won’t let people experience temptations and hardships that are more than what they can bear. Bro. Eli then noted that it is the devil who gives temptations, and not God as written in James 1:13.
Reading the Bible
Meanwhile, a guest from Woking United Kingdom inquired about her habits of meditation and reading the Bible.
For this question, Bro. Eli replied with an admonition: We should read the Bible in a proper and orderly manner. As the Bible was written as a reportage of events that occured chronologically, then it should also be read in order.
As an example, Bro. Eli explained: in reading the book of Matthew, for the reader to understand the intention of Matthew in writing the Gospel, he or she should begin with the very first page and then finish it until the last.
With this, Bro. Eli advised that prior to reading the words of God in the Bible, a wise thing to do is to seek the aid and guidance of the Holy Spirit:
“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” – Proverbs 1:23 (King James Version)
Time machines and Aliens
A guest from East Timor meanwhile posed questions that are seldom asked by others: “I know you [Bro. Eli] also explain based on science, so I would just like to ask, are time machines real? Secondly, is it also true that there are aliens in other parts of the universe?
Bro. Eli then expressed his belief in science, specifically scientific truths that are based on the Bible. “True science” came from God, he remarked, also stating that science cannot fathom all things that God created. He cited Ecclesiastes 8:17.
“Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.” (King James Version)
Regarding aliens, or UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects), Bro. Eli said that nothing can be concluded, nor can anybody affirm that these are supreme beings as their name says so itself that they are “unidentified.”
He suggested not to believe in such, saying “no real science has claimed that they have seen supreme beings.” Further, he pointed out that supreme beings, based on the Bible, pertain to mankind (Genesis 1:26). Man has the superiority above all things on earth, even angels.
The preacher also commented similarly regarding the existence of time machines. He reiterated that time cannot be turned back. However, in the Bible, there’s such a thing as a time machine, pertaining to the spirit of God. He explained how John’s spirit was able to travel in time to witness the future that is two thousand years beyond him (Revelations 1:9-10).
Written by: Elizabeth Borromeo