Perilous times will come according to the Bible, said Bro. Eli Soriano during the Ang Dating Daan Worldwide Bible Exposition last September 9, 2016.
“These things are made known to us in advance for us to avoid them,” according to the International Televangelist. “If you don’t take proper care, you will be caught victim of evil things in our surroundings.”
Besides the news of wars, bombings, and rumors of conflicts among nations, there are countless stories of the deaths, famines, and destructions as dire consequences of these conflicts.
In addition, rampant suicides and illegal drugs, among many others, are also on the rise, sending jolts of doom and hopelessness among people. In short, the world we know now is not getting any safe and secure.
He said II Timothy 3:1-5 mirrors the times we are in. The verse stressed that “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
“God is our Only Refuge”
Bro. Eli told thousands of visitors attending his biblical exposition that the Holy Scriptures has a message of hope for mankind. It is possible, he said through live video streaming, for mankind to merit the protection of God.
He cited Proverbs 18:10, which reads: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
“Our only refuge is God’s Name in these perilous times. We have no other shelter apart from trusting God who created us, who is capable of saving us in these very dangerous times we live in,” remarked Bro. Eli.
“Those people who are not yet fully evil, those who still have even an inch of godliness in their lives, we want them to be enlightened by God’s Word, with God’s help and mercy,” explained Bro. Eli. “That is why we organize Bible Expositions like these.”
Faith Questions from the Confused
Visitors from from as far as Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to Taichung, Taiwan were able to ask Bro. Eli. Questions dealt with during the Bible Exposition ranged from doubts about the Bible, Christianity, faith and spirituality-related issues.
In the Philippines, visitors who were able to ask Bro. Eli include those from Balagtas, Bulacan, Davao Oriental, Negros Occidental, Angono, Rizal, Apalit, Pampanga, and Quiapo, Manila.
An inquirer from Abu Dhabi, UAE asked the preacher: “How and when can you introduce the Church of God in a family of devoted Catholics?”
“Let them hear the Word of God. The Word of God is powerful to open man’s understanding to know the truth,” Bro. Eli answered. He then read Hebrews 4:12.
The verse says: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The international televangelist added: “Just by reading the Bible, your understanding of the truth will be opened. One powerful way to convince your family is your character and behavior towards them.”
On the Nature of the Holy Spirit
A visitor at Apalit, Pampanga, intrigued by the nature of the Holy Spirit, asked Bro. Eli: “What are the characteristics of the Holy Spirit? What about Its functions?”
“The Holy Spirit also does what the Lord Jesus Christ does. Christ is a Comforter. When the time came He had to leave His disciples [after the resurrection], he mentioned ‘another Comforter.’ It is the Holy Spirit,” answered Bro. Eli.
He read John 14:16 and John 14:26 to provide his answer with biblical basis. John 14:16 states: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
The Book of John, Chapter 14, Verse 26, meanwhile reads: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Bro. Eli explained biblically up to what extent the Holy Spirit will function and up to what time. “It will continue teaching and reminding what Christ taught the early Christians. It can also function as our Mediator or Intercessor to God.”
Bro. Eli read Romans 8:26 to support his answer to the visitor: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Furthermore, according to Bro. Eli, “The Holy Spirit also reveals the deep secrets of God’s Word.” He cited 1 Corinthians 2:10, which reads: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Will Kind People be Saved?
The visitor from Quiapo, Manila asked: Will kind people be saved even if they were misled or deceived by false pastors?
To this question, he said, “There are people who are misled because of deception or out of ignorance. They are not aware they are misled. To say they no longer have a chance in salvation, especially those people who have no bad intention towards others, is cruel.”
“People who were deceived can be forgiven by God. If they are followers of what they know is right and true, under the influence of false pastors, they still have a chance. God is a God of justice. He knows if you’re really fooled or not.”
“Take note that there are people outside the true Church who are yet to hear the truth. But if they are doers of the law by nature, they will also be justified,” added Bro. Eli. He then read Romans 2:13:14, which states: “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:”
Netizens Participate
As of 8 pm of the event, the hashtag reached the No. 1 spot of the Philippines Trends.
Bro Eli has, for many years, been answering queries of his Bible Exposition guests from different provinces across the country to many different parts of the world.
The Worldwide Bible Exposition was also not solely confined in the more than 1,360 coordinating centers of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) around the Philippines.
It was also being streamed via the Facebook Live platform and the Youtube Channel of Ang Dating Daan.
Before closing, Bro. Eli invited visitors to attend the Mass Indoctrination session which will be starting on September 12.
Through the indoctrination session, visitors get to learn the doctrines of God and the Lord Jesus in the Bible. Attending indoctrination is a requirement for those who are interested to join and be baptized in the MCGI.
Written by: Lyka Alvarez
