Imagine a church rising proudly. That is the Lokal ng Araneta. It is a testament to faith and community.
The Iglesia ni Cristo describes itself as the one true church. It claims to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus. All other Christian churches are labeled as apostatic according to their doctrine.
The church’s official registration with the Philippine government occurred on July 27 1914. Felix Y Manalo led this registration. Members believe him to be the last messenger of God. This event fulfilled biblical prophecy. It concerned the reestablishment of Jesus’ original church in the Far East. This was concurrent with the coming of the seventh seal marking the end of days.
Felix Y Manalo was born on May 10 1886. He registered the Iglesia ni Cristo in 1914. Manalo started preaching in Punta Santa Ana Manila in November 1913. He then registered his new religion as the Iglesia ni Cristo. This translates to Church of Christ in English.
By 1924 the INC had 3000 to 5000 adherents. These people were spread across 43 or 45 congregations in Manila and nearby provinces. By 1936 membership grew to 85000.
Eraño Manalo succeeded his father. He led a campaign to grow the church internationally. Eduardo V Manalo succeeded him as Executive Minister. The 2020 Philippine census reported 2.8 million adherents of the INC. This places it third behind the Roman Catholic Church and Islam.
The Iglesia ni Cristo believes the Bible is the only book inspired by God. It serves as the sole basis for their beliefs and practices. They believe in one God the Father. The INC rejects the traditional Christian belief in the Trinity. They consider it heresy.
The church believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the mediator between God the Father and humanity.
INC believes that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ. They say Felix Manalo restored it in the last days. They believe the first-century church apostatized. INC sees its reestablishment as the signal for the end of days.
According to INC Manalo is the angel from the east. This angel is mentioned in Revelation 7:1-3. He started preaching about the INC coinciding with World War I’s outbreak.
The church emphasizes baptism by immersion for adults. This is a requirement to become disciples of Jesus Christ. They reject infant baptism.
The Iglesia ni Cristo launched its first resettlement and land reform program in 1965. It was located in Barrio Maligaya Laur Nueva Ecija.
The INC inaugurated the Philippine Arena on July 21 2014. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest mixed-use indoor theater.
The Philippine government declared 2014 the Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial Year. They commemorated the 100th founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
The church building serves as a place of worship. It is also used for other religious functions. These structures employ exterior neo-Gothic vertical support columns. They also have tall narrow windows interlocking trapezoids and rosette motifs. Towers and spires are prominent.
Inside males and females sit on either side of the aisle. They face a dais where sermons are delivered. The choir loft is behind the dais. Larger churches feature a baptistry with pools for immersion baptism.
The distinctive spires represent the reaching out of the faithful to God. Prominent architects have designed INC churches. The Engineering and Construction Department of INC oversees the uniformity in design.
Lokal ng Araneta stands as a strong pillar of faith. It shows the Iglesia ni Cristo’s enduring presence in Manila. Its architecture and history are great. They reflect the devotion of its members and the church’s global impact.