Soriano's Faulty Creation Week

On an earlier post I revealed how Soriano believes in Evolution and how he seems to keep injecting it into scripture, even when scripture is crystal clear and Evolution strives to kick God out of the creation picture using the "millions of years" fairy tale. Eli Soriano does not believe the Genesis account of creation of  six literal 24-hour days. Instead, he subscribes to the version of Evolution that says it took millions of years for everything to be created. 

Hold on to your seats because the Bible will be under attack by Soriano again. I'll try to show you as plainly and as clearly as possible what is going on so you will see hypocrisy being displayed  by the self-proclaimed "most sensible preacher".

What is 'hypocrisy' anyway? Webster's dictionary says, "a pretense of virtue". Let's analyze that for a moment, shall we? 'Pretense' means "to deliberately create a false impression of something". In simpler terms, it means, 'to pretend'. The other word, 'virtue' is a word that embodies goodness, moral excellence, and chastity. With this short study of words, we now understand what Webster meant. A 'hypocrite' is "someone who pretends to be good". In our day-to-day lives, we encounter people like these everyday. They who say one thing to appear good and virtuous, but does the exact opposite without hesitation or difficulty whatsoever.

Now why would a word like 'hypocrite' be attached to a preacher... and to the "most sensible preacher" at that? I have two answers. One, is that God gave us the capacity to discern between good and evil and right from wrong (thanks a lot grandpa Adam), so identifying false preachers like Soriano would not be difficult.  And two, Soriano himself displays his character for all to see. And it's not a pretty picture, I'm telling you. To be fair, I am not basing this personal preference of what a preacher should be or how he should conduct himself. Besides, the Bible already did that. My words are cheap. I can say the foulest things about somebody like Soriano and it won't mean a thing. But when it is the Bible that talks, it is God Himself uttering those words. The Bible speaks to us as clearly and as straighforward as possible so as to avoid confusion and/or ambiguity. What it calls wrong, IS wrong. What it calls right, IS right. There is no gray line or "in betweens". God would not put anybody in a position of insecurity or confusion.

So why is Soriano a hypocrite?

Soriano SAYS he believes in the Bible alone, yet he dismisses the Biblical account of 6 days of creation. The Bible is very clear that creation took six literal 24 hour days to complete (and this is scientifically backed) and not billions of years as Evolutionists and Soriano would want us to believe. Soriano is trying to inject an evolutionary timeline into God's creation week. His basis hangs on the intentional clouding of the Hebrew word 'yom' (meaning 'day') as a "period of time" similar to saying "in my father's day", or "the day of the Lord". Essentially, Soriano is promoting a theistic evolution stance similar to what is called the Gap Theory.

Sure enough Soriano employs the scriptures saying that "a day is like a thousand years unto the Lord",  a Psalm... a song written with freedom in glorification. Whereas the creation account is a different matter. There is no other nuance of the word 'day' that is appropriate except for a literal 24 hour day. Moreover, any reference to the days of creation week is addressed in singular and definite form "THE first day". That's a definite article. There can be more than one "first day" but there can only be one "THE first day".

Oh by the way, there are Bible perversions that say "a first day" instead of "the first day". These are intentional changes put in by proponents of Evolution. They think that stretching the days would allow the acceptance of the possibility of Evolution being used by God to create everything in the universe. Evolution preaches that death came before sin, while the Bible says that sin came before death. They are polar opposites.. one is definitely wrong and one is absolutely right. Now to believe that the God of the Bible would use Evolution to create, is belief in a different god. This is what Soriano wants... for people to believe in another god. A god that uses Evolution to create. This is a cruel, sadistic, and retarded god. That is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible can create by just speaking things into existence. Soriano's version of God is clearly different.

• Day 3 of Creation.

The Bible tells us that God created all manner of foliage on this day. This would include all the flowering and non-flowering plants,  trees, shrubs, bushes, etc. This alone would show us that there is no period of millions of years before Day 4.  Why? Because on Day 4, the Bible tells us that God created the sun, moon, and stars. The sun is what's responsible for the plants to make food (photosynthesis). It would be very hard on those plants to have to wait millions of years for the sun to come up, right? Soriano should have thought of this if he was indeed as sensible as he is purported to be.   

• Day 5 of Creation.

The Bible tells us that God created all the creatures of the air and sea on this day. Creatures that swim and creatures that fly. Among these are the countless number and variety of insects. Insects that are responsible for the pollination of plants. How could millions of years be possible in between days 3, 4, and 5 of creation with plants waiting that long? If we were to believe as Soriano believes, plant life would never had been possible. But if we were to keep steadfast to what the Bible clearly says, twenty four hours is not a long time for plants to wait for the sun. Nor is another twenty four hours for the pollinators to do their jobs.

Let us be firm and discerning. Let us guard against false preachers like Soriano who preach a different scripture, a different god, and ultimately a different salvation. 2 Corinthians 11:4 warns us "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
Topics like creation may not be a salvation issue, but any lie purported as truth by a preacher who is exposed as false and openly displays wanton disregard to what scripture says, is the very thing Jesus warned us about.

The Bible is correct folks. It is well to believe that within its pages is the eternal, infallible, and inerrant words of the Lord. It is perfect and worthy to be believed from cover to cover. When it says six days, it MEANS six days. Not millions of years. Don't listen to Soriano's lies. Evolution is the Devil's concoction, it means to take God away from the creation picture and put in millions of years instead. Listening to Soriano is like listening to the Devil himself.

No Such Thing As "Second Coming"?

Did you know, that Eli Soriano does not believe in Jesus' second coming? "Why?" you might ask, does Eli Soriano, the supposed "most sensible" of preachers, NOT believe in Christ's second coming? His answer is as plain as it is insultingly stupid. Believe it or not, Soriano answers this question with, "The word "second coming" is not found in the Bible."

He will go as far as challenge the listeners to look for it in scripture. He adds, "the term second coming is not true because it implies that Jesus only came to earth only once." This is not scriptural he says. And every preacher who tells his flock that there will be a second coming of Christ on earth is teaching "a very big mistake".

What could Eli Soriano possibly present as scriptural proof for yet another attention grabbing heresy? 

He cites 1 Corinthians 10:4... "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." This is what Soriano bases his teaching on... that Christ suddenly appeared as a rock. A literal rock that spewed water to quench the thirst of the Israelites. This is what Soriano uses to teach that Christ came to earth before the New Testament times, so there is no such thing as a "second coming". Could he be deliberately ignoring the word "spiritual" in that verse? Or could he really be ignorant to the fact that "second coming" refers to the bodily return of Christ? 

We see plainly how Soriano mixes lies with Biblical truths.  What 1 Corinthians says is true and irrefutable scripture. Jesus was indeed the "spiritual" rock that quenched the thirst of the Israelites in the wilderness. But when Soriano insinuates Jesus incarnating himself as a rock (a physical one) he concludes that this is a "coming" of the Lord Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul says that the miracle had great symbolic significance. "That Rock was Christ." The Greek word used for "rock" is petra, the same word Christ used when He said that "upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Christ is the foundation upon which the church is built (1 Corinthians 3:11).  So the true essence, the actual context of the scripture Soriano uses, refers to Christ IN SPIRIT. While the term "Second Coming" refers to the BODILY incarnation of Christ.

Jesus did not manifest himself as a rock as Soriano suggests, in fact the rock is a SYMBOLISM of Christ according to Paul.  Christ is also symbolized by the "living water," the "well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:10, 14).  The actual rock from which the waters burst forth in the wilderness did not literally "follow them," of course, but "that spiritual Rock" did follow them, for Christ was there with them through all their years of wandering.  The literal water followed them too, keeping them alive for forty years. 

"When Moses struck the rock, God opened a mighty spring "out of the great depths" (Psalm 78:15), evidently tapping a deep pressurized aquifer from which waters emerged to form "streams also out of the rock" (Psalm 78:16).  These streams flowed continually in the desert for forty years, so the children of Israel could march and camp beside them as long as they were in the wilderness."  (The Spiritual Rock, Henry Morris) 

So what now Mr. Soriano? Your half-witted interpretation of scripture is exposed yet again. To what end does it benefit you to discredit preachers who teach of Christ's "Second Coming"? Personally I don't see anything you would gain other than brainwashed followers. But the Devil sure has a lot to cheer about. You just used the Bible to falsify the Bible by means of your shallow and ignorant interpretation. There are over 300 verses in the Bible telling of Jesus' return and coming reign and you dare refute it with one poorly interpreted verse? 

Jesus' return is true folks, the Bible attests to it over 300 times in different verses. Jesus is coming again to claim his redeemed and to rule over all. Words we use like "second coming" "rapture", "trinity", etc, may not be "written" in the Bible but it does not mean it is not true. These are names we give Biblical concepts so that we may refer to them easily.  Saying there is no truth to a "second coming" is the same as saying "he is not coming at all" with the way Soriano attacks this Biblical truth. 

I dearly pray for all those who are blindly following Eliseo Soriano. His lies are subtle and disguised as truths. Listen to what the Bible is actually saying and keep away from Satan's little helper telling you otherwise. His words are poison in small doses. You will not feel it right away but just like any poison, even in small amounts, will lead to destruction and death. Soriano is slowly and surely teaching his followers of a DIFFERENT god. One who denies scripture... one who has fallen from grace. 

Soriano's Oppa Muslim Style

There are some things you really need to hear or see to believe. At first I was chuckling at the information that Soriano tells his followers to pray facing towards the East. As in the "towards Mecca" kind. But it appears he was serious and not kidding at all. Listen to him yourself here...  so you'll know I'm not making this up. We hear Soriano defend this "preference to order" as he calls it, but is actually a subtle indoctrination of another unbiblical concept.

Like most of Soriano's fallacies, he claims this teaching is rooted in the Bible. We'll take a look at them and analyze as thoroughly as possible so as not to leave cracks in the argument. Soriano cites 2 Chronicles 6:34... 

"If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;" 

This is the main basis for his teaching. Since this was the manner the Jews were ordered to do, this is the manner Soriano tells his flock to follow. This is far better and "biblical" according to him rather than facing just anywhere. It is more biblical he says than facing an altar full of graven idols like the Catholics do.  He then cites how the Lord dislikes idolatry in the form of things made by man.

To this I asked a few questions that unfortunately only fell on Soriano's defenders' ears.  I would have wished for Soriano himself to answer them but it's understandably difficult to constantly be in one place when you're on the lam. Anyway, I did ask and the answers I got all ended up with me being labeled as "sa demonyo" ("of the demon").  Come to think of it, I doubt Soriano would have answered differently.

My questions went... 

• "Isn't the City of Jerusalem also created by man?"
• "What if I was on the north pole where all directions would be south, where do I face then?" 
• "What of astronauts out in space, what direction should they be praying?" 
• "Do you orient all your seats facing the east?" "What if they're bolted to the floor?"
• "What if I'm alone and don't have a compass, or it's night time and there's no sun?"
• "What if I'm blind?"
• "How about people praying before a meal seated around the table?"
• "What if I was in danger... hanging upside down on a pole?"

Okay, I admit I was being a little silly there, but can you blame me? This practice is observed by Muslims and Orthodox Catholics and this is the first time I ever heard of supposed "Christians" practicing it. I thought what's next... a personal carpet? Even actual Jews facing east knows it's tradition not a compulsion. Why then is it a prescription in MCGI? Is Soriano exercising influence? Flaunting his clout? It could be a lot of things really, but biblical isn't one of them. Personally, I believe it is yet another attack on what the Bible TRULY preaches about God's omnipresence, which Soriano denies so much.

Surely Soriano does not expect his followers to think that God hovers above Jerusalem all the time waiting for prayers does he? The "significance" he mentions like "Jesus first taught in the east", "Jesus was born in the East", are all metaphorical in the sense that we should look toward Jesus, our future and not the past (sin)... to look forward to Christ who is the finisher of our faith, look toward His glory that is to come. That... would have been a more acceptable reason for true believers of Christ. Instead of calling it a biblical alternative to altars made by man. Telling people that they should face east towards Jerusalem to mimic God's armies fighting wars outside of the city is unnecessary. Telling people that there is a "lot of significance" towards facing eastward thereby elevating it in importance is a mistaken understanding of what the Bible really means.

The Bible does not command Christians to assume any particular position or direction in talking with God. As a matter of fact, there are various positions people assume when talking to God. And hardly any alluded to the direction people praying were facing. In the Bible, we find people praying in all manner of positions. People are described praying while kneeling, kneeling with arms stretched out, with bowed heads, while standing, with eyes open, with eyes closed, on their bellies, face on the ground, even praying while seated. So there is no prescribed position a believer is to assume because the Lord is not concerned about position of the body or direction one is facing. God is more concerned with the right attitude of the heart. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7... 

But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

If Christians must face east, then surely Jesus and/or Paul would have said something about it, but they didn't. What they did say is for us to not be anxious about anything. We read in Philippians 4:6...

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We are also told to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The moment we wake up in the morning is the start of a day of communion with God. We can do so while doing laundry, dishes, driving, walking to school, before or after an exam. There is no need to find east and face it because God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). A spirit hath not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

God is not limited to one cardinal direction. He is everywhere. God fills all things with His presence (Colossians 1:17) and upholds everything by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). So praying to him is possible in any direction or position as long as your attitude is pure.