A Critical Analysis of Emperor Emmanuel Sect

 A Critical Analysis of Emperor Emmanuel Sect

Introduction

“The Church is a divine reality which has taken shape in history in interaction between the Christ event and a believing human community”[1] she is unique in her function and her endeavors and she is the true and real body of the Christ. She had been attacked by various external factors over many years. Recent years have witnessed the rise and the rapid growth of the numerous Pentecostal sects in India and the other parts of the world. “It is no secret that a large number of believers are leaving the church and other main line churches to join these sects. Reaction to this phenomenon has raged from fascination to consternation”[2].

Emperor Emmanuel Church is one of the protestant sects in India located at Muriyad in Thrissur district of Kerala state, India. It is an independent Church that believes only in the Word of God, the works of God and those sent by God. The face on the extreme right is not of Jesus, but of the Father, according to cult founder Joseph Ponnara. Formerly he was a school teacher. Most of members of this sect were the members of the charismatic prayer group. The teachings of the founder are not only dangerous but also filled with hate and revenge.

However like other sects they don’t reject Mother Mary rather they themselves have made a prayer equivalent to Hail Mary in the Catholic Church. It is as follows “Hail Mary full of God’s grace, the Lord is with us, Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb Emmanuel. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us your children that we be filled with immeasurable Love, Power and Grace. Amen.” It is written by John Thachil Francis- one of the prominent followers of the sect.

In order to have an admission in this cult people have to renounce their wealth of any kind like property, jewelry and they have to surrender the cost of it with Ponnara. There are two priests and few nuns who have jointed this cult leaving the church. Joseph Ponnara projects himself as the end time’s prophet. They also have made a church like the arc of Noah to protect themselves from the dangers of the end of times. As per their teaching the arc they have made will remain just like the arc of Noah after the destruction. One who wants to join this cult has to withdraw the membership from the church and renounce their family, their spouse for the sake of Zion. Anyone who rejects the Zion is an agent of Satan. “No interpretations, no speculations Pure Scripture Pure Truth.” This is what Joseph Ponnara claims about all his teachings, and which John Thachil Francis. The so called “retreats” that he conducts is just like brain washing and propagation of wrong interpretation of the scripture which he claims to be the “revelation” from the God the father

This Church is also known as Zion. There are certain characteristics for this so called “Zion” community they are; they consider themselves as a community believes in Jesus Christ and his incarnation, evangelization, passion death and resurrection. Having received the salvation he gave 2000 years ago, this flock called Zion waits for him as a savior.  And it believes that Jesus Christ will come again in flesh and he will transfigure and take them to the Eternal City in the New Earth. They strongly believe in the Maranatta experience. Zion waits for Holy Mother who is the Mother of Wisdom and the Seat of the Life-giving Law and for the second Pentecost during which they would receive the full fruit of the Holy Spirit. Zion believes in the visit of God the father and the culmination of Zion with him. Zion claims to be a community which is taught by the Heavenly Father and Holy Wisdom, instructed by the Holy Spirit and led by the Sprit of Jesus Christ (Emmanuel) to the fullness of Truth (Word of God). Zion is that flock to which the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed by the Heavenly Father. Zion can read and understand the signs of times. Zion claims to be a flock that renounces all sin and evil through the obedience to the Word of God and thus being trained to reach the holiness of God.

According to this sect God shows different signs as an indication of end of times and they also put forward such signs as they understand it as the signs from God. The rapid growth and progress of the science and technology is one of the signs from God and they prove it with the help of science itself. They say that if the speed of anything increases continuously, it will break down when it reaches to a certain limit. For them Tornadoes, excessive cloudbursts, rain of fire, famines, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, the irrevocable changes in the climate, the depletion of underground water, cracks in the tectonic plates etc are all warnings of God the Father to the human beings. Practically all these things cannot be considered as a warning from God but merely it is the after effect of human interventions and exploitation. As per their understanding those who failed to perceive these signs rejects the Savior and those who receive it receives the savior and only those who have wisdom will be able to discern this signs. They claim that the true word of god had disappeared from the church therefore the people are not able to discern the truth as a result they understand the evil as good, good as evil light as darkness and vice versa. This is another sign from God for the end of the ages.  As they criticize technological developments in one hand, on the other hand they tell that T.V and internet are the mediums by which God shows his people the various signs that take place in the different parts of the world. As per their teaching, claim “On the basis of the Word of God” written in the Holy Bible, seven things must be completed before the End of Ages.

1. All human beings whom God, from the Beginning, destined to be born on this earth must be born (Acts 17/26-28, Is. 26/18-19).

2. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, must come in flesh again to this earth (Jn. 14/1-3).

3. Prophets must come to this earth again in order to pave the way for Jesus Christ (Is. 41/25-28, Zech. 4/5, Mt. 23/34).

4. The man of lawlessness, who is to become the Antichrist, must be born (2 These. 2/3-4).

5. The dead must resurrect (Dan. 12/2)

6. The Good News of the Third Kingdom of God must be preached all over the world as a testimony (Mt. 24/14).

7. The Son of God, Jesus Christ (Emmanuel) has to destroy all rule, power and authority and present the Kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor. 15/24).

As per their teachings the signs from God are the outcome of the love of God the father to the human kind to let know the human race about the end of the times. But to ‘see’ these signs we must know and believe in the Word of God written in the Holy Bible; we must have the Wisdom to know the true meaning of these Words of God and the willingness to subject ourselves to the Works of God; we must be able to discern those who are sent by God and receive them. As per their understanding all these signs have their base in the word of God. They also make clear criticism regarding philosophies. For them people of this era is blinded in their intellect therefore they understand the signs of times are natural phenomena. They believe in blind obedience rather than an obedience purified by the reason.

They have a fundamentalist view towards the science and its inventions. They introduce their followers about a god who is righteous and just rather a God of love and mercy. They have the understanding of a God who is in the Old Testament, who punishes the people for their wrong doings and still hide a face of God who is compassionate and loving. 

Nullification of this sect according to catholic teachings

According to Catholic teaching, “No new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[3] Any spirit or teaching that contradicts Holy Scripture is in error. The spirit lead by this sect is error because it contradicts the teachings of scripture.

Interesting Observations:

In most of the cases they won’t teach in public rather they keep thing in dark.

They have the gospel of Enoch which is not the part of the catholic bible.
First they predicted the end of the world as 2012 later they shifted it to 2024.

They teach mostly the rich people not the poor.

Bibliography

Pathil, Kuncheriya. Indian Churches at the Cross Roads. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 1994.

Parathazham, Paul. Christianity in India: Sociological Investigations. Bangalore: Dharmaram publications, 2013.

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[1] Indian churches at the cross roads, 1

[2] Christianity in India, 65

[3] 66