A megachurch pastor has been arrested. Praise God and the authorities for that. On Sunday night Apollo Carreon Quiboloy was arrested by the Filipino police and is now in custody. This is a profoundly good thing. But Jesus doesn’t think going to prison is a punishment to fit the crime.  

Quiboloy founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. He claims to have millions of followers throughout the world. His church building has 70,000 seats.

He’s also on the FBI’s most-wanted list.

‘He faces charges in the United States and at home of masterminding a human trafficking and child sex abuse ring. He has been accused of rape, including of minors. Through his lawyers, Mr. Quiboloy has denied all the charges.’ (NYT article)

In 2021, Quiboloy was investigated and indicted by an American federal grand jury. The indictment included ‘conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, the sex trafficking of children, and smuggling huge amounts of cash.’ The indictment was 74 pages long.

It is alleged Quiboloy had girls, as young as 12, work for him as personal assistants or 'pastorals'. They cooked, they cleaned and they gave massages. Some, including girls aged 14 and 15, were forced to have sex with Quiboloy or they would face ‘eternal damnation.’ Anger is a right response.

Not only that but his organisation made money off spiritual desperation and plundered the poor. All in the name of charity.

Reading the NYT article, as a pastor and preacher, my heart plummeted and my guts churned.

How did he get away with this, assuming these allegations are true? Given the indictment was in 2021, why wasn’t an American arrest warrant served years ago? It’s simple. In the worst kind of oozing corruption, Quiboloy was a spiritual advisor to the then-president of the Philippines Mr. Duterte.

Quiboloy’s arrest should have come years ago. But, thankfully, it has come. May his organisation (I don’t want to call it a church) be shut down and dismantled. Lots of legal mechanisms are being applied to do just that.

Though, of course, he denies all charges. And as a friend noted, all these crimes are still alleged until proven by court.

When we hear of these things, it’s not wrong to ask, where was God in this? Doesn’t he care what was done in his name?

Jesus doesn’t think prison is punishment enough

And the answer is that God cares, deeply. Jesus doesn’t think prison meets the bar of justice for wickedness like this. And nor does death. Here are Jesus’ words.

‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.’ (Matthew chapter 18 verse 6)

These words and the following declarations of woe by Jesus reveal how much he hates corrupt religious leaders and false teachers. Death is a better option than the consequences that will come from leading a little one (a child or a disciple) to stop trusting him (fall away).

This should make us stop and think – what is worse than death? Death seems like the ultimate punishment. Until you consider the Bible’s view; there is a judgment to come after death.

As terrible as prison might be for Quiboloy and whatever other consequences unfold, none of these compare to the awful judgment that will fall upon him when he meets Jesus, if even a few of these crimes are true. There will be hell to pay. God cares for each person affected by Quiboloy’s wickedness and deception.

The tragedy of not reading the Bible

The second aspect is tragic in a different way. For God has provided for our defence against Mr Quiboloy (and all other false teachers, apostles and anti-Christs). It is the teaching of the Bible.

I know many would argue that it is the Bible that opens one up to be deceived by these liars and charlatans. However, this superficial claim is shown to be less than paper thin when the contents of the Bible are actually read. The Bible constantly warns of false teachers with evil agendas and gives us criteria to see their falseness.

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy called himself, ‘The Owner of the Universe’. Another alias was ‘The Appointed Son of God.’ He allowed, or more likely encouraged, his followers to believe he was a descendant of God. His titles are like the piercing shrill of a building fire alarm. Run away! Get Away! Danger. If only his followers had ears to hear the warnings.

Even a cursory read of the gospels reveals that Jesus was utterly unique in authority, and power but also in holiness. There is only one owner of the universe. There is only one true Son of God.  Jesus even warns us, as recorded in the Bible,  that there will be many who will claim to be him, but are not.

 ‘“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.’ (Mark’s Gospel 13 verses 21-23.)

If only Quiboloy’s followers had opened the Bible and read this for themselves. When Jesus comes again, there will be no doubt.

In the meantime, the Bible makes it clear: the true church of God is ‘built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets’ (Ephesians 2v20). That is, it aligns with the teaching of the Apostles (New Testament) and the prophets (Old Testament). Anything else is heresy. I’ve no doubt that if I listened to Quiboloy’s preaching I would find the Bible, if it is referred to, brutalised and misapplied.

Now, some Christians may wince as they read my statements of condemnation and judgment above. But they aren’t mine, they are Jesus’.

They will say, ‘But, what about forgiveness?’ Can Quiboloy be forgiven and shouldn’t it be offered to him? Yes, he can be forgiven. But let’s think about what that requires. Jesus said that those who lead others away from him deserve judgment. They deserve hell. For Quiboloy to be forgiven requires Jesus to suffer Quiboloy’s deserved punishment. As long as Quiboloy thinks he stands in the place of Jesus, that will never happen.

Finally,  may Jesus have mercy on all those deceived by this man. And, may Jesus’ justice come swiftly on all men like this.

* Edited to note that the crimes are alleged and not proven at the time of writing.