Manny Aguilara was a former prisoner and gang member before he became a believer. Gustaf Zuckermandel, Sr., aka Zeke, talked to Manny about God just days before Zeke's execution. Manny was later killed by the members of his former gang after he talked to them about God.
Biography[]
Before the Rapture[]
He said he went to church in his childhood with his mother (and presumably sister). The priest said that Jesus died for each one of us, but Manny never did anything at the services except look up at the cross. When he had to choose between the gang and God, he chose the gang because they gave him money, protection, and friends. It made sense to him back then.
Shortly before the Rapture, his mother tried to discourage him from being involved in the gang. Manny's mother tried to talk him into living with his other relatives. An uncle in Georgia in the United States said that he would take him in, no questions asked. The Rapture then happened, which took away his mother and likely his uncle.
After the Rapture[]
He was sent to a Global Community prison for his involvement in a gang murder of four people over a dispute of drug territory. The Global Community authorities also knew he had some information on the gang leader, Hector Rodriguez. They promised Manny that he would not have any jail time if he testified against Hector Rodriguez and some other gang members. Manny did not cooperate with the GC because Manny was actually more afraid of Hector and his gang than the GC.
He was later became a believer when Gustaf Zuckermandel, Sr. (Zeke) talked to him about God while Zeke was imprisoned for running a black market operation from his gas station, but the GC think he is an anti-Carpathia rebel. Zeke led Manny in the sinner's prayer and he received the mark of the believer. Before Zeke taught Manny how to reconcile with God through faith, he warned Manny that if he went through with this, he would not be able to receive Carpathia's mark to save his life because God would seal him with His mark and not allow him to take the side of the evil one.
The Young Tribulation Force sprung him from the prison in Des Plaines, Illinois along with Bo and Ginny Shairton and Maggie Carlson. Zeke had told Natalie Bishop, the Young Tribulation Force's mole inside the prison that he could not accept the offer of escape because it would implicate those involved as Zeke was seen as a trophy prisoner since he is suspected of being an anti-Carpathian rebel. After Manny was free, he said that his gang leader, Hector Rodriguez, would help the Young Tribulation Force figure out if Claudia Zander's story checks out and that she really plans to defect from the Global Community before she has to take the mark of loyalty. When he admitted of the false pretense to meet up with his former gang, Vicki Byrne was willing to hear him out, but Mark Eisman was upset for lying and putting them in danger.
After Manny came clean, a Global Community squad car spotted them and chased them through the city. (They had given themselves away when Mark slammed on his brakes, lighting up the brake lights, when a small white dog ran in front of their car.) During the chase, Manny gave directions to one of the gang's safehouses. The car pulled up to a garage and Manny leaned over to the give the horn to short honks, which was the signal for them to let them in. The garage door opened since there was always a gang member on alert throughout the day to help gang members who were in trouble. Manny, Mark, and Vicki were able to evade the GC patrol, but shortly afterwards, a man with gun, Carlos, told them to the exit the car slowly. Hector Rodriguez would soon meet up with them.
As Manny, Vicki, and Mark were being led out, Manny told them that he did not brought them to the gang hideout so that he can evangelize to the gang, but that it was their only shot at evading the GC. Manny revealed to Mark and Vicki that when he was talking to Hector on the phone, Hector did not believe Manny's account that he had escaped the prison and had suspicions that it was a GC trick and that the GC was using Manny. When Manny asked some assistance into the Claudia Zander issue, Hector became furious and threatened Manny that he would be dead if he returned. Thus, Manny decided to the hideout out of desperation solely to evade the GC.
Manny, Mark, and Vicki soon met Hector. Manny apologized to Hector for returning and bringing Mark and Vicki along and wanted Hector to allow him to explain himself. When Manny recounted his escape from the GC prison, Hector was nonplussed that anyone would risk infiltrating a prison to help someone like Manny escape. Manny brought up Gustaf Zuckermandel, Sr., but Hector was not impressed by his martyrdom because he thought it was foolish for Zeke to die for refusing to receive a tattoo. Manny warned the gang not to take the mark under any circumstances. That elicited laughs from the man holding the gun and Hector. Hector bemusing said that Manny had found religion in that jailhouse and that he returned to save their souls and that of Morale Monitor Claudia Zander.
Vicki was using a cellphone to update the Young Tribulation Force about the status of the Claudia Zander issue, but Carlos asserted that there would be no phone calls. Manny said that she was not calling the GC, but Carlos responded, "shut up, traitor". Manny became surprised because he did not rat his gang out to the GC, but Carlos expressed his disdain towards Manny because he was using religion as a crutch.
Manny's sister, Anita, came into the room and greeted him with a hard slap for getting caught. When Anita was about to deliver a second slap for leaving her, Manny caught her arm and restrained her. Anita then embraced her brother and wept, saying that she thought Manny was dead.
Hector was suspicious that they may have a transponder or a recording device, but the gang found nothing on them and in the car when they checked. Manny's story checks out as Hector consulted his GC contact to inform him that the GC was still looking for Manny.
Manny asked for Hector's permission to stay. He said that he could leave right now and do a lot of good, but he had been given a gift and wanted to give it to the people that he cared about most. Manny expressed gratitude towards Vicki and Mark for doing so much for him even though they did not know Manny. Manny said that the earthquake and stinging locusts were intended to get their attention. Hector again, dismisses him, saying that religion would be bad for their business.
Mark told Manny that saying with the gang would be tantamount to suicide, but Manny agreed but earnestly replied that this is where he is supposed to be. He looked at Mark and Vicki through tears, asking rhetorically where would he be today if they did not help him. Vicki reassured him, telling him to be "faithful with the message" and that God put him there for a reason. Mark also encouraged him, saying that this may be his only chance to talk to his sister and the others. Mark and Vicki went to the garage, and they drove away from the gang's hideout.
Manny was ecstatic about the ostensible opportunity that he was afforded to preach to the gang, as the gang invited him to a meeting where Manny can present his perspective. However, the gang intended to kill him, as they brought loaded guns to the meeting. Manny explained that one cannot get into heaven by doing good things and working off one's sin. He was met with derision as Hector retorted that he did not want to go to heaven as all of his friends are in hell, which elicited a laugh from the gang. Manny kept talking, saying that he was repeating what Jesus had said in the Bible. Manny was taken away by the gang to the garage when he said that there is only one way to get into heaven. Hector accused him of telling the Global Community too much information, but Manny avers that he told them nothing. Shortly afterward, he was beaten and then shot to death, as the gang drew their guns and shot in him unison. As Manny was being beaten, he begged them not to take the mark of Carpathia. His body is then loaded into a car and dumped into an ally. The GC media reported his death as a reprisal from the gang motivated by Manny (allegedly) giving information to the GC that incriminated the gang's leader, Hector Rodriguez.
Anita was surreptitiously watching the meeting and the murder of Manny. Anita provided her account of Manny's death to Vicki. With Vicki's help, Anita became saved and was able to escape the clutches of Hector's gang. It is unknown if Manny's testimony and martyrdom would have influenced the gang that they would become believers or heeded his warning not to take the mark of Carpathia.
Manny was resurrected after the Glorious Appearing, and Vicki saw him with his sister Anita.
Personality[]
Manny has multiple tattoos on his arms and neck.
While he was in the gang, all Manny could think about was killing someone or being killed. It just seemed to be a natural part of life. There were times where Manny thought about leaving the gang because a few of his friends died or the police were on to the gang, but he decided that staying is easier than leaving because the gang would retaliate against those who leave along with other gangs who are suspicious of defectors. Manny could not repent — turn away — from his gang life.
Before he became a believer, he acknowledged that he was not a good person and that there is no way that God would forgive him. He thought that he would need a lifetime trying to make it up to God, but Zeke Sr. said that he would still be guilty, no matter how big or small the sin. When he converted, he felt relieved and ignored the jeers he received from other prisoners who made fun of his newfound faith.
Manny gave Mark Eisman some advice when trying to avoid detection from a GC patrol, such as not using the brake because that would activate the brake lights. Manny also helped the them escape from that patrol by entering his gang's hideout.
After Manny became a believer and his escape from a Global Community prison with the help of the Young Tribulation Force, he was eager to talk about God to his old gang because he wanted to reach them before any of them take the mark of loyalty. After he escaped, he could not get his old gang out of his mind, and he figured that if he made it to Wisconsin with the Young Tribulation Force, he would never see his old gang again. While Manny was talking with Hector, Manny said that he could not live with himself if he withheld the gift of life from the gang. Manny wanted to reach them before they hardened their hearts — a concern brought up by Tsion Ben-Judah whose message is that those who refuse to turn to God would have their hearts hardened and unable to have faith.
Manny probably did not have delusions of receiving a positive reception for talking about God to the gang. He probably expected to be murdered while trying to communicate the gospel to the gang, but it may be worth it if it caused some of them to hesitate receiving the mark of loyalty long enough that they can think about what he would say to them and still have the opportunity to become believers. Manny told Vicki that despite the risk he thinks that being with the gang is where he is supposed to be. When Mark said that his plan is suicide, Manny replied saying that he concurred. Before Mark and Vicki left, Manny rhetorically asked where would he be without them helping him. Manny probably envisions himself as a dead martyr or having taken the mark of Carpathia. He thought that his life is God's now, and placidly accepted whatever fate he had coming.
Manny died like Stephen the Martyr as he received a hostile reception after he preached the gospel to his gang and then was beaten by the gang before they shot him together. When Anita presented the news to Vicki Byrne that Manny was murdered by the gang, Anita asked whether she would see her brother again in heaven. Vicki consoled Anita by affirming that Manny is with Jesus right now in heaven and added that God considers him as someone who laid down his life for his friends (John 10:11).
Appearances[]
- 28. The Mark of the Beast (first appearance, becomes a believer)
- 29. Breakout!
- 30. Murder in the Holy Place
- 31. Escape to Masada (death)
- 40. Triumphant Return (resurrected)
Mentions[]
Trivia[]
- Manny's first appearance was in book 28.
- Manny became a believer with the help of Zeke Zuckermandel Sr.
- Manny's death was in book 31.