In 1527, when the Spanish conquistadores sailed into one of the harbors on the west coast of South America, Pedro de Candia, a lieutenant in the freebooter armada of the mighty Pizarro, stepped from the boat, helmet and breastplate freshly burnished and glistening, his gun over his shoulder, and a huge double-handed sword in his sword-belt. His gigantic stature, his mighty shoulders, and his complete attire made of him an impressive figure. He was followed by others from the ship.
As Pedro walked forward, a crowd of dark-skinned natives dropped to their knees and groveled in the dust as though they were paying obeisance before a god come down from heaven. Pedro was puzzled, embarrassed, perplexed.
With head erect and shoulders straight, he walked between a lane of beardless, bowed figures whose foreheads were pressed to the dust on either side of his path. All around him rose the whisper -“Viracocha, Viracocha” (vé’ r’a ka’ cha).
Pedro de Candia had no idea what the natives meant. He felt ill at ease, flustered, and even somewhat irritated. Impulsively and suddenly he lifted his gun from his shoulder and fired a shot into the air.
The natives became terrified and, cringing, they whispered “Illa Tiki’, Illa Tiki” This appelation meant “The god of lightning.”
Pedro grew more confused. He had no idea that the beardless, brown-skinned natives actually took him for the “White and Bearded Cod,” Viracocha or Con (Kon) Tiki, who had been so thoroughly known and so highly reverenced by the Indians’ Andean ancestors. Nor did he know that Huayne Capac the Great, the last Inca to reign prior to the Spanish invasion, had predicted that white bearded men, similar in appearance to the ancient Peruvian settlers, Would soon come and conquer the land. As lluayne Capae, the great lnca ruler, lay on his deathbed, he had called to him the chiefs of the Ayllus, the leading clans of the kingdom, and among the things he told them is the following:
Many years ago it was revealed to me by our father, the Sun, that after the rule of twelve of his children, an alien people would come which had never been seen before in these regions and would conquer and subdue this kingdom and many others as well. I am inclined to suppose that this refers to the people recently sighted oil our shores. They are said to be a powerful race, superior to us in everything. Now we know that with me the number of twelve Incas has been reached. Therefore, I predict to you that a few more years after I have gone to my ancestors, that strong people will appear and bring fulfillment of the prophecy of my father, the Sun; they will conquer our kingdom and rule over us. I command you to obey and serve them, for they are superior to us in everything, because their laws are better than ours, their weapons more powerful and invincible.
Peace be with you – I go now to my father, the Sun, who has called me. . . .
Excerpt from the book “Christ in Ancient America” Chapter 9 by Milton R. Hunter