"The entire church must purify themselves," said the Pope.
Vatican II: All People Will Walk In The Splendor of God?
"Attain A State of Liberation Through Their Own Efforts"
Vatican Affiliate Promotes Extra Terrestrials?
"Make A Commitment to Build a New Civilization"
Philosophical pluralism is no friend of traditional Christians and it is rising faster and faster. It's aim is to murder exclusive Christianity. We shall soon see Christian Hindus, Christian Buddhists, Christian Mormons, Christian witches etc. We already have Christian Scientists and Christian Democrats.. The world is seeking to force the Bible believer to forsake his faith and become at least a Christian pluralist or a plain pluralist.
A Bible believer can never be a pluralist. Christianity has always been and must always remain the exclusive bearer of truth to man about man and about God, in other words be bearers of the Word of God in its entirety and unchanged. The reason for todays trend of generic religion is original Scripture twisting which has caused people to develop thousands of different beliefs, faiths. What easier way to get away from all the bickering than to go generic which can be anything they want it to be since it is not based on the Word of God.
By accepting and coming together with all faiths as the World Council of Churches expects us to do, we send the wrong message to Christians who are to withdraw from the world as much as possible. Roman Catholics are leading in this effort and millions outside their church are duped into thinking Christianity is compatible with other religions. It is a double deception for not only is Christianity not compatible with any other religion ever known to man, but Roman Catholicism is not even compatible with Biblical Christianity, neither is most of the Protestantism compatible the way practiced today because some are offspring of Catholicism and others originated from new revelation of men.
Evangelicals are a group of people who believe alike about a certain number of issues who are also members of several different denominations. Then there are Evangelicals and neo Evangelicals which complicates matters. This is an example of a pluralistic world and we can expect this kind of society to become more and more furiously opposed to Christ and Christians even if some think that Christianity, on which the nation under God was supposedly founded, can be revived. This nation was founded on the premises of allowing any and all religions the right to be cultivated and expressed. America represents the well of pluralism. The water from it moves through rivers across the world washing away at the Gospel to make it disappear and with its disappearance the sin factor will cease to exist.
Little regard is given anymore to the fact that "The worlds were framed by the word of God." (Hebrews 11:3) Christ Jesus Himself is the Word and He cannot be destroyed. Pluralism is rebellion against the Word which causes blindness and delusion and an incapability of hearing the truth.
Vatican II defines the `Common Good' under the church in the modern world. "Because of the closer bonds of human interdependence and their spread over the whole world, we are today witnessing a widening of the role of the common good, which is the sum total of social conditions allowing people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and easily. The whole human race is consequently involved with regard to the rights and obligations which result. Every group must take into account the needs and legitimate aspirations of every other group, and still more of the human family as a whole.
"At the same time, however, there is a growing awareness of the sublime dignity of the human person, who stands above all things and whose rights and duties are universal and inviolable. He ought, therefore to have ready access to all that is necessary for living a genuinely human life: example, food, clothing, housing, the right to freely choose his state of life and set up a family, the right to education, work, to his good name, to respect, to proper knowledge, the right to act according to the dictates of conscience and safeguard his privacy, and rightful freedom even in matters of religion.
"The social order and its development must constantly yield to the good of the person, since the order of things must be subordinate to the order of persons and not the other way around, as the Lord suggested when he said that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. The social order requires constant improvement: it must be founded in truth, built on justice, and enlivened by love: it should grow in freedom towards a more humane equilibrium. If these objectives are to be attained there will first have to be a renewal of attitudes and far-reaching social changes. "The Spirit of God, who, with wondrous providence, directs the course of time and renews the face of the earth, assists at this development. (Vatican II p.927)
"In this age of ours, when men are drawing more closely together and the bonds of friendship between different peoples are being strengthened, the church examines with greater care the relation which she has to non-Christian religions. Ever aware of her duty to foster unity and charity among individuals, and even among nations, she reflects at the outset on what men have in common and what tends to promote fellowship among them. "All men form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth (cd. Acts 17:26; Rom.2:6,7; 1 Tim.2:4) against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city which is illumined by the glory of God, and in whose splendor all peoples will walk (cf. Apoc. 21:23 ff) "Men look to their different religions for an answer to the unsolved riddles of human existence.. Throughout history even to the present day, there is found among different peoples a certain awareness of a hidden power, which lies behind the course of nature and the events of human life.. Thus, in Hinduism men explore the divine mystery and express it both in the limitless riches of myth and the accurately defined insights of Philosophy.. Buddhism in its various forms testifies to the essential inadequacy of this changing world. It proposes a way of life by which men can attain.. a state of perfect liberation .. through their own efforts.. So, too other religions which are found throughout the world attempt in their own ways to calm the hearts of men by outlining a program of life covering doctrine, moral precepts and sacred rites.
The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and doctrines which, although differing in many ways from her own teaching, nevertheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.. 3. The Church has also high regard for the Muslims. They worship God.. " (Vatican II, p.738,739) A true born again believer cannot identify with these words in Vatican II because it leaves out the Word of God. It denies the Return of Jesus Christ.
There are many events today which breed pluralism. Catholics, Christians, Muslims were led by the Roman Catholic archbishop of Dehli and a senior Muslim clergyman. Marchers paraded from the Jama Masjid, the country's main mosque down the busy thoroughfare of the Indian capital New Dehli demanding that India's Hindu, nationalist-led government step down for failing to protect minorities. An Australian Baptist missionary and his two young sons were burned alive by a mob which culminated from a string of attacks on Christians. "A Prime Minister who cannot protect the oppressed minorities of his country has no right to stay in power."
"Evangelicals and Catholics Together in Ireland, a movement inspired by ECT in this country, was launched a few months ago, with J.I.Packer, a major participant in ECT here, helping with the launch. The ten-page manifesto of ECT-Ireland was signed by 130 clergy and lay leaders from Catholic, Methodist, Prespyterian, Baptist, and Church of Ireland communities. Like the original ECT, the statement includes both theological affirmations and a clear statement of cultural tasks, emphasizing, as one might expect, the end of "sectarian murder, bitterness, hatred, and division." In Latin America, where tensions between Protestants and Catholics are also and quite literally explosive, ECT continues to be a meeting point in searching for greater unity in truth. In a forthcoming issue there will be more on an unprecedented meeting of Evangelicals and Catholics scheduled for this March in Quito, Ecuador." (First Things, February 1999) Greater unity in truth?? The Bible is the truth and the Catholic church does not agree with the Bible. So how can the unity be in truth?
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on 5.5.98 "With 40 million pilgrims expected to visit Rome in the holy year of 2000, the Vatican has announced plans for a huge "Woodstock style" event. The Times of London reports that plans include a 132-room hotel and duty-free shopping area inside the Vatican; the Italian newspaper Il Giornale says that papal aids will be creating "Hong Kong on the Tiber." The pope plans to distribute a type of card with a computer chip to keep people, places and events controlled, to each participant. The Associated Press reported: Vatican City, the Vatican's latest yearbook, presented to Pope John Paul II puts the number of Roman Catholics to 1,500,000,000 members.
Amman (J.T.) The Vatican envoy said his holiness, the pope, expressed desire to visit the Midlle East by the end of 1999 or beginning of 2000 in order to walk the route of Prophet Abraham in manifestation of three monotheistic religions - he planned to visit Ur in Iraq but due to the United Nations sanctions it was found inappropriate. It would mean condoning the United Nation's sanctions. The Vatican has opened dialogue with Palestinian National authority. (Jordan Times Internet Edition 2.24.1999)
Bagdad 2-22-1999: Saddam Hussein, Iraq, is planning to send an Islamic - Christian Delegation to the Vatican to thank the pope for his support of Iraq. The pope calls military attacks on Iraq "aggression". From "The Times" [London] on August 29,1998 this message came. "The Vatican puts faith in ET and his friends by Ruth Gledhill. Religion correspondent. EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS exist and there is no conflict between a belief in aliens and Christian faith, Vatican theologian close to the Pope says. Father Corrado Balducci, of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, claims in a book about alien abductions to be published next week, that it is wrong to assert that reports of encounters with aliens are not credible.
"It is reasonable to believe and affirm that extra-terrestrials exist," he says. "Their existence can no longer be denied, for there is too much evidence for the existence of extra-terrestrials and flying saucers.".. "This means that everything in the universe, including extra-terrestrials and UFOs are reconcilable with God." Father Balducci, a renowned exorcist and expert on demonology, has written two books on the Devil. Listed in the Vatican directory as "priest of honour" since 1964, he is an official member of the papal household or family." The Pope has been readying himself for the world to partake. Washington - Pope John Paul II [began] broadcasting live audio and video of some of his religious services across Internet. Vatican officials announced that Catholics around the world will.. be able to watch Pope John Paul II recite.. People can watch the broadcast using software and RealAudio.. (Tampa Tribune 8.11.98)
There is much furor about Auschwitz's Catholic crosses from everywhere. In Jerusalem Holocaust survivors have protested against a decision, by Polish Roman Catholics, to erect crosses at the former concentration camp in Auschwitz. Some survivors said they saw children burned alive on the spot where the crosses now stand.
The Vatican told Prime Minister Netanyahu not to interfere in church affairs, after he publically opposed the appointment of a Palestinian bishop, Boutrous Mouallem, to the Greek Catholic Church in Galilee, in northern Israel.
In Canterbury, at the Lambeth Conference they declared that homosexual behavior is "incompatible with Scripture", there are signs of deep division within the Anglican Communion over the issue.. Gay Christian groups, angry at the conference declaration, released a "Pastoral Statement to Lesbian and Gay Anglicans," signed by more than 100 Anglican bishops attending the Lambeth Conference, including the leaders of Anglican churches in South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Aotreacoa-New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Archbishop of Canterbury likely to become Anglicanism's troubleshooter. He will be given new powers allowing him to intervene - in special circumstances - in Anglican churches abroad. (Ecumencial International News Highlights, 10 August 1998)
In Milwaukee the Catholic Church is turning to ads in a drive to recruit more priests. "With nearly 680,000 practicing Catholics in its 10-county area, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee ordained only one priest this year and two 1997. Church officials expect 34 priests to retire or resign by the year 2000 and plan to close 40 parishes by 2001. If the trend continues half the parishes here would be without priests by 2016. The problem is not confined to Milwaukee. Dioceses nationwide are turning to the marketplace for seminarians via billboards, radio, television, websites and T-shirts spoofing the blockbuster Hollywood movie "Men in Black" with the image of two priests in dark sunglasses and the exhortation: "Join the REAL Men in Black."
Celibacy has always been the biggest barrier. "If the pope said today that priests could have families, then I wouldn't think twice about becoming a priest, said Marc. Surveys show that the decline is due to several emergent factors as well, including changing attitudes about priests, careers and even shrinking family size. Priests are no longer revered, church officials say. The most damaging are the highly publicized accounts in recent years of priests molesting boys. (from Tampa Tribune 12.20.98)
The Roman Catholic Dicocese of Dallas agreed to pay $23 million to eight former altar boys who were abused. The agreement closes one of the most difficult chapters in recent church history. The total payment is much smaller than the $119 million ordered by the Dallas jury. One of the victims committed suicide, the priest responsible has been jailed for life and defrocked by the Vatican. The Diocese has no choice but to sell many of its assets to finance the settlement. This case is only one of many others. (summarized from the Tampa Tribune 7.11.1998)
What is very strange is the Bible does not call for celibacy. "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." (Titus 1:5,6) In light of the new developments world-wide our Cephas ministry sets before you: if we fully believe that if anyone will heed the simple, three part exhortation which we hope to keep at the heart of this newsletter, one is to learn the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit in your heart as stated in the Word, to follow its precepts which were written to protect and preserve you and then to share the good news with as many human beings as possible because they have a right to know. You will be on the road to eternal life. The Holy Spirit will be faithful to finish the full work of regeneration if we shall seek and love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Blessed by the name of the Lord. In spite of this decline the Pope never ceases to move his agenda across the world. In Mexico and St. Louis he called his presentation New Evangelization. His speeches put emphasis on an end to the old and renewed awareness in religious traditions. In Mexico recently just before he came to St. Louis on January 26, 1999, "all races are equal in dignity and have a right to their culture. Christ and His mother are here as the millennium is born." His ideal is to consolidate the Americas, a united America, coming together to speak for freedom and solidarity. He spoke of the need to become a family of nations, building universal values, peace, solidarity and love. He spoke of a new springtime promising a millennial heaven with Christ encounters in each other to be one. The first century was a century of self and the next has to be a "gift of self".
"Unity produces hope," he shouted across the world. "In the Sacrament of the Eucharist we commend ourselves to Mary who began the evangelization." Some kind of a spirit was moving in waves through the crowd as the people spontaneously in rolling motion or ripples moved with it, which was something new. "The coming global society will not be integent. Say `yes' to God to construct a new society.. the stadium became a sea of lights in the darkness.. "open your mind and heart to mankind and Christ.." No racial and social discrimination.. exemplary citizens working together. He called on them to make a commitment of all to build a new civilization." Four crosses of light surrounding the Virgin Mary who was projected on the ceiling. The Holy Father in the name of America, a nation of love with the Virgin Mary Quadaloupe, he stood up and put light where there was darkness. Suddenly someone came up to whisper in the Pope's ear that there had been an earthquake in Columbia not far from there with many hurt and dead.
They prayed the Lord's prayer omitting the final part: "for thine is the kingdom forever." "Mary, Queen of the New Evangelization making truth prevail," called the Pope. The commentators called him Peter. Blue mist called spiritual energy rose to the sky from the stadium. "Decline of the Nation State, walls are coming down. The church is bringing the walls down," was the Pope's promise to Mexico.
In St Louis Pope John Paul II was warmly greeted by President Clinton and other dignitaries from the White House. In fact they held hands and walked hand in hand. The President slightly stooped from his heavy emotional burdens was helping a frail, slowly moving, very serious Pope across to the area where they were to sit. Again the message was: "All our faiths are one." He spoke of American economics and called on people to work harder for the future generations. "
As pastor of the universal church solidarity of the American people. Open your house to an ever increasing plight to our less fortunate brothers and sisters throughout the world. In both events there was an invitation from the Pope to accept Christ's call for service. "Your training will never be finished, Christians are always in training." "In the Eucharist receive the food to meet the challenges of each day."
Politicians like President Clinton, trust the Pope's judgment because he is the key to the pro-democracy revolution of our time and has much to say about world government. "When he became Pope in 1978, twenty-two of forty-two countries with a Catholic majority were tyrannies. Now there are two left. (First Things 1.1999)
"The world must be primed both religiously and politically to embrace the Antichrist when he suddenly rises to power. If "Christianity" is to be the official world religion (which must be the case if the Antichrist claims to be Christ), then it must become broad enough to accommodate all of the world's faiths. As for the political climate, the world must be united in the twin causes of global peace and ecological rescue when this man appears..
The mystery of godliness ultimately involves Christ turning men from self to God and indwelling them in preparation for heaven. The mystery of lawlessness ultimately involves Satan turning men from God to self and indwelling them in preparation for hell. Satan's is a gospel of self.. It promises that we each have within ourselves the means of our own salvation.. We are not separated from God by sin; we are alienated from ourselves and our environment through the ignorance of who we really are. We imagine ourselves to be weak mortals when in fact we are gods. We do not need a "Savior" external to ourselves, but simply need to learn to tap the infinite potential that lies within. It is the same appealing lie that seduced Eve. (Dave Hunt, Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist 1990, pp. 5-6, 8-9, 86)
I would like to make a couple of notes which do not relate to the particular subject matter under discussion but relate to the Pope.
On February 22,1998 the Associated Press reported: "Vatican City - Pope John Paul II has now named a 106 of the 123 Cardinals who are expected to be eligible to vote for his successor. [By the way he is not named yet. The Pope expects to witness the new millennium]." "Sitting in his golden chair, Pope John Paul II elevated 22 new cardinals, placing the red, three-cornered hat on their heads which symbolizes the role as the "princes" of the church. The pontiff summoned the men - dressed in crimson cassocks, capes and socks - to lead the Roman Catholic church into Christianity's third millennium. [Interesting color don't you think?]
"You are called, along with the other members of the College of Cardinals, to help the pope guide the ship of St. Peter to this historic goal," the pope told them.. Among the cardinals were conservative North Americans: Chicago Archbishop Francis Eugene George and former Denver Archbishop J. Francis Stafford, now head of the Vatican council on the laity, and Toronto Archbishop Aloysius M. Ambrozic.. The United States now has a record 11 voting cardinals, second only to Italy's 22.. Several of the new cardinals are seen as "papabile" - potential popes. (The Tampa Tribune 2.22.98)
We wonder if Pope John Paul II, who adores Mary, thinks of her as the "Jewish" mother which she was, an interesting thought. "If you want to understand the cult of the Virgin Mary, you have to see her as a Jewish mother [which made Jesus a Jew]," said Vermes, a Hungarian Jew, who has spent his whole life on the fault line between two faiths, Judaism and Catholicism. He was a Catholic priest in 1942, his family was murdered but he survived the Holocaust because a bishop hid him. He taught himself Hebrew and became obsessed with newly discovered Dead Sea Scrolls which They, Vermes and a group of Catholic scholars from Jewish background, discovered errors in Catholic teachings and became determined to hammer home to the Catholic Church that things had to be changed. We tried to convert the Catholic Church. To what? "To the truth!" It was not theology, though, but love that caused Vermes to leave the Church. In 1957 he took a leap of faith and got married and joined the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London. Organized religion just didn't do anymore. "My religion had become that of the `still small voice' which those who listen can hear.. is the voice of an existential God, acting in and through people. "Official links with [Catholicism, he believed was Christianity] set me free, but it took a long time to really work things out. "Jews should see Jesus as a Jewish religious teacher. There is nothing to be afraid of. Vermes final conclusion is that Jesus primarily speaks to people who don't belong to organized religion. He has a message for all the lost sheep of mankind. (The Jerusalem Report 8.17.98, p.50)