Israel’s Peres wants Vatican to have “Christian” sites

Shimon Peres, Israel’s president, has openly expressed his wishes that the so-called “Christian” holy sites in Israel be handed over to the Vatican, according to a report appearing in the May 4, 2009 Jerusalem Post.  Many officials in the upper eschalons of the Israeli government have expressed their concern and opposition to such an idea, including the Interior Minister, Eli Yishai.

Yishai, as quoted in the Jerusalem Post, believes “Every concession like this limits the Israeli government’s ability to function as a sovereign government in the area.”  Peres is attempting to use his influence within the government to give up six sites, for now.  Those sites include the Coenaculum on Mount Zion, the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Church of the Multiplication on the Kinneret, and the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

Although many Israeli politicians oppose the idea, some officials are open to the idea and are attempting to weigh the benefits such a move would bring to the economy.  They believe that if the sites are given over to the Vatican, many more “Christian” pilgrims would come to visit the sites from all over the world, which would boost Israel’s treasury.

As students of history are aware, it wasn’t too long ago that the Vatican refused to acknowledge Israel as a nation.  That all changed in the late 1950s and early 1960s when it was discovered that the bones of Peter that the Vatican claimed to have found in Rome were really not Peter’s bones at all.  Peter’s grave was discovered in Jerusalem during that time and ever since the Vatican has been moving to warm their relations with Israel through Vatican sympathizers in the Israeli government.  Since their church is founded on Peter instead of the true rock, Jesus Christ, they feel that it is imperative that they set up headquarters wherever Peter’s bones are.  Persuading Israel to give up some land would be the first step in that direction.

The Vatican’s desire for Israeli land, in my opinion, will end up being part of the peace covenant that will ultimately be established by the Antichrist and Israel will, in the peace process, once again have a temple.

But as far as these sites are concerned, neither Jesus Christ nor his apostles ever gave us any commandments or a hint of a suggestion that Christians should commemorate any holy sites by having pilgrimages.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4 that true worship is to be done in spirit and in truth.  It has nothing at all to do with a physical place.  However, those caught up in a works-based salvation (which has nothing to do with the genuine gospel) consider pilgrimages important for the purpose of spending less time in purgatory (which doesn’t exist) or with the hope they will get on God’s good side for a greater reward in the afterlife.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

Apparitions or aberrations?: the immaculate deceptions of “Virgin Mary”

The Roman Catholic church is quite crafty in its dealings both politically and religiously all over the world, whether it’s out in the open or behind the scenes.  Because of their craftiness, they have been able to deceive millions into submitting to their false system of beliefs and political aspirations.

One tool they often use to market themselves are apparitions and miracles concerning their version of Mary.  These apparitions have their roots going back to the ancient legends regarding Semiramis and her husband Nimrod.  When Nimrod died, he was called Baal, the sun god.  Semiramis (who called herself the moon goddess) gave birth to their son Tammuz after Nimrod’s death and ancient artworks were made depicting her holding her son, with halos over their heads.  These artworks were then Christianized by Roman Catholicism to portray the virgin Mary and baby Jesus. 

Semiramis was called the “Queen of Heaven” and became Mary after she was ”Christianized.”  The Vatican with Satan’s help set about to cause appearances of this Mary to be made in various places throughout the world in order to win converts to their Roman Catholic system.  The Bible says Satan and his angels can transform themselves into angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) and this power of deception is what the Vatican uses to cause weeping statues and apparitions of Mary to occur.  In order to relate to those who witness these “miracles”, the spirit may appear as whatever race the person is.  Each pagan system, including Roman Catholics, have assigned her a name specific to their man-made religion whether it’s Isis, Diana, Venus, Ishtar, Ashtoreth, the Madonna, Our Lady of Guadelupe, or Our Lady of Fatima.

In the vision of Fatima, Mary prophesies that Russia will follow Roman Catholicism if those who believe in her will pray for peace.  This political maneuver by the Vatican is meant to get as many Russians as possible to convert while the leaders in the Vatican work their power plays with the Russian government behind the scenes.  Since Fatima is also the name of the false prophet Muhammad’s daughter, the vision’s second goal was to broker alliances with Muslims by claiming the vision was of his daughter who Muhammad said “is the most holy of all women in Paradise, next to Mary.”

Whenever the Vatican needs a public relations boost is usually when these apparitions occur.  In recent years, Roman Catholicism has suffered because of the sexual misconduct of its priests, so don’t be surprised when these apparitions pop up to deceive people into clinging to this spiritually bankrupt politico-religious system. 

God’s word gives us several warnings when it comes to prophesies and miracles such as these:

(Deuteronomy 13)

1: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2: And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3: Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4: Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
5: And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God…  

(Deuteronomy 18)

20: But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21: And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22: When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. 

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

(Revelation 13)

13: And he [the false prophet] doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

 14: And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Sources:

The Force, Ontario, CA: Chick Publications, 1983, pp. 9-11.

The Prophet, Ontario, CA: Chick Publications, 1988, pp. 26-28.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

Sweet deceptions: Catholicism and Christianity blow-by-blow

Contrary to what is commonly taught concerning the founding of Roman Catholicism, Peter was not the first pope or founder.  The Catholic Church was started by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in 337 A.D.  As he witnessed the weakening of the Roman Empire and how it was divided into paganism vs. Christianity, he devised a religious system that he thought would combine the two in order to save the empire.  He took the pagan Roman gods and goddesses and renamed them with the names of New Testament biblical saints and proclaimed he had converted to Christianity.  In secret, he continued his worship of the sun god Sol (better known as Baal).  He welcomed both pagans and Christians into his new religion and the Roman Empire was rebirthed as the Holy Roman Empire.  True Christians refused to fall for the deception and continued to be persecuted, but many of them went into hiding.  Here are some of the beliefs held dear by Roman Catholicism compared to God’s truth:

• Roman Catholicism teaches that Peter was the rock on which the church was built based on Matthew 16:18-19.
• The true rock upon which the true Christian church is built is Jesus Christ.  Jesus actually said, “That thou art Peter (Petros, a small stone or pebble), and upon this rock (petra, a huge boulder or bedrock) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  This was said to Peter by Jesus to address the confession that Peter made about Christ in Matthew 16:16.  We have a second witness of what the name Peter means in John 1:42–”And when Jesus beheld him, he said, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone [a pebble].”  Peter even calls Jesus the rock, or petra, in 1 Peter 2:8.
• Roman Catholicism teaches that their traditions are equal to the holy scriptures (Catechisms 80, 82).
• Jesus said the traditions of men cause the transgression of God’s commandments (Matthew 15:2-6).  Paul even rebuked the believers at Colossae for subjecting themselves to religious ordinances established by men (Colossians 2:20-23).
• Roman Catholicism says the priest has the power at mass to turn the wafer and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation), thereby sacrificing Christ over and over, which would mean Christ’s sacrifice was no different than the Old Testament sacrifices under Mosaic law that had to be sacrificed over and over.  Anyone who denies transubstantiation and refuses the eucharist is accursed and is therefore worthy to be put to death (Canon 1 of the Council of Trent, 1563).
• Hebrews 10:10, 14 says it was only necessary for Christ to die once for everyone and through the one-time offering of his life, those of us who believe in him are sanctified and perfected (made complete).  Taking communion is taken in remembrance (as a memorial) of Christ’s sacrifice (1 Corithians 11:24, 26).  1 John 3:15 says murderers do not have eternal life, so a genuine Christian will not actively seek someone’s death who disagrees with him.
• Catholicism teaches that only the Pope and his bishops can interpret the scriptures (Catechism 100).
• The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit in every believer teaches us the meaning of the scriptures and it is not necessary for us to depend on men to do this for us (1 John 2:27).
• Catholic Catechism 491 states that Mary never sinned.
• Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and come short of God’s glory.  2 Corinthians 5:21 names Jesus Christ as the only one ever who knew no sin.
• Catholics teach that Mary is the mother of God (Catechism 495).
• The Bible states Mary is either called the mother of Jesus or “the mother of my Lord” by Elizabeth, which was just her way of acknowledging she would give birth to the Messiah.  God, since he is eternal, has no mother.  Jesus also said “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” (Mark 3:35), thereby discouraging any deification of Mary.
• Mary remained a virgin, according to Catechism 966.
• Matthew 1:25 says Joseph knew (had sexual relations with) Mary after Jesus was born.  According to Matthew 13:55-56, Jesus had four literal half-brothers and several literal half-sisters.
• Catholicism secretly teaches that all non-Catholics are heretics and that it is not a sin to kill them since it is God’s will for them to be wiped off the face of the earth because they want to destroy the Church. (Council of Trent)
• The Bible says murder is sin, without exception, and that murderers will ultimately burn in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).  True Christians are taught to love our enemies and do good to them.
• “The Roman Pontiff judges all men, but is judged by no one.  We declare, assert, define and pronounce: to be subject to the Roman Pontiff is to every human creature altogether necessary for salvation… That which was spoken of Christ… ‘Thou hast subdued all things under his feet,’ may well seem verified in me.  I have the authority of the King of kings.  I am all in all and above all, so that God, Himself and I, The Vicar of God, have but one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do.  What therefore, can you make of me but God?”–Pope Boniface VIII in his Bull Sanctum, November 18, 1302. (Note: This declaration has never been rescinded or denied by any Pope who came after Boniface VIII)
• 2 Thessalonians 2:4 says anyone who shows himself to be God or claims to be “above all” is antichrist.
• Catholicism states that salvation is only through their church and can only be received if one fulfills their sacraments (Catechisms 846, 1129).
• True Christianity teaches that only grace through faith in Christ, not religious works, can save.  Once a person confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord as a result of believing in their heart that he rose from the dead on the third day, he is saved and his salvation, if genuine, will result in works (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:17-26).

I think it’s clear that the doctrines of true Christianity and the doctrines of the false Christianity of Catholicism are diametrically opposed.  For more on the false doctrines of Roman Catholicism, click here.

Ungodly crusaders

The Crusades started in the 11th century and lasted until the 14th century.  The goals of the wars were to take the Holy Land from Muslim control and preserve it from Muslim incursions.  Seljuk Turks had taken control of Jerusalem in the 11th century and were threatening to overthrow the Byzantine empire.  Also, these Islamic Turks were harassing and persecuting Roman Catholics in their pilgrimage to visit the Holy Sepulcher where Christ had been buried.  So because of the complaints of the pilgrims and the Byzantine emperor asking for help, Pope Urban II amassed his army.  Let’s examine the facts to see if the wars were truly Christian.

• The Vatican wanted to preserve the pilgrims’ journey to the Holy Sepulcher (tomb), which was part of their penance (a work done to absolve an individual of sin).  Those who took up arms to protect the sepulcher were promised full penance for their deeds.
• The only payment for sin, according to the holy scriptures, is Christ’s sacrificial death (1 Corinthians 15:3) not our works.  Only Jesus Christ can forgive our sins (Ephesians 1:7), not a sinful man with a lofty title.
• The papacy during this period had been weakened and the Pope saw this as an opportunity to strengthen his office.  He was puffed up in his pride.
• According to the scriptures, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  Jesus said whoever exalts themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11).
• The Vatican wanted control of Jerusalem because of its religious importance in history as a place of worship and because the apostle Peter is buried there.
• Jesus said the hour has come when worshipping the Father is not about whether one worships in Jerusalem or on Mt. Zion, but that we worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24).
• The kingdoms from which the crusaders came wanted to expand their territories to increase their wealth and influence, claiming they were doing it for the glory of God.  They were covetous.
• Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36).  Colossians 3:5 tells us that covetousness is idolatry.
• During these campaigns genuine Christians, Jews, and Muslims were all massacred by the crusaders and their women were raped.  The children who were born from the rapes were sold into slavery to Muslims.  They also killed fellow Roman Catholics who did not agree with their bloodshed.
• Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us or despise us (Luke 6:27-28).  The word of God tells us that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15). 

I believe the record shows us clearly that the crusaders were not really Christian.  They claimed to know God but by their very abominable, disobedient, and reprobate actions they denied him (Titus 1:16).  It is because of their evil doings that the way of truth has been evil spoken of (2 Peter 2:1-2).  I am sorry that those who suffered at their murderous hands thought these men represented Christianity.  I am also sorry that their modern day descendants think the same.  True Christians love and do not jump at the opportunity to physically hurt people.  We share the true gospel through preaching and by our lifestyles, not by brute force.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

The pot calls the kettle black, or, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

The Associated Press reported a few days ago that Catholic leaders denounced New York City’s campaign of distributing free condoms.  Part of their official statement states, “Our political leaders fail to protect the moral tone of our community when they encourage inappropriate sexual activity by blanketing our neighborhoods with condoms.”  They then called Mayor Bloomberg’s administration hypocritical for acknowledging abstinence as 100% fool-proof against sexually transmitted diseases yet at the same time giving out prophylactics.

I think it’s ironically amusing and at the same time sad that a religious organization that for decades has kept secret the sexual sins of priests who have trysts with each other and as many altar boys as they can get their hands on, would then turn around and call Bloomberg’s administration hypocritical.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

“Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”  (Luke 6:41-42)