'Earnestly contending for the faith,' (Jude 3 ) as well as sharing encouragement and hope through Scripture (Romans 15:4), and through the poems and posts that I write. One of many voices on the Internet warning Christians of the importance of testing the teachings of men (and women) against the unchanging truth of God's Word. (Acts 17:11) I 'warn you with tears' through much of what I write, to 'be on guard against the savage wolves that will come in among us who will distort the Word of God' as God's Word warns us about in Acts 20:26-31
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After seeing more and more churches these days promoting not only yoga, but also the Martial Arts, I found the need to set aside some time today to put together this short, but very important post. It is my hope and prayer that this post will reach many Christians — as well as non-Christians — who are sadly involved with the Martial Arts thinking that they are simply just innocent classes that teach discipline and self-defense methods. It is both sad and deeply alarming to realize that many Christians — including pastors — do not realize the spiritual dangers and occult roots of these practices as well as the philosophy that is so prevalent in the Martial Arts! So today I wanted to present to you not only the link to the short version of Gaylene Goodroad’s testimony of her time in the Martial Arts (during which sheachieved not one, but two black belts, both which she has renounced after becoming a Christian), but also the link to her E BOOK:
The link to the short version of her testimony can be found HERE
When time allows, I pray that you will take time to read through all of the important information that she has provided for everyone at the links above so that you can become aware of the spiritual dangers that are involved in these practices. I pray also that you will seek the Lord in prayer and in His Word if you are either presently involved in the Martial Arts or have enrolled your children in these classes, innocently thinking that they will simply learn how to become more disciplined and learn how to defend themselves.
Here also is the link to Gaylene Goodroad’s website where she clearly states that she is: “…determined to expose the spiritual dangers of combat arts.”MY LIFE IN THE WAY
Gaylene also contends for the faith by writing many important and informative posts (along with Sarah Leslie) for the: HERESCOPE BLOG You will find that these posts are all rooted in Scripture in order to expose the many ways in which spiritual mysticism (and more) has infiltrated the Church, thus leading many Christians away from Biblical truth and into the world of the occult. The need to continually pray for spiritual discernment as well as the need to constantly test everything that a professing Christian pastor or teacher says and does is a must these days, and we are shown the importance of doing so in Scripture:
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
“Prove [test] all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. ” (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22)
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
God’s Word is filled with many warnings about adopting the pagan practices of the culture that surrounded His chosen people, the Jews. Here are just a few of them:
“You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs.” (Leviticus 18:3)
“Do not practice divination or seek omens.” ” ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:26,31)
“You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.” (Leviticus 20:23)
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” (Deuteronomy 12:30)
Similar warnings were given to the church regarding being led astray by the philosophies of men and doctrines of devils, not yoking together with unbelievers, and how false teachers would arise even from among us which is clearly happening today through Spiritual Formation classes, yoga classes, and Martial Art classes that are being presented at many allegedly Biblically based churches. Just as you cannot separate the spiritual aspect of yoga from the different poses that are done, so also you cannot separate the Buddhist spiritual aspects and philosophy from the Martial Arts.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:25-31)
We are truly living in the last days! The Book of Revelation clearly shows us the depth of the demonic activity that will be taking place at that time and how the people will refuse to repent in spite of the judgements that God will bring upon the earth because man loved their sin and refused to receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. Instead they will believe the lie because they chose not to believe the truth:
“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20,21)
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)
Here also are links to podcasts that Gaylene did with BEREAN CALL’S,T. A. McMahon regarding her time in the Martial Arts:
Time does not permit me to write a lengthy post because of circumstances in my life right now. However, I put aside doing some other things because I see a serious need to write this post in order to draw your attention to what has happened — and what is presently happening — that is not only bringing unbiblical unity between Bible believing Christians and Catholics, but also I would like to show you how some mystical teachings present in the Catholic church (namely their teachings regarding the “real presence” of Jesus in their communion wafers) are being used to lure many Christians into the Catholic church because they are failing to test things against Scripture to see if what is being said is true or not. (Acts 17:11)
This is going to be a very delicate subject matter and my intent is not to offend any Catholics who may come across this post and read it. However, the truth must be told, and sometimes the truth offends people, but the truth regarding all that Jesus Christ accomplished for us sets us free, and this post will also be focusing on those important truths backed up by Scripture!
Let’s begin:
POINT 1 – UNITY
Many Christians have accepted the false premise that “the protest [between Christians and Catholics] is over,” and therefore we should work towards unity with them.
I clearly remember the sick feeling that came over me when I first watched a video like the one that I posted for you below in which Kenneth Copeland introduced Episcopal Bishop, Tony Palmer, to the people in attendance at his church who then proceeded to present a message that left me (and many other Christians) speechless and in shock! Not only was I in shock as I heard Tony Palmer declare that “the protest is over,” but also I was in shock at the lack of discernment that showed by the response of the people at Kenneth Copeland’s church as they listened to Tony Palmer’s message about “unity.” First Tony Palmer stated:
“…most of your fear [of uniting with Catholics] is based on propaganda.”
Then many of the people clapped after he said the following, starting shortly after the 25:19 minute mark:
“Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protest is over. Is yours?” “If there is no more protest, how can there be a Protestant church? Maybe we’re now we’re all Catholics again. But we are reformed. We’re catholic in the universal sense. We’re not protesting the doctrine of salvation by the Catholic church any more. We now preach the same gospel. We now preach you’re saved by grace through faith…alone! The word “alone” was the argument for 500 years…the protest is over.”
Regarding the above video, I would also like to point out that at the 31:44 minute mark, a video is played in which Pope Francis addresses the people at Kenneth Copeland’s church and speaks about “unity,” as well, which I won’t be addressing in this post.
As a former Catholic who not only attended twelve years of Catholic school, but also attended thousands of “Masses” at Catholic churches, I can say without any doubt in my mind, that the Catholic church does not “preach the same gospel” as Tony Palmer once declared. (I say “once” because Tony Palmer died on July 20th, 2014 shortly after a motorcycle accident which happened just months following his presentation regarding “unity”that took place at Kenneth Copeland’s church). That is one reason why I started writing the series comparing the Catechism of the Catholic Church to a Catholic New Testament Bible; to make it clear to those who read this blog from time to time, that the Catholic church teaches “another Jesus” and “another gospel,” (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6-9) both with no power to save! Those are very strong accusations to make, and I am certainly not the only one who has made those claims, but what I will be sharing with you in this post will show you how the Catholic church deviates from the truth of God’s Word and adds to Scripture things that aren’t there, and takes away from Scripture truths that would open the eyes of many precious Catholics and fill them with joy if they only realized all that Jesus Christ truly accomplished for us! That happened to me (and to many other former Catholics) when I began to read a little Catholic New Testament, and I pray that it will happen to many other precious Catholics if they will choose to read their Bibles, as well.
Many Christians today are confused and rightfully alarmed as they continue to discover that some of their friends who profess to be Christians are now becoming Catholic. They are perplexed and disheartened and can’t understand the reason why. As a former Catholic, I would like to share some reasons with you as to why I believe this is happening, and I will do it all from a Biblical perspective as well as give you strong evidence to show you why, which leads us to:
POINT 2 – THE REAL PRESENCE – REKINDLE THE AMAZEMENT
There has been a plan underway for quite a few years now, in which Catholics have been trying to “rekindle the amazement” regarding their teachings on the “real presence” of Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity being in their communion wafers in the minds of Catholics, as well as non-Catholics. While doing research on this topic, I came across some videos in which Catholics say that when Jesus promised that He would never leave or forsake us, He fulfilled this promise by instituting the priesthood of the Catholic church so that they could continue offering up this sacrifice and in this way Jesus would be with us until the end of time. Here is a quick capture from a YouTube video to give you one example:
However, let’s look at what Jesus had to say, keeping in mind that we are not to add to what a verse or passage of Scripture says, or to take away from what it is saying:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
Jesus also told His apostles of His promise to send His Holy Spirit, and that He would be with them forever:
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give another Counselor to be with you forever –the Spirit of truth. I will not leave you comfortless. [Many other versions translate this by saying, “I will not leave you as orphans.”] I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18)
Therefore, we can see from God’s Word that not only did Jesus promise to be with believers forever, He also promised to send His Holy Spirit who would be with us forever. It is unbiblical to say that Jesus will be with us by having the bread and wine literally becoming His body, blood, soul, and divinity as Catholicism teaches:
“The mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as “the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend.” In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church Para 1374)
Regarding the bread and wine literally becoming Jesus Christ’s flesh and blood, the Catholic church bases their belief by literally interpreting John 6:51-56
Here are those verses in context:
Jesus the Bread of Life
26Jesus answered them and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
28 They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou shew that we may see and may be lieve thee? What dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world.
34 They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread.
35 And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.
38Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me.
39 Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.
40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.
41The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
42 And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he: I came down from heaven?
43Jesus therefore answered and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. And I will raise him up in the last day.
45It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father and hath learned cometh forth me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father: but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me hath everlasting life.
49Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die.
51I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
[52] If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
52{53}The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53{54}Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.
54{55}He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
55{56}For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.
56{57}He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
57{58} As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.
58{59} This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.
59{60} These things he said, teaching in the synagogue in Capharnaum.
60{61} Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard; and who can hear it?
61{62}But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you?
62{63}If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63{64}It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (SOURCE https://biblehub.com/drb/john/6.htm – Douay Rheims Catholic Version)
If one takes the time to read the above verses in context, it becomes clear in the last verse that Jesus was speaking figuratively, not literally. Even in some previous verses — verses 28-36 in that same Chapter — Jesus make it clear that by coming to him one will never go hungry (to eat), and by believing in Him one will never be thirsty (to drink):
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
To add something to Scripture that is clearly not there, shows that this Catholic teaching of transubstantiation (the bread and wine change in substance and literally become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, while the appearance of the bread and wine stay the same), is completely unbiblical! If we are to take the above passage of Scripture literally, then it stands to reason that the meaning of verse 58/59 regarding those who receive communion in the Catholic church should not die but live forever, and this is clearly not happening.
There are many Scriptures that relate drinking — and eating — with eating God’s Word in a spiritual sense. Here are just a few of them:
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14)
“Like newborn babies crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2,3)
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12)
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:103)
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was to me a joy and gladness of my heart: for thy name is called upon me, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
In the Catholic church they have a time of worship of the communion host which is called Eucharistic Adoration. During this time the host is placed in what is called a monstrance like the one pictured below, and Catholics truly believe that Jesus Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity:
In this depiction of Jesus Christ, (an example of Catholic art that I came across during my time of research for another post), He is seemingly being held captive within the tabernacle and beckoning Catholics to come and visit Him. He is rendered to a state of being weak, helpless, and lonely:
Nothing could be further from the truth! Here are just a few Scriptures that show where He is and what He is doing today which shows His power and glory and rest from all that He accomplished for us:
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)
“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:23-25)
“The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” (Hebrews 8:1,2)
“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you will know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:17-21)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1,2)
God’s Word shows us that Jesus Christ came into our world willingly:
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:14,15)
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (Hebrews 1:1-18 KJV)
God used the above passage of Scripture to open my eyes to see just how false and heretical the Sacrifice of the Mass truly was — and is — and reading this powerful truth in God’s Word was the main reason why I left the Catholic church –for good!
In spite of the evidence in God’s Word that I just shared with you that clearly shows Jesus Christ willingly came into our world, and that He also laid His life down for us willingly, Catholicism presents Jesus Christ to precious Catholics as being a “Victim“ and therefore they do not see Him as being completely victorious over sin and death:
“The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: “The victimis one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.” “And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody manner…this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church Para 1367)(Emphasis in red is mine).
God’s Word makes it clear in Hebrews 9:22:
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
So for the Catholic church to teach that the sacrifice of Christ and sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice, yet now He is offered in an unbloody manner, according to Scripture there is no way that this “sacrifice” could ever be “truly propitiatory,” ifit was even possible.
“The Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who “have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified,” so that they may be able to enter into the light and peace of Christ:
“Put this body anywhere! “Don’t trouble yourselves about it! I simply ask you to remember me at the Lord’s altar wherever you are.” (Quote said by St. Monica before her death, to her sons.)
Then, we pray [in the anaphora] for the holy fathers and bishops who have fallen asleep, and in general for all who have fallen asleep before us, in the belief that it is a great benefit to the souls on whose behalf the supplication is offered, while the holy and tremendous Victim is present…”(Catechism of the Catholic Church Para 1371) (Emphasis in red is mine).
The above video is a presentation given by Tim Francis regarding a woman named, Catalina Rivas, who allegedly manifests the stigmata –the bleeding wounds of Jesus. Also in this video are reports of alleged hosts that bled after being soaked in water. The hosts were brought to specialists in order to be examined. Not knowing what they were examining, the specialists said that it “contained real flesh and blood and human DNA.” It was also stated by one specialist that it was “… part of the muscle of the heart found in the wall of the left ventricle; it’s the muscle that gives the heart its beat and the body its life.” -Dr. Fredrick Zugibe (See video below towards the end of this post).
Catalina Rivas also claims to receive messages from Jesus. (I quick captured many of these so-called messages from Jesus to Catalina from a similar video like the one above, and posted them for you below. The original video that I watched no longer seems to be available on YouTube, and in the video above Tim Francis only reads some of the messages; they are not shown).
In Hebrews 1:1, the truth of God’s Word proves the above message as being false:
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
God’s Word is all we need. There are no new revelations or messages. Jesus already revealed to us all that we need to know. If Jesus was truly speaking to many people today, the messages would not contradict Scripture. Pray for discernment and then please read the following messages in light of God’s truth revealed in Scripture and test them to see if what is being said is true or not:
In the following video, Tim Francis explains his strategy in using his seven week series, one reason being to share these mystical experiences in order to reach non-Catholics. At the end of the video he says the following:
“I think this is premium fertile ground to reach the evangelical community…” I had some evangelicals on the front row Thursday night and he came up to me afterwards and he said…”I’m speechless…we gotta talk.” “So we’re definitely going to get their attention.”
IN CLOSING
So much more could be said, and I may update this post with more information and comments, if time allows, but I think I have shared enough information with you for now. Therefore, I will close by saying the following:
No, dear Christian. We can never, ever unite with Catholics. Instead we must stand on the foundation of our faith which is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ our Cornerstone, and lovingly share Biblical truth with them! Loving precious Catholics is a must, but Protestants and Catholics are divided for many good reasons, and we can never unite with them because of these doctrinal differences that do not line up with Scripture:
Their “Tradition” which the Catholic church proclaims is equal to Scripture (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) Para 80,81,82), but it oftentimes nullifies the Word of God
Their teaching on purgatory; a place of fiery punishment where Catholics are told they go after death in order to be purged from sin and to suffer for an undetermined amount of time for the temporal punishment due for sin, (CCC Para 1030)which leads dear Catholics to wrongly believe they have a second chance after death to attain heaven, and it also causes them to wrongly believe that Jesus Christ did not pay the full debt for all of our sins
Their teachings on the sacramental system and how the sacraments are necessary for salvation (CCC Para 1129) that causes many precious Catholics to depend on the sacraments as a means of grace; a grace which is earned by what they do, and is not freely given like the Bible declares
Their teaching on the Sacrifice of the Mass which the Catholic church declares is an “unbloody sacrifice,” and that they are simply “rē prē sen´ ting” the once for all sacrifice before the Father, when in fact the Catechism of the Catholic Church also says that it is a continual sacrifice (CCC Para 1367, Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent – Chapter IX Canon III)
Their teaching that declares when the priest says the words of consecration over the host and the wine during the Sacrifice of the Mass, the bread and the wine literally becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ (CCC Para 1367, 1374)
Their teaching that says a person becomes born again through the sacrament of baptism (CCC Para 1213,1215)
Their teachings regarding the Virgin Mary that say she was assumed into heaven (CCC Para 966, 974) that she was conceived without sin and remained sinless (CCC Para 491, 493), remained a virgin after Jesus was born (CCC Para 499,500)
Their teaching that says, “Outside of the Catholic church there is no salvation.” (CCC Para 846)
Doctrine divides, and only Biblical truth unites! They may use many of the same words as we do, such as born again, grace, and salvation, , but what they mean when they use these terms is something entirely different than what is taught in Scripture.
If you study church history you will discover that many Christians gave their lives rather than to embrace the teachings regarding “transubstantiation” and “the real presence.” Instead of uniting with Catholics out of an emotional response that can occur at these ecumenical gatherings, we must remain separate, stand on the truth that is made clear in Scripture, and reach out with genuine love and show precious Catholics the truth that can be found in God’s Word so that they see all that Jesus Christ accomplished through His once for all sacrifice! We must point them to Jesus Christ and show them in His Word who He really is and all that He accomplished for us! We must show them that they cannot come to God through Mary or the saints by showing them that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5) and that He is the only way to the Father! (John 14:6) We must encourage them to read God’s Word and to think for themselves and to test what they have been taught by the Catholic church against God’s Word to see if it is true or not! (Acts 17:11)
If precious Catholics will read the Bible, God will be the one who will show them what an abomination the Sacrifice of the Mass is when they see how it is a complete denial of the sufficiency of His “once for all” sacrifice that was sufficient to pay the debt of all of our sins in full!!
Dear Catholic, I pray that you will also consider reading the Bible and take time to think carefully about all that God’s Word says in light of all that you have been taught. You must choose to believe the Word of God over the word of man, as we all must do, for what we choose to believe about Jesus Christ determines where we will spend eternity. Jesus Christ truly paid the debt for your sins in full — past and present. When He willingly hung on the cross in your place and mine, He took the full wrath of God upon Himself that was intended for all of us because of our sins. Before He died He cried out, “It is finished!” Tetelestai; the debt was paid in full. This is the good news of the Biblical gospel, and there is nothing that you can do to add to it or to earn God’s love and forgiveness; Jesus Christ did it all! Believe and receive this good news and rejoice in all that He did for you!
Dear Christian, I pray that you will now realize the extreme importance of reading and studying God’s Word! Value the fact that we have the actual words of God after they were recorded by man as they were moved by the Holy Spirit to write all that is contained within the 66 Canonical Books of the Bible. Do not seek to have spiritual experiences and end up being deceived by Catholic mystical teachings that are now coming into many churches via Contemplative Prayer, Taize, Lectio Divina, through messages allegedly given to visionaries from Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, etc., and do not be deceived by Catholicism’s teachings regarding the real presence.
Never forget the warnings in Scripture about signs and wonders, spiritual deception in the last days, and false teachers. Here are a few of them:
“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ” (Matthew 12:38-40)
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:25-31)
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”(2 Peter 1:20,21)
“All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
“There is another difference: those other priests were many because they died and could not continue their work. But Jesus lives on forever, and his work as priest does not pass on to someone else. And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them. Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinful men and raised above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:23-26)
“The death he died was death to sin, once and for all; and the life he now lives is life to God.” (Romans 6:10)
“For Christ himself died for you; once and for all he died for sins, a good man for bad men, in order to lead you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18 – Sacred Heart League Catholic Version)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18 – NIV 1973, 1978, 1984)
[NOTE: I added the NIV translation to show you how the Catholic translation above presents Jesus simply as a “good man,” which causes the extreme contrast between the righteousness of Jesus Christ and our utter unrighteousness before a completely holy God to become lost. The Catholic translation above also says Christ died for you in order to lead you to God, whereas the NIV (as well as the KJV) says to bring you to God, not simply just lead you.]
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)
“…then know this, you and all the people of Israel. It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.” (Acts 17:24)
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.” (2 Timothy 2:5,6)
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:11-14)
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
“For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:21-24)
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy.” (Titus 3:4,5)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD will never count against him.” (Romans 4:7,8)
RELATED VIDEOS
In the following video you will see an alleged communion wafer at a Catholic church that had fallen on the floor. Since Catholics believe it to be the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, instead of it being thrown away it was immersed into water to dissolve. Instead of dissolving it began to move and pulsate within the container type monstrance. A comment made under this video on YouTube suggested it was a living fetus; an aborted baby. How horrific if this is true!
As convincing as what this doctor says in the above video may sound to us, we must remember what God’s Word says:
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
FORMER DOMINICAN PRIEST OF 22 YEARS, RICHARD BENNETT, GIVES PRESENTATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS:
NOTE: The above video is for informational purposes only; as much as I appreciate many of their thorough series’ regarding Catholicism, I do not endorse the ministry of Christian Answers because of their adherence to Reformed Theology and Calvinism.
Thank you very much for stopping by today.
God Bless You
~Mary Dalke/Living4HisGlory
UPDATE:
I am taking some time off now in order to enjoy the rest of the summer with my family and friends, and I also need some time off in order to start looking for another childcare job or some other type of job. Then, Lord willing, I will go back to writing the series in which we will be continuing to compare the teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church with a Catholic New Testament Bible with the hope of not only showing precious Catholics how some of their teachings do not line up with what God says in His Word, but also with the hope of showing Christians the errors in Catholicism so they can be equipped to share the good news of the Biblical gospel with their precious Catholic friends and relatives. We must choose to believe God’s Word over man’s word if it contradicts it in any way.
When that series is completed, Lord willing, I will then finish up the series regarding the alleged Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in light of Scripture to clearly show that these apparitions are not the Mary of the Bible, but rather they are truly demons in disguise because many of the messages that are reportedly given during apparitions to the visionaries magnify Mary and reduce Jesus Christ’s power and glory by what is said.
There are two very important reasons why I felt compelled to write this series of posts, and I’d like to briefly share these reasons with you now before I go any further:
1) Since I am a former Catholic who is very aware of the teachings of the Catholic Church because I attended twelve years of Catholic school, attended Catechism classes, made my First Holy Communion, was Confirmed, and faithfully attended Mass not only every Sunday for many years, but also before school began for three years (as required by the school that I attended at the time), and who came to the knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is and what He actually accomplished for us by reading a Catholic New Testament Bibleexactly like the one pictured above, I decided to write this series with the hope of reaching Catholics so that they can not only come to an understanding of who Jesus Christ truly is as His Word, the Bible, declares Him to be, but also so they can see by reading God’s Word that they can have complete forgiveness, lasting joy, true peace, and the assurance of salvation if they choose to believe God’s Word and place their trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. Also, since many Catholics do not realize everything that the Catholic church actually teaches (as I once did not realize until after doing research and reading the CCC), I thought that it was extremely important to share this information to make Catholics aware of many things that are quite disturbing, as you will all soon become aware of as this series continues.
2) This series of posts is also being written with the intention of helping those of you who are born-again, Bible believing followers of Jesus Christ who have no idea of what the teachings of Catholicism are so that you can become aware of their teachings and be prepared to offer hope and assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ to Catholics based solely upon the truth that is recorded in God’s Word.
As we continue on in this series together comparing Scriptures in the Catholic New Testament to teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we must keep these important thoughts in mind:
When it comes to our eternal destination — heaven or hell — we must be certain that we place our trust in solid truth and not in speculation or in the traditions of men. The Catholic church claims to be the “one true Church.” Therefore, it stands to reason that their teachings must line up with God’s Word and not contradict it since God does not change (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8), and His Word stands firm forever. (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, 1 Peter 1:24,25) If a contradiction is found it must be rejected because God’s Word is our plumb line by which we must measure (or test) the teachings of every religion to see if it lines up or not. If it is off in one point we can be certain that it will lead us further and further away from Biblical truth and lead us into spiritual deception.
This series will cover many different subjects ranging from what does the Catholic Church teach about the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, priests, the pope, sin, forgiveness of sins, salvation, prayer, and what must a Catholic believe in order to receive eternal life. Some of these teachings will shock even many Catholics when they learn what their church actually teaches!
Lord willing, I hope to share at least one post every month with you in this new series until I have covered all the most important teachings that need to be brought to your attention. The main goal that I have in writing this series is to present the Word of God to Catholics — and to every person — in order to point everyone to Jesus Christ, who is our only hope and ‘the only name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.’ (Acts 4:12)
Dear Catholic, please take a minute now to pray, asking God to open your mind to the Scriptures and to reveal the truth to you –whatever that may be.
Because only God can reveal the truth to you, I will refrain from making any comments unless I find it completely necessary. Since God’s Word is truth I trust that He will not only give you eyes to see the truth, but also I trust that He will give you the courage to respond to His leading. However, each one of you will find yourself having to answer this question when you come to many points that I present to you in these posts after realizing that there are oftentimes extreme differences between what the Word of God says and what Catholicism teaches, and the question that you will have to answer is:
“Are you going to believe the Word of God, or the word of man?”
Please keep in mind, as you are carefully reading all of the statements made from the following Catholic sources, that every time you see the word “church” spelled with a capital c they are referring to the Catholic church, since they believe that the “Catholic Church” alone is the “one true Church.”All of the information that I will be sharing with you I have obtained from the following sources:
1) CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (pictured above) – Imprimi Potest – Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict) – Interdicasterial Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church
2) THE WORD OF GOD – THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR IN TODAY’S ENGLISH VERSION – SACRED HEART LEAGUE EDITION – IMPRIMATUR JOHN FRANCIS WHEALON, ARCHBISHOP OF HARTFORD, APRIL 15, 1971 SIGNED AND SEALED BY BISHOP JOSEPH B. BRUNINI, DIOCESE OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
3) Occasionally when I share a Scripture with you from the Sacred Heart League (SHL) Catholic New Testament and notice that it lacks depth and clarity, I will then follow it with the same verse but in the King James Version in order to give you a better understanding of what is being said, and so that you can see what is missing from the SHL translation.
4) Very briefly in this series, I will also be quoting from THE CATHOLIC DOUAY RHEIMS VERSION OF THE BIBLE – in which you will find the following statements:
“EXCERPT FROM ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF OUR HOLY FATHER BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE POPE LEO XIII ON THE STUDY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE:
“The God of all Providence, Who in the adorable designs of His love at first elevated the human race to the participation of the Divine nature, and afterwards delivered it from the universal guilt and ruin, restoring it to its primitive dignity, has in consequence bestowed upon man a splendid gift and safeguard–making known to him, by supernatural means, the hidden Mysteries of His divinity, His wisdom, and His mercy. For although in Divine revelations there are contained some things which are not beyond the reach of unassisted reason, and which are made the objects of such revelation in order “that all may come to know them with facility, certainty, and safety from error, yet not on this account can supernatural Revelation be said to be absolutely necessary; it is only necessary because God has ordained man to a supernatural end.” This supernatural revelation according to the belief of the universal Church, is contained both in unwritten Tradition, and in written Books, which are therefore called sacred and canonical because, “being written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, they have God for their author, and as such have been delivered to the Church.” (Page ix)
“Wherefore it must be recognised that the sacred writings are wrapt in a certain religious obscurity, and that no one can enter into their interior without a guide; God so disposing, as the Holy Fathers commonly teach, in order that men may investigate them with greater ardour and earnestness, and that what is attained with difficulty may sink more deeply into the mind and heart; and, most of all that they may understand that God has delivered the Holy Scriptures to the Church, and that in reading and making use of His Word, they must follow the Church as their guide and their teacher. St. Irenaeus long since laid down, that where the charismata of God were, there the truth was to be learnt, and that Holy Scripture was safely interpreted by those who had the Apostolic succession. His teaching, and that of other Holy Fathers, is taken up by the Council of the Vatican, which, in the renewing of the decree of Trent, declares its “mind” to be this–that “in things of faith and morals, belonging to the building up of Christian doctrine, that is to be considered the true sense of Holy Scripture which has been held and is held by our Holy Mother the Church whose place it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures; and therefore that it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against such sense or also against the unanimous agreement of the Fathers.” (Page xvii)
“Wherefore the first and dearest object of the Catholic commentator should be to interpret those passages which have received an authentic interpretation either by the sacred writers themselves, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost (as in many places of the New Testament), or from the Church, under the assistance of the same Holy Spirit, whether by her solemn judgment or her ordinary and universal magisterium –to interpret those passages in that identical sense, and to prove, by all the resources of science that sound hermeneutical laws admit of no other interpretation. In the other passages, the analogy of faith should be followed, and Catholic doctrine, as authoritatively proposed by the Church, should be held as the supreme law; for seeing that the same God is the author both of the Sacred Books and of the doctrine committed to the Church, it is clearly impossible that any teaching can by legitimate means be extracted from the former, which shall in any respect be at variance with the latter. Hence it follows that all interpretation is foolish and false which either makes the sacred writers disagree one with another, or is opposed to the doctrine of the Church.” (Page xviii)
“For although the studies of non-Catholics, used with prudence, may sometimes be of use to the Catholic student, he should nevertheless, bear well in mind–as the Fathers also teach in numerous passages –that the sense of Holy Scripture can nowhere be found incorrupt outside of the Church, and cannot be expected to be found in writers who, being without the true faith, only gnaw the bark of the Sacred Scripture and never attain its pith.” (Page xix)
In Part 7 we will be covering pages 224-251 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) which addresses ‘The Church–People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit‘ as stated in the CCC.
Please keep in mind that every time “the Church” is mentioned and capitalized, they are referring to the Catholic “Church,” since Catholicism claims to be the “one True Church.”
As you continue reading this post, watch for the emphasis on “unity” and the proclamations that are made that cause total and complete dependency upon the Catholic Church as the only means for one’s salvation.
Note the compromises that are made with Biblical truth as God’s Word is set aside at many points and the “Traditions” of men are elevated as if they are new revelations from God. The Canon of Scripture is closed (Hebrews 1:1,2); we are not to add or to take away from the truth of God’s Word to present something that is in complete contradiction to the truth that God has presented to us in His Holy Word.
I realize that this post is extremely long, but please take the time to at least read the Scriptures as well as the highlighted portions of this post which I have done for the convenience of those of you who lead very busy lives and only have time to read short posts.
It is extremely important for those of you who are not familiar with the teachings of Catholicism to understand what they teach so that you do not embrace Catholicism as being Biblical. Yes, they teach the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, the Trinity, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, but what they add to Scripture by means of their “Tradition” truly does “nullify God’s Word” just as Scripture says (Matthew 7:5-13). (More on that in an upcoming post in a month or so –Lord willing). [MY NOTE: With the Traditions that they add to Scripture it becomes quite clear that Roman Catholicism presents “another Jesus” and “another Gospel” as we are warned about in Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:2-4:
“I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are going to another gospel. Actually there is no “other gospel,” but I say it because there are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one that you accepted, may he be condemned to hell!” (Sacred Heart League Edition)
“I am jealous for you just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, who is Christ. I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ–in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake’s clever lies. For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!” (Sacred Heart League Edition)
As we continue going through the teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it will become very evident to all of you (at least that is my prayer) that Catholicism indeed presents “another Jesus” and “another gospel,” both having no power to save.
With all of that being said, let’s now begin PART 7:
II. THE CHURCH–BODY OF CHRIST
Para 787 From the beginning Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and those who would follow him:
“Abide in me, and I in you…I am the vine, you are the branches.” And he proclaimed a mysterious and real communion between his own body and ours: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
[MY NOTE: Catholicism teaches that the bread and wine presented at communion literally becomes the body, blood. soul. and divinity of Jesus Christ. (CCC 1374 PARA) They believe that the Sacrifice of the Mass was instituted by Jesus Christ (CCC PARA 611), They teach that the Sacrifice of the Mass is “truly propitiatory.” (CCC PARA 1367)These concerns will be addressed when we get to Pages 368 and beyond in the CCC. We will be ending this post at Page 251,so we have quite a few more pages to cover yet.
God’s Word makes it very clear that when Jesus Christ spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood He was speaking figuratively and not literally:
“Jesus said to them. “I tell you the truth; ‘If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you will not have life in yourselves. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day. For my flesh is the real food, my blood is the real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. The living Father sent me, and because of him I live also. In the same way, whoever eats me will live because of me. This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread that your ancestors ate, but then died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” Jesus said this as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum. Many of his disciples heard this and said, “This teaching is too hard. Who can listen to this?” Without being told, Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling about this; so he said to them, “Does this make you want to give up? Suppose, then, that you should see the Son of Man go back up to the place where he was before? What gives life is God’s Spirit; man’s power is of no use at all. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (John 6:53-63) (Sacred Heart League Edition)
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”John 6:63 (KJV)
Para 788 When his visible presence was taken from them, Jesus did not leave his disciples orphans. He promised to remain with them until the end of time; he sent them his Spirit. [MY NOTE: Please keep the truth of this Scriptural statement based on John 14:15-18 in mind, because I will be addressing this in another post in this series –Lord willing.]
“One Body”
Para 790 Believers who respond to God’s Word and become members of Christ’s Body, become intimately united with him: “In that body the life of Christ is communicated to those who believe, and who,through the sacraments, are united in a hidden and real way to Christ in his Passion and glorification. This is especially true of Baptism, which unites us to Christ’s death and Resurrection, and the Eucharist, by which “really sharing in the body of the Lord…we are taken up into communion with him and with one another.” [MY NOTE: I will also be strongly addressing Catholicism’s teaching on the Eucharist/ the Sacrifice of the Mass in another post in this series, as well as in a completely separate post in the near future –Lord willing.]
Para 795 Christ and his Church thus together make up the “whole Christ” (Christus totus). The Church is one with Christ. The saints are acutely aware of this unity:
Let us rejoice then and give thanks that we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself. Do you understand and grasp, brethren, God’s grace toward us? Marvel and rejoice we have become Christ.
III. THE CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PARA 797 “What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church.” ~Saint Augustine
PARA 804 One enters into the People of God by faith and Baptism. “All men are called to belong to the new People of God” (Lumen Gentium 13), so that, in Christ, “men may form one family and one People of God.” (AG 1).
PARA 805 The Church is the Body of Christ. Through the Spirit and his action in the sacraments, above all, the Eucharist, Christ, who once was dead and is now risen, establishes the community of believers as his own Body.
PARA 808 The Church is the Bride of Christ: he loved her and handed himself over for her. He has purified her by his blood and made her the fruitful mother of all God’s children.
PARA 809 The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the soul, as it were, of the Mystical Body, the source of its life, of its unity in diversity, and of the riches of its gifts and charisms.
PARA 810 “Hence the universal Church is seen to be ‘ a people brought into unity from the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’ ” (Lumen Gentium 4 citing St, Cyprian, De Dom. orat. 23: PL 4 553).
Paragraph 3. The Church Is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
PARA 811 “This is the sole Church of Christ, which is the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic.” These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities.
PARA 812 “Only faith can recognize that the Church possesses these properties from her divine source. But their historical manifestations are signs that also speak clearly to human reason. As the First Vatican Council noted, the “Church herself, with her marvellous propagation, eminent holiness, and inexhaustible fruitfulness in everything good, her catholic unity and invincible stability, is a great and perpetual motive of credibility and an irrefutable witness of her divine mission.” [MY NOTE:Because of the many thousands of cases of sexual abuse by priests towards children that have come to light, it is clear that the“credibility” of the Catholic Church has been lost; they are not “an irrefutable witness of her divine mission.“
THE CHURCH IS ONE
“The sacred mystery of the Church’s unity” (UR2)
PARA 813 The Church is one because of her “soul” :”It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church’s unity.” Unity is of the essence of the Church:
What an astonishing mystery! There is one Father of the universe, one Logos of the universe, and also one Holy Spirit, everywhere one and the same; there is also one virgin become mother, and I should like to call her “Church.”
PARA 815 What are these bonds of unity? Above all, charity “binds everything together in perfect harmony.” But the unity of the pilgrim Church is also assured by visible bonds of communion:
–profession of one faith received from the Apostles;
–common celebration of divine worship, especially the sacraments;
–apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders, maintaining the fraternal concord of God’s family.
PARA 816 “The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. … This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.”
The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism explains: “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the Apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, that we believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the People of God.
Wounds to unity
PARA 817 In fact, “in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church–for which often enough, men of both sides were to blame.”
PARA 818 “However one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. …All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”
PARA 819 “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace, faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.” Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation,whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”
Toward Unity
PARA 820 “Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time.” The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.
PARA 821 Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:
–a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity;
–prayer in common, because change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenicalmovement, and merits the name ‘spiritualecumenism;’
–fraternal knowledge of each other;
—ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests;
—dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities;
—collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind. “Human service” is the idiomatic phrase.
PARA 822 Concern for achieving unity“involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike.” But we must realize “that this holy objective–the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ–transcends human power and gifts.” That is why we place all our hope “in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
II. THE CHURCH IS HOLY
PARA 824 It is in the Church that “the fullness of the means of salvation” has been deposited. It is in her that “by the grace of God we acquire holiness.”
PARA 828 By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors.
PARA 829 “By while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary” : in her, the Church is already the “all holy.”
III THE CHURCH IS CATHOLIC
What Does “Catholic” Mean?
PARA 830 The word “catholic” means “universal,” in the sense of “according to the totality” or “in keeping with the whole.” The Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. “Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church.” In her subsists the fullness of Christ’s body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him “the fullness of the means of salvation”which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession, The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost and will always be so until the day of Parousia.
PARA 831 Secondly, the Church is catholic because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race: All men are called to belong to the new People of God. This People, therefore, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God’s will may be fulfilled: he made human nature one in the beginning and has decreed that all his children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one.…The character of universality which adorns the People of God is a gift from the Lord himself whereby the Catholic Church ceaselessly and efficaciously seeks for the return of all humanity and all its goods, under Christ the Head in the unity of his Spirit.”
PARA 834 Particular Churches are fully catholic through their communion with one of them, the Church of Rome “which presides in charity.” “For with this church, by reason of its pre-eminence, the whole Church, that is the faithful everywhere, must necessarily be in accord.” Indeed “from the incarnate Word’s descent to us,all Christian churches everywhere have held and hold the great Church that is here [at Rome] to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior’s promise, the gates of hell have never prevailed against her.”
Who belongs to the Catholic Church?
PARA 836 “All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God.…And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace to salvation.”
PARA 837 “Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who–by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion–are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but “in body” not “in heart.”
PARA 841 “The Church’s relationship with the Muslims “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.“ [MY NOTE: If you will please take a few minutes to read some of the Islamic beliefs below regarding who their God is and what they believe about Jesus and compare them with what Christianity teaches, you will clearly see that we do not worship the same God even though some professing Christians such as Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, and Brian Houston, pastor of Hillsong Church, claim that we do. Precious Muslim people need to hear the good news about Jesus Christ just as everyone else does who have not yet come to know the truly good news of the Biblical gospel.]
PARA 843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a “preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.”
PARA 845 To reunite all his children, scattered and led away by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is “the world reconciled.“ She is that bark which “in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.” According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah’s ark, which alone saves from the flood.”
“Outside the Church there is no salvation”
PARA 846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.”
PARA 847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience–those too may achieve eternal salvation.”
PARA 848 “Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men.”
Mission–a requirement of the Church’s catholicity
PARA 849 The missionary mandate. “Having been divinely sent to the nations that she might be ‘the universal sacrament of salvation,’ the Church, in obedience to the command of her founder and because it is demanded by her own essential universality, strives to preach the Gospel to all men…”
PARA 851 Missionary motivation it is from God’s love for all men that the Church in every age receives both the obligation and the vigor of her missionary dynamism, “for the love of Christ urges us on.” Indeed, God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”; that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey the prompting of the Spirit of truth are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth. Because she believes in God’s universal plan of salvation, the Church must be missionary.
PARA 853 Only by taking the “way of penance and renewal” the “narrow way of the cross,” can the People of God extend Christ’s reign. For just as Christ carried out the work of redemption in poverty and oppression, so the Church is called to follow the same path if she is to communicate the fruits of salvation to all men.” [MY NOTE:Why then all the elaborate Catholic church buildings made with marble and decorated with gold? Why all of the expensive treasures in the Vatican? These are not examples of living in “poverty.”]
PARA 854 It must involve a process of incultration if the Gospel is to take flesh in each people’s culture. There will be times of defeat. “With regard to individuals, groups, and peoples it is only by degrees that [the Church] touches and penetrates them, and so receives them into a fullness which is Catholic.”
IV. THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
PARA 857 The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways:
–she was and remains built on “the foundation of the Apostles,” the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself;
–with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the “good deposit,” the salutary words she has heard from the apostles;
–she continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ’s return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, “assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor”:
You are the eternal Shepherd who never leaves his flock unattended. Through the apostles you watch over us and protect us always. You made them shepherds of the flock to share in the work of your Son…”
PARA 862 “Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office, which the apostles received, of shepherding the Church, a charge destined to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops.” Hence the Church teaches that “the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ.”
PARA 870 “The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,… subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside its visible confines.” (Lumen Gentium 8)
IN CLOSING
Time, and the length of this post already, does not permit me to add more comments in order to express more of my concerns to you regarding everything that I shared with you in this post, but I hope that you were able to see the many valid concerns that one should indeed have regarding the teachings of Catholicism.
If you took the time to read through this entire post, thank you! I hope that you saw how many statements made in the teachings of Catholicism emphasize “unity” and how oftentimes their teachings contradict one another. At one point they say “the [Catholic] Church is necessary for salvation,” and yet, at another point they can easily say: “…those who do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience–those too may achieve eternal salvation.”
It is out of my love for Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word — as well as out of my love and concern for precious Catholics — that I am writing this series. I urge those of you who are Catholic to please get yourself a Bible and begin reading through the Gospel of John on your own. Pray and ask God to reveal His truth to you. Continue reading through the New Testament and test everything that you have been taught against the truth of God’s Word. As I have basically said in previous installments in this series: “After reading what Catholicism teaches and when you see what God’s Word actually says, you will get to the point where you must make a choice; are you going to believe the Word of God [the Bible]? Or the word of man[Catholic Tradition]? Your eternal destiny truly depends upon what you choose to believe is true.”
BIBLICAL TRUTHS AND SCRIPTURES FOR CATHOLICS TO REFLECT ON
1. The Bible is God’s Living Word, therefore that is all we need to determine what is true or not spiritually:
“But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the man who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good work. I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge all men, living and dead: because of his coming and of his Kingdom, I command you to preach the message, to insist upon telling it, whether the time is right or not; to convince, reproach, and encourage, teaching with all patience. The time will come when men will not listen to the true teaching, but will follow their own desires, and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends. But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17, 4:1-5)(SHL)
“The Word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meets, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of men’s hearts. There is nothing that can be hid from God. Everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes; and it is to him that we must all give account of ourselves.” (Hebrews 4:12) (SHL)
2. Concerning needing personal or further revelations, we need nothing else since God has given us not only His Holy Word, but also His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who is the living Word of God:
“Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning, the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.” (John 1:1-5) (SHL)
“He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the firstborn Son, superior to all created things.
For by him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. He existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body’s life; he is the firstborn Son who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. For it was by God’s own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God.
Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s death on the cross, and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven. At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends in order to bring you holy, pure, and faultless into his presence. You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation and not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant–this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.” (Colossians 1:13-23) (SHL)
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. He shines with the brightness of God’s glory; he is the exact likeness of God’s own being, and sustains the universe with his powerful word. After he had made men clean from their sins, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.
The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. For God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” Nor did God say to any angel, “I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son.” When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he also said, “All of God’s angels must worship him.”
This is what God says about the angels, “God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.” About the Son, however, God said: “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your kingdom with justice. You love the right and hate the wrong; that is why God, your God, chose you and gave you joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions.”
He also said, “You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. They will all disappear, but you will remain; they will all grow old like clothes. You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and you will never grow old.” God never did say to any of his angels: “Sit here at my right side, until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.” What are the angels, then? They are all spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.” (Hebrews 1:1-14) (SHL)
3. Beware of “another Jesus” and “another gospel” being preached to you:
“I am jealous for you just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, who is Christ. I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ–in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake’s clever lies. For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the spirit and the gospel you received from us!” (2 Corinthians 11:2-4) (SHL)
“I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are going to another gospel. Actually, there is no “other gospel,” but I say it because there are some people who are upsetting you and are trying to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! We have said it before, and now I say it again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell! (Galatians 1:6-9)(SHL)
4. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, the only Mediator between God and man, and the only name by which we can be saved. The Virgin Mary, a humble and courageous woman who loved and obeyed God, was indeed blessed among women to have been chosen by God to give birth to His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who wrapped Himself in human flesh and came into this world to be our Savior. However, she must never be presented in such a way that what is taught about her goes beyond what God’s Word says and ends up even contradicting God’s Word and elevating her to the point of almost being equal to Jesus Christ, or even at times having more power and authority than Jesus Christ, as you will soon see by some of the information that I have added further below. Please keep these Scriptures in mind:
“Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6) (SHL)
“For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and men together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem all men.” (1 Timothy 2:5) (SHL)
“Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was made well, then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth–whom you crucified and God raised from death. Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says, ‘ The stone that you the builders despised turned out to be the most important stone.’ Salvation is to be found through him alone; for there is no one else in all the world, whose name God has given to men, by whom we can be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12) (SHL)
5. The Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead, was sent by Jesus Christ to guide us into all truth and to be with us forever. Never in Scripture do we read that the Virgin Mary would be sent to us to be with us, as some of the messages in many apparitions declare:
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, to stay with you forever. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him.” (John 14:15-17a) (SHL)
6. All of us are sinners –including the Virgin Mary who humbly admitted her need for a Savior:
“Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Savior, because he has remembered me, his lowly servant.” (Luke 1:46-48)
7. The only sinless person who ever walked this earth was Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. God clearly shows us this truth in His Word, as well as His amazing love and mercy –if you will only take the time to read these Scriptures, dear Catholic, and anyone else who has not yet place your trust in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection as your only hope for forgiveness and acceptance by a thrice Holy God:
“As the Scriptures say: “There is no one who is righteous, no one who understands, or who seeks for God. All men have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) (SHL)
“God puts men right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: all men have sinned and are far away from God’s saving presence. But by the free gift of God’s grace they are all put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. God offered him so that by his death he should become the means by which men’s sins are forgiven, through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In the past he was patient and overlooked men’s sins; but now in the present time he deals with men’s sins, to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus. ” (Romans 3:23) (SHL)
“Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great high priest who has gone into the very presence of God–Jesus the Son of God. Our high priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy with our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a high priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us be brave, then, and come forward to God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.” (Hebrews 4:14,15)(SHL)
8. Nowhere in Scripture do we see the Virgin Mary proclaimed to be the New Eve. We do, however, see Jesus Christ being declared as the last/second (New) Adam:
“For the scripture says, “The first man, Adam, was created a living being.”; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit. It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first Adam was made from the dust of the earth; the second Adam came from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47) SHL
9. God’s Word shows us the importance of testing the teachings of everyone claiming to teach the truths of God in Acts 17:11:
“The people there were more open-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They listened to the message with great eagerness, and every day they studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true.” SHL
10. Dear Catholic, please listen to me carefully…nowhere in Scripture is the Virgin Mary ever exalted in such a way as to be called the Queen of Heaven as the Catholic church refers to her. Only God deserves such praise:
“I the Lord, this is my name: I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven things.” (Isaiah 42:8) (Douay Rheims Catholic Bible)
“For my own sake, for my own sake will I do it, that I may not be blasphemed: and I will not give my glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11) (DRCB)
RELATED VIDEOS
FORMER DOMINICAN PRIEST OF 22 YEARS — RICHARD BENNETT
Thank you very much for stopping by today.
God Bless You
~Mary Dalke/Living4HisGlory
NOTE:
Lord willing, I hope to present you with at least two other important posts this month; another post regarding how New Age mysticism is entering many Christian churches these days, as well as another post concerning one of my previous churches –Harvest Bible Chapel. It is extremely important for all of us as Christians to read and to study our Bibles, to pray for discernment, and to take some time to do some research on the authors of books that may be recommended to us to read by a pastor or teacher before reading them, or we may very well be led right into spiritual deception just like what has happened to many Christians already.
In this summer series that I have been presenting to you, when time allows, I have been placing the focus on the Jehovah’s Witnesses because they are the ones who are most frequently seen faithfully coming to homes fervently sharing the message given to them by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to pass on to us. As sincere as these precious people are, they have been led to believe many untruths about salvation and who Jesus Christ is, and therefore have no understanding of the glorious good news of the Biblical gospel and the fact that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, as Scripture very clearly reveals if one takes the time to read it and study it without adding man’s interpretation of Scripture to a text. God’s Word is also spiritually discerned; it is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to understand the truth of God’s Word, not man’s intellect.
In the teaching series below, Tim Barnett gives many Scriptures to show Jehovah’s Witnesses that Jesus Christ and Jehovah God are distinct, yet one in nature and essence, and that they are not separate Gods — Jesus Christ being the lesser god — as The New World Translation renders John 1:1, leading them to wrongly believe: “In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.”
I pray that when time allows, you will consider listening to these presentations, and be sure to test everything that is said in light of Scripture as we are always to do –no matter who it is that we are listening to.
RELATED VIDEOS
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)
“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:37-40)
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:2-9)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:12-17)
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:1-14)
NOTE: Please do not consider me posting these videos as being an endorsement of Tim Barnett. I just came across his teachings for the first time last week. As good as his presentations are, I have one major concern:
Tim Barnett is part of a ministry called, Stand To Reason,a ministry in which many of different theological persuasions are also a part of (according to the video of Greg Koukl below). Tim Barnett is convinced by Scripture that Calvinism and Reformed Theology are not Biblical (which is what I firmly believe), whereas Greg Koukl, the president of Stand To Reason ministry, is a five point Calvinist. I find it rather concerning that Tim Barnett is involved in ministry with someone who is a Calvinist, when he, Tim Barnett, is completely against Calvinism, as you can see if you take the time to listen to the video below, but I pray that God will use him to share His Word to expose the errors of Calvinism whenever he speaks out of his desire to “earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3) We must each do our own research and be responsible for whom we choose to listen to. We must also make sure to “examine the Scriptures daily to see if what is being said — and written — is true,” (Acts 17:11) and in context. It is because I listened to Tim Barnett’s teachings and tested them against Scripture and found them to be Biblically solid, that I am sharing them with you, but I knew that I needed to make my valid concern known to you because I find it very troubling and I don’t want to mislead anyone.
I have some Calvinist friends, and care about them very much, but I am against the teachings of Calvinism and Reformed Theology (as well as Arminianism), because these teachings distort the Word of God and the nature and character of God using human reasoning and the philosophies of men, and presents a God that is contrary to how He is clearly revealed in Scripture. However, I will have to wait to share that information with you until, Lord willing, I have the time to write at length about Calvinism and Reformed Theology and compare these teachings to Scripture after I get enough time to first complete the many series that I still desire to do concerning Catholicism in light of Scripture.
Greg Koukl
RELATED VIDEO EXPLAINING THE ERRORS OF CALVINISM
UPDATE:
I am still helping my family prepare my Mom and Dad’s home to be sold, and in the near future we will be having our final four days of Estate Sales to try and sell the remaining of our parent’s treasures that we did not take. We are presently in the process of choosing a company that buys homes for cash and may choose one in just a few days. So there is still a lot of work ahead for me and my family. Your prayers for God’s wisdom and guidance would be greatly appreciated. It will be at least another month — or possibly even two months — before I am able to begin writing lengthy posts again. Thank you for your patience.
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems. I will not be taking comments at this time since my time is even more limited now, but I sincerely appreciate every one of you who takes the time to stop by here every now and then.
To the natural mind, unity among religions for the sake of peace seems to be the loving and right thing to do. However, for those of us who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ and who hold to the Bible as truly being God’s Word, we know that unity with religions that preach “another Jesus” and “another gospel” is unbiblical, and is the path by which many are taking these days which will ultimately bring about the One World Religion that is now forming right before our eyes! As true followers of Jesus Christ the most loving thing that we can do is to point those who are sincere, but sincerely deceived, to the only One who can save them –Jesus Christ. To do anything less is to allow them to slip into eternity without their only hope for salvation and into the everlasting torments of the fires of hell.
It is because I love Catholics — and everyone of all religions — that I present this teaching to you today in order to warn you of not only why the Ecumenical Movement is unbiblical, but also why those of us who are true followers of Jesus Christ cannot unite with those who preach a gospel and a Jesus that do not have the power to save without depending upon the rituals and traditions of their church.
Jesus Christ truly is your only way to be reconciled to a thrice Holy God, your only hope for eternal life in heaven with the God who created you and loves you, and your only means by which God provided for you to escape the eternal fires of hell. You may not believe me or anyone who may try to share that truth that can be found in God’s Word with you, but if you don’t believe us, it would truly be devastating for you to find out that it’s true after you die and stand before Him on Judgment Day, and your name is not found written in the Book of Life.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)
Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-9)
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4)
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” (2 Peter 2:1)
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7: 13-15)
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:3-9)
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men. after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)
“Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:26-31)
As hard as I am trying to finish writing the next post in the series, ‘APPARITIONS OF THE VIRGIN MARY, OR DEMONS IN DISGUISE? EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE,’ I am still not finished even after spending around eight hours working on it today. It’s now over three thousand words long, so I am trying very hard to bring it to a close so that I can finally share it with you! Lord willing, I hope that by next Sunday evening I’ll be able to. Thank you for your patience.
Thank you very much for stopping by and reading this update.
The teachings of psychology always intrigued me –until after I became a Christian and began to read the Bible. The more I read God’s Word, the more God began to heal me from how others had caused me to view myself as God began to renew my mind with the truth of His Word. God set me free from many fears, and it was all through the power of His living Word and His Holy Spirit.
We are not doomed to repeat the destructive behaviors of our fathers and mothers and become like they are, as some teachings in psychology lead one to believe. We are each responsible for our own choices and cannot blame others for how our life is today. Even though their destructive behavior may have deeply affected and devastated us, we still have a choice concerning how we are going to respond and lead the rest of our life. Will we choose to hold on to bitterness, resentment, anger, and unforgiveness? Or will we choose to forgive with an act of our will and move on with our lives? Some people may be able to somewhat go on with life by burying the pain through busying themselves in their work, or drowning their sorrows in alcohol and other drugs, but true healing can take place if a person places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and takes the time to read and study God’s Word. Over time God’s Holy Spirit can and will renew our minds and make all things new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Again, I speak from experience.
I know someone who was verbally abused as well as physically abused as a child in many horrific ways: pushed down a flight of stairs, locked in a closet, etc. Yet this person made the choice to never treat their child the way they were treated, and did not become a child abuser as psychology often teaches happens to those who were abused as a child.
As Christians we are being led to believe that God’s Word is not sufficient to help us overcome the problems and devastating circumstances that we all face at some point in our lives, whether it is the death of a loved one, the infidelity of a spouse, the end of a marriage due to a spouse who wants out for some reason, sexual abuse, etc. Many suggest going to “Christian” counseling to bring healing to our troubled hearts and minds, and psychology is now widely accepted and endorsed by many Christians today. You will find that many churches these days offer some type of so-called Biblical counseling classes in order for you to overcome addictions, fears, and depression. But have you ever stopped to consider the roots of psychology and what teachers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Yung, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow and others believed? Are you aware of the fact that Carl Yung received many of his teachings from a spirit guide? Psychology oftentimes incorporates occult practices such as visualization and hypnosis along with their teachings that are rooted in the occult, and therefore the teachings of psychology cannot be merged with Christianity.
You will also hear about Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church Movement and how his teachings are not based on Biblical principles but rather on worldly strategies to grow the church, and how he focuses on social justice issues rather than on preaching the gospel. You will also hear how his church presents unbiblical counseling classes and occult practices. (In one of my previous posts I added quick captures of information that I found on Saddleback Church’s website in order to show you they offer classes on yoga, which is a religious practice in Hinduism). Those are just some of the things that you will find out if you take the time to listen to the following teachings in the Playlist that I shared with you below. The speakers include Dave Hunt, T A McMahon, James Sundquist, and Bob Klenck.
Much more could be said, but my time is extremely limited this week, so I will close by saying the following:
Dear Christian, and every reader of this post, when time allows, please consider listening to the following videos. If you have never heard the Biblical gospel and placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, please get yourself a Bible, pray for God to reveal His truth to you, and then begin reading through the gospel of John and the Book of Romans, and wherever else you are led to read in God’s Word. If you choose to believe the good news of the gospel [Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, willingly came to this earth to live the perfect, sinless life that you and I could never live, to become the perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross in your place and in mine to pay the debt for all of our sins and guilt in full, that He was buried and arose bodily from the grave on the third day which showed that He fully satisfied God’s wrath and His just demands] you will then be forgiven and covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and all of your sins and guilt will be washed away, never to be remembered again.
In Jesus Christ alone you will find true healing and hope, and you will find that His strength and His grace will be sufficient to help you face tomorrow. No matter how difficult your circumstances may be, and no matter what trials may come your way, He promises to never leave you or forsake you, unlike others who have made that promise to you in your life and yet have broken it.
Do not be deceived by the philosophies of men and occult practices that have been presented to you cloaked with Christian sounding words. Look to Jesus Christ alone and to His Word. That is all we need to bring hope and healing to our minds and to our broken, shattered lives and sinful hearts.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“I will praise the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:7,8)
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:3-9)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9)
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:6-8)
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:7-11)
DEPRESSION CAN COME FROM WRONG THINKING, A LACK OF TRUST IN GOD, A LACK OF SLEEP, AND IMPROPER EATING, AS WELL, AS THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IN 1 KINGS 19:1-18 SEEMS TO INDICATE
“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
GOD’S WORD COUNSELS AND STRENGTHENS US
“Your statutes are my delight, they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)
BIBLICAL MEDITATION IS REFLECTING ON GOD’S WORD, NOT BLANKING OUT YOUR MIND AS TAUGHT IN OCCULTIC FORMS OF MEDITATION
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:15)
“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:5-8)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR COUNSELOR
“Jesus replied, “If anyone loved me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:23-27)
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15:26)
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you. When he comes he will convict the world of guilt, in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer, and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:7-13)
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems.
God Bless You
Mary/Living4HisGlory
UPDATE AND PRAISE REPORT:
God gave me the desire of my heart concerning a job by having circumstances change, and starting next week I will have my childcare job back taking care of the precious little girl that I had the privilege of caring for ever since she was only five weeks old! (Thank You, Jesus!) So over the next few days I will be working on updating one post, and completing at least two posts, with the hope of presenting them to you by Tuesday –Lord willing.
I truly appreciate all of your comments, but with all that I have just shared with you in mind, if you desire to make any comments on any posts in the future, please keep them short and to the point because my time will be even more limited now, and I will only have just a few minutes to reply. Thank you for understanding. 🙂
To those of you who may have been wondering why I have not posted anything recently, I deeply apologize! I have been trying to make time to work on writing the second post in the present series, APPARITIONS OF THE VIRGIN MARY, OR DEMONS IN DISGUISE? EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE, however, a lot has been happening lately that has caused my free time to be extremely limited! Such as:
1) I am continuing to look for a new church since I am still churchless, (if you’d like, you can read why I left my former church after attending there for over five years by reading: CHURCHLESS ONCE AGAIN)
2) My engine light turned on in my car, and after discovering that it would cost $2,700.00 to repair my 2003 car, I realized it was time for me to start looking to purchase another used car
3) AND, since the childcare job that I am blessed to have again for the same precious child that I had before turned out to be for only one day each week instead of the four days that it was originally going to be for because the mom had a change of plans, and because I know how unlikely it is that I would be able to get some type of job writing from a Christian perspective, I knew that it was time for me to seriously start praying and looking for some other type of job that I would enjoy so that God could use it to provide for my immediate and future needs
Now that two of the three major concerns have been taken care of, I need to devote some of my present time to preparing for my new position as a local Freelance Floral Designer and teacher of Floral Design For Beginners at my neighborhood craft store. I am in the process of setting up a new blog for my new business that I dedicate to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, trusting that He will indeed supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory. However, I want all of you to know that I am as dedicated to standing for Biblical truth and exposing error as I ever was, and, Lord willing, I will continue to write and present you with posts that I pray God will use to make all of you realize the extreme importance of being a follower of Jesus Christ alone and not a follower of any man (or woman) and their ministry, as well as the extreme importance of reading and studying God’s Word so that you will never be led astray by the many spiritually deceptive teachings and doctrines of men that not only have become popular these days, but also have led so many precious Christians captive because they fail to test everything they read and hear against the truth of God’s Word –in context.
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems.
As we begin this series of posts, I would like to start out by sharing some Scriptures with you in order to lay a solid foundation based on the truth of God’s Word before we start looking into some of the serious concerns that one should have when it comes to these supposed apparitions of the Virgin Mary. We will also be using our critical thinking skills based on what we can learn from what God says in His Word in order to help us learn to discern truth from error, which is a must in these days of rapidly growing spiritual deception!
Let’s begin:
We know from many passages of Scripture that the level of spiritual deception in the end times will be extremely powerful. Jesus Christ, Himself, strongly warned about spiritual deception and mentions it first among the many signs that will point to His soon return. He also made it very clear that these lying signs and wonders could deceive the very elect –if it were possible:
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:1-4)
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:23-27)
God also strongly warns us in His Word that we must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) and how we are to:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
It is also made abundantly clear to us in John 3:19-21 that those without Jesus Christ love the darkness because of their sin and are not willing to come into the light, and in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 we read that many will perish because they will not choose to receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. These are the ones to whom God will send strong delusion to because they chose not to believe the truth; their desire will be to continue on in their unrighteous ways:
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who practices evil hates the light, and does not come into the light, lest his works be reproved. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may me manifested that they are wrought in God.”(John 3:19-21)
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
One can only speculate at this time as to what all of these lying signs and wonders will actually be. However, if you will please just take the time to read this series — in its entirety — I believe and pray that after you pray for discernment and read and listen to the information that I will be sharing with you (concerning how the messages given by these apparitions contradict the very Word of God and instead reflect the many false messages of unity proclaimed by those involved in the New Age Movement), you will then come to realize that these supposed apparitions of the Virgin Mary are instead cunningly deceptive plans devised by Satan himself to mislead and deceive many who will choose to reject Biblical truth and refuse to test things against Scripture. I truly believe (along with some other Christians) that these apparitions are presently playing — and will indeed continue to play — a huge part in end times spiritual deception! However, my opinion doesn’t matter. Let’s look at some of the facts. Just think of the many who have already been lured into New Age Contemplative Spirituality through Spiritual Formation classes and Contemplative Prayer by reading books by authors such as Priscilla Shirer,Beth Moore, Margaret Feinstein, Ruth Haley Barton, Mindy Caliguire, Richard Foster, Richard Rohr, Rick Warren, Gary Thomas, Henry Blackaby, (and many others), because they have been encouraged to have “experiences with God” instead of seeking to know God in a very real and personal way by reading and studying His living, life-giving, unchanging Word –the Bible! Or think of the many who have involved themselves in Eastern meditation practices by joining so-called Christian yoga classes that, sadly, are being offered at many churches these days!
Here are some more Scriptures that I would like you to please keep in mind as you read through the first installment of this three, or possibly four part, series:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As wesaid before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For ifhe that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4)
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
“Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14)
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 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; 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. 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.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
For those of you who may be Catholic, please know that I am not out to attack what you may hold dear to your heart if you indeed hold the Virgin Mary in a place of honor much higher that you should. It is out of love and concern for all of you that I am sharing all of this information with you to warn you so that you will not be deceived by these alluring apparitions and the messages that come from this entity that claims to be the Virgin Mary, and to urge you to look to Jesus Christ alone for truth, forgiveness, and salvation!
Let’s begin now by looking at some of the messages given during these apparitions from around the world. If you will take the time to pray for discernment and test these messages in light of Scripture, you will see how this being who claims to be the Virgin Mary does not reflect the humble Virgin Mary that we see revealed in God’s Word who always pointed to her virgin born Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and not to herself. This being who claims to be the Virgin Mary also makes requests for chapels to be built in her honor!
Please also note the emphasis on “penance” and the need to “make sacrifices” that is stressed in these messages given to the visionaries, thus rendering Jesus Christ’s once for all sacrifice on the cross as being insufficient to pay the debt of our sins in full, when God’s Word clearly shows us otherwise!
Apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in 1531
A widely known series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary are the ones that allegedly took place in 1531 in Guadalupe, Mexico when it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego and requested that a chapel be built in her honor.
“For I am your merciful Mother,” she said, “to you and to all mankind who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. Therefore, go to the dwelling of the Bishop in Mexico City and say that the Virgin Mary sent you to make known to him her great desire.”
The Bishop was very hesitant to believe Juan Diego and requested that this Lady give him some sign. Juan Diego was told by the Lady that she would grant his request the next morning. However, Juan Diego was unable to return the next morning because his uncle became very ill. Two days later as he was on his way to the church to request for a priest to come to his dying uncle, he was stopped by the Lady, who said to him, “It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear for your uncle for he is not going to die. Be assured…he is already well.” Juan Diego was exceedingly happy to hear her reassuring words, and then asked her for the sign that he was to bring to the Bishop. He was told to climb to the top of the hill where he would find many flowers in bloom, and he was to cut them and bring them to her. He was surprised to find many flowers blooming on the stony ground. Returning to the Lady with the flowers held within his cloak, the Lady rearranged them and sent him on his way to the Bishop, telling Juan Diego that this would be the sign for the Bishop that would convince him to fulfill her request. When Juan Diego was in the presence of the Bishop he opened his cloak, and the flowers gently tumbled to the floor, and the Bishop was awestruck as he saw an amazingly colorful image of the Lady, just as Juan Diego had described her, imprinted on his cloak. “Earlier that same day, December 12th, she had also appeared to Juan’s uncle, Juan Bernardino and restored him to health as she had told Juan Diego.” “Both had been among the first of the natives to be baptized into the true faith several years before.” (Source – YouTube video – The story of the five apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego)
The “true faith” that is being referred to here, is the Catholic faith, not Biblical Christianity.
Even though it seems that the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that appeared on Juan Diego’s cloak/tilma made from cactus fiber came about in a miraculous way, and the colors have somehow been preserved from fading, and the cloak/tilma was protected from damage and deterioration over hundreds of years from being exposed to the smoke of burning candles, and it was not damaged when bombs were planted under the image in some flowers in 1921, we cannot come to the conclusion that this image was a miracle from God since God’s Word clearly condemns images of any kind: Exodus 20:4 Deuteronomy 4:16, 5:8,
We must also keep in mind the warnings in Scripture about false miracles and lying signs and wonders in the last days. (Matthew 7:23, 2 Thessaalonians 2:8,9, Revelation 13:13,14)
The details concerning this image, although intriguing, (reflections of what appears to be that of Juan Diego and other people that were discovered in the eyes of the image, and other details that lead people to wrongly believe that Mary is the Queen of heaven), add to the evidence that this is not a miracle sent from God, but rather a counterfeit miracle that, once again, points people away from Jesus Christ, and to Mary. These apparitions of a woman who claims to be the Virgin Mary, is not the Virgin Mary revealed in Scripture, as you will soon come to realize –if you will choose to test these supposed miraculous details against Scripture.
What I found to be most disturbing is the fact that this image of the Virgin Mary is given credit for the conversion of eight to nine million of the pagan Aztec Indians into the Catholic faith, who had previously sacrificed thousands of their people to their pagan gods, when it is the gospel and faith in Jesus Christ alone that brings one to true salvation!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16,17)
In this trailer from a documentary movie based upon these alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Guadalupe, the focus is on “unity,” which has been promoted among religions for quite some time now. It is said that this image brought about “the unity of different peoples and different cultures” and it is also proclaimed as “an image that would unite a continent.” This documentary is narrated by John Caviezel, who states,”The Virgin of Guadalupe is not just a bridge between heaven and earth, but also a bridge between different cultures, it is her love that unites us.”
In the video further below, it is wrongly stated that the Virgin Mary is the woman spoken of in Revelation Chapter 12 who is clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
Catholicism also teaches that the Virgin Mary is the woman in Genesis 3:15 who crushes the serpent’s head. In Part 3 of MY TESTIMONY: FROM FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY TO PEACE AND ASSURANCE – HOW GOD REVEALED THE TRUTH TO ME AS I WAS READING A CATHOLIC NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE, (that you can read HERE), I shared with you how the Latin Vulgate mistranslated Genesis 3:15 using the word ipsa (she) instead of ipse, he, referring to Jesus Christ, and therefore the Catholic church claims that it is the woman who crushes the serpent’s head, and that the woman is Mary.You can hear a detailed teaching on this, and more, in the following video:
Former Catholic, Timothy Kauffman, author of Mary Mary Quite Contrary, a book that addressed the apparitions of Mary, made an excellent point in a video (that I will be sharing with you in Part 2 of this series), by stating — and this is not an exact quote — that since the Catholic church teaches Mary was sinless, she should not have experienced pain when she was giving birth to Jesus because pain during childbirth is a consequence of sin. And since the woman in Revelation cries out in pain, it cannot be Mary, or it would not be consistent with Catholic doctrine. He also points out the fact that this woman who claims to be Mary in these apparitions oftentimes proclaims herself to be the woman in Revelation. Later in the video he makes this statement:
“What it all come down to is that…we have the Word of God, and we compare it against what the popes teach, and what the apparitions teach. Both can’t be right; either the apparitions and the pope are right, or the Word of God is right.”
Apparitions of the Virgin Mary at LaSalette, France 1846
Here are some of the messages given during the apparitions at LaSalette (which took place in September of 1846) that I quick captured for you from the video further below. You will also be able to see them — along with many other messages given during these apparitions — if you choose to watch the video when time allows:
There is nowhere in the Bible that mentions there will be a “future Reign of Mary.” You will, however, find that God’s Word tells us that there will be a literal thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on this earth. (Revelation 20:1-4 and Isaiah 65:24,25)
In this message notice how it is Mary who is shown to have power to hold back the arm of her Son, Jesus Christ, from striking out because of the rebellion of mankind:
Here is the video:
Apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France in 1858
Next to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal in 1917 (which I have already written about in great detail), probably the next most widely known apparitions of the Virgin Mary are the ones that allegedly took place in Lourdes, France. It is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to fourteen year old Bernadette a total of twenty-eight times. In many of these appearances it is said that the Virgin Mary remained silent.
Below are some of the messages given to Bernadette during these alleged apparitions. You will find the following messages, and more, in the video above.
8th Apparition February 24, 1858:
“Penance! Penance! Penance! Pray to God for sinners. Kiss the ground as an act of penance for sinners!”
9th Apparition February 25, 1858:
Bernadette: She told me to go, drink of the spring… I only found a little muddy water. At the fourth attempt I was able to drink. She also made me eat the bitter herbs that were found near the spring, and then the vision left and went away.” In front of the crowd that was asking, “Do you think that she is mad doing things like that?” she replied, “It is for sinners.”
10th Apparition February 27, 1858:
800 people were present. The Apparition was silent. Bernadette drank the water from the spring and carried out her usual acts of penance.
11th Apparition February 28, 1858:
Over 1000 people were present at the ecstasy. Bernadette prayed, kissed the ground and moved on her knees as a sign of penance. She was then taken to the house of Judge Ribes who threatened to put her in prison.
13th Apparition March 2, 1858:
The Lady asked her: “Go, tell the priests to come her in procession and to build a chapel here.” Bernadette spoke of this to Fr. Peyramale, the Parish Priest of Lourdes. He only wanted to know one thing: the Lady’s name. He demanded another test; to see a wild rose bush flower at the Grotto in the middle of winter.
14th Apparition March 3, 1858:
Bernadette arrived at the Grotto, but the vision did not appear. After school, she heard the inner invitation of the Lady. She went to the Grotto and asked her again for her name. The response was a smile. The Parish Priest told her again: “If the Lady really wishes that a chapel be built, then she must tell us her name and make the rose bush bloom at the Grotto.”
16th Apparition March 25, 1858:
The vision finally revealed her name, but the wild rose bush, on which she stood during the Apparitions, did not bloom. Bernadette recounted; “She lifted up her eyes to heaven, joined her hands as though in prayer, that were held out and open towards the ground and said to me: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The young visionary left and, running all the way, repeated continuously the words that she did not understand. These words troubled the brave Parish Priest. Bernadette was ignorant of the fact that this theological expression was assigned to the Blessed Virgin. Four years earlier, in 1854, Pope Pius IX declared this a truth of the Catholic faith (a dogma).
For those of you who are unaware of what this teaching of the Catholic Church is concerning the Immaculate Conception, it is not one that focuses on the virginity of Mary regarding the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, but rather it teaches that Mary did not inherit original sin as all of us did. They also teach that she never once committed sin of any kind her whole life long. Here is what it says in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The Immaculate Conception
Para 490 To become the Mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace.” In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.
Para 491 Through the centuries the church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by the virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
Para 492 The “splendor of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: she is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son.” The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love.”
Para 493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God “the All-Holy” (Panagia) and celebrate her as “free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature.” By the grace of God Mary remained free from every personal sin her whole life long.
To say that Mary was sinless is to go beyond what Scripture says when it declares in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Romans 5:12 God’s Word also says that “just as sin entered the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned.” To present a teaching that says Mary never sinned her entire life is also adding to the text what simply is not there, and God’s Word warns against doing such things! (1 Corinthians 4:6)If any teaching cannot be found in Scripture, or if the teaching conflicts with Scripture, it is to be rejected! God’s Word is to be held in higher regard than any teaching of any church –no matter what!
In the book of Revelation God gives this warning:
“I warn everyone who hears the words if the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18,19)
Clearly, God’s Word is not to be tampered with!
In the eyes of precious Catholics the teaching of the Immaculate Conception also places Mary on the same level as Jesus Christ, who, as Scripture clearly shows us, did remain sinless His whole life long even though He was temped in all ways as we are:
“But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him, or known him.” (1 John 3:5)
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:22)
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Once again, for those of you who are Catholic, I must ask you the question that God strongly impressed upon my mind in 1980 when I began to read the little Catholic New Testament and saw how the many teachings of Catholicism totally oppose what God’s Word has to say:
“Are you going to believe the Word of God, or the word of man?”
God’s Word gives us this warning in Colossians 2:8:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
In 2 Peter 3:15-18 we are also told:
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the errors of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
In the video below you will see the following quotes taken from messages supposedly given during apparitions of the Virgin Mary. If this was truly Mary she would not be claiming to have the attribute of God’s omnipresence, or telling people to consecrate themselvesto her heart.
“I’m always next to all those who pray and pray with maternal anxiety and concern.” (8:47 min. mark)
“I am always present in your midst.” (@ 7:16 min. mark).
“I am always next to all those who pray and pray with maternal desire and instinct.” (@8:52 min. mark).
“I’m always next to all those who pray and pray with maternal anxiety and concern.”(@8:56 min. mark)
“Consecration to My Heart is the vaccine that as loving Mother, I give you to keep epidemics of atheism that infects so many of My children, taking them to the death of true spirit.” (@9:07 min. mark)
Video – The Truth is Kept Intact Only in the Catholic Church
At the 9:07 minute mark in the video above you will also see the following:
Once again, the above message is one of many examples that show how precious Catholics are taught that they cannot come directly to Jesus, but must come through the Virgin Mary.
In the video below you will hear the following:
“…a bleeding wound appeared on the right hand of the statue of Our Lady in the chapel. Sister’s guardian angel told her the flowing of blood is significant for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for sins.” (5:55 minute mark)
“According to Sister Sasagawa, the Blessed Virgin wants to gather compassionate souls who can please God by their sufferings.” (7:28 minute mark)
Agnes Sasagawa: “He [God] loves us so deeply. He is trying to save us from the chastisements through Our Lady’s messages.” (7:59 minute mark)
If you listen to the video below, you will come to realize by what this priest says, that the Catholic church clearly teaches that Mary is the dispenser of all graces. In doing so they are, once again, causing many dear Catholics to turn to Mary instead of coming to God through Jesus Christ alone as God’s Word clearly reveals we are to do. (John 14:6) (Acts 4:12) You will also see that they attribute to Mary what only should rightly be the accomplishments of Jesus Christ in the role of our redemption:
“…she gave supernatural life to us at the foot of the cross by acquiring with her Son the graces of our redemption. And her role as mother did not cease after her ascension into heaven but she continues to dispense graces to souls here on earth –all graces. And for this reason we call her ‘The Mediatrix of All Graces.’ So today we invoke her under this title and we ask her to give her all the graces that we need to become the saints that God wants us to be.” (00:58-1:40 minute mark),
In the quick captures below, which are illustrations from the Baltimore Catechism, you will see that it is Mary who is identified as the Dispenser of All Graces:
Here are two videos on this topic from a Biblical perspective. I added many more for you on this topic and others, further below under Related Videos:
In the video below you will hear the following:
“So in today’s gospel where we have Our Lady standing at the foot of the cross…this is from St. John’s gospel…this prophecy of the sword of sorrow comes to fulfillment. The sword of sorrow that will pierce the soul of Our Lady is driven through her soul at the foot of the cross. And thus she becomes the Co-redemptrix with the Redeemer and the mother of the human race. So as she brought forth our Lord at Bethlehem with no pain, so now she brings forth the members of His mystical body in great pain… she gives birth, supernatural life to us poor sinners at the foot of the cross. And we too are called to share in this passion, in this work of redemption….we ask to be incorporated into this mystery of redemption, not in the objective redemption that Our Lady took part in, that is, opening the gates of heaven with her Son, acquiring the graces of redemption, but we’re called to share in the subjective redemption, that is in the distribution of those graces by our prayers, by our sacrifices as Our Lady did, uniting those with Christ on the cross we can become co-redeemers ourself, collaborators in the redemption of others, calling down graces, the graces of the redemption, upon souls who are in need…” (00:53-2:41)
While it is true that Mary indeed experienced deep sorrow as she looked upon her Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, as He suffered in agony during the six long hours that He hung on the cross and took upon Himself the sins of the world and the full wrath of God that was intended for us because of our sins, to say that she participated in the work of redemption is completely unbiblical! Nothing can be added — or needs to be added — to the sufferings of Jesus Christ that led to His death which satisfied God’s demand for justice.
The Catholic church has been in the process of petitioning popes — past and present — for quite some time now, desiring to have Mary declared as Co-redemptrix with Jesus Christ:
Mary on the cross with Christ – Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome – source – David Clouds video, entitled ‘Catholicism, Past And Present‘ (see below under Related Videos)
This is why it is so very important for everyone to be born again by the Spirit of God (not through baptism, as taught in Catholicism) so that when we read and study God’s Word we can then come to know the truth by the power of His Holy Spirit, and be able to discern truth from error as soon as we hear something! No matter what is proclaimed through the teachings of the Catholic Church, if it is not in God’s Word and if it conflicts or contradicts God’s Word even in the slightest way, it is not true!
Here is some of what God’s Word says that points to Jesus Christ and to Him alone as bringing about our salvation:
“He [Jesus Christ] came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13) (Insertion added)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:7-9)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:25-31)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23,24)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”(Romans 5:1)
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:6-9)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:1-11)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9,10)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thessalonians 5:9)
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)
“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:22-25)
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7 )
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”(1 John 5:11-13)
In the following videos you will hear many attempts made by Catholic clergy and leaders in the Catholic church to justify their reasons for petitioning the pope to have the Virgin Mary proclaimed as Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate –titles that should in no way be given to Mary, for Jesus Christ alone is our Redeemer, our Mediator, and our Advocate with the Father, and before Jesus ascended into heaven He made it known that the Holy Spirit would come and be our Advocate (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:13,14, 1 Peter 1:18-21, 1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1, John 14:16,17, 26, John 15:26, John 16:7)!
These are also titles that the entity in many of the apparitions is requesting to be proclaimed by the pope as *dogmas of the Catholic church, *(dogma – a truth that must be divinely revealed, and it must be infallibly defined by the Catholic church as something that has been divinely revealed, and it must be believed as true by all who claim to be Catholic). I will be sharing more detailed information with you in Part 2 to give evidence to the fact that this being who claims to be the Virgin Mary is making requests to have the pope grant her these titles, and that when he does, true peace will come to the world for a time!
Blessed Virgin Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate
Dr. Miravalle, Professor of Theology and Mariology at the Franciscan University at Steubenville for over 35 years. He may have a lot of credentials, but does everything he says line up with Scripture? Or is he simply trying to insert into Scripture what simply is not there?
In the following video, clergy from many nations and from many churches, including an Anglican church, gather together to present a proposal to declare Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of All Graces, and Advocate of the people of God. Nowhere in Scripture do we see any evidence to support giving Mary such titles which, regardless of what anyone says, truly would and does detract from what only Jesus Christ accomplished for us through His propitiatory sacrifice on the cross, His death, and His glorious resurrection from the dead!
Here are some quotes from previous popes and Catholic leaders concerning the Virgin Mary:
“Who can worthily thank thee and adequately praise thee, O Blessed Virgin, who by thy fiat has saved a lost world.” ~Saint Augustine
“Sinners receive pardon by the intercession of Mary alone.” ~Saint John Chrysostom
“All those who seek Mary’s protection will be saved for all eternity.” ~Pope Benedict XV
“For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is his will, that we obtain everything through Mary.” ~Pope Pius IX, Ubi Primum, 1849
“The Church…been accustomed to have recourse to that most ready intercessor, her Mother Mary…For as Saint Irenaeus says, she “has become the cause of salvation for the whole human race.” ~Pope Paul VI Christi Matri
“In every miracle we must recognize the mediation of Mary, through whom, according to God’s will, every grace and blessing comes to us.” ~Pope Benedict XV
“O Mary, the guardian of our peace and the dispensatrix of heavenly graces.” ~Pope Leo XIII, Supremi Apostolatus, 1883
Many of the visionaries who see these alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary exhibit unusual spiritual and physical manifestations, many which can be observed in the world of the occult: translike states, levitation, ecstatic falls into sculpture-like positions in which four doctors could not move them, no response when being pricked with pins, having flashlights being directed into their eyes, not being burned when a match was held momentarily against their hand, “walking forward and backwards over rocky terrain with heads tilted back and eyes looking heavenward” as they were drawn to the presence that called them inwardly to the spot where the apparitions took place; all manifestations that defy natural law. Another common occurrence in many of these apparitions is the appearance of an angel to the visionaries announcing that the Virgin Mary would soon be appearing to them, just like what happened at Fatima. In the video below you will discover what took place at Garabandal, Spain in 1961-1965 when the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to four young girls over 2,000 times and gave them the following messages, and many more, which do not reflect the truth that can be found in the Biblical gospel that shows Jesus Christ’s once for all sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to pay the debt for our sins in full; no more sacrifices are needed!
“You must make many sacrifices, perform much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently. But first, you must lead good lives. If you do not, a chastisement will befall you! The cup is already filling up. If you do not change, a very great chastisement will come upon you.”
“You should turn the wrath of God away from yourselves by your efforts. If you ask His forgiveness with sincere hearts, He will pardon you. I, your mother, through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, ask you to amend your lives. I love you very much and do not want your condemnation. Pray to us with sincerity and we will grant your requests. You should make more sacrifices. Think about the passion of Jesus.”
At the 3:23 minute mark, it is stated:
“On July 1962 a significant phenomenon took place between Conchita and the Archangel Michael. This miracle was prophesized two weeks in advance. Conchita received a visible communion host on her tongue from the Archangel, witnessed by hundreds of people. This miracle was chosen to call our attention to the reality of the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.”
While the Catholic church does teach that the bread and the wine literally becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ during the Sacrifice of the Mass (CCC Para 1374), many Christians gave their lives and were burned at the stake rather than to accept that as being true. They knew that to accept this teaching would mean they would not only have to deny the sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s once for all sacrifice, but also they would have to reject the truth revealed in God’s Word that clearly says the following:
“Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart for sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” (Hebrews 7:26,27)
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one, he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)
“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:11,12)
Visionary, Conchita Gonzalez, says the following beginning at the 5:29 minute mark:
“Our Lady did not come just for the people in the village of Garabandal, but rather, she came for the whole world; for all of mankind.”(Again, a message that reveals this entity is attempting to reach everyone –no matter what their religion may be).
Garabandal predicts four supernatural events will take place, and the date they are to happen will be revealed to Conchita eight days in advance:
1) A celestial worldwide warning
2) The great miracle – the sick will be cured and unbelievers will be converted
3) a permanent visible sign will appear and remain until the end of time; a sign that can be photographed and televised but cannot be touched
4) A chastisement
Near the end of this video, the narrator, Ricardo Montalban, has the following to say, which again shows that the messages given during these apparitions are attempting to bring about unity because they are not intended just for Catholics, but to reach and to influence all the people in the world, (as you will see in Part 2 of this series).
“She [the Virgin Mary] clearly wanted all of us to know that we are all her children.”
There has been talk for quite some time now of a “New Pentecost” by many Catholic leaders, and it has also been said that the Virgin Mary will be the one to bring this about:
In the video below you will hear Dr. Miravalle say the following starting at the 6:05 minute mark:
“Well now, we need a new Pentecost. How are we going to get a new Pentecost? We’re going to get a New Pentecost by doing proper tribute to the Mother. By proclaiming the truth about the Mother. By giving the Mother a dogmatic crown… Conceive it this way if you’re a visual person. Think of…a dove entrapped in the Immaculate Heart. Think of our Blessed Mother’s heart and think of a cage in the heart. And think of a dove entrapped in the heart. Now of course the Holy Spirit is divine…of course the Holy Spirit can do what He wants, but in the order of providence…in the order how God has arranged it, the Holy Spirit will not descend until the mother is recognized. So in other words, when the Mother is recognized in the proclamation of the dogma…when she is solemnly pronounced as the Spiritual Mother of all Peoples, then and only then, the Holy Spirit will be freed to mediate through her in bringing the graces of redemption and a new redemption to humanity. To bring the grace of a new Pentecost to humanity.”
“Saint Maximilian, again, is so one in this thought. He says, “The Holy Spirit is the source of all graces. Mary is the instrument of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts only through the Immaculata…” So, she is the Mediatrix of each and every grace of the H S. That means when you get the dogma, and my friends, it’s not if, it’s when…when the Holy Father makes a proclamation of the dogma…when that takes place, when the Mother is acknowledged, the Holy Spirit, the cage will be opened, the Holy Spirit, the dove will fly out of the Immaculate heart of Mary and historic graces will come upon a church, the world, in need of these graces by the day.”
As I was continuing my research for this post by listening to many different videos over the past month, I discovered the following video awaiting me yesterday on my YouTube channel among the list of recommended videos for me to watch. Dr. Miravalle opens the video by saying the following:
“You and I must start tapping the supernatural power of our guardian angels.”
Whether you listened to all of what Dr. Miravalle had to say or not, the title of the above video alone should raise some red flags concerning the reliability of Dr. Miravalle’s teachings!
It is my prayer that many of you are now coming to realize by the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as by the evidence in this information that I have shared with you so far, that the Virgin Mary is truly being exalted to a position that is nearly — if not completely — equal with Jesus Christ, God in the flesh by the Roman Catholic Church by giving her titles, and petitioning for titles, that rob Jesus Christ of all the glory that is due to Him alone!
Many of these apparitions have been approved by the Catholic Church because the messages do not conflict with Catholic doctrine. However, if the Catholic church were to test these messages solely against Scripture and not by their “Tradition” that they declare must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments and reverence as Scripture is (CCC Para 80,81,82,95), most of the messages would fail to line up with God’s Word, and instead they would completely contradict it!
The Virgin Mary as revealed in Scripture would never seek for such power, position, and authority that is being expressed in these messages given during these apparitions! There is only one who would, and he has been striving to do so — and to be worshiped — since the beginning of time –Satan! (Isaiah 14:12-15) (Matthew 4:8-11)
(TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2)
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye hath delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:7,9,13)
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
RELATED VIDEOS
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems.
Welcome to Part 2 in this series concerning the 100 Year Anniversary of the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917. In this post we will look very closely and carefully at some of the messages given during these apparitions. Not only will we “test the spirits to see if they are from God” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1) or not, but also we will then compare these messages to God’s Word, the Bible, to see if what was said in these messages is true or not, as we are shown to do in Acts 17:11
“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
The leadership of the Catholic church bases the validity of the messages given during these apparitions mainly on if they agree or if they contradict the teachings of the Catholic church. However, for those of us who are Bible believing Christians, God’s Word must be our final authority; we must make the choice to believe God’s Word when the words of men or any message contradicts Scripture.
Below are the main messages that were given during these apparitions that took place from May 13, 1917 to October 13, 1917, as well as a little added information, as it is recorded in this little book, entitled, Mother of Christ Crusade. Back in the 1980s shortly after I became a Christian I received this book from my Aunt Lee who was a Catholic nun for many years. Time does not permit me to “test the spirits” and to ‘examine every message given during these alleged apparitions in light of Scripture,’ (Acts 17:11) as I was planning on doing, but I have done some for you, and trust that you will pray for discernment and test all of them against the truth of God’s Word, as we as born-again, Bible believing Christians are always to do when we read any article or book, or listen to a teaching by anyone who claims to be a Christian.
This little book also has been approved by the Catholic church and has the Imprimatur:
James E. Cassidy Bishop of Fall River August 11,1947 Fall River, Mass.
At the back of this book, in part, it says the following:
EXACT TRUTH
This book is written by Sister Lucy and Fr. John de Marchi together. He spent 3 1/2 years in her company gathering all the facts and she carefully verified them in every detail personally.
I shared all of that with you to establish the fact that the information concerning the events that took place has been carefully documented and approved by the Catholic church, so that when you read the following Scriptures and keep them in mind as you read the messages given during these apparitions, you will then have to decide to either believe the truth of God’s Word, or reject it and choose to believe the messages of Fatima; you cannot have it both ways. Jesus Christ paid the debt for all of our sins in full, and there is nothing that we can do to add to what He has already done for us; no further sacrifices are needed!
PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT AND READ THESE SCRIPTURES
“He is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day, for his own sins first, and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself.” (Hebrews 7:27)
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:11-14)
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)
“Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all made clean from sin by the offering that he made of his own body, once and for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
“For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:21-24)
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy.” (Titus 3:4,5)
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4)
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-9)
THE MESSAGES OF FATIMA
Before the apparitions of the Virgin Mary allegedly began to take place in May of 1917 at Fatima, Portugal, the three shepherd children, cousins, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, were said to have received visits from an angel who identified himself as the Angel of Peace, and later further identified himself as “the Guardian Angel; the Angel of Portugal.” Here are some portions of these accounts as they are presented in this little book:
1915
“When the sun told them that it was mid-day, they sat down to their lunch, and having finished, began the Rosary as was their custom even at that tender age. During the recitation all of them noticed the sudden appearance of a cloud in form like that of a man, hovering above the foliage of the valley. Like a cloud, whiter than snow, slightly transparent, with a human outline, was Lucia’s description.” (Page 1)
A Year Later
“The rain stopped,” Lucia went on, “and the sun shone brightly, but we spent the day in the cave. We had our lunch and after the Rosary we started to play jacks. We played only for a short while, when a strong wind shook the trees, and made us raise our eyes to see what was happening, for the day was serene. There above the trees toward the East, we began to see a light, whiter than snow. It was the form of a young man, transparent, more brilliant than a crystal pierced by the rays of the sun…” Lucia tried to describe each detail of his appearance. “As he approached, we began to distinguish his features. We were so surprised and half absorbed, and we could not utter one word.
He came near us and said: “Fear not! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!” The angel knelt on the ground and bowed very low. By some inspiration, they imitated him and repeated the words they heard him pronounce: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, and do not love You.”
He repeated this prayer three times. Then he arose and said: “Pray this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.” The Angel disappeared and the awareness of the supernatural was so intense that for a long space of time they remained there in the same position in which he left them, unaware of their very existence, repeating that same prayer over and over again.” (Page 2)
Summer – Second Apparition of the Angel
“Meanwhile, the three cousins spent their days playing their games under the inviting shade of the fig trees. When they were tired, they relaxed at the well, under the lacy foliage of the olive and almond trees. It was while resting there, during one early afternoon, that the Angel visited them again. Lucia tells us what happened:
“What are you doing?” The Angel suddenly appeared at their side. “Pray! Pray a great deal! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy for you! Offer unceasingly to the Most High prayers and sacrifices!”
“But how are we to sacrifice ourselves?” Lucia said.
“Offer up everything within your power as a sacrifice to the Lord in an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended; and of supplication for the conversion of sinners. Thus invoke peace upon our country. I am her Guardian Angel; the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings that the Lord may send you.” (Page 5,7 – picture on Page 6)
Autumn- Third Apparition of the Angel
“Autumn drew near. The children set out with the sheep to the hills for the whole day. They were due for another surprise visit. “We wandered from Pregueira to Lapa, going around the hill by the side of Aljustrel and Casa Velha,” Lucia continued her report. We said the Rosary there and the prayer that the Angel had taught us in the first apparition. Then the Angel appeared to us for the third time. He was holding a chalice in his hand. A Host was over it, from which fell some drops of Blood into the chalice. Leaving the chalice and Host suspended in mid-air, he prostrated himself on the ground, repeating this prayer three times:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore you profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all tabernacles of the earth, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He Himself is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners.” (Page 9)
Testing The Spirits
The above message speaks of “the chalice and Host” being “suspended in mid-air.” Would the thrice Holy and one true God use the occult practice of levitation, as shown in this apparition of the angel? I think not!
Examining the Message in Light of Scripture
It is not my intention to offend any Catholic who may be reading this, but as a former Catholic I must also point out that even though it is Catholic doctrine to “offer God the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the earth in reparation for the outrages, etc…,” it is blasphemy because it denies Jesus Christ’s “once for all” sacrifice; a statement that is repeated over and over in God’s Word (as shown in the Scriptures that I added further above) to emphasize the truth of that fact. If you will take the time to read John Chapter 5:16-47 – John 6:1-69 (so that you read these verses in context) and ask God to show you the truth concerning Jesus’ words about ‘eating His flesh and drinking His blood,‘ your eyes will be opened to see the truth by His Holy Spirit, just as mine were as I took the time to search the Scriptures in a Catholic New Testament that I had been given and tested what I had been taught as a Catholic against the truth of God’s Word.
Here are the main verses that I would like to share with you:
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)
“You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:38-40)
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”(John 6:32-35)
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue, at Capernaum.
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching; who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of man ascend to where he was before! The spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:53-63)
Continuing on with the angel’s message:
“The Angel then arose, and holding the chalice and the Host again, he gave the Host to Lucia, and the contents or the chalice to Jacinta and Francisco, while he said: “Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.” He prostrated himself again on the ground and again repeated with the children three times the prayer: “Most Holy Trinity…” Then he disappeared.
The three of them remained kneeling on the ground for a long while, repeating over and over again the inspired, heart-stirring prayer of the Angel.” (Page 9-11)
I already addressed the angel’s words concerning the “Body and Blood of Jesus Christ,” but there’s one more thing that I would like to point out concerning “the Host” before we briefly look at the prayer that the angel taught the children of Fatima:
As I was doing some research during the time that I wrote Part 2 of my testimony, I discovered that the word ‘host’ actually means “sacrificial victim.” I will share this information for you again here:
Definition of victim on – thefreedictionary.com: “A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.”
But God’s Word says Jesus was never a ‘victim’; He gave His life willingly and only once:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd is willing to die for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them.” (John 10:11,14,15)
“The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will.” (John 10:17,18)
“In order to set us free from this present evil age, Christ gave Himself for our sins, in obedience to the will of our God and Father.” (Galatians 1:4)
“For the blood of bulls and goats can never take sins away. For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God: “You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me. You are not pleased with animals burned whole on the altar, or with sacrifices to take away sins. Then I said, ‘Here I am, God, to do what you want me to do, just as it is written of me in the book of the Law.” (Hebrews 10:5-7)
Now let’s take a moment and go back to the angel’s prayer and test it against Scripture mainly because of the fact that he repeated it over and over, thus teaching the children to do the same, which is a pagan, occultic practice that is done which can put one’s mind in an altered state of consciousness and leaving it opened to be manipulated by man, or even by demonic spirits, as many who have previously been involved in the world of the occult can attest to.
God’s Word says:
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:7,8)
May 13, 1917 First Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“On Sunday, the thirteenth of May, in the year 1917, during the midst of the First World War, God sent to earth the loveliest flower of the ages, His own beautiful Mother, Mary, whom we address as Queen of the May. “Fear not!” the Lady said, “I will not harm you.” “Where are you from?” Lucia made bold to ask. “I am from Heaven,” the beautiful Lady replied, gently raising her hand towards the distant horizons. “What do you want of me?” Lucia humbly asked. “I came to ask you to come here for six consecutive months, on the thirteenth day, at this same hour. I will tell you later who I am and what I want.” (Page 24,27, 28) (Emphasis in purple added)
You may now be asking the same question that I once asked while I was doing research as I wrote Part 2 of my testimony a few years ago, which was, “Who is the Queen of the May?”
But first, a little background:
In Roman Catholicism, the month of May is always dedicated to Mary. During this time there is what’s called a ‘May crowning,’ where there is a procession of children walking into church, and a girl would be chosen to place a crown of flowers upon the head of the statue of Mary. Many songs are sung about Mary and to Mary.
Now to answer the question: “Who is the Queen of the May?” You may find this information as disturbing as I did when I first found it:
“The May Queen or Queen of May…a mythical figure and as a personification of the holiday and of Springtime…”
“Today the May Queen is a girl who must ride or walk at the front of a parade for May Day celebrations. She wears a white gown to symbolise purity and usually a tiara or crown.”
“She is generally crowned by flowers and makes a speech before the dancing begins.”
“According to popular British folklore,the tradition once had a sinister twist, in that the May Queen was put to death once the festivities were over.”
“…frequent associations between May Day rituals, the occult, and human sacrifice are still to be found in popular culture today.”
In the ‘quick capture’ above it says the following:
“The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, and the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries. It is also associated with the Gaelic Beltane. Many pagan celebrations were abandoned or Christianized during the process of conversion in Europe. A more secular version of May Day continues to be observed in Europe and America. In this form May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing the maypole dance and crowning of the Queen of the May.” In the Roman Catholic tradition, May is observed as Mary’s month, and in these circles May Day is usually in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this connection, in works of art, school skits, and so forth, Mary’s head will often be adorned with flowers in a May crowning.”
Oftentimeswhen Mary is crowned, the ‘Maypole dance’ is done that day, as well. The Maypole dance actually has its roots in paganism. It is a pagan celebration called ‘Beltane’ — ‘Celebrating the Fertility of Spring.’ This is how one site describes — ‘How To Celebrate Beltane with a Maypole Dance’
“The pole was erected on the village green or common, or even a handy field–thrust into the ground either permanently or a temporary basis–and brightly colored ribbons attached to it. Young people came and danced around the pole, each holding the end of the ribbon. As they wove in and out, men going one way and women the other, it created a sleeve of sorts — the enveloping womb of the earth — around the pole. By the time they were done, the Maypole was nearly invisible beneath the sheath of ribbon.” SOURCE
After reading all of the above information, one of the many questions that every Catholic should be asking themselves right now is:
“Why is the Virgin Mary being given the same title as that of a pagan goddess –Queen of the May?”
Examining the Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary Part 2
“Two girls who used to come to her house to learn sewing from her sisters had recently died. Lucia wanted to find out about them too. “And Maria do Rosario, daughter of Jose’ das Neves, is she in Heaven?”
“Yes,” the Lady replied.
“And Amelia?” “She is still in Purgatory.” Lucia’s eyes filled with tears. How sad, that her friend Amelia was suffering in the fires of Purgatory. Then the Lady said to the children: “Do you want to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may choose to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended and as a supplication for the conversion of sinners?” Promptly Lucia responded for all three. “Yes, we want to.” (Page 29,30)
Is the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory Biblical?
Testing the Spirits:
Did Jesus Christ’s once for all sacrifice on the cross leave some punishment still due for sin as the Catholic church teaches? (Catechism of the Catholic Church Para 1030-1032 and 1472)
God’s Word says:
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:4-8)
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” ( Colossians 1:12-14)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (1 Peter 1:1-9)
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5-9)
PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WATCHING THESE VIDEOS WHEN TIME ALLOWS
It is my prayer that all of this information will cause every precious Catholic who reads this post to begin reading a Bible and testing everything that they have been taught in light of Scripture and come to the knowledge of the true Biblical gospel.
Now back to testing the rest of the messages against Scripture:
June 13, 1917 Second Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“Lucia raised her eyes towards the skies, as if in prayer, and was heard to say, “You told me to come here today. What do you want me to do?”
Our Lady: “I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month. Say the Rosary inserting between the mysteries the following ejaculation — “O My Jesus. Forgive us. Save us from the fires of Hell. Bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need.’ I want you to learn to read and write, and later I will tell you what else I want.”
Lucia: “I would like to ask you also to take us to Heaven!”
“Yes,” Our Lady answered. “I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. You, however, are to stay here a longer time. Jesus wants to use you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish the Devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the World. I promise salvation to those who embrace it and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by myself to adorn His throne.”
Lucia: “Am I going to stay here alone?”
Our Lady: “No, my daughter. Does this cause you to suffer a great deal? I will never leave you, my Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”
Testing the spirits:
1) The message above implies that Mary is omnipresent; she says what only God Himself has said.
2) God alone is our refuge, not Mary.
3) Jesus alone can lead us to God
God’s Word says:
1) “And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)
2) “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
“For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.” (Isaiah 25:4)
“O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, And my refuge in the day of distress, To You the nations will come From the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, Futility and things of no profit.” (Jeremiah 16:19)
3) “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11,12)
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5,6)
Final Portion of Message Given During Second Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“There was a heart before the palm of the right hand of Our Lady, with thorns piercing it. We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so offended by the sins of mankind, desiring reparation.” (Page 51-53)
July 13, 1917 Third Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“…Lucia, looking up towards Our Lady, her eyes filled with loving devotion, asked, “What do you want of me?”
“I want you to return here on the thirteenth of next month,” the Lady said. “Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war; for she alone can save it.”
“Continue to come here every month. In October I will say who I am and what I desire and I will perform a miracle all shall see so that they believe.” “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners; and say often, especially when you make some sacrifice: ‘My Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’
As Our Lady said these words, Lucia later described the scenes: “She opened her hands again as she had done the two previous months. The light reflecting from them seemed to penetrate into the earth, and we saw as if into a sea of fire, and immersed in that fire were devils and souls with human form…” Frightened, deathly pale, the little ones raised their eyes to Our Lady for help as Lucia cried out, “Oh,…Our Lady!”
Our Lady explained: “You have seen Hell– where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wants to establish throughout the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people will do what I will tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace. The war is going to end. But if they do not stop offending God, another and worse war will break out in the reign of Pius XI . When you see a night illuminated by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign that God gives you, that He is going to punish the world for its crimes by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father [the pope]. To forestall this, I shall come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If they heed my request Russia will be converted, and there will be peace. If not, she shall spread her errors throughout the world, promoting wars and persecutions of the Church; the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated; in the end my Immaculate Heart shall triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, which will be converted, and some time of peace will be given to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the faith will be kept always. Do not tell this to anyone. To Francisco, yes, you may tell it.”
Lucia: “Don’t you want anything else from me?” “No; today I desire nothing else from you.”
August 13, 1917 Fourth Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“When it became known that the Magistrate had kidnapped them [the three shepherd children], a terrible resentment went through the crowd. There is no telling what it might have turned into, had it not thundered just then. Right after the thunder came a flash, and immediately we all noticed a little cloud, very white, beautiful and bright, that came and stayed over the holmoak. It stayed a few minutes, then rose towards the heavens where it disappeared. Looking about we noticed a strange sight that we had already seen and would see again. Everyone’s face glowed, rose, red, blue, all the colours of the rainbow. The trees seemed to have no branches or leaves but were all covered with flowers; every leaf was a flower. The ground was in little squares each one a different colour. Our clothes seemed to be transformed also into the colours of the rainbow. The two vigil lanterns hanging from the arch over the holy spot appeared to be of gold. When the signs disappeared, the people seemed to realize that Our Lady had come and, not finding the children, had returned to Heaven.” (Page 87,88)
Sept. 13, 1917 Fifth Alleged Apparition of the Virgin Mary
“Another day, while pasturing their sheep, they found a piece of rope. Playfully, Lucia tied it around her arm and soon discovered that it hurt. “Look, this hurts! We could tie this around our body for another sacrifice.” The rope was thick and very rough. They cut it in three pieces and tied it around their waists. The sharp pain it caused was difficult to endure, especially for little Jacinta. Lucia suggested that she take it off, but Jacinta insisted she keep it on. She would willingly endure any sacrifice to save sinners from hell. They even wore the rope to bed. This prevented them from getting the rest they needed and Our Lady spoke about it in her next visit.
“What do you want of me?” Lucia spoke very humbly.
“Let the people continue to say the Rosary every day to obtain the end of the war.” Our Lady responded, at the same time renewing the promises she made during her last apparition. “In the last month, in October, I shall perform a miracle so that all may believe in my apparitions. If they had not taken you to the village, the miracle would have been greater. Saint Joseph will come with the Baby Jesus to give peace to the world. Our Lord also will come to bless the people. Besides Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Sorrows will come. God is pleased with your sacrifices but does not wish that you sleep with the rope. Wear it only during the day.”
“The people would very much like to have a chapel built here.” Lucia suggested.
“Our Lady: “Use half of the money received so far for the litters. On one of them, place the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. The other half should be set aside to help with the building of the chapel.”
Lucia: “Many people say that I am a swindler who should be hanged or burned. Please perform a miracle for all to believe.”
Our Lady: “Yes, in October I will perform a miracle so that all m[a]y believe.” (Pages 106,111,112)
October 13, 1917 Sixth Apparition – Miracle of the Sun
“Silence, silence, Our Lady is coming,” Lucia cries out as she saw the flash. The rain having ceased, the sun began gradually to appear, and Our Lady came. The faces of the three children assumed an unworldly expression, their features becoming more delicate, their color mellow, their eyes intent upon the Lady. They did not hear Lucia’s mother warning her to look closely so as not to be deceived.
“What do you want of me?” Lucia inquired of the Queen of Heaven.
“I want to tell you that they must build a chapel here in my honor; that I am the Lady of the Rosary; that they continue to say the Rosary every day. The was will end and the soldiers will return to their homes soon, ” Our Lady responded.
Lucia:”I have many favors to ask. Do you wish to grant them or not?”
Our Lady:”Some I will, others I will not! They must mend their lives, ask forgiveness for their sins. Offend not our Lord any more,” Our Lady continued, her face becoming very grave, “For He is already much offended.”
“Do you want anything else from me?” the girl asked.
“I desire nothing else.” Our Lady took leave of the children, she opened her hands which emitted a flood of light. While she was rising she pointed towards the sun and the light gleaming from her hands brightened the sun itself. ”
“There she goes; there she goes!” shouted Lucia…”
“The sun was now pale as the moon. To the left of the sun, Saint Joseph appeared holding in his left arm, the Child Jesus. Saint Joseph emerged from the bright clouds only to his chest, sufficient to allow him to raise his right hand and make, together with the Child Jesus, the Sign of the Cross three times over the world. As Saint Joseph did this, Our Lady stood in all her brilliancy to the right of the sun, dressed in the blue and white robes of Our Lady of the Rosary.” Meanwhile Francisco and Jacinta were bathed in the marvelous colours and signs of the sun, and Lucia was privileged to gaze upon Our Lord dressed in red as the Divine Redeemer blessing the world, as Our Lady had foretold. Like Saint Joseph, He was seen only from His chest up. Beside Him stood Our Lady, dressed now in the purple robes of Our Lady of Sorrows, but without the sword. Finally, the Blessed Virgin appeared again to Lucia in all her ethereal brightness, clothed in the simple brown robes of Mount Carmel.”
A Few Of Many Eye Witness Accounts Of The Miracle Of The Sun
“We could look at the sun with ease.” Ti Marto testified; “It did not bother at all. It seemed to be continually fading and glowing in one fashion, then another. It threw shafts of light one way and another painting everything in different colors, the people, the trees, the earth, even the air. But the greatest proof of the miracle was the fact that the sun did not bother the eyes.” At a certain point the sun stopped its play of light and then started dancing. It stopped once more and again started dancing until it seemed to loosen itself from the skies and fall upon the people. It was a moment of terrible suspense.”
Maria da Capelinha: “The sun cast different colours, yellow, blue, and white. It trembled constantly. It looked like a revolving ball of fire falling upon the people.”
As the sun hurled itself towards the earth in a mighty zig-zag motion, the multitude cried out in terror, “Ai Jesus, we are all going to die here; Ai Jesus we are all going to die here.”
Some people begged for mercy, Our Lady save us; many others made acts of contrition. One lady was even confessing her sins aloud. At last the sun swerved back to its orbit and rested in the sky.” (Pages 128-131)
We will take a much closer look at this event known as “the Miracle of the Sun” as we briefly look at some more of these alleged Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in light of Scripture in the near future –Lord willing.
Let’s continue on with what some are presently saying concerning the alleged Apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima back in 1917:
I am sure that many of you are aware of Rick Warren’s PEACE PLAN, but are you aware of the fact that Fatima is said to be Heaven’s Peace Plan? Here are some quotes that you will hear in the video further below by a well known Catholic apologist and others:
Gregory Hesse: “She gave very simple and clear instruction. I cannot possibly understand how it would ever be a problem for a pope. She said, “The Holy Father must consecrate Russia to my Immaculate Heart together with the bishops of the world.” (13:02-13:18 minute mark)
Gerry Matatics: “There is absolutely zero possibility of true and lasting world peace apart from this demand being obeyed exactly according to God’s strict letter… God is very clear about it in the Bible…when He gives a covenant, when He gives a command, He wants it obeyed in just that way, and He will not let us substitute.”
“If someone says, “It’s too hard for me to get that, it’s too inconvenient. How about this instead?” You can’t…you can’t bargain with God…And so, unless we do exactly what God has requested, no… there’s no possibility of this at all. There must be submission to the Queen Mother in order there to be submission to her Son. Again we honor Mary, we honor Jesus –it’s a package deal.”(14:58-15:53 minute mark)
Narrator: “But is conversion of an entire nation actually possible? Today Mexico is largely a Catholic society because of a miracle that took place there in 1531. In what is now known as the town of Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego and requested that a church be built there in her honor. The ultimate credence was given to his story when he removed his cloak before the local bishop and the inside of his cloak bore this miraculous image of the Virgin herself. The Catholic missionaries had been trying to reach the Aztec people of the region for years without any success, but upon simply seeing this image they were immediately converted. So many were converted that the priests of Guadalupe could do nothing but baptize new converts from morning till night for ten years. If this is the power that Our Lady’s image is capable of, then how can we deny that it may be possible to convert all of Russia, or even eventually –the entire world.”(19:06-20:33 minute mark)
It is very disturbing to see and to hear how many are attributing to Mary the power to bring about peace in our world. There will be no peace until Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace returns to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! What is even more disturbing is the statement that was made by the narrator in the video above, in which he said:
“The Catholic missionaries had been trying to reach the Aztec people of the region for years without any success, but upon simply seeing this image they were immediately converted. So many were converted that the priests of Guadalupe could do nothing but baptize new converts from morning till night for ten years.”
First of all, God’s Word makes it clear that it is the gospel that is the power unto salvation.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16,17)
If people are converting to a religion — Catholicism — because of an image that they see, this is not true conversion! Sadly, these people are still separated from God because of their sins! They need to hear the true Biblical gospel; that Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, willingly came to this earth and lived the perfect, sinless life that we could never live, to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins. They need to understand the amazingly good news that Jesus Christ bore all of our sins and guilt upon His body on the cross, suffered and died in our place, and gloriously arose from the dead on the third day. They need to come to realize that through Jesus Christ they can then come before a Holy God:
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1,2)
Another thing that I would like to bring to your attention concerning the narrator’s statement about the conversion of thousands of people due to viewing the image upon Juan Diego’s cloak, are his final and chilling words:
“If this is the power that Our Lady’s image is capable of, then how can we deny that it may be possible to convert all of Russia, or even eventually –the entire world.”
As we continue through this series on the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary it will become very clear to you that when they speak of conversion, it is not to Christianity. The messages that are given to the visionaries during these alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary are completely in line with Catholic doctrine, and yet embrace all of humanity. The goal is unity: Not only is the goal to convert Russia, but also to convert the entire world –to Catholicism, by the means of these apparitions and deceptive messages and signs and wonders in the sky. Please do not be deceived!
It is not widely known, but last year on May 4, 2016, another so-called ‘miracle of the sun‘ took place in Ourem, Portugal. This is the same area where the three shepherd children were taken captive back in 1917 by the Magistrate of the country who threatened to kill them if they did not reveal the secrets that were said to have been given to them by the Virgin Mary during the apparitions.
TRANSLATION; INFORMATION EXACTLY AS FOUND UNDER VIDEO:
Published on May 10, 2016
More than a hundred faithful attended yesterday in Orem to what they say is a new sun miracle when they accompanied the pereglina image of Our Lady of Fatima in its passage by the parish
the phenomenon lasted for more than a quarter of an hour and was noticed when the bier with pereglina image of Our Lady of Fatima that is to traverse the diocese leave the church in Orem toward Caxarias
I began to see everyone looks at the sun everyone looks at the sun and I of course, I also see I had no doubt, more expectable thing
and I saw the sun spins dizzily with extreme speed I had never seen and the sun was surrounded by a circumference a blue aurea and then it was a big circle. shall we say, but it was not even red, even, orange, orange, and always the sun to spin and spin and spin
as if it were a slice, a sun round, a round sun, and the return of the sun stood a glare so red, then was yellow
report, wanting to talk moved and no explanation for what happened, the faithful regard as a divine sign, un message of Our Lady
NSS would like to travel and ….
q thought was a lot, do not know
I was a bit excited and thought it clalhar is a high manifestation a manifestation of the divine, I think so, I’m sure because I have faith, and much faith in NSS fátima
q I think yes, I me we were to live a little that a little
the phenomenon occurs a week periguinação that marks the first aparicção NSS to three shepherd children and it was devalued by armindo pastor January, who said he had not seen anything special in the sunshine but who saw, not talk about something else.
sun miracle during a procession with the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima in Ourem – Portugal.
Is this a prelude of what is to come? Will something take place on May 13, 2017 during the 100 year anniversary of these alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary as some modern day visionaries have said in messages supposedly transmitted to them by the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and even Joseph, who was the husband of Mary? (More on that in an upcoming post –Lord willing). One thing is certain. If something does happen, it will not be by the hand of the one true and completely Holy God of the Bible! We have many warnings throughout God’s Word about spiritual deception in the last days Here are just a few of them:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Matthew 24:3-7)
“And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” (Luke 21:5-11)
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Will you be one of the many who will choose not to receive the love of the truth so that you might be saved; will you sadly be one of the many who will reject the truth and therefore God will turn you over so that you will end up believing the lie –whatever the lie may be? I pray not!
In the book of Jeremiah we see the worship of the queen of heaven, and God was clearly provoked to anger by what they were doing:
“Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:17-19)
“Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs. And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life. ” (Jeremiah 44:15-30)
IN CLOSING
As I previously pointed out to you in this post through the Scriptures that I shared with you, God’s Word makes it very clear that there will be spiritual deception and many convincing, but lying signs and wonders in the last days. Therefore, we must make sure that we are not led astray by anything that may captivate us emotionally, such as these apparitions.
Many Catholics, as well as some of other faiths, believe that it is truly the Virgin Mary who is appearing to visionaries around the world. They also say that God is using her in these days of turmoil and violence to bring about peace to our troubled world. In the first video in this post, Fatima Heaven’s Peace Plan, it is made abundantly clear that many Catholics believe that it is God who has requested that Russia be consecrated to the Virgin Mary’s immaculate heart, and that this is the key to bringing about world peace.
Sadly, many Catholic leaders — past and present — such as Louis de Montfort, point precious Catholics to Mary, instead of to Jesus Christ, by teaching things such as this:
WHY APPARITIONS?
Why would God send Mary into the world through apparitions, when He has already sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh into the world, and revealed to us all that we need to know? It is only through Jesus Christ that we find true peace. Do not be deceived!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16,17)
“God, WHO at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
God’s Word reveals very little to us about the Virgin Mary, but by what is recorded for us we see that she was very humble, and that in spite of how she would be looked upon by others, she completely submitted to the will of God and gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: For thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy things which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:30-35)
With these things in mind, it is evident that she would never have given some of the messages that were said to have been given during the apparitions at Fatima, because, as you have seen, many of them clearly contradict the Word of God.
Turn to God through Jesus Christ: He is the only way to God, the only name under heaven by which we can be saved, and the only Mediator between God and men. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5,6)
Do not be deceived by these apparitions or by the teachings and traditions of men!
“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias [Isaiah] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:6-9)
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:8,9)
RELATED INFORMATION
These are the three shepherd children who allegedly saw the apparitions of the Virgin Mary – Jacinta Marto, age 7, Lucia Santos, age 10, and Francisco Marto, age 9:
It has been said that over 70,000 people showed up in Fatima, Portugal on October 13, 1917 and witnessed what came to be known as the ‘Miracle of the Sun.’ (Lord willing, in the near future we will be taking a close look at what took place during this event in the next series of posts which will be on the many alleged Apparitions of the Virgin Mary).
The shrine that was built in Fatima, Portugal in honor of the Virgin Mary upon her supposed request given in a message during one of her alleged apparitions:
Our Lady of Fatima statue carried in procession at Fatima, Portugal:
Chapel of the Apparitions – Located in the middle of the sanctuary exactly where the Marian apparitions are said to have taken place:
Source of pictures – Congressional Library – Search words – Congressional Library Apparitions of Fatima Pictures
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:3,4)
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.” (Psalm 115:1-11)
“The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 135:15-21)
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
“But he [Jesus] answered and said to them, An evil and adulteress generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39,40)
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
“And without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life you received from your ancestors. It was not something that loses its value, such as silver or gold; you were set free by the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18,19)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD will never count against him.” (Romans 4:7,8)
RELATED VIDEOS
Sunday October 13, 2013 – Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
Thank you very much for stopping by and taking time our of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems.
Desiring for God to use all that I have been through in life, I decided to start my first blog, living4hisglory.wordpress.com, in order to write poems about some of those experiences to bring glory to God, as well as to share them with others with the hope of encouraging those of you who have been broken and shattered by life's circumstances and hurt by those who were supposed to have loved you rather than abuse you in some way.
Also, because of some pastors and teachers today who seem to be abandoning Biblical Christianity and instead seem to be either seeking to build their own empires and promoting their own agendas, and at times even leading the people in their churches into unbiblical, 'mystical practices' without some people even realizing it, I saw the importance and necessity to begin writing poems and posts in order to inform Christians, as well as to make Christians realize the extreme importance of testing what people say (who claim to speak for God) against the truth of God's Word, (Acts 17:11) so that they will not be deceived. It has never been -- nor shall it ever be -- my intention to bash any particular pastor or teacher; my sole purpose in bringing attention to false teachings is to make Christians realize that we are to be followers of Jesus Christ, and not to be followers of any man (or woman) and his (or her) ministry. I hope that you will be blessed -- as well as challenged -- by the things that I write.
NOTE: COMMENTS ON ALL POSTS CLOSE ONE MONTH AFTER THEY ARE PUBLISHED.
Thank you for stopping by and taking time to read some of my posts and poems.
God Bless You
~Mary - Living4HisGlory
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mary K. Dalke and Living4HisGlory Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
NOTE: Any adds that may be displayed on my blog have not been chosen or approved by me; I can't even see any adds that WordPress chooses to post here.
Desiring for God to use all that I have been through in life, I decided to start my first blog, living4hisglory.wordpress.com, in order to write poems about some of those experiences to bring glory to God, as well as to share them with others with the hope of encouraging those of you who have been broken and shattered by life's circumstances and hurt by those who were supposed to have loved you rather than abuse you in some way.
Also, because of some pastors and teachers today who seem to be abandoning Biblical Christianity and instead seem to be either seeking to build their own empires and promoting their own agendas, and at times even leading the people in their churches into unbiblical, 'mystical practices' without some people even realizing it, I saw the importance and necessity to begin writing poems and posts in order to inform Christians, as well as to make Christians realize the extreme importance of testing what people say (who claim to speak for God) against the truth of God's Word, (Acts 17:11) so that they will not be deceived. It has never been -- nor shall it ever be -- my intention to bash any particular pastor or teacher; my sole purpose in bringing attention to false teachings is to make Christians realize that we are to be followers of Jesus Christ, and not to be followers of any man (or woman) and his (or her) ministry. I hope that you will be blessed -- as well as challenged -- by the things that I write.
NOTE: COMMENTS ON ALL POSTS CLOSE ONE MONTH AFTER THEY ARE PUBLISHED.
Thank you for stopping by and taking time to read some of my posts and poems.
God Bless You
~Mary - Living4HisGlory
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mary K. Dalke and Living4HisGlory Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
NOTE: Any adds that may be displayed on my blog have not been chosen or approved by me; I can't even see any adds that WordPress chooses to post here.
Mary Dalke - Living4HisGlory
Living4HisGlory 