New Pope Vows to Work to Unify Christians By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday pledged to work to unify all Christians, reach out to other religions and continue implementing reforms from the Second Vatican Council as he outlined his goals and made clear his pontificate would closely follow the trajectory of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. He said his "primary task" would be to work to reunify all Christians and that sentiment alone was not enough. "Concrete acts that enter souls and move consciences are needed," he said. The new pope said he wanted to continue "an open and sincere dialogue" with other religions and would do everything in his power to improve the ecumenical cause. The message was clearly designed to show that Benedict was intent on following many of the groundbreaking paths charted by John Paul, who had made reaching out to other religions and trying to heal the 1,000-year-old schism in Christianity a hallmark of his pontificate.Actually... it's closer to 2,000 year old schism because there have always been true Bible believing Christians... but history would have us believe that the Catholic Church was the only "Christian" Church from the apostles until the Reformation. This is a lie... it's part of the deception that so characterizes the RCC.The articles says he wants to do everything in his power to improve the ecumenical cause. This should be warning enough! The ecumenical cause is the way to a one world religion. I dont think the one world religion is going to be Muslim or Catholic or whatever... the one world religion will be all the world's religions gathered together as one. And it's called ECUMENISM, folks.It just amazes me that there are some who just dont see this. It's frightening, in fact.Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.Krispy
New Pope Vows to Work to Unify Christians
I don't know if you can directly associate Rev. 2:15 with Roman Catholicism, but Chapter 17 refers to V.4 the woman being arrayed in scarlet (the color the catholic cardinals wear) and purple (the color the catholic bishops wear) decked with gold and precious stone (the catholic church has more gold and stones than most countries of the world including the US). V.9 describes the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (Rome sits on the top of seven mountains). The catholic church for years would not include the book of Revelation in their bible strictly because Chapter 17 pointed directly to Rome. Put that with your verse 6 below and you would be hard pressed to prove it was anything other than the Roman Catholic Church. Although, it is the political hierarchy of the catholic church it is referring to, not the local Catholics we associate with. There are a lot of true Christians in the catholic church that will be raptured before this comes into being.
There are a lot of true Christians in the catholic church that will be raptured before this comes into being.Yes... and to individual Catholics who have come to Christ, and Christ alone... the Word of God instructs them to seperate from the blasphemous practices of the RCC in this passage of scripture:Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.I did a sort of a expository post on Revelation 17 in another thread over the weekend, Bill, and you would be surprised that even after that I still got a few comments from folks telling me they just dont see the RCC in that chapter. People can believe what they want to about that chapter... it's not a salvation issue... but I just dont understand how one can not see it. It seems so obvious once you learn the history and doctrine of the Catholic Church. I mean, even the geographical location is spelled out.Krispy
What I find most interesting about this guy is that whenever the media mentions him they describe him as a "religious conservative"And that point has really been harped on by them. This guy's no religious conservative. He's just about as liberal as you can get in all the areas that matter. So he doesn't like rock music. Rock music won't get you to heaven OR take you to Hell, this man thinks that Muslims will be there though...and that is NOT a conservative belief!As I listened to the raidio today reporting that Benedict said he will follow JPII's steps toward ecumenism, all I kept hearing in my head is "The voice of one crying in the wilderness...Prepare ye the way!"This guy's preparing the way for DARN sure, for the last and most apostate pope in history. I'd bet my brand new house (which I haven't even moved INTO yet), that the next pope will be the last.
I'd bet my brand new house (which I haven't even moved INTO yet), that the next pope will be the last.I guess time will tell... tick tock tick tock... Krispy
It just amazes me that there are some who just dont see this. It's frightening, in fact.Yes that's true, brother. It's a great encouragement to read this. I don't have any problems if people want to walk in red clothes or white clothes. I don't care. But I do care about the things they're preaching...And well, I had to think of Galatians this morning while speaking with my mom about this. The problem is, the people who try to justify the RCC say: "They also believe in the sacrifice of Jesus, that He died for our sins, to save us". Well, that may be true...but what about the Pope himself? What about his desire to "unite" all religions? What about him saying that the RCC is the only truth and way to salvation (poor me...I've always been thinking that Jesus Christ is the only Way to Heaven. But yeah, could it be that I have an outdated Bible? Could it be that the RCC died on a cross? Could it be that the RCC spilled her blood? Could it be that the RCC is the son of God? Wouldn't that be blasphemy? YES, it sure would and it sure is!) They're adding things friends! They're adding to the truth. And to add something to that which is perfect, is the definite end of the perfect! I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:7-9) The problem with the Church in Galatia was, that they were adding to the truth of Jesus Christ. Works, circumcission etc. God says: "let him be accursed". It makes me sad to see hundreds of young people, yellling and shouting and exalting a mortal man...People who are even confessing the name of Jesus with their lips. What a deception...Satan knows how to deceive...it's his core business. He uses all instruments...and false religion is definately one of his best! People: stick to the Book! And furthermore...stay close to Jesus! The Bible doesn't say that "whosoever found the perfect and true doctrine of the Bible, found life". It says: "For whoever finds ME, finds life" (Prov 8:35).Saved by grace only, through faith in the work and person of our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ!Paul
Angyl you wrote:"This guy's preparing the way for DARN sure, for the last and most apostate pope in history. I'd bet my brand new house (which I haven't even moved INTO yet), that the next pope will be the last" ...Out of curiosity (not judgment) on what do you base yourconclusion?
Great post Dez... I think you can see the RCC in most of the churches addressed in Revelation. They left their first love, they add works to salvation, they seperate between "clergy" and laity (Nicholations) ... it's all right there.Krispy
This from FoxNews.com:"Wearing golden vestments and a white bishop's miter, Benedict, the 265th Bishop of Rome, opened the Mass with a prayer in Latin and was to deliver his first homily in Latin — a discourse that will be watched by millions for hints about priorities in his pontificate.""Cardinals — also clad in gold — solemnly chanted the "Kyrie Eleison" hymn, Greek for "Lord have mercy.""Intersting... look at this scripture again:Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:I'm tellin' ya... if you cant see this, your eyes are closed!Krispy
In the book of Nahum, God declares judgement on the city of Nineveh. Listen to this Scripture.This is what God finds against these people.Nah. 2:13 “Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of hosts, “I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.” 1 Woe to the bloody city!\tIt is all full of lies and robbery.\tIts victim never departs. 2 \tThe noise of a whip\tAnd the noise of rattling wheels,\tOf galloping horses,\tOf clattering chariots! 3 \tHorsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear.\tThere is a multitude of slain,\tA great number of bodies,\tCountless corpses—\tThey stumble over the corpses— Now listen to who is responsible for this judgement.4 \tBecause of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot,\tThe mistress of sorceries,\tWho sells nations through her harlotries,\tAnd families through her sorceries. 5 \t“Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of hosts;\t“I will lift your skirts over your face,\tI will show the nations your nakedness,\tAnd the kingdoms your shame. 6 \tI will cast abominable filth upon you,\tMake you vile,\tAnd make you a spectacle. And also:15 \tThere the fire will devour you,\tThe sword will cut you off;\tIt will eat you up like a locust.\tMake yourself many—like the locust!\tMake yourself many— like the swarming locusts! 16 \tYou have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of heaven.\tThe locust plunders and flies away. The harlot lived long before the church age. There is much to learn of how the kings of the earth commit fornication with her. Why do the kings of the earth fornicate?In ChristJeff
I think the "harlot" in a sense is the spirit of apostacy. Pretending to be godly, but being far from God. Thats why it is so seductive... it appeals to men because men have always been decieved into thinking that must earn salvation. In Revelation the Whore is the RCC because the RCC is apostacy personified.I believe the kings of the earth fornicate for political reasons. Why did G.W. bend his knee before the Pope's lifeless body 2 weeks ago? Because he had no choice... politically he had to do this to show "unity" with other nations, and because if he didnt then American Catholics would have been upset (And Lord knows that evangelical leaders are too limp wristed to speak up!). It was all political manuevering. And I like G.W.! This is a good reason for Christians not to be involved in national politics unless you're willing to be publicly crucified... in order to succeed in politics you must compromise your beliefs.Krispy
You know the thing is that this is all doctrine and it's going to happen rather we like it or not, these things are all a part of God's plan for the world, so there is nothing we can do about this but try to reach the lost before this all comes to past. We probably should not condemn the actions of any of the world if this is God's plan, we might be condemning his plan "I personally would not want to do that" but I do want to be a part of helping people be aware of the happenings and helping them achieve salvation through Jesus Christ and if I can do that I think God will honor me for that.
You know the thing is that this is all doctrine and it's going to happen rather we like it or not, these things are all a part of God's plan for the world, so there is nothing we can do about this but try to reach the lost before this all comes to past. We probably should not condemn the actions of any of the world if this is God's plan, we might be condemning his plan "I personally would not want to do that" but I do want to be a part of helping people be aware of the happenings and helping them achieve salvation through Jesus Christ and if I can do that I think God will honor me for that. Hmmm... that had a slight Calvinistic bent to it... :-P Bill, I'm not fighting against. I'm trying to get the true church to wake up and see that the time is short. So in a way, you and I are saying the same thing. The time is short. Jesus said we would know the season because of the signs.Y'all... the signs are in neon now... and flashing. Thats why this discussion is good. It's not intended to stop something from happening, it's intended to shake people up and say "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (Matthew 25:6)Krispy
Br. Bill wrote: V.9 describes the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitsThere are also 7 continents. North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Austrailia, and Antarctica.This is in line with the fact that the kings of the earth commit fornication with her. In ChristJeff
KrispyKrittr wrote:
Hmmm... that had a slight Calvinistic bent to it... :-P Slight! that is about as pure Calvinism as you will ever see me write. :-P
There are also 7 continents. North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Austrailia, and Antarctica.True... but also, Rome is called "The City of Seven Hills". This verse is a geographical location of the whore.Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.That verse shows the 7 continents.Krispy
Here is another example of the harlot and the spell she casts upon the kingdoms of this world. This time Scriptures speak of the city of Tyre. Is. 23:15 Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: 16 \t“Take a harp, go about the city,\tYou forgotten harlot;\tMake sweet melody, sing many songs,\tThat you may be remembered.” Is. 23:17 And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18 Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the LORD; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing. So now we have two cities mentioned in Scripture: Ninevah and Tyre. The harlot is spiritual. Those who worship her do have a false religion.in ChristJeff
Here I believe is another example of the harlot being sent to a city in the land of Shinar. (Babylon)Zech. 5:5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth.” Zech. 5:6 So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket that is going forth.”He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; 8 then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. 9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. Zech. 5:10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?” Zech. 5:11 And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.” Do you see that harlot exists long before the Catholic church?In ChristJeff
Do you see that harlot exists long before the Catholic church?I'm not sure what your point is... are you saying the RCC isnt the whore because a "whore" is mentioned elsewhere in the old testament in the present tense?First off, it doesnt necessarily mean there is only one harlot. It could be different entities in different dispensations, but all having the harlot spirit... that being apostacy.I personally believe thats the case. In the dispensation age called the Church Age, which we are now living in, that harlot is apostacy personified in the entity of the Roman Catholic Church... but the spirit of apostacy does not dwell only in the RCC, it exists in any church or christian that has "fallen away".As to your reference from Isaiah... this is what the JFB commentary says: It shall be to Tyre as the song of the harlot, namely, a harlot that has been forgotten, but who attracts notice again by her song. Large marts of commerce are often compared to harlots seeking many lovers, that is, they court merchants of all nations, and admit any one for the sake of gain (Nah_3:4; Rev_18:3). Covetousness is closely akin to idolatry and licentiousness, as the connection (Eph_5:5; Col_3:5) proves (compare Isa_2:6-8, Isa_2:16).That doesnt seem to make any connection between Rev 17 and Isa 23.I'm interested in what your point is...Krispy
KrispyKrittr wrote:The message was clearly designed to show that Benedict was intent on following many of the groundbreaking paths charted by John Paul, who had made reaching out to other religions and trying to heal the 1,000-year-old schism in Christianity a hallmark of his pontificate.[/i]Has anyone listened to David WIlkerson's The Vision (circa 1973). Let's all just tick off another point on the list.
Krispy,FYI, the woman is a "city" not the world. Rome is that city. Check out my article below. There will only be four beasts, Rome is the fourth.Rev. 17:18\tAnd the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
We talkin about the same guy?Aint the world angry because he labeled other religions 'Woefully..' lacking?
FYI, the woman is a "city" not the world. Rome is that city. Check out my article below. There will only be four beasts, Rome is the fourth.I must have wrote something wrong because I agree with you that it is Rome, but the woman is the institution of the Roman Catholic Church... located in Rome. Not sure we differ...Krispy
You wrote: First off, it doesnt necessarily mean there is only one harlot. It could be different entities in different dispensations, but all having the harlot spirit... that being apostacy.I personally believe thats the case. In the dispensation age called the Church Age, which we are now living in, that harlot is apostacy personified in the entity of the Roman Catholic Church... but the spirit of apostacy does not dwell only in the RCC, it exists in any church or christian that has "fallen away".Sorry, I didn't read very carefully. You got it right. The spirit of apostacy is all over. But the RCC is the whore.Blessings
Thankyou Chad for that clarification pretaining to Constantine. In ChristJeff
Listen to the way Satan tempted Jesus:Matt. 4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Satan showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The kings of this earth fornicate with the harlot to gain the glory of the brotherhood of man. Satan fell because he sought the glory that only comes from God. In this fallen world Satan produced the harlot, the sudductress which brings about the same glory that Satan tempted Jesus with. In ChristJeff
In Scripture we find that the harlot visits the nations that rise to preeminence in the world. Whether it is Tyre, Ninevah, or Babylon, the kings of each nation rise to rule the world in their generation. These kings exault themselves as if they were like God. Bloodshed, covetousness, and idolatry become the fruit of their rule. In Scriptures, it says all the kings fornicate with the harlot. The kings that become the glory of man, the kings that exault themselves have one thing in common. They resemble their father Lucifer. These men, the seed of Lucifer, rise to exault themselves as Lucifer exualted himself before God. This is truly the nature of the anti-christ. In ChristJeff
Rookie Wrote: Satan fell because he sought the glory that only comes from God.Let me add another alternative to that truth, because satan sought the glory of God since the foundation of the world, and yet he was not cast out. The reason why because the Kingdom of God was not yet proclaimed, this would come to pass at the preaching of Jesus.But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The majority of bible teachers proclaim that the RCC is the whore of Revelation.Ok........When was the RCC ever married to God? Since her inception she had false doctrine, nothing about her was true, so I ask, when was Rome ever espoused, or married to God?
Br. Karl wrote:Let me add another alternative to that truth, because satan sought the glory of God since the foundation of the world, and yet he was not cast out. The reason why because the Kingdom of God was not yet proclaimed, this would come to pass at the preaching of Jesus.Zech. 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zech. 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Zech. 3:4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” Zech. 3:5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Zech. 3:6 Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts:\t‘If you will walk in My ways,\tAnd if you will keep My command,\tThen you shall also judge My house,\tAnd likewise have charge of My courts;\tI will give you places to walk\tAmong these who stand here. In verse 3:1-2, we see that Jesus removed Josuha from the grasp of Satan. Joshua was the high priest during the time of the books of Nehemiah and Ezra. This is the time when God brought back from captivity His remnant. In ChristJeff