Friday, February 15, 2008

FACE TO FACE WITH CHRIST, MY SAVIOR

FACE TO FACE WITH CHRIST,

MY SAVIOR

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?

Refrain

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessèd day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

Refrain

What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.

Refrain

Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.

Refrain

Words:
Car­rie E. Breck, 1898.

Music:
Grant C. Tull­ar (MI­DI, score).

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faceface.htm

Thursday, February 14, 2008

TAKE 6

Take 6

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Take 6 is an influential American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1985 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.

Contents


Group biography

Oakwood College Years

In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".

The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.

Recording Group

The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.

In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.[citation needed]

Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.

In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.

The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[citation needed]

Members

Current members

Kibble married singer Karima Kibble (Trotter) of the gospel group Virtue in August 1997.
McKnight's brother is R&B musician Brian McKnight.

Former members

CONSPIRACY THEORY OR FULFILLMENT OF...

Conspiracy Theory or Fulfillment of Prophecy
By: Amazing Discoveries

Today there are many people in the world and in religious bodies
that use the term “Conspiracy Theory.” In fact the word conspiracy
is often followed by the word theory, and they are rarely seen
separated. Many times the phrase is valid.

Today there are many people in the world and in religious bodies
that use the term “Conspiracy Theory.” In fact the word
conspiracy is often followed by the word theory, and they are
rarely seen separated. Many times the phrase is valid. If you type
that phrase in almost any Internet search engine, you will find
things that are very improbable at best, and some items are even
quite comical. These theories are often purported without one iota
of documented evidence. But, does that mean that anytime we
hear something out of the ordinary, we automatically, habitually,
without hesitation loft it into the category of the ominous, dubious,
title of…”Conspiracy Theory?”

Separating Fact from Theory

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines a theory as, A speculative
plan, or a conjecture or guess. So, if you were to substitute the
word theory here it would be a “Conspiracy Guess.” And again,
let me reiterate that there are many “Conspiracy Theories” out
there in the world today. But, what if, there was evidence
supporting a conspiracy? What if the Bible speaks of such a
conspiracy? What if the pen of inspiration declares a conspiracy?
What if official writings from international fraternities and
organizations coincide with inspiration that indeed all the world will
wonder after the beast? Should we abandon such a striking
fulfillment of Prophecy on the altar of a “Conspiracy Theory?”
Today, there are some, who strike hard against anyone who may
be willing in exposing these disturbing facts. I have found an
interesting phenomenon take place with those who have not
studied these matters for themselves, usually put a label on
anything that they have not heard as a “Conspiracy Theory.” And
by so doing their ignorance concerning the fulfillment of prophecy
is seen, while their artificial intellectualism is fed.

Here are some statements from inspiration that show the origin of
this message that is to be given to the world…

Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by
formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome
summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At
this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel,
unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut
off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of
natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they
knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to
extend its power. (See Appendix.) The gospel of Christ had
enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering,
undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the
banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To
combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a
fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to
oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There
was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base
for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume.
Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim
to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of
Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.

When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of
sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and
the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the
sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under
this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes
were often concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order
that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury,
assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when
they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises
the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be
the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They
became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They
established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and
schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant
parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the
outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to
bear to confuse the mind and dazzle and captivate the
imagination, and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled
and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread
themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a
revival of popery.

To give them greater power, a bull was issued re-establishing the
inquisition. (See Appendix.) Notwithstanding the general
abhorrence with which it was regarded, even in

Catholic countries, this terrible tribunal was again set up by
popish rulers, and atrocities too terrible to bear the light of day
were repeated in its secret dungeons. In many countries,
thousands upon thousands of the very flower of the nation, the
purest and noblest, the most intellectual and highly educated,
pious and devoted pastors, industrious and patriotic citizens,
brilliant scholars, talented artists, skillful artisans, were slain or
forced to flee to other lands.

Such were the means which Rome had invoked to quench the
light of the Reformation, to withdraw from men the Bible, and to
restore the ignorance and superstition of the Dark Ages. (The
Great Controversy p. 234-235)

And this is the religion which Protestants are beginning to look
upon with so much favor, and which will eventually be united with
Protestantism. This union will not, however, be effected by a
change in Catholicism; for Rome never changes. She claims
infallibility. It is Protestantism that will change. The adoption of
liberal ideas on its part will bring it where it can clasp the hand of
Catholicism. "The Bible, the Bible, is the foundation of our faith,"
was the cry of Protestants in Luther's time, while the Catholics
cried, "The Fathers, custom, tradition." Now many Protestants find
it difficult to prove their doctrines from the Bible, and yet they have
not the moral courage to accept the truth which involves a cross;
therefore they are fast coming to the ground of Catholics, and,
using the best arguments they have to evade the truth, cite the
testimony of the Fathers, and the customs and precepts of men.
Yes, the Protestants of the nineteenth century are fast
approaching the Catholics in their infidelity concerning the
Scriptures. But there is just as wide a gulf today between Rome
and the Protestantism of Luther, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and
the noble army of martyrs, as there was when these men made
the protest which gave them the name of Protestants. {RH, June
1, 1886 par. 13}

As we can see there was and is a conspiracy against the
Reformation. “But, we don’t need to know about all these things
right?” “We should not focus on these things, we should preach
the Three Angels’ Messages!” Please notice with me the following
quotation…

In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin, both
in the world and in the church. But the people desire smooth
things spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished truth is not
acceptable. Many reformers, in entering upon their work,
determined to exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of the
church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure
Christian life, to lead the people back to the doctrines of the Bible.
But the Spirit of God came upon them as it came upon Elijah,
moving him to rebuke the sins of a wicked king and an apostate
people; they could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances
of the Bible-- doctrines which they had been reluctant to present.
They were impelled to zealously declare the truth and the danger
which threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they
uttered, fearless of consequences, and the people were
compelled to hear the warning.

(The Great Controversy 606)

Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the
time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will
work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who
consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be
qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of
literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to
go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them.
The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of
enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the
inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal
power--all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the
people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who
have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the
testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors
and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from
heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager
inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables,
prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the
awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with
the mere authority of men and demand a plain "Thus saith the
Lord," the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with
anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message
as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and
persecute those who proclaim it.

(The Great Controversy 607)

Wow! Now more than ever, I am excited to be living in these last
hours of our world! Brothers and Sisters, Jesus is coming soon!
It is a privilege to see prophecy being fulfilled. Those who have
objectively, without prejudice, have watched the Total Onslaught
series in its entirety, know for certain, that this is not a theory, but
this is a fulfillment of prophecy. I encourage you dear reader, if
you haven’t taken these issues seriously, and have thrown them
into the “Conspiracy Theory” rubbish bin, that you take a humble
step back and investigate how the papal power has indeed
progressed rapidly through stealth, because soon the whole world
will know. And I hope and pray that some of God’s professed
people, will still not be crying, “Conspiracy Theory!” Let me close
this article with a passage from the book of Acts 5, v. 34-39…

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named
Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the
people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves
what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be
somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined
themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the
taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished;
and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them
alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to
nought:

39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be
found even to fight against God.

This is the bottom line. If all this talk about secret societies and
the Jesuits and the role in which they play, if it is all conjecture, if
it is all hogwash, then it will collapse. But, if it is true, it will lead
thousands to the realization that the world is a giant labyrinth of
deception. That was my experience. I was a total atheist; I
thought Christians were narrowed minded bigots who needed
some sort of comfort before their death. But, through the
providential leadings of the Holy Spirit, I learned that, yes there
are secret societies, therefore there is a devil, and therefore there
must be a God. And I was led to the foot of the cross, to Jesus
who even while I was a sinner loved me and gave Himself for me.
Instantly, my lifestyle changed, and I recognized that Jesus Christ
is the only hope for humanity. This is why it saddens my heart
that some are very quick in coloring anyone who uses the term,
Illuminati, New World Order, or the Jesuit Order, as an immediate
candidate for heretic.

In conclusion, there are many “conspiracy theories” blowing in the
wind, with no evidence to support them. There is however a
documented conspiracy taking place against the reformation. Let
us be very careful not to hastily call everything we hear a
“conspiracy theory” without first looking at the claims with the
lenses of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. If it fails the test
then it is a “conspiracy theory” and should be rejected, but if it
passes the test, however unpopular it may be, it is truth for this
time, and a fulfillment of prophecy.

Written by John Triplett

Source: http://exposingdeceptions.org/conspiracy.html

EAVESDROPPING LAW IS LIKELY TO LAPSE



Eavesdropping Law Is Likely to Lapse



Published: February 14, 2008

WASHINGTON — Broad spying powers temporarily approved by Congress in August appear likely to lapse this week after a daylong game of chicken on Wednesday between the White House and House Democrats produced no clear resolution.



At a morning appearance in the Oval Office, President Bush pressed the House to adopt quickly a plan that the Senate approved on Tuesday to broaden the government’s spying powers and give legal immunity to telephone companies.


The plan is essential, Mr. Bush said, because terrorists are planning attacks on American soil “that will make Sept. 11 pale in comparison.”


House Democratic leaders tried to obtain a 21-day reprieve to allow more time to negotiate before the temporary measure expires on Friday night. But the proposal was defeated in the face of opposition from liberals who are against the surveillance plan and conservatives who favor it.


House Democrats now say they may simply let the deadline pass without acting on the Senate plan.


Mr. Bush maintained on Wednesday that letting the broadened surveillance powers lapse “would jeopardize the security of our citizens.”


Democrats insisted that a lapse would have no real effect.


The expiration of the powers “doesn’t mean we are somehow vulnerable again,” said Representative Silvestre Reyes, Democrat of Texas and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.


The lapsing of the deadline would have little practical effect on intelligence gathering. Intelligence officials would be able to intercept communications from Qaeda members or other identified terrorist groups for a year after the initial eavesdropping authorization for that particular group.


If a new terrorist group is identified after Saturday, intelligence officials would not be able to use the broadened eavesdropping authority. They would be able to seek a warrant under the more restrictive standards in place for three decades through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.


The White House-backed plan that the Senate approved would broaden the spying powers for six years and provide legal immunity to the utilities that helped in the eavesdropping without warrants that Mr. Bush approved after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.


AT&T and other major carriers face about 40 multibillion-dollar suits from customers who say the utilities’ participation broke the law.


The passage of the Senate measure, a major victory for Mr. Bush on a crucial national security question, inflamed the oratory on Wednesday. Mr. Bush accused the Democratic-led House of needlessly prolonging the debate at the expense of the country’s safety.


“At this moment,” he said, “somewhere in the world terrorists are planning new attacks on our country. Their goal is to bring destruction to our shores that will make Sept. 11 pale by comparison.”


To stop an attack, he urged, Congress must act immediately to strengthen the eavesdropping.


In the House, which passed a more restrictive surveillance plan in November that intentionally left out protection for the utilities, Democratic leaders were not swayed.


“The president’s presentation this morning was, I think, basically dishonest,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader.


Intelligence officials could continue intercepting suspect communications even if the deadline passes, Mr. Hoyer said. In pushing so hard for immunity for the utilities, he added, the Bush administration is “very nervous about what might be disclosed” if the lawsuits against the companies are allowed to continue.


“To some degree, therefore, I think it is a cover-up,” Mr. Hoyer said.


Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican presidential hopeful, weighed in on the debate. When Mr. McCain learned that the House had voted down a 21-day extension and that the powers were likely to lapse at midnight Friday, he said: “That’s too bad. That’s very unfortunate. It’s symptomatic of the gridlock of partisanship here in the Congress.”


To break the gridlock, Mr. McCain said, “people that are patriotic Americans need to sit down together and work this out.”


“It’s clearly an absolute necessity to protect this nation,” he said. “Unfortunately, we can’t seem to do that.”



David M. Herszenhorn and Carl Hulse contributed reporting.


TV GOING DIGITAL FEBRUARY 17, 2009


Ever since November 2007, the local Televison Channels have been constantly running public information messages heralding the demise of analog broadcasting. They inform us that those that watch television with antennas will not be able to do so, after Feb. 17, 2009. Digital bradcasting will then be the only broadcast transmission signal offered, and those that don't have cable, sattelite, a converter, or a new T.V. , will not receive a signal.

I don't have cable, satellite, or a new T.V. I will not buy a converter either. Currently I watch the "noose" and weather only. I will only use my set to watch DVD's or VHS's. I refuse to pay any more money for something that fundamentally is demoralizing and decadent. Will digital broadcasting change the trashy content of the programs? Will High Definition convince me of the lies and hypocrisy they perpetrate on television? Or rather, will it be just as clear who the world serves: The prince of the air; The lust of the flesh, the desire of unclean things. Remember, anything that is not 'truth' is of the prince of the air, the father of lies.

Television programing was originally a free sevice that provided news, entertainment, and culture;
Two of which were PBS programming, and NBC Nightly News. The revenues were generated by commercials, which were mostly innocent and wholesome. Yet, television was free.
In the late 1960's Cable (Teleprompter) Television was introduced; It was mainly local, commercial free, and offered, public access programming, which was so informative. Then HBO, Showtime, and MTV, entered the market in the early 1980's, cable became more money and propaganda oriented. Commercials were introduced and the original motive for cable (city dwellers had up to a dozen local channels to watch) which was no commercials was forgotten and abadoned. Also T.V. became mostly violence and gratuitous sex. Since then it has greatly deteriorated, and I'm amazed that any one would pay to bring that negativity into the homes, their families. Poor children, poor marriages, poor mentally challenged people. Who needs enemies, when T. V.
is welcomed at homes as your best friend?

So, no I will not rush to buy a converter. I will not scurry to buy a new set at Wal-Mart. I will not subcribe to
Cox Cable. I wil not subscribe to Direct TV.

While we're on this subject (I'm on a roll now), I won't get Lowjack for the car. I won't subscribe to Onstar.
Also, I don't need your iris scans, biometric readings, DNA tests, indentity theft protection.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
And I absolutely, positively don't need your flu shots, or micro-chips.
You now! Ah, mean! (contemporary expressions)

No gimmicks for me, I already gave at the office!
I'm not interested in all your Y2K or 401K fear mongering tactics.
I'm well of aware of prophecy and what lies ahead for the Lord's flock, and will be better off without the confusion.


Arsenio

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS STRIKE AT CORK



15:38 NEWS: Air traffic controllers in Cork set to strike from midnight
14/02/2008

Early-morning air passengers face disruption tomorrow as Irish air traffic controllers stage an overtime ban.

No flights will be permitted to land or take off from Cork Airport - the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) confirmed today that no aircraft could use the airport between midnight tonight and 8am.

"We expect the early morning services to be disrupted," added the spokeswoman.

Irish air traffic controllers issued a two-week strike notice to management on Tuesday, after 99% of controllers voted in favour of industrial action.

The members of the IMPACT trade union claim there has been a recruitment ban for the last six years.

Source: http://www.irishnews.com/break.asp?tbrk=brk&par=brk&catid=5834&subcatid=642&storyid=6990

JDV OUSTED, MOUNTS 'WAR' VS GMA

JDV OUSTED, MOUNTS
'WAR' VS GMA

Ex-Speaker says he'll join opposition

QUEZON CITY (PinoyNews) - Members of the House of Representatives have ousted as their leader by a vote of 174-35 with 16 abstentions five-time Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. of the fourth district of Pangasinan.

After deliberations which lasted up to the wee hours of the morning, th e lawmakers voted unanimously to elect Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, Jr. as the new Speaker.

De Venecia, 71, saying he wanted to “rapidly unite this divided House, himself nominated Nograles and acclaimed him as an outstanding leader of Congress and a good friend.

Majority Leader Arthur Defensor then moved to acclaim the nomination of Nograles, 61, a bar topnotcher, which was approved unanimously by the entire plenary. Nograles is the first lawmaker from Mindanao to win the plum post in 100 years.

His uncontested election came at 12:55 Tuesday after a marathon session that opened at 4 p.m. of Monday. Before his ouster, de Venecia delivered an impassioned hour-long speech in which he attacked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and family and alleged anomalies in government, including the controversial ZTE contract and the elections. >> Read more

Source: http://pinoytodayus.com/

"I'LL BE PRESIDENT OF EUROPE"...TONY BLAIR

I'll be president of Europe if you give me the power - Blair

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tonyblair/story/0,,2251169,00.html

Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could mount a campaign later this year to become full-time president of the EU council, the prestigious new job characterised as "president of Europe". Blair, currently the Middle East envoy for the US, Russia, EU and the UN, has told friends he has made no final decision, but is increasingly willing to put himself forward for the job if it comes with real powers to intervene in defence and trade affairs.

Blair, who is being actively promoted by the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, recognises he would need to abandon his well-paid, private sector jobs if he won. His wife Cherie - often portrayed as seeking ever more wealth and well-paid consultancies for her husband - is understood to be supportive of him accepting the job.

Some Blair allies also say that he now recognises that as envoy in the Middle East he is not going to be allowed to become the key player in furthering Israeli-Palestinian talks this year, and will be reduced to a role of supporting political development in Palestine and boosting its economy.

The president of the European council of ministers is a post created under the Lisbon treaty. The president will be the permanent chair of the council of ministers, Europe's chief decision-making body.

Jonathan Powell, Blair's Downing Street chief of staff, is among the former lieutenants he has met to discuss a bid for the European role.

Some senior figures believe he could yet be a loser in the carve-up of four big European jobs due to be distributed at the end of the French presidency in the second half of this year. Some claim that if the commission president, José Manuel Barroso, wanted to remain in post for a second term, it would be difficult for Blair, a political ally and previous advocate for Barroso, to hold the parallel, prestigious European council job.

Decisions also have to be made on the appointment of a new, "high representative" on foreign policy, and the post of president of the European parliament. Smaller EU countries are sensitive about key jobs being taken by leading figures from larger countries, especially from one that is not part of the eurozone or the Schengen free-movement area, and that actively supports Turkish membership, as Britain has. Some French socialists have already come out against Blair, citing his role in the war in Iraq. Former French president Valéry Giscard D'Estaing has also expressed his opposition.

It is thought that the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is not persuaded of the advantages of a Blair presidency. The Christian Democrats have recently been politically weakened in state elections, and fear a Blair presidency might strengthen the German Social Democrats. Neither the Germans nor the French would push Blair if they believed his appointment was going to be opposed by Gordon Brown.

Blair himself is still doubtful that the role of council president will become a powerful job, saying he senses that even pro-Europeans might recoil from ceding power from the nation state.

With most countries currently focused on ratifying the Lisbon treaty through their national parliaments, decisions on the powers of the full-time president are unlikely to be made until the second half of the year.

Apart from Blair, two other candidates most often mentioned are the former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, promoted by Germany, and the current Luxembourg prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker.

CANADA'S HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNALS...

Canada's human rights tribunals are censoring Christian teaching

http://www.zenit.org/article-21689?l=english

Catholic Insight, a Canadian magazine known for its fidelity to Church teachings, has been targeted by the Canadian Human Rights Commission for publishing articles deemed offensive to homosexuals.

The commission has been investigating the Toronto-based publication since homosexual activist Rob Wells, a member of the Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered Pride Center of Edmonton, filed a nine-point complaint last February with the government agency in which he accuses the magazine of promoting "extreme hatred and contempt" against homosexuals.

Father Alphonse de Valk, the founder and editor of Catholic Insight, disagrees the accusations. "Wells took three pages of quotes out of context," he told ZENIT.

The Basilian priest added that Catholic Insight "bases itself on the Church's teaching and applies it to various circumstances in our time." He noted that some of the statements that allegedly promoted hatred and contempt against homosexuals were taken from recent Vatican pronouncements.

Other types of statements published by Catholic Insight on the topic of homosexuality include political statements, medical studies, news reports and other studies. Many of the articles concerned addressed the campaign in Canada to legalize same-sex marriage, which Catholic Insight openly opposed.

"The basic view of the Church is that homosexual acts are a sin, but we love the sinner," said Father de Valk, adding that opposing same-sex marriage is not the same as rejecting homosexuals as persons.

The priest said that homosexual activists are broadly defining opposition to homophobia as opposition to any homosexual act: "They maintain that the whole Catholic Church is homophobic."

The complaint against Father de Valk is just one of several complaints against Christians that Canada's human rights commissions have investigated in recent years. Despite assurance from politicians that Canadian faith communities would not be affected when the government legalized same-sex marriage, the number of complaints against Christians have only increased since 2005, say several concerned Christians.

Canada's human rights commissions are empowered by Canadian law to investigate allegations of offensive speech. There are 10 commissions in the country -- the national commission, known as the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and a provincial commission for each of Canada's 10 provinces, except British Columbia.

Once any one of the commissions has completed its investigation, it may then pass the case along to its respective human rights tribunal for adjudication. In British Columbia, individuals bring their complaints directly to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal.

The process favors the complainant over the accused, claim Father de Valk and other Christian critics of the commissions and tribunals. There is no cost to the one who files a complaint, and the commission provides legal support to the complainant. In contrast, the accused must pay his legal costs.

Additionally, contrary to the English legal tradition, there is a reverse onus requiring the accused to prove his or her innocence. "There's a presumption of guilt," said Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary, who himself was subject to two complaints before the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 2005 after publishing a pastoral letter defending the traditional definition of marriage earlier that same year.

"I really feel that we are into a crisis situation here where we are experiencing a trumping of religious freedom," said Bishop Henry.

The prelate describes Father de Valk as "an orthodox, very straight-forward individual."

He said that Catholic Insight's studies have been in-depth and in keeping with Catholic teaching, but given Canada's current culture, the bishop anticipated Father de Valk would eventually be subject to a human rights complaint. "He's a public target," Bishop Henry said. "His magazine is rather public."

Bishop Henry feels that Canada's commissions and tribunals are targeting Catholics in the name of promoting human rights. "Catholicism seems to be under attack for a variety of different reasons," he said. "I think one of the things is that we're not trendy; we don't easily kind of compromise on anything we consider to be essential.

"So when you have very clear definitive teaching with respect to marriage and what marriage is all about, and with homosexuality as intrinsically disordered and contrary to natural law, closing sexual relations to the gift of life, I don't see where Catholics can say anything else that what our traditional teaching is."

"That is not a very popular, politically correct expression of views in our society," the bishop said. "If you can knock down that and kind of bring the Catholic Church to its knees, I would think the opponents would be very pleased to do so."

Bishop Henry lays part of the blame with an activist judiciary that has read "sexual orientation" into the section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protects against discrimination. "And further, they're reading in 'sexual practices,'" said the bishop.

Christian groups have a losing record before Canada's human rights tribunals for alleged discrimination. In November 2005, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal ordered a Knights of Columbus council to pay two lesbians $1,000 each in damages, plus legal costs, after the council declined to rent their hall to the couple for a same-sex marriage ceremony.

In 2000, the Ontario Human Rights Commission fined Scott Brockie, a Protestant print-shop owner, $5,000 for declining to print, on moral grounds, homosexual-themed stationary.
The same tribunal fined London, Ontario, $10,000, plus interest, in 1997 when Mayor Diane Haskett declined to proclaim a gay pride day for the city.

Carmen Grigoire, an official spokeswoman for the Canadian Human Rights Commission, would not discuss the complaint against Father de Valk when contacted by ZENIT. The commission is investigating a similar case against the Christian Heritage Party, a political party co-founded by pro-life Catholics and Protestants. The complaint against the party was also initiated by Rob Wells.

Both Bishop Henry and Father de Valk point out that while Catholics have limited their criticism to homosexual acts, many homosexual activists have made statements openly promoting hatred toward Catholics without being investigated by Canada's human rights commissions. "There is a distinct lack of reciprocity in how Catholics react," Bishop Henry said.

In the end, Bishop Henry feels that Canada's human rights tribunals are censoring the expression of traditional Christian teaching: "The social climate right now is that we're into a new form of censorship and thought control, and the commissions are being used as thought police."

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

W. E. B. DUBOIS ON THE POWER ELITE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

"It is the growing custom to narrow control,
concentrate power, disregard and disfranchise the public;
and assuming that certain powers by divine right
of money-raising or by sheer assumption,
have the power to do as they think best
without consulting the wisdom of mankind."
-- W. E. B. Du Bois
(1868-1963) Professor, Civil Rights Activist, NAACP Founding Member

Source: The Autobiography of W.E.B. Du Bois
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/W..E..B..Du.Bois.Quote.1A6E

DESOLATE

DESOLATE


0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Matthew 23:37,38.

It was, My Father's house, at the beginning of the Lord's ministry, but after the rejection it was Your house.

Many years before this Israel had so rejected their God and His laws that they were removed from their land. Their house, their city, and their land were desolate for 70 years. And the reason for the 70 years was that for 490 years they had not observed the Sabbaths of the land.

Every 7th year was to be a Sabbath for the land. It was not to be cultivated. But Israel did not do this. So the 70 Sabbatical years were forced on them all at one time. The land was desolate, waste, deserted. The temple was in ruin.

Now Israel's Messiah had come. Their King was in the midst and the kingdom at hand. But they did not know the time of their visitation. They rejected their King. So His verdict was that their house was to be desolate until such a time as they would say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Those who think that the Lord could come at any moment in these days should note these words. There is a condition attached.

In Matt 22:2-14 is a parable that warns of these desolations. It tells how that a king made a marriage dinner for his son and then sent out his servants to bid guests. But they would not come. This is the ministry of the Lord and the 12. So the king sent out other servants and bid them again to come. This was the ministry of the apostles during Acts. But they would not come. They treated the servants shamefully. So the king sent his armies and destroyed these murderers and burned up their city. This was done by Titus, A.D. 70.

So their house and their city were made desolate. That was almost 2000 years ago and their house is still desolate. It does not even exist. A mosque stands in its stead. Some day the temple will be rebuilt, and Babylon become desolate (Rev 17 & 18).

Source: http://www.believer.com/teaching/rules/desolate.htm

P.S. Note: I do not believe that The Scriptures support the claim that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt 'by man' in Jerusalem. The reason why God allowed the two houses of Israel to go into captivity was because they didn't obey 'all' His statutes, and strayed after other gods (Baal, Astoreth, etc.).

THE COUNTER REFORMATION...ANTICHRIST?

THE COUNTER REFORMATION
AntiChrist? Who could that be?


A REMARKABLE COME BACK"

With strength and power the Religious Reformation swept across Europe. Dynamic men, fearlessly opposed the strong grip of Roman Catholic Power upon the lives and conscience of the people.

To the casual observer in the mid 1500's, it must have seemed as though Roman Catholicism would succumb to Protestantism. However that did not happen. The Roman Catholic Church staged a remarkable come back called the Counter-Reformation, by which they not only regained much that had been lost, and greatly suppressed the reformation, but also laid the foundation for the conquest of the world which we now see in action. A conquest described by Catholic Writer and eminent theologian, Malachi Martin in "Keys to this Blood" where he

"reveals Pope John Paul's own blueprint for a genuinely geopolitical structure: a one-world government that is both viable and humanly acceptable." (Flyleaf, then going on to page 480)

"From the beginning of his pontification, John Paul has been talking incessantly about the convergence of the nations. He had the end game in view some ten years before other men faced into it;. . .He would endow his papacy with an international profile and, as Pope, move around among world leaders and nations, vindicating a position for himself as a special leader among leaders, because in that competition he plans to emerge as the victor."

The Pope is acknowledged, in Mikhail Gorbachev's words, "as the most eminent moral authority in our world today."

What happened to the Reformation, where men like Luther, Calvin, Knox and all the other Protestant Reformers unanimously declared that the papacy was the prophecied antiChrist?

Luther wrote: "Here in Daniel 11:36, the pope is clearly pictured, who in all his decrees shouts impudently that all the churches and thrones will be judged by him, but he cannot be judged by anyone... Here, in Daniel 11:37, we have a description of the Antichrist. . . the Antichrist, that is the pope, will not have God nor a legitimate wife and that means that the Antichrist will despise laws and regulations,. . . in heaven and on earth and accept only his own law. . . .believe me, the pope is the antichrist."

Tomas Cranmer (who, combining the prophecies of Dan. 7 and 2 Thess.2, wrote) :
"After all these sprung up the pope, that triple-crowned monster, and great antichrist, which took upon him authority, not only over the clergy, but also climbed above kings and emperors, deposing them at his pleasure, and settled himself in the temple of god, that is, in the consciences of men, extolling himself above God, dispensing with good laws, and giving men leave to break them and to regard more his decrees than the everlasting commandments of God."

Cranmer was burned at the stake for his testimony against the prophesied papal Antichrist, just as were Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, Bradford and many others.

What happened to these deep convictions that caused men to risk their very lives to offer the world truth?

1. The Bible, and the Bible only they cried.
2. The Papacy is the Anti-Christ revealed in Prophecy.
3. Righteousness comes by Faith in Christ.
These were the main issues that fueled the reformation. The Bible was given back into the hands of the people! They were taught that it was at once their duty and their right to examine it, to judge for themselves as to what it contained, and to act upon their convictions on what God required. The conscience was set free from the tyranny of Rome to follow the Word of God.

We already touched on how the Papacy can claim the victory of tradition over the Bible in "Reformation Part One". In this article we will deal mainly with the Reformers recognition of the Papacy as the Anti-Christ and the counter interpretations of the counter Reformation .

The Reformers were by no means united on all points of doctrine, but one thing they were unanimous on, and that was applying most of the prophecies of Anti-christ to the Papacy. It was this clear understanding of the prophetic symbols that gave them such extraordinary courage and effectiveness to protest against Rome and to resist her tyranny, even if it meant death to themselves. The prophecies of Daniel, John and Paul were applied to the Papacy with tremendous effect.

In order to off set this incriminating scriptural evidence, Rome realized something, besides killing the messengers, must be done if she was to regain her power. The Bible had, dispite her efforts, gone out to the people so now she must come up with a plausible sounding counter interpretation to get the focus of the prophecies away from her, for as long as she was recognized as the anti- christ power of the last days people would resist her with their very lives. Prophecy must be reinterpreted!

THE JESUIT'S COUNTER INTERPRETATIONS

"The Society of Jesus was established by the papacy in 1540 as a very special ‘fighting unit' at the total and exclusive disposal of the Roman Pope. From their beginnings, the Jesuits were conceived in a military mode. Soldiers of Christ, they were given only two purposes: to propagate the religious doctrine and the moral law of the Roman Catholic Church as proposed and taught by the Roman Pope." (The Jesuits, page 41, Malachi Martin)

Their first job was to counter the Reformation. They must, by plausible exposition of Scripture break the unbroken harmony of the reformers positions.

Interestingly enough, they came up with two alternatives that were actually conflicting and contradicting each other, yet the Catholic Church sanctioned both! So much for truth! What they did achieve was to push the prophecies away from the papacy.

Through the Jesuits Ribera, of Spain and Bellarmine, of Rome came the Futurist interpretation. This interpretation leaps over the immense era of papal dominance, and crowds the antichrist prophecies into the far distant future.

THE JESUIT RIBERA'S FUTURIST COUNTER INTERPRETATIONS

Jesuit Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) " assigned the first few chapters of the Apocalypse to ancient Rome, in John's own time; the rest he restricted to a literal three and a half years' reign of an infidel Antichrist, who would bitterly oppose and blaspheme the saints just before the second advent. He taught that Antichrist would be a single individual, who would rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, abolish the Christian religion, deny Christ, be received by the Jews, pretend to be God, and conquer the world--all in this brief space of three and one-half literal years!" (Prophetic Faith Vol.2 p. 490)

Here we see that Ribera "laid the foundation for the great structure of Futurism...and then, wonder of wonders, in the nineteenth century this Jesuit scheme of interpretation came to be adopted by a growing number of Protestants, until today Futurism, amplified and adorned with the rapture theory, has become the generally accepted belief of the Fundamentalist wing of popular Protestantism!" (Prophetic Faith Vol. 2 p. 493) How could Protestantism forsake it's main foundation of prophetic interpretation and adopt a Jesuit counterfeit? How did this happen?

THE JESUIT BELLARMINE'S COUNTER INTERPRETATIONS

There was also (Saint) Robert Bellarmine, Jesuit, cardinal and theologian who, as an outstanding controversialist opposing the Protestant doctrines of the Reformation, was regarded by the Roman Catholic Church as one of its most powerful defenders. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1560....He was a lecturer at the new Jesuit College in Rome.

Between 1576 and 1589, in addition to his teaching Bellarmine lectured to large audiences. He insisted that the prophecies concerning Antichrist in Daniel, Paul and John, had no application to the papal power. This formed the third part of his "Disputations de Controversiis Christianae Fidei Adversus Huius Temporis Haereticos" published between 1581-1593.

Bellarmine's assault on the Protestant interpretations of prophecy was centered upon the year-day principle which stood at the base of the historic interpretation of prophecy and had risen to general notice and wide acceptance among both Catholics and Protestants. He went out of his way to do this.

Determined to nullify the day = year prophetic principle, used by Protestants as the basis of the 1260 year period of Antichrist's tyranny, he sought to deprive this symbol of its Scriptural support. He came up with the argument that Ezekiel 4 was in reverse, that is saying a year = a day, when in actuality Ezekiel's acted out prophecy was in days and symbolized years.

Ballarmine was very methodical as he dissected the Protestant position, his works fill nine ponderous folio tomes, attacking the standard prophecies pertaining to Antichrist.

Ballarmine capitalized on Luther's weakness. Luther had declared the Bible as the source for truth, yet Luther was selective in what he considered inspired in the Bible. Luther rejected the book of Revelation. "There is too much lacking in this book to call it apostolic or prophetic," he had written in the preference to his first edition of the new Testament. Zwingli made the same mistake in interpreting prophecy. He too refused to recognize the Revelation as apostolic. Now the Jesuit Ballarmine posed himself as the defender of the Bible against the Reformers who, he declared had rejected it. He then shaped the Revelation to fit the futurist view, thereby by- passing the whole Christian era and the real antichrist.

Actually Ballarmine assigned the apocalyptic symbols to the distant past and the distant future. Antichrist, according to him, had not yet come, for he would abolish the daily sacrifice— or the Eucharist (daily mass) and would reign for three and a half literal years.

Bellarmine maintained that the little horn of Daniel 7 as well as the end power in Daniel 11 was a single king--who like Antiochus— would take away three kings and subdue seven other to himself, who, he contends, would therefore be one man only, and not a kingdom. Antiochus was a figure or symbol of the Antichrist of the last days.

THE JESUIT ALCASAR'S PRETERIST COUNTER INTERPRETATIONS

On the flip side of the Counter Reformation was another Jesuit. Jesuit Luis De Alcazar, or Alcasar (1554-1613) of Seville Spain.

Alcasar advanced the Preterist interpretation. He made all prophecy stop short of the papal domination. He maintained that the apocalypse describes the war of the church in the early centuries. Partly between the Jews and their adversaries and then the Church and paganism. Revelation 1-11 he applied to the rejection of the Jews and the desolation of Jerusalem by the Romans. Revelation 12-19 Alcazar allotted to the overthrow of Roman paganism and the conversion of the empire to the church, the judgment of the great Harlot being effected by the downfall of pagan idolatry. Revelation 20 he applied to the final persecution by Antichrist and chapters 21 referring to the New Jerusalem he made descriptive of the glorious and endless triumphant state of the Roman church. ( See Prophetic Faith vol 2 p. 507)

The three Jesuits who worked most effectively to overthrow the Protestant understanding of prophecy, and whose theories are now (in modified forms) almost universally accepted are:

Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) From Italy.
Jesuit Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) of Salamanca Spain
Jesuit Luis De Alcazar, or Alcasar (1554-1613) of Seville Spain.

THE PROTESTANT INTERPRETATION REVISITED

Let's look again at the Protestant interpretation which was based on the historic method.

The Protestant John Knox in Scotland: (1505-1572) believed:

1. That "the papal religion is but an abomination before God" and to "flee out of Babylon, that you perish not with her." (Friedrich Brandes, John Knox, der Reformator Schottlands p. 191)

2. "Knox took the text written in Daniel, the seventh chapter, beginning thus: And another King shall rise unlike unto the first. . . ".
He identified the creatures as Babylonian, Persia, Greeks, and the fourth of the Romans; which he affirmed to be the Roman Church; for to none other power that ever hath yet been, do all the notes that God hath showed to the Prophet appertain, except to it alone;

3. Knox next showed that Daniel's "little horn" was identical with Paul's "man of sin" and John's "Whore of Babylon" as one single Antichrist

4. Every prophetic day is a year— every common prophetical day is taken for a year. A prophetic week is a "week of years," and a Jewish or Greek common year is a year of "360" days". He quotes Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:5,6 and cites the seventy weeks as evidence of fulfillment, "In the seventy weeks of Daniel, a day to be taken for a year, extending in the whole to 490 years; otherwise, that prophecy of the Messiah's coming, would not fall upon the just time of Christ's coming, as necessarily it ought to doe.. . . .

The point is clear, these concepts did not originate with ADVENTISM. Adventism is sticking to Protestantism while the rest of Christendom is following Jesuit interpretations. We also see the sure result of this shift in Prophetic understanding of the apocalypse. Protestants are playing into the hands of Rome, by helping to screen the Papacy from detection as the Antichrist. The ecumenical movement which is at work to unite all Christendom under the "shepherding" influence of Rome is sweeping the world. The Pope's dream and plan "of his own universal Roman Church— a winner-take all race against time to establish, maintain, and control the first one-world government that has ever existed on the face of the earth" (Keys of Blood, flyleaf) is in the process of being set up. For Revelation tells us that "all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, all except those whose names are written in the book life", will worship the beast that was wounded to death (officially by Napoleon's stripping the Vatican of political power in 1798) but it's deadly wound was healed and all the world wonders after him. (Rev. 13:3,8)

WHY WERE THE JESUIT'S SO SUCCESSFUL?

Yet how did this complete reversal of prophetic interpretation permeate the Protestant world?

It did not happen overnight! Nor did it happen during the lifetimes of the Jesuits who first promoted the new interpretations. It happened by promoting diversity of opinions and then moving in to divide and conquer! Had the Protestants remained firm and united on their historic interpretative stand, the counter reformation could never have succeeded in implanting these new interpretations into all of Christendom. Many reformers rose and refuted the futurist and preterist positions, but others bought into them.

Here is one example. Protestant statesman and theologian, Hugo Grotius, had a Jesuit friend, named Petavius. Grotius said he wanted peace between Catholics and Protestants and he used his diplomacy to achieve this end. To do this he studied Jesuit Alcazar's Preterist interpretation, and wrote his own anti-Protestant commentary on the Antichrist (1620) He bought into the Jesuit counter interpretation so strongly that he believed the pope was not mentioned in any of the prophecies.

Other Protestants were shocked at his writings and wrote to refute him, yet his works marked the beginning of others following his lead.

Thus the work of infiltrating and planting the counter interpretive ideas and then watching the Protestants themselves undoing the Reformation slowly gained control.

"The Jesuits carried the battle right into the territories of their papal enemies. They waged public controversies with kings, they debated in Protestant universities, they preached at crossroads and in marketplaces. They addressed municipal councils, they instructed Church Councils. They INFILTRATED hostile territories in disguise, and moved around underground. They were everywhere, showering their contemporaries with brilliance, with wit, with acerbity, with learning, with piety. Their constant theme: The Bishop of Rome is successor to Peter the Apostle. . .any other church institution is rank heresy. . .they had a monopoly in the education of Europe for over two hundred years, and numbered the famous and infamous. . .they were giants with but one purpose: the defense and propagation of papal authority and papal teaching." (The Jesuits, p.28- 29)

IMPLICATIONS WHICH RESULT FROM THEIR SUCCESS

They were so successful in deleting the evidence that the Papacy is antichrist that now we see the Lutherans and Catholics embracing one another as fellow Christians, articulating a "common understanding of justification" agreeing that their Joint Declaration "encompasses a consensus in the basic truths, claiming that the "differing explications" are compatible with the joint Declaration and thus no longer the occasion for doctrinal condemnations, and to look past historic differences in the name of Christian unity. (Christianity Today, Jan. 10,2000 pp.63-65)

Protestants are willing to clasp the hands of Catholism even though THEY KNOW they have great differences in doctrines (purgatory, penance, purgatory, images, Mary,) THEY KNOW that "Roman Catholics have not now adopted the Lutheran Position" THEY KNOW that the pope will never give up his stand on papal supremacy.

(Time, Dec.16,1991 p.53 the Holy See officially declares it's position, insisting that a reunited church must be built upon a papacy that is a God-given, "permanent" institution with "universal" jurisdiction, "directly founded" by Jesus Christ And the Pope has personal power to teach infallibly on faith and morals.)

They know all this, yet they sign joint declarations? How can this be?

The success of the counter Reformation has infiltrated all of Christendom. The idea that the Papacy is antichrist will soon have the same penalties as it did in the 16th century when people stood against the demands of the Papacy at the peril of their own lives.

Protestants are joining with and patronizing the papacy. They have made compromises and concessions.

They bow to the accusation that:
"It is all too easy for Protesants, who have shattered the church into thousands of pieces, to speak blithely of spiritual unity and continue along a schismatic way. (Christianity Today)
They never realize that from the beginning the Jesuits tactics were to divide them and then move in to conquer them for the Catholic Church.
People are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism and the dangers realized when she gains again her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.

"The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged." (GC) This is not to say that many sincere Catholics do not truly love the Lord. No, this is not about individuals, this is about a system. The system will restore and supercede all her cruelties to enforce her dogmas.

Why are there dungeons and torture chambers in the basements of her churches. Why has the office of the inquisition been reactivated?

"Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High. The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. ( GC)

References:
Froom, LeRoy The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers Vol. 2
Martin, Malachi, Keys of This Blood also The Jesuits
Grimm, Harold The Reformation Era
Emmerson, W.L. The Reformation and the Advent Movement
Encyclopedia Britannica
Time Magazine, Dec. 16, 1991
Christianity Today, January 10, 2000

Source: http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/reformation2.html#jesuits

THE ANTICHRIST AND THE REFORMATION


(photo) coutersy: http://www.reformationsa.org/images/wycliffe_at_desk.jpg


The Antichrist and the Protestant Reformation

by Steve Wohlberg
The Protestant Reformation in the 1500s literally changed the course of history. It helped move Europe out of the Dark Ages and led to the rise of true religious freedom. It's original principles eventually found expression in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America which teaches that when it comes to religion, the governments of earth have no right to control the conscience.

True Protestantism teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2:8) and the supremacy of the Bible above the visible church (2 Tim. 3:16) - above traditions, pastors, priests, popes and kings (See D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteen Century, book xiii, chapter vi, pp. 520-524). It also teaches the priesthood of all believers (2 Pet. 2:9, 10) and that all people everywhere can be saved by coming directly to our loving heavenly Father through His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). "There is o­ne God, and o­ne mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

What did the major Protestant Reformers teach about the Antichrist? Whether you agree with them or not, it's important to realize what they taught. The following quotations are not intented to foster ill will toward any human being, for this would be contrary to teaching of Jesus Christ (John 13:34, 35), but rather to simply present what some of the most influential Christian leaders who have ever lived believed about "the little horn" (Daniel 7:8), "the beast" (Revelation 13:1), and "the man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) - about Antichrist.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) (Lutheran): "Luther ... proved, by the revelations of Daniel and St. John, by the epistles of St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. Jude, that the reign of Antichrist, predicted and described in the Bible, was the Papacy ... And all the people did say, Amen! A holy terror siezed their souls. It was Antichrist whom they beheld seated o­n the pontifical throne. This new idea, which derived greater strength from the prophetic descriptions launched forth by Luther into the midst of his contemporaries, inflicted the most terrible blow o­n Rome." Taken from J. H. Merle D'aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteen Century, book vi, chapter xii, p. 215.

Based o­n prophetic studies, Martin Luther finally declared, "We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist." (Aug. 18, 1520). Taken from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by LeRoy Froom. Vol. 2., pg. 121.

John Calvin (1509-1564) (Presbyterian): "Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy." Taken from Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin.

John Knox (1505-1572) (Scotch Presbyterian): John Knox sought to counteract "that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church." As with Luther, he finally concluded that the Papacy was "the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks." The Zurich Letters, by John Knox, pg. 199.

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) (Anglican): "Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons." (Referring to prophecies in Revelation and Daniel.) Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7.

Roger Williams (1603-1683) (First Baptist Pastor in America): Pastor Williams spoke of the Pope as "the pretended Vicar of Christ o­n earth, who sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himself not o­nly above all that is called God, but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals, yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the Holy Spirit, yea, and God himself...speaking against the God of heaven, thinking to change times and laws; but he is the son of perdition (II Thess. 2)." The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by Froom, Vol. 3, pg. 52.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647): "There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition that exalteth himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God." Taken from Philip Schaff's, The Creeds of Christendom, With a History and Critical Notes, III, p. 658, 659, ch. 25, sec. 6.

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) (Congregational Theologian): "The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them." Taken from The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom's book, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113.

John Wesley (1703-1791) (Methodist): Speaking of the Papacy, John Wesley wrote, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone." Antichrist and His Ten Kingdoms, by John Wesley, pg. 110.

A Great Cloud of Witnesses: "Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer; in the seventeenth century, Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible and the men who published the Westminster and Baptist confessions of Faith; Sir Isaac Newton, Wesley, Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards; and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of the Papacy as the antichrist." Taken from All Roads Lead to Rome, by Michael de Semlyen. Dorchestor House Publications, p. 205. 1991.

Taken from Chapter 9 of Steve Wohlberg's small book: The Antichrist Chronicles: What Prophecy Teachers Aren't Telling You, and recorded in his larger book, End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World (published by Destiny Image)

Source: http://www.whitehorsemedia.com/articles/details.cfm?art=44