Sunday, June 15, 2008

ARMED COFLICT IN THE LAST DAYS



Armed Conflict in the Last Days

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. Jer. 25:32.


Soon grievous troubles will rise among the nations-- trouble that will not cease until Jesus comes. As never before we need to press together, serving Him who has prepared His throne in the heavens and whose kingdom ruleth over all. God has not forsaken His people, and our strength lies in not forsaking Him. {Mar 174.1}

The judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars, the destruction by fire and flood, say clearly that the time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand. We have no time to lose. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfillment. {Mar 174.2}

Soon strife among the nations will break out with an intensity that we do not now anticipate. The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they realize that something great and decisive is about to take place, that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis. {Mar 174.3}

A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every power lent us of Heaven is now to be used in working for those perishing in ignorance. There must be no delay. The truth must be proclaimed in the dark places of the earth. . . . A great work is to be done, and to those who know the truth for this time, this work has been entrusted. {Mar 174.4}

In the last scenes of this earth's history, war will rage. There will be pestilence, plague, and famine. The waters of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Property and life will be destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him. There is a rest from earth's conflict. {Mar 174.5}

Marantha, E. G. W. , p.174.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

THE ILLEGITIMATE AND DISASTROUS U.S. MILITARY OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Illegitimate and Disastrous U.S. Military Occupation of Iraq

by Rodrigue Tremblay

"The president [George W. Bush] is strongly motivated to string out the [Iraq] war until he leaves office, in order to avoid taking responsibility for the defeat he has caused and persisted in making greater each year for more than three years."

General William Odom, former head of the National Security Agency (NSA) under President Ronald Reagan

"In beloved Iraq, blood is flowing between brothers, in the shadow of an illegitimate foreign occupation, and abhorrent sectarianism threatens a civil war."

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, March 29, 2007

After [this] war [against Iraq] has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe.”

Sen. Robert Byrd, (D-W.Va), March 19, 2003

The Iraqi Parliament is on record as being against the US-led military occupation of their country. Moreover, most Iraqis resent Americans occupying their country and the Bush-Cheney administration's requests to do it forever by maintaining nearly 60 military bases in their country. The Bush-Cheney administration has even threatened the puppet Iraqi government to withhold some $50 billion of Iraq's money held as reserves at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, if the Iraqi government does not sign what is also called a "strategic alliance" agreement to prolong U.S. occupation indefinitely and turn Iraq into a permanent American colony.

Indeed, after the illegal military invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the United Nations was forced to extend a mandate of occupation to the United States. Thus, in June 2004, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1546 that recognized the de facto occupation of Iraq by American-led military forces and kept Iraq subject to the Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which authorizes the use of force in Iraq. The mandate was supposed to be terminated at the end of 2005, but was extended. It is that U.N. mandate authorizing an American presence in Iraq that finally expires on December 31 of this year. After that date, there will be no legal basis for U.S. military forces to be on Iraqi soil and the Iraqi government would regain its entire authority.

That's what the Bush-Cheney administration wants to avoid by pressing the Iraqis to sign a so-called long-term “security agreement”, which would not require approval by the U.S. Congress (because it would not be a treaty, although this is playing with words in order to escape the scrutiny of U.S. lawmakers), and which would keep real Iraqi authority to a nominal level and concentrate most of political power in American hands. In other words, the Bush-Cheney administration wants a puppet government in Baghdad in perpetuity. We may add that this is precisely what Republican presidential Candidate McCain also wants.

In the future, as now, Americans in Iraq (American troops, contractors and private security guards) would have full legal immunity for their actions, even when they steal, rape, kidnap, torture, or murder Iraqis, and could arrest Iraqis and put them in American-run jails. Moreover, the American occupiers would have key Iraqi departments such as Defense, Interior and National Security ministries, as well as armament contracts, under their supervision for ten years, would keep control of Iraqi airspace, would maintain permanent military bases in the country and would retain the right to strike, from within Iraqi territory, any country (read Iran and Syria) they consider to be a threat to their security or contrary to U.S. or Iraqi interests. Some sovereignty and some independence indeed! Even the weak Nouri al-Maliki government thinks it's too much, while Shia Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani is tinkering with the idea of issuing a religious fatwa against the Bush-Cheney's so-called proposed agreement, a move that would likely kill it.

Let's keep in mind that the Bush-Cheney's military occupation of Iraq is doubly illegitimate, besides having been illegal from day one according to international law. First, a solid majority of Americans want American soldiers out of Iraq. Second, a vast majority of Iraqis also want American soldiers out of their country. The irony is that the Bush-Cheney regime pretends to be in Iraq for the sake of "democracy", while they trample on people's demands both in Iraq and in the United States. Some "democracy" indeed. How about fascism and imperialism!

When both the president of Iraq and the King of Saudi Arabia say that the ongoing U.S. military occupation of Iraq is 'illegitimate', and when Turkey has acted on its threats to bomb and invade Northern Iraq, it becomes obvious that the entire Middle East is now turning against the U.S. Bush-Cheney regime and its colonial adventure in that part of the world. The Bush-Cheney regime likes to delude itself and to play on words when it pretends that Iraq is not under an "illegitimate foreign occupation" but that U.S. troops are in that far away country at Iraq's invitation (sic!), citing the after-the-fact U.N. mandate. This is an example of fuzzy and circular thinking. When you don't think straight, you don't act straight. And, on this score, the Bush-Cheney administration is the most crooked you can find.

All that remains to see is whether the Bush-Cheney administration will succeed on three fronts, that is to say, 1- force its puppet government in Baghdad to sign a long-term agreement of dependence toward the United States, 2- bypass Congress and the U.S. Constitution in adopting what would clearly be an international treaty, and finally, 3- tie up the hands of the next president and prevent him from withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. When you think of it, this is a cynical game of brinksmanship, always on the edge of legality, morality and decency.

___________________________________

Rodrigue Tremblay is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Montreal and can be reached at

mailto:rodrigue.tremblay@%20yahoo.com.

He is the author of the book 'The New American Empire'.

Visit his blog site atwww.thenewamericanempire.com/blog.

Author's Website:http://www.thenewamericanempire.com//

Check Dr. Tremblay's coming book "The Code for Global Ethics" at: www.TheCodeForGlobalEthics.com/

_____________________________________

Posted, Monday, June 16, 2008, at 5:30 am

Source: http://www.thenewamericanempire.com/blog.html

LIGHTNING SPEED - PART 1

Modern Spiritualism

Lightning Speed - Part 1
In vision, Ellen White saw modern spiritualism depicted as a train traveling at the speed of lightning. It seemed to her that the whole world had gotten on board. The conductor was Satan himself. What are the various manifestations of this deceptive philosophy today? In this message, Elder Westbrook gives an overview of numerous forms of modern spiritualim as revealed in the Spirit of Prophecy.

Listen Now



Please click on link below to listen to Sermon :


Source: http://www.backtoenoch.org/audio_topic07.htm


SIMON MAGUS (FROM SAMARIA TO ROME)

Simon Magus, flourished c. 35 AD

Simon Magus
The booklet above is called, Simon Magus : An Essay on the Founder of Simonianism Based on the Ancient Sources With a Re-Evaluation of His Philosophy and Teachings by G. R. S. Mead

A Gnostic mage with a large following including many of the disciples of John the Baptist.

Blavatsky wrote of Simon Magus describing his abilities and stating that he lived in the 2nd Century AD rather than the time of Yeshua, and was so famous that the Romans erected a statue of him.

Simon Magus was another prominent miracle-worker of the second century, and no one denied his power. Even Christians were forced to admit that he performed miracles. Allusion is made to him in the Acts of the Apostles, viii: 9-10. His fame was world-wide, his followers in every nation, and in Rome a statue was erected in his honor. He had frequent contests with Peter, what we in this day would call miracle-matches in order to determine which had the greater power. It is stated in 'The Acts of Peter and Paul' that Simon made a brazen serpent to move, stone statues to laugh, and himself to rise in the air; to which is added: 'as a set-off to this, Peter healed the sick by a word, caused the blind to see, &c.' Simon, being brought before Nero, changed his form: suddenly he became a child, then an old man; at other times a young man. 'And Nero, beholding this, supposed him to be the Son of God.' "In 'Recognitions,' a Petrine work of the early ages, an account is given of a public discussion between Peter and Simon Magus.

Many of the Baptist's disciples joined Yeshua's school, but many more stayed with Simon Magus as their leader because Yeshua couldn't take them all. There is no evidence that Yeshua and Simon ever "fought" over students, and they were probably friends. Simon was later accused of sorcery and heresy by the Church and some rather fantastic tales were made up about him. He is mentioned in Acts Chapter 8. Supposedly he was baptized and even traveled with Philip for a time. The practice of Simony was named after him because he supposedly asked to "buy" the magical tricks of the Apostle Peter and John. One account of the time, however, says it was Paul who tried to buy these "powers" from Yeshua's direct disciples, not Simon. When the Paulists later reconciled with the rest of the early Christians---when indeed, Paulanity became the central teaching of christianity---Simon Magus' name was inserted in the story in place of Paul's. This makes sense because Simon would not have asked for another baptism by one of Yeshua's disciples when he himself had already been baptized by none other than John the Baptist. Paul never met Yeshua and had to overcome his bad name as a killer of christians and somehow bring legitimacy to the form of christianity he was espousing (inventing?). Paul wanted to be called an Apostle, but the word was reserved for only those who had studied under Yeshua, or at least met him in person. One wonders if the story of his "meeting" Yeshua on the road to Damascus was made up by him to satisfy this requirement. At any rate, many of the early christians sure thought Paul was a fraud, they were called anti-Paulists, and it was a long time before they were wiped out and the church had to find a fall guy for the story in Acts. Simon Magus ticked off certain church "fathers" because his Simonianism was big competition for their new version of christianity, a patriarchal state run church. The Roman's had loved Simon, even erected a statue of him, but the church "fathers" (more like hijackers) hated anything gnostic and wanted to label anything that was not their idea as heresy.

So Simon got a bad name and new stories were made up about him such as he fell to his death during a flying bout during a battle of the sorcerers between St. Peter and Simon.

To this day fundamentalist christians call Simon the "perfect example of a Satanic believer." Poor Simon got seriously bad press, but it was all after his death, so hopefully he didn't mind. It is unclear how he died and there are even theories that two or three Simon Maguses existed, thus the stories of him living in 200 AD as well as at the time of the Apostles.

Here is a good link for more about him: Biographical sketch of Simon Magus


Source: http://www.northernway.org/saints.html

MARTYRDOM OF PAUL AND PETER




Martyrdom of Paul and Peter.



The apostles Paul and Peter were for many years widely separated in their labors, it being the work of Paul to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, while Peter labored especially for the Jews. But in the providence of God, both were to bear witness for Christ in the world's metropolis, and upon its soil both were to shed their blood as the seed of a vast harvest of saints and martyrs. {LP 328.1}



About the time of Paul's second arrest, Peter also was apprehended and thrust into prison. He had made himself especially obnoxious to the authorities by his zeal and success in exposing the deceptions and defeating the plots of Simon Magus the sorcerer, who had followed him to Rome to oppose and hinder the work of the gospel. Nero was a believer in magic, and had patronized Simon. He was therefore greatly incensed against the apostle, and was thus prompted to order his arrest. {LP 328.2}



The emperor's malice against Paul was heightened by the fact that members of the imperial household, and also other persons of distinction, had been converted to Christianity during his first imprisonment. For this reason he made
329
the second imprisonment much more severe than the first, granting him little opportunity to preach the gospel; and he determined to cut short his life as soon as a plausible pretext could be found for so doing. Nero's mind was so impressed with the force of the apostle's words at his last trial that he deferred the decision of the case, neither acquitting nor condemning him. But the sentence was only deferred. It was not long before the decision was pronounced which consigned Paul to a martyr's grave. Being a Roman citizen, he could not be subjected to torture, and was therefore sentenced to be beheaded.
{LP 328.3}



Peter, as a Jew and a foreigner, was condemned to be scourged and crucified. In prospect of this fearful death, the apostle remembered his great sin in denying Jesus in the hour of trial, and his only thought was, that he was unworthy of so great an honor as to die in the same manner as did his Master. Peter had sincerely repented of that sin, and had been forgiven by Christ, as is shown by the high commission given him to feed the sheep and lambs of the flock. But he could never forgive himself. Not even the thought of the agonies of the last terrible scene could lessen the bitterness of his sorrow and repentance. As a last favor he entreated his executioners that he might be nailed to the cross with his head downward. The request was granted, and in this manner died the great apostle Peter. {LP 329.1}



Paul was led in a private manner to the place of execution. His persecutors, alarmed at the extent of his influence, feared that converts might be won to Christianity, even by the scenes of his death. Hence few spectators were
330
allowed to be present. But the hardened soldiers appointed to attend him, listened to his words, and with amazement saw him cheerful and even joyous in prospect of such a death. His spirit of forgiveness toward his murderers, and his unwavering confidence in Christ to the very last, proved a savor of life unto life to some who witnessed his martyrdom. More than one erelong accepted the Saviour whom Paul preached, and fearlessly sealed their faith with their blood.
{LP 329.2}



The life of Paul, to its very latest hour, testified to the truth of his words in the second Epistle to the Corinthians: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." His sufficiency was not in himself, but in the presence and agency of the divine Spirit that filled his soul, and brought every thought into subjection to the will of Christ. The fact that his own life exemplified the truth he proclaimed, gave convincing power to both his preaching and his deportment. Says the prophet, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee." It was this Heaven-born peace, expressed upon the countenance, that won many a soul to the gospel. {LP 330.1}



The apostle was looking into the great beyond,
331
not with uncertainty or in dread, but with joyful hope and longing expectation. As he stood at the place of martyrdom, he saw not the gleaming sword of the executioner, or the green earth so soon to receive his blood; he looked up through the calm blue heaven of that summer's day to the throne of the Eternal. His language was, O Lord, thou art my comfort and my portion. When shall I embrace thee? when shall I behold thee for myself, without a dimming vail between?
{LP 330.2}



Paul carried with him through his life on earth the very atmosphere of Heaven. All who associated with him felt the influence of his connection with Christ and companionship with angels. Here lies the power of the truth. The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power which it is impossible wholly to resist. {LP 331.1}



While the apostle lost sight of his own near sufferings, he felt a deep solicitude for the disciples whom he was about to leave to cope with prejudice, hatred, and persecution. He endeavored to strengthen and encourage the few Christians who accompanied him to the place of execution, by repeating the exceeding precious promises given for those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. He assures them that nothing shall fail of all that the Lord hath spoken concerning his tried and faithful ones. They shall arise and shine; for the light of the Lord shall arise upon them. They shall put on their beautiful garments when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. For a little season they may be in
332
heaviness through manifold temptations, they may be destitute of earthly comfort; but they must encourage their hearts by saying, I know in whom I have believed. He is able to keep that which I have committed to his trust. His rebuke will come to an end, and the glad morning of peace and perfect day will come.
{LP 331.2}



Paul declared to his brethren, It did not appear to our fathers what great and good things should be given to those who believe in Jesus. They desired to see the things which we see, and to hear the things which we hear, but they died without the sight or the knowledge. The greater light which we have received is shed upon us by the gospel of Christ. Holy men of old were acknowledged and honored of God because they were faithful over a few things; and it is only those that improve with the same fidelity their greater trust, who will with them be counted profitable servants, and be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. {LP 332.1}



This man of faith beholds the ladder presented in Jacob's vision,--the ladder which rested upon the earth and reached to the highest heavens, and upon which angels of God were ascending and descending. He knows that this ladder represents Christ, who has connected earth with Heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. He hears angels and archangels magnifying that glorious name. His faith is strengthened as he calls to mind that patriarchs and prophets relied upon the same Saviour who is his support and consolation, and for whom he is giving his life. Those holy men who from century to century sent down their testimony for the truth, and the apostles, who to preach the gospel of Christ went out to
333
meet religious bigotry and heathen superstition, who counted not their lives dear unto themselves if they might bear aloft the light of the cross amid the dark mazes of infidelity,--all these he hears witnessing to Jesus as the Son of the Most High, the Saviour of the world. The martyr's shout of triumph, the fearless testimony for the faith, falls upon his ear from the rack, the stake, the dungeon, from the dens and caves of the earth, from steadfast souls who are destitute, afflicted, tormented, yet of whom the world is not worthy. With a continually strengthening assurance they declare, "I know whom I have believed." And as they yield up their lives as witnesses for the faith, they bear a solemn, condemning testimony to the world, declaring that He in whom they trusted has proved himself able to save to the uttermost.
{LP 332.2}



The Captain of our salvation has prepared his servant for the last great conflict. Ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, washed from sin in his blood, and clothed in his righteousness, Paul has the witness in himself that his soul is precious in the sight of his Redeemer. His life is hid with Christ in God, and he is persuaded that He who has conquered death is able to keep that which is committed to his trust. His mind grasps the Saviour's promise, "I will raise him up at the last day." His thoughts and hopes are centered in the second advent of his Lord. And as the sword of the executioner descends, and the shadows of death gather about the martyr's soul, his latest thought springs forward, as will his earliest thought in the great awakening, to meet the Lifegiver who shall welcome him to the joy of the blest.
334
{LP 333.1}



Well-nigh a score of centuries have passed since Paul the aged poured out his blood as a witness for the word of God and for the testimony of Christ. No faithful hand recorded for the generations to come, the last scenes in the life of this holy man; but inspiration has preserved for us his dying testimony. Like a trumpet peal has his voice rung out through all the ages, nerving with his own courage thousands of witnesses for Christ, and wakening in thousands of sorrow-stricken hearts the echo of his own triumphant joy: "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

-
{LP 334.1}


Sketches from the Life of Paul, Ellen G. White, pp. 328-334.

'GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER'


1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8And there was great joy in that city.

9But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Acts 8:1-25.

Friday, June 13, 2008

COURTING ROME

Courting Rome

In several newspapers we can read about great support for ecumenical efforts. Protestants and Catholics join forces. The strategy is clear: First unite the various Protestant denominations, then merge this group of churches with the Catholics.

The question is this: Why are the churches uniting? What is going on? From the Catholics' own sources we find that the soldiers in the papal front lines, the Jesuits, have been commissioned by Rome to unify the church denominations _ by their having dialogues. At the 1995 Jesuit General Conference 34, they said that "The second Vatican Council has encouraged all Catholics to enter into dialogue... so we can promote unification... The Holy Father has time and again asked the Jesuits to bring about an inter-religious dialogue, an apostolic prioritizing in the third millennium...it seems like a dialogue is developing the gathering and liberating potential for all religions..." (Dekre 5, pkt. 130 (D5, 130)) "...Inter-religious dialogues is an integrating element of the Jesuits mission..." (D5, 137) They say, "We have a special responsibility to promote inter-religious dialogues." (D5, 154) Yes, "this culture of dialoguing should become the special hallmark of our Jesuit Order."

Through the ecumenical exertions of the Jesuits, The Catholic Church attempts to engage Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, various Protestant denominations, and others in dialogue. When we witness church denominations jointly arranging events, we are beholding the visible fruit of the dialogues between the churches.

Ever since Vatican II, in 1962-65, The Catholic Church has strived to unite the various Protestant denominations under the umbrella of Rome. No longer are Protestants called "heretics", but "separated brethren". Now the Catholics are in full flight. Just like it is the in thing to unite in the political, financial and military fields, you are also to unite in the religious sphere. This unification has resulted in one thing: The metamorphosis of Protestants. They have drawn near to The Catholic Church.

Protestants and Catholics regularly reach agreements, e.g. "The Joint Declaration" (the common announcement regarding the Lutheran and Catholic teaching on righteousness), and "The Charta Oecumenica", an agreement between Catholics and Protestants in Europe. In this document they call for full church communion. Let us read from point 5, § III in this document: "Until we reach the goal of full church communion, we intend to act together in all matters in which no deep differences of conviction compel us to act separately."

They are "to avoid hurtful competition" (Point 4, § II), and we quote further from point 4, § III: "We commit ourselves to discuss our mission and evangelisation work with the other churches; not to induce people to change their church membership."

Hence churches are to jointly evangelise the unchurched, and individual congregations are to work to reach those who have "slipped out the back door". In practise, the agreement in the document "Charta Oecumenica" means that all recognise each other as adequate alternatives. They are to evangelise jointly, but avoid "stealing" members from one another. However, how can Protestant churches strike such a deal with The Catholic Church? This endangers freedom, the freedom to unequivocally preach a Biblical message, including the message urging people to leave Babylon (Revelation 18:4).

Today, almost no Protestant priests call the Pope Anti-Christ. The Protestants in Luther's time harboured no doubts. When the papal bull reached Luther, he declared: "I despise and attack it, as impious, false…It is Christ Himself who is condemned therein…I rejoice in having to bear such ills for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty in my heart; for at last I know that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself." (-D'Aubigné, b. 6, ch. 9).

In the [Norwegian] Lutheran Symbolic Books, page 539, it says that, "the characteristics which, according to Scripture, distinguish The Anti-Christ, perfectly apply to the papacy and its supporters." Luther was right. All Biblical marks of the great, anti-Christian power of Revelation 13, 17, and 18 fit the papacy. One of the titles of this seducing power, is "The Whore". The Bible calls her "the mother of harlots". The Vatican spokesman, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said in the paper The Daily Telegraph, September 4th, 2000: "Ours is the mother of churches". So The Catholic Church says it themselves that they are the Mother church. They are the Whore. In the Bible, in Revelation 17:5, we read that The Whore also has harlot daughters. These are the churches which co-operate with The Whore, and adhere to several of her false dogmas. The Bible entreats us strongly not to become partners of The Whore. It says: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

In spite of these clear warnings, we are today witnessing Protestant church denominations entering into ecumenical relations with The Whore. Instead of protesting against the papacy and its errors, they are joining it. This is a sure sign of apostate Protestantism.

If you and we consider ourselves a part of God's people, we should not enter into ecumenical relations with the papacy and fallen Protestantism. We are most solemnly called upon to loudly and clearly urge people to come out of the great, seducing world power of the end time, the papacy. How can we give the right signals about leaving Babylon, when we go in there and worship together with Babylon?

We wish to stress that we caution about the Catholic system itself and its unbiblical teachings, as well as against apostate Protestantism. We are convinced that there are many and sincere God's children inside these churches. God must surely have His people in Babylon, too, because He says, "Come out of her, my people…" (Revelation 18:4). God has given us a burden to proclaim this message to those persons, who unknowingly are part of Babylon. "I have made thee a watchman", God says, "therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me" (Ezekiel 3:17). In heaven, we want to meet those of God's people now still in Babylon. We cannot bear the thought of their blood being required at our hand, because we refrained from the unpleasant task of giving God's message of warning and hope. Whenever God issued His sharp warnings through the prophets in bygone days, it was not to attack those living in apostasy. He corrected them from a heart full of love. He saw that if they continued on their course, they would eventually be lost. However: "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" (Ezekiel 18:32).

The ecumenical movement calls for unity. But are we going to reach unity by majority decisions, when these go against the Word of God, or is unity to be achieved on the basis of a "thus saith the Lord"? The Bible makes it perfectly clear that true unity has to be founded in all that Jesus stood for, both in practise and teachings (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus said that we were to be one in Him (John 17:21). Catholicism and ecumenism are a completely different kettle of fish. We will give you a few, short examples: The Catholic Church has not given up a single of the unbiblical teachings, which necessitated The Reformation. They still claim that the Pope is the vicar of Christ on Earth, but we must base our faith and the church on Christ (the rock), not on erring men (something which the Popes have been throughout history). They still pray to the Virgin Mary, whereas the Bible tells us not to pray to dead persons or images/statues of them (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Exodus 20:4-6). Still, the saints are invoked. Daily, the Catholic priests preach mass for both the living and the dead, whereas the Bible declares that the dead know not any thing. They will be in their graves until the day of resurrection (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10; I Thessalonians 4:15-17). During every Eucharist they "create" and "sacrifice" Jesus anew, in that they believe that the Eucharistic bread (the Host), through the blessing of the priest, actually becomes the body of Jesus. The Bible, though, instructs that Jesus was sacrificed once for all, and that The Lord's Supper is to remind us of the sacrifice, that Jesus achieved on the cross for us (I Corinthians 11:24; Hebrews 9:24-28).

Also, The Catholic Church has, down the ages, introduced many unbiblical customs, and we regret that many Protestant denominations have accepted several of these. It was The Catholic Church, too, that forged God's ten commandments in its Catechisms, making them differ radically on several points from the ten commandment law in the Bible. (Compare the commandments in the Catechism yourself with those of the Bible, in Exodus 20:3-17.) Unfortunately, The Lutheran Church has accepted the forged, Catholic commandments. What backsliding, what seduction (Matthew 5:17-19)!

The Bible says that the kings of the Earth commit fornication with The Whore, and the inhabitants of the Earth get drunk with the wine of her fornication (Revelation 17:2). We have now mentioned a few facts about the intoxicating wine of The Whore = the errors, which The Whore pours into the cup of the world's populace. So The Whore commits political and religious fornication with the harlot daughters, who are lead astray by her sorceries (Revelation 18:23).

It is deplorable and remarkable for Protestant churches now to seek to co-operate with the power that the Reformers called The Anti-Christ = the papal church. That group of people who once had to escape the bayonets and superior force of The Catholic Church, have now become its co-operative partners. What a dramatical change in views, what backsliding!

Of course we should try to sow the evangelical seed among all men, and gladly investigate the Bible with them. We are, in fact, called upon to do so! However, when a Protestant church denomination - as an organisation - attaches itself to The Whore, it has gone one step too far.

This appeal is once more directed at those, who co-operate with Rome: "Come out of her, my people that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

The choice is yours! Ask God to help you follow His advice! It will affect your eternal destiny.

Sincerely yours, Bente and Abel Struksnæs

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Source: http://www.endtime.net/engelsk/courtingrome.htm

CEDAR RAPIDS HOLDS FOR HISTORIC RIVER CREST (PRAYER)

A large municipal building and a day care center are surrounded by water from the swollen Iowa River,Thursday June 12, 2008 in Iowa City, Iowa. Heavy rains continue to pound large portions of Iowa and as flooding continues officials are scrambling as rivers are expected to crest at record levels in many portions of the state. (AP Photo/Steve Pope)

Cedar Rapids Holds for Historic River Crest

Estimated 9,000 Residents Already Evacuated as Iowa River Waits for 1 a.m. High

The Cedar River poured over its banks here Thursday, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 homes, causing a railroad bridge to collapse and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets.

Officials estimated that 100 blocks were underwater in Cedar Rapids, where several days of preparation could not hold back the rain-swollen river. Rescuers had to use boats to reach many stranded residents, and people could be seen dragging suitcases up closed highway exit ramps to escape the water.

"We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start," Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller said. "We're going to need a lot of prayers and people are going to need a lot of patience and understanding."

About 3,200 homes were evacuated and some 8,000 residents displaced, officials estimated.

Days of heavy rain across the state have sent nine rivers across Iowa at or above historic flood levels. Residents were already steeling themselves for floods before storms late Wednesday and early Thursday brought up to 5 inches of rain across west central Iowa. "We are seeing a historic hydrological event taking place with unprecedented river levels occurring," said Brian Pierce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Davenport. "We're in uncharted territory -- this is an event beyond what anybody could even imagine."

Gov. Chet Culver has declared 55 of the state's 99 counties as state disaster areas.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported in Iowa, but one man was killed in southern Minnesota after his car plunged from a washed-out road into floodwaters. Another person was rescued from a nearby vehicle in the town of Albert Lea.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/Weather/story?id=5056646.
*Bolds and Highlights added for emphasis......Arsenio

VATICAN STATEMENT ON BUSH MEETING

2008-06-13-Visita Bush 15

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ZE08061305 - 2008-06-13
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-22892?l=english

Vatican Statement on Bush Meeting


"The Holy Father Renewed His Gratitude for the Welcome in the US"


VATICAN CITY, JUNE 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the communiqué released today by the Vatican press office after U.S. President George Bush's visit to Benedict XVI.

* * *

This morning, the president of the United States, George W. Bush, was received in audience by Benedict XVI.

To respond to the cordiality of the welcome offered the Pontiff during his recent visit to the United States of America, the audience was carried out according to a unique protocol. The Holy Father welcomed the president, accompanied by his wife, Laura, and the ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon, in the entrance of St. John's Tower in the Vatican Gardens.

Later, His Holiness and the president of the United States went up to the study on the upper level for a private meeting; meanwhile Laura and Ambassador Glendon waited with Archbishop James Michael Harvey, prefect of the pontifical household. Afterward, the cardinal secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone, arrived.

During the cordial dialogue, the Holy Father above all renewed to the president his gratitude for the warm and special welcome received in the United States and the White House during his visit last April, and for the commitment in defense of fundamental values. Then they spoke of principal topics of international politics: relations between the United States and Europe, the Middle East and the commitment for peace in the Holy Land, globalization, the food crisis and international commerce, and the application of the Millennium Development Goals.

At the end of the meeting, after an interchange of gifts, Benedict XVI and President Bush took a brief walk through Vatican Gardens until reaching the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, where the president's wife and entourage joined them. The choir of the Sistine Chapel interpreted two motets.

[Translation by ZENIT]

Source: http://www.zenit.org/article-22892?l=english

.

*Bolds and Highlights added for emphasis. ..........Arsenio.

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Millennium Development Goals

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of UN Millennium Development Goals in the United Nations Headquarters in New-York
List of UN Millennium Development Goals in the United Nations Headquarters in New-York

The Millennium Development Goals are eight goals that 189 United Nations member states have agreed to try to achieve by the year 2015.

The Millennium Development Goals derive from earlier 'international development goals'[1], and were officially established at the Millennium Summit in 2000, where 189 world leaders adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, from which the eight-goal action plan, the 'Millennium Development Goals', was particularly promoted.

Contents


Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were developed out of the eight chapters of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000. The eight goals and 21 targets include

  1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
    • Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day
    • Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people
    • Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
  2. Achieve universal primary education
    • Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
  3. Promote gender equality and empower women
    • Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.
  4. Reduce child mortality
    • Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
  5. Improve maternal health
  6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
    • Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
    • Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it.
    • Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.
  7. Ensure environmental sustainability
    • Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources.
    • Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss
    • Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see the entry on water supply).
    • By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers
  8. Develop a global partnership for development
    • Develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory. Includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction—nationally and internationally.
    • Address the special needs of the least developed countries. This includes tariff and quota free access for their exports; enhanced programme of debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries; and cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous official development assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction.
    • Address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing States.
    • Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term.
    • In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth.
    • In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries.
    • In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

References

  1. ^ OECD Development Co-operation Directorate - About the Millennium Development Goals

See also

External links

  • www.developmentgoals.org - World Bank
  • [1] According to a report by the Child Healthcare Problem Identification Programme, denial of HIV/AIDS is one of the reasons South Africa is not progressing in its Millennium Development Goals for child health.

IN THE VATICAN GARDENS

U.S President George W.Bush is greeted by Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.

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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush visits the Lourdes Grotto with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

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Credit: ©GIANCARLO GIULIANI/CPP
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush, right, meets with Pope Benedict XVI in the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican on Friday, June 13, 2008.

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Description: US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush join Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.


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Description: US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush join Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: Pope Benedict XVI meet U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. first lady Laura Bush and Mons. Giuseppe Liberto to the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: U.S President George W.Bush is greeted by Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush walks with Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives at the in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: Pope Benedict XVI meet U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) and Mary Ann Glandon (R), to the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: Pope Benedict XVI meet U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) and Mary Ann Glandon (R), to the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 09
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush with Pope Benedict XVI in the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush (C) with Pope Benedict XVI (R) and U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) in the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 11
Credit: ©GIANCARLO GIULIANI/CPP
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush (C) with Pope Benedict XVI (R) and U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) in the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 12
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush (C) with Pope Benedict XVI (R) and U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) in the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush, right, walks with Pope Benedict XVI to the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican on Friday, June 13, 2008.

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Credit: ©GIANCARLO GIULIANI/CPP
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush, right, walks with Pope Benedict XVI to the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican on Friday, June 13, 2008.

Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 15
Credit: ©GIANCARLO GIULIANI/CPP
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Description: U.S. first lady Laura Bush (L) greets Pope Benedict XVI as U.S. President George W. Bush watches during their visit to the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 16
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush and Pope Benedict XVI they greet the chorus of the Sistine Chapel to the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican on Friday, June 13, 2008.
Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 17
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Description: Pope Benedict XVI greets U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. first lady Laura Bush at the end of their visit in the Vatican Gardens on Friday, June 13, 2008.

Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 18
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Description: U.S. President George W. Bush with Pope Benedict XVI to the Tower of St. Giovanni at the Vatican Garden on Friday, June 13, 2008.
Object name: 2008-06-13-Visita Bush 19
Credit: ©GIANCARLO GIULIANI/CPP

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