The Pope s Historic Congressional Visit-1. Garrick Augustus September 19, 2015

Transcription

1 The Pope s Historic Congressional Visit-1 Garrick Augustus September 19,

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4 Another Kingdom Not of This World Jesus [Y shuah] answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18: 36 Christ never claimed the any earthly worldly government as His kingdom, yet there are many religious leaders and Christians today who are seeking to create a political kingdom for Christ, with religious laws, in this world. This has been tried by the Catholics and Muslims in the Dark Ages, and is being restarted again by the same two classes, with added political support. And in this drive for globalization, and a sort of Utopia-like moment, world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters, are waiting with bated breath to catch a word of moral leadership from pope Francis in the coming days of next week. 4

5 The Power of Stealth King James Bible: And through his policy also he shall cause craft [deception] to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace [stealth] shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. Dan. 8: 25 International Standard Version: Through his skill he'll cause deceit to prosper under his leadership. He'll promote himself and will destroy many while they are secure. He'll take a stand against the Prince of Princes, yet he'll be crushed without human help. Dan. 8: 25 5

6 The Little-known Divine Solution 40And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Dan

7 The Stealth of Rome 20Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 21And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries 24He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers fathers 32And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits 37Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Dan. 11: 20, 21, 24, 32, 37, 38. 7

8 Cont d So through subtlety, stealth and apparently peaceful means, he again became strong, and exploited Christianity. "The bishops, or overseers of the Christian churches, at first demeaned themselves in the meek spirit of the founder of their religion. But at length they sought temporal power, and worldly advantage. The bishops of the great cities assumed authority over those of the surrounding country; and Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem became the seats of ecclesiastical power; and their bishops might be said to constitute an oligarchy in the church... Gaining one concession after another from Christian princes, the pope of Rome became, through the dark ages, a king of kings; nay more he assumed to be in the place of God." ---Universal History In Perspective, Emma Willard, 1856, pp. 198,

9 Cont d "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Dan. 11:32. This verse reveals the character of each class: first, of the unfaithful; and second, of the faithful. As to the destiny of the faithful, we read: "And they that understand (the born-again Christians) among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries." Dan. 11:33, 34. These verses, besides foreshadowing the martyrdom of the faithful followers of Christ, predict the Reformation, the "little help," and foretell that its present fallen state is caused by "flatteries." He pollutes the sanctuary of strength, and takes away the daily (Dan. 11:31) abolition of Sabbath [and Torah] worship [including the holy festivals], and forces compliance of Sunday sacredness. 9

10 36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. Dan. 11: Ge 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. The desire of every God-pleasing woman, is to have a husband, and to build a home a family, with her husband as the spiritual head [high priest] of their home. 10

11 The God of Forces=YHWH, God of Might But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Da 11:38 Whereas the Caesars under Pagan Rome honored the Roman pantheon of gods, the Papacy, under Ecclesiastical or Christianized Rome, pays devotion to the God of forces, a god whom his fathers knew not, and this he did with those who have indignation against the holy covenant, and built himself up through stealth, until, in the fullness of time, he has exalted himself above every god! Today the pope of Rome is recognized as the world s leader of all religions, and is the recognized public face of Christianity to the secular and religious world. This is a farce, but only a few are aware of it. 11

12 This God of forces is YHWH the all mighty One the God of might. Even Luther penned the now famous song: a Mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. The most oft repeated metal of this great image is the iron occurring 14 times, seconded by clay, occurring 9 times! Both of these show a Political and Religious marriage which is intended to benefit the cause of our planet, earth, and the destiny of mankind. This marriage will be heavily influenced by the remnants of the iron kingdom of Rome, in our world today. But this strategy is not Heaven s on agenda for the righteous: 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Dan. 2: 44 12

13 Dan. 2: 44, in Parallel Versions New International Version: "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. International Standard Version: "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor its sovereignty left in the hands of another people. It will shatter and crush all of these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. English Revised Version: And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. GOD'S WORD Translation: "At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. But it will be established forever. 13

14 23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, [Kabalistic mysteries] shall stand up. 24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. Dan. 8: His secret strength and power. Verse 24 in the NET Bible: His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction. He will be successful in what he undertakes. He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones. 14

15 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Rev. 13: 2 His secret power came courtesy of the dragon Satan the cunning serpent! Hence as in Dan. 8, we see that this beast power, there known as the king of fierce countenance, was handily assisted by the Dragon s power, which was not his own, but acquired through his understanding of dark sentences. This is now ecclesiastical Rome gained the ascendancy and eventually ruled the religious world. Her power has not been weakened forever, but prophecy shows that she is to again sit on the throne of the world, and commanding the religious affairs of mankind through stealth and deception. 15

16 Pope to Visit a Waldensian Church for the First Time From APD, March 26, 2015: According to the agenda of a visit by Pope Francis to the Piedmont region of northern Italy scheduled for June 21-22, he will be the first pope to visit a church of the Waldenses. An information release for the news media states that Pope Francis will meet Waldensian dignitaries in the Protestant church in the city of Turin for 90 minutes. The plan is that the pope and the Waldensian leaders will pray together the Lord s Prayer. This is a gesture of brotherhood in a new ecumenical season, said Eugenio Bernardini, moderator of the Waldensian governing board. This Protestant denomination is centered in what are called the Waldensian valleys west of Turin. It was founded by Peter Valdes (or Waldo, a common anglicized form of the name), a merchant from Lyon (France) who lived from 1140 to 1206 and advocated a simple lifestyle of voluntary poverty as well as other reforms. During the Middle Ages, the Waldensians were persecuted as heretics by the Roman Catholic Church. Adventist Today, March 26, 2015, 16

17 Pope asks pardon from Waldensian Protestants for past persecution; REUTERS, ITALY, June 22, 2015 Pope Francis asked forgiveness on Monday for the Roman Catholic Church's "non-christian and inhumane" treatment in the past of the Waldensians, a tiny Protestant movement the Vatican tried to exterminate in the 15th century. Francis made his plea during the first ever visit by a pope to a Waldensian temple the center of the Waldensian Church, which has only about 30,000 followers worldwide. While the movement is miniscule compared to the 1.2 billion member Roman Catholic Church, the gesture is part of Francis' drive to promote Christian unity and it has taken on added significance ahead of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in "On behalf of the Catholic Church, I ask forgiveness for the un-christian and even inhumane positions and actions taken against you historically," he said. "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us!" 17

18 Cont d The Waldensians, who now live mostly in Italy and Latin America, were founded by Peter Waldo in France in the late 12th century. He gave up his wealth and preached poverty but as the movement grew it came into increasing theological conflict with the papacy. The movement, an early precursor of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, was branded as heretical and in 1487 Pope Innocent VIII ordered its extermination. Some 1,700 Waldensians were killed in 1655 by Catholic forces commanded by the Duke of Savoy. Today the Waldensians are part of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Council of Churches

19 Will the Papacy also Strike an alliance with the Seventh-day Adventists? As unthinkable as this seems, it is a very sad truth that our denomination, like the Waldensians from whom we took the baton of truth in this Protestant Reformation march, has also, it seems, capitulated to ecumenical pressures of Rome. And it will be only a matter of time for the more overt manifestations of its Romanization become more evident to the unsuspecting. But even now, with clear-eyed vision, we can all see the stately steps of Rome all throughout the ministry and leadership of this once faithful city. Ellen White, only eleven years past 1844, had a dream that the church had morphed into a Catholic procession: That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.. TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 1, PAGE 578, CONT 19

20 Cont d Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done! I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said! My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me. TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 1, PAGE

21 Cont d This enditnow campaign is taken to some of the most violent crime-infested countries in the world, and the mantra is always, end the violence against women and girls, while the men and boys are butchered without a cry for ending the violence NOW among all genders, and all peoples. With the Government s plans to organize events around the fight against violence against women and girls from November 25 to December 10, 2011, Mrs. Heather-Dawn Small, Women s Ministries Director for the Adventist World Church, in her address to the gathering at Buckfield Park, called on Church members get involved The World Church seeks to gather at least one million signatures to be sent to the United Nations (UN). + 21

22 Cont d We have collected more than 600,000 signatures so far said Mrs. Small. We are taking it to the United Nations because the Adventist Church has never made a public stand on this issue and we believe it Is time. While I do admit that there is crime against women and girls, this in no way gives us permission to start paling around with the United Nations, an institution which is at its core, the voice of Romanism. Further, this one-sided justice of protecting the women and girls at the expense of men and boys, is in itself a crime against humanity, for it values females lives, and sends the deafening message that females lives matter! 22

23 Cont d Campaigns of this sort are first of all, divisive, and should never be done under the moral leadership of the world or the Papacy, for too late it will be for us, when they will have greater expectations and impose higher obligations on us to meet, and then we are caught. The principle of justice demands that injustice against one, is injustice against all, hence, as followers of the Lamb, we ought to advocate on behalf of all human beings. From the sacred desk of the pulpit, by pen and by voice through the printed pages, hosting workshops and community intervention programs in our churches and community outreach groups, such as schools and hospitals, without ever soiling our hands with the agents of Rome. In other words, we must be the moral leaders and not the followers of Papal dictations. There are many and better ways for us to be change agents in our world, than by pandering to the ecumenical aspirations of the Vatican. 23

24 Cont d Let s focus on Crime in Jamaica, for example, in comparison to the enditnow campaign by the SDA church there: In the same year when enditnow was launched on the island, Jamaica ranked 5 th among the 44 highest violent crime hot spots around the world! This should call for enditnow for all lives a call to end the violence now, and most of the murders! Bit that was not to be: Jamaica has been constantly ranked as one of the country s with the highest levels of crime. Both petty crimes and murders have fluctuated over the years. Mostly increasing by large percentages and decreasing by smaller numbers. The country has one of the world's highest per-capita murder rates... In 2005, Jamaica had 1,674 murders or a murder rate of 58 per 100,000 people. That year, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world

25 With such a high murder rate, you d expect to see a stronger push to end violence against humanity, instead of being sexist about it. But in the face of astronomical bloodletting against people in general, and men in particular, we are seeing a onesided justice bid save our women and girls, from violence! This balancing of justice, was best articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, jr., when he declared these famous words in his letter from a Birmingham Jail: I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. King s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, April 16, The correct Biblical response to violence against women and girls enditnow, is to equally support non-violence among and towards men and boys, without the appealing to the UN. 25

26 The Enditnow Campaign, A Farce! In an effort of pandering to the papacy, the SDA world church has launched a program to stop violence against women and girls only, while the men and boys are slaughtered daily without remorse! We, the undersigned, are committed to ending violence against women and girls around the world. As part of the enditnow campaign, Seventh-day Adventists and supporters from more than 200 countries and territories, join the actions of others, including faith communities, in advocating the end all forms of violence against women and girls. In recognition of the United Nations efforts regarding this issues [sic], we also wish to call on the world community-governments, businesses, humanitarian organizations, church congregations, schools, and individuals-to use all measures possible to work toward a tangible solution

27 Adventist Church President Holds First Meeting With UN Chief; Adventist Review, APRIL 6, 2015 From left, Ganoune Diop, Ted N.C. Wilson, Ban Ki-moon, Joseph Verner Reed, and John Graz. Photo: Evan Schneider / UN 27

28 Adventist Church President Holds First Meeting With UN Chief; Adventist Review, APRIL 6, 2015 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concerns about growing religious intolerance worldwide during a private meeting with Adventist Church leader Ted N.C. Wilson, and he invited the Seventh-day Adventist Church to work with the UN in helping people. Wilson, the first Adventist Church president to meet with a UN chief, noted that the church has long supported religious liberty and said it was willing to team up on initiatives that followed Christ s ministry of helping people physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. 28

29 Ganoune Diop, associate director of the Adventist world church s public affairs and religious liberty department, said his department takes Jesus words of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world in Matt. 5:13, 14 seriously. Its representatives mingle with political and religious leaders in every country without losing or compromising a distinctive Adventist identity, said Diop, who attended the meeting. Ban met with Wilson, Diop, and John Graz, director of the public affairs and religious liberty department, at 12:10 p.m. Monday for a 45-minute meeting in his office at the United Nations headquarters in New York 29

30 Cont d It was a real privilege to meet the secretary-general and to hear his appeal for assistance for humanity, Wilson told the Adventist Review. Seventh-day Adventists should be ready to witness for the Lord anywhere we go and to testify of God s blessing in our lives and what we can do in His name, he said. The world is waiting for this type of heaven-inspired testimony with clear answers to today s problems. Ban spoke about global issues such as poverty and a lack of education before voicing his concern about religious intolerance reaching unprecedented levels globally. Just last week, a militant Islamist group killed 148 people in an attack on Christians at a Kenyan university. IS and other extremist organizations in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Libya, and elsewhere have also targeted Christians and other religious groups with oftendeadly violence in recent months. 30

31 Ban underscored his belief that people should cultivate a respect for all, including those of other faiths. He indicated that he appreciated the Adventist Church s work in promoting religious liberty as well as education, health, and humanitarian aid through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. ADRA has worked with the UN in assisting refugees in the Middle East and elsewhere. Wilson thanked Ban for the meeting and told about various church initiatives that correspond with the UN s mission to help people. 31

32 Cont d We had an excellent meeting with the secretary-general and some of his staff, sharing with them about the Adventist Church s activities, Wilson said. We focused on certain things that the Adventist Church can help with, such as religious liberty, freedom of conscience, ethical and spiritual values, respect for human dignity, family guidance, encouragement for young people, and basic human necessities like pure water and fundamental education. Graz, secretary-general of the International Religious Liberty Association, said he was encouraged to see Ban s concern about religious intolerance and desire to see people of goodwill work together to bring justice and freedom. 32

33 It was a historic meeting between the UN secretary-general and the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church about the state of the world and how we can help people living in very difficult environments, Graz said. As disciples of Jesus, we want to help people and especially those who are voiceless, discriminated against, and persecuted, he said. In this way, we share the essential values of the UN. 33

34 Cont d Diop said he also saw ways that the church and UN could cooperate, particularly in eradicating poverty and promoting education and healthcare. The impressive portfolio that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has developed for service to the whole human family remarkably resonates with the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, he said in a statement. You need to know what these Goals are, and see how they align with the everlasting gospel. 34

35 In Part-2, I shall deal with the two strategic initiatives of the UN s that the SDA leadership is committed to honoring. The hour is late, and the apostasy is great, let us not sleep as the foolish virgins, but arise and shine, for our light has come. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7.

36 Time for Questions and Discussions You may contact me, Garrick Augustus by at: Or on the web at: 36

37 Pope Francis Addressing The US Congress