Part 2
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. Rev. 17:17
It’s Working!
Catholic and Pentecostal leaders confessed sins and asked forgiveness from each other at a dramatic meeting March 16-18. Catholic priest Kilian McDonnell read a “Confession of Sins” to a plenary session of the Society for Pentecostal Studies meeting in Kirkland, Wash., Religion News Service said. He is founder and president of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research in Collegeville, Minn.
…Speaking as an individual, not as a representative of the Church, McDonnell confessed the sins of Catholics against “classical Pentecostals” such as the Assemblies of God and the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Catholic arrogance led to “intolerance, discrimination, and exclusion” against Pentecostals, he said. Catholics have used the government to harass and oppress Pentecostals and to deprive them of their civil rights, particularly in Latin America, he said.
…Assemblies of God minister Frank Macchia extended forgiveness to McDonnell and confessed Pentecostal sins against Catholics. “I know that I speak for many in the society in offering forgiveness in response to Father McDonnell’s confession,” said Macchia, saying he was not speaking in his official capacity as an assistant professor at Vanguard University, an Assemblies of God-affiliated school.
…”I ask that Catholics forgive the Pentecostals who have cherished visions of the end of time that condemn the Catholic Church for spiritual harlotry and idolatry,” Macchia said, and for those who assume that Catholics “advocate salvation by works, denying the grace and truth of the Gospel.”
–By the Editors of Religion Today, April 3, 2000
What’s wrong with this picture? If you didn’t find anything wrong you are one of the millions of innocent people being deceived.
The Bible clearly states that a great deception will come in the last days and if possible subtle enough to deceive the very elect. (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24.)
The Roman Catholic Church has deceived many into asking forgiveness for something the Bible teaches to be for real. The Scriptures teach that many shall be offended and hate one another, for the sake of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, if I were to ask forgiveness for anything pertaining to the Catholic church it would be asking forgiveness from the Lord for not contending for the faith earnestly enough, (Jude 3). I would have to admit it is an excellent strategy to get Christian’s minds off of the true reality of Biblical prophecy, in which God gave us concerning the end times and the coming anti-Christ. Who is it anyway?
The word “anti” in the 1828 Websters dictionary give the full definition; against, to opposite, contrary, and interestingly enough, it also says, “in place of”. So the coming anti-Christ could be someone in place of the real thing.
Who in the world sits in the place of the Lord? …2 Thes. 2:4, Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God…
Who will deceive all nations? Rev. 18:23b, “….for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Who is drunk with the blood of the saints? Rev. 17:6a, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: …” Rev. 18:24, And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
What city sits upon seven hills? Rev. 17:9, And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Great men of the world bow to who? Rev. 17:18, And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
By asking for forgiveness for what the Bible teaches (God’s very words), you are agreeing with them and taking sides with her…Rev. 17:17, For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
So what should you do about it? All men should shout aloud, “Come out of her!” Rev. 18:4, And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Who is the “harlot” in this context? Rev. 17:1, “….Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
What will happen then? Rev. 17:14, These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Do not be deceived by her when she asks forgiveness of you…her past is only a glimpse of our future.
Matthew 24:21, For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Is she really sorry? Or is she just trying to get the heat off her back? It’s not true repentance but perhaps a softer, more subtle way to achieve her goal, which is acceptance and unity. 2 Cor. 7:10, For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Martyrs of the Past
Tortures and Torments of the Christian Martyrs:
Crosses and Stakes
Divers Modes of Suspension
The Great Wheel
Wheels of a Second Sort
Bodies were Racked and Stretched
Raised on a Pulley
On the use of Cudgels
Buffeted, Stoned and Crushed
Currycombs and Pincers
Scorched on the Wooden Horse
Frying-pans and Pots
The Brazen Bull and Iron Bed
Burning Coals, Molten Substances
Some Uses of Fires
Stabbed by Styles, and Amputated
Beating and Piercing
Sawn in Two
Piercing the Inwards
Martyrs being Flayed Alive
Legs Torn, and Sharp Reeds
Condemned to the Wild Beasts
Cast Down from a Height
Shut Up in a Box and Drowned
Trophy of Divers Sorts of Instruments
Not to mention starvation
I don’t know about you but I think these particular methods of torture and murder were pretty much premeditated, well thought out and prepared just for the special event of torturing Christians to prevent them from preaching the true Gospel. Due to the many testimonies of those who survived to tell their stories I believe this to be a fact.
Next we will review the main accounts of Christian persecutions throughout history where the above torture methods were put into action. Keep in mind that these are the incidents that the Pope is asking forgiveness of.
History of Christian Martyrs
T he First General Persecutions Under Nero, Persecutions of the Christians in Persia,
-Thus far our history of persecution has been confined principally to the pagan world. We come now to a period when persecution, under the guise of Christianity, committed more enormities than ever disgraced the annals of paganism. Disregarding the maxims and the spirit of the Gospel, the papal Church, arming herself with the power of the sword, vexed the Church of God.
Account of the Inquisition,
Account of the Persecutions in Italy,
Under the Papacy,
The Life and Persecutions of John Wickliffe,
Persecutions in Bohemia Under the Papacy Life,
Persecutions of Martin Luther,
General Persecutions in Germany,
Persecutions in the Netherlands,
The Life and Story of the True Servant and Martyr of God,
William Tyndale,
Persecutions in Great Britain and Ireland,
Prior to the Reign of Persecutions in Scotland During the Reign of King Henry VIII Queen Mary I,
Persecutions in England During the Reign of Queen Mary,
Rise and Progress of the Protestant Religion in Ireland; with an Account of the Barbarous Massacre of 1641,
Life and Persecutions of John Bunyan,
The Life of John Wesley,
Persecutions of the French Protestants in the South of France,
During the Years 1814 and 1820,
and in the American Foreign Missions.
And just to add a little information to Christian persecutions, more Christians were persecuted and killed in the past Century that all of the past Centuries combined.
Martyrs of the Future
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Matthew 24:9-10
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:8-13
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. Luke 21:12
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. Luke 21:16 –17
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev. 17:14