The New
Convert Preaching
As soon as
Paul was converted, "straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues." Acts 9:20. Was it not marvelous that he should at once be
able to preach so powerfully?--Indeed it was, as it is marvelous that any man
can preach Christ. That anybody should be able to preach Christ in very truth,
involves no less a mystery than Christ manifest in the flesh. But do not let
anybody suppose that Paul got his knowledge instantaneously, without any study.
Remember that he had all his life been a diligent student of the Scriptures. It
was not an uncommon thing for a rabbi to be able to repeat the greater portion
or the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures from memory, and we may be sure that
Paul, who had made more advancement than any others of his age, was as familiar
with the words of the Bible as a bright schoolboy is with the multiplication
table. But his mind was blinded by the traditions of the fathers, which had
been drilled into him at the same time. The blindness which came upon him when
the light shone round him on the way to Damascus, was but a picture of the
blindness of his mind; and the seeming scales that fell from his eyes when
Ananias spoke to him, indicated the shining forth of the Word within him, and
the scattering of the darkness of tradition. Paul's case was very different 50
from that of a new convert who has never read or studied the Bible. Such an one
can, indeed, tell what Christ has done for him, and may thereby do much good;
but he needs much study of the Scriptures to make him able to show men the way
of life perfectly, and lead them in the way of righteousness.
Paul in
Arabia
Many have
thought that it was while Paul was in Arabia that he had his wonderful
revelations, and was taken up into heaven, where he heard "unspeakable
words which it is not lawful for a man to utter." This may well be,
although it is by no means probable that his visions of heavenly things were
confined to that time. All his life through the apostle was in close communion
with heaven, and we may be sure that "the heavenly vision" was never
hidden from his sight. So, also, we may be sure that, since preaching was his
lifework, he did not spend all the months he was in Arabia in study and
contemplation. He had been so severe a persecutor, and had received so richly
of God's grace, that he counted all the time lost in which he could not reveal
that grace to others, feeling, "Woe is me, if I preach not the
Gospel." He preached in the synagogues in Damascus, as soon as he was
converted, before he went into
Arabia; so
it is but natural to conclude that he preached the Gospel to the Arabs. He
could preach there without the opposition that he always received when among
the Jews, and, therefore, his labors would not so much interfere with his
meditation on the new worlds that had just opened before him.
The
Persecutor Preaching
Wonderful,
indeed, it was to hear that "he that once persecuted us, now preacheth the
faith of which he once made havoc." In view of the case of Saul of Tarsus,
let no one look on any opposer of the Gospel as incorrigible. Those who make
opposition are to be instructed with meekness, for who knows but that God will
give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth? One might have said of
Paul, He has had the light as clearly as any man can have it. He has had every
opportunity; he has not only heard the inspired testimony of Stephen, but he
has heard the dying confessions of many martyrs; he is a hardened wretch, from
whom it is useless to expect any good. Yet that same Saul became the greatest
preacher of the Gospel, even as he had been the most bitter persecutor. Is
there a malignant opposer of the truth? Do not strive with him, and do not
reproach him. Let him have all the bitterness and strife to himself, while you
hold yourself to the Word of God and to prayer. It may not be long till God,
who is now blasphemed, will be glorified in him.
Glorifying
God
"And
they glorified God in me." How different Paul's case was from that of those
to whom he said, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through
you" (Rom.2:24)! Every one who professes to be a follower of God should be
a means of bringing glory to His name, yet many cause it to be blasphemed; and
to have the name of God blasphemed through us is as bad as to be ourselves open
52
blasphemers.
How can we cause His name to be glorified?--"Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven." Matt.5:16.
Let us now
take a brief glance at the chapter as a whole.
The greeting, embracing the first five verses,
Gal
1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ,
and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Gal
1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of
Galatia:
Gal
1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord
Jesus Christ,
Gal
1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Gal
1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
tells us
the name and calling of the writer of the epistle, and his authority. It
incidentally notes the fact that Christ is Divine. A benediction is pronounced,
from God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Son. Christ gave Himself for our
sins,--purchased them,--thus to deliver us from this present evil world. Our
sins constitute this present evil world.
Our sins
belong to Christ, not to us; so by the power of His death and resurrection, in
which He gave Himself for our sins, we may be kept from them.
It is the
will of God to save us, so that there can be no doubt as to our acceptance. To
God belongs the glory, because His is the kingdom and the power. The next two verses show us the condition of
the churches in Galatia at the time the epistle was written, and thus make
known to us why it was written.
Gal
1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into
the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal
1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ.
They were
departing from God, being led astray by some who were perverting the Gospel of
Christ, preaching a pretended gospel instead of the one only Gospel, which is
the power of God to salvation to every one that believes. The marvel of the
thing is the same as that expressed in Jer. 2:12,13: "Be astonished, O ye
heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord.
For My 53 people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me the Fountain
of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold
no water."
Then in
the next two verses (8, 9)
Gal
1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal
1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
we find a
curse pronounced on any one, even though it were the apostle himself, or an
angel from heaven, who should presume to teach any other gospel than that he
had preached. This shows the seriousness of the situation. The Galatian
brethren were being placed under the curse by the accursed preachers who
preached a false gospel. Following this,
in verses 10-12,
Gal
1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for
if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gal
1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of
me is not after man.
Gal
1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by
the revelation of Jesus Christ.
the
apostle shows himself to be the servant of Christ, because he was seeking to
please God only, and not men. The preachers who perverted the souls of men,
would preach smooth things,--things in harmony with human nature,--to draw away
disciples after them; Paul preached only the plain truth of God, which he
received not through any man, but direct from heaven. Lastly we have the beginning of a little
narrative of personal experience, which is continued more than half way through
the second chapter. In this Paul refers to his life before his conversion, when
he persecuted the church; mentions his conversion, which was the revelation of
Christ in him; tells why he was called, and how promptly he responded to the call;
and lastly shows how he had no opportunity to get the Gospel from apostles and
brethren who were believers before him, even if he had wished to, since he had
no connection with them for years after his conversion. The force of this will
appear more plainly as we proceed.
Gal
1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews'
religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted
it:
Gal
1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own
nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Gal
1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace,
Gal
1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal
1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before
me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Gal
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
abode with him fifteen days.
Gal
1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's
brother.
Gal
1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie
not.
Gal
1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
Gal
1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in
Christ:
Gal
1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past
now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Gal
1:24 And they glorified God in me.
*******
The Glad
Tidings
By E. J.
WAGGONER
(Excerpt- To be continued)
*******
1978 July
-- THE TRUTH OF DANIEL 7 AND COMPARATIVE PROPHECIES -- Before
proceeding with a study of the comparative prophecies in the writings of Paul
and the Revelation which refer to the same power as represented by the
"little horn" of Daniel 7, let us note a sequence as given in the
vision to Daniel. He sees a Lion, Bear, and Leopard in rapid succession
(7:4-6).
Dan
7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the
wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand
upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan
7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up
itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth
of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan
7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon
the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and
dominion was given to it.
Then a
fourth beast, with its horns, and little horn is presented with descriptive
detail (7:7-8).
Dan
7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast,
dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it
devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and
it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten
horns.
Dan
7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another
little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the
roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth
speaking great things.
The scene
of the vision changes from earth to the Judgment at the throne of the Ancient
of Days (7:9-10).
Dan
7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did
sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure
wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning
fire.
Dan
7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand
thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before
him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
When we
consider that the time of the "little horn" is given as "a time
and times, and a dividing of time" (7:25),
Dan 7:25 And
he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints
of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
which spans the time of the Medieval Papal
reign, and brings us to 1798; and when we recall that the events of the
Judgment began in 1844 (8:14),
Dan 8:14 And
he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.
we are
ready to appreciate the next prophecy given concerning the "little
horn". It reads: I
beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn
spake. (7:11)
According
to this prophecy, we are to look for "great words" to come from the
"little horn" after 1844. "The judgment was set, the books were
opened" then the horn would again speak great words. How was
this fulfilled? On July 18,1870, Vatican Council I decreed that when the Pope
"speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of
pastor and doctor of all Christians ... is possessed of that infallibility with
which the divine Redeemer willed that his church should be endowed for defining
doctrine regarding faith or morals ..." "Petri Privilegium"
Archbishop Manning, p. 218 (quoted in Source Book, 1940 ed., p. 258)
Simply stated, it means that when the Pope speaks from the Papal throne in Rome
on faith or morals, he is infallible. Commenting on this assumptive
promulgation, Karl von Hase in his Handbook to the Controversy With Rome
concludes: The infallible possession of truth in the head of a
mortal appears so nearly related to omniscience and so exclusive an attribute
of the Godhead, that a man might almost as readily be declared omnipotent as
infallible. (See Source Book,(1940 ed.), p. 260)
Another
factor of truth that needs to be considered from Daniel 7 is the life
"expectancy" of the individual beasts. Of the beast which bore the
"little horn" the record states - "I beheld even till the beast
was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." (7:11)
The other beasts - the lion, bear, and leopard - "had their dominion taken
away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time." (7:12)
While the authority and power of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece ceased to
exist in an effectual and operative way, nevertheless,
p 2
-- "a prolonging in life was given them" (7:12 margin). The
culture, and religious contributions of these nations continued and were
absorbed by Rome, in the ultimate. The College of Cardinals finds its
antecedent in Babylon. In fact the Scripture uses "Babylon" in a
prophetic sense in its identification of Papal Rome. (Rev. 17).
Rev
17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials,
and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the
judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev
17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her
fornication.
Rev
17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a
woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns.
Rev
17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked
with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full
of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev
17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev
17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with
the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great
admiration.
Rev
17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell
thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath
the seven heads and ten horns.
Rev
17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of
the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth
shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the
foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and
yet is.
Rev
17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev
17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the
other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short
space.
Rev
17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is
of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev
17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have
received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the
beast.
Rev
17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto
the beast.
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.
Rev
17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore
sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev
17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall
hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh,
and burn her with fire.
Rev
17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree,
and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be
fulfilled.
Rev
17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth
over the kings of the earth.
From
Persia came the religion of Mithraism with its "Lord's day - Sunday and
December 25 as the birthday of the sun-god Mithra. Greece contributed
philosophy and a mode of thought that still dominates Western reasoning
patterns.
The
expression of "continuance" regarding the fourth beast of Daniel 7
finds parallels with the first beast of Revelation 13. The fourth beast was to
be "slain" while one of the heads of the beast of Revelation was also
"slain" (13:3 margin).
Rev 13:3 And I
saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
The fourth beast's body was to be given "to the burning
flame;" the beast of Revelation 13 was "cast alive into the lake of
fire" (19:20). (1)
Rev 19:20 And
the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The "head"
that was "slain to death", and the little horn of Daniel 7 both have
their source of life in a beast which continues until destroyed in the lake of
fire of the final judgment. The source of life of the fourth beast of Daniel 7,
and the source of life of the first beast of Revelation 13 is existent and
operating today. This we need to know and understand!
By noting
carefully the "source" of the power and authority of the first beast
of Rev. 13:1-8, the truth of Daniel 7 - for the little horn received from the
fourth beast its origin, its nourishment, and its continuance - comes into
sharp focus. To John on the Isle of Patmos was given the following prophetic
representation:
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And I
stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his
heads the name of blasphemy. 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. (2) And I saw one of his heads as it were
wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered
after the beast. (13:1-3)
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The
"dragon" gives to this "beast" his power, his seat, and his
great authority.
p 3
-- The "dragon" is brought to view in Revelation 12.
Rev
12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve
stars:
Rev
12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to
be delivered.
Rev
12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red
dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his
heads.
Rev
12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did
cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready
to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with
a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place
prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.
Rev
12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against
the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev
12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
Rev
12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the
Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev
12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation,
and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and
night.
Rev
12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of
their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev
12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to
the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto
you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short
time.
Rev
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he
persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Rev
12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she
might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev
12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the
woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev
12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev
12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with
the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
While we
can represent the "dragon" as Pagan Rome in the fulfillment of the
attempt "to devour " the Man-child which the "woman"
brought forth, and in so doing, provide a historical basis for the
identification of the power, seat, and authority given to Papal Rome,
(3) there is a deeper parallel between the dragon of
Revelation 12, and the first beast of Revelation 13. While the
"dragon" is in open warfare against Michael, the Man-child, "His
Christ" - names representing the Divinity, Humanity, and Messiahship of
our Lord - the "dragon" also persecutes the "woman" who
brought forth the Man-child. (12:13)
Rev 12:13 And
when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman
which brought forth the man child.
This
persecution is given as "a time, and times, and half a time" - the
same as in Daniel 7 - and represents "a thousand two hundred and three
score days." (See Daniel 7:25; Rev. 12:14, 6)
Dan 7:25 And
he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints
of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Rev
12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she
might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place
prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.
The
"beast" of Revelation 13, also makes "war with the saints"
(13:7)
Rev 13:7 And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and
power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
during the time allotted to him - "power
was given him to continue forty and two months." (13:5)
Rev 13:5 And
there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
This is
the same time period as the 1260 prophetic days [42 months x 30 days = 1260
prophetic days or literal years.] Thus, by comparison of the two chapters, the
"beast" of Revelation 13 is "the front" for the dragon of
Revelation 12 in his persecution of the "woman" who brought forth the
"Man-child."
The
"dragon" is identified as representing "the Devil and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world." (12:9) The message, then of Revelation
which amplifies the Truth of Daniel 7, is that the real power and authority
behind the Papacy is none other than the devil himself.
This is
the same message that Paul conveys. In his second letter to the Thessalonians,
he tells of the coming "man of sin" who would oppose and exalt
"himself above all that is called God, and that is worshipped, so that he
as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
(2:3-4) He also states that "this outlaw's arrival will be accompanied by
the energy of Satan with all powers, and signs, and terrors of falsehood."
(2:9 Fenton) He further declares the "man of sin" is "that
Wicked [one]" whom "the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His
mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." (2:8) Herein is a
revelation of heaven that no one seeking to rightly relate to truth dare
overlook. The word in the Greek - translated "that Wicked" - (Greek),
and means "he in whom all iniquity has as it were fixed its abode."
(Greek-English-Lexicon of the New Testament, Joseph Henry Thayer, p. 48, col.
2)
This
should cause us to do some real soul-searching. If we believe the truth of
prophecy, and we profess as a people that we do, then how can we enter into any
audiences with the "man of sin", he in whom all iniquity has as it
were fixed its abode, whose power, influence, and prestige - all represent the
"energy of Satan"? But greater yet should be our travail of soul,
when we face up to the fact that "the church's medallion" (Adventist
Review, "Friendship Issue", p. 22) was presented as a
"symbol" of the church to this "man of sin" by an official
representative of the Church, who called him - "Holy Father". (See
"Special Report" of "Watchman, What of the Night?") Can it
be that because we have not received "the love of the truth" God has
permitted this "strong delusion" to overtake us so that we are
accepting lies, and find pleasure and satisfaction in this unrighteous deed?
(II Thess. 2:10-12)
2Th
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved.
2Th
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie:
2Th
2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
Have we
mourned over this betrayal of sacred truth, or have we gloried in the prestige
and acceptance that this betrayal has brought us?
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(1)
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The
reason that the expression "was slain" as stated of the fourth
beast ---page 4 -- of Daniel 7 cannot be applied to the
"head" of the beast of Revelation 13 which was "slain to
death" is the time sequence of both prophecies. The fourth beast was to
be slain after the voice of the great words which the little horn
spake. (7:11) This could not take place till after 1870. The slaying to death
of one of the heads of the beast of Revelation 13 took place at the
conclusion of the Medieval Reign of the Papacy, or in 1798. Thus the
expression, "was slain," in the prophecy of Daniel while parallel
in concept with Revelation 13, must be considered as compounded with the
clause - "and his body destroyed" - in fulfillment. The
"beasts" have an oneness - the "little horn" of Daniel 7
is to the fourth beast, what the "head" which was wounded to death
is to the first beast of Revelation 13.
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The
"beast" of Revelation 13 is a composite beast representing the
first three beast of Daniel 7. The description of this "beast"
lists the animal symbols of Daniel 7 in exact reverse order leopard, bear,
and lion. The "beast" of Revelation 13 absorbs the first three thus
the religious, cultural, and philosophical contributions of the previous
kingdoms are continued. (Dan. 7:12)
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In
giving a secondary interpretation to the "dragon" as Pagan Rome, we
find historical verification that Pagan Rome, nominally Christianized, did
give its very "seat" - Rome itself - to the Pope, and also
established its authority and power by decrees and force of arms. Alexander
C. Flick, Ph. D., Litt. D., in his book - Rise of the Mediaeval
Church - states: The removal of the
capitol of the empire from Rome to Constantinople in 330, left the Western
church practically free from imperial power, to develop its own form of
organization. The Bishop of Rome, in the seat of the Caesars, was now the
greatest man in the West, and was soon forced to become the political as well
as the spiritual head. (p. 168)
The
political dominance of the Papacy was established in the decrees of Justinian
and finalized in the military action of his general, Belisarius, in 538 A. D.
(See previous thought paper - "The Truth of Daniel 7")
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"Those who become confused in their understanding of the
Word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves
on the side of antichrist. There is no time now for us to assimilate with
the world. Daniel is standing in his lot and in his place. The prophecies of Daniel and of
John are to be understood. They interpret each other. They give to the world
truths which every one should understand.
Manuscript. 10, 1900 (7 Bible Commentary p. 49).
p 5
-- "THE ANTICHRIST PAR EXCELLENCE" -- This is the title of
an editorial appearing in the Review, Feb. 8, 1968, written by
the associate editor - Don F. Neufeld. It was the last of four under
the general heading - "Who Is the Antichrist?" Interestingly, the
editor
comments: (1) We have
noted, in common with most Protestant prophetic interpreters from the
Reformation to a century ago, Seventh-day Adventists have identified the papacy
as the antichrist. This is the position generally taken in our
publications. It is still valid. (p. 14, emphasis ours)
Then he
adds: However, on the basis of what Ellen G.
White has said about the antichrist, the picture needs to be broadened and seen
in its widest aspects, especially with reference to the leading role the
antichrist is to play in the last day events. It is important that we
understand fully antichrist's working. Failure to do so will find us ultimately
on his side. (Ibid)
The
servant of the Lord identifies the antichrist as Satan himself - the real power
behind the "beast" of Revelation 13. Two references cited by Neufeld
are Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 230, and Testimonies
to Ministers, p. 62. In this latter reference is to be found this
observation: In this age antichrist will appear as
the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations
of our world. Rebellion against God's holy law will be fully ripe. But the true
leader in all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light.
The
significance of Ellen G. White's emphasis may be seen in another statement from
her pen. It reads: Satan is working to
the utmost to make himself as God and to destroy all who oppose his power. And
today the world is bowing before him. His power is received as the power of
God. The prophecy of Revelation is being fulfilled, that "all the world
wondered after the beast." Rev. 13:3. (6 Testimonies p. 14)
Here again
is the emphasis that the dragon of Revelation 12 is so closely identified in
the work of the first "beast" of Revelation 13, that it can be said
that in the worship and adulation of the "beast", Satan is actually
being reverenced. In other words, Satan is the antichrist par excellence.
The very
name - antichrist - suggests a power working in place of God's working through
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was God incarnate - "The Word" which
"was God" "was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:1,
14)
Joh 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This Word
was "slain to death" crucified upon the Cross. (John 19:30-37)
Joh
19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is
finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Joh
19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies
should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was
an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they
might be taken away.
Joh
19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the
other which was crucified with him.
Joh
19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they
brake not his legs:
Joh
19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and
forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh
19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he
knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh
19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled,
A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh
19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they
pierced.
Yet He arose, and in the power of His
resurrection, He was highly exalted, and the Gospel was impregnated with an
appeal
p 6
-- which was and is irresistible. (Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 13:32-33)
Php
2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name:
Php
2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php
2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
Act
13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which
was made unto the fathers,
Act
13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath
raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my
Son, this day have I begotten thee.
In all
this, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II
Cor. 5:19)
2Co 5:19 To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation.
Through
the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the ultimate is to be achieved -
"Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
Col 1:27 To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Now the
Papacy is Satan's incarnate - "He in whom all iniquity has as it were
fixed its abode" - whose "arrival (was) accompanied by the energy of
Satan." (See p. 3, par. 3) The devil's messiah was also "slain to
death." (Rev. 13:3 margin)
Rev 13:3 And I
saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was
healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
But there
was a resurrection - "the deadly wound was healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto
the beast." (13:3-4)
Rev 13:4 And
they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped
the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with
him?
The devil
is in the papacy reconciling the world unto himself. By the power of his false
charismatic gifts, he is indwelling the inhabitants of the world. The results
are foretold: Through yielding to satanic
influences, men will be transformed into fiends; and those who were created in
the image of God, who were formed to honor and glorify their Creator, will
become the habitation of dragons, and Satan will see in an apostate race his
masterpiece of evil, - men who reflect his own image. (Review &
Herald, April 14, 1896)
[The
tragedy of this picture is that those who are so transformed into
"fiends" will believe that they are involved in God's service (John
15:21)
Joh 15:21 But
all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know
not him that sent me.
and they
will view the wonderful transformation as the work of the Holy Spirit. Such
will be the final deception. But is our deception any less when we pronounce
the devil's resurrected messiah a "Holy Father" as was done by an
official representative of the Church, and feel that we have engaged in a great
"missionary" project by giving to the Pope "the Church's
Medallion" as a "symbol of the Church.]
We are now
living in the very hour and time when the final delusions of Satan will bring
about his ultimate objectives for the children of men. We read: Satan has
long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. ... Little by
little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the
development of Spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of
his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time. Says the
prophet: "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs; ... they are the spirits
of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of
the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God
Almighty." (Rev. 16:13, 14) Except those who are kept by the power of God,
through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this
delusion. The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened
only by the outpouring of the wrath of God. (Great Controversy, 561-562)
Unless we
are willing to recognize the Word of God - the sure word of prophecy (II Peter
1:19)
2Pe 1:19 We
have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day
star arise in your hearts:
- and manifest faith in that word, we - yes,
Seventh-day Adventists - will be swept into the ranks of those who have joined
this fatal delusion. To tell the laity of the Church that giving to the Pope
the "Church's Medallion" as a "symbol" of the Church "
was entirely innocent and meaningless", is to lull the professed people of
God into a fatal security from which they 'will be awakened only by the
outpouring of the plagues, - when it is too late! May God have mercy.
p 7 --
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It would
be interesting to know how the associate editor of the Adventist
Review would reconcile his statement written in 1968 that the position
of the Church regarding "the papacy as the antichrist ... is still
valid" with the position of the legal counsel used by the Church in
1975. A Brief filed with the United States District Court of Northern
California stated:
Although
it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint,
and the term "hierarchy" was used in a perjorative sense to refer
to the papal form of church governance, that attitude on the Church's part
was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread, anti-popery among
conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and
the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the
historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is
concerned. (EEOC vs PPPA, Entry #87, p. 4,Footnote #2)
On page
30 of the same Brief it reads - "It
is not good Seventh-day Adventism to express ... an aversion to Roman
Catholicism as such." Note the Brief does not say - "Roman
Catholics" - which would be understandable, but "Roman
Catholicism" which is vastly different. And when we throw "the sure
word of prophecy" to the trash heap - how much further can we go!
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A DOCTRINE
OF ANTICHRIST -- The word - antichrist (Greek) - is used only five times
in the Scriptures all of these five times are to be found in the Epistle of
John. (I John 2:18 [2x], 22; 4:3; 2 John 7)
1Jn 2:18
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist
shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the
last time.
1Jn 2:22 Who
is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that
denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 4:3 And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn 1:7 For
many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
It is
suggested by Thayer that the very name,(Greek), was formed by John to define
the hostile influence and power at work in "false teachers who have come
from the bosom of the church and are engaged in disseminating error." He
translates the thought of I John 2:18 in these words -"What ye have heard
concerning Antichrist, as about to make his appearance just before the return
of Christ, is now fulfilled in the many false teachers, most worthy to be
called antichrists." (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, art.
"Antichrist", p. 51)
As one
reads these references in the Epistles of John, he finds that twice John
defines a very specific doctrine which marks the working of antichrist. Let us
note these: Every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this
is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come; and
even now already is it in the world. (I John 4:3)
For many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus
p 8
-- Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (II
John 7)
From
John's use of the word, "flesh," elsewhere in his Epistles (I John
2:16),
1Jn 2:16 For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
it is
evident that he is not talking about immaculate flesh, but the flesh possessed
by the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. It was the only flesh he knew, or
that anyone else who has lived, or is now living has ever known, except Adam
and Eve prior to their Fall.
The
Catholic Church denies that Christ came in "the flesh" through the
Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The Dogma is defined
thus: We define that the Blessed
Virgin Mary in the first moment of her conception, by the singular grace and
privilege of Almighty God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour
of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original
sin.(Cardinal Gibbons, Faith of our Fathers, p. 171 (88th ed.)
In
commenting on this Dogma, Cardinal Gibbons simplifies its meaning and intent by
noting - "unlike the rest of the children of Adam, the soul of Mary was
never subject to sin, even in the first moment of its infusion into the body.
She alone was exempt from the original taint." (Ibid.) Thus Christ born of
Mary as defined by the Catholic Church did not come in "the flesh"
into which the rest of the children of Adam were born. Interestingly, this
Dogma could be noted as a part of the "voice of the great words which the
horn spake" after the "judgment was set and the books were
opened." (Dan. 7:10-11) The Dogma was defined ten years later in
1854.
Evangelical
Protestantism and neo-Adventism while denying the immaculate conception of
Mary, provide for an immaculate conception of Jesus Christ, thus denying that
Jesus came in "the flesh" that is the common inheritance of fallen
humanity. Notice how the word - exempt - used by Cardinal Gibbons in defining
the immaculate conception of Mary is also used by neo-Adventist writers in
defining the conception of Jesus Christ. These "antichrists"
state: Although born in the flesh, He
was nevertheless God, and was exempt from the inherited passions and
pollutions that corrupt the natural descendants of Adam. He was "without
sin" not only in His outward conduct, but in His very nature. (Questions
on Doctrine, p. 383)
This
denial that Christ came in the "same" flesh and blood as the children
of Adam (Heb. 2:14) creates an affinity for and with Rome. The
"Christ" of the neo-Adventists, and the "Christ" of Rome is
one and the same, although the "Marys" may be a bit different. In
other words - "the doctrine of Christ" - that which I believe about
Jesus Christ in the Incarnation is absolutely vital to my eternal salvation.
The reason is simple. The antichrist(s) has a false Christ; the true Christian
believes in the true Christ. This is what John is writing about in his Epistle.
Note the full context of his teaching on this doctrine of
antichrist: For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not
those things which we
p 9
-- have gained, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that
abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (II
John 7-9)
After
stating in positive language the import of the "doctrine of Christ"
John gives some strong admonition. It
reads: If there come any unto you, and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God
speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (II
John 10-11)
Some would
seek to mitigate this counsel, by assuming John's fiery and zealous spirit got
the better of him when he wrote these words. But this is not so. Alford
comments that we are not - at liberty to set aside
direct ethical injunctions of the Lord's Apostles in this manner. Varieties of
individual character may play on the surface of their writings: but in these
solemn commands which come up from the depths, we must recognize the power of
that One Spirit of Truth which moved them all as one. It would have been
infinitely better for the Church now, if this command had been observed in all
ages by her faithful sons.(Alford, Greek Testament, Vol. IV, p. 521)
ANOTHER
ASPECT -- Just as surely as day follows night, so does our concept of
perfection follow our understanding of the incarnation. This was the issue in
the controversy over the message of righteousness by faith in the aftermath of
1888, and it is still the issue in the same controversy today in 1978. As far
as Elder A. T. Jones was concerned it would have been no mystery for God to be
manifest in sinless flesh. "But the wonder is that God can do that through
and in sinful flesh. That is the mystery of God, - God manifest in sinful
flesh." Then he stated to the assembled delegates at the 1895 General
Conference Session, these words: In
Jesus Christ as He was in sinful flesh, God has demonstrated before the
universe that He can so take possession of sinful flesh as to manifest His own
presence, His power, and His glory, instead of sin manifesting itself. And all
that the Son asks of any man, in order to accomplish this in him, is that the man
will let the Lord have him as the Lord Jesus did ...
Then God
will so take us, and so use us, that our sinful selves shall not appear to
influence or affect anybody; but God will manifest His righteous self, His
glory, before men, in spite of all ourselves and our sinfulness. That is the
truth. And that is the mystery of God, "Christ in you, the hope of
glory," - God manifest in sinful flesh. (Jones, "The Third
Angel's Message", No 15, p. 303, (General Conference Bulletin, 1895)
In a
continuing study at this same General Conference Session, Jones put his finger
p 10
-- squarely on the source of where opposition to this teaching originated.
He said that the "false idea that [Christ] is so holy that it would be
entirely unbecoming to Him to come near to us, and be possessed of such a
nature as we have, sinful, depraved, fallen human nature" had its source
in "the "incarnation of that enmity that is against God, and that
separates between man and God, the papacy." (Ibid, No. 16, p. 311)
One year
later in an article in the Signs, Jones connects the statement concerning
the antichrist in the Epistle of John with the denial that God can now live
victoriously in our fallen flesh. He wrote: (emphasis
his) Christ himself living in us;
Christ in you the hope of glory; God with us; God manifest in the
flesh now, today in our flesh, by the faith of Jesus
Christ - this and this only faith. For "every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God;
and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should
come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little
children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you,
than he that is in the world." I John 4:2-4 (Signs, Dec. 3, 1896, p.
6)
We could
"allegorically" state, borrowing from Paul, that the mystery of
iniquity doth already work in the "temple" of the professed people of
God, for there are those who are teaching today the very outworking of
antichrist - the denial that God can live a victorious life in fallen, sinful
flesh. Consider one example - the Triumvirate of Falsehood: - Dr. Desmond Ford
teaching at PUC; Paxton getting access to Adventist pulpits; and Brinsmead in
his Present Truth.(1) Add to this the position of the editor of The
Ministry (April, 1978, pp. 21-23)(2) and you have "an energy of
error" seeking to make "the Falsehood credible; so that in every way
those who do not trust to the truth" might be deceived. (II Thess. 2:11-12
Fenton)
We must
ever keep in mind that the special audience which Dr. B. B. Beach had with the
Pope on May 18, 1977 as an official representative of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church was only symptomatic of our "drift toward Rome" over the past
two decades. The presentation of the "Church's Medallion" as a
"symbol" of the church truly characterized our growing affinity
doctrinally, and in church polity with Rome. The Spirit of Prophecy calls this
"following in the track of Romanism." (Testimonies to Ministers, pp.
362-363) Thus at the very time when the work of Ellen G. White is coming under
attack as inspired counsel for the Church, the hierarchy of the Church are
actually fulfilling its prophecies, and thus testifying to its validity.
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Ford's
concepts on the Incarnation and Perfection are based in the following
forthright and accurate assertion - "What you believe about Christ's
humanity will have a very strong influence on what you believe about Christ's
righteousness, and both in turn will influence your view of Christian
perfection.:" (The Soteriological Implications of the Human Nature of
Christ, p. 2) This manuscript written by Ford's wife, Gillian, teaches that
"Christ took on Adam's sinlessness but not his strength." (p. 8)
---page
11--- Paxton in his book - The Shaking of Adventism -
declares: The leaders of the church - via the
Defense Literature Committee and some leading theologians in the wake of
Heppenstall's new theology swept aside the teaching of over one hundred years
of Adventist theology! The impassioned perfectionism of M. L. Andreasen
in The Sanctuary Service and The Book of Hebrews, the
perfectionist emphasis of W. H. Branson, and the implicit perfectionism of
Questions on Doctrine (?) - all were turned out of Adventism in no
uncertain terms by this new theology." (p. 113)
On
Brinsmead and Present Truth, Paxton
writes: One would hardly believe that the
anti-perfectionism of Present Truth magazine is written by the same
author that produced such abundant perfectionist material in the 1960's. From
Brinsmead's writings it is supremely evident that the doctrine of
justification by faith alone is that which casts out any notion of perfection
in this life. (p. 145)
Yet the
Message of 1888 based in the fact that Christ took upon Himself the fallen,
sinful nature of man, taught the objective of the Gospel was "Christ in
you, the hope of glory" - God manifest in fallen, human flesh. Jones
declared this to be "the truth" and "this and this only is
living faith." Further he associated the denial of this truth and living
faith with the teachings of antichrist.
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The
editor of The Ministry compared his experience in relating to the
doctrine of the Incarnation to a tennis game. He said his "mind, like a
tennis ball, bounced first in one court and then the other, depending on
which racquet hit me last! Eventually, I landed more and more in the sinless
nature 'court.'" Here is a man who writes as an editor influencing the
ministry of the Church, vacillating back and forth, finally landing on the
side of Catholic theology contrary to the teaching of the 1888 Message and
the historic position of the Church. (See An Interpretive History of the Doctrine of
the Incarnation as Taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church,)
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"Let the son of deceit and false witness be entertained
by a church that has had great light, and that church will discard the message
the Lord has sent, and receive the most unreasonable assertions and false
suppositions and false theories. Satan laughs at their folly; for he knows what
truth is. Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in
their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan." Testimonies to
Ministers, pp. 409-410
p 12
-- SIGNS OF THE TRENDS -- The Pope and Pentecost - Speaking
to thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at noon, May 7, the
Pope noted - "we find that we are in a special period - - - the period
between the ascension of Christ into Heaven and that of the revealing and
operative mission of the Holy Spirit, promised by Christ to his Church."
Referring to the account of Pentecost - they were with one accord in one place
- the Pope indicated that "the example of this group is still relevant to
day ... to prepare ourselves to receive the fire of the Holy Spirit - within
the communitarian framework of the one true Church of Christ." "Now
more than ever," he added, "we must be one in body with the Church to
receive the animation of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit." (RNS, May 8,
1978, p. 25) We need to remember that the Charismatic Movement with speaking in
tongues entered the Catholic Church in 1967, the year the prophecy of Jesus in
Luke 21:24 was fulfilled. It has since grown rapidly with the full blessing of
the Catholic hierarchy and the Pope himself.
Why?
Because the hierarchy discovered that those so "baptized" do not
rebel against the authority of Rome. Does this not tell of what spirit it
is?
Unity in
the Spirit -- Jesus '78, the Charismatic Renewal Rally held in the
Giant's Stadium at East Rutherford, N. J., May 13, gathered together 55,000
people, Catholics and Protestants alike. Archbishop Peter L. Gerety of Newark
described the gathering as "one of the largest interfaith gatherings in
the history of the world." Cosponsored by Logos International Fellowship,
a nondenominational charismatic publishing association, and the People of Hope,
a Catholic charismatic group, the Rally featured such speakers as Ruth Carter
Stapleton, sister of the President, and Jim Bakker of the TV show -
"Praise the Lord." Besides priests of the Catholic church, Cardinal
Terence Cook of New York also took part. The Cardinal gave the final blessing
and stated - the rally was a "tremendous witness to the power of the Holy
Spirit moving in our times. Alleluia."
Ruth
Carter Stapleton, author of two books on inner healing, prayed for the healing
of hostilities, and suggested that those gathered might wish to touch a person
near them as they joined in prayer to allow "love to begin to flow one to
another." Bakker stated that the experience of ministering with my
Catholic brothers and sisters is a "sign that Jesus is coming soon."
He said - "if we stop judging and start to love, we'll turn the world
upside down." Scanlon, a Catholic priest, and leader of the national
Catholic charismatic movement, told the Rally - "The body of Christ (the
Christian community) is divided. There are over 250 sects and denominations. We
are not one. It's time to get on with that." Another priest said he longed
for the day when at a huge stadium altar "all of us will share the Body
and the Blood of Christ." However, he called for obedience to Roman
Catholic discipline that presently forbids inter-communion and urged in stead
shared liturgical services at which Christians would wash each other's feet in
a token of service and love.
Some of
the Protestant pentecostals present indicated that this was their first
experience of praying with Roman Catholics; while others indicated that they
were doing this regularly through Marriage Encounter meetings or charismatic
prayer groups. The majority present seemed to have left the idea of religious
difference behind and was content that unity clearly already had been achieved
in the shared prayer experience of the charismatic movement. (RNS, May 15,
1978, pp. 3-5. (1978 July) --- END --- TOP
"Watchman,
What of the Night? " Thought Paper.
Adventist Laymen's Foundation.
(Excerpt) JULY 1978
