Featured How to Know You are in a Heterodox Cult

In 1586, Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarmine published volume 1 of his defense of the Roman Catholic Faith and Papacy, entitled Disputationes de Controversiis Christianae Fidei adversus hujus temporis Haereticos [Controversies concerning the Christian Faith which We Dispute with the Heretics of our Time]. It is in Book 3, On the Roman Pontiff, that “Bellarmine shows the many contradictions and faulty reasoning used by the first Protestants in arguing that the Pope is Antichrist while also giving exposition to the authentic understanding of the passages of Scripture that speak of Antichrist. After covering presenting the testimony of Scripture and the Fathers on the signs that must precede Antichrist, Bellarmine shows how none of this agrees with the Roman Pontiff” (Source).

One of the arguments used by Bellarmine concerns Daniel 11:31: And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall defile the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the continual sacrifice, and they shall place there the abomination unto desolation. The Catholic interpretation demands the continual Sacrifice of the Mass must first be abolished as a sign Antichrist has come. The Sacrifice of the Mass continues; therefore Antichrist has not yet come; ergo, the Pope is not Antichrist.

In 1603, Anglican Bishop George Downame, D.D., published A Treatise Concerning Antichrist, Divided in Two Books, The Former, Proving the Pope is Antichrist, The Latter, Maintaining the Same Assertion Against All the Objections of Robert Bellarmine, Jesuit Cardinal of the Church of Rome.

Downame explains how Bellarmine’s arguments using Daniel 11:31 are based on unproven assumptions, not the least of which is his assumption that “the service of God has not been taken away under the Pope; nor has the sacrifice of Christians ceased.” “But,” Downame counters, “if by the public service of God he means his true worship and service in Spirit and truth: assuredly, it hath been taken away by the Papacy; unless will-worship, superstition and idolatry be [considered] the true worship of God. As touching Christian sacrifices, we acknowledge the sacrifice of praise, the sacrifice of a contrite and broken heart, the sacrifice of obedience wherein we offer ourselves, the sacrifice of alms whereby we offer our goods. These sacrifices no Antichrist can wholly take away.

“As for the Sacrifice of the Mass, we hold it to be a monstrous abomination, wherein the holy sacrament of the Lord’s supper is turned into an abominable idol. Seeing, therefore, there is no soundness of truth either in the proposition or assumption, must we admit the question concluded [as Bellarmine asserts]? And yet, upon these grounds Bellarmine does not only infer the question in hand, but two more besides. ‘From hence,’ saith he, ‘three things may be gathered.’ First, ‘that Antichrist is not yet come, because the daily sacrifice yet continueth.’ He might as well have concluded with the Jews that Christ is not yet come: for He was to abolish the daily sacrifice, Daniel 9:27; partly by His own sacrifice, unto which the shadows of the Law were to give place; and partly by the overthrow of the Temple, in which, and not elsewhere, it was to be offered.

“His second conclusion is ‘that the Pope of Rome is not Antichrist, but rather his adversary, seeing the Pope doth adore and maintain this sacrifice, which Antichrist is to abolish.’ Nay, rather [the truth of the matter is] by ordaining this propitiatory sacrifice, and erecting a new priesthood to offer the same, the Pope showeth himself to be Antichrist. For by this priesthood,

· Christ is denied to be our only Priest;

· By this sacrifice, His sacrifice on the Cross is supposed not to be sufficient;

· By this sacrifice, the humanity of Christ [i.e. His fleshly atonement] is overthrown;

and a god of bread set up in His place to be worshipped and adored. In this sacrifice Christ is made inferior to every mass- monger who make their Creator by breathing out a few words, so when they have made him in their conceit, they offer him up to God as a propitiatory sacrifice both for the quick and the dead.

“Bellarmine’s third conclusion is ‘that the heretics of this time, above all others, are forerunners of Antichrist because they desire nothing more than the overthrow of the Sacrifice of the Mass.’” Downame responds, “Nay, rather they show themselves the limbs of Antichrist by overthrowing the sacrament of the Lord’s supper by upholding this Mass and mountain of all abominations and sacrilegious idolatry. And how does Bellarmine prove his case? Incredibly, because Daniel had prophesied that Antiochus was to take away for a time the daily sacrifice of the Jews; therefore, Antichrist is not yet come; therefore, the Pope is not Antichrist; therefore, those who dislike the Mass are forerunners of Antichrist!”

 

Roman Catholic Feast Honoring Their Bread God

The Feast of Corpus Christi in which the consecrated Eucharist is carried in solemn procession is but one of the many idolatrous blasphemies committed against the Lord Jesus Christ by the Church of Rome.

The sacred Host – i.e. Jesus Christ - is carried in a monstrance while covered with a canopy to protect Him from the elements which might cause Him to melt.


Incredibly, this religious ritual was not performed in a third world country where ignorance and superstition prevails. In fact, it was enacted in the city which is home to Yale University, a paragon of genteel, well-educated and enlightened inhabitants.


Nor are these wafer-worshippers holdovers from the 13th century. In fact, they are 21st century Texans eager to catch a glimpse of an emaciated, circular, very white, diminutive, Lord Jesus Christ, quite unlike the representations of Christ which they dearly hold.

How This Feast Began

According to a trusted Roman Catholic source, Catholic Straight Answers, it was in the year 1263 that a German priest, Peter of Prague, struggled with unbelief in the doctrine of Transubstantiation which had been decreed as infallible truth in 1215 by the Fourth Lateran Council. Then one day, after praying the Lord increase his faith, while celebrating Mass at the tomb of Saint Christina, the host began to bleed when the words of consecration were said.

Long story short, “One year later, in1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi, a special feast day to recognize and to promote the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament……Today, at the Church of St. Christina in Bolsena, one finds the altar where the miracle took place, and the blood-stained stones of the miracle are preserved. The Cathedral of Orvieto possesses the blood-stained corporal as well as fragments of the miraculous host.”

Is this but one of the ‘profane fables’ of which Paul warns us? (1 Timothy 4:7). I leave it up to the reader to decide, after much meditation and prayer, of course.

 

Eucharistic Adoration aka Wafer Worship

Thou shalt not have strange gods before me…..Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them (Exodus 20:3, 5; Douay-Rheims).


The monstrous monstrance

What is Eucharistic adoration?

“Eucharistic Adoration is a rite that is part of the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament…. The Catholic faithful come to experience closeness with the Body and Blood of Christ. This often takes place in Catholic churches, but may also occur in an adoration chapel (or any location that a ministry desires). Adoration is especially appropriate during the feast of Corpus Christi. During Corpus Christi, Catholic churches often hold a procession, the Eucharist is exposed in the monstrance and parishioners can spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament — Christ in the Eucharist” (Source).

The Roman Catholic Church differentiates between 3 degrees of worship:

(1) Dulia: veneration or respect paid to the saints and angels as the servants and friends of God.

(2) Hyperdulia: The special veneration due only the Blessed Virgin Mary.

(3) Latria: a theological term used in Roman Catholic theology to mean adoration, a reverence directed only to the Holy Trinity. Latria also applies to the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. ... "The only-begotten Son of God is to be adored in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist with the worship of latria, including external worship.” The external worship includes making the sign of the cross and bowing the knee. (Sources: Wikipedia and any Catholic dictionary or website referencing these topics.)

How is it Possible Grown, Intelligent Men and Women Adore and Worship Bread as Their God?

The answer lies in the fact they are inculcated into such practice from childhood.



How to do Eucharistic Adoration with Kids

Jerry Windley-Daoust is the author of this informative article published by Our Sunday Visitor in their online website, Teaching Catholic Kids.

“Eucharistic adoration is the practice of praying before Jesus in the form of the Eucharistic host. The host may be exposed in a special vessel known as a monstrance, or reserved in a tabernacle……Recalling Jesus’ command to “let the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14), many Catholic parents bring even very young children, including infants and toddlers, to Eucharistic adoration……Avoid bringing food or noisy toys into the adoration chapel; however, you might bring religious picture books, a Holy Card Key Chain, or crayons and religious coloring sheets…….Pope Benedict XVI recommended that children be taught to appreciate spending time in the presence of the Eucharist as part of their preparation for First Communion. Here are some tips for introducing children to this practice:

· Teach your children about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

· Take your children to Mass regularly.

· Practice reverence for the Eucharist. Genuflect and make the Sign of the Cross before the tabernacle in church, and by saying a prayer when you pass a Catholic church.”

The author adds it may be necessary to limit time spent staring at the wafer. He suggests starting with 10-minute intervals until the children are older and can withstand longer periods of hypnotic stare time.



Perhaps our Roman Catholic friends can share with us at what age their parents began their indoctrination?

 

Miraculous Lying Wonders a Sign of Antichrist – Part 1

Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect (Matthew 24:23-24; Douay-Rheims).


If ever there was a Scripture which told us beforehand how to identify the Antichrist, this is certainly one.

Here we see the alleged Vicar of Christ [Christ’s substitute, aka anti-Christ: ‘in the place of Christ’] holding up for adoration/worship that which he claims to be Christ.

Is not this the greatest lying wonder ever devised by corrupt, wicked man?

Man, who was made, makes his Maker.

He who is finite makes the Infinite.

He who is sin makes Him who has no sin.

Not only does the Supreme Leader of the Roman Church allege such a miracle, so do his priests.



They, too, have been given the power to make an image to the Beast…..And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight (Rev. 13:12; Douay-Rheims).

They, too, have been given the power to give life to the image of the Beast……And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast (Rev. 13:15; Douay-Rheims).

For they, like their Supreme Leader, claim the power to turn bread into the Holy Son of God, who is Life itself.

But Scripture tells us this is a lie. For it is no image of God. Rather it is the image of the Beast, the Antichrist.

And the Antichrist is the image of his father, the Dragon…..And the dragon gave him his own strength, and great power (Rev. 13:2; Douay-Rheims).

How many Christians were killed who refused to worship this image we will not know until the Great Day of Judgment, when every man will give an accounting of his life.

…….and should cause, that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast, should be slain (Rev. 13:15; Douay-Rheims).