Roman Church Controversy / Plus Drone Strike

CONTROVERSY WITHIN THE ROMAN CHURCH

By Dr. Stephen Jones:  Jan 05, 2020

Blog Post Date:  1-07-2020

Cardinal Raymond Burke and other Roman Catholics are opposing Pope Francis’ “new humanism” push which is planned for 2020. Humanism simply means putting man at the center of things. Beyond that, the word can have a variety of applications. In this case, it appears that the Pope is pushing for unification between Islam and Christianity—and eventually with Judaism as well. Ultimately, because “humanism” involves the whole world, he probably hops to unite with and be the leader of Buddhism, Hinduism, and all other religions as well.

Cardinal Burke sees this as an attempt to replace Jesus Christ with “humans” in general. It begins by compromising the right of Jesus Christ to rule the earth as its rightful King, because unification with Islam is not possible apart from putting Mohammed above Jesus. It is not likely that Muslims would compromise their core belief, but apparently, the Cardinal believes that the Pope is willing to do so in the name of humanism.

https://neonnettle.com/news/9865-top-catholic-church-official-reveals-new-global-pact-pushing-for-one-world-government

One of the highest-ranking officials in the Catholic Church has spoken out in opposition to the Vatican's push for a new global pact that will promote a one-world government. American Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the Catholic Church's most powerful figures, is calling on faithful Christians to “stand up and give witness to the truth” of Jesus Christ’s Kingship in the face of the rise of Islam. Cardinal Burke is now warning Christians about the Vatican’s push for a "global pact" that seeks to, in the words of Pope Francis, “create a new humanism….”

It was in September that Pope Francis announced he will be hosting in 2020 an initiative for a “global pact” to “create a new humanism….”

[After referring to Hillary Clinton’s Socialist Education book, It Takes a Village] The Pope continued in his message that in order to reach these “global objectives,” as an “educating village” we must “have the courage to place the human person at the center.”

Commenting on this, Mother Miriam, foundress of the religious community Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope, said on her Sept. 16, 2019, podcast that such an educational village would “once and for all destroy the family and the human race.”

“The Pope said that in order to reach these global objectives as an educating village, we must ‘have the courage to place the human person at the center’,” she said.

"Isn't that what is wrong with our world today?”

"Instead of placing Christ at the center, we place man at the center."

“Some of these words sound very nice. And the demon appears as an ‘angel of light.’ Am I saying the Pope is demonic?” she added elsewhere in her podcast.

"No. I’m saying what he’s proposing is demonic."

My Comment: Pope Francis is shifting the Roman Church’s course in a major way, disturbing many devout Catholics. In my view, the time of the beast empires has been completed, and the Roman Church long ago adopted the carnal politics and practices of the beast mindset. That Church is the “little horn” prophesied in Daniel, which was an extension of the Western Roman Empire, which fell in 476 A.D.

Because the time of beast empires ended at the appointed time in October of 2017 (as I have explained many times elsewhere), we ought to be seeing cracks in the Church prior to its full collapse.

The prophecies of St. Malachy seemed to indicate that he could be the last Pope, i.e., “Peter the Roman.” Malachy, from Ireland, prophesied a description of 113 popes that were to come, beginning in the year 1143 A.D. He gave a brief description of each, ending with a final pope:

“In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.”

http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp

The original publication of this prophecy in 1590 lists 111 popes prior to Peter the Roman. The 1820 edition included an extra pope (112). So Peter the Roman is either the 112^th or 113^th pope, depending on the source. However, it is clear that the last two on the list, were Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in February of 2013.

John Paul II was the 110th pope. Malachy describes him as De Lobaore solis (“of the eclipse of the sun”). John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920 during a solar eclipse in Poland. When he was finally buried on April 8, 2005, the world experienced a very unusual "hybrid eclipse" of the sun. The central path of the eclipse ran across the South Pacific where it changed from an annular eclipse to a total eclipse and then back again to an annular eclipse before reaching South America.

Malachy said of the 111th pope, Gloria Olivae (“the glory of the olive”). Cardinal Ratzinger became the 111th pope, called Benedict XVI. The Benedictine Order is known as the "Olivetans," because the olive tree is their symbol.

The last pope described in the prophecy above is not necessarily the successor of the pope who was described previously. Malachy did not say specifically that the last pope was the next pope after Gloria Olivae. Some say this may indicate a shortened list that leaves out some popes prior to the final one. If so, then Pope Francis could be an interim pope not mentioned by Malachy. If Francis dies or resigns and is succeeded by another, it would prove that he was not Peter the Roman.

In support of that view, Francis is not named Peter, nor was he a “Roman” before being elected pope in 2013, although his parents were Italian immigrants to Argentina. On the other hand, when he took the name “Francis” after his election, he named himself after St. Francis of Assisi, whose father was named Pietro (English: “Peter”). If the pope has identified himself with St. Francis, then it could be said that his father is Peter, and it may be argued that Pope Francis is indeed Peter the Roman.

In the end, we will have to watch how events unfold. Meanwhile, Pope Francis is turning toward humanism and is actively seeking to unite the religions of the world in the guise of peace. I would support any effort to make peace with those of other religions, of course, but to compromise Christ’s right to rule the earth as the only-begotten Son of God is as unacceptable as rejecting the efficacy of His blood in paying for the sin of the world. Without these core beliefs, Christianity is just another man-made religion that can also be changed at the whims of men.

It is curious, too, that Malachy’s prophecies appear to contradict the idea that the Roman Church will never be destroyed (based on their interpretation of Matthew 16:18). In my view, the Church throughout the Pentecostal Age was prophesied by King Saul, who too was crowned on the day of Pentecost (1 Samuel 12:17, “wheat harvest”). Saul’s dynasty ended with David, who represents the overcomers.

Malachy’s final prophecy says “the city of seven hills will be destroyed,” which indicates that Rome is not “the eternal city,” as many have claimed—unless, of course, we understand “eternal” (aeternas) in its original meaning, where it often was limited to an age. Whatever the case, the present age is now coming to an end, and the Age of Tabernacles is upon us.

US DRONE STRIKE KILLS 3 IRANIAN GENERALS IN BAGHDAD

Jan 04, 2020

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, pro-Iranian “protesters” attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, apparently trying to do a repeat of the 1979 attack on the US embassy in Iran. Today President Trump responded with 4 precision missiles which destroyed a convoy of Iranian generals and a colonel near the Baghdad airport.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7847069/Rocket-attack-Baghdad-airport-kills-seven.html

The attack unfolded in a precision strike on two cars that were carrying Soleimani and Iraq-based PMF militiamen who were picking him up from the airport.

Soleimani had arrived at the airport on a plane from either Syria or Lebanon around 12.30am when he was met on the tarmac by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.

Muhandis pulled up to the aircraft steps in two cars before Soleimani and Mohammed Ridha Jabri, public relations chief for the PMF who had been traveling with him, climbed inside and were driven away.

Moments later, as the cars passed through a cargo area headed for an access road leading out of the airport, the convoy was struck by four missiles fired by an MQ-9 Reaper drone.

Both vehicles were instantly reduced to smoldering wrecks -killing Soleimani, Muhandis, Jabri and two others who have yet to be identified. 

Two officials from the PMF said Soleimani's body was torn to pieces in the attack, while they did not find the body of al-Muhandis. 

A senior politician said Soleimani's body was identified by the ring he wore. Photos from the scene show a hand with large ring that looks identical to one Soleimani is seen wearing in old photos.

Local militia commander Abu Muntathar al-Hussaini told Reuters: 'Haj Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were riding in one vehicle when it was struck by two successive guided missiles launched from an American helicopter while they were on their way from the arrivals hall on the road that leads out of Baghdad Airport.'

He said the second vehicle was carrying bodyguards from the PMF and was hit by one rocket….

The attack came amid tensions with the United States after a New Year's Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. 

The two-day embassy attack which ended Wednesday prompted Trump to order about 750 U.S. soldiers immediately deployed to the Middle East, with thousands more put on alert for imminent deployment.

This incident will no doubt have consequences, so you should be aware of what has happened. General Soleimani was considered to be the second most powerful man in Iran and the heir apparent to the president himself.

I think they should have known better than to mess with an American embassy during the Trump presidency.

The Church Councils, Part 2

THE CHURCH COUNCILS, PART 2

By Dr. Stephen Jones: Aug 31, 2019

Blog Post Date: 9-29-2019

As I see it, the church debate regarding Christ’s deity and humanity failed to focus on the real underlying issue. Their arguments did not start with an understanding of Paul’s Hebrew view of spirit, soul, and body but upon the Greek philosophical distinction between spirit and matter. For this reason, the Greek Christian philosophers compared and distinguished Christ’s spiritual nature with His physical humanity.

Paul, on the other hand, compared Adam with Christ, saying in 1 Corinthians 15:45-47,

⁴⁵ So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural [psuchikos, “soulish”]; then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

If the church had understood the apostle Paul, they would have built their arguments upon his foundation and the tripartite nature of man in general. Adam was “a living soul” and “earthy.” The name Adam literally means “earthy,” for he was named after the earth or ground (adamah). By contrast, the last Adam, Christ, was “spiritual” and “is from heaven.”

The Nicean Creed did set forth that Christ was “begotten, not made,” which reflects this basic understanding of the difference between the two Adams. They understood that Adam was “made,” and that Christ was “begotten.” So far, so good. But when they began to slice Him into two separate beings, Jesus being His humanity, and Christ being His divinity, they immediately began to veer down a Greek philosophical path of dualism and Docetism.

How Many Natures Did Jesus Have?

Jesus Christ is a single Person having spirit, soul, and body—as we all have in common. The primary difference between Him and us is that we were born Adamic, that is, soulish, whereas Christ is spiritual. What does this mean in practical terms? Primarily, it means that in our fleshly identity, we inherited souls in the image of the first Adam, souls that are mortal and corruptible. Christ, however, was begotten by the Spirit, so He was never soulish by nature.

Christ certainly had a soul, but His conscious identity came through His spirit, not His soul.

The same can be said of all who have been begotten by the Spirit and who have transferred their identity from the old man (fleshly soul) to the new man (spirit). Jesus never had to transfer His identity from one entity to another, but all of us must do so, because we were not virgin born.

The key is to be begotten, not made. Our Adamic flesh man was “made,” whereas our new man was “begotten.” As long as we live in human flesh, there are two Persons coexisting in one body. Paul tells us that we ought to be led and instructed by the spiritual man, so that we do not follow the dictates of the old soulish man.

Though we tend to shift our conscious identity back and forth between these two entities, we are really just one person at a time. Legally speaking, we are who we claim to be in the divine court. Having changed our identity, we are no longer the person that our parents brought forth. But being spiritual does not mean we have ceased to have a soul. It is rather that the soul is in submission to the spirit. The soul is subordinate; the spirit is dominant; but each of us is one person.

Hence, it cannot properly be said that when we were begotten by the Spirit, we began to have two natures (spiritual and material) at the same time. We are one or the other, even though both are present. Likewise, Jesus Christ from birth was one Person who had one nature. It was spiritual from the start, even though that nature had been begotten in a material body. When we were begotten from above and became new creatures in Christ, we became like Him.

The Main Issue

Therefore, the argument about the dual nature of Christ, along with the dispute over his deity or humanity, misses the point. Those who make Christ “human” miss the point because they emphasize His physicality without seeing that He was disconnected from Adam. Those who argued for Christ’s deity, downplaying His humanity, split His Person-hood into two separate entities, thus straying from the truth that He was spirit, soul, and body like all of us.

In other words, their dispute was over the issue of human vs. deity and physical vs. spiritual, when they should have been discussing Adam vs. Christ and soulish vs. spiritual.

It all started with His virgin birth, for this alone separated Him from Adam, insofar as His nature is concerned. While it is true that His mother was Adamic, the penalty for Adam’s sin has always been passed down through the seed of the male, not through the female. Hence, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:22, “as in Adam all die,” even though Eve sinned first.

Two Main Laws of Sonship

By failing to comprehend the real issue, the early church lost the understanding of sonship. They continued to use terminology of sonship, but they did not know the laws on which it was based. Sonship is based primarily on two laws: (1) “after its kind” in Genesis 1:21, which means that fathers beget children in their likeness; and (2) the law of authority, based on the Fifth Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother” in Deuteronomy 5:16, which establishes the subordination of a son to his father.

Hence, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and, conversely, claimed that God was His Father, He was placing Himself in subjection to His Father in accordance with the law. Likewise, He was also in the image and likeness of His Father, because the spiritual seed that had begotten Him in the Virgin Mary guaranteed that He was a perfect fractal of His heavenly Father.

We too are (or are destined to be) fractals of our heavenly Father, for “when He appears, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Therefore, John says, we are not to practice lawlessness (1 John 3:4), as if we were still in the image of Adam. True sons of God are those who think like their heavenly Father, agree with His plan insofar as they are able to comprehend it, and do only what their heavenly Father does. In this way, we both praise and honor our Father. We honor our mother by acknowledging the New Covenant, living by faith in the promises of God.