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Catholicism and Paganism

On By AdminIn Catholicism, Papacy1 Comment

A large part of the book of Revelation is written about the apostasy and the false prophet and this is particularly so in Rev 16 – 18.

Why does Revelation show how much God and Christ are repulsed by the apostate church? To name a few reasons –

  • pagan like worship
  • its history of child sexual abuse
  • money laundering
  • the politicization of religion

Pagan traditions

Catholic Church makes tradition above or equal to Scripture, but in actuality many of its traditions stem from pagan sun worship. Its teachings, beliefs and practices come from Mithraism—a form of paganism that existed in Babylonian times.

These pagan practices are symbols of apostasy against God. Of this, the Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Catholicism says the following:

The missionary history of the [Catholic] Church clearly shows her adaptability to all races, all continents, all nations. In her liturgy and her art, in her tradition and the forming of her doctrine, naturally enough she includes Jewish elements, but also elements that are of pagan origin. In certain respects, she has copied her organization from that of the Roman Empire, has preserved and made fruitful the philosophical intuitions of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, borrowed from both Barbarians and the Byzantine Roman Empire—but always remains herself, thoroughly digesting all elements drawn from external sources…In her laws, her ceremonies, her festivals and her devotions, she makes use of local customs after purifying them and “baptizing” them.

The Papacy claims that its system of worship has been handed down through tradition. They are absolutely correct. But these are not the teachings of Jesus, but rather the traditions of Babylon.

Roman Catholic doctrines such as infant baptism, sprinkling during baptism, teachings on death and immortality, tonsured and celibate priests with power over the dead, prayers to the dead and to relics, repetitive prayers with the use of beads, doctrines on forgiveness of sins, teachings on hell, the mass, and Sunday worship are doctrines actually derived directly from ancient Babylon, not the Bible.

Doctrine Date
The Trinity and the Sunday Sabbath 321-364 AD – Council of Laodicea
Relic Worship 337 AD
Rosary 366 AD
Mass 394 AD
Eternal Torment 590 AD
Indulgences 799 AD
Mary Worship 850 AD
Confessional 1198 AD
Bible Forbidden 1299 AD
Infant Baptism 1311 AD
Tradition Above Scripture 1563 AD

When Constantine married paganism and Christianity, the door was opened for false doctrines to creep into the early Christian Church, and they were gradually introduced into the system. The Church became divided into the Catholic Church who accepted the pagan doctrines, and those who resisted Constantine’s indoctrination.

Like the successive strata of the earth covering one another, so layer after layer of forgeries and fabrications were piled up in the Church.

The church historian Philip Schaff says, “No church or sect in Christendom ever sank so low as the Latin church in the tenth century.”

This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith

Putin: Russia may deploy forces back to Syria ‘in mere hours’ if necessary

On By AdminIn RussiaLeave a comment

“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm”
– Ezekiel 38

“The king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind”
– Daniel 11

While Russia is withdrawing most of its forces from Syria, they could be deployed there again in a matter of hours if such a need arises, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated. He added that the Russian bases in Syria are well-protected.

Putin was summarizing the results of the Russian five-month-long anti-terror campaign in Syria at a solemn ceremony in Moscow.

The Russian president said Moscow was open in saying from the start of the operation that it was a limited campaign with a set deadline.

“We have created the conditions for a peace process. We have established constructive and positive cooperation with the US and a number of other countries, with respectable opposition forces in Syria, which really want to end the war and find a political solution of the conflict. You, Russian soldiers, paved that way,” Putin told the Russian military personnel who took part in the campaign.

He added that the Syrian Army, with Russia’s support, can now hold out against terrorist forces and take back terrorist-controlled territories.

The president acknowledged that the pull-out may be reversed, if necessary, even though Moscow would not want to see such a development. He also stressed that advanced air defense systems deployed in Syria for protection of Russian military sites remain there and would attack any hostile forces threatening them.

“We stick to the fundamental international laws and believe that nobody has the right to violate Syria’s sovereign airspace. We have created an effective mechanism for prevention of air incidents with the Americans, but all our partners have been warned that we would use our air defense systems against any target that we considered a threat to the Russian troops,” Putin said

Published by RT.com

Dont be fooled – Putin isn’t going anywhere.

On By AdminIn RussiaLeave a comment

Since a very public announcement from Putin a day ago, questions have been raised as to how true this announcement is.

Acute observers have made the point that Russia isn’t actually withdrawing much, and that fixed strategic assets like the S-400 – which just happens to be the most important military asset – will remain just where it was setup only a few months ago. The S-400 allows Russia to control much of Syrian and Israeli airspace, and it also gives Russia an dominant edge over any Turkish-Syrian conflict. Not even the US has anything that can combat the S-400.

A withdrawal? I don’t think so.

I made the comment earlier that while Russia seems to be reducing its active military operations, it is effectively leaving behind a highly scalable contingent meaning that wouldn’t be too hard for Russia to sweep down harder and faster at another time.

The CS Monitor makes the same point:

the door will remain open for a swift return, should Moscow deem it necessary.

Daniel and Ezekiel describe the Russian invasion as swift as a ‘whirlwind’, and a ‘storm’ – and we now see that the infrastructure is in place for such an invasion.

In an article entitled ‘Don’t trust the Russian pullback’, Bloomberg makes the point that Putin did the same thing during the Ukraine war; he said he would withdraw forces from Ukraine – and nothing happened.

Putin used a similar signaling method in June 2014, as talks were beginning to hammer out what became the first Minsk cease-fire for eastern Ukraine. Late that month, Putin asked his rubber-stamp upper house of parliament to withdraw permission for him to conduct military actions in Ukrainian territory. Russia never officially conducted any, though Russian troops, instructors and weapons were even then being sent to aid pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine. Nonetheless, Putin, according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, considered the announcement an appropriate gesture as negotiations between the rebels, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were beginning.

If you were in any doubt that Putin was employing the same strategy, hear it from the mouth of the Moscow Times;

The Russian Air Force will continue to conduct strikes on terrorist targets operating in Syria, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, one day after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial withdrawal of his forces from the war-torn republic.

Given the amount of speculation, it would be premature to simply believe either US or Russian propaganda, but in the mean time, Daniel 8:25 gives us an insight into the kind of king that will rule in the latter day – and it describes just the kind of behaviour that we see from Putin.

“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”

Finally, its also important to remember that while we tend to place much emphasis on Russia as a yardstick for the return of Christ, that Russia may not even invade until after Christ has returned. A more accurate sign of the imminent return of Christ is found in Revelation 16 – read more about that here.

Putin withdrawing Russian troops from Syria

On By AdminIn Russia3 Comments

“President Vladimir Putin dropped a bombshell Monday when he suddenly ordered his defense and foreign ministers to start pulling “the main part” of Russian forces out of Syria the next morning” – DEBKA.

News-media around the world are stunned by this announcement. The US is in consternation as to what on earth has caused Putin to do this.

Firstly, lets be clear, Russia is not leaving Syria all together. According to Russian state media, ‘Moscow will maintain a military presence in Syria, and a deadline for complete withdrawal has not yet been announced. Putin also indicated that Russian forces will remain at the port of Tartus and Hmeymim airbase in Latakia.

Speculation about the Russian motive is rife with most US agencies skeptical of Putins claims.

One source which has proved itself to be impeccable – breaking news well in advance of all other sources – is Debka, who have this to say about the withdrawal:

“A deep rift with Tehran over the continuation of the Syrian war and an irreconcilable spat with Syrian ruler Bashar Assad over his future prompted Russian President Vladimir’s shock order Monday, March 14, for the “main part” of Russian military forces to quit Syria the next morning.

The Russian president may have acted now because he was simply fed up with the interminable bickering with his two allies, which was going nowhere except for the continuation of the calamitous five-year war. He therefore presented them with a tough fait accompli. If you want to carry on fighting, fine; but count the Russian army out of it.”

Despite the speculation, one thing is clear: Russian intentions are as clear as mud.

At any rate, if Russia does leave Syria, it will leave a far more scalable contingent in Syria than what it had before it entered in September. It wouldn’t be too hard for Russia to sweep down harder and faster at another date.

 

Who are the Christadelphians?

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“Christianity was in its earliest days, entirely unpolitical: The best representatives in our time are the Christadelphians.” – Bertrand Russel

“Christadelphians aim to get as close as possible to the faith and practice of the early Christian church.” – The BBC

The Christadelphians reject many of the major doctrines of modern Christendom, and have an understanding of the Gospel that is true to the original teachings of Jesus Christ.

It is recognized – even by historians – that many of the doctrines of the major churches were introduced in many cases under political pressure, or for political expediency. In other cases and especially around the 4th century, Christian practices adopted pagan characteristics in order to entice pagan worshippers. However the doctrines and practices of the Christadelphian community dispense with centuries of pagan and political influence, and are derived only through scriptural precedent.

Continued, personal and independent study of the Bible is the primary emphasis of the community, with sole reliance on Scriptures for guidance in a way of life.

The Christadelphians organise locally into groups called “ecclesias”, which is a Bible word in Greek that means A called out assembly. We have no clergy, and share responsibilities for various tasks among the baptized members of the ecclesia. Our ecclesias associate with one another by having what we term – fellowship, which is Christian association in many forms.

There are Christadelphians in many parts of the world, for example in Britain and parts of Europe, many African countries, the Far East from India to Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, North and South America from Canada to Argentina, and in the islands of the Caribbean. The community includes people of many races and cultures.

A brief summary of Christadelphian beliefs are listed below.

  • The Bible is the only true message from God and was entirely given by him.
  • There is only one God, the Father, who made the world and has a great purpose for it.
  • The Holy Spirit is God’s own power; by which He works out His own holy will.
  • Jesus is the Son of God. He is also Son of man through being born of Mary.
  • Jesus overcame all temptation and died to save his followers from sin and death.
  • Jesus was raised from the dead by God. Later he ascended to heaven but will return.
  • When he returns he will raise and judge the responsible dead and give immortality to the faithful.
  • He will be King over the restored Kingdom of God in Israel and over the whole world.
  • His immortalised followers will help him to bring everlasting righteousness and peace worldwide.
  • The devil is not a supernatural being but is another name for sin, destroyed only in Christ.
  • Salvation involves covering from sin through Christ, and freedom from sin and death at his coming.
  • When man dies he ceases to exist. The only hope of life is by the resurrection at Christ’s return.
  • Belief in God’s Promises about the Kingdom of God and the work of Jesus Christ is essential.
  • Repentance and baptism into Christ by immersion in water and daily following of Christ are all necessary for ultimate salvation.

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