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The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Second Coming of Christ – Pt. 1 In my next post, we will get into a biblical critique of the popular “Rapture” theology we find mostly among Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal Christians, but before we do that I would like to respond to a question I often get when talking about this question in general.“What’s the big deal?”In other words, so what if these confused Protestants have their beliefs about this aspect of eschatology awry. That’s not going to hurt anybody, is it?In fact, I argue, Dispensationalist theology is dangerous for many reasons, but one of them can...

INDEX OF SCRIPTURE TEXTS ABRAHAM:  Patriarch, Matt. 1, 2; 22, 32; Luke 19, 9; John 8, 33; Acts 3, 25; 7, 2; Rom. 4, 1-3; 9, 7; Gal. 3, 6-9; 4, 22; Heb. 7, 1-10; Abraham's faith, Rom. 4, 1-25; Gal. 3, 6; Heb. 11, 8; Jas. 2, 21-23; spiritual children of, Rom. 4, 11 ff; Gal. 3, 7. 29. ABSOLUTION:  power of promised, Matt. 16, 19; 18, 18; John 20, 23. ACCESS TO GOD:  John 14, 6; Rom. 5, 2; Eph. 2, 18; 3, 12; Heb. 10, 19 ff; Jas. 4, 8. ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD:  Matt. 5, 12; Acts 5,...

The sodomite mafia that we've long suspected in the Vatican is raising its filthy head on the eve of the Synod to destroy the family. Father Oko's work on the infiltration of the priesthood in Rome and in Poland must be held up as a warning of what was to come. The dossier of three hundred pages handed over by Benedict XVI to Jorge Bergoglio gathers dust but the truth will come out along with coming out of these sodomite moles into the light where they can no longer hide. „Jestem gejem. Dumnym i szczęśliwym księdzem gejem”. Coming out księdza...

In another new book released just before the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops, ten African prelates call for a clear and vigorous affirmation of Catholic doctrine on marriage and the family. The book, entitled Christ’s New Homeland- Africa, emphasizes the need to resist the pressure of secularization in Africa; the prelates argue that the African continent will play a critical role in forming the Church’s response to secularization. In one of the featured essays, Cardinal Robert Sarah, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, critiques the instrumentum laboris, the working document for the Synod. He says that...

The concept of the One Church shifted during the Reformation. I offer a case in point as well as a reflection on it changes our current understanding. The old Anglican Book of Common Prayer offers one of the early examples of a subtle shift in Christian thinking and speech. In the Thanksgiving after Communion we read: Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favor...

One of many charts from the premillennialist book "Dispensational Truth" Question: "Why do the Orthodox adhere to Amillennialism, when it is so obvious that Satan is alive and active now and not confined. The following fathers were premillenarians: Justin Martyr, Melito, Hegesippus, Tatian, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus and Apollinaris. So why is Chiliasm a heresy?" Of the names that are listed, I do not believe there is any clear evidence that St. Hegesippus held premillennialist views. St. Hippolytus actually changed his mind on this question, in favor of rejecting premillennialism. Tatian, Tertullian, and Apollinaris all ended their lives in heresy and schism,...

On the Wonder of the Word of God Msgr. Charles Pope • October 1, 2015 • The first reading at Mass today (Thursday of the 26th week of the year) from Nehemiah 8 is a wonderful meditation on the glory and wonder of the Word of God; it deserves our attention.The background of the text is that Israel had been conquered by the Babylonians (in 587 B.C.) and the survivors of that war were led into exile in Babylon. After 80 years the Persians conquered the Babylonians and Cyrus, the king of Persia, permitted the Jews to return to the...

Talking about mercy, sin, participation in the Church, and the urgent need to respect the Holy EucharistROME — The prodigal son left home in order to say, “I’m independent, I’m autonomous from my father,” and his father wants to forgive him. But if he doesn’t return home, he can’t be forgiven. And returning home means leaving sin behind. This was just one thought shared by Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, who spoke exclusively to Aleteia at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia last week. Appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2014,...

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (v. 20). - Genesis 50:15–21 Conversion to Christ brings with it a great number of blessings. Chief among these are that we have peace with God, receive Him as our Father, and have the sure hope of eternal life (John 1:12–13; 3:16; Rom. 5:1). We also benefit from the joy that is given to us as part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Yet at the same time, we...

On diluted Christianity, the rapid spread of Islamization, new “European values”, hatred for true Christianity, and where it all may lead. Bishop Pitirim of Dushanbe and Tadjikistan     “Comfortable Christianity is not wanting to carry your cross.” —Your Eminence, what are the “comfortable Christianity” and “pink Christianity” you talk about in your sermons that we publish on our site [Pravoslavie.ru]? Could it be said that comfortable Christianity is the spiritual illness of our times? —What did the Lord say? Take up your cross and follow Me. This is the meaning of Christianity. Comfortable Christianity is, first of all, not wanting to...

To all who have any discernment,we are currently witnessing the diminishment of the 70 year US sphere of influence in the Middle East. I cringed as I witnessed the spectacle of Vladimir Putin’s U.N. speech excoriating the western nations for ignoring international law, dis-embowling Libya, Syria and creating ISIS through our meddling in the Middle East. Putin is a supporter of embattled Syrian President Bashir Assad. He has committed Russian ground troops, tanks, ships and an air strike force to defend Assad. Putin is also an ally of the terrorist Iranian regime. They too have poured troops into Syria to...

What Does It Mean to Trust God? Maybe Not What You Think. Msgr. Charles Pope • September 30, 2015 • We are often told to trust in God. And most of us have counseled others who are anxious or downcast to trust in God. But what does it mean?In too many cases what people mean when they counsel trust is this: “Don’t worry, God will eventually give you what you’re looking for. Just keep praying and trust that He’ll come through for you.” What is meant by “coming through for you” is some answer on your terms; it’s as if...

Kim Davis seemed to put an end to Pope Francis fever. The controversial county clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky, has been drawing negative attention on social media since she came to the forefront of the news for denying same-sex couples marriage licenses guaranteed to them by the Fourteenth Amendment. Now the Pope is getting some of that same social media heat for meeting with the embattled clerk during his visit to the United States last week. The meeting was first disclosed by Davis' attorney and has since been confirmed by the Vatican. When reporters asked the pope about Davis on...

Vladimir Putin has received authorization to use Russian military power in defense of besieged Syrian President Bashir Assad. He has wasted no time, having launched a series of airstrikes against the terror group ISIS, but there are ominous reports that Putin has also attacked US backed rebel army elements as well. The situation is very confusing, but I think it would profit to try to make some sense of it, since it has extremely serious Geopolitical implications and most importantly it is of immense prophetic significance as well. How did the world arrive at this mess? The Syrian Civil War...

Answering a question about the Synod and annulment reform, Pontiff says the door to divorce is closed Those who fear that the Church is about to allow divorced Catholics to remarry can take heart by something Pope Francis said on his way back to Rome from the United States.The Pope’s words might also reassure those worried that his recent motu proprio Mitis Iudex reforming the annulment process will weaken the sanctity of the marriage bond.“Marriage is indissoluble when it is a sacrament. And this the Church cannot change. It’s doctrine. It’s an indissoluble sacrament,” the Pope told reporters during an...

September 29, 2015, Tuesday — Kim and Francis “For there is not any thing secret that shall not be made manifest, nor hidden, that shall not be known and come to light.” —Luke 8:17“Holy Father, you visited the Little Sisters of the Poor and we were told that you wanted to show your support for them and their case in the courts. And, Holy Father, do you also support those individuals, including government officials, who say they cannot in good conscience, their own personal conscience, abide by some laws or discharge their duties as government officials, for example in issuing...

Fr. Stephen Freeman 1 Comment In thinking through a theological question, I often engage in thought experiments. The Fathers might call it a form of theoria, but I won’t presume that word for myself. But what I do is to make a concerted effort to let go of unexamined assumptions. I look at a different set of assumptions and ask, “What if that were true?” The result many times yields a dead end. But knowledge of dead ends can be just as useful as other information. However, on occasion, the result is genuine insight, even a realization that the assumptions that have...

A petition of nearly 800,000 signatures from individuals and associations around the world including 202 prelates was presented to Pope Francis today, calling on the Holy Father to issue words of clarity on the Church's teaching on marriage and family. The “filial petition”, which has received 790,150 signatures since the appeal was launched in March, reflects concerns emanating from last year’s Extraordinary Synod. The appeal expresses concern about “widespread confusion” arising from the possibility that “a breach” had been opened within the Church at last year's meeting, one “that would accept adultery—by permitting divorced and then civilly remarried Catholics to...

Appeal comes in briefing paper sent to English bishops attending family synodGay Catholics have sent a briefing paper to the two English bishops attending the family synod next week, urging them to reject “harsh” language about homosexuality. The LGBT Catholics Briefing Paper resulted from a reflection day, sponsored by the LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council, held in June 2013. The briefing paper is addressed to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton and chairman of the bishops’ conference Committee for Marriage and Family Life, who will be at the synod which opens on Sunday....

Crack the Whip – How a child’s playground activity Speaks to our Times. Msgr. Charles Pope • September 29, 2015 • The following is a longer version of an article I wrote for the Blog of the USCCB earlier this month. Due to space requirements I had to shorten the article. Here is the full version. Many years ago I heard an analogy for what has happened in this country and how the sins unhealthy patterns of the elite, the powerful and the wealthy trickled down to the poor, but with far more disastrous effects.The analogy was the game of...