POPE: SATAN WILL BE VANQUISHED BUT THE FIGHT IS LONG AND HARD (Pope invokes the Apocalypse!)

AGI Online ^

[Rutles4Ever]

(AGI) - Vatican City, 12 Jan - The Pope commented today on the Apocalypse before the 7,000 people attending the General Papal Audience today in the Nervi Hall, indicating that the fight between good and evil, personified by Satan, is a very hard one, as shown by the manifold violence and injustice in the world today, however the outcome is certain, evil will be vanquished. Pope John Paul II explained, "God and the Lamb, Christ, surrounded by the 'Council of the Crown', are judging human history in good and evil, but showing us however the ultimate end in salvation and glory. The songs which are found in the Apocalypse and which serve to illustrate the issue of divine glory which regulates the flux, often disconcerting, of the tide of human events". Of great significance is the first part of the hymn intoned by the 24 ancients who seem to incarnate the chosen people in their two historic stages, the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of the Church. The Pope continued, Satan, the original adversary, who accused our brothers in the heavenly court, has now been cast down from heaven and therefore no longer has great power. He knows he has not much time left because history is about to see a radical turning point in freedom from evil and therefore he is reacting full of great fury. And then the resurrected Christ will rise up, whose blood is the principle of salvation and who received from the Father royal power over the entire universe, in Him are centred salvation, strength and the kingdom of our God. In his victory are associated the Christian martyrs who chose the path of the cross, not yielding to evil and it virulence, but delivering themselves to the Father and uniting themselves to the death of Christ by means of a testimony of donation and courage which brought them to give up life in order to die". He concluded, "the words of the Apocalypse regarding those who have vanquished Satan and evil through the blood of the Lamb, echo also in the splendid prayer attributed to the Christian martyr Simeon, from Seleucia-Ctesifonte in Persia, 'I will receive life without pain, worry, anguish, persecutor, persecuted, oppressor, oppressed, tyrant or victim, there I will see no threat of king, or terror of prefects, no-one will quote me in court or terrorise me and no-one will drag me or scare me". (AGI) . 121425 GEN 05

[Rutles4Ever]

He knows he has not much time left because history is about to see a radical turning point in freedom from evil and therefore he is reacting full of great fury. And then the resurrected Christ will rise...

This is an extraordinary theological statement made by the Pope. I don't recall the Pope ever invoking the Apocalypse so directly and with such detail.

As a Catholic, I can tell you that the Pope doesn't just opine on the Apocalypse to general audiences. I'm legitimately stunned - I don't go in for "end times" prognostications, but this is completely different. This reads like an encyclical, and we had all better sit up and take notice...

[Bluegrass Conservative]

I don't recall the Pope ever invoking the Apocalypse so directly and with such detail.

Possibly just an old man spouting off about "dem dang yung-uns"?

[NYer]

Zenit News Agency's reporting is more detailed.

Date: 2005-01-12

In Christ, Good Overcomes Evil Definitively, Says Pope

Reflects on a Canticle From the Book of Revelation

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 12, 2005 (Zenit.org).- God, who entered history in Christ, guarantees the definitive victory of good over evil, says John Paul II.

At today's general audience, the Pope reflected on the "judgment of God" canticle taken from the Book of Revelation, 11:17; 12:10,12, as he continued his series of meditations on the Psalms and hymns that form part of the Liturgy of Vespers, the Evening Prayer of the Church.

In the canticle appear God and the Lamb, namely Christ, "judging human history according to good and evil, also showing the ultimate goal of salvation and glory," the Holy Father told the crowd gathered in Paul VI Hall.

God's entrance in history "is not only to block the violent reactions of rebels but above all to exalt and recompense the just," he said. "The latter are described with a series of terms used to delineate the spiritual countenance of Christians.

"They are 'servants' who adhere to the divine law with fidelity; they are 'prophets,' gifted with the revealed Word which interprets and judges history; they are 'saints,' consecrated to God and respectful of his name, namely, ready to worship him and to follow his will."

The Pope continued: "Among them are the 'small and great,' an expression dear to the author of the Book of Revelation to designate the people of God in its unity and variety."

The Psalm then refers to the defeat of Satan, who, having been "cast out" from heaven, "no longer has great power."

"He knows that he has but a short time, because history is about to undergo a radical change of liberation from evil and that is why he reacts in great fury," John Paul II explained.

"On the other side appears the risen Christ, whose blood is principle of salvation," he continued. "To his victory are associated the Christian martyrs who chose the way of the cross, not yielding to evil and its virulence, but commending themselves to the Father and uniting themselves to the death of Christ through a testimony of surrender and courage that led them to love not their lives even unto death."

In this connection, the Holy Father concluded his meditation by quoting a moving prayer attributed to Simeon, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, in Persia, as he faced martyrdom in 341.

"I want to persevere heroically in my vocation, fulfill with fortitude the task that was assigned to me, and be an example to all your people," the Pope quoted the martyr as saying.

The quote continued: "I shall receive life that knows not pain, or concern, or anguish, or persecutor, or persecuted, or oppressor, or oppressed, or tyrant, or victim; there I shall no longer see the king's menace, nor the terror of prefects; no one who takes me to court and continues to terrify me, no one who drags me or frightens me.

"The wounds of my feet will heal in you, O way of all pilgrims; the exhaustion of my members will find rest in you, Christ, chrism of our unction. In you, chalice of salvation, sadness will vanish from my heart; in you, our consolation and joy, the tears of my eyes will be wiped away."

John Paul II appeared in good form before his audience, which numbered slightly less than usual, as the winter months see fewer visitors in Rome.

When greeting the pilgrims, especially the Poles, the Pope demonstrated his sense of humor, improvising messages with them in his mother tongue.

Translations of John Paul II's other meditations on the Psalms and biblical canticles are posted in the Wednesday's Audience section of ZENIT's Web page.

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[daybreakcoming]

Definitely caught my attention.

[OldFriend]

I'd rather hear some thanks for doing the hard work to free people from brutal tyranny.

This Pope of all people, should understand the importance of America standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

[aroostook war]

Interesting post.

[uncbob]

When the Pope warns of the danger to the Christian world of the Sword Of Islam that is rising then I will listen until then he is out of touch with reality

[Socratic]

This is an extraordinary theological statement made by the "Pope."

Especially since it can not be too much longer before the investiture of a new Pope. I am not a Catholic, but I also find these statments to be extrordinary. The world will be greatly shaped by the new papal authority.

[ishabibble]

As I read both these reports of the Holy Father's words, I thought that was exactly what he was doing. Warning the Christians of this world to the dangers we face.

In the Roman Catholic Church, we are fighting to keep our true faith from being corrupted by the homosexual manifesto that seeks to overtake it. Pope John Paul II warned the American Catholic Church many years before the homosexual/pedophile scandals to clean out the sickness and return to the tenets of the faith. They didn't, and now it would seem that the ACC is all but irrelevant in anything they do.

The world sees a sick old man. I think that Pope John Paul II is the mightiest of allies for the American way of life.
Once a freedom fighter and always a freedom fighter!

[killjoy]

Possibly just an old man spouting off about "dem dang yung-uns"?

LOL! Maybe he is a closet Freeper... LOL!

[bearsgirl90]

Possibly just an old man spouting off about "dem dang yung-uns"?

Spoken like a "true Kentuckian"!!

[LouD]

I'd rather hear some thanks for doing the hard work to free people from brutal tyranny.

He's done his share against brutal tyranny as well.

[weenie]

...danger to the Christian world of the Sword Of Islam that is rising...

Throughout the world, there is an eerie silence regarding the threat of Islam. No world leader is sounding the alarm?

Where is Churchill when we need him?

[STARWISE]

That the Pope would voice this issue so directly is stunning, indeed. I don't believe he would ever publicly denounce any group ... it wouldn't be protocol in his position. I'm definitely concerned. That he would voice these things publicly is truly profound. I'd like to know Peggy Noonan's opinion of this. She has a great insight into Pope John.

[sneakers]

Catholic bump!

[OldFriend]

Exactly, which is why I don't understand his criticism of our efforts to free the Iraqi's and preserve Israel's tiny piece of the earth.

[Brig_Gen_George_P_Harrison_CSA]

John Paul II has commented in the past, in less public venues, that he is very worried about the rise of the Antichrist. It's hard to tell exactly what his fears are based on, seeing that he hasn't provided any writings devoted to the subject, but I do not think it is the doddering of an old man.

With regard to John Paul's attitude towards secular states, I am pleased that he has chosen to make his loyalty to Jesus Christ. I'm a Protestant, but I have come to have a great deal of respect for his convictions.

[Jaded]

As I understood it, the objection was not removing Hussein, but the cost in lives to do so. The bigger picture as it were. People have forgotten what the cost of war is, what the cost of freedom is. Freedom is always paid for in blood, blood of warriors, blood of innocents and blood of the oppressors. His position was to avoid that cost and have a 'peaceful' resolution, not supporting Hussein.

[Just Dan]

self ping

[Explorer89]

Brrrrrr, this gives me a chill.