Time magazine February 24, 1992 in its cover story, "The Holy Alliance," demonstrated how closely the United States and the Vatican worked together in order to engineer the demise of communism in Eastern Europe. Of course communism was an evil political system. Nevertheless, citizens of those nations were encouraged to act as intelligence agents for the Vatican /United States covert operations. President Ronald Reagan appeared to be oblivious to the fact that the same system of laymen, priests, bishops, archbishops, and cardinals is to be found in the United States. While many of these Roman Catholics are no doubt fiercely loyal to their homeland, many also possess an understandable primary loyalty to their faith and readily comply with the desires of the Vatican.

"Baptist open to Ties With Catholics," proclaimed a headline in The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, June 17, 1994. The reference was to the Southern Baptist Church, America’s largest Protestant church. The International Herald-Tribune, June 27, 1998, headlined, "Catholics and Lutherans Settle a Historic Doctrinal Dispute." Since the doctrine under discussion was that which fired the Reformation—Justification by Faith—it would seem thta Rome is making giant strides towards subduing the opposition of Protestants to its unscriptural faith.

Such success has opened the pathway to the Christian Coalition in the Unitited States where conservative Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants have united to promote this political agendas, thus preparing the United States to use political and judicial power to enforce Rome’s eccliastical will.

The Protestant Moral Majority in the United States and its alliance with Roman Catholic conservatives may appear to be a wise conjunction of forces, designed to promote a political agenda aimed at raising the moral standards of the nation. But it is a union bound to fulfill the role of the United States prophesied in Revelation 13:11-18. Its claim that desirable matters such as the equal rights of Afro-Americans were obtained by legislative and judicial means and enforcements, therefore spiritual values may be similarly uplifted in society, may appear persuasive to some who have not studied the history of the use of the state to enforce religious convictions. However, such moves can only result in persecution of dedicated believers of different convictions. It is a pathway to disaster.

The Pope aims to control the world, especially focusing on the United States. In this he fulfils Bible prophecy. He seeks to utilize the Virgin Mary as his vehicle, even though she is dead (see the book, The Mystery of Death, by the same authors, Hartland Publications, 800-774-3566).

"The Holy Father longs to visit the United States one more time.…" Monsignor Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Pope’s private secretary and longtime friend and collaborator, says behind John Paul II’s longing to see America again is his wish to honor the Blessed Virgin, to urge Americans to turn to her and to dramatically and symbolically link the great Western democracy more closely to her. "I have no doubt he would go," said Dziwisz in a conversation with Inside the Vatican, "if his pilgrimage could be related to some Marian occasion…." It’s apparent the Vatican, aware also of the grave moral and spiritual crisis America is facing, is groping for a way to reach America, through Mary, for the Gospel.…Much has been made of the need to consecrate Russia to Mary’s immaculate heart. But the need to consecrate America to Mary is now just as great—perhaps greater. (Inside the Vatican, Roman Catholic Periodical, Editorial May, 1997).

The Pope’s proclamation, released on November 29, 1998, in respect of the year 2000, is yet a further effort to expand his influence to the United States and worldwide.

In a papal bull (the highest level of Papal communication) entitled "Incarnationis Mysterium" [Mystery of the Incarnation], Pope John Paul II proclaimed 2000 a Holy Year, and issued edicts that serve as a practical guide to spiritual salvation during the Jubilee. The Pope announced in the document Friday that throughout the millennium celebration, penitents who do a charitable deed or give up cigarettes or alcohol for a day can earn an "indulgence" that will eliminate time in purgatory. (International Herald-Tribune, Nov. 29, 1998)

The doctrines of the practice of issuing indulgences and purgatory were major unscriptural doctrines which largely contributed to the great schism in Christianity in the sixteenth century. But the Pope has been testing the waters during 1998 and has found them very friendly. In the current ecumenical climate, a climate conducive to the benefit of the Roman Catholic Church and no other, he believes that at the commencement of the twenty-first century, these doctrines, formerly so abhorrent to Protestants, will draw them near in their pathway back to Rome.

But by broadening the ways believers can earn an indulgence beyond traditional Catholic rituals [such as attending mass, performing the stations of the cross, and saying the Rosary], the Pope is also trying to imbue indulgences with some of the ecumenical spirit he wants to lend the celebrations (Ibid. - emphasis supplied).

In this aim he will only succeed if Protestants so permit. The prophecies of Revelation Chapter 13 are fulfilling before our very eyes. It is surely time for Christians of all faiths to be alert lest they be deceived, to their eternal peril.

Protestants should realize the Pope stated in his Bull that,

Participation in the Eucharist [the Mass], which is required for all indulgences, should properly take place on the same day as the prescribed works are performed. (Papal Bull Incarnationis Mysterium, issued November 29, 1998.)

Many Protestant martyrs died rather than partake of the blasphemy of the Mass. The Roman Catholic Church makes a number of unscriptural claims concerning the Mass.

1. It is equally valuable as the cross of Christ.

2. That the priest can create his Creator.

3. That even if Christ had not come to the earth the participation in the Mass would have been sufficient.

Read carefully the following quotations from approved Roman Catholic books on the subject. These passages appear also in Chapter 7, but we repeat them in order to emphasize their significance.

The Eucharistic sacrifice [the Mass] is to be considered in so far as in it Jesus Christ offers Himself, that is, He is not only the sacrificial gift, but also the most eminent sacrificer. In this respect the Sacrifice of the Mass is not inferior in value to that of the Cross: both are equally infinite, equally beyond all estimation and equally valuable….The object offered on the altar…is Christ Himself, His Body and Blood, His holy Humanity (Dr. Nicolas Gihr, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, first published in German in 1877, English edition 1939, B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis, p. 135 – this book bore the official imprimatur of Archbishop Gleeson of St. Louis – emphasis added.)

If the person of the Redeemer had not yet been in the world, the priest by pronouncing the words of consecration, would produce this great person of a Man-God. "O wonderful dignity of the priests," cries out St. Augustine, "in their hands, as in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, the Son of God becomes incarnate." Hence the priests are called the parents of Jesus Christ….The priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator. "He that created me without me, is Himself created by me!" (Alphonsus de Liguori, Dignity and Duties of the Priest, Benziger Brothers Publishers, New York, 1888, pp. 32, 33).

Well may we see why Scripture declares,

And there was given unto him [the first beast of Revelation 13] a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies (Revelation 13:5).

No true Christian will deign to accept the Pope’s indulgences, an indulgence God has never permitted him to offer. That is a usurpation of God’s authority.

God has set out a salient fact — the majority will not be saved. This fact applies even when we confine our vision to Christians or to any one of the Christian sects. Let us remind ourselves of the indisputable words of Scripture.

The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness (Isaiah 10:21,22).

This Old Testament prophecy was quoted by the apostle Paul and applied to the last days.

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth (Romans 9: 27,28).

Paul goes further and again quotes Isaiah who prophesied,

Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:9).

Paul’s words were,

And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha (Romans 9:29).

The seed to which Paul refers is the "very small remnant."

It is this remnant of which Zephaniah prophesied of their character,

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid (Zephaniah 3:13).

While the Scripture speaks of much religious zeal in the end times in which we live, most of this will be unassociated with the character possessed by the remnant. Rather will most citizens be filled with the spirit of devils.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1).

The religious will have experienced no real conversion but rather a facade or form of godliness only.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Paul also wrote to Timothy describing an appalling spiritual declension amongst those who are churchgoers.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:3,4).

Such will no doubt go through the motions of religious observance when the prophesied dire natural disasters strike (Matthew 24:7) and even non-professors will comply with such requirements when severe penalties are imposed for noncompliance.

But Satan will not pour out his wrath upon those who are merely nominal in their Christian faith or who serve Him for matters of expediency or self-serving motives. Only those who, in God’s grace and power, possess characters fitted for heaven and thus obey all His commandments including the Sabbath commandment, will feel the full fury of Satan implemented by those claiming to be doing the bidding of God. Then will be fulfilled Christ’s prophecy:

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service (John 16:2).

Those receiving this wrath have been well described as the remnant.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war against the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12: 17).

But the remnant will accept Christ’s certain promise:

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

You can find all this book and many more at

HARTLAND PUBLICATIONS

PO Box 1

Rapidan, VA 22733-0001

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