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2 Peter 1:12


Dear Readers,

May 2005

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) I pray that you receive a blessing from reading this newsletter. We are living in serious times. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled all around us, letting us know that the time is short. “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11) If you have not made seeking God your number one priority, if you have allowed the cares of this world to distract you, if your love for God and others is growing cold, I exhort you to dedicate, or rededicate, your life to God, for soon it will be forever too late. Very soon Jesus will say, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11)

In this Issue

Ex-Inquisition Leader Voted as New Pope

by Lynnford Beachy

Colorado Camp Meeting

Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

West Virginia Camp Meeting
Something for the Young at Heart Letters from our Readers

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

by George McDaniel

 

Ex-Inquisition Leader Voted as New Pope

by Lynnford Beachy

After 26 years in the papal seat, Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005 leaving a vacancy in the Vatican that has been filled, on April 19, by the 78-year-old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who chose to be called, Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger is the oldest pope chosen in 275 years and is viewed as a transitional Pope. For the past 24 years “Cardinal Ratzinger has been head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—formerly known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition.” (BBC News article:  “Profile: Pope Benedict XVI,” April 19, 2005) For anyone who knows even a little bit about Christian history, this should raise a red flag. The Inquisition has a very bad reputation for arresting, torturing and killing millions of innocent Christians during the Dark Ages. This office still exists, but now with a politically correct name, “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”

Commenting on the beginning of the Inquisition, the church historian Philip Schaff says, “The civil codes adopted and pronounced death as the heretic’s ‘merited reward,’… To extirpate religious dissent, the fierce tribunal of the Inquisition was established. The last measure to be resorted to was an organized crusade, waged under the banner of the pope, which shed the blood of the mediaeval dissenters without pity…” (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 6, Chapter 10, Section 79)

Commenting on the renamed office of the Inquisition the BBC states,

Cardinal Ratzinger ran the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This Vatican department, a descendant of the Holy Inquisition, protects Church orthodoxy. The job earned him unflattering nicknames such as “The Pope’s Enforcer” and “God’s Rottweiler”. He has a reputation for stifling dissent,… As a key aide to John Paul II he had a fearsome reputation, but those who know him say he is gentle and somewhat shy. (BBC News article:  “A Pope with uncompromising views,” April 20, 2005)

Ratzinger was a right-hand man to Pope John Paul II, having considerable influence upon the pope and the church. Pope John Paul II selected Ratzinger to be “President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to the Holy Father.” (Vatican document, “Biographical notes,” online at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/elezione/biografia_en.html)

There is some surprise that a key member of the Vatican bureaucracy has been elected pope. Many cardinals would like to see a less centralised Church, and a less powerful pope who guides rather than governs. They may have to wait a little longer. Pope Benedict XVI looks like a man who will not be afraid to exercise his powers. (Ibid.)

On Ratzinger’s election, CBS News reported,

No one was more feared as a chief enforcer of Vatican orthodoxy. “He has the most appalling reputation around the world as someone who has squashed theology, persecuted theologians—the chief of the thought police, the master of the inquisition,” says Catholic journalist and feminist writer Margaret Hebblethwaite. It was Ratzinger’s job as head of the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith—the old Office of the Inquisition—that led to him being labeled by some as “God’s Rottweiler.” He attacked dissent, banishing it from the Church’s mainstream, sometimes banishing it from the Church altogether.… During the U.S. presidential election [Ratzinger] said any pro-choice candidates on abortion should be denied communion—and so denied any chance at salvation. As a cardinal he took no prisoners. As pope, his unbending promotion of strict, orthodox doctrine now has the stamp of infallibility.  (CBS News article: “Concerns New Pope Is Hardliner,” April 19, 2005)

Pope Grayscale

Pope Benedict XVI's Inauguration (AP Photo)

Christian Wiesner, spokesman for the pro-reform Wir Sind Kirche, or We Are Church movement, said Ratzinger “has hurt many people and far overstepped his boundaries in Germany.” (USA Today article: “New pope was Vatican’s cardinal in charge of doctrinal crackdowns,” April 19, 2005)

Opus Dei backed Ratzinger

With such a reputation, how did Ratzinger get elected to be the next pope? Ratzinger’s election may have had something to do with the controversial and secretive papal organization called Opus Dei.

For the first time, two of the 115 voting cardinals— Julian Herranz of Spain and Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne of Peru—are members of Opus Dei, giving the group the ability to work inside the conclave. …recently, several Italian newspapers breathlessly reported that the two Opus Dei cardinals were throwing their support behind the candidacy of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German-born traditionalist who has served as chief enforcer of church doctrine for two decades. Opus Dei flourished during John Paul’s pontificate. In 1982, he took the unprecedented step of making Opus Dei a personal prelature of the church, answerable not to local bishops in the dioceses where it operated, but to the pope alone.… Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest and associate editor of his religious order’s magazine, America, says it is undeniable that Opus Dei has a stake in the election of the new pope. (Los Angeles Times article: “Controversial Opus Dei Has Stake in Papal Vote,” April 19, 2005)

Now that Ratzinger has been elected pope, he said “his ‘primary task’ would be to work to reunify all Christians and that sentiment alone was not enough. ‘Concrete acts that enter souls and move consciences are needed,’ he said. The new pope said he wanted to continue “an open and sincere dialogue” with other religions and would do everything in his power to improve the ecumenical cause.” (CBS News article: “Pope Benedict: A New Era Begins,” April 20, 2005)

I do not know what Ratzinger means by “Concrete acts that enter souls and move consciences,” but it certainly sounds like he is committed to exercising all his power to fulfil his “primary task” to “reunify all Christians.” This is certainly a big task to accomplish, considering that there are well over 2,000 different Christian denominations and sects today. Just prior to entering the conclave to elect a new pope, Ratzinger warned everyone of the dangers to the faith. The first on his list was sects, so his mission to reunify all Christians must include eliminating sects, bringing them all under one banner with the pope as the head.

After reading about Ratzinger’s strict defense of Catholic doctrine I was somewhat surprised to read his following statement:

Are Believers of Other Religions Saved?

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Responds

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5 (ZENIT.org).- “How is it possible to explain the unique character of Christ and of the Catholic Church to a Jew or a Lutheran,” a reporter asked Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, during a press conference to present the “Dominus Iesus” declaration, which is concerned, precisely, with the unique and universal salvation of Christ and the Church.

Referring to a believing Jew, Cardinal Ratzinger clarified that “we are in agreement that a Jew, and this is true for believers of other religions, does not need to know or acknowledge Christ as the Son of God in order to be saved, if there are insurmountable impediments, of which he is not blameworthy, to preclude it. However, the fact that the Son of God entered history, made himself part of history, and is present as a reality in history, affects everyone.” (Zenit news story, “Are Believers of Other Religions Saved?” Sept. 5, 2000)

This reply by Ratzinger stands in stark contrast to the historic Catholic position on those outside the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Eugene IV, 1441 (speaking ex cathedra)

“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives.” (Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441, Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, Vol. 1, p. 578; Denzinger 714)

Pope Pius XI, 1928:

“The Catholic Church is alone in keeping the true worship.  This is the fount of truth, this is the house of faith, this is the temple of God: if any man enter not here, or if any man go forth from it, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation.” (Mortalium Animos (# 11), Jan. 6, 1928, The Papal Encyclicals, Vol. 3 (1903-1939), p. 318)

Pope Eugene IV (speaking ex cathedra)

“Whoever wishes to be saved, needs above all to hold the Catholic faith; unless each one preserves this whole and inviolate, he will without a doubt perish in eternity.—But the Catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in the Trinity, and the Trinity in unity… Therefore let him who wishes to be saved, think thus concerning the Trinity.” (Council of Florence, Sess. 8, November 22, 1439)

As noted earlier, Ratzinger was selected by Pope John Paul II to be the “President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.” I went to the Vatican website and read portions of the Catechism. Notice what it says under the following heading:

“Outside the Church there is no salvation”

How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? (Cf. Cyprian, Ep. 73.21:PL 3,1169; De unit.:PL 4,509-536) Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

Note: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. (LG 14; cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5)

This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Note: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation. (LG 16; cf. DS 3866-3872) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, formulated under Ratzinger’s supervision as President, paragraphs 846, 847)

The Vatican II council, held from 1962-1965, opened the way for the Catholic Church to have a broader picture of Christianity, admitting that salvation can be found by those who are not members of the Catholic Church, including Jews, and  Ratzinger seems to have adopted these views as his own. Notice what Ratzinger’s Catholic Catechism says about the Church:

Who belongs to the Catholic Church?

“The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.” (LG 15) Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” (UR 3) With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.” (Paul VI, Discourse, December 14, 1975; cf. UR 13-18)

“Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways.” (LG 16)

Note: The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People, (Cf. NA 4) “the first to hear the Word of God.” (Roman Missal, Good Friday 13:General Intercessions,VI) The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews “belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ”, (Rom 9:4-5) “for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” (Rom 11:29)

And when one considers the future, God’s People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (LG 16; cf. NA 3)

The Church’s bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race: (Ibid., paragraphs 838-842)

The wording in the current Catechism is much more tolerant of other Christian and non-Christian religions than the official Catholic position 100 years ago. Are her principles changing or is it a ploy to gain power over other religions and unify them under one head, the pope? There is no doubt that Ratzinger wishes to unify all of Christianity. This is his “primary task,” as proclaimed by himself.

In Ratzinger’s first sermon as Pope Benedict XVI, he spoke of himself, saying that he “is disposed to do all in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism. In the wake of his predecessors, he is fully determined to cultivate any initiative that may seem appropriate to promote contact and agreement with representatives from the various Churches and ecclesial communities. Indeed, on this occasion too, he sends them his most cordial greetings in Christ, the one Lord of all.” (BBC News document, “Pope’s first sermon in full”)

In the new pope’s acceptance homily he said,

With great affection I also greet all those who have been reborn in the sacrament of Baptism but are not yet in full communion with us; and you, my brothers and sisters of the Jewish people, to whom we are joined by a great shared spiritual heritage, one rooted in God’s irrevocable promises. Finally, like a wave gathering force, my thoughts go out to all men and women of today, to believers and non-believers alike.…

Both the image of the shepherd and that of the fisherman issue an explicit call to unity. “I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must lead them too, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd” (Jn 10:16); these are the words of Jesus at the end of his discourse on the Good Shepherd.

And the account of the 153 large fish ends with the joyful statement: “although there were so many, the net was not torn” (Jn 21:11). Alas, beloved Lord, with sorrow we must now acknowledge that it has been torn! But no—we must not be sad! Let us rejoice because of your promise, which does not disappoint, and let us do all we can to pursue the path towards the unity you have promised. Let us remember it in our prayer to the Lord, as we plead with him: yes, Lord, remember your promise. Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity! (CNN article: “Text of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily,” April 24, 2005)

After Ratzinger’s acceptance speech, he made it his first priority to meet with leaders from other denominations. “After calling for unity in his inauguration address, the pope made meeting leaders of other faiths who attended his installation his first public duty Monday.” (CNN article, “Pope ‘prayed not to be elected,’” April 25, 2005)

For the first time “at least since the Reformation,” Britain’s Archbishop of Canterbury was to attend such an event, the Church of England’s Web site said. Rowan Williams will also lead “representatives from the Anglican delegation in Rome” in a brief audience with the pope Monday.

Benedict invited Rome’s chief rabbi, Riccardo Segni, but he could not attend because Sunday is the first day of Passover.

Since Tuesday, when he was elected pope, Benedict has made clear he would continue to reach out to leaders of other faiths, building on the inter-faith work of his predecessor. (CNN article: “Benedict XVI installed as pope,” April 24, 2005)

According to Bible prophecy, we will see some dramatic changes in the way Protestant churches cooperate with the Catholic Church and the United States to bring about the Mark of the Beast crisis. (For further information on this subject, please read the article, “National ID and the Mark of Beast,” in the March 2005 issue of Present Truth.) The events that take place in the next few years are going to be very interesting. Beware of the papal push for ecumenical cooperation. You can be sure that this alliance will be based on false doctrines, such as the Trinity and Sunday observance, which is celebrated in honor of the Trinity.

The role of the Papacy in the world

The papal seat is one of the most influential and powerful positions in the world. This position gives the pope authority, not only over the 1.1 billion Catholics but, as a head of state, he has a powerful voice among world leaders in every nation and religion, especially with his amazingly large following in almost every country of the world. For many years Protestants have closely monitored the the events surrounding the papacy, because its influence has far reaching effects, and for its prominent role in Bible prophecy. Historically, Protestants have labeled the Roman Catholic Church as the “little horn” power of Daniel 7, the “first beast” of Revelation 13 and the “great whore” of Revelation 17.

The name Protestant originated because those who were given that name protested the false doctrines and persecutions of the Catholic Church. Today, the Catholic Church has taken a more tolerant appearance, and many Protestants have stopped protesting. Catholic doctrines have not changed much, but their power has been limited since Napoleon’s general, Berthier, invaded the Vatican and took the pope hostage in 1798, who later died in captivity. Many have seen this as the “deadly wound” the “first beast” received in Revelation 13:3. This “deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3) on February 11, 1929 when Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the Vatican, granting her 110 acres to be know as Vatican City State. Once again, the Roman Catholic Church had civil power, but it was limited in comparison to what she had exercised during the Dark Ages. Her change of circumstances has forced the Vatican to refrain from openly using force to persecute Christians as she had done for so many years. This gives the Roman Catholic Church a more gentle appearance, even though inwardly she has not changed much.

Let’s notice some principles of the Inquisition, an office that has been run by Ratzinger for the last 24 years.

The following four quotes are cited from The American Textbook of Popery which, in turn, quotes from the Directory for the Inquisitors. (Page numbers listed are for the Directory.)

He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy teaches… A heretic merits the pains of fire… By the Gospel, the canons, civil law, and custom, heretics must be burned.—page 164

All defense is denied to heretics.—page 153

For the suspicion alone of heresy, purgation is demanded.—page 156

He who is without the church can neither be reconciled nor saved.—page 144

Notice the positions of other Catholic writers regarding the persecution of heretics:

Experience teaches that there is no other remedy for the evil, but to put heretics [Protestants] to death; for the [Romish] church proceeded gradually and tried every remedy: at first she merely excommunicated them; afterwards she added a fine; then she banished them; and finally she was constrained to put them to death. (Cardinal Bellarmine, famous champion of Romanism, cited by Schumucker, page 76)

By the famous bull ad exstirpanda, of 1252, [Pope] Innocent IV. authorized torture as a measure for extorting confessions. The merciless use of this weapon was one of the most atrocious features of the whole procedure. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 6, Chapter 10, Section 86)

Down to the very close of the Middle Ages, the pages of history were disfigured by the decrees of popes and synods, confirming death as the penalty for heresy, and for persons supposed to be possessed with witchcraft. The great council of Constance, 1415, did not get away from this atmosphere, and ordered heretics punished even by the flames, —puniantur ad ignem. And the bull of Leo X., 1520, condemning Luther, cursed as heresy the Reformer’s liberal statement that the burning of heretics is contrary to the will of the Spirit. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 6, Chapter 10, Section 86)

The stated position of the Catholic Church, as decreed by her popes, is that anyone who does not believe what the Roman Catholic Church teaches is a heretic and should be put to death. Whenever the Roman Catholic Church has had the power to carry out this policy, she has done so unmercifully.

Commenting on the prophecy that the little horn should “wear out the saints of the Most High,” Barnes says:

Can any one doubt that this is true of the papacy? The Inquisition, the persecutions of the Waldenses, the ravages of the Duke of Alva, the fires of Smithfield, the tortures of Goa,—indeed, the whole history of the papacy, may be appealed to in proof that this is applicable to that power. If anything could have worn out the saints of the Most High,— could have cut them off from the earth so that evangelical religion would have become extinct,—it would have been the persecutions of the papal power. In year 1208 a crusade was proclaimed by Pope Innocent III against the Waldenses and Albigenses, in which a million men perished. From the beginning of the order of Jesuits in the year 1540 to 1580, nine hundred thousand were destroyed. One hundred and fifty thousand perished by the Inquisition in thirty years. In the Low Countries fifty thousand persons were hanged, beheaded, burned, or buried alive, for the crime of heresy, within the space of thirty-eight years from the edict of Charles V against the Protestants to the peace of Chateau Cambresis in 1559. Eighteen thousand suffered by the hand of the executioner in the space of five years and a half, during the administration of the Duke of Alva. Indeed, the slightest acquaintance with the history of the papacy will convince any one that what is here said of making “war with the saints” (verse 21), and “wearing out the saints of the Most High” (verse 25), is strictly applicable to that power, and will accurately describe its history. (Albert Barnes, Notes on Daniel, page 328, comment on Daniel 7:25)

The Roman Catholic Church has not changed her attitude in regard to heretics. All that has changed is that she no longer has the civil power to enforce her policies. If she is given the power again, you can be sure she will exercise that power to its fullest extent.

The Roman church has never repented of her complicity with these unchristian acts. On the contrary, she still holds the principle of persecution in connection with her doctrine that there is no salvation outside of her bosom. The papal Syllabus of 1864 expressly condemns, among the errors of modern times, the doctrine of religious toleration. Leo XIII., a great admirer of the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Encyclical of Nov. 1, 1885, “concerning the Christian constitution of states,” wisely moderates, but reaffirms, in substance, the political principles of his predecessor. A revocation would be fatal to the Vatican dogma of papal infallibility. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 8, Chapter 1, Section 11)

So far as we know, the Roman Catholic Church has never officially revoked the theory and practice of the mediaeval popes and councils, but on the contrary the utterances of Pius IX. [pope from 1846-1878] and Leo XIII. [pope from 1878-1903] show the same spirit of vicious reprobation for Protestants and their agencies. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 6, Chapter 10, Section 86)

The Bible predicts that the Roman Catholic Church again will persecute God’s people, with the United States taking the lead in using the power of the state to “cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” (Revelation 13:15)

Keep your eyes open, and hold fast to the truth!

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Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

Question:

“John 9:39 says Jesus came to judge, but John 12:47 says He did not come to judge. Can you give me your explanation?”

Florida

Answer:

Let us read the verses. “Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” (John 9:39)

Jesus said He came to the earth “for judgment.” He did not say, in this verse, when this judgment would take place. Paul wrote, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:1) This judgment that Jesus came for does not occur until His second coming. His coming the first time has enabled Him to make a just and accurate judgment when that time comes. God “hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” (John 5:27) Jesus will be the judge. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22) So, truly, Jesus came into the world, to become the Son of man, “for judgment.” In other words, He came so that He would be able to judge justly and fairly. Jesus “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:25) Jesus knows what is in man because He became a man. “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” (Psalms 103:14)

Jesus is the most qualified to judge us, but this judgment did not take place while Jesus was here. That is why He said, “I came not to judge (Greek: krinw) the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:47) This should clear up any discrepancy. Also, it is worthy to note that the word translated here “judge,” can also be translated “condemn.” This translation agrees more with the context, and agrees with John 3:17, which uses the same word and says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn (Greek: krinw) the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

As you can see, there is no real discrepancy here. I hope this helps to answer your question.

?


Something for the Young at Heart

This month we are continuing a series of crossword Bible studies that are based on the “These Last Days” Bible Lessons. In order to maintain the flow of the study, this crossword puzzle is not split into Across and Down sections—Across or Down is indicated at the end of each line.

God’s Commandment Remains Unchanged

  • Of all the things God does ____ can be added or taken from it.  Ecclesiastes 3:14—6 Down

  • God still requires those things that are ____. Ecclesiastes 3:15—18 Across

  • God’s blessing will last ___ ___. 1 Chronicles 17:27 (2 words)—26 Across

  • Man cannot ____ God’s blessings. Numbers 23:20—7 Down

  • God blessed and ____ the Sabbath day. Exodus 20:11—19 Across

  • God made the worlds by His ____. Hebrews 1:2—17 Across

  • Everything that is in ____ and earth was made by Him. Colossians 1:16—3 Down

  • ____ things were made by Jesus. John 1:3—23 Down

  • ____ created all things by Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:9—10 Down

Note: God, the Father, created all things, but He performed this by, or through, Jesus Christ. Jesus was the agent God used to create all things. Please read 1 Corinthians 8:6.

  • The son of man is Lord of the ____. Matthew 12:8—27 Across

  • Jesus is the same ____, today and forever. Heb 13:8—14 Across

  • Jesus warned his disciples to pray that their ____ would not be on the Sabbath day. Matthew 24:20—2 Down

  • God rested on the ____ day from all His works. Hebrews 4:4—17 Down

  • Paul believed all things contained in the ____ and the prophets. Acts 24:14—29 Down

  • Paul went to the ____ on the Sabbath day. Acts 13:14—21 Down

  • The Gentiles wanted to hear these words ____ to them the next Sabbath. Acts 13:42—22 Down

  • Almost the whole ____ came together to hear the word of God the next Sabbath day. Acts 13:44—8 Down

  • In Philippi it was customary, on the Sabbath day, for ____ to be made by a river side. Acts 16:13—22 Across

  • Paul’s manner was to reason with people out of the ____ on the Sabbath. Acts 17:2—13 Down

  • Paul ____ in the synagogue every Sabbath. Acts 18:4—15 Down

  • Paul ____ all the counsel of God. Acts 20:27—20 Down

Note: Paul declared to them all the counsel of God. And he never mentioned anything about Sunday sacredness.

  • Out of your own selves men will arise speaking ____ things. Acts 20:30—25 Across

  • Paul called the ____ of the church. Acts 20:17—28 Across

  • After Paul departed he knew that ____ would enter into church. Acts 20:29—9 Across

  • Daniel was shown a power that would think to change times and ____. Daniel 7:25—1 Down

  • That day shall not come, except there be a ____ away first. 2 Thessalonians 2:3—4 Across

Note:  Carefully study 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. This man of sin who would cause the church to fall away would actually put himself in the place of God (verse 4). The mystery of iniquity was already at work in Paul’s day but was not allowed to fully develop as long as a certain other power was in existence (verse 7). Notice that this falling away would involve serious doctrinal deceptions (verses 9-12). The prophetic development of this apostasy is the subject of the next two lessons.

  • The leader of that falling away is called the man of sin and son of ____. 2 Thessalonians 2:3—16 Down

  • God desires all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the ____. 1 Timothy 2:4—11 Across

  • Men reject the commandments of God and keep their own ____. Mark 7:9—24 Across

  • God winked in times of ____, but now commands all to repent. Acts 17:30—5 Across

  • Make haste and delay not to keep God’s ____. Psalm 119:60—12 Down

     

Answers


Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

by George McDaniel

Autism

It’s becoming more widely known among students and practitioners of alternative medicine (sometimes referred to as integrative medicine) that brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism have a common cause. This cause is heavy metal poisoning or, more specifically, mercury poisoning. It is also becoming known that these conditions can be successfully treated. While the main focus of this article is autism, keep in mind that the information also applies to the other conditions.

Autism has been receiving more attention in the media today. The incidence of the disease is growing rapidly. For instance, the California Department of Developmental Services reported a 273% increase in cases from 1987 to 1998.

A physician named Dr. Amy Yasko has been treating autism for several years with a great deal of success. She has written a book, The Puzzle of Autism, in which she offers a comprehensive theory for the great increase in autism we are seeing today. Her explanation for the epidemic is twofold: genetics and environment.

First is the genetic factor. Dr. Yasko has found that 100% of autistic children have a defect in a biochemical process called methylation. (Methylation is the chemical process in which a methyl radical, CH3, is substituted for a hydrogen atom in a molecule.) It is one of the most important processes in the body. Part of its job is to help cells repair and divide. It also helps protect the cells from toxins. Nutrients involved in this process include such things as folate, vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and betaine, which serve as methyl donors. When the process doesn’t work properly, the cells’ ability to fight toxins is greatly hindered. So if toxins are kept to a minimum, most people with this defect will never experience any adverse effects.

It is estimated that 20% of the population has this defect in which the body is unable to produce the enzymes that carry on methylation. Nowhere near that number has a related brain disease yet. However, when the body is overloaded with toxins, then the trouble starts for a person with the defect. The body just can’t handle the overload the way it would if the defect weren’t present.

Autism was first described in 1943. Prior to 1970, the prevalence of autism was 1 in 2000. In 1970, it was one in 1000. In 1996 it was 1 in 500. By 2000, it was 1 in 150.

Since we are seeing a major increase in autism, there must be an increasingly active source of toxins coming from somewhere. Some suspected the food supply, especially considering the problems with processed food. If food were the cause, autism would be worldwide. However, it is largely confined to industrialized nations. It is also likely that many children would be born with autism, but this is not the case. Every case of autism comes on suddenly, either in infancy or early childhood. So there is another source of toxin affecting the child.

The only other known source of widespread toxin exposure for infants and young children is from vaccinations. One of the substances present in vaccines is thimerosal, a mercury containing compound used as a preservative. Thimerosal was first used in vaccines in the early 1930s.

Stephanie Cave, MD, a family practice physician in Louisiana, states: “I believe the introduction of the Hepatitus B vaccine in 1991 has sparked this recent epidemic because of the thimerosal. When added to the mercury impacted through the DTP and HIB vaccines the exposure to mercury exceeds the EPA safe limits for the metal considering a bolus dose on a single day. The EPA safe limits are usually related to ingested mercury, which is partly cleared by the liver. Injecting boluses of mercury presents another scenario. The two-month dose of mercury is at least 30 times higher than the recommended daily maximum exposure as set by the EPA.

“During the 1990s infants received 12.5 mcg. of mercury at birth followed by 12.5 mcg. at one month, 50 mcg. at 2 months, 50 mcg. at 4 months, 62.5 mcg. at 6 months, and 50 mcg. at 15-18 months. The total of 237.5 mcg. for a child, who at best weighs 22 pounds, far exceeds the safety limits if you consider bolus doses. In establishing normal safety levels, if there is indeed such a thing for a metal as toxic as mercury, bolus injections were not considered. If the nurse giving the injection did not shake the vial according to directions before drawing out the dose, there is a chance the child receiving the last dose could get as much as 10 times the usual amount in one dose.”

This amount of toxic mercury is given to children at an age when the liver and blood-brain barrier are not fully developed and the child’s body is not able to defend itself against this assault. Add to this the fact that 20% of people are genetically deficient in detoxifying enzymes, it is not hard to see why some children develop autism while other children do not. Also, in children with the defect, the poison destroys the function of remaining methylation pathways and so begins the vicious cycle of brain, intestinal and immune damage.

This process, which occurs rapidly in some children, can also occur more slowly in people over the course of their lives. Such diseases as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are a result of long-term exposure to toxic metals. Mercury can cause many known neurological diseases. It has been observed that adults getting the flu vaccine every year for five years had a substantially increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s, in particular, is closely related to mercury. A few atoms of mercury have been shown to turn a healthy neuron in a lab dish into a disordered tangle of fibers identical to the pathology of Alzheimer’s.

A physician named Rashid Buttar, MD had a son who at 16 months of age quickly slipped into a “developmental” disorder that was called a moderate case of autism. His son lost his 15-word vocabulary and degenerated into an autistic syndrome. Dr. Buttar is highly skilled in heavy metal poisoning. (Dr. Buttar was at first unaware that his ex-wife had taken the boy for vaccinations.) Even though his son tested negative for mercury at first, he continued to pursue the mercury connection.

Through the process, he developed a system for delivering DMPS through the skin. (DMPS is one of the best mercury-chelating agents. It is far more effective than the more well-known EDTA.) Called TD-DMPS (for transdermal) Dr. Buttar believes its effectiveness is related to the continuous low-dose absorption through the skin.

Within eight months, his son was regaining his speech. At 42 months he had a 500-word vocabulary. By age five, he had fully recovered and became the youngest person to testify before Congress (about autism)!

Another doctor, Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, has seen some amazing results using TD-DMPS. Dr. Klinghardt introduced the German-manufactured DMPS research into the integrative medical community in the USA 15 years ago. His protocol for autism is simple. He first removes allergens and toxic foods (for example, gluten, dairy foods and processed foods). Then he adds sublingual B12 and folate (to restore methylation), and RNA products by Dr. Yaska (to restore cellular metabolism). He also adds TD-DMPS to get rid of the mercury. He reports success in 100% of the children he has treated.

Dr. Klinghardt tells of German studies that tracked radioactively tagged DMPS injected just below the skin. The skin is rich in nerves, which transport the DMPS backward into the spinal cord and into the brain. The nerves have proven to be a good way to bypass the blood-brain barrier and remove toxic metals buried deep in the brain.

The best part of the story is that the same mechanism may work to treat many degenerative diseases of the brain, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. All are connected with heavy metals. It has even been shown that damaged neurons in the brain can be repaired or replaced by stem cells that the body can make on its own if it is given the proper nutrients. There are researchers now focusing on autologous stem cells rather than umbilical cord blood stem cells. We are living in exciting times in more ways than one.

A final word of advice: In addition to avoiding refined and processed foods and following a more natural lifestyle, avoid vaccinations. Virtually all are filled with toxic metals and other preservatives, not to mention the main content of the vaccine, a harmful microorganism. In addition, most also contain unknown viruses and proteins from the culture medium. It is far easier to treat your flu than your dementia, or your child’s autism.

?

(George McDaniel is my father-in-law, and has been a registered nurse for many years, which, along with much research, has taught him many useful health principles.    Editor)


Colorado Camp Meeting

There will be a camp meeting in Crawford, Colorado, August 31st thru September 4th, 2005. We are also having revival meetings in a nearby town the 1st thru the 3rd, that everyone is welcome to attend. If there is any interest we will also be having a field trip and picnic to a Marble Quarry the 5th. The speakers are: Brother Lynnford Beachy from West Virginia, Brother Howard Williams from Jamaica, Brother Ken Corklin from Pennsylvania, Brother David Sims from California, Brothers Richard Stratton and Thomas Akens from Colorado. If you would like more information please call Rebecca Clifford at 970-921-3862 or email her at: girl4god13@tds.net.


WV Camp Meeting June 21-25, 2005

After attending the Jamaican camp meeting, I am looking forward to the West Virginia camp meeting more than ever before. The theme, “Sharing our Experience,” is very appropriate considering the nearness of the Lord’s returning. Some highlights we are looking forward to are:

Lynnford Beachy will give a series of gospel  presentations. Randy and Dee Dee Herrman will be sharing health messages each night.

Vlad Ardeias will be coming from Romania to share his testimony and witnessing experiences. Although not confirmed due to visa requirements, we are in prayer that Pastor Maurice from the Hope for Children Center in Kenya, Africa, will be at the camp meeting to bring us an up-to-date report of the progress of the orphanage there and the work of spreading the gospel there. We are also in hope that Pastor Paul Agyeman from Ghana will be here.

Pastor David Clayton from Restoration Ministries will be the special late morning speaker. We are also planning to have a communion service so please do not leave any spiritual preparations undone. Brother Howard Williams of Restoration Ministries will lead out in the communion service.

Sister Onycha Holt from Smyrna, a social worker employed in counseling and a serious Bible student, will be speaking each day on family life issues. Her plan is to emphasize the roles God has given to the husband/father, wife/mother, and children of the home as outlined in the Bible. Sister Holt will, as time allows, offer counseling to those who are interested.

A new feature this year will be a seminar on the Godhead that will include a presentation followed by questions, and a group discussion on the topic of the day. David Clayton, Howard Williams, and Lynnford Beachy will be working together as a panel to answer questions and to moderate the discussion.

As always, we eagerly look forward to this special time of study, prayer, and fellowship. As in the past, the meetings will be held at Smyrna and camping is free to all. Each camper will be responsible for his or her own meals, except on Sabbath when a haystack lunch will be served. Kitchen facilities will not be available, but camp stoves are welcome in the camping area.

This is a camp meeting. You need to bring a tent or make other arrangements. We do not have cabins or rooms available. Smyrna has a few tents and other camping supplies for those who do not have their own and cannot afford to purchase them. The supply is limited, so if you need to use a tent, camp stove, sleeping bag, or other items, please request early. We have four showers with hot and cold water available and a new walkway around them that has greatly improved their entrance. Don’t forget items such as tents, bedding, flashlights, food, toiletries, and insect repellent. Let our dress and deportment be such as becomes Christians.

We plan to have some meetings for all age groups except children under age four. To help the mothers with children who need a place to go when their children are fussing or when they just need a relaxing place, we will be sending a live video stream into the fellowship hall, dedicating it as a mother’s-room area. Weather permitting, nightly bonfires with singing and fellowship will be open to the young and young at heart.

For those who wish, there are motels in the area. The nearest motels are: The Pocahontas Motel (304) 436-2250, Woody’s Motel (304) 732-6540, The Cow Shed (304) 732-7000, Twin Falls State Park Resort (304) 294-4000. If you need a room, please call early as the better motels fill up fast at that time due to a large influx of tourists at that time.

After reading this announcement, don’t you think this will be the best West Virginia Camp Meeting ever?  Brothers and Sisters, don’t let man, beast, or any other creature keep you from being there! Click here for maps and directions.

Allen Stump


Letters from our Readers

“Your article on ‘The Real Passion of Christ,’ [April 2004] made me understand the true gift, and the real pain of my sins. I saw the sovereignty of God Almighty, and my heart cried to Him because I see and understand in my heart that my sins tore Christ’s heart apart. And to ever come before the Father and Son at the Great White Throne Judgment, that terror I felt deeply; far more than the life sentence I have now.”

Michigan

“Christian greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.… I received the parcel you sent to me and I am so grateful for you in revealing this present truth.

“I first heard the truth about God from some guests who visited Kenya from Germany and I wanted to search for more truths about these topics. For more than 20 years I have been an Adventist, 10 years I have been a layman, but I have always had problems with the Trinity. It was not until those preachers came from Germany that I learned what I wanted to learn for many years. Now I have a challenge. The few materials you sent to me are being taken away by my friends who really want to know about the same.

“I would therefore  kindly request you if its possible for you to send me more material so that I can distribute to my friends and others so that they may know the truth about the God of the Bible and the Trinity.”

Kenya

“Thank you for the literature you sent. It is always a delight to read your literature, which is in agreement with God’s Word and the discernment of the Holy Spirit of God in me.”

Florida

“I just finished the book you sent me, God’s Love on Trial. It was very enlightening to say the least.… I trust your advice, as every time I pray to the Lord about something I don’t understand I get a book from you with the answers to what I prayed about.”

Texas

(Praise the Lord for His leading. I would like to caution everyone to be very careful not to accept anything just because a particular man, including myself, says it is true. We need to be like the Bereans who “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)    Editor)

“Could I please start receiving the women’s newsletter, Hearth to Hearth? We are already receiving the Present Truth.”

Ohio

“Please do not send any more of these magazines.”

West Virginia

“I have really gotten a lot out of the booklet, God’s Love on Trial, which you gave me when you were here at Emerald Coast Ministries, Inc. I’m very guilty of saying that I believe in the Holy Trinity without even knowing what it means! I always thought it meant that Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Ghost were one, and the idea of that was just part of what God meant when He said His understanding was much higher than ours! No questions—just accepting what I’ve heard all my life.…

“My new concept of the Holy Spirit will be one of the greatest blessings I think I have ever gotten! I, just like Chaplain Van Ord, wish you could come be with us more than once a year. I’ve learned a lot here. Chaplain Van Ord is always asking, ‘How many people have to believe a truth for it to be true?’ The answer is, of course, zero. You made a very good point in the other direction twice in your book. No matter how many people believe a lie—it doesn’t become true!

“Thank you for coming, and even more for your book. I will keep and cherish it. May the Lord bless you and your wonderful family.”

Florida

“I receive your publication Present Truth on a regular basis. Much of it is quite interesting and informative. I find parts of it to be somewhat contradictory at times. The purpose of this email is mainly to ask that you change my mailing address so that I can continue to receive your paper. Kindly change the mailing address immediately, so that I do not miss any of the issues.”

Canada

“I have read your book, God’s Love on Trial, and it was right on! I showed it to another man here and he went into a tirade, accusing me of belonging to a cult and said I was the antichrist. He’s obviously a Trinitarian who is so under Satan’s spell he hears but does not hear and sees but does not see.  He insists that the Holy Spirit is a ‘person.’ However, he cannot show me this in the Bible aside from the ‘He’ reference to the Holy Spirit. I praise God that His Spirit is in me and enables me to see the truth. Thank you for your publications and the time you take to bring edification to God’s elect.”

Florida

 


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Editor: Lynnford Beachy, PO Box 315, Kansas, OK 74347, USA. Phone: (304) 633-5411, E-mail: webnewsletters@presenttruth.info.

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