Ignorance & carelessness – preparatory work for the mark?

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The less knowledge people have about a particular topic and the more carefree they are about what they already know, the easier it is to gain their willingness to accept new “rules.” The mass in the Church of Rome is the center of attention, but belief in this ritual is not necessarily present. Spiritual preparation for the self-acceptance of the mark?

The Church’s self-understanding

What the Roman Catholic Mass, the Eucharist, is all about is undisputed in this Church. The true transformation of the wafer into the flesh of Christ after his killing, which is carried out again by the priest at every Mass. In this ritual, Jesus is dragged down from heaven to the altar by the priest, who is more powerful than any cherub, in order to be sacrificed again in all humility in obedience to the clergy. Sounds unbelievable? But it is defined by the Church of Rome in such a way – here.

Such hocus-pocus requires “enormous faith”. Not only the belief that the cannibalistic act was a ritual legitimized by the Gospel, but also the constantly repeated killing of Jesus, although with His crucifixion He offered a one-time and everlasting blood sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27). The death of Jesus Christ, according to the belief system of the Roman Church, made the priesthood and the church as the body of Christ possible. The resurrection of Jesus Christ only appears to be an obstacle here.

One reason for the preference for depicting Jesus Christ dead on the cross (more information about Corpus Christi and the Eucharist – here).

Mass remains the center

The so-called “Holy Mass” with the constant renewed sacrifice of Jesus Christ naturally occupies the central position in this church. In its self-perception, man can only experience salvation if he turns exclusively to the Roman Catholic Church in search of Jesus Christ.

This institution sees itself as a sacrament. If the requests passed on by the priests are not heard, Mary is still available. The “special saint” chosen by the church as “Mother of God, our dear Lady and Queen of Heaven”. Requests can also be addressed to her in prayer, according to Catholic dogma. Mary, the “sweetly suffering merciful one”, will take pity and present this to the (hot-tempered) son Jesus. He could not refuse his mother’s request.

This also requires an enormous amount of ideological belief, because such constellations do not exist in the Bible. However, anyone who looks at the ancient Egyptian writings of the “Book of the Dead” and examines the backgrounds of Osiris, Isis and Horus will come across one or two parallels. (katholische Maria – Isis – Info).

A slightly looser approach

As important as the Mass is as an absolute prerequisite for personal salvation and is declared a must for every believing Catholic, this topic is now being approached in a noticeably lax manner. The Mass is seen as a “pretty accessory” for a superficial faith. The Mass remains the center of the liturgy, but the faith behind it no longer seems to be so important.

The Jesuit magazine “America – The Jesuit Review” published the view of a Catholic who believes in God only “30% of the day” and still attends Mass. Attendance is merely a way to escape “age-segregated bubbles” and helps to feel accountable to something other than one’s own conscience.

At this point, one wonders why such an attitude toward the Catholic faith is being exposed to the public as an example in a magazine such as “America.” A follow-up article published the reactions of various readers and the comments made are quite mixed. (Source).

Relatively relaxed views

Readers have shown interest and shared their views on a relatively relaxed approach to church and everyday life:

“You are not alone. I too am an atheist/agnostic who is religious”,
“well, someone can attend a service sincerely even if they aren’t clear or convinced about what is happening”,
“in the Catholic churches I’ve attended over the years, folks make a beeline for the parking lot as fast as they can. I have yet to attend a Catholic church that holds a coffee hour in the parish hall after Mass—at any one of their Masses.”,
“and smart, gifted, inquisitive young people like yourself are looking for those powerful synaptic connections such readings can provide to explain themselves, the world and their place in it”

Any deep theological statements? None. It is basically about the worldly, the coexistence within society, only with a spiritual veneer that has been given the label of Catholicism. The mass is simply part of that.

Because you don’t know any better

Participating in a ritual without the necessary faith, let alone knowledge of the background and context, is actually typically Roman Catholic. If Catholics actually knew which religious institution they were in and in which passages of the Gospel this Roman institution was described, the pews in the churches would be completely empty. Many a priest would also seek his personal salvation by fleeing immediately.

Preparation for the mark?

The rather loose handling of this topic, officially published, in connection with the shift in the meaning of this ritual towards the wishes and concerns of people, is very reminiscent of a weighty statement in Revelation, chapter 13.

See verses 15 to 17:
“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.“

The animals referred to in Revelation 13 are explained here. A special depiction of the “beast from the earth” and its characteristics can be found here.

Trained “voluntariness”

What should be emphasized here is the mark of the beast (Info). Dieses The mark is sometimes hotly debated and ideas go in all sorts of directions. But almost all of these variants have one thing in common. That is the statement that this mark is given under duress. But is that really the case?

However, there is no evidence of any duress in the verses mentioned above. The beast (from the earth) will cause everyone to be given a mark. Even in the final warning about this mark, in Revelation 14:9, no direct duress can be inferred:
“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,“

Voluntary acceptance will prevail

The beast (from the earth) will thus “cause” the mark to be offered to people and accepted by the vast majority. The fact that failure to accept the mark will lead to sanctions, such as being prevented from participating in business life, will probably have the same character as that which came into play in the “measures” between 2020 and 2022. “You don’t have to, but it will not be without consequences.” This type of “voluntariness” has a clear signature, and it will also ensure that the “refusers” are demonized accordingly. Humanity has already been allowed to “practice” all of this.

In order to achieve the greatest possible “voluntariness”, it is therefore very helpful to combine ignorance with people’s carefree attitude. A kind of religious lifestyle, adopting which will not bring any disadvantages, on the contrary, but will even bring advantages. All that is needed is this or that ritual to be carried out so that one can shop, sell, pay the rent, settle the bills as before and also to gain access to one’s own savings built up over many years..

On the forehead or on the hand

This is where the distinction is hidden, whether the mark is on the hand and/or on the forehead. A religious ritual to recognize the authority of the beast (from the sea) out of conviction or belief will earn you the mark on your forehead. There will be many of these. However, more people will not believe in it, or only “30% of the time every day”, but will still perform this ritual so as not to lose their “privileges”. In such a case, the person himself(!) takes the mark on his hand as a result of his actions.

Both cases are fatal. Because accepting the mark either on the forehead or on the hand is the recognition of the authority of the (the Papacy behind it). Revelation 14:10-11, as a continuation of the previous warning against accepting the mark, is unmistakable here in relation to the threatening consequences:
“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.“

For all those who do not want to submit to this authority, because they only accept the authority of God and His statutes, the Gospel also has something in store:

Bible verses from King James Version