The now-open presentation of the undeniable paganism of the Roman Catholic Church is striking. A Catholic “specialist magazine” explains to its readers the reason for John the Baptist’s strange question to Jesus Christ. Besides its unparalleled adventurousness, this interpretation also serves as a welcome “outing” of the true nature of the papacy.Why did Johannes ask so many questions?
Why did Johannes ask strange question?
The Roman Catholic magazine and media “explainer of faith” recently provided a prime example of how the Gospel can be extensively bent, twisted, and broken to make it compatible with Roman doctrine. (“catholic.com“).
The “topic of the day” was answering the question of what reason or motive John the Baptist had, after already being thrown into prison, to send messengers to Jesus Christ to ask Him whether He was indeed the promised one, or whether they still had to wait for him. This was a clear expression of doubt about the veracity of Jesus Christ as the long-proclaimed and expected Messiah.
The author, a Roman Catholic priest, approached this topic to explain it to his flock, who were searching for answers. “Why would John ask that?” is the title. What follows is a whole chain of explanations, which, however, impressively illustrate the spirit and self-understanding that actually prevails within this Roman Catholic doctrinal institution.
The most striking feature to note is that the author completely omits any source or verse references when presenting any supposedly biblical statement. Not a single reference from the Gospels is mentioned in the entire report. Apparently, this is deemed unnecessary, as the primary source of information for arriving at the answer is the work “Catena Aurea” by “Saint” Thomas Aquinas. This is followed by a list of other “Church Fathers” who held differing views on the subject, including Ambrose, Chrysostom, Jerome, Hilary, and Gregory the Great. According to the author, each had formed their own opinion on the matter.
Nevertheless, there is one commonality: it wasn’t actually John’s own concern, but rather he posed this question on behalf of the disciples. Be that as it may, the author at least correctly emphasizes that John nevertheless held fast to his faith until the end of his life. It also becomes clear that even all the apostles assumed that Jesus Christ was indeed the savior and redeemer who would free the people from bondage, establish His kingdom, and rule over all nations of the earth together with His people. A nationalistic Jesus, nurtured by the religious dictates of the Pharisees and scribes.
Then the author ventures into territory that is no longer comprehensible. According to him, the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled (presumably chapter 32, though this is not specified). The reference is, “the desert will bloom; the justification of Israel is imminent,” according to the author. Isaiah 32 deals with “the coming kingdom of peace of the Messiah,” and verse 15 describes:
“Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.“
Dispensationalism is being served
Since the author is clearly operating within the realm of so-called Dispensationalism, which speaks of a literal, national Israel that will be established after the Christian community has been brought into the heavenly kingdom through a pre-tribulation rapture, the prophetic dimension of a future New Earth and Jesus Christ as king after a period of 1000 years of rest (Millennium) is completely out of the question.
The problem, however, is clearly that both Futurism and Dispensationalism are the “intellectual property” of two Jesuits, Francis Ribera (1537–1591) and Manuel Lacunza (1731–1801). Today, a majority of evangelical denominations believe in this version (Info).
The spirit of ecumenism
It is already foreseeable that the explanation of John’s question is intended to serve the ongoing ecumenical movement. For there is a clear overlap with the future scenario and the adherence to the (Orthodox) Jewish community’s interpretation of prophecy. However, Jesus Christ was unequivocally clear on this point regarding his earthly ministry.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:34-35).
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19)
“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)
After order mess-up
The once exclusive commission of God to His chosen people Israel (or Judah), to be the shining example for the Gentiles to recognize the true God, was now transferred to the apostles, who were tasked with proclaiming the message of salvation to the Gentiles as well. For God’s people, despite the “final deadline” (the 70-year week – Info), simply botched the mission.
The cup had finally run over, and God withdrew His exclusive commission from the people of Israel. In 70 AD, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, and in the 130s, the failed Bar Kokhbar Revolt led to the complete dissolution of Judah. ”Your house will be left desolate,” meaning “that’s it.”
Saul, a Pharisee who was on his way to Damascus to persecute the young Christian community, was stopped and converted by Jesus Christ and eventually became Paul.
There is no trace of the establishment of a literal, national Israel. The literal people of Israel, or rather the individual tribes, have not lost their special position as a chosen people. They are depicted as the “olive tree” into which the Gentiles (branches) are also grafted for their direct participation in the Gospel. For all, however, it is equal and just, “justification by the grace of Jesus Christ through faith” (Romans 11). The sacrificial system was abolished with the crucifixion of Jesus, and anyone who continued to sacrifice, or who intends to reintroduce it in the future through an ominous “Third Temple,” thereby expresses their rejection of the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Now it’s getting really “crisp”
The author then emphasizes that man does not have to fight against enemies of flesh and blood, but rather against “spiritual powers of dryness and division.” At first glance, one wonders how anyone could come up with such ideas. Naturally, there is no reference to the corresponding biblical passage. However, this statement can be found in Ephesians 6. Unsurprisingly, the biblical statement reads “subtly” differently:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places..” (Ephesians 6:12).
Grotesquely inaccurate representation
So, “spiritual powers of evil and world rulers of darkness,” and not “spiritual powers of dryness and division.” What would that even represent? Here, too, it’s clear that the narrative employed serves Roman Catholic social teaching and the obvious desire to unite people into one human family. Overcoming differences and focusing on commonalities. Ecumenism in its purest form (Info).
For the answer to John the Baptist’s opening question, the author favors Hilary’s version from among the opinions of the Church Fathers. Why? Because, in the author’s view, Hilary offers an insightful allegory. It thus deals with a phenomenon on a “mystical level.” John had completed the work of the Law (!?). Now, the Law is imprisoned by human wickedness in order to suppress the fame of Christ. John sent out the Gospel (!) so that it could be seen that doubts about the works of the Gospel would be transformed into faith.
First-class distortion of the Gospel
This is truly a multifaceted and potent subject. Mysticism is employed in the Roman Catholic Church primarily when doctrines that, according to the Gospel, cannot be justified in any other way than by describing phenomena beyond human comprehension. Particularly extreme are the portrayal of a law completed by John (not Jesus Christ!) and the idea that the Gospel was sent by a cousin of Jesus Christ. Such a blatant denial of the Gospel, in such an open form, is rarely seen from representatives of the Roman Catholic Church.
When the Church of Rome speaks of “one” Christ, caution is advised. For the pagan sun god Mithras is also considered an anointed one (Greek: Christos) (Mithras cult of the Church of Rome – Info). This Mithras cult, also practiced by Emperor Constantine, further illustrates the particularly high position of John the Baptist in the Church of Rome. Thus, the “distortion” of the Gospel should actually be understood as a “reversal.” Good is evil and evil is good.
The special position of the Baptist
The fact of his beheading gives John a particularly high status. In occultism, beheading is considered the symbol of a new beginning, a new order, a new era. This is one reason why John has apparently been the favorite name of previous popes, most recently John Paul II and John XXIII (1881-1963), the so-called Council Pope. Today, he is declared a saint. According to the number of places where his head was kept (in the cult of the dead), John must have been a multi-headed, imaginary figure.
However, the officially recognized repository is located in the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey. This was most recently confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit and “meditative pause” before the skull in November 2006. The mosque originally served as a church, built by Emperor Constantine in 360 AD. Its use changed in 1453, immediately after the conquest of Constantinople by the Muslim Ottomans. This reveals visible common ground between Roman Catholicism and Islam.
Recognize the positive
One almost has to be grateful to the Roman Catholic “enlightenment magazine” for this clear revelation of the genetically determined paganism of the Roman Catholic Church. Any speculation or interpretation, lengthy proofs including biblical evidence, are entirely unnecessary here. The true nature of the Roman Catholic Church of the papacy is now presented as unashamedly as the Satanic cult, displayed in many places, particularly celebrated in France. Finally, a glance at the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, clearly the interface between Catholicism and occultism, made available to the public for (paid) admiration, suffices.
Also a kind of revelation
What is both sad and frightening is the now possible practice of the Church of Rome openly “outing” itself, without triggering sheer horror among its devout flock, or even among the (formerly) Protestant churches, which are clearly quite comfortable in the warm embrace of their mother. This is precisely the kind of ecumenism that could not be better portrayed (Info).
This is what it looks like in practice when the Gospel speaks of “spiritual blindness.” Not simply stubborn and obstinate, unwilling to recognize the truth, but simply incapable of seeing it (Info).
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18:2-4
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
