In 1978 Pope John Paul I proclaimed, “The smoke of Satan has entered the Sanctuary.” He was dead shortly after that statement. His death was considered mysterious and is believed by many as being an inside job. A well-known writer and renowned Jesuit priest, Malachi Martin, wrote in his Vatican novel, Windswept House, “Suddenly it became unarguable that now during this papacy, the Roman Catholic organization carried a permanent presence of clerics who worshipped Satan and liked it; of bishops and priests who sodomized boys and each other; of nuns who performed the ‘Black Rites’ of Wicca, and who lived in lesbian relationships . . . every day, including Sundays and Holy Days, acts of heresy and blasphemy and outrage and indifference were committed and permitted at holy Altars by men who had been called to be priests. Sacrilegious actions and rites were not only performed on Christ’s Altars, but had the connivance or at least the tacit permission of certain Cardinals, archbishops, and bishops . . .” (Windswept House, Malachi Martin, 1996, p. 492.)
The Roman Catholic system is a pagan religious system. The newspapers of our American press continue to provide us with the news that the Catholic priests are absolutely not going to end the filth of homosexuality and pedophilia within their system. Recently, the Charlotte Observer stated in their secondary headlines, “Offenders would be kept from kids, but not those ousted from priesthood.”There was an immediate cry from those men who were abused as young boys in Catholic ministries. How does any religious institution put a man back in ministry at any ordained level that has stooped to the acts of homosexuality or the molestation of young people or children? That defies reason or Biblical responsibility.
But this article is not mainly about the Roman Catholic system, but about the once great Bible-believing churches and ministries that have decided to give support and acceptance to this dark religious world. The Catholics boast of over one billion adherents and of their worldwide political influence and incalculable riches. This system is extremely rich and millions of its members are perfectly willing to fund with liberal donations any Protestant ministry that will bridge the differences between the two. Many formerly separated ministers and their leaders have decided that the money is worth the compromise.
The Catholic Church Is Aggressive
While churches that were formerly Bible-believing are speaking kindly of the Catholic Church, the Catholics are aggressively reaching for the world. No one can doubt that they want and intend to be the spokesman for Christianity. I just received a copy of a multi-million mailing by Karl Keating, president of Catholic Answers. This mailing was a fundraiser and was premised on the “2002 World Youth Day.” It blasted a tract showing a man in hell that had been deceived by the Catholic religion, the Virgin Mary and other unbiblical teachings. A copy of that tract was reproduced and the receiver was asked to immediately destroy it with a warning of how dangerous it was if it fell into the hands of the wrong persons.
Of course, if we write a similar letter from our position, we are blasted for being judgmental and uncaring. Every time I do a broadcast showing the false, unbiblical teachings of this system, I get ugly, vicious calls, letters and e-mails. They can be aggressive, but most Bible believers are being intimidated not to be aggressive. Our position and approach should never be to attack persons or to demean anyone, but rather to speak the truth in tender love. Our message must be clear and absolute truth about the only plan of salvation.
In this large Catholic mailer, there was a very slick looking booklet, entitled Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth. It looked like a good Bible booklet and was very colorful. Here are the inviting words from the back cover, “The Catholic Church: Your Guide to the Truth” “Jesus established the Catholic Church especially for you. He set it up as your spiritual home, he provided it with everything you need, and he wants you in it. The Catholic Church guides you as the pillar of fire guided the Israelites when they escaped from bondage. They had a guide they could trust, and now so do you. Your guide is trustworthy because it teaches as Jesus taught. This is why the Bible calls the Catholic Church the ‘pillar and foundation of truth.’ Jesus has a special plan for you, one He wants you to perform through His Church. This booklet explains Jesus’ plan and how you can know the Catholic Church is where you belong.” (Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth, 1997. Published by Catholic Answers, San Diego, CA.)
This booklet left no room for the Bible believing churches to claim anything. The Bible quotes were from a strange translation. It speaks a lot of our language, but full of their twist. For instance, look at this invitation to be saved. Here is their question just like we would ask it and then their answer.
QUESTION: “What you must do to be saved?”
ANSWER: “Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God [Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1994, p. 1727.)]. Our initial forgiveness and justification are not things we ‘earn’ (Ibid., 2010). Jesus is the mediator who bridged the gap of sin that separates us from God (I Timothy 2:5); he bridged it by dying for us. He has chosen to make us partners in the plan of salvation (I Corinthians 3:9). “The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what ‘Bible Christians’ teach; see James 2:24). “When we come to God and are justified (that is, enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works, earns grace. But then God plants His love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love (Galatians 6:2).” (Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth, 1997. Published by Catholic Answers, San Diego, CA, pp. 22-23.)
The Christian Church world is being deceived and outflanked. Our national and best-known leaders have foolishly denied the truth and taken allegiance to this harlot system. I must share the truth with you at any cost. Let’s look at some of the better know men and ministries. They are becoming the children of the Mother of Harlots.
Charismatics & Catholicism
The Charismatic religion has been Catholic in nature since its beginning. As a Classical Pentecostal I have watched the whole life of the Charismatic renewal. It was first named Neo-Pentecostal and was totally rejected by the Classical Pentecostal even as they rejected us because of our fundamentalism. I visited many of their events throughout the years and never found one thing I could Biblically connect. When I call this movement “Charismatic Catholicism,” I do not suggest a structural connection. There may have been, but I do not have any proof of such connections. The connection was in the spiritual realm. The Charismatic movement never had any solid Biblical roots. It was a smorgasbord of many different doctrines loosely connected to esoteric experiences. Speaking in tongues and other so-called gifts was the glue that held it together.
As you research this movement from its beginning, the experiences of tongues and the gifts were always subject to the individual. The entire manifestation of gifts was at the control of these promoters and the crowds. I can honestly say that during all my experiences among Charismatic people, I have never seen one person that appeared to have a genuine Book of Acts experience. Being a Classical Pentecostal, we recognize the Book of Acts and the Pentecostal experience, but firmly believe that the Holy Spirit alone is sovereign. Any manifestation of the Holy Ghost cannot be subject to the whims of the individual.
We have witnessed numerous cases where individuals seeking to be filled with the Spirit were told to say whatever came to their mind, funny sounds, incoherent symbols, etc. and that it would evolve into a language the Bible calls “speaking in tongues.” Classical Pentecostals have always called such action heresy and dangerous. The Charismatics actually teach that all the gifts can be manifest at will. When you want to pray in tongues, you just start making sounds. This is called a “prayer language” to be used when it suits you. I have been in several meetings where the crowd was told to pray in tongues and the entire place would erupt into a guru-sounding roar.
How does such a diverse gathering bring glory to the Lord? When you put together the Catholic doctrine of the mass with the doctrine of the Jesus Only (They deny the Trinity.) and then add the Born-Again Jesus that accomplished nothing of salvation on the cross (Jesus was born again in hell.) of the Copelands, you have a pot of poison.
In our last edition of this publication, we printed an article entitled, “Marriage From Hell.” This article listed numerous quotes from leading Charismatics and Evangelicals endorsing the Catholic system as Orthodox Christianity. Men like W.A. Criswell, Paul Crouch, Chuck Colson, etc. were mentioned. I sit at my desk as I write this article trying to speak to all of this as kind as I know how. If such distortion does not make one angry, then something is wrong. I am determined to speak evil of no man, but I must warn everyone possible of the “Mother of Harlots and Her Children.”
Conclusion
This mother of religious whoredom is spreading her powers and embracing every aspect of religions regardless of its origin. The Writer warned in Holy Scripture, “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (Revelation 17:5).
The only religions the Whore of Rome hates are Orthodox Jews and fundamental Christians. Everyone else is playing her game, but these two groups. The Bible plainly warns us that she will be covered with the blood of those she has slain. We still have protection from her murderous hands in America, but history is replete with her past deeds. She is still murdering or attacking saints in countries when government provides her protection and cover. The priests have destroyed a multitude of her altar boys to satisfy their insane lust.
When the Bible prophesied the term “harlot,” it certainly knew what was going to occur. She is called a “whore” and that is her character. “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.” (Revelation 17:1) Be strong in your defense of truth and do not fear those who can destroy your body. Reserve your fear for the one that destroys the soul.
Joseph R. Chambers