Abstract: The major cause of Israel's perpetual troubles and afflictions is not external but internal – i.e. the nation's continued rejection of Jesus the Messiah.

Much as evangelical, Bible-believing Christians should bless Israel and support them by condemning the evil campaigns of slandering, disowning and fighting them, we should also take brave measures to fulfill our calling by reintroducing Israel's rejected Messiah to them. If we neglect this all-important commission, all other efforts to bless and uphold them would be of very little effect. Consequently, the establishing of lasting peace in the Middle East will remain an elusive ideal while the predicament of Israel will be aggravated.

The modern buzzword of "peace" is used by all and sundry but its meaning is confined to a humanistic idea of friendship and, politically speaking, interstate relations of harmony, acceptance and non-confrontation. However, from a biblical point of view, real peace is a much more sublime concept – it is a Person, Jesus Christ: "He Himself is our peace" (Eph. 2:14). His peace is distinctly different from that of the world; that is why Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (Jn. 14:27).

How did Israel react to the peace offered to them by the Messiah during His first coming and what were the consequences of their decision?

Wars and The Diaspora of The First Century

During the first century, Jesus offered Himself as Messiah to Israel. Had they accepted Him they would have had peace with God and with man. The direct consequence of rejecting Him was the forfeiting of God's blessings, which included a peaceful existence in their God-given land and in their capital city, Jerusalem. From the position as a surrendered and obedient people of God, they would have evangelized the world. However, Israel's leaders were spiritually blinded and brought indescribable hardships upon themselves and their followers by rejecting the Prince of Peace.

It would certainly be unreasonable to ascribe the first century wars of conquest by the Roman Empire (in which more than a million Jews died), and also the subsequent dispersion of Israel, only to the evil dispositions of the power-hungry and apostate Romans. Would that account for all the horrors? No! What then, was the root cause of all the bloodshed and immense suffering?

Jesus said to Jerusalem (the core of the unbelieving Jewish nation):

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together… but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate…" (Mt. 23:37-38).

"For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation" (Lk. 19:43-44).

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near… For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Lk. 21:20-24).

From these scriptures, it is obvious that Israel's rejection of their Messiah accounts for their bitter experiences – much more than the actions of their ill-disposed enemies. During times when they were spiritually strong, God protected them. King Solomon said: "When a man's way please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Prov. 16:7).

The spiritual waywardness of Israel's also lies at the root of their continued suffering during the long years of the Diaspora:

"The Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods… And among those nations you shall find no rest… but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul" (Deut. 28:64-65).

Why did Israel as a nation have to face such a long history of suffering? Because they rejected God, His laws, His prophets and, in the fullness of time, also His Son. When the Roman governor, Pilate, tried to acquit Jesus, the Jews insisted on His crucifixion and said: "His blood be on us and on our children" (Mt. 27:25). With the exception of a small number of Messianic Jews, the upcoming generations condoned the act of their forefathers and thus persisted with the national rejection of Jesus as Messiah during the Diaspora and also into their current restoration phase. When Jesus comes again, "every eye will see Him, and they also who pierced Him" (Rev. 1:7) – i.e. the end-time generation of Jewish people. They will be alive and back in their land!

Restoration in Unbelief

Did God break His covenant with Israel after they were dispersed from their land? Certainly not! God's covenant with Israel as His chosen people is irrevocable (Lev. 26:44-45). Throughout the centuries there was always a small believing remnant who kept the flame of the true Israel of God alive. Their numbers will be considerably increased after the unbelieving majority have been restored to their land and some of them also spiritually revived:

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went… For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols" (Ezek 36:22-25).

The Bible clearly teaches that the unbelieving Jewish nation who were restored to their land in unbelief, will only be saved after being subjected to severe afflictions and great anxiety:

"Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so will I gather you in My anger and in My fury, and will leave you there and melt you… then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you" (Exek. 22:19-22).

Only then, some of them will be saved by being reconciled with the rejected Yeshua Ha Mashiach.

The Time of Jacob's Trouble

Since Israel's restoration to their land in 1948, the animosity of the unbelieving majority towards Jesus and the Messianic Jews who worship Him, has been intensified. Although they achieved resounding victories in the wars fought since 1948, the hostility and military capacity of their enemies are ever on the increase. Israel is now facing "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7) as a very real possibility on the short-term. God allows these afflictions to purge the faithful remnant.

Hosea says the following about the first and second comings of the Messiah and Israel's ultimate salvation by Him [explanatory notes added between brackets]:

"For I [the Messiah] will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah… I will tear them and go away… [the ascension of Jesus after He announced the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews]… I will return again to my place [heaven] till they acknowledge their offence. Then they [the people of Israel] will seek My face; in their affliction [in the great tribulation] they will diligently seek Me. Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days [of a thousand years each] He will revive us; on the third day [in the third millennium after His first coming] He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight" (Hos. 5:14–6:2).

It is obvious from these verses that Israel, as a nation, will only seek the Lord "in their affliction." Zechariah mentions the shocking death toll of the coming great tribulation, during which only a remnant of Israel will be saved:

"And it shall come to pass in all the land, says the Lord, that two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it. I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them, I will say, This is My people, and each one will say, The Lord is my God" (Zech. 13:8-9).

Jesus said the following about this terrible time when the Antichrist, after declaring himself to be God in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, will attempt to annihilate Israel and all other people who refuse to acknowledge and worship him:

"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved" (Mt. 24:15, 21-22).

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

How then should we, in the light of biblical prophecies, pray for the peace of Jerusalem? (Ps. 122:6; Is. 62:6-7). We should indeed pray a New Testament prayer for Jerusalem's peace, but it should be strictly a Messianic prayer. There is a very special relationship between Jesus and Jerusalem: He is the Messiah-King of Jerusalem who will rule over His millennial kingdom from the restored throne of David in Jerusalem (Acts 15:16-17; Amos 9:11-12; Is. 16:5).

Before that wonderful time, however, Jerusalem will be the scene of persecution, hardships and severe afflictions. Jesus not only said that Jerusalem would become desolate, broken down and trampled by the Gentiles until the end-time, but also that Israel would have to pass through the great tribulation before they will be saved. Of what avail is it to pray that Jerusalem's predominantly unsaved inhabitants should be spared the attacks of their enemies if these are the very means appointed by God to try them and expedite their spiritual salvation?

God will not only allow the restored Jerusalem to be attacked by its enemies but He will also allow its capture and near destruction to force the city's inhabitants to cry out to Him for help and salvation. The Lord said: "For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity…" (Zech. 14:2).

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we should pray that individual Jews accept the Messiah-King as Savior and Prince of Peace in their hearts, and also that many Jews will be saved during the coming great tribulation when Jerusalem and the land of Israel will be the scene of big wars. Furthermore, we should earnestly pray for the second coming of Jesus, because He is the only hope for Israel and the Gentiles. There will be no real and lasting peace in the world until He comes.

Distorted Prophetic Visions

Many Christians have distorted prophetic visions, such as the following:

·         They condone Israel in their unsaved condition as the chosen people of God and unconditionally ascribe all the blessings of the millennium to the present generation.

·         They deny the need for the fire of God's appointed purging of the nation and consequently allege that Israel and the world are not heading for the great tribulation.

·         They expect a mighty revival of (deceptive) signs and wonders that will sweep the nation into the kingdom of God and usher in the millennium without tribulation.

·         They neglect to warn Israel and the nations against the coming false messiah (the Antichrist) who will deceive them by concluding a covenant with them (Dan. 9:27; Jn. 5:43).

·         They refrain from boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of Israel and the nations as it would offend the Jews and also many other people.

·         They pretend (and pray) that Jerusalem could have peace without Jesus. They do not commit themselves to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus in the city.

There are various Christian ministries in (and outside of) Israel who are guilty of promoting some or all of the distorted visions mentioned above. Most of them agree to the fact that no Jew or Gentile can be saved without Jesus, but in their actions and outreaches very little or no emphasis is placed on Jewish evangelism. Even in prayer requests, this subject is easily omitted while supporters are only asked to pray for the safety of the region, the containing of Yasser Arafat and the PLO, peace in the Middle East, the immigration of more Jews, houses, jobs, economic prosperity and more contributions for the various ministries.

We should have the long-term spiritual interests of Israel at heart. We should also, from clear biblical prophecies, prepare Israel on more problems to come. Yasser Arafat, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and the horrors that they perpetrate are passing phenomena. A much more evil and sinister person will shortly appear on the scene – the Bible calls him the Antichrist, the man of sin, the son of perdition and the lawless one (1 Jn. 2:18; 2 Thess. 2:3, 8). We either belong to the true Messiah and will escape God's judgments upon a sinful world (Lk. 21:36) or we will soon be surrendered to the false messiah and his reign of terror.

The Denial of Jesus

The main problem in Israel, as well as in many of the Christian ministries supporting and serving them, is the denial of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and only Savior of the world. While some of the latter do not explicitly deny Him, they nevertheless do so implicitly by keeping quiet when they should be bold witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8). Ministries which do not clearly convey to Israel the message of Jesus' Messiahship are not doing them any real good. How would the orthodox and non-practicing Jews be able to identify and resist the false messiah and turn to the true Messiah during their coming afflictions if they were not properly informed beforehand?

The entire world is presently following the popular course of denying Jesus and His unique gospel of salvation by adopting interfaith or secular constitutions, relegating Christ to the level of messiahs in the non-Christian religions, phasing out state-supported Christian education, and building a new world order from which Jesus Christ is deliberately excluded for the sake of global unity among all peoples, ideologies and faiths.

Since Christ is our peace, there is no real peace outside Him. For that reason, man-made peace programs are doomed to utter failure: "For when they say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes upon them" (1 Thess. 5:3).

The coming world-wide distress of nations will be a direct result of instituting a Christless new world order; that is why Jesus Christ Himself will return to bring order and righteousness:

"An there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Lk. 21:25-28).

When the first ominous signs of the great tribulation are evident, the true believers will "escape" the impending disasters (Lk. 21:36) while those who put their trust in the false peace programs of the humanistic new world order "will not escape" (1 Thess. 5:3). When the judgments of God are poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world, it will eventually dawn to people that the fury of the Lamb, whom they have denied, has been unleashed against them:

"And the kings of the earth, the great men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 6:16-17).

When people are faced by the dire consequences of rejecting and denying the One who alone is the light and life of the world, death will be preferable to them than to face Him whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14). Anguish and terror will overcome them as they try to flee from His presence: "Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths" (Zech. 14:12).

A New Encounter With Christ

All people on earth, the believers and deniers of Christ, are most assuredly heading for a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. God has given Him a name which is above every name "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11). The true believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of their lives (Rom. 14:10-12) while the unbelievers will be the subjects of the wrath of the Lamb. At the end of the tribulation period, when Christ comes back to earth, the remnant of Israel and the nations will mourn for Him:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Mt. 24:29-30).

Why will they mourn for Him? They will realize that all their afflictions and tribulations were a direct result of denying and rejecting the Holy One of Israel who alone is mighty to save. They will mourn, confess their sins and accept Jesus as Savior and King. The mourning of repentant Israel on that soon coming day is vividly described by one of their ancient prophets:

"And I will pour on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem" (Zech. 12:10-11).

Israel must now be introduced to the One whom their forefathers have pierced. Those who do not accept the message now should know where to take refuge when the dark clouds of God's judgments enfold them during the terrible Day of the Lord (Is. 13:9-13; Rev. 6:12-17). The same message should also be proclaimed to their enemies in the Middle East and to all people on earth.

Do not deny the only One who can save your soul and the souls of all lost sinners. Only He can bring peace to a warring world by destroying the enemy forces that will be deployed in Israel (Rev. 19:20-21), and binding the devil who deceived the nations (Rev. 20:1-3). After His coming, Jerusalem will be elevated to world capital:

"At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem; they shall walk no more after the stubbornness of their evil heart" (Jer. 3:17).

Jesus Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 11:15; 19:16)! But He should also be honored for all His divine attributes right now:

·         Jesus Christ is not only destined to be the King of the Jews and the King of the world during His coming millennial reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem. He must be accepted as Savior and King by all people now! He should be honored by all nations as the chief corner stone of their constitutions now! Jesus clearly stated that "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Mt. 28:18). He is the King of kings and no political structure or ideology is complete or sound without expressly, formally and devoutly recognizing the supreme authority of the Triune God. The very fact of impending judgments upon the nations of the world is a direct consequence of denying the sovereignty of Christ.

·         The righteousness of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and His Word is the only sound and expedient basis for moral norms, human rights, legal systems and educational programs. The conspicuous absence of biblical morality, respect for human lives, a biblically-based administration of justice with suitable penalties for criminals, and Christian education, accounts for all the immorality, double standards, confusion and anarchy in the word.

·         Only Jesus Christ can revive the image of God in human beings, which was lost because of the Fall. Without His forgiving of sins and the experience of being spiritually born again into a new life of Christ-likeness, we will never be able to escape the wrath of God upon the wicked – no matter how hard we try. Come to Him who is mighty to save! (Lk. 19:10). Used with permission

PEACE, PEACE

(From a newly published book entitled

NEW WINE and the BABYLONIAN VINE)

By: Roger Oakland

Ask anyone the question: If a third world war was to break out, what would be the most likely place in the world for this to happen? Political and religious differences that have been taking place for the past several decades make it clear that the Middle East is the most likely location. In fact, leaders of countries throughout the world are always concerned about the ongoing struggle over Jerusalem.

While the conflict we see featured in the daily news in the Middle East is usually centered on the problems between the Jewish and Islamic faiths, everyone knows there are far reaching effects for all the world. Throughout history there have been wars over religious differences in the Middle East. However, given the technology of our day and the weapons of destruction that mankind has been able to design, a skirmish over religious differences has the potential to trigger off a nuclear holocaust.

The Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is a Muslim shrine in Jerusalem. The building stands on the traditional site of the Temple of Solomon. It was here, it is believed, Abraham offered the sacrifice of his son Isaac to God. For Muslims, it is the second holiest site of pilgrimage after Mecca. Muslim legend claims that it was on the Temple Mount that the prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven to receive the commandments of God. The Dome of the Rock remains essentially as it was when completed in 692 by the Muslims. The roof has been renewed several times and other minor changes have been made to the surface decoration. The Dome of the Rock was built not only to commemorate Muhammad’s ascension to heaven, but also to rival the splendor of Christian and Jewish sanctuaries already in Jerusalem. The building is octagonal in plan, with a large golden dome on top. The surfaces, both inside and out, are covered in marble and mosaic patterning, much of it on the interior being highlighted with precious stones and gold.¹

A Time Bomb

The Dome of the Rock is considered to be a fuse that could set off a third world war. Deep-rooted religious animosity has been brewing over this site for years. An Associated Press article that appeared in the January 1, 1998 edition of the Orange County Register tells the story:

Hours after Israeli soldiers captured Jerusalem’s Old City in 1967, the army’s chief rabbi urged that the golden Dome of the Rock mosque be blown up, according to a newspaper report Wednesday. The landmark mosque is atop the Temple Mount, the last remnant of the ancient Jewish Temples and a flash point for conflicts between Jews and Muslims. Arabs have long been suspicious that Jews want to destroy the mosque, a move that would inflame the Muslim world. ²

The reason for the release of this information to the public some thirty years after the event was also mentioned in the article titled "Report: Dome of Rock’s destruction urged in ’67." These remarks made by Rabbi Shlomo Goren had been quoted in an interview with retired Major General Uzi Narkiss with the Haaretz newspaper in May of 1997. Narkiss had stipulated that nothing be published until everyone present at the discussion had died. Major General Narkiss who had led the capture of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967 died on December 17, 1997. Rabbi Goren died in 1994.³

Obviously the Dome of the Rock was not blown up. The golden-domed eight-sided building takes precedence above all other objects on the Temple Mount to this day. Jewish people are forbidden by the government of Israel to enter through the Temple gates. The location where their former Holy Temple once stood, today is "holy ground" for people who belong to the Islamic faith.

The Temple Institute

The Temple Institute, located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, is a non-profit apolitical organization. One of the major objectives of the Temple Institute is to create authentic temple vessels and priestly garments according to biblical specifications. This has been an ongoing process for some years. By 1996, over sixty sacred objects had been created from gold, silver and copper. The Institute operates a permanent exhibition, "The Treasure of the Temple," which has attracted over 200,000 visitors from around the world.⁴

According to the first newsletter published by the Temple Institute, one of the main goals of the organization is to "attempt to raise the consciousness of the Jewish people and the whole world to the realization that mankind’s spiritual vacuum can only be filled by the Holy Temple." As well, the following statement is made: "The epoch of the Third Temple is promised, by our Prophets, to be a period of peace, compassion and human understanding. How and when this will come about, especially in light of the current state of affairs, we do not profess to know."⁵

While the Temple Institute may not represent the general desires or wishes of the majority of the Jewish people, these statements made by the newsletter are very interesting in light of Bible prophecy. This enthusiastic group also believes the Third Temple will be the secret to world peace. The newsletter continues:

The Holy Temple is the unifying factor for all humanity… ‘For My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations,’ the Prophet Isaiah declares. This universal harmony, this all-encompassing unity, is brought about by nothing less than the resting of the Divine Presence. ⁶

Temple Institute supporters are open to the idea that the Temple Mount area could be a common location for this "Divine Presence." Asking a question and then answering this question the Temple Institute newsletter stated:

Why are the eyes of the world riveted on the Temple Mount? Because it is truly the nerve center of mankind, the concentration of the world’s holiness; the very birthplace of the first Man – Adam. We are taught that the prayers of each and every person, before ascending into Heaven, gather at the Foundation Stone on the Mount, from whence all of humanity was hewn, and from there the prayers make their way to G-d, like a cosmic switchboard. This process continues even today.⁷

Such a statement is interesting in light of the fact that the Jewish people are not in control of the Temple Mount. Muslims consider the Temple Mount to be a sacred Holy Spot for their Islamic faith. Could this mean that the Temple Mount is perceived as a holy "transmitter" for Muslims as well?

The Eye of the Universe

While visiting the Temple Institute in February of 1997, I noticed a book for sale in their bookstore. The author of the book was Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. The title of the book was Jerusalem: The Eye of the Universe.

There were a number of questions asked on the back cover of the book that caught my interest. These questions included:

What is the significance of Jerusalem? Why is it the most important place on the earth? What is its uniqueness? Why is it the only city mentioned in our prayers? What is the source of its holiness? Why can the Temple be located only in one spot? Why is its status so important so significant to its friends and enemies?⁸

Another statement on the back cover of the book said the author would answer these questions. I purchased the book and read through it in the next few days. Rabbi Kaplan added more insight to the information than what I had read in the Temple Institute newsletter On the Altar. On page 40 of Rabbi Kaplan’s book the following statement was made:

Jacob called Jerusalem "the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28: 17). On a simple level this means that it is a gate which prayer ascends on high. In a deeper sense, this also means that it is a gate through which one enters heaven by means of mystical or prophetic experience. ⁹

Then building upon the idea of the "Divine Presence" in another portion of the book, Rabbi Kaplan clarified further what he believed was meant by the "gate of heaven." He stated:

This again brings us to the location of the Foundation Stone, the focus of all spiritual forces. It was set on the crossroads of civilization, so that all peoples should interact with these forces and throughout history, be influenced by them. In this manner all mankind is gradually elevated by these forces, paving the way for the ultimate rectification of the world. This will be realized in the Messianic Age, when Jerusalem becomes a center for God’s teaching for all mankind: "Out of Zion shall come forth the Torah, and God’s word from Jerusalem."

Rabbi Kaplan made the point that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a very significant piece of property, especially in the last days. As well, we know that the Bible indicates the same. A temple must be rebuilt in order to prepare the way for the coming Antichrist. It seems that current events are unfolding that line up with Bible prophecy indicating that we are living in very important days.

A Formula for Peace

When it comes to resolving any dispute there must always be the willingness to give and take. Never do we see religious disagreements between opposing groups resolved by time alone. Treaties or peace agreements are usually drawn up before peace can ever be attained. Religious tension between Jews and Muslims through the years has caused much bloodshed and pain in the Middle East. Today there appears to be few signs that a peaceful resolution could ever come about without a concentrated effort by many world leaders.

In his 1998 Easter Sunday address to the world from the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope John Paul II brought up this very issue. He urged humanity not to repeat the tragic errors of the 20^th century and warned that the world was being sown with new "seeds of death" as it neared the year 2000. He also prayed for the Middle East and made reference to Israel’s building of settlements in Arab East Jerusalem as a major stumbling block that was "putting the holy city at risk."¹⁰

The pope’s words of warning came just two days after the historic Irish "Good Friday Agreement" that proposed the beginning of a new era of hope for religious strife-torn Ireland. Two religious factions that both professed the name of Christ had hammered out a preliminary agreement endeavored to provide a basis for ending hostility and bloodshed. Mayor of Belfast, Alban Maginness summed up the agreement by saying: "We are now moving from the politics of strife and violence into the politics of inclusiveness and reconciliation."¹¹

For decades, the world has watched with horror the bloody sectarian battle that has been going on in Northern Ireland where at least 3400 people have been killed over the past several decades. Although the initial agreement does not come with any guarantees, at the very least, a resolution to make amends for the sake of peace is commendable.

Whether or not peace will be established on a permanent basis, only time will tell. However, one thing has been established; peace is attainable when leaders of opposing groups agree to a mediation process by neutral authorities. So what about the possibility that a peaceful resolution could be mediated between Jews and Muslims? Some have suggested that the pope, the leader of the Catholic Church would be a good candidate for mediator.

Guiding the Ship

He has been called the "man of the century." Pope John Paul II, a man millions of people believe represents Jesus as the head of the Catholic Church, has left quite a legacy behind him. Although it is obvious that his health has been failing, the pope still demands respect. World leaders like President Clinton of the United States, Prime Minister John Chretien of Canada, and Palestinian leader Yasar Arafat all have paid him a visit.

On February 11, 1998 the president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, dropped by the Vatican to greet the pope. John Paul II, the first Polish pope, and Yeltsin, a former Communist who became Russia’s first elected leader, had a fifty minute private conversation in which they discussed among other things, the celebration of year 2000. According to a New York Times article John Paul II, in his conversation with Yeltsin stated: "Let us hope we will go together toward the third millennium."¹²

Ten days after the meeting with Yeltsin, the pope held another special meeting. This time it was a ceremony to recruit twenty-two new cardinals to assist him with his responsibilities as the 20^th century drew to a close. In an Associated Press article titled "Pope Elevates 22 Cardinals to Help Him ‘Guide the Ship’" the following statement was made:

Sitting in his golden chair, Pope John Paul II elevated 22 new cardinals Saturday, placing on their heads the red, three-cornered hats that symbolize their role as the "princes" of the church. The pontiff summoned the men – dressed in crimson cassocks, capes and socks – to lead the Roman Catholic Church into Christianity’s third millennium. "You are called, along with the other members of the College of Cardinals, to help the pope guide the ship of St Peter to this historic goal," the pope told them.¹³

The article also reported that several of the new cardinals are seen as "papabile," a term which means "a potential pope." One of them, a man by the name of Schoenborn, is a highly respected theologian to whom John Paul gave the important job of preparing the church’s new catechism.¹⁴

I obtained a copy of the new Catholic Catechism for my library. The next section will explain some very interesting things that I discovered as I read through it.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a large book that officially presents the Vatican’s position on all teachings that are deemed part of the Catholic Church’s theology. While it is beyond the scope of this book to present all of these theological positions, there is one portion of the catechism that needs to be presented in order to document Catholic teaching regarding salvation.

Two sections will be quoted exactly as they appear in the official Catechism of the Catholic Church. These sections are called "Who Belongs to the Catholic Church" and "The Church and non-Christians."

Who Belongs to the Catholic Church?

836 All men called to this catholic unity of the People of God. And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace of salvation.

837 Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given by the church together with her entire organization, and who – by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion – are joined in the physical structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but "in body" not "in heart."¹⁵

The Church and Non-Christians

839 Those who have not received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways. 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, the first to hear the Word of God. 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, for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

840 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 the Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

841 The Church’s relationship with Muslims. The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst who 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.

These two sections quoted from the Catholic Catechism present an interesting foundation upon which an ecumenical movement headed by the Catholic Church could provide the way for a worldwide religion to be established in the name of Christ. However, it is obvious that this scenario is not according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The "gospel" that is being presented by the catechism is clearly not the gospel that Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed.

Not only has the Christian gospel been redefined to permit the Roman Catholic Church the authority to determine who can go to heaven and who cannot, a possible scenario is unfolding that provides a way so that the Jewish Messiah and the Christian Second Coming of Jesus could be the same event. Finally, this Catholic dogma allows Muslims to be embraced as brothers and sisters in Christ. Surely such teachings are not only extrabiblical and heretical; they provide the foundation for a religion in the name of Christ that may well be the religion of the Antichrist.

Keys to the Kingdom

It is well known that the Catholic Church is built upon the idea that Jesus handed the "keys to the kingdom" to Peter and that Peter then became the first pope. This dogma is based upon a portion of Scripture that is incorrectly interpreted. In Matthew chapter 16, the Bible records:

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." ¹⁶

When we take Jesus’ question in context, we see that Jesus was asking His disciples to tell Him what people were saying about Him. After hearing them report various answers, Jesus then asked the disciples personally, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter responded with the confession of faith that leads to eternal life: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus then acknowledged that what Peter had stated was God inspired.

Following this, Jesus made the important statement that the Catholic Church claims they have interpreted correctly. Jesus said: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

So what was Jesus saying? Did He mean that He was going to hand over the keys of the Kingdom of God to a mere man such as Peter? Or was Jesus saying that the only true key to the Kingdom of God is when one recognizes who Jesus Christ is and what He has done? If Jesus meant that Peter was to become the first pope, the first in a long line of God-appointed "Vicars of Christ" who could declare infallible teachings outside of biblical parameters, then a serious error had been made. A few verses later in Matthew 16 we read that Jesus rebuked Peter by saying: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."¹⁷

The problem that Jesus pointed out to Peter is the same problem that many professing Christians have today. They listen to what men are saying rather than to what God has already said. We must always base our doctrines on Scripture. If we do not, then we are guilty of the same thing that Peter was guilty of doing. There is only one narrow way by which one can enter into the Kingdom of God – through acknowledging the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

It is disturbing to me that the Catholic Church promotes the doctrine that they are the only true church through which God has chosen to establish His Kingdom. There are many Protestants who believe that the Catholic Church has changed their point of view and that they are now willing to be co-partners in evangelism. However, as I have already pointed out, this is not true. People are being deceived.

Feeling the Presence

The April 1996 National Geographic contains an article on Jerusalem that provides us with a graphic illustration of the ecumenical brand of Christianity that the Catholic Church embraces. A two-page color spread shows three Catholics who are on a pilgrimage from Brazil to Jerusalem during Easter of 1995. Talo Santos, the leader of the group is shown walking down Via Dolorosa. She has a large wooden cross, draped over her right shoulder. Hanging around her neck is a medallion that represents the sun and the moon god. From her right hand is suspended another medallion that is inscribed with a pyramid. A Catholic rosary hangs from her left hand. "My faith became gigantic," reported Santos. And further she stated, "We felt Him walking among us." ¹⁸

Christian Babylonianism! There is no other term that more adequately describes experiential Christianity that seeks after the presence of Christ without seeking after His Word. Someday, just as the Bible predicts, a man who claims that he is the Christ will emerge with a perfect plan for peace. A Jewish Temple will be built, but it will not be exclusively for Jewish worshippers.

All religions will be able to worship in this Temple and all the people will believe that the Messianic Age has arrived. However, before this can happen there will have to be more signs and wonders of the lying variety that draw the world into an end-times delusion in the name of Christ.

I believe we are living in a period of time that will see lying signs and wonders materialize and intensify. The only way that we can be protected from this delusion is to have a God-given discernment that comes from knowing the Word of God.

In the next two sections we will examine the signs and wonders movement promoted by both Protestants and Catholics. We will examine the claims that are being made by Christians. Although their experiences cannot be supported by Scripture, we will see that these experiences can be understood in light of Scripture.

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¹ "Dome of the Rock," Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, 1998, CD-ROM.
² The Associated Press, "Report: Dome of the Rock’s destruction urged in ’67," Orange County Register, January 1, 1998, 20.
³ Ibid.
⁴ On The Altar, The Temple Institute newsletter, Summer 1996, Volume 1.1, 1.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid. [emphasis mine]
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Aryeh Kaplan, Jerusalem: The Eye of the Universe, (Published by the National Conference of the Synagogue, New York, 1976).
⁹ Ibid., 40.
¹⁰ Phillip Pullella, "Pope warns not to repeat tragic errors," USA Today, April 13, 1998, 1.
¹¹ Stryker Mc Qune, "A Clean Shot at Peace," Newsweek, European Edition, April 20, 1998, 11.
¹² Celestine Bohlen, "Pope and Yeltsin Meet at Vatican, Looking Toward Year 2000," New York Times, February 11, 1998, Online posting.
¹³ Ibid.
¹⁴ Ibid.
¹⁵ Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Liberia Editrice Vaticana, Liguoria Publications, Liguoria, MO), 222.
¹⁶ Matthew 16:13-19
¹⁷ Matthew 16:23
¹⁸ Alan Mainson, "The Three Faces of Jerusalem," National Geographic, April 1996, 4.

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