I read the letter from Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops throughout the world. It is an astounding example of how the traditions of men have supplanted the very Word of God that is and remains the very truth that sets anyone free. One must acknowledge a profound sadness at the very basic failures of a man who asserts that he is truly a theologian. Let us take one small but readily clear example for illustration. Benedict XVI declares in his solemn letter:
“Mary teaches us trust. She leads us to her Son, in whom all of us can put our trust. He will be our guide even in turbulent times.”
The Word himself tells us plainly and unambiguously that this simply cannot be so for the faithful of the true congregation of God have long understood this basic truth, that it is the Holy Father Himself, Jehovah, who leads any person to Jesus Christ, His Son.
(John 6:44) . . .No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him;. . .
(John 6:37-38) . . .Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and the one that comes to me I will by no means drive away; 38 because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me.
Mary draws nobody to Christ. There is plainly no scriptural support for the apostasy that Mary leads anyone to Christ Jesus and more importantly it overlooks in its entirety the many relevant prophecies that gain fulfillment in Jehovah’s own works as the Majestic Shepherd of Ezekiel’s prophecy against the typical false shepherds of Israel:
(Ezekiel 34:11-14) . . .“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: “Here I am, I myself, and I will search for my sheep and care for them. 12 According to the care of one feeding his drove in the day of his coming to be in the midst of his sheep that have been spread abroad, that is the way that I shall care for my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all the places to which they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick gloom. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and collect them together from the lands and bring them in onto their soil and feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streambeds and by all the dwelling places of the land. 14 In a good pasturage I shall feed them, and on Israel’s high mountains their abiding place will come to be. There they will lie down in a good abiding place, and on a fat pasturage they will feed upon the mountains of Israel.”
(Ezekiel 34:23-24) . . .And I will raise up over them one shepherd, and he must feed them, even my servant David. He himself will feed them, and he himself will become their shepherd. 24 And I myself, Jehovah, will become their God, and my servant David a chieftain in the midst of them. I myself, Jehovah, have spoken.
These things are not merely a difference of opinion without consequence for if one is not among the flock of Jehovah’s sheep, they are not being fed and cared for and delivered, nor have they as of yet been brought out or collected and they do not as of yet lay down in a good abiding place and they do not as of yet eat the spiritual food that is the fat pasturage upon the mountains of spiritual Israel, but they, as of yet, remain where they were scattered in a day of thick cloud and gloom. Is it any wonder, then, that Benedict XVI is utterly oblivious to the nearness of the end, for he is himself revealed as among the very shepherds Jehovah spoke about prophetically by means of Ezekiel:
(Ezekiel 34:10) . . .This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘Here I am against the shepherds, and I shall certainly ask back my sheep from their hand and make them cease from feeding [my] sheep, and the shepherds will no longer feed themselves; and I will deliver my sheep out of their mouth, and they will not become food for them.’”
As I read Benedict’s letter I was reminded of Jesus’ clear rebuke to the Pharisee wherever he may be found:
(Mark 7:1-8) . . .Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes that had come from Jerusalem gathered about him. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat their meal with defiled hands, that is, unwashed ones— 3 for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands up to the elbow, holding fast the tradition of the men of former times, 4 and, when back from market, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves by sprinkling; and there are many other traditions that they have received to hold fast, baptisms of cups and pitchers and copper vessels;— 5 so these Pharisees and scribes asked him: “Why is it your disciples do not conduct themselves according to the tradition of the men of former times, but they take their meal with defiled hands?” 6 He said to them: “Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with [their] lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. 7 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach as doctrines commands of men.’ 8 Letting go the commandment of God, YOU hold fast the tradition of men.”
Benedict holds fast to the traditions of men. His letter fairly read is all about such traditions and only in passing are the scriptures mentioned–Matthew’s Gospel re the requirement to go to one’s brother if he has sinned; –a brief passage in Galatians, of which he purports to be an apologetic to Paul; and to a few passages of the Gospel re Peter and the Catholic Church’s persistent failure to understand what Jesus meant when he pointed to himself and NOT PETER,declaring “upon this rock-mass I will build my congregation.” (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42-44; Ephesians 2:19-20); and an application as made primarily to himself, when in fact it is intended to be for every Christian, to be prepared to make a defense of the faith to anyone (2 Peter 3:15)
Indeed, Benedict himself asserts it plainly, saying:
“This will make it clear that the problems now to be addressed are essentially doctrinal in nature and concern primarily the acceptance of the Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar magisterium of the Popes.”
And what does the scriptures say about the Law and the Testimony–those who do not adhere to it but stray in such traditional ways? In among other places it is made clear who calls and who leads anyone to Christ and that this is in and of itself an imprimitur of a true calling, that you do find yourself with Christ and the good news:
(Galatians 1:6-9) 6 I marvel that YOU are being so quickly removed from the One who called YOU with Christ’s undeserved kindness over to another sort of good news. 7 But it is not another; only there are certain ones who are causing YOU trouble and wanting to pervert the good news about the Christ. 8 However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to YOU as good news something beyond what YOU accepted, let him be accursed.
Let everyone in the Catholic Church hear plainly the Word of God by means of Isaiah the prophet, who declares plainly what they must do if they are to eat on the fat pasture and find themselves in Jehovah’s flock:
(Isaiah 1:18-20) . . .”Come, now, YOU people, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though the sins of YOU people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool. 19 If YOU people show willingness and do listen, the good of the land YOU will eat. 20 But if YOU people refuse and are actually rebellious, with a sword YOU will be eaten up; for the very mouth of Jehovah has spoken [it].”
So many times I have heard it said–”But those passages were directed at ancient Israel and have no application to modern people”–that what we are to listen to and how is removed from us. Let us recall that if a person is not applying it to him or herself who precisely is it to be applied to except those who ultimately become Jehovah’s sheep. That’s the point exactly, for if we “listen”–saying this is speaking to me and I am going to apply it to myself, to enter into it, to believe–what do these “willing” people enjoy? The very forgiveness of sins that is the good news about Christ Jesus AND MORE! These ones will eat the good of the land, something that at least includes the spiritual provisions of the Faithful Steward. (Luke 12:42-43)
What is required? RUN! Get out of her? Of whom do I speak? If Benedict is to faithfully “[Lead] men and women to God, to the God who speaks in the Bible: [as] the supreme and fundamental priority of the Church and of the Successor of Peter at the present time,” how can he deviate from that very inspired Word and yet remain faithful to God? Simply stated, he cannot. (e.g., see 2 Timothy 3:16)
The Great Harlot that Benedict himself describes unknowingly when he asks rhetorically in his letter:
“But should not the great Church also allow herself to be generous in the knowledge of her great breadth, in the knowledge of the promise made to her?”
What is THAT PROMISE?
Here it is!
(Isaiah 47:8-15) . . .”And now hear this, you pleasure-given [woman], the one sitting in security, the one saying in her heart: “I am, and there is nobody else. I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know the loss of children.” 9 But to you these two things will come suddenly, in one day: loss of children and widowhood. In their complete measure they must come upon you, for the abundance of your sorceries, for the full might of your spells—exceedingly. 10 And you kept trusting in your badness. You have said: “There is no one seeing me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge—this is what has led you away; and you keep saying in your heart: “I am, and there is nobody else.” 11 And upon you calamity must come; you will know no charming against it. And upon you adversity will fall; you will not be able to avert it. And upon you there will suddenly come a ruin that you are not accustomed to know. 12 Stand still, now, with your spells and with the abundance of your sorceries, in which you have toiled from your youth; that perhaps you might be able to benefit, that perhaps you might strike people with awe. 13 You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you. 14 Look! They have become like stubble. A fire itself will certainly burn them up. They will not deliver their soul from the power of the flame. There will be no glow of charcoals for people to warm themselves, no firelight in front of which to sit down. 15 Thus they will certainly become to you, with whom you have toiled as your charmers from your youth. They will actually wander, each one to his own region. There will be no one to save you.”
~May it come quickly. (Revelation 2:16)
