THE LAST POPE AND THE CHURCH

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The old Roman Empire headed by the Caesars is the leg of this image. By the time this empire declined the papacy had taken over the functions of providing spiritual and political leadership of the whole of Europe. The Roman Empire did not come to an end like the others before it. It continued to survive through the years and today it is in the form of the EU.

And just as the feet had some of its parts made of iron and some of clay, so it is that all the countries of the EU do not have equal strength. Some of them are very strong and wealthy, others are not so gifted. The EU working closely with her ally the US which itself is an offshoot of Britain currently dictates the pace and trends of all activities that is going on in earth.

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The Catholic Church is the largest and most wealthy organization in our planet therefore it should not be surprising that the head of this Church; His Holiness the Pope holds the highest office on earth. He wields so much authority on the political class that it can be safe to say he is the king of the earth.

Now if it is true that this man will be the last pope that means the last phase of the Roman Empire is at hand. According to Daniel’s interpretation, a stone not cut with hands was seen rolling down the mountain until it came to the image and smashed it to piece at its feet.

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The stone that was seen smashing the image represent the enthronement of the LORD’S Kingdom. This is what most people call the new millennium or simply Christ’s one thousand years reign on earth. This period will be man’s golden age as the level of technological, societal, moral and economic development that will characterize that period by far supersedes any known by men of our time.

Now before the start of the one thousand years rule of Christ, there will be a seven year period of Anti-Christ reign. Here satan and his fallen demons will have full liberty to do as they wish. The technological advancement we now enjoy will nose-dive, the societal and moral decadence will be unparallel in history and the economy of the world will suffer its worst equilibrium.

THE LAST POPE AND THE CHURCH

THE LAST POPE 1

Almost everybody is interested in what the future has in store for them. One of the best known prophecies about the events that would usher in the final end of our earth is found in a book called the tree of life.

This book is found in the Vatican city’s library and the prophecies were written by a Roman Catholic Bishop called st. Malachi. He was born in the year 1094 in Ireland and his predictions are about the Popes and Antipopes that will reign as heads of the Roman Catholic church from his time till the second coming of Christ..

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Two gentlemen got wind of this book and though they are not catholics went to the Vatican, read this book and came out with their own predictions. St. Malachi had written in exact format how one hundred and twelve Popes will assume and leave office. He predicted their names, places of birth and each Pope’s or his family coat of arms.

These two gentlemen now predicted that Pope Benedict will resign due to ill health reasons and how his holiness Pope Francis will ascend the papacy seat giving the exact time these events will occur. The events took place as predicted. The most important thing here is that St. Malachi had prophesied that Pope Frances will be the last Pope before Christ Jesus returns the second time to earth.

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What then are the positives to be derived from this lesson which the duo of men has revealed to us? How is the Church planning to benefit from this priceless information? Let us go back 2,500 years in time when a great king was first given this information and how a foursome of youngsters interpreted the king’s revelation. [Daniel 2]

The great king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon laid on his bed thinking of what the future would look like. GOD gave him a dream and by the time he woke up, he could not remember the dream. When Daniel and his friends were brought before the king, they not only refreshed the king’s memory with his own dream but went ahead to interpret it. This is the summary of their effort:

MERCHANDISE IN THE TEMPLE SECTION TWO

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These financial experts were no mean men. They were the astute religious, social economical and political juggernauts of their day. Men of them occupy positions which we in our days would call Captains of Industries. These men include the scribes, the Pharisees, Sadducees and members of the priestly class.

From the physical point of view, what these men did would be seen as noble and lofty. There was nothing wrong in bringing the materials needed for sacrifice from infinity to the close reach of the people. No one can fault that act. It is a noble act, perhaps it deserves a noble peace prize.

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Lofty as this idea or principle of conducting financial transactions in the temple is, how does the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY view this act?

1 Sam 16:7

7 but the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

And what is HIS response?

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John 2:13-16

13 And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

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When men sit down to devise mischief in their hearts so that they can orchestrate wickedness against the children of GOD, they disguise their true intentions and make use of scriptural terminologies as an alibi to cover up their wickedness, they feel happy that no one is sees them.

Had they be more diligent to study the word of GOD, they should have known the injunction which says: Bread stolen and eaten in the dark places is sweet but they do not consider that the spirits of the dead are there watching them.

MERCHANDISE IN THE TEMPLE

John 2:13-16

13 And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

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For a period of four hundred years, the Israelites served as slaves in Egypt. The Egyptians made life cruel and miserable for the Israelites and in the fullness of time, God sent them a deliverer in the person of Moses.

Moses is perhaps the greatest man that ever bestrode the earth were we to assume that Jesus Christ was more than a man. Through his ministry, the Passover was established. Ever since his time the Jews celebrate this festival once every year. It is the greatest event in the life of the Jew.

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I t is the wish of every Jew irrespective of whichever country they reside to participate in this festival in Jerusalem, therefore they troop in to Jerusalem in large numbers to celebrate the Passover. They not only arrive with their families for those of them who could afford it, but also come with foreigners who haven got a pre-knowledge of this event also choose to participate.

The most important of all the events in this festival is in the sacrificing of animals to atone for the sins of the people as they choose to make their peace with God. The animals used for such sacrifices include bulls, sheep and doves. It all depends on the financial capabilities and the size of each family present.

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Now many of the foreigners and foreign Jews arrive with foreign currencies to Jerusalem. These money must be converted to local money for effective usage. In those days there were no banks or Bureau de changes as we know them today to assist in these monetary conversions.

Also the animal market was quite a distance from the temple. To promote the ease by which the foreigners can perform their operations in the financial market so as not to miss any part of the rituals, the financial experts among the clergy of that day met and decided to create a very conducive atmosphere by which financial transactions can proceed  with relative ease.

MERCHANDISE OF THE GOSPEL

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The atmosphere in the hall of the meeting was a very somber one as Mr. White stood up totally downcast and crestfallen; he narrated his experience earlier in the day.  Where had things gone wrong? Was this the type of results he anticipated when he sacrificed so much to bring this school into being?

Or was it that the students were just not brilliant enough to pass the exam? If it was true that they were very dull, how come they all made grade A in the elective courses but went ahead to fail the compulsory courses woefully? No something must be wrong somewhere. One after the other the students were interviewed and to the uttermost chagrin of all the parents and board members, the students revealed that they were taught only the two electives to perfection to the detriment of all the other subjects that were compulsory.

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At last Mr. Brown and his staff were asked to explain their actions but to the further consternation of all the people present, the staff were speechless. Therefore the Lord of the school being very angry opened his mouth and spoke saying

Matt 25:30

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And with respect to Mr. Brown he opened his mouth saying:

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Matt 22:11-1