Focus shifts to shared goals with Obama as papal visit nears [Revelation 13]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweeping into office in 2009, President Barack Obama captured near rock-star status around the world among millions who saw him as the embodiment of a new sense of social purpose. Now, that baton has largely been passed to Pope Francis, whose visit to the White House next month will put his common cause with Obama on vivid display.

Obama has made no secret of his affection for the outspoken pope, calling him a "transformative leader" whose influence has transcended the Roman Catholic community. The pope has embraced many of the issues Obama has sought to advance, including global warming, poverty and diplomacy with Iran and Cuba.

Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said the pope's Sept. 23 visit will mark an important moment not only for Catholics but for all Americans.

"Pope Francis has breathed new life into what I believe is the central mission of our faith: Catholic social doctrine," Biden said in a statement to The Associated Press. Invoking key elements of Obama's agenda, Biden added that Francis "has become a moral rudder for the world on some of the most important issues of our time, from inequality to climate change."

The pope's brief visit to the White House is part of his highly anticipated trip to the U.S. and Cuba. It's a reunion of sorts for Obama and Francis, who first met when the president visited the Vatican last year.

"It's going to be a come-to-Jesus moment — no pun intended — for the many politicians who want to claim the mantle of Pope Francis," said Michael Wear, a former White House official who led faith outreach for Obama's 2012 campaign...

The Bible foretells that in the last days before the return of Jesus, an international religious figure will rise on the scene. This religious figure will look like a self-sacrificing, philanthropist. A real lover of man and the earth! He will appear harmless as a lamb, but when he speaks, he speaks like a ravenous dragon. He may feign faith in Christ, but in reality will direct everyone to worship another political figure who will be promoted to help solve the world's problems.

Somehow this religious figure is so intertwined with politics and the economic system, he is able to promote a new worldwide economic order where all must have the the political figure's mark on their person in order to purchase, and to show loyalty to the "new world system". The Bible is also clear that whoever receives this "mark" will be damned to hell, with no hope of redemption.

I am not sure if Pope Francis IS this religious figure. If not, he is certainly a wonderful forerunner. Every time he opens his mouth, he continues his foray into the world political and economic orders and his consistent promotion of homosexuality, Allah as God of the Bible, and Marxism/Socialism betray his "inner dragon"...

Revelation 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein * to worship the first beast, whose * deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak , and cause that as many as would * not worship the image of the beast should be killed *. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great *, rich and poor *, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand *, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell , save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.