Beware you wicked people! Doomsayers Say Benedict Fits World End Prophecy

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's ascent to the papacy took a conclave of 115 cardinals, four rounds of voting and followed a lifetime of service to the Vatican.

But ask Internet doomsayers eyeing a 12th century Catholic prophecy and they'll tell you it was all stitched up more than eight centuries ago and that judgment day is nigh.

The prophecy -- widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax -- is attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognized by members of the Church for his ability to read the future.

Benedict, believers say, fits the description of the second-to-last pope listed under the prophecy before the Last Judgement, when the bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.

"The Old Testament states: 'believe his prophets and you will prosper' -- so believe it. We are close to the return of the Judge of the nations. Christ is coming," wrote one Internet post by the Rev. Pat Reynolds.

St. Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes. The new pope would be number 111 on that list, and is described in a text attributed to St. Malachy as the "Glory of the Olive."

To connect Benedict, a pale, bookish German, to anything olive takes some imagination. But Malachy-watchers point to the choice of the name Benedict -- an allusion to the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans.

"When (he) chose the name Benedict XVI, this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope," wrote one entry on www.wikipedia.org.

Benedict said that he chose the name partly in honor of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922), calling him a "courageous prophet of peace." On Wednesday, Benedict dedicated his papacy to "the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."

"Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the world, and thus carry the olive branch," speculated www.catholic-pages.com.

Another site, www.bibleprobe.com, went even further, showing a picture of Benedict holding olive branches in March during Palm Sunday celebrations.

Critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave. Doses of skepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages.

But believers point out similarities between the prophecy's descriptions and past pontificates.

Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as "de labore solis" -- or "of the labor of the sun."

He was born on May 18, 1920, the same day as a solar eclipse. The pontiff was buried on April 8, 2005 -- the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.

More pressing for doomsayers are the prophecy's references to the last Pope on the list, Peter the Roman, who will lead the Church before "the formidable judge will judge his people."

Since Benedict is already 78 years old, they say Peter the Roman must be coming soon, and with him, the end of the world.

"His reign will only last a few years at most. This signals that we are living in what may be the end of days as we know it," said one Web Site entry by someone calling himself SmartBob.

Bible Prophecy vs Other Kinds

Nostradamus’ prophecies are general enough to be manipulated into world events. Edgar Cayce's are even more so.

But the prophecies of the Bible are specific and give details. Other Prophets often add more details to previous prophecies, revealing a harmonization that only God’s inspiration could explain.

There were more than 300 predictions concerning the first coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Such things as the place of His birth, His family, the miracles He would perform, the very day He would officially be presented as the Messiah, the fact He would be rejected, the kind of death He would die – and much more.

St. Malachy’s prophecies are not the same kind as the Bible’s. So from where did they come and why were they given?

The Bible reveals that Satan is the great counterfeiter. I believe that he is setting up a counterfeit system of prophecy that will be used to somehow authenticate the Antichrist.

I don’t believe that the Pope, “Peter the Roman” will be the antichrist. God predicts that the antichrist will turn on the Church and destroy both it and the City of Rome;

“And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast [Antichrist], these will hate the harlot [Roman Church] and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.” (Revelation 17:16-17)

I don’t believe a Pope would do this.

The ‘woman’ who is called “Mystery Babylon” and “the great Harlot” is revealed in the following verse, “The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” The verb “reigns” is present tense and means “is reigning” over the kings of the earth.

When John wrote this, only one city fit that description – ROME. So the woman, who is the “mystery harlot of Babylon” that symbolizes a counterfeit religion, is inseparably identified with Rome.

I believe this final Pope will be deceived by the Antichrist and used to gain his political and religious power base.

The Antichrist will have the greatest deceptive power in history, “… that is the one whose coming is accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 NAS)

The Antichrist will destroy the Church because He wants to set up his own system of worship and move the religious center to Jerusalem in the coming Jewish Temple there, “… and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NAS)

It is important to note a very important thing at this point. I believe that there are millions of Catholics who have placed personal faith in Christ.

But the Catholic Church system of the last days will be able to draw all religions into a one-world religion. All the ‘Protestant’ Churches who don’t have to get new pastors after Christ takes out all living believers (the Rapture) will also be part of this.

The infrastructure to form a one-world religion is clearly resides in the Roman Catholic Church. The enormous popularity gained through the media boosted it into the right position to form a world-religion. The funeral of Pope John Paul II was the most publicized event in history. His popularity catapulted the Roman system into launch position.

The Apostle Peter knew his death was imminent when he wrote his second epistle. So he dashed off his most important instructions to leave for us.

Peter recounted the greatest experience he ever had on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. He records how he heard the voice of God speak to Jesus. He also records how he saw with his own eyes Jesus transfigured to the way He will appear at the Second Coming.

Then Peter makes his point, “And we have a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well take heed as a light that shines in a dark place …” (2 Peter 1:19 KJV)

Peter’s amazing point is that Bible prophecy is more sure than what he saw with his eyes and heard with his hears. Then he explains why, “… knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” The next verse explains what this means, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The context is speaking of the origination of Scripture, not its interpretation. The Scriptures are not the result of man’s interpretation of life and history. They are the result of God’s Spirit moving on chosen men to reduce to writing what God wanted to say to us. This is why they are more sure than any man’s opinions and interpretations.

That is why we can believe and accept what the Bible says about the most important thing any person can understand – how to enter a personal relation with God.

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 NKJ)

This wonderful, clear promise from Jesus Christ makes it clear that there are only two kinds of people in the world. Those who believe in Him and are not coming into judgment, and those who don’t believe in Him and are already condemned.

No Church can save you. It is based on a personal choice you must make with God.

There is a pardon Jesus purchased for you with your name on it. Don’t leave it unclaimed. Pray right now and receive forgiveness and eternal life with Him.

Email Author: mailto:hal@hallindseyoracle.com

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