Posted on 02/14/2006 8:05:00 AM PST by NYer
December, 28, 2005
Dear Friend,
A warm handshake, the touching of each cheek in turn (in true Italian style), and the words, “We are doing the same mission for our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That moment bridged a gap of centuries. Five hundred years ago I would not have been standing in the Vatican and a priest might have called for my death as a heretic. But this day in December, 2005, was a day of reconciliation and embracing on common ground–the belief in waging spiritual war through exorcism, deliverance, and healing.
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If you haven’t been tracing my steps for the past couple of weeks, let me bring you up to date. The priest who embraced me was Father Gabriele Amorth, the foremost exorcist in the Catholic church. I had been asked to come to the Vatican in Rome to meet Father Amorth, who has appeared with me in several documentaries, including the recent special on A&E. We were also permitted to bring video cameras to record this historic meeting for inclusion in a documentary we’re producing. (We were accompanied by an interpreter–Father Amorth speaks only Italian–a cameraman, as well as our documentary producer and a director.) Father Amorth is well-respected all over the world as the primary Catholic priest to consult when questions about exorcism arise. He is the honorary president of the International Association of Exorcists and heads up a Vatican training school for potential exorcists. He is a fearless man of God who has bravely taken on the forces of darkness. This meeting opened the door to building bridges with the one billion-strong Catholic community. I believe in the Last Days before the return of Jesus Christ that all those who believe in spiritual warfare need to join together as a worldwide spiritual army, regardless of our theological differences. That’s why this breakthrough was such an answer to prayer. I have always expressed my appreciation for the way the Catholic Church has maintained the tradition of exorcism. Even the late Pope John Paul II performed at least three known exorcisms, one in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. While many Protestants have shied away from embracing deliverance through exorcism, Catholics have kept the practice alive. The way that Catholics do exorcism has some differences as to style, but the basic fundamentals are the same. In fact, I have encouraged our Do What Jesus Did (DWJD) healing and deliverance teams to read the Rituale Romanum, the ancient Catholic rite of exorcism. It is filled with majestic, biblical language that boldly confronts Satan and his demons. Of course, as a Protestant and evangelical Christian, I have some theological differences with Catholics. But I’ve always made it a practice to embrace all Christians who share a common faith in Christ and a desire to defeat the works of the devil. Our meeting with Father Amorth took place in a massive Church building that was part of an elaborate facility including beautiful grounds and landscaping. For nearly an hour Father Amorth answered our questions about deliverance and exorcism. He pulled no punches and was totally forthright, declaring that every Christian can and should battle the devil and cast out demons. He lamented that many in his own Church avoid the issue. On a brighter note, I asked him about the new Pope, Benedict XVI. Father Amorth pointed out that when Benedict XVI was a cardinal he was part of the committee that updated the current Catholic exorcism ritual. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Every Pope has approved of exorcism and encouraged it.” (I only wish that could be said of every evangelical church leader in America!) After more than an hour of intense discussion, Father Amorth motioned for me to follow him. In his 80s, he walks with a slow but deliberate gait. He led me from the beautiful chapel where we first met, down several long hallways. A few minutes later he opened the door to a simply furnished room. “This is my exorcism room,” he said. I felt like I was standing on holy ground. To my knowledge no one from the outside world has ever been allowed there with TV cameras. As a gracious host he pointed out everything in the room that was so special to him. On the walls were pictures of the Archangel Michael and photos of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. He pointed to a chair. “That’s where I do most of the exorcisms,” he said. Then he turned to a bed on the opposite side of the room. “That’s where we restrain those who are violent.” He reached in a box and showed us the straps he uses to tie down people when he can’t control the demons. He lovingly cradled in his hands the crucifix and stole that are such an important part of his tradition. |
As he concluded, the Lord impressed me to ask something the Holy Spirit prompted at that moment: “Would you bless me and my wife and share your anointing with us?” Without hesitation he rubbed his finger in anointing salve and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. Then he made the sign of the cross on my chest and put one hand on my head and the other over my heart. The room was filled with a sacred silence as his deep, tender voice invoked the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit over me and my wife, Laura.
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I felt the presence of God as Father Amorth imparted a portion of the calling on his life. Centuries of religious conflict and misunderstanding melted away in a moment. Something powerful took place in heavenly realms. Old walls came down as two proponents of spiritual warfare from the Catholic and Protestant traditions met on the common ground of the cross. When he finished his moving prayer of blessing, Father Amorth grinned and turned to the TV cameras. “They are demon-free,” he said. “No demons around them, only angels.” We laughed together at his pronouncement, knowing that his delightful humor was also meant to be a serious note of conclusion to our meeting. So much more happened than I have room to write about here. That’s why we’ve produced an unedited, director’s cut of the entire encounter, entitled The Miracle at the Vatican, that you can show to family and friends. In a moment I’ll share how you can have a Limited Edition copy of this historic video footage. I was touched by the faithfulness of Father Amorth. He doesn’t have a dedicated group of spiritual warriors to help bear the burden, like I do. (We now have more than 100 Do What Jesus Did, DWJD, teams around the world.). He must strap people down because only a few nuns and elderly lay people assist him. But Father Amorth has something very important that we don’t have. He has the backing of the richest religious institution in the world to provide all his facilities and all his needs. In contrast, there isn’t a single church in America or Canada that provides support for what we’re doing to set the captives free. We depend solely on faithful friends like you to sacrificially make it possible to reach the lost and hurting. We desperately need a place like Father Amorth has for worship, prayer, and ministry around the clock. For the last year our Spiritual Freedom Church and Center in Phoenix, Arizona has been meeting in a small office facility that is wholly inadequate to minister to the needs of those who come for healing and deliverance. Several months ago God led us to a new location for a $1.2 million prayer and worship center and miraculously provided the initial funding. Drywall is going up, electricians and plumbers are vigorously at work, and architects are finishing the design. This will be the most unique religious facility this side of the Vatican. When Father Amorth has financial needs, he turns to the Church. Everyone from the Pope on down is committed to the success of his spiritual calling. Our ministry turns to you to help finish this historic Center of healing and hope. Our most urgent need is to immediately raise $120,000 between now and our opening in February. It would please the Lord to have us minister free from financial burdens, just as Father Amorth does. Will you help us do that? Once our Church and Center are open, we can also establish a deliverance training school like Father Amorth has done. We’ll be able to have a regular schedule of healing retreats, teaching seminars, and around-the-clock prayers for deliverance. Because of our extensive secular publicity and this new connection with the Catholic Church, those who hunger to restore this much-neglected ministry will turn to us for direction and leadership. You can have great spiritual satisfaction by being a Freedom Founder, one of 1,000 to share a gift of $120 to complete the first stage of our Spiritual Freedom Church and Center. Before I close this letter. Let me share one more instance that took place during our Vatican meeting with Father Amorth. As this humble priest led us into his exorcism room, we encountered a young woman who was already in the room, awaiting her turn for an exorcism. When she saw us and the television cameras, she covered her face in shame and bolted from the room. Through our Italian interpreter she pleaded with us not to identify her to anyone. Over and over she begged us, “Please don’t tell anyone I was here.” It took some time to convince her we wouldn’t show her image in any footage that we shot. I understand why this woman wanted her exorcism to be secret. Unfortunately, both the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church have stigmatized exorcism. Church leaders have made seeking deliverance a hush-hush affair to be hidden, much like we used to do with mental illness and physical disabilities. Thank God, those in wheelchairs are no longer second class citizens. Those with mental illness are out of the closet and getting the professional help they deserve. Exorcism, deliverance and inner healing must also be brought into the open so that people like that woman in Father Amorth’s exorcism room don’t have to cringe in fear. The hurting and brokenhearted who are bound by Satan must be able to find a safe place for ministry. Our Spiritual Freedom Church and Center for Freedom will be that place! Don’t put off being a partner with me. Get your check or credit card right now and call 1-866-910-FREE (3733) to let us know your gift is on the way. Join 999 other people by sharing a gift of $120 so the doors to our Spiritual Freedom Church & Center can open next month. I’m praying that the moment you write that check or call in that credit card that the anointing I received from Father Amorth will flow from me to you. Let The Miracle at the Vatican be the beginning of a miracle in your own life Doing What Jesus Did, Bob Larson P. S. My personal meeting and interview with Father Amorth, along with the visit to his exorcism room, was all captured on video. This is remarkable, unprecedented footage and a small portion will appear in the worldwide exorcism documentary we’re producing. I want you to have the entire, unedited footage in an exclusive “director’s cut” called The Miracle at the Vatican. For your gift of $120 or more, I’ll rush this footage to you as soon as it’s available. If you have Catholic friends or family, don’t miss the chance to let them see this historic encounter. I’m praying that, as you watch it, Father Amorth’s anointing will come upon your life. P. P. S. Even though we urgently need gifts of $120 or more, any gift of any size will be deeply appreciated. Share what you can to help establish this historic Church & Center of deliverance and freedom for those tormented by the devil. |
I acknowledge before God, Man, and Freepazoid that I can stand a few improvements before I leave this terrestrial ball. BTW< I wonder which Dwarf I am?
A guy spouting a bunch of words and daring the demon to come at him is going to get hit hard.
On the other hand, a humble believer who has put on the full armor of God per Ephesians 6, prayed for forgiveness and strength beforehand, and puts the demons on notice as to what they can and can't do will have things go surprisingly smoothly. Remember what the 70 who were sent out by Jesus said when they returned to him: "Even the demons obey us!" That's a true statement that still hold for today. Demons are mostly very obedient when they come up against the true authority of God.
Stingray: Conservative Christian News and Commentary
Hardly.
"The Papacy is the very Antichrist, the Pope being the son of perdition of whom Paul speaks." (John Knox)
"Of all the dreams that have ever deluded men, and probably of all blasphemies that ever were uttered, there has never been one which is more absurd and which is more fruitful in all manner of mischief than the idea that the Bishop of Rome can be the head of the church of Jesus Christ. No. These Popes die, and how could the church live if its head were dead? The true head ever lives and the church ever lives in Him." (CH Spurgeon)
"The doctrinal ignorance of the evangelical church is shocking, matched only by its cowardice, I fear. That has certainly been revealed to everybody in the recent response to the death of the Pope and the installation of his successor. The promotion of Catholicism that we’ve seen in the media in the last couple of months has had no equal in history. This is the single greatest promotion of the Roman Catholic system in the history of that system. The world media has set aside the sickening pedophilia, the abuse issues to parade the pomp and circumstance of this false system as if it were truly all glorious. It is a classic illustration of the old story of the Emperor’s New Clothes, spiritually it’s naked." (John MacArthur)
You need help FRiend.
Won't you be surprised.
Have you noticed that the ex-catholics tend to have a lot of hatred and bile for the Catholic church, but the converts to the Catholic church generally have nice things to say about their former churches? Wonder why that is.
Doesn't make it true.
Perhaps that is because we know the utter darkness from when we have been delivered by the grace of God. You guys don't really believe protestantism is that bad, hence there is nothing to badmouth.
I don't know why our Catholic church would have anything to do with this guy, either. This really is unsurprising from a member of the pentacostal sect.
"Here...let me tell you about this spiritual experience I had."
"You can also experience it for three easy payments of $99.95."
The claim that the pope is the Antichrist has been part of anti-Catholic rhetoric since the Reformation, when it was needed to justify the Protestant Reformers’ desire to leave the Catholic Church.
Rather than the bishop of Rome, the early Fathers identified the Antichrist as a government official—a king coming to power in the ruins of the Roman Empire. He would probably be Jewish, possibly from the tribe of Dan. And most importantly, rather than claiming like the pope to be the vicar or emissary of Jesus Christ, he would claim that Jesus was not the Christ but that he was instead. He would then seduce many of the Jewish people by attempting to fulfill the political aspirations they held for the Messiah.
The whole time of your faith will not profit you unless you are made complete in the last time. For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and sheep shall be turned into wolves . . . and then shall the deceiver of the world appear, pretending to be the Son of God, and [he] shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands (Didache 16:3–4 [A.D. 70]).
Now as our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also God, was prophesied of under the figure of a lion, on account of his royalty and glory, in the same way have the scriptures also beforehand spoken of Antichrist as a lion, on account of his tyranny and violence. For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion. Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king. The Savior was manifested as a lamb, so he too in like manner will appear as a lamb without; within he is a wolf. The Savior came into the world in the circumcision [i.e., the Jewish race], and he will come in the same manner. . . . The Savior raised up and showed his holy flesh like a temple, and he will raise a temple of stone in Jerusalem (Hippolytus - The Antichrist 6 [A.D. 200]).
I would prefer the phrasing "an antichrist". As John said, "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."
But I understand where the Reformers were coming from.
You can "prefer" anything you like ... I prefer the phrasing that Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Charles Spurgeon, John MacArthur et al. are antichrists. Somebody is or was whispering lies in their ears. It sure wasn't the Holy Spirit.
BTW, your tagline is blasphemous.
John also tells us: "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22; cf. 4:3; 2 John 7).
The Antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Messiah. But the pope’s authority as the vicar (representative) of Christ depends on Jesus being the Christ. The pope is the one man least likely to deny that Jesus is the Messiah. His job depends on it! For this same reason one cannot refer the "many antichrists" (cf. 1 John 2:18) to "the dynasty of the papacy."
As for needing help, yes I do. But the help I need comes from obedience to the Triune God. True obedience to Him can be found in one place, ironically, it's a place you seem to loathe.
That strikes me as curious.
What does this say about Fr. Amorth's spiritual discernment?
Ah, then you must be like the Mormons who have been instructed by an angel.
But there is none so blind as those who will not see:
As ye have heard that antichrist will come. He speaks as of a thing well known. We may hence conclude that the faithful had been taught and warned from the beginning respecting the future disorder of the Church, in order that they might, carefully keep themselves in the faith they professed, and also instruct posterity in the duty of watchfulness. For it was God's will that his Church should be thus tried, lest any one knowingly and willingly should be deceived, and that there might be no excuse for ignorance. But we see that almost the whole world has been miserably deceived, as though not a word had been said about AntichristMoreover, under the Papacy there is nothing more notorious and common than the future coming of Antichrist; and yet they are so stupid, that they perceive not that his tyranny is exercised over them. Indeed, the same thing happens altogether to them as to the Jews; for though they hold the promises respecting the Messiah, they are yet further away from Christ than if they had never heard his name; for the imaginary Messiah, whom they have invented for themselves, turns them wholly aside from the Son of God; and were any one to shew Christ to them from the Law and the Prophets, he would only spend his labor in vain. The Popes have imagined an Antichrist, who for three years and a half is to harass the Church. All the marks by which the Spirit of God has pointed out Antichrist, clearly appear in the Pope; but the triennial Antichrist lays fast hold on the foolish Papists, so that seeing they do not see. Let us then remember, that Antichrist has not only been announced by the Spirit of God, but that also the marks by which he may be distinguished have been mentioned.
John Calvin
maybe in that picture he is giving him an exorcism.
Yes ... you go right ahead and heed the words of John Calvin while ignoring those of St. John, as posted in #32.
Jack Chick has done a job on you, my friend. Go back to your Bible and read The Truth.
ROTFL!!!!
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