[B-Chan]

Merely quoting Scripture is not enough to convince me. A given passage of Scripture can be interpreted any way the reader likes, which is why there are so many denominations out there. Each denomination, of course, claims that it and it alone has the ability to correctly interpret Scripture “by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit”. No, I need an authority to explain to me what a given passage of Scripture means, and its place in the entire body of Christian teaching.

That authority is the Catholic Church. It was given this power directly by the Lord, who granted St. Peter the “Office of the Keys”. The Church, built upon the Rock of St. Peter, is the only authority I trust to tell me what Scripture means and how it applies to me.

Now, I know that many people do not accept the authority of the Church to do this — and that’s okay. It’s a shame, but I’m not here to sell anyone on the Catholic Church (that’s the Holy Spirit’s gig). However, since I myself have come to accept the teaching authority of the Church, any attempt to interpret Scripture that contradicts the two thousand years of Christian doctrine passed down by the Church is not going to convince me.

And neither the Catholic Church nor any of the Orthodox churches have ever taught that our Lord will appear in a “Coming 2.5” to take away the Christians, go back to Heaven, wait around for seven Earth years, then return again (Coming 3.0) to finish the story. None of the mainstream Protestant churches teach it, either — not the Lutherans, not the Calvinists, not the Methodists, Episcopalians, or Congregationalists. Most of the Baptist churches in America don’t teach it either. The only Christian groups who teach the rapture thing are ones that began in relatively recent years (i.e. since AD 1800). And, frankly, I’m not ready to ditch two millennia of Christian teaching on the say so of “theological n00bz”.

But, as a collector of End Times propaganda, I’m always up for a look at new material, the foamier the better. So bring it on. I like Quix, but more for the UFO stuff.

[Quix]

Holy Spirit has done quite well at leading folks into all truth just as Christ said He would.

Evidently Holy Spirit disagrees with the RC magicsterical about having a political bureaucracy OK

Holy Spirit’s leading and teachings.

[Quix]

Glad the UFO stuff is entertaining to you.

[marbren]

That authority is the Catholic Church. It was given this power directly by the Lord, who granted St. Peter the “Office of the Keys”. The Church, built upon the Rock of St. Peter, is the only authority I trust to tell me what Scripture means and how it applies to me.

Is this an interpretation?

[marbren]

The role of Israel is key.

[jackv]

Well with all due respect some of us consider Catholicism a cult and to consider it your “authority” is exactly the problem. The Bible doesn't need any one to explain it if you have faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.