Next and Last Pope

Through the study of Revelation chapter 17, the				"And the beast that was, and is not, even he is
Lord has led us to a most startling truth,				the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into
confirming that we are nearer to the end of all				perdition." Revelation 17:11. Here, we learn the
things than ever imagined. We are prompted by				following:
our loving God to share this prophecy, that none				1. The Roman Catholic Church was once a beast
need be ensnared by the global events soon to				(up to 1798), but now is not (as she has been in
transpire which will engulf the world in the				the wilderness experience since 1798); however,
grandest deception yet contrived by Satan.				she will regain the beast status (meaning she will
World's Last Chance dares to declare this				come out of her wilderness experience) after the
interpretation to the world because we adhere				fall of the seventh king, Benedict XVI.
only to sound Biblical interpretation. This means we				2. The next one to come after Benedict XVI will
unlock Bible prophecy by using the Bible as its				be one of the other seven kings. But he will no
own interpreter. By doing so we are certain of				longer be considered a mere king, but will be a
the correctness of the revelation.				beast as well; for with him the Roman Catholic
With the vivid realization that we are living in the				Church will regain her former power to persecute
age just prior to the second coming of Christ in				her enemies.
the clouds of heaven, we pray the Lord will				3. The eighth, when he comes, will be the last; for
impress you with the shortness of time available				he "goeth into perdition."
before the fate of every living person is decided,				THE EIGHTH KING
and may His Spirit give you the discernment and				13. Who is the eighth who will restore the beast
wisdom needed as you undertake this solemn				status to the Roman Catholic Church anew?
study. AMEN				To answer this question we need first to note
REVELATION 17				the origin of the eighth: "The beast that thou
1. Which part of the Bible led you to reach this				sawest was [the Catholic Church was once a
conclusion?				beast until 1798] and is not [during her wilderness
"And there came one of the seven angels... saying				experience], and shall ascend [after the fall of
unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the				Benedict XVI, the eighth will restore her beast
judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon				status] out of the bottomless pit, and go into
many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the				perdition." Revelation 17:8.
earth have committed fornication, and the				From this verse we can conclude the following:
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk				1. Only one more king will come after Benedict
with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried				XVI, and he will be the eighth. And this king will
me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I				restore the beast status to the Roman Catholic
saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast,				Church - for during his reign persecution of God's
full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads				people will resume again, just as it was in the
and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in				Middle Ages.
purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold				2. That the eighth king will ascend from the
and precious stones and pearls, having a golden				"bottomless pit", and in due course will "go into
cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness				perdition."
of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a				14. What is the bottomless pit from which the
name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,				eighth will ascend?
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND				Once again, we go only to the Bible to answer
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw				this valid question. The Greek word translated
the woman drunken with the blood of the saints,				'bottomless pit' is abussos which has the English
and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and				counterpart, 'an abyss'. The following verses will
when I saw her, I wondered with great				unfold what is the abussos.
admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me,				"...a certain man, which had devils long
Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the				timeâ€¦30 And Jesus asked him, saying,
mystery of the woman, and of the beast that				What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because
carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten				many devils were entered into him. 31 And they
horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is				besought Him that He would not command them
not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit,				to go out into the deep (abussos)â€¦ 33
and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the				Then went the devils out of the man, and
earth shall wonder, whose names were not				entered into the swine..." Luke 8:27, 30, 31, 33.
written in the book of life from the foundation of				From the above Bible passage we learn that the
the world, when they behold the beast that was,				Greek abussos (in the Bible translated 'deep' or
and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind				'bottomless pit') is a certain location (not known to
which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven				man) where some of the fallen evil angels are
mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And				confined. Not all the evil angels are permitted to
there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is,				leave the abussos, which is not a very pleasant
and the other is not yet come; and when he				place to be in, even for the evil angels. One can
cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And				imagine the pandemonium and the constant
the beast that was, and is not, even he is the				jostling that goes on at the abussos among the
eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into				rebellious evil angels. The legion of devils, who
perdition. 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest				were tormenting a certain man in the above
are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as				story, dreaded that Christ would command them
yet; but receive power as kings one hour with				to go to the abussos. And they begged Him not
the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give				to command them to go to the deep (abussos).
their power and strength unto the beast. 14				They find much happiness in tormenting people
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the				and animals than to be in the company of others
Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of				of their kind.
lords, and King of kings: and they that are with				To summarize, the bottomless pit is a certain
him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 15 And he				location that serves as a confined habitation for
saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest,				some of the evil angels (devils).
where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and				15. This does not make sense! How can the eighth
multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the				come from the abussos? How can the eighth be
ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast,				a devil?
these shall hate the whore, and shall make her				What we have been learning thus far will make
desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and				more sense when we focus on the following
burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their				verse: "And the beast that was, and is not, even
hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their				he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth
kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God				into perdition." Revelation 17:11. God is clarifying
shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou				that the eighth is really one of the seven kings.
sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the				Combining this important key with the fact that
kings of the earth." Revelation 17:1-18.				the eighth will be an evil angel (devil) from the
2. Give a short explanation of all this.				bottomless pit, we can begin to comprehend what
Briefly, John is shown the final judgment of the				will soon sway the whole world into
great whore due to her own course of action.				unprecedented capitulation.
This great whore, referred to as Babylon the				The eighth will be a devil from the abussos
great, was shown to John in the wilderness (v. 3).				impersonating one of the 7 kings. When the eighth
This is an important setting, as will be seen later.				will appear on the scene, he will rapidly spearhead
The description of the whore is parallel to the first				the coming of the Roman Catholic Church out of
beast of Revelation 13 that also has seven heads				her wilderness experience into a full-fledged beast.
and ten horns (v. 7) indicating that both symbols				It is not difficult at all to visualize this prophesied
represent the same entity - that being the				dramatic transformation of the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic papal system. Furthermore, the				Church (out of her wilderness status and into a
whore is described as sitting on seven mountains				full beast status) once we identify the king (out of
(v. 9). Rome has frequently been identified as the				the seven) who will be impersonated by a devil
City of Seven Hills, from classical times down to				who ascends from the bottomless pit.
contemporary time.				16. Which of the seven popes will be
Whereas in Revelation 13 the union of church and				impersonated by a devil from the abussos?
state was blended in one symbol, in Revelation 17				From the study of Revelation 13 & 17, we can
God has pictured them separately. A woman				conclude only one who constitutes the best
always symbolizes a church in the Bible, in this				personality for achieving Satan's end-time agenda:
case the whore - an impure church. And a beast				it is John Paul II the Great. Below are the reasons:
has always signified a kingdom or state that				1. Out of the seven kings, he is the only one that
persecutes God's people. So we have an impure				fulfills the prophesied statement: "And I saw one
woman sitting on (i.e. controlling) a scarlet-colored				of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his
(a bloody) beast (state). This again reinforces the				deadly wound was healed: and all the world
reality of the Catholic system being the only				wondered after the beast." Revelation 13:3. John
system that is a church and an earthly kingdom				Paul II is the only king of the seven who
at the same time. This whore is described as				experienced a deadly wound in 1981, when he
being eminently rich, proud, and more importantly,				was nearly assassinated. Thereafter, the whole
very corrupt (v. 4, 5). Indeed, it represents				world, as prophesied, wondered after him.
Satan's final supreme instrument of deception.				2. Remember the divine hint: "five are fallen, and
The following verses are key verses: "And there				one is, and the other is not yet come." Revelation
are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and				17:10. When Apostle John was taken in a vision to
the other is not yet come; and when he cometh,				the future, he was taken to the time of the reign
he must continue a short space. And the beast				of the sixth king (John Paul II).
that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is				3. Now the most important reason: Which of the
of the seven, and goeth into perdition." Revelation				7 kings is most known, loved and respected in
17:10, 11. God elaborates on the seven heads of				today's generation? If Satan would want to lead
the beast, which are identified as seven kings.				the world into imposing universal laws for exalting
Significantly, the vision was viewed during the				his false Sabbath (Sunday), who would be the
reign of the sixth king. He was to be followed by				most effective personality other than John Paul
the seventh king, who will rule for a short time.				II? Who would be more effective than him who
However, the eighth king is going to be one of				called on Christians to "ensure that civil legislation
the previous seven kings, but that when he				respects their duty to keep Sunday
appears from the bottomless pit (v. 8), he will not				holyâ€¦refraining from work and activities
only merely be a king (ruling power) but a beast				which are incompatible with the sanctification of
(a persecuting power); finally, he will then go into				the Lord's Day." [Apostolic Letter, Des Domini of
perdition.				John Paul II, dated May 31, 1998]? Again, no one
When one of the seven kings reappears from the				is better suited for carrying the agenda of Satan
bottomless pit as the eighth king but in the form				than John Paul II. Hence, impersonating him makes
of a beast, the ten kings of the earth (v. 12) (ten				the most sense for Satan, who is intent on
is an all-inclusive, universal number indicating that				deceiving the whole world.
this includes all earthly rulers; cf. parable of ten				17. How will a devil impersonate John Paul II?
virgins) will be greatly awed by the beast, and will				"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
willingly surrender their power to the beast for a				into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14. God has
short time (v. 12, 13). Both the beast and the ten				not shed light through His written Word as to how
kings will rule and war against Christ in the person				the impersonation will take place. Nonetheless,
of His followers for a short time, but will not				Apostle Paul has warned us that the coming back
overcome them (v. 14).				of the beast in the last days will be "after the
Just before the end of all things, the ten kings will				working of Satan with all power and signs and
discover that they have been ensnared and				lying wonders, and with all deceivableness" 2
deceived by the beast (the eighth king from the				Thessalonians 2:9, 10. The elements which Satan
bottomless pit) and they will turn with vengeance				will use to deceive the whole world and hold it
against the beast system, and destroy it (v. 16).				captive to his instrument, the Roman Catholic
For they will this time, though belatedly, be doing				Church, are: (1) all power, (2) signs, (3) lying
God's will (v. 17).				wonders, and (4) all deceivableness.
THE WILDERNESS SETTING				The impersonation of John Paul II by a devil will be
3. Great whore sitting on the beast was viewed in				followed by other impersonations of known
the wilderness (Rev. 17:3).				personalities climaxing with the impersonation of
This is important as it is not by happenstance that				Jesus Christ by Satan. He will make it appear to
the "great whore who sitteth upon the scarlet				the whole world that God is distinctly honoring and
beast" was seen in the wilderness. In Revelation				blessing the Roman Catholic Church with
17, God is indicating the time-period that the				unprecedented divine manifestations and miracles.
Roman Catholic Church is viewed in. To				Satan will make it appear that heaven has
understand what will happen to the world when				favored earth when it brought "back to life" the
she comes out of her wilderness experience, we				world's most beloved personality, and that he has
need to understand how the Roman Catholic				come back with a divine agenda which should
Church entered this wilderness experience.				become the primary occupation of world leaders.
4. What does wilderness mean in Bible prophecy?				And it certainly will become.
In the Book of Revelation we have another				THE FINAL BEAST PERIOD
instance of a church that went into the				18. How will the impersonation of John Paul II
wilderness. It was God's true church during the				change the world as we know it today, and
Middle Ages, when the church was subject to				impact the eternal destiny of everyone alive?
papal persecution: "And the woman (church) fled				The Bible prophesies that there will be most
into the wilderness, where she hath a place				dramatic and eventful changes in the world once
prepared of God, that they should feed her there				the Catholic Church regains her beast status,
a thousand and two hundred and threescore				when she comes out of her wilderness
days." Revelation 12:6. We know that this church				experience with the next pope, the eighth king.
was pure, for it is God who led her to the				Below is given a list of the most prominent
wilderness, away from the papal persecution that				changes that will take place, as foretold by our
raged for 1260 years from 538 A.D. until 1798				loving heavenly Father in His Word:
A.D. The dragon (Satan) was warring against the				1. Satan will use the papacy (the beast power)
church during this period, using his earthly				and the USA (image to the beast) to impose
instrument, the Roman Catholic Church: "And to				universal religious laws to exalt Sunday, the
the woman were given two wings of a great				violation of which will deprive citizens of their basic
eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into				rights of buying and selling: "And he causeth all,
her place, where she is nourished for a time,				both small and great, rich and poor, free and
times, and half a time, from the face of the				bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in
serpent." Revelation 12:14. The wilderness then, in				their foreheads: And that no man might buy or
Bible prophecy, is a figure of speech picturing the				sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of
harsh conditions facing a church in a particular				the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation
period in her history.				13:16, 17.
5. When did God's true church come out of her				2. God's people, who will persist in refusing to
wilderness experience?				honor the beast and accept the false Sabbath, will
The logical answer to this question would be,				be persecuted and killed: "The image of the beast
when the papal persecution ceased. This officially				should both speak, and cause that as many as
happened in 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte sent				would not worship the image of the beast should
to Rome where he exiled Pope Pius VI to Valence				be killed." Revelation 13:15.
in France. At the same time Berthier declared an				3. The Roman Catholic Church will be able to
end to the temporal power over much of Europe				exercise this modern-age unprecedented power
that the Catholic Church had enjoyed up to that				by the false miracles which will be performed in
time. It was a most humiliating and abrupt end to				her midst, starting with the 'resurrection' of John
a long rule of power that lasted 1260 years.				Paul II, and climaxing in the impersonation of Jesus
Shortly after, Christian Bible Societies spread all				Christ by Satan himself. These unparalleled
over the world, with their work unhampered or				miracles will lead world leaders to surrender their
threatened by papal constrictions. Thus, 1798				power and authority to the papacy, thinking that
marks the date when God's church ended her				by so doing they are pleasing God and
wilderness experience. Now God's church was				accomplishing His agenda: "And the ten horns
totally free to focus her energies on translating				which thou sawest are ten kings, which have
and printing the Bible in as many languages as				received no kingdom as yet; but receive power
possible and to conduct missionary activities all				as kings one hour with the beast. These have one
over the world.				mind, and shall give their power and strength unto
6. Did the Catholic Church then enter her				the beast." Revelation 17:12, 13. The role of
wilderness experience just as God's true church				miracles in uniting world leaders to carry Satan's
came out of it?				agenda is foretold: "And I saw three unclean
This was exactly the case. In 1798 the Catholic				spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the
Church not only lost her temporal power over the				dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and
kings, dukes, and princes of much of Europe, but				out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they
was in fact no longer free to carry her own				are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which
ecclesiastical privileges, such as selecting a pope to				go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the
succeed Pius VI. Her representatives needed the				whole world, to gather them to the battle of that
permission of Napoleon Bonaparte before they				great day of God Almighty." Revelation 16:13, 14.
could appoint Pius VII in 1800 to succeed the				4. There will be a dramatic increase in natural
pope who died in exile, a year earlier.				calamities and disasters coupled with unmatched
Furthermore, the wilderness experience for the				political strife all over the world, which Satan and
Catholic Church came to bear on her in a most				his agents will attribute as signs of God's
profound way from an entirely unexpected				displeasure with the true Saturday
direction - from her own backyard, Italy. Here is				Sabbathkeepers - for it will be declared that men
the background for the harsh and arid realities of				are offending God by the violation of the
life that faced the Catholic Church in Italy in the				Sunday-sabbath; that this sin has brought
nineteenth century.				calamities which will not cease until Sunday
After the second and final defeat of Napoleon in				observance shall be strictly enforced; and that
1815, Italians found their peninsula divided into				those who present the claims of the fourth
states, duchies, and Papal States. Metternich, the				commandment, thus destroying reverence for
strong Austrian leader at the time, used to refer				Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing
to Italy as a mere 'geographical expression',				their restoration to divine favor and temporal
reflecting the absence of united country. This odd				prosperity.
situation gave rise to nationalistic attempts to				5. The mark of the beast will be applied during this
unify Italy into one country. However, these				critical period in earth's history. The Sabbath will be
attempts were met with great suspicion and				the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of
resistance from the Catholic Church. Over time,				truth especially controverted. When the final test
the conviction grew in the minds of these				shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line
nationalistic leaders that the Catholic Church was				of distinction will be drawn between those who
indeed a serious obstacle to the fulfillment of their				serve God and those who serve Him not. While
national aspirations.				the observance of the false sabbath, in
However, the move to unite Italy and form a				compliance with the law of the state, will be an
united nation passed an important milestone when				avowal of allegiance to a power that is in
the Papal States were usurped in 1860 by force.				opposition to God, the keeping of the true
There remained one major obstacle, however,				Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence
for the creation of one Italian nation. The Italians				of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by
wanted Rome, the seat of the Roman Catholic				accepting the sign of submission to earthly
Church and the last piece of property left for the				powers, will receive the mark of the beast, the
Church, to serve as the capital of their united				other choosing the token of allegiance to divine
country. This Italian dream came about when				authority, will receive the seal of God. As in all
Italian troops occupied Rome on September 20,				ages, the Sabbath will be the test of loyalty to
1870, during the reign of Pope Pius IX. Shortly				God - a sign between Him and His children. Those
after, the Kingdom of Italy was declared.				who, after the light regarding God's law comes to
Understandably, the pope refused to recognize				them, continue to disobey and exalt human laws
the new kingdom and went into voluntary				above the law of God in the great crisis before
captivity in protest. This unprecedented situation				us, will receive the mark of the beast.
came to be known historically as the Roman				6. In the midst of all that will be happening, from
Question. It remained unresolved for 59 years,				natural calamities to wars and rumours of wars,
during which time all succeeding popes confined				there will be visible manifestations of spiritual
themselves to movement within the few buildings				hunger amongst people - a kind of hunger which
in the Vatican in Rome, refusing to leave Rome.				will not be fed, for it is not based on a genuine
Indeed, the Catholic Church in the nineteenth				desire for obedience. Rather it will be based on
century was engulfed in a very hostile wilderness				human initiatives to quiet the conscience without
setting.				full surrender of the heart to God's sanctifying
In summary: we have seen thus far that from				influence. In other words, when the beast will
1798 (when Pope Pius VI was banished to				come back armed with false miracles and signs
Valence by the French general) up to 1870 (when				there will be seen in the religious world noticeable
Rome was usurped by the Italian army), the				manifestations of a false religious revival. This
Roman Catholic Church was entrenched in her				condition has been aptly prophesied by Amos, the
wilderness experience - a far cry from the				prophet: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord
dominating beast status she had enjoyed during				GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a
her 1260 years of supremacy when she was a				famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of
global persecuting power which directly, or through				hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall
her over-powering influence over European rulers,				wander from sea to sea, and from the north
caused the martyrdom of close to one hundred				even to the east, they shall run to and fro to
million of God's faithful followers.				seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."
7. How was the Roman Question between Italy				Amos 8:11, 12.
and the Roman Catholic Church resolved in 1929?				WHAT CAN I DO?
It was incomprehensible for the Roman Pontiff to				19. The end of all things is at hand. I want to be
be the head of Catholics the world over, yet in his				found ready to receive my Lord Jesus Christ
own country be subject to another head of state.				when He comes. What should I do?
The Catholic Church believed that by virtue of his				The purpose of this study is to awaken beloved
calling, the pope had an inalienable right to a				readers to the shortness of time between now
temporal sovereignty. Only then could he conduct				and the end of all things. We have seen that we
fully and freely his duties as head of the universal				are living in the time of the seventh king, the last
Catholic Church. But this demand conflicted with				human pope. God has informed us, in His written
the natural desire of the Italians for a united				Word, that the eighth king will transform the
nation with Rome as its capital. Italians after 1870				Roman Catholic Church by bringing her out of her
found themselves torn between their allegiance to				wilderness experience and back to her former
the Catholic Church as Catholics themselves, and				persecuting-beast status. The eighth king, a devil
their allegiance to their newly-established country.				impersonating John Paul II, will usher persecution
This unresolved tension between the two sides				for God's people who obey His Sabbath day. The
undermined the new country internationally as well				time of the eighth king/beast will witness hitherto
as domestically. A solution for the Roman				unseen false miracles and signs, which will exalt
Question had to be found!				the papacy in the eyes of all who are not written
Both sides of the conflict were eager for an end				in the Book of Life: "The beast that thou sawest
to this lingering problem. In 1922, Benito Mussolini,				was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the
the Duke, and Pope Pius XI came to power. And				bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that
by 1929 they had at last found a solution to the				dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names
thorny Roman Question that had lasted 59 years.				were not written in the book of life from the
On February 11, 1929, three sets of documents,				foundation of the world, when they behold the
known collectively as the Lateran Accords, were				beast that was, and is not, and yet is." Revelation
signed in Rome at the Lateran Palace by Cardinal				17:8.
Gasparri, representing Pope Pius XI, and Mussolini,				In the near future you shall find that your only
representing King Victor Emanuel III.				safety will be in the Bible: "To the law and to the
8. Give a summary of the highlights of the 1929				testimony: if they speak not according to this
Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Catholic				word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah
Church of Rome.				8:20. That is why today the Bible must be our
1. The Italian State recognized the sovereignty of				only infallible guide and rule. God's word is our sole
the Catholic Church, and regarded the Church as				safeguard against the influence of false teachers
an independent member of the international				and the delusive power of spirits of darkness that
community. By this agreement the Church				enshroud the world today. Satan can most readily
obtained an independent state in Rome with an				control the minds of those who are unconscious
area of about 44 hectares.				of his influence. That is why the word of God
2. The Italian State recognized the Roman Catholic				gives us so many examples of his malignant
Church as the official state religion, and the				work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and
Catholic church recognised the independent				thus placing us on our guard against his assaults.
Kingdom of Italy.				And that is why Satan employs every possible
3. All anti-clerical laws passed by the Italian				device to prevent men from obtaining true
parliament since 1870 were annulled and made				knowledge of the Bible, for its plain utterances
void.				reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God's
4. Cash settlement was made to the Roman				work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense
Catholic Church to compensate her for renouncing				activity; he is now putting forth his utmost
all legal claims to the City of Rome and the old				efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His
Papal States.				followers. The last great delusion is soon to open
5. The pope pledged to perpetual neutrality in				before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous
international relations, and abstention from				works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit
mediation in any controversy except when				resemble the true that it will be impossible to
specifically requested by all concerned parties.				distinguish between them except by the Holy
9. What is the significance of the Lateran Treaty				Scriptures. By their testimony every statement
of 1929 to the wilderness experience which the				and every miracle must be tested.
Roman Catholic Church was in since 1798?				Those who endeavor to obey all the
What the Roman Catholic Church got in 1929 was				commandments of God will be opposed and
its independence and sovereignty. The political				derided. In order to endure the trial before them,
independence means that now they had a				they must understand the will of God as revealed
monarchy, although on much reduced area of				in His word; they can honor Him only as they
land, where the pope was the absolute ruler. The				have a right conception of His character,
pope now was not only the supreme head of the				government, and purposes, and act in accordance
Catholic Church universally, but also the				with them. None but those who have fortified the
indisputable temporal king over the State of				mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through
Vatican City. He was no longer a prisoner of				the last great conflict. To every soul will come the
captivity.				searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men?
Notwithstanding, the Roman Catholic Church did				The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our
not, in 1929, even remotely regain the stature				feet planted on the rock of God's immutable
she had prior to 1798, when she was a beast				word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense
power. As such, she did not, in 1929, yet come				of the commandments of God and the faith of
out of her wilderness experience. Although in				Jesus?
1929, and by virtue of the Lateran Treaty, the				God's love for you is seen clearly in revealing the
popes were now universally recognized as				future to you so that you need not be taken
sovereign kings, the Lateran Treaty however				unprepared by surprise. Christ's grace is
stipulated that the popes must pledge to				all-sufficient to cleanse you from all sin and to fit
perpetual neutrality in international affairs. This				you to withstand the impending conflict that you
restricting condition could not have been imagined				be found righteous when He appears the second
to be agreed upon by any pope prior to 1798.				time. The time for this glorious desired end is
The Catholic Church long believed that Christ is				measured today in years rather than decades:
the Lord of the whole world, and that at His				"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high
departure He left His dominion to His				time to awake out of sleep: for now is our
representative, Peter, and to Peter's successors,				salvation nearer than when we believed. The night
the popes. Therefore, it is the stated position of				is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
the Catholic Church that true and genuine				cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on
temporal power and dominion lie exclusively in the				the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the
hands of the pope. Consequently, every earthly				day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
ruler or monarch possesses only so much power				chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
and area as the pope would deem appropriate				envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
and good.				make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts
In sum, while tangible gains were secured for the				thereof." Romans 13:11-14.
Catholic Church by the Lateran Treaty, it did not				If you become alarmed for your own soul, if you
restore the primacy and power the Church had				seek God diligently, He will be found of you; but
enjoyed globally up to 1798, which had enabled				He will accept no half-hearted repentance. If you
her to persecute her enemies, and hence was				will forsake your sins, He is ever ready to forgive.
tagged in Bible prophecy as a beast power. Hence				Won't you just now surrender to Him? Won't you
there is not much significance of the Lateran				look to Calvary and inquire: "Did Jesus make this
treaty of 1929 to the wilderness experience of				sacrifice for me? Did He endure humiliation,
the Roman Catholic Church, as she still remained in				shame, and reproach, and suffer the cruel death
the wilderness, even after 1929.				of the cross because He desired to save me
SEVEN KINGS				from the sufferings of guilt and the horror of
10. What about the seven kings of the Roman				despair, and make me unspeakably happy in His
Catholic Church during her wilderness period?				kingdom?" Look upon Him whom your sins have
Now we come to the most important part of the				pierced, and resolve: "The Lord shall have the
whole chapter. God has prophesied that there will				service of my life. I will no longer unite with His
be only seven kings: "And there are seven kings:				enemies; I will no longer lend my influence to the
five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not				rebels against His government. All I have and am
yet come; and when he cometh, he must				is too little to devote to Him who so loved me
continue a short space." Revelation 17:10. From				that He gave His life for me - His whole divine self
this verse the following facts can be gleaned:				for one so sinful and erring." Separate from the
1. Seven kings in total.				world, be wholly on the Lord's side, press the
2. John was taken in vision to the time of the				battle to the gates, and you will win glorious
sixth king: "five are fallen, and one is." He comes				victories. Will you resolve to obey Him, as of this
after the first five have fallen. Again, it is not				very minute, no matter what the price for such
coincidental that when taken in vision, John was				obedience? Will you resolve to share this light with
taken to the time of the sixth king. It is a divine				others, so that we can truly hasten our Lord's
hint by which God is guiding us to focus our				second coming?
attention on this particular king, as he will play a				Blessed is he who heeds the words of eternal life.
very important role in the end-time events.				Guided by "the Spirit of truth", he will be led into
3. The seventh king "must continue a short				all truth. Though he will not be loved, honored, and
space."				praised by the world, yet he will be precious in the
11. So who are the seven kings/popes?				sight of heaven: "Behold, what manner of love the
Pius XI was the first Roman Catholic pope (from				Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
February 6, 1922) who became king as well on				called the sons of God: therefore the world
February 11, 1929. He along with Mussolini,				knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." I John
engineered the Lateran Treaty.				3:1.
12. What is destined to take place after the				All verses are from King James Version Bible.
prophesied short monarchy of Benedict XVI?

Lega Cyrus

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