A Sincere Priest Finds Contradictions in the Teachings of the Holy Fathers

The most desolate work of a sincere Catholic priest is the study of the Holy Fathers. He does not make a step in the labyrinth of their discussions and controversies without seeing the dreams of his theological studies and religious views disappear as the thick morning mist, when the sun rises above the horizon. Bound as he is, by a solemn oath, to interpret the Holy Scriptures only according to the unanimous consent of the Holy Fathers, the first thing which puzzles and distresses him is their absolute want of unanimity on the greater part of the subjects which they discuss. The fact is, that more than two-thirds of what one Father has written is to prove that what some other Holy Father has written is wrong and heretical.

The student of the Fathers not only detects that they do not agree with one another, but finds that many of them do not even agree with themselves. Very often they confess that they were mistaken when they said this or that; that they have lately changed their minds; that they now hold for saving truth what they formerly condemned as a damning error!

What becomes of the solemn oath of every priest in presence of this undeniable fact? How can he make an act of faith when he feels that its foundation is nothing but falsehood?

No words can give an idea of the mental tortures I felt when I saw positively that I could not, any longer, preach on the eternity of the suffering of the damned, nor believe in the real presence of the body, soul, and divinity of Christ in the sacrament of communion; nor in the supremacy of the sovereign Pontiff of Rome, nor in any of the other dogmas of my church, without perjuring myself! For there was not one of those dogmas which had not been flatly and directly denied by some Holy Fathers.

It is true, that in my Roman Catholic theological books I had long extracts of Holy Fathers, very clearly supporting and confirming my faith in those dogmas. For instance, I had the apostolic liturgies of St. Peter, St. Mark, and St. James, to prove that the sacrifice of the mass, purgatory, prayers for the dead, transubstantiation, were believed and taught from the very days of the apostles. But what was my dismay when I discovered that those liturgies were nothing else than vile and audacious forgeries presented to the world, by my Popes and my church, as gospel truths. I could not find words to express my sense of shame and consternation, when I became sure that the same church which had invented those apostolical liturgies, had accepted and circulated the false decretals of Isidore, and forged innumerable additions and interpolations to the writings of the Holy Fathers, in order to make them say the very contrary of what they intended.

How many times, when alone, studying the history of the shameless fabrications, I said to myself: “Does the man whose treasury is filled with pure gold, forge false coins, or spurious pieces of money? No! How, then, is it possible that my church possess the pure truth, when she has been at work during so many centuries, to forge such egregious lies, under the names of liturgies and decretals, about the holy mass, purgatory, the supremacy of the Pope, ect. If those dogmas could have been proved by the gospel and the true writings of the Fathers, where was the necessity of forging lying documents? Would the Popes and councils have treasuries with spurious bank bills, if they had had exhaustless mines of pure gold in hand? What right has my church to be called holy and infallible, when she is publicly guilty of such impostures.”

From my infancy I had been taught, with all the Roman Catholics, that Mary is the mother of God, and many times, every day, when praying to her, I used to say, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for me.” But what was my distress when I read in the “Treatise on Faith and Creed,” by Augustine, Chapter iv. 9, these very words: “When the Lord said, ‘Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come’ (John ii. 4), He rather admonishes us to understand that, in respect of His being God, there was no mother for Him.”

This was so completely demolishing the teachings of my church, and telling me that it was blasphemy to call Mary mother of God, that I felt as if struck with a thunderbolt.         Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, Capter 46

Understanding the true meaning of the word "Elohim"

Some claim that because the word most often used for God in the Hebrew Bible is Elohim (plural for El), then God must be a trinity and hence Jesus must be God (Supreme). But this is just another deception or ignorance. The fact is that the word Elohim is used for the true God, false gods, supernatural spirits (angels) and even human leaders such as kings and judges. Thus the word Elohim can and is used to refer to a single person, and when it does, linguists call it a “plural intensive” or “plural of majesty” which denotes greatness. The Hebrew people pluralized nouns when they desired to express greatness or majesty as they did with God. So when Elohim is used of the one true God, it is called a “plural of majesty” which denotes the greatness of God, not number.

This was “only” done by the Hebrew people so in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint, which Jesus and the apostles quoted) where Elohim refers to the true God, the word Theos is used which is not plural but singular. The same applies to the New Testament where Theos is the Greek equivalent to Elohim and once again it is not plural but singular. For example. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 in Mark 12:29. The word Theos for God in this verse is singular, not plural. If Elohim was really a plurality of the one true God, then the New Testament writers would have used the plural of Theos also when referring to God. Instead they used the singular form every single time. And yet the plural form is used eight times in the New Testament referring to men or false gods. (John 10:34-35; Acts 7:40, Acts 14:11, Acts 19:26; 1 Corinthians 8:5; Galatians 4:8). I trust that no one will say that God is a Trinity in the Hebrew language while being one God in the Greek language.

Below are some dictionary definitions from scholars concerning the usage of Elohim as a “plural intensive,” or as many prefer, “plural of majesty” (a pluralis excellentice) or “plentitude of might.”

“The Hebrew noun Elohim is plural but the verb is singular, a normal usage in the OT when reference is to the one true God. This use of the plural expresses intensification rather than number and has been called the plural of majesty, or of potentiality.” — New International Version Study Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985, p. 6

“This word [elohim], which is generally viewed as the plural of eloah [Strong's #433], is found far more frequently in Scripture than either el or eloah for the true God. The plural ending is usually described as a plural of majesty and not intended as a true plural when used of God. This is seen in the fact that the noun elohim is consistently used with singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular.” — Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Vol. 1, 1980, p. 44

“The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God. Jehovah denotes specifically the one true God, whose people the Jews were, and who made them the guardians of his truth.” — Smith's Bible Dictionary 1884 pp. 331-332

So why does the fanciful idea that Elohim refers to a trinity hardly find a supporter among scholars now? Because the truth is impossible to avoid and you would only end up looking very foolish and deceived if you use this to try and prove a lie. So when you hear the argument that Elohim means God must be a trinity, then understand that there is either deliberate deception or total ignorance and such a person cannot be trusted.

As for Genesis 1:26, the pronouns are plural in the Hebrew text so it is translated, “God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Trinitarians claim that since Elohim is plural, and the pronouns are plural, God must be more than one. But Elohim refers to the one true God which only leaves the question of who is “us” in this verse. Scripture does not leave us guessing.

Ephesians 3:9 says, “God, ... created all things by Jesus Christ:” God in this verse is obviously someone other than Jesus Christ, and Hebrews 1:2 and John 1:3 says God created all things by His Son. So who is speaking in Genesis 1:26 and who is He speaking to?

God the Father said to His Son, “let us make man in our image.” Christ is “the express image” of the Father, so anyone created in the Father's image is also created in His Son's image.

“After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to his Son, “Let us make man in our image.” As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of noble height, and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white, nor sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of health. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She, too, was noble—perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful. ” — 1SP p. 24

Truth Triumphant

Prove all Things

Let The Truth Cut

I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years, since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper, and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close. 

God knows how Satan is working, and sends his angels to watch over his children, to protect them from the Devil's power. And the battle is constantly going on between the angels of God, and the Devil's angels. The angels of God are clothed with a complete armor, the panoply of heaven, and, although surrounded with deadly foes, fear nothing, for they are doing the will of their loved Commander. They enter the darkest places to rescue the children of God from the snares of Satan, and their presence causes the evil angels to fall back. And as the evil angels are defeated, they utter terrible imprecations against the injustice of God, and against his angels. 

 I saw that the angels of God are not to force or bend the will of the individual they watch over. They are to gently chide, warn and guard. Satan can never force back these holy angels from their charge. None can do this but the individuals that they are watching over. If these individuals continue to grieve these tender, holy angels; if they go astray from their counsel and warnings, and choose an independent course of their own, they will drive these angels from them. If the will is submitted to them, they will bend it in the heavenly channel, and they will ever be on the watch for their interests, leading them from a thousand dangers, preventing their lives being taken by Satan, and, if they are inclined to go a wrong course, stand in the path before them to prevent their ruin. 

But if individuals continue to retain their own will, choose their own course, and have their own way, the angels leave them in sadness. Then Satan comes in to control the will, and bend the mind, and smiles in hellish triumph at his success. 

......

I was pointed back and saw that amid all the hatred and devices of Satan, God had spared the life of my husband, although Satan pressed him sore to take it away a few years since. The Lord wrenched him from the enemy's power, and raised him up to still act for him-- to walk out on his faith, to be a succorer to the needy, and to strengthen and uphold his servants whom he has called into the field. I saw that God has stayed him on the right hand and on the left that he should not go to extremes. This has not been the work of man, but the mark of God's hand is seen in it. His work will go forward. Simple instruments God will choose to carry forward this great work, to carry out the mind and will of the Great Master at the head of the work. 

By some there is shunning of the living testimony. Cutting truths must not be shunned. It needs something besides theory to reach hearts now. It needs the stirring testimony to alarm and arouse; that will stir the enemy's subjects, and then honest souls will be led to decide for the truth. There has been and still is with some a disposition to have everything move on very smoothly. They see no necessity of straight testimony.  

Sins exist in the church that God hates, but they are scarcely touched for fear of making enemies. Opposition has risen in the church to the plain testimony. Some will not bear it. They wish smooth things spoken unto them. And if the wrongs of individuals are touched, they complain of severity, and sympathize with those in the wrong. As Ahab inquired of Elijah, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" they are ready to look with suspicion and doubt upon those who bear the plain testimony, and like Ahab overlook the wrong which made it necessary for reproof and rebuke. When the church depart from God they despise the plain testimony, and complain of severity and harshness. It is a sad evidence of the lukewarm state of the church. 

Just as long as God has a church, he will have those who will cry aloud and spare not, who will be his instruments to reprove selfishness and sins, and will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or forbear. I saw that individuals would rise up against the plain testimonies. It does not suit their natural feelings. They would choose to have smooth things spoken unto them, and have peace cried in their ears. I view the church in a more dangerous condition than they ever have been. Experimental religion is known but by a few. The shaking must soon take place to purify the church. 

Preachers should have no scruples to preach the truth as it is found in God's word. Let the truth cut. I have been shown that why ministers have not more success is, they are  afraid of hurting feelings, fearful of not being courteous, and they lower the standard of truth, and conceal if possible the peculiarity of our faith. I saw that God could not make such successful. The truth must be made pointed, and the necessity of a decision urged. And as false shepherds are crying, Peace, and are preaching smooth things, the servants of God must cry aloud, and spare not, and leave the result with God.  

God has given his servants the present truth so clear and plain that their opponents cannot stand before them. This great blessing, I have seen, has not been realized and prized. Some who are laboring in the cause of God have had so few privations, known so little of want or wearing labor, or burden of soul, that when they have an easy time they know it not, and think their trials great. I saw that unless such have a spirit of self-sacrifice, and are ready to labor cheerfully, not sparing themselves, God will release them. 

Some of the servants of God have given up their lives to spend, and be spent, for the cause of God. They are almost worn out with mental labor, incessant care, toil and privations. Others have not had, and would not take, the burden upon them. Yet just such ones think they have a hard time, because they never have experienced hardships. They never have been baptized into the suffering part, and never will be, as long as they manifest so little fortitude, and love their ease so well. Let these servants feel the woe upon them if they preach not the gospel, and it will be enough. 

Could some be placed back ten or twelve years, and labor through the discouragements that then existed, they would find a great change in the labor now, compared with what it was then. Then the friends of the cause were few, their means limited, and it was a constant battle against error and fanaticism.                                   Spiritual Gifts Vol. 2 pp 277-286

Truth is solid as solid as the rocks of Zion National Park, Utah

However, at the second coming of Jesus, the rocks will fall, for the "...heavens (will) depart... and every mountain and island (will be) moved out of their places... and men... (will hide) themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and (say) to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne..."  Revelation 6:14.15.16.
In contrast to the crumbling rocks of this world, God's Word -- the Bible -- can never fail.    It is the foundation of all doctrine.
Bible truth is a solid as a diamond.    It cannot fail. If the doctrine we believe is not in the Bible, it is not salvational truth.   We may have believed it all our lives.   Our parents may have believed it and our grand parents.   But if it is not clearly seen in God's Word, it is not truth.
Of course there is much truth not in the Bible, but Christian doctrine can only be found there.  Unless we can show our beliefs from the Scriptures, they must be put aside.   Prayerfully we need to begin searching for the truth, absolute truth.
Truth is not relative.   It does not change according to culture, time or place.   God's truth is eternal.
The truths of the Bible did not come "by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  2 Peter 1:21.   This is true of prophecy as well as other teachings of Scripture.   It is not to be privately interpreted, but line upon line must be compared and studied.
Our prayer will be 'Give me your truth Lord.   I want truth that can be clearly seen as truth, so that I might stand on the Word with confidence.   When challenged I want to be able to prove it from the Scriptures.'

We must love truth, not just the truth we know, but truth not yet revealed, even if it is different to what we already believe.   Am I willing to put aside those doctrines that do not have their foundation in the Bible, no matter how much I love them?   We may have believed error all our lives and found it comforting, but if it is error, it has no saving grace. Am I willing to put it aside, even if I have to stand alone -- at home, in church and society.   If I am called a heretic, so be it.
However, our love for truth must go beyond the doctrine to men and women who have not yet discovered it. We must love them at all cost, even if they become our enemies.   Jesus is our supreme example.   He was the truth, yet they put Him to death.  He is "the way, the truth and the life" today.  John 14:6.   There is not one way for you with your truth and one way for me with my truth.   Jesus is the only way.   He is the only truth.  God's Son is the one truth for all men, and eternal life comes through Him alone.

We are told not to add or take away from Scripture or we will lose eternal life. Revelation 22:18.19. It is serious.
If I refuse to believe the doctrine of the Bible, am I not taking away from truth?    If I believe something not in the Bible, am I not adding to truth?  
Those who do not love the truth will soon believe a lie, for "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."   2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.    The errors we believe are not the righteousness of God.

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever.   And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:24.25                                        Margaretha Tierney

The rainbow that will stand forever

ThirstyforTruth

Published on Feb 24, 2016

http://www.thirstyfortruth.org/


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That Kid in Fourth Grade Who Really Liked the Denver Broncos by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)

The Truth will triumph

    The angel . . . sware by him that liveth for ever . . . that there should be time no longer. Revelation 10:5, 6.

     The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming that the hour of God's judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning. . . . 

     "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer" (Revelation 10:5, 6). This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord's order that this disappointment should come. . . . 

     Not one cloud has fallen upon the church that God has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted through His prophets. He has not left His church in darkness, forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and through His providence, acting in its appointed place in the world's history, He has brought about that which His Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell. All His purposes will be fulfilled and established. His law is linked with His throne, and satanic agencies combined with human agencies cannot destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed, although it may appear at times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character. The deceptions practiced against it, every device for vindicating falsehood, every error forged by satanic agencies, will eventually be eternally broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the appearing of the sun at noonday. The Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth with healing in His wings, and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.  Maranatha p. 18

Uplift Jesus as the center

      I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16. 

     

     The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work we are to warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. If our people were half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches, and many more would believe the message. We have no time to lose. . . . Advance new principles, and crowd in the clear-cut truth. It will be as a sword cutting both ways. But be not too ready to take a controversial attitude. There will be times when we must stand still and see the salvation of God. Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, "the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."  

     
     We do not go deep enough in our search for truth. Every soul who believes present truth will be brought where he will be required to give a reason of the hope that is in him. The people of God will be called upon to stand before kings, princes, rulers, and great men of the earth, and they must know that they do know what is truth. They must be converted men and women. God can teach you more in one moment by His Holy Spirit than you could learn from the great men of the earth. The universe is looking upon the controversy that is going on upon the earth. At an infinite cost, God has provided for every man an opportunity to know that which will make him wise unto salvation. How eagerly do angels look to see who will avail himself of this opportunity! When a message is presented to God's people, they should not rise up in opposition to it; they should go to the Bible, comparing it with the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true. God wants our minds to expand. He desires to put His grace upon us. We may have a feast of good things every day, for God can open the whole treasure of heaven to us.  Maranatha p. 23

I am thankful to not be ensnared in the darkness and confusion the mass media puts out every day

November 26, 2015

By Bernie Suarez

Anyone who is awakened to the worldwide horrors the US, ISIS and their allies are imposing on the rest of humanity knows that the thing that makes these horrors worse is the accompanying deceptive mainstream media 24/7 lies. There’s nothing worse than seeing Western mainstream media continue to portray ISIS as if they are the “enemy” of the US, while the US military and Western-backed nations like Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia continue to support ISIS. As a result, the ongoing bold lies and the obnoxious propaganda is further repelling awakened humanity from mainstream media and driving a permanent wedge between the freed human mind and the entire concept of Western propaganda. The whole thing is sickening and repulsive, and I believe freedom-loving humanity is responding to this worldwide.

The recent inundation of lies and over-the-top propaganda intended to lead us toward World War 3, is so obnoxious and mentally repelling that truth seekers can easily make a choice to separate themselves for an entire day (Thanksgiving day) to reminisce how fortunate we are to not be plagued by these ongoing lies. If you haven’t thought of this, I want to invite all truth seekers to do just that on this Thanksgiving day. Let’s turn off mainstream media and let’s be thankful for the awareness we have about the world around us. Let’s believe that there is a reason for the awareness. I believe humanity has a mechanism of self-preservation and we are the expression of that preservation. For that I am thankful today and so should you.

For comparison, those who are not awakened on this Thanksgiving day believe that Barack Obama is doing everything he can to keep them safe from ISIS. They believe that Turkey was defending their air space in the recent shoot-down of the Russian jet. They even accept that on this Thanksgiving day, the ramped-up police state is the proper solution to the “terrorism” we see marketed on TV by the mainstream media. These enslaved elements of humanity are aimlessly living out their lives becoming further enslaved and divided amongst themselves with every day that they continue to feed their minds with mainstream media lies. As truth seekers we continue to show and share truth with these people, but nothing you can say will guarantee that these people will wake up.

Therefore, the misery, confusion and ignorance that mainstream media believers live in should not be underestimated on this Thanksgiving day and should serve as a reminder that all of us could easily still be stuck in a similar mental enslavement. There is, therefore, no better day to be appreciative of the information and awareness we all share that allows us to be completely immune from the next false flag attack or 24/7 mainstream media scaremongering story.

It’s been said, sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s taken away. So today, especially in light of the mayhem and confusion borne of continuous mass lies and deception from mainstream media, I am thankful to not be ensnared in the darkness and confusion the mass media puts out every day. Let us realize today that our unique resistance to Western mainstream media lies is one of the great gifts we share. It is unquestionably a source of life, a mental freedom and hope that only someone still bogged down in mainstream media lies cannot understand.

I believe the gift of comfortably and seamlessly not believing mainstream media is becoming one of the secrets to living a rich and fulfilling life. Detachment from mainstream media itself is a source of energy that few even in the truth movement fail to fully contextualize. What that means is that it is becoming entirely impossible to believe mainstream media and be happy unless one resorts to cognitive dissonance and repression of information. If this is the case then the person is not truly happy, instead they are repressing what they believe to be true (mainstream media lies), hoping that the stories will eventually fade away.

The happiness and mental freedom I speak about is not some special state of mind obtained through hypnosis or special self-help technique. Instead it is the mental freedom of seeing mainstream media propaganda and knowing and understanding in real-time that the information has a unique political purpose and is not a result of true journalism.

As we give thanks, let us realize that regardless of what happens today, the immediate future can look grim. Grim because although the new world order is failing on many levels it is also responding to this failure with a more intense effort. Thus in some ways we are observing as the new world order tries to give birth. To use medical terms, hopefully that birth becomes a traumatic life-ending still-birth.

There is a struggle going on and the stakes are getting higher. The oligarchs are undoubtedly unhappy that they are failing so they desperately attempt to keep up their proxy terror armies like ISIS because if ISIS is destroyed the new world order plans go with it.

Let’s harness this knowledge, expect the worse and hope for the best. Let’s not be unrealistic about the dangerous world we live in and the stakes at hand. None of us signed up for this madness including the degree of ignorance and bliss on the part of most Americans.

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