Mj Herda — the transformation of my bestfriend !

Compare and feel free to comment what you think !

Catholic Q and A by John Martigoni

General Comments

Hey folks, I’m coming to you a couple of days earlier in the week than normal, but that’s because I’ll be heading out to Charlotte for the Catholic Leadership Conference tomorrow and Friday, so if I want to get a newsletter out, it’s got to be today.

Introduction

This week I’m going to respond to an email I received that takes issue with one of the videos in my “Questions Protestants Can’t Answer” series.  It’s video #14, which is about the Parable of the Lost Sheep.  First, the comments I received in their entirety, in italics, and then my response.  It goes along with the same theme of Once Saved Always Saved that we’ve been talking about in the last couple of newsletters.

Question/Answer

Question/Comment

I am a Catholic and have enjoyed  reading your articles from the time I have been receiving them in my inbox.. They often provide  interesting and  convincing  perspectives on  difficult theological issues. Thank you.
I am responding to your Video presentation on Questions Protestants Can’t Answer #14 – “What does the lost sheep say about assurance of salvation?”

I am only giving my reflections, not from an attitude of disagreeing with what you are saying, but with reference to some other passages that come to my mind and the inferences I have arrived at.  Firstly, I must say that the word ‘lost’ may not necessary  mean ‘Lost’ in the fullness of the word, but is more meant to be ‘strayed’. Because, once one is born again, you are a new person, the old has gone. And along with becoming a ‘new’ man, one receives serveral things: Sonship; the three offices of Priest, Prophet and King; a multitude of special graces and the rich inheritance of the saints, and add to it, ‘all the blessings in the heavenly places,’ etc., etc.  And God’s gifts are irrevocable. Hence these things cannot be lost. You carry them with you even when you run away. I think the purpose of this parable  – that the Lord had in mind – was not meant not to be used it to prove a theological point about ‘can you get ‘lost.’

Its focus is on on calling the one who may be thinking he is ‘lost’ because of his terrible transgressions. It was meant to call back the one who has lost hope –  so he can come back to a Father who never gives up on you!  It is meant to bring him back telling him, “Don’t ever think, I have abandoned you, don’t ever think I will take away your sonship, even when you think you are lost, you are my son, I love you please come back. You still have not been stripped of your offices; please come back and exercise it. Come let me put that robe back on you again. Don’t give up because you have committed that terrible sin. And if think you can get ‘Lost!’ – you must be joking, there is no place you can hide from my eyes, even the ends of the universe. I will come running after you. I will find you and bring you back!”

There is only one possibility  though – to refuse to come back, after the Father has found the “lost,” you. That is not because God chose to let you be lost, but because you choose to reject Him after He found you. That is the only way you can “lose ME.” But I will never lose you. 

So there is truth in that sense, what the protestant brethren are trying to tell us. I am sure no sensible and mature protestant will say, Judas, the son of perdition was not lost!  Judas ‘chose’ to believe that he was “lost.” The issue was that he  “lost” hope’ even when in truth he was always “found.”

I will be happy to hear your perspective.

My Response:

Okay, first of all, what is written above is the product of this individual’s own reflections.  Fine and dandy.  We are all allowed to read Scripture and discern for ourselves how Scripture is speaking to us.  Secondly, I don’t think there is really a doctrinal issue involved here, although there might be – as I’ll explain in a moment – so this is not a question of right vs.wrong in terms of Church teaching, as much as it is a question of a difference of opinion over interpretation.  Having said that, though, there are a few things that I want to comment on as a warning…a warning in two ways: 1) Against the biblical interpretations of folks who you are disputing doctrine with; and 2) Against where our own private reflections can lead us.

Let’s start with that last warning first.  There was a phrase this person used that caused me to absolutely cringe.  That phrase was: “I think the purpose of this parable  – that the Lord had in mind – was not meant not to be used it to prove a theological point…”  The purpose of the parable “that the Lord had in mind.”  I’m sorry, but I would never use that phrase when interpreting some passage of Scripture like this, unless Scripture and/or Jesus’ Church clearly tells us He had a particular thing in mind – for example, the Eucharist, Confession, and so on.  Scripture very plainly asks the question: “For who has known the mind of the Lord?” (Rom 11:34; 1 Cor 2:16).  And the answer is very plain…no one.  So, I would hesitate to use that particular phrase.  Instead, I would say something like, “What this passage is saying to me…,” and then I would see if what that passage is saying to me is within the parameters of the teaching of the Church founded by Jesus Christ or not.  If it is, I’m good to go. If it’s not, I better re-think my thinking.

In regards to the first warning I mention, this person did a few things that are very common to how many non-Catholics will respond to some argument you’ve made, which makes me wonder if he really is Catholic, or if maybe he is a convert to the Faith who was not properly catechized and who has not lost all of his Protestantism.  First, notice how he tries to change the wording of Scripture: Well, Jesus said “lost,” but I think what He really means is “strayed.”  “Lost may not necessarily mean lost.”  Really?  Well, if Jesus really meant “strayed,” then why did He say, “lost.”  “Lost” doesn’t mean “lost,” just like “Eat My flesh” and “Drink My blood,” don’t really mean “Eat My flesh” and “Drink My blood.”  And rendering eternal life to men for their works doesn’t really mean “rendering” unto them “eternal life.”  And, being justified by works and not by faith alone, doesn’t really mean “not by faith alone.”  And on and on the manipulation of the words of  Scripture…the twisting of the words of Scripture…goes.  Be very aware of such things when talking about the Catholic Faith with folks.  Don’t accept the word of man as a substitution for the Word of God.

The other thing this person is doing, is not sticking with the context – either the context of the passage, or the context of what Scripture means when it uses the word “lost” in relation to people.  For example, the word “lost” in regard to the sheep in Luke 15 is also used to describe the “lost” coin and the “lost” son – the Prodigal Son – in Luke 15.  And, in relation to the Prodigal Son, his state of being “lost” is described as death.  “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”  Being lost is akin to being dead.  And the death being spoken of here is not a physical death, but a spiritual death – a death due to sinful living.  It is not just that the son strayed, but that he was dead.  Dead to the father.  Dead in his sins.  He had been in his father’s house, but he left his father’s house, wallowed in sin, and became lost…dead.  So, the context of Luke 15 is not simply one of someone “straying,” and “thinking they have no hope.”  Uh unh…the context is one of spiritual death…separation from the Father…through sin.  The context is not about one who “thinks they are lost,” it is about one who is actually lost.  The word “lost” here means unsaved…it means the loss of one’s salvation.

We can also see this in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Well, if being “lost” doesn’t mean that you’ve lost your salvation, if it only means that you’ve “strayed,” but you’re still saved, then why does Luke 19:10 say that Jesus came to seek and SAVE the lost?  You only need to be saved if you are in a state of being unsaved.  Lost = unsaved.  Lost = spiritually dead.  Lost = separation from the Father.  Lost = hasta la vista, baby.  Jesus is seeking for His lost sheep, but the reason He is seeking for them is because they have lost their salvation that He has made available to them for free.  If they haven’t lost their salvation, then they are not lost.  In other words, pretty much the entire argument this person is making in regard to my video makes no sense; at least, no scriptural sense.  Ignoring context is another tack of many Protestants who question and/or attack the Catholic Faith using the Bible.  So, just be aware of that.

Now, I say this is not a doctrinal issue because I don’t think he is arguing for Once Saved Always Saved, since he says you can still reject Jesus after He has found you.  Although, he comes pretty close to Once Saved Always Saved with a couple of other things that he says.  But, I will give him the benefit of the doubt here, and hope he realizes that even though one is “born again” (through Baptism) and once born again always born again (no revoking one’s Baptism), that doesn’t mean you cannot turn away from Christ and lose the salvation He has given you through Baptism.  If, however, he is arguing for Once Saved Always Saved, then it is indeed a doctrinal issue and he is indeed wrong.

 Conclusion

I hope all of you have a great week.  Nunc est tempus, hic est locus!

ILLUMINATI FROM A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE

History

Weishaupt was born of Westphalian parents at Ingolstadt (Bavaria), on 6 February, 1748, and lost his father in 1753. Although educated at a Jesuit school, he fell early under the influence of his free-thinking godfather, the director of the high-school of Ickstatt, to whom he owed his appointment as professor of civil law at the University of Ingolstadt in 1772. He was the first layman to occupy the chair of canon law at this university (1773), but, in consequence of the growing rationalistic influence which he exerted over the students both in his academic capacity and in his personal intercourse with them, he came into ever sharper collision with the loyal adherents of the Church and with those who were influential in government circles. As, furthermore, his obstinate nature led him to quarrel with almost everyone with whom his intercourse was at all prolonged, he felt the need of a powerful secret organization to support him in the conflict with his adversaries and in the execution of his rationalistic schemes along ecclesiastical and political lines. At first (1774) he aimed at an arrangement with the Freemasons. Closer inquiry, however, destroyed his high estimate of this organization, and he resolved to found a new society which, surrounded with the greatest possible secrecy, would enable him most effectually to realize his aims and could at all times be precisely adapted to the needs of the age and local conditions.

His order was to be based entirely on human nature and observation; hence its degrees, ceremonies, and statutes were to be developed only gradually; then, in the light of experience and wider knowledge, and with the co-operation of all the members, they were to be steadily improved. For his prototype he relied mainly on Freemasonry, in accordance with which he modelled the degrees and ceremonial of his order. After the pattern of the Society of Jesus, though distorting to the point of caricature its essential features, he built up the strictly hierarchical organization of his society. “To utilize for good purposes the very means which that order employed for evil ends”, such was, according to Philo (Endl. Erkl., 60 sq.), “his pet design”. For the realization of his plans, he regarded as essential the “despotism of superiors” and the “blind, unconditional obedience of subordinates” (ibid.), along with the utmost secrecy and mysteriousness. At the beginning of 1777 he entered a Masonic Lodge and endeavoured, with other members of the order, to render Freemasonry as subservient as possible to his aims. As Weishaupt, however, despite all his activity as an agitator and the theoretic shrewdness he displayed, was at bottom only an unpractical bookworm, without the necessary experience of the world, his order for a long time made no headway. The accession to it, in 1780, of the Masonic agent Freiherr von Knigge (Philo), a man of wide experience and well known everywhere in Masonic circles, gave matters a decisive turn. In company with Weishaupt, who, as a philosopher and jurist, evolved the ideas and main lines of the constitution, Knigge began to elaborate rapidly the necessary degrees and statutes (until 1780 the Minerval degree was the only one in use), and at the same time worked vigorously to extend the order, for which within two years he secured 500 members. When the great international convention of Freemasons was held at Wilhelmsbad (16 July to 29 August, 1782) the “Illuminated Freemasonry”, which Knigge and Weishaupt now proclaimed to be the only “pure” Freemasonry, had already gained such a reputation that almost all the members of the convention clamoured for admission into the new institution. Particularly valuable for the order was the accession of Bode (Amelius), who commanded the highest respect in all Masonic circles. Assisted by Bode, Knigge laboured diligently to convert the whole Masonic body into “Illuminated Freemasons”. A number of the most prominent representatives of Freemasonry and “enlightenment” became Illuminati, including, in 1783, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, the foremost leader of European Freemasonry and the princely representative of the illuminism of his age. Other famous members were Goethe, Herder, and Nicolai. The order was also propagated in Sweden, Russia, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Austria, and France. But in 1783 dissensions arose between Knigge and Weishaupt, which resulted in the final withdrawal of the former on 1 July, 1784. Knigge could no longer endure Weishaupt’s pedantic domineering, which frequently assumed offensive forms. He accused Weishaupt of “Jesuitism”, and suspected him of being “a Jesuit in disguise” (Nachtr., I, 129). “And was I”, he adds, “to labour under his banner for mankind, to lead men under the yoke of so stiff-necked a fellow?–Never!”

Moreover, in 1783 the anarchistic tendencies of the order provoked public denunciations which led, in 1784, to interference on the part of the Bavarian Government. As the activity of the Illuminati still continued, four successive enactments were issued against them (22 June, 1784; 2 March, and 16 August, 1785; and 16 August, 1787), in the last of which recruiting for the order was forbidden under penalty of death. These measures put an end to the corporate existence of the order in Bavaria, and, as a result of the publication, in 1786, of its degrees and of other documents concerning it–for the most part of a rather compromising nature–its further extension outside Bavaria became impossible. The spread of the spirit of the Illuminati, which coincided substantially with the general teachings of the “enlightenment”, especially that of France, was rather accelerated than retarded by the persecution in Bavaria. In two letters addressed to the Bishop of Freising (18 June and 12 November, 1785) Pius VI had also condemned the order. As early as 16 February, 1785, Weishaupt had fled from Ingolstadt, and in 1787 he settled at Gotha. His numerous apologetic writings failed to exonerate either the order or himself. Being now the head of a numerous family, his views on religious and political matters grew more sober. After 1787 he renounced all active connexion with secret societies, and again drew near to the Church, displaying remarkable zeal in the building of the Catholic church at Gotha. he died on 18 November, 1830, “reconciled with the Catholic Church, which, as a youthful professor, he had doomed to death and destruction”–as the chronicle of the Catholic parish in Gotha relates.

Objects and organization

As exhibiting the objects and methods of the order, those documents are authoritative which are given in the first and second sections of works in the bibliography. The subsequent modifications of the system, announced by Weishaupt in his writings after 1785, are irrelevant, since the order had spread far and wide before these modifications were published. The above-named documents reveal as the real object of the Illuminati the elaboration and propagation of a new popular religion and, in the domain of politics, the gradual establishment of a universal democratic republic. In this society of the future everything, according to Weishaupt, was to be regulated by reason. By “enlightenment” men were to be liberated from their silly prejudices, to become “mature” or “moral”, and thus to outgrow the religious and political tutelage of Church and State, of “priest and prince”. Morals was the science which makes man “mature”, and renders him conscious of his dignity, his destiny, and his power. The principal means for effecting the “redemption” was found in unification, and this was to be brought about by “secret schools of wisdom”. These “schools”, he declares, “were always the archives of nature and of the rights of man; through their agency, man will recover from his fall; princes and nations, without violence to force them, will vanish from the earth; the human race will become one family, and the world the habitation of rational beings. Moral science alone will effect these reforms ‘imperceptibly’; every father will become, like Abraham and the patriarchs, the priest and absolute lord of his household, and reason will be man’s only code of law” (“Nachtr.”, p. 80 sq.; repeated verbatim in Knigge, “Die neuesten Arbeiten”, p. 38). This redemption of mankind by the restoration of the original “freedom and equality” through “illumination” and universal charity, fraternity, and tolerance, is likewise the true esoteric doctrine of Christ and his Apostles. Those in whom the “illuminating” grace of Christ is operative (cf. Hebrews 6:4) are the “Illuminati”. The object of pure (i.e. illuminated) Freemasonry is none other than the propagation of the “enlightenment” whereby the seed of a new world will be so widely scattered that no efforts at extirpation, however violent, will avail to prevent the harvest (“Nachtr.”, pp. 44, 118; “Die neuesten Arb.”, pp. 11, 70). Weishaupt later declared (Nachtrag zu meiner Rechtfertigung, 77 sqq., 112 sqq.) that Masonry was the school from which “these ideas” emanated.

These objects of the order were to be revealed to members only after their promotion to the “priestly” degree (Nachtr., I, 68). The preliminary degrees were to serve for the selection, preparation, and concealment of the true “Illuminati”; the others were to open the way for the free religion and social organization of the future, in which all distinction of nations, creeds, etc., would disappear. The government of the order was administered by the superiors of the Minerval “churches”, “provincials”, “nationals”, and “areopagites” (who constituted the supreme council), under the direction of Weishaupt as general of the order. Members were acquainted only with their immediate superiors, and only a few trusted members knew that Weishaupt was the founder and supreme head of the order. All the members were obliged to give themselves a training in accordance with the aims of the society, and to make themselves useful, while the order, on its part, pledged itself to further their interests by the most effectual means. They were especially recommended to systematically observe persons and events, to acquire knowledge, and to pursue scientific research in so far as it might serve the purposes of the order. Concerning all persons with whom they had intercourse they were to gather information, and on all matters which could possibly affect either themselves or the order they were to hand in sealed reports; these were opened by superiors unknown to the writers, and were, in substance, referred to the general. The purpose of this and other regulations was to enable the order to attain its object by securing for it a controlling influence in all directions, and especially by pressing culture and enlightenment into its service. All illuministic and official organs, the press, schools, seminaries, cathedral chapters (hence, too, all appointments to sees, pulpits, and chairs) were to be brought as far as possible under the influence of the organization, and princes themselves were to be surrounded by a legion of enlightened men, in order not only to disarm their opposition, but also to compel their energetic co-operation. A complete transformation would thus be effected; public opinion would be controlled; “priests and princes” would find their hands tied; the marplots who ventured to interfere would repent their temerity; and the order would become an object of dread to all its enemies.

Concerning the influence actually exerted by the Illuminati, the statements of ex-Freemasons—L.A. Hossman, J.A. Starck, J. Robinson, the Abbé Barruel, etc.–must be accepted with reserve, when they ascribe to the order a leading rôle in the outbreak and progress of the French Revolution of 1789. Their presentation of facts is often erroneous, their inferences are untenable, and their theses not only lack proof, but, in view of our present knowledge of the French Revolution (cf., e.g., Aulard, “Hist. pol. de la Rév. Franç.”, 3rd ed., 1905; Lavisse-Rambaud, “Hist. générale”, VIII, 1896), they are extremely improbable. On the other hand, once it had discarded, after 1786, the peculiarities of Weishaupt, “Illuminationism” was simply the carrying out of the principles of “enlightenment”; in other words, it was Freemasonry and practical Liberalism adapted to the requirements of the age; as such it exerted an important influence on the intellectual and social development of the nineteenth century. (See MASONRY; SECRET SOCIETIES.)

Wiil you JOIN THEM?

Here is a post from: http://illuminativip.com/

After you read this, here is the proposing question …

Will you join them in order to gain the WORLD?

The Illuminati Logo

The Illuminati is the secret society responsible for the development of the cultural operating system behind every decisions, big or small, you have ever made in your entire life.

A select, yet growing group of massively successful entrepreneurs, musicians, actors and other high-ranking social placeholders make up the Illuminati. The Illuminati takes away the freedom of the individual to define their own place in the world without being subject to mass mind-control by defining the news we are exposed to, the music we listen to (which is often packed with subliminal messaging) and the products we purchase, the chemicals in the water we drink and more.

It is time to take back control of your mind and reach your full potential without it being suppressed by the Illuminati for their own financial gain. To stay up to date as new information is uncovered regarding ways in which you are being controlled and how you can avoid it, general Illuminati news, new Illuminati members to watch out for and other relevant updates, subscribe to our email list. You will receive a free Illuminati update every single week.

Unfortunately, most people will never be exposed to the content you now have access to as one of the lucky few that have ended up on this website. Their minds will forever be controlled by the Illuminati and they will be none the wiser.

So, I can hear you asking, “What difference will it make in my life to no longer be controlled by the Illuminati?” The truth is, you are either one or the other. Once the level of control they have over you decreases after several months of email subscription, the tables will turn and you will become Illuminated. You will feel your state of mind and outlook on the universe change and once you apply your new-found mind set to your artistic, business, athletic or personal goals, you achieve success far faster than you ever thought possible and on a scale that you used to think was only for the rich and famous. The only difference between an Illuminati Member and a member of the propagandized masses is drive – they are empowered to free themselves of the aspects of their lives that are counter productive and apply 100% of their focus to achieving greatness.

Transforming yourself to become a member of the New World Order is likely to result in you deeply relating to the traditional Illuminati Symbolism that once seemed completely crazy to you. Consider the concept of a Triangle – it has forever been recognized as the strongest geometric shape. The concept of triangles and the Illuminati simply relates to having the unimportant masses beneath the enlightened few. Another simple way to explain the mindset of an Illuminati Member is to compare it to a tree in a rainforest, fighting to reach the light in the canopy and disregarding the trees beneath them that never quite had the drive to push beyond mediocre growth.

You can’t beat the Illuminati, but through us you are now able to join them.

Who Are The Illuminati?

Who Are The Illuminati?

By Richard Stone | thetruthseeker.co.uk

“A loose affiliation of millionaires and billionaires” (Paul Simon).

“The world is governed by far different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes” (Benjamin Disraeli).

“Give me control over a nation’s currency, and I care not who makes the laws” (Mayer Rothschild).

The Rothschilds

Conspiracy theory is the theory that most of the world is secretly governed by a small group of men who operate behind the scenes. Conspiracy theory is now an accepted turn of phrase but sometimes one hears the expression, sometimes whispered rather than spoken. “The Illuminati”.

What does this mean? Who are the Illuminati? They are, in essence, a cartel of international bankers and industrialists based in Western Europe and North America. The names of certain families persist over long periods of time. Some of the most important names are Rothschild, Rockefeller, Morgan, Lazard, Warburg, Schroder and Schiff.

The pivotal family is probably the house of Rothschild, the descendants of Mayer Rothschild (1743 – 1812) of Frankfurt. The male descendants of this family, for at least two generations, generally married first cousins or even nieces. The family established banking institutions in Vienna, London, Naples and Paris as well as Frankfurt. Ever since the middle ages, these families have been building their power by lending money at rates of interest to the monarchies and governments of Europe who were forever in debt, particularly in times of war. Sooner than tax the population to raise funds, always an unpopular measure, they usually preferred to borrow money from the money-lenders. This was the birth of the concept “the national debt.” The countries of the world are forever in debt but where there is a debtor there is a creditor – who is this money owed to? It is owed to this coterie of international bankers.

By the nineteenth century the power of the Rothschild family was immense. They increased their wealth with great cunning and cleverness, while maintaining a low public profile. A notable example of their methods was their exploitation of the battle of Waterloo. The Rothschilds had spies watching the course of the battle and as soon as became evident that Wellington had won, a Rothschild agent traveled at maximum speed to London, arriving hours before Wellington’s own messenger. Rothschild received the messenger and began conspicuously selling his stocks. The whole stock exchange assumed that Wellington had lost and Napoleon had won so everybody started selling, at this point, other Rothschild agents bought up huge stocks at give-away prices. Thus an already massive fortune was massively increased.

The Rockefeller family may be equally important. The pivotal figure in this family was J.D.Rockefeller, who made his fortune out of Standard Oil or Esso in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He also controlled the railroads. When rival road transport systems were established he attempted to block them by parking his trains across the roads at level crossings. His basic business technique was the elimination of competitors at all costs, followed by the establishment of a monopoly, followed by profit taking. He rapidly gained a name for huge wealth, secrecy and hard and dirty business practice. In his later years he had a harsh and gaunt appearance, so to counter his bad “public image” JD more or less invented the PR industry. He had short films of himself made, calculated to charm the public, himself playing golf with a pretty little child for instance. This film was shown on TV recently. It has a rather false and amateurish air but was very effective with the public of the day.

The Rockerfellers currently have controlling interests in Exxon (the world’s biggest company) and the Chase Manhattan Bank, which turns over trillions of dollars a week. With so many billions in their hands already, what does more money mean? Obviously it means more power and more control over other human beings, but to what end and in whose name?

Apparently in the name of Lucifer, the fallen angel also known as the bringer of light, hence the name “Illuminati”, which means “the enlightened ones”. Lucifer is also known for the characteristics of pride, deception and impermanence. The illuminati were apparently founded in Bavaria in 1770 [1776] by one Adam Weisshaupt, a student of the Jewish philosopher Mendelsohn, and backed by the Rothschild family. The society has always been based on the lodges of Freemasonry, which was taken over at the highest levels during the course of the eighteenth century by agents of the Illuminati. Freemasonry is a very secretive institution, to the extent that members at one level do not know what members at another level are doing. Hence it is an organisation which is full of bonhomie and good deeds at the lower and middle levels, while its motives and deeds at the highest levels veer towards the dark side.

Both Freemasonry and Judaism have strong roots in the ancient Egyptian systems of religious belief, and it was this very similarity which attracted the illuminati to Freemasonry, for most of them were Jewish. It is a source of controversy today to speculate whether or not they are still predominantly Jewish. No unfair racism intended – they either are or they aren’t. Certainly there is much evidence to suggest that they are not, George Bush for instance, a prominent illuminati figure and obviously not Jewish.

The all seeing eye on the U.S. Dollar Bill

The United States of America is more or less a creation of Freemasonry. The symbol of Freemasonry was placed on the cornerstone of the Whitehouse, while the assembled Freemasons lodges stood and watched the ceremony. The famous all-seeing eye in the pyramid appears on the one dollar bill. It is one of the main symbols of Freemasonry. This bill also bears the inscription, in Latin, “1776, the year of inception of a new world order”. If one joins the dots formed by the stars of the thirteen original states one obtains an exact Star of David.

The goal of the IlIuminati is total control of the world. The only nations, which are holding out against their power, are some Islamic nations and China but this resistance is limited because the Illuminati have crushing economic power.

There are certain methods of subjugation and control which are indispensable to this power. The first is, of course, complete control over all financial systems, all borrowing and lending. All banks, all building societies, all insurance companies have to be under their control. At the lowest level even the smallest bank will be forced to toe the line. At the highest level the World Bank decides the fate of countries. It is an interesting and amazing fact that both the Federal Reserve Bank and the Bank of England are controlled by these Illuminati dynasties, in spite of the names of these banks, which suggest that they are run for public benefit. It is said that both Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy wanted to change this system.

The second essential component is control of the media. It is controlled through business fashion. If the board meeting, or the management meeting, or the sales meeting, or the training meeting suggests that facts should be presented in a certain way, who is going to present them differently? There is an implied threat to one’s job and one’s career. Few people would gladly face demotion, retrenchment or the dole and most people are so ambitious they will do nearly anything “reasonable” to court favour with their superiors. This is how business is controlled and the media is the most important part of business, for it controls people’s minds. People are very suggestible and often lend more credence to what they see on “the box” than to what happens on their own street. The Illuminati know this and use this suggestibility factor to the full. Lenin’s key move during the Russian revolution was the capture of the radio station.

The third factor in the control system is the universities, and through them the whole education system. Particular effort is put into the schools of sociology, politics, economics and education, hence “liberal” systems of education which are often degenerate and even violent. Their men are inserted into the universities through the power of funding by big business. They then spread their influence downwards through tertiary to secondary and primary education.

The fourth factor is the enormous influence wielded by two similar organisations, The Council of Foreign Relations in the USA and the Royal Institute of International Affairs in England. These institutions are schools for statesmen, Illuminati statesmen. They are the stamping grounds of men such as Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinksi and Lord Carrington. These two “think tanks” have a crucial influence on all US and British governments, no matter which party is “in power”. The statesmen produced by these institutions can and do decide the fate of nations.The tax-exempt foundations are also instruments of Illuminati power. The Ford foundation and the Rockefeller foundation are two prominent examples of this type of “charitable” institution. They were heavily involved in supporting various communist powers when the cold war was at its height. Communism versus capitalism arms race = more money and power for the Illuminati. So these are some of the structures through which the Illuminati work but what methods do they use?

Pitting one side against the other, using a theory devised by Hegel, which is: Thesis versus antitheses – synthesis.

Every force tends to have an opposite counterforce. The conflict between the two results in a new situation, the synthesis. The illuminati make it their business to be the synthesis. Thus no problem situation is ever “nipped in the bud” it is rather fostered and used, just as the Soviet Union was fostered and used.

The insertion of immigrant groups into countries is a variation of this divide and rule process. Each group can be played off against the other.

“Double talk” and “double think”. George Orwell knew instinctively what was going on when he invented these two expressions:
I categorically deny = it will happen a bit later.
Peace = war by another means.

To say one thing and do another is fundamental to Illuminati practice. They believe that the public will accept these lies through laziness and wishful thinking. Unfortunately they are usually correct.

“Keep them busy busy busy, back on the farm with the other animals.” We are kept so busy with business (or busyness) that we do not understand or participate in the decisions and events that will crucially affect our future.

When a real power move is made it is usually done secretly and suddenly often with the pretence that nothing has happened. There is preparation for opposition, but conflict is often not necessary as most people have been trained to be so passive that they will probably not create an effective opposition.

Use of front men in important positions. These front men have the characteristic of “servile obedience”, probably because of a blot or blots on their character which they are anxious to conceal. Most of the Presidents of the USA fall into this category. The current situation springs to mind. Behind the opponent stands the man with real power, who has long been groomed for this position. Men like Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski and George Bush are in this category.

The assassination of opposing leaders as quietly and as secretly as possible, so as to simulate a natural death. If this is not possible due to time constraints or other limited circumstances, surrogates are used and the lines of suspicion are covered by deception, false accusation and if necessary, multiple assassinations. Induced heart attacks, fake motor accidents and apparent suicides are also favoured methods of assassination.

Social engineering. An easily manipulated rabble is what is required. Mixed population groups with weak morals, weak traditions, low educational standards and weak group willpower are the aim. Those with special aptitudes can be taken out and trained to serve the illuminati for technical purposes, security purposes or as part of the propaganda apparatus. The middle class will become surplus to requirements and will be reduced to relative poverty.

Mockery and submission of the manners and morals of societies which show any resistance. Control of the media, the fashion industries and the education systems are essential components in this strategy. “Free love”, the cult of youth, mockery of the Christian and Muslim faiths also fall into this category. “I don’t give a rats ass about Jesus Christ” is one recent masterpiece from one of Hollywood’s biggest starts. He probably didn’t realise what he was saying, which makes him a “useful idiot’. A “useful idiot” is much more effective than a conscious supporter. By these means of subversion societies and nations are conquered from within and open battle is usually not necessary.

The conduct of unrelenting economic warfare. This is the real war and continues even while the bombs are falling and the bullets are flying. The important part is the control of the enemy’s economy after the conflict. The recent economic crash in the far-eastern countries is in reality an assertion of the Illuminati’s economic power, an expression of economic dominance. The Illuminati now control 10-15% of the Japanese economy. This is public knowledge, that is what has been bought at bargain prices. In reality they probably control much more.

Control and exploitation of the standards of public health. The sale of prescription drugs is a huge business generating mega profits. Medical operations and treatments can also be very profitable to big business. These extreme treatments have their place but are over-used for the sake of profit.

In fact big business, particularly the big drug companies, have a vested interest in the ill health of the population. These companies, working through the US Food and Drug Administration, have tried to suppress the health food industry. In this they have largely failed but now the game is to own it and control it so that health foods can only be afforded by the elite.

Argument through defamation of character. The factual debate is ignored while characters are defamed. This is usually a very effective technique as many human beings are very suggestible and seem reluctant to use their reasoning abilities. Thus a “smear campaign” can easily draw attention away from the facts.

To conclude, it is growing increasingly evident that a world government is developing, and many would say that it is probably no bad thing, but few have asked for what purpose this “new world order” is created. Nor have they asked themselves what the consequences will be. These consequences (or some of them) will probably be as follows:

• Increasing profits for big business, increasing poverty for the middle class (who they despise). A rapid decline in moral standards and the promotion of social decay.

• Transience. Jobs that don’t last; neighbourhoods that don’t last.

• Increasing levels of crime and violence.

• Decline and demise of public services; replacement by private enterprise – good service for the few who can afford it.

• Ongoing ill health for the bulk of the population because of stress; poor quality foods; food additives; genetic engineering; pollution and drugs. There may be good health for those who can afford it – only the rich and well informed.

• The gradual phasing out of national governments, which will have powers more like the regional governments of today.

• The formation of several conglomerations like the United States.

In time a world leader will be announced, a real one this time. A pity he will have a cynical contempt for the most of humanity. Do we deserve it?

Article From: http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=1

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Special Delivery

A few weeks ago I experienced what all expectant fathers dread.

My wife Uki had woken me up before dawn to inform me that it was time. She was in the initial stages of labor with our fifth child and her contractions were intensifying, so we quickly set out for the short ride to the hospital. I felt the familiar rush of excitement and anticipation, knowing that soon we would be welcoming another precious child into the world. But as my wife’s contractions become stronger and more frequent, I also began to feel a nagging fear: What if we don’t make it in time?

I turned on my hazard lights and ran every red light as carefully as I could. Fortunately, it was 5:30 in the morning and commuter traffic was still very light when we got on the highway. I zoomed along, all the while reassuring my wife that we would make it, that everything would be fine. She, in turn, assured me that I was kidding myself.

We were still a few minutes from the hospital; what was once inconceivable was now quite probable. What was I going to do? I prayed for Our Lady’s intercession and the protection of our guardian angels.

After several more rapid contractions, my wife finally ordered me to pull over, “The baby won’t wait, she’s coming now!” I pulled the minivan over to the side of the highway and dialed 911 on my cell phone. As I spoke with the emergency operator I quickly discovered that the baby’s head had already crowned!

I took hold of her head and my wife braced herself for another contraction. As she pushed, I gently pulled on the head and within seconds I was holding my baby girl in my hands. I wrapped her in the towels that we had providentially brought with us and presented her to her to mother. Never before in my life have I ever felt as vulnerable as I did in the moments preceeding her first cry, and words cannot begin to describe the sheer joy and relief that flooded my soul as I heard that wonderful sound. I looked into the eyes of my amazing wife and felt profound gratitude to the Lord for seeing us through this blessed ordeal.

Following the promptings of our emergency operator, I pumped up the heat in the minivan and removed one of my wife’s shoelaces to tie off the unbilical cord. Twenty minutes and many prayers later, the ambulance arrived. The EMT handed me a small scalpel and asked me to do the honors. I cut the cord and helped them load my ladies into the ambulance.

As I followed them to the hospital, trembling from both the emotion and the adrenaline, I reflected on the magnitude of the miracle that my wife and I were privileged to experience, and the tale that we would tell our daughter one day about the funny thing that happened on the way to the hospital.

Welcome to the world, little Isabella.

A few weeks ago I experienced what all expectant fathers dread.

My wife Uki had woken me up before dawn to inform me that it was time. She was in the initial stages of labor with our fifth child and her contractions were intensifying, so we quickly set out for the short ride to the hospital. I felt the familiar rush of excitement and anticipation, knowing that soon we would be welcoming another precious child into the world. But as my wife’s contractions become stronger and more frequent, I also began to feel a nagging fear: What if we don’t make it in time?

I turned on my hazard lights and ran every red light as carefully as I could. Fortunately, it was 5:30 in the morning and commuter traffic was still very light when we got on the highway. I zoomed along, all the while reassuring my wife that we would make it, that everything would be fine. She, in turn, assured me that I was kidding myself.

We were still a few minutes from the hospital; what was once inconceivable was now quite probable. What was I going to do? I prayed for Our Lady’s intercession and the protection of our guardian angels.

After several more rapid contractions, my wife finally ordered me to pull over, “The baby won’t wait, she’s coming now!” I pulled the minivan over to the side of the highway and dialed 911 on my cell phone. As I spoke with the emergency operator I quickly discovered that the baby’s head had already crowned!

I took hold of her head and my wife braced herself for another contraction. As she pushed, I gently pulled on the head and within seconds I was holding my baby girl in my hands. I wrapped her in the towels that we had providentially brought with us and presented her to her to mother. Never before in my life have I ever felt as vulnerable as I did in the moments preceeding her first cry, and words cannot begin to describe the sheer joy and relief that flooded my soul as I heard that wonderful sound. I looked into the eyes of my amazing wife and felt profound gratitude to the Lord for seeing us through this blessed ordeal.

Following the promptings of our emergency operator, I pumped up the heat in the minivan and removed one of my wife’s shoelaces to tie off the unbilical cord. Twenty minutes and many prayers later, the ambulance arrived. The EMT handed me a small scalpel and asked me to do the honors. I cut the cord and helped them load my ladies into the ambulance.

As I followed them to the hospital, trembling from both the emotion and the adrenaline, I reflected on the magnitude of the miracle that my wife and I were privileged to experience, and the tale that we would tell our daughter one day about the funny thing that happened on the way to the hospital.

Welcome to the world, little Isabella.

excerpt from the Catholic Answers tract

MATUWID NA DAAN?

For your information !

Once saved, Always saved?

Once Saved…Always Saved?
(The Doctrine of Eternal Security)

Introduction
Many Christians believe in a concept known as “eternal security,” also known as Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS).  This is the belief that once you’ve accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then you are guaranteed a place in Heaven, no matter what. Once you’ve accepted Christ, you have absolute assurance that you are saved forever – eternal security.  But, is this a truly Christian belief – a truly biblical belief?  Let’s look at the arguments and see.

1) The Argument From Sin
This is the main problem cited in regard to a belief in eternal security.  If, after a person is saved, they cannot lose their salvation, no matter what they do, no matter how many sins they commit, then we are left with a reality where there is , essentially, no consequence for sin.  There is no consequence of sin for the unbeliever, because he is already going to Hell for his unbelief, so whether he sins or not, it makes no difference; and there is no consequence of sin for the believer, because once he believes, he’s on the Salvation Express headed to Heaven, so whether he sins or not, it makes no difference.  In a Once Saved Always Saved belief system, there is no serious  consequence for sin.  Is that what Christians really believe?

Sin and the Bible
From the beginning of the Gospels, Jesus makes it a major point of His ministry to talk about repentance from sin and to warn of the consequences of sin.  “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,’” (Matt 4:17).  Why do we need to repent, though, if sin holds no consequences regarding our salvation?  Why didn’t Jesus just say, “Believe, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand?”  Why repent?  Because, as Jesus shows us in the Sermon on the Mount, and elsewhere, there are indeed serious consequences of sin.  In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  Or, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  Why? Because it is better to lose an eye or a hand than to have your whole body tossed into Hell. Can Jesus be any more clear that sin can  cause believers to end up in Hell?

Maybe, though, Jesus was referring to unbelievers here?  Not a chance.  Jesus cannot be talking about unbelievers because He is holding out the possibility of salvation for those who take the drastic measure of cutting of their hand or plucking out their eye in order to avoid sin.  Even if unbelievers take such drastic measures to avoid sin, they will still be headed to Hell, not Heaven, for their unbelief!  Which means Jesus is speaking of the consequences of sin for believers!  Unrepented sin, if you believe Jesus, will get you thrown into Hell. This flies in the face of the doctrine of eternal security.

Also, in pretty much every letter he wrote, Paul warns the believers he is writing to about the consequences of sin.  Romans 6:16, “Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”  The Word of God says that there are consequences to sin – that sin leads to death – and Paul makes no distinction between the believer and the unbeliever.

Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger…I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”  Ephesians 5:5, “Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure man…has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”  Sin has consequences, and there is nothing in these passages, or the many others like them, that indicates believers are exempt from the consequences of these sins.

So, contrary to the doctrine of eternal security, Scripture shows us that sin does indeed carry  consequences, for the saved and the unsaved, with the worst of those consequences being the loss of one’s salvation.

2) The Argument from the Bible
There are any number of Scripture verses that are in direct contradiction to a belief in Once Saved Always Saved.  So many, in fact, that it is difficult to decide which ones to mention, but here are just a few:

Eternal Security and the Bible
Romans 17:-24, “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen [the Jews], but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.”  Paul is talking to Gentiles who have been grafted into God (v.17), who have been saved.  Yet, what is Paul saying to these saved persons?  He is warning them that if they do not continue in God’s kindness, they, too, will be cut off – they will lose their salvation – just as the Jews were.

Hebrews 6:4-6, “For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come if they then commit apostasy…”  Could an unbeliever ever be described as being “enlightened,” or as being a “partaker of the Holy Spirit,” or of having “tasted the heavenly gift?”  Absolutely not!  Which means, this passage is talking about believers; yet, what does it say?  It says that believers can commit apostasy; they can reject Christ even after being saved!

John 15:1-6: Jesus is the vine (v.1).  Those who believe in Him are the branches (v.5).  Can an unbeliever in any way be said to be a branch of the vine that is Christ?  Absolutely not.  So, what will happen to the branches, to the believers, if they do not produce good fruit?  Are they still saved?  No!  If there is a branch of the vine that does not produce good fruit, then it is cut off from the vine – from Christ – tossed into the fire and burned.  A not so subtle reference to Hell.

Ezekiel 33:13: “Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in the iniquity that he has committed he shall die.”  Sounds like the righteous people spoken of here thought they couldn’t lose their salvation either, doesn’t it?

All of these passages, and many, many more, state very plainly and clearly that we can indeed lose our salvation, that we can indeed turn away from Christ, of our own free will, even after we’ve been saved.

3) Arguments For Once Saved Always Saved
There are a few main verses of Scripture that OSAS believers point to in support of their belief, but do these verses really teach eternal security?  Let’s take a look at them and see:

From the Bible
John 10:27-29: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Romans 8:1-2: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

The arguments are that since a believer cannot be snatched out of the hand of God and that there is nothing that can separate them from the love of God, then once they are saved, they are saved for good.  Plus the fact that there is “no condemnation” for those who are in Christ Jesus, and they have passed “from death to life,” further cements the case in the mind of the OSAS believer that he cannot lose his salvation.

Twisting the Scripture?
Is that really what those passages say, though?  Or is that simply someone twisting scripture (2 Peter 3:16) to make the Bible fit what they believe?  In John 10:27-29, for example, is this passage really teaching that you cannot lose your salvation, or is it simply saying that no one can forcibly remove, or snatch, you from the hand of God against your will?  Where does this passage say that you cannot walk away from God of your own free will?  It doesn’t, it just says you cannot be pulled away from God against your will.

In Romans 8:1-2, there is indeed no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; as long as you stay in Christ Jesus. But, nowhere does this verse say one will automatically stay in Christ Jesus regardless of how much sin they commit.  And in Romans 8:38-39, did you notice that sin is not mentioned as something that cannot separate us from God?  Also, if you stop to think about what that verse actually says, you will see it is speaking of God’s unconditional love for us, not unconditional salvation.

John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”  Yes, if you hear Jesus’ word and believe in God, you have passed from death to life.  But, nowhere does it say that you cannot pass from life to death, as the Prodigal Son did.  He was alive, then was dead, then alive again (Luke 15:24)!  And, nowhere does this verse say you cannot lose your faith in Christ at some point after believing in Him, which is exactly what happens in the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, where Jesus talks about how some will receive the Word with joy, but then fall away from the Word when they are persecuted (Matt 13:20-21).

There is no verse in the Bible that says once you are saved, you are guaranteed to always remain saved.  There is no verse in the Bible that says sin has no consequences.  There is no verse in the Bible that says we can have absolute assurance of our salvation.  In fact, Paul himself tells us not to judge ourselves as being saved, because that judgment is reserved for the Lord when He comes (1 Cor 4:3-5).

4) What About Babies?
Not all, but many, adherents of OSAS believe that if a baby dies, he or she will go to Heaven.  They believe babies are, in essence, “saved.”  But, what happens when someone does not die as a baby, and they grow up and never accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – are they still saved?  No.  Which means they were saved as babies, but then they lost that state of salvation when they grew up and did not profess a belief in Christ.  If OSAS is  true, however, that can’t happen.  If OSAS is true, then if a baby is saved, it shouldn’t matter if they profess Christ or not as adults, because they cannot lose their salvation.  Yet, no believer in Once Saved Always Saved would agree that was the case.  This presents quite a logical dilemma for believers of this doctrine.

5) Does This Make Any Sense?
Finally, there are a number of Scripture verses that make absolutely no sense whatsoever in a Once Saved Always Saved world.  Here are just a few for you to check out yourself: Phil 2:12; Heb 4:1,11; Col 1:21-23; 2 Cor 13:5-6; Heb 10:38; 1 Tim 4:1; and there are many more.