Mulling over LEE LOFASO to STEVE ASHER 24 Apr 2003

Hi Lee...

SA>======================================================================
SA>Bush's blood lust, his repeated commitment to Christian beliefs, and 
SA>his constant references to "evil doers," in the eyes of many devout 
SA>Catholic leaders, bear all the hallmarks of the one warned about in 
SA>the Book of Revelations - the anti- Christ.

 LL> Most Catholics do not follow the same logic, since
 LL> "dispensationalism" is a Protestant concept.

Quite so, and while the Catholics I come in contact with have little
knowledge of prophecy or interest in it (much like everyone else I
know), there is a powerful current within Catholicism which drives
it to convert the world and bring about an "Age of Mary". It sees
Mary as conquering, though not militarily[?], and has parallels with 
things like the Project For The New American Century.

E.g. the [apparition of] Mary is reported to have said at Fatima: 
"In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph; the Holy Father will
consecrate Russia to me, it will be converted and a certain period
of peace will be granted to the world."
["The Woman Shall Conquer", by Don Sharkey - has Imprimatur and
Nihil Obstat 1952]

The current Pope certainly was instrumental, with Reagan & Gorbachev,
in bringing about the end of the Soviet Union.

It goes on "Saints and mystics tell us that a glorious age is coming
in which the Blessed Virgin will be recognized by men as their Queen.
This will be the Age of Mary."

SA>People close to the Pope claim that amid these concerns, the Pontiff
SA>wishes he was younger and in better health to confront the possibility
SA>that Bush may represent the person prophesized in Revelations. John
SA>Paul II has always believed the world was on the precipice of the final
SA>confrontation between Good and Evil as foretold in the New Testament.

 LL> In terms of Catholic theology, there have been many "antichrists",
 LL> as there will continue to be in times future.  However, St.
 LL> Augustine did write about an Antichrist - something few Catholic
 LL> theologians like to highlight.

SA>Before he became Pope, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla said, "We are now standing
SA>in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone
SA>through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide
SA>circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing
SA>the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the
SA>Gospel versus the anti- Gospel."

 LL> John Paul II has used terms such as the "culture of life" versus
 LL> the "culture of death" as a means of highlighting gospel values and
 LL> what the Church stands for.

SA>The Pope, who grew up facing the evils of Hitler and Stalin, knows evil
SA>when he sees it. Although we can all endlessly argue over the Pope's
SA>effectiveness in curtailing abuses within his Church, his accomplishments
SA>external to Catholicism are impressive.

 LL> True.  JP is not perfect by any means, but has reached out to
 LL> non-Catholics and non-Christians, hoping to help make the world a
 LL> better place for all.

Yes, and he steadfastly refused to endorse the US's invasion plan for
Iraq, as he could not see it as being a "just" war. Will the US seek
to bring about "regime change" in the Vatican? :)
SA>=====================================================================

SA>Personally, while I have some suspicions that Bush might prove to be
SA>the Beast, I also suspect that he is being "set up" to take the rap
SA>for someone even more sinister, such as the [permanent] President of
SA>Europe when that position is created.

 LL> There are actually *two* Beasts depicted in Revelation - an Earth
 LL> Beast and a Sea Beast.  Maybe Bush is one Beast and Blair the other
 LL> Beast? 

Yes, there are. The first is normally referred to as the Antichrist, the
second as the False Prophet. AFAIK, when someone claims to be the Messiah,
the Jews also need an accompanying Prophet to attest to his authenticity,
much as John the Baptist pointed to Jesus Christ.

Just as the Pope is often described, with extensive documentation, to be
the Antichrist, I'm not convinced, as whoever it is will need to be
accepted by the Jews as their Messiah. I can't see them accepting a Pope
anytime soon.

Much the same with Bush. He would need to be willing to abandon the White
House and rule from Jerusalem. Possible? Yes. Likely? For now, although
Bush apparently believes that God is driving him in his attempts to deal
with evil, terrorism, WMD etc etc... I doubt he would leave the White
House for Jerusalem [?]. Bush / Blair are certainly displaying aspects of
the two beasts, and if they take a crack at France [and Germany / Belgium]
I'd certainly consider them as likely suspects!

Although it doesn't seem likely, based on the US's excellence in almost
everything - economic, political, military etc, I still feel that the
wheels will fall off much like the Soviet Union, leaving the way open
for Pax Europa rather than Pax Americana.

Interesting times.

Cheers, Steve..

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