WHAT DID THE POPE REALLY SAY?

Recently there was a news article headline that suggested the pope had said that atheists need not believe in Christ to go to heaven.  I had linked this news article on my Facebook.  Some took exception, saying the pope was misquoted.

I am not able to know the exact words of the pope because I cannot read Latin and therefore do not know how accurate the English translations may be.   So far as I can determine from reading Roman Catholic publications, the pope, at the very least did say that atheists should follow their conscience.  I understand this was an effort to reach out to atheists who had asked how they are viewed by the Roman Catholic Church or what their relationship is to the Church.

What is certain is that the pope did not give a clear, certain, apostolic or truly Christian response to the inquiry.   The inquiry would be somewhat equivalent to those in the New Testament who came to Jesus or the apostles asking the way to eternal life or inquiring about their relationship to the kingdom of God.   The answers given by Jesus and the apostles were very different from that given by the pope.  The pope gave a politician’s answer, not an apostolic answer.

In the Old Testament there were sentries placed on the wall of the city whose job it was to blow a certain sound on the trumpet if they say the enemy or eminent danger approaching.  There were different sounds to be sounded on the trumpet for different occasions.   It was crucial that the sentry give a clear and certain sound on the trumpet when the enemy approached so everyone could prepare to be saved.  St. Paul uses this imagery in I Cor. 14: 8 saying “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle”.   The pope clearly did not give a clear and certain sound or proclamation of the Gospel.  His words had the effect of suggesting or implying the atheists were ok where they were; they just need to follow their conscience.  But following their conscience is what they already are doing and that has lead them to where they are.   The pope failed to recall that the human conscience can be distorted, perverted and darkened by willful and persistent sinning against the conscience.  Man’s conscience, to be a safe guide, must be subject to and conditioned by Truth.  “The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it?”

One is left wondering whatever happened to the words of the Saviour, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.  He that believeth not is condemned already” and “He who rejects Me, rejects the Father who sent me”?  Or the words of St. John of the Apocalypse, “ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the brimstone: which is the second death.”

The present pope has indicated his desire to reach out to those outside of his church.  He has indicated that his church needs to stop talking so much about the sins of homosexuality and abortion.  The pope seems to be trying to skirt certain issues and play both sides.  But if you compromise your beliefs to win people, what have you won them too?  Where then is the need for repentance? Love without truth is not really love but self-serving.  Once again, he is sounding more like a politician or head of state than an apostolic voice for truth and righteousness.  There really is nothing different about this.  All the popes of recent times seem never to get around to proclaiming the fullness of the Gospel but speak only of nebulous ideas of world community, world peace and brotherhood – the language of the United Nations and the World Council of Churches.

From the Orthodox Christian perspective what the pope says is of little consequence since the pope and the Latin/Roman Church departed from the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church in 1054 AD when they fell into schism and heresy.

Part 7

APOSTASY AND ANTICHRIST ACCORDING TO THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH

THE THIRD PERIOD (The first two periods were discussed in parts 5 & 6)

(Exerted from a booklet published by Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY in 1992, no longer in print.)

The third period and the final activities of Antichrist will begin with the seizure of all world power into his own hands.  A condition of utter ruin of the nations of the earth from a great world war will greatly assist him in this.  The majority will see a worldwide administration under Antichrist as the only possible way to avoid new wars and to bring about a new, peaceful blossoming of mankind.

The word of God portrays Antichrist’s coming to world power in the following manner: on the face of the earth, devastated and ruined by war, “then kings shall arise’ (Dan. 7:24).  Seven of them will have “the same thoughts” as Antichrist and will “submit their power and authority to him: (Dan. 17:13).  The other three rulers will attempt to maintain their independence:  Antichrist will have to defeat them by military force (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24).

After Antichrist’s victory over the three “kingdoms”, removing the only obstacle in his path to world mastery, the book of Revelation portrays him in the form of a red beast, having ten horns (i.e. the ten kingdoms submitted to him) and seven heads (i.e. the seven rulers who voluntarily submitted themselves to him and act in the capacity of his representatives in their countries) (Rev. 13:1 from the interpretation of that verse by the Holy Fathers St. Irenaeus of Lyons and St. Cyril of Jerusalem).

Concerning the world wide power of Antichrist, the book of Revelation says: “And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations” (13:7).  Although the usual human endeavors and means will have significance, the main source of his success will not stem from them.  “And his power shall be mighty, but it will not be his own power” (Dan. 8:24).  Antichrist will receive his authority and power from Satan.  “And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority” (Rev. 13:2).  Only by this constant satanic cooperation with him will it be possible to explain Antichrist’s unusual success in seizing power over the earth so quickly and his exceptional strength, which no human force will be able to resist or hinder. 

The general acknowledgement of Antichrist as worldwide ruler will occur simultaneously with the universal acknowledgement of him as the one spiritual leader of all religions.  Vladimir Soloviev in his last work, Three Conversations, expressed the opinion that Antichrist, having attained power, will gather some form of ecumenical council with representatives from all religions.  In this council (in Jerusalem) Antichrist will offer to unite all into one fold under one pastor.  He will turn his main attention to the Christians of all confessions, promising every sort of protection in return for their acknowledgement of his leadership.  St. Ephraim the Syrian writes, “ He will call himself the preacher and re-establisher of true knowledge of God.  Those not comprehending Christianity will see in him a representative and champion of the true religion and will join with him… and the children of worldly wisdom will hail his presentation… (Bp, Ignaty Brianchaninov).

It is very important to note that all the Holy Fathers consider the main cause of the rapid captivation of mankind by Antichrist to be the lack of spiritual understanding and its total submersion in worldly matters and ways.  [The secularization of Christianity and its consumerism mentality as represented in much of contemporary Christianity will prepare many to receive the Antichrist without discernment.]