THE ETERNAL
VOL. 6 NO. 1
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.” JUDE 3
Pope Benedict XVI Proposes a New World Political Order “With Real Teeth” Pope Calls For a New World Order The Sydney Morning Herald By Barney Zwartz July 9, 2009 POPE Benedict XVI has proposed a new world political authority "with real teeth", possibly in place of the United Nations, to enforce an ethical financial order and end the global financial crisis. Calling for more aid, a bigger role for trade unions and an economic system aimed at the common good as well as profit, the Pope said only a moral market could end the crisis and solve world poverty. The proposals were in his long-awaited encyclical -
Pope Benedict XVI signs his latest encyclical "Charity in Truth" at the Vatican July 6, 2009. In it he criticizes the free markets—capitalism, —continued on page 5 and stresses human welfare.
Sounding The Warning of the Third Angel - Part 2 By Louis K. Dickson Review and Herald June 7, 1956 Many years ago the servant of the Lord made it very clear that as we near the end we will see a new ascendancy of Catholicism everywhere in the world: “Catholicism is gaining ground upon every side. See the increasing number of her churches and chapels in Protestant countries. Look at the popularity of her colleges and seminaries in America, so widely patronized by Protestants...These things should awaken the anxiety of all who prize the pure principles of the gospel...Protestants have tampered —continued on page 3
Obama Bows Before the Pope On July 10, 2009 the President of the world’s most powerful country met with the head of the world’s largest Christian denomination. President Barack Obama was at the Vatican for a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. The two men sat down for a 25 minute meeting in what White House officials said was a “very frank discussion.” No true student of the Bible can deny the political and religious implications of this kind of a meeting. Who can deny that we are seeing the —continued on page 5
Jesuit Ally on the Supreme Court? President Obama’s recent appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court is not just a Roman Catholic but also one who has worked hand-in-hand with Jesuits for many years. During the 1980s and 1990s Judge Sonia Sotomayore worked with Jesuit Priest Father A. O’Hare on the New York City Campaign Finance Board. Together with Father O’Hare, she audited, reprimanded, and investigated different New York City officials and candidates. Their collaboration was political, and she continues to this day to have a close “intermittent” relationship with her former Jesuit colleague and associate. —continued on page 3
Jesuit Priest Father A. O’Hare stands alongside Judge Sonia Sotomayore in New York City during the late 1980s. She is the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Obama Meets with Monson—the Mormon President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator
The Battle for Sunday Rages in Scotland By Caroline Davies Sunday, July 19, 2009 Guardian News and Media (guardian.co.uk) Protesters prayed and sang psalms as the first Sunday ferry set sail from Stornoway on the Hebridean Island of Lewis for the Scottish mainland today. After a long and vociferous campaign by churches and the Lord's Day Observance Society to keep the Sabbath holy, ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) finally broke with tradition to launch a Sunday service to Ullapool. Gathered behind a banner reading "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy", a group of women wiped away tears as cars were loaded aboard the MV Isle of Lewis. But several hundred people applauded, saying the new service would boost the economy of the island and allow local people more freedom to travel. —continued on page 7
On July 20, 2009, President Obama with the top Mormon church official in the country, Thomas S. Monson, who is president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thomas S. Monson is revered by Mormons as prophet, seer and revelator. Monson was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who is also a Mormon.
page 2 the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 1
What is Happening in America? —by Pastor Raphael Perez
In just the last few months, we have seen the culmination of our historic and prophetic messages coming to pass in front of our eyes. 1. The Pope just finished writing a new encyclical calling for the establishment of an economic new world order with “real teeth.” In it, he goes on and condemns capitalism—the free market systems. Prophecy declares that there must be a control of the free markets before a mark of the beast can be imposed. “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17. 2. According to the London Daily Telegraph article by Roger Highfield entitled “Supercomputer Virtual Human to Help Fight Disease,” the US and England have developed the world’s first Virtual Human Supercomputer. This new computer will do 1,000 trillion calculations per second. This means that it can process 143,000 pages of information on every one of the 6.7 billion people—per second! “The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell.” Maranatha, p. 183. We can clearly see how the technology is already in place to implement the decree for the mark of the beast. Despite the economic hardships, we need to encourage one another to keep moving forward with the publications, billboards, and other projects while we can. 3. The newest member to an already Roman Catholic U.S. Supreme Court, is herself a Roman Catholic and also a Jesuit ally. We already have people who are running the U.S. Congress who have been trained in Jesuit institutions (See Eternal Gospel Herald, Vol. 4 No. 9). Unbelievable! Who would have thought that this could ever happen in “Protestant America!” 4. Nationally distributed Newsweek Magazine has declared that America has adopted Socialism (see page 5 of this issue). 5. The worlds’ daily newspapers are continuing to promote Sunday as the Lord’s day. No doubt Rome is doing exactly what prophey has declared she would do. Are we going to wait for the Sunday law to be established in America before we tell people about it? God help us to reach as many souls as possible, and let them know what is about to happen. 6. A new world currency was unveiled during this year’s G8 Summit (see page 4 in this issue). The theme of the coin is “Unity in Diversity.” Truly, this is the counterfeit unity described by the Spirit of Prophecy: “The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL HERALD PO Box 15138 West Palm Beach, FL 33416 1-800-769-2150 eternalgospel@att.net Subscription: FREE If you wish to receive a free subscription of this publication, please contact our office at: PO Box 15138, West Palm Beach, FL 33416 | 1-800-769-2150 email: eternalgospel@att.net Online Edition: www.eternalgospelherald.com Editor Raphael Perez Copy Editors Patricia Rocco Ana Veloso
Contributors Miriam Ponce Norma Perez Peter Prestol Maria McGinty
The Eternal Gospel Herald is published from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, by the Eternal Gospel Church, a ministry that was founded in 1992 by Seventhday Adventist believers to bring true, genuine, world-wide revival and reformation by proclaiming the Third Angel’s Message. The Eternal Gospel Herald is sent to you free of charge, with much love, work, and sacrifice. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of the information contained herein. This publication is printed to communicate the issues and subjects pertaining solely to the development and fulfillment of the third angel’s message and the advance of Christ’s character in the lives of God’s faithful people. We hope and pray that you will not only enjoy it but that it will be informative and spiritually enlightening to all of you. It is only by the grace of God and the support of each of you that we are able to participate in publishing, radio, newspapers, billboards, and foreign missions.
is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism...Papists, Protestants, and worldlings alike will accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.” The Great Controversy, pp. 588, 589. 7. The U.S. President bows before the Pope during a private meeting at the Vatican. The Spirit of Prophecy wrote over 100 years ago that “Protestant America will have [future] formed an image of the Roman hierarchy.” Last Day Events, p. 131. What does it mean when the President of a Protestant nation bows before the Roman Catholic Pope? It means quite simply that we are no longer a Protestant nation, and that the principles of our U.S. Constitution are in danger of completely being removed. We are no longer protesting. Most of our Seventh-day Adventist people are no longer protesting. The world has turned away from the great messages and Bible truths of Revelation 14. I would strongly encourage you to read and reread the article on the first page entitled, “Sounding The Warning of the Third Angel Part 2” by Louis K. Dickson. It is present truth for this time! It is what we used to hold very dear to our hearts. Again, if there was a time when God would expect His people to act it is precisely in this very moment. We see that we are about to enter into the crisis of the ages. While many sleep, we must keep carrying forward the torch of present truth. Please keep us in your prayers. Your continued support at this time is greatly needed and appreciated.
Letters
Dear Eternal Gospel Herald, My best of greetings to you and to all your staff. May you all be blessed as you receive my letter. I would appreciate it very much if you could add me to your mailing list. I am blessed by your truths. I sure appreciate the information you provide on current events. They help me to see what we are going to soon be facing in the near future. May the Lord continue to bless you and all those that are reaching out to others. I know that many people are now coming to the truth. A brother in Christ, Gerardo Lopez, Texas. Eternal Gospel Herald, I was handed your new publication called The Eternal Gospel Herald by a cellmate, and I am so delighted in reading it. I think that it is one of the most informative and spiritual enlightened literature that I have ever seen or read—especially on Seventh-day Adventism or from any Sabbath-keepers. Please include my name and both of my sisters’ name which I have included. Thanks in advance for your message and your cooperation. I remain in Christ, O. T., Texas. To whom it may concern: As a child I was raised as a Catholic. As I grew older I moved away from religion and from God. For the simplest reason in not knowing why I feared my Catholic faith. Now at the age of 33 I have found myself and my love for God when I came upon this pamphlet [Earth’s Final Warning]. With all honesty, I do not know how old it is or if I can still receive the free book you are offering, but I was awed about the truth it had revealed to me. With much respect and great gratitude I want to thank you for helping me understand the prophecy of Revelation. I also want to thank God for placing this pamphlet before me and helping me to understand the truth about the Sabbath and the end times. Once again, Thanks, Omar Ruiz, Indiana. I want to greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, My name is Jaime Rosales, and I want to with all my heart know about the message that you preach about. I listen to your radio program every Sunday 1030AM in Orlando at 10:00 a.m. The messages that Pastor Perez speaks on have really inspired and impressed me. I can’t wait for Sunday to come because I really enjoy the messages. My heart has been touched with the truth as it is in Jesus. Please send me the free books which you offer and may God bless you, Jaime Rosales, Florida. Eternal Gospel Herald, I am the mother of two young men who are incarcerated in different facilities. One of my young men is serving 2 life sentences without the possibility of parole. He is only 26 years old. The other is serving 11 months. I would greatly appreciate it if you would send both of these young men a subscription of the Eternal Gospel Herald. If possible would you start with Vol. 5 No. 8. I believe the whole paper would be a terrific blessing to them both. I am a born-again Seventh-day Adventist studying and worshipping all the time. I thank you for all of your help and cooperation in this matter. I would love for my sons to learn what I have learned. Thank you, Bartine Crenshaw, California. Dear Brother Perez, Thanks again for your faithfulness in giving the straight testimony. I think it is tremendous that you are putting up so many billboards to reveal to the world who the man of sin is. Oh, that soon the world could be warned so that Jesus will come! I pray that He cuts the work short in His Righteousness. Keep us in your prayers. Love and prayers, Marilyn King, Oklahoma.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 1 page 3 —continued from page 1 “U.S. Supreme Court” According to a May 25, 2009 Catholic News Service (Catholicnews.com) article entitled, “Obama nominates New York Latina to Supreme Court,” by Patricia Zapor, the Jesuit Priest Father O’hare speaks about his relationship to Judge Sotomayor. “Jesuit Father Joseph O'Hare, the retired president of Fordham Jesuit University who served with Sotomayor on a New York City campaign finance review council, said when he knew her beginning in the late 1980s she was indeed a practicing Catholic. He said he has no reason to think that has changed. They have stayed in touch intermittently, and he said she gave his name as a reference for her FBI background check. She would become the sixth Catholic on the current court, joining Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.” Catholic News Service, May 25, 2009
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, left, in 1990 when she was a member of the New York City Campaign Finance Board and served with Nicole Gordon, center, and the Jesuit Priest, Father A. O’Hare. (Photo: NY Times)
Six of our nine Supreme Court Justices are now Roman Catholic. That’s over 66%. That is not representative of the religious make-up of this nation. And one of these justices has a long history of working with the Jesuits. “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaish 59:14 —The Editors
President Barack Obama stands alongside his nominee for Supreme Court Justice, Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House Monday morning. May 26, 2009 President Obama announced that he has chosen Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. —continued from page 1 “Sound the Warning of the Third Angel” with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.” The Great Controversy, p. 566. There needs to be a waking up on the part of the church today because of the methods being used by the Papacy to reach the ends that, throughout her history, she has made clear what her objectives are. “As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the consciences of men to honor the false Sabbath, the people of every country of the globe will be led to follow her example.” General Conference Bulletin, Jan 27, 1893. But the Lord had made clear to us that before the curtain falls completely and our freedoms are withdrawn, we have a great work to do. God calls upon His people to shed abroad, all over the earth, the light of heaven concerning the great principles of religious liberty and the great truths of the third angel’s message pertaining to the final movements of the beast and his image. We repeat, there needs to be at this time a renewal of our former powerful preaching of the third angel’s message. There must be no softening down of the truth regarding the movements of the Papacy and apostate Protestantism. The world is to be warned. “If they [God’s people] do nothing to disabuse the minds of the people and through ignorance of the truth our legislatures should abjure the principles of Protestantism, and give countenance and support to the Roman fallacy, the spurious Sabbath, God will hold His people who have had great light, responsible for their lack of diligence and faithfulness. But if the subject of religious legislation is judiciously and intelligently
laid before the people, and they see that through Sunday enforcement the Roman apostasy would be re-enacted by the Christian world, and that the tyranny of past ages would be repeated, then whatever comes, we shall have done our duty.” Review and Herald, Dec. 24, 1889. How repeatedly the Lord has commissioned His people, and particularly His servants, to declare the truth concerning these great final actions on the part of these opposing powers. The declarations of the fulfillment of the final prophecies of Revelation are to be given to the multitudes that they may be enlightened as to the work of apostate religious forces. The weakness of our response in times past, and even now, to the call of God in this regard has stemmed from the fact that too often we have failed to sense our responsibility to enlighten men on these great principles until some danger or crisis has confronted us. We need to sense more keenly our duty to preach to the multitudes while yet we have comparative tranquility. These are the golden hours of opportunity. God has put into our hands the needed facilities and favors to present our message in high places and before the multitudes. Soon the hour of freedom will be past. Soon the time for spreading the truth of God will be over. “God calls upon us to blow the warning trumpet and sound an alarm against the forces of intolerance while we may. “The whole world is to be stirred with enmity against Seventh-day Adventists, because they will not yield homage to the papacy, by honoring Sunday, the institution of this anti-Christian power. It is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth, in order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed.” Review and Herald, Aug. 22, 1893. Surely we who know the trend of events and the final movements of the apostate powers should no longer rest content in comfortable slumber. We should rise up in great power and give the trumpet a certain sound that will warn the world while yet we have the opportunity.
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Above: Leaders of the Group of Eight or G8 representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union are the member states who meet annually to discuss and to implement world policies.
Canada's Prime Minister Praises Pope, Last of G8 Leaders Visits Vatican
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, speaks with Pope Benedict XVI during a private audience at the Vatican, Saturday July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Tiziana Fabi, POOL)
VATICAN CITY, JULY 12, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Canada's prime minister is praising Benedict XVI as spiritual leader who promotes human dignity, peace and religious liberty. Stephen Harper said this in a statement Saturday after the two met Saturday in the Vatican. The meeting took place after the conclusion of the Group of Eight summit, which ended Friday in L'Aquila. "It was an honor to meet Pope Benedict and hear his perspective on a number of important issues, including human rights and an ethical response to the global economic crisis," the prime minister said. "I expressed my deep appreciation for the Holy Father's moral and humanitarian leadership as an advocate of human dignity, peace and religious liberty, and for the spiritual leadership he provides to Catholics in Canada and throughout the world," he added.
Pope Benedict XVI poses with Japan's Prime Minister A Vatican communiqué reported that the conversation "focused on several issues of Taro Aso (L) during their meeting in the pontiff's private international politics discussed at the G-8 and on the results of the summit, even in the library at the Vatican July 7, 2009. REUTERS/Danilo light of the new encyclical, 'Caritas in Veritate,' and particularly the economic and fi- Schiavella/Pool (VATICAN POLITICS RELIGION) nancial crisis and its ethical implications, aid to developing countries, especially Africa, climatic changes, disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation." The note continued: "Attention was given also to the Middle East and to the future perspectives of peace in the region, as well as to religious freedom in several countries. "With regard to Canada, the conversation involved ethical values, the defense and promotion of life, marriage and family." Harper also introduced Benedict XVI to his wife, Laureen, their two children, and a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians. Harper was the last of a series of leaders attending the G-8 summit who also visited the Vatican, including the prime minister of Japan, Taro Aso; the prime minister of South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak bows and walks Australia, Kevin Rudd; the president of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak; and with Pope Benedict XVI during their private meeting at the Vatican July 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pier Paolo Cito/Pool the president of the United States, Barack Obama. (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Medvedev Shows Off Sample Coin of New ‘World Currency’ at G-8 By Lyubov Pronina July 10, 2009 Bloomberg
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev illustrated his call for a supranational currency to replace the dollar by pulling from his pocket a sample coin of a “united future world currency.” “Here it is,” Medvedev told reporters today in L’Aquila, Italy, after a summit of the Group of Eight nations. “You can see it and touch it.” The coin, which bears the words “unity in diversity,” was minted in Belgium and presented to the heads of G-8 delegations, Medvedev said.
Pope Benedict XVI poses with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (R) in his private library at the Vatican July 9, 2009. EUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 1 —continued from page 1 “Obama Bows Before the Pope” fulfillment of Bible Prophecy when the President of the United States and the Pope meet. These two powers are described in detail in the 13th Chapter of Revelation. In this chapter we see three powers: the dragon, which is Satan, the first beast who comes up out of the sea - or the papacy, and the second beast who come out of the earth – the United States of America. These are the main players in the final struggle which will prepare the world for the battle of Armageddon. “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power [isn’t this what we are seeing in these pictures], when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” Last Day Events, p. 131. We must remember that the devil never works alone. He uses people just like Nero, Hitler, or Stalin, or any modern leader to bring destruction to both God’s people and to the world. Notice what is about to take place: “Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for conflict, [this is being fulfilled right now] but they are held in check by the angels. When this restraining power is removed there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels with their living cargo will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies, but they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon.” Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 967. These powers are held in check until God’s restraint is removed. Friends, the United States is on the verge of becoming what prophecy describes: “and he spake as a dragon” (Rev. 13:10). This “speaking as a dragon” means that the United States will adopt the same antichristian system of government as the first beast. America was founded upon the two great principles of Protestantism—liberty, and Republicanism—a —continued from page 1 “Pope Call for New World Order” the second-highest level of papal teaching - released in Rome yesterday morning, before the G8 leaders gathered in Italy to discuss the global crisis. The conviction that the economy must be autonomous and shielded from moral influences had led humanity to abuse the economic process in a destructive way, the Pope said in the encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth). Such convictions had led to economic, social and political systems that "trample upon personal and social freedom" and could not deliver justice. His suggested political authority would manage globalization, revive economies, stop the crisis deepening, protect the environment and regulate worldwide migration. It would need to be universally recognized and given power to ensure compliance from all countries. "In terms of secular politics, there's something for both left and right to cheer, and something for them to be grumpy about," said the respected Vatican commentator John Allen, observing that in 30,000 words the
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representative government of elected officials. But have you noticed the direction in which this nation is headed? The anti-God, anti-religion, and anti-freedom form of government which has slowly been introduced, is the political strategy of absolute control and power over its people through the use of force and terror. Our powerful nation is fast coming under the control of a small group of bureaucrats who will control the entire nation. We have seen recently how the government is taking control over the economy of the nation. Soon it will go after the nation’s resources and then encroach upon means of production. Never in the history of the United States have we seen anything like this before! America has changed. Notice the cover of Newsweek Magazine’s February 16, 2009 edition. Is it possible that this economic crisis was created so that great changes could be made here in America? One thing is cer- The cover of Newsweek Magazine, Feb. 16, 2009 tain—when this nation is allowed to dominate the lives of its citizens, it will one day use its economic power to force not only this nation but also the world to worship the first beast, the papacy! “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Rev. 13:16, 17. “The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 11. The antidote for this unholy alliance of the dragon, the first beast, and the second beast of Revelation 13 is the everlasting gospel found in Revelation 14. These great messages have to take priority in the work of the church. These messages which the Lord gave must be taken seriously. Only through the effortless and vigorous work of evangelism can there be hope and salvation to overcome in these days ahead. —The Editors Pope never mentioned the word "capitalism". He said liberals would applaud the Pope's call for robust government intervention and support for unions, while conservatives would appreciate his unyielding opposition to abortion, birth control and gay marriage, on economic as well as moral grounds. The Pope, 82, in his third encyclical, wrote that when profit became the exclusive goal, without the common good as its ultimate end, it risked destroying wealth and creating poverty. The world's wealth was growing but so was inequality. Aid to developing countries also provided economic benefits to donors, he said. The Pope said the Church did not have technical solutions, but he offered a large number of specific policy suggestions. One was that people should be allowed to decide how to allocate a portion of their taxes that would help welfare and aid. Another was that trade unions should also work for non-members, particularly workers in developing countries. "As society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us neighbors but does not make us brothers," he said.
page 6 the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 1 —continued from page 1 “Sunday Shopping”
Potential Adventist Church-World Health Organization Collaboration Looks Promising, Leaders Say
President Barack Obama and the Virgin Mary
By Ansel Oliver, July, 14, 2009, Adventist News Network As Seventh-day Adventist Church officials move toward official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations agency, many church members said they think such a partnership would benefit the denomination's network of schools, hospitals and clinics. But at last week's international conference to explore the possible collaboration, some Adventists said they aren't sure about the proposed partnership, citing concerns of blending Collaborating with WHO would give the politics with faith and Adventist Church "larger goals and stratecompromising the gies" as it seeks to impact communities with church's spiritual val- its message of healthy living, said Dr. Allan ues. Handysides, director of the church's Health Still, leaders of both organizations said that working relations between the two organizations would give each better access to networks and resources as they seek to improve the health of local communities. Adventist leaders said the church's international network could help WHO better implement the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, including improving maternal health and fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Ministries.
On May 17, 2009, President Barack Obama was presented with a high honorary law degree from the Roman Catholic University of Notre Dame. “Norte Dame” is Latin for “our Lady” a tribute to the “Blessed Virgin Mary.” “Vita, Dulcedo, Spes” is Nortre Dame University’s emblem. It is a praise to the “Blessed Mother” who according to Roman Catholic theology, she is “(Our) Life, (Our) Sweetness, (Our) Hope.”
A partnership between the Adventist Church and the World Health Organization will depend on a mutual respect for "similarities and differences" as both organizations work toward healthier communities, said Ted Karpf, an officer at WHO's Office of Partnerships.
Last week's Global Conference on Health and Lifestyle in Geneva brought together representatives from WHO, the Pan American Health Organization and more than 600 leaders of the Adventist Church. While WHO has previously partnered with other faith-based organizations, this would be the first time it could extend official relations to a church denomination. The conference approved an action statement that will be submitted to the world church's Executive Committee, which is scheduled to meet in October. Requests for official relations are considered after a petition of the board following two years of working relations. WHO could grant the Adventist Church official relations as early as 2012. "What happens in relationships is that we actually learn how to work together, and ... learn to hear what the other is saying and respect the similarities and differences," said Ted Karpf, an officer at WHO's Office of Partnerships. The conference also gave an opportunity for Adventist Church officials to meet with WHO representatives at its Geneva Executive Meeting Room, the first such meeting between WHO and a church denomination.
“Vita, Dulcedo, Spes” is the opening line of the Salve Regina, one of the four Marian hymns of the Roman Catholic Church. The hymns are prayers to the “Holy Queen and Mother Virgin Mary.” At the White House’s request all the statues of Jesus, including a 13-story high mosaic of Jesus were veiled at Notre Dame for the President’s ceremony. White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs stated: “We just feel that having Jesus so prominently featured at a Presidential appearance sends the wrong message to non-Christians.” However, Obama had no problem parading and honoring the symbol which is a prayer to the Virgin Mary.
There is no doubt that the Virgin Mary plays a central role in Roman Ca- Notre Dame President and priest, Father tholicism. Much emphasis John Jenkins stands next to Obama. is spent in venerating her. Most attendees seemed to favor a denominational partnership with To the Protestant mind, this is idolatry and apostasy. WHO. Some have wondered about President Obama’s religious affiliation. He Editor’s Note: The World Health Organization has received criticism from different pro-life groups because of its support of “safe abortions” throughout the world. The World Health Organization is the largest single organization that gives support to developing countries by educating and by helping to facilitate “safe abortions.”
professes Christianity. Some say he is secretly a Muslim. But even if he is a Muslim, Mary is the only woman mentioned in the Koran. The Koran praises her for her chasity and piety. To the Muslim, the Virgin Mary is the most righteous woman in all of Islam. —The Editors
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 1 —continued from page 1 “The Battle for Sunday” The service was introduced after CalMac claimed it would be unlawful to refuse to run a service because of the views of just a part of the community. Rev Angus Smith, a veteran campaigner against Sunday sailings, said the service would bring "things that terrified parents". It would lead to Sunday opening for shops and the arrival of crime from the mainland, he claimed. CalMac managing director Phil Preston told Western Isles news agency: "We are delighted with the response. We have Sunday bookings six weeks ahead. " But the Rev James Tallach, of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, said: "CalMac made a great play that they must keep the law. Well, I ask them, what about the law of God?" The ferry was well booked with travellers returning from the end of the Hebridean Celtic Festival, which attracted about 16,000 people on the island's busiest weekend of the year. Uisead Macleod, a spokesman for the Campaign for 7 Days sailings, said that the majority of islanders were in favour of the Sunday service. Already an inter-island ferry between Harris and Berneray operates on Sundays after being introduced in 2006. Pubs, restaurants and a large garage with a shop are open on Sundays in Stornoway. But members of the town's golf club still cannot play on Sunday.
US Congressmen Praise Papal Encyclical U.S. Congressmen: Encyclical Points to Human Dignity WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Two U.S. legislators are underlining the value of Benedict XVI's latest encyclical and are endorsing its study by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, as food for thought in the economic crisis. The House of Representatives republican leader, John Boehner, and the republican policy committee chairman, Thaddeus McCotter, affirmed this in a joint statement issued today. The statement pointed out that "Caritas in Veritate" is "neither an indictment of capitalism nor an endorsement of any political or economic agenda."
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Create a Place in Your Life for Sabbath Rest By Gayle MacDonald June 27th, 2009 Times & Transcript, New Brunswick, Canada One Sunday evening years ago, by the miraculous and invisible network that exists among country kids, I learned that the outdoor skating rink was open for business. My sister and I asked if we could go and, after some persuading, extracted a "yes" from our mother with the condition that we hide our skates when we walked past our grandmother's. The argument we proposed in favor of allowing one to skate on Sunday evening was that skating wasn't work. That argument would have held little sway in the strict Protestant traditions of the day. Card playing also wasn't allowed on Sunday. Beyond that, I'm not sure what the culturally and socially accepted Sabbath rules of the time were, except that we spent a lot of time visiting people and generally lazing about (except for the women). The women in my family did a lot of cooking on Sunday. Often we ate Sunday dinner at my grandmother's, in which case the chores for the meal were shared. This "Sabbath observance" was good for us and for the family -- but I am not sure how much we understood about Sabbath. I get impatient with arguments over which day (Saturday or Sunday) should be our Sabbath day. In fact, a good portion of Christianity does not argue with Saturday (or the seventh day of our week) being the Sabbath. Rather, they refer to Sunday, the first day of the week as being considered a celebration of, or remembrance of, the resurrection -- a new beginning. However, in keeping with the intent of Sabbath rest and the justice issue it addresses, both worship and rest are encouraged to take place on that day. I am not sure it matters, in the final analysis, which day of the week is observed so long as we make Sabbath rest a part of our spiritual practice. The establishment of the Sabbath in Hebrew Scripture had two purposes. One was that it was a day when God rested and so humans should cease their self-serving work and rest alongside of God. The other is a justice issue in that it was a reprieve from endless labor, especially for slaves. It is not surprising that this day should be set as a commandment for the people coming out of slavery in Egypt. This connection is made more specifically in the re-iteration of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5: "Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." (Verse 15)
It added that "ideologues and politicos hoping to spin it" as either of these things are "destined to be unsuccessful."
The formal establishment of a day of rest ensured that all people -- regardless of who they were (you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns -- Exodus, Chapter 20, Verse 10) -were given a time of freedom from their labors.
The legislators agreed that the Pope's central point in the encyclical is that "at times of economic challenge, the inherent dignity of the individual must be preserved and sustained through genuine charity and compassion."
It seems to me that what is important is not which day becomes Sabbath for us, but that the spiritual practice of Sabbath be established. Purposely setting aside a regular time to rest from our labors and consider God who established Sabbath rest is held up as a holy practice.
Their statement explained, "This message is clearly distinct from efforts to 'remake' government into a soul-crushing centralized welfare state in which independent citizens are remade into dependent servants."
Furthermore, this opportunity for rest is to be given to all people everywhere. In Western society, the practice of a day of rest has been secularly institutionalized with labor laws which require that employers provide days off to all employees. Over time, employees (especially low wage earners) have been encouraged to work beyond the seven days in return for more pay. An increasingly smaller sector of our society has regularized working hours and days off. The very people for whom we, as faith communities, could be voices of justice and places of support become excluded from our midst -- not only because of the indifference of commerce to our concerns, but of our inflexibility in adapting to change.
It noted the Holy Father's emphasis "that the human being must remain as the center of our free-market system." It underlined the Pontiff's warning that "individuals, families, churches, communities, and businesses must never become subservient to the state." The politicians highlighted Benedict XVI's point that "the sanctity of all human life must always be protected." They also noted the encyclical's support of conservation, not "radical environmentalism." The statement concluded that "Caritas in Veritate is not a political document, but rather a complex work that warrants careful and thoughtful contemplation by American Catholics and non-Catholics alike at this time of economic anxiety."
Individually, people can establish for themselves this "habit of the heart," by creating a place in their lives for regular rest from their labors and contemplation of their spiritual lives. But faith is tested, challenged and grows in the gathered community. Having one day established as "the" day for worship and gathering is convenient, and used to be expedient, in encouraging the practice of Sabbath rest. However, in this day, if faith communities are to continue to be relevant as places of spiritual growth and support, they will have to become creative and flexible in finding ways to assist people in establishing Sabbath practices which are both spiritually beneficial and yet practical enough to fit into their busy and complex lives.
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Iranian workers search at the site where a Rus- “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33 sian-made Iranian passenger plane crashed just outside the village of Jannatabad, near the city of Qazvin around 75 miles west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, July, 15, 2009. All 168 on board were killed in Iran's worst air disaster in six years. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
MORONI, Comoros (June 30) –- A Yemeni jetliner carrying 153 people crashed into the Indian Ocean on Tuesday as it attempted to land amid severe turbulence and howling winds. Officials said a teenage girl was plucked from the sea, the only known survivor.
June 2, 2009—Brazilian military scouring the equatorial Atlantic today found a three mile path of wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean confirming that the missing Air France jet carrying 228 people crashed in the sea, the Defense Minister, Nelson Jobim, said tonight .
Jun 13, 2009 Stunning photos are pouring in from the massive turbulence in Iran as a result of the disputed presidential election. Supporters of defeated Mousavi clashed with riot policemen. (see above and below)
Smoke billows from J.W. Marriott hotel after an explosion went off in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, July 17, 2009. Bombs exploded at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in the Indonesian capital on Friday, ripping the facade off the Ritz, police said, killing eight and wounding at least 50 more. (AP Photo)
July 17, 2009 (Bloomberg) - Britons were told not to panic over swine flu today after the nation’s most senior doctor said the health service is planning for 65,000 deaths from the disease, which has claimed 29 lives so far in the U.K.
5 killed, hundreds homeless as residents look at cars partially buried in soil and gravel after flood waters swept them off a street, following heavy rain in Busan, about 420 km (262 miles) southeast of Seoul, July 16, 2009. REUTERS/Jo Jung-ho/Yonhap (above and below)
Norway's King Harald (L), Sweden's King Carl Gustaf (R) and Queen Silvia watch as Legate of Pope Benedict XVI Cardinal Angelo Sodano prepares to make a speech during celebrations of the "Millennium of the Name of Lithuania" in Vilnius July 6, 2009. (REUTERS)
China riots leave 192 dead, and climbing. Armed police chase down a man before beating him on the ground, as a crowd looks on, at right, on a street in Urumqi, in China's Xinjiang region Monday July 13, 2009. The crowd scattered soon after as shots were fired. The July 5 riots and subsequent unrest in Urumqi also left 1,680 wounded, and state media have warned that the death toll could rise. Of the more than 900 people still in hospital, 74 have lifethreatening wounds, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Last week, riot police and paramilitary forces blocked off the city center to restore order after China's worst ethnic violence in decades. (AP Photo/ Gillian Wong) THURSDAY, J u l y 1 6 (HealthDay News) -- Birth rates among U.S. teens increased in 2006 and 2007, following large declines from 1991 to 2005, according to a new U.S. government study. It found that previously improving trends in teens' and young adults' sexual and reproductive health have flattened or may be worsening in some cases.