THE ETERNAL
VOL. 6 NO. 2
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.” JUDE 3
Adventists Support Sunday Adventist Youth Get Training in Restrictions in Jamaica Spiritualism and Ecumenism Encourage Honest Work, Church Bodies tell Gov't Jamaica Gleaner September 22, 2009 Several Church organizations have condemned the move by the Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) to have horse racing on a Sunday. The decision by the CTL to have racing on November 29 and December 13, as an experiment, and also to commemorate 50 years of horse racing at the Caribbean's premier track, Caymanas Park, has resurrected the debate over gambling and the significance of Sundays. —continued on page 4
How Sunday Shopping Has Changed Our Lives By Lisa Jones Western Mail Daily Newspaper (Wales) August 29, 2009
Tolku Yeshi Gyatso leads a walking prayer chant Aug. 10 at Camp Brotherhood, where members of a variety of faiths converge in a summit annually for prayer and workshops.
Shopping has become a leisure activity rather than an activity born out of necessity, says an expert on the anniversary of the start of Sunday trading. Shops were first allowed to open their By Aaron Burkhalter (aburkhalter@skagitpublishing.com) doors on Sunday 15 years ago this weekend. Skagit Valley Herald (Mount Vernon, WA) 360-416-2141 The Sunday Trading Act allowed smaller shops to open all August 22, 2009 day, but restricted larger stores to a maximum of six hours. As the 35 youth at Camp Brotherhood entered the chapel Tuesday, the laughing, Workers who did not want to work —continued on page 4 shouting and talking fell to a low murmur. Some even took off their shoes as they entered the worship space to see three chest-high, wooden pedestals set up in front of the altar. One held the Bible, one the Torah, and another the Koran. The Rev. William Treacy, Camp Brotherhood’s co-founder and —continued on page 5
Where Paths of Faith Converge
The Change and Restoration of the Sabbath day By Louise C. Kleuser Review and Herald September 15, 1949
Drink Wine and Support the Pope
How was the Rising Up of Antichristian Power Revealed to Daniel? “Daniel in vision saw the ascendancy of a might power that would oppose Christ, the “Price of princes.” It would exalt itself against Christ’s meditorial work and “prosper by the craft in the latter time.” It would persecute God’s truth-keeping children. Dan. 8:9-12, 23-25. —continued on page 3
Speaking Against the Church Could Cost you $25,000 Euros New Blasphemy Law in Ireland Monitoring the Illogic of Modern-Day Religious Persecution By John Allen Paulos ABC News Aug. 2, 2009 When a modern Western country whose economy is based on science and technology adopts an absurdly medieval law, one would think that this would be a news story of at least moderate size. —continued on page 6
Photo: Tim Busch, founder and creator of the pope’s wine hands a bottle of the “ratZINger” wine. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Rev. 14:8. Part of God’s final world-wide warning message is about the wine of Babylon. Historically, the city of Babylon had flooded the world with its wine. “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.” Jeremiah 51:7. —continued on page 3
page 2 the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2
When in Times of Uncertainty —by Pastor Raphael Perez
“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s.” 2 Chron. 20:15. Some would say, “Don’t we have to struggle in order to conquer?” Whatever struggle we have, it is only conquered by faith in God and not merely by our human effort. In this battle found in 2 Chron. 20, Judah was facing a real threat—a great multitude of Moabites and Ammonites. But notice what else God has declared to His people. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chron. 20:17. King Jehoshaphat instructed the people to believe in their God and to believe in His prophets and that they would prosper. Later he commanded his army while they were approaching the enemy to sing praises to the Lord for His beauty and holiness. What a wonderful way to go into battle. As the enemy advanced the choir began to sing: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endurteth for ever.” They were praising as though the victory was already won. And it was! Then the armies opposing Judah began to fight against each other until they had utterly destroyed themselves. God’s people were spared. They enjoyed complete victory without the shot of an arrow. And then they spend three days collecting all the spoil of gold and precious stones. Three days because there was so much. On the fourth day they gathered together and worshipped God and gave thanks to Him. The fear of God was felt among His people and on the rest of the nations as well. This victory ensured peace and tranquility for God’s people for many years. In times of uncertainty we must follow this simple yet powerful example of faith. We must believe in God and in His prophets and follow their instructions by faith. 2009 has been a year faced with economic, political, physical, and spiritual uncertainty. We have all had many challenges to face. Many of us are still facing them. One of our greatest challenges has been to examine our current budget and trying to adjust to the current worldwide economic difficulties. While this economic situation has been hard on everyone, this is a good time to remember that God is in charge. Our only hope should be focused on God.
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.
We would appeal to each of you, during this time of great uncertainly, to give generously to the work which God has entrusted us to do. Yes, we need to place more billboards around the country in order to “proclaim the Sabbath more fully” (Early Writings, p. 33). Yes, we need to place more full-page newspapers ads into the “secular papers for this will be a means of awakening souls to see the truth” (Evangelism, p. 129.) For the glory of God, just in the last 18 months, the Eternal Gospel Ministry has published the Three Angels’ Messages in about 22 different secular newspapers around the country. We have seen that great miracles take place every time a paper is published. We want to continue with our radio programs because it is through these means thousands of people in Cuba and in other countries have been coming to a knowledge of our precious message for this time. There is much to be done. We would invite you to remember those who are perishing for the need of the final warning message. Therefore, we are soliciting your prayers and financial support, and we look forward to keep hearing from you. “There is a great work to be done...It may seem to move slowly and hard at first; but God will work mightily through you if you will only make an entire surrender to Him. Much of the time you will have to walk by faith, not by feeling.” Evangelism, pp. 412, 413.
Letters
“Dear Sir, I am Shazia from Pakistan. I visited your website and I found that all your material is full of knowledge concerning the development of religious faith. I want to help you to get this material translated into other languages. At present, I am translating your material into the Urdu and Punjabi languages. I am hoping that they will be a blessing to other people. Sincerely, Saima Shazia Iqbal, Pakistan.
Greetings to the Eternal Gospel Church, We are rejoicing for the boxes of material that you have sent to us—the tracks and audio tapes. We are determined to work for the Lord more than ever before. We have reprinted 5,000 copies of you book “The Antichrist” and have been distributing them here in Juliaca, Peru. There is a hunger to hear the word. In our church services we have about 600 to 700 people coming to hear the gospel messages being preached. Thank you for the materials which you have sent to us. They will be used for the work. Your brother in Christ, Ronald Callo, Peru. Dear Pastor Perez, Thank you so much for your pure and truth-filled ministry. We enjoy the deep spiritual newsletters and ministry updates as well as your many materials. It is very apparent that your ministry is Spirit-filled and that you are doing the real work even though it is not popular. God’s sheep know His voice and they follow Him. In Christ, The Blood Family, Nebraska. Dear Brethren, Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy. We continue to pray for your ministry that the Lord will guide you to share the light of truth to those in darkness. Keep moving forward as the Lord directs. May God bless you. In Christ’s Service, Mike, Jennifer, and Pam Seay, Tennessee. Dear Eternal Gospel Church, Thank you for being willing to send materials to those in the prisons. They appreciate receiving the information very much. May God bless, Christmas Behind Bars, Lemuel and Donna Vega, Indiana. Dear Pastor Perez, In behalf of Glendale Bible Sabbath Fellowship of Seventh-day Adventists, I want to say thank you for coming to our fellowship. It’s a blessing that God uses you as an instrument in bringing His word to our congregation. I am looking forward in see you again during your next speaking engagement. God bless you and your family. Elder Rollie Kindom, California. Dear Eternal Gospel Herald, I was wondering how to reach my parents and family. We were raised Baptist and I heard of the true Sabbath day while I’ve been in prison. I don’t know how to start to explain to my parents about how to change to the seventh day and how to tell them to start keeping it. Can you please help me by sending them some information? I want to reach my family. Their name and address I have included so that you can send them any literature that you may have. God speaks to me on certain things and I know that as long as I live like the Bible says then I’m on the right track. Prison is hard and people are running away from God. God bless you for your help, __________, South Carolina
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2 page 3 —continued from page 1 “Drink Wine and Support the Pope” Modern day spiritual Babylon has made all nations drink of her spiritual wine. “All nations” means that it is a universal religious power that is indoctrinating the world through fermented wine. Wine in prophetic symbolism represents doctrine or teaching (Luke 5:37-39). Therefore Babylon is teaching doctrines that are unfaithful to God, His word, and to the true, everlasting gospel found in Revelation 14:6, 7. This prophetic depiction is clearly exemplified by the wine that is being sold today to support the work of the Vatican. The wine is being marketed and distributed by Trinitas Cellars of Napa Valley. Profits from the “ratZINger” wine—Ratzinger being the name of the Pope—will be donated to the Vatican to support the Pope Benedict Ratzinger Program, a legacy tribute that benefits the Pope’s causes. The projects which the Vatican sponsors are without question worldwide and diverse. And by selling wine they hope to raise funds needed to establish more seminaries, parishes, schools, shrines, and evangelism— trying to bring Roman Catholicism back the her days of glory before she received the deadly wound in 1798. While the nations are being made drunk by the sale of both the spiritual and literal wine that comes from the Vatican, we are also given the antidote to this very real problem. The messages of Revelation 14 are more relevant today than ever before. Fearing God, giving Him glory, worshipping Him, the hour of His judgment, and the everlasting gospel are the true remedies for the wine of Babylon which is being sold spiritually in the churches and literally in the liquor stores. —continued from page 1 “Change and Restoration of the Sabbath” How Does Paul Describe Its Iniquitous Practices? a. “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29, 30. b. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2Thesa. 2: 3, 4. By assuming to change the law of God, and to require obedience to its own law instead of God’s law, this power exalted itself above God. What Does Daniel Further Reveal About its Attacking God’s Law? “He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws.” Dan. 7:25 What Particular Part of God’s Law Has the Papacy Thought to Change? “They [Roman Catholics] allege the Sabbath changed into Sunday, the Lord’s day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it appears; neither is there any example more boasted of than the changing of the Sabbath day. Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with on of the ten commandments.” Ausburg Confession, Art. XXVIII. Does This Power Acknowledge That It Has Changed the Sabbath.” “Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her, she could no have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal catechism, p. 174. “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” Rev. Peter Geiermann, C. SS. R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic doctrine, 3d ed., 1913, p. 50. Why Is This Act of Sunday Observance Antichristian? 1. Know ye not, that to whom ye yied yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are towhom ye obey.” Rom. 6:16. 2. “Thou shalt worship the ord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Matt. 4:10. 3. “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9. 4. “He that is not with Me is against Me.” Luke 11:23.
More than ever, we must hold up high the banner of Christ in which is inscribed the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Rev. 14:12). We are told that by preaching the final warning messages we would be brought into close combat with this religious power. Obviously, the true gospel would bring an end to the profitable wine-making industry of Babylon. But notice how we are to be strong with this work: “Said the angel, ‘They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth.’ The third angel closes his message thus: ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God.” Early Writings, p. 254. May God help us to embrace the true gospel message for this time and to shun the wine of Babylon which will ultimately lead to our destruction and fall. “Be sober [no wine drinking neither spiritually nor literally], be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. —The Editors What Prophecies Reveal a Restoration of God’s True Sabbath in the Last Days? 1. “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” Isa. 56:1, 2 (1 Pet. 1:5). 2. “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isa. 58:12, 13. How Does the Revelator Foretell a Sabbath Reform Message Before Christ’s Return? “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb…Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus…And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Rev. 14:9-14. Who Will Lead Out in Sabbath Restoration? History proves that a Sabbath reform message is not generally accepted (Neh. 13:15-22; Eze. 22:26, 28). The Sabbath message of the last days will be unheeded by church leaders, who should be the first to acknowledge it. These shephers are asleep while lawlessness and worldliness are making inroads into the church (Isa. 56:10-12). Confused by the wine of spiritual Babylon, priest and people alike fail to enter into God’s rest (Isa. 24:2, 5; 28:7-13). But God’s day will be restored. A faithful remnant will meet His claims of the law and will honor His holy Sabbath (Rev.14:12; 12:17). Editor’s Note: Have you noticed a change in our publication since this article was published in the Review and Herald in 1949? If you have not noticed any changes then please read the news item on our front page about how Seventh-day Adventists are supporting Sunday restrictions in Jamaica. In Jamaica, statistically, they have one of the highest number of Seventh-day Adventists per capita. May the Lord help us to repent and return to our first works. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jer. 6:16.
page 4 the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2 —continued from page 1 “Sunday Shopping Changing Lives” —continued from page 1 “Adventists Support Sunday” Sundays were also afforded protection from sanction by their employers. Robin Croft, a consumer behavior expert based at the University of Glamorgan, said consumers’ behavior changed drastically after the start of Sunday opening. People now treat shopping as a day out, especially as other retailers have capitalized on the weekend revolution. He said: “It’s opened up all the furniture and carpet warehouses to these groups of really different ways of shopping.
The Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, the Jamaica Council of Churches, the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, the Jamaica Pentecostal Union, the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Church of God in Jamaica collaboratively have called on the Government to encourage Jamaicans to work "honestly" as opposed to gambling. "We cannot build our society on gambling. We must affirm the dignity of our people and encourage them to use their God-given gifts and abilities to work for an honest "bread" and for the development of our society.
“People don’t go to church any more, they go to the garden centre. It’s very much a leisure activity. When you get bored you go to the shopping centre. It’s part of the process to put shopping at the heart of our culture. “People are wandering about looking and enjoying being out in the shops. Changes in Sunday trading were very much part of that.
The statement accused the Bruce Golding government of not having consulted with them before making the decision.
“It came in at the same time as we’ve had changes in the employment market. “It’s feeding in on changes in people’s lifestyle. We don’t have a quiet period at all during the week. We don’t have family time, a time where we can stay at home or do interesting things.
The statement continued: "However, in recent years, governments, inclusive of this present one, seem uninterested in maintaining or building on this tradition, given the ways it has gone about implementing matters of known sensitivity to the nation and the Church."
"Over the years, successive governments have considered the Church a significant stakeholder in nation-building and, as such, have sought dialogue around issues deemed to be of a sensitive nature to the country and or to the Church's selfunderstanding and mission."
The churches argue that the decision to have horse racing on a Sunday violates the “What we do on Bank Holidays is wander about looking for day as "traditionally and culturally, that day was treated as a sacred space when stimulus. There’s no real cultural improvement but people are many went to church or rested" and as it leads to a continuation of gambling, still doing things together.” which has negative consequences for the society. Mr. Croft said that large stores were initially resistant to opening on Sundays, because there was no profit involved. Tesco led the way for supermarkets and Sunday is now one of their busiest days. Simon Evans of the Federation of Small Businesses said his members have to work harder to compete with larger stores and chains, often eroding the quality of family life. “Many spend their time trading rather than spending time with the family, because they don’t have the staff to call on,” he said. “It has helped the overall economy but they can look at the past with a certain wistfulness when they could close up on Sunday. “Our economy is a lot different than it was 15 years ago.” A recent government review decided to leave the Sunday trading laws unchanged, despite pressure from larger stores, after hearing representations from trade unions, small store owners and religious groups. Keep Sunday Special, which led the original campaign against deregulation, continues to campaign for a day of rest, protecting workers and supporting family relationships. It has launched a new campaign for a Family Day Bill, which would give every parent with a child under 16 the right to a weekend day off. Peter Lynas from Keep Sunday Special said: “Polling by NOP shows that 70% of people think Sunday should be different from the rest of the week and 81% think that protecting Sunday as a family day is a good idea. “Three-quarters of people say they would rather be assured of one day a week to spend with family and friends than to have extra hours to shop on Sunday. “It is also about having time for family, friends and community. Kids are off school on a Saturday and Sunday, so it makes sense for most parents to be off at weekends. “It also makes sense for couples and other family members to have the same day off so they can spend their rest time together. Culturally, Sunday has provided the ideal day to do this.” Canon Robin Morrison, the Church in Wales’ adviser on church in society, said: “The issue of the Bible saying keep the Sabbath day holy isn’t holding much water in western society, but you can never keep Sunday completely free of work. “It’s about integrating holiness into the ordinary realities of daily life rather than going for this purist ideal, putting a boundary around one day a week,” he said. “Most people value the weekends and it’s a time for seeing things in perspective.”
“The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord's family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day, and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 475. The secular newspapers have been promoting Sunday as the Lord’s day for several years. As was predicted, the apostate churches and the Roman Catholic Church are advocating and campaigning that businesses shouldn’t open on Sunday. We are seeing how prophecy is actually coming to pass. Soon we shall also see lobbying on the part of our government for Sunday closing laws. “To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the demand for a Sunday law.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 451. Here is what God’s people are to do during this time: “But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before.” Great Controversy, p. 606. God’s people are to counter the Sunday movement by proclaiming boldly the truths of the Third Angels’ Message. We are to warn men and women about the mark of the beast and about the binding claims of the 4th Commandment—the true Lord’s day, Saturday. In The Eternal Gospel Herald we have tried to document what the daily papers have been publishing with regards to Sunday laws. Some have mistakenly concluded that we were actually promoting or supporting Sunday by reprinting such articles. Yet that is not the case. Sunday is exactly what inspiration has declared: “When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday.” Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 980. It is sad that in Jamaica even Seventh-day Adventists have been confused with regards to this question on Sunday. In their desire to restrict gambling they have united with the proponents of Sunday to lobby the government for Sunday closing laws. Notice what inspiration has to say about this. “Here the temperance work, one of the most prominent and important of moral reforms, is often combined with the Sunday movement, and the advocates of the latter represent themselves as laboring to promote the highest interest of society...The leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms which the people need, principles which are in harmony with the Bible; yet while there is with these a requirement which is contrary to God's law [Sundaykeeping], His servants cannot unite with them. Nothing can justify them in setting aside the commandments of God for the precepts of men.” Great Controversy, p. 587, 588. May the Lord help us to fulfill the work of the Third Angel as we see the development of prophecy regarding the establishment of these Sunday laws. By God’s grace we will continue to publish not just the truth for these last days but also warn you about the dangers, the progress, and the results of Sunday enforcement. “I do hope that the trumpet will give a certain sound in regard to this Sunday-law movement. I think that it would be best if in our papers the subject of the perpetuity of the law of God were made a specialty. . . . We should now be doing our very best to defeat this Sunday law.” Last Day Events, p. 128.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2 —continued from page 1 “Adventist Youth”
walk around the room, ringing bells and chanting in a foreign language.
chaplain, introduced the books to the group and invited each person to look through them while Rev. Heidi Fish, executive director, chanted “hallelujah.”
Treacy watched from the side. At 90, he wears no glasses and carries no cane. As he walked through the crowd, people stopped to hug him and talk with him.
“This is the vision we had 40 years ago,” Treacy said of the facility east of Conway. “It’s a vision that took 40 years to get going.” That vision turned into the 2009 Interfaith Youth Summit, a gathering of young adults ages 12 to 17 from many different faiths. Among the 35 youth were Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, Muslims, Jews and Roman Catholic Priest Father William Treacy (Middle) is other Christians. the co-founder of Camp Brotherhood, an ecumenical The teens spent the weekend meeting in campground in Washington State. He also serves as insmall and large groups to talk about their structor and chaplain. faiths, but most importantly to listen and learn about other beliefs. The weekend peaked at a campfire Tuesday evening when the teens burned pieces of paper on which they had written stereotypes and assumptions about their religions. The summit’s facilitator, Julie Hanson, 44, of Edmonds, said it was challenging to bring up the stereotypes, but the group trusted each other. “We’re going to bring these questions up, but they’re not being said with hatred,” Hanson said. Now age 90, Treacy said the gathering is why he and Rabbi Raphael Levine first envisioned the camp in 1966, and conceived Camp Brotherhood. Now Treacy is seeing the idea in action.
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“I call him the best Muslim I know,” said Jamal Rahman, Sufi minister for the Interfaith Community Church in Seattle. Rahman said the word “Muslim” means “one who is surrendered to God.” At the Youth Summit, Treacy talked with the 12- to 17-year-olds as they wrapped up their weekend and summed up what they had learned. Treacy encouraged them to continue the relationships they had formed, whether on Facebook, at a bowling alley or over dinner. Many of the teens met each other for the first time that weekend, and most had little interaction with other faiths, but they bonded instantly.
“Right off the bat, it’s like everyone has known each other for five years,” said Iman Baghai, 14, of Seattle. “And then all these ethnic stereotypes Father Treacy is seen here teaching the youth about the just crash.” Bible, the Torah, and the Koran. The group of students inBaghai said he had never met somecluded Seventh-day Adventists. one from a Seventh-day Adventist community, and he appreciated dispelling myths about his Muslim faith.
“It’s one of the best programs we’ve had in Camp Brotherhood,” Treacy said. Treacy first became interested in teaching people about his faith and learning about other faiths in 1948, when he created and distributed newspaper advertisements across Washington for the Archdiocese of Seattle.
“It can range from having so many kids to blowing things up,” Baghai said of the assumptions people have made about his faith. “It kind of gets to you and it gets annoying. This kind of discussion eases the pain.”
Even though Treacy lived his life as a Catholic priest, which committed him to Christian teachings, he said he “It was just a culmination of my whole believes these kinds of conversations priesthood,” Treacy said. “I consider it are exactly what Jesus encouraged. part of my ministry.” Treacy said Jesus never turned people The youth sitting in a circle is significant. It allows them to away. In 1968, when the first building at Camp see each other so that everyone shares an equal position Brotherhood was constructed, the idea “He ate with them, went to their with everyone else. The message is, “We are one body.” flopped. Treacy said a number of problems homes, cooked meals with them,” contributed. Most denominations and religions already had their own Treacy said. “The way of Jesus is simply the way of love. If I give a camps, but many people were dubious of Treacy. blood transfusion to a Muslim or a Hindu, I’m doing what Jesus wanted me to do.” “Jews and Christians and Muslims getting together? People thought it was a cult,” Treacy said. “They could not believe it was a reality.” Editor’s Note: The prevailing doctrinal philosophy of the last days For 40 years, the camp continued to offer lodging and kitchen facilities to public and non-profit organizations, such as schools, art clubs and faith groups. But Treacy and the board didn’t want to be running what they began seeing as a hotel, and about 20 years ago considered selling the land entirely and dissolving the organization.
teaches that all professing religions join together in unity regardless of doctrinal integrity. This is what Seventh-day Adventist pastors and leaders have been engaging in for several decades. Now, Seventh-day Adventist youth are being exposed to these same dangerous notions of ecumenism.
But after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Treacy said people were suddenly more aware of other nationalities and religions.
In this article we find that a Roman Catholic priest is the one who has been holding these spiritual ecumenical retreats for our young people, as well as for others. Also, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk led the group into a meditation by chanting in a foreign language and ringing a bell. Unbelievable! This is spiritualism.
“There is a movement, a cultural maturation,” Treacy said. “You see it in racial relations, you see it in the election of President Barack Obama. There comes a time when people are ready for change. I think we’re nearing that now.” One week before the Interfaith Youth Summit, religious leaders from various faith organizations gathered at Camp Brotherhood for the Regional Interfaith Leadership Summit run by Northwest Interfaith Community Outreach. Before the adults headed off to workshops, a Tibetan Buddhist led the group that included Christians, Jews and Muslims in a meditative
“The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly 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 [ecumenism] and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world.” Great Controversy, pp. 588, 589.
page 6 the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2 Oddly though, almost no attention has been paid in the United Stares to the passing last month of a bill establishing a crime of blasphemy in Ireland. Approved by the Irish parliament, it states: "A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding 25,000 euro." Furthermore, "a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if (a) he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion, and (b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage." Even if I weren't the author of a book entitled "Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up," I would find this bill abysmally wrong-headed. Even Parodies and Bad Jokes Liable to Fine Although it provides for exceptions to prosecution if a "reasonable person" finds literary, scientific or other significant value in a work, it would allow for atheists to be prosecuted for denying the existence of God, a denial that clearly causes outrage in many.
Could Our Savior be Accused of Blasphemy Today? By Raphael Oliver Viduad You will be able to answer this question before you finish reading this article, but for now we can say that it would be nothing new, for Christ our Lord was accused of blasphemy more than once during His ministry and crucified for it.
Those writing parodies and bad jokes would also be liable to the 25,000 euro fine. Even an innocuous riff on God rescinding the Bible in the middle of the night the way Amazon called back the Orwell book from its Kindle reader could be prosecuted.
Let's look at this verse found in Mark chapter 14:61-64: “Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? I am, said Jesus. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.” Read also Mark 14:55-64 and John 10:31-39.
And if the reaction of some irate readers of my book is any indication, so could an imagined instant message exchange between me and God that appears in the book.
If Ireland sets a new trend in passing anti-blasphemy laws, similar developments will very soon take place.
But non-believers would not be the only, or even the primary, ones affected by this blasphemy bill. People, irreligious or not, presumably could be prosecuted for drawing cartoons of Mohammad. Christians could be prosecuted for expressing scorn or even disbelief in the Christian teachings of other denominations.
On Friday, July 11, 2009, Ireland passed the Defamation Bill by one vote. One of the aspects of this bill would make it illegal to criticize religion.
Likewise, Jews and others could be prosecuted for denying the divinity or even the existence of Jesus. Or, if atheism is considered a religion (which it is not), atheists also could claim to be outraged by the expressions of their religious countrymen, each of whom could then be required to cough up 25,000 euro.
In the United Kingdom, the offense of blasphemy was originally part of canon law (Catholic Church law). In the 17th century, blasphemy was declared a common law offense by the Court of King's Bench, punishable by the common law courts.
Law Allows for Confiscation of Blasphemous Materials The law also allows for the confiscation of blasphemous materials -novels, non-fiction books, short videos, full-length movies, etc. Interestingly, the blasphemy law is not the only medieval aspect of Irish law. The preamble to the Irish Constitution maintains that the state's authority derives from the most holy trinity, stipulates that no one can become president or a judge without taking a religious oath, and declares that all citizens have obligations to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Similar but less overt sentiments and statutes exist in this country. Witness the arguments put forth by many that the U.S. is a Christian country. More analogous is a little-known example involving the state of Arkansas, which has not yet roused itself to rescind article 19 of its constitution: "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any court." A few other states have similar laws. Same Impulse in Politics The impulse to enact benighted laws of this sort gives rise to more than these Taliban-like religious laws. After all, it is not only allmighty deities that need special legal protection. Generals and politicians do too, so the same fearful defensiveness also leads to draconian edicts to protect political leaders and parties from ridicule. Pakistan, to cite a recent example, has just announced a prohibition of jokes about President Asif Zardari. Anyone sending e-mails, text messages or blog postings containing such jokes is subject to arrest and a 14-year prison sentence. I'm sure even more prohibitive restrictions exist in those hotbeds of free-wheeling political humor, Burma and North Korea. It's instructive to contrast these authoritarian laws against blasphemy, jokes, political humor and free speech generally with the way people deal with dissent from established scientific laws.
The Irish government plans to bring into force this new law in October and critics say it is a return to medieval justice. But let us now look at the history of these medieval laws, used in the past as a tool of the Inquisition.
Recently on May 8, 2008, the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 abolished the common law offenses of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in England and Wales, which went into effect on July 8, 2008. Because many countries, including various European countries, still contain anti-blasphemy laws in their books, there has been much debate for some time now as to what to do with these laws since they are a direct challenge to human rights and to some of the provisions of the constitutions of these nations. —continued on page 7 No laws prohibit people from denying that Earth is spherical, that evolution explains the development and diversity of life, or that the moon landing ever took place. The same holds for mathematics. No one claiming that pi is a rational number, that there are finitely many prime numbers, or that Godel's theorem is false has ever been hauled into court. Of course, I by no means intend to equate the irreligious with scientific quacks. Just the opposite, in fact. It's simply that in most domains, those who insist on denying conventionally accepted beliefs are for the most part simply ignored. Statements that can stand on their own two feet (evidence and logic) don't need crutches (blasphemy laws) to support them. As mentioned, Ireland is a modern pluralistic state with an educated population, a world-class literary tradition and a healthy economy that has transformed itself in recent years in large part through science and high-tech jobs. To continue this transformation, the religious and irreligious alike should reject this silly blasphemy law. The religious should probably be most opposed to it, however. Placing punitive sanctions on the robust, or even the rude, expression of irreligious thought does not seem to say much for religion. John Allen Paulos, a professor of mathematics at Temple University, is the author of the best-sellers "Innumeracy" and "A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper," as well as (just out in paperback) "Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up." His "Who's Counting?" column on ABCNews.com appears the first weekend of every month.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 2 —continued from page 6 “Could Jesus Be Accused of Blasphemy”
page 7
“A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €100,000.”
advisory body on constitutional matters, issued a report about blasphemy, religious insult, and incitement to religious hatred. The report noted that, in Europe, blasphemy is an offense only in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, and San Marino. In its conclusions, the report stated “it is neither necessary nor desirable to create an offense of religious insult” and “the offense of blasphemy should be abolished.”
It then defines “blasphemous matter” as “grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion; and he or she intends, by the publication of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.”
Christians can be prosecuted for saying that Allah is a moon god, or for drawing a picture of Mohamed, or for saying that Islam is a violent religion which breeds terrorists, or for reminding the world, those words of Martin Luther declaring the Pope to be Anti-Christ or teaching the history of the Crusades.
A member of the Swedish parliament, meanwhile, has filed a complaint with the European Commission over Ireland’s new blasphemy law. Karl Sigfrid told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that he is concerned Swedish citizens traveling in Ireland “could be punished for merely expressing a view on a religion or religious symbol.”
Jews can be prosecuted for saying that Jesus is not the Messiah. Atheists can be prosecuted for saying that God is imaginary.
We read the following from The Defamation Bill passed in Ireland by one vote:
The law has also drawn criticism at home. “You're not introducing new blasphemy laws in the 21st century,” Michael Nugent, chairman of the group Atheist Ireland, told the Canadian News Service Canwest. “These are hangovers from earlier times and certainly in most western countries are anachronisms.”
But we as Christians are the ambassadors of Christ in this world and despite this outrage, and despite this obvious attempt to suppress the proclamation of the truth even if “it may offend someone” we are guaranteed the protection of the Lord that the message of warning may continue to go forward in the strength of the angel of Revelation 18. That world-wide cry is “Babylon is fallen” even when Babylon may be offended and outraged by the message, and call this message a blasphemy against the very author of the message, our Lord Jesus Christ.
On 23, October 2008, the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's
May the Lord bless you and prepare to meet thy God.
Former U.S. Presidents Attend Funeral Mass
Above: The final commendation of the soul to purgatory was given by Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley.
Above: The former Presidents of the United States sit attentively for two hours during the funeral mass of Sen. Edward Kennedy.
“The Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike.” Great Controversy, p. 581. Truly, Rome has grown in power in this nation. Yes, her doctrines have exerted their influence in legislative halls. And without doubt, she has strengthened her forces. Soon she is about to strike. On August 29, 2009, Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, and Carter attended a two hour Roman Catholic Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The eyes of the world witnessed the ceremonial doctrines of Rome through the media who covered the entire event. Indeed, prophecy is telling us that the end is at hand!
The Catholic Cardinal, Rome’s highest authority in America, has a moment with President Obama.
The prayers and blessing for the dead body was give by Jesuit Priest J. Donald Monan.
page 8 the eternal gospel herald The Eternal Gospel Herald Florida Mission P.O. Box 15138 West Palm Beach FL, 33416
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Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi kisses “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33 the ring of Pope Benedict XVI (R) during a visit to his private library in the Vatican June 6, 2008. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/files
Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc (L) speaks with Pope Benedict XVI during their meeting after the weekly general audience at the Vatican September 16, 2009. REUTERS/ Osservatore Romano (VATICAN RELIGION POLITICS)
September 11, 2009— The World Health Organisation says that at least 3,205 people have died from swine flu since the new A (H1N1) virus was uncovered in April. (AFP/Ahmad Gharabli)
Millions have been left without food and shelter as the Asian nations were left counting the cost of Typhoon Ketsana Friday. The death tolls keep climbing in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Thailand, and India according to Red Cross reports. The total death toll so far has reach 600. It is expected to continue to rise. (AFP/File/Hoang Nam)
India, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Medical teams rushed Sunday to flood-devastated southern India where five days of torrential rain have left at least 205 people dead and 750,000 displaced, authorities said. (AFP/File/Hoang Dinh Nam)
Pope Benedict XVI greets Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli (R) during their meeting at the Vatican September 11, 2009. REUTERS/ Osservatore Romano (VATICAN POLITICS RELIGION)
Survivors search for bodies amongst the debris left by the tsunami on Samoa's Lalomanu Beach. Rescuers reached scenes of stunning devastation on Wednesday after a killer tsunami obliterated Samoan island villages, killing at least 148 people and leaving scores more missing. (AFP/Torsten Blackwood)
Oct. 5, 2009 ISLAMABAD—A suicide bomber disguised as a security officer struck the lobby of the U.N. food agency's Pakistan headquarters Monday, killing five people a day after the new leader of the Pakistani Taliban vowed fresh assaults, authorities and witnesses said. AP News.
Pope Benedict XVI greets Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri and Crown Prince Guillaume (L) at the Vatican September 17, 2009.REUTERS/ Osservatore Romano (VATICAN POLITICS RELIGION ROYALS)
Ugandan police ride on the back of a pick-up truck past burning barricades in the Natete suburb of Kampala on September 11. The first of more than 550 people arrested in connection with two days of riots that shook Uganda's capital Kampala and left 14 people dead will begin appearing in court. (AFP/File/Stringer)
Oct. 1, 2009, Philippines—Millions of flood-hit survivors of devastating Typhoon Ketsana waited desperately for aid and braced for a new super storm as the disaster's death toll climbed to 383.
Sept. 30, 2009—Rescue workers on Indonesia's Java island were searching by hand for dozens of people trapped by a major 7.0-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 49, officials said. AFP via Yahoo! News