This article is NOT MINE and I do not know the accuracy of it but I
figured a few of you would be interested in it. :-)

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The Pope's Death: A Defining Moment
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!" Isaiah 5:20

As I write this, Pope John Paul II is near death. Once he draws his last
breath, a Vatican official will lightly tap three times upon the
deceased pontiff's forehead with a golden hammer and call his name. Upon
receiving no reply, the cardinal chamberlain will remove John Paul's
fisherman's ring and smash it. Thus begins the pagan Romish spectacle of
choosing and crowning a new pope.

The pope's death is the dawn of a defining moment for all who claim to
be born-again followers of Jesus Christ, whether they call themselves
Protestant or evangelical or just plain Christian. It does not take a
prophet to state that the passing of Pope John Paul II will trigger a
flood of statements and discussions among Christian pro-family leaders,
talk show hosts, and nationally known preachers. It also does not take a
prophet to know that the dead pope will have mountains of compliments
heaped upon him by many of those same individuals. Going a step further,
it is safe to say that the presupposition underlying those eulogies and
the recurring theme at the heart of them will be that the pope was a
wonderful, godly man, a Christian who is now in heaven.

As I said, this is a defining moment. It is, in fact, an evangelistic
moment catching the attention of virtually the entire world. What should
any true follower of Jesus say about such a man as Pope John Paul II?
What should one who has assumed a role as a shepherd of Christ's flock
or a spokesman for His Church say about the pope? Plainly and simply
put, they should say that John Paul II was a counterfeit, a minister of
Satan (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). They should tell the truth that he was
an accursed man who deceived millions. Those who cannot tell the truth
should not say anything. Those evangelical leaders who feel so compelled
to express their affection and respect for Pope John Paul II do not seem
to know or care that they are at the same time showing anything but love
for the Roman Catholic people whom the pope has deceived and enslaved.
They are certainly not showing respect for the Word of God which the
pope, that man of sin, trod underfoot and the blood of Jesus which he
counted as an unholy thing.

The pope preached the false Roman Catholic gospel which features a false
Christ who cannot save without the aid of priests practicing pagan
rituals and penitents performing works and a pagan goddess sharing her
favors. The pope blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ as a way of life, most
especially during the mass when he claimed to call down our Great High
Priest from the right hand of the Majesty in heaven and turn Him into a
wafer and a goblet of wine. The pope blasphemed against the Holy Spirit,
claiming to displace Him as Christ's substitute and voice on this earth.
The pope championed the cause of the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary goddess.
He prayed to her, worshiped her, and adored her. He consecrated the
nations to her. He endorsed and reveled in her demonic apparitions. He
credited her with saving his life.

There is so much which could be said about Pope John Paul II, about his
corrosive, damning influence and his pagan practices. But why belabor
the point? The truth has been apparent for all to see for twenty-six
years. And simply put, the pope was a pope. The nature of popes is the
nature of antichrist because they are antichrist just as the Roman
Catholic Church is the woman who rides the beast as described in
Revelation chapter 17. That the pope and his church are evil is an
understatement. The Word of God shows the pope to be an accursed man no
matter what good causes he may have championed.

The tragedy which is upon us is not the death of the pope, although
neither will we revel in the death nor damnation of any man. The tragedy
which is upon us and which the pope's death will clearly emphasize once
more is the dearth of integrity, discernment, and courage among
evangelical—or should I say neo-evangelical—leaders in our nation.
Remaining silent at this time, as reprehensible as that is, would be a
vast improvement to the message many such leaders will feel the need to
proclaim. The world's impression that Pope John Paul II was a true
Christian man leading the true Christian Church, teaching the true
Christian gospel will be strongly reinforced by the accolades heaped
upon the pope by evangelical leaders. At the same time, the great
milling mixture of sheep and goats which fill up the evangelical
churches in our land will be further compromised and confused. The death
of Pope John Paul II is a defining moment which will reveal the hearts
of many who present themselves as born-again, blood-washed followers of
Jesus Christ but by their words will reveal that they are either not His
or that they should not publicly represent Him.

Reams of paper could be expended documenting the heresy of Pope John
Paul II and citing the Scripture verses proving that such a man is not a
Christian, not a servant of God, and not now in heaven. But in reality,
Galatians chapter one, verses eight and nine should settle that matter:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As
we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Pastor Ralph Ovadal
Pilgrims Covenant Church