“AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE FIFTH SEAL, I SAW UNDER THE ALTAR THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, AND FOR THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD: AND THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, HOW LONG, O LORD, HOLY AND TRUE, DOST THOU NOT JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD ON THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH? AND WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN UNTO EVERY ONE OF THEM; AND IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM, THAT THEY SHOULD REST YET FOR A LITTLE SEASON, UNTIL THEIR FELLOWSERVANTS ALSO AND THEIR BRETHREN, THAT SHOULD BE KILLED AS THEY WERE, SHOULD BE FULFILLED.” (Rev.6:9-11)

We recently received a letter from Keith Fournier (Executive Director of Pat Robertson’s American Center for Law and Justice, who is also a Catholic) asking us for “prayerful dialogue” or else take him from our mailing list. Let me start by saying, Keith, this is your last issue of The GOOD NEWSletter.

“Prayerful dialogue” is what led to apostate Christianity! In Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium, the signers of that statement agree to no longer try to share the true gospel with Catholics, for they now believe that Catholics are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Never mind the fact that they are not saved, or that they preach and teach another Jesus and another gospel. (2 Cor.11:4)

In order to have prayerful dialogue, I would have to know for sure that we are praying to the same God, and I do not believe that Catholics serve the same God as Bible-believing Christians. I could not bow my head and pray to the Lord Jesus, while Keith prayed to Mary for guidance. If Keith Fournier repents of the blasphemous doctrines of transubstantiation, the worshipping of idols, the mass, confession to “priests”, infant baptism, indulgences, etc.....THEN I will have “prayerful dialogue”, but all that Mr. Fournier wants is a chance to use our newsletter as a forum to promote his deception. Our newsletter was not designed to allow the Roman Catholic Church to deceive our readers with their double-talk and their misuse of biblical terms. It was designed to help Catholics see how they are being lied to and being denied the peace and assurance that only the true Jesus can provide. I propose you save your propaganda for someone who believes you are sincere. I do not. I was recently invited to a “Defend Your Faith” conference in Steubenville, Ohio. It is a Catholic conference that is geared toward teaching the laity how to answer fundamentalists when they use the word of God to expose R.C.C.’s false doctrines.

The agreement signed by the evangelicals and Catholics was a joke. The evangelicals have held up their end of the bargain....believing that Rome would do the same. However, think about this: how ecumenical is Rome if she is teaching her children to argue with the evangelicals? Hmmmm. Seems to me that she is simply trying to shut up the Bible believers while she teaches her children how to lie better.

Mr. Fournier, and the rest of Rome, would have us forget the past. They say, “Yes, Rome has had her share of bad people who did bad things and we are sorry for that”, yet ROME NEVER CHANGES! If you read the opening scripture, you can see that God has not forgotten the blood of the saints and martyrs slaughtered at the hands of Rome. Just as Abel’s blood cried out from the ground, the blood of the saints cry out unto the Lord for justice, and justice will be served.

“AND HE CRIED MIGHTILY WITH A STRONG VOICE, SAYING, BABYLON THE GREAT IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN, AND IS BECOME THE HABITATION OF DEVILS, AND THE HOLD OF EVERY FOUL SPIRIT, AND A CAGE OF EVERY UNCLEAN AND HATEFUL BIRD. FOR ALL NATIONS HAVE DRUNK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH HER, AND THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH ARE WAXED RICH THROUGH THE ABUNDANCE OF HER DELICACIES....FOR HER SINS HAVE REACHED UNTO HEAVEN, AND GOD HATH REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES.” (Rev. 18:2,3,5)

God remembers and so must we! This appears to be a good time to share a few of the testimonies of those saints and martyrs who were killed for their love of God and His word.

“When these six constant martyrs had made their prayers, they rose, and made them ready to the fire. And Elizabeth Folkes, when she had plucked off her petticoat, would have given it to her mother (which came and kissed her at the stake, and exhorted her to be strong in the Lord): but the wicked there attending, would not suffer her to give it. Therefore, taking the said petticoat in her hand, she threw it away from her, saying, ‘Farewell, all the world! farewell Faith! farewell Hope!’ and so taking the stake in her arms, said, ‘Welcome love!’ Now she being at the stake, and one of the officers nailing the chain about her, in the striking in of the staple he missed the place, and struck her with a great stroke of the hammer on the shoulder bone; whereat she suddenly turned her head, lifting up her eyes to the Lord, and prayed smilingly, and gave herself to exhorting the people again. When all six were also nailed likewise at their stakes, and the fire, that the standers-by, which were, by estimation, thousands, cried ‘The Lord strengthen them; the Lord comfort them; the Lord pour His mercies upon them; with such like words, as was wonderful to hear” (Foxe’s Book of Marytrs, John Foxe, 406-407).

“In this story of persecuted martyrs, next in order follow five others burned in the year of the Lord 1557, April the 12th: Thomas Loseby, Henry Ramsey, Thomas Thirtel, Margaret Hide, and Agnes Stanley: who were apprehended for not coming to their parish churches. Thomas Thirtel answered unto Bishop Bonner, ‘My lord, if you make me a heretic,you make Christ and all the twelve apostles heretics.’ Margaret Hide said, ‘My lord, I would see you instruct me with some part of God’s Word, and not to give me instructions of holy bread and holy water, for it is no part of the Scripture.’ Agnes Stanley made this answer: ‘My lord, as for these that ye say be burnt for heresy, I believe they are true martyrs before God: therefore I will not go from my opinion and faith as long as I live.’ Altogether in one fire most joyfully and constantly these five martyrs ended their temporal lives, receiving therefore life eternal” (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, John Foxe, 346-347).

There are many more atrocious accounts of the persecution and execution of the true saints of God. Why were they killed and by whom? They were killed for believing the true word of God over Rome. They were killed by those who call themselves Christians, yet know not Christ or His people. Will you so easily forget the blood shed? Will you hold hands with a system that claims repentance, yet Vatican Council II reaffirmed all of the council of Trent, proving that they still anathematize anyone believing that one is saved by faith alone? Truly Rome has a harlot’s forehead. (Jer.3:3)

“...COME HITHER; I WILL SHOW UNTO THEE THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE THAT SITTETH UPON MANY WATERS: WITH WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION, AND THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH HAVE BEEN MADE DRUNK WITH THE WINE OF HER FORNICATION. SO HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS: AND I SAW A WOMAN SIT UPON A SCARLET-COLOURED BEAST, FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY, HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS. AND THE WOMAN WAS ARRAYED IN PURPLE AND SCARLET COLOUR, AND DECKED WITH GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES AND PEARLS, HAVING A GOLDEN CUP IN HER HAND FULL OF ABOMINATIONS AND FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION: AND UPON HER FOREHEAD WAS A NAME WRITTEN, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. AND I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNKEN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS....” (Rev. 17:1-6) (Emphasis added)

Many will accuse me of being hateful, a Catholic-basher, etc. It simply isn’t true. I love the Catholic people enough to tell them they are being deceived. Angry? Well, let me ask you something: let’s say you find out when you are about 20 years old that the woman you thought was your mother, wasn’t. Not only wasn’t she your mother, but she had tortured and killed your real brothers and sisters. Let’s say you also find out that everything she taught you was a lie. How would you feel? Angry? Would you not want to expose her so that no one else could be deceived by her? As has been stated before, if Rome is our mother, she is guilty of the worst case of child abuse the world has ever seen! But she is not our mother. And she is guilty of the blood of my true brothers and sisters, whom God says are those who hear His word and obey it. One more question: would you not also grab the other children and get them away from the evil woman who tricked and beguiled you?

This is where former Catholics are. We love our family and friends who are still trapped in Rome’s clutches. The truth is sometimes hard to swallow.

“...I AM JESUS WHOM THOU PERSECUTEST: IT IS HARD FOR THEE TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.” (Acts 9:5)

I would like to share the words on a poster I recently purchased called “The Fellowship of the Unashamed”. In it, you will find exactly how I feel. It is my hope that those of you who would call yourselves Christian, be in agreement with these words.

“I AM PART OF THE ‘FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED.’ THE DIE HAS BEEN CAST. I HAVE STEPPED OVER THE LINE. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. I WON’T LOOK BACK, LET UP, SLOW DOWN, BACK AWAY, OR BE STILL. MY PAST IS REDEEMED, MY PRESENT MAKES SENSE, AND MY FUTURE IS SECURE. I AM FINISHED AND DONE WITH LOW LIVING, SIGHT WALKING, SMALL PLANNING, SMOOTH KNEES, COLORLESS DREAMS, CHINTZY GIVING, AND DWARFED GOALS. I NO LONGER NEED PRE- EMINENCE, PROSPERITY, POSITION, PROMOTIONS, PLAUDITS, OR POPULARITY. I NOW LIVE BY PRESENCE, LEAN BY FAITH, LOVE BY PATIENCE, LIFT BY PRAYER, AND LABOR BY POWER. MY PACE IS SET, MY GAIT IS FAST, MY GOAL IS HEAVEN, MY ROAD IS NARROW, MY WAY IS ROUGH, MY COMPANIONS FEW, MY GUIDE RELIABLE, MY MISSION CLEAR. I CANNOT BE BOUGHT, COMPROMISED, DETERRED, LURED AWAY, TURNED BACK, DILUTED, OR DELAYED. I WILL NOT FLINCH IN THE FACE OF SACRIFICE, HESITATE IN THE PRESENCE OF ADVERSITY, NEGOTIATE AT THE TABLE OF THE ENEMY, PONDER AT THE POOL OF POPULARITY, OR MEANDER IN THE MAZE OF MEDIOCRITY. I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, I MUST GO UNTIL HEAVEN RETURNS, GIVE UNTIL I DROP, PREACH UNTIL ALL KNOW, AND WORK UNTIL HE COMES. AND WHEN HE COMES TO GET HIS OWN, HE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM RECOGNIZING ME. MY COLORS WILL BE CLEAR. I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!”

Mr. Fournier, did you hear those words? “I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy....” I will not have prayerful dialogue with a man who refuses to repent. What did Jesus say one must do to enter the kingdom of heaven?

“AND JESUS CALLED A LITTLE CHILD UNTO HIM, AND SET HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM, AND SAID, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” (Matthew 18:2-3)

“Be converted”. What does that mean? According to Strong’s Concordance, it means to turn around, go the other way, to take a different path. So if a person converts, and wishes to follow that which is right and is willing to learn what that is, THEN you can have prayerful dialogue. And what happens when someone is converted? That person is then a little child which needs and desires “the sincere milk of the word” (1 Pet.2:2). Mr. Fournier would rather spend hours and hours in tradition (which they call equal to the word, which in all reality, they have done nothing more than make the word of God subject unto them instead of themselves being subject unto the word!) and in the early “church fathers” than to spend the entire time in God’s word. Why? Because without their traditions and their supposed early church writings, their doctrines fall to the ground. The reason Catholicism refuses to accept the word of God as their only authority is because if they did, the Church of Rome could not exist. Their sacraments would be gone, their ceremonies would cease, their doctrines and disciplines would crumble. Even their version of Jesus differs greatly from the Jesus of the Bible, as does their version of Mary. I just do not understand how any true Christian can not see the spiritual state of Catholicism. They have no assurance of salvation, they pray to and through Mary to go to Jesus. They call a piece of bread God in the flesh, and claim to be able to create God in the flesh through their hocus pocus incantations. I looked to Rome for hope and found fear, fear of missing mass, eating before communion, fear of confession....fear of purgatory....never ending fear. Jeremiah understood that...

“Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills [especially the 7 hills of Rome!] and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.” (Jer.3:23)

It’s high time we take a close look at Rome’s idea of ecumenism. Historically, the only union Rome has been interested in has been having all kings, princes and peoples subject unto the Roman Pontiff! This is still her goal, but due to the power of the word of God, she has had to stop attacking from without, and move within. But be aware of this, Rome herself says she will not change. So who is changing? Sadly enough, it is the “Christians” who are changing and allowing a watered-down gospel to take the place of the true living gospel. People, a watered- down gospel can never save! Rome may have said that she is sorry for the slaughter of the innocent, but she is not sorry. She will do it again. If she were truly repentant, would she not wipe out the anathemas “infallibly” stated in the council of Trent? Would she not restore that which she has taken? If she did, the Vatican would go broke. Just read The Vatican Billions by Avro Manhattan and find out where she got her wealth!

It is not easy to leave Rome. One must examine the word and examine Catholic doctrine and compare. If you find one thing inside Rome that contradicts the word of God, then you have found the flaw in her infallibility claim. You have found the flaw that shows her to be Jezebel, that:

“...calleth herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Rev. 2:20)

Please do not be like the church at Thyatira, do not sufferest that woman Jezebel, better known to the world now as the Roman Catholic Church.

by Diane M. Schoeppner

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