[GUITAR THEME MUSIC] THANK YOU. WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. I FATHER MITCH AND THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT SCRIPTURE. WE LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. AS I HAVE EXPLAINED MANY TIMES IT IS NOT JUST ANY TRADITION THAT COMES ALONG. IT IS THE TRADITION THAT IS TRACED BACK TO THE APOSTLES AND THREW THEM BACK TO CHRIST OUR LORD. THAT IS WHAT IS AUTHORITATIVE ALONG WITH SACRED SCRIPTURE. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 2 OF THEM TOGETHER. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS. YOU CAN CALL INTO THE SHOW. IT IS LIVE ON TUESDAYS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 PM EASTERN TIME. SO ADJUST TO YOUR TIME ZONE. THE NUMBER YOU CAN CALL IF YOU ARE IN NORTH AMERICA CALL IN QUESTIONS: (IN THE USA) 1-800-221-9460 (OUTSIDE THE USA) 1-205-271-2980 NOW WE WILL PUSH YOU TO THE FRONT. WE HAD A CALLER LAST WEEK FROM GERMANY AND WE TRY TO GET THEM UPFRONT. NOW, OF COURSE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALSO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS. YOU MAY DO SO VIA OUR MEDIA PAGES. THAT INFORMATION IS RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU. WE ARE CONTINUING ON THE BIBLE STUDY WE HAVE BEEN DOING ON THE EUCHARIST AND WE ARE STILL USING MY BOOK CALLED THE EUCHARIST A BIBLE STUDY GUIDE FOR CATHOLICS. YOU CAN GET THAT AT THE EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOG. . (FR. PACWA'S BOOKS) AVAILABLE FROM EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE WWW.EWTNRC.COM 1-800-854-6316 WE ARE IN CHAPTER 3 OF THE BOOK AND WE ARE DEALING WITH THE THEME OF THE LAMB OF GOD. AND ITS CONNECTION TO THE EUCHARIST. IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING IN THE BOOK WE ARE ON PAGE 57. HAVING LOOKED AT A PROPHECY IN ISAIAH 53 ABOUT THE LAMB WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND THEN SEEING HOW THAT IS PICKED UP BY ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, HE IS THE ONE WHO POINTS OUT JESUS CHRIST AS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND JOHN CHAPTER 1. SO YOU HAVE THAT AND THEN WE SEE THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF CHRIST AS THE PASSOVER LAMB. POINTED OUT BY ST. PAUL AND OTHERS. NOW WE ARE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE LAMB OF GOD SEATED ON THE THRONE AS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE CAPACITY, THE POWER, TO OPEN UP THE 7 SEALS OF THE SCROLL. THAT IS GOD'S ORDERS FOR THE END TIMES. SO THAT IS WHAT WE SAW THERE. NOW WE ARE COMING TO ANOTHER POINT. THIS IS A TURNING POINT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. AFTER THE 7 SEALS HAVE BEEN OPEED, IN FACT IN CHAPTER 11, YOU SEE THAT THERE IS A SILENCE IN HEAVEN. THEY SEE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN HEAVEN. NOT IN A WAREHOUSE IN WASHINGTON. NOT DISCOVERED BY AN ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO RUNS AROUND WITH THE COOL HAT AND WHIP. THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT. IT IS PORTRAYED AS BEING REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AND IMMEDIATELY IT GOES FROM THAT IMAGE OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT TO REVELATION CHAPTER 12. AND HERE WE SEE. I WILL READ IT. CHAPTER 12:1 - AND FOLLOWING. A GREAT PORTEND APPEARED IN THE HEAVEN. A WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN, WITH THE MOON UNDER HER FEET, AND ON HER HEAD A CROWN OF 12 STARS. SHE WAS PREGNANT AND WAS CRYING OUT IN BIRTH PANGS, IN THE AGONY OF GIVING BIRTH. THEN ANOTHER PORTEND APPEARED IN HEAVEN. A GREAT RED DRAGON. WITH 7 HEADS AND 10 HORNS, AND 7 DIADEMS ON HIS HEADS. HIS TAIL SWEPT DOWN 1/3 OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN AND THREW THEM TO THE EARTH. THEN THE DRAGON STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN WAS ABOUT TO BEAR A CHILD SO THAT HE MIGHT DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN. AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON, A MLE CHILD, WHO IS TO RULE ALL THE NATIONS WITH A A ROD OF IRON. BUT HER CHILD WAS SNATCHED AWAY AND TAKEN TO GOD AND TO HIS THRONE AND THE WOMAN FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS WHERE SHE HAS A PLACE PREPARED BY GOD SO THAT THERE SHE CAN BE NOURISHED FOR 1260 DAYS. THIS IS THE INTRODUCTORY SCENE. IN FACT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN MANY OF OUR BROADCASTS OF MASS FOR THE NATIONAL SHRINE. IN THE 1ST TIME I SAW THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN WASHINGTON DC WAS BACK IN 67 I BELIEVE. YES 67 AND I WAS VERY STRUCK BY THE MOSAIC OF THIS DRAGON AND OF COURSE OUR LADY. SOMETIMES, JUST AS A SIDE POINT. SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY THE WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN REFERS TO THE CHURCH. RATHER THAN TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. LET ME POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO YOU. 1ST OF ALL NOTICE THAT THIS WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY CHILD WHO IS THE MESSIAH. HOW DO WE KNOW HE IS THE MESSIAH? HE HAS THE ROD OF IRON AND HE RULES THE NATIONS. WHERE IS THAT FROM? PSALM 2 AND PSALM 2 IS A MESSIANIC PSALM ABOUT THE CORONATION OF THE DESCENDENT OF DAVID AND OF COURSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRAYED WHENEVER THEY ANOINTED A KING AND ANCIENT JUDAH BUT IT STILL LOOKED FORWARD TO GOD ADOPTING THIS KING AS HIS SON AND CALLS HIM SON. AND THAT HE WILL RULE THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON. SO THAT REFERENCES TO THE MESSIAH. AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A SIMPLE OF THE CHURCH. WHY? BECAUSE THE CHURCH DOES NOT GIVE BIRTH TO JESUS CHRIST. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE FROM WHOM THE CHURCH COMES. THAT THE IMAGERY IS THAT CHRIST, BY THE WATER AND BLOOD THAT CME FROM HIS SIDE WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS, CHRIST IS THE NEW ADAM AND FROM HIM COMES THE CHURCH, HIS BRIDE. AND IT IS NOT THAT THE CHURCH IS HIS MOTHER. HIS MOTHER IS THE VIRGIN MARY WHO WAS STANDING AT THE CROSS BUT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE BIRTH TO HIM. ALSO THE 2ND POINT IS IT WOULD BE ODD TO THINK OF THIS AS THE CHURCH BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT THESE THINGS BUT MY GENERAL IMPRESSION IS THAT GIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD IS NOT A GROUP EFFORT. IT IS NOT A BUNCH OF WOMEN GIVING BIRTH TO ONE KID. IT IS 1 MOTHER PER CHILD. SOMETIMES THE MOTHER MIGHT HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD BUT STILL IT IS STILL 1 MOTHER GIVING BIRTH. IT WOULD BE HARD TO THINK OF THIS AS A GROUP EFFORT. NOTICE ALSO THAT THE DRAGON WANTS TO EAT THE SON AND WANTS TO DESTROY HIM. IN THESE IMAGES, WHEN THE SUN IS BORN HE IS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN. THIS IS MEANT TO BE A SUMMARY OF THE INCARNATION, BIRTH AND LIFE AND ASCENSION OF JESUS. SO IT IS JUST THIS BIG SWEEP TO GIVE YOU SORT OF A TELESCOPED DOWNED VERSION OF CHRIST. JUST VERY SHORT. BECAUSE IT IS NOT SO MUCH A FOCUS ON HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE COSMIC WAR BETWEEN SATAN AND HIS ANGELS VERSUS JESUS CHRIST, HIS MOTHER, ST. MICHAEL AND THE ANGELS AND THAT IS WHY IT GOES ON IN VERSES 7 AND 8. IT SAYS THAT AFTER THE SERPENT FAILED TO CONSUME THE SON, IT SAYS THAT WAR BROKE OUT IN HEAVEN. MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS FOUGHT AGAINST THE DRAGON. THE DRAGON AND HIS ANGELS FOUGHT BACK BUT THEY WERE DEFEATED AND AND THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY PLACE FOR THEM IN HEAVEN. NOW, THIS IDEA OF THEM BEING IN HEAVEN DOES NOT REFER TO THEM BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. BUT IT REFERS TO THEM BEING ABLE TO DWELL IN THE SKY UP IN THE HEAVENS AS OUTSIDE OF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. THEY DID NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE WORD FOR SKY IN HEAVEN. IT WAS JUST - -. THE SAME IN LATIN - -. AND SO ON. THIS IS SIMPLY UP IN THE SKY. THAT THEY HAVE THIS THAT THEY ARE CAST DOWN CAST DOWN TO EARTH. THE THE PICTURE, WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING A WAR YOU TRY TO CONFINE YOUR ENEMY TO SMALLER AND SMALLER SPACE AND THE IDEA IS THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE HEAVENS AND THAT THEY ARE ON EARTH AND THEN THE FIGHTING GOES DOWN ON EARTH AND SO IT IS IN A MORE LIMITED PLACE. IT IS PART OF THEIR GRADUAL DEFEAT. AND SOMETHING ELSE TO NOTE. THERE WAS NO CHANCE THAT THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS MIGHT WIN. THAT IS NOT A POSSIBILITY. GOD'S INFINITE POWER IS INFINITELY GREATER THAN THAT OF EVIL AND SATAN. WE ARE NOT AS STRONG AS SATAN AND HIS ANGELS. THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE ARE. SMARTER THAN WE ARE. BUT GOD IS INFINITELY STRONGER THAN THEY ARE OR THAN US. AND 1 OF THE KEY MESSAGES THERE IS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE GREAT VICTORY AGAINST EVIL YOU MUST BE ON GOD'S SIDE. HE WILL WIN THE VICTORY. HE WILL HAVE US PLAY A ROLE. HE WILL HAVE MICHAEL AND THE ANGELS PLAY A ROLE. THAT IS THE WAY HE CHOOSES TO DO THIS. BUT HE WILL BE VICTORIOUS AND THAT IS INEVITABLE. THAT BRINGS OUT HOW A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT, EVIL IS NOT A FORCE EQUAL TO GOOD. INHERENTLY EVIL IS NOT EQUAL TO GOOD. EVIL CAN SEEM TO BE VERY STRONG BUT EVIL IS IN ITSELF, BUT MAKE SOMETHING EVIL WHAT MAKES SATAN BAD? BECAUSE THERE IS A DEPRIVATION OF GOOD. IN OTHER WORDS THEY SHOULD BE GOOD BUT THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF GOODNESS AND BEING DEPRIVED OF GOODNESS IS WHAT MAKES THEM EVIL AND THE MORE DEPRIVED OF GOODNESS THEY ARE THE MORE EVIL THEY BECOME. THAT APPLIES TO US ALSO. OUR EVIL DEEDS ARE A DEPRIVATION OF GOOD. THERE STILL IS GOOD EVEN IN EVIL ACTIONS. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD MOTIVE WHEN THEY COMMIT A SIN BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH GOODNESS, IT IS A LACK OF GOODNESS, AND THAT MAKES IT BAD OR EVIL. THE WAY HAVING A BIT OF SOUR MILK INTO SOME GOOD MILK WILL TURN THE WHOLE CONTAINER SOUR. THAT IS THE WAY EVIL WORKS IN GOOD. THAT IS WHY WE SEEK TO BE AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE. SO THEN MICHAEL DEFEATS HIM. AND SATAN AND HIS ANGELS WERE THROWN DOWN TO EARTH. THEN THERE'S A VICTORY. LISTEN TO THIS VICTORY SONG IN REVELATION 12:10 - 12. THEN I HEARD A LOUD VOICE IN HEAVEN PROCLAIMING, NOW HAVE COME THE SALVATION AND THE POWER AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MESSIAH, FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR COMRADES HAS BEEN THROWN DOWN, WHO ACCUSES THEM DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE OUR GOD. BUT THEY HAVE CONQUERED HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY, FOR THEY DID NOT CLING TO LIFE EVEN IN THE FACE OF DEATH. REJOICE THEN, YOU HEAVENS AND THOSE WHO DWELL IN THEM. BUT WOE TO THE EARTH AND THE SEA FOR THE DEVIL HAS COME DOWN TO YOU WITH GREAT WRATH BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT HIS TIME IS SHORT. A FEW THINGS TO NOTE. 1ST OF ALL NOTICE THAT THEY ARE TRIFLING BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS CHRIST HAVE COME. THAT IS THE POSITIVE VICTORY. THE LOSER HERE IS THE ACCUSER OF OUR BROTHERS. NOW THIS WORD ACCUSER, - - IT COMES FROM THE MEANING OF THE WORD - - SATAN. SATAN MEANS ACCUSER IN HEBREW. AND IN FACT THE GREEK WORD FOR DEVIL, DIABLOS MEANS PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOW JESUS CHRIST IS CALLED OUR PARACLETE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED OUR PARACLETE. THAT JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE PARACLETE'S WHICH MEANS COUNSELOR FOR THE DEFENSE. DEFENSE LAWYERS. WHILE DIABLO MEANS PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. AND IT IS SATAN WHO DOES THE ACCUSATION. WHEN WE HEAR ACCUSING VOICES, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID. I KNOW HOW BAD YOU ARE. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE UP TO. YOU DID THIS AND YOU DID THAT. WE HEAR THAT SOMETIMES AS AN INTERIOR VOICE. KNOW THAT THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOD. A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT RELIGIOUS GUILT. THEY TALK ABOUT CATHOLIC GUILT OR JEWISH GUILT OR OF THE RELIGIOUS GUILT. AND THEY WILL BLAME THAT ACCUSATORY VOICE ON THE RELIGION. BECAUSE THAT GOES BACK TO A PHILOSOPHER FROM THE 1700S NAME JOHN JOCKS ARE SO. IN FACT IT IS NOT THE ACCUSING VOICE. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF SIN SO THAT WE REPENT. THE EVIL SPIRIT ACCUSES US AND SAYS YOU ARE GUILTY, YOUR GUILTY YOU ARE BAD! THAT IS THE SATANIC VOICE SPEAKING TO US AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD THE FATHER AND THE GOOD ANGELS DEFEAT THE ACCUSER. IF YOU BELIEVE THE ACCUSATIONS, THEN YOU ARE TAKING SIDES WITH THE EVIL ONE. IF YOU BELIEVE CHRIST, YOU WILL KNOW MERCY AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN. AND PAY ATTENTION, PAY ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE VOICES WE ARE NOW HEARING IN OUR MEDIA. FROM THE VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE DESTROYING AND MAKING UGLY OUR CULTURE. I THINK THERE IS A STRONG LINK BETWEEN THE WAY WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT MERELY PROTESTING IN FAVOR OF JUSTICE, BUT ARE EXPRESSING HATRED, DEATH, DEATH TO ALL POLICE, BLUE LIVES DO NOT MATTER, KILL THE COPS, COPS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN AND ALL OF THAT THEY MAKE THINGS UGLY. THINK OF WHAT I JUST SAID IN TERMS OF SATAN BEING THE ACCUSER OF OUR BROTHERS. IN THE UGLINESS THAT HE BRINGS INTO THE WORLD. THESE CHARACTERISTICS BELONG TO HIM. AND WE HAVE TO CHOOSE WHO SIDE WE ARE GOING TO BE ON. THE PARACLETE ARE THE ACCUSER. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK SOME MORE AT THESE PASSAGES SO PLEASE STAY WITH US AND WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES. [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] ALL RIGHT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REVELATION 12 AND HOW ULTIMATELY IT IS JESUS CHRIST WHO DEFEATS SATAN AND HE USES THE ANGELS, HE USES THE MARTYRS, HE USES THE SAINTS, THESE FOLKS WERE PART OF GOD'S PLAN AND WE ARE ALSO BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS CHRIST WHO DEFEATS THE POWER OF SATAN. JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH AND THE WAY AND THE LIFE. JOHN 14:6. SATAN IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES AND A MURDERER. WE SEE THAT IN JOHN CHAPTER 8. THAT IS THE CONTRAST. WE CANNOT DEFEAT HIM BUT CHRIST CAN AND WILL. WE SIMPLY COOPERATE. NOW THERE ARE OTHER PASSAGES IN REVELATION THAT SPEAK OF CHRIST AS THE SOURCE OF VICTORY. WE SEE SATAN HAS A TOOL. THIS IS WHAT EVIL DOES. EVIL USES OTHERS AS TOOLS. REMEMBER THE GREAT LINE OF JOSEPH STALIN THE DICTATOR OF THE SOVIET UNION? HE HAD A BUNCH OF AMERICAN REPORTERS WHO WERE COVERING UP ALL THE ATROCITIES OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND SAYING HOW GREAT IT WAS AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE SENDING BACK TO THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT BELIEVED BACK IN THE 1920S WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SAID THERE ARE ATROCITIES A MASS STARVATION ON PURPOSE. AND THESE REPORTERS KEPT SAYING NO. IT IS ALL FINE. THEY HAD SOME TRAGEDY BUT IT IS ALL FINE NOW. STALIN CALLED TO THOSE REPORTERS USEFUL IDIOTS. HE WAS USING THEM AS TOOLS. THAT IS WHAT SATAN DOES. HE USES OTHERS AS TOOLS OF 1 OF HIS TOOLS HE CALLS THE BEAST AND WE SEE IN REVELATION 13:7, ALSO IT WAS ALLOWED, THAT IS THE BEAST WAS ALLOWED, TO MAKE WAR ON THE SAINTS AND TO CONQUER THEM. IT WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY OVR EVERY TRIBE AND PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE AND NATION. SO THAT ON THE ONE HAND THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL USES CREATURES LIKE THIS BEAST TO SEEMINGLY DEFEAT EVEN THE SAINTS BY KILLING THEM. NOT REALIZING THAT IN FACT HE IS SENDING THEM TO THE ULTIMATE VICTORY. ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN. AND IT GOES ON IN VERSE 8. AND ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH WILL WORSHIP IT, EVERYONE WHOSE NAME HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD IN THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAUGHTERED. NOW THE SAINTS WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAUGHTERED. THEY BELIEVED. THAT IS 1 OF THE THINGS THAT IT SAID IN CHAPTER 12 RIGHT BEFORE THIS. THAT THEY BELIEVED IN HIM. THEY HAD FAITH IN THE LAMB. THEY BELIEVED IN HIS WORD. AND FOR THAT THEY WERE REDEEMED. SAVED AND BROUGHT TO HEAVEN. THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE VICTORY. BUT SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE THE VICTORY BELONGS TO SATAN OR HIS BEAST. LOOK AT THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNIST AND THE NAZIS KILLED 305 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE 20TH CENTURY IN THEIR WARS AND PERSECUTIONS. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HOW MANY CHRISTIANS, AND RUSSIAN OF COURSE MOSTLY RUSSIAN ORTHODOX AND THE OTHER ORTHODOX COMMUNITIES WERE KILLED BY THE MILLIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH AND PEOPLE WHO DISAGREED, PEOPLE WHO WERE CHRISTIAN WERE KILLED IN CHINA AND CAMBODIA AND ELSEWHERE. VIETNAM. SO THEY SUFFERED A LOT. THINK OF THAT AS THE FORCE OF THE BEAST TRYING TO SILENCE US. AND THERE STILL WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SILENCE US. TO TRY TO FORCE CHANGE IN OUR DOCTRINE. THEY WILL THINK THAT THEY ARE VICTORIOUS SOMETIMES. BUT ULTIMATELY THEY ARE NOT. COMMUNISM FELL IN RUSSIA. IT WAS A CATASTROPHE. FOR THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. AND IT COLLAPSED ON ITSELF. AND NOW THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IS COMING TO LIFE AND BECOMING VERY STRONG AS ARE THE EASTERN GREEK CATHOLICS UNITED WITH ROME. THEY ARE BECOMING STRONGER. IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE THOUGHT THEY WERE DESTROYED. CHRIST WILL BRING ABOUT VICTORY. SO THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND. THEN WE SEE IN YET ANOTHER PLACE WHERE IT LOOKS AS IF THE WICKED ARE GOING TO BE STRONG AND BE VICTORIOUS. TAKE A LOOK AT REVELATION 17:13 - 14. IT SAYS, THESE ARE UNITED IN YIELDING THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY TO THE BEAST. THAT IS ALL THE NATIONS. THEY WILL MAKE WAR ON THE LAMB AND THE LAMB WILL CONQUER THEM FOR HE IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS AND THOSE WITH HIM ARE CALLED AND CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL. THIS SETS UP FOR US WHAT IS THE BASIC CHOICE EACH OF US HAS TO MAKE. WE FOLLOW SATAN'S TOOLS, PEOPLE LIKE STALIN AND POL POT AND ADOLF HITLER. COMMUNIST SOCIALIST WHO ARE TOTALITARIAN IN GOVERNMENT. OR WILL WE FOLLOW THE LAMB AND BE FAITHFUL TO HIM? WILL WE CHOOSE DEATH THE WAY THEY DID, REMEMBER THE SOVIET UNION LEGALIZED ABORTION RIGHT AWAY AND INSTITUTED WIDESPREAD DEATH IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. 61.9 MILLION KILLED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. OR KILLED OR STARVE TO DEATH. OR WILL WE CHOOSE LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST? THIS IS THE BASIC CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE AND IT IS NOT A COMPROMISE. NOW, THIS FINAL AND ULTIMATE DEFEAT OF THE LAMB AND THE BEAST EXCUSE ME DEFEAT BY THE LAMB OF THE BEAST AND THE CITY THAT THEY CALL BABYLON WHICH IS A CODE NAME FOR ROME. THEY USE CODENAMES BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING PERSECUTED AT THIS TIME THAT THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN. BUT AFTER THE FINAL DEFEAT OF EVIL WHICH IS ULTIMATE, THERE IS A GREAT MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN THAT REJOICES IN PRAISE OF GOD AND THE LAMB. LOOK AT REVELATION 19 WHERE THE GREAT CROWD IN HEAVEN BY THE WAY FOR ALL OF THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT A LOT WATCH THE SHOW BUT IF YOU ARE WATCHING, NOTICE THIS IS THE GREAT CROWD IN HEAVEN. NOT ON EARTH. CODE FOR THEM TO KNOW. REVELATION 19:7 THE GREAT CROWD IN HEAVEN SAYS LET US REJOICE AND EXULT AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME AND HIS BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY. IT HAS BEEN GRANTED HER TO BE CLOTHED WITH FINE LINEN, BRIGHT AND PURE, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS DEEDS OF THE SAINTS. AND THE ANGEL SAID TO ME, RIGHT THIS. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. AND HE SAID TO ME THESE ARE THE TRUE WORDS OF GOD. HERE WE SEE SOMETHING THAT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND YOURS HERE AT THE NETWORK, SCOTT HAHN TALKS ABOUT THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. AND THIS ULTIMATE BANQUET IN HEAVEN IS THE ULTIMATE SUPPER OF THE LAMB WITH HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS HIS BRIDE AND THAT IS 1 OF THE REASONS WHY WE TAKE MARRIAGE SO MUCH AS A HIGHEST OF VALUES THAT YOU MARRIED PEOPLE ARE A SIGN OF THE COMING VICTORY OF CHRIST WITH HIS BRIDE AND THAT HUSBAND AND WIFE SYMBOLIZE THAT LOVE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL BLESSING. THEN OF COURSE WHENEVER WE GO TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST AND RIGHT BEFORE COMMUNION BLESSED ARE THOSE CALLED TO THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. THIS IS OUR OWN PROCLAMATION AND WE PRAY FOR MERCY FROM THE LAMB OF GOD BEFORE WE RECEIVE COMMUNION. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ALREADY BEGINNING THE FORETASTE OF THE HEAVENLY BANQUET WHERE WE RECEIVE COMMUNION AND THEN WE SEE THAT THERE IS THIS GREAT GIFT THAT WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN HEAVEN. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE ULTIMATE GOAL THAT WE HAVE. NOW LET US STOP THERE AND WE WILL START TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CALLS WE HAVE ALREADY. WE HAVE MICHAEL WHERE YOU CALLING FROM? >> (PACWA) WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> ST. LOUIS. (PACWA) FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW ST. RAYMOND IS THE MARONITE CATHEDRAL IN ST. LOUIS FOR THE WESTERN EPARCHY OF THE MARONITES. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? >> I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SUFFERING. MY WIFE HAS BAD KNEES. AND HER FEET. SHE JUST SCREAMS AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. WE ASK GOD TO HELP HER. BUT I DO NOT KNOW. HE MUST BE ON VACATION. (PACWA) NO. HE IS NOT ON VACATION. GOD DOES NOT DO THAT. BUT IT IS 1 OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE SUFFERING THAT GOES ON IN LIFE IS NOT EASY FOR ANY OF US. A LOT OF TIMES WE WOULD SIMPLY LIKE THE SUFFERING TO COME TO AN END AND WE JUST WANTED OVER WITH. AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL WHETHER IT IS THROUGH A REMEDY FROM THE DOCTOR OR SOMETIMES THROUGH MIRACLE OR SOMETIMES IT COMES ONLY WHEN WE DIE. THESE ARE THE REALITIES THAT WE FACE. NOW, THE QUESTION IS THIS, IS THE SUFFERING USELESS OR IS IT MEANINGFUL? FOR CHRISTIANS WE CAN SEE THAT IT HAS MEANING. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE SUFFERING WILL JUST GO AWAY AND BE OKAY. NO. THE SCREAMING OUT IN PAIN IS THE KIND OF PHYSICAL REACTION THAT OUR BODIES HAVE. SOMETIMES THE PAIN IS SO INTENSE THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO EXCEPT SCREAM IN PAIN AND THIS IS EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT. AND FOR YOU, AS A HUSBAND, WHO SEIZED YOUR WIFE'S PAIN I AM SURE YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY COULD TO EASE THAT PAIN AND ARE HELPLESS IN THE MIDST OF THAT KIND OF PAIN. I HAVE BEEN WITH LOVED ONES WHO ARE SUFFERING AS THEY GET CLOSE TO DEATH AND AND YOU FEEL HELPLESS AND YOU ARE HELPLESS. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO USE THAT PAIN, NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY, IF THE DOCTOR CAN BRING YOU HEALING GREAT AND IF A MIRACLE HAPPENS WONDERFUL BUT IF NEITHER OF THOSE HAPPEN WE STILL CAN LOOK TO THE PAIN AND SAY LORD THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE GOT. I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO GIVE TO YOU AND IT DOES NOT TAKE THE PAIN AWAY BUT I GIVE IT TO YOU. I UNITE MY SUFFERING WITH YOU ON THE CROSS. AND BECAUSE IT IS HER FEET THAT HURT SHE SHOULD IMAGINE THAT SHE IS UNITING THAT PAIN WITH THE NAIL GOING THROUGH THE FEET OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS. THAT THIS HORRIBLE PAIN THAT SHE HAS, AND AGAIN I DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE IT AT ALL. IT IS A HORRIBLE THING. BUT THAT THIS IS WHERE YOU UNITE THAT WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS AND YOU BE THERE WITH HER AND FOR YOU AND YOUR HELPLESSNESS, MICHAEL, TO THINK OF YOURSELF AS BEING LIKE ST. JOHN OR OUR LADY. EITHER 1 OF THEM WOULD HAVE LOVED TO RELIEVE CHRIST OF HIS SUFFERING AND THEY COULD NOT. ALL THEY COULD DO IS BE THERE. THAT IS A SUFFERING ALSO. IF YOU CAN BE THERE WITH THEM IN THE MIDST OF THAT AND IN THAT WAY YOU ALSO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EUCHARIST AND GIVING THIS UP IN UNION WITH CHRIST IN MAKING THAT AN OFFERING TO HIM. HE WILL USE THAT SACRIFICE. PRAY FOR SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR. THINK ABOUT ESPECIALLY SOME SINNERS WHO MIGHT BE FAR AWAY AND OFFER THAT FOR THEM OR FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS SICK AND IS IN NEED OF LORD WILL USE THAT MORE AND OUR POWERFULLY THAN ANY OF US KNOW. I DO NOT SAY THAT AS A THEORY. I KNOW IT FROM THE THINGS THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH IN LIFE AND GOD WILLING YOU ALSO WILL FIND THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AN EMAIL TO START OFF THE SECTION WITH FROM JAMES. (PACWA) WHAT AN ODD THING. (PACWA) HE SUPPOSED TO. (PACWA) JAMES, I DO NOT KNOW I DO NOT HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU ARE. MY OWN REACTION IS THAT THE PRIEST VERY MUCH NEEDS A CONVERSION. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME WAS THAT HE FELT THAT NEED FOR CONFESSION. HE MIGHT BE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO IS GOOD ENOUGH THAT HE IS NOT COMMITTING SIN WHERE HE FEELS HE NEEDS TO CONFESS IT OFTEN BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE DOES NOT APPRECIATE THE POWER OF TURNING AWAY FROM SINS AND HE DOES NOT APPRECIATE HIS OWN AUTHORITY AND POWER. TO BE CHRIST'S INSTRUMENT IN THE FORGIVENESS OF THOSE SINS. IT SEEMS THAT HE HAS A VIEW OF THE PRIESTHOOD THAT IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE EXPECT FROM THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH. THAT RECONCILING OUR FELLOW SINNERS IS 1 OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGES OF THE PRIESTHOOD SO I FIND THIS VERY ODD. I TELL YOU WHAT. EVERY TIME YOU COME TO MASS WHETHER IT IS A WEEKDAY OR SUNDAY, I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO COME ABOUT 10 MINUTES EARLY. WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO AND THAT 10 MINUTES IS START PRAYING FOR THAT PRIEST AND IF YOU KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PARISH WHO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, IT CAN DO YOU AND THE PARISH SPIRITUAL HARM IF YOU JUST COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. GOING TO THE BISHOP WAS RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT. SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO THAT. YOU SH HE SHOULD KNOW THAT IS HOW 1 OF HIS PRIEST IS ACTING. BUT INSTEAD OF GOSSIPING GET YOURSELF AND A FEW FRIENDS THAT YOU TRUST TO COME TO CHURCH EARLY AND PRAY FOR HIM. JUST DO THIS EVERY WEEK. GET THERE PRAY FOR HIM. FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON PRAYING FOR HIM. AND SEE IF WITHIN A YEAR OF YOU DOING THAT HE DOES NOT CHANGE AND MAY EXPERIENCE A REAL CONVERSION. I HAVE KNOWN OF THIS HAPPENING IN MANY PLACES. I PARTICIPATED IN DOING SUCH THINGS. IT IS VERY POWERFUL. JUST BE CALM AND FAITHFUL AND PRAYERFUL TRUSTING OUR LORD TO DO IN THAT PRIEST'S HEART WHAT YOUR WORDS CANNOT DO. YOU DO NOT CONVERT HIM. I DO NOT CONVERT HIM. JESUS OUR LORD DOES. AND GIVEN THE WAY THAT THE 1ST 12 PRIEST ACTED ON THE NIGHT OF THEIR ORDINATION ON HOLY THURSDAY, THE ORIGINAL HOLY THURSDAY, GIVEN THE WAY THAT THOSE PRIEST ACTED OUR LORD WAS QUITE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE THAT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S NOW GO TO A QUESTION FROM A FACEBOOK VIEWER. PORTIA. (PACWA) WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS IN THE ROMAN RITE RIGHT BEFORE THE CONSECRATION THE PRIEST EXTENDS HIS HAND OVER THE BREAD AND WINE AND PRAISE SEND FORTH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT AND THE REASON WE CALL DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT IS CALLED THE THE EPICLESIS AND IN THE TRADITIONAL CANON, CANON NUMBER 1 THE EXPLICIT CALLING DOWN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT PUT INTO WORDS BUT THE ACTION IS. OKAY? THIS IS DONE RIGHT BEFORE THE CONSECRATION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST, THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THAT THE WORDS OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM WE USE A SPECIAL WORD, TRANSUBSTANTIATION CHANGE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BREAD AND WINE INTO THE SUBSTANCE OF CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD. THAT IS WHY WE CALL IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN THE EASTERN RIGHT THEY ALSO HAVE THE EPICLESIS AND THEY DO IT AFTER THE CONSECRATION. AND FOR INSTANCE IN THE MARONITE RIGHT WE FLUTTER OUR HANDS OVER IT AS WE CALLED ON THE HOLY SPIRIT IMITATING THE ACTION OF A DOVE. AGAIN A GESTURE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE THAT IMAGE. BUT WE CALL IN THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE AGAIN IT DEPENDS NOT ON THE PRIESTS AS A PERSON THROUGH HIS INTELLIGENCE OR THE LACK THEREOF BUT IT DEPENDS UPON FAITHFULLY SPEAKING THE WORDS OF CHRIST AND CALLING DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT. WITH PROTESTANT CHURCHES THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF VARIETY OF BELIEF ABOUT THE EUCHARIST. IN FACT THERE'S A BOOK I'VE MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT IS CALLED THE HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE EUCHARIST BY DARWELL STONE. DARWELL STONE. IT WAS PRINTED IN 1905. BUT IT IS BRILLIANT. VOLUME 2 OF THAT WORK. IT IS A FANTASTIC OVERVIEW. HE POINTS OUT THAT WHAT DIVIDED THE VARIOUS PROTESTANT CHURCHES FROM EACH OTHER WAS NOT SOLO SCRIPTURE APPEARED THEY ALL BELIEVE THAT. NOR WAS IT SOME JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE. PRETTY MUCH MOSTLY BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER AND MOST OTHER DOCTRINES BUT WHAT DIVIDED THEM WAS THEY REJECTED THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION. THAT THIS REALLY IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. WHEN THEY DID THAT THEY CANNOT COME UP WITH ANOTHER THEORY THAT THEY CAN ALL AGREE ON AND SO THEY KEPT DIVIDING UP. IT BEGAN WITH LUTHER AND ZWINGLI AND THEN HE SAID THIS IS MY BODY BUT HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS 2 SUBSTANCES. THE SUBSTANCE OF BREAD AND WINE IN THE SUBSTANCE OF CHRIST. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM PHILOSOPHICALLY. WHILE ZWINGLI SAID KNOW IT IS JUST A COMMITMENT CHRIST GAVE US AND IT HAS NO MORE IMPACT THAN SAYING THE LORD'S PRAYER. THAT IS IN SOME FORM OR OTHER THE BELIEF HELD BY MOST OF THE FREE CHURCHES. THE ONES THAT ARE NOT PART OF TRADITIONAL PROTESTANT CHURCHES. THEN YOU HAD CALVIN WHO SAID IT REALLY IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST SO LONG AS THE BELIEVERS OF ARE THERE ARE BELIEVING THAT IT IS BUT WHEN THEY ARE NOT PRESENT IT IS NOT THERE SO IT DEPENDED UPON THEIR FAITH. THEN YOU HAD OTHER FOLKS, WITH ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS. THEY JUST KEPT DIVIDING OVER THAT. IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PROTESTANT COMMUNITY YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND THAT IS I DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE YOU HAD IN MIND. WHAT I WOULD DO IS ASK THE VARIOUS PROTESTANT PEOPLE YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY THE PASTORS WHAT THEY MEAN BY IT. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT IT REALLY IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST BECAUSE THE PRIEST SPEAKS THE WORD OF GOD, CALLS DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HE HAS RECEIVED THE AUTHORITY TO AFFECT THE EUCHARIST BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER YOUTUBE VIEWER. SUSANNA. (PACWA) SUSANNA ARE YOU SURE THAT IS IN THE DIVINE COMEDY? I DO NOT THINK SO. I THINK YOU ARE CITING MILTON'S PARADISE LOST. THAT WAS IN JOHN MILTON'S. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU KNOW MUCH OF MILTON. HE WAS A BLIND POET IN ENGLAND A PURITAN. HE WROTE THAT GREAT POINT. NOTE THERE IS NOTHING IN SCRIPTURE. IT WAS HIS THEOLOGY OF SATAN. VERY INSIGHTFUL POINT BY THE WAY. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT. I WOULD RATHER RULE IN HELL THAN SERVE IN HEAVEN. THERE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT. WANT TO BE IN CHARGE MY OWN LIFE. I AM IN CHARGE AMOUNT BODY. I DO NOT CARE IF I GO TO HELL. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT. PRECISELY. THAT IS THAT. ALL RIGHT. THEN LET US TAKE ONE MORE EMAIL. (PACWA) I DO NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE DOCTRINE FROM THE CHURCH ON THAT. THE CHURCH RARELY DECREES SUCH THINGS OFFICIALLY. WE WE LEAVE MOST INTERPRETATION UP TO FOLKS AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT AFFECT DOCTRINE. WHEN YOU READ JOHN AND REVELATION BOTH IN GREEK AND THE GREEK STYLE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GREEK OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE 1ST AND 2ND AND 3RD EPISTLE OF JOHN R THE SAME STYLE AND FROM THE SAME HAND. I THINK. THINK THAT WOULD BE JOHN THE APOSTLE. I BELIEVE. YET JOHN OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE. HIS GREEK IS NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS IN THE GOSPEL QUITE FRANKLY. IT HAS A LOT OF GRAMMAR MISTAKES. GRAMMATICAL PROBLEMS. SO THERE WOULD BE THERE SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENT PERSON AND THAT IS WHY THEY CALL HIM JOHN OF PATMOS OR JOHN OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION. BUT THAT IS STILL UP THERE FOR GRABS. WHAT IS NOT UP FOR GRABS IS THAT I HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR US IN THIS COVID VIRUS TIME. PLEASE KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS. THANK YOU. [GUITAR THEME MUSIC]
