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Papal Speculation and More on North Korea

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Papal Speculation and More on North Korea

by Darris McNeely 5 comments Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
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Papal Speculation UCG.org
Papal Speculation and More on North Korea

A couple of gleanings from today's Financial Times merit BT Media's attention.

Amid speculation of who the next Pope will be, early bets are being made an African may get the nod–the first African in more than 1500 years, is mention of how vigorous is religion in sub Saharan Africa. A Pew Forum on Religion In Public Life 2010 survey showed that more than 75% of Africans felt religion was "very important" in their lives. Of Christians in Africa, 80% attend church once a week. Having just visited Kenya in East Africa I was struck at the number of churches and religious schools. The influence of many religions, including Islam, was evident. Our hotel in Ogembo was next to a mosque and we had a 4:00 a.m. wake up call each day when the faithful were called to prayer. 

The strong African belief in the Bible as the literal word of God provides a fertile soil for the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. We always see strong interest in our message from this region. Religion may not be doing well in Europe but in Africa you find believers and seekers looking for a message of hope and meaning. Life in those regions is very hard. The truth of the gospel gives meaning and dignity for a people looking to make sense of a complicated world.

The other comment in today's paper sheds more light on North Korea's latest nuclear test, which we mentioned yesterday. David Pilling references an article in the Jerusalem Post suggesting "Pyongyang may have tested this week's device on behalf of Tehran in the presence of Iranian scientists." The nuclear connection of North Korea and Iran, two of the world's most dangerous states, should frighten leaders into action. If this and other reports are true we may be seeing Iran closer than anyones suspects to having nuclear capability and the means of delivering a weapon upon any foe they choose. When this happens it will be a major foreign policy fiasco for the United States, which has sought to contain the problem by economic sanctions. 

Iran has ignored all threats and efforts to stop its nuclear goals and appears very close to having what it wants. Iran's religious and political leaders do not take President Obama seriously and they continue to march forward. The linkage of Iran and North Korea is a dangerous step against the stability of Middle East and Asia. 

Bible prophecy shows armies coming from the region east of the Euphrates River in the events preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 16:12-16). Understanding events in this region is a key to this passage of prophecy. 

Roman Catholic Church Pope Benedict North Korea Iran News and Prophecy

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Comments

  • dick nellis
    Dick Nellis
    The most famous and best known prophecies about the popes are those attributed to St. Malachy. In 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II, who promised him two palliums for the metropolitan Sees of Armagh and Cashel. While at Rome, he received (according to the Abbé Cucherat) the strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The same author tells us that St. Malachy gave his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590 (Cucherat, "Proph. de la succession des papes", ch. xv). They were first published by Arnold de Wyon, and ever since there has been much discussion as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. The silence of 400 years on the part of so many learned authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the "Life of St. Malachy", is a strong argument against their authenticity, but it is not conclusive if we adopt Cucherat's theory that they were hidden in the Archives during those 400 years. These 112 short prophetical announcements indicating some noticeable trait of all future popes from Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1130, until the end of the world have so far proved accurate. The 112 prophecy for the next Pope is “Petrus Romanus/Peter of Rome: The Final Pope? "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock among many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people." A little time will tell if the4 prophecy hold true. I believe it will. It is time to repent and turn to God.
  • Ivan Veller
    Ivan Veller
    @RogelioFeir Re: "To hasten the return" As in: "Since he is waiting for all who will come to repentance (v. 9), the sooner believers bring others to the Savior the sooner that day will dawn" (NIV Study Bible 2011 note on 2 Peter 3:12) (Without addressing the NIV SB note) 2 Peter 3:12a (which, though specifically addressing an even future time, has dual application) can be rendered multiple ways: 1. "hastening the coming" (NKJV; ESV 2011)--you should try to make it come soon” (CEV) 2. "earnestly desiring" (ASV); “truly desiring” (BBE); "earnestly desire" (HCSB 2009)--"or 'as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come'" (NIV 2010 footnote) 3. [figuratively/rhetorically] "hurrying it along" (NLT 2010); "apresurar que este llegue!" (NTV 2010); "waiting [hopefully] for and hastening" (Voice 2011)--"as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (NIV 2011) [in the sense of a bride-to-be telling the calendar "enough, already--get a move on!" in eager anticipation of her future union] 4. "hasting unto the coming" (KJV)--"hasting to" (YLT) [hastening towards]; "Or possibly, 'striving for'" (translation note in NET Bible 2005) The Expanded Bible (2011) preserves this ambiguity: "as you...look forward to [strive for; or hurry; hasten] the coming of the day of God."
  • Joshua Infantado
    Joshua Infantado
    Thanks for that comment Mr. Moss. Is it really true that they are considering an African pope? I also read that some guy whose surname Scola from Italy is the most eligble person for the job...
  • rogeliofeir
    Rogelio Feir
    Timely comment from Mitchell Moss. To hasten the return of Our Lord Jesus Christ, evangelization should be concentrated on very remote areas, so much yet in the African continent.
  • Mitchell Moss
    Mitchell Moss
    Coincidental fact I noticed when trying to find a pic for this blog post: The last African pope, Galasius I (pictured), who died in 496, was the pope who abolished Lupercalia. Why coincidental? Lupercalia is the Roman festival to which Valentine's Day owes its heritage (yesterday was Valentine's Day).

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