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QUEEN OF MUSLIMS, QUEEN OF ALL The Marian Apparitions' Plan to Jim Tetlow August 2001
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Ecstasy!
She appears as a living, breathing, three-dimensional lady enveloped in exquisite light. Visionaries and seers describe a beautiful, young woman glowing in radiant splendor. Seers, while describing her as brilliant to behold and arrayed with every splendor, admit that the "Queen of Heaven" transcends human description. Visionaries also report seeing strange lights and glorious visions that often accompany an apparition. Visions of angels, glowing orbs, tongues of fire, mysterious solar phenomena, and peculiar luminous clouds have been sighted. Because of the tremendous pleasure and joy experienced by seers during an apparition, the term "ecstasy" [Note 1] is the word most often used to describe this event. Those who have witnessed her, admit that they are paralyzed and enraptured by her beauty and charm. Numerous healings and miracles have been reported at apparition sites around the globe. In addition, the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary has repeatedly announced that the most significant signs and wonders are yet future! She admits that she has not yet revealed her full glory to the world. She predicts heavenly signs and events that the whole world will witness in the very near future.
The Numbers are Staggering Consider that 15 to 20 million Marian followers visit a single shrine in Guadalupe, Mexico, every single year! The shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared in 1531 to seer Juan Diego. On December 12th 1999, the anniversary of the Virgin Mary's appearance, 5 million pilgrims visited the shrine to pay honor to Our Lady. [Note 4] In addition, 1999 marks the first time in church history that the feast of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is being celebrated by all bishops and priests in the Western Hemisphere. In an apostolic exhortation delivered during his visit to Mexico in January, Pope John Paul II elevated December 12 to a holy day for the Catholic Church. [Note 5] In war-torn Bosnia, an estimated 30 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje since the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary began in 1981. [Note 6] Besides the six visionaries who regularly receive messages from the Virgin, thousands of pilgrims claim to see signs and wonders; experience healing; and hear the voice of Mary at Medjugorje. Visiting Medjugorje is a painstaking task involving many hours by bus over war-torn roads. The millions of pilgrims who venture to Medjugorje do so with the knowledge that their pilgrimage will be difficult and dangerous - yet they continue to come in droves. In Conyers, Georgia, seer Nancy Fowler has received up to 100,000 visitors to her farm on a single day. [Note 7] The pilgrims come from all over, many traveling great distances to hear the most recent message from the Blessed Mother. At the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, attendance has increased to 500,000 per year. [Note 8] Marian Apparitions Everywhere Marian apparitions from almost every state in America are being reported - many of these sites are drawing thousands. From New York City to San Francisco numerous reported visitations from the Queen of Heaven have been documented. [Note 9] The sheer number of Marian followers and their determination to hear from the Virgin reveals that these individuals are not merely curious sightseers, but rather a huge, growing flock of Marian disciples. Five and one-half million pilgrims visit a single apparition site in Lourdes, France annually. [Note 10] Poland's Marian shrine Our Lady of Czestochowa (a favorite of Pope John Paul II) draws an estimated five million pilgrims a year. [Note 11] A single apparition site in Knock, Ireland, has drawn millions who come to pray to Our Lady of Knock and visit the Apparition Gable. This Marian shrine in Ireland has been honored by four popes this century, including Pope John Paul II, who went on pilgrimage to Knock in 1979. [Note 12] In Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, a location where the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared more than 40 years ago, multiplied thousands of religious devotees come from all over the world. The site has become so popular that preparations are underway to construct a statue of the Virgin twice as high as New York's Statue of Liberty. A local newspaper reports that:
At the famous apparition site in Fatima, Portugal, pilgrims numbering more than 1 million are in attendance during the October 13th anniversary of the 1917 apparition. Total annual attendance at Fatima is estimated to be 4.5 million, and growing. [Note 14] The list of major apparition sites goes on and on. On May 31st, 1999, thousands gathered in Amsterdam to celebrate the 3rd International Day of Prayer of the Lady of All Nations. Dozens of priests, bishops and cardinals presided over the event, where thousands of participants from over 70 countries and 6 continents converged to honor the Lady of All Nations. [Note 15] This apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared to visionary Ida Peerdeman numerous times. Her main message was that she wants the Church and pope to officially proclaim the Lady of All Nations as Co-Redemptrix. [Note 16] To date, millions of faithful Marian advocates have petitioned the pope to officially name her Co-Redemptrix. [Note 17] Growing Worldwide Popularity The popularity of the Virgin and her messages has grown to mammoth proportions. Marian historians are quick to point out that apparitions of Mary have been recorded throughout the centuries, but never in the history of Marian apparitions has she appeared with such consistency and frequency as in our day. In 1997, "Newsweek" ran a cover story on the Virgin Mary. In the article they write: "In many ways, the 20th century has belonged to Mary. From almost every continent, visionaries have reported more than 400 'apparitions' of the Virgin - more than in the previous three centuries combined.… Taken together, these visions point to what the Marian Movement believes is a millennial 'Age of Mary.'" [Note 18] We might expect this phenomenon to occur in countries that are predominately Catholic, but apparitions are being reported from Japan to Africa, from Korea to Australia, from Iraq to Israel, from Egypt to Syria. Whether looking deep within the former Soviet Union or among the peoples of India, one thing is found in common - they are all allegedly being visited by a woman who calls herself Mary, the Queen of Heaven, Our Lady. Father Robert Faricy, quoted in the book "Queen of the Cosmos," states:
In his book "Call of the Ages," author Thomas W. Petrisko writes: "Millions and millions on all continents of the globe have heard and responded to the Virgin Mary's apparitions and messages. Indeed, there is a significant upswing in attendance at Marian shrines everywhere." [Note 20] The Rev. Charles Dickson, Ph.D., a Lutheran minister, reported this trend in "Queen Magazine": "people around the world are traveling enormous distances to demonstrate in person their veneration of the Mother of Our Lord." [Note 21] He goes on to state that France alone has 937 pilgrimage shrines and that at the most popular Marian shrine in France, attendance has increased 10 percent in two years. And while devotion to Mary is most noticeable in Catholic countries, Marian devotion is attracting an enormous following from every religion, race and nation. All My Children A consistent message given by the hundreds, and possibly thousands, of apparitions currently appearing worldwide is one of peace, unity, and tolerance. At Medjugorje, the apparition of Mary has stated:
In another message, Mary told the seers: "Tell this priest, tell everyone, that it is you who are divided on earth. The Muslims and the Orthodox, for the same reason as Catholics, are equal before my Son and I. You are all my children." [Note 23] Mary's message of peace and unity is one that a distressed and perplexed world craves. Her reported messages in Betania, Venezuela typify her words of hope given around the world: "My children, I am giving you a piece of Heaven.… Betania, Venezuela. It is for everyone, not only Catholics.… My message is of faith, love, and hope. More than anything, it brings reconciliation between people and nations. It is the only thing that can save this century from war and eternal death." [Note 24] Charles Dickson, author of "A Protestant Pastor Looks at Mary," writes:
"Mary" Promises Unity Almost all of the apparitions have stated that Mary is going to usher in a new era of peace and unity. Under her mantle all people will gather in peace and solve the problems facing the world. Her emphasis on unity and ecumenism has garnered attention from the media. "The Los Angeles Times" reported in their December 25, 1998 issue in an article entitled "Mary's Rising Popularity Goes Beyond Faith" that:
One of the best witnessed series of apparitions occurred at a Coptic Orthodox church in Zeitoun, Egypt, a suburb of Cairo. People from many countries and of varied religious backgrounds witnessed the apparitions from 1968 to1973. It is estimated that the total number of witnesses numbered in the millions! Moslems, Copts, Roman Catholics, Protestants, and others were overwhelmed by the Lady who seemed to be composed of light. Moslems chanted from the Koran: "Mary, God has chosen thee. And purified thee; He has chosen thee above all women." At Zeitoun, as well as countless other sites around the globe, the phenomenon attracts people from every conceivable background and the message seems to clearly be one of unity and ecumenism. The Queen's Appeal In 1996, "Life Magazine" featured Mary on the cover and asked these questions: "Why are two billion Hail Marys said daily? Why did five million people, many non-Christian, visit Lourdes this year to drink the healing waters? Why did more than 10 million trek to Guadalupe to pray to Our Lady?… Why the apparitions? Why are Mary hymns creeping into Methodist songbooks?… What is it about Mary?" [Note 27] The "Life" article goes on to list numerous apparitions and to quote various statistics. For instance, "Life" notes that "In Italy, 50 weeping Madonna statues have been reported in the past two years." "Life Magazine" notes that Mary's popularity is not just among Catholics: "One of the intriguing aspects of the latest rise of Mary is this: The emotional need for her is so irresistible to a troubled world that people without an obvious link to the Virgin are being drawn to her. It's not news that Muslims revere Mary as a pure and holy saint - she's mentioned 34 times in the Koran,…but to see large numbers of Muslims making pilgrimages to Christian Marian shrines is a remarkable thing. Interdenominational Marian prayer groups are springing up throughout the world." [Note 28] Why does she appeal to so many? Is it possible that many are drawn by the numerous reported miracles, signs, and wonders? In a world that seeks interaction with the supernatural, it is no surprise that many flock to the miraculous. These miracles, if true, would rival the miracles performed in Moses' day. Consider that at several apparition sites, a phenomenon known as "the Miracle of the Sun" has been seen by hundreds of thousands. Miracle of the Sun At Fatima, on October 13, 1917, there were 70,000 people who witnessed the sun apparently fall from the sky. These eyewitnesses claim that they watched as the sun fell from heaven toward the crowd and then return to its normal position in the sky. Many thought this was signaling the end of the world and were sure they would perish. Here is a brief recount of the events at Fatima:
The Miracle of the Sun is a common, albeit fantastic, event at many apparition sites. It happened before a crowd of 100,000 in Puerto Rico on April 23, 1991, which was the 38th anniversary of the apparitions there, [Note 30] and it happened again in the Philippines on March 5, 1993, in front of a crowd of 300,000. [Note 31] Similar events have been recorded at such apparition sites as Medjugorje, Bosnia; Denver, Colorado; Lubbock, Texas; and Conyers, Georgia.
When Mary Speaks, Rome Listens These apparitions and the supernatural phenomena associated with them, have not gone unnoticed by high level Church officials. In 1984 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the head of the Roman Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), declared that, "one of the signs of our times is that the announcements of 'Marian Apparitions' are multiplying all over the world." [Note 33] Even the current pope has stated, "If I wasn't a Pope, I'd be in Medjugorje already." [Note 34] The pope has visited numerous Marian shrines and apparition sites and his Marian devotion is truly remarkable. In his book, "Crossing The Threshold of Hope," the pope writes: "I think what I have said sufficiently explains the Marian devotion of the present Pope and, above all, his attitude of total abandonment to Mary - his Totus Tuus." [Note 35] Pope John Paul II believes that if victory comes to the Universal Church it will be brought by Mary. In his book, "Crossing The Threshold of Hope," he makes this unexpected statement:
The pope credits the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima with saving his life during the 1981 assassination attempt. [Note 37] Shortly after the assassination attempt, Pope John Paul II, consecrated the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. [Note 38] The pope's consecration was done in response to the request made by Our Lady of Fatima. Furthermore, in October, 2000, the pope ordered the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the Vatican for the Great Jubilee. On Sunday October 8th, Pope John Paul with 1500 bishops - the largest group to assemble since Vatican II - entrusted humanity and the 3rd millennium to Our Lady of Fatima! [Note 39] Global Network - Global Power With the exponential growth in apparitions around the world, the number of Marian groups and conferences are mushrooming. One group alone, the Blue Army, boasts over 20 million members. [Note 40] Another group known as the Marian Movement of Priests is supported by at least 400 cardinals and bishops, and more than 100,000 priests, and millions of religious and faithful around the world. [Note 41] The statistics are more than impressive, they may represent the greatest spiritual movement in centuries. With conversion as her goal, the apparition of Mary claims to be appearing around the world. Father Stefano Gobbi, the head of the Marian Movement of Priests, often receives messages from Mary confirming her global manifestations: "With extraordinary signs which I am giving in every part of the world, through my messages and through my so frequent apparitions, I am pointing out to everyone the approaching of the great day of the Lord." [Note 42] Wherever she appears, the Queen of Heaven makes it clear that she has come for ALL her children, not just Catholics. Protestants, Muslims, and individuals from other religious affiliations often go to apparition sites skeptical, only to find that they too have been touched by Mary. Many non-Catholics have actually converted to the Roman Catholic faith after an apparition experience. As Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic has conveyed, Mary has come for all of us. It is very important to emphasize that the Blessed Mother came for all of us. Mary's messages refer to the whole world. Her messages throughout have been that we must pray for all religions, because we know that we have divided ourselves by religion. [Note 43] Concerning the growing number of apparitions worldwide, noted Marian author Michael Brown wrote: "[During the second half of the 20th century Marian apparitions] grew to remarkable proportion … if every daily or weekly apparition is counted in cases where a seer had more than one, the number would not be calculable.… the French periodical Le Monde once estimated twenty-one thousand apparitions between 1976 and 1986!" [Note 44] Twenty-one thousand apparitions! If true, that would constitute the greatest display of paranormal activity in the history of the world. With hundreds of millions of followers and thousands of alleged apparitions taking place in our generation, could heaven be sending us a wake-up call? Testing the Spirits Those who are familiar with the Word of God know that we are to be cautious when dealing with alleged heavenly visitors. The Apostle John reminds us: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). Furthermore, the New Testament repeatedly warns of deception, in the name of Christ, in the last days.
The principal way to test these reported "Messengers From Heaven" is to test their messages with the Bible. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Messages From Heaven We will examine a few messages from apparitions which have received full Church approval. The following Marian messages derive from apparition sites which have received the Catholic Church's approval and endorsement. Each quote from the Queen of Heaven is preceded with a **. Her message is followed by, and contrasted with, the Word of God.
I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior (Isaiah 43:11).
As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 47:4).
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified… there is no longer an offering for sin (Hebrews 10:12-14, 18). Effective Deception The Marian apparitions clearly contradict the teachings of Scripture. The apparitions' thousands of messages portray a Queen who possesses all of Christ's distinct characteristics. She is said to be our Mediator, our Intercessory, our Advocate, our Coredeemer, our Suffering Servant, and many other titles that reveal her deceptive agenda. Some proponents of the Marian apparitions might protest this line of reasoning. Is it fair to focus only on those messages that contradict Scripture? Shouldn't we applaud the apparition of Mary for the good, biblical messages she has sent? Shouldn't we focus on the transformed lives and the good fruit? To answer that question, let's consider how Satan has tempted in the past. When tempting Jesus, Satan accurately quoted Scripture. [Note 48] Satan knew that he couldn't deceive Jesus with an outright lie, but that he must use subtle deception. Likewise, Satan often mixes a subtle lie in with truth. He is the master of deception. Not many within the church would worship or follow him if he were to appear wearing a red suit and carrying a pitchfork. No, the grandest of all deceptions are those that are mostly true. While the bulk of the apparitions' messages seem harmless, even biblical, is it possible that subtle deception mixed with truth might lead many down a pathway that leads to eternal destruction? Satan may encourage good and noble deeds as long as they ultimately compromise our relationship with Jesus and His Word. The Bible states emphatically that God will not share His glory with another: "I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images." (Isaiah 42:8). The Queen's Agenda As history comes to a close, the Queen of Heaven, who is counterfeiting the Mary of the Bible, has a specific agenda. She has made several remarkable predictions, but perhaps none so controversial as her proclamation that the Roman Catholic Church will declare her Coredemptrix. The Lady of All Nations, as she is called by the faithful, made this remarkable prediction to visionary Ida Peerdeman:
Pope John Paul II Refers to Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" Additionally, the present pontiff, Pope John Paul II has applied the title "Co-Redemptrix" to the Blessed Virgin Mary on at least five occasions, including papal teachings accompanied by profound theological treatments on the unique participation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the redemption of humanity by Jesus Christ. [Note 50] It is rumored that the pope may announce Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" very soon. [Note 51] According to many Marian theologians, the Co-Redemptrix doctrine will be the last and final Marian dogma, and it will usher in her triumphant reign promised at Fatima. Authors Ted and Maureen Flynn explain what they and many other Marian theologians believe will soon take place.
Dogma, then Peace As we have briefly highlighted, the Queen has promised to bring peace and unity to all her children. This will not occur, however, until she is proclaimed the Coredemptrix.
Once she is proclaimed Co-Redemptrix by the Pope, the Queen will unite all religions under her mantle. Queen Over All Marian advocates often quote Saint Louis de Montfort, who was a great devotee of Our Lady. Saint Louis de Montfort predicted that:
Catholic visionary Mary of Agreda, who wrote the classic "Mystical City of God," conveyed what was told to her about the final era of peace:
Rome will Rule When the apparition of Mary speaks of unity, she means unity under the Roman Catholic Church. It is under the Church of Rome that "Mary" wishes to establish world unity. Both humanity [the whole world] and the Church [the Roman Catholic Church] will experience this new era.… you will as of today see my light becoming stronger and stronger, until it encircles the whole earth, ready now to open itself to the new day, which will begin with the Triumph of my Immaculate Heart in the world. [Note 56] A true reunification of Christians is not possible unless it be in the perfection of truth. And truth has been kept intact only in the Catholic Church, which must preserve it, defend it and proclaim it to all without fear. [Note 57] Furthermore, Pope Pius IX made this remarkable prediction in 1878 concerning Mary's role to establish the world under her Church, the Roman Catholic Church:
Queen of Muslims? Think of the regions of our world today that are potential time bombs - powder kegs waiting to be ignited by some religious dispute. Can anyone imagine how religious differences could be resolved in these areas? Who alive on planet earth today could act as a mediator or diplomat that has the ability to bring about a peaceful resolution? Certainly for such an historic event to occur, a supernatural miracle would be required. There are some who are saying that Marian apparitions and the messages that "Mary" gives from heaven provide such a possibility. While the title of this section may seem strange to the reader, it is appropriate, as we will see. How could "Mary" have any influence on the millions of Muslims who follow Allah? Those who have studied the Muslim's holy book, known as the Koran, may be aware of the answer. First, the Koran portrays Jesus Christ as a prophet, unique in His preincarnate nature, miraculous birth, miracles and moral stature. Muslims revere Jesus Christ. As the Koran states:
It is interesting to note that in the Koran, Jesus is almost exclusively referred to as "Jesus son of Mary," rather than "Son of God." The Koran vehemently denies that Jesus is the Son of God, yet it holds both Jesus and Mary in high esteem. More important to our context, is the fact that Mary is arguably more highly honored than Jesus in the Koran and in the Muslim world. The Muslims, like the Catholics, refer to her as "Our Lady." She is also venerated as a pure and holy saint in the Islamic world. Furthermore, Mary is mentioned no less than 34 times in the Koran. In addition, the 19th surah (chapter) of the Koran is named after Mary. Based on these facts alone, it is apparent that "Our Lady" is surely seen as blessed above all women by orthodox Muslims. In addition, consider the following three quotes taken directly from the Koran:
The Messiah, the son of Mary, was no more than an apostle: other apostles passed away before him. His mother was a saintly woman. [Note 61] Whereupon he [Jesus] spoke and said: "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and ordained me a prophet. His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has exhorted me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness" [Note 62] Muslims and Apparitions of Mary While it is apparent that Mary is considered by adherents of the Islamic faith to be the most blessed woman ever, does this necessarily imply that Muslims would respond to Marian apparitions or signs and wonders as many Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians have done? Would Muslims listen to these apparitions and heed the messages? In order to answer this question, we can consider an apparition of Mary that appeared to millions of Muslims in the 20th century. At a Coptic Orthodox church in Zeitoun, Egypt, a suburb of Cairo, a remarkable series of events occurred. A woman that onlookers believed was Mary, appeared in the form of an apparition, performing signs, wonders, and healings. This same woman appeared several nights each week for years. The vast majority of spectators were Muslim. Here is a description of the events surrounding the Zeitoun apparitions:
A Sign to Mankind Think about the implications - millions of Muslims responding to an apparition of Mary, falling to their knees and quoting from the Koran. Why did these followers of Allah respond to these signs and wonders? Why were they so sure that this apparitional woman was Mary? If events like these repeat in the 21st century for the entire world to behold, will the Islamic community follow "Mary"? While we can't state with certainty what will happen, the following quotes taken directly from the Koran may lend some insight:
In addition, the Koran appears to lay a heavy emphasis on past and future signs as evidence that the Day of Judgment is at hand. The Koran states:
Concerning this "Hour of Doom," which appears to be the Day of Judgment, Allah states: "We will show them Our signs in all the regions of the earth and in their own souls, until they clearly see that this [The Koran] is the truth." [Note 67] Is it possible that signs from "Mary" will persuade Muslims that she is a sign from Allah? Could this be one of the "lying signs and wonders" that Jesus warned about? [Note 68] Is it reasonable to speculate that the Queen, through signs and wonders could convince many Muslims to become part of a world religion that contains the name of Christ? Might these same false signs and wonders deceive the world? Muslims and Catholics The Koran infers that Allah inspired the Bible, though Jews and Christians have corrupted the text. [Note 69] Also, it is interesting to note that both Muslims and the Roman Catholic Church believe that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same. Quoting from the Catholic Catechism we read:
How will the Muslims be included in this plan of salvation? Could the apparitions that perform numerous signs and wonders, impact "Christians" and Muslims who worship the same God? Could they possibly unite on this basis? Insight from the late Catholic priest Father Malachi Martin, in his popular book, "The Keys of this Blood," may help answer these questions:
An Old Mother for a New Age It is one thing to see how Muslims and Catholics could find common ecumenical ground based on signs, wonders, and miracles associated with Marian apparitions. No doubt this would be one of the greatest religious miracles in history, encompassing half of the world's population. But there is another large group that would need to be tied into the one world religion. There are hundreds of millions of people in the world today who believe in the gods of Eastern religion. These would include the millions who have converted to Eastern religion through what is commonly called the New Age Movement. It is interesting that Hindus, Buddhists, Native American Indian religions, New Agers and other similar groups already emphasize goddess worship and the earth as our living, breathing "Mother." These groups teach that all religions are similar and that we must unite to solve the myriad of problems facing mankind. The book entitled "Mary's Message to the World" contains hundreds of revelations from "Mary," which fall in line with both New Age thinking and Eastern religious beliefs. Though many Catholics would deny that this is the same Mary that appears at Catholic apparition sites, the major Catholic Marian apparitions have never discredited a single apparition around the world. On the contrary, all apparitions emphasize that she is appearing everywhere with the same message. "Mary's Message to the World" can be found at almost any New Age bookstore and may represent one of the bridges between the Catholic Mary and the "Mary" who espouses New Age thinking. Here are a few of "Mary's" messages to the world:
Once more, not surprisingly, "Mary's" message is to unite: "It is imperative that the world join together at this time to pray to God. Pray for peace on Earth and among men. I seek to embrace all people with my love. I wish to encircle all people on Earth in a safety net which will save your souls." [Note 73] And finally this proclamation: "It is only as a whole unit that mankind can advance. Soon a giant leap forward will occur." [Note 74] Reemergence of the Goddess Within New Age and Eastern Religious circles, many acknowledge the great importance and reemergence of the goddess. She has always played a major part in their beliefs and worship. And accordingly, books like "The Goddess Re-Awakening" are predicting her triumphant come-back:
Furthermore, those who hold Eastern and New Age beliefs are open to whatever form this returning goddess might assume. According to Caitlin Matthews, author of "Sophia Goddess of Wisdom," this goddess has appeared in many varying forms in the past, and is sure to return soon. Matthews writes:
The re-emergence of the Divine Feminine - the Goddess - in the twentieth century has begun to break down the conceptual barriers erected by orthodox religion and social conservatism. For the first time in two millennia, the idea of a Goddess as a central pivot of creation is finding a welcome response. [Note 77] Author Carol Christ explains more about this enthusiastic response for the re-emergence of the Divine Feminine in her book "Rebirth of the Goddess":
Buddhist and Hindu Goddesses An entire book could easily be written describing the rebirth of the goddess currently taking place in cultures and religions around the world. However, for the purposes of this article, a few more examples of the widespread worship and significance of this female deity will be sufficient. For example, Buddhists have a profound and intimate adoration for their female Savioress who is called, Goddess Tara:
This description of the Goddess Tara is remarkably similar to the descriptions given by visionaries who see the "Blessed Mother". And Buddhism is not unique when it comes to their worship and affection given to their beloved goddess - all of the Eastern Religions worship female deities. For example, the Hindu religions are unmatched in their veneration of goddesses, as author David R. Kinsley describes:
There is no end of documentation with regard to the importance of the female deities to the religions and cultures of the world. Whether we refer to the holy woman of Native American Indians, known as the "White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman," or we refer to the "Shing Moo" or "Holy Mother" of the Chinese, one thing is consistent, all are worshipping a powerful, yet loving goddess. Who Is this Queen? The Book of Revelation warns about a counterfeit religious system. Bible-believing Christians call this global religion the counterfeit bride. John the apostle labeled this false church the harlot. The Scriptures also indicate the harlot is associated with a "queen." In Revelation chapter eighteen we read:
John is not the only prophet who saw there was a queen and that this queen would be judged for the whole world to see at the end of the age. The prophet Isaiah also warned about a deceiving woman called the "virgin daughter of Babylon" who would be judged by God. In the 47th chapter of Isaiah we read:
Who is this "Lady of Kingdoms" that Isaiah is prophesying about? Apparently she is a female entity that has played a deceptive role and is somehow connected to the pagan religious practices of ancient Babylon. Isaiah's words bring a strong retribution and condemnation upon those who have rejected the true Redeemer, the "Holy One of Israel" - the LORD of hosts is His name. We know from biblical history that a queen, (the Queen of Heaven) has played a significant role in deluding people of the past. [Note 83] Is it possible that this same Queen of Heaven will delude the world once more? Is the apparition of Mary paving the way for such a delusion? Return of the Goddess For those who are still not willing to heed the warnings of the Bible about the reappearance of a Babylonian-like church, consider the following quote taken from the book "Myths of the Female Divine Goddess":
The return of Goddess in the patriarchal religious context is most clearly illustrated in the progress of the Virgin Mary from her original status in the New Testament as humble birth-giver and grieving mother to that of immaculately conceived Queen of Heaven. The progress was not an easy one. It was consistently resisted by the Church, which in the gospels - the biography of Jesus - finally approved in the fourth century, gave Mary a minor role. But once the divinity of Jesus was established, it was inevitable that Mary, his mother, should be seen as Goddess by a folk mind familiar with the goddesses Asherah, Demeter, and Isis. As Jesus emerged as the New Adam, the new redeeming and edible fruit on the tree - cross that had replaced the forbidden fruit the tree of knowledge in the old Garden of Eden, Mary logically became the sinless New Eve, the balancing feminine principle to the male redeemer. A belief that she had been immaculately conceived, a belief the Roman Catholic Church accepted as dogma only in 1854. Over the centuries, other folk traditions attached themselves to Mary. Special goddess cakes were offered up to her, as they had been earlier to Asherah. [Note 84] Or finally one more quote from the same book that will further document that Babylonianism is being revived in the name of Christianity:
It is apparent from reading these statements that a revival of Babylonism in the name of Christ is now underway. The Bible indicates that this harlot's false religion will encompass the globe. [Note 86] Her counterfeit church will consist of people from all nations, multitudes, and tongues. But God's call is to "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4). That is our prayer for all those who have been led astray. |