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You’ve
seen them on TV. You’ve heard them on the radio. You’ve seen the
ads beckoning the unwary to come to the local stadium for the “faith-healing”
service or to be “born again.” You’ve heard their “prophetic”
utterances. They even — gag — “speak in tongues.”
You’re always shocked at how many thousands show up. How many thousands
of dollars — $$$$$$ millions $$$$$$ — are willingly given to them by those
seeking the “Word of God,” a “healing,” a word of feigned “love” in time of
need, a “boost” in time of depression.
The TV shows of the “fake” healers draw thousands to the boob tube.
Their hoppin’ and-a stompin’ and-a wigglin’ snake dancing makes a mockery of
Christianity in the eyes of the world and to any self-respecting believer.
And, as you watch, you are amazed at how many “fall” down at the “touch” of
the evangelist’s hand; how the crowd sways and moves with his every word; how
the tears stream from the eyes of those poor souls who do not know they have
been taken (or, perhaps, subconsciously they do, and that's why they're
really crying).
The protest-ant world has always been ripe for this kind of pickin’. It
is nothing new in the 21st Century to see the charlatans pick the pockets of
those who think the way to get to Heaven is to give some guy in a white suit
10 percent of their gross income, close their eyes and say, “Jesus.”
The “ministers” of this sophisticated pickpocket operation — those who preach
for pay — have been around a long time; since the time of the Apostle Paul to
be exact. But we won’t go that far back right now. It is enough
to deal with the ones today who have the sophistication of picking pockets
through the radio, television screen, books, and other mass media.
Oops. If this article stops at this line for no reason, it’s because
we’ve been ‘raptured” away! Please don’t let us little ol’ Catholics be
“left behind”!
That brings us to the one who is currently making headlines for his smooth
operation of fleecing the flock and is among those who has promulgated the
false “rapture” doctrine. The name is Benny Hinn.
If there is one way to immediately know that these televangelists, like
Benny, are shysters, the easiest method is to see how they depict themselves
to the world: Benny Hinn Ministries; Joyce Meyer Ministries; Jimmy
Swaggert Ministries, etc., etc.
Do you notice whose name is exalted here? I remember distinctly reading in
the Scriptures when the Lord Jesus sent the Apostles out two by two, and He
told them, “You are the Apostle Paul Ministries; you go forth as the Peter
Ministries; I christen thee the Jude Thaddeus Ministries, and let us not
forget the Beloved John Ministries.”
No, as we point out so often, sometimes it is easier to understand what Jesus did
and meant by discussing what He DID NOT do and say!
In fact, the Holy Spirit has said something to us in the Scriptures through the
Apostle Paul in regard to the exaltation of names and the Gospel:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among you, but
that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment. For I
have been informed about you, my brethren, by those of the house of Chloe,
that there are strifes among you. Now this is what I mean: each
of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’
or ‘I am of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided up? Was Paul
crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” I
Corinthians 1:10-13.
And again:
“For whereas there is among you envying and contention … while one saith,
I indeed am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollo; are you not men? What
then is Apollo, and what is Paul?” I Corinthians 3:3-4.
In other words, anyone and their name is NOTHING before the Lord and His
Name. No one should be claiming a ministry by name for themselves; nor
should anyone who hears their preaching claim they are following a ministry
by name. For there is only One Name.
And it is only one Gospel, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ — not Benny
Hinn’s “gospel” and/or opinion, nor Joyce Meyer, nor Jimmy Swaggert, etc.
And the proof of this is if you asked the three yokels in question above — or
queried any of your local “friendly” protest-ant “ministers” — you would not
get one gospel or one opinion. You would get a thousand — and each of
them wrong, unscriptural, and completely contradicting 2,000 years of
teaching by the Universal Church.
Teachings confirmed by the Saints.
Teachings confirmed by the Lord Jesus and His Mother Mary in their
apparitions to the faithful. (By the way, do you remember anyone in
2,000 years who claimed to see Mary and then began their own ministry?)
But instead, what do we hear from our sick protest-ant cousins? Can’t
you hear the proud comments now?
“I was baptized when I joined Joyce Meyer’s Ministries. Really?
Hal Lindsey baptized me!”
“I contribute to Benny Hinn Ministries. Oh, he just has this wonderful
tape, you’ve got to hear it.”
No, unfortunately, we say to you, our sad taken-in cousins, you have been
deceived and you are contributing to a shyster. Take some more money out of
your pocket to help Benny build his new mansion.
While it is easy to pick on ol’ “Benny and his Jets” in his white suit as
sits on his TV throne with the biggest glittering rocks he can find to place
on his fingers, this latest escapade of protest-ant ministers getting caught
taking money from the flock is endemic of the hypocrisy within
protest-antism.
Here’s the
real laugh. The biblical idiots we have discussed in our
previous articles who hate Mary and compare Her messages to tricks of the
devil, now have the self-righteous zeal to condemn ol’ Benny now that he got
caught.
How interesting. Before, everyone was happy to share the stage with ol’
Benny baby while the bucks were rollin’ in. There was no complaining;
no saying that they refuse to be associated with a network, or those who appear
on it, that continually allows this man to solicit funds from around the
world.
Benny is a host and mainstay — a top moneymaker — for “Trinity” Broadcasting
Network (TBN). You know, the satellite station where the hostess can’t
figure out if her wig should be pink, purple, gray or white. At last
count, it was rumored she had more wigs than the station has satellites.
Wonder who paid for them and her overdone “Tammy Faye Baker” imitation
makeup?
On this TBN stage graced by the charlatan Benny Hinn, one can find at other
times the famed author of the Late Great Planet Earth; one Hal
Lindsey, whose predictions still seem to be in need of revision for some
strange reason. Oh well, Hal, I guess it just means you’ll have to
write another book (or, perhaps, just get a ghostwriter).
One of Hal’s ol’ buddies is one Chuck Missler, a man who tried to scare the
Christian world to get ready for the “Y2K” bug — while selling a few items
along the way — during that now-infamous false fiasco. Chuck, my man,
what went wrong? And just how much money did you make on that scare
tactic?
Chucky baby is associated with Harpazo Network, which, in turn, is associated
with Eternal Productions. Eternal Productions is currently running a
hate campaign against Mary and Her apparitions. Now that’s very
Christian of them. Let’s show Jesus how much we love Him by telling the
world His Mother’s Images and messages are the works of the devil!
Hmm, wonder what’s eternally in store for the people of Eternal Productions?
The point of all this is simple. Certainly, there are scandals in the
Catholic Church. Certainly, there was a need for reform in the Middle
Ages. Certainly, as any great Saint will tell you (just ask St.
Catherine of Sienna or St. Francis), the Church is ALWAYS in need of reform.
But it is the Church. And while the hierarchy is in desperate need of a
shakeup, the priesthood is battered, and the liturgy in many parishes has
become a farce, the Church’s DOCTRINES AND DOGMAS are ONE!
They are not the doctrines and dogmas of “fake” healers; prophecy “experts,”
and biblical “scholars.”
They are the doctrines and dogmas of Jesus Christ and His Father. They
are the doctrines and dogmas handed down to us by the Apostles.
And there is only one stamp of approval on them.
It is not the stamp of Benny Hinn Ministries, Trinity Broadcasting Network,
Hal Lindsey Ministries, Eternal Productions, or Joyce Meyer Ministries.
It is the stamp of the Holy Spirit, Who in the Love of the Father and Son,
overshadowed the First Believer in Jesus. Her Name is Mary.
Her Name is a Name that did not seek to glorify itself; but to glorify Him.
Please don’t follow these other ministries — ministries that refuse to
acknowledge Her and, instead, glorify themselves. Ministries that are glorifying
themselves by espousing the doctrines and dogmas — not of the Universal
Church — but of “false prophets.”
For it is written, as the Lord Jesus Himself proclaimed, that “false
prophets” would come NOT at the beginning of the Church’s history, but at the
end.
“And as He was sitting on Mount Olivet, the disciples came to Him
privately, saying: ‘Tell us when these things shall be the Sign of Thy
Coming, and of the consummation of the world?’
And Jesus answering, said to them: ‘Take heed that no man seduce you [notice
He didn’t say, ‘Take heed that false images and messages attributed to My
Mother do not seduce you’]. … And many false prophets shall rise,
and shall seduce many [Wow! How many “prophets” does the
protest-ant community claim to have and follow?] … For there shall arise
false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders,
insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold, I have
told it to you beforehand.” Matthew 24:3-4, 24-25.
Reading these words, it sounds like the Lord Jesus has just finished watching
a Benny Hinn “crusade” on TBN where “healings” abound!
So let’s get this straight. In these Scripture verses we have quoted,
the disciples are asking Jesus questions about the end, right? They are
not asking Him, “Tell us what to be concerned about and look for as signs
at the beginning.”
No. It is the end that is in discussion.
When did Mary’s messages and apparitions begin?
According to Sacred Tradition, the first apparition of Mary occurred in 40
A.D. to the Apostle James. If you don’t want to believe that, the
church of St. Mary Major in Rome was built in 352 A.D. Why?
Because Mary appeared to a wealthy couple and the Vicar of Christ,
Pope Liberius, requesting its construction! This was done to honor Her
Divine Motherhood, which was subsequently confirmed by the Council of
Ephesus.
Hmm. Let’s see; 2003 vs. 352. Which year is closer to the
beginning and which year is closer to the end?
What year did Benny Hinn start his “ministry”?
So here is the roundup in terms of messages and “healings”: Benny Hinn,
Hal Lindsey (whose web site, after so many failed predictions, he has the
audacity to call “Oracle”), Joyce Meyer, Jimmy Swaggert, TBN, Eternal
Productions vs. the Virgin Mary.
Now who do we think we should listen to and believe?
The $$$$$$ shenanigans $$$$$$ of these wealthy protest-ant “prophets” and
“ministries” should make it an easy answer for us.
Unfortunately, for many people, it is not. They are deceived.
Instead, they love to follow these
not-for-profit-but-we’re-makin’-so-much-money-we-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-it
ministries.
Ministries like Benny Hinn.
Ministries like Eternal Productions who have directed “Christians” to turn
against their best ally — Mary. But when it came to their buddies’
buddies appearing on TBN to hawk their latest book, Eternal Productions seems
to have gone blind. Mary never! But have a friend share the network
with a “fake” healer; okay!
And, unlike Mary, these false prophets not only don’t mind sharing the same
airspace with the “fake” healers, they themselves have distorted the
Scriptures and are fleecing the flock just as good as ol’ Benny is.
Their distortion was spoken of in the Scriptures as well. It was by the
first Vicar of Christ.
Just before his martyrdom, St. Peter, like Jesus, discussed signs that would
signal the Lord’s Second Coming was drawing near. The Lord’s chief
Apostle had this to say about “false prophets” and “lying teachers
who will bring in destructive sects” in II Peter. Here he completes
his inspired thoughts in verses 3:14-16:
“Therefore, beloved, while you look for these things, endeavor to be found
by Him without spot and blameless, in peace. And regard the
long-suffering of our Lord as salvation. Just as our most dear brother
Paul also, according to the Wisdom given him, has written to you, as indeed
he did in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these things.
In these Epistles, there are certain things DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, which
the unlearned and unstable distort, just as they do the REST OF THE
SCRIPTURES also, to their own destruction.”
Who, then, are today's deceptive angels of light?
It is not Mary’s apparitions nor Her messages. For Benny Hinn and those
like him do not embrace Mary’s messages; instead, these charlatans embrace
the same “doctrines” that Eternal Productions professes.
But now, the destruction of the “fake” healer Benny Hinn and his “ministries”
has begun, while the Triumph of the Immaculata is about to unfold.
We can only pray the destruction of Eternal Productions and its false
prophets is not far behind. As their heretical buddies at the “Harpazo” Network like to display on their web site, “Even
so, come Lord Jesus!”
Although, when He comes, we don’t want to be standing in their shoes when He
judges those who have defamed His Mother and fleeced His flock!
© 2003 Agnus Dei Presents!
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