After English, French is among the most popular languages of the world. It is the official language of 28 countries. It is no wonder then why many people worldwide aspire to learn French language. First of all, it adds to your communication prowess because it is officially used twenty-eight countries across the globe. American society is tremendously influenced by French language and its culture. Besides, French literature means a lot for intellectuals. There are many manuscripts and other valuable documents written in French that are yet to be translated into English and other languages. A lot of important information on humanities and social science is in French, which is accessible only to those who know the French language well. Hence, professionally, the knowledge of French can literally take you places.
Today, many people from various walks of life show their keenness to learn French for various reasons. In professional careers, French learners can stay ahead of their competitors especially in organizations where knowledge of French is essential. Moreover, when you are competing for a job that requires the candidates to have a strong hold on the French language, how well you know the French language can make a difference. This is why many French language aspirants prefer ESL as it teaches French in an environment to offer its candidates the best in the French language. As for the teenagers, learning French during the summer vacation can be great fun. Indeed, few things can be as productive as investing a part of your summer vacation in learning French. Sometimes, businessmen traveling abroad will find French to be very useful to communicate with their clients and business partners.
ESL offers the best options to learn French in Lyon. Being a break-away from the conventional approach of teaching French, learning French in Lyon is an exciting way of learning usage and vocabulary of French. There are uniquely designed French programs for people of different spheres of life. Each program is designed to cater to the need of the non-French speaking candidates. There can be no better option than learning French in Lyon with ESL school as they understand the importance of classroom teaching and direct interaction between the trainer and the trainee. The ESL staff takes proper care of the students irrespective of their category. Students can enjoy exclusive facilities such as access to internet, accommodation, staying in the picturesque beauty of nature.
If you learn French in Lyon, you will find every program interesting as well as stimulating for the novice learners. The programs are designed keeping quality and price ration in mind. The perfect study techniques, experienced staff and active participation in different leisure activities are the other attraction of the course. To sum it up learning French in Lyon at the ESL school is the best option you will find to master the language.
About the Author
Mr. Xavier de Bastos
Marketing & Sales Manager of ESL-Ecole Suisse de Langues
www.esl-schools.org
Why are the olympics in French first, English second?
I notice that although the games are in a predominantly english speaking province, and the announcers at the various facilities who announce the names of the athletes etc are announcing things in french first and english second. Why is that?
If these games were in the province of Quebec I can guarantee that the announcers would speak French first, and not english. In fact, English may not even be used if hosted in Quebec, so why are us English bending over backwards to please when the favor would clearly not be returned?
French is considered by the OIC to be the main language during the Olympics and as such is always spoken first followed by English. (Even the OIC charter, i think, states that if there is an inconsistency between French and English, French should prevail.) Hence, the fact that French was used at the opening ceremonies has NOTHING to do with the fact it was held in Canada, but has EVERYTHING to do with the OIC and its language policy.
TOTAL COLLAPSE = AMERICAS FIRST FRENCH STYLE REVOLUTION??
Do Credit Card Providers Exist To Collect Interest?
When you use your credit card for pleasure items and necessities, the last thing on your mind is the interest you would need to pay at the end of the month. When your card statement arrives however, the interest payable can no longer escape you.
Grudgingly you pay your bill and moan about the little impact your payment has made to the capital owed and you blame it on the interest. You might think that credit card companies exist just to collect interest from you, but this could not be further from the truth. For the purpose of this article let us look at American Express.
In addition to providing credit card products, American Express is actively involved in giving back to the community. In 2005 they contributed a total of $36.1 million to three main areas, Economic Independence, Cultural Heritage and Community Service.
Under the Economic Independence banner, American Express sought to develop and sustain economic self-reliance through programmes that supported the youth. They achieved this by promoting career awareness, employment options, and by engaging young people in training and workplace experiences. There were also programmes on entrepreneurship and small business development.
Recently American Express provided grants to Junior Achievement Worldwide, a program where American Express employees team up with local Junior Achievement organizations to teach students the basics of business, economics and career skills.
Another recipient of grant funding was the National Council of La Raza which supports workforce readiness programs serving Hispanic immigrants in communities throughout the country.
Under the Cultural Heritage banner the credit card provider sought to preserve and protect the natural and built environment so that it could be enjoyed by current and future residents and visitors. Recently funded programmes under this banner included The Constitutional Foundation, an organisation which supports the Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia the aim of which is to increase the number of visitors to the historic Independence Mall. The second recipient was The International Civil Rights Museum. This is an organisation that supports a the building of a new museum that will transform the Woolworth building in Greensboro NC into a museum and learning center intended to commemorate its role in the sit-in movement of 1960.
The final area is that of Community Service, American Express funded the volunteer efforts of thousands of its employees in their local communities through the company's in-house Global Volunteer Action Fund. In addition American Express' responds to worldwide disaster victims via the Red Cross and other relief agencies.
Two of the most recent grants were given to Habitat for Humanity where American Express employees got involved in building homes for low-income families in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Greensboro, NC and New York, NY and Project Angel Food which delivered meals to men, women, and children battling life-threatening illnesses in Los Angeles County.
So the next time you have to pay your credit card bill, remember that the credit card providers like American Express are involved in giving a lot back to others, it is not all about the interest on cards but about the interest in others as well.
Im a junior in high school and am seriously looking into a pilot job, preferably coorporate or regional. yes i know regionals are bad airlines, but its a flying job. Im also considering a CFI rating to do that line of work.
Would it be best for me to go to an instate college for a bussiness degree and work at the local FBO for my license, and later maybe head to the Delta Connection Academy or soemthing equivelint?
Whats my best options?
thanks
Be a man and join the military if you want to learn to fly.
If high cholesterol is so bad for us then why are low-fat, low cholesterol diets so difficult to stick to? After all we wouldn’t stick our hands into an open flame, yet from the various reports and statements of health experts, you’d think that eating cholesterol is just as dangerous. So why do our bodies “betray” us by constantly craving fats? The simple fact of the matter is that our body needs fat, and especially cholesterol, to function properly. Not only that, but our body actually makes cholesterol for a number of important bodily functions such as repair of damaged cell membranes, production of hormones, and digestion of fats.
So why the constant pushing of this or that natural remedy for high cholesterol? The fact is that high blood cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, can cause a number of heart diseases, and can lead to heart attack, or stroke. But even here there is more to it: in fact there is “good cholesterol” and “bad cholesterol.” It is the ratio of these two types of cholesterol that is important.
The Good: High - Density Lipoproteins (HDL’s)
As mentioned before, cholesterol is important for a number of metabolic functions, and especially for the repair of damaged cells. For this reason, it is important to have a constant level of cholesterol in our blood stream, so that it can be used wherever it is needed. HDL’s are responsible for removing cholesterol from the bloodstream and delivering it to the cells that need them. That’s good cholesterol!
The Bad: Low - Density Lipoproteins (LDL’s)
If HDL’s are the “removal trucks” of cholesterol, removing it from the blood, then low-density lipoproteins are the “dumpsters.” They are responsible for taking cholesterol from the places in our body it is made, and dumping it in our bloodstream. This is not necessarily bad; as already mentioned, we need cholesterol in our blood so that it is available whenever and wherever it is needed. But what if it isn’t needed? If the levels of LDL’s in our body are too high, and our demand for cholesterol for cell repair is low, then there is more cholesterol being dumped in our blood than being removed. This is what causes high cholesterol, and it is bad because excess cholesterol forms a kind of plaque upon the side walls of our arteries. This restricts the blood flow, leading to high blood pressure, which in turn leads on to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Therefore, a natural remedy for high cholesterol should not seek to just lower cholesterol. A natural remedy for high cholesterol should aim to increase the number of HDL’s, good cholesterol, and lower the number of LDL’s, or bad cholesterol. Once this is grasped, the treatment of high cholesterol becomes a lot clearer - and hopefully your arteries will become clearer too.
Trans-Fat
If LDL’s are bad, then trans-fat is just plain ugly. In 2004 bantransfat.com tried to sue McDonalds for using cooking oil that contained trans fat, or partially hydrogenated oils. Bantransfat.com lost because, after all, most people couldn’t see why trans fat is so much worse than other fats in our diet. Things have changed in the past two years however, and from January 2006 the FDA required all nutritional labels to list trans fat separately, and not as part of other fats. The reason is that studies have found that trans fat may be one of the main causes of heart attack and heart disease in the States. The American Heart Association advises Americans to eat as little of it as possible.
Trans fat is found in partially hydrogenated oil, which has a longer shelf life than ordinary oils. Foods that contain trans fat include fried chicken, cookies, French fries, and doughnuts, which is why many Americans can find them difficult to avoid. Most research concludes that we should avoid trans fat wherever possible, which is why the FDA’s ruling is so useful for those who want to eat a healthy diet.
Along with taking the right supplements for a healthy heart, it is recommended that we all avoid trans fat as part of a healthy balanced diet.
About the Author
Author Bio:
Mitamins team
bd@mitamins.net
Targeted: High Cholesterol; Safety: Avoid Vitamins Overdose, Supplement Drug Interactions; Quality: Freshly Made with Brand Ingredients.
How Many Special Forces Troops Would it Take to Make the Pan-American Highway a Toll-Road?
If there is a such thing as a Pan-American Highway that could give the South-American countries a land trade-route between North America through Panama to South-American through Columbia, how many special forces units of 12 men each would it take to make the Trans-American Highway a toll-road.
Tracing The History Of The Air Freight Forwarding Industry
Man has always had a fascination for flying, ever finding ways to take to the skies and fly to distant places. This fascination, a dream that wouldn't die generation after generation, was what eventually led to the birth of airplanes.
Today, airplanes are mainly responsible for taking us to any point in the world. Airplanes have become major transportation carriers. Not only do airplanes enable us to visit a friend or a loved in another continent, airplanes also carry shipments -- from small items to large ones.
The idea of using an airplane to transport shipments took seed in 1910. According to aviation history, a shipment of silk was flown from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio. This shipment is believed to be the first air freight demonstration.
Nine years later, another airplane became freight carrier. The cargo: a converted bomber that weighed over a thousand pounds. Shipped by the American Railway Express, the converted bomber was flown to Chicago from Washington D.C. The journey was not uneventful, though. A frozen radiator forced the pilot to land the plane in Ohio.
The 1920s saw several airlines operate as freight carriers, catering only to American businesses. The arrival of air freight has helped businesses transport merchandise more rapidly as well as shorten the time they need to conclude transactions.
Between 1927 and 1931, the number and size of air freight cargo reached nearly a million pounds, up from 45,000 pounds. Commercial air freight began operating only after World War II ended although there were efforts to organize the air freight business prior to that.
American, United, TWA and Eastern -- the top four known airlines -- formed Air Cargo, Inc., which operated as an air freight company until the end of the war. However, United and TWA decided to operate their own air freight business in 1944.
The air freight industry was lucrative, which was why many small plane owners tried to get into the business but failed. The bigger airlines, concerned that the smaller airlines will adversely affect the industry's status quo, did not let smaller airlines into the air freight business. In addition, the big airlines did not want more competition. While many small plane operators tried and failed, the "Flying Tigers" survived. Known as the largest in air freight liner industry during its time, The Flying Tigers carried military and civilian cargo.
The air freight forwarding business may have had a good start, but it didn't really start developing until a man named Fred Smith started an air freight business that has become recognizable across the world -- Federal Express, or simply FedEx.
FedEx is one of the air freight carriers enjoying a great degree of success. FedEx uses modern technology (e.g., air freight software) in responding to the needs of its customers. The air freight software that FedEx uses, the latest in the freight forwarding industry, can resolve problems in the system as well as give customers services that are cost effective.
FedEx and UPS, another air freight carrier, are considered the two most reliable air freight forwarding companies in the United States today.
After April American Airlines at St.Louis will die down to a non hub status that was TWA's hub.Will this move leave a lot cities without non stop and direct service to St.Louis?
We arent a hub now for American Airlines and we already are limited as to what cities you can fly to directly from St. Louis.
Our world will soon (as in years rather than decades), be facing a global crisis which will herald its end.
The Bible as a Guide
1 The people behind this article:
We take the Bible as our only rule. After having devoted considerable time to its study, especially chapters referring to our future, we have realized that we must share with you what we have learned. This knowledge is of utmost importance.
2 Why do you take the Bible so seriously?
Because we discovered how accurate it is - so accurate, that even predictions made thousands of years earlier occurred in the very day foretold, to the very letter. This
has compelled us to conclude that there is an all-knowing God behind the Bible, who is not bound by time and knows the end from the beginning.
We would not have taken the Bible so seriously if God had not demonstrated such complete control and knowledge of the future. This mastery is revealed
most clearly in two books:Daniel in the Old Testament and The Revelation in the New
Testament.
Fulfilled Bible Prophecies
3 An example of a fulfilled prediction
In the book of Daniel, chapter 2, God outlined in a dream to the Babylonian king that from his time until the end of time, the world would witness only four world empires. History has proved what God pre-ordained. The four world empires were:
Babylon (605 BC-538 BC),
Medo-Persia (538 BC-331 BC),
Greece (331 BC-168 BC), and
Rome (168 BC-476 AD).
He further revealed that Rome would be split into ten territories and that in the time of these territories the end will come. History is proving the accuracy of God's word: Rome was divided into ten nations from which present-day Europe has emerged.
See Daniel 7 & 8.
4 The purpose of the Bible prophecies
It is to warn us about future crises in order to save us:
e.g. God warned Noah of the coming flood. People had to obey the warning in faith.
A Most Fearful and Solemn Warning
5
The most solemn prophetic warning is yet to be fulfilled. Today, there is nothing more
important for us to understand than this prophecy because events are taking place in rapid
succession indicating its imminent fulfillment.
6 Please read Revelation 14:9-12.
The fearful warning in the above passage describes two groups of people.
The first group is heading to receive the mark of the beast; while the second group is viewed positively as keeping the commandments of God. Furthermore, the description of
the second coming of Christ directly follows this warning. Therefore, we know that this is
the last warning given before the second coming of Christ.
7 How to avoid worshipping the beast and his image and receiving his mark
To know this, we need to identify the beast, the image of the beast, and the mark of the beast. It is only reasonable to assume that God would not warn us about such dangerous entities without helping us to identify them in a conclusive way.
Identifying the Beast
8 Bible Description of This Beast
Please read Revelation 13: 1-8, 16-18.
9 The above passage is full of symbols. How to understand it?
We need to allow the Bible to interpret its own symbols. We should expect that God, for our benefit, would reveal within the Bible the meaning of these symbols. The Bible defines its own symbols;
e.g. the book of Revelation contains 404 verses of which 278 are found almost
word for word in other books in the Bible, where their meaning is expounded.
10 Which symbols do we need to unlock to identify the beast and his mark?
The necessary ones are: 'beast', 'dragon', 'sea', 'forty-two months', and 'blasphemy'.
Beast: In Bible prophecy, a beast is a symbol of a king or kingdom: See Daniel 7:17, 23.
With this beast, we are studying a unique kingdom, for it is not only a political power but a religious one as well, because people 'worshipped the beast'.
Rev.13:4.
Dragon: According to the Bible, the dragon is another name for Satan, the father of lies and deceptions. When Satan gives "his power, and his seat, and great authority" to the beast, we can expect the beast to behave in the same deceptive ways of Satan. Thus, a great deal of deception will be found in the affairs of the beast. Rev. 12:9; 13:2.
Sea: In Bible prophecy, sea is symbol of a multitude of many different people. Rev.17:15. Accordingly, this unique kingdom or power rose out of the sea, signifying that it came out of a location that was densely populated with different nationalities of people.
Forty-two months: This period is equivalent to three and a half years (42 divided by 12 months). And the Bible was written based on the Jewish calendar where every Jewish ear is of 360 days (30 days for each month). So, three and a half years and forty-two
months are both equal to 1260 days. The reason why we are changing the months to their
equivalent in days is that when God gave time prophecies, He often equated a day for a year: "I have appointed thee each day for a year." Ezekiel 4:6.
Therefore, the forty-two prophetic months imply a period of 1260 years during which the beast was given, a "mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" and would "make war with the saints...and power was given him ..." Rev. 13:5, 7, meaning that during this period the beast would blaspheme, persecute Christians, and have great
authority.
Blasphemy: In the Bible, blasphemy is defined in two ways. The first is when a person claims to be God or His representative: See John 10:33. The beast, this religio-political
power and kingdom, has blasphemed God by pretending to be in the place of God on earth. The second way of committing blasphemy is by granting absolutions (claiming the power to forgive the sins of others): See Mark 2:7.
The beast, this religio-political power and kingdom, has blasphemed God by claiming the right of absolution. No wonder the beast has the "name of blasphemy" and speaks "blasphemy against God"; this is because the beast claims powers that are
the sole prerogative of God. Rev. 13:1, 6.
Nine Key Marks
Having allowed the Bible to unlock the meaning of its own symbols, we can now highlight the nine major identifying marks of the beast to determine which power in history fulfills these features.
1. The beast combines religious and political powers simultaneously: "They worshipped the beast." Rev. 13:4.
2. The beast came to power in a densely populated area of the world: "I...saw a beast rise up out of the sea." Rev. 13:1.
3. The beast obtained its power and authority from Satan: "The dragon gave him [the beast] his power, and his seat, and great authority." Rev. 13:2.
4. The beast ruled ruthlessly, possessing absolute dominating power for 1260 years.
See Rev. 13:5, 3, 7.
5. The beast persecuted Christians during the 1260 years. Rev. 13:7.
6. The beast will fully recover from its 'deadly wound' and the world will marvel after it: Rev. 13:3.
7. The beast has a mysterious 666 number that identifies his office and name. Rev. 13:18.
8. The beast blasphemes by claiming to be God and granting absolutions (the power to forgive sins of others).
9. The beast made other blasphemous claims too, undertaking actions that are God's exclusive prerogative. Rev. 13:5.
There is but one power in history which fulfills all the identifying marks: The Roman Catholic Church. This Church is the beast which God, out of love, is warning us of.
It is not the purpose of this article to attack Roman Catholics, but to reveal the truth about the Catholic system. Rev. 13:2.
11 Historical evidence and facts for this conclusion
1. The Roman Catholic Church combines religious and political powers simultaneously:
Apostle John saw this union in a prophetic vision concerning the fourth and final kingdom of the world and described it as, "a woman sit[ting] upon a scarlet coloured beast." Rev. 17:3.
In the Bible, a woman is a symbol of a church. See Jeremiah 3:20; 2Corinthians 11:2. In addition, it is unanimously understood in prophecy that a beast is a nation. Even in today's world, nations are symbolized as beasts. The USA is seen as an eagle, Russia is
likened unto a bear, etc. Many years ago, God unveiled to Daniel all the world empires until the end of time. In a vision, Daniel saw the last beast to be "diverse from all the others." Daniel 7:19. But how would it be diverse? According to Revelation 17:3, as seen
above, this beast (nation) will have a woman (church) ruling it. Today, is there a church
and state working together as one globally recognized power? The only entity in the world that has accomplished this is the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic
pope is absolute religious leader of over one billion followers world-wide.
"The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful." Vatican Council II (1962-65).
"Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope." Pope Innocent III (1198-1216).
Simultaneously, the pope is king over an independent nation: "Vatican City". The Vatican is a distinct sovereign miniature nation, although within Italy. Thus, the papacy is a unique power combining religious and civil power.
2. The Roman Catholic Church came to power in a densely populated area of the world, amidst the various powers and nations of Europe.
3. The history of the Roman Catholic Church is full of deception:
Informed Catholics readily confirm forgeries as a way of life for the popes. Hans Kung, a
Catholic priest and theologian who was a consultant to the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965), stated that as early as the fifth century, the popes "decisively extended their power with explicit forgeries." The Catholic Church: A Short History (translated by John owden), p. 61. One of the best examples is the document Donation of Constantine, dated March 30, 315 AD, which the Roman Catholic Church forged to extend her power and authority. For details of this information see www.worldslastchance.com. In 1440, this document was proved forged by a papal aide called Lorenzo Valla.
Pope calls for a new world order:
"VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope John Paul II rang in the New Year on Thursday with a renewed call for... the creation of a new world order based on respect for the dignity of man and equality among nations." Thursday, January 1, 2004.
Posted: 9:21 AM EST (1421GMT). "The great over-riding feature of the entire system of the Anti-Christ - the New World Order - is blatant deceit. In fact, New World Order writers boast of their planned deceptions, because they arrogantly believe ... that only the New World Order Planners know what is best for the world, and they have determined that they can achieve their goals only by deliberate deception of the poor masses." Bill Cooper, "Behold A Pale Horse," p.49.
4. The Roman Catholic Church ruled ruthlessly for 1260 years, having absolute dominion over other nations. This period has a clear starting point, and a 'deadly wound' at its end:
The Roman Catholic Church received its deadly wound in 1798 when Pope Pius VI was taken prisoner in France at the behest of Napoleon. "In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one." Encyclopedia Britannica, 1941 edition. Having established the end of the prophecy to be 1798, going back 1260 years, we arrive at 538 AD. For the papacy to fulfill this identifying mark, an important event must have occurred in 538 AD to mark the start of the 1260-year period. Historical evidence reveals that in 533 AD the Roman Emperor Justinian recognized the pope's ecclesiastical supremacy as 'head' of all the churches in both east and west of the Roman Empire. However, it was not until 538 AD when the papacy was effectively freed from its last Arian opponent, the Ostrogoths (who were at that time ruling Italy), did the pope emerge as the leading figure in the West. Thus, in 538 AD the stage was set for the gradual but steady ascendancy of the papacy.
"Vigilius...ascended the papal chair (538 A.D.) under the military protection of
Belisarius." History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 327. As the papacy increased
in power, she subjugated not only her followers but also the rulers and kings of Europe. To that end, the popes issued several papal bulls to bolster their authority over the kings of Europe: "It is the office of the papacy to tread under foot kings and emperors." J.H.
Ignaz Dollinger, The Pope and the Council, (London), p. 35. In the papal bull of Pope Gregory XI, dated 1372 AD, and entitled In Coena Domini, the pope pronounced papal dominion over the entire Christian world, secular and religious, and excommunicated all who failed to obey the popes and to pay them taxes. This papal bull was confirmed by subsequent popes and, in 1568 AD, Pope Pius V vowed that it was to remain an eternal law. A practical demonstration of the above assertion was the treatment of Pope Gregory VII in 1077 AD to King Henry IV, Emperor of Germany. When the king appeared to disregard the pope's authority, the pope ex-communicated and dethroned him. Henry decided to make peace with the pope and crossed the Alps in mid-winter to humble himself. When he reached the pope's castle, Henry was made to wait for permission to see the pope in the outer court, bare-footed, with his head uncovered,
and dressed in a miserable dress. It took the king three days of fasting and confession before the pope pardoned him. Today, this claim of supremacy over leaders of the world continues to be upheld by the papacy: "The First See [papacy of Rome] is judged by no one. It is the right of the Roman Pontiff himself alone to judge...those who hold the highest civil office in a state...There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decision or decree of the Roman Pontiff." The Code of Canon Law.
5. The Roman Catholic Church persecuted Christians during the 1260-year period: During this period of history (also known as the Middle Ages), the Roman Catholic Church held a strong sway over Europe, and every citizen was required to be a Roman Catholic. Anything short of total submission to the pope was punishable by torture or death. This led the Roman Catholic system to become one of the most persecuting religions the world has ever known, according to Vicars of Christ: the Dark Side of the
papacy, by Peter de Rosa, p. 180.
"For professing faith contrary to the Church of Rome, history records the martyrdom of more than one hundred million people." Brief Bible Readings, p. 16.
"We must rank the Inquisition... as among the darkest blots on record of mankind." Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, vol. 4, p. 78.
6. The Roman Catholic Church will fully recover from its 'deadly wound' and the whole world will wonder after it:
When Pope Pius VI died in captivity in France in 1799, the world expected an end to the Roman Catholic Church. However, God told us, about 2000 years ago, that the beast would recover from its deadly wound. Here is how the New York Times reported the healing of the beast, the papacy:
"MORTAL WOUND HEALED:
Rome, June 7.— From 11 o'clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini ...exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence." New York Times, July 7, 1929. Does the world today 'wonder' after the papacy, as the Bible predicted? "The best way to honor Pope John Paul II, truly one of the great men, is to take his teaching seriously; is to listen to his words and put his words and teachings into action here
in America. This is a challenge we must accept." President George W. Bush, March 21, 2001. "Pope John Paul II is one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of this century." Billy Graham in the Saturday Evening Post, Jan-Feb. 1980. "Pope John Paul II celebrates outdoor mass in Spanish for over million people in Mexico City." The newYork Times, Jan 25, 1999. "There is no doubt that Paul VI, together with John XXIII and John Paul II, will be remembered as the three great Popes of Peace, pioneer of a momentous transcendence of the Catholic Church into the New Age." Robert Muller, former U.N. Assistant Secretary General.
7. The Roman Catholic Church has the mysterious number 666:
The official title of the pope is "Vicarius Filii Dei", which translated is, "Representative of the Son of God". To confirm, the Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor of April 18, 1915 wrote: "The engraved letter on the pope's Mitre is as follows: 'Vicarius Filii Dei'". Since in Latin certain letters have numerical values, we only need to add them up to come to 666.
8. The Roman Catholic Church blasphemes by claiming to be God and granting absolutions:
"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." Pope Leo XIII, in an Encyclical letter, dated June 20, 1894. "The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, hidden under a veil of flesh." The Catholic National, July 1895. "But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff... [who] requires ...complete submission and obedience of will... as to God Himself." Pope Leo XIII, the Great Encyclical Letters, p. 193. The Roman Catholic Church created a vast 'market' on
earth for a unique kind of merchandise, for which she had no competitors and unquenchable demand. She claimed that she had the right to sell God's grace, His free act of forgiveness, to the sinners. To this day, this blasphemous power, maintains the power to forgive sins. "This judicial authority will even include the power to forgive sin." The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol. 12, Article "Pope", p. 265.
9. The Roman Catholic Church made other blasphemous claims too by undertaking actions belonging only to God:
Some samples: "The priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, of making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priests...The Sovereign Master of the universe only follows the servant by confirming in heaven all that the latter decides upon earth." Liguori, "Dignity and Duties of the Priest", pp. 27, 28. "Thus the priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by saying the words of the consecration, he creates, as it were, Jesus in the sacrament, by giving him a sacramental existence, and produces him as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father...The power of the priest, is the power of the divine person; for the trans-substantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world." Saint Bernadine of Sienna. "Priests are the saviors of the world." Saint Jerome. As for her blasphemous actions, the Roman Catholic Church has committed the most blasphemous act of all. She altered the very law of God - the Ten Commandments. She dared to cancel the second commandment altogether, for it condemned her practices and rituals. And worse, she changed the day of worship in the fourth commandment from Saturday to Sunday. This was done although God gave Adam this perpetual command at creation and has confirmed it to us: "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Psalm 89:34. The Ten Commandments are the only portion of the Bible that was uttered by God's voice in the presence of a congregation.
And God wrote them with His own finger and handed them to Moses: "These words [The Ten Commandments] the Lord spake unto all your assembly...and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone..." Deuteronomy 5:22. Christ further stressed the immutability of the Ten Commandments when He said: "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17. Christ further confirmed: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17, 18. T h e Catholic Church is not ashamed that she changed the day of worship. In fact, she takes pride in this action, and regards it as her 'mark' of authority and superiority over other churches and religions. "The Sabbath, the best known day of the law, was changed into the Lord's day. These and others have not ceased because of instructions received from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it), but because due to the authority of the church they ave been changed." Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon on 1-18-1562, Mansi XXIII, p. 526. "The Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claim for sacredness can be defended only on Catholic authority... In Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end we find not one single text which justifies the transfer of the weekly public worship service from the last to the first day of the week." Catholic Press, Sidney, 8-25-1900. According to the Roman Catholic Church, 'Sunday' is their distinct and distinguished mark of authority.
"Sunday is our mark of authority. The church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, September 1, 1923. "The observance of Sunday by Protestants is an homage hey pay, inspite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) Church." Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, by Monsignor Segur, p. 213. "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act... a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Office of Cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor C. F. Thomas, Nov. 11, 1895. From the overwhelming weight of evidence, we can decisively
conclude that the beast of Revelation 13 & 14 is the Roman Catholic Church, and that its mark (the mark of the beast) is Sunday observance.
Why is this mark so important? Only by signing is a document authenticated. Government declarations must always bear an official mark or seal. An official seal
or signature must include three features:
1. The name of the official
2. The title of the official
3. The territory or domain of his authority
Looking to the Almighty Creator, we realize that He has a Heavenly Kingdom. and the document containing the law of His Kingdom is The Ten Commandments. Looking directly in the midst of them you will find the seal of the living God! "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea..." Exodus 20:11.
Notice the three distinct features:
1. Name: THE LORD ( "I am the Lord: that is my name." Isaiah 42:8.) 2. Title: REATOR ("the LORD made") 3. Territory: HEAVEN AND EARTH ("Heaven and earth") Clearly, the seal of the Creator is found in the Sabbath commandment of His law.
Identifying the Image of the Beast
12 To be able to identify the image of the beast, we need first to identify the two-horned beast that helps in the formation of the image. Please read Rev 13:11-12, 14-17.
This two-horned beast has the following identification marks:
1. It came into existence around the time the papacy received its deadly wound in1798: "another beast coming up."Rev. 13:11.
2. It came up out of the earth, as opposed to the first beast that came up out of the sea. If 'sea' represents many people and nations, then 'earth' represents a sparsely settled region.
3. It has two lamb-like horns. According to the Bible, a horn represents power. "He had
horns...and there was the hiding of his power." Habakkuk 3:4. Therefore, this nation has two separate powers, distinct from each other. Also, a lamb is a symbol of Christ; hence, we can deduce that this nation was founded on pure and noble Christian principles.
4. However, it speaks like a dragon; a nation 'speaks' through legislative and judicial
authorities. The "lamb-like horns" and "dragon's voice" point a striking contrast between the peaceful professions and the practices of this nation.
Which nation fulfils these identifying marks? There is but one: The United States of America.
1. USA came into existence around 1798. Only one nation was rising into existence at the time of the papacy's loss of power in 1798. This prophecy points directly to the nited
States. The USA was organized under the Constitution as a federal republic in 1787.
2. USA arose in a sparsely populated land: The USA grew not in the Old World which was crowded with its teeming multitudes, but in the New World, with its relatively few inhabitants.
3. USA has two separate powers founded on Christian principles: The USA has a unique form of government, where church and state enjoy liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Because of this system of government, the USA is indeed a Republic (a kingdom without king) and Protestant (church without pope), with both powers completely separated. Also, her lamb-like qualities made the USA a refuge for the persecuted and oppressed of many nations.
4. USA speaks like a dragon: The fundamental law of the USA written in its constitution guarantees individual liberty of conscience. Nothing is dearer or
more fundamental. However, the USA has already begun to and will soon fully repudiate every principle of its Constitution. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object is the enforcement of Sunday observance.
Such action will be directly contrary to the principles of this government. The
Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The inconsistency of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol. It is the beast with lamblike horns - in profession pure and harmless - that speaks as a dragon. Just observing what is occurring in the news and in the recent past will confirm this biblical description. "Our priority is our faith." George W. Bush, Greensboro, North Carolina, October. 10, 2000, quoted from Jacob Weinberg, "The Complete Bushisms." "The plain message conveyed by the new administration is that George W. Bush's America is a Christian nation and that non-Christians are Welcome into the tent so long as they agree to accept their status as a tolerated minority rather than as fully equal citizens." Alan M. Dershowitz, in "Bush Starts Off by Defying the Constitution,"
Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2001.
Prophecy soon to be Fulfilled
13 It is clear the two-horned beast is the USA. But what is the relationship between the USA and the image of the beast?
Although the USA was founded on principles opposed to the papacy, today we observe how the USA and the Vatican are working more closely together to make their influence more prominent. The Bible tells us that one day, in the not too distant future, the USA will legislate a law requiring its citizens, and then the world, to worship the first beast, the papacy. "And he [USA] exerciseth all the power of the first beast [papacy] before him, and causeth the earth [first USA, then globally] and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast [honoring papacy's Sunday], whose deadly wound [1798] was healed [1929]...saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast [duplicating the papacy when she used civil power to enforce religious dogma], which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Rev. 13:12, 14. Soon the USA will renounce its religious freedom to enforce Sunday observance (the mark of the beast). his means that the Protestant Churches will control the government to accomplish their agenda. When this happens, the USA will have made an image to the Roman Catholic Church, uniting church with state. Then USA will speak "as a dragon" and exercise "all
the power of the first beast." Rev. 13:11, 12. She will have the same spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the first beast, the papacy.
Therefore, as religious freedom is lost, persecution of the dissenting minorities will be inevitable, and there will be a repetition of the religious intolerance of the Middle Ages: "And he [USA] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [Sunday laws enacted]...and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast [by honoring Saturday, not Sunday] should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark [those who honor the true Sabbath will be forbidden to buy and sell], or the name of the beast..."
Rev. 13:15-17
14 For this to be true, there should be evidence that the papacy is currently pursuing
Sunday exaltation in the USA, and that the Protestants of the USA (historic enemies of Rome), have changed their attitude, and are expressing readiness to collaborate in enacting Sunday laws. Is there such evidence?
Today most Protestants are favorable towards the papacy, and this has emboldened the
papacy to seek aggressively the legislation of Sunday observance: "All Americans would do well to petition the President and the Congress to make a Federal law - an amendment to the Constitution if need be - to re-establish the [false] Sabbath as
a national Day of Rest." CATHOLIC TWIN CIRCLE, August 25, 1985, Article
"Sacking Sunday". "In this matter, my predecessor, Pope Leo XIII...spoke of Sunday rest as a worker's right which the State must guarantee." Pope John Paul II - DIES
DOMINI, May 31, 1998. "...Christians [everywhere] should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays." Catechism of the Catholic
Church, popular and definitive edition, 2000, par 2188.
Most of the Protestant leaders in the USA are ready to bury the hatchet with the
Catholics: "Heads of American Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches who were
meeting with Pope John Paul II on Friday hailed their first broadly representative discussion as a landmark on the road to greater unity..." The Montgomery Advertiser,
Sept. 12, 1987.
Billy Graham:
"I've found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics." McCall's, January 1978.
Paul Crouch: "I'm eradicating the word Protestant even out of my vocabulary...I'm not protesting anything... "Praise the Lord" program, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Oct 17, 1989.
David Wells: "If Catholicism is to become more Catholic in the future, which is what I expect under the present pope, then theological differences will become sharper, but our alliances with Catholics against the secular culture can become deeper. I, for one, am ready for the trade-off." Eternity Magazine, Sept. 1987.
Avoiding the Mark of the Beast
15 How then can we avoid receiving the mark of the beast?
This is the most important question. God, in His infinite love, has warned us not to worship the beast and thereby receive his mark. Those receiving the mark of the beast "shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture
[without mercy] into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone... who worship the beast [honor papacy through Sunday observance] and his image [USA enforcing Sunday observance], and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:10, 11.
These are very solemn words from God. His wrath is in proportion to the offense. By honoring Sunday, originated by Satan through the papacy, one prepares to receive the mark of the beast.
16 What about the billions of Christians in the past who honored Sunday instead of Saturday - did they unknowingly receive the mark of the beast? And what about the Christians today who sincerely think Sunday is the Bible Sabbath?
None are accountable for their errors since the light has not been brought to them; for the Lord "winks" at our times of ignorance. See Acts 17:30. We are only judged by the
light we had the opportunity to receive. But, when the universal Sunday law is enforced, the issue will be clear before all, and then whoever shall transgress the command of God to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will receive the mark of the beast. Soon each person will face this test with eternal stakes, to keep the mmandments of God or of the papacy. Where will you be found standing?
No Room for Neutrality
17 Why care?
God's solemn warning in Revelation 14 leaves no room for indifference. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me." Luke 11:23. God counts all men as decidedly for the truth or against it. This warning is no respecter of person, class, condition, or religion. It is addressed to all humanity. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the kingdom
of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally urselves
with the kingdom of light.
What must we do?
18
God is most eager to enter into a serious relationship with you individually. In fact, He wants you to be His son/daughter. Just think what a privilege it would be to be a child
of the King of the universe. This genuine opportunity is granted to you. He is eagerly waiting to bestow this highest of honors upon you. Yet, His word to you is: "Be ye
not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what communion hath light with darkness? ... for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and I will receive you,
and will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2Corinthians 6:14- 18. This important Bible passage contains the following principles:
1. God does not permit any mixture of truth with error (even if it's 99% truth). For "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5. Only Satan mixes truth with error to maximize his deception.
2. The duty of a person aspiring to be in harmony with God is to not be a member of any church or religious system that is built on Satan's foundation: the mixture of truth with error.
3. Knowing that when you leave Satan's systems of religion, you will lose friends, family, influence, work, etc...God assures you: "I AM the Almighty." It means that He will more than compensate you for all that you have lost. Believe Jesus' precious promise in Mark 10:29, 30.
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