d9popov wrote:We should all condemn the un-Christian deviations of the Latin Church over the last 1000 years; but we should not take the approach that Cyprian takes in his post. There is no "secret society" controlling the world; God is in ultimate control of the world---He is the Pantokrator, and that is a dogma of the Church.
[deleted - personal attack]
Why won't you believe in a secret society conspiring to rule the world and install the Antichrist? You believe in John Romanides, who professed a belief in an evolutionary origin of man. Unless you would like to clarify for us, and confess the Orthodox truth, that man did not evolve by "chance," we are left to assume that you have a hard time recognizing events that are ordered, seeing everything as "chance". Are you willing to confess to this forum that evolution and Darwinism are demonic inventions? . . .
Hieromartyr Andronik of Perm (+1918)
"It is not a question of the struggle between two administrative regimes, but of a struggle between faith and unbelief, between Christianity and antichristianity. The ancient antichristian plot, which was begun by those who shouted furiously to Pilate about Jesus Christ: 'Crucify Him, crucify Him: His blood be on us and on our children' - continued in various branches and secret societies. In the 16th century it poured into the special secret antichristian order of the Templars, and in the 18th century it became more definite in the Illuminati, the Rosencrucians and, finally, in Freemasonry it merged into a universal Jewish organization. And now, having gathered strength to the point where France is completely in the hands of the Masons, it - Masonry - already openly persecutes Christianity out of life there. In the end Masonry will be poured out into one man of iniquity, the son of destruction - the Antichrist (II Thessalonians 2). In this resides the solution of the riddle of our most recent freedoms: their aim is the destruction of Christianity in Rus'. That is why what used to be the French word 'liberal', which meant among the Masons a 'generous' contributor to the Masonic aims, and then received the meaning of 'freedom-loving' with regard to questions of faith, has now already passed openly over to antichristianity."
. . . this hieromartyr explains that there is a secret society which is vying to bring forth Antichrist. Would you have us believe some nonsense that the Antichrist is just going to be conceived and arrive as a result of some random accident, in which two teens passions got away from them in the backseat of a car?
. . . Why don't you explain to us how the Antichrist is going to come?
Nowhere have I ever denied that God is ultimately in control of His entire creation. However, God permits evil, which everyone ought to be able to recognize. The World Wars did not simply happen by "accident". They were the result of decades of planning. The attacks of September 11, 2001 were not merely an "accident," but were carried out by a secret society of evil-doers.
. . .Why don't you tell us who was responsible for planning and executing the attacks of September 11, 2001?
Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
God allowed the secret society to produce the world wars, the attacks of September 11, etc. A secret society is the vehicle which will bring forth the Antichrist, as the fathers inform us. . . . A century ago, the hieromartyr told us that France was completely in the hands of the Masons. The Masons had a large nation like France in their hands a century ago, and you would have us believe there is no secret society ruling the world. Since the hieromartyr informs us that Masonry will be poured out into the Antichrist, and we are always drawing ever-nearer to the Antichrist, it is only logical that the power of Masonry would grow stronger as we approach the end, not weaker. And that is precisely what thoughtful and discerning people observe. Masonry everywhere gaining strength, not weakening . . .
according to the saints and pious elders.
Archbishop Averky (Taushev)
Is It Possible To Recognize The Antichrist?
"We do not see yet Antichrist himself, but his spirit obviously is settling in and already beginning to rule in the world. A large number of forerunners of Antichrist are preparing with tremendous energy for his arrival, his triumph, and his enthronement among mankind. Of course, a very long and considered preparation is necessary for the Antichrist to be able to be accepted amongst Christian people. It has been and is being conducted from the very times of the Apostles with ever-greater intensity."
As Archbisop Averky makes clear, there is a society composed of a large number of forerunners preparing with "tremendous energy" for Antichrist's arrival. None of this is going to be random or by chance or accident.
Letter On The Origin And Time Of The Antichrist by Adso of Montier-En-Der (written between 949/954):
"The Antichrist will have magicians, enchanters, diviners, and wizards who at the devil's bidding will rear him and instruct him in every evil, error, and wicked art." [Harry Potter is an allusion to this. He has magicians, enchanters, diviners, and wizards who rear him and instruct him in every evil, error, and wicked art.]
The demons have influence, but God is the All-Ruler. Is there "some vestige of good in Roman Catholicism"? Without a doubt: Yes! When Roman Catholics tell non-Christians that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, that is a good thing.
Don't overlook James 2:19