Artemon wrote:I have stated about the coming Roman(what the west calls Byzantine) Empire after the Thrid world war, on the "Holy Empire's" thred in the "Theology & Tradition" forum so you might want to read that for a better understanding of what I spacificaly know.
What you are espousing is Protestant drivel. Read the book "A Second Look at the Second Coming" for the true Orthodox perspective on "the end times".
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They say that I am bad news. They say "Stay Away."
Are you officialy saying right now on Euphrosynoscafe.com that the Saints did not say A Emporer called Iyoannis isn't going to rule after the third world war ? 
I've read that book A "Second look at the Second coming"and it doesn't tuch on Roman Empire because the person who wrote it most probably has never heard of these proopheciesI'm not saying he didn't want people to beleive these prophecies but what I know is 99.9% of converts don't know these Prophecies I learned them though.Get a greek sateilite radio hook up and toon into the Greek Church radio station you'll see in Greece they know of these prophecies, If it is protestant drivel that I'm sounding like then you call the Saint protestant drivlers also.
Since Artemon doesn't want to answer this question, I pose it to the Cafe in general...
To draw on Artemon's slightly twisted reasoning...
Is it just if your parents decide to punish you for the actions of your as yet unborn future great-great-great-great-great-grandson...
Are you responcible for your great-great-great-great-great-grandson's actions? is this within our church teachings?, is this what Christ would want?
Miriam
Artemon,
Thank you for posting the Russian link. The Elder does indeed warn against a number of things, including luke-warm and indifferent bishops and Zionists. A number of present day bishops certainly speak out on luke-warmness and indifference. To my knowledge these include two bishops of the Church of Greece, including the bishop of Florina; Metropolitan Cyprian of the Church calendar, and I am others will add to that list. My point here being that this awareness and call to strive is not confined to one or two 'jurisdictions' or indeed those who might be termed 'in Resistance'.
Second, the Elder makes a specific reference to Zionists, and talks of the teaching of Rabbis past and present that rejected the true Messiah. His tone is not of one berating or hectoring but as one giving a call, a warning of dread times to come and the temptations that will accompany them. Again many who post on the 'Cafe' appear to be aware and contend against this spirit of indifference and, and the same time, try to avoid berating and hectoring. The latter tends to shift a readers attention to the style rather than the content I am told, which in diminishes any effect the original message might have had.
Third, I do not wish to reject things said by protestants out of hand. In their search for truth, having rejected the distortions and excesses of Rome, not everything they write or say should be viewed as worthless. However, there are many sectarians who seem to be infected by beliefs and expectations contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
I write this not to teach or to 'attack' but more in a spirit of sadness when I see one Orthodox believer bark at another and others join in, leading to a situation were emotions run high and sober thought flees.
You are right Stephen, we do seen to be under a black cloud here. George was right, in another thread when he said there is an ill wind in the air. Perhaps we all need to pay attention to this and strive to overcome this evil.
I would ask our resident Deacon to remember us next time he is praying before the altar of God.
As to protestants and others... While we may find solace in that we have found the true faith, we can not be so arogant as to believe that we have ALL of God's attention. There is little that happens in this world that He has not allowed in His infinite wisdom. Perhaps the small pearls of wisdom found elsewhere are there to nudge people of other faiths toward the truth, if they wish to hear it or see it. There are after all many seekers out there. We, Orthodox, do not really know what God's plan is for the rest of the world. WE have been given our task, one that we have trouble enough fulfilling ... so why "borrow more trouble"?
God used me once as an instrument through which he brought someone into the faith. In my ignorance I did not realize what he had done, all I had done was cajol a friend to give me a ride to church. Years later I ran into this friend and found that he had converted to Orthodoxy as a result of this visit. When I think about it I am both awed and humbled. It is our steadfast attempts to live life in Christ that draws people, not our berating them for the wrongs in their faiths. Some people caught up in zealotness often forget that.
miriam
