

Body of Christ’s Restoration’s Foundation Part Two By Michael Berry Cont’d. The [ ] marks are SheepShed’s commentary. This article explains how that during the Reformation the two great emphases that stood out in the reformers preaching was 1) the just shall live by faith, and 2) the papacy is the Antichrist of the Scriptures. The entire Reformation was brought about by and rested upon this two-fold premise. It is understandable that the Roman Catholic Church was extremely upset by their position. They then established a band of priests known as the “Jesuits” who were assigned to undo the teachings of the Reformation and to make the Protestant movement complacent in the evangelization of Catholics and the world in general. came into being. ]Be careful in your discernment, Children!] Below is an article which will explain how the Jesuits successfully seduced the whole Protestant movement to stop pointing their fingers at the Pope, and how they made their movement complacent with one single teaching, according to Ralph Woodrow’s book. 1) WHO WAS INVOLVED? Alcazar (a Spanish Jesuit) 2) STORY BEHIND THE FALSE TEACHING started the idea that the apostle John could not possibly foretell events which were to happen hundreds of years after his own time; that he was writing merely about what was happening in his own day, and that his Antichrist was probably the Emperor Nero, or some other early persecutor. 1) Ribera (another Spanish Jesuit) 2) Went to the other extreme and propounded the theory that the whole Book of Revelation related to events to take place just at the time of Christ’s second coming, and therefore still in the future. 1) Emanuel Lacunza (a Chilean Jesuit) 2) was steeped in the current Jesuit teaching that the appearance and reign of Antichrist was still in the future. To this he added a touch of his own…namely, that in order to make room for all the events which he anticipated at the coming of Christ (including the resurrection of the saints), there would have to be a period of time between the resurrection of the saints and the actual second coming of Christ. His notable book, The Coming the Messiah in Glory and Majesty, places the reign of Antichrist after the resurrection, and before the second appearance of Christ. This book was black-listed by the Roman Church in order to get the Protestants movement to embrace it. 2 1)Bishop of Canterbury 2) In 1816 a diplomatic agent of the South American Republic gave Lacunza’s book as a gift to the Bishop. Since the book was written in Spanish, it was translated in English and published as one of the first theological works from South America. There was one library in London which could not well afford to be without a copy of this new publication. This was the library of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was here, on these library shelves of the official Anglican Church, the very heart of British Protestantism, that Lacunza’s work drilled a hole in the rock of reformed theology to divert and hinder the work of the Reformation. 1) Dr. Maitland (librarian of Canterbury) 2) started the Protestant world in 1826 with a series of pamphlets introducing the theory already taught by the Jesuits 250 years before. For 250 years the Jesuits worked to undo the belief that the reign of the Antichrist extended all through the Dark Ages, from the fourth century to the Reformation. And now, after their long-awaited victory, the Protestant world was invaded with work of Lacunza. [ His reign was to be 31/2 yrs.] 1) Edward Irving 2) Knowing fully that he was giving the body of Christ a false position on the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, he presented Lacunza’s work as a new revelation from God. Irving, became one of the most eloquent preachers of his time. In 1828 his open air meetings in Scotland drew crowds of 10,000 people. In March 1830, he held a series of prophecy meetings in which he introduced Lacunza’s ideas. Immediately a parishioner named Margaret McDonald stood to her feet as though having a vision and prophesied that Irving’s teaching was indeed from God. [I have her hand- written account of her own prophecy, Children, and it is not what “Irving” interpreted it to be. I have written this account in one of our lessons: “The Faith.” I sent it to my Sister and she said, “Sis, you’re right, she never prophesied what Irving claimed.” Actually, almost the opposite.] 1) J.N. Darby 2) apparently was the first to teach and introduce the main current views held by many Protestants today. There is strong evidence indicating that Darby wrote several volumes on this new-found view, later to be read and embraced by C.I. Scoffield Bible. 1) Dr. Harry B. Ironside 2) was the pastor of the Moody Bible Church after the death of D.L. Moody. After reading Scoffield’s Bible, he proclaimed it as the newest revelation of this century. Finally, the Jesuits’ vision had been realized, and this false teaching was embraced by the Protestant world. From the article above, we have learned that the present Protestant position on the resurrection of the dead is based on the teaching of Lucanza. In order to bring more clarity and understanding to the historic eschatological position of the reformers, we need to examine Daniel’s 70th week, which has been distorted by Lacunza’s work. Daniel 9:26-27 (Berkley Version) says, “After the sixty-two weeks (69 counting 7 in verse 25) Messiah shall be slain, although there is nothing against Him. The people 3 of a prince, who comes, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; its end shall come overwhelmingly and till the end shall warfare; ruins that are determined. In a week He (speaking of Jesus) shall make a covenant to prevail for many, and in the middle of the week He (speaking of Jesus) will cause sacrifice and offerings to cease (Hebrews 9:20-28; 10:1-14; Luke 23:25; John 19:28). Then on a wing of horrors shall a desolator come to bring ruin until a fully determined end comes down on the desolation” Daniel 9:27). a) Jesus’ earthly ministry began when He was baptized by John the Baptist in approximately A.D. 26 Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1: 32-36 which was 483 years (or 69 weeks) after the decree of Daniel 9 went forth. We know His ministry on earth ended three and one half years later (half of the 70th week), leaving us with three and one half years yet to be fulfilled during the period between the resurrection and the stoning of Stephen. It was during this period that the Gospel went to the Jews alone. Later, Titus would invade and destroy the temple and the city in 70 A.D., thus fulfilling this prophetic promise given to Daniel. b) Acts 3:21 tells us that the heavens will retain (or hold back) Christ until the restoration of all things is complete. [It actually says, “Until the times of, the mo’ed, the restoration of all things spoken by all the prophets.” I think this shows a different meaning to the interpretation…’as up to the time of’ the restoration.] We can safely assume that the resurrection of the dead will not take place until the restoration of all things is complete. Thus we see that the reformers’ view of events concerning the second coming and subsequent resurrection of the dead, taught prior to Lacunza’s position, was quite different from what is taught in the mainstream Protestant movement today. c) The historic position of the Protestant movement held to the belief that the reformers’ viewpoints broke the influence of papacy by the spoken and printed word 2 Thessalonians 2:8. d) It is possible that the reformers saw only in part or grasped only a part of the truth regarding the man of sin. Yes, the Antichrist spirit, or attitude (exalting itself above God and opposing Him) was embodied in the papacy, perhaps even before, this same spirit of antichrist has also been embodied…more subtly, to be sure…in denominations, whose roots are in the restoration and whose fathers were the reformers, are today the enemies of restoration by their attitudes of “we have the truth…all the truth” John 2:18. [There is a teaching that the saints are going to have everything under their feet before the Lord returns…Hebrews 10:12-13 [SFB The complete adequacy of the sacrifice Jesus offered is seen by the fact it needed to be offered only once, is its footnote. But the teaching is also using Acts 3:18-21.] 1) The last enemy of Christ to be defeated is death 1 Corinthians 15:55-58. [But see also 1 Cor 15:23-28…we are not His feet, regardless of the current teaching]. a) It is the praising generation to come that will break the appointment with death Psalm 102! b) As the Body of Christ moves into the full restoration and ushers in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are promised as believers that He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and take away death forevermore 4 Revelation 21:1-4. Word Wealth1 Cor 15:23 coming, parousia Strong’s #3952. The technical term signifying the second advent of Jesus, was never used to describe His first coming. Parorusia originally was the official term for a visit by a person of high rank, especially a king. It was an arrival that included a permanent presence from that coming onward. The glorified Messiah’s arrival will be followed by a permanent residence with His glorified people. [An 85 year old Wade Taylor claims that the Shekinah glory will precede the Messiah’s second Coming. See lesson “Only Two Trees attached.”] We, Michael Berry, wish to acknowledge Ralph Woodrow for the use of material from his book, Great Prophecies of the Bible, copyright 1977, quotations used by permission. [This is the book that was handed to me while I was resident manager at TraveLodge, I spoke about.] [According to John’s Gospel Record the Kingdom is synonymous with “eternal life,” and those who walk or live by the flesh ‘shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, eternal life.” See also Gal 5:21. Irenaeus, a martyr, a disciple of Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, in A. D. first century 100-55 wrote: please note: before the Catholic Church fell into the false teaching in the Seat of the Papacy; predicted that the Roman Empire would be desolated preceding the end of the world [age] and the eternal Kingdom of Christ. Irenaeus writes: the agnostics are refuted, tools of Satan, who invent another Father different from the Creator. In a clearer light has John [the Apostle], in the Apocalyspe [Revelation], indicated the Lord’s disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall arise, among whom the empire which now rules [the earth, which is Rome] shall be partitioned. He teaches us what the ten horns shall be were seen by Daniel, telling us that it had been said to him: “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet [at the time of his vision], but shall receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These [two, kings and beast] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because He is the LORD of lords and KING of kings.” It is manifest, therefore, that these potentates, “he who is to come” will slay three kings, and subject the remainder [7] to his power, and that he shall be himself the ‘eighth’ among them [the 7]. And they shall lay Babylon wasted, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put THE CHURCCH TO FLIGHT [tribulation]. Note: not Israel national…but the CHURCH! After they shall be destroyed by the coming of our Lord. For that the kingdom must be divided, and thus come to ruin [iron & clay]. God has already foreshadowed the partition and division [which will take place]. Daniel also says particularly, that the end of the fourth kingdom consists in the toes of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar, upon which came the stone cut out without hands; and as does himself say: “The feet were indeed the one part iron, the other part clay, until the stone struck 5 the image upon the iron and clay feet, and dashed them to pieces, even to the end.” {I have been saying that the clay is Islam that will not mix with the Iron remnants of Roman culture and beliefs. If the Catholic Church is Babylon…I can see exactly why being portrayed as Christianity. But on the otherhand, as not being a system, but the city of Babylon, herself. I am wondering if the scripture in Hebrews is referring in some way to the FEET of this image “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 a footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” What is holding the Lord Jesus back from coming, we must ask ourselves? Selah! Hebrews 10:12-14 And remember, Daniel saw these beasts coming up out of the Great Sea, now addressed as the Mediterranean.] The Ten toes therefore, says Irenaues, are these ten kings, among whom the kingdom shall be partitioned, of whom some shall be strong and active, and some others be sluggish and weak and not agree and there shall be minglings among the human race, but no cohesion one with the other. [I believe it is because Islam will not mix with any other law but Sharia Law in its finality! But neither will Christ’s Kingdom. Jack Van Impe is teaching that the Catholic Church is the false prophet. Even the late Pope Paul predicted that this next pope would be the fallen one! Perry Stone is teaching, as many others, that Club Rome has already divided the world into ten kingdoms. I have sent you the map of this division. America along with Canada and Mexico is stated as being North America, # one.] Daniel says, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven raise up a kingdom which will never decay [which means it must take on incorruption, a resurrection first…before creation itself can take on the same glory of incorruption, Romans 8:18 seq. …read this carefully, Children, and it will solve a lot of misled teaching coming across in our hearing today,] and His kingdom will not be left to another people! It, our Kingdom of Christ, shall break in pieces and shatter all kingdoms, and shall be exalted forever. God has pointed out to the king what shall come to pass after these things; and the dream is true, and the interpretation trustworthy.” Therefore God showed future things to Daniel, and confirmed them by His Son; and if Christ is the stone, and He is, which is cut out without hands, who shall destroy temporal kingdoms, and introduce an eternal one, which is the resurrection of the just [being the first resurrection]; as He declares, “The God of heaven shall raise up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed,” let those thus confuted come to their senses, who reject the Creator [Allah is not the Creator] and do not agree that the prophets were sent beforehand from the same Father from whom also the Lord Jesus came. For those things which have been predicted by the Creator alike through all the prophets have Christ / Messiah fulfilled in the end, ministering to His Father’s will, and completing His dispensations [stages o, ages] with regard to the human race. {I think Irenaeus was speaking in part to the Jews here.] THE DISTINCTION TO BE MADE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. THE FURTURE OF THE BEAST, AND THE END OF THE WORLD [AGE] CONTINUED BY IRENAEUS This is very enlightening, Children! CHAPTER 28: Jesus says that those upon His right hand [hand of power] are called into the Kingdom of Heaven, but those on the left He will send into eternal fire for 6 they have deprived themselves of all good…choosing darkness rather than light. And for this reason the apostle Paul says: “Because they receive not the love of God that they might be saved, therefore God shall also send them the operation of error, that they may believe a lie, that they all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but consented to unrighteousness. For when he [the beast] is come, and of his own accord concentrates in his own person the ‘apostasy,’ and accomplishes whatever he shall do according to his own will and choice, sitting also in the temple of God, as judicial power. “ Has the Word come for the ruin and the resurrection of many? For the ruin, certainly, of those who do not believe Him, to whom also He has threatened a greater damnation in the judgment day than Sodom and Gomorrah; but for the resurrection of the believer, and those who do His will of His Father in heaven. The judgment comes for the purpose of separating the believing from the unbelieving. Understand that separation from God is death, and separation from light is darkness…and to be separated from God is the loss of all benefits which He has in store for those who love Him. {“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” said Jesus.] Irenaeus describes the ‘Beast’ in the Apocalypse chapter 13 [which was not called by the early disciples Revelation,] he explains that power was given to him [the beast] for speaking great things, and blasphemy during forty-two months. His ‘mouth opened’ indicating the spirit of Satan speaking for blasphemy against God and His tabernacle [on earth, that being the saints.] And those who dwell in heaven. “And power was given to him over all peoples who dwell on earth worshipped him, everyone whose name was not written in the book of the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world!” If any shall lead into captivity, he shall go into captivity. If anyone slay with the sword, he must be slain by the word. Here is the endurance and faith of the saints [note: not Jews only but all the saints of this tribulation period of forty-two months of the ‘beast.’”] Irenaeus calls the false prophet the Beast’s armor-bearer; and that he also speaks as a dragon, and exercises all the power of the first beast in his sight [as Pharoah and his priests] and through these miracles and wonders which he does deceives the inhabitants of the earth and causes them to worship the Beast. Let no one imagine that he performs these wonders by Divine power, but by working of [his own] magical powers. And we must not be surprised if, since the demons and apostate spirits [apostate fallen angels and the nephilen] are at his service, he through their means performs wonders. Note that Irenaeus is speaking in the pronoun ‘we’, not as a Jew, but as a believer, who would be in the tribulation of the Beast’s forty-two months granted rule. Note also, that the miracles are not performed by God’s power. Paul called them ‘lying wonders,’ but wonders none the less, nor slight of hand, nor are the of our modern technology, but the powers of Satan himself! 7 The mark is the number six hundred and sixty six, that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. He gives this as summing up of the whole of that apostasy which has taken place during the “six thousand years…[since creation.] [According to Hebrew calculations we are in the year 5,471, if I remember right.] Earlier Irenaeus states this calculated in the Greek because the use the letter of the alphabet as numbers. Hebrew has the same system. For in as many days this world was made in so many thousands years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scriptures says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day from all His works.” This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the ‘day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed” it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year. [Barnabas teaches the same Six Thousand year period of time.] THE LAST CONTEST At the time of the Beasts reign, Irenaeus states: “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.” For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they have overcome they are crowned with incorruption changed in the twinkling of an eye into their glorified body. [Indicating the wrath of God in the Day of the Lord that will come upon the unbelievers, which the text of Irenaeus statement clearly shows]. And therefore is therefore in this Beast, when he comes, a recapitulation made of all sorts of iniquity and of every deceit, in order that all apostate power, flowing into and being shut up in him, may be sent into the furnace of fire. Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty six, since he sums up in his person all commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge, due to the apostasy of the angels! [As Jesus predicted: [“As it was in the days of Noah.”] For Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge came upon the earth, sweeping away the rebellious world, which lived in the time of Noah! And Antichrist also sums up every error of devised idols since the flood, together with the slaying of the prophets and cutting off the just. For that image was set up by Nebuchadnezzar had indeed a height of sixty cubits, while the breadth was six cubits; on account of which Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego were cast into the furnance, pointing out prophetically, by what happened to them, the wrath against the righteous which shall arise towards the time of the end. For that image, taken as a whole, was a prefigurine of this man’s coming, decreeing that he should undoubtedly himself alone be worshipped by all men as God. Thus, then, the six hundred years of Noah, in whose time the 8 deluge occurred because of the angels apostasy, and the number of the cubits of the image for which these just me were sent into the fiery furnace, do indicate the number of the name of that man in whom is concentrated the whole apostasy of six thousand years, for which things’ sake a cataclysm of fire shall also come upon the earth! Peter teaches, “And the heavens being on fire shall melt with fervent heat,” 2 Peter 3:10. Shalom, Children! Keep your garments washed in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB! We love you! SheepShed of sentministries.com |

