The Great Battle Has Begun (part one)
The folloiwng is the first of a three part series on the Kelly Bowring book The Great Battle Has Begun.
When
I was a teenager in the 1970s I worked for a home security company. The workers
who installed the systems were always in and out of the office for a variety of
reasons. One worker in particular scared the daylights out of me.
He
was a Christian (denomination not important) and he was always talking about
Jesus coming back. Although I was a baptized Catholic, mostly I was immersed in
the Jewish faith and hadn’t yet made the connection about Jesus being a Jew and
knowing that him coming back was a good thing.
So,
this big, boisterous guy would come into the office and my stomach would rumble
and my heart would jump all over inside my chest. After a minute of two of him
talking I would lose my appetite for the day and sit motionless waiting for the
skies to open up and my life to be over. I simply didn’t know what to make of
all of his proclamations about Jesus and repentance and judgment and heaven and
eternal damnation.
It
all scared the hell out of me.
That
was then.
This
is now…and now I get it.
Every
day I look to the skies with eager anticipation of Christ’s return. To some, I
might be as crazy as that guy. Thirty years later I get his excitement about
the prospect of the second coming. I don’t think I’m crazy but, then again, to
others I may very well seem that way.
So
it was no surprise that the latest title of Kelly Bowring caught my attention. The Great Battle Has Begun says it all:
the great battle is underway. Put on your armor, grab your gear, get your life
in order. Buckle up because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Bowring’s
book relies heavily on the private revelations of Maria Divine Mercy which are
excerpted throughout. I admit that prior to reading Bowring’s book, I had never
heard of this person (I believe she is a woman although she remains anonymous).
In fact, I haven’t been much of a
private revelation enthusiast until about a year ago when I was doing some
research for a book I was writing. My interest was Fatima. In retrospect, that
research laid the groundwork for me to begin to understand private revelation
and Church teachings on it.
This
past year I’ve also read up on Catholic prophecies as part of that research.
I’ve read the prophecies of Brother Louis Rocco and Marie de la Faudai—both
from the 19th century. Another set of prophecies that I’ve read
include those of Jeanne le Royer who was born in the early 1700s.
As
I read Bowing’s book, I couldn’t help but see the connection between what was
in it and the words of those Catholic prophets that had been part of my
research. With my interest piqued I started to investigate Maria Divine Mercy.
No matter where I looked, no matter whose columns and editorials I came across,
I found that her revelations were being vehemently dismissed—along with the Catholics
who may have been giving them credibility. The private revelations of Maria
Divine Mercy have been ridiculed, dismissed, and discounted by countless
Catholic personalities from Jimmy Aiken to Mark Miravalle.
This
caused me to contact the author Kelly Bowring immediately and ask him dozens of
different questions. While I continued to read the book, I needed to understand
why Bowring would be so intent on sharing the words of a woman whose role in
private revelation was being swiftly and thoroughly attacked throughout the
Catholic world.
The Great Battle
Has Begun
puts us squarely in the beginning of The Great Tribulation. It approaches end-times in a way that many
people desire to understand. It offers insights into false prophets, the
anti-Christ, the seven seals and our role in our personal salvation as well as
our obligation to others through our prayers and fasting. Bowring has weaved
into the private revelations of Maria Divine Mercy excerpts from the Book of Revelation as well as various
Scripture excerpts.
Every
Advent we prepare for Christ’s second coming; The Great Battle Has Begun affirms the need for that preparation. Like
right now. It makes it real and not just a warm and fuzzy season we celebrate
as Catholics.
The controversy surrounding Maria Divine Mercy adds an unexpected dimension to the book and is why I think it is important to share Bowring’s responses to my questions which are in parts two and three of the series.
part two is here
part three is here
Cheryl Dickow
wwwBezalelBooks.com
I'm afraid Jesus will return before this matter is settled! I'm thankful to God that Dr Bowring has shed true light on this matter.
ReplyDeleteHistorically have not most if not all revelations or prophets been doubted, questioned, scorned, even crucified (oh wait, He was the Son of God!). I was involved in a debate over this and my opponent was referencing Fatima. I reminded him that the children of Fatima were also persecuted and even interrogated by the police, and that reporters came to the site where the miracle was to take place but to report that it was a hoax, until they saw it themselves! Surely my opponent would have been persecuting the children, if living 100 years ago.
We have to remember that the messages claim serious enemies to the true church have infiltrated it with malicious intent.
This is somehow irrelevant when you take recent revelations into account http://midwaystreet.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/8/
DeleteI agree. Only false prophets are applauded; as the Israelites scorned, ignored or killed their prophets. People, even believers, don't want to hear the truth. Like the Pharisees, they don't want the apple-cart upset. But their apple-cart is not God's.
ReplyDeleteDr. Bowring is wrong on a number of points.
ReplyDeleteHis reliance on a supposed quote of Pope Urban VIII is laughable as no one has ever found an actual source of this quote though it is often cited by those trying to spread bogus private revelations. And in any case, it does not matter as we are now under the 1983 Code of Canon Law which requires prior censorship as Cardinal Ratzinger made clear long ago:
"A reminder, therefore, that for the diffusion of texts of presumed private revelations, the norm of the Code in force, Canon 823, para 1, which gives pastors the right "to demand that the writings of the faithful which touch faith or morals be submitted to their own judgment before publication," remains valid." Is Dr. Bowring really so unaware of the current code of canon law? The messages claim that Pope Benedict did not resign but that he was "viciously ousted" by a masonic conspiracy! That of course is also absurd, Pope Benedict stated on two public occasions that he was renouncing his office voluntarily and he has embraced his successor and pledged his obedience to him.
The messages also state that Pope Benedict "fled" the Vatican, this is also absurd as he is still in the Vatican.
The messages claim that Pope Benedict is the last pope, but the First Vatican Council solemnly defined that there will be perpetual successors of St. Peter until the end of time:
"Therefore, if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the Lord himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church; or that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be anathema." Anyone who takes these messages seriously is simply not well acquainted with them.
Dr Kelly Bowring claims he is unable to see doctrinal flaws in the alleged revelations to 'Maria Divine Mercy'. His attention must have wandered a few times in his reading.
ReplyDelete(1) Message 18/3/2011: "Respect this most Holy Scripture" [the message itself].
The Church has spoken. The Sacred Canon was closed by the death of the last Apostle.
(2) Message 16/1/2011: "It is vital that My children understand the way in which they can prepare their souls in order to redeem themselves in the eyes of My Father."
If we had the power to redeem ourselves, Christ died unnecessarily. This 'message' teaches the condemned proposition of Pelagius, that man has it in his power to achieve the first grace.
(3) Message 24/1/2011: "It is harder to achieve My special graces than it is to avoid sin in any form."
Graces are a pure gift from God. It is impossible for us to achieve them. Pelagius again!
(4) 21/11/2010: "All paths lead to God, the creator of mankind."
This is the heresy of Indifferentism. All paths, by definition, include animism, spiritualism, satanism, Marxism, Freemasonry, headhunting, thuggee, witchcraft and atheistic materialism. MDM says they all lead to God.
(4) Message 14/4/2011: "Many Christians ignore one of the most fundamental promises I made during My crucfixtion [sic] where I would be present in bread and wine and leave a permanent mark to help nourish souls."
There a re a few things wrong with this 'message'.
(a) The bad writing.
(b) Jesus made no such promise, during his crucifixion or any other time.
(c) He never said he would be IN bread or wine. The Church has spoken. At the words of consecration the matter of bread and wine are changed wholly into the body and blood of the Lord. MDM teaches the condemned proposition of Luther known as 'consubstantiation'.
(d) Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders confer a permanent mark on the soul. Reception of the Eucharist does not.
(5) 7/11/2011: Message 7/11/2011: "Without your sacrifice I could not fulfil my promise to save mankind so that every soul is accorded the opportunity to benefit from their rightful inheritance."
If this 'message' is true, (a) Jesus is not God omnipotent, and (b) MDM is a necessary co-redeemer.
This is only a beginning. Other messages teach the heresies of Millenarianism, sola scriptura and exemplarism. Some are downright blasphemous.I have never seen alleged revelations so riddled with doctrinal falsehoods. The author of these 'messages' has little knowledge of Catholic teaching, cannot think clearly - there are many foolish expressions and self-contradictions - and can't write very well. The website claims that these are word-for-word locutions from heaven.
There is also the matter of the "Keys" which we are told by Maria Divine Mercy are no longer with the Church!
ReplyDelete“The keys of Rome have been returned to my Father, God the Most High who will rule from the Heavens.” ( MDM March 20th 2012)
Scripture tells us...“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt 16:19
Notice that the promise of the keys is immediately followed by the words… “Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth”, etc. ..Meaning the authority over the whole Church, which includes the power to forgive or withhold sins, and the power to change disciplines, not doctrines, which can never change because they are founded on the written Word of God. This power then to “bind and loose” was not given to Peter alone, but to all the apostles and their successors, whereby we can be freed of our sins in the Sacrament of penance when the priest absolves us.
Now, if the Church does not hold these “Keys,” can sins still be forgiven in the Church? Obviously the answer is No! The power is not there anymore so confessing to a priest would be useless! Though we know this can never happen because Christ promised to never leave the Church, and there is no prophecy in Scripture which teaches that the Church will come to an end, in fact it tells us just the opposite..”I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” This means that His Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from Him.
Remember without the “Keys” there is no “Rock” There is no Church. The House has fallen down! We are being asked to believe that we can no longer receive absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
Thankfully we know that Christ will keep His promise to always be with His Church. She is the light shining on a hill, and though She will be battered from within and without She will survive.
“And he hath subjected all things under his feet, and hath made him head over all the church, 23 Which is his body, and the fulness of him who is filled all in all.” Eph 1:22
If the Church held no power then Christ is Head over what? Rubble!
“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.” For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church” Eph 5-27
Hi Robert...you posted..."We have to remember that the messages claim serious enemies to the true church have infiltrated it with malicious intent."
ReplyDeleteWe have to remember also that MDM is warning that Pope Francis is a false prophet, a deceiver! And many believe this on the say so of an anonymous woman! The words in her book are no different than the words of previous false seers who predicted that Pope Benedict was the deceiver the anti-pope. Read the following...
"Soon, now your Holy Father will be replaced with one who is not of Me. And he will change much, he will begin the destruction of My Church in earnest. Are you ready to fight for the Truth? Many will fall in this time. Pray much, children, that you are not one of them. I Love you and I ask that you be willing to do all that I ask. I Love you."
"The Anti-Pope and Antichrist shall come forth and declare many ways to rebuild the Church and the world. Woe to those who follow their heresies and lies. This time is when the Remnant Church shall exist. This will be the time the Apostles and Disciples of the Blessed Virgin Mary shall provide you Holy Hope and Faith. Jesus."
"So infested are they, those who roam the corridors of Rome, that the biggest sign will be seen in the chaos, which will ensue, as they adhere to the command of the imposter. Chaos, disorder, division and contradiction will be seen everywhere in Rome. This disorder comes from Satan for it cannot come from God."
All these writings sound the same. In fact it's difficult to choose which one came from what seer. They all predict a coming anti-pope, who will change the teachings of the Church, yet they all claim the anti-pope to be a different Pope!
I say to all followers of Maria Divine Mercy....waken up.. you are being deceived... and to those who have written the truly horrible comments about our Pope, even some wishing him dead, then know that you are risking your salvation by receiving Jesus unworthily whilst that hate reigns in your hearts. And you Cheryl are also risking your own salvation by promoting these heretical messages. I pray God has mercy on you all!
The Maria Divine Mercy Cult is also violating CCC Section 2117 by promoting and engaging in occult spiritism .They are distributing a protective charm called the Seal of the Living God. The Sigillum Dei Viva was first developed by Edward Kelley and John Dee the personal astrologer for Queen Elizabeth I of England. He used it as a platform for his crystal ball when he 'spoke with the angels'. The MDM Cult seal promises... "All who accept this Seal will be offered protection for each and every one of you and your families during the period in the lead up to the Second Coming of Christ." This is incorrect based on Acts 1:7 "it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority." Only God the Father knows when Christ's coming in Glory will occur.
ReplyDeleteThe cult is now announcing a new 'Medal of Salvation'. MDM message from 'the mother of salvation' July 18, 2013...
"My Image is to be created and a Medal struck where, on one side, I am to be placed with the sun behind my head and where twelve stars woven into a crown of thorns sits on my head. On the reverse side of the Medal, I wish to depict the Sacred Heart of my Son with the Two Swords of Salvation, which are to be crossed on each side. The Swords of Salvation will have a dual purpose. The First Sword will slay the beast and I have been given the authority to do this on the Final Day. The other Sword will pierce the hearts of the most hardened sinners and will be the Sword by which their souls will be saved."
This depiction is a blasphemous distortion of Revelation 12:1 which reads... "And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" The woman in this passage represents the Church of God - the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Church is clothed with the sun - with Christ - and has the moon (the things of the world) under her feet. The twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the twelve apostles and in turn their successors the Pope and Bishops of the Catholic Church.
The cult attempts to redefine this passage by crowning the Church with THORNS, which is exactly what 'Maria' is doing when she mocks Pope Francis by calling him 'wicked' and a 'false prophet' ! Then there is the odd reference to the Two Swords of Salvation? The only place I can find a reference to this term is in the Batman comics and video games which depict the Swords of Salvation being wielded by the character Azrael (named after a real demon Azrael - Archangel of Death). Not exactly a 'Biblical' reference huh?
I believe in the messages of Garabandal and I believe that MDM is making the Garabandal messages clearer. While every person who has been blessed to receive messages from God for the world, give those messages in the way they understand them, they are nevertheless true. I mean, one can understand that when the faithful Jews read that a prophet said the Messiah would come and then be killed by the Jews, wouldn't that want to make you say that prophet is false?
ReplyDeleteI am glad the prayers we are given by MDM are available and so beautiful and necessary. You can't be wrong from praying such beautiful and well meaning prayers. Both MDM and the Garabandal message tells of the Warning. When that comes, and I pray it will be soon, no one will have any doubts about the truth. Some still may have a hard time accepting what God tells them, but never the less we will all know that everyone has been told. That to me is indeed the mercy of God.
I speak only for myself, I am a commoner, a simple catholic christian faithful, but given the kind of chaotic world I am in, how I wish for my God and my Saviour Jesus Christ to come again to give order and peace to the world and the whole of human race. The book of revelation is a biblical book of prophesy about God's plan on how HE intend to put an end to our eternal enemy. Isn't it that this is all that we wanted and all excited about to come to pass? So let us not argue or debate on as to how or when. So let us all just believe and be prepared that HIS 2nd Coming is going to pass or is going to happen. So let us all be vigilant and be critical about the signs of times. Amen amen amen I pray that may we all be saved in the sweetest name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and thru our Bl. Mother Mary's intercession, amen, amen, amen
ReplyDelete