In Roman Catholic tradition, there are many reported occurrences of Mary, angels, and/or saints appearing and delivering a message from God. It is likely that at least in some of these cases, the people were genuinely seeing something supernatural. While some of what is seen in various places is perhaps the work of charlatans, other apparitions were apparently authentic. However, with that said, an apparition being authentic does not mean it is a message from God or a genuine appearance of Mary, an angel, or a saint. Scripture declares, "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Satanic deception is many cases is the explanation for these apparitions so venerated by the Roman Catholic Church.
David
The only way to determine whether an apparition is a "lying wonder" or a genuine message from God is to compare the apparition with Scripture. If the teachings that are attached to these apparitions are contrary to the Word of God, the apparitions themselves are then Satanic in nature. A good example is study of the teachings of the apparition of Our Lady Fatima with its "Miracle of the Sun".
It would indeed seem that something spectacular happened in this apparition on October 13, 1917...the 'something' did in fact appear and deliver a message. The fact that its timing coincided with what had been told to some shepherd children three months earlier would seem to tie this event with the apparitions they had been seeing over the previous months, first of the angel and later of the apparition of the "Lady of Fatima."
When one compares the message of Fatima to what the Bible teaches, it is evident that the message of Fatima combines some biblical truth with several unbiblical practices and teachings.
One such example is the repeated messages of Fatima is the call for personal "reparation" or "penance." This Roman Catholic concept teaches that we must make amends to God and to Mary for the sins we have committed against them. Repeating one of the phrases from the message the angel told the children to "Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended..." A reparation is a "expiation ... something done or paid as amends; compensation." This ties in with the Roman Catholic false teaching of temporal punishment which a person can take care of through penance now or through time spent in purgatory later. The Bible NEVER speaks of the need to make "reparation" for our sins or doing "penance" to pay for our sins. Rather, what it teaches is that we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices to God in response and in gratitude for all of the mercies He has shown us in salvation (see Romans 12:1-2). When a person becomes a Christian, that persons sins are forgiven and paid for in full by Christ. There remains no further payment that can be made for them, no further expiation required.
David
The only way to determine whether an apparition is a "lying wonder" or a genuine message from God is to compare the apparition with Scripture. If the teachings that are attached to these apparitions are contrary to the Word of God, the apparitions themselves are then Satanic in nature. A good example is study of the teachings of the apparition of Our Lady Fatima with its "Miracle of the Sun".
It would indeed seem that something spectacular happened in this apparition on October 13, 1917...the 'something' did in fact appear and deliver a message. The fact that its timing coincided with what had been told to some shepherd children three months earlier would seem to tie this event with the apparitions they had been seeing over the previous months, first of the angel and later of the apparition of the "Lady of Fatima."
When one compares the message of Fatima to what the Bible teaches, it is evident that the message of Fatima combines some biblical truth with several unbiblical practices and teachings.
One such example is the repeated messages of Fatima is the call for personal "reparation" or "penance." This Roman Catholic concept teaches that we must make amends to God and to Mary for the sins we have committed against them. Repeating one of the phrases from the message the angel told the children to "Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended..." A reparation is a "expiation ... something done or paid as amends; compensation." This ties in with the Roman Catholic false teaching of temporal punishment which a person can take care of through penance now or through time spent in purgatory later. The Bible NEVER speaks of the need to make "reparation" for our sins or doing "penance" to pay for our sins. Rather, what it teaches is that we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices to God in response and in gratitude for all of the mercies He has shown us in salvation (see Romans 12:1-2). When a person becomes a Christian, that persons sins are forgiven and paid for in full by Christ. There remains no further payment that can be made for them, no further expiation required.
David
so true and do make of "bleeding stautes" ?
so true and do make of "bleeding stautes" ?
They had a "bleeding" statue in a parade (all documentd) seems that a priest was in the "statue" with a sponge wet with red dye to simulate blood.
ALso a paintine began bleeding...found to be priest again with the red dye.
God's word says the idols can't hear,speakor smell...so suddenly they can bleed....its alll fakery and trickery to fool the gullible.
so true and do make of "bleeding stautes" ?
They had a "bleeding" statue in a parade (all documentd) seems that a priest was in the "statue" with a sponge wet with red dye to simulate blood.
ALso a paintine began bleeding...found to be priest again with the red dye.
God's word says the idols can't hear,speakor smell...so suddenly they can bleed....its alll fakery and trickery to fool the gullible.
i agree most cases of these kinds turn out to be frauds and even if there was a real One bleeding we know it would not be from God.