Special Issue March-Apriljune 2005 2004 the Philadelphia Trumpet

SPECIAL ISSUE march-apriljune 2005 2004 THE PHILADELPHIA www.thetrumpet.com TRUMPET Turning Point Why the change in popes is more important than you realize THE PHILADELPHIA TRUMPET JUNE 2005 Vol. 16, No. 5 Circ. 315,435 sp ECI A L I ss UE “A gigantic turning point in the history of man.” A FP/GETTY IMAGES 1 A Pope and a Prophecy 2 Karol Wojtyla: How He Set the Stage 6 Herbert Armstrong: He Was Right 8 From the Editor: The Dark Side of the Pope’s Funeral 14 Rome: Once and Future Capital of Europe 16 Joseph Ratzinger: The Perfect Man for the Job 17 A Tale of Two Bavarians 18 Returning to the Fold 20 “Anglican Catholics”? 22 Efforts at Unity 37 Commentary: A Headache for Benedict WORL D RELIGION S OCIE T Y 24 WORLDWATCH 28 Answering Bible Critics 34 SOCIETYWATCH TERRORIsm The Nuclear Dangers of The Bible contains amazing in- abORTION Kill the “Defective” Illegal Immigrants ■ Al Qaeda Has sight. Critics assert that the “in- Ones ■ ECONOMY Where Amer- Crude Nuke? ■ Terrorists and Tech- spiration” of its text is false. Can ica’s Tax Dollars Go ■ REadING nology ■ ISRAEL Iran Found Interfer- these claims be intelligently and Signs of the Times ■ HEALth ing ■ U.S.-Israeli Relations at Low accurately answered? Smell the Roses ■ Food Pyramid ■ Algeria Ties ■ CHINA Securing a ■ Vital Sea Port China Courts Africa D E pa R tm EN T ■ ASIA All for One? ■ CENTRAL ASIA 32 Why Most Do Not Revolutions to Russia’s Chagrin Understand Prophecy 36 Letters COVER Staff Publisher and Editor in Chief Gerald Flurry THE PHILadELPHIA TRUMPET (issn 10706348) is published monthly CONtaCT US Please notify us of any change in your address; include your old mail- The triumphant Executive Editor Stephen Flurry News Editor Ron (except bimonthly March-April and September-October issues) by ing label and the new address. The publishers assume no responsibility for return of Cardinal Ratzinger Fraser Senior Editor Dennis Leap Managing Edi- the Philadelphia Church of God, 1019 Waterwood Parkway, Suite F, unsolicited artwork, photographs or manuscripts. The editor reserves the right to waves to Catholic tor Joel Hilliker Assistant Managing Editor Ryan Edmond, ok 73034. Periodicals postage paid at Edmond, ok, and use any letters, in whole or in part, as he deems in the public interest, and to edit any faithful—now as pope. Malone Contributing Editors Mark Jenkins, Brad additional mailing offices. ©2005 Philadelphia Church of God. letter for clarity or space. Website www.theTrumpet.com E-mail letters@theTrumpet. Digitally retouched Contributors All rights reserved. printed in the u.s.a. Unless otherwise noted, com; subscription or literature requests [email protected] Phone U.S., Canada: Reuters photo. Macdonald Fred Dattolo, Andrew Hessong, Gary Rethford Associate Editors Donna scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Holy 1-800-772-8577; Australia: 1-800-22-333-0; New Zealand: 0-800-500-512. Contribu- Production Assistant Bible. U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes to: the philadelphia tions, letters or requests may be sent to our office nearest you: United States p.o. Box Grieves, Philip Nice Mi- trumpet, p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083. How your subscription 3700, Edmond, ok 73083 Canada p.o. Box 315, Milton, on l9t 4y9 Caribbean p.o. Box Research Assistants chael Dattolo Lisa Godeaux, has been paid: The Trumpet has no subscription price—it is free. 2237, Chaguanas, Trinidad, w.i. Britain, Europe, Middle East p.o. Box 9000, Daventry, David Vejil Photo Research Aubrey Mercado This is made possible by the tithes and offerings of the membership nn11 5ta, England Africa p.o. Box 2969, Durbanville, 7551, South Africa India, Sri Prepress Production Ryan Malone Circulation of the Philadelphia Church of God and others. Contributions are Lanka p.o. Box 13, Kandana, Sri Lanka Australia, Pacific Isles p.o. Box 6626, Upper Mark Jenkins International Editions Editor Wik welcomed, however, and are tax-deductible in the United States, Mount Gravatt, qld 4122, Australia New Zealand p.o. Box 38-424, Howick, Auckland, Heerma French, Italian Daniel Frendo German Canada and New Zealand. Those who wish to voluntarily support 1730 Philippines p.o. Box 1372, q.c. Central Post Office, Quezon City, Metro Manila Hans Schmidl Spanish Edition Editor Carlos Heyer this worldwide work of God are gladly welcomed as co-workers. 1100 Latin America Attn: Spanish Department, p.o. Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083, U.S. sp ECI A L I ss UE A Pope a Prophecy& The day Pope Benedict XVI first walked out onto that famous Vatican balcony, it seems the world split into two camps. R ne camp was represented by the masses of ecstatic people What you are going to read in this Trumpet issue is totally different. EUTERS below, in St. Peter’s square, who had just come running from As our longtime readers are aware, we advocate some of the very miles around to catch a glimpse of their new pope. It was moral teachings for which the new pope is being criticized. Many Oheard in the voices praising Benedict for his humility, his gentleness, accuse us of being uncompromising and ultraconservative. his self-effacing personality. Our concerns about Pope Benedict XVI are much different—and far The other camp rushed to publish headlines like “God’s Rottweiler” deeper—than those who wish the pope would permit abortion or the and “From Hitler Youth to Papa Ratzi.” Uncomfortable with absolutes, ordination of women priests. these people clearly felt threatened by what they see as a stern, Our view of Benedict—and even of his much-hailed predecessor— uncompromising ultraconservative. is not based on a mistrust of authority or a hostility toward morality. The first group hurried to his defense. “Yes, the pope is a Catholic,” It is based on prophecies spelled out in the Holy Bible of a powerful said the Wall Street Journal. “Yet that unsurprising result has clearly shak- religious leader who would come on the scene in our day. en many secular liberals—and more than a few liberal Catholics—who By all appearances, Benedict XVI looks the part. If he is, time is feel that they have been somehow cheated of an opportunity. … Pope exceedingly short. And this world, split between liberals who sneer Benedict, the man, will be a convenient target for critics whose hostility is at the pope and conservatives who defend him, urgently needs the really directed against the Catholic Church and its moral teachings.” strongest warning it has ever heard. So—which camp is the Trumpet in? Neither. Herein is that warning. THE PHILadELphIA TRUmpET june 2005 1 KAROL WOJTYLA 1920-2005 der the control of a universal religion, A FP/GETTY IMAGES each—church and state—has either sought to use the other for mutual gain and influence, or one has competed with the other to hold sway over entire nations or even whole empires. The Holy Roman Empire is the quintessential example in both the former and the latter sense. Wars fought at the behest of, with the connivance of, or with the sponsorship of the state, in the name of religion, have splattered the pages of history with the blood of millions. The great Islamic sweep of the Ottoman Empire was enacted in the name of Mohammad. Similarly, in the Crusades, knights galloped into battle with the symbol of Roman Catholicism, a bright red cross, garnishing their flags, banners and breastplates. In more modern times, German troops went into battle in World War i sporting belt buckles in- scribed “Gott mit uns”—God with us. Constitutionally—despite the best efforts of those who would seek to sepa- rate the state from religion, as in the principal American documents of state and, more recently, the European Union constitution—the power of religion to influence the masses remains a constant to this day. Throughout history, no religious in- stitution has been more attuned to us- ing its influence to sway public opinion in matters of state than has the Roman Catholic Church. More recently, no pope in modern times has had such powerful influence, internationally, over every strata of society than that Polish pope, Karol Wojtyla, the late John Paul ii. In 1978, the pope took charge of what has been described as the world’s longest surviving international organization. He mounted the papal throne with a sense of universal mission deeply rooted How He Set in Roman Catholic prophecy and in cer- tain key events in his life. These served to reinforce in his mind the conviction that his mission had divine authority. It was a globalist, evangelizing, religious the Stage mission on the outside with a deeply sig- nificant political vision at its core! Credited with being a consummate actor by virtue of his early amateur Crushing Latin Liberalism stage career, Pope John Paul II has set the stage for one of the greatest Paul vi (1963-78) was the first pope since acts of history this planet will ever know. BY RON FRasER the Napoleonic wars to travel outside It- aly. He spent 30 days of his papal rule in eligion and politics: They high school, I began to understand countries other than his home nation. were the two subjects that that politics and religion go together as By contrast, John Paul ii was the most people in polite society were naturally as butter goes with bread. traveled pope in history, traveling for 822 told to avoid when I was Since ancient Babylon, when Nimrod days. Here was a pope with a real sense of Rgrowing up.

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