1431. The Apparitions of Mary

Today I am beginning a series on Catholicism. If you are a Catholic or considering the Roman Catholic Church, please understand that my motivation is to present truth, not to judge or criticize. I am convinced that the Roman Catholic Church in general, and Pope Francis in particular, will play key roles in the ushering in of the Antichrist in the near future. I will attempt to reveal the deception that is keeping Catholics in spiritual bondage. I will do this by showing how the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) contradict the Bible, and how the proclamations from Pope Francis contradict Catholic teachings. I will also show the significant connections between the RCC and Islam.

Today I will begin with the apparitions of Mary which are increasing around the world. Mark 13:22 warns us that as the Day of the Lord draws near, false signs and wonders will lead many astray in anticipation of the coming of the Lawless One. I believe that these apparitions are actually Satan disguising himself an as angel of light to prepare the world for a one-world religion as described in Revelation 13 and 17. These apparitions will likely be the catalyst that unites Catholics and Muslims together, since they both revere Mary as the most important woman that has ever lived.

It’s a shame that people of all religions are flocking to these apparition sites to receive a message from Mary when we can get a message directly from God any time we want by going to our Bible. She is being called the Queen of Heaven just as the women of Judah did in Jeremiah’s day: The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make sacrificial cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to provoke Me to anger (Jer.7:18). God wasn’t pleased then, and He’s not pleased now. It is said that the Queen of Heaven transcends human description. She appears as a living, breathing three-dimensional lady enveloped in light. She is so popular that every year 15-20 million “followers” visit her shrine in Guadalupe, Mexico.

We would do well to remember that Satan is a master of deception, masquerading as an angel of light. In reality, he is prowling about like a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour (1 Peter 5:8), and millions of unsuspecting worshippers are walking right into his trap. He blinds their eyes so they will never discover the true light of the glorious gospel of salvation.

Her common message is to pray, turn to God, and work toward peace. Who would argue with these exhortations? Many claim to have drawn closer to God because of Mary’s messages. Others say her signs and wonders prove that God has sent her. But consider what the Bible says about the Antichrist, known also as the lawless one: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The RCC has formally approved of her apparitions as a valid sign that she speaks truth from God. Consider her words during one of her apparitions:

“You saw hell where the souls of poor sinners go. In order to save them, God wishes to establish devotion to my immaculate heart in the world. If people do what I ask, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. Only I can help you. My immaculate heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. In the end, my immaculate heart will triumph.”

I believe this is a satanic message to divert people’s attention away from Christ’s finished work on the cross. In essence, Mary replaces Christ as the one who makes salvation available to sinful humans. So, how do we know if this is really a message from Mary? The Bible says in 1 John 4:1 that we are not to believe every spirit but are to test the spirits to see if they are from God. This means we test the message with the authority of God’s Word. These words clearly fail the test.

Her apparitions also command that shrines be built to her around the world because she is their merciful mother. People have been so taken in by these apparitions that they walk up stairways to her on their knees, which are a bloody mess by the time they reach the top. They willingly do this to earn her favor. This is sad on so many levels, primarily because Christ has already done everything to bring all of mankind back into favor with God. Mary’s only role was to provide a human womb from which would come the Savior of the world.

It was a great honor for her to have been selected to be our Lord’s earthly mother, but that is the extent of her role. When Jesus was speaking to a crowd, one of the women said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which you nursed.” To ward off any thoughts of worshipping Mary, Jesus responded, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:27-28). Jesus knew what would happen if the people strayed from God’s clearly stated Word and chased after some shiny distraction. Not one person in the Bible ever bowed down to Mary, not even at Jesus’ birth. Mary worship began with the Roman Catholic Church.

When Mary, pregnant with the Savior of the world, came to Elizabeth, Elizabeth spoke a profound truth: “She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45). Mary was blessed because she believed God would do as He said. Glory and honor were to go to God, not Mary.

Mary’s messages say she is coming for all her children, meaning people of every religion, not just Catholics. This prepares the way for a new one-world religion in which all false religions come together under a new umbrella that appears to unite them, Mary being a key figure. It appears that the coming together of Muslims and Catholics will start the ball rolling as more and more gullible and scripturally ignorant people get swept up in the movement to come together in unity. The new religion will be all about tolerance and compromise.

For more on her apparitions, check out Jim Tetlow’s video Messages from Heaven on YouTube. If you are a Christian, invite your Catholic friends to watch it with you. I also recommend my book Islam and the last Days which reveals the role these apparitions play in the lives of both Catholics and Muslims. It is available on my website at edrodgers.net.

Click here for another article on the apparitions of Mary.

Next week we will look at Pope Francis and how he has paved the way for the Antichrist.