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Author	: Bill Kochman
Publish	: Apr. 23, 1997
Update	: Jul. 24, 2025
Parts	: 04

Synopsis:



Continuing our discussion from part one, I suspect -- but am obviously unable to prove -- that the actual reason why that Roman Catholic bishop may have approved Champion, Wisconsin as a verified Marian apparition site is in plain view in the previous paragraphs. You will notice that this news article uses the phrase "shrine-related conversions". In my opinion, that may possibly be what this is really all about. In other words, it is common knowledge that as a result of its strict doctrines concerning issues such as aspiring priests bound by celibacy, abortion, birth control, heterosexual marriage only, etc., not to mention the endless sexual scandals and financial scandals which have damaged the church in recent decades, membership in the Catholic Church has been in very serious decline.

So considering those developments, I would venture a guess and suggest that maybe the Roman Catholic Church was hoping that the "miracles" which supposedly occurred in Wisconsin would turn the tide, and bring more people back to the Roman Catholic fold. Well, at least in the United States which has long been a rather troublesome region for the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Vatican. While I honestly do not know what occurred in Wisconsin in 1859, or at Lourdes, France in 1858, or at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, or outside of Mexico City, Mexico in 1531, or at any of the other alleged Roman Catholic apparition sites, as I explain in some of the aforementioned articles, based on what has resulted from these apparitions, I must express serious doubt concerning their divine origin. As Jesus plainly stated in the Gospel of Matthew:

"Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."


While many dedicated Roman Catholics vehemently reject this accusation, the fact of the matter remains that the alleged apparition of Mary in all of these places has resulted in this humble woman being elevated to almost the same status as Jesus Christ. In other words, contrary to what the Bible plainly teaches us concerning Jesus Christ being the only Mediator between God and man, Roman Catholics refer to Mary as Co-Redemptrix and Co-Mediatrix. They have concocted this unbiblical belief that Salvation is obtained through Jesus and Mary together, and not through Christ alone.

Regardless of what the Vatican may or may not teach regarding Mary -- although it seems rather evident in so many photos of the popes kissing statues of Mary -- the fact of the matter remains that in practice, there are many Roman Catholics who clearly do worship Mary, who pray to Mary, and who honor Mary with statues, trinkets, yearly processions, etc. Furthermore, even here where I currently reside, Catholics do it as well, because Roman Catholicism is the most dominant and the most influential denomination here. However, these things ought not so to be. The Bible makes it very clear that we are only to honor and to pray to God the Father, and to Jesus His Son.

Returning to our primary theme concerning faith, and signs and lying wonders, upon a closer reading of the Gospels, we discover that Jesus chided those people who required some kind of a sign before they would believe in Him. In fact, the Lord plainly called them an evil generation, as we see by the following group of Bible verses:

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."


"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed."


"And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation."


"And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. . . . And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation."


"Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."


"Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:"


"Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."


"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."


Jesus certainly knew the hearts of His unbelieving Jewish enemies. He realized that they were so yielded to Satan, and so blinded by the Devil's infernal lies, that even His own Resurrection from the dead would not convince them otherwise. Thus, acting in accordance with their own lack of faith, the Jewish religious hierarchy made a vain attempt to conceal the evidence of Jesus' Resurrection, as we see by the following set of Bible verses:

"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."


What we see then, is that unbelief today is the same as it was two thousand years ago. Some people simply don't possess the ability to believe by faith alone. Just like the Jewish religious elders of two millennia ago, they too demand a sign that will strengthen their weak faith. They want to see Jesus here and now in the flesh. They seem to think that this will convince them that the historical Jesus is real. But will it really? As we just learned by the previous verses, even after Jesus rose from the dead, those stubborn Jewish elders still foolishly rejected the miracle of Resurrection that occurred before their very eyes. In vain they tried to cover it up.

By the way, regarding historical proof for the existence of Jesus Christ, if you personally require such proof, please consider reading my article called "Proof for the Historical Jesus Christ". You will find it listed at the end of this same series, along with other related BBB articles. Simply click or tap on the link in order to be taken to the article.

If Jesus were to return today, not in power from Heaven with the Holy Angels, but just as He came two thousand years ago, -- that is to say, just as a regular human being -- I do not doubt for a moment that some modern skeptics would still put Him to the severest test. They too would demand signs of the miraculous, in order to prove His Divinity. I suspect that there would be plenty of accusations claiming that He is just one of so many modern charlatans. They would probably even require the King of Kings to submit Himself to a battery of laboratory tests. After all, science teaches us that the only things that are real, are those things which can be measured, tested, verified and reproduced in the lab. Such is the sad plight and state of the man who lacks faith, who always needs physical proof first before he will be convinced of anything, just like Thomas. However, please remember this Bible verse:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."


Of course, Jesus would never submit Himself to such earthly humiliations by sinful men. He did that once before for our sakes, and He is not going to do it again. So instead, some people demand apparitions, miracle cures, bleeding statues, strange lights in the sky, visions and voices, being slain in the spirit, gold dust in their churches, and other such nonsense; and that old serpent Satan is right there ready to fill their order for their next dose of strong delusion. So please beware! That vile serpentine deceiver has played the deception game for a very long time, and he's perfected his skill at snaring those people who foolishly let down their spiritual guard, and who demand signs from Heaven, due to their weak faith. Are you one of them? I hope not!

However, there will be no true sign given, until it is too late for this unbelieving, rebellious world. For when that sign comes, it will mark a period of Divine Judgement, as God strongly reveals His displeasure from Heaven, when His Wrath shall be poured out upon the world, and the ungodly shall all be burned up and swept away like chaff. Consider the following powerful Bible verses and be warned:

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."


"The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."


"How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away."


". . . he that cometh after me . . . will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."


"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God . . . For our God is a consuming fire."


"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."


"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"


"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."


"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"


"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb . . . And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God."


"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God . . . And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever."


"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth . . . And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."


"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."


"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."


"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."


Thus we see the final fate of all hardcore and incorrigible unbelievers. But thank God for His everlasting mercy as well; for He has made a way of escape for us through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please note that I am personally convinced by the Scriptures, and by the historical record itself, that some of the previous verses were fulfilled during the latter half of the First Century when God poured out His wrath upon the unbelieving Jews during the First Jewish-Roman War. They were in fact the "children of disobedience" of whom Apostle Paul speaks. Please refer to such series as "Vespasian, Titus and the Fall of Jerusalem" and "The Great Tribulation and the Rapture" for more details. Thanks!

To continue then, as if all of the aforementioned deceptive signs and lying wonders are not bad enough, similar to the Greeks of the First Century who listened with a large degree of skepticism to those things which the Apostle Paul boldly preached, many people today also desire to hear a new thing, no matter how far-fetched it may sound, and regardless of how much it may contradict the truth of the Holy Scriptures. As I mentioned earlier, Satan is more than happy to fulfill their order by the boatloads. Regarding the Greeks, I am referring to the following incident concerning the Apostle Paul that is recorded in the seventeenth chapter of the Book of Acts:

"Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)"


So, just like the Greeks of old who desired to hear something new, the modern rejection of God's Word has led to a plethora of false teachers -- including within our Christian faith -- so-called New Age spiritual gurus and channelers, phone line psychics, fake healers, alien and UFO fanatics, bogus miracle workers, astrologers and tarot card readers, and many other charlatans who teach new ideas, new ways and even new paths which they claim likewise lead to fulfillment, happiness and even salvation. Tragically, many are the naive and gullible folks who have fallen under their deceptive, powerful spell, and who have given these deceivers a listening ear.

Even former American president -- Barack Obama -- foolishly claimed that America is no longer just a Christian nation. Likewise, there are some famous celebrities -- such as Oprah Winfrey, for example -- who embrace the very misguided "many paths" mentality. I discuss Oprah Winfrey's deception in the series called "Apostasy of Oprah Winfrey: America's False Prophetess?". I'm reminded of something the Apostle Paul was inspired to write in his second Epistle to Timothy. Consider the following Bible verse:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"


In this day and age, people have itching ears for anything which will help them to block out the truth of God's Word. Sadly, the false teachers, gurus, holy men, channelers and false prophets are more than willing to fill the spiritual vacuum that has been created by those who have rejected the true Word of God. We have but to look at the ongoing debate between evolutionists and creationists to see how true this really is. Serious compromise, deception and strong delusion abound in many places, from ungodly educational institutions, to government agencies, to our places of worship, to online social networks and forums, to the publishing industry, to the vast entertainment industry in all its forms, to mailing lists and messaging apps, and to just about every place in between.

As we read in part one, Paul tells us in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians that this strong delusion results from people forsaking their love of the truth. There is simply no away around it, my friends. You either accept the truth of God's Word and choose to believe it and also live by it, or else you knowingly and willingly choose to be deceived. Let me share those verses with you again:

". . . because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved . . . and for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."


Please notice in those verses that Paul specifically states that it is our love of the truth which saves us. And exactly what is that truth? As every Bible-believing Christian knows, it is that contrary to the modern spirit of liberalism which claims that there are many ways and many paths which lead to Salvation, there's in fact only one way. That way is nothing less than the narrow path which leads through Jesus Christ. For our non-believing readers, please consider the following verses. They are but a small sampling of the many Scriptures which explain God's wonderful plan of Salvation, and describe the Sacrifice that Jesus Christ was willing to endure for our sakes, so that our relationship with our Heavenly Father can be restored:

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."


"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."


"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."


"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."


"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"


"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."


"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."


So as Jesus plainly states in the previous verses, not only is He the only Way to Salvation, but by making such a claim -- which is in fact true -- He is also letting us know that all of these other modern teachers, gurus, channelers, false prophets, psychics, tarot card readers and other charlatans who erroneously claim that there are many different ways and paths to Salvation, are in fact thieves and robbers. How so? Well, by stealing souls from God's Kingdom through deception, and in fact sending them straight on their way to their own destruction. In case you were not aware of it, both Jesus and the Apostle Paul made the very same accusations against the unbelieving Jews of their own day. If you don't believe it, then consider the following Bible verses:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are THIEVES AND ROBBERS: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."


"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: FOR YE NEITHER GO IN YOURSELVES, NEITHER SUFFER YE THEM THAT ARE ENTERING TO GO IN . . . Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."


"For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: FORBIDDING US TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost."


"And when they had brought them [the Apostles], they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, DID NOT WE STRAITLY COMMAND YOU THAT YE SHOULD NOT TEACH IN THIS NAME? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."


"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, HIS DISCIPLES CAME BY NIGHT, AND STOLE HIM AWAY WHILE WE SLEPT. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."


When the Prophet Jonah disobeyed the voice of the Lord, and failed to fulfill the mission of warning that God had given to him, he eventually found himself trapped in the belly of a great fish. It was only then, after God had dealt severely with him as he suffered in the belly of that fish for three days and three nights, that Jonah finally cried out in his desperation with the following anguishing words of profound truth and repentance:

"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy."


What a profound statement to make in the midst of his own suffering. It was like Jonah's confession to God. In modern terminology, it was like saying "Uncle!" to God. Jonah had realized his error, and he repented of his disobedience. In similar fashion, when a person, society or nation chooses to reject God's truth, and instead listens to the lying voices and deceptions of our spiritual enemy -- Satan, the adversary of God -- they are in essence rejecting the very mercy that God wishes to have upon them. It seems that God's mercy and protection are removed from those people who foolishly refuse to acknowledge His existence, and who reject the truth that is plainly revealed in His Word through His many Prophets, as well as by His own dear Son. In such a case, they become open targets for attacks from our spiritual enemy and his minions.

Please go to part three for the continuation of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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