New Israeli Law

Little notice has been taken m the secular press of a private member's bill on "Enticement to change Religion" which has been rushed through the Israeli Knesset. The bill, however, has been strongly criticized by some leading Jews who claim it to be 'a breach of human rights'. In the religious press fears have been expressed that although the law applies to all religions it may place in danger Christian believers in Israel who engage in acts of charity towards Jews. For example, even the gift of a Bible might be construed as an 'inducement' and incur a heavy penalty. All depends on how the law is administered.

In the Jewish Chronicle a regular well-known contributor has dubbed the bill "a squalid little measure" and says that it will be a "reproach to Israel" so long as it remains on the statute book. Let us hope that Israeli Christians and those who witness to Christ in Israel will not be hampered by the passage of this bill:

H. L. Ellison, an acknowledged authority on Jewish affairs, writes, "There is little hope of it being repealed, so long as the present government is in power, but it may well be that the widespread publicity being given to it will cause it to become a dead letter".

Terrorism In Italy

At the time of writing the long drawn-out ordeal of Italy's former

Premier, Signor Aldo Moro, kidnapped by guerillas, remains unresolved.

The circumstances of Signor Moro's abduction by the guerillas, who shot dead his five bodyguards, were horrifying. In a country where violence is commonplace this particular case has exposed the cancer which threatens the body politic. Not only in Italy but throughout the civilized world the menace of intimidation by terrorists at all levels has become a major governmental concern.

There is widespread sympathy for Signor Moro's wife and family in their deep distress, and with the Italian government's agonizing dilemma in dealing with this and similar kidnappings prevalent in Italy in recent times. Christians everywhere will not fail in supplication at the throne of grace for a favourable result from efforts being made to secure Signor Moro's release unharmed. No doubt by the time this note is in print the case will have been resolved one way or the other. (Readers will now be aware that Signor Moro was brutally murdered by the terrorists. Eds.)

Roman Mariolatry

As was to be expected the Roman pontiff, who was a close friend of Signor Moro, made a strong plea to the kidnappers to release their captive, and appealed to Roman Catholics everywhere to pray to that end. His message included this significant passage: "We cannot isolate ourselves from the dramatic events which involve the social life and the country's most important representatives. We do not despair, we hope and pray that the Queen of Heaven will answer our prayers for the release of Signor Moro" (our italics).

We draw the attention of readers to the import of this comment by Pope Paul, and to its bearing on the ecumenical dialogue. It provides further confirming evidence, if such were required, that, contrary to much subtle propaganda, the basic dogmas of the Roman Church remain inviolate. The Queen of Heaven was the title applied to the goddess worshipped by the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians (see Jer. 44:17-25). To designate Mary the Queen of Heaven, with its pagan concept of a female intermediary between God and men, is a blatant repudiation of divine revelation. Scripture states categorically:

"There is one God, one mediator also between God and men, Himself man, Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

Along with the rest of Israel's righteous dead Mary awaits the glad day of resurrection when she will stand in her lot, at the end of the days (Dan. 12:13). There is in Holy Scripture no vestige of support for the fable that she holds any mediatorial office whatsoever.

In The Two Babylons (long out of print, but recently republished) Alexander Hislop set forth with vast learning the undeniable connexion between Babylonian paganism and Roman Catholicism. The comment of Pope Paul referred to above endorses Hislop's main thesis. If any readers of Needed Truth are influenced by the argument of the ecumenists that Rome is moving away from her ancient dogmas here is authoritative evidence to the contrary.

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A correction

One of our readers, Mr L.A. White, of Romford, Essex, England, has written to us regarding a statement which appeared in June COMMENT. Under the caption, "Roman Mariolatry", we commented: 'Along with the rest of Israel's righteous dead Mary awaits the glad day of resurrection when she will stand in her lot, at the end of the days' (Dan. 12:13). Mr White writes: 'Mary was among the one hundred and twenty awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, the nucleus of the church of God in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14,15). Consequently she must be in the Church the Body. Galatians 3:28 teaches, I judge, that Mary, because she is in the Church the Body of Christ, ceases to be a Jewess and will be raised with us at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18), i.e. before the Great Tribulation and not with Daniel and Jeremiah after the Great Tribulation'.

Our correspondent is quite right, of course. We share with him the view that the words, "each in his own order'; (1 Cor. 15:23), indicate that all the dead will not be raised at the same time. The first group to be raised will comprise the members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, and this will take place at the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). We also accept that Mary, the mother of the Lord, became a member of that Church on the day of Pentecost and will therefore be raised with that group. Israel's righteous dead of former ages will not be raised until after the Great Tribulation (Rev. 11:15-18). We much regret the misleading statement in June COMMENT and are grateful to our brother for bringing it to our notice so that the matter could be clarified.

On reflection, it is a thrilling prospect that the rapture of the Church will bring not only the glorious meeting with the Master whom not having seen we love, it will also be the occasion of meeting the valiant few, Mary among them, who were together on the memorable day of Pentecost. To them, under God, we owe an inestimable debt: with them we are united in bonds eternal. They are among the "cloud of witnesses" who "walked the way of God, and gained the promised rest". What joyous communion awaits us as we share memories of our earthly pilgrimage!

"Bright the prospect soon to greet us Of that longed-for nuptial day,

When from heaven He comes to meet us, On His kingly conquering way.

Then the Bridegroom

And the Bride shall reign for aye."

unknown | Jun 1978
Comment By Torchlight