THE NEW EVANGELIZATION AND THE COMING EUCHARISTIC REIGN OF JESUS

by Roger Oakland

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The Roman Catholic Church’s belief that the “presence” of Jesus Christ becomes manifest by the mystical process of transubstantiation during Mass has been foundational to their faith for centuries. [1] According to the Roman Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic priest supposedly has the authority and the power to conjure up the presence of the Creator of the universe from a wafer. In order to be a Roman Catholic, the church requires members to accept this belief and be obedient to it. There are no exceptions. [2]

While it is true that during the Reformation and Counter Reformation, many who refused to believe in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist died or were tortured for their disbelief, time has a way of allowing the facts of history to be forgotten. [3] It is also a fact there are even practicing Roman Catholics today who do not abide by the Church’s  proclaimed standard that they must believe the consecrated wafer is God and not just a symbol of remembrance. [4]

This, of course, was one of the major reasons for the “New Evangelization” program implemented by Pope John Paul II during his time of leadership. In April of 2003, the pope wrote an encyclical promoting the “New Evangelization” program for the purpose of “rekindling amazement” focussing on the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. [5] From that point on, I have been following the Roman Catholic agenda to win the world to the Roman Catholic Jesus.

However, it is apparent that many evangelical “Protestant” Christians are not aware of this agenda. Nor do they recognize that the Roman Catholic Jesus is a Jesus that requires a human priest to manifest his presence and offer each mass as an “unbloody sacrifice.” The Roman Catholic Eucharistic Jesus is not the same Jesus, who said “it is finished” when He died upon the cross at Calvary. [6]

There are others who seem have no problem with joining hands with Rome for the purpose of evangelization. For example, Nicky Gumbel, founder and head of the Holy Trinity Brompton based Alpha Program, literally joined hands with Pope John Paul II in Rome during an audience in February 2004, [7] and later declared "It was a great honor to be presented to Pope John Paul II, who has done so much to promote evangelization around the world ... [W]e can be united and proclaim this Jesus". [Source: Alpha News (UK), Mar - Jun 2004, p. 7] The Roman Catholic plan is to win the world to the Roman Catholic Jesus. Apparently Gumbel has no problem whatsoever with this agenda.

A Visit to Rome

The best possible education is first hand observation. Such was the case for me when I had the opportunity to visit Rome, Italy in June, 2006. I was invited as one of the speakers for a conference organized by Brent Harrell, pastor of Calvary Chapel Rome. The conference, titled “End Times Spiritual Deception” took place over three days (June 16-19, 2006) at the Elisha Theater, in the very heart of Rome. I arrived three days before the conference and stayed an additional two days following the conference to gather information relevant to various topics I have been researching.

While the first two days in Rome were somewhat difficult (my baggage arrived forty-eight hours later than I did), later I was to discover the reason for this situation. As I was having no success with the airline company locating my bags by phone after two days, I decided to take a taxi to the airport with an Italian speaking friend as my guide and check things out first hand. Sure enough, the bags were in storage at the airport. Apparently the airline was too busy locating other lost luggage to let me know that my luggage had been found.

Nevertheless, Scripture does say that “God does work all things together for good”. This certainly proved to be the case in this situation. On the way back to my hotel the taxi driver told us that Pope Benedict XVI would be celebrating Corpus Christi Day in front of the Major Church of Mary in downtown Rome later that evening.

For those not familiar with the meaning of Corpus Christi, the following explanation from the Catholic Encyclopedia will be helpful:

This feast is celebrated in the Latin Church on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday to solemnly commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

The instrument in the hand of Divine Providence was St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon, in Belgium. She was born in 1193 at Retines near Liège. Orphaned at an early age, she was educated by the Augustinian nuns of Mont Cornillon. Here she in time made her religious profession and later became superioress. Intrigues of various kinds several times drove her from her convent. She died 5 April, 1258, at the House of the Cistercian nuns at Fosses, and was buried at Villiers. Juliana, from her early youth, had a great veneration for the Blessed Sacrament, and always longed for a special feast in its honor. This desire is said to have been increased by a vision of the Church under the appearance of the full moon having one dark spot, which signified the absence of such a solemnity. [8]

While history may show Corpus Christi Day was initiated by a nun who was inspired by the moon, the Bible is silent when it comes to the practice of having a special day to venerate the Blessed Sacrament. In fact the idea that Jesus, the Creator of the universe, can be manifest in a wafer requiring the intervention of a priest, then placed in a container and worshipped and adored is not in the Bible. The Scriptures clearly warn that promoting idolatry precipitates God’s hand of judgment.

Before my trip to Rome, I was aware of Corpus Christ Day but never had the opportunity to witness the celebration first hand. If I had not lost my luggage, I wouldn’t have known about this event going on in Rome. Larry and I had plenty of time after returning to my hotel to find our way to the Major Church of Mary and take a front row position to witness Corpus Christi live in Rome.

A Roman Revelation

Larry and I stood patiently waiting the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI. We were corralled like cattle behind a steel fence barrier erected to separate the common people from the Roman Catholic Church authorities. This included hundreds of secret service men and women who were constantly monitoring the masses for potential problems.

Finally after almost three hours of standing and waiting, the pope and his entourage arrived. The pope was carrying the Eucharistic Jesus in a monstrance. Earlier that day during a mass at St. Peter’s, this “Eucharistic Jesus” had been conjured up from a wafer that had been “consecrated.” Later in the day this same “Jesus” was transported to St. John’s for another ceremony. Finally, for a finale, “Jesus” was arriving at the Major Church of Mary.

The pope took the monstrance that was with him in the pope mobile, ascended the stairs of the church, and held “Jesus” up for the masses to see. Then this “Jesus” was placed upon an altar temporarily erected at the top of the steps. A cardinal then opened the glass window of the monstrance, removed the consecrated wafer (“Jesus”) and hustled him inside the church where he placed this “Jesus” in a tabernacle.

The rest of my time in Rome was equally as interesting. I had the opportunity to visit three churches where the Eucharistic Christ who was placed on display in a monstrance – first at St. John’s, second at the Major Church of Mary, and third at a chapel at St. Peter’s. As I watched the people silently staring at a monstrance, it became very evident to me how convinced these faithful were that “Jesus” was present.

What was so amazing to me was the fact that I was in Rome, and that I had been asked to speak at a conference on the subject of End Times spiritual deception, dealing with the very things that I was observing. Further, while in Rome a number of very significant statements were made by the pope and other well known Catholic leaders stressing the importance of the Eucharist. It was like I had been displaced in time and space. The New Evangelization program I had been researching for years was clearly underway in Rome and being demonstrated before my eyes.

Orders from Headquarters

Seeing the New Evangelization program close up and in action in Rome was amazing. However, there was more. Since becoming aware of the Roman Catholic Church’s plan to win the world to the Eucharistic Jesus I had become a regular subscriber of the Zenit News Agency receiving their daily reports from Rome. Now while visiting Rome, Zenit was close to home. I was in the very city Zenit was reporting the news from. In the case of the Corpus Christi celebration, I was able to see the event in action and then read later from Zenit what I had seen. It seemed somewhat surreal.

For example, here is what the pope said to a large crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square on the 18^th of June about the Corpus Christi celebration that I had observed just three days earlier:

Today, in Italy and in other countries, the solemnity of Corpus Christi is being celebrated, which already had its intense moment in Rome in the city's procession on Thursday (June 15^th). It is the solemn and public feast of the Eucharist, sacrament of the body and blood of Christ: On this day, the mystery instituted in the Last Supper and commemorated every year on Holy Thursday, is presented to all, surrounded by the faith and devotion of the ecclesial community.

The Eucharist is, in fact, the "treasure" of the Church, the precious heritage that her Lord has left her. And the Church guards this heritage with the greatest care, celebrating it daily in the holy Mass, adoring it in churches and chapels, distributing it to the sick, and as viaticum to those on their last journey. [9]

Certainly these words make my point clear. The Eucharist is the heart and the “treasure” of the Roman Catholic faith. The entire church is centered on believing “Jesus” materializes when a wafer is consecrated by a priest.

However, the pope had more to say. The statement that follows is profound. You will see that the pope hints at something very evangelistic that is coming in the future. Not only is there an agenda to encourage Roman Catholics to draw closer to the Eucharistic Jesus, there seems to be a hint there will be converts to the Roman Catholic Eucharistic Jesus in the future as well. The pope said:

However, this treasure, which is destined for those who are baptized, does not exhaust its radius of action in the ambit of the Church: the Eucharist is the Lord Jesus who gives himself "for the life of the world" (John 6:51). At all times and in all places, he wishes to encounter man and give him God's life.

And not only this -- the Eucharist also has cosmic value: The transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ constitutes, in fact, the principle of divinization of creation itself. This is why the feast of Corpus Christi is characterized particularly by the tradition of carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession, a gesture full of meaning. By carrying the Eucharist through the streets and squares, we wish to submerge the bread descended from heaven in the everyday of our lives; we want Jesus to walk where we walk; to live where we live. Our world, our lives, must become his temple. [10]

The pope made an additional statement in his address that reflects the importance of the role that “Mary” the “Mother of the Eucharistic Christ” plays as one of the major pillars of the Roman Catholic faith. Echoing similar words issued by his predecessor Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI also suggested that praying to “Mary” would help “all Christians” draw closer to the Eucharistic Christ:

Mary is the "Eucharistic woman," as Pope John Paul II described her in his encyclical "Ecclesia de Eucharistia." Let us pray to the Virgin that all Christians may deepen their faith in the Eucharistic mystery, so that they live in constant communion with Jesus and are his valid witnesses. [11]

The Eucharistic Jesus is Mystical

Another article posted by Zenit with regard to Corpus Christi also caught my attention. Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the Pontifical Household, on the gospel reading of the liturgy at the feast Corpus Christi, stated:

I believe that the most necessary thing to do on the feast of Corpus Christi is not to explain some aspect of the Eucharist, but to revive wonder and marvel before the mystery. [12]

In my opinion, it is this willingness to place mystery and mystical experience as the foundation of the Christian faith that has the potential to win the world to a Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible. Especially, if this “Jesus,” (the Eucharistic Jesus that the Roman Catholic Church promotes), is associated with the miraculous such as people being healed.

The Eucharistic Jesus is Evangelistic

Think about this. What if the Eucharistic Jesus that Roman Catholics believe can be worshiped and adored, miraculously started healing those who adored his presence? Would this be a great attraction bringing converts into the Roman Catholic Church? As Peter Kreeft predicted in his book Ecumenical Jihad, it will be Eucharistic adoration that will unite the world’s religions. [13]

Is it possible the world is being prepared?

Raniero Cantalamessa (also called pastor to the pope) would be more than willing to introduce the Roman Catholic Eucharistic Jesus to the separated brethren (non Roman Catholics). On several occasions he has been keynote speaker for Nicky Gumbel’s Alpha program. It is at these meetings that Cantalamessa has introduced Alpha leaders and participants to the Catholic view of the sacraments, the saints, and Mary, the Queen of Heaven. [14]

Is it possible that unsuspecting evangelical Protestants will soon be the target of the “New Evangelization” program?

Rekindling Amazement

For now, we will concentrate on how the “New Evangelization” program plans to revitalize the Roman Catholic faith by “rekindling amazement” centered on the Eucharistic Jesus.

It is not just the pope and the pastor to the pope who are enthusiastic about this refocusing of attention, cardinals, bishops and priests all over the world are jumping on the band wagon. There is something very significant underway. Eucharistic adoration is becoming more and more popular as the foundation for Eucharistic evangelization. 

For example, consider an article titled “Exploring a Catholic Rite” that was published in the USA on June 19, 2006, while I was in Rome. Here is how the article began:

The Diocese of Rockville Centre wrapped up a series of special events aimed at rekindling Catholic faith on Long Island yesterday with a Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral, where Cardinal Edward Egan of New York offered a vivid lesson in the meaning of one of the church's central rituals.

"Our God is present on that altar -- body, blood, soul and divinity," Egan said, referring to the ritual of the Eucharist, in which worshipers consume consecrated bread and wine that Catholic theology holds to be the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. As he spoke to the 1,200 worshipers packed into the Rockville Centre church, Egan did not shy away from the difficulties he said the more graphic aspects of these beliefs may present to newcomers. Egan said Christ in his time was "fiercely clear" in offering followers "his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. [15]

So, while leaders in Rome were calling for a renewed devotion to the Eucharistic Jesus, a cardinal in the USA was echoing the same message in order to reeducate the faithful about the true meaning of “one of the Church’s central rituals.” 

This reeducation which is so necessary to the New Evangelization program is underway worldwide. Adoration of the “Blessed Sacrament” has become a necessary component of being a Roman Catholic. I have personally attended chapels located within large Catholic churches worldwide where Eucharistic adoration was underway in Peru, Ecuador, England, Italy, and Mexico.

The following article titled “Joyful pupils listen to Jesus: Red Deer students listen to Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration”, describing how children attending a Catholic school in Canada are being taught to “adore” the Eucharistic Jesus will provide some insight into how effective this program has become and what to expect in the future:

The news came from the joyous outcry of the children, from youngest to eldest, in St. Elizabeth Seton Elementary School. It proclaimed that Jesus, the real Jesus, was coming into the heart of our school to speak to the heart of our souls. Jesus, Emmanuel . . . God-With-Us . . . the real Jesus.

Some children dressed up just for him. Some children pondered what Jesus might say to them. Some children skipped into their mother's arms, speaking of such a wonder.

The inaudible news came from the heart of Jesus himself, speaking into the hearts of the organizers: urging us on, holding us up, helping us to be bold disciples of Christ. Be not afraid! That was Pope John Paul II's call. Jesus, with these words, was guiding us the entire way!

God is so good. So very, very good.

So we worked on:

• Teaching the children about Jesus' real presence in the Eucharist.
• Preparing our hearts to be listening hearts, so we might hear his words to us.
• Asking the children what songs of worship they would like to sing to him.
• Transforming our library, the physical heart of our school, into a throne room for our Jesus. [16]

The Jesus of the Bible

So what about this Roman Catholic Jesus the New Evangelization program seems to be winning converts to? Is this the Jesus of the Bible, or is there a possibility that this “Jesus” is the “Jesus” that the Jesus Christ of the Bible warned would be manifest in the days that would occur before His second coming? 

In order to find out, we can do a quick survey of the scriptures. Jesus Christ can be found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament prophesied of the coming Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The Bible predicted that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. [17] He would be born of a virgin. [18] He would be fully God and fully Man. [19] He would be of the seed of Abraham. [20] He would be a descendant of King David. [21] He would live a sinless life. [22] He would be crucified and die for our sins. [23] He would rise from the dead. [24] He would ascend to heaven. [25]

The New Testament and history confirms that Jesus fulfilled all these prophecies and many more. We are also told that after Jesus rose from the dead He appeared bodily to His disciples and many others before ascending bodily to heaven:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.[26]

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. [27]

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [28]

The Word of God states that Jesus is currently at the right hand of the Father and that He is coming again:

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. [29]

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. [30]

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” [31]

Second Coming or Manifestation?

The previous statements about Jesus are all supported by Scripture. However, despite the overwhelming evidence, not everyone who claims to be a Christian agrees with the literal interpretation of these Bible verses. In particular, there are those who believe Jesus will manifest in His Eucharistic presence before He rules and reigns in His glorified body.

It is for this reason, we want to examine what role the Eucharistic Christ may play with regard to the Second Coming of Jesus and the last days. The Bible clearly teaches that the Second Coming of Christ will be in a moment of time and that every person on earth will simultaneously witness Jesus return:

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. [32]

However, teachings associated with the Eucharistic Christ appear to be preparing the world for an alternative Second Coming scenario often called the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus.

Apparitions of “Jesus”

Michael Brown is an investigative journalist. His conversion experience took place in 1983. Since that date he has visited twenty-five sites of alleged Marian apparitions around the world. He has authored numerous books and his articles have appeared in periodicals such as Reader’s Digest, New York Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, Discover, and The New York Times. [33]

Brown’s web site is Spirit Daily. Each day he posts articles that relate to current events and his view of Bible prophecy. Many of his commentaries deal with topics related to Marian apparitions and the role he believes these apparitions play in preparing the world for what lies ahead. Brown also writes extensively on the topic of the Eucharist and conveys the message that we are about to enter into a new era characterized by what is known as the Eucharistic Reign of Christ.

On July 1, 2003, Spirit Daily posted two articles dealing with the subject of Christ and the future. One article was titled “Manifestation of Jesus Could Take Form That’s Similar to Full-Scale Apparitions.” This is how the article began:

It would be something, wouldn’t it? A report that Jesus was appearing in some remote place—just as Mary is appearing. We can only imagine the effect that would have. We can only imagine the flood of pilgrims.

Already we know what happened when the Blessed Mother appeared at Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugorje. Thousands and then millions—tens of millions, at each of those places—rushed to feel the grace associated with what theologians classify as first-tier “corporeal” apparitions.

They were not simple visions. They were not fleeting manifestations. They were first-tier apparitions—and how much more grace would there be if there was to be a first-class corporeal apparition of Jesus?

Such has never occurred, not since the Ascension. Yes, there have been many countless visions of the Lord, and He has been seen, allegedly, by countless individual mystics. [34]

Brown made his point clear. While Marian apparitions have been common and widespread, not a single “first-class corporeal” apparition of Christ can be documented. As Brown summarized:

No, He has been in the background, waiting for a much larger manifestation. It is like she has been preparing the way. It is like her appearances are a forerunner of how He will one day appear. At the same time we have to be cautious: if there is such an apparition, might it be a deception? Might it be what Scripture warns us about when it says not to heed those who say Christ is appearing here or there or in the desert? [35]

Manifestations of “Christ”

While Michael H. Brown is obviously aware of the Scriptures found in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew warning about false appearances of Christ in relation to the Second Coming, it appears he does not take these warnings very seriously. On the same day, he posted a second article titled “Predictions Provoke Key Question: Do We Face Second Coming or a Manifestation?” In this article Brown provides an interesting scenario for the Second Coming that clearly points to the Eucharistic Christ:

What might be meant by a "manifestation"? We're prompted to pose those questions due to the flurry of prophecies during the past twenty years and recent predictions that Jesus will soon manifest or even formally return. In our minds the key question: Which is likeliest—a manifestation or His actual Second Coming?…Will there be a multiplication of His alleged apparitions? Will there be an enhanced power (as well as miracles) associated with the Blessed Sacrament?  [36]

Brown goes on to answer his own question, clarifying how he believes “Jesus” might appear here on planet earth in the future. While up until now, Marian apparitions have been commonplace, he suggests that similar kinds of appearances of Christ could happen in the future. He writes:

Right now such manifestations are mainly associated with the Blessed Mother. Will they soon be predominately associated with Christ Himself? Will the day come when an image of Christ will miraculously appear (in the same way as the famed image of Guadalupe) or will He appear in the same way that Mary has appeared at places such as Lourdes, Medjugorje, and Fatima—in apparition? [37]

According to Brown, manifestations of this “apparitional Jesus” would have a tremendous impact on the world and the world’s religions. Further, he suggests that a Catholic “seer” by the name of Maria Esperanza has predicted that Jesus will come in a form that many do not expect:

Might this be what will happen? Will Christ soon appear to people in various parts of the world as He did for those forty days following His Resurrection? We wonder because already there are reports of Muslims receiving dreams of Jesus, and at another Church-approved site, in Venezuela, at Betania (which means Bethany),  seer Maria Esperanza has recently  predicted  that Jesus will come in a way  that is  "very  different" than many conceive. [38]

Then Brown makes another key point. He clarifies that this “manifestation theory” fits the Catholic position on the Second Coming. This Roman Catholic view rejects the belief held by many Evangelical Christians that Christ will literally return and rule here on earth for one thousand years. Brown writes:

This reminds us of the biblical admonition that He will come as a “thief in the night”—and again hints, perhaps, more at a series of supernatural manifestations than the Final Coming—contrary to many evangelical beliefs that He will come as an actual flesh-and-blood messiah to literally rule the earth for a thousand years. That conception is rejected by the Catholic Church. [39]

Though the literal reign of Christ for 1000 years on earth is rejected by the Catholic Church, the 20^th chapter of the Book of Revelation is very clear. The literal millennial reign of Jesus is clearly described in this chapter: “And they [believers] lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

Eucharistic Manifestations

Sadly, Brown and many others look more to apparitional messages than the Word of Truth. Michael Brown confirms that his manifestation theory is based on apparitional messages. The “Mary” who often calls herself the Mother of the Eucharist, predicts she will herald the coming reign of her son, the Eucharistic Christ. As Brown states:

At Medjugorje the Madonna allegedly told seers on January 8, 1984: "Do not think that Jesus is going to manifest Himself again in the manger; friends, He is born in your hearts." Does this hint at a Eucharistic manifestation, a spiritual renewal, which is also prophesied (as beginning shortly) by Maria Esperanza? "The same way He resurrected—that is how God is going to appear to you, to me, in that way, as an apparition," asserts the famous mystic, although we are left to discern if this is a formal coming or, again, a manifestation. [40]

The scenario that Michael Brown proposes regarding the Second Coming of Jesus is not unique. Over the past several years I have discovered there are many others who advocate a similar scenario.

In an article found on the perpetualadoration.org web site, we read that:

Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi, OSJ agrees that Christ will reign gloriously on earth, not physically, but in the Eucharist. In his book The Triumph of God’s Kingdom in the Millennium and End Times: A Proper Belief from the Truth in Scripture and Church Teachings, he argues from the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, from the Magisterium, and from Sacred Scripture that there will be a flowering of Christ’s kingdom on earth which will last for a period of time, not necessarily a literal thousand years, during which Christ will reign gloriously on earth, not physically, but in the Eucharist. During this period he says that the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus will “cultivate in the faithful a spirit of intense adoration and worship never before seen.” Perhaps the spread of perpetual adoration we are seeing is a sign of more to come! [41]

The World’s Greatest Secret Revealed

While there are still many professing Christians who may not be aware, the public relations program for the New Evangelization has begun and will continue in the future. The revelation of the Roman Catholic Jesus is becoming more and more evident.

Further, it is also apparent the Roman Catholic Church’s program to evangelize the world to the Eucharistic Christ is being made public for all to see. A number of books have been written recently by Catholic authors revealing what is happening and where the New Evangelization program will be headed in the future.

For example, Thomas W. Petrisko has written a book titled Mother of the Secret: From Eucharistic Miracles to Marian Apparitions Heaven Has Sought to Illuminate and Defend What Was Once the Church’s Greatest Secret. [42] Petrisko’s book explains what is meant by the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus. While Petrisko maintains the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist has always been a sacred belief of the Roman Catholic Church, the time is soon coming, he believes, when the entire world will witness Christ’s Eucharistic reign.

As an overview, we can examine a statement made on the back cover of Petrisko’s book:

In Mother of the Secret, Dr. Thomas W. Petrisko traces for us the exciting history of this important part of our faith. And he reveals how what was once the Church’s greatest secret is about to become the cornerstone of a glorious new era, an era in which Jesus Christ will soon come to reign throughout the world in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. [43]

Further, to clarify what Petrisko means by the “glorious new era in which Jesus Christ will come to reign throughout the world in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist,” he states:

Visionaries foretell that mankind will move from a secular agnostic, practically atheistic realm into a world that basks in the reality of God and belief in the presence of the supernatural. The prophets say that mankind will then thrive on secure faith and confidence in this reality, for true peace will rule and the Church will reign supreme. Most notably, many Catholic visionaries insist that the world will at last come to deeply understand the power, the mercy and the grace that is available in the miraculous True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. [44]

Petrisko believes that “Mary” the mother of Jesus, will play a crucial role in the conversion process that must occur if the world is going to embrace the Eucharistic Reign of Christ. This apparitional woman has been announcing that there is a “new era” ahead in which the Eucharistic Christ will bring peace to the world. Petrisko states:

According to the Virgin Mary, it is particularly the faith in this Eucharistic nourishment which will effect the greatest changes in this new era. Mary says that much of the world will not only come to believe this mystery, but also will partake in it. Indeed, it is said that the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary during our times will gloriously lead the world into a new era of true peace. At that time, the Holy Eucharist will be better known, appreciated and treasured. It will be a reign not just within the Church and individual lives, but in whole nations. Thus, the infinite power and grace available in the Eucharist will no longer be the world’s greatest secret! [45] 

The New Era

Given Petrisko’s preceding scenario, it is clear that he believes the Eucharistic Christ along with the “Mother of the Eucharist” will soon play a major role in evangelizing the world to the Roman Catholic Church. Petrisko summarizes his vision of the future by quoting a statement made by Father Martin Lucia in an article written for the journal Immaculata:

The message of all the Marian apparitions, both past and present, is that the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will culminate in the Eucharistic reign of the Sacred Heat of Jesus. The Eucharistic reign will come through perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. [46]

There are numerous others who support the idea that the Mother of the Eucharist and the Eucharistic Christ will soon manifest and rule and reign over the entire world. Ted and Maureen Flynn are the authors of The Thunder of Justice, [47] which investigates the prophetic side of messages coming from the Queen of Heaven. In their book, they state:

As John the Baptist prepared the way for the first coming of Jesus. Mary prepares the way for His Second Coming. Mary proclaims that a new world and era is upon us, and the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart and the Second Pentecost (the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) will usher in the Reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Blessed Mother spoke through Father Gobbi on October 13, 1990 about the glorious reign of Jesus and His Second Coming: “The glorious reign of Christ, which will be established in your midst and the Second Coming of Jesus into the world is close at hand. This is His return in glory. This is His glorious return, to establish His reign in your midst and to bring all humanity, redeemed by His Most Precious Blood, back to the state of His new terrestrial paradise. That which is being prepared is so great that its equal has never existed since the creation of the world.” [48]

Global Reign

Is the last sentence of the above quote simply the dream of a few fringe Catholics? Consider the following. Father Don Stefano Gobbi is the head of the Marian Movement of Priests. Over 100,000 of the world’s 400,000 Catholic priests are members of this organization. The Marian Movement of Priests has compiled a book containing hundreds of messages reportedly given to Father Gobbi from “Mary”. Here is one example:

Because in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present, He remains ever with you, and this presence of His will become increasingly stronger, will shine over the whole earth like a sun and will mark the beginning of a New Era. The coming of the glorious reign of Christ will coincide with the greatest splendor of the Eucharist. Christ will restore His glorious reign in the universal triumph of His Eucharistic reign, which will unfold in all its power and will have the capacity to change hearts, souls, individuals, families, societies and the very structure of the world. [49]

In our book Another Jesus? The Eucharistic Christ and the New Evangelization we have documented (chapter 4) that the Catholic Eucharistic Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. However, many Catholic authors, visionaries, and the pope himself, seem to place more weight on apparitions, experiences, and Church traditions, than they do on the Word of God. When we ignore God’s warnings and accept extra-biblical revelations without testing them by the Bible, we are vulnerable to all manner of deception.

Bud MacFarlane Jr. is the author of the best-selling Catholic novel Pierced By A Sword. In this book, Mr. MacFarlane paints an amazingly detailed picture of end-time events, based not on the Bible, but mainly on apparitions, visionaries, and Church dogmas. Below is an excerpt:

Within one year, on a Thursday, in the mountain village of Garabandal, Spain, a giant cross appeared in the sky above the pines. It was the Great Miracle of Garabandal. Millions present were instantly healed of mental and physical infirmities, as prophesied. The Cross was two stories tall, surrounded by an illuminated cloud, and was suspended thirty feet in the air above a patch of pine trees. Satellite television beamed its image around the world. People could walk up to it, look at it, but could feel nothing when they reached out to touch it.

It was similar to the Cross that every person on the face of the earth had seen during the Great Warning. There was one difference: there was no corpus on the Garabandal Cross. Suspended above it was a Sacred Host. Streams of heavenly red and white light came forth from the Host. The Body of the Risen Christ. The misty cloud illuminated the Cross and Sacred Host at night.

The Cross remains there to this day. Over two billion pilgrims came from all over the world to see it in person.…In addition, everyone “met” the Immaculate Conception, Mary, at the foot of the Cross during their Warnings. [50]

Similar scenarios are given by scores of apparitions and believed on by millions of followers. Many additional sources could be quoted showing how professing Christians are being misled by apparitional messages, unreliable experiences, and unbiblical teachings.

What Does the Future Hold?

As previously stated, the Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected from the dead, and then ascended into heaven to prepare a place for all those who will place their trust in Him alone. While He presently dwells in heaven, He will return. In the Book of Acts we are given details concerning Jesus’ bodily ascension from the Mount of Olives into heaven. As Luke recorded:

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” [51]

Note the clarity of the words that are used. This “same Jesus” who departed planet earth for heaven, “will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Is there any way the Second Coming of Christ could be confused with future “manifestations” of a false christ appearing in churches worldwide?

Jesus Himself stated exactly how He would return. His return at the Second Coming will be seen by all. In Matthew 24 we read:

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [52]

The apostle John reiterated this truth in the Book of Revelation: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” [53]

Notice that every person alive on the planet will witness the glorious appearance and return of Jesus Christ to earth. There is no possible way such a majestic appearance of Jesus Christ at the Second Coming could ever be compared to the so-called appearances of the Eucharistic Christ we are being told will someday transform the world.

Warning of Deception

Only those who rely on apparitions or private revelations or signs and wonders, could be deceived by Eucharistic manifestations. Only those who do not love and know God’s Word, the Word of Truth, [54] could be persuaded to believe that Eucharistic manifestations were equivalent to, or would precede His Second Coming. Paul’s statement to the Thessalonians seems to fit well with this scenario:

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [55]

Conclusion

We have looked at the call by the current and former popes for a “New Evangelization” centered on the Christ’s supposed presence in the Eucharist through which the world may be drawn to the Roman Catholic Church. We have reviewed how current events, the renewed emphasis on the importance of adoring the Eucharist, mystical appearances of “Mary” and “Jesus” and associated miracles are being viewed as the means of ushering in the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus.

We have also examined some of the claims that are being made by Catholic mystics regarding how they expect the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus to unfold. Further, we have also seen how the Bible helps to understand why all of this is taking place and where this deception will lead in the future.

We have also proclaimed the True Christ that is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and what His coming reign will be like. Once again we see that the Roman Catholic Jesus, the one that is manifest through wafers and apparitions, is not the Jesus of the Bible.

What’s at stake here? Nothing? Everything? Eternal Life?

To believe in a lie, no matter how sincerely, can lead to a lost eternity separated forever from the true presence of God.

God, however, is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance in believing the truth. The Bible is the truth, pointing to the true Jesus in whom alone is eternal life.

Let us heed God’s Word.

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