R8O

You all know the big dogs that carry rum to save Swiss or alpine skiers caught in a storm or some other trouble. That is not the St. Bernard I am contemplating but you might think this St. Bernard to be an even bigger dog once you get to know him.

“The intellectual and institutional evolution of these reform movements during the almost exactly one thousand years between Benedict of Nursia (who founded the monastery of Monte Cassino in about 529) and Martin Luther (who entered the monastery of the Augustinian Hermits at Erfurt in 1505) is a story of inestimable importance for the history of Europe and of the world. (13) Over and over, it was the primitive model of Christ as Monk, and of the monk as the imitator of the model, that animated these reform movements. There is in some ways a depressing repetition of pattern, as each monastic reform in its turn protests against decline and stagnation in the monasteries, sets up new administrative and disciplinary structures to reverse the downward trend, prevails for a century or two, and then proves itself vulnerable to the same tendencies of stagnation and decline. Benedict of Aniane in the Carolingian period; Odo of Cluny and the Cluniac reform movement a century or so later; about a century after that the monastic reformation that began at Citeaux, which through the powerful life and Christocentric thought of Saint Bernard spread the Cistercian message throughout Europe; then the friars of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in their new dedication to the renewal; and, in reaction to the Protestant Reformation and under the inspiration of an intensified Christ-mysticism in sixteenth-century Spain, the Society of Jesus.” (14)

How much is Pelikan aware of in regards to the Alumbrados, Hibernian (Cathar/Troubadour), Iona Druidic sell-out and other higher order intrigues within the Luciferian or Heliopolitan through line since Tuthmosis III? I have addressed these things in many ways in other books and this book is going to try to flesh some of it out in greater detail. But clearly the Reformation did not just happen when the anti-Semite Luther saw a problem with popery and the other trappings of power. His image of Christ as monk is similar to the far more disciplined Monastic Order of Iona or ‘The Isle of Druids’ which had large operations in the area of Greece as well as Ireland where the likes of St. Columba were taught. Iona maintained this high discipline over four centuries at least and I would not be surprised if it was then co-opted into the Cistercian Order. But John Dominic Crossan points out that Christ was a Cynic and wore the garb of the Cynic. Still one can see the Cynic is like the Druid too. In all cases they are indeed more mystical.

13) From Jesus Through The Centuries, op. cit.{Jaroslav Pelikan of Yale}, pgs. 116-7 we have, The chapters “The Religious Orders” and “Fringe Orders and Anti-Orders” in Richard W. Southern, Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages, vol. 2 of the Pelican History of the Church (Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1970). pp. 214-358, occupy nearly half of that small book.

14) Ibid.

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine

Guest ‘expert’ at World-Mysteries.com

When the time had come for Jews to return to Zion, God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus and the Jews (Ezra 1:1,5). Not everyone was willing to leave Babylon, having settled in, but others inspired with a pioneer spirit were willing to go back home and clear the way for those who would eventually follow (Jer. 29: 4-7).

Those Jews who stayed behind in Babylon were encouraged to assist those who were headed for the front line. Their consequent generosity went down on record, and revealed how eager and willing they were to be involved in such a historic project and holy mission. This partnership, based on a mutual respect, in GOD’S WORK OF RESTORATION, revealed they understood how some are COMMISSIONED to build with the materials others are contracted to provide. It’s most encouraging to know others are behind you and that God blesses everyone’s genuine efforts (2 Corinthians 9:10).

Now God’s time has come to RESTORE THE TRUE GOSPEL TO JERUSALEM! The Church of God began in Jerusalem and was prophesied to return just before the close of this dark age and the dawn of the Wonderful World Tomorrow (Matthew 24:16). The Jews were the first to be offered salvation and now they’ll be the last to receive it - but they will receive it (Zechariah 12:10). Everything has come full circle (Matthew 23:39).

Read here what Mr. Armstrong taught:

“How are we preparing the way for Christ’s Messianic coming? In three ways:

1) by proclaiming and publishing worldwide the gospel of the Kingdom of God…

2) by making ready a people for His coming… And

3) something that even I did not realize until recently we were also COMMISSIONED to do - clean up the filth and rubble in that area that was the original Jerusalem and City of David… Why is that important? Because Christ has said He will yet choose Jerusalem… His throne will be there. Do you not suppose it will be in the very spot He chose for David’s throne? Where was David’s throne? It was on this very spot where we are now cleaning up and hauling off the rubble of century after century of accumulation… That is the spot we are cleaning up!

So there is a physical preparing, as well as a spiritual, in preparing the way for Messiah’s Coming! Further, God says we are to SHOUT [not shut up], with amplified power, to the CITIES OF JUDAH the glad message that the Messiah is soon coming” - Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Volume II, pages 469-470 (emphasis mine).

Isaiah 40:9

9 O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the CITIES OF JUDAH, “Behold your God!”

And during my Bible reading last night, this stood out:

2 Samuel 10:12

12 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our People and for the CITIES OF OUR GOD. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

God says, and His apostle taught, we are to share the GOOD NEWS WITH JUDAH. None of the Church of God congregations have done this! What are we waiting for?

We must sound the alarm from Zion (Joel 2:1). What’s spoken in Jerusalem is heard around the world (Joel 3:16). We have the unique opportunity - and responsibility - to warn Judah that a German-led Europe is about to make their move into the Middle East! We could do this through full page newspaper ads.

Europe’s Crusader spirit grows restless. Soon “Roman troops” will again occupy the Holy Land (Isaiah 40:9). Who else can warn them? Who else can help restore Israel’s identity (Isa. 49:5), and say to Judah, “I am Joseph your brother”?

And doesn’t God’s Word imply an apostle will be sent to the Middle East (Isaiah 41:27). Couldn’t such an apostle to Jerusalem and the Jews - getting the Word of God out to the cities of Judah - something Herbert Armstrong wanted to be and do but wasn’t empowered - be the chief spokesman (in the spirit of Elijah to the NATION) between the Two Witnesses and, as an envoy from the House of David, an anointed DAVIDIC MESSENGER, be like GOD before the Jews in Jerusalem (Zech. 12:8)? Hasn’t God now shared the possibility of such a revelation with us? (Isaiah 48:6). Will we prepare the way?

Meanwhile, though, shouldn’t we do all that we can and work together with Jewish friends in Israel, whether sponsoring Yair Davidiy, author and founder of Brit-Am Israel in translating information about “the Lost Ten Tribes” into Hebrew and advertising it, encouraging the Temple Mount Faithful in every way possible, plant a forest or create a garden in honor and memory of Herbert W. Armstrong, and help those faithful Jews living in pioneering communities (”settlements”) with whatever they need? Who else has any game plan for the Jewish homeland? Let’s at least DO SOMETHING.

May the Church of God be open for suggestions and seriously consider our options. Time is running out!

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.