and then, on 26 February 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:
Christians have been pondering that one for a very long time. In such a jaded and non believing world it would have to be quite a whopper! Since science is the new god I think the deception will appeal to mankind's intellectual vanity. Somehow "god" is more acceptable if He is less mysterious and we can attribute His power to technology. IOW we would be much more willing to believe in an alien visitation than a supernatural experience. So if an alien entity with power to "bring down fire from the sky" shows up, the vast majority of people will be sold! If the leaders of the world's religions(including modern "Christianity")accept the lie then they will go a long way to comforting the masses into doing the same.
According to scripture even the "elect" will run the risk of being deceived.
The stage is being set through constant rumor of war, financial instability and oncoming economic collapse to welcome in anyone that has answers and comfort to give the masses.
I think it was the miracles of St. Dominic and St. Francis of Assisi, primarily Dominic though. At the time that Pope Innocent III secured papal primacy and instituted the Decretals (Canon Law), the Church of Rome was calling for Crusades against the Cathars. St. Dominic had the vision of spreading Catholicism to the ends of the world and thought that it would more possible to come as a poor man rather than boast of reputation.
The calling fire down from heaven in the sight of men, in Revelation 13.13, was taken from the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah sought to prove that his God was true by calling fire down from heaven in the sight of men and to prove that the Baal worshipers were false. What Rev. 13.13. is saying is that miracles would be used to assert the worship of the Roman pontiff rather than the worship of Jesus. St. Dominic sought to prove that Catholicism was true and that Catharism was false, and the miracles attributed to St. Dominic are well known among Catholics. Of course, Roman Catholicism has many false doctrines and is a false religion based on the primacy of the Roman bishop that came about as the result of forgeries called the Pseudo-Isidore Decretals. Among them was the Donation of Constantine, which was later proven to be a forgery. However, because the Roman Church backs its claims with traditions dating all the way back to Peter during the reign of Nero, it claims to be Christian. In fact, many Christian teachings and sacraments are included in the Catholic religion. And then there are all those made up laws, stories, traditions, and dogmas. There is a good reason why the Protestants called the pope the antichrist when Wycliffe began challenging the pope's religion and authority.
Interestingly enough, the Dominican Order, named after St. Dominic, was placed in charge of the Office of Inquisition and ensured compliance of the Canon Law upon penalty of imprisonment (and confiscation of person property) and/or death. Thus, any reformers or Protestants that would challenge the authority of the Roman Papacy could be imprisoned or killed as a heretic.
I agree with you though. I believe that the stage is being set, but I think that, whatever Rome attempts, it will result in her own destruction.