58. THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Revelation 16:17-20 “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.”

Salvation by way of the cross has been accomplished. Death has been conquered. Life is now restored to mankind.

As Catholics, we are bound to the Catholic Church’s requirement to believe the Public Revelation of The Bible and Tradition (The “Deposit of Faith”). Even though we have more revelations that are private and oral traditions we know about, as faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we obey the rules of his Holy Church, we are not bound to depend on them as basis for our ultimate salvation.

 Catechism of the Catholic Church

#67 Revised Editions 1997:

 "Throughout the ages, there have been so-called 'private' revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is NOT their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in certain period of history (like right now). Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations an authentic call of Christ or His saints to the Church. Christian faith cannot accept 'revelations' that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such 'revelations'."

St John of the Cross-, a Doctor of the Church, said to distrust all "private revelation" but like light coming through a window, it will have the good effect, God desires, even if you mistrust it.

Although there are several well-known private revelation, one of them is Our Lady of Fatima, a prophetic revelation, there are no "new" doctrines different from the oral and written traditions of the Catholic Church. 

In most cases, these private revelations are more of Jesus appeals for the unity of all Christians, in unity under the pope or ecumenical unity just as the Blessed Mother calls for unity of all to her Holy Son and his Plan of Redemption. The term "private revelation" is a non-scriptural term. The Bible only speaks of true or false prophecy.

In any case, anyone, regardless of faith or belief, unity in faith in Jesus Christ as our One True Lord and Savior, can lead to saving more souls for our God.

The Passion of the Cross

"...Children, in the days of the Evil One, you will be able to go freely without any harm through this Crucifix...” Depending on what group of faith one belongs but to me this has a profound meaning. One may have a different view. Literally, with the crucifix, one may use it to protect oneself from harm by evil people or the devil himself. In essence, the days of the Evil One means to me that these are the moments of temptation in our lives. Whenever I am deeply being tempted by the devil, I would always pray “In the name of Jesus, Satan go away” while holding my Rosary or a Crucifix which I always have hanging in my neck and I would also makes the sign of the cross. In seconds, the temptation dies down fast and goes away. I would always do this whenever the devil swoops in and tempts me. Of course, the way the devil does that is through my mind.

Our thoughts become actions. This is how we fall in sin. We may see or feel the temptation in front of us but if our mind would go against it, then whatever we think right after immediately, our body will react for or against temptation.

“The mind is the favorite playground of the devil.” This is very true. The devil cannot play around with our hearts, for our heart is the very temple of our Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit dwells inside us in our heart. Therefore, the devil can only tempt us in our mind. He plays with it whenever we are vulnerable and weak.

Many at times the devil will use other people in front of you to tempt and if we are weak and vulnerable, like we are prong to sensuality and gluttony, we succumbed fast to his temptation and we fall. However, if one is prayerful or have a very strong faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the power of the temptation of the devil will not prevail against our love for Jesus.

We are the church and if we our faith are built in the foundation of St Peter the Rock, even the gates of hell will not prevail against any of his churches. 

Therefore, brethren, let us be conscious about our mind at all times that we may not fall when tempted. Say the name of Jesus and use the cross to depend ourselves from any temptation at all times.  

Carry your cross and follow me, the Gates of Heaven is narrow but the Gates of Hell is open wide

 Our Lord Jesus Christ: "Children, through This Cross I will conquer. This Cross will soon be a victorious Cross."

This is a beautiful promise of our Lord Jesus to all of us. So then, why hate the cross? Satan hates it and is afraid of it. If your minister or pastor teaches you to hate the cross because it is of the devil, then think about it, you may be in a false church. If the cross is of the devil why will he hates it? Be warned you may have been deceived already.

One of the very reasons Satan hates the cross so much because of the cross; Jesus was able to conquer death. He defeated Satan with it. Therefore, there is no doubt the devil hates the cross and will continue until Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.

Why will Satan cast Satan?

Is it any wonder that many anti-Catholics churches and sects nowadays are very much against the cross? Why would they hate the symbol of the salvation of man? Why will Jesus chose to die on the cross if it is the symbol of the devil? Why will Satan hates the cross then?

Why will Jesus use the cross if it is of the devil? Has Jesus deceived us in anyway by his death and crucifixion on the cross? Discern it deeply in your heart.

Does it ever occur in the minds of the anti-cross that they may have already been deceived by the devil to hate the cross as well, but why will Satan hates his own cross if it his?

If Satan hates the cross and man hates the cross as well, then what does it mean. Simple common sense will tell us then that those who hate the cross of Christ unknowingly are the antichrists. Anyone who is against the very cross that Jesus used to conquer death is also against Jesus himself. There could be no other way.

Jesus teaches us that to fight the evil one especially during temptation is to say his name (Jesus Christ) and to do his sign (the sign of the Cross).

How can Jesus Christ used a devil’s cross to save mankind? Would not it be ludicrous?

The Sign of the Trinity

When Catholics makes the sign of the cross, they say and pray “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.”

When Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to apostolate and baptize believers, he said “go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Where then does it says, the cross is the sign of the devil? How can it be?

To all anti-cross people or religion, if there is such a thing about the cross being the sign of the devil, please show us and explain to us Catholics, we would like to understand where you are coming from and how you came to believe, otherwise, please let us know whose doctrine it is.

The AGONIZING CRUCIFIX is an integral part of the PRECIOUS BLOOD DEVOTION to prepare the Church for the perilous End Times (Three and a Half Years Tribulation of Revelation 12 & 13) which many believe will soon be upon us, in our lifetime. "Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28

Haters of the Cross of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 3:18-20 "For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ; Whose end is destruction; whose God is their belly; and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,"

If your church hates the cross of Christ, then think and examine if the teachings of your church are really according to Christ’s gospel and teachings. Think twice if definitely your church is against the cross of Christ. There is no amount of excuses and explanation that could change the fact that the devil hates the cross so much that he would do everything in his power to make man hates the cross as well.

Therefore, anyone who is an enemy of the cross is definitely a liar and not of God. They will self-destruct in the end. God is their belly because they are worldly.

2 PETER 1:1 "Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ our God and Saviour used the cross to destroy the devil’s stranglehold on man. Through the cross, death was conquered and the spiritual life was restored to man.

He came to give life.

The devil hates anything and everything about Christ and that includes the cross.  

God and Savior Jesus Christ spoke: JOHN 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

And Simon Peter also spoke of the Savior, the Author of Life, the haters of the cross have killed: ACTS 3:15 "But the author of life you killed, whom God hath raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses."

Jesus Christ died on the cross, which is the symbol of man’s salvation from death yet there are churches and as many men that hate this cross just as Satan hates it so much, and why this is so?

Non-Catholics would always say if it is not in the bible, it is not true. Then, here is a question that I would like to leave for the haters of the cross to discern about, Is there a verse in the Holy Scripture that says,’ the cross is the symbol of Satan, so that man must hate it’?