VOICE OF ISRAEL-IDENTITY BELIEVERS IN ULSTER

THE EURO-CURRENCY OF THE BEAST

EMU MYTHS

We are about to be submerged in a deluge of propaganda about the single currency, funded by the taxpayer through the EU with the eager support of the British government and some elements of big business. It is time the people were told the truth about this dangerous experiment, which puts at risk their livelihoods and homes, just like the infamous ERM, which came from the same stable.

MYTH ONE

If we adopt the Euro we have the prospect of permanently lower interest rates.

Not so - Rates would sometimes be higher and sometimes lower than our independent rates would be. The main point is that a European Central Bank would set one rate for all member countries. Britain's successful economy would suffer from this rigid approach whatever rate was chosen because British conditions are markedly different from those in the Deutschmark zone.

MYTH TWO

The single currency is needed to complete the Single Market.

What Single Market? Trade between members is still not free of petty regulations and subsidy by member governments, while our own trade with Europe has hardly ever been profitable. Freely floating exchange rates indicate the trading world's estimate of EU nations economic prospects. Spot the country with the strong currency!

MYTH THREE

Within the Economic and Monetary Union Britain will still settle its own taxes and there is no commitment to political union.

Wrong again! We are already in a 'political' union and the policy of the European Commission is to abolish 'harmful fiscal competition', i.e. low British taxes. VAT, the Eurotax is directed by Brussels and we are under pressure to 'harmonise' by imposing it on necessities. Our economic policy is subject to EU surveillance; entry into Economic and Monetary Union will just increase their power over us.

MYTH FOUR

Outside Economic and Monetary Union the United Kingdom will not be able to influence the operations of the European Central Bank.

Influence? The UK has continually failed to influence Common Fisheries and Agricultural Policies. What hope have we of influencing a European Central Bank, especially when the Bank is prohibited from being influenced by national governments? But we do business successfully all round the world without formal influence over other countries' banks.

MYTH FIVE

By using the Euro, British business will not have to bear the costs and risks of exchange rate movements, particularly the over-valuation of sterling, which hits exports.

Cost of introducing Euros are substantial, e.g. all shop and bank tills will have to be changed, adding to the costs of non-exporting small businesses without any gain. UK earnings outside the EU, which amount to more than half, will still be exposed to exchanges to and from dollars and yen, etc., while continental governments will set the value of sterling on entering the Euro system as high as they can.

MYTH SIX

British travellers abroad will no longer have the hassle and expense of changing their money.

Only if they travel in EU countries. An increasing proportion of travellers are visiting North America, Australasia and elsewhere for both business and holidays. In any case in Europe they can use credit cards and draw money as easily as they can at home.

MYTH SEVEN

The United Kingdom will not be affected by the debts run up by other countries in the Economic and Monetary Union.

Oh, come on! With a single monetary system the economies of all member states will be affected by the debts of other members and their attempts to reduce them, as required by Maastricht. There is a serious risk that we should find ourselves having to support the unfunded pensions' liabilities of other member countries - France, Italy and Germany in particular.

MYTH EIGHT

The Euro will be able to look the dollar and yen in the face.

What for? No one seriously believes that currencies should be the subject of a juvenile competition. In the USA leading economists take the view that, while Economic and Monetary Union is likely to happen it will quickly collapse because of the fudges by countries unable to meet the convergence criteria. They have never proposed to adopt a single currency in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

COST OF ABOLISHING THE £

ECONOMY & TRADE

Joining the single currency will be like rejoining the ERM (Exchange Rate Mechanism), only worse since there will be no exit. Since we were pushed out of the ERM, the level of British unemployment has gone down faster and further than in other EU countries and our exports have grown. if we had stayed in, we should have had to go on spending our foreign currency reserves and suffering crippling interest rates to support the pound at its ERM level. Unemployment would have continued to rise instead of falling as it has done and our exports would have been uncompetitive. There is no telling when the recession would have ended or how many of our businesses would have gone to the wall.

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

There is a lot more to a single currency than scrapping the pound. Under the terms of the Masstricht Treaty, the European Central Bank (ECB), made up of unelected central bankers, would take over the functions of the Bank of England. Whereas the Bank of England accounts to Parliament for its management of interest rates, the ECB would be accountable to no one and would reign supreme. It alone would determine the fate of workers from Stockholm to Lisbon by setting a 'one size fits all' interest rate. Gold and foreign currency reserves would be shared under the auspices of the bankers of the ECB, whose officials would be legally bound to ignore what our elected British government asks them for.

ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION

A single currency not only means a single exchange rate but a single interest rate and and a single tax rate. Under Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the ECB will take over responsibility for the EU's monetary policy with the European Commission presiding over government spending and taxes. In short, the British government will lose control of all levers of economic policy under EMU and will be powerless to respond to the needs of British industry and workers.

LIFE IN THE EURO

Of course scrapping the pound for the euro doesn't mean that we can forget about foreign exchange rates. The euro will still be traded by City dealers against the world's currencies: so British jobs will still depend on what happens in the foreign exchange markets, more so than our EU counterparts whose levels of trade outside of Europe are not as high as ours. A weak euro might well suit France and Italy but under a single currency it would force up interest rates here in Britain, reviving our miserable ERM experience.

POLITICAL UNION

As a former President of the Bundesbank said in 1990

'Of course a country which merges its currency with that of another cannot remain independent politically'.

Govermnents who have relinquished their control of economic levers lose their raison d'etre. If we cede control over our own finances to the ECB and the European Commission, we lose our right to self-determination and become a rate capped council, unable to be responsible for our own destiny.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The single banking policy of the EU is highly unlikely to suit Britain's economic circumstances, which are substantially different from those of the continent and will remain so. We shall be poorer than we might have been, while at the same time financially weak continental economics will be unable to live with the strict regime the European Central bank is obliged by Treaty to impose throughout. They will be looking for subsidies to prevent serious social unrest. Our taxpayers will then be expected to prop up the victims of EMU while we are suffering ourselves.

'But we have our own dream and our own task.

We are with Europe but not of it. We are linked, but not comprised.

We are interested and associated, but not absorbed.'

(Sir Winston Churchill)

The promises we were given:

'There is no question of any erosion of essential national sovereignty.'

(Mr Heath's White Paper, July 1971)

'No important new policy can be decided in Brussels

without the consent of a British Minister

answerable to a British Government and British Parliament.'

(The Labour Government's leaflet, delivered to every

household at the post-entry referendum 1975)

Reproduced by permission of Campaign for an INDEPENDENT BRITAIN (CIB).

For further information contact CIB at 81 Ashmole Street, London SW8 1NF

Tel: (0181)340 0314   Fax: (0171)582 7021

E-mail: 106342.2657@compuserve.com

Website: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/cibhq/cibhp.htm

PETITION AGAINST A SINGLE CURRENCY !

E.C. BABYLON

THE OFFICIAL POSTER OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

An unprecedented international celebration was made in Paris on Bastille Day, July 14, 1989. It marked the bi-cen- tennial of the start of the French Revolution. The French Revolution was the darkest chapter in the history of France. It was nothing for the ordinary Frenchman to celebrate but it was a great victory for those secret societies which orches- trated the Revolution. For this reason, these occult brotherhoods chose this occasion to inaugurate their New World Order (N.W.O.) in a revolution which they hope will finish what the revolution of 200 years ago only began.

Amid the celebrations they unfurled a blue flag with a circle of 12 golden stars and proclaimed it to be the Flag of Europe and the N.W.O. The flag is patterned after the Miraculous Medal of the Virgin Mary which was made in 1832 and has been sold as an indulgence by the Catholic Church ever since. As early as 1876, over a billion medals had been sold worldwide. Catholics teach that Mary is Queen of Heaven. The circle of stars on the flag represents her crown, and the dark blue banner is for the heavens in which she reigns.

This symbol is drawn from the book of Revelation chapter 12 verse 1. Here, a woman appears in heaven clothed with the sun, standing on the moon with 12 stars on her head for a crown. Protestants believe this symbol represents Israel or the church, a pure virtuous woman. Catholics teach that it represents Mary. Statues of the crowned Virgin are to be found in Cathedrals throughout Europe, and she frequently appears against a background of blue. Europe's constitution guarantees 12 stars regardless of how many nations are added. The Queen of Heaven is a symbol around which they hope to unify predominantly Catholic Europe.

Along with the new flag, the architects of the New World Order displayed their now famous poster, which is repro- duced at the top of this article. At once, prophecy expositors around the world cried out with one voice labelling the poster as blasphemous, occult and an ominous sign filled with prophetic significance. The term 'E.C. Babylon' was quickly coined.

The significance of the poster can only be understood in the light of Genesis Chapter 11. After the flood, the whole world was of one language. God commanded Noah and his sons to go and fill the earth. Instead, in an express act of defiance, the people built a city with a tower that reached unto heaven to prevent their being scattered. God came down and judged it. He confused their speech and scattered them across the earth. The tower of Babel was never completed and the confusion of tongues has continued until this day.

But now, the Council of Europe announces through its poster that the tower of Babel is to be completed. The confu- sion of many tongues is to be made "One Voice." Is this any less an act of rebellion against God than that recorded in Genesis? Can it result in anything less than judgement at His hand?

Notice the pyramids on the left horizon of the poster. Aren't they a little out of place or do they have occult signifi- cance? Also, the workers on the lower left are represented as blockheaded automatons, not human beings. They see man-kind serving them as mere machines. This is the dream of the N.W.O. planners. Yet, we must pay particular attention to the stars.

In the circle which is stamped on the caption of the poster you will see the 12 stars of the Council of Europe. The Coun- cil of Europe is not the 12 countries which make up the European Community; rather, it is a larger federation that has included 25 nations since 1991. It also includes the European Cultural Convention, which has the Vatican and the U.S.S.R. as members. Therefore, the 12 stars do not correspond with the number of nations represented. Once again as on the flag the stars are the golden crown of the Queen of Heaven.

Unlike the flag, the stars on the poster appear upside down. The upside down star is the occult representation in astrology for the Goat of Mendes. Mendes is Satan. So here, we have the Queen of Heaven with a Satanic crown! Can this be the Virgin Mary? The people who designed the poster also designed the flag. Are there two crowns for the same Queen or are there two Queens - one good and one wicked? The solution to this apparent paradox lies in the fact that the crown appears in the heavens above Babylon, for it is the crown of Babylon's first queen, Semiramis.

This queen, Nimrod's wife, was worshipped as a beautiful golden haired virgin goddess. And yet, she was a paragon of unbridled lust and licentiousness. She is the greatest and most revered of pagan deities. And yet, she has been wor- shipped with such atrocious rites that through the centuries she has been known as the 'Mother of all Impurity.' She raised the city where she reigned to the seat of idolatry and sacred prostitution. Thus, she became known as the Whore of Babylon. Alexander Hislop in his famous, Two Babylons remarks that Semiramis was a remarkable prototype of the "Woman" in Revelation 17 with the golden cup in her hand and the name 'Mystery' on her forehead. Semiramis founded the mystery religion of Babylon.

This mysterious pagan queen has been worshipped through the centuries under various names. But, she has always had two faces. One face is that of a pure and virtuous woman and the other face is that of a harlot. During the Roman Empire, she was worshipped as Vesta, a beautiful virgin and Venus, the goddess of licentiousness. So today, as men make one last attempt to rebuild Babylon, we see the queen of heaven being represented to the world as a beautiful virgin through the twelve starred flag. But to a much smaller audience she appears on the poster wearing a Satanic crown. The mysterious Queen of Heaven is a harlot "pretending" to he a virgin.

The Queen of Heaven had many names; one is of particular interest. Semiramis was called Semele, which means 'Image.'   Hislop in his book The Two Babylons clearly demonstrates that the worship of the Virgin Mary is the fulfillment of the image to the beast in Chapter 13 of Revelation. Here prophecy reveals that at the end of time, an image to the beast is to be set up for all to worship (Revelation 13:14).

The very clear exposition of the old Protestant teaching is that the beast in Revelation 13 is the Papacy. For 1260 years, it reigned in Western Europe as the Holy Roman Empire. Its reign ended during the French Revolution. Now, we are in the midst of another revolution, patterned after the French Revolution, which is restoring the Papacy to power in Western Europe and then the world. On BBC in Europe and on Australia's television network SBS, documentaries are calling the consolidation of Western Europe under the Papacy the 'New Holy Roman Empire.' The Holy Roman Empire, which was the 'beast' of Revelation13:1 was wounded during the French Revolution and is now being revived as prophesied in Revelation 13:13.

The Pope has been appointed the spiritual head of this New Holy Roman Empire by the head of the European Council, Jacques Delors. And since the Holy Roman Empire was 'Church over State' this places him at the head of the coming world government. This Pope repeatedly prostrates himself before standing images of the crowned Virgin. So the Pa- pacy has been revived and an image to the beast, the Queen of Heaven has been set up to be worshipped. Her image has been given pre-eminence in the most dramatic ceremonies and her crown is even on the flag, a striking fulfillment of prophecy.

Once the image is set up, it is to be made to speak (Revelation 13:15). One has only to hear of Medjugorje, Lourdes, Fatima and Conyers, Georgia (USA) to know how remarkably this is being fulfilled today. But her pleasant words are to become terrible, persecuting words before the end. Her worship is to be enforced by a death decree. We are witnessing the greatest explosion of Mariolotry (the idolatrous worship of Mary) in all of history. The image has been set up, it is speaking and we know the command to bow down will soon be heard.

There is a severe warning in the book of Revelation to this last generation. The third angel's message (Revelation 14:9) reveals that God is going to pour out His most terrible judgement upon those of us who worship the beast or its image. Further, in Revelation 20:4, we learn that those who were counted worthy to be a part of the first resurrection did not make an image to the beast.

It is a mistake to think that the making of the image to the beast today is the work of the Catholic church alone. True, the Pope is seen in the most dramatic and public ceremonies bowing down to the image. However, the Pope today is also the head of the Ecumenical Super Church, which embraces most of Protestantism as well. Therefore, it is urgent that all who hope to escape God's wrath separate from these churches which have been caught in the embrace of Rome. The last loud cry of Revelation 18:4 is to 'Come Out of Babylon.'

And since the worship of the image is forbidden how can we pledge allegiance to the 12 star flag of the N.W.O. Alle- giance involves devotion, and this flag represents the person of the Queen of Heaven. To pledge allegiance to this flag would be the very worship of the image. We are to resist this even to the sacrifice of our lives.

History repeats itself. Israel fell into the idolatrous worship of the Queen of Heaven, and God sent the prophet Jeremiah to warn them. Most ignored his warning, and God sent a terrible judgement upon them destroying their temple and their nation. Let us learn a lesson from their tragic story and remember the example of Daniel's three friends. They were told to worship a standing image and refused. The fire was heated 7 times, but they would not bow down. Then a fourth man was with them in the flames and they emerged unharmed (Daniel 3:8; Jeremiah 7:18, 44:17).

There is a great reward held out before us if we attain to the first resurrection. Those wise virgins counted worthy are the blessed and holy who will reign with Christ for 1,000 years. These are the remnant who took heed to the warning 'Come out of Babylon' and would not bow to the image of the beast. Although the apostacy be well nigh complete, God will preserve a remnant to be His Witnesses to the end. Let us watch and pray that we might be counted worthy to be among them (Matthew 25; Revelation 20).

From 'The E.C. Poster'

                                                                                                                                                          By

      Lamp Trimmers (USA)

KING ALFRED'S PRAYER

'Lord God Almighty, Shaper and Ruler of all creatures, I pray Thee for Thy great mercy, that Thou do to me better than I have done toward Thee.

Strengthen me against the temptations of the devil, and put from me every unrighteousness.

Teach me to do Thy Will, that I may inwardly love Thee before all things with a clean mind and a clean body. For Thou art my Maker and Redeemer. Praise and glory be to Thee now, ever and ever, world without end. Amen.'

A.D. 871-901

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH REGARDING THE RELEASE OF TERRORIST MURDERERS IN ULSTER?

'Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction (the death penalty) therefore thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people'

(I Kings 20 v 42)

The deliberate rejection of God's Law by our Government cannot bring us lasting peace - But only worse judgements.

A WORLD OF CALENDARS

Some cultures have measured the passage of time by basing their calculations on ancient estimates of the Earth's age or beginning with a day of religious significance. When the Western world celebrates the beginning of 2000 CE (Common Era), to others it will be:

6236 - according to the ancient Egyptian calendar

5760 - according to the Jewish calendar

5119 - in the Mayan great cycle

4697 - according to the Chinese calendar

2753 - according to the ancient Roman calendar

2749 - according to the ancient Babylonian calendar

2544 - according to the Buddhist calendar

2003 - according to Jesus' likely birth date, circa, 4 BC

1420 - according to the Muslim calendar

ED OWENS

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION

THE PROOF

THE EMPTY TOMB:- LUKE 24:3, 12; JOHN 20:4-9

THE WITNESS OF THE ANGEL:- MATTHEW 28:2-7

THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS TO MARY MAGDALENE:- JOHN 20:11-18

HIS APPEARANCE TO THE WOMEN:- MATTHEW 28:9

HIS APPEARANCE TO PETER:- LUKE 24:34

HIS APPEARANCE TO THE TWO DISCIPLES:- LUKE 24:13-35

HIS APPEARANCE TO THE ELEVEN:- MARK 16:14

THE WITNESS OF THOMAS:- JOHN 20:24-31

THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS AT GALILEE:- JOHN 21:1

HIS APPEARANCE TO JAMES:- I CORINTHIANS 15:7

HIS APPEARANCE TO FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN:- I CORINTHIANS 15:6

HIS ASCENSION:- ACTS 1:9

THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:- ACTS 2:32-33

THE WITNESS OF THE APOSTLES:- ACTS 2:24-36; 3:15; 4:10, 33; 5:30-31; 10:40-41; 13:30-37

THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHURCH:- II CORINTHIANS 5:15-17; GALATIANS 2:20; EPHESIANS 2:10; COLOSSIANS 3:1-3

THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS TO STEPHEN:-ACTS 7:55-56

HIS APPEARANCE TO PAUL:- I CORINTHIANS 15:8

HIS APPEARANCE TO JOHN:- REVELATION 1:10-19

THE WITNESS OF CHRIST:- REVELATION 1:18; 5:5-10

THE WITNESS OF SCRIPTURE:- LUKE 24:44-45; JOHN 20:9; EPHESIANS 1:20-22, 4:9-10; HEBREWS 1:3,10:12; I PETER 3:21-22

NEW ZIONIST 'ETHNIC BOMB'

On November 15th The Sunday Times reported that nearby Israel was planning a devastating new weapon: an 'ethnic bomb'. And who revealed this? Why, none other than the Israelis themselves. Said the report: -

"Israel is working on a biological weapon that would harm Arabs but not Jews, according to Israeli military and western intelligence sources. The weapon, targeting victims by ethnic origin, is seen as Israel's response to Iraq's threat of chemical and biological attacks."

Just how would such a weapon work? The report continued:

"In developing their 'ethno-bomb', Israeli scientists are trying to exploit medical advances by identifying genes carried by some Arabs, then create a genetically modified bacterium or virus."

"The intention is to use the ability of viruses and certain bacteria to alter the DNA inside their host's living cells. The scientists are trying to engineer deadly micro-organisms that attack only those bearing the distinctive genes."

So, the ultimate horror - a 'racist' bomb! And it's the Israelis who are making it. An interesting question: if this bomb is being developed, as reported, in response to threatened attacks by the Iraqis, the assumption must be that, should such a threat materialise, Iraq would be its target. In other words, the Israelis don't mind killing innocent Iraqis, including children, as long as Jews in the country - not a huge number - are unaffected. Or do those working on the bomb have a further use for it in mind? Might it not come in extremely handy in counter-insurgency operations in Israel itself in areas where Palestinian Arabs and Jews live in close proximity and the former can be exterminated while the latter are left unharmed?

Whatever the answer to this last question, we must ask another one: when are Anglo-American operations against Israel going to begin? After all, have not the Israelis themselves admitted that they have in the pipeline a weapon of human destruction far more diabolical than any known to be in the possession of the Iraqis - more diabolical by reason of the very fact that it is 'racist'?

It is even known where research on the new racist bomb is being carried out. According to the Sunday Times report, it is based at the Biological Institute in Nes Tziyona, described as 'the main research facility for Israel's clandestine arsenal of chemical and biological weapons.'

So will we now see a UN inspection team demanding to be let into Israel to examine what is going on at Nes Tziyona, and President Clinton ordering his bombers to be on standby to attack Israel if this demand is refused? We ask this because as simple folk, we would like to know?

'WE are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis, and the nations will accept the New Order'

(DAVID ROCKEFELLER, billionaire, member of the CFR, the Bilderbergers and founder of the Trilateral Commission)

'WHEN one has control over food, one has control over the people. When one has control over the oil and mineral resources, one has control over the nations. When one has control over money, one is in control of the world.'

(HENRY KISSINGER)

'NOTHING is higher than the dignity and freedom of existence ...... The shame of a cowardly submission can never be wiped out .... A people is unconquerable if it fights a spirited struggle for it's liberty.'

(VON CLAUSEWITZ)

The traditional image of St. Patrick presents him as a modern bishop with mitre and pastoral staff, banishing snakes from Ireland, teaching the doctrine of the Trinity by the example of the shamrock. He is portrayed as the product of a Gaelic education in France, the legate of a papal mission to Ireland. This distorted view of Patrick is mainly due to the doubtful mass of stories later invented about him - all of which have served a useful purpose for the Catholic Church. Fortunately, a more reliable picture is to be found in Patrick's own authentic writings which give us a true and factual insight of his life and times.

Two documents written by Patrick late in his life roughly outline his career. Their authenticity has been acknowledged by many scholars.

1. The 'Confession' which gives an account of his life and thought is strictly speaking not an autobiography but a reply to certain detractors who had been suggesting that Patrick was neither learned nor competent enough to hold the office of Bishop of Ireland.

2 .The 'Letter to Coroticus' was a rebuke to a King or chieftain who had murdered some newly baptised and confirmed Christians and who had carried others off into slavery.

WHERE WAS PATRICK BORN?

The Confession states that his father 'Calpernius' who was a Christian Deacon and a high Roman official was from Bannavem Taberniae, a village most likely in western Britain. Patrick tells us that as a boy he was abducted by Irish raiders, so somewhere along the west coast of Britain would seem logical. In the past few years, evidence for Roman villas near the Strathclyde area in Scotland has emerged, and academic opinion is now favouring this area. When Patrick was 16 he was captured by Irish pirates making a raid on his father's estate and was brought to Ireland as a slave. Born around 390 A.D. to parents who were of aristocratic status, his new lifestyle in Ireland would have seemed harsh and primitive. During this period Patrick, from a state of carelessness about God, became a devout convert and worshipper. He remained in Ireland for six years looking after his master's sheep before escaping. It's not clear what Patrick did in the intervening period, but he may have spent some time in France before returning to Britain. At some point after that he was accepted for the ministry in the British Church and was trained sufficiently to be made a deacon and subsequently presbyter. Patrick came to Ireland as a result of the call of God, and of a divine vision, in which the Irish said

"We ask thee, Holy boy, come and walk among us once more"

He duly went and thereafter never returned to Britain but later died in Ireland among his flock.

There are several medieval biographies of Patrick, but the only two which have any claim to historical authenticity are those found in the Book of Armagh. The new information found in these seventh-century works is referred to as 'traditional'. The first of these is by Muirchu who has Partick returning to Ireland around 432 A.D. eventually landing in County Down in the territory of an Ulster prince called 'Dichu' who became his first convert. Dichu's barn near Downpatrick was the first of his churches.

Muirchu also narrates the story of Patrick's encounter with 'Loeghaire' High King of Ireland, at Easter time on the hill of Tara and his success in lighting with impunity the Easter fire against the King's orders. He confines Patrick's activity, mainly to the northeast of Ulster and describes the foundation of Armagh as his See around 444.

The other work is by Tirechan who tells a similar story but gives some additional information, such as the number of churches founded by the Saint, together with the lists of bishops he appointed. These two biographies are full of improbable miracles, but they appear sober and restrained in comparison with later compilations such as the Vita Tripartita, in which folklore and pious imagination have run riot. In this work Patrick travels to Rome and is often featured as a vindictive miracle worker with the powers of a wizard rather than a Christian saint. The belief that Patrick was sent to Ireland as a Papal Emissary is also sheer fiction. However, according to Papal records Pope Celestine I (423-432) did send a certain Palladius to Ireland in 431, but his mission failed and Palladius left Ireland the following year.

SAINT PATRICK'S MEMORIAL CHURCH, SAUL

PATRICK'S FAITH

Even though Patrick in his youth was brought up in a Christian environment he states 'I did not know the true God' but 'lay in death and unbelief' and he took no thought for his salvation. No doubt the trauma of his enslavement caused him to search earnestly for God. Under deep conviction of his sin he turned to the Lord and was wonderfully converted. Patrick's missionary labours make absorbing reading, and his simple faith as revealed in his confession was along the lines of the first century church - a far cry from the distorted teachings of Rome today, which claim Patrick as their exclusive saint. Patrick knew of only 'one mediator between God and man' - the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere does he mention the 'Blessed Virgin Mary', Purgatory or the Mass. The only two Sacraments observed by Patrick were Baptism and the Lord's Supper. He was well versed in the Scriptures too, for his brief writings contain well over 100 quotations from the Bible. He emphasises such truths as the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion, the necessity of living in the light of judgement and the readiness demanded by the imminent return of Christ. Sadly, today much of this same land of Ireland is in darkness with regard to the simple truths which Patrick preached.

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Although the introduction of Christianity into Ireland is credited to Patrick it's more likely that lesser known British missionaries paved the way for his success. Gildas, the earliest British historian states that the Gospel reached Britain in the latter years of Tiberius Caesar, and that the Apostolic faith was subsequently planted in Ireland around 60 A.D. Certainly the ancient Celtic or Culdee Church was derived from an origin other than Rome. Up until the latter half of the fifth century the British Church enjoyed a time of relative calm, prosperity and expansion. Until recently however, scholars have tended to assume that Patrick was educated and prepared for ordination in Gaul and indeed dispatched to Ireland from there. While it is possible that Patrick may have spent some time in France more up-to-date opinion, due to the the great growth of knowledge of fifth-century Britain has built an excellent case for his British education and ordination. The state of Patrick's Latin corresponds very well with the kind of Latin which was spoken and written in the early British Church. Also, Patrick writes most of his confession with the British Church in mind. When the Roman Empire collapsed under the pressure of barbarian invasions, Europe entered that period known as the 'Dark Ages'. A spiritual and cultural darkness descended over Europe. Britain too experienced a suspension of its Christian work due to the invading Saxons, Jutes and Angles. Because of Ireland's isolation from Europe the Christian communities founded by Patrick were spared the devastation.  Not surprisingly, the Irish Church  became independent, developing its  own character.

During the 6th and 7th centuries   monastries spread rapidly throughout Ireland. Many became sophisticated centres of worship, learning  and artistic enterprise. The Gospels were recorded in lavishly   illuminated manuscripts such as the  Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow. As their fame spread,  monastries such as Bangor, Durrow  and Armagh became the Universities  of the West. The evangelistic zeal of  men like Columba, Columbanus  and Gall established Christian Com-  munities in Scotland, England and  Europe. The fervent faith of Ireland's  monks and missionaries who   brought Christianity 'back' to the  Continent led it to become known as the 'Island of Saints and Scholars' It should be noted that the Celtic Church in Ireland was never Papal, and remained independent up until the 12th century. It was Pope Adrian  IV who gave an English King permission to carry out the conquest   of Ireland 'for the enlarging of the bounds of the (Catholic) church '. Only then was the Celtic Church brought under submission to the  yoke of Rome.

The early Celtic Church insisted on   adhering to the traditional dating of Easter instead of the dating accepted by the Church of Rome. Ireland's monks expressed their independence in their appearance, too. Instead of following the European practice of shaving the crown of the head, they shaved their hair at the front and let it grow long at the back.

Various extracts from:

'I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many. My father was Calpernius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a presbyter, who was at the village of Bannavem Taberniae. He had an estate nearby and it was there that I was captured. At that time I was nearly sixteen years old. For I did not then know the true God and was carried away captive as had been so many thousands of people ... So God brought upon us the anger of His indignation and scattered us among many nations, even to the end of the earth, where now I am to be found, in all my inadequacy, among foreigners. And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God.

Although I am imperfect in many things, I nevertheless wish that my brethren and Kinsmen should know what sort of person I am . . .. As a youth, nay, almost as a boy not able to speak, I was taken captive, before I knew what to pursue and what to avoid. Hence to-day I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education; for I am unable to tell my story to those versed in the art of concise writing. . . After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened ... And there one night I heard in my sleep a voice saying to me: 'It is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country' And again, after a short while, I heard a voice saying to me 'See, your ship is ready'. . . And I went in the strength of God who directed my way to my good, and I feared nothing until I came to that ship ... And again after a few years I was in Britain with my people ... having suffered so many hardships, I should not leave them and go elsewhere.

And there I saw in the night the vision of a man, whose name was Victoricus, coming as it were from Ireland, with countless letters ... and I read the opening words of the letter, which were, 'The voice of the Irish'. . . and thus did they cry out as with one mouth: 'We ask thee, Holy boy, come and walk among us once more'.  And I was quite broken in heart, and could read no further, and so I woke up. Thanks be to God, after many years the Lord gave to them according to their cry ... For I am very much God's debtor, who gave me such grace that many people were reborn in God ... and have now been made a people of the Lord, and are called the sons of God, that the sons and daughters of the Kings of the Irish are seen to be monks and virgins of Christ? ... Wherefore may God never permit it to happen to me that I should lose His people which He purchased in the utmost parts of the world. I pray to God to give me the perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to him to the end of my life for my God.

This is my confession before I die.'

TAPES - TAPES - TAPES - TAPES

SPECIAL TAPE

160TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BLOOD RIVER

by

PASTOR F. W. C. NESER

Any of the above available for a Suggested Donation £UK 2.00 or $US 3.75 (Plus Postage) from:

OPEN-BIBLE MINISTRIES

P.O. BOX 92

BELFAST

BT5 7SA.

N. IRELAND

(PLEASE SEE 'TO ORDER' SECTION FOR FULL DETAILS)

JOIN OUR NEW 'HISTORICIST AND FUTURIST' ON-LINE DISCUSSION GROUP

We extend a cordial invitation to all our visitors to participate in our new Prophecy Discussion Group. To join this group click on the first web page URL below "To invite any individual etc." You will be asked to give your name and a password. If you use your full name, it must be written as one word - John_Smith or JohnSmith or whatever. Once you have joined you will be accepted, but it may take a day for the automation of the process. After a day try again using the second web page address below "To change this individual's status etc." You will see all the members' names including your own. In the left hand top corner you will see 'historicist and futurist group'. Click on this and it will bring you to the section just above the search engine where you will see READ and POST.
READ brings you to all the messages and you can reply to any message as all the instructions are given. To POST you need to get back to that page. Click on POST and type your subject in the space provided. The section immediately below is for your message. There is a limit to size and large 'posts' may need to be divided into two or more parts.

Message from the founder of the "Historicist and Futurist Group."
You are very welcome to join with us as we discuss the two views of Bible Prophecy, "Historicist and Futurist." My name is Pastor James P.S. Templeton. My colleagues are Pastor Alan Campbell, BA, Mr. Glyn Jones and Mr Philip Johnson who helps us with technical support.

To invite any individual to join our "Historicist and Futurist Group Community," visit

http://www.dejanews.com/~openbible/inv.xp?j=openbible

To change this individual's status, if they are already members, visit

http://www.dejanews.com/~openbible/em.xp?j=openbible

Deja News, the discussion network - http://www.dejanews.com

CALLING OUR LONDON SUPPORTERS

Pastor Alan Campbell will (DV) preach at Orange Street Church

(behind The National Gallery)

SUNDAY I8TH APRIL at 11.00am and 3.00pm

CALLING OUR SCOTTISH SUPPORTERS

THREE GREAT PROPHECY MEETINGS

with Pastor Alan Campbell B.A.

Park Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow

Saturday 6th March 3.00pm & 5.30pm

Sunday 7th March 3.00pm

We were saddened to learn of the death of:-

REV. R HUDSON of Wellington Somerset a faithful minister of God's word for over half a century. Rev. Hudson had acted as convener/organiser of Pastor Campbell's South West Rallies and will be greatly missed. We extend our sympathy to his dear wife Sheila and all the family.

MRS NORMA GLITSCH of San Jose California who was a faithful supporter of this ministry for many years.

MRS P STOUGH - wife of Rev. Harold Stough of Orange Street Church, London.

'BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD'

OUTREACH MEETINGS

THE HOPE OF ULSTER

by

AN ULSTER COVENANTER

'fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord' - (EXODUS 14:13)

Dark clouds are gathering o'er the land,

Gloom settles deep on every hand,

When bursts the storm can Ulster stand

  For Freedom Faith, and Fatherland?

When friends desert and foes assail,

When hopes she cherished weakly fail,

Must then the heart of Ulster quail

For Freedom Faith and Fatherland?

No! Ulster's cause is Ulster's might,

She holds aloft God's Word of light,

And stands for Truth eternal right,

For Freedom Faith, and Fatherland.

What, then though evil powers array,

His Word shall never pass away,

His Truth shall win a glorious day,

For Freedom, Faith, and Fatherland.

So unto Him Who, ruling all, 

Marks even the little sparrows fall,

To Him in our distress we call,

For Freedom Faith, and Fatherland.

He from beginning knows the end,

The shields are His that earth defend,

  And He shall great deliverance send

For Freedom Faith, and Fatherland.

Then to His name shall be the praise,

Who good from evil brings always,

When breaks the dawn of happier days,

For Freedom Faith and Fatherland.

When Ireland shall make Jesus King,

And in the dust her idols fling,

And to His feet the tributes bring,

Of Freedom Faith and Fatherland.

R.P Witness, 1912

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