The anti-christ's 666

[IceDash]

iD,

If you take that literally we are now in heaven/paradise...

Nero ruled from 54 to 68.
So he began his beats empire in 61.
Seven years (68) later Christ returned and established His 1000 year kingdom.
That ended in 1068.
The devil is released for a short while from prison. No idea what short is but lets take half of the 1000 years (500)
In 1568 Jesus hands over His kingdom to God.
It's hard to believe for me we are now living in the peaceful kingdom of God where are no tears and no death...

well, to be honest, I still trying to figure it out about the lake of fire because God threw them there because they took the mark ( I wonder, when the baby is born they will get mark automated without any force, would the baby been throw to hell?)

I have a great question: why the book of life? God know everything and everywhere and everybody, why the book life? It like saying:

"Ummm, wait one min, I don't know if you are saved or not, or you took the mark or not, let me check the book...................................................oh yeah you took it, your name is not there, sorry"


Isn't that strange?

[WhiteWings]

IIRC the angels look in the books. Not Father/Son/HS

[WhiteWings]

I wonder, when the baby is born they will get mark automated without any force, would the baby been throw to hell?

Revelation 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Babies don't worship.

[IceDash]

you know, if that happen right now, I wish I was born way before this.

[WhiteWings]

Ok, Adam  :URWelcome:

[MacPherson]

I heard Nero the evil rome who killed and blame christian set one fire in town match the name 666, he also have mark to force people to buy and sell (it what history said)

That depends on what your eschatological views are. In other words, if you believe that most of, if not all, of the book of Revelation was a prophecy about Jerusalem being destroyed in 70 AD, as opposed to being events that have not yet occurred. My illustration involving he Pope, is just something I find amusing. I figure 50 years from now, and for the rest of eternity, I won't be trying to figure any of that stuff out. So, you know...

[MacPherson]

It is actually good news that we are to see ourself as the anti-Christ.   It is identified, there is no more wondering, no more looking at the world events thinking that the next leader is going to be him.  There is no more fear as to when he will appear, what to look out for, is he around the next corner will he deceive me.

No more fear,  for when the anti-christ is identified,  then he will be defeated.   So I believe I am an anti-christ, and am in no more fear over it as God promises to save me from him.

Gah, you spoil everything involving superstition.

[MacPherson]

well, to be honest, I still trying to figure it out about the lake of fire because God threw them there because they took the mark ( I wonder, when the baby is born they will get mark automated without any force, would the baby been throw to hell?)

I have a great question: why the book of life? God know everything and everywhere and everybody, why the book life? It like saying:

"Ummm, wait one min, I don't know if you are saved or not, or you took the mark or not, let me check the book...................................................oh yeah you took it, your name is not there, sorry"


Isn't that strange?

The thing is, as I understand it, there is no different judgment for those who take the mark. Jesus talked about separating sheep from goats, and the goats being consigned to  punishment, before the book of Revelation was written. What Rev 14:11 does is expound on just what that punishment is. But as far as I know, goats are goats, and they're all going to the same place, mark or no mark.

This does bring up a good argument against the mark being a microchip. Because of course that is something that would be implanted at birth. No more chance of getting babies mixed up. No more lost kids. No more Amber Alerts. Many interpret the mark as thought and deed, rather than an actual element applied to the human body. Before microchips, it was of course a tattoo.  As far as the  Book of Life goes, Isaiah 49:16 says God has our names written on the palms of His hands. I know personally, I have the name of Jesus inscribed on my heart.

[CHB]

Don't know if any one has thought of this before but wouldn't it make more sense for the mark to be LAWS?

Take for instance, when Moses received the law God told the Israelites to bind them between their eyes, {forehead} and in their hands.  (Deut. 6:8) Thou shalt bind them for a sign {mark} upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. {forehead} The sabbath is another law in (Deut. 11:18) that speaks of binding them "for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes".

What if this beast that existed or will exist, kept, or will enforce the law of Moses and this is the mark? Keeping the law is like denying that Christ did it all for us. What better place to look for the mark than in the Bible?

Could this have been the fulfillment of the mark that is spoken of in Rev.7:3)?  (Ezek. 9:4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a MARK upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

I don't know if this antichrist or beast has existed or will exist in the future but whichever is the case I believe he has used or will use the laws of Moses to control things. It is just my opinion but this could have already been fulfilled, am not sure?

What did Paul warn those in his day to beware of, wasn't it about  those who taught the law? isn't the law a ministration of death, and against Christ?

What if the mark has to do with the Sabbath? There wasn't suppose to be any buying or selling, or any kind of work done on this day.

CHB

[WhiteWings]

Nowadays it's very hard to buy something without the mark. Almost all barcodes have it.
The black bars (separators) are in almost every barcode. And yep, you guessed it right they represent a 6
(http://www.rense.com/1.imagesC/brackets.gif)

[MacPherson]

Nowadays it's very hard to buy something without the mark. Almost all barcodes have it.
The black bars (separators) are in almost every barcode. And yep, you guessed it right they represent a 6
(http://www.rense.com/1.imagesC/brackets.gif)

I heard that since the 6th letter in the Hebrew alphabet represents a w, that the www in all internet URL's is equivalent to 666.

[MacPherson]

Don't know if any one has thought of this before but wouldn't it make more sense for the mark to be LAWS?

Take for instance, when Moses received the law God told the Israelites to bind them between their eyes, {forehead} and in their hands.  (Deut. 6:8) Thou shalt bind them for a sign {mark} upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. {forehead} The sabbath is another law in (Deut. 11:18) that speaks of binding them "for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes".

What if this beast that existed or will exist, kept, or will enforce the law of Moses and this is the mark? Keeping the law is like denying that Christ did it all for us. What better place to look for the mark than in the Bible?

Could this have been the fulfillment of the mark that is spoken of in Rev.7:3)?  (Ezek. 9:4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a MARK upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

I don't know if this antichrist or beast has existed or will exist in the future but whichever is the case I believe he has used or will use the laws of Moses to control things. It is just my opinion but this could have already been fulfilled, am not sure?

What did Paul warn those in his day to beware of, wasn't it about  those who taught the law? isn't the law a ministration of death, and against Christ?

What if the mark has to do with the Sabbath? There wasn't suppose to be any buying or selling, or any kind of work done on this day.

CHB

As you may know, Seventh Day Adventists claim the mark of the beast is those who break the 4th commandment by attending church on Sunday instead of Saturday. It seems you have perhaps turned the tables on them.

[Molly]

The mark is anything that controls your mind [forehead] or your work [hand] that is not of God.

[trettep]

well, to be honest, I still trying to figure it out about the lake of fire because God threw them there because they took the mark ( I wonder, when the baby is born they will get mark automated without any force, would the baby been throw to hell?)

I have a great question: why the book of life? God know everything and everywhere and everybody, why the book life? It like saying:

"Ummm, wait one min, I don't know if you are saved or not, or you took the mark or not, let me check the book...................................................oh yeah you took it, your name is not there, sorry"


Isn't that strange?

The thing is, as I understand it, there is no different judgment for those who take the mark. Jesus talked about separating sheep from goats, and the goats being consigned to  punishment, before the book of Revelation was written. What Rev 14:11 does is expound on just what that punishment is. But as far as I know, goats are goats, and they're all going to the same place, mark or no mark.

This does bring up a good argument against the mark being a microchip. Because of course that is something that would be implanted at birth. No more chance of getting babies mixed up. No more lost kids. No more Amber Alerts. Many interpret the mark as thought and deed, rather than an actual element applied to the human body. Before microchips, it was of course a tattoo.  As far as the  Book of Life goes, Isaiah 49:16 says God has our names written on the palms of His hands. I know personally, I have the name of Jesus inscribed on my heart.

I just wanted to mention that it is interesting that they are separated into goats and sheep.  Those are BOTH clean animals.

Paul

[trettep]

Don't know if any one has thought of this before but wouldn't it make more sense for the mark to be LAWS?

Take for instance, when Moses received the law God told the Israelites to bind them between their eyes, {forehead} and in their hands.  (Deut. 6:8) Thou shalt bind them for a sign {mark} upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. {forehead} The sabbath is another law in (Deut. 11:18) that speaks of binding them "for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes".

What if this beast that existed or will exist, kept, or will enforce the law of Moses and this is the mark? Keeping the law is like denying that Christ did it all for us. What better place to look for the mark than in the Bible?

Could this have been the fulfillment of the mark that is spoken of in Rev.7:3)?  (Ezek. 9:4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a MARK upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

I don't know if this antichrist or beast has existed or will exist in the future but whichever is the case I believe he has used or will use the laws of Moses to control things. It is just my opinion but this could have already been fulfilled, am not sure?

What did Paul warn those in his day to beware of, wasn't it about  those who taught the law? isn't the law a ministration of death, and against Christ?

What if the mark has to do with the Sabbath? There wasn't suppose to be any buying or selling, or any kind of work done on this day.

CHB

As you may know, Seventh Day Adventists claim the mark of the beast is those who break the 4th commandment by attending church on Sunday instead of Saturday. It seems you have perhaps turned the tables on them.

The raising of Jesus actually occurred on the 8th day (which just so happens to be the first day of the week since we only have 7 days in a week).  But the 8th day represented the first day of a new creation.  The 8th day is when ALL children shall be consescrated to the Father in Heaven.  I believe that circumcision on the 8th day forshadowed this.

Paul

[WhiteWings]

Marking technology:
http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:iLplpTLj3FcCqM:http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/ama/med/bill2marker.jpg

Can't remember last years worldwide famine....
http://exodus2006.com/

[CHB]

As you may know, Seventh Day Adventists claim the mark of the beast is those who break the 4th commandment by attending church on Sunday instead of Saturday. It seems you have perhaps turned the tables on them.

Here is something that was written by Dr. Ernest Martin. My only question is whether this has already happened? As you know the Law is partly what caused Christ to be crucified. Look at all the others who were killed because of the Law.

CHB

A Counterfeit System is Prophesied

As shown in my previous Prophetic Report for April, 1990 titled "Coming: A New World Order," the kingdom of the Antichrist will arrive on the scene just before the Second Advent of Christ and raise up a worldwide economic and political dominion that will resemble in many ways the prophesied Kingdom of Christ that will occur during the Millennium. The word "anti" in Anti-Christ actually signifies "in the place of," Christ. Its primary meaning is not "against" Christ. The apostle John meant that this man's kingdom will be like Christ's kingdom and that it will be raised up by Satan to replace the prophesied kingdom of Christ. It will be like the kingdom of Solomon and it will emphasize peace, safety and prosperity for mankind, not military war and destruction. [Read my April Prophetic Report for more information on the type of kingdom or world empire this government of the Antichrist will be.]

When this Man of Sin (called the Antichrist or the Beast in the Book of Revelation) appears on the world scene, he will govern a glorious empire. It will be the epitome of man's endeavor to bring in the kind of society of peace and safety that mankind has been looking for from the time of the Garden of Eden. It will resemble in almost all its details the very kingdom of Christ, but it will actually be that of Satan the Devil.

So cleverly deceptive will the exterior factors of this kingdom be shown to mankind that most will come to the conclusion that this Satanic system is indeed the prophesied kingdom of Christ on earth. Christ told his apostles that even they (and the very elect themselves) would be within an ace of believing that this final kingdom of man will be that of Christ and that the ruler of that kingdom is Christ Jesus returned from heaven. Note what Christ said to his apostles about two days before his crucifixion.

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth (to rally to him: behold, he is in the secret chambers (inside the temple of God; believe it not. For as the lightning (the Sun] comes out of the east, and shines unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be."

Matthew 24:28-27

Let's face it. If this human ruler called the Antichrist (the False Christ) would come looking like some Babylonian Gentile priest with a mitre of Dagon the fish-god on his head, demanding Sunday worship, the observance of pagan holy days associated with the Spring Equinox or the Winter Solstice, and teaching that all should come under the authority of a Gentile city in Europe, there would not be any apostle of Christ (who lived in the first century) who would accept this man as the supposed Christ.

Indeed, there will even be a fake "Second Advent" that the world will witness and mistake as that of the true Christ. Recall that Satan and his angels will be thrown out of heaven Revelation 12:7-17). These angels of Satan will even appear to some people disguised as recently departed loved ones or prominent individuals and people will mistake this for the resurrection of the dead that is prophesied to occur at Christ's true advent. This will be just like the familiar spirit that came to Saul disguised as Samuel though the real Samuel was dead in his grave and longer alive (I Samuel 28:11,14). The majority of the world will actually believe that Christ has returned and the resurrection from the dead has occurred for the "righteous." The world will believe it because the apostle Paul said that "God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie" (II Thessalonians 2:11 Greek, emphasis mine).

The Antichrist will look so much like the prophesied Christ that he will put into force Sabbath observance (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), along with the biblical holy days, and he will make his capital at Jerusalem. He will use the holy days of God in order to control completely the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly activities of the people of the world. So strict will he make the observance of the weekly Sabbath that if anyone tries to flee from his authority on the Sabbath, he or she will be easily spotted and rounded up for punishment (Matthew 24:20). While the Sabbath and holy day laws of themselves are good and proper if people wish to adopt them in order to worship God in a personal way, they can be a means of absolute servitude to men if men put them into action in order to control and rule other men.

The prophecies of the Scriptures show that this Antichrist will adopt the Mosaic days as well as the religious principles and teachings advocated by Moses (with Christian interpretations) to control the affairs of mankind throughout the earth. His procedures will look so much like people expect Christ to introduce at the Millennium that even the very elect people of God would be close to accepting him as Christ returned from heaven if they did not know better and this even includes the apostles of Christ.

And look at this important point. The apostles who lived with Christ throughout the span of his ministry on earth would not only know about the intimate teachings of Christ given to them in private but they would be aware of all the personal nuances of his physical and psychological characteristics that were associated with him. Personal attributes such as these can normally help to identify a person in a precise way. But even with the advantage of knowing these personal and unique nuances associated with Christ's character, Christ still told the apostles that even they would be close to accepting the claims of this man if they did not know better.

In order to deceive the world (and even the very elect if that were possible), the Antichrist will force into action (in a wrong way) the very laws of God in order to put yokes of subservience on the people just as the Jewish authorities demanded of the Jews in the time of the apostles (e.g. Acts 15:10). Just because one establishes such laws for world observance does not make the person or his kingdom righteous and holy. After all, the Jewish society in the early first century was the most rigorous in demanding Sabbath observance, holy day keeping and adhering to the principal laws of Moses, yet Christ called that society a "generation of vipers" (Matthew 23:33). That generation of Sabbath keepers wound up crucifying Christ and killing most of the apostles of Christ.

What is the Mark of the Beast?
Once it is understood that the world empire of the Antichrist will be a counterfeit of Christ's millennial kingdom (and that the Man of Sin inspired by Satan will misuse the Mosaic legislation with Christian overtones to control the world), it will be easy to recognize what the mark of the beast really is. In fact, any Jewish person reading the Book of Revelation in the first century would have had no difficulty in comprehending what the "mark" was. Let us notice the factors that identify the "mark."

"And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark."

Revelation 13:16,17

One of the cardinal rules for properly interpreting the Scriptures is to let the teachings in other sections of the Bible (which use the same terms or principles in other contexts) be the guide to understanding the more obscure sections. In the Bible there is only one other usage of the phrases "in the hand" and "in the foreheads." These are all in the Law of Moses and they refer to keeping the commandments statutes, judgments and holy seasons or days given to the Israelites in the time of Moses. The first reference is Exodus 13:9 where it states that the Days of Unleavened Bread associated with the Passover were given "for a SIGN unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes [in the forehead]."

The word "sign" in the above verse is translated "mark" in its second occurrence in the Bible and it refers to the "mark" given to Cain (Genesis 4:15). The biblical definition of the "mark" (or "sign") in the hand and forehead is associated with holy days on the Mosaic calendar. The next usage is recorded in Deuteronomy 6:8. There it refers to the commandments, statutes and judgements that the Israelites were to perform when they entered the land of Canaan. "Thou shalt bind them for a sign [or MARK] upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes [in the forehead]." The third reference is Similar to this and is given in Deuteronomy 11:18. The weekly Sabbath is described as such a "sign" [or MARK] in Exodus 31:12-17.

If we thus let the Bible interpret the Bible then the MARK [or sign] in the hand and in the forehead refers to the keeping of the Mosaic legislation (its holy day system and regulations for the people of Israel in the land of Canaan). And this is precisely what the Antichrist will subject the world to when he commences his reign in Jerusalem just before the Second Advent. He will display to the world his supposed divinity (and the world will accept it) and then he will sit himself with great ceremony in the temple at Jerusalem and he will proclaim himself the true divinity which has come from heaven to reside among men ('1 Thessalonians 2:4).

                                                                      Ernest L Martin

[MacPherson]

I just wanted to mention that it is interesting that they are separated into goats and sheep.  Those are BOTH clean animals.

Paul

That's a good observation.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: This is slightly off topic, but as we've been discussing the mark and the Pope, someone sent me this. Looks like we need to pray for Europe more.  :mshock:

Calling All Exorcists
By Barbie Nadeau | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Mar 30, 2009

In Italy, when the hosts (communion wafers) go missing, cops get as worried as the priests. In recent months, churches have reported a shortage of hosts and votives, and lower levels of holy water in the fonts. At the same time, police are finding candle wax, knives and other satanic paraphernalia left behind at burglaries. Last month in Perugia, police investigated four satanic-ritual break-ins, including one at the sealed scene of the 2007 murder of U.K. student Meredith Kercher.

Police have noticed such a sharp increase in satanic-ritual crimes that they've started bringing priests along to help decipher crime scenes. The Vatican's Squadra Anti Sette, or antisect police force, has been around since 2006, but in the past year its numbers have doubled. "Satanic sects are proliferating," says the Vatican's chief exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth, who has trained nearly 300 priests to perform exorcisms in Italy. He says more than 8,000 Satanic cults now operate there, with a membership of nearly 700,000. The Italian police estimate that satanic-inspired homicides have doubled over the past decade. The rise in satanic cults mimics a larger trend. Recent surveys show an increasing number of Italians are turning to the occult, from fortune tellers to faith healers. Ironically, satanists are giving a boost to the church as a linchpin of public security: cops now often attend Vatican-sponsored seminars in order to profile criminals. "We invite the police to sit in on exorcism classes," says Father Pedro Barrajon, a professor of theology in Rome. "The priests know what to look for."

[Nathan]

Actually . . .it's Obama, it's Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagon . . . .it's my elementary school teacher . . .my big sister . . .both of them . . .it's Benny Hinn . . .Billy Graham, Joyce Meyer . .. it's me.

Did you get that from L. Ray Smith? I've never gotten around reading any of his articles as a whole (I think). But I did skip down to the last line of his dissertation regarding this subject, and that was his conclusion.

No, never read his stuff . . . it's just where I am as well.

[WhiteWings]

:cloud9: This is slightly off topic, but as we've been discussing the mark and the Pope, someone sent me this. Looks like we need to pray for Europe more.  :mshock:

Especially the part where I live if possible  :laughing7:

About the Dope Pope who claims condoms cause AIDS.... the place where he lives is doomed  :winkgrin:





Rome is established on seven "hills", and each
was originally named by the Etruscans. Therewere settlements on six of
these, but the seventh hill was a boggy, swampy place, where the soil was loose.
The Etruscans buried their dead there for centuries.
Because the graves were shallow, dogs would often go there to dig up and feed on
the dead bodies! The Etruscans named this hill VATICANUS, meaning habitation of dogs. Later, a Roman
ruler named Caligula drained this site, and held enormouslypopular "carnivals" (Latin for flesh raising). Caligula was a
devotee of Bacchus, and held orgies and drunken parties on a regular basis.
The obelisk of Caligula stands today in the center of
the chariot wheel design in front of St. Peter's Cathedral (previous page). The Vatican
stands on the same hill where the Etruscans buried their dead, so it is an enormous graveyard. The tunnels beneath the Vatican have entire walls made of human bones in certain places.

[Nathan]

This whole topic weaving in and out reminds me much of what transpired with the Israelites while they were still in Egypt.  As Moses came in through the obedience of God and released the plagues . . the sorcerers were able to copy the plagues in the beginning.  I believe there is much counterfeiting still happening around us now that will deceive even the elect if they continue to focus on the natural manifestations of things they "see" instead of following the invisible voice that is only "heard" by the sheep.

The whole purpose of the original 10 plagues (10=law . . .God was removing carnal law with spiritual law at that time as well) was to ultimately free Israel from their BONDAGE.  Not just of the Egyptians themselves, but of their belief system as well.  Every one of those plagues were idols the Egyptians worshiped as gods.  And God strategically brought down each stronghold until the entire system collapsed and Israel was finally freed . . .keep in mind, through this entire process . . Israel was NEVER affected by ANY of the plagues.

And that pattern never changes.  If we are hidden in Christ .  . then we are "in" the ark as it was in the days of Noah . . .the storms came and destroyed all carnal flesh . . .but those in the ark were untouched.  The ark took on the elements, and protected those that lived within.  It's no different now .  . . I still believe very strongly that the reason why there is such an emphasis for us to walk in the spirit in this day . . .is so that we're not deceived by the manifestations of the flesh around us.

There are many copycat imitations of God's hand moving . . .but he is not in them.  The kingdom of heaven does not come by observation . . .it is within you.  So when we see natural things happening . . .we're not to make observations and claim they are a witness of the kingdom manifesting . . .for it's not what we see on the outside that we're to live by . .but it's by the voice that is on the inside that protects us from the bondages of carnality and religious proclamations that judgment has come and the end is near.

If the end is near, then it is near . . . to become an alarmist only distracts us from the source of true life.  There is no need to worry, toil or marvel at things on the surface.  Things are never what they seem.  

[Raggedy Anne]

About the Dope Pope who claims condoms cause AIDS.... the place where he lives is doomed  :winkgrin:


Rome is established on seven "hills", and each
was originally named by the Etruscans. Therewere settlements on six of
these, but the seventh hill was a boggy, swampy place, where the soil was loose.
The Etruscans buried their dead there for centuries.
Because the graves were shallow, dogs would often go there to dig up and feed on
the dead bodies! The Etruscans named this hill VATICANUS, meaning habitation of dogs. Later, a Roman
ruler named Caligula drained this site, and held enormouslypopular "carnivals" (Latin for flesh raising). Caligula was a
devotee of Bacchus, and held orgies and drunken parties on a regular basis.
The obelisk of Caligula stands today in the center of
the chariot wheel design in front of St. Peter's Cathedral (previous page). The Vatican
stands on the same hill where the Etruscans buried their dead, so it is an enormous graveyard. The tunnels beneath the Vatican have entire walls made of human bones in certain places.

This is very creepy.  I've always thought the Catholic church was very dark.  I now feel similarly about all the Protestant churches.  But I really should not get smug in my feelings about churches.  I've heard that church steeples are also phallic symbols, same as obelisks.  If so, then that would be an embarrassing thing for the bride of Christ or wife of God to have covering her head, no?

Sigh... what a bizarre world we live in.  I think, however that to the pure, all things are pure, and to the profane, everything is profane. 

Peace -
Anne

[WhiteWings]

RCC has many symbols/rituals that can be found in pagan religions. I think that's a fact.
More problematic is figuring out what's coincidence and wat's not. Who used the symbol first. Is it used with a pagan meaning or a Christian meaning.
I think they can explain away many things. But not all. And that's weird for  a church who burned people for views that where 0.00001% different than theirs. You would say they would study every symbol for pagan roots before they start using it.

[martincisneros]

About the Dope Pope who claims condoms cause AIDS.... the place where he lives is doomed  :winkgrin:

Actually...Latex not only bursts but is EXTREMELY porous.  But the latex are the most readily distributed and they give people a false sense of security.  So, in one sense, uh...yeah, you can say that they cause AIDS although in an absolute sense it's actually the people engaging in risky behaviour that are playing Russian Roulette.  Think of a hole in a wall as big as a fist and a finger going through that hole.  The hole in the wall is analogous of the pores in latex condoms and the finger is a perfect analogy on the proportionate size of the AIDS virus.  Monogamy is the closest thing to a guaranty of some semblance of safety in this life where that kind of issue is concerned.  I haven't studied the other "materials" that condoms are made out of.  But the surgeon general of the U.S. put out detailed info along those lines about latex condoms years ago.