When the Bible was written, nearly 2000 years ago, the word ‘vax’ or vaccination was not used. The people of that time would not have known what a vaccination is or would be! But that doesn’t mean the LORD didn’t provide His flock adequate warning about the danger to souls in the ‘end-times.’ One such caution is against submitting to the “Mark of the Beast.” A particular warning in Revelation 13:15-18 is startlingly close to threatened government, medical and social efforts to punish those who won’t accept the COVID-19 vax. And, as Revelation warns, refusal has a penalty of death.
But first, now, the effort to force the vax is focused on incentives, financial payments or lottery-type rewards. Already there is a cry of ‘unfairness’ from among those already vaxxed without such reward. We can expect more ratcheting up of rewards (which itself slows down acquiescence by waiting for a ‘better deal,’) even celebrity notoriety, as we noted when the first US Bishop (Bp. Wenski, Miami) rushed to have his picture taken getting ‘the jab.’ It speaks volumes regarding what ‘society’ really values. But moral, ethical or religious pressure initially had been left to the churches, which gives to the evil one a ‘bonus’ of having split the flock, induced mistrust of the shepherds, and confused the lambs.
Why doesn’t Cardinal Dolan ‘get it’?
Pope Francis, according to the Curia of the Archdiocese of New York, “… said we have the moral responsibility to get vaccinated.” WRONG! We have the responsibility to consider all our individual moral responsibilities, in the hierarchy of good / better / best, and versus the risks associated with each, making a sincere Prudential Judgment of conscience. In addition to considering our own health, medical history, dependents’ needs and other responsibilities, the numerous serious health impacts experienced by some recipients of the vax, the degree of trustworthiness of the experiential data, and many other unknowns, we seek to form our consciences in Faith. The NY Curial representation of Pope Francis’ order is woefully lacking recognition of our right to follow the Prudential Judgment of a well-formed conscience. Moreover, it is surprising to find nothing supportive of a supposed order from Pope Francis with a biblical basis or catechism reference. Cardinal Dolan ought to be ashamed of his curia. Or at least of himself.
Another problem with the NY Curial Letter is the opening sentence of the 3rd paragraph: “There is no basis for a priest to issue a religious exemption to the vaccine.” Then the writer expresses concern for diocesan “embarrassment” and “personal liability” of the priest. Now we get a peek at what is really driving decisions in the NY Diocese and what they weigh for the good of souls on the other side of the balance. Nada. While there may be no basis for a religious exemption on a case per se, which would require judging each individual’s discernment and conscience, nevertheless there is plenty of opportunity to reply to the civil authorities with Church Teaching on respect for conscience, and application of relevant biblical references.
But apparently Cardinal Dolan’s Curia doesn’t recognize the relevant Word of God, handed down biblically and consistently with Church Teaching for nearly two millennia. The NY House of Card’s asserts that there is a moral obligation to receive the vax without any discernment, which will obviously be read by government authorities as confirming NO basis for dissent, and therefore using the Church’s silence against her own members.
We could also add here the failure to criticize the use of abortive materials in the vaccines, a position so well-articulated by Bishop Athanasius Schneider here: Bishop Schneider explains why Christians must never take abortion-tainted COVID vaccine (lifesitenews.com) and by Lifesite News here: THE PROOF: Many aborted babies are used in vaccine creation – LifeSite (lifesitenews.com)
Further, Cardinal Dolan endangers souls and speaks falsely to millions of Christians under his influence by not using the teaching moment to point out the obviousness of the warning in Revelation 13:15-18 as a match between the vax and the Mark of the Beast. Moreover, the reference clarifies that the Mark of the Beast has a satanic source, not charity for neighbor!
To find out what the oft-erring “Cardinal” has done, visit his July 30, 2021 pronouncement here: Cardinal Dolan Throws His Flock To The COVID Inoculation Wolves – Complicit Clergy
Statement of the Colorado Bishops:
Please read the foregoing in conjunction with the Colorado bishops’ statement on Conscientious Objection in this matter, which can be found here: Colorado Bishops Back Conscientious Exemption for Coronavirus Vaccines| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com)
- “We always remain vigilant when any bureaucracy seeks to impose uniform and sweeping requirements on a group of people in areas of personal conscience,” said the bishops, adding, “human-rights violations and a loss of respect for each person’s God-given dignity often begin with government mandates that fail to respect the freedom of conscience.”
- “… the city of Denver said that employers should make “reasonable accommodations to persons who have either medical or religious exemptions from the vaccine,” with each employer responsible to determine these accommodations. Colorado’s bishops said that refusal can be reasonable in an individual’s judgment. The Catholic Church teaches that a person may refuse a medical intervention, including a vaccination, if his or her conscience leads them to that decision,” they said in their letter.
- The Colorado bishops stressed Colorado Catholic dioceses’ commitment to working with public-health officials and other authorities to protect communities, while also “urging that personal freedoms of conscience and expression be fully supported, and the integrity and autonomy of religious institutions be respected.”
- The National Catholic Bioethics Center lists a form letter on its website for individual Catholics seeking religious exemptions from vaccine mandates. The article also comments on the New York Diocesan ‘approach.’
Survey of reasons for refusing the vax
A survey seems to indicate (by omission from the template) that there are no significant religious or spiritual reasons for refusing the vax. Although it may be that people are not sharing such concerns, or surveyors cannot ‘imagine’ such a concern, it seems likely that the survey is merely superficial by missing a relevant determinant, and/or that Christians aren’t articulating their justifiable concerns:
Side effects 53%
Waiting to see if safe 40%
Don’t trust vaccines 37%
Don’t trust government 27%
Don’t believe I need it 26%
Other 16%
Think other people need it more 11%
Don’t like vaccines 10%
Doctor has not recommended 7%
Concerned about cost 3%
How is the vax connected to the Bible?
Within the last year, there was a doctors’ group’s assertion that those rejecting the vax, or the jab as they call it, should be pressured by not being able to travel, to buy food, to go to Church, to even leave their home, and should suffer other egregious withdrawals of common necessities of life. One suspects that group, and others, knew at least in part that there were good and sound reasons the vax would be rejected, as we are seeing now. The frequency of the call to ‘punish’ those who don’t take the vax implies the likelihood there will be some retribution, perhaps even much retribution, with 79% currently blaming the un-vaxxed for the Delta Variant.
The Religious Reason
Where does their idea come from? Well, actually, from the Bible, from nearly 2000 years ago, in the Book of Revelation (Here are the Revelation quotes in Chapter/verse order.)
Rev 13:11-18 “Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It works great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men; and by the signs which it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth, bidding them make an image for the beast which was wounded by the sword and yet lived; and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak, and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Rev 16:2 So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth, and foul and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.
Rev 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation, aka The Apocalypse, is enough for me to not want to take the mark which God’s Word warns us against. But why isn’t this considered as a religious reason to refuse the vax? Why isn’t the Church using such quotes to defend us against the powers of the beast? Or at least to witness openly to God’s WORD? It seems like the voices of those doctors making the threat have a connection to the beast, like the evil one’s bragging about causing so many to go astray and to self-identify as being behind the Marks, i.e. the COVID ‘jabs.’
So, how much simpler could it be? Why aren’t we taking the vax? Because God told us nearly 2000 years ago not to do so. Why aren’t the priests and bishops, standing up for us who are individually facing the oppression of being pressured to do what could cost us our souls?
My friends, perhaps we do not yet see how wounded the Church is from starving the sheep for 80 days during lockdown, and how few even acknowledge their own participation, let alone repentance.
“For the time has come for judgment
to begin with the household of God;
and if it begins with us,
what will be the end of those
who do not obey the gospel of God?”
1 Peter 4:17
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Gospel of Matthew 24:20 reads: “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.”
I’ve never seen the birds flock up this early – a sign of an early and long winter.
Another sign is mice coming into houses to build their nests now. In the middle of August?