Ardent American Patriot and Lover of Israel
Catholic Leader’s Visit to Jerusalem May Ban Jews From Western Wall
“But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief” I Thessalonians 5:1-4
Originally reported by “Israel National News”, the planned visit by the Catholic church’s Benedict XVI to the Western Wall (Kotel) may force a ban on Jews from praying there for the first time since their holy site was restored to Israel after 2,000 years. Benedict has said his visit to Israel in mid-May is devoted to “unity’ and “peace.”
Security officials have been discussing the issue with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who said he is vehemently opposed to the idea of banning Jews from praying at the wall during Catholic Church leader’s impending visit. Government authorities responsible for the safety of the Pope want to clear the area the evening before his visit until he leaves.
“The Kotel must be open during the entire visit for every person who wants to pray,” Rabbi Rabinowitz said. “Jews have been praying at the Kotel for almost 42 years. There is no preference of one person over another.”
Benedict’s soon visit to Israel should be viewed as a clear warning flag to both Israel and the Christian Church according to Christian commentator, William Cody Bateman of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
“The Catholic’s “Pope” represents neither the true Christian Church or Israel’s best interest. It is a historical fact that the Catholic Church has, throughout its dark history, desired Jerusalem as its city of “faith” and has gone to great lengths in its various attempts to possess it – from the Crusades to this latest religious/political visit. He goes on to explain that, “God has already warned “Last Days” Israel and the Christian Church that many would come promoting “Peace and Unity” as a deceptive ploy to bring Israel and the Jewish people to it demise.”
In March of 2000, another Catholic leader, John Paul II, visited the Western Wall – and following tradition, placed a prayer paper between the cracks in the Wall. His “prayer” stated, “God of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your Name to the Nations. We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer. And asking Your forgiveness, we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.”
Bateman believes that John Paul’s prayer should have been considered an affront to Jews everywhere. He stated, “John Paul’s “prayer” is full of deceptive hypocrisy – for Catholics believe that any allegiance to any other form of religion but the Catholic faith is anathema and worthy of hell fire.” He goes on to say that, “Both John Paul then and Benedict today, are attempting to revise history in order to paint themselves as peacemakers on behalf of the whole world, all the while coming across as if they are looking out for Israel’s best interest. Their promotion of “peace and unity” are nothing more than another calculated step toward a one-world government and world faith unity.”
He then quotes the words of the Son of God, Jesus Christ Himself:
“And many false prophets will rise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold. But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come. Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand). Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matthews 24:11-16
Jews were banned from visiting the Western Wall during the Jordanian occupation of eastern Jerusalem. Jordan also closed off all of the Christian churches, and Israel re-opened all religious sites to all faiths after recovering all of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967.
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