And the darkness for 3 days in the belly of the whale that Jonah experienced. Had Jonah not been in the belly of the fish and repented of his prior decision and fear, Ninevah would have ultimately been purged.
Indy, I often think the same. I think we are in a spiritual days of darkness now. I just looked at the video of Fr. Sudac sermon in another thread and IMO this is what he is warning us of. Not systems of the world, but our own individualism and thinking we don't need God. We are in darkness and we need to get back into the light. "And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing,in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.* For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of [Jesus] Christ" - 2 Corinthian 4:3-6.
Permission was granted to copy these Buddhist Scriptures regarding the prophecy of the Holy One (Jesus) from Wat Phra Sing in Chiang Mai Province. The one who gave permission was Phra Sriwisutthiwong in Bangkok. It is guaranteed that this copy is accurate according to the original, and that there is no error in transmission, which is in the book of the district headman, the religious encyclopedia, volume 23, book #29. This inquiry was made on October 13, 1954 A.D. (Buddhist era 2497). Phra Sriwisutthiwong was the Deputy Abbot and Director of Wat Pho Museum, Wat Pho Temple, Thailand. Religious Background Buddha lived approximately 500 years before Christ. Today, Buddhists have abandoned much of his teaching, and believe that one must do “merit” in order to better one’s life. They know that people have sin, so each person tries to do “merit” to cover over his sins. Yet they know that their sins are too great. This is especially difficult on poor people, because they know that to do “merit,” one needs money. The way to get money is to be a powerful person, but many powerful people steal and are not just. Often they are corrupt and abuse their power. Money received by doing sin to others is not acceptable merit money. So sin continues because no one is able to have enough merit to take away sin … unless someone was so perfect he could have enough merit for Himself and others. It is interesting that in the Buddhist Scriptures of Cambodia, [there is] a prophecy regarding a “Holy One” [who] would come, One who would lead people away from the old way and introduce a new way. Historical Background Buddha, being from a noble family, likely read about the law of the Most High God whom the emperor Darius commanded everyone to serve [Holy Bible, Book of Daniel, chapter 6, verses 24 through 26]. Buddha probably learned about the coming servant of that God, who would suffer for others’ sins, as predicted by the prophet Isaiah whose Scriptures Jews had carried into many provinces of the Babylonian and Persian empires. [Holy Bible, Book of Isaiah, chapter 53] The Prediction When Buddha was traveling and living in this world, an old Brahman priest who wore white robes asked the Buddha, “How will all men and all Brahman continue in their merit—making so as to escape the results of sin?” The Buddha answered, “Even though all of you give alms according to the 5 precepts, the 8 precepts, the 10 precepts or the 227 precepts for 9 trillion years and you raise your hands and offer yourselves as a burnt offering, or you pray 5 times a day, you will still not escape the results of your sins. lf you do this every day, your merit gained will only be equal to the smallest strand of hair of an unborn infant extremely small. You shall not enter heaven’s doors” The old Brahman priest asked further: “What are we all to do to be saved?” The Buddha answered the old Braham priest, “The results of sin and karma are very great, heavier than the sky; thicker than the earth. They are so high that it would be like an angel dusting the comer-posts at the temple compound with a cloth-post that are 18 inches high dusting them one time per year, until the posts wear down to the ground. When the posts are worn down, that’s how long it would take to end your sins. “ The Buddha said further “l have given up my high position and entered the priesthood. l considered that even though l am good, l would have only a very small amount of merit at the end of the year. if l was given this same amount of merit for 100, 000 epochs and live ‘l0 more lifetimes, l would not be saved from sin’s results even once. The old Brahman priest asked, “So what should we all do?” The Buddha answered, “Keep on making merit and look for another Holy One who will come and help the world and all of you in the future.” Then the old Brahman priest asked, What will the characteristics of the Holy One be like?” The Buddha answered him, “The Holy One who will keep the world in·the future will be like this: in the palm of his hands and in the flat of his feet will be the design of a disk, in his side will be a stab wound; and his forehead will have many marks like scars. This Holy One will be the golden boat who will carry you over the cycle of rebirths all the way to the highest heaven (Nirvana). Do not look for salvation in the old way; there is no salvation in it for sure. Quit the old way. And there will be a new spirit like the light of a lightening bug that will come down from the sky above to live in all of your hearts and you will be victorious over all your enemies. Nobody will be able to destroy you. If you die, you will not come back to be born in this world again. You will go to the highest heaven (Nirvana).” Conclusion Buddha was right about the uselessness of trying to earn merit. It is impossible. The Holy One that Buddha said would come has come. About five hundred years after Buddha left this world, the prophecy was fulfilled. When Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away human sin, each hand and foot was pierced with a large nail leaving a disk shape (John 20:20). His side was pierced with a spear (John 19:34); and His forehead had many marks on it from the crown of thorns the Romans put on Him (John 19:2). Jesus Christ opened up a new way of faith to relate to God so that the old ways of merit could be left behind. Through Jesus alone, one can find escape from the impossibility of doing merit. Through Jesus alone, one can find perfect assurance that the highest heaven is opened by God’s grace. May the searching Buddhists find Our Lord Jesus in His Fullness. Amen
I believe that God created all people in His image from the first created man and that would include all races and therefore all people from the beginning of mans time on earth. So the little baby born in the last 5 minutes in Hindu India, Buddhist China, Islamic Iran, Native Indian of North American, Central Desert area of Australia and Atheist Russia are all God’s children and are all created in His Image. This is my belief. Unless you are Jewish, than your ancestors were pagans. And even Abrahams ancestors were pagan. If you are from Irish, Scottish or British stock than like St Bridget we are descendants of people who were druids (pagans) If you are from native American stock than believers in the Great Spirit and other spirits (pagans) If from Arabia than beliefs in a Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess, who had many daughters (pagans) If from African descent than a belief in a single Supreme Creator but also mixed with other Gods just like, druids, Hindus, Buddhists etc; all pagan In fact, unless you are Jewish than your ancestors were pagans. So here we all are!! Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa of Akita was raised as a Buddhist by very devout and loving parents and she has continuously prayed for their souls. Hopefully our prayers, sufferings and sacrifices can help our pagan ancestors reach heaven too! Jesus has come as promised and foretold! Glory be to God in His love and Mercy He has come and suffered and completed the covenant between God and man and now the gentiles are allowed to enter heaven too. Praise be to God! Thank God I was born in the 20 th century and not 1500 years ago, when my forebears knew nothing about Jesus and His saving grace. Yet my forebears are not lesser or greater than I. I pray now for your forebears and my forebears. Because time and space does not limit Gods saving power Dearest Lord Jesus. Lord of Love and Mercy. Lord and saviour. Look with compassion upon those who have died without knowing you. And bring them to Heaven to know and Love you too. Amen.
Even "forebears" knew right and wrong. That was the legacy of Adam and Eve...natural law is instilled in everyone at conception. So not knowing Jesus doesn't necessarily mean you don't know how to follow Jesus and/or God. Jesus was the direct link toward salvation and Unity with God the Father. May Gods Will be Done
Dear fallen Saint, It seems you understand my postings. Thank you. I believe that everyperson ever created by God, was created to love and to be loved! When our Lord walked this earth as one of us; He tried to teach us the fathomless Love of God and He gave many parables, teachings and commands so as we would all get to be with Him in heaven. As a parent I want to convey all my life lessons to my children so they can be equipped with all that is necessary to live a productive and good life which will bring them to happiness. Imagine if I have two children: one is fully cognitive and physically fit, I can give all of my understanding to and teach this child everything I know. However if I also have a child who is autistic or has other cognitive and physical disabilities and no matter how much I try I can never portray all that I wish them to understand. But as a reasonable parent I realise this childs limitations and so provide for him or her in other ways. If one of my children asks for bread would I give them a stone? No. How much greater is God love for His children than mine? Immeasurable!!! Jesus says; unless eat of my flesh you will not have life in you Jesus says; no one comes to the father except through me Jesus says; I am he way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through me. We Catholics are so privileged to receive Him and be nourished by the Blessed sacrament, to be able to know the fathers love so personally and to be assured that our lord is the way the truth and the life. Jesus also knew that all would not be so privileged as to be born into His church and not all have the privileged of knowing this, even today. Everything is relative to God. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through me. Why did Jesus tell us that He is the way, the truth and the life? I believe, Because He is God and God is Love and Love is the Way. Because He is God and God is Almighty, Immortal and Omnipotent and His Omnipotence is truth. Because he is God and God is Mercy and His Mercy is Life. All good people are in some way connected to the communion of saints. As you say all people knew right and wrong. God Bless
Wasn't it said by some seer that there would be extreme cold in the vicinity of the 3 days of darkness? I was reminded of this recently by Putin's threat to cut off the gas supply to Europe; if this occurs in winter, Europeans would have much colder thermal sensations without the use of heaters.
Yes. The 3 days of darkness are supposed to occur in a period of extreme cold. I don’t remember where I read that. You make a good point.
another point is that the dreaded russian invasion of europe could occur in this period of extreme cold in europe (without heaters), as Russian soldiers are more used to absurdly low thermal sensations due to its harsh winter.
