ROME, ITALY - After weeks of fighting for his life in the hospital and at his Vatican apartment, Pope John Paul II died on April 02, 2005 at the age of 84.
Pope John Paul II, hospitalized twice in February for flu-induced severe breathing difficulties, laryngitis, and other various complications, died in Vatican City after suffering heart and kidney failure.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, close friend and advisor of John Paul II, was elected by his fellow cardinals to replace John Paul as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and is to be known now as Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict pledged to continue in the conservative tradition of the previous pope on the issues of the church. Benedict, for example, has described homosexuality as a "tendency toward moral evil" and called for pro-abortion politicians to be denied Catholic communion.
Jewish religious leaders have lauded the election of Ratzinger. Rabbis believe that Ratzinger’s papacy is a sign that the warming trends between the Vatican and Jews initiated by Pope John Paul II will continue.
A day after his installation at the Vatican in Rome, Pope Benedict met with Muslim leaders, assuring them that the Catholic Church wants to continue to build bridges of friendship that could foster peace in this world - ending years of violence.
As a result of his election, Ratzinger was instantly promoted to one of the most powerful people on the planet. His influence reaches far beyond the religious realm. As the spokesman for over a billion people, Benedict’s opinion and favor will be sought by leaders the world over.
Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News
The election of a new Pope is not a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. However, it could well be setting the stage for the prophetic to be fulfilled.
As the Catholic church's new Pope, Benedict XVI will continue on the doctrinal policies of his good friend and confidant the late Pope John Paul II, at least into the near future. Jewish leaders are welcoming the news of a man who they believe will continue the fight against anti-Semitism. This is despite the fact that Ratzinger, as a 14-year-old reluctantly joined the Hitler's Youth Organization.
The election of a pope in 2005 is not mentioned in Bible prophecy, and thus was not a prophetic event. However, decisions that the new pope will make will set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. The prophetic scenario for the Last Days for a one-world religion described in Revelation 17 has many similarities to the Catholic Church and its headquarters location, the city of Rome.
One cannot absolutely conclude from the scriptures that any particular church is the fulfillment of prophecy. But many main-line churches will play a role in preparing for the false religious organization that will appear during the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation period. This false church will be lead by the Antichrist during that time.
Actually the election of any religious leader, especially one with the influence of a pope, will help set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
Pope John Paul II, hospitalized twice in February for flu-induced severe breathing difficulties, laryngitis, and other various complications, died in Vatican City after suffering heart and kidney failure.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, close friend and advisor of John Paul II, was elected by his fellow cardinals to replace John Paul as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and is to be known now as Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict pledged to continue in the conservative tradition of the previous pope on the issues of the church. Benedict, for example, has described homosexuality as a "tendency toward moral evil" and called for pro-abortion politicians to be denied Catholic communion.
Jewish religious leaders have lauded the election of Ratzinger. Rabbis believe that Ratzinger’s papacy is a sign that the warming trends between the Vatican and Jews initiated by Pope John Paul II will continue.
A day after his installation at the Vatican in Rome, Pope Benedict met with Muslim leaders, assuring them that the Catholic Church wants to continue to build bridges of friendship that could foster peace in this world - ending years of violence.
As a result of his election, Ratzinger was instantly promoted to one of the most powerful people on the planet. His influence reaches far beyond the religious realm. As the spokesman for over a billion people, Benedict’s opinion and favor will be sought by leaders the world over.
Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News
The election of a new Pope is not a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. However, it could well be setting the stage for the prophetic to be fulfilled.
As the Catholic church's new Pope, Benedict XVI will continue on the doctrinal policies of his good friend and confidant the late Pope John Paul II, at least into the near future. Jewish leaders are welcoming the news of a man who they believe will continue the fight against anti-Semitism. This is despite the fact that Ratzinger, as a 14-year-old reluctantly joined the Hitler's Youth Organization.
The election of a pope in 2005 is not mentioned in Bible prophecy, and thus was not a prophetic event. However, decisions that the new pope will make will set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. The prophetic scenario for the Last Days for a one-world religion described in Revelation 17 has many similarities to the Catholic Church and its headquarters location, the city of Rome.
One cannot absolutely conclude from the scriptures that any particular church is the fulfillment of prophecy. But many main-line churches will play a role in preparing for the false religious organization that will appear during the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation period. This false church will be lead by the Antichrist during that time.
Actually the election of any religious leader, especially one with the influence of a pope, will help set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.