Biblical Prophecy?

 I took a class in seminary a hundred years ago, seriously, 40+ years ago that had a lot of "Biblical Prophecy" included within the course. 

Classes like this, or course are not taught anymore, or if they are, they are not taught the same way they were in the late 1970s to middle 1980s. 

In 1970, an author by the name of Hal Lindsey wrote the book, " The Late Great Planet Earth." 

The book of course was an Evangelical view of how the world would end. 

Lindsey made a fortune from this book and series of books that followed up to this book. 

People in the Evangelical world sang all sorts of praises about Lindsey, and Lindsey saying that Jesus was coming in out lifetime, soon, very soon, like in 5-7-10 years. 

I have heard ministers praise Lindsey saying he was a " Christian's Christian." 

Never mind that Lindsey was married 4 times in his life, all ex-wives divorced him, mostly for reason....and the money from his books, speaking engagements allowed him to buy a new German luxury car every 3-4 months......and he was going to London's Savile Row and buying several £15,000( $19,500) hand made suits at a time.

I say this because one of Lindsey's tag lines was "Jesus was going to return in his lifetime. "

Lindsey died at the end of last year, 2024.  

And there were many people who either hung on every new book he published, or in those days, a number of people just like him. It was a business. 

I am convinced the Southern Baptists used Lindsey's books to scare the hell out of younger Baptist people. Keep them from having sex. listening to Rock-n-Roll( Country and Western was okay, but Rock, was the " Devil's music...Never mind Country was full of those drinkin' and cheatin' songs), and the biggy, drinking alcohol.....And worked for a lot of them. I swear it caused a lot people I know to marry at 18, so they could screw, never mind most of them most of them divorced, also sin according to the Baptists, but this is another story....

Now, there has always been prophecies in the Bible. 1/3rd of the Bible is claimed to be future events, or events in the future which have already taken place. 

All religions, have prophecy. 

All.

All forms of Christianity have prophecy. 

All...Even the Roman Catholic Church. 

So, with the illness of the 88 year old Pope Francis, and his now third week in the hospital, most of it in critical condition, I was asked by a few people to discuss the prophecies of St. Malachy. 

Malachy lived from 1094 until 1148. He was the Archbishop of Armagh, a city in Northern Ireland. ( We've been there. Nothing special, but we liked Northern Ireland.) 

He is said to have...." an alleged vision of 112 popes later attributed to the apocrypha." 

It is called the Prophecy of the Popes. 

Francis is Pope number 112.....and according the Malachy, is the last pope.  

In this 112th's pope's time....Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills ( Rome) will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End

Trouble is, what happens, if this does not occur, and Francis dies?  

Already, there are people saying that Francis is not number 112....That some previous popes were not pope. Trouble is, which one? 

Some of the Catholic experts are saying the confusion is during the time in which there was 2 popes. One in Rome and one in France. Of course, politics is involved. Called the Great Schism, or Western Schism, The Schism of 1378, and about 5 other names. 

Trouble is, during this time, there was period in which there were 3 popes. The 3rd one reigned from Pisa in Italy from 1409-1410. However, he died, and there was no replacement for him. 

They are saying that if the next pope is Italian, then, he will be the last pope. 

Many analyses of the prophecy note that it is open to the interpretation that additional popes would come between the "glory of the olive" and Peter the Roman. Popular speculation by proponents of the prophecy attach this prediction to Benedict XVI's successor. Since Francis election as Pope, proponents in internet forums have been striving to link him to the prophecy. Theories include a vague connection with Francis of Assisi whose father was named Pietro. 

Trouble is, is any of this right? 

I question a lot of people interpreting Revelations. Heck, I don't believe in a rapture. Show me the word rapture in the Bible? The idea of it didn't show up until the 1800s. And in truth, why are you so narcissistic to believe you are good enough to not go through suffering? I know most of you, you ain't that good. You better hope there is some sort of grace, a technicality to get your sorry butt through to the other side.  

And don't write me a thesis on end times. Don't be quoting the Bible on me. I'll quote stuff back you in Koine  Greek and ask you questions. People have not gotten it right, if there is an end of times or not.  It might be man made with a nuclear war, or an asteroid at some point may slam into the earth.....That said, don't be telling me how this is all going to end, because you , not I, nor anyone on earth knows. 

All this said, if you want to know a little more on Catholic prophecy, let me know. I may wait until the pope dies, but if there is enough " popular demand" I may go there....