By Cris Putnam
I am sure most of my readers are well aware that our book Petrus Romanus is about end time prophecy, specifically how biblical prophecy intersects with Saint Malachy’s prophecy of the popes. However, the book Petrus Romanus is much more than a book about prophecy and church history, it is also a book of apologetics. A large portion of my effort in that volume was devoted to addressing issues like the Petrine doctrine, apostolic succession, transubstantiation, the sacramental system, relics, hagiolatry and Mariolatry. These are all Roman Catholic practices which I feel not only deviate from biblical doctrine but contradict and subvert it in many ways. An apologist is charged to refute false doctrines.
One distinction that I endeavored to make clear in the preface of the book was the difference between criticizing ideas and attacking people albeit the division was promptly disregarded by many Catholics. When one surveys the reviews at Amazon.com, for instance, it’s either all or nothing. As of this writing there are 154 five stars and forty with one star. The one star reviews are invariably Roman Catholics who took offense, many taking it personally and none of them address the biblical arguments. The fact that this book was going to address these issues from a protestant paradigm of biblical theology was made crystal clear in the preface. Even more, in that preface, I offered four caveats (paraphrased from book):
We want to extend this invitation to everyone including Roman Catholics. Accordingly, a few caveats are in order.
- First, this book does not argue that all Roman Catholics are un-Christian, our intention is not to “Catholic bash” in a book about the Final Pope, but to sound a dire warning to all.
- Second, we are not arguing exactly as the reformers, that the papacy is necessarily the Antichrist. Even so, it was a definitive doctrine which has been quietly swept under the rug of history.
- Third, we are not setting dates for the tribulation or return of Christ. Let us phrase it more emphatically lest someone misunderstand: We do not claim to know when the Lord will return.
- Fourth, the Prophecy of the Popes has a somewhat dubious origin and the Vatican has a demonstrable track record of forgery and revisionist history. We have simply investigated and followed the evidence where it led. This book is our submission of that research for your consideration.
Apparently, many of the Amazon reviewers did not bother to read the preface before they dug in, (it’s always advisable to read prefaces and introductions). Even so, with all of this made clear upfront, we did design the book in a certain sequence for a reason. We wanted Catholics to read it, so we placed the Malachy discussion upfront and lead them toward the apologetics. We wanted them to understand the incoherence of the Petrine doctrine and the ambitious power mad ruse perpetrated by the papacy. We wanted Catholic readers to be informed about the history of the popes who worshiped the devil and the recent charges of Vatican insider, Malachi Martin, that Satanists were deeply entrenched in Rome. We felt it important to demonstrate the necoromantric nature of hagiolatry and relics. We devoted an entire chapter to Mariolatry and presented a case that the apparition that is usurping the role of Christ by asserting itself as coredemptrix has absolutely no relation to the humble Jewish mother of Jesus in the New Testament. I believe we made a convincing case using the Bible as our primary source. The beginning of chapter 13 states, “We hope Catholics understand that the highest expression of love is grounded in truth. We believe that the Roman Catholic Church is the most fertile mission field in the world” (p. 293). Today, I am pleased to offer a recent testimony as a demonstration of that spiritual fruit.
A couple months ago I received this comment on my site:
Hello! I am a Catholic and I have just read your book, “Petrus Romanus”. This is a real eye-opener for me that I am seriously considering leaving the Catholic faith. I am in a spiritual dilemma right now–which church do I now turn to if this is even necessary? Can I just pray and read the Bible on my own without having to seek out a church with a pastor? Non-Catholics are persecuted in my family and country.
I am going to protect this persons identity, because whether American Catholics acknowledge it or not, the inquisition is alive and well in the third world. I have been counseling this reader for a while now and they are in real danger from the Catholic Church in their area.
I am currently in a confused state not only because of some of the Marian apparitions mentioned in your book. First, the prophesies delivered in Fatima are very accurate (i.e. apostasy within the church, the errors of Russia–Communisim–spreading all over the world, the world wars, etc.). This apparition warns us of danger that goes hand-in-hand with the writings of Nostradamus as well as other Marian apparitions. In this light, how could we say that we cannot give credibility to what it is saying? Can it still be demonic considering that it is warning us to go back to God or else all evil will break loose? I am very open to moving away from Catholicism because there are also many things I don’t approve of (rhetoric prayers, the evil people running the church and its equally evil members, the emphasis on doctrinal classes instead of scriptural classes, the emphasis on tradition, etc.); however, I am being held back because of the ones I mentioned above: the Fatima apparition, the saints’ experiences.
Although this exchange is edited for the sake of brevity, I offered this:
Remember the fortune teller in Acts 16?
“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.(Ac 16:16–18)
This spirit also said things that were true and even said that Paul and Silas “are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” But it was demonic spirit that Paul cast out! I pray you will find the truth. I am very concerned that the apparition phenomenon is leading people astray. It may say many good things and even seem to predict the future. I do not think Fatima or any of the apparitions have anything to do with Jesus’ mother, a simple Jewish woman named Mariam. I attached an article. Also, here is a nicely produced documentary that may be helpful:
We went back and forth a little and I then one day I received this amazing email:
Thank you, Cris. As of today, I have given all the Marian statues, etc. in our house to the local parish. It’s a big step for me. I don’t feel comfortable destroying them so I just gave them away. I still have crucifixes though so I think these should be alright.
Praise God that she got rid of all of the Marian idols and started trying other churches:
The Catholic church is very powerful here. The church controls the government decisions and can even overturn a government! My children study in an IB Jesuit school because it’s one of the best schools here so far so many traditions have been enforced in their students. Everyone is influenced. Last night, when my brother found out that I didn’t go to Mass, his response was, with a wagging finger, “That’s a mortal sin!!!” (I shall go to hell if I die without going to Confession for it). My youngest son has always been so bothered because of the slightest sins; he would worry about hell and dying that he would clutch his scapular and make it into an amulet. He would even wake up in the middle of the night worrying about his heart stopping and forgetting how to breathe. Yesterday, I removed his scapular to give him peace of mind. It’s alarming how this religion could make us, even a little child, paranoid about death, hell and purgatory! It doesn’t make **** any happier either considering the endless novenas and rosaries recited every day to ensure the success of our family business; in fact, *** is depressed and wants his life to end!
I am giving you permission to write about my story and how oppressive the church is in this country. If one isn’t a Catholic in Philippines, the majority will treat you differently (in another area of the country, one has to be Muslim).
Notice, the utter spiritual slavery experienced by someone under the sacramental system. Even a child lives in terror from Romanism. I edited the personal details to protect their identity. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Ga 5:1). Praise God, that they moved from darkness to light left and are now visiting new churches!
Thank you, Cris! I visited a different church and the experience made me have peace of mind (which was what I needed). Instead of the usual worry-wart me, I became very calm and relaxed all throughout the week despite the challenges at work (last-minute things that would usually stress me out). I prayed more for the things I needed during the week and to my pleasant surprise, I would either receive a phone call/text message or an unexpected answer seconds after praying! It’s really wonderful to see God’s response; it seemed like He was directly speaking to me. I shall be visiting another church tomorrow called *****.
As of this writing, I was able to get a missionary from my denomination to contact this person and they are now working with them personally. I thank God that our book Petrus Romanus is being used to lead folks on the other side of the world out of darkness and idolatry. Please pray that it continues to bear fruit.
While supplies last, I am offering signed copies along with the data DVD containing a library of original source documents.
