Do Catholics believe in the end times just as we do?

[lovePsalm40]

I believe you are correct in your biblical model of the proper way to pray.

Dr. Lewis Chafer describes it this way: "There is a divine order prescribed for prayer under grace. This is set forth by the words:"In that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you" (John 16:23). Also, judging from another Scripture, prayer is to be offered in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20)...........Praying to the Father in the name of the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit is an order which has not been arbitrarily imposed. The reason for this order is quite obvious. To pray to Christ would mean to abandon His mediation; it would not be praying (through) Him but rather (to) Him, thereby sacrificing the most vital feature of prayer under grace---prayer in His name. It is equally out of order to pray to the Holy Spirit for by so doing Christians imply that they do not need His help; instead of proceeding by His help, they would be ignoring the need of Him." .......

Kay Arthur has a terrific study entitled "Lord, Teach Me to Pray". I learned a lot going through that last year. Thank you for sharing!

[Chris]

I too am a former Catholic and was also very frustrated with the church. I was asked to leave a CCD class when I was 15 because I disagreed with a priest who said all unbaptized babies go to limbo and not heaven. By this young age I had already had it and verbally sparred with the priest. When he became aware that he would not change my mind that all babies go to heaven, he asked me to leave and called my parents and told them to never bring me to his parish again. I went to Catholic school for 8 years and never once was taught from the Bible. I remember reading from our "Catholic" Bible at home and there were very scary pictures in the Book of Revelation. Never was the end times discussed in school or catechism class. When my friend and I happen to mention it one day to our teacher, a nun, the issue was scrapped as being to terrifying too talk about.

I always new there was truth in God's Word. I was the first to leave the catholic church in my family back when I was 15 and now after 25 years three of us have. I still try to open my families eyes, but most just call my sister and I Bible thumpers and make fun of us. We both have our own families now and have taken a lot of criticism for not sending them to parochial school. When I ask my parents, aunts, uncles etc for sound Biblical reasoning for any Catholic doctrine no one can give it. Yet, my children can teach them why our belief in the Lord is the only way to heaven. We still pray for them, and it's hard for me to see many family members who go to church, recite their prayers, live good wholesome lives etc. and know in my heart that they are being mislead and therefore are lost. I pray that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are able to differentiate the "smoke and mirrors" of the Catholic church and receive the Lord into their hearts and souls. If they won't truly become saved now, I pray that the rapture will open their eyes and they will accept the Lord as their only true path to eternal life.

Praying in agreement for your family members.