I am torn at heart to tell you that many SDAs are crowing
about the ‘Passion’ movie and claiming it to be ‘Biblically
Accurate’ and letters have even been circulated trying to claim a
likeness to the Desire of Ages for this gory abomination! I am here
sharing a newsletter from a friend because it has a brief run down of
just a sample of the non-biblical nonsense and horror-story hype that
is found in this movie. (sdadefend webservant)
Dear Friends, May 2004
...
After last month's newsletter, in which the current movie by Mel
Gibson was discussed, so much more information has come to light that
needs to be shared. So many have stated that the movie was such an
accurate portrayal of the closing scenes of Jesus' life. Among those
who have stated this are Billy Graham, James Dobson, Robert C Schuller,
Paul Harvey, John Paul II, and Voice of Prophecy speaker Lonnie
Melashenko. With such a line-up as this, who are claiming the movie to
be so accurate with the biblical record, the movie must be an accurate
account, right? As the following information is shared, you can judge
for yourself.
• The following are 17 non-biblical portrayals as seen in the
movie that have no basis in the Bible. After mentioning the total, we
will then analyze them.
1. As the movie opens, Christ is seen as an oily, muddy mess.
2. The Virgin Mary is shown in the Garden of Gethsemane, comforting
her Son.
3. The devil appears to Christ in the Garden; a snake comes forth
from the devil's nose to attack Christ, but He crushes it.
4. After Christ's arrest in the Garden, the beating begins.
5. As Christ is taken from one judgment hall to another, a riot
breaks out between Jews and Romans. In the riot, Christ is again
mashed badly.
6. As Christ is beaten, the film focuses on Mary as she deals with
her pain. 7. As Judas goes out to hang himself, Jewish children throw
rocks at him
8. During Christ's trial, He is hurled over a bridge. A heavy chain
binds Him, which makes it possible for the Pharisees to pull Him up
again.
9. After Peter's denial of Christ, he rushes from the hall and
throws himself at Mary's feet, confessing his sins to her.
10. Mary pleads in intercession to Pilate's wife, Claudia, for her
son.
11. Mary and Mary Magdalene are given cloth from Pilate's wife to
wipe up Christ's blood from the pavement.
12. When Simon of Cyrene enters the film, he, along with Christ,
carries the cross to Calvary.
13. When Christ falls on the way to Calvary, Mary has a flashback
to the time when Christ was a boy and He fell on the streets of
Jerusalem.
14. When Jesus reaches Calvary, Mary actually says to Him,
"Let me die with You."
15. As the blood of Christ flows from the cross, Mary is at the
foot of the Christ, kissing His feet. As Mary does this, blood gets
all over her.
16. When Christ falls on the way to Calvary, Mary is always there
to help and strengthen Him.
17. When Christ dies, an earthquake occurs and the temple
collapses.
For someone to state that the preceding 17 points are biblical
defies reason. Yet, that is exactly what Billy Graham, James Dobson,
Robert Schuller, Paul Harvey, John Paul II, and Lonnie Melashenko have
all declared. When Christ came from the Upper Room, He was not muddy
or dirty looking. For a snake to proceed from the devil's nose is mere
imagination and embellishment. There was no recorded riot between Jews
and Romans while Christ went from one hall of judgment to another. The
Bible does not record Judas having stones thrown at him. Simon of
Cyrene does not carry the cross with Christ; he carries it for Him.
The temple does not collapse at the death of Christ; it was destroyed
39 years later by the invading Roman armies under Titus in 70 A.D.
While all of these are non-biblical events in the film, the most
glaring and blasphemous element of all is the overriding and central
focus of Mary. She is seen in nearly every major aspect. She is in the
Garden, at the trials, on the way to Calvary, and at the cross as
well. The Gospels only record her at the cross when Jesus declares to
her, "Behold your son!" John 19:26 She is depicted in this
film as a mediator when Peter asks her for forgiveness and when she
pleads for her Son before Claudia, Pilate's wife. The Bible indicates
that there is one mediator between God and man, even Christ Jesus. (I
Timothy 2:5) The Bible indicates that Christ is our intercessor.
(Hebrews 7:25)
Where does Gibson come up with this, showing Mary as a mediator?
This comes from the mystical, demonic writings of Anne Catherine
Emmerich and Mary of Agrada. How can any of these professed Protestant
ministers declare that exalting Mary, as intercessor, is biblical?
This defies reason. These Protestant ministers are not Protestants;
they have embraced the papacy and her doctrines and now espouse them
as the truth. For John Paul to say this movie is biblical is one
thing, but for James Dobson, Billy Graham and Paul Harvey, this is
something else. For Lonnie Melashenko to state that the film is
biblically accurate is a travesty. `How have the mighty fallen!'
Not only is Mary depicted in the film as an intercessor, she is
also portrayed as a co-Redeemer. As Mary kisses Christ's feet, she
becomes soaked with blood, showing very adroitly that both she and her
Son were bloody at Calvary. The movie even has her saying at Calvary,
"Let me die with You." Friends, this is blasphemous. For a
person to profess to follow Christ and declare this to be of God is
nothing short of shocking. Catholic dogma was portrayed in 'The
Passion' and viewers are so stunned by the blood and gore that they
miss the underlying, yet bold declarations that Mary is a mediator and
redeemer.
There are two other aspects to this that are striking in light of
end-time Bible prophecy. There is coming a time very soon when demons
will manifest themselves as departed prophets and other famous Bible
characters. It is clear that one of those who will appear will be the
demon impersonating Mary. This movie is preparing people to be very
sympathetic toward Mary so that when she appears, people will feel so
good about her, and will associate her with Christ. What she says will
then be associated with Christ and people will embrace her and what
she says as the truth. She will tell everyone to honor Sunday. All the
worldly `great' men; people like Billy Graham, James Dobson, Robert
Schuller, Paul Harvey, John Paul II, and Lonnie Melashenko will then
second her message as the voice of God, and the world's masses will
then follow her and what she says and embrace Sunday worship. It is
only a matter of time as God allows. The God of heaven controls and He
is bringing the world to a final decision through Sunday worship.
Praise God; it is almost over!!!
Truth Triumphant
Pastor Bill & Hoda Hughes
P. 0. Box 1417
Eustis, Fl 32727-1417
