Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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Divine blood, without which there could be no restoration of
grace or forgiveness of sins. Thus, the whole earth was purified
and eternally consecrated in the name of the one, true God.
Earth would never again be a source of aid and comfort for "the evil one", although
evil men would continue to give him support and shelter.
Like the lowly serpent, only one place remains for Satan and for all who choose
evil … the pit of hell!
Further proof that Jesus "cast out" Satan and shattered the
power of evil can be found in the prophetic Old Testament
writings of Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:1 - 2 The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed
me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite of heart, and to
preach a release to the captives, and deliverance to them that are shut up. To
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God:
to comfort all that mourn …
Our Jewish brethren will tell you that Isaiah speaks of a time when Israel will be
freed of domination by the nations and once again rise to prominence as a world
power. That may someday be true, but not yet.
Isaiah's "captives", the ones who are "shut up", were all the Old Testament faithful
who had died prior to Christ's sacrifice. Deprived of sanctifying grace under
Satan's dominion, all these souls (from Adam to the Cross) had been waiting
patiently for God's Promise, Jesus, to come, throw open the "gates of hell" and
free them from their place of confinement.
Jesus personally spoke of these faithful living souls, too … and in the present
tense:
Matthew 22:31 - 32 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not
read that which was spoken by God, saying to you: I am the God of Abraham and
the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the
living.
John 8:51 - 58 Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keeps my word, he shall not
see death for ever.
The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead,
and the prophets: and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste
death for ever.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are
dead. Whom dost thou make thyself?
Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that
glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God.
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