Catholic Christians?

Q

Your answers to questions have cleared up many areas of Bible prophecy in which I was confused or just did not understand. You are a blessing to all of us who desire to understand God’s prophetic word. May God continue to bless your ministry! I recently read on your site, that you believe that many Roman Catholics are saved. Would you please share your belief of this, my heart has been heavily burdened for Roman Catholics, and any encouragement you could provide would be a true ministry to me.

A

I have always felt that there are many Catholics, Mormons, and others who belong to religious organizations claiming to be Christian, as well as untold numbers of Jews, who really are saved and will go in the Rapture. It’s what’s in our hearts that saves us and if the Lord determines that we meet the qualifications and our motives are pure that’s all that matters. He understands the incredible pressure groups like this put on their members and their families to toe the mark and do the work. Again it’s what we believe that saves us, not how we behave.

In addition, I believe one application of the Letter to Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) is to bring a message to the Catholic Church, just as Sardis speaks to the Protestants, Philadelphia to the Evangelicals, and Laodicea to the Apostates. Both Thyatira and Sardis contain hints that some from among them will will be taken when the Lord comes while others will be left behind. For the Church at Thyatira the hint is found in Rev. 2:24-25. To me this passage confirms that while some are merely Catholics, others are Catholic Christians.