Angels & Demons and the Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown’s latest movie, Angels & Demons, came out yesterday. Here are some comments about it from a South African calling himself TJ Deen:

The movie hangs loosely on the actual novel itself. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) jets off to Rome after the Pope’s sudden death and the re-election through Papal Conclave. Arranging all of this is the carmelengo, Patrick McKenna (McGregor). However, he soon learns of a new threat, one that involves a secret brotherhood making its presence known, an anti-matter time bomb that Vatican City is now targeted with and the kidnapping of four cardinals. Langdon, using his intellects (and trust me, you’ll be hearing a LOT from it) is given the task of finding and rescuing them using the mysterious Path of Illumination. Aiding him on the quest is CERN scientist Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), who is also the co-creator of the anti-matter. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808151/

Though I have not seen the movie, there are a few things I would like to say related to it.

Supercollider
Superconducting quadrupole electromagnets are used in CERN’s Large Hadron Collider to direct the beams to four intersection points where interactions between protons will take place.

First, regular readers of the COGwriter page will recall that for a long time (see September 10th is Not the End of the World), I have warned that that the CERN project known as the Large Hadron Collider may generate some type of important military capability for the Europeans. And while that was not the direct subject of the Angels & Demons movie, this capability would likely be used by the Europeans to fulfill the following prophecy:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:3-4).

Second, I want to remind people that there are angels and demons. And while the movie uses those titles metaphorically, they really do exist (see also Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind).

Third, Catholics and others may be surprised to realize that various Catholic prophecies discuss a time when someone may try to kill the Pope and an antipope/Antichrist will take over. And while we in the Living Church of God have not historically widely use the term “antipope” (although I have since the start of this WordPress page, see Why Cover Catholic News?), it certainly is likely that the final Antichrist will be a demon influenced one claiming to be the Bishop of Rome.

Fourth, I noticed Ron Howard (director) and Tom Hanks (lead actor) emphasize that the movie is fiction. I suspect part of the reason for that is the flack they got over The Da Vinci Code movie that they both were also part of.

FWIW, The Da Vinci Code movie was a motivating factor in my development of my History of Early Christianity page. Because of the success of The Da Vinci Code novel, about 9 months before the movie was to come out, that I should develop the History of Early Christianity page. And I announced that page once The Da Vinci Code movie came out.

Some articles of subjects of related interest may include:

The Da Vinci Code: Some Good, Most Bad Does The Da Vinci Code properly discuss Christianity? What does it have right and what does it have wrong about early Christianity and other gospel accounts?
Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind discusses some experiences I believe were (demon) ‘spirit’ related.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?