JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

March 1991

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your recent inquiry in which you requested our comments about the "miracle of Fatima."

Perhaps you realize it is claimed that Mary appeared to children in vision with messages for mankind. While we have no reason to doubt that the children experienced a vision, we do not believe what they saw was really Mary.

The Bible warns that people will witness miracles and supernatural phenomena which will mislead them (Matt. 24:24; II Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:13). We also find a biblical example of this kind of false miracle in I Samuel 28:7-20. King Saul believed the dead prophet Samuel appeared, giving him a message; but it was really an evil spirit impersonating Samuel!

How do we know that Mary did not actually appear from heaven? Because the Bible reveals that the righteous dead remain in their graves until the resurrection at Christ's return (see I Corinthians 15:22-23, 50-54; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Hebrews 11:39-40). Mary is still awaiting the resurrection and cannot appear to anyone.

For further, detailed information giving the Bible teaching about the state of the dead, please request our free publications WHAT IS THE REWARD OF THE SAVED?, IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?, and WHAT IS MAN?

Thank you for your interest in the Bible answer to mysterious occurrences that baffle so many.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT