Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Detestable Things of the Earth
Exclusively Christian TheologyThis forum is exclusively for those who consider themselves Christian and consider the Bible to be the inspired word of God.
Slogan/motto:
Your faith is what you believe in and by their fruit you shall know them
Reputation:
June 12th, 2012, 08:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill White
Thanks Doug,
Could there not be ''one'' leader, who is behind all these religions, with which many are drinking from?
Rev 14:8 KJV
(8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Absolutely, and her name is Jezebel.
Can just the evil spirit that causes the person to do evil, or the church to fail to worship in truth, be destroyed with the people themselves left unharmed?
I sure hope so and God said He would cut those days short because otherwise no flesh will survive.
God said; let the righteous be righteous and the wicked be wicked. Personally, I think the time is upon us when the nature of the ruling spirit within all people is going to be revealed for what it is.
If it is Christ all is well, but if it is the spirit of man who at best only had a 50-50 chance of producing good instead of evil, the person will fail to be able to stand in the evil day.
Ephesians 6:13
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Blessings
Doug
Please read and support: "Modern Day Prophet" by Douglas Duncan
the first beast is the paganism of the Roman empire
and
that was defeated with Constantinople, the harlot
and
the second beast Islam defeated it
May I suggest you read other books on prophecy. Try see what the Voice of Prophecy, they have a great argument against your church. It requires a very open mind to see what they say.
I am not trying to convert you friend just show you what they think. Their theories seem to make sense.
Psalm 1[/color] and Job 28:28
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Joh 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Slogan/motto:
I have no political views of this world, and lean towards none that are listed. 2Co 5:17 (GW) Gal 6:15 (GW)
Reputation:
June 13th, 2012, 12:38 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrysostom
the first beast is the paganism of the Roman empire
and
that was defeated with Constantinople, the harlot
and
the second beast Islam defeated it
There are two distinct women symbolically identified in the Revelation:
The Mother of the Man Child and of the Godly Seed. ťAnd there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be deliveredť (Rev. 12:1-2). ťAnd she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore daysť (Rev. 12:5-6).
The Mother of Whoredoms and Abominations. ťThen one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ťCome, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ťwith whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.ťť (Rev. 17:1-2, NKJV).
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTHť (Rev 17:3-5). ťAnd I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesusť (Rev 17:6).
Some Comparisons between the Two Women.
The one is noted for keeping herself in a stance of moral purity.
The other for giving place to moral corruptness and filthiness.
Eph 5:24-27 KJV
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ......(26) That he (Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he (Christ) might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
2Co 5:17 Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
Slogan/motto:
I have no political views of this world, and lean towards none that are listed. 2Co 5:17 (GW) Gal 6:15 (GW)
Reputation:
June 13th, 2012, 12:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by keypurr
May I suggest you read other books on prophecy. Try see what the Voice of Prophecy, they have a great argument against your church. It requires a very open mind to see what they say.
I am not trying to convert you friend just show you what they think. Their theories seem to make sense.
''Voice of Prophecy'' is this a book or an article you have read about Revelations 17?
2Co 5:17 Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
Slogan/motto:
Your faith is what you believe in and by their fruit you shall know them
Reputation:
June 13th, 2012, 03:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill White
There are two distinct women symbolically identified in the Revelation:
The Mother of the Man Child and of the Godly Seed. ťAnd there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be deliveredť (Rev. 12:1-2). ťAnd she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore daysť (Rev. 12:5-6).
The Mother of Whoredoms and Abominations. ťThen one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ťCome, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ťwith whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.ťť (Rev. 17:1-2, NKJV).
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTHť (Rev 17:3-5). ťAnd I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesusť (Rev 17:6).
Some Comparisons between the Two Women.
The one is noted for keeping herself in a stance of moral purity.
The other for giving place to moral corruptness and filthiness.
Eph 5:24-27 KJV
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ......(26) That he (Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he (Christ) might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Hi Gill
Where do you live that always has you posting in the middle of the night where I live here in South Carolina?
Since the Book of Revelation is the revelation (understanding and unveiling) of Jesus Christ as experienced by John, we do need to strive to understand the unveiling of the truth just as he did
Anyway, in regard to the "two woman,” I believe we are in agreement that the corporate level of a "woman" is the church yet we still see it spoken of in a singular application throughout the Bible and in particular in Genesis, the Gospels, and in the Book of Revelation. Amen? I think so!
The original Hebrew language attached gender to its words as did the Greek, and in both languages we see that the soul of man is female as well as it is in the tone of the language used such as when David referred to his soul as “darling”
We know that the soul is essentially "the mind" so what we are seeing with the different "woman" in the Bible said in layman's terms (for my benefit) is one mind (soul, woman) that follows after God versus the other mind (soul, woman) who is at enmity with God. So far so good?
Going back to Genesis we see at the time of the curse where God speaks to the woman saying there will be enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan (the serpent). However, Eve who is the woman that came from the flesh, and who represents the soul of man, was not at enmity with Satan whatsoever. That much is shown by her actions that prove she was in cahoots with Satan when she went into agreement with Satan (the serpent) and against the word of God. Amen? I think so!
So if Eve is in cahoots with Satan, who is the woman whose seed (God's law states that the seed brings forth the same fruit that it came from) will be at enmity with Satan?
Lets look a little deeper
When Adam was first created his life came from the breath of God who is a spirit with a soul that were both seen in Jesus Christ. Every spirit has its own soul, and the spirit and soul of God is the same spirit and soul in Jesus Christ that we read is a "seven fold spirit-body" in Isaiah 11:2 who is also the "us" who created Adam. To sum this all up the life that was first given to Adam found within the breath of God, had within it the mind of Christ that is part of the soul God first gave to Adam (that we also see in Jesus Christ) when before he sinned, God called Adam "a living soul".
Unfortunately, when Adam awoke from the deep sleep that God put upon him, instead of remaining one with the mind of Christ he was first created with, Adam became one with the woman who was formed from his flesh whom we know to be Eve, and who is the one who lured Adam into sinning against God.
Therefore, we have in the beginning of the Bible two women, one being the mind of Christ and the other being the desires and lust of the flesh, who unfortunately is the one Adam took for a wife, that should of only remained the helper that God designed her to be. (Ge.2:18)
A few chapters later in Genesis we see this played out again when Abraham "became one flesh with," a woman who was only supposed to be a helper from Egypt to have a child with, rather than wait for Sarah to conceive. From "both wives" there were 2 male childs brought forth with one being the male child of the promise and the other male child becoming the enemy of the promised male. Then at the end of the Bible we se the same thing with enemy of the promised male child looking to destroy him
Consequently, we can see within all the allegories and metaphors in the book of Genesis where the story seen throughout the bible gets it start with the two distinctly different women that the man of God has to make a choice between which one will be used to bring forth a new life. On one hand the new life from coming from a woman is the mind of Christ, but from the other woman it follows the lust and desires of the flesh that through out the NT is at enmity with God.
This is why Paul said to us to let this mind be in us (soul) that was in Christ Jesus that is the same as saying "get rid of the mind of man" (Eve) so that you can bring forth a new life from the mind of Christ, that can come from the Holy Spirit the same way that Eve came from Adam (the spirit of man) back in the beginning.
Concerning himself and the other Apostles, Paul said,"we have the mind of Christ," that is the salvation of our soul should we finally achieve gaining the mind Christ the same as the Apostles did during their lifetime on earth.
Blessings
Doug
Please read and support: "Modern Day Prophet" by Douglas Duncan
Last edited by Livelystone; June 13th, 2012 at 05:44 AM.
The gospel contains many parallels. Many things in the Old Testament books have been fulfilled. Further, their authorship, especially including use of symbols, reveals the penmenship of one mighty Hand, when comparing them to new books. Revelation 13 & 17 contain the New Testament parallels to Daniel 2 & 7. Using prophetic symbols revealed in Daniel 2 & 7, you will find that beasts are countries or kingdoms (these great beasts... are four kings. Daniel 7:17; the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom. Daniel 7:23). Horns are ruling kings/offices (the ten horns...are ten kings. Daniel 7:24). The great dragon is the devil. Revelation 12:9. The great red dragon had seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Revelation 12: 3. The first beast of Revelation 13 rises out of the sea (Psalms 98:7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein; Revelation 17:15), and has three animal references: like unto a leopard (Greece), feet of a bear (Media/Persia) and mouth of a lion (Babylon). These same animal symbols are identified as separate kingdoms/beasts in Daniel 7:4-8. These three geographic areas all became part of the Roman Empire (1 kingdom/beast), which absorbed their Hellenistic culture.
The first beast of Revelation 13 has ten horns with ten crowns which represent the 10 divisions of the Roman Empire at the time it was broken up and the bishop of Rome gained political power in 538 A.D. The 10 Teutonic tribes/divisions which sacked Rome and divided the Empire are: the Visigoths, Vandals, Lombards (Lombardy), Franks (France), Suevi/Alamanni, Gepidae, Saxons (although Saxony was not in the Roman Empire but the Holy Roman Empire), Burgundians (Bergundy), Ostrogoths, and the Heruli who were all prophesied in Daniel 7:8 (the 10 horned beast with iron teeth which subdued/ encompassed the lion, bear and leopard). This beast also has seven heads, but ten crowns. Revelation 13: 1. "...And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat and great authority." Revelation 13:2. This beast is like unto the dragon, and takes his shape and power from the dragon.
After Rome was first sacked by king Alaric and the Visigoths in 410 A.D. (who spared the churches), the western emperors immediately sought an uneasy alliance with the tribes, especially the Franks and Goths.[4] The Vandals and Suevi were the first to sign a treaty in 411 A.D., by which they became foederati of the empire. In 416 the Visigoths were hired to reclaim Spain from the Vandals and the Suevi.[5] The Franks and Alemanni were a coalition of several tribes which moved into what is now France. The Goths were a large family of tribes which had moved into Asia, but were forced west by the Huns: the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Heruli, Gepidae, and perhaps the Rugii. Most of the Goths were converted to the Arian faith of Christianity by Ulfilas (Wulfila) who translated the Bible into Gothic (Runic forms) for them, and it was called the Codex Argenteus.[6] By 450 A.D. the situation in the western empire had vastly changed. The pagan Franks were in the north (Gaul/France), the Arian Bergundians in the east (may have become Arian under Gundobad about 470), and the Arian Goths/Visigoths in southwest Europe or Spain. The Visigoths had been hired by Rome to boot the Vandals and Suevi out of Spain, although the Suevi held onto northwest Spain/Portugal for awhile. North Africa, excluding Egypt, had been conquered by the remaining Arian Vandals under their king, Gaiseric (Genseric). Britain was lost to the Saxons who apparently left Saxony in such great numbers that the Thuringii were able to move in. Much of Spain still belonged to the Suevi, who eventually were overcome by the Visigothic kingdom and intermarried with the Alemanni, a federation of Suevian tribes which had largely stayed in their Germanic homeland, although some invaded with the Franks.[7] The Visigoths eventually settled in the area of Segovia in Old Castile, which is now the center of Gothic Spain. According to the Roman historian, Gibbon, the Roman alliance grew until it included Rugii, Heruli, Thuringians, Franks, Bergundians, Gepidae, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, and Alani. The Alani were a non-Germanic race of Tartars who were either captured by the Huns, or fleeing the Huns, became Germanized. Some joined the Vandals after Alaric invaded Spain. Some of the Gothic tribes, especially the Ostrogoths and Gepidae, were temporarily also subjugated to Attila and his Huns.
When Attila, king of the Huns, attacked, the Roman alliance repelled him at Chalons in 451 A.D., in one of the greatest single battles of all time with perhaps more than a million men on the field of battle. Apparently some Teutons were serving both sides in the battle. Attila was apparently only turned away from sacking Rome by the convincing of the bishop of Rome, Leo I. This was not a Catholic miracle, but probably mainly the result of offering princess Honoria as a dowry.[8] Attila died within a year or two with his new wife in bed, and the Teutons in his camp defected under Adaric to join the free Teutons. This was the end of the alliance with the tribes, which had lasted about 41 years(1 hour, see 2 Peter 3:8). The western empire of Rome was now falling apart from within - in 454 and 455 two emperors were murdered through intrigue. The end of the alliance cleared the way for the sack of Rome by the Vandals in 455 A.D., who were probably the least tolerant of the Catholic faith - thus, the infamy of their name being attached to robbers. They did make a deplorable habit of raiding. In the mean time the aforementioned Adaric, king of the Gepidae, led a federation of mostly Gepids against the Huns, defeating them. Most of the Huns fled back east out of the Empire. The Gepidae moved into the territory in the northeastern Roman empire known as Dacia or now Hungary, and became a great tribal nation until the Avars began to raid in vast numbers in the next century.[9]
The power vacuum back in Italy was filled around 475 A.D. by Odovacar/ Odoacer, king of the Arian Heruli, who through the combined strength of the Heruli and Rugii who elected him King of Italy, was able to maintain a kingdom in Italy until defeated by Theodoric and his Ostrogoths in 489. Although Odoacer did not persecute Catholics, he reserved the right to approve the choice of the Bishop of Rome. He invaded the Rugii to the north of the Alps and eliminated all Rugii who would not pledge allegiance to his rule. The remnant fled back across the Danube. He killed their king, Fava, in cold blood after bringing him back to Rome.[10] Thus, the Rugii never established a kingdom in the Roman Empire. Some historians call Odovacar king of the Rugii, but this is probably a misnomer since there is no real evidence that he was Rugian, and he persecuted the Rugii. He may, however, have taken the title as one of his own since he viewed himself as their conqueror.
Thus, we see that the Roman empire fell to this light-skinned, fair-haired race from the north - from the area of Germany, Denmark, and Scandinavia. To be sure, there were other Teutonic tribes other than the ones I discuss. However, some had invaded or been conquered by the Empire centuries earlier only to be defeated or absorbed into the population without establishing their own kingdom. The Goths had grown too populous for the northern lands, so some left the homeland just after the time of Christ. Avoiding the strong Roman empire to the south, tested to their misfortune by other Teutons, they moved east, and grew powerful around the Black Sea until the Huns came. Thus, Teutons surrounded the northern Empire, and through their invasions, eventually spread themselves all over Europe, playing a major role in modern Europe and America. They invade as if one, but once the Empire is subjugated, they easily turn on one another. Others, such as the Thuringii stayed home in their native north Germany or Scandinavia, and thus did not take part in dividing up the Roman kingdom. As we shall see out of the milieu of the ten new kingdoms of the western Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome arises as a king in his own domain.
In Daniel 7 we find "... in this [little] horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things." Daniel 7:8. The bishop of Rome did not care for the Arian invasion. On the criterion that the Roman bishop received the primacy of the Apostle Peter, Leo I (440-461) induced the eastern emperor, Valentian III, to order the whole western church to obey the bishop of Rome.[11] At the Council of Chalcedon in 451 Leo's legate, Paschasinus, calls Leo "'the pope [episkopos] of the city of Rome which is the head of all the Churches... If the city of Rome - that is, the Church of that city - is the head of all the other particular Churches, the same should be said of the bishop of that city. It is a short step from 'head of all the churches' to 'bishop of all the Churches.' In fact the legates refer to the bishop of Rome as 'archbishop of all the Churches,' which is found in the Greek version of the Acts at the start of the fourth session, while the Latin translation says 'pope of the universal Church.'"[12] Such was the flattering argument of the papal legate.
The little horn which rises among the 10 horns (Daniel 7:8) subdues three kings (Daniel 7:24). In other words "there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots." Daniel 7:8. Under king Theodoric "the Great" the Arian Ostrogoths conquered Italy in 489, and ruled beneficially for approximately thirty years.[13] The Roman church assisted Theodoric in his Italian campaign, and although I have found no evidence that the church induced him, the pattern of concerted assistance the church afforded to Theodoric evidences that the bishops had foreknowledge of his coming. The eastern emperor, Zeno, may have asked the bishop of Rome if he could send the vast horde of Ostrogoths to Italy, because he deposed Odoacer as patrician of Rome, and invested Theodoric with the title. Theodoric had apparently grown so powerful that the eastern emperor, Zeno, promised him a western empire if Theodoric would take Italy. In any event news of the Ostrogothic attack obviously reached Rome before the arrival of the Ostrogoths. When Odovacar left Rome and traveled north to fight Theodoric's Ostrogoths, the authorities in Rome (the bishop) closed the gates behind him - a seemingly unwise act unless the bishop of Rome expected Odovacar would not return. "Without asserting that Theodoric owed all his success to the Church, the facts show pretty clearly that she afforded him- Arian though he was, like Odovacar [Odoacer] - valuable assistance. It was Bishop Laurentius who opened for him the gates of Milan and it was he who, after the treason of Tufa, held for him that important city; Epiphanius bishop of Pavia acted in a similar fashion. In a letter written in 492, Pope Gelasius takes credit to himself for having resisted the orders of Odovacar and finally it was another bishop, John of Ravenna, who induced Odovacar to treat [a banquet where Theodoric killed him]."[14] Thus, the Herule kingdom of Italy disappeared from history. After the Lombards migrated the northern Heruli disappeared from history as well.[15] During Theodoric's reign cities such as Venice were started under his benevolent rule. He, however, demanded that the Roman Catholics pay back or rebuild the Jewish homes and synagogues they destroyed.[16]
By 518 A.D. eastern orthodoxy was seen as ripe for a fresh approach by the Roman bishop. An Arian emperor, Anastasius, had passed away in his palace at age 88 (due to being struck by lightning according the Catholic chronicle Liber pontificalis or Lives of the pontiffs). Anastasius left a large government reserve, which Procopius estimated at 320 thousand pounds of gold, even though he abolished the unpopular chrysargyron - a gold tax instituted by Constantine (Anastasius replaced it with a new gold tax, the chrysoteleia, upon land owners).[17] A Catholic viewpoint of what then transpired is offered by Hartmann Grisar. "His successor was the Emperor Justin I. [a Catholic], whose disposition was more conciliatory, who saw the need and the urgent desire of the people for union, and who was anxious not to oppose it. As a matter of fact, this craving of the Faithful for the restoration of peace was already bursting the political barriers. Through the intermediary of Gratus, a Comes of the Imperial consistory, written requests of the new sovereign, of his nephew Justinian, and John II., the Patriarch of Byzantium, were presented to Hormisdas, praying him to come personally to the East to establish peace, or at least to despatch legates with conditions of peace and full powers for its conclusion." So Hormisdas, the bishop of Rome, first sought the advice of the Arian king Theodoric, and then sent envoys to Constantinople. Grisar continues: "The envoys from Hormisdas brought to Constantinople a formulary (libellus) by signing which the schismatics would show their submission to the See of Peter, and secure their re-incorporation in the Catholic Church. This famous formula Hormisdae had been drafted some years previously, and had been submitted and accepted in the provinces of Illyricum and in Spain. The Formula of union was now to triumph entirely."
All names of Acacians, Arians and other objectionable persons were removed from the diptychs without objection from the Greeks. In the eyes of the Italian Romans: "the Greeks no longer desired any cloak for heresy, now that they sincerely wished to forswear the heresy itself. In Constantinople, John II., the Patriarch, subscribed to the formula on Maundy Thursday, March 28 [519]. On this occasion a special synod met in the Imperial Palace. 'I look on God's holy Churches.' John adds, in writing, 'that of Old Rome and that of New Rome [Constantinople], as one and the same Church. I regard the See of the Apostle Peter and See of Byzantium as one and the same.... I agree with the Pope in confession of doctrine, and reject all those whom he rejects.' The Emperor, the Senate, and all present testified their approval and consent by loud applause." Justin caused the Senate to approve the measure.[18] All the bishops in the Greek remnant of the Roman Empire were asked to assent to the formula of Hormisdas, but the bishops of Alexandria and Antioch held out, thus, being considered "heretical" or "weak and impotent."
The altar of St. Peter's in Rome bore eloquent witness in the multitude of its Greek votive offerings to the settlement now happily secured. The Emperor and the Imperial family, including Justinian, the future Emperor, as well as the Patriarch and many other people of note, sent valuable gifts in precious metal to be exposed at the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles. During the Pontificate of Hormisdas, Theodoric, King of the Goths, also presented two silver candelabra, each weighing seventy pounds, to the tomb of Peter. From Chlodovec, King of the Franks, who had rejoiced all Catholics by joining the Church, a richly jewelled crown came after his death (511) as a gift to St. Peter. [19]
In 523 the eastern emperor, Justin, proscribed Arianism throughout the Empire, and began to persecute Arians in the East.[20] In response "Theodoric sent a delegation to Constantinople headed by the Bishop of Rome to secure the annulment of the anti-Arian decree. Although Justin apparently agreed to this, Theodoric was angered by the favor shown the pope by the emperor, which emphasized the solidarity of eastern and western orthodoxy."[21] In 526 according to a Catholic priest "there [in Constantinople] an honourable reception on the part of the Catholic capital of the East and the Court formed a brilliant contrast to the treatment just experienced. The news spread like wild-fire through the delighted and excited city that the Pope [John] was arriving, the first of Peter's successors to tread the soil of Constantinople. The distinguished guest was met at a distance of twelve Roman miles from the walls of the city, the people and clergy receiving him in solemn procession with crosses and candles. The emperor too, on meeting him, prostrated himself, honouring him, says our authority, as though he had been Peter himself. ...During the stay in Constantinople John performed the religious ceremony of crowning the Emperor. At Easter, on April 19, he publicly celebrated the liturgy in the Latin language, and during the ceremony took precedence in rank over the Patriarch [bishop] of the capitol."[22] Upon his return bishop John published a "furious epistle to the bishops of Italy calling on them to oppress and extirpate the Arian perfidy." Theodoric jailed him.[23] In catholic eyes John quickly expired in prison a martyr due to Theodoric who was then considered a despot.
In summation the path for Constantinople had been set by the bishop of Rome. "The way was paved for the reconquest of the Roman West by a reconciliation with the Roman bishop Hormisdas, as a result of which [western] orthodoxy was once more formally established at Constantinople and persecution of ... heretics was inaugurated in the eastern Empire (519). Although this ecclesiastical union with Rome was brought about while the influence of Vitalian was predominant, it had the cordial support of Justinian (527), who recognized that the good will of the clergy and the Roman population of the western provinces would be won for the eastern emperor in this way [deliverance of western orthodoxy from Arian domination]."[24] Theodoric saw what was happening, and the policy being pursued. The eastern emperors had continued the policy of reconciliation with the bishop of Rome in order to gain assistance of the Roman Catholics in subduing all the western Arian kingdoms under the rule of Constantinople. In return the Roman See was gaining the emperor's sanction of Roman ecclesiastical domination of all the East.
The next Arian kingdom to fall after the Heruli was the North African Arian kingdom of the Vandals which was eliminated by the arms of the eastern emperor, Justinian. As a tribe, the Vandals disappeared from history. The Roman bishop was to give his continued cooperation to emperor Justinian to throw the Ostrogoths out of Rome. The campaigns started in 535 A.D. In the campaigns after Theodoric's death the Ostrogoths were initially defeated, and the troops of Justinian took control of Rome. Before the Ostrogoths had been fully vanquished from Italy, the imperial commander, Belisarius, deposed bishop Silverius, who sympathized with the Goths. At the orders of emperor Justinian, Belisarius installed a pro-eastern bishop, Vigilius, who was ordained in 537. By this means Justinian was fulfilling his motto of "one state, one law, and one church."[25] The Ostrogoths laid siege to Rome, which was now cooperating with Justinian under the new bishop, Vigilius.[26] The bishop took possession of Rome in 538 A.D., when the eastern emperor, Justinian, decreed the Roman bishop should be the head of all the "Christian" churches. The goal of the Roman bishop was realized. Rome was made a duchy of the Eastern Empire. This was the beginning of the bishop's political power. Revelation 13:2: "... and the Dragon [devil] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." The Ostrogoths and their new leader, Totila, fought mainly fellow Teutonic mercenaries hired by Constantinople, but Totila eventually capitulated and was killed. His successor was killed in a last-stand battle, but the remnant of the Ostrogoths were able to negotiate a truce with Narses, the Roman commander, and disappeared over the Alps to assimilate into other Teutonic tribes.[27] Thus, the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were defeated due to the persuasion and influence of the Roman bishop, and became the first 3 horns/kings plucked up before the little horn of Daniel 7. They were plucked up by the roots, and disappeared from history. It is also noteworthy that each of these three had desired the wealth of Rome. The little horn or bishop of Rome gained political control of Rome.
At about the same time the Lombards moved into an area just north of Dacia in northern Hungary and began battling the Gepidae. By 567 the Lombards, who had come out of Sweden, were finding the Avars to be a threat to their existence. So probably in an exchange for leaving the land in safety, they formed an alliance with the Avars against their enemies, the Gepidae, who were soundly defeated, and fell from history. They were apparently absorbed into the peoples of Romania. King Alboin killed the Gepid King Cunimund, and married his daughter princess Rosamund. The Lombards moved to Italy, and found the rich land in northern Italy mostly denuded of people through war, famine, and plagues. They set up a small kingdom here known as Lombardy, and had some successful expansive campaigns. Although history is unclear, they too probably mostly became Arians judging from the fact that works of Arius were later burned by the Catholics. One king in particular, King Rothari of Brescia of the house of Arod (636-652), has been noted to favor Arius.[28]
In 695 the Council of Toledo voted to enslave all Jewish adults, and take their children to Catholic homes. The Muslim Arabs had recently taken Carthage, Africa, and therefore, the Jews wrote the Arabs for their assistance. Although the Muslim Saracens were defeated by the Byzantines they subsequently converted the Moors to Islam, and the newly converted Moors answered the call to Spain. They defeated the Visigoths, and then invaded southern France. Thus, the Visigothic kingdom was effectively overthrown but not plucked up.[29]
In 754 A.D. the Roman bishop granted the title of patrician to Pepin the Short, king of the Franks in exchange for defeating the Lombards. The land holdings won in north and central Italy became the basis for the church's vast temporal empire, and was the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially inaugurated under Pepin's son, Charlemagne. Again, most of the tribes were Arian (so named by the Catholic church after Arius) Christians, and did not recognize the trinity.[30]
The remaining verses of Revelation 13 are interpreted thus: "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed." Revelation 13:3. Remember, one of the heads has the little horn. "...The beast... had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:14. The Roman pontiff was captured by Napoleon's general, Berthier, on February 15, 1798 A.D., after arriving at Rome on February 9, 1798.[31] This was exactly 1260 years after 538 A.D., when the eastern emperor made the Roman bishop the head of all Christendom, during which time, the woman with a crown of 12 stars which had given birth to the man-child (the Church and Jesus) fled into the wilderness 1200 and three score (3 X 20) "days." Revelation 12:1-6. Prophetically, each day stands for a year. Nos. 14:34. Ezekiel 4:6. The deadly wound was healed when the church again gained autonomy in 1929 by the Vatican City becoming an independent state.
Here's how the stage was set for the deadly wound. Martin Luther, a German parish priest, sought to reform the church when he found his parishioners crossing the river to buy letters of indulgence bearing the name of the pope. Purchasers were told that not only were they relieved of the temporal consequences of their sins, but the souls of their grandparents were released from purgatory. It was later learned "that some of these funds were designed to service the debt of the large fee imposed by the pope on Margrave Albrecht of Brandenburg as the price of allowing him to combine the archbishopric of Mainz with the archbishopric of Magdeburg." In response Luther authored 95 theses in October 1517.[32] Apparently, however, the majority of the funds went towards the building of the Vatican and the new St. Peter's Basilica. Martin Luther declared "I have sought nothing beyond reforming the church in conformity with the Holy Scriptures. The spiritual powers have been not only corrupted by sin, but absolutely destroyed; so that there is now nothing in them but a depraved reason and a will that is the enemy and opponent of God. I simply say that Christianity has ceased to exist among those who should have preserved it." However, the church would not be reformed. In 1521 Luther was summoned before the Council of Worms where he declared: "Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.... Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise."[33] Knowing that the church wasn't true, people began to leave in droves to form new churches. "In France, England, and the Netherlands, hundreds of common people, women as well as men, were content to be burnt alive for their newly acquired Protestant beliefs."[34]
At the time of the Roman bishop's capture in 1798, he was declared deposed. He was taken to France where he died at Valence on August 29, 1799. The pope's 1260 years of political power had come to an end. Although a new bishop was elected by 1800, the church had lost its papal state to Napolean. Under the Concordat of 1801, Pius VII seceded many political rights to Napolean who again occupied Rome in 1808, declaring the bishop's temporal power to be defunct.[35] In the meanwhile the Protestant religions continued to gain recruits. "In Spain in 1846 thirty-eight out of fifty-nine dioceses had no bishop; monasteries and even church buildings were often to be found lying empty and looted; the priests were in a state of impoverishment. In Italy, two years later, Pope Pius IX fled in disguise from the city of Rome after a mob fired upon his palace and killed a monsignor standing near him at a window; the Jesuits quietly evacuated the city to avoid riots against them."[36] So indeed the Roman Church did receive a deadly wound, yet as prophesied, it was healed.
"And they worshiped the dragon [the Devil's tool, the emperor, the son of a god] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast...." Revelation 13:4. The Roman sun-god, Sol or Apollo, became the most venerated god, even under Constantine. Remember, in Roman mythology the dragon was the animal of the sun and the ensign of the emperor. [for Apollo & dragon see, e.g. Aelian, De Nat. Animalium, xi.2 (ed. Hercher, 1864, 270)]. In Revelation 12 the seven headed beast was in the form of a dragon. Remember, that the dragon had seven crowns instead of ten crowns. The first seven emperors of Rome are discussed herein below as to how they fulfill prophecy. The beast of Revelation 13:1 had ten crowns. These are the ten kings of the tribes that divide up the western Roman empire, and are eventually defeated or converted to Roman Catholicism.
The Roman bishop rises as another horn during the same time period, and represented not only a kingdom but an object of worship/adoration. Before the fifth century the bishop of Rome was on an equal plane with the other bishops until Nicaea, when he was declared equal to the bishop of Alexandria and the bishop of Antioch. "...This has been pointed out several times by historians - a Church's apostolic origin was a far too common factor in the East to have had the importance it acquired in the West where the Roman See was the only apostolic see and the main center from which evangelization spread."[37] With the desire of orthodoxy to fight Arianism, the richest churches apparently desired to solidify the power their positions had bestowed in the eyes of the Roman government: "Canon VI [of 325 Council of Nicaea] The Bishop of Alexandria shall have jurisdiction over Egypt, Libya, and Pentapolis [S. Libya]. As also the Roman Bishop over those subject to Rome. So, too, the Bishop of Antioch and the rest over those who are under them...."[38] "Catholic historians, however, are often disturbed by this equality proclaimed between Rome and Alexandria by the Council of Nicaea, for, indeed, Rome is referred to as an example, not as a source of authority. This equality, according to them, applies only to the patriarchal privileges of the Roman See and not to its universal primacy."[39] If indeed the Roman church had always enjoyed a primacy, why were later attempts of the Roman pontiff for the eastern bishops to pledge an oath to him not recognized? In truth the Roman bishop was able to fill a power vacuum over time to become the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and for a time, venerated by all Christendom including the East. When the Muslims invaded the East, however, the Roman pontiff was able to increase his power immensely.
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5. Under the 27 propositions found in Dictatus Papae, (some call the "Dictates of Hildebrand") pontiff Gregory VII (1073-1085) asserted: "1. The Roman church was founded by the Lord alone. 2. Only the Roman Pontiff deserves to be called universal. 7. He alone may, as circumstances require, establish new laws... 9. The pope is the only man whose feet all princes are bound to kiss. 18. His sentence may not be varied by anyone and he may by himself vary those given by everyone. 19. He may not be judged by anyone. 20. No one may condemn a decision of the Holy See. 22. The Roman Church has never erred and, as Scripture shows, can never err."[40] Like the emperors before him, the pope gets his feet kissed by all his subordinates. However, Jesus removed his clothing, and girded himself with a towel with which he washed the feet of his apostles. The pope claims infallibility. Something none of the biblical prophets did. Even Moses was rebuked for breaking the tablets. The pope's namesake, Peter, denied Jesus three times. Pius IX convened the first Vatican Council which proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility. In the 9th century "the body of Pope Formosus... was disinterred by his successor, Stephen VI(VII), and subjected to trial [for being ambitious and usurping the office of pope while yet a bishop], after which it was thrown into the Tiber [river]."[41] One of them had to be wrong! If popes declare matters of doctrine which are later declared to be wrong, then the Roman Church declares them anti-popes. Thus, there are a number of anti-popes in the history of the Roman Church for this reason (most others were anti-popes because their appointments were unauthorized by the Church, but made by emperors).
The little horn of Daniel "shall speak great words against the most High (note the parallelism to Revelation 13:5,6), and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time [one year or 360 biblical days] and times [2 prophetic years] and the dividing of time [1/2 of prophetic year]." Daniel 7:25. (See Daniel 4; 3 1/2 X 360 = 1260 days or 1260 years!). In Revelation "...power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5. Forty two months equals 3 1/2 years or 1260 biblical days! Gregory XII, the bishop of Rome, even changed the calendar to include some extra days and a leap year so that now our calendar year has 365 days by the Gregorian calendar. I am not faulting the change, but the biblical calendar had 360 days.
"The Pope has power to change times, to abrogate [change] laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ."[42] The church did not stop with the doctrine of the trinity. The number of laws set forth by Christ and changed by doctrines of church councils is significant. At first there was no pope. At first there were apostles. It was not illegal to replace apostles. Matthias, Paul and Barnabus were replacements. Acts 1:26,13:2,14:14. The bishop of Rome or pope claims to be the successor of Peter. Peter was not a pope. He was an apostle. Bishops held a different office than apostles. The office of a bishop is spelled out in 1 Timothy 3:1-10, including the fact that they should be married. As an apostle, Peter was married. "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick with a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her...." Matthew 8:14-15. "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write... thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." Revelation 2:1-2.
What happened to the structure of Christ's church? Note what happened after the apostles were martyred. After two more centuries of the most rigorous persecution and martyrdom "the Council of Nicea set its seal on the structure that had thus come into being: a network of urban bishoprics, grouped into provinces headed by a metropolitan bishop, usually in the capital city of the civil province."[43] Eventually the other two bishoprics the council declared equal to the bishop of Rome in canon six, Alexandria and Antioch, were overcome in Muslim invasions, leaving the bishop of Rome to claim supreme authority with only the newer see of Constantinople (unrecognized by the Council of Nicaea) to challenge him.
The first thing the council did was form the doctrine of the trinity, although the use of the word "trinity" later arose with Augustine. "The council held under him [Constantine] at Nicaea in 325 enacted an agreement with the emperor's support. But its formula of the Son's 'consubstantiality' with the Father was slow to gain general acceptance, despite Constantine's efforts to impose it."[44] Later councils came up with new doctrines. Mary, as the mother of Jesus, was given an altar as the mother of God, which is in all the Catholic churches. Praying the right prayers in front of her image is said to bring forgiveness of sins. Hence arose legends such as the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Lay Catholics came to believe that simply wearing the Brown Scapular at the moment of death was a sure guarantee of achieving salvation and avoiding the pain of Hell. In 1322 pontiff John XXII published a bull in which he described Mary appearing to him and declaring that those who died wearing the Brown Scapular received the promise "that in the case of such a person she herself would descend into Purgatory on the Saturday after that person's death and set that person's soul free, that is, take the soul to Heaven."[45]
The Catholic Church maintains that for Mary to intercede on behalf of human beings they must adhere to the Catholic faith. Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary Sept. 8, 1894: "11. Now may God, 'Who in His most merciful Providence gave us this Mediatrix,' and 'decreed that all good shall come to us by the hands of Mary' (St. Bernard), receive propitiously our common prayers and fulfill our common hopes."[46] It has been alleged Francis of Asisium had a vision showing the mediating power of Mary.
St. Francis of Asisium, observed in a heavenly vision, two ladders resembling that of Jacob, which touched both heaven and earth, with their extremities. Above the one, appeared our Lord; above the other, his most holy mother. Then he beheld a number of his brethren striving to ascend to heaven by the steps of the ladder, where our dear Saviour appeared; but they all, after having ascended some steps, some more, and some less, dazzled by the glory and majesty of the God of virtues, were obliged to descend, without being able to advance: which having remarked, this saint exhorted his children to have recourse to the mother of God. They did so, and all were admitted into the presence of God, and saved by the all powerful interest of her, who has never abandoned those who have placed a firm and solid confidence in her.[47]
However, Jesus tells us that no man can come unto the Father except by Him. He is our mediator - not Mary. Mary declared "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" from which all good comes. Luke 1:46-47. She did not hold the priesthood as not even her husband, Joseph, was a priesthood holder, and therefore, she was incapable of being a mediatrix under God's law. The law tells us: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5.
With the man-made doctrines grew the man-made office. "Thus, originally 'Pope' was not the name of an office, although we have come to think of it that way. It was a title of respect, and the office to which that title became attached was the Bishopric of Rome."[48] "For the idea of the papal office grew. As we have seen, it certainly did not spring ready-formed from the pages of the Gospels. Papal authority as it is now exercised, with its accompanying doctrine of papal infallibility, cannot be found in theories about the papal role expressed by early Popes and other Christians during the first 500 years of Christianity."[49]
No one can deny that in the early church baptism was by immersion. People can still visit the sites of these baptismal baths. A picture of an ancient baptismal font with three declining steps can be viewed in Glay, Voisin, & Bohec. A History of Rome (Blackwell Publ.; Camb., Mass. 1996), p.528. The Lateran Baptistry in Rome once had a circular basin used for baptism by immersion.[50] Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river without "holy water" and other pagan mutations. Symbolically, through our birth people are born into the sea of the world, but through Christ and a repentant heart, they rise up reborn out of this sea ready to be baptized or truly cleansed by the Holy Spirit. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7. See also Acts 1:5, 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21. We are baptized into one body in one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13. The Roman church instituted baptism by sprinkling in 905 A.D. The water undergoes a rite by which it is widely held that the water itself is able to wash away sin, and make one pure. What rubbish! True baptism is in the Holy Spirit through a repentant heart. There is absolutely nothing holy about the water more than is holy with the rest of His creation. No holy power is imbued to it. Common river water will suffice.
Then there is the scripture considered most mysterious to the churches. In 1 Corinthians 15:29 Paul writes: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" If baptism for the dead was a lost doctrine, one could expect to find some trace of it in the early church, and one does. Epiphanius of Salamis became the bishop of Constantia in Cyprus. He was born in approximately 310 A.D., in Palestine, but received Egyptian training, and described himself as of the same faith as the fathers of Nicene. In speaking of Cerinthus and Corinth, Epiphanius writes: "For their school was at its very peak in this country, Asia [Minor], and Galatia moreover. And in these localities I even heard a piece of tradition which said that when some of their people died early without baptism, others would be baptized for them, in their names, to keep them from being punished for rising unbaptized at the general resurrection, and becoming subject to the authority that made the world."[51] On the other hand the Roman bishops such as Innocent I and Gelasius I came to hold that infants must be baptized as soon as possible so that if they die, they will not pass purgatory and be damned to hell. However, a thousand years later the Council of Trent anathematized this doctrine.[52] How about all those that have never heard the gospel? Without baptism for the dead, they are damned too.
Doctrines such as purgatory and indulgences came into being. These doctrines are reminiscent of the Greek pagan view revealed in Plato's Phaedrus, which is that after judgment some people "go to the place of correction under the earth and pay their penalty."[53] Jesus told the thief on the crosses with Him, that he would be in Paradise with Him that day - not purgatory. The Apostles Creed of the Roman Church is as follows:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead and buried:
He descended into hell: [I cannot believe Jesus called Hell "Paradise" as He told the thief on the cross]
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Catholic Church....
The Church apparently determined that Jesus descended into hell because Isaiah tells us that He was taken from prison, and Jesus Himself also said he would spend three days in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40. However, Jesus said he was going to Paradise after His crucifixion - this is not the prison portion of the spirit world. Although Peter tells us that at some point Jesus did teach the spirits in Prison, these are spirits awaiting resurrection in the first resurrection which can live godly in the spirit - not spirits in the damnation of Hell. 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6. Why would Jesus need to teach spirits in hell? They are without redemption in the first resurrection, and until the book of life is opened, and they are brought forth to be judged according to their works. Revelation 20:12,13.
The incense smoking upon the numerous altars of the churches recall Virgil's description of the Paphian Venus. The use of holy water was long esteemed as heathenish by the early Fathers, and when adopted by the Church, the same composition of water and salt, and even the same form of sprinkling-brush was retained. The lights which burned before the shrines of the Saints were adopted in the same way after having been condemned, from the pagan ritual. Votive offerings hung in churches as they once hung in the temples of the gods. Crowds of worshipers still bowed before images of wood and stone, though saints, instead of demi-gods, have served as the originals.[54]
The exorcism of the salt before mixing it with the water is peculiar to the Roman rite. The eastern churches did not practice it, nor is there any evidence of such a tradition.
Even the structure of the church was borrowed from the pagan Roman empire. The Roman Curia was an ancient governing body in the Roman Republic, even before the empire. In order to better govern the empire, Emperor Diocletian divided provinces into dioceses, each governed by a vicarius (vicar). The bishop of Rome borrowed from this system, and became the vicar of the Son of God over all the dioceses of the church. He is the head of the curia or college of priests which govern the canons of the Roman Church. He has been called Lord and Caesar, and gloried in it.
But, remember, the little horn thinks to change not only laws but times. The following is from a three volume work which received the Nihil Obstat and the Imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church, authenticating the work as being free from doctrinal error (but not factual error):
Just as the Roman outdoor procession on St. Mark's Day, the Litania maior of April 25, coincided with the heathen Robigalia, which the Popes in this wise endeavoured to supersede, so other celebrations kept by the Roman Church show a similar connection with the religious observances of heathen times. Instead of prohibiting with misplaced severity any observance by the faithful of certain time-honoured days, set apart in olden times, the authorities of the Church strove to impart a Christian character to the traditional practices with which the people were familiar. To the number of such festivals which mark the transition from Paganism to Christianity belongs the feast of the Collection or Oblation, which St. Leo the Great often mentions, a charitable festival of which we hear no more after his time.... Pope Leo looked on it as a venerable festival of Christian Rome, and even traced it back to the time of the Apostles.
The feast of St. Peter's Chair (Natale Petri de Cathedra) fell on February 22, on the very day when Pagans kept their popular festival of the "dear relatives" (Cara Cognatio), a sort of remembrance of the dead members of each family.
It would also seem that Christmas Day, solemnised on December 25th, has some connection with a feast of the heathen Calendar. Though the actual day of Christ's birth was not vouched for by any certain tradition, and though the East kept the Epiphany on January 6th as the feast of the Christ's entrance into the world [now known to be April 6], Rome, from the end of the third century, preferred to keep the commemoration on the day on which the winter solstice fell, and on which the festival of Sol Novus was celebrated according to the Roman Calendar. In the Philocalian list, December 25th is given as Natalis Invicti; i.e. the birthday of the invincible Sun-God [there's that dragon of the sun again]....
It is therefore no great wonder that, in the endeavour to Christianize the heathen festivals, this same day was set apart for the celebration of the rise of the Sun [dragon] of the world, i.e. Christ [but instead it is the prince of this world, who tried to usurp Christ by these means].
We meet with a yet more striking coincidence of Christian and Pagan festivals in the three Ember Weeks. At first, the Roman Church kept these seasons - which when a fourth had been added came to be known as Quattuor Tempora- only three times in the year, viz. in the fourth, seventh, and tenth months, according to ancient reckoning, i.e. in June, September, and December. It was at these same times that the heathen set aside certain days (Feriae) for the purpose of invoking the blessing of the gods on the fruits of the fields. At the beginning of summer the prayers were for the harvest; in the autumn for the vintage, and in winter for the freshly-sown seed. It is curious to note how, even now, the Scripture readings for the Ember-Day services contain allusions to the agricultural seasons.[55]
"Mainstream Christianity became infected with a pronounced streak of distrust towards bodily existence and sexuality. This permanent 'encratite' tendency was given powerful impetus in the debates about Christian perfection at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth centuries."[56] Celibacy became the law first for bishops in the Christian east in the sixth or seventh century and then for all clergy in the Roman west in the twelfth century. The Second Lateran Council, 1139 A.D., being the 10th general council strictly forbids the marriage of ecclesiatics.[57] Even then "... in parts of Europe, like southern Germany or Wales, it was common for village priests to have a consort and a family, with the support of their flock and the connivance of their bishop who derived income from the annual fee or tax to allow the arrangement."[58]
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:8-9. "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy... forbidding to marry...." 1 Timothy 4:1-4. "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:4. "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isaiah 24:5.
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Revelation 13:6. Jesus commanded "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your father, which is in heaven." Matthew 23:9. The holy title of Father is reserved to our Heavenly Father by commandment clearly broken by the Catholic church. The Roman pontiff has at least 62 names listed by Capel, Domestic Prelate of pope Leo XIII, some of which are:
Most Divine of All Heads.
Holy Father of Fathers, Pontiff Supreme over all Prelates...
Peter, by thy Power
Christ by Unction.
Abraham by patriarchate.
Melchisidec in order.
Moses in authority
Samuel in the Judicial Office....
High Priest. Supreme Bishop.
Prince of Bishops.
Heir of the Apostles....
Pontiff appointed with Plentitude of Power.
Supreme Chief; Most Powerful Word
Vicar of Christ - Sovereign Priest.
Bishop of Bishops.
Ruler of the House of the Lord.
Peter, who lives and presides in his own See
Apostolic Lord and Father of Fathers
Ecumenical Archbishop and Patriarch...
Apostolic Throne, where are the foundations of Orthodox Faith
Infallible Pope
See, which the Lord appointed to preside over the rest....[59]
Thus, the title "Pope" clearly breaks Jesus' commandment and blasphemes God by taking his name (showing himself that he is God), and the name of Jesus. The bishop of Rome blasphemes the tabernacle of the LORD by calling himself Ruler of the House of the Lord. The ruler is Jesus (although admittedly in ancient times the priest is referred to as ruler, even though a better term might be guardian until Jesus comes). As an apostle, Jesus sits on the apostolic throne - not the bishop of Rome. We see that the Roman pontiff takes the names which are attributed to Christ in scripture implying his supremacy over the church. He also blasphemes "them that dwell in heaven" by calling himself Moses, Abraham, and Melchisidec. The Council of Florence declared: "...the vicar of Christ is superior in authority and status even to Moses."[60] The Catholic Church reached this conclusion because it says it is more righteous than the synagogue. But of Moses the Scriptures say: "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3. The Lord chose Moses because although he was placed in a position to gain the wealth of Egypt as Pharaoh's son, and rule over his people, he rejected this temptation when he realized who he was. Instead, he rose in defense of his kin, and ran into the desert to face likely death. Then did our Lord speak unto him.
The Latin papa, or Greek pappas, 'Daddy', was used by early Christians of a bishop to whom they stood in a filial relation. North African Christians called the bishop of Carthage papa, but his colleague at Rome was 'bishop of Rome'. From the sixth century the title papa became especially Roman in the West. [the bishop of Rome became the pope or holy father] Until the fourth century his authority lay in being 'successor of Peter and Paul'. The influence of Matthew 16:16 led to the dropping of Paul. Not until Innocent III (d.1216) is the title 'successor of Peter' replaced by 'vicar of Christ'.[61]
Pope Innocent III presented himself "as vicar of Christ on earth and as Melchizedec, the Old Testament figure who was both king and priest; he was said to enjoy 'fullness of power', in contrast with the partial authority of all other bishops."[62] "'The Pope is the vicar of Jesus Christ. He has the same mission as Jesus Christ, the same power [when did he last heal a blind man], the same destiny: to instruct, sanctify, do good, ... and to suffer.'"[63] "'Q: Who is the visible head of the Church? A: It is our Holy Father the Pope, the bishop of Rome, who is the vicar of Jesus Christ and the visible head of the Church. The word Pope comes from a Greek word meaning Father.'"[64]
"...The day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. ...For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:2-12. The Roman Catholic Church refers to itself as the temple of the Lord. In the 1000 room Vatican Palace the Roman bishop has a gold chair and a private gold telephone.[65] A picture of his throne room in the Vatican Palace can be seen in The Vatican Its History - Its Treasures (Letters & Arts Publishing Co., NY. 1914), p.16. "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 1 Timothy 6:9. Also in the Vatican are murals such as "The Coronation of Charlemagne", "The Hall of Constantine", "The Vision of Constantine", and a battle scene of "The Victory of St. Leo IV over the Saracens at Ostia."[66] "'The pope has about six hundred soldiers to guard his residence.... As a sovereign, the pope mints money, confers decorations, has a white and yellow flag, ambassadors (legates, apostolic nuncios) to every nation, etc. Those who are shocked by this pomp, remembering that Jesus Christ was not surrounded by a similar court, forget that the pope does not represent Jesus Christ pursued by his enemies, shamed and humiliated on the cross, but the divine savior gloriously raised to the heavens.' F. Spirago, Catechisme Catholique Populaire, pp.605-6 (Paris, 1903)."[67]
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased." Matthew 23:12. In one of his titles, Prince of the Apostles, the bishop of Rome elevates himself from the office of bishop past that of the apostles to Christ himself. His church teaches he represents Jesus Christ gloriously raised. In response to the quarreling disciples Jesus said: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." Matthew 23:11.
"And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Revelation 13:7. The Catholic church has a presence all over the world in all the nations with about 1 billion members. Everyone has felt the effect of its adultery. Not only the Roman Empire, but early in its history the Roman Catholic Church persecuted and tortured the early Christian saints. Under Nero's reign, Tacitus wrote, "Their execution was made into a game. They were covered with the skins of wild animals and torn to pieces by dogs. They were hung on crosses. They were burned, wrapped in flammable material to illuminate the night. To escape death they had but to repudiate Christ and sacrifice to the emperor." Christians were officially outlawed and persecuted until 313 A.D., when Constantine and Licinius issued a joint edict of toleration. Because the Christian religion continued to spread, Satan changed his tactics to sanction the religion, but pervert it. Emperor Constantine became a "Christian" and the Catholic Church was split into the Roman Catholic Church (in Rome) and the Greek Orthodox Church (centered in Constantinople). After the Roman emperor's power crumbled the church stepped in to fill the power vacuum. The Roman church at first persecuted and then overcame the Arian tribes. Later, the African church was overrun by the Muslims, therefore leaving the bishop of Alexandria with little influence, while the Muslims also overran Antioch. The eastern bishops of Constantinople split off and formed the Greek Orthodox churches. That left the Bishop of Rome as the sole leader of the western church, and he began to think of himself as such.
The church followed Rome's example. The Catholic church convinced Emperor Honorius to persecute the north African Donatists from 400 - 428 A.D., (Gibbon) and they were sometimes put to death. "The brutality with which Charlemagne's armies [kinged as Holy Roman Emperor by the Roman pontiff] brought the Saxons to enforced Christianity and extracted tithes from them through new ecclesiastical foundations stands clearly revealed. But it is exposed above all in a letter to Alcuin (796) criticizing the whole policy."[72]
In 1143 A.D. the Roman citizenry sought to free themselves from ecclesiastical control, but in 1155 A.D. their leader, Arnold of Brescia, was burned at the stake for his so-called heresy, including his call for ecclesiastical poverty and separation from temporal interests.[73] Burning was a common tactic used by pagan Rome against the early Christians to induce them to recant and worship the emperor. The church initiated the Inquisition. Anyone who disagreed with the church was burned alive or tortured. "The acquisition of an effective force of popular persuaders was important in combating heresy, but it was unlikely that persuasion would be enough, and the church sought also for means of coercion. As early as the Third Lateran Council in 1179 the possibility of directing a crusade against the Albigensian heretics of Languedoc had been envisaged, but it was only under Innocent III, after the failure of a series of preaching missions, that it was finally launched. In the summer of 1209 an army of northern French barons and bishops marched against the southern heretics and captured Beziers, where there was an appalling massacre, and Carcassonne." To this day the Inquisition prison of Carcassonne stands as a testament to those chained there for their beliefs. "In 1231 [Gregory IX] issued a general condemnation of heresy in his bull Excommunicamus, and followed it by a series of commissions of inquisition ... They were a response to an emergency, but a response which marked an important stage in the development from the easygoing ways of the past to a regime of repression."[74]
Cornelius Agrippa wrote "'The inquisitors act entirely by the rule of the canon law and the Papal decretals, as if it were impossible for a Pope to err.... They accept as a rule of faith the teaching of the Curia, and the only question they ask the accused is, whether he believes in the Roman Church. If he says Yes, they say, 'The Church condemns this proposition - recant it.' If he refuses, he is handed over to the secular power to be burnt [like the blood of Jesus being placed on Pontius Pilate].'"[75] Janus, p.247. There was no right to a defense. The Catholic Encyclopedia, VIII "Inquisition", p.32: "Curiously enough, torture was not regarded as a mode of punishment, but purely as a means of eliciting the truth.... It was first authorized by Innocent IV in his Bull "Ad extirpanda" of 15 May, 1252, which was confirmed by Alexander IV on 30 November, 1259, and by Clement IV on 3 November, 1265."
The Church sought to break people's wills, and like the Roman emperors, force them to worship the authority of the pope. But beginning with the Teutonic peoples, rebellion was in the air. Hus of Bohemia was imprisoned for preaching against moral corruption. He taught to follow Christ and scripture above other doctrines. His call to follow one's moral conscience even against ecclesiastical authority was viewed as dangerous. He was tried by council, degraded from the priesthood (concluded by placing a paper cap on his head which read 'We commit your soul to the devil'), and handed over to civil officers to be burnt at the stake on July 6, 1415.[76] "The Council of Constance (1414-1418) succeeded in ending the Great Schism by enforcing the abdication of three rival popes and achieving the universal acceptance of a fourth, Martin V. Orthodoxy was also vindicated with the burning alive of Hus on the authority of the council...."[77] Luther probably only escaped the same fate by leaving the place of his summons secretly by night.
Great men of science who disagreed with the church were persecuted and killed. The eclectic philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at Rome in 1600.[78] Remember Galileo who disagreed with the model of an earth-centered universe? "Late in 1616 the Pope ordered Robert Cardinal Bellarmine to admonish Galileo to abandon the Copernican system. If Galileo resisted, the Commissary of the Inquisition was instructed to threaten him with imprisonment were he ever to teach it again orally or in writing."[79] (Clearly also an example of the pope's doctrinal fallibility). Whose tactics do these sound like? Certainly not Jesus'. In his papal bull of 1487 Innocent VIII prescribed an archdeacon, Albert de Capitaneis "to labor in the extirpation of the very pernicious and abominable sect of men called the Poor of Lyons or the Waldenses [the Waldensian missionaries], in concert with the Inquisitor-General Blasius, of the order of the Preaching-Brotherhood. The Pope gives him, for that object, full power over all archbishops, bishops, their vicars and chief officers; 'in order,' says he, 'that they may have authority, together with you and the said inquisitor, to take up arms against the said Waldenses and other heretics, and to come to an understanding to crush them like venomous asps, and to contribute all their care to so holy and so necessary an extermination..... We give you power to have the crusade preached up by fit men: to grant that such persons as shall enter on the crusade and fight against these same heretics, and shall contribute to it, may gain plenary indulgence and remission of all their sins once in their life, and also at their death; to command, in virtue of their holy obedience, and under penalty of excommunication, all preachers of God's word to animate and incite [italics by author] the same believers to exterminate the pestilence, without sparing, by force and by arms.'"[80]
In the Council of Toulouse the Roman church ruled: "We prohibit laymen possessing copies of the Old and New Testament... We forbid them most severely to have the above books in the popular vernacular." "The lords of the district shall carefully seek out the heretics in dwellings, hovels, and forests, and even their underground retreats shall be entirely wiped out."[81] The Roman church considered the possession of scripture in a non-Latin vernacular to cause trouble, and partially justified its position by saying any translation would pervert the scriptures. Yet surely they would not be so bold as to claim that the true apostles wrote in Latin instead of their native Hebrew and Greek. William Tyndale made one of the first English translations of the Bible from the original Greek. For his efforts on behalf of the common man he was burned at the stake in Belgium as a Protestant heretic in 1536. The pope has not been the universally loving vicar of Christ he has painted himself to be - in fact history shows he has been the opposite - the false prophet or son of Perdition who rules with fear and terror. But he paints himself as the only bearer of truth: "Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the Study of Holy Scripture Nov. 18, 1893 'What the Bible Owes to the Catholic Church' ... 6 ...Moreover, it is owing to the wisdom and exertions of the Church that there has always been continued from century to century that cultivation of Holy Scripture which has been so remarkable and has borne such ample fruit."[82]
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits... a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Matthew 7:15-17.
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." Revelation 13: 8-10. For a time all Christendom revered the Roman pontiff - even the eastern church in Constantinople. The vicars of Christ extended their temporal power through the sword, rather than setting an example as Jesus did. The Lord taught that truth, not force and fear, sets us free. "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32. Under Innocent I (412) no one could be ordained who had served in the army since baptism.[83] However, later the Catholic Church reserved to itself the right to use force. Point 24 of the Syllabus of Errors which must be affirmed by ordainees of the Catholic clergy states that "the Church has the power of employing force and [of exercising] direct and indirect temporal power."[84] Pope Julius II gloried in the ruination of the republic of Venice. During the Dark Ages popes such as Sixtus IV, Alexander VI, and Innocent VIII used papal armies to take possessions for their relatives upon which they conferred dukedoms, lordships, princes, and in the case of the pope's son, Caesar, the captain general of the Holy Roman Church. At times towns were retaken by successor popes for their successor relatives.[85]
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~ J Vernon McGee Ro 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9, 10:13.
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