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THE CITY OF ROME IN PROPHECY
THE 'WOMAN' OF REVELATION 17
PROLOGUE: THE 'MARK OF THE BEAST' IS HERE!
STARTING: WITH DANIEL'S 70th WEEK
In the past, at the beginning of each page
I explained how that, after examining Daniel chapter 9 and Jesus' Olivet Discourse, we can realize that the
ADDING: CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE MARK
But now, after more recent Bible study and my continued monitoring of world events, I have concluded that another aspect of 'the last days' has come; the 'Mark of the Beast'. It is a 'Mark' that the False Prophet will impose upon the entire world:
The False Prophet causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a Mark FROM their right hand or FROM their foreheads. And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the Mark , or an official name from the Beast, or an official number associated with his official name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number from the Beast, for it is the (identification) number of a man: that number is 666. Revelation 13:16-18
Until recently I had suspected that the 'Mark of the Beast' might be a bar code or QR code tattooed upon a person's skin. Or that it might be an RFID chip inserted underneath a person's skin. But with more recent study I have discovered that, in the original Greek of Revelation 13:16, the words 'forehead' and 'hand' were not written in the
And the Greek word translated 'mark' can also be translated as an 'image' or 'impression' of something. And so I now believe that the Beast's 'Mark' is actually a scan taken from people's faces and hands. These comprise the biometric data being collected today by many nations. And it will all come together in a worldwide system of human registration.
This registration of people will be comprised of three things; all three of which are described in Revelation 13:17:
And that no one may buy or sell except one who has 1) the scan (mark, image or impression), and 2) an official name from the Beast, and 3) an official number associated with his official name. Revelation 13:17
I have not yet identified the Beast's official numbering system, based upon a 6-6-6 format. But God is just and fair. And so when the Beast's 'number' does come, I trust that it will be obvious.
My concern, however, regards the fact that most of us are already accustomed to using facial recognition and fingerprint technology. And so the Mark (
In Revelation God has warned that those who embrace this 'Mark' will suffer
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice “If anyone worships the Beast and his image and embraces his SCAN , taken from his own forehead or from his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God; which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever . And they have no rest day or night, who worship the Beast and his image, and whoever receives the SCAN associated with his own name.” Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:9-12
CONCLUSION: WE NEED TO FOCUS
And so combining a knowledge of
DO NOT SUBMIT TO THE MARK ( SCAN ) OF THE BEAST!
So what is it that God is calling Christians to do in this hour? To prepare for death. God now calls upon Christians to follow the three young Hebrew men, who went into the fiery furnace rather than deny their God (Daniel 3). And to follow Daniel, who risked the lion's den rather than to cease worshiping the one true God (Daniel 6). God calls upon Christians to hear His word and to understand the choice that now confronts all of mankind:
Therefore whoever confesses Me (Jesus) before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death , and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death (the Lake of Fire and Brimstone). Revelation 2:10-11
And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
As I explain in my four web pages about
This was the 'great falling away from the faith' that Paul said would accompany the rise of a 'man of sin' (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). And so today some 'professing Christians' portray the coming of artificial intelligence and other technologies as 'God saving the world'. It is hailed as the arrival of 'peace and safety' (1 Thessalonians 5:3), and of diversity, equity and inclusion. But the simple choice still confronts us. Will we embrace Constantine's 'victory'. Or will we go outside of the world's 'wide gate' (Matthew 7:13) and meet the Savior there?
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him , that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (of Jerusalem). Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Hebrews 13:12-14
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THE BEAST AND ITS THREE ALLIES
This page on Rome is the third in a series of four web pages, in which I explain four 'prophetic characters' in the book of Revelation: the Beast and its three 'allies'. The Beast's three allies are the False Prophet, the City of Rome (the Roman Catholic Church) and the United States.
The Beast's cooperation with the City of Rome is by far the oldest alliance of the three. This connection goes back to 70 AD, the rise of Vespasian's Flavian Dynasty, and Rome's transition from an 'iron' military capitol to a 'clay' religious capitol (see Daniel chapter 2). And the church+state tactics of Rome (which began with Vespasian and continue to this day) are depicted as a Prostitute riding upon the back of the Beast in Revelation 17.
Therefore the thing that distinguishes the Beast of Revelation from all of the other major world military powers over the past 1950+ years is its uniquely close cooperation with the city of Rome. However, in this web site I do not present these 'alliances' in their historical order, but in their Biblical order:
A STATUE CALLED 'BABYLON'
The first question that we need to answer is this:
WHY IS THE CITY OF ROME CALLED 'BABYLON '
IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
And the answer is 'Because Babylon brought an end to Israel's kingdom of David in 586 BC'. And so in the Bible the name 'Babylon' doesn't just represent what the Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzer did in 586 BC, but a series of Gentile empires that would continue what Babylon started. That would be the displacement of David's family, and the domination of Israel by Gentile empires until the second coming of David's promised 'Son', Jesus Christ.
Roughly 3000 years ago, around 1000 B.C., God made a promise to King David of Israel, telling him that someday one of his sons would establish David's Kingdom on earth forever:
The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you. When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you; your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.' 2 Samuel 7:11-13, 16
But after David's reign the nation of Israel moved steadily farther and farther away from God. It became increasingly evil. And so God finally allowed King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to first dominate Israel around 605 BC, taking some of the Jewish people back to Babylon as captives. And then 20 years later Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Israel completely in 586 BC.
One of the Jewish people who was taken captive to Babylon was a young man named Daniel. And as Daniel began to serve in the government of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which Daniel was able to interpret for him. In his dream Nebuchadnezzar had seen a giant statue representing four Gentile empires.
The statue had a head of gold, symbolizing Babylon. It had a chest and arms of silver, symbolizing Persia. It also had a stomach and thighs of bronze, symbolizing Greece. And then finally the Roman Empire was symbolized by legs of iron, followed by feet made of a mixture of iron and clay.
Finally Nebuchadnezzar saw a 'Divine Stone' which was cast upon the feet of the statue, and destroyed the entire statue altogether. This stone symbolizes the second coming of Jesus Christ. There are two things that we can deduce from Nebuchadnezzar's dream:
There are two things that we can deduce from Nebuchadnezzar's dream:
THE FOUR BEASTS OF DANIEL 7
After Nebuchadnezzar died, Daniel was given another vision of these same four Gentile empires (Daniel chapter 7). But in this vision they were not portrayed as one statue, but as four separate beasts. Babylon was symbolized by a lion, Persia by a bear, Greece by a leopard, and Rome by a beast unlike any known animal. It was dreadful, terrible and powerful; having great iron teeth and trampling and devouring the whole earth.
BABYLON
PERSIA
GREECE
ROME
Daniel observed that this Roman beast had 10 horns. Horns symbolize concentrations of power in Bible prophecy. Daniel was told that these 10 horns represented 10 kings (or kingdoms) that would arise out of the original Roman Empire (Daniel 7:24). The original Roman Empire ruled most of the 'civilized' world, centered around the Mediterranean Ocean. From its center in the city of Rome, Roman domination radiated outward in a 360 degree circle, dividing the world into 10 primary areas. I believe that these 10 regions, beginning with the Italian peninsula itself, might be divided up as follows:
- 1. Italy
- 2. Achaia (Greece and the surrounding region)
- 3. Asia (an area now called Turkey)
- 4. Syria (an area including what is now Israel and the greater Middle East)
- 5. Egypt
- 6. Africa (northern Africa)
- 7. Spain
- 8. Gaul (now known as France)
- 9. Germany
- 10. Britain
The statue of Daniel 2 and the four Beasts of Daniel 7 both represent the same four Gentile empires. And their obstruction of David's promised kingdom continues to this day. And this is why now, late in the 'Roman phase' of these empires, both the Roman Catholic Church (Revelation 17) and the United States (lead nation of the Roman Catholic world, Revelation 18) are called 'Babylon the Great'.
SATAN'S TRIBULATION OF THE WORLD
One of the regrettable shortcomings of today's protestant evangelical church lies in its mishandling of Daniel's 70th Week. And with that 'mishandling' has come a failure to identify Satan's 'great tribulation of the world'; a tribulation that began when Satan was judged by a resurrected and glorified Christ, and then cast down to earth in defeat around 70 AD.
Jesus said that THE JUDGMENT OF SATAN would be a major theme of the Holy Spirit's evangelization of the world:
And when the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they do not believe in Me. Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more. Of judgment, because the ruler of this world (Satan) is judged. John 16:8-11
But it has been my experience that, although churches know that Jesus has conquered Satan, they have not identified the
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. WOE TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH AND THE SEA! For the devil is come down unto you HAVING GREAT WRATH , because he knows that he has but a short time". Revelation 12:7-12
It is not until we are able to compartmentalize the 'Great Tribulation', seeing that it is the period of history from 70 AD until Christ's second coming, that we can understand God's prophecies concerning the rise of the Roman Catholic Church. The second half of Daniel's 70th Week is the period of Satan's 'Great Tribulation' of the world. And it is a period of time throughout which Satan has 'stood up' two specific things:
God foretold the rise of the Beast itself in the fourth vision of John's Little Book (Revelation 13:1-10). And the city of Rome is described as a religious Prostitute in Revelation chapter 17. But the
ROMAN CATHOLICISM FORETOLD
Just two days before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that Jerusalem's magnificent Temple would soon be completely destroyed. Later on the Mount of Olives His disciples asked Jesus two questions:
ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
Jesus' answer to these questions was given in three parts:
- And then
Jesus' words characterizing the 'Great Tribulation' incorporated the rise and fall of an important alliance; between the Roman Catholic Church and various military powers that would support Rome. Jesus listed six things that would mark the coming of Roman Catholicism, and then its final end:
This series of six traits is also found in the first six 'Seals' of Revelation chapter 6:
THE FOUR HORSEMEN
OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MILITANCY
OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MILITANCY
Both of these narratives, from the Olivet Discourse and the Seals of Revelation 6, describe
And the ten horns which you saw on the Beast, these will hate the Harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire . For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the Beast until the words of God are fulfilled. Revelation 17:16-17
In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow. For she says in her heart ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day; death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire . For strong is the Lord God who judges her. Revelation 18:7-8
And so the second half of Daniel's 70th Week should be seen as two separate and yet connected things; Satan's bringing of Great Tribulation upon the world, and the time of Roman Catholicism's
PAUL'S MAN OF SIN
As he wrote about the second coming of Christ, Paul told the Thessalonian church that one important historical development MUST PRECEDE Christ's coming:
Let no man deceive you by any means. For that day (the 'Day of the Lord') shall not come, except there come a falling away first. And THAT MAN OF SIN be revealed. The son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. So that HE SITS AS GOD IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD , showing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
For 240 years after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the pagan religious leadership of Rome encouraged Roman emperors to impoverish, imprison and kill Christians. Rome initiated wave after wave of persecution against God's church and its Bible. Then in 312 AD, with Constantine's supposed embrace of Christianity, Rome went from trying to destroy the church to declaring 'I am the true Christian Church'.
While many viewed this turn of events as a victory for Christianity, it was in fact one of the darkest moments in history. Rome went from persecuting Christianity from the outside, to devouring Christianity from the inside; like a worm within a piece of fruit. And since that time, while hollowing out Christianity from within, Rome has continued to wage war outwardly against Christians 'protesting' against its false claims.
There are three basic traits of 'Constantine's Christianity':
CONSTANTINE SOUGHT TO STEAL THE THREE HOLY OFFICES OF THE SON OF GOD:
PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING
Constantine waited until his deathbed to be baptized; indicating his belief that a sacrament administered by a duly authorized church leader could save his soul at the last minute. This is a concept called 'SACRAMENTALISM'; the belief that Roman Catholic priests supernaturally infuse saving power into Rome's sacraments.
Paul's warning was not about one single 'Man of Sin', but about a class of men; the Roman Catholic Priesthood. Rome's priests claim to do what Christ alone has done; appear before God with a sacrifice that can atone for the sins of men. Jesus alone now 'stands as God in the Temple of God' (in heaven).
In Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned about people 'coming in His name', and at the same time claiming that they themselves are Jesus. And this is exactly what the Roman priesthood does. It claims to exercise the power and authority of Christ in this world; to be Christ's representatives, 'vicars' or stand-ins.
GOD SAYS THAT MEN MUST COME DIRECTLY TO JESUS TO BE SAVED.
ROME SAYS THAT WE MUST COME TO ROME TO BE SAVED.
Today many people are drawn toward Roman Catholicism; impressed by Rome's achievements in its universities, and the ability of its theologians to talk about law, philosophy, the Bible and 'faith'. But when people ignore the
In fact 'ecumenical dialogue' represents a failure to bring important truth to Catholics themselves, as well as to the people whom they deceive. The Christian's obligation is to call Catholicism out for directing people away from the priesthood Christ, and depriving them of His genuine atonement. And this is exactly how Jesus described Rome:
For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. Matthew 24:5
It is not my purpose in this web page to criticize individual members of the Catholic Church. Many Roman Catholics have sincere religious convictions, a high regard for the Bible, and want to live righteous lives. And there is no doubt that the Spirit of God is working in the hearts and lives of many Catholics to draw them closer to Himself. But God has a message for all people who want to know His will:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying "Come out of her (Roman Babylon) my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Revelation 18:4-5
Anyone who partakes of the Roman Catholic Mass, or who cooperates with the Roman Catholic Church, is partaking of Rome's sins. Whether they themselves believe in Rome's sacramental claims or not, they are telling the rest of the world that Rome's errors are not to be feared.
But God's commandment is loud and clear; that if we do not separate ourselves from Rome, we will partake of God's judgment upon Rome. Rome may accuse you of being uncharitable, judgmental and even 'unChristian'. But the choice is simple; be a friend of God and your fellow man, or be a friend of Rome.
WAGING WAR IN ROBES
While Jesus' Olivet Discourse points to the false Christianity of Rome, the Six Seals of Revelation 6 point to the militancy of Rome. How do Rome's religiosity and militancy mix together? Constantine's introduction of militant 'Roman' Christianity was foretold by God over 800 years before Constantine lived:
He shall regard neither the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god. For he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses (militancy ). And a god which his fathers did not know (a war-making 'Jesus' ) he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god; which he shall acknowledge and advance its glory. And he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. Daniel 11:37-39
The shared perspective of Roman priests in religious 'robes', and Roman soldiers fighting in the field, is their understanding of God. They both see Him as the Author of 'holy war' under the banner of the cross. And it is this 'meeting of the minds' that is portrayed in the religious Woman riding upon the back of the militant Beast in Revelation 17:
So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a Woman sitting on a scarlet Beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The Woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. And she had in her hand a golden cup (of the Roman Mass), full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. Revelation 17:3-6
This close cooperation between a 'clay' Roman Catholic Church (soft priests with no blood on their hands), and an 'iron' military Beast was described for Daniel:
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the Roman kingdom shall be divided. Yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men. But they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Daniel 2:41-44
In the passage above God showed Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar the nature of the late stages of the Roman Empire. The clay and the iron represent the Woman and the Beast of Revelation 17. And just as Nebuchadnezzar was shown that a divine 'Stone' would fall upon the iron and clay feet of late-stage Rome (Daniel 2:34), so also Revelation connects Babylon's destruction with a great stone:
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like A GREAT MILLSTONE and threw it into the sea, saying “THUS WITH VIOLENCE the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore. And the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth. For by your sorcery (pharmaceutical industry) all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, AND OF ALL WHO WERE SLAIN ON THE EARTH .” Revelation 18:21-24
ROMAN LEVITES
Rome's priests have made one obvious, glaring mistake. They have copied the Old Testament Levitical priesthood, when God says that the new priesthood of Jesus Christ has replaced that old, powerless practice. The author of Hebrews sets forth the contrast between the old priesthood of the Levites, and Christ's new Priesthood patterned after Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19-10:18):
MANY DYING PRIESTS vs. ONE ETERNAL PRIEST
(Hebrews 7:23-25)
MORALLY FLAWED PRIESTS vs. A TESTED, PROVEN, HOLY PRIEST
(Hebrews 7:26-28)
AN EARTHLY ALTAR AND TEMPLE vs. A HEAVENLY ALTAR AND TEMPLE
(Hebrews 8 & 9)
MANY POWERLESS SACRIFICES OFFERED REPEATEDLY
vs.
ONE POWERFUL SACRIFICE OFFERED ONCE
(Hebrews 9:25-28, 10:10-14)
vs.
And there is one more important difference between Israel's Levitical priests and Rome. Israel was
This is why God portrays the Roman Prostitute of Revelation 17 as riding upon the Beast with a cup in her hand. It is the cup of the Roman Catholic Mass:
The Woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. Having in her hand A GOLDEN CUP FULL OF ABOMINATIONS AND THE FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION . Revelation 17:4
ROMAN PHARISEES
If my visitor is impressed by the elaborate rituals, and the beautiful buildings and decorations of Roman Catholicism, I would encourage him to do two things.
But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses (militancy). And a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver , with precious stones and pleasant things .
Daniel 11:38
The Woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet , and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls . Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. Revelation 17:4
The thing that Jesus criticized most about the Pharisees was their hypocrisy. In ancient Greece the actors in a drama were called 'hypocrites'. A hypocrite is someone who puts on a mask, pretending to be something that he is not.
Jesus' description of the outward religion of the Pharisees fits Roman Catholicism perfectly. Just like the Pharisees of Israel, Rome puts on an elaborate outward display of religious piety, broadcast around the world on TV at Easter and Christmas. But this outward show masks an inward perversity, just as it did for the Pharisees. Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 23:
They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. And they love the uppermost rooms at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, greetings in the markets, and to be called by men 'Rabbi, Rabbi' (meaning 'teacher'). But do not yourselves be called 'Rabbi', for one is your Master, even Christ, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, Who is in heaven. Matthew 23:5-9
FANCY GARMENTS
GREETINGS IN THE MARKETPLACE
BEING CALLED 'FATHER'
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets , and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous , and say 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets'. Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets." Matthew 23:29-31
PETER'S TOMB IN ROME
PAUL'S TOMB IN ROME
BUILDING THE TOMBS OF THE PROPHETS
Take heed that you do not your charity before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you have no reward from your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your charity, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when you do charity, let not your left hand know what your right hand does, that your charity may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly.
And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet. And when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Matthew 6:1-6
PRAYER AND CHARITY AS PUBLIC RELATIONS TOOLS
ROME'S SEXUAL PERVERSITY
As I explain in my first web page titled '
And it is my belief that for mankind to be made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) includes not only personhood (something that the angels also possess), but heterosexuality as well. The prior existence of the entire human race within our father, Adam, before then unfolding through marriage and the begetting of children, reveals the 'unfolding' of God in eternity past; before time or creation began. As the apostle Paul has written, we can understand God through the things that They have made (Romans 1:20).
And since our heterosexuality represents the image of God in us, it is only reasonable to believe that desire, romance and marriage between a man and a woman is one of the greatest blessings that people can experience. Indeed, throughout the Bible heterosexual marriage is the
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
Marriage is honorable among all, AND THE BED IS UNDEFILED . But fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4
And so my starting premise in this section of this page on Rome is this:
TO DESPISE HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE IS TO DESPISE GOD
And for those who would challenge me regarding the heterosexuality of God, I would simply point out that the Son of God is getting married soon. A bride is preparing herself for the 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb'; a marriage that will continue forever into eternity. And so if you have a problem with my belief that God is heterosexual, I would suggest that you take it up with Him:
Let us be glad and rejoice and give God glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright. For the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
In the face of this singular divine blessing given to man, the Roman Catholic Church has decided to forbid its clergy (priests and nuns) from being married. If they find themselves having strong sexual desires at any point during their clerical careers, they are consigned to finding fulfillment outside of marriage. While God says that everything outside of marriage is fornication, Rome leaves fornication as the only option. This is why Revelation speaks repeatedly of Rome's fornication:
For true and righteous are God's judgments, because He has judged the great Harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication. And He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Revelation 19:2
In contrast to Rome's policies, the Apostle Paul made success in marriage a necessary qualification for leadership in the church:
This is a faithful saying; if a man desires the position of a bishop (elder), he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife ; temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable and able to teach. He must not be given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle; not quarrelsome, not covetous. One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. For if a man does not know how to rule his own house , how will he take care of the church of God? Let deacons also be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 1 Timothy 3:1-5,12
Paul asked a powerfully logical question. 'If a man is not competent as a husband and father, provider and spiritual leader in ONE household, then how can he lead in a church comprised of MANY households?' And so even though two of Jesus' earliest miracles include providing wine for a wedding (John 2:1-10) and healing Peter's mother in law (Mark 1:30), Rome insists that its leaders must 'rise above' marriage. And with this policy they fulfill the word of God:
He (Rome) shall regard neither the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god. For he shall exalt himself above them all. Daniel 11:37
Now the Spirit speaks 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, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry , and commanding to abstain from meats which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by them which believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3
Rome's insistence upon recruiting clergy from among people who are willing to swear off on heterosexual marriage and parenthood has had devastating consequences. One of Rome's primary evangelistic labors has centered around the early 'catechizing' (brainwashing) of children; particularly the children of Roman Catholic parents. Gaining the trust and confidence of little children has been one of the most successful ways of maintaining Roman Catholic membership. And this approach is consistent with the common sense of Solomon:
Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
But what is one to expect when a Roman priest's job description boils down to two basic things?
WHAT JOB COULD BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO A PEDOPHILE?
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unto white sepulchers (tombs). Which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and rottenness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Matthew 23:27-28
LIKE A TOMB: BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE, ROTTEN ON THE INSIDE
There are many Catholics who strongly denounce the widespread homosexuality and child abuse in the RCC today. But any reform of the RCC can only be temporary and superficial. Because of celibacy, child abuse is 'baked into the Roman Catholic cake'. From the very beginning Rome has put pedophiles in charge of the nursery. In the Old Testament God told the people of Israel not to have sexual intercourse with close relatives, with members of the same sex, or with animals (Leviticus 18). Those things were all abominations. But God never bothered to warn against having sex with children. Why?
BECAUSE SUCH A THING WAS SIMPLY UNTHINKABLE!
But instead of repenting of this profound wickedness, the RCC continues to sweep the sins of its priests under the rug, and to pay out billions of dollars in class action law suits for child abuse. This is why God repeatedly accuses Rome of abominations and fornication:
So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a Woman (Rome) sitting on a scarlet Beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. Having in her hand the golden cup (of the Mass), full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication . And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:3-5
In reality, Rome's sexual abuse of children is simply the 'tip of the iceberg'. Its spiritual abuse of children is much more horrendous. Jesus said "Let the little children come unto Me" (Mark 10:14), and warned that those who cause children to stumble spiritually would be better off if a
But instead of allowing little children to come directly to Jesus by hearing His word and through personal prayer, Rome insists that they must come to Rome. By taking this stance, Roman Catholics are
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great MILLSTONE , and CAST IT INTO THE SEA , saying "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all". Revelation 18:21
People trust Rome's clergy because they claim to know what the Bible teaches. For this reason a priest's condemnation will be so much more severe. It will be a terrible thing to be a Roman Catholic priest in the day of judgment, explaining to the Son of God why you steered people away from a DIRECT relationship with Himself. Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they not only refused to enter heaven themselves, but also prevented others from entering it as well (Matthew 23:13). What a horrid position to be in!
KNOWING CHRIST
In John chapter 3 we find the account of a Jewish Pharisee visiting Jesus in the night. This man was well educated in the Old Testament scriptures, and knew everything about Temple and the Mosaic priesthood. But he also recognized that Jesus was bringing a new message, validated by the divine power that was at work in Him:
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God. For no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” John 3:1-2
Although deeply committed to the Temple, its sacrifices and the traditions of the Jewish elders, Nicodemus knew that he was missing something. And so he was willing to hear what Jesus had to say. In response Jesus described the
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:3-6
In this passage a man immersed in religious symbolism was astonished by what Jesus had to say about real salvation. Jesus described it as being 'born again'. And He also described this new birth as being born
When Jesus spoke of water and the Holy Spirit, He was referring to the Christian 'order of salvation' (Ordo Salutis). And more specifically Jesus was referring to two things that are found in God's
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us; through 1) the WASHING of regeneration and 2) the RENEWING of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
These two things are the second and third stages in the 'order' of how God saves people. There are five stages in salvation, and Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist revealed them all:
Nicodemus did not grasp what Jesus was talking about. And Jesus asked him 'How can you be a teacher of Israel and not know about these earthly spiritual realities?' And then Jesus told Nicodemus something more about THE genuine, mystical experience of God:
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it. But cannot see where it comes from and where it goes. SO IS EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT. ” John 3:7-8
Here Jesus was describing the difference between a visible, outwardly religious, symbolic relationship with God, and a real intimacy with God that is private and personal. And God's coming transition, from the outward symbolism of the Temple of Moses to this personal knowledge of Himself, was foretold by Jeremiah over 2500 years ago:
"Behold, the days come" says the Lord, "that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. Not according to the MOSAIC covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. A covenant that they broke, although I was a husband unto them" says the Lord.
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days" says the Lord "I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying 'Know the Lord'. FOR THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME , from the least of them unto the greatest of them" says the Lord. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more". Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:7-12
And what we see in Jeremiah's prophecy was repeated by the Lord Jesus to a Samaritan woman:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain (in Samaria), nor in Jerusalem worship the Father. You worship what you do not know. We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH . For the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit. And those who worship Him must worship IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH .” John 4:21-24
So how does one find this 'new covenant' personal relationship with God? The same way that any relationship is established; by listening to God speak to us through His word (the Bible), and by talking to Him in prayer. It's as simple as that. We cannot get to know someone if we are unwilling to hear what they have to say.
The word of God and prayer are what protestant Christians have long referred to as God's 'means of grace'. Protestantism has flourished where Bibles are available to everyday people. But Rome discourages its people from studying God's word for themselves; pretending to fear that they might misunderstand or stray from the 'true faith' to 'heresy'.
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business (of serving as deacons). But we (apostles) will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word .” Acts 6:3-4
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God . Romans 10:17
For every creature of God is good (to eat), and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5
A properly translated Bible in the hands of everyday people has long been 'disinfecting sunlight' against Rome. This is why Rome has discouraged Bible study for laypeople, and has made ever more bombastic claims about its own sacramental 'powers'; even telling people to worship the bread and wine of its Mass. The choice is ours. An outward show of 'religious theatre', or time spent alone hearing what God has to say to us, and sharing our own thoughts with Him. And God's word is not only essential to becoming a Christian, but also to remaining a Christian:
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