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THE CITY OF ROME IN PROPHECY
THE 'WOMAN' OF REVELATION 17
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?
At the beginning of each page of the Prophecy Section of this journal I ask this question, and explain God's timetable for the second coming of Jesus Christ. That timetable is Daniel's '70th Week'.
The first four pages of my Prophecy Section correspond to four links in a divine 'prophetic chain':
And while I encourage my visitor to examine those pages individually, I also offer a condensed combination of these four links in the following document:
SECOND COMING TIMETABLE (PDF)
Here my two main points are that...
If John's 'Little Book' did not exist, I myself would feel compelled to embrace one of today's three major views on Daniel's 70th Week; Post-Millennialism, A-Millennialism or Dispensationalism. But John's Little Book does exist. Its first three visions depict what God accomplished through the family of Abraham
And the fourth and final vision of John's Little Book depicts a singular characteristic of world history
1) THE TEMPLE AND THE COURTYARD (Revelation 11:1-2)
2) THE TWO WITNESSES (Revelation 11:3-12)
3) THE WOMAN, THE CHILD AND THE DRAGON (Revelation 12)
4) THE BEAST FROM THE SEA (Revelation 13)
THE BEAST AND ITS THREE ALLIES:
(The False Prophet, The City of Rome, The United States)
This 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 'allies'. And I explain these 'characters' in the order in which we encounter them in Revelation. And so in this third page I explain the City of Rome in its appearance as a Woman riding upon the back of the Beast in Revelation chapter 17, and who is called 'Babylon the Great'.
In my first page titled
ROME BECOMES 'THE CHURCH'
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 instigated wave after wave of persecution against God's church. 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, most Satanic moments in history. Rome went from persecuting Christianity from the outside, to devouring Christianity from within; like a worm within a piece of fruit. And since that time, while seeking to destroy Christianity from within, Rome has still continued to wage war outwardly against genuine Christians as well.
JESUS FORETOLD THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
There are two prophetic passages in the New Testament that describe the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), and its subsequent history. Those two passages are Jesus' Olivet Discourse, and the six seals of Revelation chapter 6. These two passages parallel each other very closely.
Before comparing these two passages, it is necessary to first become familiar with Jesus' 'Olivet Discourse', and the context in which He gave it. For anyone interested, I provide a link here to a PDF of the three versions of Jesus' Olivet Discourse (from Matthew, Mark and Luke) for comparison side by side:
OLIVET DISCOURSE PDF
Two days prior to His crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples that the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple was fast approaching; that it would fall upon the generation that was then living in Israel. Later that day, as they all sat together on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem and the Temple, the disciples asked Jesus two questions:
ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
Jesus answered the disciples in a roundabout way. Their questions focused upon the two '
This period is the second half of Daniel's 70th Week; extending from Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD until the second coming of Christ (see
Jesus listed five traits that would characterize the time between the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming. These five traits all have the same root cause, because they all stem from Roman Catholicism:
1) FALSE CHRISTIANITY come in My name , saying 'I am Christ', and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:4-5
2) WARFARE wars and rumors of wars . See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass. But the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6
3) FAMINE and 4) DISEASE AND DEATH famines , and pestilences , and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:7
5) THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated by all nations for My name's sake . And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:9-14
BOOKEND #1: JERUSALEM'S DESTRUCTION
At this point, after describing these five traits of the Great Tribulation, Jesus described the approaching destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which would mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation:
When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso reads, let him understand), then let them which are in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation , such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Matthew 24:15-21
BOOKEND #2: THE SECOND COMING
And then Jesus described events that would characterize 'The Day of the Lord' and His second coming; the darkening of the sun and moon, 'stars' falling from heaven, and the heavens (earth's atmosphere) being shaken. These were things that would immediately follow the 'Great Tribulation':
Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn. And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds; from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31
The original Greek word translated 'earthquakes' (in Matthew 24:7 above) is 'seismos', from which we derive our English word 'seismic'. But in the original Greek this word simply meant a 'shaking' or 'disturbance' of some kind, and does not always mean 'earthquake'. It can be translated 'commotion', 'upheaval', or even 'great anxiety in the hearts of men'. In other words the general chaos and emotional 'disruption' of the world during times of war.
THE WHITE HORSE OF ROME
We find these same traits of the Great Tribulation, from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD to the second coming of Christ, in the first five seals of Revelation chapter 6. But in the book of Revelation the rise of Roman Catholicism is described in terms of four horsemen.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN
OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MILITANCY
OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MILITANCY
1) THE WHITE HORSE OF FALSE CHRISTIANITY white horse , and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him. And he went forth conquering, and to conquer . Revelation 6:1-2
This is the militant Christianity of Constantine, obeying a vision that told him to 'conquer under the banner of the cross'. But it is not only Constantine that is represented here. It is every king, general and tyrant who has gone forth to wage 'holy war' with the blessings of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC); riding upon the 'white horse' of Roman Christianity.
One of the things that the RCC has always been careful to maintain is 'deniability'; to claim that it has no blood on its own hands. While war has been waged by soldiers, Rome's priests have usually limited their activities to preaching and performing the religious rites of Catholicism. The feminine robes and gowns of Rome's priests have served to reinforce this false appearance of harmlessness and detachment from bloodshed.
2) THE RED HORSE OF WAR to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another . And there was given unto him a great sword . Revelation 6:3-4
3) THE BLACK HORSE OF FAMINE a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny. And see you hurt not the oil and the wine . Revelation 6:3-4
4) THE PALE HORSE OF DISEASE AND DEATH Death '. And Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:5-8
The third and fourth seals of Revelation 6 simply describe the natural consequences of war. Another word for disease is 'pestilence'. Starvation, disease and death run rampant among populations that have been ravaged by war.
5) THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held . And they cried with a loud voice, saying "How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" And white robes were given unto every one of them. And it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were , should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11
In Revelation 17:6 the RCC is described as being 'drunk with the blood of the saints'. This is an accurate description of Rome's centuries of oppression against all those who have 'protested' against her false Christianity; exposing her false claims and teachings through the words of the Bible itself.
THE SIXTH SEAL: THE DAY OF THE LORD
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood . And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth , even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven (sky) departed as a scroll when it is rolled together . And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:12-17
The close correspondence between the traits of the Great Tribulation described by Jesus in His Olivet Discourse, and the six seals of Revelation chapter 6, is obvious. Both passages describe the activities of Roman Catholic 'Babylon', leading up to its final destruction.
The 'Great Tribulation' is defined by the rage of Satan when he was cast out of heaven and down to earth around 69 AD. And the first thing that Satan did, in order to vent his anger, was to reorganize the Roman Empire into a religious 'Woman' (Rome) riding upon the back of a vicious militant Beast.
This is why God connects the rise of Roman Catholicism and 'the Great Tribulation' with each other. As God describes it, Rome's activities largely define the history of the world over the past 1950+ years. And this is no more clearly seen than in the prophecies of Daniel.
ROME IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL
In my page titled
In Daniel chapter 8, we encounter another 'little horn'. But this horn is not the United States. It is a description of the first rise and progress of the city of Rome. In Daniel 8 God gave the world more information about the transition of Gentile dominance over the Jewish people; from Babylon, to Persia, to Greece, and then to Rome. The 'little horn' in this chapter is the city of Rome; first rising to power from the western edge of the Greek world:
And out of one of them (four Greek kingdoms) came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south (Carthage), toward the east (Greece and Asia), and toward the glorious land (Israel). And it grew up to the host of heaven. And it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host (Jesus Christ).
And by him (Rome) the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary (God's Temple) was cast down. Because of (Jewish) transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices. And he cast truth down to the ground . He did all this and prospered . Daniel 8:9-12
The second section in this passage (immediately above) describes Rome's history from its destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD to the present. This 'casting of truth to the ground' represents Roman Catholicism.
In the 70-Weeks prophecy of Daniel chapter 9 we encounter Rome again. In that prophecy Israel's 'Messiah the Prince' (Jesus Christ) comes to Israel for the first time after 69 (7 + 62) weeks of years are fulfilled:
And after the 62 weeks Messiah shall be cut off (killed), but not for Himself. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood. And until the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel 9:26
The 'prince who was to come' was the Roman general Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian. And so Titus was a prince of Rome, and the successor of the emperor who had become the first military ruler within 'the Beast'. The 'people' of Titus were the Romans. Rome crucified the Lord Jesus, and then destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and ended its sacrifices, just as Daniel chapter 8 also foretold.
What we find in this passage is 'the story of two princes'. 'Messiah the Prince' of Israel, the Son of David, comes to His nation (Dan 9:25) but does not receive a kingdom. Instead a prince of Rome destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and then goes on to enjoy power through cooperation between 'the Woman and the Beast' over the next 1950+ years.
But Daniel was not discouraged. He had already been told in Daniel chapters 2, 7,8, and now in Daniel 9:24 that 'Messiah the Prince' would ultimately prevail at the end of the 70th Week.
Then in chapter 11, we find Daniel's final description of Roman Catholicism:
Then the king shall do according to his own will. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods (Jesus Christ), and shall prosper until the wrath (against Israel) has been accomplished. For what has been determined shall be done.
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 11:36-39
FORBIDDING TO MARRY
One of the traits of Roman Catholicism is seen in a verse above:
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. Daniel 11:37
Forbidding its leaders (priests and nuns) to marry has long been the policy of the RCC. Even though Rome claims that Peter is the founding apostle of the RCC, and Peter was married from the moment he met Jesus until late in his life (Matt 8:14, 1 Cor 9:5), Rome insists upon celibacy for priests and nuns.
Rome wants Peter as its founder because it claims Peter's apostolic authority for itself (Matthew 16:17-19). And Rome also prefers Peter because Paul had some things to say that are not flattering to Rome:
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
Paul's words describe one of the false doctrines of Rome. While Paul told Christians that they might be happier and more effective servants to the Lord if they remained single, he also told them that marriage was an honorable thing; that they would not be sinning if they married (1 Corinthians 7, see also Hebrews 13:4).
But what's really important to recognize is that success in marriage and parenting was one of Paul's qualifications for leadership in the church. In a letter to Timothy Paul instructed that bishops and deacons should be married to one wife, and should demonstrate capable parenting and leadership in the home, as qualifications 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 be the husbands of one wife , ruling their children and their own houses well .
1 Timothy 3:1-5,12
THE PROBLEM WITH CELIBACY
Paul's question is logical. How can a man lead a church comprised of everyday people, if he himself does not know how to lead a family and administer a home? But Rome has rejected the words of Paul, and has decided that all of its priests and nuns must be celibate.
One of the advantages of Rome's policy is that a single person can serve Rome with undivided attention, and is often willing and able to work for 'peanuts' in exchange for the prestige of his office and the promise of eternal life. When a single person is working for you, you don't have to pay a wage adequate to support a wife and children. The requirement of celibacy has provided vast amounts of cheap, dedicated labor for Rome down through the centuries.
But Rome's exclusion of the only God-approved exercise of human sexuality, has limited its recruiting to a set of people willing to find their fulfillment outside of marriage. And this has insured sexual perversity within the RCC.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHILD ABUSE
One of Rome's primary recruitment techniques is 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 Catholic Church membership. And this approach is consistent with the wisdom 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
Given this emphasis upon winning the trust and confidence of children, it is not surprising that child abuse has flourished in the RCC. When your recruitment requirements are
There are 'conservative 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'.
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 regarding marriage for its priests and nuns, Rome has covered up its child abuse and refused to clean its house. For this very reason the fornication that God attributes to Rome in Revelation 17 must consist of much more than 'spiritual prostitution'; selling its political support for financial gain. Rome's fornication is also the promotion (despite Rome's pretense of reverence for the virgin Mary) of every conceivable kind of sexual activity found outside of heterosexual marriage.
In reality, Rome's sexual abuse of children is simply the 'tip of the iceberg'. It's 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 by personal prayer, Rome insists that they must come to Rome. By taking this stance, Roman Catholics are
Seen in this light it is easier to understand how Roman Catholic priests, who lie to children about God's way to forgiveness and eternal life, might have little hesitation about sexually abusing them as well. They fulfill the words of the apostle Paul:
Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:2
Thus it is easy to understand God's description of Rome's final end:
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 their condemnation will be 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 contradicted the Bible and steered people away from a direct relationship with Him. 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!
PAUL'S 'MAN OF SIN'
The apostle Paul wrote about someone whom he called 'the man of sin'. I do not believe that Paul was writing about a single man. I believe that he was writing about a class of men; the Roman Catholic priesthood:
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
Paul's words are very similar to Daniel's words:
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 . Daniel 11:37
By stealing the three divine 'offices' of Jesus Christ (
Secondly Rome's priests claim
Thirdly Rome's priests claim
Rome's priests make one mistake. They have copied the Old Testament Levitical priesthood, when God says that the new priesthood of Jesus Christ has replaced that old, inadequate 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 important difference between Israel 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
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. 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 people who are seeking eternal life:
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
God commands people to come out of the Roman Catholic Church, and to separate themselves from it. And His commandment is accompanied by a stern warning; that if they do not do this, they will partake of God's judgment upon Rome.
Christians must reject Rome,
Only Jesus, the Son of God, has entered His Father's Temple in heaven, there to present His own blood before the Father for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus
Most Christian denominations practice 'communion' with bread and wine. They eat it as a
Rome even hangs its bread up in the open, in something called a 'Monstrance', and encourages church members to worship it as though they were looking at the Son of God Himself. Rome's handling of the Lord's Supper, which Jesus instituted shortly before His death, is worse than unbiblical:
When Christians attend Roman Catholic churches, and especially when they partake of the Roman Catholic Mass, they are telling those around them (and everyone else whom they know) that Rome's Mass is harmless.
When we do this, we leave other people in the dark; including Roman Catholic people themselves. And God says He will hold us accountable for this. He is
KNOWING CHRIST
The old Mosaic system is described in both the old and new testaments as the 'old covenant'. But in both Jeremiah and the book of Hebrews God describes His 'new covenant':
"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; which covenant 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
The thing that now characterizes Christ's 'new covenant' is that every genuine Christian has a direct, personal relationship with Him. There is no longer a priesthood that stands between the Christian and God. To be a Christian is to know Christ. Now God speaks directly to the Christian through the Bible and through the Holy Spirit. And the Christian speaks directly to God through prayer.
It is a mystical relationship that the Christian now has with God while in this world. Jesus likened it to hearing and feeling the wind, but not being able to see it:
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it. But you cannot tell where it comes from and were it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8
That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found unto praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen , you love . Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-8
Not every one that says to me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, you that work iniquity'.
Matthew 7:21-23
My sheep hear My voice, and I KNOW THEM, and they follow Me.
John 10:27
And this is eternal life, THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels; in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who DO NOT KNOW GOD, and that do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
How can we know Christ? By using God's appointed 'means of grace'; Bible reading and prayer. We can begin to pursue a direct relationship with Jesus Christ by hearing what He wants to say to us in His word:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
Jesus is truly revealed and known through the Bible; especially in the four gospels of the New Testament. And we can speak directly to Him through prayer. Though it takes some effort, and may take some time, this is the only way to draw nearer to God, and to truly know Him "in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). The Holy Spirit can use the Bible in a powerful, supernatural way to impact our hearts and minds. The word of God is called the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). And God tells us that it is...
...living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword; piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow. And it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
GOD SAYS THAT WE MUST COME DIRECTLY TO HIS SON
ROME SAYS THAT WE MUST COME TO ROME
This is why Paul calls the Roman Catholic priesthood '
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. First I would have him consider what God has said about Rome's lavishing of wealth upon its false god:
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
Secondly I would invite my visitor to consider the Pharisees of Jesus' day. I would particularly direct him to Jesus' description of the Pharisees, and His condemnation of them. Jesus' words are a perfect description of Rome.
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 love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and 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! For you are like unto white sepulchers (tombs). Which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 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
"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
Another thing that Jesus condemned about the Pharisees was their substitution of human traditions for the word of God (Matthew 15:1-9, Mark 7:1-13, Colossians 2:8). This also describes Rome. Rome tells people that its traditions are are handed down from the apostles, and therefore carry apostolic authority. But God encourages us to examine those who call themselves apostles:
Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying "This people draws near unto Me with their mouth, and honor 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 15:6-9
For such are FALSE APOSTLES , deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel. For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And YOU HAVE TESTED THOSE WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE APOSTLES , but are not; and have found them liars. Revelation 2:2
In Jesus' day the Pharisees were so highly respected and had such a stranglehold on Jewish life, that if they kicked someone out of the synagogue it was like a death sentence. It was an exclusion from society. Nobody wanted to tangle with the Pharisees.
Rome has exercised that same power for centuries, terrifying people with threats of excommunication from both the church and society (along with the financial ruin that this can bring). Further threats have included torture, death and eternal damnation. How can someone overcome such terror? Only with the help of God, and by getting a Bible and reading it. The 'disinfecting sunshine' of God's word is the thing that the RCC fears most.