Extent of Antichrist's Reign 

 

Fifteen proofs Antichrist will not reign over America or be a worldwide dictator: 

 

1. Four statements in Rev. 13 have led some to believe that Antichrist will literally rule the whole world and cause every man on earth to take a mark or be killed. They are: 

 

(1) Power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations (Rev. 13:7) 

 

(2) All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (except Christians, Rev. 13:8) 

 

(3) He causeth all, both small and great ... to receive a mark (Rev. 13:16) 

 

(4) No man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, name, or number (Rev. 13:17). On the surface it might seem that these statements prove Antichrist will be a world ruler, killing all on earth who do not take his mark, name, or number. But, the contrary is true because "all" in these passages is simply a figure of speech -- synecdoche -- in which a whole is put for a part, as we would say, "Everyone in town," or "the whole country." If the United States would make a law that "all men" of all nations, and tongues must register on a certain day or be killed, we would naturally understand the law to apply only to all people of all nations and tongues who are under the government of the United States, not to the people of these nations and tongues who are under other governments. The word "all" is used in a limited sense hundreds of times in Scriptures (Gen. 6:17; Josh. 6:21-25; 2Sam. 6:5,15; 1Ki. 11:16-17; Mt. 3:5-6; Lk. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:8; 10:18; Col. 1:23; etc.). 

 

2. Such terms as in Rev. 13 have been used of other rulers and kingdoms who did not literally rule the whole world. It was said of Nebuchadnezzar -- Wheresoever the children of men dwell ... hath made thee ruler over them ALL (Dan. 2:38). Of Greece -- Which shall bear rule over ALL the earth (Dan. 2:39). Of Rome -- Shall devour the WHOLE earth (Dan. 7:23-24). None of these kingdoms ruled the whole world. 

 

3. Rev. 13 itself limits the kingdom of Antichrist to the 10 kingdoms that are yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territory (Dan. 7:23-24). The beast has only 10 horns, not 65, plainly teaching that a limited part of the earth will be under Antichrist (Rev. 13:1; 17:12-17). 

 

4. Rev. 17:8-17 also limits the kingdom of Antichrist to the 10 kingdoms -- the 10 horns ... are 10 kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, but received power as kings with the beast ... these shall give their kingdom unto the beast. 

 

5. In Dan. 7:7-8,23-24 we have the definite location of the future 10 kingdoms. They are to be inside (out of), not outside the old Roman Empire territory. America and many other lands were never a part of the old Roman Empire, so they will not be a part of the 10 kingdoms to be formed in the last days inside that empire. No country outside the 10 kingdoms will be ruled by Antichrist and no mark of the beast will be forced upon any man outside the kingdom of Antichrist. 

 

6. In Dan. 9:27; 11:40-45 Antichrist breaks his 7-year covenant with Israel and takes over Palestine and many other countries, "but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon," which would be modern Jordan and Arabia. If these countries escape Antichrist, these on the border of Palestine which does not escape him, then it is surely conceivable that many countries across the vast oceans will also escape him. 

 

7. The nation of Israel escapes the Antichrist arriving safe in the wilderness of Edom and Moab where they are protected of God for 3 1/2 years, or during the time the whole world is supposed to be taking the mark of the beast (see pt. 10, The Sun-Clothed Woman) 

 

8. In Dan. 11:44-45 it is stated that the countries north and east of the 10 kingdoms under Antichrist will make war on him. These countries too, then, are not ruled by him and are and are not therefore forced to take the mark. 

 

9. In Rev. 16:13-16 we have 3 unclean spirits like frogs going forth working miracles through ambassadors thus seeking the cooperation of many nations to help Antichrist against Jesus Christ at Armageddon. These will not have been conquered by him or be under him or they would not have to be persuaded to help him at Armageddon. If he ruled them and they loved him enough to worship him and take his mark, such demonic ministries would be unnecessary. 

 

10. In Rev. 13:4 we have proof that there are nations whom the Antichrist has not conquered. If there were no nations who were not under him it would be foolish to raise the question about who can conquer him. 

 

11. In Rev. 14:9-11 it is stated that every man who does take the mark of the beast, or his name, or the number of his name, will be sent to eternal hell without exception. If, as some teach today, Antichrist will kill every man who does not take the mark of the beast, and if, as stated here, every man who does take it will be sent to eternal hell, there will not be one person left on earth to populate it in the Millennium and the New Earth. Thus, such a doctrine as Antichrist killing all on earth who do not take his mark and worship him is literally untrue. 

 

12. The truth is that Antichrist will make a law that all in his 10 kingdoms must worship him and take his mark, but the law will not and cannot be literally enforced in such a vast territory in as short a time as 3 1/2 years. It would be impossible for one human Antichrist to contact every man in the whole world and to see that every man is killed who does not take his mark. To say that, he could be virtually teaching that one man can do more in 3 1/2 years than what God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, and all the redeemed people of over 1,900 years have been able to do. The gospel has been preached that long and still multiplied millions of people on earth have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. How could a new doctrine and a new religion of the beast be made known to all the world in 3 1/2 years? One reason why Antichrist cannot enforce such a law even inside the Roman Empire territory in 3 1/2 years is because of the wars between his 10 kingdoms and the many nations north and east of his empire (Dan. 11:44). These wars will keep him so occupied that he will not be able to pay full attention to the enforcement of his religious laws. Then, too, there will no doubt be ways of avoiding such laws in certain localities as there are concerning any other manmade law. Local officials, money, bribery, and many other things will enable some in his kingdom to escape literal compliance to such a law. Guerrilla warfare against Antichrist can be carried on in all parts of his kingdom, making it impossible to enforce such a law literally. Antichrist will come and go without millions of people in various parts of the earth knowing that he ever existed. This is true of Jesus Christ, and it will be true of Antichrist. Many peoples in the interior of certain lands do not yet know that there have been two world wars in a generation. Many do not know we have automobiles, airplanes, etc. The Bible teaches that in the Millennium Christ will be reigning in Jerusalem for some time before His agents contact certain peoples on earth and seek to bring them under His government (Isa. 2:2-4; 40:9; 52:7; 61:6; 66:18-21; Zech. 8:23; 14:16-21). So it will be in the days of Antichrist. 

 

13. In Zech. 14:16-21 it is clear that many from every nation, even those that are under Antichrist, will be left alive on the earth in the Millennium. These will not take the mark of the beast. If so, they would be sent to eternal hell by Christ at His second coming. Since they are left to enter the Millennium, it is proof that every man on earth will not take the mark or be killed. For example, Egypt is spoken of in Dan. 11:40-45 as not escaping the Antichrist, but we find Egyptians left to enter the Millennium in Zech. 14:16-21. So it will be with many people of all the nations under Antichrist. Some will not take the mark or obey his law and yet escape death by him. Multitudes will be killed, but not all (Rev. 7:9-11; 14:13; 15:2-4; 16:2; 20:4-6). 

 

14. In Mt. 25:31-46 we read of many of all nations that are called blessed of My Father who will inherit the millennial and eternal kingdom. These people will not take the mark of the beast or they would be sent to eternal hell, as stated in Rev. 14:9-11. The basis of the judgment of the nations here is their treatment of Israel. Such kind treatment of Israel could not be possible on the part of any nation if all were directly controlled by Antichrist. 

 

15. The remnant of the woman in Rev. 12:17 escape the mark of the beast and the worship of Antichrist. This is made possible by new wars in the north and east of his kingdom, forcing him to let them alone for the time being so as to conquer these new enemies. The ministry of the two witnesses helps protect them the last 3 1/2 years. Then when Antichrist conquers his enemies after nearly 3 1/2 years of war he gathers his forces against the Jews to destroy them. He is defeated by Jesus Christ at Armageddon before he even takes all of Jerusalem, which by some means has been suddenly delivered from Antichrist and is back in Jewish hands (Zech. 14:14-15). 

 

Thus, we conclude that Antichrist will not rule America or be a worldwide dictator; that his kingdom will be limited to the old Roman Empire territory during the time he seeks to enforce the new beast worship; that he will be in constant wars with other nations during the whole 7 years he is here (Dan. 7:23-24; 9:27; 11:36-45); that multitudes of all nations will escape the mark of the beast and his worship; and that Antichrist will be defeated by Christ before he conquers all of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and all other parts of the world. 

Dake's Annotated Reference Bible.   (Rev. 13:16)

It Never Had to Be

 As we hear the news everyday about what is happening in Israel, and terrorist groups determined to rid the world of the country of Israel, we often ask ourselves "WHY".  We look thru history, the destruction of  Jerusalem in 70AD by Titus, the disbursal all over the world of Jews.  We see the Spanish Inquisition,  Hitlers Holocaust, and others! We have to wonder.  Is it just bad luck?  Or is there more to it? There is definitely a pattern of evil.  Satan wants to rid the earth of Gods chosen people... some of the scriptures that come to mind are Jesus trial in front of Pontius Pilate.  Mk 15:6-14, Lk 23:13-25, Jn 18:39-40, but most poignant of all is the account in the Gospel of Matt.

 Matthew 27:20-25 (KJV)

²⁰  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
²¹  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
²²  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him,  washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to Let him be crucified.
²³  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
²⁴  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
²⁵  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 

 Has Israel called a curse upon themselves for the past 2000 years? Israel still has to go through Daniels 70th week. Dan 9:24-27, Jacobs Trouble. Jer. 30:7

The Holy Spirit gave Patti a poem. It was on her lips this morning when she woke up.  It's called "Oh Jerusalem"

Oh Jerusalem!

Oh Jerusalem, your waters are troubled once again. Your rejection comes with a price. Oh Jerusalem, return to the altar so that you might live twice.

Oh Jerusalem, your land is holy.  It was given to you by God.  Christ once calmed your waters and walked upon your sea.  He calmed the storm.  Jerusalem, accept his divine offer, for there is total safety in His loving and powerful arms.

Oh Jerusalem, your Messiah is not coming, He already is here.  He still calls to you from the wilderness.  He is waiting for you to hear.  His love for you is precious, it was meant for you alone.  Oh Jerusalem, you turned from him and found yourself far from home.

Please dear Jerusalem, yours is the one true and holy God, and He has called you His own since the beginning of time.  He brought you the Messiah you prayed for, but your rejection finds you alone.  Rejection keeps you unsettled even though He: restored your home.

Oh Jerusalem, your Messiah stands with the Father as you amass once again for war.  Never peace, never rest, no true allies approach your shore.  This was never meant to be, oh Zion!  You were meant to prosper and do well-but because of your rejection, you are poised once again on the brink of hell!

But Jerusalem, take heart for he you sent away has truly never been lost.  Know that you will be scattered once again and forced to flee.  Satan will drive you and into Jordan you will flee lest you forever will cease to be.

But look up oh Zion, for your redemption returns from on high.  From east to west with a trumpet and a shout, all will look to the sky.  They will witness your Messiah.  And those of us that accepted Him first will return with Him and his mighty warring angels to form his Holy Army, in order to set you eternally free.  

Weep for now oh Jerusalem, for none of this had to be!

As we get closer to the coming of Christ, we can understand more in depth what is happening to the home of Gods People.

Church at Pergamos

In the 2nd Chapter of Revelation, we have the letters to the Churches.  Many teachers and preachers just zip on past the letters to the churches and go right to the time after the churches. (Rev 4:1) But I feel these letters are very important to see what the church will be like in the end times.  

The Church at Pergamos is a prime example.  Of the praise and admonishment it receives in Revelation 2:14-17 (KJV)

¹⁴  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
¹⁵  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
¹⁶  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
¹⁷  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I'd like to mention first off verse 15, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.  Most of us know the Roman Church hierarchy is set up this way, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc.  Jesus hates this.

Even some protestant denominations also have their bishops.  TD Jakes stands out as one person calling himself a bishop. Jimmy Swaggart in his book "The Prophesies and Symbols of Revelation" on page 20, states that these individuals were followers of Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:5).  This man is supposed to have given his name to a group in the early church who sought to work out a compromise with paganism, to enable Christians to take part without embarrassment in some of the social and religious activities of the close-knit society in which they found themselves.  The Lord told this church to "Repent; or else" (Rev.2;16)."

The Doctrine of Balaam answered on this link: What is the doctrine of Balaam? |  https://www.gotquestions.org/doctrine-of-Balaam.html.

In a nut shell, King Balak of Moab offered Balaam money to curse Israel.  Balaam leads a campaign of seduction against them.  

Other scriptures describing the wickedness of this doctrine:

2 Peter 2:15 (KJV)
¹⁵  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Jude 1:10-11 (KJV)
¹⁰  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
¹¹  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

There is a Lutheran Church in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Martin Luther would be rolling in his grave if he knew what was happening in some of these churches.  This church, led by  Pastor Anna Helgen and written by Rev. Rachel-Small Stokes recite what she calls the "Sparkle Creed".  This was a Facebook post, I didn't make it up.

I believe in the non-binary God whose pronouns are plural.

I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads, and who saw everyone as a sibling child of God.

I believe in the rainbow Spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity.

I believe in the church of everyday saints, as numerous, creative and resilient as patches on the AIDS quilt, whose feet are grounded in mud and whose eyes gaze at the stars in Wonder.

I believe in the calling to each of us, that love is love is love, so beloved, let us love.

I believe, glorious God.  Help my unbelief. 

I have no words to describe this... Have a great week...... Dave

   

 

MIDEAST BEAST

First of all, I have to apologize for being so inactive on this blog for the last year.  Patti was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall.  This past year has been very overwhelming for both of us, although Patti was allergic to chemo-therapy, the Lord gave her divine healing, and she is now cancer free.  I’ll let her tell you about her miracle in another blog.  As a cancer survivor, she still has a few lower dose treatments, and follow up.  God is faithful.

 I have just completed a very interesting book.  The book is entitled “MIDEAST BEAST” and the author is Joel Richardson.  According to the cover, it is “The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist”.  This book is a somewhat sequel to his earlier book entitled “THE ISLAMIC ANTICHIST” where he endeavors to prove that our antichrist and the Muslim Mahdi are the same person.   To be honest, I was pretty skeptical when I first started reading.  I first heard about the Roman antichrist in 1972 when I read Hal Lindsey’s book. “THE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH”.  But being a student of Dake, and studying Daniel 11:40 (KJV) ⁴⁰  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.,  we learn that the anti-christ comes from the Syrian division of the Grecian Empire.  He endeavored to prove thru scripture that the 4th empire of the statue in Daniel 2, “the legs of iron”, is not Rome that most modern bible teachers teach, but in fact the Islamic Caliphate.  He goes on to say that the mixture of iron and clay that can’t mix is the Shite and Sunni branches of Islam, who have been killing each other for many centuries. 

I digress here, I don’t mean to get off on a tangent, but the historical and scriptural proof that Richardson brings to light is quite impressive.  But I noticed a couple of obvious scriptures that he had to have purposely overlooked, because they go against what he is trying to prove. Revelation 17:10 (KJV) ¹⁰  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.   The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John in about 95 AD.  The 6^th kingdom at the time was Rome.  The Islamic Caliphate won’t come around for another couple hundred years.

 He also ignores the Whore of Babylon in Revelation 17.  He is trying to prove that the religion of the anti-christ is Islam, but it is obvious from this "Mystery Babylon" portrayed by the harlot riding seven empires, not just the one.   Revelation 17:6 (KJV) ⁶  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. I get from this verse, that the harlot is a religion, and I firmly believe that the persecution of Israel and the Saints in the the first 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation will be from Islam, and or some form such as Chrislam...a mix of Islam and Christianity that some of the most popular evangelists are working towards these days.  But this verse, Revelation 17:15-17 (KJV) ¹⁵  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
¹⁷  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.   We read from this scripture that the harlot, whether it's Islam, Chrislam or  New Age, wil be destroyed to set up beast worship.…Revelation 13:11-15 (KJV) ¹¹  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
¹²  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
¹³  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
¹⁴  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
¹⁵  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. This beast worship sounds much more than just Islam. Richardson minimizes these verses on page 135.  “These verses in Rev 13 that state that the Antichrist will receive worship could simply indicate that the people of the earth will display utter submission to him and his empire.”  Come on Joel…give me a break here.  On page 50 you discuss the term "hyper allegorical approach" to identifying Israel's ancient enemies, aren't you doing basically the same thing here trying to explain away these scriptures?   This is much more than a middle east religion.                                                               

Revelation 13:3 (KJV) ³  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.  Richardson somehow misses the fact that nations are controlled by very powerful princes, fallen angels and good angels.  (Study Daniel 10).  Daniel learns of the Prince of Persia, and Michael, Israel's prince. Richardson indicates that it is not the Prince of Grecia, but the whole empire will be resurrected from the abyss to form the 8^th empire… wait a minute, how can an empire be sent to the abyss?  ( See pages 154 and 155 of his book).    

Richardson also goes on to discuss the “Manchild” in the Book of Revelation is Jesus, (page 164)  not the 144,000, the 1^st fruits of Israel.  Finis Dake proves in his book ,”REVELATION EXPOUNDED”,  that the 144,000 is the “Manchild”, but y’all need to read Dakes book to find the answer…it’s too deep to portray here.     I could ‘copy and paste’, but you’d all be pretty bored by the time you’d get thru it.  It’s like 3 chapters of proof.  Very detailed. 

All in all though, Richardson does a great job in his exposition of Ezek 38 and 39, proving that the so-called “War of Gog and Magog” is the same war portrayed in Revelation as “Armeggedon”.  John Hagee and Perry Stone will disagree vehemently here, but   “Oh well” as my boys used to say.   Sorry to say Mr. Hagee, the president of Russia is not the anti-christ..   Richardson also does a great  job discussing  “hyperbole”  in proving that the 10 kingdoms of the anti-christ won’t be global. 

So in conclusion, even though Richardson comes up with a few details that are diametrically opposed to what is written in the “Word”, I would still have to recommend this book to everyone, not just the students of eschatology.   It is truly a book worth reading.  I’m reading it for the 3^rd time.…  Dave Theisen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

NEPHILIM, ALIENS, AND SCI-FI

Dave Theisen

After perusing (lightly) thru a pile of books all having the word “alien, or nephilim” in the title, out of curiousity I decided to do a word search on Amazon.com just to see how many times the word “nephilim” would come up.  Wow!!!  1,732 times, whether these are all titles or other things, you will have to look for yourself.  Don’t take my word for it.  Regardless, I came to the conclusion that this equates to a very large chunk of cash.   As with all the other heresy we read about daily in the Apologetics Ministry, I realized long ago, that this is why these authors and teachers are producing all this junk.  It’s not about saving souls, it’s about getting rich.  I was talking to an author down here in Austin, Texas a while back.  He says, “I don’t want to go in the rapture yet, I just wrote a book”.  Perhaps he was more prophetic than I thought.
 
From the gist of things they take the scripture from (Mt 24:37) and Luke 17:26 (NIV) ²⁶ "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.   These authors run with this scripture to mean as the days of Noah, these end time days will again have giant’s.  This scripture is explained pretty clearly by the very next scripture.  Luke 17:27 (NIV) ²⁷ People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It basically says people were doing their own thing, minding their own business, and “whammo”, they were destroyed.  No mention of aliens or giants here.  As a matter of fact, Tom Horn, John Klein, Randy DeMain, Chuck Missler and all the others never really try to explain away these scriptures, 2 Peter 2:4 (KJV) ⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; or Jude 1:6 (KJV) ⁶ And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  Are these guys saying a bunch more angels after seeing what happened to the last bunch of angels who messed with human women are going to get on the “band wagon”, and take their chances??  I think not. 

One author points out that these Nephilim demons will be extremely evil during the end times.  I point out, aren’t demons just demons?  Aren’t all demons Nephilim?   Correct me if I’m wrong. We have an account in Revelation 9 where demon locusts and 200 million demon horseman are released out of the abyss onto mankind during the tribulation… oh yes, I almost forgot, it was suggested by one author in the 1970’s that these demon locusts could be Cobra helicopters with their stingers, miniguns.  My question to come to mind is “what did these helicopters do that they were put into the abyss in the first place, and who put them there?

Patti will be writing a much more in depth study of these books, and a  blog will be forthcoming.    Right now she is studying “Nephilim Agenda”, by Randy Demain.  In the meantime I’d like to point out some other scriptures I’m sure all these “false teachers” and “false prophets” like to ignore.  It’s the verses precisely before the one quoted above by Peter talking about the result of those angels co-habitating with human women.  2 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV) ¹ But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. This to me is a good indication to what is going on in Christian literature these days. 

The Gospel they are teaching is a far-cry from the one Paul preached.  1 Corinthians 1:23 (KJV) ²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

I enjoy a good Sci-Fi novel as much as the next person, I also enjoyed reading the “Book of Enoch”, the “Book of Jasher”, and the “Book of Jubilees”, but I wouldn’t turn to any one of those books as far as my salvation is concerned.

….Dave

The Roman Church vs. The Bible

Before getting into this article, I’d like to tell you all that my background is Roman Catholic.  Before I got saved I spent over 50 years sitting in the pew.  I never considered myself a “good Catholic”.  I went to parochial grade school for my first eight years of my education, and every morning would be at Mass.   I never did believe in most of the doctrine the nuns and priests tried to teach us kids.  I absolutely never believed in the dogma of “transubstantiation”.  I quote from “Revelation Expounded” by Finis Dake.  “The dogma of transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III in the year 1215 A.D. By this doctrine the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Christ, and then he pretends to eat Him alive in the presence of his people during Mass. The gospel condemns such absurdities; for the Holy Communion is simply a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ, Lk. 22:19, 20; Jn. 6:35; 1 Cor. 11:26.”(1)  ( End of quote).  When I got married, I made a promise to the priest I’d raise my children Catholic.  That I did do, one boy is now a Pentecostal, and my oldest son I think is still Catholic.  My brothers and sisters all still claim to be Catholic. 

I got the following information from the Vatican’s web site. (2)  The following points from the Catholic Catechism conclude that the Bible is definitely the true written Word of God.   But that’s about where it ends, because much of the doctrines of the Roman church, and their Canon Law, and traditions of men are diametrically opposed to what is written in the bible.   One priest up in North Idaho where my family attended Mass for a long time, taught the bible was just allegorical stories, his sister who was a nun in a discussion thought that the anti-christ in the Book of Revelation was Nero, and all this end-time stuff already happened with the early Christians.  I didn’t know the Bible at all back then (I was Catholic) to let her know that the Revelation of Jesus didn’t happen until Nero was dead some 40 years.

• Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE
• II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture

§  105 God is the author of Sacred Scripture. "The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit."⁶⁹

§  "For Holy Mother Church, relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author, and have been handed on as such to the Church herself."⁷⁰

§  106 God inspired the human authors of the sacred books. "To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more."⁷¹

§  107 The inspired books teach the truth. "Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures."⁷²

Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE

• IN BRIEF

§  135 "The Sacred Scriptures contain the Word of God and, because they are inspired, they are truly the Word of God" (DV 24).

§  136 God is the author of Sacred Scripture because he inspired its human authors; he acts in them and by means of them. He thus gives assurance that their writings teach without error his saving truth (cf DV 11).

§  137 Interpretation of the inspired Scripture must be attentive above all to what God wants to reveal through the sacred authors for our salvation. What comes from the Spirit is not fully "understood except by the Spirit's action' (cf. Origen, Hom. in Ex. 4, 5: PG 12, 320).

We just read quotes from the Catechism that confirms basically that the Bible is the true written Word of God.  But if we continue reading in the Catechism, in Section 2, Chapter 1, we read: 

^§    1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),⁴ and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."⁵

We just read that we must have water baptism for salvation.  I don’t remember reading in the Bible that Jesus got down off the cross to water baptize the criminal on the cross next to him.  He assured him that “today he would be with him in paradise”.  Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.  The Bible teaches that we are saved thru faith in what Christ did at the cross, and not thru works.

§  78 This living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, "the Church, in her doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes."³⁷ "The sayings of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing how its riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her prayer."³⁸

Traditions of religion was condemned by Jesus Himself: Matthew 15:1-9 (KJV) Mark 7:7-9 (KJV) ⁷ Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. ⁹ And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

The Council of Trent held in the year 1545 declared that tradition is of equal authority with the Bible.  (3)  In the Book of Revelation, Jesus warns of changing scripture : Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV) ¹⁸ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Some teach that this only means the Book of Revelation, well no, it means the whole Bible.  The Roman church has done nothing but change scripture to accommodate their own teachings.  Case in point, the Roman Church has changed the 10 Commandments as written in the Bible.  They have removed the 2^nd commandment as written in the Book of Deut 5:8 (KJV)
⁸ Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:  and replaced it with a redundant commandment about not coveting your neighbors wife.  This allowed the church to continue with worshipping all the statues of the saints, especially images of Mary.

II. The Precepts of the Church

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. the obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.") requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord.⁸²

The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.⁸³

The third precept (“You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.⁸⁴

2043 The fourth precept (“You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.") completes the Sunday observance by participation in the principal liturgical feasts which honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.⁸⁵

The fifth precept (“You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.⁸⁶

Let’s consider the 4^th precept, most of these “Days of Obligation” has to do with honoring, or worshipping Mary, which the 1^st Commandment condemns.  Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJV) ⁷ Thou shalt have none other gods before me.  Mary herself, in her own words was in need of salvation.Luke 1:46-49 (KJV) ⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, ⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

"The Council of Trent pronounced the anathema (curse) more than 100 times upon those who accepted the beliefs of the Reformers;  Vatican II reconfirmed those anathemas and added one of its own; and thus Roman Catholicism damns to eternal hell all evangelical Christians today.”    (4)  Yet what is so incredible when reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the parts I wrote earlier about the bible being the true Word justify what Protestant reformers such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley and others tried to establish.  Because of their beliefs, which are now similar to parts of the Catechism, they were anathematized, or cursed by several Councils of the Catholic Church.  

As incredible as that all sounds, just wait, there’s more.  This will knock your socks off.  It sounds to me in Canon 30 of the Council of Trent, that they curse none other than St. Paul himself, or possibly even blaspheme the Holy Spirit, which is the one unforgiveable sin.   “If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema.” (5)    Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit writes in his letter to the Romans 5:8-10 (KJV) ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

What I have given here is just a small portion of what the Roman Church teaches that does not line up with the Bible, that they themselves say is the “inspired Word of God”.  Doctrines of man, and traditions of man, never do.  In the notes at the end I have provided a direct computer link to the Vatican web site, one for the Catechism and one link to the Canon.   All you Catholics and people considering Catholicism as your denomination need to read the Canon just to see what you’ll be judged on at the “judgment of the nations”.  St. Paul points out in the 2^nd Chapter of Romans you’ll be judged according to the light you received.   Romans 2:11-16 (KJV) ¹¹ For there is no respect of persons with God. ¹² For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; ¹³ (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. ¹⁴ For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: ¹⁵ Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) ¹⁶ In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

I recommend reading the Book of Galatians, where it goes into detail that the “Law” (Mosaic Law) has been done away with.  So why would anyone want to go back into “law” whether it be Mosaic Law, or Canon Law?  We have all received our salvation thru the Cross and the work Jesus did at the Cross.  Salvation can never come thru religion.

At first I wasn’t going to add the following, but here are a list of 40 heresies adopted by the Roman Church over the centuries.  These are assembled by Finis Dake, and appear in his book “Revelation Expounded” which he wrote in 1926 and was updated in 1948.  So any possible changes resulting from Vatican II are not listed. 

LIST OF HERESIES

Adopted and perpetuated by the Roman Catholic Church in the course of 1,600 years

These dates are in many cases approximate. Many of these heresies had been current in the church years before, but only when they were officially adopted by a Church Council and proclaimed by the pope as dogma of faith did they become binding on Catholics.

At the Reformation in the sixteenth century these heresies were repudiated as having no part in the religion of Jesus as taught in the New Testament.

                (1) Of all the human inventions taught and practiced by the Roman Catholic Church, which are contrary to the Bible, the most ancient are the prayers for the dead and the sign of the cross. Both of these began 300 years after Christ.

(2) Wax candles were introduced in churches about 320 A.D.

(3) Veneration of angels and dead saints began about 375 A.D.

(4) The Mass as a daily celebration was adopted in 394 A.D.

(5) The worship of Mary the mother of Jesus and the use of the term “Mother of God” as applied to her originated about 381 A.D., but was first decreed in the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D.

(6) Priests began to dress differently from the laity in 500 A.D.

(7) The doctrine of purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great about the year 593 A.D.

(8) The Latin language as the language of prayer and worship in churches was also imposed by pope Gregory I in the year 600 A.D.

(9) The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone. In the primitive church never were prayers directed to Mary or to dead saints. This practice began in the Roman Church about 600 years after Christ.

(10) The papacy is of pagan origin. The title of pope, or universal bishop, was first given to the bishop of Rome about 600 A.D. Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and expressly forbade any such notion, Lk. 22:24-26; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 3:11.

(11) The kissing of the pope's feet began in the year 709 A.D. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God forbids such practices, Acts 10:25, 26; Rev. 19:10; 22:9.

(12) The temporal power of the popes began in the year 750 A.D. Jesus expressly forbade such a thing and He Himself refused worldly kingship, Mt. 4:8, 9; 20:25, 26; Jn. 18:36.

(13) Worship of the cross, images, and relics was authorized in 787 A.D. Such practice is called idolatry in the Bible, and is severely condemned, Ex. 20:2-6; Dt. 27:15; Ps. 115.

(14) Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the priest, was authorized in the year 850 A.D.

(15) The veneration of St. Joseph began in the year 890 A.D.

(16) The baptism of bells was instituted by pope John XIV in 965 A.D.

(17) Canonization of dead saints, first by pope John XV in 995 A.D. Every believer and follower of Christ is called “saint” in the Bible, Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2, etc.

(18) Fasting on Fridays and during Lent was imposed in the year 998 A.D. by popes said to be interested in the commerce of fish. See Mt. 15:11; 1 Cor. 10:25; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Col. 2:14-17; Rom. 14:1-23.

(19) The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice and attendance made obligatory in the eleventh century. The gospel teaches that the sacrifice of Christ was offered once and for all, and is not to be repeated, but only commemorated in the Lord's Supper, Heb. 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14.

(20) The celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by pope Hildebrand and Boniface VII in the year 1079 A.D. Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the contrary, Peter was a married man, and Paul says that bishops were to have a wife and children, 1 Tim. 3:2-5, 12; Mt. 8:14, 15.

(21) The rosary, or prayer beads, was introduced by Peter the Hermit in the year 1090 A.D. This was copied from Hindus and Mohammedans. The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ, Mt. 6:5-13.

(22) The inquisition of heretics was instituted by the Council of Verona in the year 1184 A.D. Jesus never taught the use of force to spread his religion.

(23) The sale of indulgences, commonly regarded as a purchase of forgiveness and a permit to indulge in sin, began in the year 1190 A.D. The Christian religion, as taught in the gospel, condemns such a traffic, and it was the protest against this traffic that brought on the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century.

(24) The dogma of transubstantiation was decreed by pope Innocent III in the year 1215 A.D. By this doctrine the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Christ, and then he pretends to eat Him alive in the presence of his people during Mass. The gospel condemns such absurdities; for the Holy Communion is simply a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ, Lk. 22:19, 20; Jn. 6:35; 1 Cor. 11:26.

(25) Confession of sins to the priest at least once a year was instituted by pope Innocent III in the Lateran Council, in the year 1215 A.D. The gospel commands us to confess our sins direct to God, Ps. 51; Isa. 1:18; Lk. 7:48; 15:21; 1 Jn. 1:8, 9.

(26) The adoration of the wafer (host) was invented by pope Honorius in 1220 A.D. So the Roman Church worships a god made by hands. This is plain idolatry and absolutely contrary to the spirit of the gospel, Jn. 4:24.

(27) The Bible was forbidden to laymen and placed in the index of forbidden books by the Council of Toledo in 1229 A.D. Jesus and Paul commanded that the Scriptures should be read by all, Jn. 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Tim. 2:15.

(28) The scapular was invented by Simon Stock, an English monk, in 1287 A.D. It is a piece of brown cloth, with the picture of the virgin and supposed to contain supernatural virtue to protect from all dangers those who wear it on naked skin. This is fetishism.

(29) The Roman Church forbade the cup to the laity, by instituting the communion of one kind in the Council of Constance in 1414 A.D. The gospel commands us to celebrate Holy Communion with bread and wine, Mt. 26:27; 1 Cor. 11:26-29.

(30) The doctrine of purgatory was proclaimed as a dogma of faith by the Council of Florence in 1439 A.D. There is not one word in the Bible that would teach the purgatory of priests. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sins, 1 Jn. 1:7-9; 2:1, 2; Jn. 5:24; Rom. 8:1.

(31) The doctrine of Seven Sacraments was affirmed in 1439 A.D. The gospel says that Christ instituted only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, Mt. 28:19, 20; 26:26-28.

(32) The Ave Maria, addition of part of the last half, in 1508 A.D. It was completed fifty years afterward and finally approved by pope Sixtus V, at the end of the sixteenth century.

(33) The Council of Trent held in the year 1545 declared that tradition is of equal authority with the Bible. By tradition is meant human teachings. The Pharisees believed the same way, and Jesus bitterly condemned them, for by human tradition they nullified the commandments of God, Mk. 7:7-13; Col. 2:8; Rev. 22:18.

(34) The apocryphal books were added to the Bible also by the Council of Trent in 1545. See Rev. 22:18-19.

(35) The creed of pope Pius IV, was imposed as the official creed in 1560. True Christians will retain the Holy Scriptures as their creed. Hence, their creed is 1,500 years older than the creed of Roman Catholics. See Gal. 1:8; Rev. 22:18, 19.

(36) The immaculate conception of the virgin Mary was proclaimed by pope Pius IX in the year 1854 A.D. The gospel states that all men, with the sole exception of Christ, are sinners. Mary herself had need of a Savior, Rom. 3:23; 5:12; Ps. 51:5; Lk. 1:30,46,47.

(37) In the year 1870 pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility.

(38) Pope Pius X, in the year 1907, condemned, together with “modernism,” all the discoveries of modern science which are not approved by the church. Pius IX had done the same thing in the syllabus of 1864.

(39) In the year 1930 Pius XI condemned the public schools.

(40) In the year 1931 the same pope Pius XI reaffirmed the doctrine that Mary is “the Mother of God.”

            This doctrine was first decreed by the Council of Ephesus in the year 431. This is a heresy contrary to Mary's own words, Lk. 1:46-49.

                 What will be the next invention? The Roman Church says it never changes; yet it has done nothing but invent new doctrines which are contrary to the Bible, and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken wholly from paganism. At least 95 per cent of the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Church are of pagan origin.

Cardinal Newman, in his book The Development of the Christian Religion admits that . . . “Temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and seasons of devotions, processions, blessing of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priests and monks and nuns) and images are all of pagan origin,” page 359.

The above chronological list of human inventions and “abominations” disproves the claim of the priests of the Roman Church that their religion was taught by Christ and that the popes have been the faithful custodians of that religion. (6)

David J Theisen

Endnotes:

[1]” Revelation Expounded”, Finis Dake, P252 #24

[2] Web page for Catechism   http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

[3] “Revelation Expounded” pg 253 #33

[4] Dave Hunt “A Woman Rides the Beast,” Harvest House Pub. 1994 pg 521

[5] Richard A Noll “When Catholics Die,” Olive Press, 1999, pg 73

[6] “Revelation Expounded” Pgs 250-254

[7] Vatican Web site for Canon Law http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM