A bible study by Mari Edgekoski-Hammond a,member of Faith bible church and leader of S.W.O.R.D.S of grace bible study group for women. For membership go to swordsofgrace to inquire for entry into the group. Roman Catholic Church We will look at Catholicism first, because I am most familiar with it, having been brought up in this religion of men from birth, and almost became a nun! Though I do think that there can be true believers in this religion, I also believe that they will eventually come out of this religion, if indeed they find and believe the truth of the word of God. I love Catholics. I love them because I once was one, and most of my family and so many friends are still Catholic. Just as Paul loved the Jews, because he was a Jew (Rom.9:3; 10:1)…I love the Catholics, because I was a Catholic. Growing up, Catholics were my countrymen, so to speak. It was rare to meet anyone in my young life who was not a Catholic. My neighbors, my teachers, my life as I knew it was filled with Catholics. They were my life in god as I knew a god then. However, you need to know, that Catholics who truly believe Catholic doctrine are not Christians. It is a counterfeit religion, and thereby a satanic religion, that captures men to worship “another Jesus” (IICor.11:4). Let’s take a look at the history of the Catholic religion, and how its pagan, man-made, anti-Biblical belief system developed. This is a study that I used to use in many an on-line discussion with Catholics, however I cannot take credit for it, and where necessary I have inserted right division, Scripture or comments where applicable, because I used this study at a time I did not know how to rightly divide. Roman Catholicism: Chronology plus Commentary The Roman Catholic Church has been around for about 1700 years. With each passing year, they continue to grow more apostate. They are not a Christian denomination, but instead could easily be categorized as a cult. In the Latin, the word “Vatican” means “Hill of Divination.” Actually, they are a cult of the virgin. Throughout history, heathen cultures have always been fascinated with the idea of a goddess. Let me list a few: Isis – Egypt Shing Moo – China Parameta – Hindu (many others also) Diana – Ephesians The Celestial Virgin – Blavatsky – New Age Mary – Roman Catholicism Ishtar – Babylon In the book of Jeremiah, God gives serious warning to those engaged in the cult of the goddesses. Let us look at four verses in Jeremiah which were written about 630 BC, which would place it about 1000 years before the Roman Catholic Church was started. At this point God was already warning those involved in this cult worship that they were under the judgment of God. (Jer 7:18 KJV) The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. (Jer 44:17-19 KJV) But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. {18} But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. {19} And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? (Jer 44:25 KJV) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. As we continue to read in these passages, we see the judgment that God decreed on Judah for their incessant desire to serve false goddesses instead of Jehovah God. Notice how God uses the term “queen of heaven” in these verses in His condemnation of this abominable practice. The Roman Catholics refer to Mary as queen of heaven. This is nothing but the perpetuation of that ancient heresy, and the continuation of cultic practices from ancient times. The modern practice is just as abominable as the Babylonian practice. The format of this essay will be simple. I will list the Roman Catholic practice, the year it was instituted and then give a verse of Scripture to see if the practice will stand under the eye of Scripture. 310 AD Prayers for the dead and the sign of the cross. The practice of prayers for the dead goes all the way back to our Lord’s day, when Israel’s apostate religious leaders would take a widow for all she had in exchange for a promise to pray for her dead husband (Mt.23:14). But God says prayers for the dead do no good, for: (Heb 9:27 KJV) It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 375 AD Veneration of angels and deceased saints began. (Matthew 4:10) Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve (Psa 29:2 KJV) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Also: Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 394 AD The sacrifice of the mass was instituted. (Heb 10:11-12 KJV) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: {12} But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Also: Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 432 AD The worship of Mary is instituted. The term “Mother of God” originated at the council of Ephesus and was bestowed upon Mary. Rome claims she was sinless, but Mary talked about having a Saviour (Luke 1:47), and only sinners need a Savior! Mary is looked upon as a co-mediator between God and men, but God says: (1 Tim 2:5 KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (Isa 45:5 KJV) I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 500 AD Priests began to dress differently from the laity thus putting on a religious exterior. The Lord warned about this when He derided the scribes of His day, saying (Luke 20:46) Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes… There is also this warning: (Rev 2:6 KJV) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The word “Nicolaitans” comes from two Greek words “nikao” which means “conqueror” and “laos” which means “people.” When the two words are combined, it means “conqueror of the people.” God hates this error because the clergy have built themselves into a self-appointed elitist class with the belief that the people in the pews are dumb and that they must do all their thinking for them. NOTE…They began to separate themselves from the people to give them more power over the people. In this way the clergy conquer the people by conquering their mind. The Catholic Priests have absolute mind domination over the naive Catholics in the pews. How else could they instill belief in the people that they can forgive sins and cause the eucharistic elements to turn into the actual blood and body of Christ? Priests believe that they call Jesus Christ down from heaven into the host, body, soul and spirit. Hair, teeth, eyes, all of Him to be sacrificed a hundred thousand or more times a day around the world. And still they believe that you will suffer for any sin for an undetermined amount of time in Purgatory, which is the same as hell, just not for eternity. They believe that His sacrifice was not enough to save you, but you must by your deeds and sacraments…also have a part in your own salvation. It is evil, and it is dark. 593 AD The doctrine of Purgatory was adopted. The dictionary defines “purgatory” as “a place of purging.” But speaking of Christ, God says: (Hebrews 1:3) Who…when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 9:27 KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: NOTE: Catholics believe that the death of Christ, burial and resurrection is not enough to save you. That once you have believed, any sin you commit after that must be paid for by you. There are many ways you can supposedly pay for these sins. Novenas…rosaries, joining different Catholic groups such as the Blue Army…dedicated to Mary, can shorten one’s time in Purgatory, or even almost eliminate it. Imagine: You die and go to Purgatory…for an unspecified time in Hell to burn out that sin that the blood of Christ did not cover. How does one reckon time in eternity? 600 AD The Latin language was imposed upon the mass by Gregory I. God says: (2 Cor 3:12 KJV) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: They did this because it was not the language of the common man! It made them mysterious, more godly to plain folk, and they lorded over them and controlled them easier. 606 AD Boniface III receives the title of “Universal Bishop” and thus became the first Pope. (1 Pet 2:25 KJV) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (Speaking of Christ) NOTE: The Lord did not come to make a religion to lord over us. He came to save the lost who would believe on HIM plus nothing. Many did not become willing slaves to this apostate religion, and they died in protest. They were called Protest-ants. 650 AD Feasts commemorating the Virgin Mary began. See Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19,25 at the beginning of this study. NOTE: Catholics begin to worship Mary. Next week: Continue this study…
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 21:11:53 +0000
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