Roman
Catholic Heresies
By Prophet Jacob R. Blandford
"Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment." (Lam. 2:14)
"Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law." (Zeph. 3:4)
I’m sending this message to clarify a stance that I once took regarding the Catholic Church, but now I denounce. I mentioned at one point my approval of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. However, after recently studying more in depth the Catholic Church it is highly evident to me that the basis for Catholicism is unscriptural and it has many eastern religious influences.
There are two fatal flaws with Popery: one it’s earthly, two it’s carnal. In the Old Testament God is numerously referred two as “The God of heaven”. And in the New Testament Christians are called to be spiritually-minded. Again, you cannot walk in these two Biblical truths if you’re fixated on the earthly-rudimental traditions of Papists. (cf. Col. 2:4, 8, 18-23, 3:1-2)
1. A few examples:
· “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5)
o Not a Pope or a priest. (see Phil. 3:19-20)
o Jesus Christ is against this and called it the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which He hates (see Rev. 2:6, 15). (You’ll
need a KJV Bible to get the full readings in those two passages: the word
“hate” is removed in the modern versions.)
The true priesthood belongs to all born-again believers (1 Pet. 2:5, 9;
Rev. 1:6,
o The structure of the Catholic Church is just like the structure of any other secular organization in this world. But the kingdom is God is heavenly, spiritual, unique, and different. (cf. Is. 55:8,9) “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
o And Jesus also said “But he that is greatest
among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) Not some pompous overlord. (See 1 Peter 5:3;
Matthew
o The Pope says that the Roman Church is the way of salvation: this is an
exact description of an antichrist (1 John
o The Pope tries to act like a high priest. This is clear blasphemy. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest
of the Church. Again the Pope usurps the
office and authority of Christ and frustrates the access men would have in
Christ. (cf. Eph. 2:18) This is why I
Tim. 2:5; Matthew 23:8-9; Gal.
o Moreover there is no hierarchal priesthood in the true church. The idea that a man has to be an Italian is insane. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)
o Why would I need some old man susceptible to death to be my priest (cf.
Heb.
Þ “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” [Hebrews 7:26]
·
“And ye are complete in him, which
is the head of all principality and power”
[Colossians
· “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” [Matthew 28:18]
· “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” [Luke 4:8]
· Ps. 73:25; Jer. 17:5; Ex. 20:3—John 10:34; Ps. 82:6; Is. 43:10; Rev. 5:1-5
·
The Pope and other Catholic laity
call themselves “fathers”. This is
against Christ’s commandment in Matthew 23:9, “And call
no man your father upon the
earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Moreover the Pope is audacious enough to call
himself “holy father”; and this is clear blasphemy, usurping of authority, and
an act of the antichrist. “Who is a liar
but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is
antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the
Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath
the Father also.” (I John
2:22,23) Only God is called the
“Holy Father” (John
· “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:3)
· The phrase “[I]t is written” is found 80 times in the Holy Bible. That exalts the WORD above man-made traditions. (Ps. 138:2) And Paul said “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). In other words, don’t put the pope (or his traditions) over or above Holy or Sacred Writ.
2. A believer is saved and justified by
faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ only (Acts
· “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” [Hebrews 7:27]
· One of the problems the English commoners had with the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation was that their services were spoken in Latin, not English. Apostle Paul calls them barbaric. (see 1 Cor. 14:11) To my knowledge this still goes on today in Catholic services and masses.
3. Probably the greatest heresy in Catholicism is their practice of the Eucharist. This is where they partake of the sacraments, what we call communion, but they believe that the sacraments actually physically become the incarnated body of Christ. Which then only the Pope or a priest can administer. This is a means of manipulation and also an abomination...
·
“For their vine is of the vine of
· “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:6)
· “...mercy, and not sacrifice...” (Hos. 6:6; Matthew 9:13, 12:7)
·
One perfect sacrifice (Rom. 6:10;
Heb. 1:3, 6:6, 7:27, 9:7, 12, 25-26, 27-28, 10:2,10,12,14). The Lord doesn’t go through the travail and
anguish of
· ¶ “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27) ¶”For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:” (Hebrews 8:4) ¶ “Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:25-26) ¶ “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.” (Hebrews 10:1-3) ¶ “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11) ¶ “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:23)
·
Verily, Hebrews Chapters 9 &
10 blows away the Catholic Mass, the Eucharist, ‘sacramental grace’, and the
Catholic priesthood. This is why the
Vaticanus (B) manuscript cuts off the Book of Hebrews at Hebrews 9:14. The Vaticanus manuscript is catalogued at the
·
This Scriptural masterpiece, the
Epistle to the Hebrews, has in a precise and prophetical manner exposed the
lies of the Catholic priesthood for roughly 16 centuries, up to this very
day. In so much that there is a prophecy
in the Book of Hebrews about the Christian Church coming out of the dark ages
of Catholicism with the Protestant Reformation. (Heb.
· 7 times the Book of Hebrews states Christ offered Himself once.
· The word “mass” cannot be found in either New or Old Testament.
·
Further more, Jesus is at the
right hand of the Father in the third heaven (Acts
· “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” [Matthew 24:23-26] See also: Mark 13:21; Luke 17:23, 21:8
·
"Which also said, Ye men of
· “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ... Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances” (Col. 2:16-17, 20)
·
Because when He comes back it will
be with unmistakable power and glory! (Matthew
· Roman Catholicism is damnably steeped in traditions: both the traditions of men and devils. See these “Against tradition” Scriptures—cf. [Matthew 15:3, 6, 9; Mark 7:7-9, 13; Col. 2:8, 20-23; I Pet. 1:18; Titus 1:14] & [I Sam. 16:7; Romans 8:5; Phil. 3:19].
·
God hatred of the abominable mass
described (cf. Amos
·
Right here in the prophetic
context about the Antichrist, and “the abomination of
desolation” (Matt. 24:15; Mark
·
“Truly in vain is salvation hoped
for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our
God is the salvation of
·
Most Catholic teachers will defend
and teach the Eucharist teaching from John Ch. 6. But you have to remember Jesus Christ spoke
parabolic (Ps. 78:2; Matt.
4. The Catholics’ saints worship is an idolatrous sin. Their worship of the Virgin Mary, and the Pope, &c. is in direct disobedience to the first and second commandments.
·
“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,” (Colossians
2:18 KJV)
o “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” [Luke 20:35-36]
o "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." [Rev. 19:10]
o "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." [Rev. 22:8-9]
o “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” [Heb. 1:4]
o “Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly” [Job 4:18]
· Against the idolatry of the virgin Mary (see Rev. 18:4 “her”)
o “Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” [Luke 8:19-21]
o “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” [Luke 11:27-28]
o Christ viewed His true family as being those who are obedient to the word of God, over Mary and his other family members according to the flesh. (see Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21)
o “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. 7:18)
o “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,
because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my
servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Rev.
2:20)
o She is not a mediatrix. There is no such thing. Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man. (cf. I Tim. 2:5)
o Mary needed to be saved just as us, she rejoiced in her Lord & Saviour (cf. Luke 1:46,47). She was a holy woman and was certainly blessed to be the mother of the Holy Child, but she was not without sin. (cf. Rom. 3:23) She offered a sin offering to the LORD according to Leviticus 12. (cf. Luke 2:22-24)
o Mary was told “Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28, 42). But Jael was “Blessed above women” (Judges 5:24). According to that Jael would make a better candidate for ‘queen of heaven’ than Mary.
· “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” [Is. 42:8]
· “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” [Is. 48:11]
· “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” [1 Sam. 2:2]
· “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” [Rev. 15:4]
· “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved... He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.” [Ps. 62:2, 6]
· “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” [Ps. 73:25]
· “For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?” [Ps. 89:6]
· “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” [I John 5:21]
· “Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 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: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” [Deut. 5:7-9]
· “Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?” [Job 5:1]
· “Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.” [Job 15:15]
· “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” [Jer. 17:5]
5. Matthew 16:18
· The Lord Jesus Christ meant that He was building His Church upon Himself, Christ the Rock (cf. 1 Peter 2:6-8). Not upon Peter. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-8). And all 12 apostles are named on the 12 foundations of New Jerusalem (cf. Rev. 21:14), not just Peter. Peter means “pebble” or “stone” (cf. John 1:42), but Jesus is the Rock (cf. I Cor. 10:4; Is. 8:14, 28:16; Rom. 9:33, 10:11; Ps. 118:22; Acts 4:11-12; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Deut. 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31; I Sam. 2:2; II Sam. 22:2-3, 32, 47, 23:3; Ps. 18:2, 31, 46, 27:5, 28:1, 31:2, 3, 40:2, 42:9, 61:2, 62:2, 6, 7, 71:3, 78:35, 81:16, 89:26, 92:15, 94:22, 95:1)!
o Christ called Peter “Satan” in the same chapter! (see Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33) In Matthew 16:18 Christ said the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. If Christ meant that the Church was built upon Peter then 5 verses later the gates of hell had already prevailed. Now why would Jesus Christ say that (as Roman Catholics suppose, He was referring to Peter) when He could prophesy events before they happened? (e.g. Matt. 20:18-19)
o Christ represented the rock Moses smote in the wilderness. (cf. Num. 20:8; Ps. 78:15-16, 20, 105:41, 114:8; John 19:34; Zech. 12:10; 1 Cor. 10:4; Song 2:14)
o Even if we were to concede that Christ was speaking directly to Peter in Matthew 16:19 with the pronouns “thee” and “thou”, two chapters later Lord Jesus repeats the same phrase in Matthew 18:18 but uses this time uses the pronoun “ye”. And by reading the context of Matthew 18:18, it is easy to see from the previous verse (Matthew 18:17) that Christ is speaking about the authority of the “church” (that includes all believers —cf. Gal. 3:28), not just Peter. If Christ meant that the authority of the Church rested solely upon Peter, then two chapters later He had already re-distributed it to the rest of the Church. And no disrespect to the great Apostle Peter (we all need a little chastening betimes); but if the authority of the Church rested upon him, then why did St. Paul rebuke him in Galatians 2:11-21. You see if the Papists would recognize that even the head of their ‘apostolic succession’ made mistakes, they wouldn’t be so foolish to claim ‘Papal infallibility’ and may be more apt to be corrected by the Word of Truth. But so it is with stubborn and obstinate men, steeped in their own traditions and bound by their idolatries.
o The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the ‘Synoptic’ Gospels; this is because these 3 Gospels provide a similar comprehensive view of Christ’s earthly ministry. Peter’s confession took place in Caesarea Philippi, and it’s recorded in all 3 Synoptic Gospels. (see Matt. 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-33; Luke 9:18-22) However the Gospels of Mark and Luke completely leave out the Lord Jesus’ statement about Him building His church upon a rock. So what’s my point? If Peter’s confession was about the Roman Catholic Church, such an instruction would need to be repeated: because no where else in the Bible can you find Scriptural evidence supporting the Roman Catholic Church’s claim to apostolic succession. But the Holy Ghost didn’t put as much emphasis on it as Roman Catholics do; who’ve privately interpreted this verse, violently over-exaggerated it, and grossly contorted it. The Holy Spirit didn’t feel the need to repeat in Mark and Luke what the Lord Jesus Christ had already said in Matthew’s account. ¶ But you’ll see that right after Peter’s confession Jesus Christ called Peter “Satan” (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33) in both Matthew and Mark. You don’t think Jesus Christ, the Word of God, can reprove ‘peters and popes’? He did right there. So as a Christian Bible-believer I skip over the ‘peters and popes’, and go straight the Word for reproof? (see John 1:1, 14, 14:6) ¶ The Bible is not a Book of guesswork. Something like an apostolic succession would be something God would clearly tell us about—if that’s what He wanted to do. When studying the Scriptures it’s always important principal to apply ‘the law of repetition’. The Holy Spirit often repeats important doctrines in passages all throughout the Bible: that’s God’s way of highlighting what’s important. James L. Melton writes, ‘Sometimes [God] He’ll repeat the same thing over and over just for emphasis. Scripture with Scripture is the only way to learn God’s Word (Isa. 28:9-13; I Cor. 2:13).’[iii] This is not the case with Matthew 16:18, it’s not even repeated in the same two accounts of the event. Something as dramatic as an apostolic succession from one man would need to be repeated! Plus Catholicism has so wildly perverted and twisted this passage, (viz. ‘wrested the Scripture’ (see II Pet. 3:16),) to their own likening so that nothing in the Bible resembles their “private interpretation” (II Pet. 1:20) of apostolic succession with Peter. Other than this one vague manipulation of Scripture (Matt. 16:18), there is to support Rome’s claim to ‘Peter’s chair’; contrarily, the Biblical evidence is against it! In fact, the New Testament teaches us: that the Holy Ghost resides inside born-again believers ( see Luke 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16), and that we’re baptized spiritually into Christ’s body (see I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4-6), and that we all have unique access to come before His heavenly throne by His blood (see Heb. 4:16, 10:19), and that His Cross is the only way to be reconciled because Jesus Christ is the only mediator. (see Col. 1:20; I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25, 9:15) I don’t need some unscriptural, presumptuous, disobedient church led by the devil—trying to hide the truth to get in the way of my relationship, blessing, and access with the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is not divided and He’s no respecter of persons. The Catholic Church is not bastion of truth; it’s a barrier to the truth: that’s why it’s the devil’s church. And Christ Jesus hates it (see Rev. 2:6, 15) when the Scriptures are misused by men to oppress other men.
o Roman Catholicism claims their pillar lies with Peter. However, the true Christian church rests upon not only Peter, but “...upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). And again, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) Again, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:14) This false doctrine of ‘apostolic succession’ from Simon Peter is a wild and violent perversion of Scripture. They’ve turned Peter into “false Christs” (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22) or ‘popes’. This false doctrine attempts to usurp the power and authority of the Holy Spirit: Who inspired ALL the Biblical writers of both Testaments (prophets and apostles). Roman Catholics need to pay attention to what their own ‘leader’ said about privately interpreting Scripture in 2 Peter 1:20-21. Never in the Scriptures is Peter given a special designation above the prophets, above the other apostles, above Christ, above the Holy Spirit, or above the Bible the Holy Ghost inspired. When you come down to it, Catholics idolize Peter as they do Mary. And they justify their idolatries with ridiculous, ignorant contortions of the Holy Scriptures.
o Apostle Peter was martyred in the 1st century. Constantine became the 1st pope in A.D. 325. If Peter was the 1st pope of the Roman Catholic church—there’s more than a 200 year gap in the ‘apostolic succession’ from Peter to Constantine!
o “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11) This verse tells us Jesus Christ (not Peter) is the foundation of the church. Moreover, Jesus is the truth (see John 14:6; Eph. 4:21), and Jesus is the Word (see John 1:1, 14), and the Word is truth (see John 17:17)—therefore the foundation is scriptural—if it can’t be proven by Scripture, it has no part being part of the foundation! Peter being the head or the foundation of the church is simply not scriptural, it’s a tradition of men (see Matt. 15:1-9) and a private interpretation of scripture (see 2 Pet. 1:20). You can’t prove Peter is the head of the church with scripture with scripture (like you can with all true and important doctrines of the Christian faith), as a matter of fact, it contradicts scripture: because scripture says Jesus Christ is the Head of the church (see Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18) and the foundation of the church (see Eph. 2:20).
o In John 2:19 Jesus spoke of Himself when He said “this temple”. That’s confirmed in verse 21: “But he spake of the temple of his body.” That’s the same kind of speech Jesus used in Matthew 16:18 when He said “this rock”—He was referring to Himself. Moreover, both Testaments conclude that God (Elohim—the Creator) is THE ROCK, not some SINNER AND LIAR (see Rom. 3:4, 23) sitting in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God. 1 Cor. 10:4 states, “that Rock was Christ”.
o The Epistle to the Romans was not written by Peter, but Paul. Peter never claimed to be the first pope anywhere in the New Testament; neither did he ever say he was in Rome. In chapter 16 of Romans the apostle Paul acknowledges more than twenty of the brethren in Rome, and Peter isn’t mentioned once! Some Catholic scholars say Peter referred to Rome in 1 Peter 5:13. Even if “Babylon” (1 Pet. 5:13) was a codeword for Rome, that would make it clearly agree with the Great Harlot in Revelation 17 and 18!
· Read Acts 10:25-26. Why do Popes receive worship? Peter told Cornelius, “...Stand up; I myself also am a man.” (Acts 10:26), when he fell at Peter’s feet and worshipped him. Catholic Popes regularly receive worship from their deceived followers. Cornelius was an Italian. (see Acts 10:1) Despite Peter’s rebuke Roman Catholic Italians have worshiped and fallen down before their ‘Peter’ for centuries. If popes were true men of God and of Christ like Simon Peter they would not allow men and women to worship them; but the Antichrist sets himself us an idol and a barrier to the Truth. Simon Peter knew that ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST deserved worship.
o “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God... And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” (II Thess. 2:4, 11 KJV)
o “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.” (Dan. 11:36-37 KJV)
o “Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God... Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.” (Ezek. 28:2, 6-7)
o Peter was Jewish, not Italian. As matter of fact Peter said he wouldn’t have even stepped foot in Cornelius’ had he not seen a vision from heaven (see Acts Ch. 10 & 11), because Cornelius was an Italian (Gentile). (see Acts 10:28)
o Here’s a note of warning to these popes who set themselves up as false gods; “Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.” (Jer. 10:11) Did the popes make the heavens and the earth? Nope dope pope. Let them perish uncircumcised.
· Here is the foundation: I Cor. 3:11; Ps. 18:31; Eph. 2:20, not just Saint Peter.
· If Simon Peter was the first Pope why did he have a wife and a mother in-law? (see Matt. 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) I thought Popes we’re suppose to practice celibacy. Peter should have set a better example being the first Pope if he really was the first in Apostolic Succession. According to Bible, to impose celibacy on someone is a doctrine of the devil. (see I Tim. 4:1-3) This heresy is supported by Tobit 6:17, an Apocryphal book which is part of the Roman Catholic Canon; not the Jewish or Protestant Canons. This is also a prophesied action of the Antichrist in Daniel 11:37. (See point #9.)
· Christ has the keys of hell and death (Rev. 1:18), the keys He spoke of in Matthew 16 refer to the believer’s authority in Christ as described in Luke 10:19, not Peter individually.
· In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Paul salutes the saints at Rome in Chapter 16. In this entire chapter he mentions NOTHING about Saint Peter.
· It was Paul who gave a salutation from “Italy” in Hebrews 13:24, but you wouldn’t know that from reading a Vatican library-catalogued Vaticanus (B) manuscript because it’s missing!
· In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, Paul states the following... “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” (Galatians 2:7,8) That means that Peter preached the Gospel to the Jews mainly, and Paul preached to the heathen mainly. Rome was a pagan nation, Peter wouldn’t have preached there because it wasn’t a Jewish nation. But Paul preached there because it was a Gentile nation, and that’s who Paul preached to (cf. Acts 13:46-48, 23:11, 28:28). That’s also why Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans and not Peter. If any of the Apostles would have left an apostolic succession to the Roman Catholics it would have been Paul; because he was the Apostle to the Gentiles (see Rom. 11:13, 15:16), and the Romans were Gentiles (not Jews). But the Catholics would never acknowledge that because St. Paul’s Epistles cut up their worthless traditions to shreds. The Pauline Epistles are too truthfully dogmatic for the erring Catholics to recognize their authority. (cf. I Cor. 14:27)
· Isn’t that something? The Book of Acts ends with Paul in Rome in Chapter 28. The very next Chapter in the Bible is Romans Chapter 1. Again, Paul in Rome, followed by the Epistle to the Romans written by Paul. Seems to me if God had left any apostolic succession in Rome it would have been with Paul, not Peter. But again, Roman Catholics would never acknowledge Paul as their head, because his Epistles cut Catholicism to shreds. Furthermore, Paul wasn’t sitting in Rome on some extravagant ecclesiastical chair inside of an idolatrous cathedral, surrounded by cardinals and priests, wearing expensive clothing. (see 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Matt. 11:18) Paul was imprisoned by Roman soldiers and chained much of that time. (see Acts 28:16; 1 Tim. 1:16)
· In the Book of Acts it was Paul who ended up in Rome. Peter was in Jerusalem with the rest of the Apostles. We read about Peter being in “Samaria” (Acts 8:14), “Lydda” (Acts 9:22), “Joppa” (Acts 9:43), and “Caesarea” (Acts 10:24); but he’s back in “Jerusalem” (Acts 11:2) in the next chapter, and the last we read about Peter in the Book of Acts he’s still in Jerusalem. (see Acts 15:2, 4, 7) There is no mention whatsoever about Peter even being remotely near Rome or Italy—NONE. If Roman Catholics wanted to choose an apostolic head with historic precedence in Rome, it should have been Paul: but that doesn’t fit in with their private interpretation of Matthew 16:17. Do you know why Paul doesn’t fit in with the popes’ perversion of Matthew 16:17? Because Jesus Christ didn’t say that to Paul. Paul had yet to meet the Lord on Damascus Road at that point. (see Acts Ch. 9)
· Guess who wrote II Timothy? Paul the Apostle. (see II Tim. 1:1) Guess where Onesiphorus found Paul in II Timothy 1:16-17? Rome. Yet again, there’s no mention of Peter being there. Catholics need to wake up and realize that the holy Scriptures are silent about Peter ever even setting foot in Rome. That’s not God’s way of letting people know there’s a succession of Peters in Rome, when the Holy Ghost never mentions him in Rome anywhere in the entire Bible. In that sense Peter’s absence speaks loudly against this papal myth.
· If you read Colossians 1:24-25 you can clearly see that Paul was made a “minister” of “...his body’s sake, which is the church”. We read similar passages about the role Paul graciously received in ministering to the Church in Ephesians Chapter 3. So here again we see Paul, not Peter, and certainly not only Peter.
· Peter and Paul are both apostles in the Book of Acts. In Acts, Paul said he was a Roman (see Acts 16:37, 22:25-29, 23:27, 25:10, 28:19); but we find no such claim by Peter. So why does Rome make an association with Peter and not Paul?
· Christians are commanded in the New Testament to be followers of Paul, not Peter. (see I Cor. 4:16, 11:1; Phil. 3:17) As a matter of fact, Peter commends us, (in these last days (see II Pet. 3:1-3),) to Paul’s Epistles and calls them Scripture! (see II Pet. 3:15-16)
· Read this holy passage: "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours" (1 Cor. 3:21-22). Do you see that? That’s a Pauline command, inspired by the Holy Spirit, NOT to glory in men—that includes popes. If that wasn’t enough “Cephas” is mentioned in the same sentence. Who is “Cephas”? Peter! (see John 1:42) The same Simon Peter who popes falsely claim to have received their apostolic succession from. DON’T GLORY IN PETER. (Except First & Second Peter.)
· Look at Peter’s humility after he healed the lame man in Acts 3, “...Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12) Peter rejected “holiness” in his own self; but popes have been going around for centuries being called ‘his holiness’ and ‘holy father’, blasphemy! If there was any thing ‘holy’ about the popes it would be because they followed and had faith in “the Holy One and the Just” (Acts 3:14), Jesus Christ. But they don’t follow Jesus Christ with the same humility Peter did; and they don’t follow the same Jesus Christ that Peter did. Peter followed the true Lord Jesus, Who alone is holy. This is what Daniel meant when he spoke about the Antichrist (the pope), “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.” (Daniel 11:37-39) Again, the ‘Jesus’ of Roman Catholicism is “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4).
· See also ‘Final Authority’ by Grady, page 54. And ‘The Bible Believer’s Handbook of Heresies’ by Melton, pages 30-31. And ‘Four Horsemen’ by Chick, pages 19-20.
· Why do Roman Catholics have ‘Archbishops’ when Christ it titled as merely “Bishop” (1 Pet. 2:25)? Do they presume to be above Christ Jesus’ office? Obviously so.
6. With all this said I’d like to also say that I love the Catholics and I have nothing against them personally by any means. We are all subject to lies, false doctrine, and deception. That’s why Apostle Paul wrote Galatians.
· “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Tim. 2:25-26)
7. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9)
· The Catholic dogma states the Roman Pontiff has ‘infallible teaching authority’. History itself declares the absurdity of this claim, but the scripture is clear in exposing this lie (see Rom. 3:4, 23; Ecc. 7:20; I Cor. 4:6; Jer. 17:5; Prov. 19:21). This Catholic teaching is another blasphemy against God and His Word.
· Catholics and ecumenists disobey Matthew 23:9 by wickedly calling their catholic priests ‘fathers’. This sinful practiced is prophetically exposed in the light of the Holy Scriptures. (see Judges 17:10, 18:4, 19) Judges Ch. 17 & 18 is about Micah who was an idolater, and hired a Levite, and turned him into an idolatrous priest. “And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.” (Judges 17:10) Sounds a lot like catholic practitioners today. Judges 17:10, 18:19 is a prophetic reproof because Micah’s “priest” sacrificed to idols (see I Cor. 10:20), and he called him a “father”![iv]
· Here Abijah prophetically addresses Roman Catholic priests, “...a priest of them that are no gods.” (II Chr. 13:9)
· Jeroboam’s priests picture pagan papist priests. (see I Kings 12:31, 13:33; II Chr. 11:15)
· Christ Jesus mentions “...a certain priest...” in Luke 10:31. This is in the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ and this “priest” is given as an example of what not to do. Men like titles. The word “priest” doesn’t impress the Lord Jesus Christ as much as it does bespectacled, credulous Catholicks or ecumenical Protestant.
8. The Catholic church is infamous for promoting their repetitious and intelligible prayers. These vain prayers are mainly practiced with rosary beads and spoken in Latin. I once even heard a Catholic priest on TBN say that their rosary prayers aren’t much different than a Muslim’s! Something is wrong with that... First, it’s a breach of the 1st Commandment to lift up any supplication to anyone other than God Almighty. I’ll make it plain and easy: Mary is a false god. Secondly, they do not come before God the Father’s Throne by the Lord Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ is the ONLY Mediator between men and God, He is the ONLY High Priest, and He is the ONLY Intercessor. If a man does not come to the Father through His Approved High Priest, then that man doesn’t come before the Father. (cf. John 14:6) But Catholics pray ignorantly to a worthless mediatrix that doesn’t exist. For this, they sacrifice to devils; and not to God. Thirdly, even if they were to pray to Christ, what does it profit if you don’t even understand the Latin you’re praying in over and over again? (cf. I Cor. 14:11,16) Fourthly, as a prerequisite to the LORD’S PRAYER our Lord Jesus Christ said the following... “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7).
· Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, and Luke 20:47 blast against Roman Catholicism. No wonder Roman Catholic or ecumenical ‘Bibles’ (e.g. NAB, RSV, NRSV, NLT, NIV) omit Matthew 23:14. Matthew 23:14 is quoted on page 6 of Jack T. Chick’s ‘Big Betrayal’—depicting a parish priest.
9. Celibacy. Catholic ‘priests’ are required by their church to be celibate; but that’s not Biblical at all. Actually the prophet Daniel predicted this about the antichrist, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women...” (Dan. 11:37). Also Paul predicted this in the last days, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry...” (I Tim. 4:1-3). In the Old Testament, the priests, (the sons are Aaron,) married. (see Lev. 21:7, 13-14) The Levites will marry during the Millennium! (see Ezek. 44:22) In the New Testament, one of the rules for a bishop is that he be “the husband of one wife” (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6). How do Catholic clerics reconcile the following Scripture quotations: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." (Prov. 18:22) And, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Heb. 13:4) Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:5 that both he and Peter (“Cephas”) had the power to take a wife: "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" (1 Cor. 9:5)
[i]
‘Fighting Back!’ by James L. Melton © 1997, Revised 2007, Published by
[ii] ‘Let’s Weight The Evidence’ by Barry D. Burton © 1983 Chick Publications, Page 60.
[iii] ‘How To Study God’s Word’ by James L. Melton, Bible Baptist Church, P.O. Box 383, Martin, Tennessee, 38237.
[iv] See also ‘The “Errors” in the King James Bible’ by Peter S. Ruckman, pages 166, 385, 429.