he Catholic Church God's true Church and Peter the first Pope? It grieves me to be adding this page to the Ten Commandments web site but constant emails from Catholics because of the Catholic Version of the Ten Commandments have made this necessary. It has become common to receive emails like the one given below and then calling us erroneous while giving a false email address so that they cannot be replied to. This does not represent good Christian values and integrity by any means. As a result we have had no choice but to supply the following information that proves that the Roman Catholic Church is not God's true Church and that Peter was not the so called first Pope with supremacy above the other Apostles. Typical email in error: “Who gave you authority to interpret scripture? Matthew 16:18 says "you are Peter and upon this rock I will build MY Church" He didn't say a Church, many churches, multiple Churches. He said my Church. This Church can historically (in secular books as well as Christian) be traced back to Jesus Christ. Peter was our first Pope and today Benedict XVI is the Pope. He is not an Idol as we don't worship him. He is our spiritual father.” Does everyone remember what happened when Pope John died? Literally millions of people lined up for days to look upon a dead Pope. Never before has the world seen one man get so much worship let alone a dead man. It dominated television for weeks and got the attention of the entire world. Isn't the Pope the only religious person that the President of the United States has ever bowed down too and kneeled before? No man should be worshipped. The Oxford dictionary defines an idol as: “An image used as an object of worship. A person or thing that is the object of excessive devotion.” I would have to respectfully disagree and say that the Pope is definitely worshipped. Holy Father is a title that the Pope claims for himself. However, this title occurs only once in the Bible and was used when Jesus addressed His Heavenly Father in John 17:11 in His great prayer before His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. It is blasphemy for any man to claim this title for himself. It belongs only to God the Father. Father is also a title that every Roman Catholic priest claims for himself and expects to be called. Jesus warns in Matthew 23:9 “Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your father which is in heaven.” So is it wrong to call your earthly parent “father”? No, because in Romans 4:1 “Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?” God refers to Abraham as “our father pertaining to the flesh” which is an acceptable usage. Obviously the Roman priest is not your physical father but claims to be a “spiritual father” and what God forbids. So who gave us and the rest of the world the authority to interpret scripture? God did through His Word. The Papacy say only they can interpret scripture but one might ask them the same question. Who gave them the authority to interpret scripture? They will reply, “Because Peter was the first pope and was given supremacy over the other apostles.” This has one very serious problem. To establish this premise, one has to interpret scripture, but if that interpretation of scripture is wrong, then their whole argument is worthless. Every other denomination in the entire world say they have it wrong and this alone should make Catholics investigate this further. Does one put their trust in God or man? We find the answer to this question exactly in the middle of the Bible. Psalms 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Observe how we find the Bereans being called NOBLE as they examined the scriptures daily to see if what they were told was true. Paul wrote most of the New Testament, yet we find these Noble Christians even investigating if what Paul told them is correct. This is how all Christians should be towards any teacher of the Word and we would have way less heresy if everyone always did. It is because most Catholics do not do this that so many good Catholic people have been led astray. Acts 17:11 “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” The inspired author here exhorts that we should examine the scriptures daily to see if what we are told is true but the Catholic Church without Biblical authority say no. The Roman Catholic Church has a history of burning Bibles and when it could not stop Bibles from being printed, it denied anti-catholic scriptures by saying “that's your interpretation”, meaning that the Bible has no authority if anyone can interpret it in any manner. They now allow Catholics to read the Bible but teach that it is wrong and sinful to put any interpretation on scriptures that is contrary to Roman Catholic doctrine. In other words, don't think for yourself and just trust Rome. You may discover that Catholic doctrine is full of error and contradictions but just blindly accept everything Rome tells you. They also say that their authority is ABOVE scripture. The problem is that God did not give them or anyone else that authority. As for me and my family, we take our instruction from our Heavenly Father and not the Church of Rome just because they say so! Contrary to what they may believe, they are NOT God. Here is one of many quotes from the Papal Church where they state their authority is above scripture. “The authority of the Church is illustrated most clearly by the scriptures, for on one hand she recommends them, declares them to be divine, and offers them to us to be read, and on the other hand, the legal precepts in the scriptures taught by the Lord have ceased by virtue of the same authority. The Sabbath, the most glorious day in the law, has been changed into the Lord's day. These and other similar matters have not ceased by virtue of Christ's teaching (for He says that He has come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it), but they have been changed by the authority of the Church.” — Gaspare de Posso, Archbishop of Reggio, Council of Trent. I have also had a Catholic say we cannot interpret scripture because of 2 Peter 1:20-21 and that this applies not just to prophecy but all scripture. And how did they arrive at this wrong conclusion? By doing what they just said we cannot do. By interpreting scripture! Yet another strategy to stop good Catholic Christians from finding out they are being taught error. Here is the correct meaning of 2 Peter 1:20-21. Many faithful Catholics have become imprisoned in this system because they are not allowed to say anything contrary to what their Church teaches. If any Catholic said they were teaching error several decades ago, they were called a heretic, tortured and burnt at the stake as per Catholic Church law and this was done to countless millions of good Catholic Christian saints. As for all the Catholics innocently caught up in this system, do you really believe this is from God? The prophetic book of revelation is a stumbling block for many when it comes to interpreting scripture but in this book we find Jesus exhorting that we are blessed if we READ and understand what is written within. This of course requires us to read and interpret the most difficult of scripture that is especially required for end times, and this is what is strongly recommended by our Lord and Saviour Himself. The authority for us to interpret scripture and prophecy does not get higher then this. Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Paul also says the opposite to the Roman Catholic Church in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (not by the Roman Catholic Church) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, (or complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Is the Roman Catholic Church God's true Church? We have been told that the Roman Catholic Church was God's true Church from the beginning yet we find that scripture and history tells us exactly the opposite. This following scripture is targeted at the Church of Rome in regards to their rules on marriage and what you cannot eat on certain days. The Catholic Church have maintained this practise from the beginning and the Word of God calls the Church of Rome here hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:2-3 “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.” A note about and for Roman Catholics Our humble apologies to all Catholics but genuine love demands the identification of the antichrist power so that no honest person will be deceived, for eternity is at stake. While identifying the Roman Catholic Church as the antichrist power, we hasten to remind all sincere Christians that many of Christ's true followers are still members of this Church. They are unaware of the great deception under which they worship. The Saviour died for them as well as people of all other faiths. The present is surely the time for love to be expressed in sincere action as these precious saints are called out of apostasy into the light of God's saving truth. John's letters reveal to us that the Biblical definition of Antichrist does not just mean against Christ but more specifically in place of Christ, and this is something that every Pope does as he claims to be God on earth. Note their following quotes which John 10:33 says is blasphemy. “We hold upon this earth the place of God almighty.” — Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894. “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh.” — Catholic National, July 1895. “The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” — Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous.” John also informs us in the following two verses that anyone who claims Jesus did not come in flesh such as the Roman Catholic Church do when they claim that Jesus took on Mary's sinless nature and her flesh, are Antichrist. There is no doubt who John is referring to here. 1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” Note also another Roman Catholic Church error as Mary is NOT sinless and acknowledges that she is a sinner by calling God her Saviour. Remember that only a sinner needs a Saviour. “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Luke 1:47 We also find “For ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 and “There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10. If the above two scriptures in John's letters are referring to the Church of Rome, then we may also find John telling us that they WERE originally part of the early Church but they would no longer be so if they began to apostatize by such behaviour. So did John say that antichrist was part of God's first and true Church that John and the others apostles started but left and went out on their own and were no longer part of the original Church? Again there is no doubt. So the Church of Rome was certainly around from the beginning but they apostatized and went out on their own and is what John called antichrist. 1 John 2:18-19 “Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there MANY antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from US, but they were not of US; for if they had been of US, they would no doubt have continued with US: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of US.” So what happened to God's true Church and why do we find that the Roman Catholic Church became the one and only VISIBLE Church for many hundreds of years? And was this the will of God or did this happen by other means? History and the Bible inform us that God's true Church had to flee into the wilderness to survive as the Roman Catholic Church relentlessly pursued it with the intent on murdering and torturing it out of existence. Millions of innocent saints died! So how did the Catholic Church become so rich and powerful and the one visible Church for so long? By force! By the death of anyone that stood in their way. God's true Church was almost murdered out of existence and Revelation informs us that His true Church did have to flea into the wilderness for 1260 years (known as the dark ages) to survive exactly as it happened in history. The Roman Catholic Church is certainly mentioned many times in the Bible but not as God's true Church but as a murderous and blasphemous, Apostate Church that changed the law of God and one that God is going to pour out plagues upon in the end times to destroy her for all her murderous crimes and false doctrines. So is the Catholic Church God's true Church? Not a chance and also not according to all the following brilliant people. Are they right? Most definitely! Read who is the antichrist for the Biblical and historical proof. All these following people knew that the Papal Church is the little horn of Daniel 7, which is synonymous with the antichrist beast power of Revelation 13, and many of them died by the hand of the Roman Catholic Church. “John Wycliffe, William Tyndale (translated the Bible - Tyndale Bible), Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer; in the seventeenth century, Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible and the men who published the Westminster and Baptist confessions of Faith; Sir Isaac Newton, John Wesley, Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards; and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of the Papacy as the antichrist.” — All Roads Lead to Rome, by Michael de Semlyen. Dorchestor House Publications, p. 205. 1991. It is because of what all these people discovered that we had what was called the Protestant reformation as many good people protested against what the Roman Catholic Church was doing and this is why we now have so many different Protestant Churches today. It came about as a result of much persecution and suffering from a Church that claims to be God's true Church. I hope one can already see that this is a long way from the real truth. There are bound to be those who will either not understand or refuse to believe that the Catholic Church is antichrist that enforces the mark of the beast and an Apostate Church that God is going to destroy in the end so let's continue. All Roman Catholics should ask themselves does God approve of murder, homosexuality, rape, adultery and drunkenness to just state a few. My Bible says that no such person will inherit the kingdom of God. If one believes that these things are acceptable to God then one is wasting there time here as that just defeats the whole purpose of Christianity. Many Popes have been labelled the most evil men in history More than fifty Popes have shown themselves to be atheists or unbelievers. The history of the Popes records homosexuality, rape, murder, adultery, incest, drunkenness and selling religious offices and much more. The following examples are just scratching the surface as many of the Popes have been labelled as the most EVIL people in all history. To list all of the crimes from all the Popes in brief would be a list ten times bigger then this page. There is no way God would have this as His true Church. God flooded the Earth destroying all but eight people for far less then the atrocities of these Popes. Pope Damasus I (366 - 384) for many various crimes. Persons who questioned any Church doctrine had their lands seized and family sacrificed through being tortured and burnt alive. Former female priests and their children were used as sex slaves to provide income for the Church. He was found guilty by 44 bishops of adultery but used his position to obstruct justice after which he murdered the bishops. Pope Stephen VI (896 - 897) brought the dead body of former Pope Formosus (891 - 897) to trial, hacked off his decaying finger and had him dragged through the streets of Rome and thrown into the Tiber River. Pope Sergius III (904 - 911) obtained his office by murder. He fathered several illegitimate children by Marozia who assassinated Pope Leo VI (928 - 929), and put her own teenage son (John XI) as Pope. Pope John XII (955 - 964) is described in the Catholic encyclopaedia as a coarse, immoral man. The Catholic collection of the lives of the Popes, the “Liber Pontificalis” said: “He spent his entire life in adultery.” Catholic bishop Luitprand states that “he had no respect for single girls, married woman or widows - they were sure to be defiled by him.” Pope Boniface VII (984 - 985) John XII and Leo VIII were described by the Bishop of Orleans as “monsters of guilt, reeking in blood and filth.” Pope John XV (985 - 996) split the Churches finances among his relatives and was described as “covetous of filthy lucre and corrupt in all his acts.” Pope Benedict IX (1033 - 1045) committed murders and adulteries in broad daylight, robbed pilgrims and was regarded as a hideous criminal. The people drove him out of Rome: The Catholic encyclopaedia says, “He was a disgrace to the chair of Peter.” Pope Urban II (1088-1099) for many crimes against humanity. His worst was during 1096-1099 where approximately 10,000,000 innocent men, women and especially children were murdered and their property stolen under the legal approval of Pope “Blessed” Urban II. The wholesale slaughter of innocent people was for nothing more than greed which included Belgrade (1096), the chief city of Orthodox Church after Constantinople, Yugoslavia (1096), Turkey, Syria, Antioch (1098) and Palestine. Pope Adrian IV (1154-1159) receiving profits from crime. England Monarchs paid the Roman Catholic Church an annual fee for the “legal” and perpetual enslavement of Ireland by Papal Bull Laudabiliter until the time of Henry VIII. Pope Alexander III decreed in 1170 that wills had to be made in front of a priest, or excommunication (cutting off from Church and sentence to hell) would result. Pope Innocent III (1198 - 1216) promoted the Inquisition, surpassing all his predecessors in killing over one million people. Pope Boniface VIII (1294 - 1303) The Catholic encyclopaedia states, “Scarcely any possible crime was omitted - heresy, gross and unnatural immorality, idolatry, magic, simony ... his whole pontificate was one record of evil.” Dante visited Rome and described the Vatican as a “sewer of corruption” and assigned Boniface VII, Nicholas III and Clement V to the “lowest parts of hell.” He proposed to be an atheist and in 1302 issued the “Unum Sanctum” officially declaring the Roman Catholic Church as the only true Church, outside of which on one can be saved. Pope John XXIII (1410 - 1415) was accused by 37 clergy witnesses of fornication, adultery, incest, sodomy, simony, theft and murder. It was proved by a legion of witnesses that he had seduced and violated 300 nuns. He kept a harem at Boulogne of 200 girls. He was publicly called the devil incarnate. He has been called the most depraved criminal who ever sat on the papal throne. Pope Eugene IV (1431 - 1447) condemned Joan of Arc to be burned alive as a witch, but Pope Benedict IV (1919) declared her a saint. Pope Pius II (1458 - 1464) fathered many illegitimate children and taught others to do likewise. Pope Paul II (1464 - 1471) maintained a house full of concubines. Pope Sixtus IV (1471 - 1484) financed his wars by selling Church offices to the highest bidders. Pope Innocent VII (1484 - 1492) fathered 16 illegitimate children by various women. Pope Alexander VI (1492 - 1503) committed incest with his two sisters and daughter. On October 31, 1501 he conducted the worst ever sex orgy in the Vatican. Pope Paul III (1534 - 1549) as a cardinal fathered three sons and a daughter and sought advice from astrologers. Pope Leo X (1513 - 1521) the Catholic encyclopaedia says “was possessed by an insatiable love of pleasure, revelry and carousing.” Luther visited Rome and said: “No one can imagine what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome.” A saying was: “If there is a hell, Rome is built over it.” Pope Joan was a female Pope whose name was changed later to Pope Zacharias. Luther, on visiting Rome reported her statue in a back street, and John Huss referred to her in his defence as the Council of Constance and this went unchallenged. She died in childbirth while in a public procession. Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) for many crimes including political assassination. Pope Pius IX did authorize the funding and mission that resulted in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865. Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) of the single greatest crime against humanity in the history of all humanity (1939-1945). He handed to Hitler and Himmler a complete blueprint for the systematic elimination of key non-Catholic minorities across Europe as well as the establishment of death camps for their murder. He instructed that ethnic Jews and other heretics were not simply to be murdered but ritually sacrificed by being burnt alive, consistent with their Church law on the penalty of heresy. See quotes further below. He aided and abetted known war criminals (1946) such as personally ensuring the safety and escape of Ante Pavelic who was head of one of the most brutal and satanistic regimes in human history called the Croatian Ustashi. The Catholic Ustashi murdered at least 600,000 people in ways that can only be described as purely satanic including ritualistic cannibalism, crucifixion, live dismemberment, burning alive and excessive torture. The “great schism” of 1378 lasted 50 years, where Italian and French Popes cursed each other. Is this the same morally pure Church that Christ left to preach the gospel? When confronted with such evil papal history, the Catholic Church, which claims “infallibility”, teaches that “A sinful Pope ... remains a member of the Church, and ... from whom we may not withdraw obedience.” Catholic encyclopaedia Volume 4 page 435. Jesus said in Matthew 7:18, 20 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit ... by their fruits ye shall know them.” The following quote is the response from the Papal Church in regards to all the evil things that the Popes have done over the centuries. How could any man believe that we honour Christ with evil or obeying Satan or Satanic people. This makes a total mockery of Christianity and all that it represents. “Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him, but calmly lie down to rest on his bosom. He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death, for that which we do to him we do to Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the Pope; we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the Pope. I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: “They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!” But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the sake of God, and out of obedience to Him.” — St. Catherine of Siena, SCS, p. 201-202, p. 222, (quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 5: “The Book of Obedience”, Chapter 1: “There is No Salvation Without Personal Submission to the Pope”) So is this truly the sort of Church that God instituted? Or does the Bible show that God cannot accept sin and why He sent His Son to die for us? The only other alternative for God would be to abolish His law from the beginning so there would be no need for a Saviour. Murder and chaos could run ramped all over planet Earth and God could just sit back and smile and say, no problem! What do you think? The Catholic Church believe they have this authority and can change the Ten Commandment law of God. So perhaps they can explain why God did not save His beloved Son by saying to Adam and Eve in the beginning, “you can change my Ten Commandment law and then you can do whatever you want and sin and chaos can reign and I will not have to send my son to die for the world. After all, sin is the breaking of my Ten Commandment law (1 John 3:4) but if you change my law then you will have no need of a Saviour.” Who would want to live in a lawless world and worship a loveless God? The fact is our God of love cannot tolerate sin and no man can change the laws of the Creator that define what sin is! If this were true then the Papal Church could have abolished God's law and just done whatever they wanted. I suppose they have already done this to a large degree anyway since they claim infallibility and believe they have the right to murder and torture anyone who does not accept their doctrine. This is still happening in some areas of the world even today where they can get away with it and it was done on a large scale as little as 60 years ago. There is an enormous amount in the Old Testament about Israel profaning God's Sabbath day and this is one of the main reasons that God let Israel go into Babylonian captivity. God also said even before the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 16 that if we don't keep THE seventh day then we ARE NOT obeying any of His Commandments. There is so much on this and how important this day is to God and the amount God cares cannot be missed for anyone looking, yet we are supposed to think that suddenly God does not care anymore and we can just change this day and His laws and make any new Church rule that we want. This just becomes yet another means for Christians to avoid a special Commandment that defines that it is God we love and give our allegiance to. This is the only reason we have a seven day week. Move the day and we may as well have a six day week, which would represent man and his rebellion. Seven is God's number of perfection and completeness. The Catholic Church has much to be embarrassed about as seen from the above history on the Popes but it does not stop there. So openly corrupt was the Catholic Church that many noble people left in protest looking to Jesus Christ for salvation and to the Bible for truth while rejecting the false claims of the Popes. These were called heretics and bitterly opposed and tortured by the Roman Catholic Church. Here are some quotes from the Catholic Church on what they say should be done to what they define as a heretic. Would God really approve of this? Not a chance! Not even the majority of the secular world would accept this. Here is their definition of a heretic “Heretics (those who are not members of the Catholic Church or who do not hold to Catholic doctrine) worship a God who is a liar, and a Christ who is a liar.” — St. Augustine, (quoted in “Patrologiae Cursus Completus: Series Graca”, by Fr. J. P. Migne, Paris: 1866, 42:207). And this what they say should be done to heretics “When confronted with heresy, she (Catholic Church) does not content herself with persuasion, arguments of an intellectual and moral order appear to her insufficient, and she has recourse to force, to corporal punishment, to torture.” — The Rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris, H.M.A. Baudrillart, quoted in The Catholic Church, The Renassance, and Protestantism, p 182-183. “The church may by divine right confiscate the property of heretics, imprison their person, and condemn them to flames. In our age, the right to inflict the severest penalties, even death, belongs to the church. There is no graver offense than heresy, therefore it must be rooted out.” Public Eccliastical, Vol. 2, p.142. “A heretic merits the pains of fire....By the Gospel, the canons, civil law, and custom, heretics must be burned.” — The American Textbook of Popery, p 164 (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”). “The (Catholic) Church is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account we are bound to avoid them....Resist them in defense of the only true and life giving faith, which the Church has received from the Apostles and imparted to her sons.” — St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, (quoted in article “The Perennial Understanding of the Church”, by Saint Benedict Center). So how do you feel about torture? How many people in the world would say torture is acceptable in secular society yet alone a Church? These are certainly things that the evil powers of this world have done but to have this done by a Church is just beyond belief yet alone by one claiming to be God's true Church. The Catholic Church did not become the world's biggest Church by God's will but by the death and torture and horrific pain and suffering of millions of innocent Christians. This is the real truth on how the Catholic Church came to be so big and powerful. It was by the blood of millions and below are just a few scriptures that could be quoted that are referring to the blood of millions of innocent Christian saints that the Roman Catholic Church shed. For those who are not aware, a woman when used symbolically in the Bible represents a Church as the Church is the bride of Christ. The Catholic Church knows this also and is why she refers to HERSELF as SHE and HER etc as does God. Note also their following quote. “The Catholic Church alone, then, Christ calls His Spouse. The Church, therefore, is one; this cannot be said amongst any of those who are heretics or schismatics. The churches of every one of the heretics is prostituted; they are churches which Christ repudiates as unnecessary, since He is the Spouse of One Church.” — St. Optatus of Milevis, “Schism of the Donatists,” Book I, no's. 6, 10; LAF, vol. II; PL 11; CSL, vol. XXVI, Vienna: 1893; FOC, p.158, (quoted in The Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 4: “The Book of Christians”, Chapter 2: “Those Who Reject Christ's Church Are Anti-Christian”). Revelation 16:4-6 “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord, which are, and were, and shall be, because you have judged thus. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” Revelation 18:24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Revelation 19:1-2 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” Revelation 17:5-6 “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman [Church] 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.” When Israel committed spiritual adultery, God called His Church a “WHORISH WOMAN”, a “HARLOT” and a “WHORE” and accused her of “ADULTERY” and “FORNICATION.” See Ezekiel 16:26-32, Jeremiah 3:1-25. The Catholic Church is guilty of much worse than Israel. In a recent address to the nations, Pope Benedict caused a major uproar among many Churches as he referred to the Catholic Church as being the “MOTHER” Church and called for all the daughter Churches to come back to HER. A large percentage of the Churches today are called daughter Churches because they originally came from the Catholic Church. Sadly, many of the daughter Churches have also ignorantly inherited various false doctrines and this is why SHE is called the “MOTHER OF HARLOTS” and is Mystery Babylon. See also the origin of Babylon and sun worship. Revelation 17:1-6 “I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore [God calls an idolatrous Church a HARLOT and a WHORE and guilty of adultery and fornication:Ezekiel 16:26-32, Jeremiah 3:1-25] that sitteth upon many waters [symbolic of how literal Babylon was built over water:Revelation 17:15]: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication [false doctrines]. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman [Church:Scriptures] sit upon a scarlet [Sin:Isaiah 1:18 sinful because she changed God's law that defines sin] coloured beast [Kingdom:Daniel 7:17; 7:23], full of names of blasphemy [she has many blasphemous practices], having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman [Church] was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold [official Vatican colours, OT Priest robes ALSO had blue which represents God's law:Exodus 28:4-6; Numbers 15:38-40] and precious stones and pearls, [Vatican is filthy rich] having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, [very few understand what originated from this mystery Babylonian religion and where many of the traditions of the Catholic religion really started] BABYLON [God calls her Babylon because her paganism originated from literal Babylon See the origins of 666 for why God calls the Catholic Church Babylon] THE GREAT, THE MOTHER [Catholic Church calls herself the Mother Church] OF HARLOTS [many Churches came from her and ignorantly took on her pagan idolatrous practices] AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH [she is guilty of the most abominable crimes]. 6 And I saw the woman [Church] drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: [The Catholic Church murdered and tortured over 68,000,000 Christian saints].” Pope Innocent IV in 1252 approved torture and ordered civil authorities to burn “heretics” in the “Ad exstirpanda” Bull. This torture was reinforced by Popes Alexander IV, Clement IV, Nicholas IV, Boniface VIII and others from 1254 - 1303. An artistic representation of the medieval Inquisition, showing torture occurring during an auto de fe (circa 1495)Roman Catholic documents revealed that they murdered around 68,000,000 protesters from 1100 to 1800 AD when the Inquisition stopped. If this were what our God would approve of then I for one would not want anything to do with such a God. I thank my God that he is one of love and mercy that sent His son to die for me so I could have forgiveness for breaking His Ten Commandment law. The following torture devices were used against what they called heretics: Heavy pincers tore out fingernails The rack which stretched and dislocated joints Thumbscrews dislocated fingers Molten lead poured into ears and mouth Hanging “Spanish boots” crushed legs and feet The Iron virgin was a hollow metal case with knives inside, which pierced the victim placed in it Eyes gouged out Being forced to jump off cliffs onto sharp spikes below 100,000 Albigenses (Protestants) were massacred in one day in 1211, then burned in heaps Pope Pius IV sent the Italian army to massacre many women and children at Orange in 1562 Galileo was sent to a dungeon and publicly flogged because he believed that the earth moved around the sun. On 22 June 1663, Galileo had to fall on his knees to escape the cruel death ordered by Pope Urban VIII and sign a retraction “I abjure, curse and detest the error and heresy of the earth moving around the sun ... it is absurd, false and erroneous.” 10,000 Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed in Paris on St Bartholomew's Day and 75,000 the week after. The Huguenot wars killed 200,000 Protestants The “30 Years War” in Germany saw the population drop from 15 million to 5 million due to Catholic invading armies killing 900,000 protestants The Spanish Armada was sent to conquer Protestant England by Catholic King Philip of Spain. “Bad weather” destroyed this fleet off the coast of England. The inquisition was ordered by Papal decree and confirmed by Pope after Pope. Why did no Pope stop the inquisition torture? Jesus said “turn the other cheek”, “love and forgive our enemies”, and “do good to them that despitefully use us.” Was the Roman Church acting like Jesus Christ here? Truly, the Roman Church is “drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Revelation 17:6 Whenever Rome is refuted by a Bible verse, they reply: “That's just your interpretation”, meaning that no one can really interpret the Bible, so leave it up to Rome to be the authority rather than the Bible. It is a device to wrest authority from the Bible to Rome. Was Peter the first Pope? The whole structure of the Roman Church is built on the assumption that in Matthew 16:13-19, Christ appointed Peter to be the first Pope and so established the Papacy. If we destroy the Papacy of Peter, the foundation of the Papacy is destroyed along with the whole Roman hierarchy. Roman Catholicism claims several false doctrines from this passage: Peter is the first Pope with special spiritual supremacy over the Church This same spiritual authority has always resided in the Popes of Rome as being Peters successors (This idea is nowhere mentioned in Scripture) Christ built his Church on Peter. This is contrary to God's Word which says: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 Christ gave Peter keys to admit into heaven only those who came through the Roman Catholic Church Those not coming through the Roman Church would be bound in sin and unable to enter heaven Catholicism is saying that salvation is not in Christ but in Peter as the first of a succession of Popes. Peter is NOT the first Pope with supremacy over the Church because of these two reasons just to begin with: 1. At the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:13-19, the advice of James not Peter was sought and followed. James, not Peter was the spokesman who handed down the decision. Below are two Bible Commentaries on this point. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Albert Barnes (1798-1870) Act 15:13 James answered - James the Less, son of Alpheus. See the notes on Act_12:1. Hearken unto me - This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than that of Peter. It is possible that he might have been next in age (compare 1Co_15:7); and it seems morally certain that he remained for a considerable part of his life in Jerusalem, Act_12:17; Act_21:18; Gal_1:19; Gal_2:9, Gal_2:12. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832) Act 15:13 James answered - He was evidently president of the council, and is generally called bishop of Jerusalem. The rest either argued on the subject, or gave their opinion; James alone pronounced the definitive sentence. Had Peter been prince and head of the apostles, and of the Church, he would have appeared here in the character of judge, not of mere counsellor or disputant. Thy popish writers say that “James presided because the council was held in his own church.” These men forget that there was not then what they term a Church on the face of the earth. The Church, or assembly of believers, then met in private houses; for there was no building for the exclusive purpose of Christian worship then, nor till long after. These writers also forget that the Pope pretends to be the head of the catholic or universal Church; and, consequently, no man can preside where he is present, but himself. Peter did not preside here; and this was the first ecclesiastical council, and now, if ever, he should have assumed his character of prince and chief; but he did not; nor did any of the other apostles invite him to it, which they would have done had they thought that Jesus Christ constituted him head of the Church. From this very circumstance there is the most demonstrative evidence that Peter was no Pope, and that the right of his pretended successor is a nonentity. 2. If Peter was the first Pope, he would have had a greater position than all the other disciples. When the disciples discussed which of them was the greatest in Luke 22:24-27, Jesus had the best opportunity to affirm Peter's headship as the first Pope but Jesus simply said that the greatest shall be a servant of all. Thus Jesus showed no special papal leadership to Peter and nor should we. One would not find the disciples arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest if they understood Peter to have supremacy. This argument was also on the last night of Christ's earthly ministry but still there was no such understanding of Peter being supreme. Why not? Because it was not given. If it had been given in Matthew 16:18-19, then it would have been made clear now but Jesus says not so. See also the following Bible Commentary. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832) Mat 18:1 Who is the greatest - Could these disciples have viewed the kingdom of Christ in any other light than that of a temporal one? Hence they wished to know whom he would make his prime minister - whom his general - whom his chief chancellor - whom supreme judge, etc., etc. Is it he who first became thy disciple, or he who is thy nearest relative, or he who has most frequently entertained thee, or he who is the oldest, merely as to years? Could this inquiry have proceeded from any but the nine disciples who had not witnessed our Lord's transfiguration? Peter, James, and John, were surely more spiritual in their views! And yet how soon did even these forget that his kingdom was not of this world! See Mar_10:35, etc.; Joh_18:10, etc. The disciples having lately seen the keys delivered to Peter, and found that he, with James and John, had been privileged with being present at the transfiguration, it is no wonder if a measure of jealousy and suspicion began to work in their minds. From this inquiry we may also learn, that the disciples had no notion of Peter's supremacy; nor did they understand, as the Roman Catholics will have it, that Christ had constituted him their head, either by the conversation mentioned Mat_16:18, Mat_16:19, or by the act mentioned in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. Had they thought that any such superiority had been designed, their present question must have been extremely impertinent. Let this be observed. Was Peter the Rock? Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Christian profession in the Church Age) only in the sense that it was Peter who opened the door to Gospel preaching. When Peter opened the door, everybody from then on who received Christ as Saviour went into the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Peter's task was accomplished in Acts 2:14-36 where he first preached to the Jews, and in Acts 10:34-46 where he preached the gospel to Cornelius and his neighbours who were Gentiles. Peter thus had the honour of laying the foundation of the Church among the Jews and Gentiles and this is the plain meaning of Matthew 16:18. Jesus was not saying that Peter was the LITERAL foundation of the Church as we know that all scripture shows that Jesus is the rock and the foundation stone and anything else would be contradictory to many other scriptures such as Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:4-8. Building a Church literally upon any sinful man would only lead to collapse. There is no firmer foundation stone that Jesus Christ our Lord. Note that the Greek word used for Peter can be ROCK or STONE and that Jesus is also referred to as being either a ROCK or STONE. But note also that the Greek word used for stone in these instances is the same Greek word used for the stone that sealed the tomb of Jesus. Was this a rock or a stone? It can correctly be called either but certainly one could call this a rock. What about the corner foundation stone for a building? This is frequently called a stone in scripture but is it not also what one would call a rock? Of course. So let's not get too hung up on whether Peter means a ROCK or STONE. Peter himself (1 Peter 2:4) calls Christ a living stone and in 1 Peter 2:5 addresses the Church as living stones. In Revelation 21:14 the names of the twelve apostles appear in the twelve foundation-stones of the heavenly city and in Ephesians 2:20 referring to the Church, “And you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (i.e., laid by the apostles and prophets), Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” So we find that the Church is built upon the foundation of [ALL] the apostles and prophets with Jesus being the Rock and foundation stone. In the same context as Ephesians 2:20 we find that the initial foundation of the Church was laid by the preaching of Peter. So when Jesus said “and upon this rock”, He was speaking METAPHORICALLY. See Matthew 16:18 below and the Thayer dictionary definition for the Greek words used for both Peter and Rock. So the whole meaning of the passage is this: “I will make you the honored instrument of making known my gospel first to Jews and Gentiles, and I will make you a firm and distinguished preacher in establishing my Church.” Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto you, That you are Peter [G4074] , and upon this rock [G4073] I will build my church; and the gates of hell [hades] shall not prevail against it.' Thayer Dictionary definition for the Greek words Petros and Petra Thayer Definition: G4074 Πέτρος Petros Peter = “a rock or a stone” 1) one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Thayer Definition: G4073 πέτρα Petra 1a) a projecting rock, crag, rocky ground. 1b) a rock, a large stone 1c) metaphorically a man like a rock, by reason of his firmness and strength of soul The Greek word Petros occurs a total 162 times in the Bible and always translates to Peter with the exception of John 1:42 which is still referring to Peter as meaning a STONE or ROCK. “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon [Peter] the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” The Greek word Petra occurs a total of 16 times in the Bible and always translates to Rock. The only scriptures that use this word metaphorically as does Matthew 16:18 is 1 Corinthians 10:4, which is beyond any doubt whatsoever referring to Jesus Christ as the rock. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” After studying the above table you will find that if Matthew 16:18 was not speaking metaphorically as Peter being the rock, then it has to be referring to Jesus Christ as the rock rather than Peter, which cannot be ruled out conclusively. So Matthew 16:18 could be further paraphrased as follows to make its meaning even clearer: “Thou art a rock. Thou hast shown thyself to have firmness and strength of soul, and metaphorically like a rock and so suitable for the work of laying the foundation of the Church. Upon thee will I build it. Thou shalt be highly honoured; thou shalt be first in making known the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.” Peter was given the privilege of being the first person to preach the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile and so Peter opened the door to the first Church and why it was said that he had the keys to the kingdom. Not literal keys of course but just that he would be first to preach the Gospel and establish the beginnings of the Church. The Meaning of Binding and Loosing – Matthew 16:19 Regardless of the meaning of Matthew 16:18 and who the Church was built on, the real issue lies in any authority given and who it was given to. Was it given to Peter exclusively and was he given the authority to lay down new Church doctrine? So let's have a closer look at the rest of the passage in question and find out what it really says. The King James Version had serious trouble with the translation in regards to binding and loosing and so other translations are also given below to show how it should have been translated. If we had any Greek scholar translate this passage in Matthew very literally, it would read, “…whatever you loose on earth shall having been loosed in heaven.” This shows that Peter was not to decide a matter thus binding heaven to his decision. It means that his decision would be in line with what God's mind was already on the issue. It is also a known fact that the true meaning of bind and loose is the authority to declare what God's mind is on a matter of doctrine or practice. This is what the early Church did in Acts 15. To bind means to forbid or be unlawful and to loose is to permit or be lawful. The FUTURE TENSE (shall having been bound or loose) shows that this authority is only valid when used in submission to Christ's Word or teaching. It does not give the Church the authority to make up new teachings later in Church history. Note the ISV Bible, which translated these to words so that their meaning could not be misunderstood as some apply it incorrectly to binding demons. But most importantly note the future tense in the YLT, ISV, NASB, MKJV, ALT and AMP Bible translations, i.e., what was done on Earth was following Heavens lead and NOT the other way round. There are many Bible translations that got this correct and this puts an end to the reasoning that the Roman Catholic Church use to claim their supposed authority. How could anyone really believe that God would allow sinful man to change and decide His laws that define SIN and make up their own Church rules? God gave us His Holy Word for this very purpose. The Papal system and their absurd belief make a mockery of Christianity, and the Bible an obsolete book. Parenthesis are added. See also what does Binding and Loosing mean. Matthew 16:18-19 KJV “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell [Hades/grave] shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind [forbid] on earth shall [already] be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose [permit] on earth shall [already] be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 YLT “and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.” Matthew 16:19 ISV “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 NASB “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 MKJV “And I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven to you. And whatever you may bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.” Matthew 16:19 ALT “And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on the earth will have been bound in the heavens; and whatever you loose on the earth will have been loosed in the heavens.” Matthew 16:19 AMP “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.” Let's continue by looking at a couple of Bible Commentaries. I believe this first one by Albert Barnes (1798-1870) is the correct interpretation of this passage and is very solid and requires no manipulation of the passage and lines up with all other scripture including Matthew 18:18, which seems to be often overlooked that shows Peter undoubtedly was NOT made supreme above the other Apostles. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Albert Barnes (1798-1870) Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter - The word “Peter,” in Greek, means “a rock.” It was given to Simon by Christ when he called him to be a disciple, Joh_1:42 Cephas is a Syriac word, meaning the same as Peter - a rock, or stone. The meaning of this phrase may be thus expressed: “Thou, in saying that I am the Son of God, hast called me by a name expressive of my true character. I, also, have given to thee a name expressive of your character. I have called you Peter, a rock, denoting firmness, solidity, stability, and your confession has shown that the name is appropriate. I see that you are worthy of the name, and will be a distinguished support of my religion.” And upon this rock ... This passage has given rise to many different interpretations. Some have supposed that the word “rock” refers to Peter's confession, and that Jesus meant to say, upon this rock, this truth that thou hast confessed, that I am the Messiah and upon confessions of this from all believers, I will build my church. Confessions like this shall be the test of piety, and in such confessions shall my church stand amid the flames of persecution, the fury of the gates of hell. Others have thought that Jesus referred to himself. Christ is called a rock, Isa_28:16; 1Pe_2:8. And it has been thought that he turned from Peter to himself, and said, “Upon this rock, this truth that I am the Messiah - upon myself as the Messiah, I will build my church.” Both these interpretations, though plausible, seem forced upon the passage to avoid the main difficulty in it. Another interpretation is, that the word “rock” refers to Peter himself. This is the obvious meaning of the passage; and had it not been that the Church of Rome has abused it, and applied it to what was never intended, no other interpretation would have been sought for. “Thou art a rock. Thou hast shown thyself firm, and suitable for the work of laying the foundation of the church. Upon thee will I build it. Thou shalt be highly honored; thou shalt be first in making known the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.” This was accomplished. See Acts 2:14-36, where he first preached to the Jews, and Acts 10, where he preached the gospel to Cornelius and his neighbors, who were Gentiles. Peter had thus the honor of laying the foundation of the church among the Jews and Gentiles; and this is the plain meaning of this passage. See also Gal_2:9. But Christ did not mean, as the Roman Catholics say he did, to exalt Peter to supreme authority above all the other apostles, or to say that he was the only one upon whom he would rear his church. See Acts 15, where the advice of James, and not that of Peter, was followed. See also Gal_2:11, where Paul withstood Peter to his face, because he was to be blamed - a thing which could not have happened if Christ (as the Roman Catholics say) meant that Peter was absolute and infallible. More than all, it is not said here, or anywhere else in the Bible, that Peter would have infallible successors who would be the vicegerents of Christ and the head of the church. The whole meaning of the passage is this: “I will make you the honored instrument of making known my gospel first to Jews and Gentiles, and I will make you a firm and distinguished preacher in building my church.” Commentary by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven — the kingdom of God about to be set up on earth and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven — Whatever this mean, it was soon expressly extended to all the apostles (Mat_18:18); so that the claim of supreme authority in the Church, made for Peter by the Church of Rome, and then arrogated to themselves by the Popes as the legitimate successors of St. Peter, is baseless and impudent. As first in confessing Christ, Peter got this commission before the rest; and with these “keys,” on the day of Pentecost, he first “opened the door of faith” to the Jews, and then, in the person of Cornelius, he was honored to do the same to the Gentiles. Hence, in the lists of the apostles, Peter is always first named. See on Mat_18:18. One thing is clear, that not in all the New Testament is there the vestige of any authority either claimed or exercised by Peter, or conceded to him, above the rest of the apostles - a thing conclusive against the Romish claims in behalf of that apostle. Binding and Loosing – Matthew 18:18 This is the second and final mention of binding and loosing in the book of Matthew and the entire Bible. In the following scriptures, Jesus is talking to all his apostles, and so the authority of binding and loosing, which was first bestowed upon Simon Peter in Matthew 16:19 is now being given to ALL the apostles. Even if one were to debate the translation issue of the passages concerned, it can not be ignored that this authority to bind and loose was not just given to Peter alone but was bestowed upon all the Apostles. Matthew 18:18 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind [forbid] on earth shall [already] be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose [permit] on earth shall [already] be loosed in heaven.” Below are four Bible Commentaries that had no trouble in seeing that Peter was given no supreme rights above all the other Apostles, which is made perfectly clear by Matthew 18:18. To this there can be no doubt. The Papal Church is in error and this verse alone destroys the entire foundation of the Papacy along with the whole Roman hierarchy. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible. Albert Barnes (1798-1870) Mat 18:18 Whatsoever ye shall bind ... - See the notes at Mat_16:19. These words were spoken to the apostles. Jesus had before addressed the same words to Peter, Mat_16:19. He employs them here to signify that they all had the same power; that in ordering the affairs of the church he did not intend to give Peter any supremacy or any exclusive right to regulate it. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Dr. John Gill (1690-1771) Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you,.... To them all, what he had said before to Peter; See Gill on Mat_16:19, what is said here, refers to things and not persons, as there also. Commentary by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven — Here, what had been granted but a short time before to Peter only (see on Mat_16:19) is plainly extended to all the Twelve; so that whatever it means, it means nothing peculiar to Peter, far less to his pretended successors at Rome. The People's New Testament (1891) by B. W. Johnson Mat 18:18 What things soever ye shall bind. What was said to Peter (Mat_16:19) is addressed to all the apostles. It is spoken to all a second time (Joh_20:23). All had the keys as well as Peter. So was Peter the first so called Pope? Besides all the above information and by their own admissions the answer is NO because: Peter was married and they say Popes cannot be married. In Matthew 8:14-15 Jesus healed Peter's mother in law. “When Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his WIFE'S MOTHER laid, and sick of a fever.” and 1 Corinthians 9:5 “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a WIFE, as well as ... Cephas (Peter)?” Peter would not allow men to bow down to him as he forbad Cornelius in Acts 10:25-26. “Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. Peter ... said stand up; I myself am a man.” The Pope likes men to bow down before them. Peter rejected the “tradition from your fathers.” (1 Peter 1:18), yet the Catholic Church and Popes base their teachings on man's traditions. Peter wore no crown as the Pope does. Peter had no wealth as the Pope has: “Peter said, silver and gold have I none ...” Acts 3:6. Peter never ACTED like a Pope, never DRESSED like a Pope, never SPOKE like a Pope and people never APPROACHED him as a Pope. Peter never took to himself the title “PONTIFIX MAXIMUS” as all the Popes willingly accept as seen by the initials P.M. after their names in the Vatican. This was a title of the pagan Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar's time on. It means “Chief Bridge Maker between earth and heaven.” This is a name of blasphemy for a man to take and Peter never saw himself as such. Jesus Christ is the only Bridge Maker between earth and heaven. (John 1:51) Catholic Church error and was Peter the first Pope Conclusion: Referencing 1 Peter 4:14, Christians in history who were reproached for the name of Christ, were martyred, glorifying Christ by their death. The Roman Catholic Church who martyred these Christians for their love and faith in Christ are referred to as “on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” The Roman Catholic Church speaks evil of Christ in the following way: People are turned from trusting Christ's Word to trusting Catholic ideas and tradition as the guide to life. (Mark 7:6-9) People are turned from confessing sins directly to Christ as mediator to confessing sins to a priest as mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5, Luke 5:20-21) People are turned from trusting Christ alone to save them and to trust in Church sacraments and good works to save them. People are turned from trusting Christ as the sole sufficient Saviour to trusting a wafer that is said to become Christ. People are told to pray to saints instead of praying to Christ. People are pointed to fear a nonexistent purgatory at death instead of looking to Christ lovingly welcoming them into heaven. People are pointed to pray to Mary as merciful and are turned away from praying to Christ as harsh, unwelcoming and unapproachable. People are pointed to statues, medals and images to protect them instead of trusting Christ for protection. People are pointed to do works of penance and contrition to regain God's favour instead of accepting Christ's promise of forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) People are pointed to Peter as the Rock on which the Church is based and are turned away from Christ as the Rock. People are pointed to Popes as pontiff (bridge builder) instead of Christ as the only bridge to heaven. (John 14:6) People are told to believe Catholic doctrine and Papal infallibility and to reject Christ's speaking to their consciences about Rome's errors and evils. All of this is speaking evil of Christ, His Word and His work. The Roman Catholic influence in the New International Version has resulted in part of 1 Peter 4:14 being omitted. See first tool tip above. By turning people from Christ to other things, truly the Catholic Church is speaking evil of Christ and one more reason they can be justly called antichrist. As we have seen, the Roman Catholic Church is not only what the Bible shows to be antichrist but also Mystery Babylon. They have many false doctrines and they were a torturous and murderous Church for hundreds of years while they ruled as Church and state until their reign of terror ended at the specified prophetic time. Unfortunately the Bible says they are coming back to enforce the mark of the beast. I hope all Catholics reading this will see that this Church is not only detestable to God but is also a Church that God is going to destroy in the end for her many false doctrines and crimes. God knows that he has many faithful children in the Roman Catholic Church and why in Revelation 18:4 we find a call from God for Catholics to come out of her. See also Battle of Armageddon, who is the Antichrist and America and the Antichrist. There are many more false doctrines that could be covered in detail but I am hoping this will not be necessary. If the harassing emails continue to flow, we may have to consider adding more but I would hope that no sane person could ever after reading all the above information consider that this Church could be the true Church of God. See also the remnant Church for what God's true Church is really like according to the Bible and the Bible alone. Will Pope John Paul II be in the heavenly kingdom? The Pope NEVER spoke of being “Born Again.” The Pope NEVER made any public profession of faith ALONE in Jesus Christ. On the contrary, Pope John Paul II placed his faith in the traditions and manmade doctrines of the Papal Catholic religion. There is absolutely NOTHING in the King James Bible (or the Catholic Bible) about keeping the Seven Sacraments to get to heaven...absolutely nothing! There is absolutely NOTHING in the Word of God about the Immaculate Conception of Mary. There is absolutely NOTHING in the Bible about the Rosary or praying to God through Mary. There is absolutely nothing in the Bible about priests being celibate. Matthew 23:9 outright forbids calling any priest “Father.” So why do Catholics do it?...because they are being taught the commandments of men. Mark 7:6-9 “Jesus answered them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: 'These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!' “You put aside God's command and obey human teachings.” And Jesus continued, “You have a clever way of rejecting God's law in order to uphold your own teaching.” Religion may make a person feel comfortable and righteous but God reminds us that “all our righteousness are as filthy rages.” Isaiah 64:6. Nicodemus was one of the most religious men in all Israel, yet he needed to be born again. Religion is man's efforts to reach God by good works and sacraments but salvation is trusting in Jesus Christ's blood sacrifice on the cross as the full payment for our sins. You can be religious, yet not saved and still burn in hell fire. Choose to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour and you will then become a son of the living God. God says in Revelation 18:4 “COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” There are seven possible reasons why some people choose to remain in the Roman Catholic Church: Lack of knowledge or understanding of the Word of God Fear of rejection by family and friends Fear of going against their ancestors Fear of becoming a social outcast Out of Habit Fear of change to the unknown Fear of going to hell (like Catholic teachings of nonexistent purgatory) Choose Christ to save you rather than a Church and the Bible to guide you rather than a man made system. See also is there idolatry in the Roman Catholic Church?