Post by nathanb on Oct 29, 2007 13:41:41 GMT -5
The City of Babylon (Confusion); The Beast (Government); The sleeper (false bride)!
(Revelation 13:1-7) And I, (John the Apostle), stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a Beast (Government) rise up out of the Sea (Mass of humanity), having seven (7) heads (Completeness) and ten (10) horns (World Power as a whole), and upon his horns ten (10) crowns and on his heads the name of Blasphemy!
The Beast (government) which I saw was like unto the Leopard (Savage); and his feet were as the feet of the Bear (Cruelty); and his mouth as the mouth of the a Lion (Fear): and the Dragon Gave him his Power, and his Seat and Great Authority...It was given to him (the Beast) to make War with the Saints, and to overcome them: and Power was given him over All inhabitants of the earth, who will worship the Beast, All whose names are not written in the book of life...
The Red Dragon in (Revelation 12: 9-17) is Clearly Satan who Deceives the Whole World. (Rev. 13) introduces us to Two Beasts, through which Satan establishes control over the multitudes of earth's people. The First beast seems to be a Political Figure, and the Second beast appears to be a Religious Figure. Both receive their Power and Direction from Satan, the Great Deceiver and Imitator. However, the resemblance to the Leopard, Bear, and Lion may very well be in Nonphysical Characteristics, such as being a Cunning hunter, someone who Camouflages himself well in his setting.
(Revelation 17) provides greater insight into more detail regarding the demise of the religious system called Mystery of Babylon the Great! (Rev.17: 5; 14: 8). The Political/Economic system represented by the city of Babylon (Rev. 16:19). These Two systems are run by the False Prophets (Lamb/Beast) and the Antichrist (Leopard/Beast) respectively.
The great sleeper or Prostitute (Rev. 17:1) who sits on Many Waters is the worldwide ecumenical religious system that develops during the Gentiles area, the gospel of Grace (31/2 years, 42 months, 1260 days) and is led by the false prophets (who receives his power from Satan). Her name is Mystery of Babylon the Great (Rev. 17:5). The Many waters are the multitude of People on the earth who are deceived and led into Spiritual adultery through this Worldly religion, which requires worshiping the Antichrist instead of the One True Christ.
The angel makes this clear to John the Apostle in (A.D.95) (Rev. 17: 5) "the waters you Saw, where the Prostitute sits, Are People, Multitudes, Nations and Languages." The Prostitute (the false prophets and the entire ungodly system) is seated on a scarlet beast (the Empire in which the Great sleeper plays an important part), with seven (7) heads (Completeness) and ten (10) horns (World Power, as a Whole) covered with blasphemous names.
Remember, that Satan is the Power behind these Two Beasts and that they are working in Partnership. John the Apostle explained his vision of the Lamb/Beast "who exercised All Authority of the First beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast." (Rev.13: 12).
The False prophet and her idolatrous Religious System---Mystery Babylon--- are dressed in Purple and Scarlet and fine Jewels, the Pay received for her prostitution. Purple and Scarlet are often the colors worn by Rulers and Religious Leaders, and the fine Jewels likely represented the Wealth the false religion collects and lavishes selfishly on the false prophets. She is holding a golden cup filled with abominations and filthiness. She is the Mother of ALL abomination, and is drunk with the Blood of the Saints. Here again we see Satan, the Great Imitator, at work trying to make his Lamb/Beast Look and Act like the Bride of Christ
Roman Empire Fell A.D 476. But in the Name of Christ, and by the Aid of the Church of Rome, Came to Life Again! Papal Rome ruled the World on Vast extent, and for a longer Time, and with a more Despotic hand, than ever Pagan Rome had done, or any World Power before it. Ministers became Priests. The term "Priest" was not applied to Christian ministers before A.D. 200. It was borrowed from the Jewish system, and from the example of heathen Priesthood. (Leo I 440-461) Prohibited priests from marrying and Celibacy of priests became a law of the Roman Church.
~~~~ The Papacy is an Italian Institution. It arose on the Ruins of the Roman Empire, in the name of Christ occupying the Throne of the Caesars, a Revile of the Image of the Roman Empire inheriting the Spirit thereof; "The Ghost of the Roman Empire come to Life in the Grab of Christianity." The Popes mostly have been Italians. The Papacy's methods. It brought itself to Power through the Prestige of Rome, and the Name of Christ, and by shrewd Political Alliances, and by Deception, and by Armed Force and Bloodshed has maintained itself in power.
~~~~ Papal revenues: Through a large part of its history the Papacy, by the sale of ecclesiastical office, and its shameless traffic in Indulgences, has received vast revenues that enable it to maintain, for much of the time the most Luxurious Court in Europe. Personal character of the Popes: some of the Popes have been good men; some of them unspeakably vile, the most of them have been absorbed in the Pursuit of Secular Power.
~~~~ Papal claims: Yet, in spite of the Characters of the general run of Popes, their methods, and the Secular and Bloody record of the Papacy, these "Holy Fathers" claim that they are the "Vicars of Christ," "Infallible," and that they "hold on this earth the place of Almighty God," and that Obedience to Them is Necessary to Salvation.
~~ Many of the information above are found in the Halley's Bible Handbook.
he Roman Catholic Church and the last days: by Dave Hunt.
Chapter 6. (Revelation 17:18,9) John the Apostle wrote, "The Woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth...Here is the mind which hath Wisdom: The seven (7) Heads are seven (7) Mountains on which the Woman sitteth."
The woman rides the Beast, and that Woman is a city built on seven (7) Hills that reign over the kings of the earth! The Woman is a City! Furthermore, She is a city built on seven (7) Hills. That city is Rome. Only One City has, for more than 2000 years, been known as the City on Seven Hills. That City is Rome. The Catholic Encyclopedia states, "It is within the City of Rome, Called the City of Seven Hills, that the Entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined."
Even Catholic apologist Karl Keating admits that Rome has long been known as Babylon. Keating claims that Peter's statement "The church here in Babylon... sends you her greeting" (I Peter 5:13) proves that Peter was writing from Rome. Babylon is a Code Word for Rome.
Who is the sleeper? The first thing we are told about the woman is that she is a "sleeper" (Rev. 17:1), that earthly kings "have committed fornication" with her (Verse 2), and that "All the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Verse 3). Fornication and adultery are used in the Bible in both physical and the spiritual sense. That city is Rome, more specifically Vatican City. She claims to have been the worldwide headquarters of Christianity since it's beginning and maintains that claim to this day. Her Pope enthroned in Rome claims to be the exclusive representative of God, the Vicar of Christ. Rome is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Number of the Beast "666". (Rev.13: 10-18)... The beast (World Government) causes ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive the Mark in their hand (Worship), or in their foreheads (Minds) that no man might buy or sell, except he had the mark of the, or the name of the Beast, or the Number of his name... For it is a number of a Man and his number is "666". This number represents the name of a Man, or possibly a Group of men, or an Institution headed by a man or group of men. It seems to mean a Name, the letters of which, when regarded as numerals, total "666".
Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp, who was a pupil of John the Apostles, who saw the vision, understood the "666" to be the Greek word "Latenios": L, 30: A, 1: T, 300: E, 5: I, 10: N, 50: S, 200. These total "666" "Latenios" means "Latin Kingdom." Papal Rome made Latin its official language. And it still is Rome Cannon, Missals, prayers, decrees, bulls, blessings, cursings, are in Latin.
The significance, then, is that the beast, powerful as he is, and no matter how powerful, he may become is still NOT powerful as God.
In Bed with the Rulers! Not only does Rome's Pope call himself the Vicar of Christ, but the Church he heads claims to be the One True Church and the Bride of Christ. Christ's bride, who hopes to join her Bridegroom in heaven, is to have no earthly ambitions. Yet the Vatican is obsessed with earthly enterprise and in furtherance of these goals it has been, exactly as John the Apostle foresaw (in his vision in 95 A.D. on the island of Patmos), engaged in adulterous relationship with the kings of the earth.
Pope has long claimed dominion over the world and its people. Pope Gregory XI Papal Bull or 1372 claimed Papal dominion over the entire Christian World, Secular and Religious, and Excommunicate ALL who failed to Obey the Popes and to Pay them Taxes. In Coena was confirmed by subsequent Popes and in 1568 Pope Pius V swore that it was to remain an eternal Law.
Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) claimed that all discovered land belongs to the Roman Pontiff, for him to dispose of as he pleased in the name of Christ as His Vicar. John II of Portugal was convinced that Pontifex the Pope had granted all that Columbus discovered exclusively to him and his country. Thus Papal grant, Africa went to Portugal and to the America to Spain.
There was a condition, of course: "To the intent to bring the inhabitants...to profess the Catholic Faith." It was largely Central and South America, which, as a consequence of this Unholy alliance between Church and State, had Roman Catholicism, forced upon them by the Sword and remains Catholic to this day. North America was spared the dominance of the Roman Catholicism because largely Protestants settled it.
Nor have the descendants of Aztec, Incas, and Mayas forgotten that Roman Catholic Priests, back by secular Sword, gave their ancestors the choice of conversion (Which often meant Slavery) or Death. They made such on outcry when John Paul II in a recent visit to Latin America proposed elevating Junipero Serra, (a major 18th century enforcer of Catholicism among the Indians) to sainthood that the Pope was force to hold the ceremony in secret.
Christ said, "My Kingdom is not of this world; otherwise my Servants would fight." The Popes, however, have fought with Armies and Navies in the name of Christ to build a Huge Kingdom, which is very much of this world. And to amass their earthly Empire they have repeatedly engaged in spiritual fornications with emperors, kings, and princes. Claiming to be the Bride of Christ, the Roman Catholic Church has been in bed with godless rulers down through history, and these adulterous relationships continue to this day.
Wealth from ill-gotten gain! (Rev. 17:4)
The incredible wealth of this Prostitute caught John's attention next. She was dressed "In Purple and Scarlet color, and Decked with gold and precious Stones and Pearls, having golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornications." The colors of Purple and Scarlet once again identify the Prostitute Woman with Both Pagan and Christian Rome.
The Woman's colors are literally still the colors of the Catholic clergy! Catholic Encyclopedia quoted above states. Cappa Magna: "A cloak with a long train and a hooted shoulder cape it was Purple wool for Bishops; for Cardinals, it was Scarlet water silk (for Advent, Lent, Good Friday, and the conclave, purple wool); and for the Pope, it was Red velvet for Christmas martins, Red serge at other times."
Rome has practiced Evil to gather her Wealth, for the "Golden cup" is filled with "abominations and filthiness." Much of the wealth of Roman Catholic Church was acquired through the confiscation of the Property of the pitiful Victims of the Inquisitions. Even the dead were exhumed to face trial and the Church took property from their heirs. One historian writes: "The punishment of the Inquisition did not cease when the Victim was burned to ashes, or immured for life in the Inquisition dungeons. His relatives were reduced to beggary by the law that all his possessions were forfeited. The System offered unlimited opportunities for loot..." (William S.Kerr, A handbook of the Papacy)
Those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installations plan for themselves or loved ones have paid untold billions of dollars to her. The practice continues to this day---blatantly where Catholicism is in control, less obviously here in the United States.
There are further abominations of Corrupt banking practices, laundering of drugs money, trading in counterfeit securities, and dealings with the Mafia (fully documents in police and court records), which the Vatican and her representatives around the world have long employed.
Nino Lo Bello, former business Week correspondent in Rome and Rome bureau chief for New York Journal of Commerce, writes that the Vatican is so Closely allied with the Mafia in Italy "many people believe that Sicily is nothing more than a Vatican building." (Nino Lo Bello, the Vatican Empire, Trident press, 1968; David A. Yallop, in God's name, Bantam Books, 1984; Richard Hammers, the Vatican Connection, Penguin books, 1983)
The Roman Catholic Church is by far the Wealthiest Institution on earth. Yes, one hears from Rome periodic Pleas for money---persuasive appeals, claiming that the Vatican cannot maintan itself on its limited budget and needs monetary assistance.
Such pleas are unconscionable ploys. The value of innumerable sculptures by such masters as Michelangelo, paintings by the world's greatest artists, and countless other art Treasures and Ancient documents which Rome possesses (not only at the Vatican but in Cathedrals around the world) is Beyond Calculation. At the World Synod of Bishops in Rome, England's Cardinal Heenan proposed that the Church sell some of these Superfluous Treasures and give the proceeds to the Poor. His suggestion was not Well-received.
Christ told His disciples to live in Poverty. He told His disciples not to lay up treasures on this earth but in Heaven. The Roman Catholic's have disobeyed that command and have accumulated a Plethora of riches. There is no Church, no City, which is a spiritual entity, no Religious institution past, or present, which comes close to possessing the Wealth of the Roman Catholic Church.
Drunk with the Martyr's blood. (Rev. 17:6). John the Apostles (95 A.D.) notices that the Prostitute Woman is drunk---and not with Alcoholic beverages. She is drunk with "The blood of the Saints, and with blood of Martyrs of Jesus." The picture is a horrible one. It is not merely her hands that are Red with this blood, but she is drunk with it!
One thinks immediately of the Inquisition, which for Centuries held Europe in their terrible grip. In his History of the Inquisition, Canon Llorentte, who was a secretary to the Inquisition in Madrid from 1790-1792 and his access to the archives of all the tribunals, estimated that in Spain alone the number of condemned exceed 3 millions, with about 300,000 burned at the stake. (R.W. Thompson, the Papacy and the Civil Power, New York, 1876). A Catholic historian comments upon events leading up to the suppression of the Spanish Inquisition in 1809.
"When Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808, a Polish officer in his army, Colonel Lemanouski, reported that the Dominicans (in charge of the Inquisition) blockaded themselves in their monastery in Marid. When Lemanouski's troops forced an entry, the Inquisitions denied the existence of any torture chambers.
The soldiers searched the monastery and discovered them under the floors. The chambers were full of prisoners, all naked, many insane. The French troops, use to cruelty and blood, could not stomach the sight. They emptied the torture-chambers, laid the gun powder to the monastery and blew up the place.
"The most ghastly abomination of all was the system of torture. The accounts of it cold-blood operations make one shudder at the capacity of human beings for cruelty. And it was decreed and regulated by the Popes who claim to represent Christ on the earth."
"Careful notes, were taken not only of all that was confessed by the victim, but of his shrieks, cries, lamentations, broken interjections and Appeals for mercy. The most moving things in the literature of the Inquisition are not the accounts of their sufferings left by the victims but the sober memoranda kept by the officers of the tribunals. We were distressed and horrified just because there is no intentions to shock us." The remnants of some of the Chambers of horror remain in Europe and may visit today.
The information below is found in www.tcsn.net/fbchurch/fbctruth.htm. As for the claims of the Roman Catholic Church that its history can be traced back to Jesus Christ. The true Church of Jesus Christ was not founded upon Peter, but upon Peter's confession of Christ deity as recorded in (Matthew 16:16 "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Peter was not the first Pope, nor is there any scriptural justification whatever for such an office. Peter's own inspired testimony, as to his position and ministry, is given (I Peter 5:1-4). He then identifies himself in (II Peter 1:1) as "a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ..." History confirms the fact that there were no Popes in the early churches during the first centuries.
(Revelation 13:1-7) And I, (John the Apostle), stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a Beast (Government) rise up out of the Sea (Mass of humanity), having seven (7) heads (Completeness) and ten (10) horns (World Power as a whole), and upon his horns ten (10) crowns and on his heads the name of Blasphemy!
The Beast (government) which I saw was like unto the Leopard (Savage); and his feet were as the feet of the Bear (Cruelty); and his mouth as the mouth of the a Lion (Fear): and the Dragon Gave him his Power, and his Seat and Great Authority...It was given to him (the Beast) to make War with the Saints, and to overcome them: and Power was given him over All inhabitants of the earth, who will worship the Beast, All whose names are not written in the book of life...
The Red Dragon in (Revelation 12: 9-17) is Clearly Satan who Deceives the Whole World. (Rev. 13) introduces us to Two Beasts, through which Satan establishes control over the multitudes of earth's people. The First beast seems to be a Political Figure, and the Second beast appears to be a Religious Figure. Both receive their Power and Direction from Satan, the Great Deceiver and Imitator. However, the resemblance to the Leopard, Bear, and Lion may very well be in Nonphysical Characteristics, such as being a Cunning hunter, someone who Camouflages himself well in his setting.
(Revelation 17) provides greater insight into more detail regarding the demise of the religious system called Mystery of Babylon the Great! (Rev.17: 5; 14: 8). The Political/Economic system represented by the city of Babylon (Rev. 16:19). These Two systems are run by the False Prophets (Lamb/Beast) and the Antichrist (Leopard/Beast) respectively.
The great sleeper or Prostitute (Rev. 17:1) who sits on Many Waters is the worldwide ecumenical religious system that develops during the Gentiles area, the gospel of Grace (31/2 years, 42 months, 1260 days) and is led by the false prophets (who receives his power from Satan). Her name is Mystery of Babylon the Great (Rev. 17:5). The Many waters are the multitude of People on the earth who are deceived and led into Spiritual adultery through this Worldly religion, which requires worshiping the Antichrist instead of the One True Christ.
The angel makes this clear to John the Apostle in (A.D.95) (Rev. 17: 5) "the waters you Saw, where the Prostitute sits, Are People, Multitudes, Nations and Languages." The Prostitute (the false prophets and the entire ungodly system) is seated on a scarlet beast (the Empire in which the Great sleeper plays an important part), with seven (7) heads (Completeness) and ten (10) horns (World Power, as a Whole) covered with blasphemous names.
Remember, that Satan is the Power behind these Two Beasts and that they are working in Partnership. John the Apostle explained his vision of the Lamb/Beast "who exercised All Authority of the First beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast." (Rev.13: 12).
The False prophet and her idolatrous Religious System---Mystery Babylon--- are dressed in Purple and Scarlet and fine Jewels, the Pay received for her prostitution. Purple and Scarlet are often the colors worn by Rulers and Religious Leaders, and the fine Jewels likely represented the Wealth the false religion collects and lavishes selfishly on the false prophets. She is holding a golden cup filled with abominations and filthiness. She is the Mother of ALL abomination, and is drunk with the Blood of the Saints. Here again we see Satan, the Great Imitator, at work trying to make his Lamb/Beast Look and Act like the Bride of Christ
Roman Empire Fell A.D 476. But in the Name of Christ, and by the Aid of the Church of Rome, Came to Life Again! Papal Rome ruled the World on Vast extent, and for a longer Time, and with a more Despotic hand, than ever Pagan Rome had done, or any World Power before it. Ministers became Priests. The term "Priest" was not applied to Christian ministers before A.D. 200. It was borrowed from the Jewish system, and from the example of heathen Priesthood. (Leo I 440-461) Prohibited priests from marrying and Celibacy of priests became a law of the Roman Church.
~~~~ The Papacy is an Italian Institution. It arose on the Ruins of the Roman Empire, in the name of Christ occupying the Throne of the Caesars, a Revile of the Image of the Roman Empire inheriting the Spirit thereof; "The Ghost of the Roman Empire come to Life in the Grab of Christianity." The Popes mostly have been Italians. The Papacy's methods. It brought itself to Power through the Prestige of Rome, and the Name of Christ, and by shrewd Political Alliances, and by Deception, and by Armed Force and Bloodshed has maintained itself in power.
~~~~ Papal revenues: Through a large part of its history the Papacy, by the sale of ecclesiastical office, and its shameless traffic in Indulgences, has received vast revenues that enable it to maintain, for much of the time the most Luxurious Court in Europe. Personal character of the Popes: some of the Popes have been good men; some of them unspeakably vile, the most of them have been absorbed in the Pursuit of Secular Power.
~~~~ Papal claims: Yet, in spite of the Characters of the general run of Popes, their methods, and the Secular and Bloody record of the Papacy, these "Holy Fathers" claim that they are the "Vicars of Christ," "Infallible," and that they "hold on this earth the place of Almighty God," and that Obedience to Them is Necessary to Salvation.
~~ Many of the information above are found in the Halley's Bible Handbook.
he Roman Catholic Church and the last days: by Dave Hunt.
Chapter 6. (Revelation 17:18,9) John the Apostle wrote, "The Woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth...Here is the mind which hath Wisdom: The seven (7) Heads are seven (7) Mountains on which the Woman sitteth."
The woman rides the Beast, and that Woman is a city built on seven (7) Hills that reign over the kings of the earth! The Woman is a City! Furthermore, She is a city built on seven (7) Hills. That city is Rome. Only One City has, for more than 2000 years, been known as the City on Seven Hills. That City is Rome. The Catholic Encyclopedia states, "It is within the City of Rome, Called the City of Seven Hills, that the Entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined."
Even Catholic apologist Karl Keating admits that Rome has long been known as Babylon. Keating claims that Peter's statement "The church here in Babylon... sends you her greeting" (I Peter 5:13) proves that Peter was writing from Rome. Babylon is a Code Word for Rome.
Who is the sleeper? The first thing we are told about the woman is that she is a "sleeper" (Rev. 17:1), that earthly kings "have committed fornication" with her (Verse 2), and that "All the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Verse 3). Fornication and adultery are used in the Bible in both physical and the spiritual sense. That city is Rome, more specifically Vatican City. She claims to have been the worldwide headquarters of Christianity since it's beginning and maintains that claim to this day. Her Pope enthroned in Rome claims to be the exclusive representative of God, the Vicar of Christ. Rome is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Number of the Beast "666". (Rev.13: 10-18)... The beast (World Government) causes ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive the Mark in their hand (Worship), or in their foreheads (Minds) that no man might buy or sell, except he had the mark of the, or the name of the Beast, or the Number of his name... For it is a number of a Man and his number is "666". This number represents the name of a Man, or possibly a Group of men, or an Institution headed by a man or group of men. It seems to mean a Name, the letters of which, when regarded as numerals, total "666".
Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp, who was a pupil of John the Apostles, who saw the vision, understood the "666" to be the Greek word "Latenios": L, 30: A, 1: T, 300: E, 5: I, 10: N, 50: S, 200. These total "666" "Latenios" means "Latin Kingdom." Papal Rome made Latin its official language. And it still is Rome Cannon, Missals, prayers, decrees, bulls, blessings, cursings, are in Latin.
The significance, then, is that the beast, powerful as he is, and no matter how powerful, he may become is still NOT powerful as God.
In Bed with the Rulers! Not only does Rome's Pope call himself the Vicar of Christ, but the Church he heads claims to be the One True Church and the Bride of Christ. Christ's bride, who hopes to join her Bridegroom in heaven, is to have no earthly ambitions. Yet the Vatican is obsessed with earthly enterprise and in furtherance of these goals it has been, exactly as John the Apostle foresaw (in his vision in 95 A.D. on the island of Patmos), engaged in adulterous relationship with the kings of the earth.
Pope has long claimed dominion over the world and its people. Pope Gregory XI Papal Bull or 1372 claimed Papal dominion over the entire Christian World, Secular and Religious, and Excommunicate ALL who failed to Obey the Popes and to Pay them Taxes. In Coena was confirmed by subsequent Popes and in 1568 Pope Pius V swore that it was to remain an eternal Law.
Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) claimed that all discovered land belongs to the Roman Pontiff, for him to dispose of as he pleased in the name of Christ as His Vicar. John II of Portugal was convinced that Pontifex the Pope had granted all that Columbus discovered exclusively to him and his country. Thus Papal grant, Africa went to Portugal and to the America to Spain.
There was a condition, of course: "To the intent to bring the inhabitants...to profess the Catholic Faith." It was largely Central and South America, which, as a consequence of this Unholy alliance between Church and State, had Roman Catholicism, forced upon them by the Sword and remains Catholic to this day. North America was spared the dominance of the Roman Catholicism because largely Protestants settled it.
Nor have the descendants of Aztec, Incas, and Mayas forgotten that Roman Catholic Priests, back by secular Sword, gave their ancestors the choice of conversion (Which often meant Slavery) or Death. They made such on outcry when John Paul II in a recent visit to Latin America proposed elevating Junipero Serra, (a major 18th century enforcer of Catholicism among the Indians) to sainthood that the Pope was force to hold the ceremony in secret.
Christ said, "My Kingdom is not of this world; otherwise my Servants would fight." The Popes, however, have fought with Armies and Navies in the name of Christ to build a Huge Kingdom, which is very much of this world. And to amass their earthly Empire they have repeatedly engaged in spiritual fornications with emperors, kings, and princes. Claiming to be the Bride of Christ, the Roman Catholic Church has been in bed with godless rulers down through history, and these adulterous relationships continue to this day.
Wealth from ill-gotten gain! (Rev. 17:4)
The incredible wealth of this Prostitute caught John's attention next. She was dressed "In Purple and Scarlet color, and Decked with gold and precious Stones and Pearls, having golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornications." The colors of Purple and Scarlet once again identify the Prostitute Woman with Both Pagan and Christian Rome.
The Woman's colors are literally still the colors of the Catholic clergy! Catholic Encyclopedia quoted above states. Cappa Magna: "A cloak with a long train and a hooted shoulder cape it was Purple wool for Bishops; for Cardinals, it was Scarlet water silk (for Advent, Lent, Good Friday, and the conclave, purple wool); and for the Pope, it was Red velvet for Christmas martins, Red serge at other times."
Rome has practiced Evil to gather her Wealth, for the "Golden cup" is filled with "abominations and filthiness." Much of the wealth of Roman Catholic Church was acquired through the confiscation of the Property of the pitiful Victims of the Inquisitions. Even the dead were exhumed to face trial and the Church took property from their heirs. One historian writes: "The punishment of the Inquisition did not cease when the Victim was burned to ashes, or immured for life in the Inquisition dungeons. His relatives were reduced to beggary by the law that all his possessions were forfeited. The System offered unlimited opportunities for loot..." (William S.Kerr, A handbook of the Papacy)
Those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installations plan for themselves or loved ones have paid untold billions of dollars to her. The practice continues to this day---blatantly where Catholicism is in control, less obviously here in the United States.
There are further abominations of Corrupt banking practices, laundering of drugs money, trading in counterfeit securities, and dealings with the Mafia (fully documents in police and court records), which the Vatican and her representatives around the world have long employed.
Nino Lo Bello, former business Week correspondent in Rome and Rome bureau chief for New York Journal of Commerce, writes that the Vatican is so Closely allied with the Mafia in Italy "many people believe that Sicily is nothing more than a Vatican building." (Nino Lo Bello, the Vatican Empire, Trident press, 1968; David A. Yallop, in God's name, Bantam Books, 1984; Richard Hammers, the Vatican Connection, Penguin books, 1983)
The Roman Catholic Church is by far the Wealthiest Institution on earth. Yes, one hears from Rome periodic Pleas for money---persuasive appeals, claiming that the Vatican cannot maintan itself on its limited budget and needs monetary assistance.
Such pleas are unconscionable ploys. The value of innumerable sculptures by such masters as Michelangelo, paintings by the world's greatest artists, and countless other art Treasures and Ancient documents which Rome possesses (not only at the Vatican but in Cathedrals around the world) is Beyond Calculation. At the World Synod of Bishops in Rome, England's Cardinal Heenan proposed that the Church sell some of these Superfluous Treasures and give the proceeds to the Poor. His suggestion was not Well-received.
Christ told His disciples to live in Poverty. He told His disciples not to lay up treasures on this earth but in Heaven. The Roman Catholic's have disobeyed that command and have accumulated a Plethora of riches. There is no Church, no City, which is a spiritual entity, no Religious institution past, or present, which comes close to possessing the Wealth of the Roman Catholic Church.
Drunk with the Martyr's blood. (Rev. 17:6). John the Apostles (95 A.D.) notices that the Prostitute Woman is drunk---and not with Alcoholic beverages. She is drunk with "The blood of the Saints, and with blood of Martyrs of Jesus." The picture is a horrible one. It is not merely her hands that are Red with this blood, but she is drunk with it!
One thinks immediately of the Inquisition, which for Centuries held Europe in their terrible grip. In his History of the Inquisition, Canon Llorentte, who was a secretary to the Inquisition in Madrid from 1790-1792 and his access to the archives of all the tribunals, estimated that in Spain alone the number of condemned exceed 3 millions, with about 300,000 burned at the stake. (R.W. Thompson, the Papacy and the Civil Power, New York, 1876). A Catholic historian comments upon events leading up to the suppression of the Spanish Inquisition in 1809.
"When Napoleon conquered Spain in 1808, a Polish officer in his army, Colonel Lemanouski, reported that the Dominicans (in charge of the Inquisition) blockaded themselves in their monastery in Marid. When Lemanouski's troops forced an entry, the Inquisitions denied the existence of any torture chambers.
The soldiers searched the monastery and discovered them under the floors. The chambers were full of prisoners, all naked, many insane. The French troops, use to cruelty and blood, could not stomach the sight. They emptied the torture-chambers, laid the gun powder to the monastery and blew up the place.
"The most ghastly abomination of all was the system of torture. The accounts of it cold-blood operations make one shudder at the capacity of human beings for cruelty. And it was decreed and regulated by the Popes who claim to represent Christ on the earth."
"Careful notes, were taken not only of all that was confessed by the victim, but of his shrieks, cries, lamentations, broken interjections and Appeals for mercy. The most moving things in the literature of the Inquisition are not the accounts of their sufferings left by the victims but the sober memoranda kept by the officers of the tribunals. We were distressed and horrified just because there is no intentions to shock us." The remnants of some of the Chambers of horror remain in Europe and may visit today.
The information below is found in www.tcsn.net/fbchurch/fbctruth.htm. As for the claims of the Roman Catholic Church that its history can be traced back to Jesus Christ. The true Church of Jesus Christ was not founded upon Peter, but upon Peter's confession of Christ deity as recorded in (Matthew 16:16 "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Peter was not the first Pope, nor is there any scriptural justification whatever for such an office. Peter's own inspired testimony, as to his position and ministry, is given (I Peter 5:1-4). He then identifies himself in (II Peter 1:1) as "a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ..." History confirms the fact that there were no Popes in the early churches during the first centuries.