Protestantism

Q.: What is a Protestant?  Is it a dying race? Has the protest stopped? What is a Spiritualist? A uniting Spirit?

 

The English word 'Protestant' comes from the Latin and is made up from two words, pro-for, and testari-witness.  And it has come to mean to write or speak strongly against.  

In the spring of 1529 a.d., the Roman  Catholic and Lutheran Princes of Germany were gathered at the second Diet of Speyer.  With the help of the catholic majority, Ferdinand of Austria succeeded in enacting a measure forbidding any 'further' changes in the religious constitution of the states, and demanding full rights of property and worship for the Catholics in the Protestant territories, while denying it to Protestants in the Catholic states.

Unable to veto the decision, the princes of the six Lutheran states and fourteen free cities drew up their famous  "protestati".  They presented it to the Emperor Charles V, the brother of Ferdinand,  on April 19 and by this action earned for themselves a noble name that has been adopted by a large section of Christendom ever since-Protestant.

The three fundamental doctrines are: The Protestant goes directly to the word of God for instructions, and to the throne of grace in his/her devotion; while the pious Roman Catholic consults the teachings of his/her church, and prefers to offer prayers through the mediums of the virgin Mary and Saints.
(Note here that the bible teaches that the dead know not anything and Necromancy, the talking or praying to the dead, is an abomination Ps.106:28; Col.2:8).

From this general principle of evangelical freedom, and direct individual relationship of the believer to Christ, comes the three fundamental doctrines of Protestantism:  1.) The Bible only  2.) by Grace only  3.) the general Priesthood of believers.-The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol.IV page 419.

By the Bible only, is meant that we do not need extra revelations nor dogmas that contradict the 'Holy Word of God'.  When the Bishop of Rome was elevated to the throne of Caesar in 538 A.D. as head of the Empire, he continued the same persecution against the Christian Church that Caesar began.  See Revelation 17:6 "I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints." (Note here that a woman symbolizes a church and every bible believer is called a saint by virtue of Christ's righteousness  being credited to them). Sainthood is not conferred onto the persecutors.

The Roman Catholic Bible is basically the same as the Protestant, except that Rome added the books of the Apocrypha, so named in the 5th century A.D. by a Latin scholar Jerome. It is rejected by Protestants because of its uncertain and doubtful origin as well as containing fiction and other ramblings. The Apocrypha was written by Hellenistic Jews during the inter-testamental period. They were  formally added to the Roman Catholic Bible by the Council of Trent only after the Reformation (1546 A. D.), in a futile attempt to support purgatory, limbo and purgatory, and prayers for the dead which Luther attacked.

In Catholic teachings salvation is dispensed by the church, especially through the sacramental system. The church has the authority to grant partial or plenary (full) remission of the temporal punishment of sin by selling memorial masses and indulgences. These can alleviate, shorten, and even eliminate the time spent in the purging fires of purgatory.

 
               By contrast, in biblical teaching salvation is a divine gift of grace, not a human achievement.  Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Rom 5:8). "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed" (Is 53:5). 

                
      Protestantism agrees with Catholics on the necessity for "purgatory" or "cleansing" of our sins, before we can enter into the glorious presence of the Lord. But we disagree on how this cleansing is achieved. Catholicism insists that after baptism believers must expiate their sins by penance in this world, and by the purging fire in purgatory. But Scripture teaches that only the blood of Christ cleanses our lives from sin [1.John 1:7].
 
The Extreme Contrast Between The Protestant and Roman Catholic Positions!
The Reformers teaching that every justified Christian is simul justus et peccator, that is, a Saint and a Sinner at the same time, makes justification a phoney external transaction which leaves people internally unchanged. Such an understanding of "justification by faith alone" can become a thinly disguised license to go on sinning.

In their zeal to emphasize the free gift of salvation in opposition to the Roman Catholic emphasis on good works, Protestants have often given the impression that obedience to GOD'S law is not important, because after all justification is a judicial declaration of acquittal, not a moral transformation.

But in actual fact, the separation between these divine saving activities can only occur in the minds of speculative theologians, not in the practical experience of believers. Believers who are justified are also sanctified at the same time. Note how the apostle Paul lumps together regeneration, justification, and sanctification: " You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST and in the Spirit of our GOD." [1.Cor.6:11].
The fact that Paul mentions the cleansing, the sanctification, and the justification as saving activities simultaneously experienced by believers indicates that believers are sanctified at the moment of justification. The reason why "there is now no condemnation for those who are in CHRIST JESUS" [Romans 8:1] is not merely because penitent sinners have been declared "not guilty" before GOD'S court, but because "GOD sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin.......in order that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" [Romans 8:3-4].
                                                                     Both the legal declaration of justification and the moral transformation of sanctification are gifts of divine of grace received at the same time. "The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven." The imputed and imparted righteousness of CHRIST are both offered at the same time to those who accept GOD'S offer and provision of salvation.

Roman Catholics are right in affirming that justification by faith is not merely a legal declaration but also a moral transformation. But they are wrong in claiming that such a transformation is triggered by an infusion of grace that begins at baptism and continues through life by means of the sacrament and good works. To Roman Catholics, justification is ultimately not a divine gift of grace, but a human accomplishment by believers who join their works with faith. This understanding of salvation is reflected in Passion Plays like Gibson's movie. Salvation is sought to be achieved through penitential suffering, rather than being received as a divine gift of grace.

Sin

Since "the transgression of the law" is sin [ 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20; 7:7-14 ] one of the things the Protestant Reformation must do before it is finished is to restore the Sabbath of Christ and the fourth commandment. Here the Protestant Reformers have left us a perfect foundation to built on. The Sabbath is incredible! At one and the same time it stands for full obedience to God's law [sanctification] and resting in the merits of Jesus [justification].

The Roman Catholic church found itself with very few weapons to use against the Protestant Reformation. The Reformers had the Bible, the church had the stake and fear -- they said that the Protestant Reformation, in breaking down the iron grip of the church on society, would lead to the breakdown of society. The Protestant Reformers replied that God's law has three uses: 1.] To guide civil government in making good laws for society. 2.] To be a schoolmaster convicting of sin and bringing us to Christ and 3.] To guide the born again in living to the praise of grace. Both sides accepted point 1 and 2. It was the "Third Use of the Law" that was of special interest to the people in general and the authorities in particular.
 

The Holy Spirit also speaks with strong emphasis to us today that some have been seduced by spirits and doctrines of demons.  This is that God allows those who love deceptions, to be deceived by Satan the Arch-chief-Deceiver, who has transformed himself and his ministers into angels of light.

So when the Faith healer Oral Roberts was told by Satan that Satan was God and to infiltrate Christianity because the time was ripe in the 1960's, the roman Catholic church was quick to recognize it as their own spirit.  Yet when the association of Spiritualists claim that the Roman Catholic Church belongs to them, they deny it.  But there seem to be no denial when Haitians claim that "Voodoo" is part of the Church.  Voodoo means spirit, called Santeria in Cuba, Orisha in Brazil and Obeah in Jamaica.  It is an  African rite to obtain favours from the dead and deities through animal sacrifices.

"The Spirit speaks expressively, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocricy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and to abstain from meats."-1.Timothy 4:1-3

Note, what is there to lie about the truth? When you insist that the apostle Peter was the first Pope.  This can never be, the very religious title, Pope, meaning Papa or Father is forbidden (see Matthew 23:9) because the pope is seated in God's Church or Temple and calls himself by the name of God, namely "Holy Father".  See 2.Thess.2:3-7

" Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first (depart from the faith), and that the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  Who exposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he is seated in the temple of God showing himself that he is God."

Q.: How does the pope exalt himself above God?  A.: He owns a tripple crown by which it is claimed that he is the King of heaven, 2, of earth,3 of the lower regions. And the son of perdition? Luther called him the little son of the Devil.  The pope also claims to have inherited the 'Babylonian' title Pontifex Maximus or in short 'Pontiff'.  This makes the Bible claim of Revelation 17 believable that all that attach themselves with Rome and its church, are her daughters.

The blessed virgin Mary seems to be popping up everywhere lately and the Pope says he talks to her every night.  That means that he gets his advice and instructions from the dead who know not anything ( Eccl.9:5)

Satan's first lie " You shall not surely die".-Genesis 3:4 is unfortunately repeated in many pulpits today.  But where do they get it from?  Not from the Bible, but from Rome.  The Bible calls it,  'the wine of Babylon'.

Q.:  What are the doctrines of demons mentioned above  from 1.Tim.4 ? A.: All that the spirits gave Mother Church of Rome long ago.  The mythology from the Greek empire, Plato, teaches that when you die you are not dead but alive.  Protestantism is still drunk with the wine of this false doctrine!  The Bible does not teach reincarnation or life after death before the resurrection. 

The blasphemous claim to have authority from heaven to even modify divine law puts Roman Catholic authority above God.  Similar to Joseph Smith receiving his golden plates.  Rome removed the second of the Ten Commandments which forbids the making of images above and under the ground, so they could start idolatry the worship of saints and introduce the underground purgatory, limbo and hell.  In order to make up its number, they split the last command and moved down the numbers.

The Bible teaches us that demons have the ability to perfectly reproduce the image and voice of people after they have died.  When King Saul disobeyed God by carrying out the duty of the Priest, God no longer answered his prayers.  And the day came when his enemies made war against him and he went to consult the witch of Andor who brought up a counterfeit Elijah to talk to him.  This things only  happen at night time until now because it is the work of darkness.  Rome also shifted God's time from sundown to sundown to the darkest hour of midnight when Pope Gregory made the new Calendar.

Protestantism has always believed the little horn in Daniel represents the Papacy and the Ten Horns of Daniel 7:7,24 are also found in Revelation 13, show that it is the Papacy who wore out the saints, thought to change times and laws and given into his hands for 1260 years.

The time he changed from sundown to midnight and the laws, the Ten Commandments also involved God's time element from Saturday to Sunday and the removal of the second command.  He certainly thought he had authority from heaven to modify divine law.  The problem is, you can never alter a testament after the testator has died.  God calls the testament a field that contains precious jewels for which a man would sell everything he has, so he can to buy it.  But thank God, it is free.  Trouble is, not many people discipline themselves enough to study and search for these precious hidden treasures.

Q.: Ever wondered why the "Protest" is become so silent these days?  Ever wondered why they have the sudden urge to re-unite?  But the protest has not completely died!  The positive witness for the truth is alive and well.  All the faithful can see how spiritualism and worldliness is taken over the fallen churches of Babylon the great and that God is calling all to come out.  May the protest continue and the workings of Satan as an angel of light be exposed. The only Protestant church ;leftover' or 'remnant church' is found here!

Luther has been one of the more popular Protestant Reformers. There have been many others as long as Roman Catholicism existed. Recently, the Church of Rome claimed to have changed. But these changes are only cosmetic. On the outside you can see the sheep clothing. Innerly, she has not changed and remains the dangerous wolf. Anyone wanting to expose her sins, will be bitten.

Dr. Martin Luther was born November 10, 1483, at Eisleben, a town in upper Saxony. It was about eleven o'clock at night on what was called St. Martin's Eve, which was the reason he was called Martin.

His father's name was Hans or Johannes which answers to our John, and the surname Luder or Luther. His mother's maiden name was Lindemann and he had a brother Jacob.

We are extremely grateful to Luther for freeing us from the shackles of Rome. Yet he was only a half-way reformer. His co-worker Phillip Melangthon and his mentor Von Karlstadt had to flee to neutral Switzerland where they continued to publish Luther's short comings known as the Orlamunde writings. They wanted Luther to bring back the Seventh-day Sabbath of Christ as the true Lord's day. Luther replied that he was not willing take the reform further as the people were willing to go.

Luther is especially known for rescuing from his church of Rome the Gospel of righteousness by faith alone. He stripped it of all men's best efforts and works, as well as of self-righteousness. Martin also leaned heavily on the arm of state politics which according to James 4:4 is a no-no. Luther was also a strong Jew hater (Anti Semitic). Nevertheless, Martin Luther is our Hero of the Protestant Reformation.

Other Protestant Reformers:
 
John Huss of Prague, in 1401 while at the University studied the writings of Wycliffe. He did not agree with all the religious thoughts of Wycliffe, but the two men's unity of thought regarding the authority of the church as it related itself to the teachings of the Scriptures made them enemies of papal authority.--heroes of the Reformation.1951 ed.,p.11.

Jerome of Prague, born circa 1365,  fought against the moral corruption of the priesthood.

Thomas Bilney
was a less known English Reformer, born 1495 in Norwich, attended Trinity College and attained the degree of doctor of laws. Ordained as a priest in 1519. Like Luther, he discovered that good works alone were not saving anyone.

Thomas Cartwright
Leader of the Puritans. The Puritan Party was not content with the existing state of affairs in the Church of England; they were anxious to carry the Protestant Reformation to further lengths. In 1569, he was assigned the Lady Margaret chair of divinity at Cambridge.  When the Queen of England was made the head of the Church of England, she standardized the form of worship which allowed only preachers wearing the square cap, the gown, the tippet, or the linen surplice.
In March 1566, the clergy of London were compelled to decide whether they would wear the enforced garb.
Of 110 ministers, 37 refused, thereby leaving many of the parishes vacant; and the laity who disliked worshiping in the presence of what they termed "idolatrous gear," also left the church.

Protestant Fundamentalists started in 1910-1915, emphasizing literal truth of the Bible. After the Scopes monkey trial, protestant fundamentalists became more vocal and distinguished themselves from liberal Christianity.

The 1925 Monkey trial in Dayton,Tenn., at which a school teacher was fined $100 dollars for teaching Darwin's theory of Evolution in violation of state Law.

Protestant Reformer John Calvin's  opposed the concept of the 'perseverance of the saints' commonly called "once saved always saved" is not in harmony with the following texts:  1. Sam.10:6,9; 28:6,15; Ezek.18:24; 28:14,15; Matth.24:13; 1.Cor.9:27; Gal.5:4; Hebr.3:12-14; 6:4-6; 2.Peter 2:4,20,21.

It is almost impossible to make an exact head count of who is a Protestant today because daily more and more Protestants are falling for the deceptions of speaking in tongues which is a Roman Catholic spirit of Spiritualism (1.Tim.4:1).

Protestants however are still agreed on the many forgeries the Mother church has made such as pseud-Isidorian Decretals and the Donation of Constantine. 

In fact the Bishops of Rome tried to please Emperor Constantine by agreeing to his edict of 321 A.D. to take away Christ's seventh day Sabbath and declaring it Jewish and stopping short of declaring our Creator Jewish as well. They agreed to put in its place a pagan holiday which sounded similar. Both religion celebrated a resurrection. The risen Christ in Christianity and the sun worshippers of the rising sun.

What does it mean when the Protestant goes directly to God and the throne of grace in his or her devotion?  The throne of grace is in God's Temple or Sanctuary in heaven called the most holy or holiest of all. Here we find God's mercy seat or throne above the ark of the testament containing the two tables of stone, the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. These point out our sins and there we find forgiveness, mercy and grace by our heavenly great high Priest Jesus Christ and not in a confession box by an earthly counterfeit priest.

We are 'protesting' against those religious leaders who are now trying to undo the Protestant Reformation with Ecumenicalism over the heads of the people and without their consent.

 

Liberal church leaders are continuing with their spirit of compromise in more ways than one, and we are continuing the 'protest' just as Jesus did against the religious leaders of His day.

Half hearted professors and lukewarm Christians will be spewed out of His mouth (Revel.3:16). "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). "Though the number of the children of (God) Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved" (Romans 9:27). This "Remnant" is seen in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 fighting a lonely battle for Christ and the Ten Commandments.

"For if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1.Peter 4:18). Make your calling and election sure. Everybody is being called by the Gospel of our wonderful Lord and Saviour from sin (Matthew 1:21).

 

As the popular Christian song goes, you must 'bear' a cross before you can 'wear' a crown. Don't be deceived by those who offer you an instant salvation and crown of eternal life! Jesus says: "He that does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me".---Matthew 10:38). Also beware of once saved always saved.! God demands self-denial.

 Be prepared to dig deeper. Learn the difference between Protestant, Roman Catholic and Spiritualism. What is the 'mark of the Beast and Babylon God is calling you out of???

We are also protesting 'speaking in tongues' as opposed to Acts 2

Protestant Reformers rejected speaking in tongues. It does not belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, Christianity, God or Protestantism.

Spiritualism for these last days is clearly spelled out in 1.Tim.4:1-4  

Some Protestants have already fallen for fallen Babylon and joined the counterfeit spirit of tongues (glossolalaia). God is not calling for reforming the fallen, but to come out and be separate and I will receive you saith the Lord.

 

Rev. W. L. McLeod in "Fellowship with the Fallen" has seen occult powers in Christianity for a long time. All this points to "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."--- Revel.14+18

 

Cardinal, heaven help them, [Sydney Morning Herald 3.8.02 (2610 words) Stephen Crittenden], pedophilia engulfs Catholicism, millions of worshippers walked away from a church bereft of morality.

Mrs. Billy Graham said long ago, "if God doesn't do something soon, He has to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah".  No doubt she spoke of the world.  Little did she realize that all to soon it would overtake the Christian church.

 

To repent from sin means also to forsake sin, this can only be achieved by the power of Jesus Christ who saves men not in, but from sin (Matthew 1:121). He freely forgives, so come to Jesus whose blood cleanses us from all sin.

 

Disclaimer: Note: we love those who have erred and strayed from the path of righteousness unconditionally. Our only purpose is to show how Babylon the great has fallen morally. Like Mr. Lot and his family, we are vexed daily by those mal-practices (2.Peter 2:7,8). Here is a definition of Vexed: 'tormented, disturbed, made angry, irritated, annoyed'.---Award dictionary.

 

Lord it pains my heart to see your people still having the veil over  their eyes (2.Cor.3) and cannot see your 'glorious' Law of Liberty, the Ten Commandments (James 2:8-12), the Law of your Being and spirit (Romans 7:14,12,7).

 

Help Your people to see that Your high and holy name is tied up with Your high and holy Law, a reflection of Your character deposited under Your mercy seat. Lord help us not to be Christian in name only. Father forgive us for Jesus sake.

 

Beholding You dear Jesus, the joy of our new hearts, we are changed from 'Glory' to 'Glory' even by Your holy spirit (2.Cor.3:18). Help us to praise Your wonderful and holy name and pray for more of Your eyesalve, the gold of faith and Your white and spotless robe of holy righteousness put into our hearts (Rom.8:3+4; Hebr.8:9). 

 

Terrible CALAMITIES are now coming upon this world, and only those Christians that are sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in Christianity will be saved.

Protestant America has long been seen as the Beast power in Revelation 13 that looks "lamb like" or "Christ like" but speaks as the dragon.  The supreme court has ruled now that the constitution in "God we trust" and "One nation under God", is un-constitutional. They ordered Christian symbols and prayers to be removed from schools as they did also in Germany.

Protestant America right now wants to have the two ton stature of the Ten Commandments removed from a court house in the state of Alabama.


"When a church, a mainline denomination in this country, decides to abandon the Word of God and to lift up a man who is in sin, then I think what we have is a church that's decided to abandon the Word of God," Parshall says.

"What you have then is a social club -- but you don't have a church,
because a church is where God's Word is taught and the name of Jesus Christ is lifted up."

Parshall says the absolute truth is always found in scripture, and should be obeyed.

"The Bible doesn't contain the word of God -- it is the Word of God. And that same book says 'Woe to the shepherds who lead the sheep astray.'"---Agape Press .

 

 

The start of Roman Catholicism

Justin Martyr [A.D. 100-167] born at Neapolis at the time the last apostle [John] passed away, and died in Rome.  Justin was a pagan Gnostic who wrote hate speeches like "Judaizers" and was instrumental in seeding numerous paganistic beliefs into Christianity.  1.Timothy 4:1-4 calls them doctrines of devils.

The fact that he was called a "Church Father", a term strictly forbidden by GOD in the New Testament [see Matthew 23:9] as a religious title.  Justin Martyr travelled in a Philosopher's robe, like catholic Priests wear their graduation gowns.

 

The apostle Paul had prophesied, that after his departure, men would come and remodel the cause of Christianity [Acts 20:29,30].  This was fulfilled in Justin Martyr who wrote hate speeches in order to promote paganism in Christianity including the celebration of Ishtar to Easter and because it was always done on Saturdays, the Sabbath, to have it transferred to Sunday once a year at first.  This was the start of using the day of the sun from sun-worship in Christianity.

 

Later in 321 A.D. after Emperor Constantine helped more of pagan sunworship to be incorporated into Christianity, issued the first law enforcing the venerable day of the sun under the penalty of death.  not a single word about being the day of the resurrection.  We do not think that he even believed in the resurrection.

 

Where are these writings of the early Fathers to be found? We have
before us quite a large volume called The Lost Books of the Bible. The
preface says these writings were "not included in the authorized New
Testament." On page 172 of this book (which is filled with all sorts
of follies and fables) I find "The Epistle of Ignatius to the
Magnesians," and it is in this "epistle" that there is a statement
favoring first-day keeping. How few there are who when this statement
is quoted in books and pamphlets written in opposition to the Sabbath
know that it comes from The Lost Books of the Bible! Preachers will
read from this book of fables with the same show of reverence and
respect as though it were the Word of God. Another early writer often
quoted in favor of first-day observance is Barnabas. We find his
writing on page 153 of Lost Books of the Bible. We are ashamed to quote
the things contained in these pages; we shall merely refer the reader
to them, but at the same time I would be far more ashamed lo read from
such a source to prove first-day sacredness! Those ministers who quote
from these sources know there is not one in a thousand who knows
.anything about the "epistle of Barnabas," and they can take advantage
of this ignorance to prove something which they cannot prove by the
Bible!

Justin Martyr is an "authority" that is greatly relied upon to
prove first-day sacredness. On page 297 of Faith of our Fathers
Cardinal Gibbons quotes Martyr to prove that the bread is Jesus
Christ: "The Eucharist is both the flesh and blood of the same
incarnate Jesus." Nobody believes that today except the Roman
Catholics. All these "authorities" prove what Paul meant when he said
that after his "departure," men would arise "speaking perverse
things," and the fact that these writings (supposed to have been done
by these men) are claimed to have been written right after the death
of the apostles shows what Paul meant when he said, "The mystery of
iniquity does already work." Clement of Alexandria is another one of
the early Fathers. We find that he is another one whose writings go to
make up The Lost Books of the Bible. He is supposed to have written
his epistles one hundred years after the death of the last apostle. He
says that by that time the seventh day had "become nothing more than a
working day." Thus do we see that the church to which he belonged was
gradually ceasing to observe the seventh day and leaning more and more
toward the day of the sun. Just how reliable his writings are may be
gathered from the following, which I dare to quote from him:

"There is a certain bird called Phoenix; of this there is never but
one at a time; and that lives 500 years. And when the time of its
dissolution draws near, that it must die, it makes itself a nest of
frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices into which when its time is
fulfilled it enters and dies. But its flesh putrefying, breeds a
certain worm, which being nourished with the juice of the dead bird
brings forth feathers; and when it is grown to a perfect state, it
takes up the nest in which the bones of its parents lie, and carries
it from Arabia into Egypt. And flying in open day in the sight of all
men, lays it upon the altar of the sun, and so returns from whence it
came." Think about being compelled to read from such a source to prove
Sunday had become the Sabbath! Note how he mentions the altar of the
sun, from which comes sun-day and the observance of the first day of
the week. No wonder he had come to recognize the seventh day as no
more than a working day. How natural it was that as he turned from the
true Sabbath, he leaned more and more to Sunday! At the risk of
wearying the reader with further quotations from such writers as we
are examining, I have two more to quote from. I quote from them
because they are read from with confidence in an effort to prove
Sunday sacredness. One of these is Tertullian, and the other is
Eusebius. Tertullian is supposed to have lived shortly after the death
of the apostles. Cardinal Gibbons relies to the utmost on Tertullian
to prove some of the absurd Roman Catholic doctrines.

On page 3 of Faith of Our Fathers, Gibbons says:

"It is also a very ancient and pious practice for the faithful to make
on their person, the sign of the cross saying at the same time: 'In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.'
Tertullian, who lived in the second century of the Christian era,
says: 'In all our actions, when we come in or go out, when we dress
and when we wash, at our meals, before retiring to sleep, we form on
our foreheads the form of the cross. These practices are not commanded
by a formal law of Scripture; but tradition teaches them, custom
confirms them, faith observes them.' " Roman Catholics practice these
things today. Gibbons quotes Tertullian again: " 'The faithful wife
will pray for the soul of her deceased husband, particularly on the
anniversary day of his falling asleep. And if she fail to do so, she
has repudiated her husband as far as it lies in her.' " You see,
Gibbons was trying to prove prayers for the dead. There is nothing in
the Bible about this, so he goes to Tertullian. This is the same thing
that is done in trying to prove first-day keeping. If this man wrote
what is attributed to him, he was certainly one of the builders of the
Roman Catholic Church.

Eusebius, in AD 324, wrote, "We have transferred the duties of the
Sabbath to Sunday." Who are the "we"? Certainly not the apostles. They
could not do so after the testament was ratified by the death of the
Testator on the cross. When Eusebius says, "We have transferred the
duties of the Sabbath to Sunday," it reminds us again of what Paul
foretold about those who, after his death, would speak "perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:30.) This last
quotation from these early Fathers is dated AD 324. Just three years
before, in 321, Constantine, half Christian and half pagan, made the
first law to keep the "Venerable day of the sun." Translated from the
Latin, it reads: "Let all the judges and townspeople and the
occupations of all trades rest upon the venerable day of the sun. But
let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty
attend to the business of agriculture. Because it often happens that
no other day is so fit for the sowing of corn or the planting of
vines, lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the
commodities of heaven. Given this 7th day of March, Crispus and
Constantine being consuls each of them for the second time."

It will be noted that at that time working on Sunday was the general
rule. It will be noticed that the day was not known by any sacred
Christian title. It was called the venerable day of the sun. Thus do
we see that little by little the true Sabbath was being discarded and
Sunday was coming into recognition.

 

 

It is very embarrassing to Roman Catholicism who claim that Peter was the first Pope.  Firstly, the title itself, Pope, meaning "Father" or "Papa" is forbidden in the Bible.  Secondly, Peter was the apostle to the Jews and not to us Gentiles.  It was the apostle Paul that was chosen for the Gentile Church.  Peter wrote that CHRIST alone is the "ROCK" and foundation stone of Christianity.  Paul also confirms that only CHRIST is the "ROCK" [1.Cor.10:4]. 

 

It was both Pagan and Papal Rome, and now a mixture of both, continuing in the form of the Roman Catholic Church, that tried very hard to destroy Christianity.  First by false teachings [doctrines] and than by force forbidding the Word of GOD and burning Bible students at the stake.  Protestants today are forming an image to this beast and will re- introduce the Sunday law and persecution.

 

"Is the Catholic Church the Only True Church?"
 
  In light of the historical function of The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [Inquisition], it hardly surprising to read its latest exclusive view of the  church in the document Responses, released by the Vatican with the full blessings of Benedict XVI.  It only shows that that the Benedict XVI is determined to play the role of the "Grand Inquisitor" of the Catholic Church.

Dominus Iesus:                 

       To understand the intransigent mind-set of Pope Benedict XVI, we need to consider his previous astounding declaration, known as Dominus Iesus. This document was  composed, presented to the media, and defended by Cardinal Ratzinger while he was serving as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [Inquisition], under Pope John II. 

          The release of Dominus Iesus on Tuesday, September 5, 2000,  on the evening news of the main Italian TV network,  Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger himself announcing the release of the Vatican Declaration Dominus Iesus, which means "Lord Jesus." He took time to explain the significance of this document for Catholics and non-Catholics. People stunned when hearing him say that according to  Dominus Iesus, salvation is to be found only in and through the unique and universal Catholic Church.
 
      The origin of this traditional Catholic view is traced back to Pope Boniface VIII. In his Bull, Unam Sanctam (A. D. 1302) Boniface declared: "There is one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and that outside this Church there is neither salvation nor remission of sins." This traditional Catholic view was substantially modified at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) which formulated the concept, especially in the Constitution of the Church, that salvation is found not only inside the Catholic Church but also outside its fold, by all who live according to their conscience.

 
        The Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, par. 3, reads: The separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church."
 
  This broader view of various avenues to salvation fostered a policy of benign tolerance toward non-Catholics. Protestants, for example, were rehabilitated from heretics, to "separate brethren," and to brothers and sisters in Christ. Similarly, members of world religions have been treated with more openness and respect.
 
        In the thinking of Vatican conservatives like Benedict XI, the policy of benign tolerance toward non-Catholics inaugurated by Vatican II, may have gone too far. It may have weakened the alleged unity and primacy of the Catholic Church. This concern is expressed in the new document Responses which affirms that "Christian denominations outside the Roman Catholic Church are not full churches of Jesus Christ," though they may have some elements of truth.  The actual text posted on the official Vatican Web site in several languages, says that Protestant Churches are really "ecclesial communities" rather than Churches, because they lack apostolic succession, and therefore they "have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery."
 
Salvation Derives Only From the Catholic Church
 
        In other words, for Benedict XVI  it is a fundamental Roman Catholic belief that there is only one true church that possesses the means of salvation and such church is the Roman Catholic church [not via JESUS CHRIST and His atoning blood]. Any salvation obtainable through other churches, ultimately derives from "the fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church."
 
        Benedict XVI is concerned about the rapid spread of the relativistic and pluralistic mentality among liberal Catholic theologians, who believe that "one religion is as good as another." He expressed his concern in his fiery speech to the cardinals before they withdrew to the Sistene Chapel to elect the new pope. He warned them that the Catholic Church must not become prey to a modern "dictatorship of relativism."
 
       To remedy this problem, Benedict XVI reiterates that "there is only a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him." Furthermore, the Catholic church is the only true church because it has "the sacramental priesthood and has preserved the integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery." These to claims will be examined shortly.
 
        This reiteration of the traditional Catholic Church as the only venue of salvation, represents an insult to Protestants and Orthodox, and are an embarrassment to open-minded Catholic theologians who have long recognized that the Catholic Church does not have the monopoly of salvation.

Is Benedict XVI Really Interested in Ecumenism?
 
        From an ecumenical standpoint, Benedict XVI's exclusive view of the Catholic Church is a non-starter. The pope is an intelligent and knowledgeable man who has written over 40 books. He knows that discussions with other Churches will make no progress on the basis of his exclusive claim of the Catholic Church. So the only conclusion that can be drawn is that he has no interest in pursuing ecumenism.  The ongoing dialogue that he is promoting with all the major denominations, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is designed to persuade other Christians to become Roman Catholics, Evidently this is the pope's approach to other Churches, which is not ecumenism, but proselytism.

Furthermore, the Vatican dialogue with various Protestant Churches is designed to soften their anti-Catholic teachings. This is particularly true of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which has long recognized the prophetic role of the Papacy in leading many Christians into apostasy. Our prophetic calling is to invite people in every nation to come out of the of the Babylonian false worship promoted especially by the papacy.

Reaction of Protestant Church Leaders

   Various church bodies engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church, are recognizing the deceptive strategy of the Vatican. For example, The World Alliance of Reformed Churches, a group representing 75 million Protestants in over 100 countries issued a press release suggesting that the new document, Responses,  took ecumenical dialogue back to the time before Vatican II. The release states: "It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity. ... It makes us question the seriousness with which the Roman Catholic Church takes its dialogues with the reformed family and other families of the church. . . . For now, we are thankful that our calling to be part of the church of Jesus Christ is not dependent on the interpretation of the Vatican. It is a gift of God."

   The same concern is express by Clifton Kirpatrick, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church, USA. In an open letter to the Vatican leaders, he wrote: "We join with other churches and ecumenical bodies in raising concern about the statement released July 10, 2007, [Responses] by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and ratified by Pope Benedict XVI, regarding certain aspects of the Doctrine of the Church. In seeking to clarify its understanding of the Christian faith, we are rightfully concerned that the Roman Catholic leadership has mischaracterized our own faith and re-opened questions of Christian unity for all church bodies. ..."

       Times Online, a leading British news source, wrote: "Protestants at the extreme evangelical end of the Anglican spectrum accused Rome of a 'lust for power.' while welcoming the honesty of the document [Response]."  Indeed, credit must be given to Benedict XVI  for clearly stating in two major documents, Dominus Iesus and Responses. his exclusive view of the Catholic Church as the only true church that offers the means of salvation. Such preposterous claim is clearly negated by Scripture that teaches us that salvation is not a dispensation of the church, but a disposition of the believer.

  The Rev David Phillips, General Secretary of the Church Society in Great Britain, offers this perceptive comments: "Nothing new is said [in Responses], but it does clarify the way in which the Vatican has torn apart Christianity because of its lust for power. They remind us that in their view to be a true church one has to accept the ludicrous idea that the Pope is in some special way the successor of the apostle Peter and the supreme earthly leader of the Church.

    "These claims cannot be justified, biblically, or historically, yet they have been used not only to divide Christians but to persecute them and put them to death. We are grateful that the Vatican has once again been honest in declaring their view that the Church of England is not a proper Church. Too much dialogue proceeds without such honesty. Therefore, we would wish to be equally open; unity will only be possible when the papacy renounces its errors and pretensions."

      This is the challenge that Protestants face today, namely, to stop being politically correct by trying to make the Catholic Church appear as a legitimate Christian Church, and to start exposing the unbiblical, heretical, and pagan origin of most Catholic beliefs and practices. This is a formidable challenge for many Protestant Churches that have stopped protesting, because they have become victim of religious relativism. Benedict XVI has been honest in stating his exclusive view of the Catholic church. This calls for an honest response, by telling the pope that he is the embodiment of arrogance and intolerance, lusting for power, rather than for an understanding of Bible truths.

EVALUATION OF DOMINUS IESUS AND THE RESPONSES

       The absolutistic Vatican Declarations of Dominus Iesus and Responses that salvation for any persons is ultimately possible only through the channels of grace entrusted to the Catholic Church, stands in stark contrast with the interfaith dialogue fostered by Vatican II and the ceaseless efforts of Pope John Paul II to become the undisputed spiritual leader of mankind by reaching out to people of all faiths.

       One wonders, What has caused this retrenchment in the mind of Benedict XVI?  Apparently the reason is his conviction, mentioned earlier, that the policy of benign tolerance inaugurated by Vatican II, may have gone too far. It has fostered a "dictatorship of relativism" that fails to recognize the certainties contained in Catholic doctrines.  

        Benedict XVI is concerned about the moral relativism evident today in the secularism of Western countries which is causing the almost total collapse of the Christian faith. He believes that when the measure of truth is found in us,  then there is no longer an ultimate truth and certainty.  The "anything goes" approach to life, can only satisfy individual egos and desires, but it ultimately leaves people without the certainty offered by the Catholic Church.
 
   Benedict XVI is rightly concerned about the spread of theological relativism and pluralism which is weakening the alleged unicity and primacy of the Catholic Church. To counteract this threat the two documents Dominus Iesus and Responses, reiterate in a succinct but compelling way the theological foundation of the Catholic claim to possess the sole means of salvation.
 
     These important documents help us to understand  the ruthless mind-set of Benedict XVI-a man who sincerely believes to have been called by God to save the Catholic Church, especially in Western countries, from "the dictatorship of relativism"- the belief that there are no absolute moral truths and everyone is free to develop his/her own set of beliefs by which to live and seek salvation.
 

Benedict XVI is Blinded by Tradition
 
    The pope is correct in exposing the danger of moral relativism of our society, but he is wrong in his proposed solution. He intends to resolve the problem of moral relativism by enforcing traditional Catholic teachings as if the were biblical truths. He makes no attempt to examine the biblical legitimacy of historical Catholic teachings, because for him the traditional interpretation supersedes any objective study of Scripture. Like the late John Paul II, he is a devout and sincere man who is blinded by tradition. Such a blindness causes him to accept and enforce Catholic heresies as if they were biblical truths.
 
   Beneduct XVI's exclusivistic view of the Catholic Church, articulated in  Dominus Iesus  and Responses, highlights the Vatican's attempt to make salvation a dispensation of the church, rather than a disposition of the believer. By claiming to be the only church that has the apostolic succession and consequently the right to dispense salvation through the sacraments, the Catholic church is deceiving million of sincere people into believing that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church (no salus extra ecclesia).
 
   The fact that these documents go into great length to reiterate this traditional Catholic teaching, goes to show that after all Ellen White was right when she wrote: "Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy" (Signs of the Times, Feb. 19, 1894, par. 4). Benedict XVI is a living and compelling example of the truth that "Rome never changes."

     It is hard to believe that a brilliant man like Benedict XVI,  could be so blinded by the traditional teachings of the Catholic, that causes him to fearlessly defend as truths what in reality are blatant errors, condemned by Scripture. The most outstanding examples are his beliefs in the Primacy of the Papacy based on the "Petrine Theory," and the Apostolic Succession. Both of these beliefs will be examined shortly.

The Belief in Papal Primacy

    The belief in Papal Primacy was reaffirmed at Vatican II in the document known as The Constitution of  the Church: "The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the faithful" (Lumens Gentium 23).

  Benedict XVI clearly reaffirms this belief in his document Dominus Iesus: "Just as there is one Christ, so there exists a single body of Christ, a single bride of Christ: a single Catholic and apostolic Church. . . . There exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him."

   By linking the saving work of Christ with the Catholic Church, making the latter the sole channel for dispensing "Christ's salvific mystery,"  Benedict XVI makes salvation a monopoly of the Catholic church. This means that the Catholic Church herself is a "sacrament," that is, a channel of grace to the world. "The Church is a 'sacrament'. . . she is the sign and instrument of the kingdom."

        Such a preposterous, presumptuous, and exclusive claim is based on the unfounded assumption that church in the New Testament is a visible, hierarchical organization, which was originally established by Christ Himself, when he made Peter the foundation rock of the Church (Matt 16:18). This is belief is based on the "Petrine Theory," according to which Christ entrusted to Peter the government of His church.  As stated in theResponses, "This Church, constituted and organized in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him."

       To buttress this theory, both Dominus Iesus and the Responses,  repeatedly appeal to the "apostolic succession."  Protestant churches fail to meet the Catholic criteria for being legitimate churches, because they cannot claim "Apostolic Succession."  As stated in the Responses, "According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities [Protestant churches] do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church."

    By "Apostolic Succession" is meant the existence of an unbroken succession from Peter, the first Pope, to Benedict XVI, the last Pope. Catholics proudly point out that no other church can make this claim of unbroken succession.
 
The Petrine Theory
 
In view of the fundamental importance attached to the Petrine theory and the apostolic succession, frequently mentioned in Dominus Iesus  and the Responses to defend the Primacy of the Pope, it is important to briefly comment on the  pivotal text of Matthew 16:18 used to prove the so-called "Petrine Primacy." Christ told Peter: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the power of death shall not prevail against it."
 
       The question is, Who is the "rock" upon which Christ built His church? Obviously for Catholics, the "rock" is Peter as the foundation stone upon which Christ built His church. They rightly point out that the play on words "You are Petros and on this Petra" shows that there is an unmistakable connection between the two. Thus, Peter is the Petra upon which Christ has built His Church.
 
      Protestants obviously reject this Catholic interpretation, arguing instead that the "rock" is either Jesus Himself or Peter's confession of Christ. According to the former the text would read: "You are Peter and on myself as a rock I will build my church." According to the latter: "You are Peter and on the rock of Christ you have confessed, I will build my church."
 
Peter is the First Building Block

       The problem with both of these popular Protestant interpretations, is that they do not do justice to the play on words. In the Greek there is an unmistakable connection between "Petros" and "Petra."  The question is not whether "Petra- the rock" refers to Peter, but in what sense Peter is "Petra-the rock."

     In my view Peter is "Petra-the rock," not in the Catholic sense of being the foundation stone upon which Christ built His church, but in the sense that Peter is the initial stone or building block of the church, which is built upon the foundation of the apostles, with Christ as the corner stone.

       This interpretation rests on two major considerations. First, the New Testament pictures the church as a building, "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone" (Eph 2:20; cf. 1 Pet 2:4-8; 1 Cor 3:11). The imagery of the church as a building suggests that the church does not rest on the foundation rock of Peter, but that began with Peter as the first stone.

  Peter is the first building block because he was the first person to confess and accept Jesus of Nazareth, as the Christ, that is, the Messiah, "the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16). Being the first convert to publicly accept Christ, Peter became in a sense "the first charter member" of the new community of believers, or the first building block of the spiritual edifice which is the church.
 
The Church is an Invisible Community of Believers

  A second important point, ignored by the Catholic Church, is that the New Testament views the church, not as a visible hierarchical organization run by the Pope with his bishops, but as an invisible community of believers who are united by the same faith in Christ. In the Bible "the church" is not a hierarchical structure, governed by one man,  but the "people of God," united by the common bond of faith and love.  Both the Hebrew qahal and the Greek ekklesia, translated "church," actually refer to the "congregation" of believers, who have been called out from the world (Deut 7:6; Hos 11:1; 1  Peter 2:9) in order to be a light in the world (Deut 28:10; 1 Pet 2:9).
 
        This means that when Jesus spoke about building His church, He meant, not the establishment of a hierarchical religious organization, but the building up of a community of believers who by faith would accept Him and confess Him before the world. In this context, Peter, by being the first person to confess and accept Jesus as "Christ,"  which means "Messiah," became the first living stone of the spiritual edifice consisting of a community of believers. The idea of Peter being the foundation of the church as a hierarchical organization identified with the Catholic Church, is foreign to the text, to the teachings of the New Testament, and to the organization of the Apostolic Church.
 
The Claim of the Apostolic Succession
 
A fatal blow to the Catholic view of the "Petrine Primacy,"  is the lack of any New Testament support for the primacy of Peter in the Apostolic Church. If, according to the Catholic claim, Christ appointed Peter as His vicar to govern the church, then we would expect Peter to function as the leader of the Apostolic church. But this is hardly the case.
 
      For example, there are no indications that Peter ever served as the presiding officer of the Jerusalem church. The organizational structure of the Jerusalem Church is characterized as collegiality with a presidency. But there are no indications that Peter ever served as the presiding officer of the church. At the Jerusalem Council, it was James, not Peter, who presided in the deliberations (Act 15:13).
 
  Furthermore, the ultimate authority of the Jerusalem Church resided, not with Peter, but with the apostles, who were later replaced by "elders." For example, it was "the apostles" who sent Peter to Samaria (Acts 8:14) to check on the new Christian communities. Had Peter been the leader of the apostolic church, he would have counselled the apostles to send him to Samaria, rather than being told by the apostles to go there.
 
       It was the "apostles" who sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22). It was "the apostles and the elders" who sent Judas and Silas to Antioch (15:22-27). It was "James and the elders" who advised Paul to undergo a rite of purification at the Temple (Acts 21:18, 23-24). Had Peter been appointed by Christ to serve as the Head of the Church, he would have played a distinctive leadership role in the decisions mentioned above.
 
Paul Did not Acknowledge Peter as the Head of the Church

  Moreover, there are no indications that Paul viewed Peter as the leader of the church. We are told that when Peter went to Antioch, Paul "opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned" (Gal 2:11). Paul's action hardly suggests that Peter was recognized and respected as the infallible head of the church.

       Furthermore, Paul explicitly says that Peter was entrusted with preaching the Gospel to the Jews, while his mission was to preach to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7). This suggests that Peter's mission was predominantly to the Jews, and not over the whole church.

   Paul refers to the "pillars" of the Apostolic Church as being "James, Cephas, and John" (Gal 2:9). The fact that "James," the Lord's brother, is mentioned before "Cephas," the Aramaic for of "Peter,"  indicates that James, rather than Peter, served as the leader of the church. Had the apostles understood that Christ had appointed Peter  to serve as the Head of the church, they would have entrusted to him the leadership of the church. But the fact is that Peter is never seen in the NT as the sole or chief leader of the Apostolic Church.
 
Origin of the Apostolic Succession Theory

The notion that Christ invested Peter with the authority to govern the church and that such an authority has been transmitted in an unbroken succession to his successors, is a pure Catholic fabrication devoid of biblical and historical support. It first appears in the writing of Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon (A. 175-195), who uses the argument of the apostolic succession to refute gnostic heretics. He argues that the gnostic teachings are heretical because they are rejected by those churches which can trace their apostolic pedigree (Against the Heresies book 3).
 
    The argument of the apostolic succession served a useful purpose in the early church when the formation of the New Testament was still in a progress. Church leaders needed an objective authority to refute heretics, and they found it in churches like Antioch, Ephesus, and Alexandria, which could trace their origin to an Apostle. These churches could serve as the touchstone of orthodoxy. But to extend the concept of the apostolic succession to the whole course of Christian history is unwarranted, because of the interruption and apostasy that these churches have experienced. The Moslem invasion of the seventh and eight centuries wiped out completely most of the ancient Eastern churches.
 
Missing Links in the Papal Successions

     The same hold true for the Bishop of Rome. Anyone familiar with the history of the papacy, knows how difficult it is even for the Catholic church to prove the unbroken succession from Peter to the present pope. There have been times when the papacy was in the hands of several corrupt Popes, who fought among themselves for the Papal throne. For example, in 1045 Pope Benedict IX was driven out of Rome by the people because of his unworthiness and Silvester II was placed on the Papal throne. Later Benedict IX returned and sold the Papal throne to a man who became Gregory VI.
 
     During the course of events Benedict refused to lay down his papal claims, so that there now were three Popes claiming to be the rightful pope. To resolve the problem the German Emperor Henry II called a synod at Sutri in A. D. 1046, which deposed all the three popes and elected Clement II instead. One wonders, which of the three deposed popes fits into the apostolic succession? How can the Catholic Church still legitimately defend the notion of an unbroken succession from Peter to the present pope, when some of her popes were deposed for their corruption! It is evident that there are some broken links in the chain of the Apostolic succession.
 
    It is unfortunate that a brilliant and sincere man like Benedict XVI, is so blinded by the traditional teachings of the church, that he is unable to look objectively at the teachings of the Bible and the testimony of history. Tradition colors the sight and conditions the thinking to the extend that error appears to them as truth.

The Importance of the Eucharist

      The Catholic claim to possess the sole means of salvation rests not only on the alleged apostolic succession, but also on the Catholic view of the Eucharist as the re-enactment of Christ's atoning sacrifice. In fact, "the apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist" are mentioned together several times in Dominus Iesus and Responses, because they are the two pillars of the Catholic claim to be the only true church which has the power to dispense salvation.

        In its concluding statement, the Responses states: "According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities [Protestant Churches] do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called 'Churches' in the proper sense."  Simply stated, in the Catholic view, Protestant churches are not true churches, especially because they have not "preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery."

  This webpage does not allow us to expose the fallacies of the Catholic view of the Lord's Supper, known as transubstantiation. The absurd claim that the priest has the power to transform the bread and wine into the physical and historical body of Jesus, and to offer it to the believers by means of a wafer, makes the Catholic Church a dispenser of salvation through her priesthood.

       For the Catholic Church the benefits of Christ's atoning sacrifice are made available to the believer, not through the heavenly ministry of Jesus in the sanctuary as taught in Hebrews, but through the earthly ministry of the Catholic priests at the altar, as taught by tradition.  The Christ that most Catholics know, is the Christ they swallow at the Mass. "Christ's salvific ministry" is available to them through the Eucharist.

  The Catholic emphasis on worshipping what they can swallow at the Mass, what they can touch in the statues and images of Mary and the saints, and what they can seen in the pope who claims to be the Vicar of Christ, has fostered a pagan religion  system where physical elements takes precedence over a spiritual relationship

Conclusion

   The foregoing reflections on Benedict XVI declarations found in Dominus Iesus and Responses, have served to highlight the Catholic attempt to make salvation a dispensation of the church, rather than a disposition of the believer. By claiming to be the only church that has the apostolic succession and consequently the right to dispense salvation, the Catholic church is deceiving million of sincere people into believing that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church (no salus extra ecclesia). From a prophetic perspective, this deception represents the endtime efforts of the Dragon, Sea-beast, and Land-Beast to lead the whole world into the false worship of God.

     Our only safeguard against deceptive teachings, is familiarity with the teachings of the Word of God. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the church is not a hierarchical organization that has the right to dispense salvation, but a community of believers called to "declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Pet 1:9).-----adapted from Dr.Samuele Bacchiocchi

Mystical Babylon the kingdom of abominations, contains ONLY fallen 
churches, not churches that "keep God's commandments and have the 
testimony of Jesus". The latter are called the offspring of the woman in Rev. 12. 
Let's look at the Biblical examples on how "mother" or "father" is 
used in a spiritual sense.

In John 8 8:39 They (the Jews) answered and said unto him 
(Jesus), Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If you were 
Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
8:41 You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be 
not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father 
ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in 
the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, 
he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 
People show who is their spiritual "father" by whose works we do. 
The Jews said their parentage was from above, Jesus said their 
parentage was the devil. This is based primarily on whose plan are 
they following.
Again: 
Matt. 12:48 But He (Jesus) answered and said unto him that told 
him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 
12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and 
said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 
12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in 
heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. 
Again we see the term "mother" used in connection as to whose will 
we follow.

Several hundred years ago now, Protestant groups broke free from the 
papal "mother" church, to establish their own churches. They 
refused to submit anymore to her authority nor follow her 
commands. But in Rev. 17 they are back with their "mother" 
accepting her authority and doing her works.
Oh – how the protestants should WAKE UP and stop this last final 
step to becoming irrevocably Babylon. Stop this joining of hands 
with the papacy and with the world with it's illusive power and 
pleasures. 1844 marks the beginning of their treacherous fall, 
but it won' t be complete 
"But the message of the second angel did not reach its complete 
fulfilment in 1844. The churches then experienced a moral fall, in 
consequence of their refusal of the light of the Advent message; but 
that fall was not complete. As they have continued to reject the 
special truths for this time, they have fallen lower and lower. Not 
yet, however, can it be said that "Babylon is fallen, . . . because 
she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her 
fornication." She has not yet made all nations do this. . . . The 
work of apostasy has not yet reached its culmination. {FLB 285.2}
 
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