The History of Christianity (Roman)
[Eccl 1:9-10]: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. [Eccl 1:9-10] (KJV) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV) [John 3:16]
*Join our Mailing List and be notified when new study materials are posted
Watchmen Bible Study Group Go to our home page @ www.biblestudysite.com
Page one of three

        The historical formation and progress of Christianity; from the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on through the origin of the different Christian denominations, up to our modern day Christianity, then on through the prophesied 'Great' Apostasy of the book of Revelation, and into the Second Advent of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

        Below, we provide an Index of 'click-on' sections in the study to navigate through, or you can read strait through the entire study (recommended).

Index of Topics in the study to navigate through:

Page One, Section#: (This current page)

1. Click here to start study from beginning and read through in order (recommended)
2. Preface
3. The events of the life and times of Jesus Christ
4. The development of Christianity into the different denominations
5. The Rapture 'Doctrine'
6. Church history by Dr. Henry H. Halley
7. Persecutions; Imperial persecutions of Christians (by the Roman Empire)
8. The Catholic Popes
9. Endnotes

Page Two, Section#: (You will be reloading another page)

1. The darkest period of the Papacy
2. Enter the Jesuits (the Jesuit Priesthood)
3. Ceremony of Induction and Extreme Oath of the Jesuit Priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church
4. Modern Popes
5. Summary

Page Three, Section#: (You will be reloading another page)

1. Forerunners of the Reformation

2. The reformation

3. Protestant persecutions

4. Map of the lands of early Christianity

5. World situation, as of A.D. 1961

See Also: The first Christian Church A.D. 37: at Glastonbury; Britain. Founded by Joseph of Arimathaea, Christ's great-uncle. Also: Irish and Scottish Ancestry:  The reason, today, we are so unaware of the fact that the British church was the true church established by Joseph of Arimathaea, by the direction of St. Philip, is because most all the records have been destroyed There have been enough records to survive, though, to establish beyond all doubt that the church of Britain (not to be confused with the present day Anglican Church of England) was the true church, before being Romanized.  For this reason most everyone has assumed that the true church was the Roman Catholic Church, which is entirely false. Neither the Roman Catholic Church nor her Protestant daughters represent the true church established by our Messiah. Read the history with documentation.

Preface:
Click to return back to index

        In this study we will examine the sometimes painful truth regarding the formation of the largest religion on the planet - Christianity, with all it's denominations, divisions, schisms. Then we will go on to the prophesied reunification of the Christian Church which is prophesied to fall into the Great Apostasy by means of unification with all other Heathen religions on the earth The term Heathen, for our present purposes, meaning: those who deny that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the Son of God - Savior.

        For to deny the Son is to deny the Father [John5:23]. Thus this hybrid between the Holy and the unholy becomes a compromised watered down perversion of God's Church into a man-made one-world religion spoken of in the book of Revelation as: "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." [Rev 17:5]. It is to this one-world religion, ultimately headed by the antichrist (satan), that our true Messiah Jesus Christ shall return and cleanse and purge at His prophesied Second Advent:

Rev 19:11-16 (The second advent of Jesus Christ)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (KJV)

In this study we shall draw heavily from the work of a Christian Scholar named Dr. Henry H. Halley. Dr. Halley is the author of the epic work called "Halley's Bible Handbook."¹ Dr. Halley originally wrote this book in 1924 before the days of modern 'political correctness' and before the power of the World-Wide Roman Catholic Church could silence the article within the book which painfully documents the brutal beginnings of what has become modern day Christianity, and the murder of millions of non-Catholic Christians on the orders of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church Universal. It is not our intent to condemn the Catholic Church, but rather, through understanding the past that we might escape it's evils in the future:

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  

                                                    -- George Santayana, 'The Life of Reason'            

The chapter in Halley's Bible handbook we will reference, "Church History," has been 'cleansed' out of all new editions of the book. To see the original article you must acquire an edition at least prior to the forty-ninth printing of the 1961 24th edition (released in 1984).

Inserted throughout the original article by Dr. Halley, we will post notes, explanation, comment, witness, and Scriptural references in support of the facts that were not yet available to Dr. Halley in 1924 when he wrote the book, nor in later editions and additions to the handbook article over the years by the Publisher up until 1961 (our referenced edition).

Also in our study we will continue the history on out to the end (second advent) by examining the future-yet prophesies of the Bible; which by the witness of the prophesies of the Bible already fulfilled, we can believe that the latter day yet un-finished prophecies will come to pass as written by the Prophets and Apostles.

So that through this study we shall have before us the history of Christianity, and through careful study of the not yet fulfilled prophesies in the Bible, we will have a glimpse of the future as God allows us through His Holy Written Word - the Bible. We pray to our Heavenly Father for understanding in our endeavor to learn the truth, we do this by and through the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Him being God's Anointed One and our Savior.

Prov 9:10 ('fear' is better translated 'reverence')
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (KJV)

The events of the life and times of Jesus Christ²:
Click to return back to index

• Conceived: Dec 25, 5 BC [1st Tebeth by Hebrew reckoning] (not born on 25 December as commonly held).

• Born: End of September, probably on: Sep 29, 4 BC. [15th Ethanim (Tisri) by Hebrew reckoning].

• Circumcised: Eight days later as Jewish custom dictated.
  
• Baptized: AD 26 Annoited with the Holy Spirit, ministry begins (exact date unknown but most likely significant).

• Death By Crucifixion: April 3, AD 29 [14th Nisan by Hebrew reckoning].

• Resurrection: April 7, AD 29 [18th Nisan by Hebrew reckoning] (3½ days in tomb).

• Ascension: May 13, AD 29.

• Pentecost: May 23, AD 29. Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Christianity begins.

• Return at Second Advent: Prophecy not yet fulfilled; date unknown to all except our Heavenly Father:

Mark 13:32-33 (Jesus speaking of His return)
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (KJV)

The development of Christianity into the different denominations:
Click to return back to index

Pre-Christ History and related info:

4004 BC²     Adam formed in the Garden of Eden.

2550 BC     Sphinx of Giza.

2348 BC²     Great flood of Noah (Noah's 600th year. [Gen 7:6,11]

2000 BC     Stonehenge built (exact date disputed).

1490 BC²     Pentateuch written by Moses (first five books of the Bible Old Testament: Gen - Deut).

563 BC       Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama.

551 BC       Confucius, K'ung Fu-tzu.

150 BC       Essene community founded (inhabitants of the Qumran community 14 miles east of Jerusalem where the Dead Sea Scrolls were recovered in 1947).

55 BC        Invasion of Britain by Rome under Julius Caesar.

4 BC²           Birth of Jesus.

Christianity comes into being:
*All dates approximate.

AD 29²       Crucifixion Of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God.

• The 69 sevens of the book of Daniel (written in approx. 495 B.C.) end with the "cutting off of the Messiah" [Dan 9:26] at A.D. 29.
• A.D. 29 was 483 (69x7) years from the "going forth of the commandment to build Jerusalem" [Dan 9:25] in 454 BC. (that decree given in [Neh 2:4-8]).

Dan 9:25-26
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (KJV)

AD 29 - 590     The beginning Christian churches are scattered without a central head, but through the influence of the Holy Spirit of God, Christianity continues to grow and spread at a geometric rate.

AD 37    Joseph of Arimathea establishes first above ground church in the world at Glastonbury, in Britain.

AD 41    Term "Christian" first used in Antioch.

AD 43    Edict of Emperor Claudius to exterminate Christian Britain.

AD 49    First Christian Council, in Jerusalem.

AD 52    Caractacus taken prisoner to Rome along with Bran, his three sons, and daughters -- including Linus and Claudia of { 2 Tim. 4:21}.

AD 53    Pudens and Claudia (Gladys) of { 2 Tim. 4:21} marry.

AD 60    The Boadicean War.

AD 65    Paul and Peter executed. Tradition has it that Paul was beheaded - not recorded in the Bible; and that Peter was crucified upside down - not recorded in the Bible, but perhaps prophesied in [John 21:17-19].

Tradition has it that Peter, upon learning that he would be crucified, felt himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord Jesus Christ; and thus as a dying request, he asked to be crucified with his head down and his feet up (upside-down).

AD 69    Titus of Rome sacks and destroys Jerusalem. This same Jerusalem would once again become a part of the new Jewish state in 1967. This Jewish State Israel would become a Nation once again in 1948 in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. (see further on below).

AD 156   Good King Lucius, by edict, proclaims Britain the first Christian nation.

AD 290   The Diocletian persecution (290-300).

AD 306   At Britain, at his father's death, Constantine declares himself Emperor of Rome.

AD 407   Jerome translates the Latin Vulgate, the early Catholic Bible.

AD 411   Rome withdraws troops from Britain.

AD 449   Angles, Saxons and Jutes invade Britain for the next two centuries driving the British Culdee Celts to the extreme west.

AD 570   Mohammed born (founder of Islam, the Muslim religion). The Muslim religion began about AD 611.

AD 590-604 The first real Pope*, Gregory I (who in fact turned down the title!). The Catholic Church formed. (the term 'Catholic' simply means 'universal').

* Some claim that the first Pope was (Leo I in 440-461). But either way it lays bare the current fable that the Papacy traces all the way back to Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles.

AD 1054 The Eastern Orthodox church is formed. They split from the Roman Catholic Church over the dispute of the power and authority of the Pope.

Roman Catholic Church:

AD 1215 The 4th Lateran Council of the Roman Catholic church, held in the Lateran Palace, Rome, endorses Doctrine of Transubstantiation.

This is the blasphemy that states that the Catholic Priest transforms the Sacraments of the bread and wine into the ACTUAL LITERAL body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thus along with symbolic cannibalism, they crucify our Lord anew every Sunday.

Heb 10:10-14
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (KJV)

Jesus told us to partake of Communion in remembrance of Him, but it was only to represent the supreme sacrifice on the cross, not reenact it week after week - God forbid! And the Disciples didn't gnaw off a hunk of Jesus' flesh or drink blood from His veins. The Catholic church has turned the receiving of the Holy Sacraments into a Pagan sacrificial blood ritual, all in a Christian house of God, who would have ever believed it possible?!?

When the Catholic priest places the Eucharist Wafer in your mouth, he says to you: "body of Christ," he means the actual literal body of Christ! They don't even give you the wine most times, and when they do, it is mingled with water right on the alter. If you're not afraid of getting kicked out of church, ask your priest sometime. Other Christian super-denominations besides Catholic also believe that the Sacraments become the literal Body and Blood of Christ, such as Orthodox & Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, some Protestant branches, Episcopalian... You have to check with your own individual denomination to be sure.

Many of the other Christian denominations don't believe in the doctrine of Transubstantiation, therefore their Holy Communion service is in line with Christ's teachings and the Bible. Jesus Christ told us to partake of Holy Communion in remembrance of Him.

The sad thing is that after the priest makes the pronouncement: "body of Christ," the lay Catholic has been instructed to answer with "AMEN." The term "amen" means: "That's the way it is, I agree." My friend, if you must take Communion from a Church that believes in Transubstantiation, just say in your mind to God that the bread only represents Christ's body that was broken on the cross, the same goes for the wine or grape juice. God will understand.

And don't worry, the priest cannot corrupt the body and blood of Christ, so, it will still be a true Communion even though it is issued by a priest was has just desecrated it by supposedly reincarnating it into the literal Jesus Christ.

Communion is between the individual believer and God in remembrance of Jesus Christ, the Sacrificer. No man can dissolve that, for it isn't the bread and wine that is important, it is your obedience and faith that makes it a communion between you and Jesus in the sight of God. On the first Communion, Jesus utilized the bread and wine from their dinner, it wasn't some special set-aside bread and wine. The sacraments are symbolic, it is the faith and love in your heart for Jesus that make the event Holy.

The Bible says:

1 Cor 11:24-26
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (KJV)

But, the Catechism (teaching) of the Roman Catholic Church says:

CC (Catechism) 1376: "The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: 'Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transsubstantiation.'[Council of Trent (1551): DS 1642; cf. Mt 26:26 ff.; Mk 14:22 ff.; Lk 22:19 ff.; 1 Cor 11:24 ff.]" (Emphasis added)

CC 1413: "By the consecration the transsubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity [cf. Council of Trent: DS 1640; 1651.]." (Emphasis added)

AD 1378 Catholic Church at odds over who should be their Pope, there were two Popes at this time both claiming to be THE Pope. For a time there were actually three rival Popes in the Roman Catholic Church at the same time.

AD 1417 The Council of Constance elected a Pope who was accepted by all rival Catholic Churches. The Roman Catholic Church now considered itself universal with sole authority on God's Word and salvation, with one Pope recognized as the 'Vicar of Christ'. (Christ' representative on earth).

The Reformation:

AD 1517 The Protestant Reformation began and split the western (Catholic) church into the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Churches.

AD 1517 Martin Luther posts his '95 Theses' on the door of the Catholic Church and sparks the Reformation. The '95 Theses', among other things objected to the selling of Indulgences by the Pope. The Catholic dogma was, and still is today for that matter, that the Pope, as 'the Vivar of Christ' had the power to get anyone into Heaven he desired to. The Catholic dogma also proclaimed that the Pope also had the power to get someone out of the mythical place called Purgatory. In Luther's time, these 'Papal Indulgences' were being sold to the highest bidder in the raising of funds to build St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Talk about a house built on the sand that falls because of a bad foundation! [Matt 7:24-27].

Papal (from the Pope) Indulgences claimed by the Catholic Church:

CC (Catechism) 1471. "The doctrine and practice of Indulgences the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance. 'An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.' [Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.] 'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' [Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 2; Cf. Norm 3.] Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead." (Emphasis added)

CC 1498. "Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory." (Emphasis added)

CC 1479. "Since the faithful departed now being purified are also members of the same communion of saints, one way we can help them is to obtain Indulgences for them, so that the temporal punishments due for their sins may be remitted." (Emphasis added)

But the Bible tells us that only Jesus can interceed for us before God:

1 Tim 2:5
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (KJV)

AD 1521 Diet of Worms: Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant separation from the Roman Catholic Church, condemned for heresy. Is it any wonder that the Catholic Church wanted to silence him?!?

AD 1534 Church of England formed: King Henry VIII influenced Parliament to split from the Roman Catholic Pope and formed the Church of England.

AD 1600's Church of England splits and the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches emerge.

The modern churches:

AD 1534 Formation of the Society of Jesus (known as the Jesuit Priesthood). Founded by Roman Catholic Saint Ignatius Loyola to combat the weakening by the Reformation of the Holy Roman Empire (Catholic Church Universal). This was called the Counter-reformation. These Jesuit priests would go on to murder untold numbers of Christians who refused to bow their knee to the authority of the Roman Catholic Pope. (more on Jesuit Preisthood later, including their 'secret' Oath).

AD 1536 On Friday, October 6th 1536, William Tyndale was led out of prison, tied to a stake, strangled, and his body burned to ashes. Tyndale's crime was that he printed the Holy Scriptures into English that every man might have the Word of God at his fingertips. It is called the Tyndale Bible and only scant copies remain.

At that time, the only copies of the 'Bible' were chained in the Church Rectory and not for public viewing. The people had to rely on the priesthood for the Word of God, the same priesthood that had the blood of the Christian Martyrs dripping from their hands. William Tyndale's last words before being Martyred were: "Lord, open the eyes of the King of England." Almighty God answered that prayer in 1611 (see below).

AD 1582 Gregorian Calendar created by St. Gregory. This our common current BC/AD (Before Christ/Anno Domini) calendar. The calendar that we must set Christ's birth at 4 B.C to be accurate. It also requires leap lears to remain correct.

AD 1611 Original King James translation released. Now the common man would have the Written Word of God at his disposal for personal study. God answered Tyndale's dying prayer with The Holy Bible!

No longer could the church hold men in fear for their salvation. Such great personal sacrifices went into making the Word of God accessible to every man, but the majority of today's Christians still allow their clergy to tell them what God said to us, most do not even open the Bible, much less read it - this is a shame as well as dangerous! History is set to repeat itself.

---

 

The 'Translators To The Readers,' and the 'Dedication Epistle' in the 1611 KJV Bible

The Translators of the King James Bible spoke of the oppressiveness of the Roman Catholic Church in their Dedication 'Epistle' that prefaces the "Translators To The Readers" note in the beginning of the original Holy Bible (The King James 1611 Version - KJV).

We have before us below, the original Dedication as found in the 1611 King James Bible (which at that time was simply called: The Holy Bible.)

We have highlighted two sections of the Dedication so as to bring forth the mood of the Christian world under the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. You will notice the sentence in Parentheses where-in the Translators referred to the Pope as "The Man Of Sin." This dedication as well as the "Translators To The Readers" was removed from all subsequent Bible Versions, and it's value has been lost the Bible reading Christian ever since.

Excerpts from the Dedication:

"...that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defense of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father..."

"...So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make Gods holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by selfconseited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil;..."

We offer the complete Dedication as well as the "Translators To The Readers" in our Studyaids section. It costs about two dollars and is well worth the price to see the Original Translators explain the difficulty encountered in taking one language from another. It also documents the sincerity that the Translators exercised in their task, and builds confidence in the most reliable Bible Version ever set into the English language.

The Dedication Epistle in it's Entirety is supplied at end of this page. You are there provided a click-on link to return to your present place in this study.

---

 

The Catholic Religion Prohibited Bible Reading:

• The Council of Trent (1545-1564) placed the Bible on its list of prohibited books, and forbade any person to read the Bible without a license from a Roman Catholic bishop or inquisitor. The Council added these words: "That if any one shall dare to read or keep in his possession that book, without such a license, he shall not receive absolution till he has given it up to his ordinary."

• Rome's attempt to keep the Bible from men has continued to recent times. Pope Pius VII (1800-1823) denounced the Bible Society and expressed shock at the circulation of the Scriptures. Pope Pius VII said, "It is evidence from experience, that the holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar [English] tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit." Pope Leo XII called the Protestant Bible [King James Bible] the "Gospel of the Devil" in an encyclical letter of 1824. Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846) railed "against the publication, distribution, reading, and possession of books of the holy Scriptures translated into the vulgar tongue [English]." Pope Leo XII, in January 1850, condemned the Bible Societies and admitted the fact that the distribution of Scripture has "long been condemned by the holy chair [the Papal seat - the Pope]."

• A quote: "...the Church (so-called) of Rome has no right to rank amongst Christian Churches. She is not a Church, neither is her religion the Christian religion. We are accustomed to speak of Popery as a corrupt form of Christianity. We concede too much. The Church of Rome bears the same relation to the Church of Christ which the hierarchy of Baal bore to the institute of Moses; and Popery stands related to Christianity only in the same way in which Paganism stood related to primeval Revelation. Popery is not a corruption simply, but a transformation. It may be difficult to fix the time when it passed from the one into the other; but the change is incontestable. Popery is the gospel transubstantiated into the flesh and blood of Paganism, under a few of the accidents of Christianity." -- J.A. Wylie, LL.D. circa 1851 in, "History of the Papacy."

AD 1648 Wars between Catholics and Protestants ended, closing a dark period of Christianity wherein millions of Christians were murdered by the Roman Catholic Church under the banner of Papal authority. Protestants were now free to worship as they please free from persecution.

AD 1700's Late in the 1700's, Wesley's followers, called Methodists, separated from the Church of England, forming their own denomination.

AD 1869-1870 First Vatican Council declares Pope infallible

Catholic Pope declares 'Papal Infallibility' and the 'Immaculate Conception' doctrine:

AD 1854 Pope Pius IX publishes Immaculate Conception doctrine. I myself (this author) was ignorant for a long time about the meaning of the Dogma of "Immaculate Conception," I had always thought that it meant that Jesus was born of a virgin, which He was, but that is not what the Catholic dogma of the "Immaculate Conception" is about. It is the blasphemy that states that Mother Mary was also as perfect and without any sin as her Son Jesus Christ was.

The Roman Catholic Church states:

CC (Catechism) 491. "Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, 'full of grace' through God, [Lk 1:28] was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. [Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854): DS 2803.]" (Emphesis added)

CC 2853: "Victory over the 'prince of this world' [Jn 14:30] was won once for all at the Hour when Jesus freely gave himself up to death to give us his life. This is the judgment of this world, and the prince of this world is 'cast out.'[Jn 12:31; Rev 12:10.] 'He pursued the woman' [Rev 12:13-16.] but had no hold on her: the new Eve, 'full of grace' of the Holy Spirit, is preserved from sin and the corruption of death (the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God, Mary, ever virgin). 'Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring.' [Rev 12:17.] Therefore the Spirit and the Church pray: 'Come, Lord Jesus,' [Rev 22:17,20.] since his coming will deliver us from the Evil One." (Emphasis added)

But the Bible tells us:

Rom 3:22-24
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (KJV)

Whom will you believe?

It says:"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It does NOT say: "For all EXCEPT MOTHER MARY have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

You get the point! They have, in essence, deitized (made a god out of) Mother Mary and turned her into some kind of pagan goddess - God forbid! Mother Mary was indeed a righteous woman, no doubt the best the world has ever seen, but she was not perfect, she has no supernatural abilities, she cannot intercede for us nor forgive our sins; she was a flesh woman who is now deceased and with God in Heaven, period, nothing more and nothing less. The Roman Catholic Church has exploited her memory in a truly blasphemous way.

And as for the "sightings" and "visions" of Mother Mary, where-in she supposedly gives instructions and prophesies from God; they are nothing more than evil spirits impersonating Mother Mary, bringing false testimony to pagan, idolizing people. Those under the spell of evil spirits report that Mother Mary tells them things like that "God says to pray the 'Rosary' to Mother Mary so He (God) can save Russia...." But the Rosary is an imitation of the Pagan prayer beads of the Buddhist faith!

Nowhere in God's Word is it written that we should pray the Rosary, in fact, Jesus, in His famous Sermon on the Mount, specifically told us not to do such things:

Matt 6:7
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (KJV)

And to make matters worse, Catholics don't pray the rosary to God or Jesus, they pray it to the deceased - Mother Mary! The average Catholic has no idea of the error in what they do because the average Catholic knows very little of what the Bible teaches and very much about what man teaches. Traditions of men in the corrupted churches will not get you to Heaven, quite the contrary. Let this be a wake-up call!

But we who read and study God's Word , the Bible, are forewarned of things like this, for as God warned us in His Holy Written Word:

Jer 29:8-9
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. (KJV)

1st Epistle of John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)

The Rapture 'Doctrine':
Click to return back to index

AD 1830 In the Spring of the year 1830, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, a sick woman named Margaret McDonald had a 'vision' of end-time prophecy spring into her deluded mind. Privately she sent hand written copies of her Scripture-riddled revelation to some leading clergymen. They repackaged it and sold it to the world. (See: The Rapture). We also review two very good books on the subject of the origins of the Rapture Theories, they can be seen and ordered from our studyaids section: The Rapture Plot & Incredible Cover Up.

Briefly, the Rapture 'Doctrine' states that Jesus Christ will appear in the sky before the Great Tribulation, and all the "good Christians" will be floated up into the clouds to meet Jesus. The rest of the people on earth will be relegated to a literal hell-on-earth with the antichrist. Of course there is no Biblical support for such an absurdity, although the Rapturist's have perverted several Scriptures to align with their beliefs. In the The Rapture Bible study we take apart those Scriptures verse by verse and observe what they truly say.

The Rapture 'Doctrine' is no small deception, only the Roman Catholic Church has managed to deceive more Christians than the Pentecostal, Gospel, 'talking in tongues' Rapture Churches have. It has been said that 50% of the Protestant family of churches (ie: non-Catholic or non-Orthodox) believe in one variation of the rapture doctrine or another.

This is significant because two out of five Christians belong to a Protestant family (the term loosely used here) of Christianity, in other words, about two out of every ten Christians believe in a Rapture of the Church. There are two billion Christians on the planet now. 6,066,569,719 as of 19:13 Hrs. G.M.T. on 27/Apr/2000 to be exact.

The two main problems with the rapture theory (other than that it is a lie from satan) are:

1. That it teaches not to study the Bible because Christians "will be gone anyway" during the Great Tribulation. But they won't be gone, they will just be woefully unprepared to stand against the antichrist because they haven't been taught.
2. And also, like all major Christian denominations, they are not taught that the antichrist comes to earth before the True Jesus Christ. The antichrist (satan) will claim to be the True Messiah and deceive the world. The Bible speaks explicitly about an impostor coming first - but no-one is teaching it! The result will be that the people of the earth will not know any better and will pledge allegiance to the false messiah, which is satan. The above figures don't even take into account the other four billion people on the planet who are either atheists or Heathen non-Christian religions. The effects should be disgustingly obvious.

AD 1869 At Vatican Council I, the then reining Pope, Pope Pius IX, declared himself and all Popes "infallible"; meaning that when any Pope, past, present, or future speaks 'ex-cathedra' (from the seat), he is speaking as the word of God and cannot be incorrect. He is a perfect man on earth. He alone has sole authority to interpret and change Scriptural and doctrinal issues. This is truly an amazing blasphemy!

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

CC 891. "The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this Infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful - who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals.... The Infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium,' above all in an Ecumenical Council. [LG 25; cf. Vatican Council I: DS 3074.] When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine 'for belief as being divinely revealed,' [DV 10 # 2.] and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions 'must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.' [LG 25 # 2.] This Infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself.[Cf. LG 25.]" (Emphesis added)

CC 100. "The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him." (Emphesis added)

Whom did Jesus say was worthy to be considered good council in matters of questions of life eternal?:

Mark 10:17-18
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (KJV)

Recent-time Church and Biblical Lands History:

AD 1948 Israel once again becomes a Nation in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy (May 14, 1948).

AD 1948 World Council of Churches formed. Protestant denominations seeking unification amongst themselves. In our present day, The Eastern Orthodox churches who split from the Roman Catholic church in 1054 are involved in unification discussions and are a part of the World Council of Churches. During Vatican Council II (1962), the Roman Catholic Church announced it's support of the World Council of Churches and has a representative within the organization.

AD 1967 On May 5^th 1967, The Six Day War broke out, and among other land gained by Israel, the east section of Jerusalem was captured. In this section of the Holy City Jerusalem exists the Temple Mount, the Holiest place on earth for Christians and Jews and the third Holiest site for Islam. All end-time Biblical prophecy revolves around this Temple Mount.

On this Temple Mount lays the third holiest Muslim site (the Dome on the Rock). But the Jews believe they must rebuild the Temple (the third Temple) on this location to usher in the Messiah. Christians believe that it is at this location that Jesus Christ shall make His grand appearance at His Second Advent. This area is truly a hotbed of religious conflict.

More precisely stated, on the third day (Jun 8^th 1967) of the Six Day War, The Holy Temple Mount (site of the first and second Old Testament Temples of God) and all of the then-separated eastern part of the City of Jerusalem was repatriated with Israel. This has strong prophetical implications.

An Excerpt:

CHURCH HISTORY BY DR. HENRY H. Halley
Click to return back to index

WBSG Note: The below article is an excerpt from the aforementioned work. We have not changed the text, however we have inserted notes and comment to update the information, as the original article was written in 1924, and last updated in 1961. Any and all notes and comment inserted into the below article by Watchmen Bible Study Group will be set off in purple as thus: WBSG Note:. . . . , so that the reader can distinguish between Dr. Halley's work and our later work at WBSG.

The Bible Contains the Story of Christ
The Church Exists to Tell the Story of Christ
Church History is a Continuation of Bible History

To Show Our Connection with the Bible Story, and believing that Church people ought to be familiar with at least the elementary Facts of Church History, we give here a Brief Outline of its main Features, Events and Persons.

It is impossible to understand the Present Condition of Christendom except in the Light of History. But, alas, Ignorance of Church History is more widespread even than Ignorance of the Bible. We believe it is the Duty of Ministers to Teach their people the Facts of Church History.

World History is Thought of in Three Periods:

• ANCIENT: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome.
• MEDIEVAL: From Fall of Rome to Discovery of America.
• MODERN: From 15th Century to Present Time.

Church History is Thought of in Three Periods:

• ROMAN EMPIRE PERIOD: Persecutions, Martyrs, Church Fathers, Controversies, Christianization of the Roman Empire.
• MEDIEVAL PERIOD: Growth and Power of the Papacy, the Inquisition, Monasticism, Mohammedanism [Muslim], the Crusades.
• MODERN PERIOD: Protestant Reformation, Great Growth of Protestant Church, Wide Circulation of Open Bible, Growing Freedom of Civil Governments from Church and Priestly Control, World-Wide Missions, Social Reform, Growing Brotherhood.

The Three Great Divisions of Christendom:

• PROTESTANT: Prevailing in Western Europe and North America.
• ROMAN CATHOLIC: Prevailing in Southern Europe and South America.
• GREEK CATHOLIC: [Greek Orthodox] Prevailing in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

These are the result of Two Great Cleavages in the Church.

1. One in the 9th century, when the Eastern Church separated itself
   from the Western Church.
2. The Other, in the 16th century, under the leadership of Martin Luther, Greatest man of Modern History. Harnack said: "The Greek Church is Primitive Christianity, plus Greek and Oriental Paganism. The Roman Catholic Church is Primitive Christianity plus Greek and Roman Paganism." The Protestant Church is an effort to Restore Primitive Christianity free from All Paganism.

The Roman Empire:

The Church was founded in the Roman Empire. Rome was founded 753 B.C.; Subdued Italy, 343-272 B.C.; Subdued Carthage, 264-146 B.C.; Subdued Greece and Asia Minor, 215-146 B.C.; Subdued Spain, Gaul, Briton, Teutons, 133-131 B.C.

ZENITH OF ROMAN POWER, 46 B.C-AD. 180:

• Extended from the Atlantic to the Euphrates, and from the North Sea to the African Desert. Population, 120,000,000.
• Julius Caesar, 46-44 B.C. Lord of the Roman World.
• Augustus, 31 B.C-AD. 14. In his reign CHRIST was born.
• Tiberius, A.D. 12-37, In his reign CHRIST was Crucified.
• Caligula, AD. 37-41. Claudius, AD. 41-54.
• Nero, A.D. 54-68. Persecuted Christians. Executed Paul.
• Galba, AD. 68-69. Otho, Vitelius, AD. 69.
• Vespasian, A.D. 69-79. Destroyed Jerusalem. Titus, A.D. 79-81.
• Domitian, AD. 8 1-96. Persecuted Christians. Banished John.
• Antoninus Pius, AD. 138-161. Persecuted Christians.
• Hadrian, A.D. 117-138. Persecuted Christians.
• Antoninus Pius, A.D. 16 1-180. Persecuted Christians.
• Marcus Aurelius, AD. 138-161. Persecuted Christians.

DECLINE AND FALL OF ROMAN EMPIRE, A.D. 180-476:

• Conirnodus, AD. 180-192.
• Barrack Emperors, A.D. 192-284. Appointed by Army. Civil War.
• Septinlius Severus, A.D. 193-211. Persecuted Christians.
• Caracalla, A.D. 218-222. Tolerated Christianity.
• Elagabalus, A.D. 218-222. Tolerated Christianity.
• Alexander Severus, AD. 222-235. Favorable to Christianity.
• Maximin, AD. 235-238. Persecuted Christians.
• Phillips, A.D. 244-249. Very favorable to Christianity.
• Decius, A.D. 249-251. Persecuted Christians Furiously.
• Valerian, AD. 253-2~O. Persecuted Christians.
• Galienus, AD. 260-268. Favored Christians.
• Aurelian, A.D. 270-275. Persecuted Christians.
• Diocletian, AD. 284-305. Persecuted Christians Furiously.
• Constantine, AD, 306-337. Became a Christian Himself.
• Julian, A.D. 361-363. The Apostate. Sought to Restore Paganism.
• Jovian, A.D. 363-364. Re-Established the Christian Faith,
• Theodosius, A.D. 378-395. Made Christianity the State Religion.

THE EMPIRE DIVIDED, A.D. 395:

West:

• Honorius, AD. 395--423
• Valentinian III, A.D. 423--455
• Western Empire Fell, AD. 476 at the hands of Barbarians,ushering in the Dark Ages.

East:

• Arcadius, A.D. 395--408
• Theodosius II, A.D. 408--450
• Anastasius, A.D. 491--518
• Justinian, AD. 527--565
• Eastern Empire Fell, A.D. 1453

Out of the ruins of the Western Empire arose the Papal Empire, and Rome still Ruled the World for 1000 years.

Christianization of the Roman Empire:

Rapid Spread of Christianity. Tertullian (A.D. 160-220), wrote: "We are of yesterday. Yet we have filled your Empire, your Cities, your Towns, your Islands, your Tribes, your Camps, Castles, Palaces, Assemblies and Senate."

By the end of the Imperial Persecutions (AD. 313), Christians numbered about One-Half the Population of the Roman Empire.

Constantine:

His conversion: In the course of his wars with competitors, to establish himself on the throne, on the eve of the battle of Milvain Bridge, just outside Rome (October 27, AD. 312), he saw in the sky, just above the setting sun, a vision of the Cross, and above it the words: "In This Sign Conquer." He decided to fight under the banner of Christ, and he Won the Battle, a Turning Point in the history of Christianity.

His Edict of Toleration (A.D. 313): By this Edict, Constantine granted to "Christians and to all others Full Liberty of following that Religion which each may choose," the first edict of its kind in history. He went further. He favored Christians in every way: filled chief offices with them: exempted Christian ministers from taxes and military service; encouraged and helped in building Churches: made Christianity the Religion of his Court: issued a general exhortation (A.D. 325), to all his subjects, to embrace Christianity: and, because the Roman Aristocracy persisted in adhering to their Pagan Religions, Constantine moved his Capitol to Byzantium, and called it Constantinople, "New Rome," Capital of the New Christian Empire.

Constantine and the Bible: He ordered, for the Churches of Constantinople, 50 Bibles, to be prepared under the direction of Eusebius, on the finest vellum, by skillful artists; and he commissioned two Public Carriages for their speedy conveyance to the Emperor. It is possible that the Sinaitic and Vatican Manuscripts are of this group.

Constantine and Sunday: He made the Christians day of Assembly, Sunday, a Rest Day; forbidding ordinary work; permitting Christian soldiers to attend Church services, This Rest for One Day a week meant much for slaves.

Houses of Worship: The First Church Building was erected in the reign of Alexander Severus (A.D. 222--235). After the edict of Constantine they began to be built everywhere.

Reforms: Slavery, Gladiatorial Fights, Killing of Unwelcome Children, and Crucifixion as a form of execution, were abolished with the Christianization of the Roman Empire.

Paganization of the Church:

Emperor Constantine (A.D. 306-337), when he became a Christian, issued an Edict granting Everybody the right to choose his own Religion.

Emperor Theodosius (AD. 378-398), made Christianity the State Religion of the Roman Empire, and made Church Membership Compulsory. This was the Worst Calamity that has ever befallen the Church. This Forced Conversion filled the Churches with Unregenerate People.

Not only so, Theodosius undertook the Forcible Suppression of all other Religions, and Prohibited Idol Worship. Under his decrees, Heathen Temples were torn down by mobs of Christians, and there was much bloodshed. Christ had designed to conquer by purely Spiritual and Moral Means. Up to this time Conversion was Voluntary, a Genuine Change in Heart and Life.

But now the Military Spirit of Imperial Rome had entered the Church. The Church had Conquered the Roman Empire. But in reality the Roman Empire had Conquered the Church, by Making the Church over into the Image of the Roman Empire.

The Church had Changed its Nature, had entered its Great Apostasy, had become a Political Organization in the Spirit and Pattern of Imperial Rome, and took its Nose-Dive into the millennium of Papal Abominations.

The Imperial Church of the 4th and 5th centuries had become an entirely different institution from the persecuted church of the first three centuries. In its ambition to Rule it lost and forgot the spirit of Christ. Worship, at first very simple, was developed into elaborate, stately, imposing ceremonies having all the outward splendor that had belonged to heathen temples.

Ministers became Priests. The term "priest" was not applied to Christian ministers before AD. 200. It was borrowed from the Jewish system, and from the example of heathen priesthood. Leo 1 (440-461) prohibited priests from marrying, and Celibacy of priests became a law of the Roman Church,

Conversion of the Barbarians, The Goths, Vandals and Huns who overthrew the Roman Empire accepted Christianity; but to a large extent their conversion was nominal and this further filled the Church with Pagan practices.

Conflicts with Heathen Philosophies. Even as every generation seeks to interpret Christ in terms of its own thinking, so, no sooner had Christianity made its appearance than it began its process of amalgamation with Greek and Oriental Philosophies; and there arose many Sects: Gnosticism, Manichaeism, Montanism, Monarchianism, Arianism, Appolinarianism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism, Monophysites. From the 2nd to the 6th centuries the Church was rent with controversies over these and similar Isms, and almost lost sight of its true mission.

Persecutions; Imperial persecutions of Christians (by the Roman Empire)
Click to return back to index

The Neronian Persecution: (Apostle Paul beheaded) The Great Fire in Rome occurred AD. 64. Nero himself burned the city. Though an inhuman brute, he was a great builder. It was in order to build a new and grander Rome that he set fire to the city, and fiddled in glee at the sight of it. The people suspected him; and historians have commonly regarded it as a fact that he was the perpetrator of the crime. In order to divert suspicion from himself he accused the Christians of burning Rome.

The Bible makes no mention of Nero's persecution of Christians, though it happened in Bible times, and is the direct background of at least two New Testament books, I Peter and II Timothy, and was the persecution that brought Paul to his martyrdom, and, according to some traditions, Peter also. Our source of information is the Roman historian Tacitus. He knew that the Christians did not burn Rome. But somebody had to be made the scapegoat for the Emperors crime. Here was a new and despised sect of people, mostly from the humbler walks of life, without prestige or influence, many of them slaves. Nero accused them of burning Rome, and ordered their punishment.

In and around Rome multitudes of Christians were arrested and put to death in the most cruel ways. Crucified. Or tied in skins of animals, and thrown into the arena to be worried to death by dogs, for the entertainment of the people. Or thrown to the wild beasts. Or tied to stakes in Nero's gardens, pitch poured over their bodies, and their burning bodies used as torches to light Nero's gardens at night, while he drove around in his chariot, naked, indulging himself in his midnight revels, gloating over the dying agonies of his victims.

It was in the wake of this persecution that Paul was re-arrested, in Greece or Asia Minor, possibly at Troas (II Timothy 4:13), and brought back to Rome. This time by the agents of Rome, not as at first by the Jews. This time as a criminal (II Timothy 2:9), not as at first on some technical violation of Jewish law. For all we know, it may have been in connection with the burning of Rome. For was not Paul the world leader of the people who were being punished for that crime? And had not Paul been in Rome for two years just preceding the fire? Very easy to lay this crime at Paul's door. But whether that was the charge we do not know. The Christian religion, somewhere before this time, had been officially proscribed. It was one of the consequences of Nero's personal persecution and a face-saving device. Paul, at any rate, was indicted. His trial had proceeded far enough that he knew there was no hope of escape. While waiting in the Roman dungeon for the "time of his departure" he wrote this last Letter to Timothy [the book of 2nd Timothy], his bosom friend and trusted co-worker, begging him to be faithful, in spite of everything, to his trust as a minister of Christ, and to hurry on to Rome before winter (II Timothy 4:21).

In that dark hour is one of the noblest passages of Scripture. Being executed for a crime of which he was not guilty. His friends forsaking him, and leaving him to suffer alone. The cause for which he had given his life being blotted out in the West by persecution, and in the East going into apostasy. Yet no hint of regret that he had given his life to the service of Christ and the Church. No hint of doubt but that the Church, though now apparently being defeated, would eventually be triumphant. And no hint of doubt but that the moment his head would be cut from his body he would go straight to the arms of HIM whom he had loved and served so devotedly. This Epistle is the exultant cry of a dying conqueror.

Domitian Persecution (A.D. 95): Domitian instituted a persecution against Christians. It was short, but extremely violent. Many thousands were slain in Rome and Italy, among them Flavius Clemens, a cousin of the Emperor, and his wife, Flavia Domitilla banished. The Apostle John was banished to Patmos.

Trajan Persecution (A.D. 98-117): One of the best Emperors, but felt he should uphold the laws of the Empire; and Christianity was regarded as an illegal religion, because Christians refused to take part in Emperor worship, and the church was regarded as a secret society, which was forbidden. Christians were not sought out, but when accused were punished. Among those who perished in this reign were Simeon, the brother of Jesus, Bishop of Jerusalem, crucified A,D. 107, and Ignatius, second Bishop of Antioch, who was taken to Rome and thrown to the wild beasts (A.D. 110), Pliny, who was sent by the Emperor to Asia Minor, where Christians had become so numerous that the heathen temples were almost forsaken, to punish Christians, wrote to the Emperor Trajan: "They affirmed that the sum of their crime or their error, whichever it was, was this: they used to meet on a stated day before light, and to sing among themselves, in turn, a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and to bind themselves by an oath, not to any wickedness, but that they would never commit theft, or robbery, nor adultery; that they would never break their word; that they would never deny a trust when called to give it up; and after these performances, their way was to separate, and then meet again to partake of ordinary food."

Hadrian Persecution (117-1 38): persecuted the Christians, but in moderation. Telephorus, pastor of the Roman church, and many others suffered martyrdom. However, in this reign, Christianity made marked progress in numbers, wealth, learning and social influence.

Antonius Pius Persecution (138-161): This emperor rather favored the Christians, but felt he had to uphold the law; and there were many martyrs, among them Polycarp.

Marcus Aurelius Persecution (161-180): Like Hadrian he regarded the maintenance of the state religion a political necessity; but unlike Hadrian he encouraged persecution of Christians. It was cruel and barbarous, the severest since Nero. Many thousands were beheaded or thrown to wild beasts, among them Justin Martyr. Very ferocious in South Gaul. The tortures of the victims, endured without flinching, almost surpasses belief. Tortured from morning till night, Blandina, a female slave, would only exclaim: "I am a Christian; among us no evil is done."

Septimius Severus Persecution (193-211): This persecution was very severe, but not general. Egypt and North Africa suffered most, In Alexandria "many martyrs were daily burned, crucified or beheaded," among them Leonidas, the father of Origen. In Carthage, Perpetua, a noble lady, and her faithful slave, Felicitas, torn to pieces. by wild beasts.

Maximin Persecution (235-238): In this reign many prominent Christian leaders were put to death, Origen escaped by hiding.

Decius Persecution (249-251): Resolutely determined to exterminate Christianity. His persecution was coextensive with the Empire, and very violent; multitudes perished under the most cruel tortures, in Rome, North Africa, Egypt, Asia Minor. Cyprian said: "The whole world is devastated."

Valerian Persecution (253-260): More severe than Decius; he aimed at the utter destruction of Christianity. Many leaders were executed, among them Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage.

Diocletian Persecution (284-305): The last Imperial [Governmental] persecution [the rest of the persecutions were by religious institution] , and the most severe; coextensive with the Empire. For ten years Christians were hunted in cave and forest; they were burned, thrown to wild beasts, put to death by every torture cruelty could devise, It was a resolute, determined, systematic effort to abolish the Christian Name.

WBSG Note: It is easy in our more civilized nations of this world to forget of the awesome price the early Christians paid for their faith. Countless numbers of Christians were martyred during the above period of persecution by the Roman Empire. The Christian church at this time was fragmented and not under one head. Contrary to what the Roman Catholic church of today claims, there was no Pope until about two hundred years after these events (approx. A.D. 500) .

As horrible as these persecutions, murders, and martyrdoms are, they pale in comparison to the unfathomable persecutions, murders, and martyrdoms perpetrated by the Catholic Church upon non-Catholic Christians at a later era. As we will see further on in this study, hundreds of thousands of Christians were murdered by the Roman Catholic Church under the command and direction of the supposed Vicars of Christ - the Roman Catholic Popes! This is suppressed information in our current age, but we owe it to the Martyrs as well as ourselves to not let the sands of time bury the incredibly disgusting truth.

The Catacombs of Rome:

Vast subterranean galleries, commonly 8 to 10 feet wide, 4 to 6 feet high, extending for hundreds of miles beneath the city. Used by Christians as places for refuge, worship and burial in the Imperial persecutions. Christian graves are variously estimated at between 2,000,000 and 7,000,000. More than 4000 inscriptions have been found belonging to the period between Tiberius and Constantine.

Church Fathers:

Polycarp (AD. 69-156). Pupil of the Apostle John, Bishop of Smyrna. In the persecution ordered by the Emperor he was arrested and brought before the Governor, and, when offered his freedom if he would curse Christ, he replied "Eighty and six years have I served Christ and He has done me nothing but good; how then could I curse Him, my Lord and Savior?" He was burned alive.

Ignatius (AD. 67-110). A pupil of John; bishop of Antioch. The Emperor Trajan, on a visit to Antioch, ordered Ignatius to be arrested; himself presided at the trial, and sentenced him to he thrown to the wild beasts at Rome. En route to Rome, he wrote a letter to the Roman Christians begging them not to try to procure his pardon; that he longed for the honor of dying for his Lord; saying: "May the wild beasts be eager to rush upon me. If they be unwilling 1 will compel them. Come, crowds of wild beasts; come, tearings and ranglings, wracking of bones and hacking of limbs; come, cruel tortures of the devil; only let me attain unto Christ."

Papias (About AD. 70-155). Another pupil of the Apostle John; bishop of Hierapolis, about 100 miles east of Ephesus. He may have known Philip, whom tradition says died in Hierapolis. He wrote a book, "Explanation of the Lords Discourses," in which lie says he made it a point to inquire of the Elders the exact words of Jesus. He suffered martyrdom at Pergamum, about same time as Polycarp. Polycarp, Ignatius, Papias, form the connecting link between the apostolic age and later.

Justin Martyr (AD. 100-167). Born at Neapolis, ancient Shechem, about the time John died. Studied philosophy. In youth saw a good deal of persecution of Christians. Became a convert. Traveled in a philosophers robe, seeking to win men to Christ. Wrote a Defense of Christianity addressed to the Emperor. One of the ablest men of his time. Died a martyr at Rome. Showing the growth of Christianity, he said that already, in his day: "there is no race of men where prayers are not offered up in the name of Jesus."

Here is Justin Martyrs picture of early Christian worship: "On Sunday a meeting is held of all who live in the cities and villages, and a section is read from the Memoirs of the Apostles and the writings of the Prophets, as long as time permits. When the reading is finished, the president, in a discourse, gives the admonition and exhortation to imitate these noble things. After this we all arise and offer a common prayer. At the close of the prayer, as we have before described, bread and wine and thanks for them according to his ability, and the congregation answers, 'Amen'. Then the consecrated elements are distributed to each one and partaken of, and are carried by the deacons to the houses of the absent. The wealthy and the willing then give contributions according to their freewill; and this collection is deposited with the president, who therewith supplies orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers, and all who are in want."

Iranaeus (AD. 130-200). Brought up in Smyrna. Pupil of Polycarp and Papias. Traveled widely. Became bishop of Lyons, in Gaul. Noted chiefly for his books against the Gnostics. Died a martyr. Here in his reminiscence of Polycarp: "I remember well the place in which the holy Polycarp sat and spoke. I remember the discourses he delivered to the people, and how he described his relations with John, the apostle, and others who had been with the Lord; how he recited the sayings of Christ and the miracles he wrought; how he received his teachings from eyewitnesses who had seen the Word of Life, agreeing in every way with the Scriptures."

Origen (185-254). The most learned man of the ancient church. A great traveler; and a voluminous writer, employing at times as many as twenty copyists. Two-thirds of the New Testament is quoted in his writings. He lived in Alexandria, where his father Leonidas, suffered martyrdom; later, in Palestine, where he died as a result of imprisonment and torture under Decius.

Tertullian (160-220), of Carthage; "The father of Latin Christianity," a Roman lawyer, a pagan, after conversion, became a distinguished defender of Christianity.

Eusebius (264-340), "Father of Church History"; Bishop of Caesarea at the time of Constantine's conversion; had great influence with Constantine; wrote an "Ecclesiastical History"--from Christ to the Council of Nicaea.

John Chrysostom (345-407), "the Golden-mouthed," a matchless orator; greatest preacher of his day, an expository preacher, born at Antioch, became Patriarch of Constantinople, preached to great multitudes, in church of St. Sophia, a reformer, he displeased the king, was banished and died in exile.

Jerome (340-420), "most learned of the Latin Fathers," educated at Rome, lived many years at Bethlehem, translated the Bible into the Latin language, called the Vulgate.

Augustine (354-430). Bishop of Hippo, North Africa. The great theologian of the early church. More than any other he molded the doctrines of the church of the Middle Ages.

Early Infidels:

Celsus (AD. 180), most famous early literary opponent of Christianity. No argument advanced since hut what can be found in his writings. Many ideas now parading as "modern" are old as Celsus. Porphyry (AD. 233--300), also exerted a powerful influence against Christianity.

Ecumenical Councils:

• Nicaea. (AD. 325). Condemned Arianism.
• Constantinople. (381). Called to settle Apollinarianism.
• Ephesus. (431). Called to settle the Nestorian Controversy.
• Chalcedon. (451). Called to settle the Eutychian Controversy.
• Constantinople. (553). To settle Monophvsites Controversy.
• Constantinople. (680). Doctrine of Two Wills in Christ.
• Nicaea. (787). Sanctioned Image Worship.
• Constantinople. (869). Final Schism between East and West.
• Rome. (1123). Decided Bishops be appointed by Popes.
• Rome. (1139). An effort to heal Schism of East and West.
• Rome. (1179). To enforce ecclesiastical discipline.
• Rome. (1215). To do the bidding of Innocent III.
• Lyons. (1245). To settle quarrel of Pope and Emperor.
• Lyons. (1274). A new effort for union of East and West.
• Vienne. (1311). Suppressed the Templars.
• Constance. (1414--18). To heal Papal Schism. Burned Huss.
• Basel. (1431--49). To reform Church.
• Rome. (1512--18). Another effort to reform.
• Trent. (1545--63). To counteract the Reformation.
• Vatican. (1869--70). Declared the Infallibility of the Pope.
• Vatican. (October 11, 1962-- ). An effort to bring Christendom into one church. Largest ever.

Monasticism:

Started in Egypt with Anthony (A.D. 250-350) who retired to the desert and lived in solitude. Multitudes followed his example. The movement spread to Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor and Europe. In the East each lived in his own cave or hut or on his pillar. In Europe they lived in communities called Monasteries, dividing their time between work and religious exercises. They became very numerous, and there arose many orders of monks and nuns. The Monasteries of Europe did the best work of the church of the Middle Ages in Christian philanthropy, literature, education and agriculture. But when they grew rich they became grossly immoral. In the Reformation in Protestant countries they soon disappeared, and are dying out in Cathoic countries.

The Crusades:

The effort of Christendom to regain the Holy Land from the Mohammedans. There were seven:

• First (1095--1099); Captured Jerusalem.
• Second (1147--1149); postponed the fall of Jerusalem.
• Third (1189--1191); army failed to reach Jerusalem.
• Fourth (1201--1204); captured and plundered Constantinople.
• Fifth (1228--1229) took Jerusalem, but soon lost it.
• Sixth (1248--1254); a failure.
• Seventh (1270--1272), came to naught.

The Crusades were of influence in saving Europe from the Turks, and in opening up intercourse between Europe and the East, paving the way for the Revival of Learning.

Mohammedanism [Islam, Muslim religion]:

Mohammed: Born at Mecca (AD. 570), grandson of Governor. In youth he visited Syria, came in contact with Christians and Jews, became filled with horror of Idolatry. In 610 he declared himself a Prophet, was rejected at Mecca, 622 fled to Medina, was received, became a warrior, and began to propagate his faith by the Sword, 630 reentered Mecca at the head of an army, destroyed 360 Idols and became filled with enthusiasm for the destruction of Idolatry. Died 632. His successors were called Caliphs.

Rapid Growth. By A.D. 634 Syria was conquered; 637, Jerusalem; 638, Egypt; 640, Persia; 689, North Africa; 711, Spain. Thus within a short time the whole of Western Asia and North Africa, the cradle of Christianity, became Mohammedan. Mohammed appeared at a time when the Church had become Paganized with the worship of Images, Relics, Martyrs, Mary and the Saints. In a sense Mohammedanism was a revolt against the Idolatry of the "Christian world"; a judgment on a corrupt and degenerate Church. It itself, however, has proved a worse blight to the nations it conquered. It is a religion of Hate; was propagated by the Sword; has encouraged Slavery, Polygamy and the Degradation of Womanhood.

Battle of Tours, France (AD. 732), one of the decisive battles of the world. Charles Martel defeated the Moslem army, and saved Europe from Mohammedanism which was sweeping the world like a tidal wave. But for that victory Christianity may have been completely submerged.

Arabians dominated the Mohammedan world (622-1058). The capital was moved to Damascus (661); to Bagdad in 750, where it remained till 1258.

Turks have ruled the Mohammedan world from 1058 to modern times. They were far more intolerant and cruel than the Arabians. Their barbarous treatment of Christians in Palestine led to the Crusades.

Mongols, from central Asia, arrested Turkish Rule under Genghis Khan (1206-1227), who, at the head of vast armies, traversed with sword and torch a great part of Asia; 50,000 cities and towns were burned; 5,000,000 people murdered; in Asia Minor 630,000 Christians were butchered; Under Tamerlane (1336-1402), a similar hurricane of destruction, route everywhere marked with ruined fields and burned villages and blood. At gate of every city his custom was to build piles of thousands of heads: at Bagdad, 90,000.

Fall of Constantinople (1453), to the Turks, brought to an end the Eastern Roman Empire, and jarred Europe with a second threat of Mohammedan control, which, later was stopped by John Sobieski in the battle of Vienna (1683).

The Papacy was a Gradual development, first appearing as a World Power in the 6th century A.D., reaching the Height of its Power in 13th century AD., declining in Power from 13th century to present [1962] time.

Original Mission of the Church:

The Church was founded, not as an institution of Authority to Force the Name and Teaching of Christ upon the world, but only as a Witness-Bearing institution to Christ, to hold Him before the people. Christ Himself, not the Church, is the Transforming Power in Human Life. But the Church was founded in the Roman Empire, and gradually developed a form of Government like the Political World in which it existed, becoming a vast Autocratic organization, ruled from the top.

Original Form of Church Government:

At the close of the Apostolic age Churches were independent one of another, each being shepherded by a board of Pastors. The main leader came to be called Bishop. The others, later, were called Presbyters. Gradually the jurisdiction of Bishop came to include neighboring towns.

The First Pope:
Click to return back to index

The word "Pope" means "Papa," "Father." At first it was applied to all Western Bishops. About AD. 500 it began to be restricted to the Bishop of Rome, and soon, in common use, came to mean Universal Bishop. The Roman Catholic list of Popes includes the Bishops of Rome from the 1st century onward. But for 500 years Bishops of Rome were NOT Popes. The idea that the Bishop of Rome should have Authority over the Whole Church was a slow growth, bitterly contested at every step, and Never Has, at any time, Been Universally Recognized.

WBSG Note: Jesus tells us in the Bible to "call no man your father on earth." We know that He wasn't speaking about your flesh parent because the fifth commandment says: "Honor thy father and thy mother..." [Ex 20:12]. So what other father could He mean except Pope (The word "Pope" means "Papa," "Father."). Also notice the capitalization below in the word Father (this indicates the presence of the definite article in the Greek language):

Matt 23:9 (Jesus speaking)
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (KJV)

Peter:

The Roman Catholic tradition that Peter was the First Pope is Fiction pure and simple. There is no New Testament hint, and no historical evidence whatever, that Peter was at any time Bishop of Rome. Nor did he ever claim for himself such Authority as the Popes have claimed for themselves. It seems that Peter had a divine foreboding that his "Successors" would be mainly concerned with "Lording it over Gods flock, rather than showing themselves Examples to the flock" (I Peter 5:3).

Early Roman Bishops:

• Linus (AD. 67--79)? Cletus (79--91)?
• Clement (91-1OO), wrote a letter to the Corinthian Church, in the name of the Roman Church, Not in His Own Name, with no hint of Papal Authority such as Popes later assumed.
• Evaristus (100-109). Alexander I (109-119). Sixtus I (119-128).
• Telesphorus (128-139). Hyginus (139-142). Pius I (142-154).
  

Beginning of Rome's Domineering Policy:

• Anicetus, Bishop of Rome (154-168), tried to influence Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, to change the date of Easter observance; but Polycarp refused to yield.
• Soter (168-176). Eleutherus (177-190).
• Victor 1 (190-202), threatened to excommunicate the Eastern Churches for celebrating Easter on the 14th of Nisan. Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, replied that he was not afraid of Victors threats, and asserted his independent authority. Iranaeus, of Lyons, though a Western Bishop, and in sympathy with the Western viewpoint on Easter Observance, that is, the week-day rather than the month-day, rebuked Victor for trying to Dictate to Eastern Churches.
  

Growing Influence of Rome:

• Zephyrinus (202-218). Calixtus I (218-223), was the first to base his claim on Matthew 16:18. Tertullian, of Carthage, called him a Usurper in speaking as if Bishop of Bishops.
• Urban I (223-230). Pontianus (230-235). Anterus (235-236).
• Fabian (236-250). Cornelius (251-252). Lucius I (252-253).
• Stephen I (253-257), objected to certain baptismal practices in the North African Church. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, in North Africa, answered that each Bishop was supreme in his own diocese, and refused to yield to Stephen. Nevertheless, the feeling grew that Rome, the Capital City, should be Head of the Church, even as it was Head of the Empire.
• Sixtus II (257-258). Dionysius (259-269). Felix I (269-274).
• Eutychianus (275-283). Caius (283-296). Marcellinus (296-304).
• Marcellus (308-309). Eusebius (309-310). Miltiades (311-314).
  

Union of Church and State:

• Silvester I (314-335),was Bishop of Rome when, under Constantine, Christianity was virtually made the State Religion of the Roman Empire. The Church immediately became an institution of vast importance in World Politics. Constantine regarded himself as Head of the Church. He called the Council of Nicaea (AD. 325), and presided over it, the First World Council of the Church. This Council accorded the Bishops of Alexandria and Antioch full jurisdiction over their Provinces, as the Roman Bishop had over his, with NOT EVEN A HINT that they were subject to Rome.
• Marcus (A.D. 336-337)
• Julius I (337-352). The Council of Sardica (AD. 343), composed of Western churchmen only, Not an Ecumenical Council, was the First Council to recognize the authority of the Roman Bishop.
  

The Five Patriarchs:

By the end of the 4th century the Churches and Bishops of Christendom had come to be largely dominated from FIVE great centers, Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, whose Bishops had come to be called PATRIARCHS, of equal authority one with another, each having full control in his own Province. After the Division of the Empire (A.D. 395), into the East and the West, the Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, gradually came to acknowledge the Leadership of Constantinople; and henceforth the struggle for the Leadership of Christendom was between Rome and Constantinople. Liberius (352-366). Damascus (366-384).

Division of the Roman Empire:

Siricius (385-398), Bishop of Rome, in his Lust for Worldly Power, claimed Universal Jurisdiction over the Church. But, unfortunately for him, in his day the Empire Divided (A.D. 395), into two separate Empires, East and West, which made it all the more difficult for the Roman Bishop to get the East to recognize his authority. (Anastasius, 398-402).

Augustine's "City of God":

• Innocent I (402-417), called himself "Ruler of the Church of God," and claimed the right to settle the more important matters of controversy in the Whole Church.
• Zosimus (417-418). Boniface (418-422). Coelestine I (422-432).
• Sixtus III (432-440). The Western Empire was now rapidly dissolving amid the storms of the Barbarian Migration and, in the distress and anxiety of the times, Augustine wrote his monumental work, "The City of God," in which he envisioned a Universal Christian Empire. This book had vast influence in molding opinion favorable to a Universal Church Hierarchy under One Head. This promoted Rome's claim for Lordship.

Thus the Church was Changing its Nature, making itself over into the Image of the Roman Empire.

Imperial Recognition of the Popes Claim:

• Leo I (AD. 440-461), called by some historians the First Pope. The misfortunes of the Empire were his opportunity. The East was rent with controversies. The West, under weak Emperors, was breaking up before the Barbarians. Leo was the one strong man of the hour. He claimed that he was, by divine appointment, Primate of All Bishops; and (A.D. 445), he obtained from Emperor Valentinian III Imperial Recognition for his claim.

In A.D. 452 he persuaded Attila the Hun to spare the city of Rome. Later (455), he induced Genseric the Vandal to have mercy on the city. This greatly enhanced his reputation.

He proclaimed himself Lord of the Whole Church; advocated Exclusive Universal Papacy; said that Resistance to his authority was a Sure Way to Hell; advocated Death Penalty for heresy.

However, the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451), composed of assembled Bishops from all the world, in spite of the Emperors Act, and Leos Claim, gave the Patriarch of Constantinople Equal Prerogatives with the Bishop of Rome.

• Hilarus (A.D. 461-468). Continued the policy of predecessor.

Fall of Rome:

Simplicius (468-483), was Roman Pope when the Western Empire came to an end (AD. 476). This left the Popes free from Civil Authority. The various new small Kingdoms of the Barbarians into which the West was now broken furnished the Popes opportunity for advantageous Alliances, and gradually the Pope became the most commanding figure in the West.

Felix III (483-492). Gelasius I (492-496). Anastasius II (496-498). Symmachus (498-514). Hormisdas (514-523). John I (523-525). Felix IV (526-530). Boniface II (530-532). John II (532-535). Agapetus I (535-536). Silverius (536-540). Vigilius (540-554). Pelagius I (555- 560). John III (560-573). Benedict I (574-578). Pelagius II (578-590).

The First Real Pope:

Gregory I (A.D. 590-604), generally regarded as the First Pope. He appeared at a time of Political Anarchy and great Public Distress throughout Europe. Italy, after the Fall of Rome (A.D. 476), had become a Gothic kingdom; later a Byzantine Province under control of the Eastern Emperor; and now was being pillaged by the Lombards. Gregory's influence over the various kings had a stabilizing effect. He established for himself complete control over the churches of Italy, Spain, Gaul and England whose Conversion to Christianity was the great event of Gregory's times. Gregory labored untiringly for the Purification of the Church; deposed neglectful or unworthy Bishops; and opposed with great zeal the practice of Simony, the Sale of Office. He exerted great influence in the East, although he did not claim jurisdiction over the Eastern Church. The Patriarch of Constantinople called himself "Universal Bishop." This greatly irritated Gregory, who rejected the title as Vicious and Haughty, and refused to allow it to be applied to himself. Yet he practically exercised all the authority the title stood for. In his personal life he was a good man, one of the purest and best of the Popes, untiring in his efforts for Justice to the Oppressed, and unbounded in his Charities to the Poor. If all Popes had been such as he, what a different estimate the world would have of the Papacy!

Sabinianus (604-606). Boniface III (607). Boniface IV (609-614). Deusdedit (615-618). Boniface V (619-625). Honorius I (625-638). Severinus (640). John IV (640-642). Theodore 1 (642-649). Martin I (649-653). Eugenius I (654-657). Vitalianus (657-672). Adeodatus (672-676). Donus I (676-678). Agatho (678-682).

Leo II (682-683), pronounced Honorius I a Heretic. Benedict II (684-685). John V (685-686). Cono (686-687). Theodorus (687). Sergius I (687-701). John VI (701-705). John VII (705-707). Sisinnius (708). Constantine (708-715). Gregory II (715-731). Gregory III (73 1-741).

The Pope Becomes an Earthly King:

Zacharias (741-752), was instrumental in making Pepin, father of Charlemagne, King of the Franks, a Germanic people occupying western Germany and northern France.

Stephen II (752-757). At his request, Pepin led his army to Italy, conquered the Lombards, and gave their lands, a large part of Central Italy, to the Pope.

This was the beginning of the PAPAL STATES, or TEMPORAL DOMINION of the Popes. Civil Control of Rome and Central Italy by the Popes, thus established by Popes Zacharias and Stephen, and recognized by Pepin (754), was later confirmed by Charlemagne (774). Thus, Central Italy, once the Head of the Roman Empire, later a Gothic Kingdom ruled by the "Head" of the Church. This TEMPORAL KINGDOM of the Church lasted 1100 years, till 1870, when, on the outbreak of the war between France and Germany, king Victor Immanuel of Italy took possession of Rome, and added the Papal States to the Kingdom of Italy.

Paul I (757-767). Stephen III (768-772). Adrian I (772-795).

Papal Power Greatly Promoted by Charlemagne:

Leo III (A.D. 795-816), in return for Charlemagne's recognition (774) of the Popes Temporal Power over the Papal States, conferred on Charlemagne (800) the title of Roman Emperor, thus combining the Roman and Frank realms into the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.

Charlemagne (742-814), King of the Franks, grandson of Charles Martel, who had saved Europe from the Mohammedans (see page 766), was one of the greatest rulers of all time. He reigned 46 years, and made many wars and conquests of vast magnitude. His realm included what is modern Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, and parts of Spain and Italy. He helped the Pope, and the Pope helped him. He was one of the Greatest Influences in bringing the Papacy to a position of World Power. Soon after his death, by the treaty of Verdun (843), his Empire was divided into what became the foundations of modern Germany, France and Italy; and henceforth, for centuries, there was ceaseless struggle between Popes and German and French Kings for Supremacy.

"The Holy Roman Empire":

Thus established by Charlemagne and Leo III, was, in a sense, the re-establishment of the Western Roman Empire, with German kings on the throne bearing the title of "Caesar," which was conferred by the Popes, purporting to be a continuation of the Old Roman Empire, under the Joint Control of Popes and German Emperors, the Emperors having control in Temporal matters and the Popes in Spiritual matters. But inasmuch as the Church was a State institution jurisdiction was not always easy to define, and the arrangement resulted in many Bitter Struggles between Emperors and Popes.

The Holy Roman Empire, a "name rather than an accomplished fact," lived a thousand years, and was brought to an end by Napoleon (1806). It served a purpose in blending the Roman and German civilizations, out of which the life of the modern world arose.

Stephen IV (816-817). Pascal 1(817-824). Eugene II (824-827). Valentine (827). Gregory IV (827-844). Sergius II (844-847). Leo IV (847-855). Benedict III (855-858).

Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals Help Papacy:

Nicolas 1 (858-867). First Pope to wear a Crown. To promote his claim of Universal Authority he used with great effect the "PSEUDOISIDORIAN DECRETALS," a book that appeared about 857, containing documents that purported to be Letters and Decrees of Bishops and Councils of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, all tending to exalt the power of the Pope. They were Deliberate Forgeries and Corruptions of Ancient Historical Documents, but their Spurious Character was not discovered till some centuries later. Whether Nicolas knew them to be Forgeries, at least he Lied in stating that they had been kept in the archives of the Roman Church from ancient times. But they served their purpose, in "stamping the Claims of the Medieval Priesthood with the Authority of Antiquity." "The Papacy, which was the Growth of Several Centuries, was made to appear as something Complete and Unchangeable from the very Beginning." "The object was to Ante-Date by Five Centuries the Popes Temporal Power." "The Most Colossal Literary Fraud in History."

"Yet it Strengthened the Papacy more than any other one agency, and forms to large extent the Basis of the Canon Law of the Roman Church."

The Great Cleavage of Christendom:

Nicolas undertook to interfere in the affairs of the Eastern Church. He excommunicated Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who in turn excommunicated him. The Division of Christendom followed, 869 (completed 1054).

Although the Empire had been Divided since 395, and although there had been a long and bitter struggle between the Popes of Rome and the Patriarchs of Constantinople for supremacy, yet the CHURCH had remained ONE. The Councils had been attended by representatives of both the East and the West.

Up to 869 all Ecumenical Councils had been held in or near Constantinople, and in the Greek language. But now at last the Popes insistent claim of being Lord of Christendom had become unbearable, and the East definitely separated itself. The Council of Coastantinople (869), was the Last Ecumenical Council. Henceforth the Greek Church had its Councils, and the Roman Church had its Councils. And the Breach grew wider with the centuries. The brutal treatment of Constantinople by the armies of Pope Innocent III during the Crusades embittered the East all the more. And the creation of the dogma of Papal Infallibility in 1870 further deepened the chasm.

To go to page two of three, click Go to page two of this study

Click to return back to index
Go to page two of this study
Go to page three of this study

Click here to make a personal comment to us at WBSG about this page

In His Service:
Nick Goggin
Watchmen Bible Study Group

 * NOTE : While we do not in any way represent another Ministry on TV with Pastor (A fine Christian Minister) , it is where we at Watchmen Bible Study Group enjoy to study. If you would like to check it out, "The Shepherds Chapel" is on over 250 television stations in the United States, and can be found by that name in any TV guide. It is also on satellite: Galaxy 6 Trans 16. On Direct TV on channel #373 (The Word channel). Also on short wave radio: WHRI & KWHR from Indiana (17.780 MHz @ 0500-0600Hrs, 5.745 MHz @ 0700-0800 Hrs, 13.760 MHz @ 1700-1800Hrs. (All times Universal Time). They also have a website @: www.shepherdschapel.com. Introductory Offer: (another Ministry on TV) has a free introductory package which includes the Mark of the Beast tape which is available to all new students - from the United States, Canada and Mexico call (800) 643-4645 or (501) 787-6026 or write to: The (another Ministry on TV); P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736 USA.

        NOTE: To insure quality and content integrity, these In-depth Bible Studies are © copyrighted and may only be downloaded for study and shared private use. They may not be reproduced or distributed for sale or publication without prior written approval. Other Web sites are welcome to link up to this Web site.

| To Top |  

Endnotes
Click to return back to index

*1 Halley's Bible Handbook ISBN#0310257204; forty-ninth printing of the twenty-forth edition.

*2 All datings of Christ' life from The Companion Bible (click to review) by E. W. Bullinger, and agreed upon here. (Appendix #'s 180,179,165,156).

• The phrase "Three days" is used by Hebrew idiom for any part of three days and three nights.
• The Hebrew day begins at sunset.
• Christ was hastily buried in the tomb at our Wednesday, before sunset (about 6pm) April 3, AD 29, and arose at our Saturday, before sunset, April 7, AD 29. "He is risen" [Mark 16:6].

*3 The Dedication Epistle Epistle of the Translators of the original 1611 King James Version:
Return to previous place in the 'Church History' study

TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE

JAMES,

BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,
DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.
The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace
Through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.

GREAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent Your Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over us. For whereas if was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion, that upon the setting of that bright Occidental Star, Queen Elizabeth of most happy memory, some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this Land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State; the appearance of Your Majesty, as of the Sun in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised mists, and gave unto all that were welt affected exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad.

But among all our joys, there was no one who more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of Gods sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.

Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution of a Man in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty's loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is precious among them; their eye doth behold You with comfort, and they bless You in their hearts, as that sanctified Person, who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defense of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with at humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one mere exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.

And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things cit this quality have aver been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make Gods holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by selfconseited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by the truth and innocency of a good conscience having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.

The Lord of heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and happy days, that, as his heavenly hand hath enriched Your Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces, so You may be the wonder of the world in this tatter age for happiness and true felicity, to the honour of that great GOD, and the good of his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.

Click to Return to previous place in the 'Church History' study. If you came here from another page then click the "Back" button on your Browser.

We offer the complete Dedication as well as the "Translators to the Readers" in our Studyaids section. It costs about two dollars and is well worth the price to see the Original Translators explain the difficulty encountered in taking one language from another. It also documents the sincerity that the Translators exercised in their task, and builds confidence in the most reliable Bible Version ever set into the English language.

(END OF STUDY)