DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTERFEIT HEAVENS
Jesus declared that his “kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) True Christianity was not meant to be a religion, i.e., a sect to be set up as a Kingdom now, but it was simply a gracious opportunity for one to develop as a disciple of Christ—to know the mind of the Lord, to emulate his character and ultimately to reign with him at his second coming. And, thus, the Church was to remain apart from the world and worldly governments— holy, pure and, as stated in Scripture, a virgin betrothed to her bridegroom. Matthew 25:1-13; John 15:19
The early Church remained sanctified, set apart from the world, for just a short time after the death of the Apostles. Within three short centuries, however, defection (the falling away) from the Apostolic teachings had gradually molded the now worldly-minded church to take on the role of The Antichrist. Finally, in A.D. 313, Constantine embraced Christianity, and the next century witnessed an even further development—a self-serving and politically controlled church organization. Antichrist was transforming into a church-state system instead of waiting for the true Kingdom to be established by our Lord upon his return.
Between A.D. 413-426, Augustine wrote in his book The City of God that Christians were wrong to wait for the second advent of Christ before establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. Rather, he advanced the idea that the Christian Church, united with imperial Rome, was in reality the Kingdom of God now reigning on earth. Many leaders of the Church readily embraced Augustine’s theology that the Kingdom of God had begun. They united with the kings of the earth to set up their own kingdom— Christendom—a counterfeit of God’s true Kingdom.
ANTICHRIST’S LOUD BOAST
Succeeding bishops of Rome made grand claims for the Church, but it was not until A.D. 533 that the Roman Emperor Justinian officially decreed the Bishop of Rome “…head of all the holy Churches and of all the holy priests of God.”
In A.D. 800 Charlemagne formally presented Papacy with the Papal States, and the reign of the Holy Roman Empire began.
This transfer of power from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome was seen by many of the faithful to be a fulfillment of the prophecy in Rev 13:2 where the Dragon [civil Rome] gives the Beast [Antichrist] “power and his seat and great authority.”
As the centuries progressed, Papacy became more and more arrogant in its presumptuous claims: “The pope holds the place of the true God,” declared Pope Innocent III (A.D. 1198-1216). The Lateran Council (A.D. 1123) acclaimed the Pope as “Prince of the Universe.” St. Bernard (A.D. 1090-1153) wrote that “none except God is like the Pope, either in heaven or on earth.” And Pope Nicholas (A.D. 858-867) boasted, “What can you make me but God?” Ferrar’s (Roman Catholic) Ecclesiastical Dictionary states, “The Pope is, as it were, God on Earth…”
Boasting authority from God, Papacy ruled with a heavy hand over the thrones of the earth, seeking to covert the world. Soon this cruel, tyrannical system began to physically persecute those who opposed or even questioned its authority. The true saints of God would not pledge their allegiance to the Man of Sin, and as a result, hundreds of thousands were tortured by means more horrible than modern minds can imagine. Rev 17:1, 2, 6
PROTESTANT REFORMATION
This persecuting spirit was evidence to the Reformers that Papacy had an improper spirit—born of an impure doctrinal foundation. It was never taught by Christ that a Christian should use force of any means to gain converts or to compel allegiance to a church dictate. Matthew 10:16; 26:52; John 18:36 It was also evident to the Reformers that the Papal system fit the description found in 2 Thess 2:4: “…who opposes and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…”
This boast of Papacy was a key factor to the Reformers in identifying the Papal system as a counterfeit—The Antichrist.
Continued with next post.
Jesus declared that his “kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) True Christianity was not meant to be a religion, i.e., a sect to be set up as a Kingdom now, but it was simply a gracious opportunity for one to develop as a disciple of Christ—to know the mind of the Lord, to emulate his character and ultimately to reign with him at his second coming. And, thus, the Church was to remain apart from the world and worldly governments— holy, pure and, as stated in Scripture, a virgin betrothed to her bridegroom. Matthew 25:1-13; John 15:19
The early Church remained sanctified, set apart from the world, for just a short time after the death of the Apostles. Within three short centuries, however, defection (the falling away) from the Apostolic teachings had gradually molded the now worldly-minded church to take on the role of The Antichrist. Finally, in A.D. 313, Constantine embraced Christianity, and the next century witnessed an even further development—a self-serving and politically controlled church organization. Antichrist was transforming into a church-state system instead of waiting for the true Kingdom to be established by our Lord upon his return.
Between A.D. 413-426, Augustine wrote in his book The City of God that Christians were wrong to wait for the second advent of Christ before establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. Rather, he advanced the idea that the Christian Church, united with imperial Rome, was in reality the Kingdom of God now reigning on earth. Many leaders of the Church readily embraced Augustine’s theology that the Kingdom of God had begun. They united with the kings of the earth to set up their own kingdom— Christendom—a counterfeit of God’s true Kingdom.
ANTICHRIST’S LOUD BOAST
Succeeding bishops of Rome made grand claims for the Church, but it was not until A.D. 533 that the Roman Emperor Justinian officially decreed the Bishop of Rome “…head of all the holy Churches and of all the holy priests of God.”
In A.D. 800 Charlemagne formally presented Papacy with the Papal States, and the reign of the Holy Roman Empire began.
This transfer of power from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome was seen by many of the faithful to be a fulfillment of the prophecy in Rev 13:2 where the Dragon [civil Rome] gives the Beast [Antichrist] “power and his seat and great authority.”
As the centuries progressed, Papacy became more and more arrogant in its presumptuous claims: “The pope holds the place of the true God,” declared Pope Innocent III (A.D. 1198-1216). The Lateran Council (A.D. 1123) acclaimed the Pope as “Prince of the Universe.” St. Bernard (A.D. 1090-1153) wrote that “none except God is like the Pope, either in heaven or on earth.” And Pope Nicholas (A.D. 858-867) boasted, “What can you make me but God?” Ferrar’s (Roman Catholic) Ecclesiastical Dictionary states, “The Pope is, as it were, God on Earth…”
Boasting authority from God, Papacy ruled with a heavy hand over the thrones of the earth, seeking to covert the world. Soon this cruel, tyrannical system began to physically persecute those who opposed or even questioned its authority. The true saints of God would not pledge their allegiance to the Man of Sin, and as a result, hundreds of thousands were tortured by means more horrible than modern minds can imagine. Rev 17:1, 2, 6
PROTESTANT REFORMATION
This persecuting spirit was evidence to the Reformers that Papacy had an improper spirit—born of an impure doctrinal foundation. It was never taught by Christ that a Christian should use force of any means to gain converts or to compel allegiance to a church dictate. Matthew 10:16; 26:52; John 18:36 It was also evident to the Reformers that the Papal system fit the description found in 2 Thess 2:4: “…who opposes and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…”
This boast of Papacy was a key factor to the Reformers in identifying the Papal system as a counterfeit—The Antichrist.
Continued with next post.
