The papacy's arrogance is reported
in Daniel chapters 7 and 8 rather plainly. But arrogance isn't enough for this
evil entity. Its heartfelt desires seek to go far beyond mere satisfaction in
being over mankind in a position of power. This power seeks to claim the Throne
of the Creator Himself! This power goes so far as to actually blaspheme against
God by speaking “great words against the Most High.” Has the Vatican
done this? The Bible's definition of blasphemy will better help us to
understand how this happened.
- John 10:33, "The Jews answered him, saying, For a
good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and
because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
- Mark 2:7, which states, "Why doth this man thus
speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God
only?"
According to the Word of the Creator
God, the following two actions define blasphemy:
- when a man makes himself God
- when a man claims to have power to forgive sins.
Does the papacy fulfill this
prophecy?
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“The pope is of so
great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man (...) he is as it
were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ,
chief of kings, having plenitude of power.” -Lucius Ferraris,
«Prompta Bibliotheca», 1763, Volume VI, 'Papa II', pp.25-29
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“And God
himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priest and either
not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse to give absolution,
provided the penitent is capable of it.” -Liguori, «Duties and
Dignities of the Priest», p.27
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“The supreme teacher
in the Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires (...)
complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman
Pontiff, as to God Himself.” -Leo VIII, «On the Chief Duties
of Christians as Citizens», Encyclical letter, 1890
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“God separates those
whom the Roman Pontiff, who exercises the functions, not of mere man, but
of the true God (...) dissolves, not by human but rather
by divine authority.” -Decretals of Gregory IX», Book 1,
Chapter 7.3
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“Hence the Pope is
crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and of earth and
of the lower regions (infernorum).” -Lucius Ferraris, «Prompta
Bibliotheca», 1763, Volume VI, 'Papa II', p.26
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Is it not amazing!? It’s bad enough
the papacy believes it is a “God on earth.” But to say the pope is the “King of
Heaven” is openly identifying himself with one called Satan, who declared his
desire to be like the Most High in Isaiah 14. Only a man completely controlled
by Antichrist would make such a blasphemous boast as this. For this is the
heartfelt desires of Satan himself!
- Isaiah 14:12-15, "How art thou fallen from
heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut
down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in
thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights
of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
The Scriptures openly identify that
man in Rome as doing the direct bidding of that fallen angel, Satan! This
passage alone in connection with the boastful statements of the Popes, should
suffice for some. Thankfully this is indeed the case.
So... how far does this corruption
reside in Rome? According to prophecy it is a corruption that is designed to
attack Christians outright. If you are a Christian defined as Revelation 12:17
describes, you will be a target for this entity. For it is written...
- Daniel 7:21 “I beheld, and the same horn made
war with the saints, and prevailed against them;”
- Daniel 7:25 “… shall wear out the saints of
the most High”.
According to this key, the little
horn is to attack the children of the Most High God. Historic fact is, more
people were killed by the papacy during its reign throughout the
Middle Ages, than by Hitler during World War II. In fact, the papacy killed
over 25
TIMES more people than Hitler ever did! But seeing how Rome
is still a global power, most people have not been told about this. Rome truly
has that ability to hide facts. The numerous "book burning" parties
of the Inquisition made sure of that. Still, historic fact remains that
approximately 150 million people, who refused to recognize Roman Catholic
authority, were killed by the papacy in some of the most horrendous ways. .
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“The Church of Rome has shed
more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among
mankind.” - W.E. Lecky Rise and influence of rationalism in
Europe», volume 2, p.32).
"For teaching faith contrary
to the teaching of the Church of Rome, history records the martyrdom
of more than 100 million people." Brief Bible Readings p. 16
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For an in depth look at some of the
ways Rome killed the Christians, I highly recommend FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS as
an accurate historic record. However, be for-warned. It is a VERY upsetting
book! This book is by no means for the squeamish! It contains graphic
documentation's of HOW Christians were tortured and killed by the Popes of the
Roman Catholic Church. (the above link jumps directly to Roman Catholic
tortures and murders of Christians) If you want to read the
entire book, click here.
Also see my March 27,
2000 Truth Provided Newsletter, regarding Pop John Paul II’s admission of guilt
regarding these murdered souls, as well as the admission of many Cardinals and
Bishops regarding other modern day atrocities INCLUDING abortions of innocent
children.
- Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the
most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think
to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand
until a time and times and the dividing of time.
In this prophetic key, we see the
little horn will seek to change the times and laws of God Himself. Can we link
this with modern historic fact? Has the Vatican done such a bold act?
Fact is, the papacy removed God's second commandment which
forbids carved images and idols being bowed to, (They have kneelers in front of
most statues in this church) and in order to preserve the appearance of the ten
precepts of the Decalogue, this evil church actually divided the tenth
commandment into two parts. This is an open attack on the LAWS of God. But what
of the TIME change?
The papacy is very bold in admitting
it attacked the fourth commandment by moving the day of rest from Saturday to
Sunday. Thus fulfilling this prophecy by changing the times and laws
respectively.
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"The Pope has the
power to change times, to abrogate laws, and to dispense with
all things, even the precepts of Christ." "The
Pope has the authority and often exercised it, to
dispense with the command of Christ." Decretal,
de Tranlatic Episcop. Cap. (The Pope can modify divine law.) Ferraris' Ecclesiastical
Dictionary.
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"Of course the
Catholic Church claims that the change (Saturday Sabbath to Sunday)
was her act... And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical
authority in religious things." H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal
Gibbons.
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"Sunday is
our MARK of authority. . .the church is above the
Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that
fact" Catholic Record of London, Ontario Sept 1,1923.
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How blunt! How bold! The prophecy
states the little horn will change times and laws, and the Vatican
proclaims, “The Pope has the power to change times, to abrogate laws…” Fact
is, in one fell swoop, changing the 4th commandment is prophetically
perfect for this prophecy. For this commandment is not only a LAW of
God. It has to do with the TIME the Lord has set in stone as
His prescribed day of worship!
But what of the latter part of that
prophecy. What is that time at the end of this passage all about?
- Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the
most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time
and times and the dividing of time.
The prophetic key here is saying the
saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. So…
what is a time and times and the dividing of time? Before going further, I
would like to define the word “dividing” that is used here.
So what is Daniel is actually
saying, “a time, times, and half a time. ??
Let's first look into other areas of prophecy to try and define this. Revelation 13:5 speaks of this time as forty two months. It says, "...and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." The forty two months of Rev 13:5 and the "time, and time and dividing a time" of Daniel 7:25 equal the same thing. 42 months. Fact is, 42 months actually equals "3 1/2 years." But does this make sense with Daniel? A "time (one year) and times (two years) and the dividing of time, (half a year ) actually equals three and a half years, or forty two months (12+24 + 6 = 42 months) So, yes, it appears this does make sense in Daniel. Plus, Revelation 12:6 confirms this as authentic when it says that the church of Jesus would hide in the wilderness for exactly 1260 days during this time the little horn goes about killing Christians. Fact is, 42 months, or 3 and a half years actually equals 1260 days.
Let's first look into other areas of prophecy to try and define this. Revelation 13:5 speaks of this time as forty two months. It says, "...and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." The forty two months of Rev 13:5 and the "time, and time and dividing a time" of Daniel 7:25 equal the same thing. 42 months. Fact is, 42 months actually equals "3 1/2 years." But does this make sense with Daniel? A "time (one year) and times (two years) and the dividing of time, (half a year ) actually equals three and a half years, or forty two months (12+24 + 6 = 42 months) So, yes, it appears this does make sense in Daniel. Plus, Revelation 12:6 confirms this as authentic when it says that the church of Jesus would hide in the wilderness for exactly 1260 days during this time the little horn goes about killing Christians. Fact is, 42 months, or 3 and a half years actually equals 1260 days.
Still, some will say that 42 months
does NOT equal 1260 days because all our months do not equal 30 days each
today. And if you multiply 365 days for a year by 3.5, you do NOT get
1260. You will get, 1277.5 instead. The fact here is that a month in the Bible
is based upon lunar reckoning. (that is, 1 month = 29.56 days, rounded
to 30 days.) In fact, most Orthodox Jews to this day still use this
method a time when calculating their feast days or other events.
To understand, and further verify
the forty and two months, or the time, and time and diving a time that
this little horn will reign, we must first find the method of time the Bible
declares for prophecy. God says in Ezekiel 4:6 "I have appointed
thee each day for a year" And we also find the
Bible acknowledges a month to be 30 days long. Because in,
Genesis 7:11 we see the rain started on the 17 day of the 2nd month and
in Genesis 8:3,4 we find the water receded at the end of 150 days. Then
it says the ark rested on the 17th day of the 7th month.
That's exactly 5 months to the day. If we divide the
150 days by the 5 months you will get 30 days per month. Biblical jurisprudence
confirms, a month = 30 days! So 42 months multiplied by 30 equals 1260. And
according to Ezekiel 4:6, that's 1260 years that the little horn, or Papal Rome
would reign.
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Prophetic time
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Years
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Months
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Days
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Real Years
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Time
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1
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12
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360
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360
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Times
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2
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24
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720
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720
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½ Time
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½
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6
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180
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180
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Time, Times, ½Time
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3½
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42
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1260
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1260
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So… What does history say about all
this? Does it ring true? Is there proof the Roman Church attacked the children
of God for exactly 1260 years?
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"Vigilius...ascended
the papal chair (538 A.D.) under the military
protection of Belisarius." History of the Christian Church, Vol.
3, p. 327
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WHO IS THIS VIGILIUS? WAS HE EVEN A
CHRISTIAN?
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As the ten kingdoms of Rome were falling
apart, there was an emperor Justinian who was worried about his crumbling
empire. He has a General Bellsarius under his thumb who he devises a plan
with during the wars that resulted in the unrest of Rome's fall. They decided
that if they can get into the city of Rome they will banish the bishop of
Rome so as to allow for a takeover that would allow the
new system of "ROMAN Catholicism" to be set up. They needed this
system because they felt they had no more political power to control the
people. So they devised a plan that would give them Religious as well as
political strength.
One fateful day while Bellsarius
is fighting, the bishop of Rome proclaims that he will not allow any fighting
within his city. This Bishop loves his people and proceeds to close the gates
and refuses to have anything to do with the war just outside the city. The
fighting on this day is particularly strenuous however. The Goths had pushed
back Bellsarius and his fighters all the way to the walls of what was left of
the city of Rome. It looked hopeless. It looked as if Bellsarius was going to
be wiped out completely. So, Bellsarius scurried off a note to his superior
Justinian, saying, "save us!" Justinian's wife is a Christian who
happens to be a friend of the bishop of Rome. Justinian pleads with his wife
to ask the bishop of Rome to open the gates of the city so that Bellsarius
and his men can enter inside so as not to be wiped out by the Goth's. Out of
respect for her bishop, Salverius of Rome opens the gates of the city to
allow Bellsarius and his army into the city to spare their lives.
Justinian and Bellsarius however
had already agreed that once inside the city they would banish the bishop of
Rome. So once inside they did indeed follow through on their plans.
They banished the bishop and put their own man Vigilius who was not a
Christian on the seat of bishop and proclaimed him Pope that very
day. And there you have it, just as this prophecy of Revelation 13:4
predicted. In the year 538 AD the official beginning of the Roman Catholic
church and state conglomeration prophetically began. -Generalized
Information taken from Hope Beyond 2000 Video series "Rise of
the little horn of Daniel 7” -Kenneth Cox
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Historical records reveal the papacy
officially began its reign in 538 A.D. upon Emperor Justinian's decree, and
under the military protection of Belisarius. And the Bible says the
little horn will rule for EXACTLY 1260 years before
receiving a mortal wound. Now it's just a matter of simple mathematics. It is
also a grand method by which to see the Lord glorified. If the prophecy is
correct, 1260 years after 538 A.D. the little horn must receive a mortal wound
and loose power.
If you add 1260 years to the
official beginning year for the Roman Catholic church & state conglomerate,
which was 538 A.D., you will arrive in the exact year of 1798 A.D. So,
according to the Bible we are told the first reign of this little horn will
last till the year 1798 . So, did it end in 1798?
YES IT DID!
On February 10th Napoleon
Bonaparte in the EXACT year 1798 A.D. sent his
General Louis Alexander Berthier, with his army into Rome, Italy.
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"In 1798 General
Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal
government, and established a secular one." -Encyclopedia
Britannica 1941 edition
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That's Exactly 42 prophetic
months, or 1260 years, or a time, and time, and
dividing a time after the Papacy began its powerful reign that the
Pope shall be mortally wounded!
- Daniel 8:9 And out of one of them came forth
a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and
toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
As we already learned in the keys
that identify the little horn from Daniel chapter 7, we know that the little
horn symbolizes a power closely linked with the name and kingdom of Rome. In
fact, having received authority from the hands of the Roman Empire, the papacy
is also called “Papal Rome” to this day. Plus the church is called the “ROMAN”
Catholic Church. The little horn did indeed come up, like the other ten horns,
directly from the head of the fourth beast, which we already learned symbolizes
the Roman Empire. So.... What’s next?
- Daniel 8:10,11 “And it waxed great, even to
the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the
stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even
to the prince of the host, and by him the
daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his
sanctuary was cast down.”
The papacy did prophetically grow up
to the host of heaven. In fact it declares itself as high as “the
Prince of the host”, who is in fact Jesus, Prince of the heavenly armies.
As for the "daily
sacrifice" mentioned here. What does that mean?
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"Then I saw in relation to
the `daily'...that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the
judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on
the correct view of the `daily'; but in the confusion since 1844, other views
have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed" Early
Writings, p 74-75.
"The "daily"
translates "continual or perpetual" (Strong's #8548), but does not
refer to Christ's daily sacrifice or His daily ministration. It refers
to paganism, as the pioneers believed.
Satan
used paganism (especially pagan Rome) to "continually" persecute and
kill the Christians, and as he saw that this was only causing God's church to
grow, he changed his battle-plans and stopped killing the Christians. By
concessions he got pagans and Christians to gradually unite together, which
corrupted the true faith. He then used these corrupted Christians to accept
pagan beliefs, and to persecute their own brethren who refused to compromise,
but who remained true to God (see Spirit of Prophecy, vol 4, p 42-46). So
paganism--the daily or pagan Rome--was gradually taken away, and the
transgression (abomination) of desolation--papal Rome, with Sunday as the
false Sabbath--was being set up.
From 34 to
321 AD paganism (pagan Rome) ruled. In 321, pagan ruler Constantine made a
civil law which forbade labor on sunday except for
agriculture purposes (see Source Book for Bible Students, p 578-80). The law
reads: "On the venerable day of the sun let the magistrates and people
residing in the cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country,
however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue
their pursuits; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable
for grain sowing or for vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment
for such operations, the bounty of heaven should be lost" Codex
Justinianus, lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; translated in "History of the Christian
Church" Vol 3, p 380 by Philip Schaff, 1893.
But
after 321 AD, paganism, with Sunday as a worship day, gradually united with
Christianity, until it was completely engulfed in Christianity by 508 AD.
In 508, Clovis--the king of the
Franks--became converted to Catholicism, and conquered the Goths. This gave
the papacy supremacy not only in the east, but now also in the west (see
Bible Commentary, vol 4, pC 881). "And from the time that the daily
shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there
shall be 1290 days (years). Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the
1335 days (years)" Daniel 12:11-12.
The
"daily" (paganism, with sunday as worship day) was now taken away,
and the "abomination of desolation" (papal Rome, with sunday as
false sabbath) was now set up, thus beginning both the 1290 and the 1335
days/years.
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TO BE CONTINUED....
