Article #5 on Roman Catholicism
“And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” - Luke 19:35-38
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was ushered into Jerusalem with the welcome of a King. Crowds of believers shouted, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord” (Lk. 19:38)! This is the one and only Messiah, the anointed King, the same Man whom the apostle Paul called, “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:16). However, since then another man has arisen who has been crowned with the triregnum, a triple crown, which signifies the pontifical power of the Pope as the Father of Kings, Governor of the World, and Vicar of Christ. Catholic tradition teaches that this crown also signifies the kingship of the Pope over all believers in all realms of existence: on earth, in purgatory, and in Heaven.
“As a ceremonial piece, the triregnum signified the triple pontifical power as expressed during a pope’s coronation: father of kings, governor of the world, and vicar of Christ. According to tradition, the triregnum also represents the three states of the Roman Catholic Church: the church militant (which refers to the church on Earth), the church penitent (also called the church suffering or the church expectant, referring to the souls in purgatory), and the church triumphant (which refers to the saints in heaven).” – Britannica
"For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered." - Catechism of the Catholic Church (882)
Do you believe in the Pope? Catholics are proud to attend festivals where they can personally behold the pomp and grandeur of the Pope in real time. Historically, massive crowds have gathered to see the procession of Sedia Gestatoria as the Pope is seated on a kingly throne, elevated, and borne upon the shoulders of twelve men before all the people. One man is highly exalted, and the rest of the people are in attendance as devoted subjects! Occasions like these usually include acts of homage like “the kiss of the feet”. People are surprisingly eager to come and kiss the feet of the Pope! However, recently, it has become more common to bow and kiss the ring of the Pope as a public statement of complete subservience.
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Matt. 20:25-28
In a spectacular show of lordship, the Pope reigns as a King in Rome! Serious men perform their duties as the Pope is ceremoniously presented to the people for reverence and awe. No wonder the people come and slavishly take orders from the Pope. The Cardinals, acting as Princes (formally addressed as Eminence), do their part to help enforce the rule of the Pope worldwide. Over 1 billion people follow the papal declarations of the Pope because they believe that he speaks infallibly on faith and morals. The following papal declarations are calling for your subjection or else you will be eternally condemned to hell.
"We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." - Pope Boniface VIII
"...no man of the wayfarers outside of the faith of this Church, and outside the obedience of the Pope of Rome, can finally be saved...all who have raised themselves against the faith of the Roman Church and have died in final impenitence have been damned and have descended to the eternal punishments of hell." - Pope Clement VI
"He who would separate himself from the Roman Pontiff has no further bond with Christ." - Pope Leo XIII
Do you still believe in the Pope? The Lordship of the Roman Pontiff is not necessary for your salvation. This man is an imposter! These are empty threats from a powerless man. These papal declarations speak of the Pope as if he is the only Way to Christ, or the only Way to Heaven, when Jesus Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6). The word “Pope” does not even appear in the Bible! There is only “one Lord” in Christianity (Eph. 4:5). Your salvation depends upon your faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” – Acts 16:30-31
Sinners must come to a place of absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and only then can they be saved. You must be able to sincerely confess, “Jesus is the Lord” (1 Cor. 12:3). The Son of God is the one true King (Col. 1:18)! And God’s promises concerning Him are faithful and true: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9). Now is the time for you to renounce your allegiance to the Pope of Rome. You don’t have to go anywhere or do anything to be saved. All you must do is believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-10).
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” - Mark 1:15
Jesus Christ lived a humble life of poverty during his earthly ministry because He wanted to be close to the common people. The Monarch of Heaven wasn’t living a comfortable life with the Princes of Rome. Therefore, it wasn’t easy for the disciples to follow the Lord (Lk. 9:57-62). Literally, Jesus Christ was a homeless minister who had nowhere to lay his head (Mat. 8:20, Lk. 9:58)! And He disdained the rich lifestyle and beautiful apparel of earthly Kings (Matt. 11:8, Lk. 7:25). Similarly, the Apostles suffered hunger, thirst, nakedness, and beatings, and they too had no certain dwelling place during their ministry (1 Cor. 4:11, 2 Cor. 11:27). Why? They followed in the example of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 4:1). The disciple is not above the Master (Lk. 6:40, Jn. 15:18-25).
“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” - Luke 6:24-26
What does the Pope do with all this popularity, wealth, and power? You should know that the current Pope, Francis, has a net worth of around 16 million dollars. How did he acquire such wealth? The same question should be asked to everyone else in the palace halls of the Vatican. The net worth of the Vatican is estimated to be 15 billion dollars! Combine this with the wealth and power of all the Cardinals, Bishops, and Priests worldwide. Meanwhile, all these men claim to be the modern successors of the Apostles! But all the world can see that their testimony of Christianity is in total contradiction to the lifestyle of the Apostles and Jesus Christ in the Bible (1 Cor. 4:8-16). Apparently, there is a conflict of interest in their organization.
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” - James 5:1-3
Bad things happen when great men and corrupt rulers are enriched and empowered in society. Horrific crimes are committed just to keep their hold on power and influence. The Pope is no exception! Historically, the greatest threat to the Pope was the Bible; therefore, the Clergy of Roman Catholicism outlawed the translation of the Bible into the language of the common people.
"We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old or New Testament; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books." – the Council of Toulouse in 1229 A.D.
"No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments in the Romance language, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days after promulgation of this decree, so that they may be burned..." – the Council of Tarragona in 1234 A.D.
True Christians were arrested, imprisoned, and killed for trying to translate the Bible so that poor and uneducated people could possess a copy and read it for themselves. Have you read the Bible? John Wycliffe was condemned as a heretic by the archbishop of Canterbury for translating the Bible into English. The Council of Constance in 1415 A.D. even had Wycliffe’s bones dug up and publicly burned! Later, in 1536 A.D., William Tyndale was also burned at the stake for committing the same crime. Historians estimate that hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of bible-believing Christians were killed during the Inquisitions of the Roman Catholic Church. Do you still believe in the Pope?
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” - John 10:10
Popes have summoned armies for Crusades of War leading to the slaughter of innocent people from other religions. Muslims and Jews were killed arbitrarily! Violence, robbery, and rape were commonplace among the Crusaders. Do you still believe in the Pope? All these things were done in the Name of the Pope. Contrastingly, when Jesus Christ was faced with the threat of violence and death by a mob of angry people, the Lord strictly prohibited His disciples from fighting on His behalf. As a Lamb to the slaughter the Lord spoke truth to power in the courts of Kings and Governors.
“Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if My Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My Kingdom not from hence.” - John 18:36
Related Articles:
   |   |
RSS Feed