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Part Two, Reply to Persecutions

Persecutions

I am also very pleased that you have admitted that persecution is a very big sign of the identity of who the whore is.

Let us remember, that ultimately it was the hands of the Romans that killed Jesus, not the Jews!

Joh 18:31 "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:"

Joh 19:23 "Then the (Roman) soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus..."

(Not that the Jews are absolved from Jesus murder, by any means- they were all partakers together- the whole world!)

The point is, if there is any group that should be blamed most for the persecutions of Jesus, and especially of Christians, and other religions, for the last 2,000 years, it is the Romans, including and especially the Roman Catholic Church!

"How did Catholicism become dominant? Answer, by becoming a powerful agency of the Roman state, having Roman law behind it, and political power of a Roman Emperor. The Catholic system only became big and powerful after it became a legal state agency under Constantine. Emperors were the real rulers of both State and Catholic religion. Carnal emperors took the lead in Catholic affairs, called councils, and even established dogma. This was ŒCaesaropapism.¹ (Bernstein and Green, p. 155). Constantine and the Catholic hierarchy decided that all religions except Catholicism must be systematically erased from the empire. There was emperor control." Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325² pages 15-17, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"Christians were considered 'godless' (atheoi), because their religion could not be fitted into the politically sanctioned pagan religious system... the persecutions of Christians by the Roman emperors of the 2nd and 3rd centuries was the classical period of Christian martyr-heroism... Constantine, in the early 4th century, was the first Roman emperor who recognized the church's resistance against a pagan Roman state... as a political factor. Drawing political conclusions... he ended the persecution of the church and made it itself the basis for the spiritual unity of the Roman Empire. The church thereby became the partner of the Christian state; this partnership became one of the foundations of the Christian empire- first in the Byzantine Empire... and then in the medieval Holy Roman Empire of the German nation..." ." Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 4, page 468-469.

It was Pagan Rome that did most of the persecuting of Christians in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Jerusalemic Jews actually did relatively little persecuting at all in comparison. After the Council of Nicaea, it was Pagan Rome wed (united, merged, compromised, prostituted) with so-called "Christian" Rome that continued the persecutions- and those of the most hideous kind! This is the fruit of that foul spiritual adultery committed by the "Christian" philosopher/apologists.

But did Constantine actually end persecutions of the church? Not by a far sight!

"This (Trinity doctrine of separation of persons in one substance)- let loose a fury among mankind that has rarely been paralleled. Millions suffered violence or death in the pursuant wars and persecutions. Hundreds of bishops were exiled or murdered at the command of other bishops who, when the tide turned, visited the same treatment upon their rivals." The Story of Christian Origins, M.A. Larson, New Republic Book, p572.

"Consequences of esoteric Christianity... as soon as the church became the established state church, esoteric groups had to share the general fate of all heretics; i.e., persecution by the state. In this way esoteric Christianity was included in the bloody history of persecution of heresies by the state church and the Christian state." Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 4, page 529.

What is this "esoteric" Christianity? Admittedly, there were some that were heretical, such as Arianism, but the true church, scripturally, also would be considered "esoteric" as far as the world is (or a worldly church would be) concerned-

"Esoteric, 1.a. Intended for or understood by only a particular group. b. Of or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people." -American Heritage Dictionary.

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

1Co 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him... 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

This is precisely why the mystery of the faith, which specifically is- "Christ in us" (and therefore not a separate person) is so foolish to Catholics and her offspring the Protestants- because they don't have the Spirit of Christ in order to enlighten them!

Col 1:26 "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

This mystery- (Jesus Christ, who is the Holy Spirit that is in us, His saints- "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you" John 14:18, and "Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates" 2Cor. 13:5) is not manifest to the world, nor to the false and worldly human-philosophizers posing as "Christians," but is manifest to Christ's true saints only!

These are the one's (and others) whom the Roman Catholic Church have been persecuting for thousands of years...

"In AD 313 Jewish Christians (often called God-fearers) of the famed Desposyni, went to Rome to confer with bishop Sylvester. The Acts 2:38 believing Joses, the oldest Jewish Christian, spoke for the delegation. They asked Sylvester to appeal to Constantine to lift the ban, a ban that barred Jews from entering Jerusalem that Hadrian had imposed in AD 135. But Sylvester would not even do that for them! (M. Martin, Decline and Fall of the RCC, p.42). 'Desposyni,' means in Greek 'belonging to the Lord Jesus.' The Desposyni, great Jewish bishops, were Jesus' blood relatives. In the 7th century they yet held the Judaic-Christian ecclesiology of Acts 2:38. Catholics had the Roman garrisons to hunt them down like animals, like outlaws. (M.Martin, op.cit.,p.44). Desposyni descended through Joseph and Mary, or through Elizabeth and Zachary. They directed churches in the Holy Land, Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, and Mesopotamia. Sylvester wanted then to destroy all of the Judaic-Christian assemblies which were set up all over the Roman Empire... by destroying them, he reasoned, he could destroy the image of the Jerusalem church as the true mother church. Under Constantine that move was attempted." -Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325, page 24, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"With the power of Roman Emperors behind it, the Catholic hierarchy sought genocide against Biblical Monotheism. It fervently, almost madly, sought deSemitization of Christianity. We remember that Semitism is Judaism. Also, we remember that scripturally 'Salvation is of the Jews.' True theology stemmed from Semitic soil, not from Greek-Latin soil. Both the Tanakh and New Testament are Semitic. It was a Jewish Saviour. He had Jewish Apostles. (Hate for Jews: J. Kaye, p.27)." Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325, pages 42-43, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"To post-Nicene Fathers the repudiation of Catholic dogmata constituted the crime of 'heresy.' After AD 325, as noted, the Catholic religion and the Empire were regarded as one institution. (John Laux, Church History, p. 355). The power of Roman legions guarded and protected Catholicism, but no other religion. Ecclesiastical canons and political laws were entered on the same books, and one could not be distinguished from the other! (Laux, p.355). It was a legal offense, a crime, to differ with the Catholic religion; and a person could be imprisoned, his goods confiscated or suffer capital punishment, for daring to publicly repudiate Catholic dogma. (Robinson, Earlier Ages, p. 393). What an awful time it was following the Council... It is a long and dreadful story as to how Catholicism became the big religion, the legally recognized belief of Europe... The doctrine of the Trinity bred evils untold, and ignited or spawned wars and rumors of wars. The soil of Europe was dyed red with human blood. Then came the Inquisition... wherein millions perished at Roman Catholic hands." Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325" page 40, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"Millions perished at Roman Catholic hands."

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

How hard is that, really, to understand?

If that is so hard to understand, please, explain to me what part about brutally torturing and murdering incalculable millions of people is "good fruit"?

Yet these tortures and murders were (and are) the "fruits" and "deeds" officially sanctioned by the popes you Catholics continue to defend as "infallible."

Mat 23:29 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Did the popes feel they were trying to "protect" the people from themselves, as I've read, by eradicating false doctrines?

"Under stress of special circumstances, various regulations were made by the church to protect the people from being spiritually poisoned by the corrupted and distorted translations of the Bible. Hence opposition." -Joel Blake, "Catholic Religion proved by the Protestant Bible," an audio tape by Keep the Faith, Inc.

Now Jesus- Luk 8:21 "...answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the Word of God, and *do it*."

Did Jesus recommend or command murdering and torturing to "protect the people from being spiritually poisoned"?

Hear the parable of the tares and wheat...

Mat 13:27 "So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn...

Mat 13:36 "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;"

2Th 3:14 "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

Mar 7:6 "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 for laying aside the commandment of god, ye hold the tradition of men... 9 And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition... 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."

What commandments have the Catholics rejected?

Full well ye reject the second commandment of God-

"...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Mark 12:29-31.) (Also- 2Th 3:14: And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.)

That ye may keep your own tradition-

"Inquisition, Medieval, a papal judicial institution that combated heresy...

"During Christianity's first three centuries, penalties against heretics were exclusively spiritual, usually excommunication. After Christianity had become the established religion in the 4th century (i.e. Roman Catholic), heretics came to be looked upon as enemies... Penalties included... the death penalty... Many inquisitors... won reputations for excessive cruelty." -Encyclopedia Britannica, 1974, 15th edition, vol. 5 page 366.

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (amazement).

by TomR.

Please continue with Persecution (continued), (posted by) TomR