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Persecution, continued (because continue they did!),

Mat 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore... heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them..."

Why did the Roman Catholic Church, by and with the sword of Constantine's Roman Empire, fight to establish their religion? It's simply because their kingdom is of this world! If their kingdom were not of this world, they would have no purpose in physically fighting for it. Like Jesus said...

Joh 18:36 "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."

"A gullible religious world has been duped into supposing that Catholicism was dominant as of AD 300-350, and that there was nothing else. Nothing is more untrue. Jerusalemic Christianity had continued... These represented Deuteronomy 6:4, 'Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.' They were numerically superior as of AD 230. (See A.C. McGiffert, A History of Christian Thought, pp. 236, 239; R.A. Knox, Enthusiasm, p. 58; Blunt, Dictionary of Sects..., pp. 332, 340, 412; L. Duchesne, Early History of the Christian Church pp. 292-295). These writers prove that Catholicism was weak, and mostly confined to Italy, Sicily, and Greece. As of AD 370 there was but a handful of Catholics in Africa. (Knox, p. 58). Catholics had few or no churches at all in Asia Minor. (L.Duchesne, p.295). Oneness Apostolic Christian preachers like Noetus, Sabellius, Artemon, Paul of Samosata, Bryluss, (.....), and thousands of others spread Jerusalemic theology.

"Most people of the 20th century have almost no real concept of theological conditions of the Roman Empire as of AD 16-330. But it was an Empire dominated by Oneness Apostolic Christians adhering to Acts 2:1-4,38 and Deuteronomy 6:4 doctrinal principles. This is easy enough to prove. Unfortunately, these were by Rome slandered as heretics. By far it was a theological sphere permeated by Modalistic Monarchians. (A.C. McGiffert, pp. 236, 239). Tertullian admitted that they were dominant, everywhere... There were giant organizations of pious Patripassians, and they stoutly affirmed that Jesus Christ was the Jehovah of the Old Testament from head to toe, and that was that...

"By studying Blunt, pp. 127-132, a researcher will find where the (....) had over 400 church buildings, and more bishops than that. There were the Old Apostolic Churches as of AD 318-360 that commanded awe and respect. Paul of Samosata had an entire organization of churches and a school system. Marcion, a Patripassian (Athanasius, Ep. ad episcopos Aeg. et Libyae, 8; Basil, Ep. 81; A. Neander, p. 296) had a complete theological system that he presided over. The North African Apostolics also had a sprawling system of churches from Carthage to Eastern Ethiopia. Further there were African Apostolics in Rome, and they had a church. The tongues-speaking Manichaens dominated from Iran deeply into China. Their church buildings were without number. Louis Duchesne, on p.366 stated, "Rome was full of little churches.¹ Duchesne was not honest, for here he tried to play down the widespread nonCatholic assemblies as, 'little churches.' But in the next breath he had to admit the Catholic pope, in AD 370, found Rome to be full of non-Catholic assemblies. Roman bishops slandered them as sects." - Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325" 15-16, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"Monarchianism...an anti-Trinitarian doctrine or theory current in the church of the 2nd & 3rd centuries in several forms, the common principle of which was that God is a single person as well as a single being... the adherents of this... were numerous. In the West they were called Patripassians... while in the East they were usually grouped together under the name of Sabellius". - Webster's (1959) Dictionary

"Religious histories name many religious organizations. Regardless of their different names they adhered to Judaic-Christian doctrine. In these non-Catholic bodies were Modalistic monarchians, Patripassians, Noetians, and Sabellians; all were about the same doctrinally. several historians affirm, or allude to the fact, that most non-Catholic Christian bodies were about the same doctrinally (J.B. Russell, Dissent and Reform in the Middle Ages, p.23; R.A. Knox, Enthusiasm, p.73, A. Neander, pp. 370-380; J.H. Blunt, Dictionary of Sects, pp. 22,36, 189, 190, 332, 412; J. laux, Church History, pp. 103, 133, 229, 232; S. Runciman, the Medieval Manichee, pp.15, 46,59,88,89,121; Martin Erbstosser, Heretics in the Middle Ages, pp. 22,58,85,87,212.) These monotheists (one-God Christians) were in such great organizations as the Manichaen, Ethiopian, North African Apostolic, (.....), Artemonite, Samosatene, Marcionite, Mendaean, Malabarese, Jewish Christian (here were Ebionitic Monarchians and the Desposyni), and several others. Collectively, they were numerically dominant. However, histories record the vicious slanders they suffered." Nicaea and the Nicean Council of AD 325" p. XIII, by Rev. Marvin M. Arnold, D.D., Th.D.

"Munsen's Antichrist in History, page 7- 'After Constantine had issued his decree from Milan (313 A.d.), making the Christian religion the standard religion of the Roman Empire, he called the first Aecumenical, or General Council of the Church, at Nicea, a town in Asia Minor, (325 A.D.). The council was called for the purpose of harmonizing the different sects that existed among the Christians and to make rules and regulations for the government of the churches... and to decide the formula and practice of the Christian faith adopted by Constantine, which is named after the Nicene Creed. The two most prominent representatives at this council were Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, and Athanasius, a deacon, also from Alexandria, each representing a different view of Christianity. The arguments at this Council must have been very heated at times, because as H.G. Wells tells us, Arius and Athanasius engaged in a fist fight before the emperor. However, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as taught by Athanasius was adopted, Arianism was denounced.'

"After the newly organized Roman Catholic Church was thus set in order with a decision by it's new head Constantine, the Roman Emperor, that the Trinity and the Trinitarian formula only should be used, all who disagreed with this policy were branded as heretics, and many of their leaders were banished, suffering cruel punishments. We thus see how the church fell from it's first love and purity, deeper into darkness and away from the true light of God's Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We invite the reader to compare this first council of the Roman Catholic Church with that of the first Apostolic church, which, with Paul, and the apostles (Acts 15), was making a tremendous decision at Jerusalem. In the latter the discussion grew intense; but brotherly love was preserved, God had His way, and they were in one accord; the Holy Ghost made the decision. In this first Roman Catholic Council at Nicea, (325 A.D.), less than 300 years later, another mighty decision was to be made; but it was made without God, without love, and without unity of spirit.. How unfortunate it was that this church meeting was disgraced by a fist fight, and that the decision was made by an ungodly emperor who had made only a profession o Christianity, and that for political gain, without having been baptized. We are made to wonder why people would hold to a doctrine which came from such a source." -Highlights in Church History, by S.C. McClain.

So, here's what happened- Pagan Rome was persecuting Christians (2nd-3rd century AD). The Pagan Emperor Constantine (4th century) didn't like that his kingdom was divided. The Neoplatonic-philosopher false-prophet Christians didn't like that they were being ignored and/or rebuked by the mainstream, numerically superior Jerusalemic, (Apostolic, Modalistic Monarchian, Oneness, Acts 2:38) Christians. So Constantine tempted the false church to join him in compromise. How did Constantine tempt the false Christians? By using the exact same method by which he told them to make converts- "Hold out temporal advantages as inducements to conversion."

And what could be wrong with this, the worldly Christians ask?

2Co 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 7:2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you."

One really ought to read a book called "Fox's Book of Martyr's." Here's a sample...

Fox's Book of Martyr's", edited by William B. Forbush, on pages 43-87, -

"...Disregarding the maxims and the spirit of the gospel, the papal church, arming herself with the power of the sword, vexed the Church of God and wasted it for several centuries, a period most appropriately termed in history, the 'dark ages'...

"Persecutions of the Waldenses of France...

"By the year of Christ 1140, the number of the reformed was very great... In A.D. 1147... Henericians... would not admit of any proofs relative to religion, but what could be deduced from the scriptures themselves, the popish party gave them the name of Apostolics... Peter Waldo... became a strenuous opposer to popery; and from him the reformed... received the appellation of Waldenses...

"Pope Alexander III being informed by the bishop of Lyons of those transactions, excommunicated Waldo and his adherents, and commanded the bishop to exterminate them, if possible from the face of the earth; hence began the papal persecutions against the Waldenses... The proceedings of Waldo and the reformed, occasioned the first rise of the inquisitors; for Pope Innocent III authorized certain monks as inquisitors... The power of the inquisitors was unlimited... These persecutions were continued for several centuries under different Popes and other great dignitaries of the Catholic church...

"Persecutions of the Albigenses

"The Albigenses... were condemned on the score of religion in the Council of Lateran, by order of Pope Alexander III. The Pope... sent persons throughout all Europe, in order to raise forces to act coercively against the Albigenses, and promised paradise to all that would come to this war, which he termed a Holy War... This was followed by a severe persecution against the Albigenses; and express orders that the laity should not be permitted to read the sacred scriptures...

"Many persons of the reformed persuasion were, about this time, beaten, racked, scourged, and burnt to death... A native of Malta was burnt by a slow fire' for saying that Mass was a plain denial of the death and passion of Christ...

"A.D. 1546, Peter Chapot brought a number of Bibles in the French tongue to France, and publicly sold them there; for which he was brought to trial, sentenced, and executed a few days afterward...

"The Bartholomew Massacre at Paris, etc...

"The savage papists... slew many great and honorable persons who were Protestants... and falling upon the common people, they continued the slaughter for many days... So furious was their hellish rage, that they slew all papists whom they suspected to be not very staunch in their diabolical religion..."

In other words, the Catholic church even murdered their own Catholic brethren for being guilty of nothing more than being weak in their Catholic faith!

Returning to "Fox's Book of Martyr's", edited by William B. Forbush, on pages 43-87, we read-

"...From Paris the destruction spread to all quarters of the realm...

"At Orleans, a thousand were slain of men, women, and children, and six thousand at Rouen. At Meldith, two hundred were put into prison, and later brought out by units, and cruelly murdered. At Lyons, eight hundred were massacred. Here children hanging about their parents, and parents affectionately embracing their children, were pleasant food for the swords and bloodthirsty minds of those who call themselves the Catholic church. Here three hundred were slain in the bishop's house; and the impious monks would suffer none to be buried...

"...Some priests, holding up a crucifix in one hand, and a dagger in the other, ran to the chiefs of the murderers, and strongly exhorted them to spare neither relations nor friends..."

"...The massacres on St. Bartholomew's day are painted in the royal saloon of the Vatican at Rome, with the following inscription: Pontifex, Coligny necem probat, i.e, 'The Pope approves of Coligny's death'...

"At Bourdeaux, at the instigation of a villainous monk, who used to urge the papists to slaughter in his sermons, two hundred and sixty four were cruelly murdered... they spared neither age nor sex; defiling the women, and then murdering them... Among whom were two sisters, abused before their father, whom the assassins bound to a wall to see them, and then slew them and him.

"The president of Turin... was cruelly beaten with clubs, stripped of his clothes, and hung feet upwards, with his head and breast in the river: before he was dead, they opened his belly, plucked out his entrails, and threw them into the river; and then carried his heart about the city upon a spear..."

"At Barre great cruelty was used, even to young children... counting it sport to cut off their arms and legs and afterward kill them...

"An Account of the Inquisition...

"The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly obeyed the church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans: these, therefore, the pope thought proper to invest with an exclusive right of presiding over the different courts of Inquisition, and gave them the most unlimited powers, as judges delegated by him, and immediately representing his person: They were permitted to excommunicate, or sentence to death whom they thought proper, upon the most slight information of heresy. they were allowed to publish crusades against all whom they deemed heretics, and enter into leagues with sovereign princes, to join their crusades with their forces...

"The principal accusation against those who are subject to this (the inquisition) tribunal is heresy, which comprises all that is spoken, or written, **against any of the articles of the creed**, or the traditions of the Roman Church. The inquisition likewise takes cognizance of such as are accused of being magicians, and of such who read the Bible in the common language...

"When the person impeached is condemned, he is either severely whipped, violently tortured, sent to the galleys, or sentenced to death...

"Summary of the Inquisition...

"Of the multitudes who perished by the Inquisition throughout the world, no authentic record is now discoverable. But wherever popery had power, there was the tribunal...

"In Spain the calculation is more attainable... We are to recollect that this number was in a country where persecution had for ages abolished all religious differences... yet, even in Spain, thus gleaned of all heresy, the Inquisition could still swell its lists of murders to thirty-two thousand...

"In the thirteenth century, the popedom was at the summit of mortal dominion; it was independent of all kingdoms; it ruled with a rank of influence never before or since possessed by a human scepter; it was the acknowledged sovereign of body and soul; to all earthly intents its power was immeasurable for good or evil... But its nature was hostile... Rome, in the hour of its consummate grandeur, teemed with the monstrous and horrid birth of the Inquisition!"

That's the church Catholics defend and adore.

Did you catch that one phrase-

"...painted in the royal saloon of the Vatican at Rome, with the following inscription: Pontifex, Coligny necem probat, i.e, 'The Pope approves of Coligny's death'"

1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jo 3:11 "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

1Jo 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

Rom 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things (the rack, for instance, or how about the iron maiden?!?!?!), disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 1 therefore thou art inexcusable, o man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."

I'm afraid the deeds of these "popes" of yours speak so deafeningly loudly in my ears, that anything positive you may have to say about them, I simply won't be able to hear above the great crescendo of their murderous deeds and practices. No matter how you try to explain that on one hand popes committed evil deeds, but on the other hand they are "infallible" when speaking "ex cathedra," it simply doesn't wash to anybody with clear head. if these popes were so "infallible" at all why didn't they "ex cathedra" stop these inquisitions, murders and tortures that went on for thousands of years? And since they didn't, why do you continue to accept the doctrine that they are "infallible" at all? Such is pure hypocrisy!

"Do not think, however, that Oneness Christians used force or physical violence at any time" -Ancient Champions of Oneness, W.B. Chalfant, Word Aflame Press, p. 138.

I'm afraid for me, when you say things like this...

"Yet the evidence for its true role is there. The First Vatican Council taught that 'the Church itself . . . because of its marvelous propagation, its exceptional holiness, and inexhaustible fruitfulness in all good works; because of its Catholic unity and invincible stability, is a very great and perpetual motive of credibility and an incontestable witness of its own divine mission' (On the Catholic Faith 3)."

...I can't help but think how naked and exposed Catholicism really is. And how foolish Catholics appear when they attempt to display any similarity to any kind of true holiness of Christ, or true Christians. It's as if they were the main players in the story of the king's new clothes. Or more aptly, the admonishment of Jesus...

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, i am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

As for me, I'd rather risk suffering the eternal torments of hell, than to ever attempt to justify, and defend, let alone adore the one organization (Roman Catholic Church) that is guilty of murdering more people throughout her history than any other single organization or government the world has ever known. (And if I'm ignorant of another organization that may have murdered more than Roman Catholicism, and she's not the first on that list, she can't possibly be far behind!). It is no wonder that Jesus pleads...

Rev 18:4 "...saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,"

You have admitted that the "whore" is either Jerusalem, or Rome. In fact, you've even admitted that Babylon is a "code name" for Rome!

Now, let's compare a couple differences-

Jerusalem- "The Catholic hierarchy sought genocide against Biblical Monotheism. ...We remember that scripturally 'Salvation is of the Jews.' True theology stemmed from Semitic soil, not from Greek-Latin soil... 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.

Rom 11:1 "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Roman Catholicism- "The savage papists... slew many... So furious was their hellish rage, that they slew all papists whom they suspected to be not very staunch in their diabolical religion... -Fox's Book of Martyr's, edited by William B. Forbush, on pages 43-87

In other words, the Catholic church even murdered their own Catholic brethren for being guilty of nothing more than being weak in their Catholic faith!

Would God destroy Jerusalem, whom Paul says there is a remnant according to grace?

Gen 18:23 "And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?... 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Then we turn to wicked Rome, and find her, killing her own weak brethren, contrary to Jesus commandment not to gather up the tares lest they root up the wheat also. And to this day those who defend the Catholic Church claim her popes were infallible, thereby they themselves justify those very same wicked deeds.

It's either that, or obey Jesus- Rev 18:4 "...saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

If Jesus considers her to be corrupt beyond redemption, anyone who believes otherwise can't possibly believe that Jesus Christ knows what He is talking about.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

In this light, between Jerusalem and Rome, it's no mystery who it is that is worthy of the punishments that Jesus warned of against the whore.

by TomR.

Please continue with Part Three, AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE TWO POWERS by TomR