The Wine of Roman Babylon

 

          For nearly 4,000 years, God had led the children of Abraham. The Jews were proud of their glorious heritage—they were God's people. The beauty of the Sanctuary services and the promises of God to them, though not really understood, were the object of great national and religious pride.

 

          But when the Jewish people finally officially rejected the Gospel and proceeded to persecute those who believed in Jesus, these believers had to separate from their beloved Israel.

 

          With tearful lament as He foresaw this, hear Christ weep for His apostate people: "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem!... How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people... but you would not let me!... Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Matthew 23:37, 38 GNB, KJV

 

          He knew that there was no coming back for the Jewish nation as a people; they had reached the point of no return.  Now, only as individuals could they enter God's Kingdom.

 

          For multitudes of sincere Christian Catholics, the discovery of what God has to say about the Roman Catholic church is a serious blow. Having grown up their whole lives believing it to be "the only true church", they have inevitably become loyally attached to and grown to love its services and ceremonies. With nostalgia they recall the beautiful churches, the stories of the lives of the saints, the mysterious mass services, the pomp and glory of the clergy.

 

          But when God lovingly offers us something better- when presented with the truth which sets us free—when we understand that the truth about God is better and more beautiful than anything we have believed or can imagine—we are invited to let go of false beliefs we have held dear, and exchange spiritual slavery for freedom in Christ. We realize that, as beautiful and dear as the church may have been to us, that it is all a counterfeit cleverly designed by Satan to mesmerize the mind and deceive one into false worship.

 

          But even after realizing this, there remain many questions that perplex those who have been firmly indoctrinated their whole lives in the teachings and beliefs of Rome. Is the Virgin Mary the "Queen of Heaven"? What about prayers to the "Saints"? Or Rosaries, relics, and indulgences? What of priests, confession, penitence and purgatory? What about the Mass?

Once again, we shall turn to the Bible to reveal the truth and dispel the false.

 

MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS

 

          To be the mother of the promised Messiah was the dream of every Jewish girl. Mary was a humble woman who loved God. No doubt God chose her because He found no one else more fit for the awesome task. The responsibility of rearing and teaching the Saviour in the ways of God were to be conferred upon someone who was fully open to the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit.

 

          The Roman Catholic church has made some very serious claims for Mary that she would never have dared make. Let us hear the testimony of Scripture regarding this remarkable woman.

1. Who was the first devotee of Mary? What was Jesus' reaction to her homage to Mary?

Luke 11:27,28

Note: Jesus dearly loved Mary, but He made it quite clear that she had no special merit because of her having borne Him. This in no way guaranteed her salvation. But rather, He said a person was truly blessed if he followed God's Word.

2. Was Mary sinless?

Romans 3:23

Luke 1:46-49

Luke 2:24 cf. Leviticus5:7

Note: The Bible clearly teaches that only Jesus was sinless (Romans 3:10, I Peter 2:22). In her praise to God, we not only see that Mary was not only humble and did not consider herself holy ("He has seen the low estate of his handmaid"), but that she recognized herself as a sinner in need of a Saviour ("My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour"). Only sinners need a Saviour; if she were indeed sinless, she would have no need for one. Again, she took a sin offering to the temple, recognizing that we are saved by God's grace alone.

3. Is Mary more special than we are by virtue of her relationship to Christ?

Mark 3:33-35 (also depicted in Matthew 12:46-50 and Luke 8:19-21)

Note: In Christ, we may all be as close to him as Mary was, if we do God's will.

4. The Catholic church teaches that Mary is our advocate. What do the Scriptures say?

I John 2:1

5. Mary is taught to be "the mother of us all". What Bible passage is this based on?

John 19:26,27

Note: Jesus did not here declare her the mother of humanity. He was, as any good Son, simply insuring that his mother would be taken care of after he was no longer personally around.

6. The Catholic church has given Mary the title of "The Queen of Heaven". What does the Bible say about paying homage to the Queen of Heaven?

Jeremiah 7:18

Jeremiah 44:4,16-19

7. What was Mary's only command?

John 2:5

Note: If we really appreciate Mary and respect her, we will follow the only command she has given, and do what He says.

(for more details on Catholic veneration of Mary, see appendix A)

 

POPES AND PRIESTS

8.   The word "Pope" means "father". Priests in the Catholic church are also called "father". What did Jesus say about using this term in a religious sense?

Matthew 23:9

9.   Does the Bible have anything to say about the claims the Pope makes for himself?

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Note: When our Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to God the Father up in Heaven, he used a term so reverent that it appears only once in the Scriptures. That term is "Holy Father" (John 17:11). One of the Pope's official titles is "Holy Father" (Modern Catholic Dictionary, pp. 253).

       On page 561 of the same book, it declares that the Pope sits as Christ in the Vatican.

       In Dogmatic Canons And Decrees, it says that when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, he speaks for God, and is INFALLIBLE (Page 256).

 

       Therefore, the Pope claims:                  

—A title belonging to God, the Father, in Heaven ("Holy Father")      

—To sit as Christ in the Vatican, and

—That when He speaks ex cathedra, he speaks for God, in place of the Holy Spirit.

 

         Does the Pope actually think he is God? Pope Boniface VIII said: "The Roman Pontiff judges all men, but is judged by no one. We declare, assert, define, and pronounce: To be subject to the Roman Pontiff is to every human creature altogether necessary for salvation...that which was spoken of Christ 'Thou hast subdued all things under His feet' may well seem verified in Me...I have the authority of the King of kings, I am all in all and above all, so that God Himself and I, the vicar of God, have but one consistory, and I am able to do all that God can do. What, therefore, can you make of Me, but God?" Bull Unum Sanctum

10. The Catholic church claims Peter was the first Pope. What Bible verse do they base this on?

Matthew 16:18                                              

Note: The Catholic church claims that Peter was the "rock" upon Jesus built his Church. But the Greek word in this text means "a stone".              Jesus had asked Peter "Who am I?". When Peter answered "You are the Messiah", Jesus responded, "And you are a stone; but on this rock (the truth that Peter had spoken) I will build My Church."

       Jesus told Peter that he was merely a stone in His Church. The Bible says Jesus is "the Rock", the "chief cornerstone" and foundation upon which the Church is built (Acts 4:11, I Peter 2:6,7, Ephesians 2:20, I Corinthians 3:11).

       Peter clearly understood what Jesus was saying. He later wrote about us (himself included) being "living stones in God's Church". (I Peter 2:5). To say that the Church was built on Peter is utterly absurd. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against it, but the gates of hell did prevail against Peter (Matthew 16:22,23; Galatians 2:11-14). That Jesus did not appoint Peter the head of the Church is also clearly seen in the fact that much after this incident, Peter was still asking who would be greater in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:1).  The foundation of the Church was all the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20).

       Many years later the apostle Paul had a difference with Peter and "withstood him to his face", publicly. (Galatians 2:11). If Peter had been infallible or "the head of the Church", Paul would never had dared to do what he did.

11. The Catholic Church forbids its priests to marry, and teaches that Peter was the first Pope. Was Peter married? 

Mark 1:29

Note: The Bible nowhere prohibits marriage. God created marriage, and declares it to be holy and good ( Hebrews 13:4).                               

        The Bible says God's ministers should be "married but once," and have children (I Timothy 3:2-5,12).

12. In addition to forbidding marriage for its clergy, the Catholic Church also traditionally forbade the eating of meat on Fridays. What does the Bible comment about this?

I Timothy 4:1-3

Note: The Bible calls this the doctrines of devils.

(For a detailed list of true doctrines that have been replaced by spurious ones, see appendix b)

 

THE CONFESSIONAL

13. The Catholic church teaches that unless one confesses one's sins to a priest, they cannot be forgiven. Whom does the Bible say we are to confess our sins to?

I John 2:1,2

14. Can a priest forgive sins?

Mark 2:7

Note: When Jesus accepted the confession of sinners, He did not ask how many or what they were (Luke 7:37,38; Luke 23:39-43)

15. How are we to obtain forgiveness for our sins?

Answer: a) we are to go to Jesus—I John 2:1,2

b) recognize our need and confess to God—I John 1:8,9

c) forgive others—Matthew 6:12, 14,15

THE MASS

16. In lesson 35 we shall study the Lord's Supper. The Catholic church has replaced this service with the Mass.  In it, the Church claims that the priest converts the bread and wine into the actual blood and body of Christ (Modern Catholic Dictionary, p.530). What did Christ say?

Matthew 24:23

Note: Jesus also said, "I am the door" and "I am the vine" (John 10:9, John 15:1), but we clearly understand these to be METAPHORS. So it is when He says, "This is my body and blood" (Luke 22:19,20).

17. In the mass, the Roman Catholic church claims that the sacrifice of Christ is repeated each time. What does the Bible say?

Hebrews 9:24

Hebrews 9:25-26

Hebrews 9:28

18. Can the mass remove sins?

Hebrews 10:11-12

TRADITION

19. The Catholic church claims that tradition is above the Word of God. What did Jesus say?

Matthew 15:6,9

Mark 7:13

Colossians 2:8

Note: Jesus said that if we worship Him following tradition instead of truth, it is in vain, or USELESS.

(For a detailed list of traditions added to the Word of God, see appendix c)

20. The Catholic Church teaches that prayers are to be repeated by rote, and the more you repeat them, the more effective it will be. What did Jesus say?

Matthew 6:7

21. The Catholic Church teaches that the lost will burn in Hell for eternity. What does the Bible say?

Note: For a detailed study on Hell, see lesson 12.

22. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that one may absolve sin in Purgatory after death. What does the Bible teach?

Romans 8:1

I John 1:7

Romans 5:9

Note: The Bible nowhere speaks of Purgatory. It clearly teaches that one cannot have a second chance after dying (Hebrews 9:27); our choices are made before we die.

23. In the past, the Catholic church has sold indulgences, to absolve sin and shorten time in Purgatory. What does the Bible say?

I Peter 1:18,19

24. What does the Bible say about making statues for use in religious settings?

Exodus 20:4-5

Note: The Catholic church has removed this commandment from all its catechisms. To recompense the removed commandment, they split the tenth commandment into two.

25. What about the Saints? Can they not answer prayer?

Note: The Bible clearly teaches that the dead are not in Heaven. The "Saints" cannot help us in any way. Remember that "There is One Mediator between God and man" and that is Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). The Bible uses the term "saint" to refer to all believers (Romans 1:7, I Corinthians 1:2). You and I are "saints" in the Biblical sense.

Christ told us He wanted to talk to us plainly about the Father- there is no need for anyone between us and God.  Besides, Jesus is God. Jesus is our Mediator only because we are afraid of God.  When we understand this truth, the belief system of saints, the Virgin Mary, and even Christ as intercessors crumbles.

26. The Catholic Church claims that there is no salvation outside of her. It teaches that through the seven sacraments one gains salvation. What does the Bible teach?

Titus 3:5

Ephesians 2:8,9

Romans 3:20

 

Appendix A

 

        Let us contrast some of the teachings of Rome regarding Mary with the Word of God: (Quotes from the book, "The Glories of Mary", by Alfonso María de Ligorio)

Mary Is Given The Place Belonging To Jesus Christ:

 

 

Roman Catholic Church:

The Word of God:

 

"And she is truly made  mediatress of peace between sinners and God.... Sinners receive pardon by...Mary alone."  pp. 82,83

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 

I Timothy 2:5-6

 

"He falls and is lost who has not recourse to Mary."  p.94

"Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."   John 14:6

 

 

Mary Is Glorified More Than Jesus Christ:

 

 

Roman Catholic Church

The Word of God

 

"We shall be heard more quickly...if we have recourse to Mary and call on Her holy name, than we should if we called on the Name of Jesus our Saviour."  page 136

"There is none like unto the Lord our God"  Exodus 8:10

"Shall mortal man be more just than God?  Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?"  Job 4:17 

 

"Many things...are asked from God, and are not granted; they are asked from Mary, and are obtained."  pp.137,141

"The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  Psalm 84:11

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."   Hebrews 4:16

 

"She...is even Queen of Hell, and Sovereign Mistress of the Devils."  pp.141,143

"(Jesus is) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come."  Ephesians 1:21

 

"The Holy Church commands a worship peculiar to Mary."  p.130

"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."  Matthew 4:10

 

 

Mary Is The Gate To Heaven Instead of Jesus Christ:

 

 

Roman Catholic Church:

The Word of God:

 

"Mary is called...the gate of Heaven because no one can enter that blessed Kingdom without passing through her." page 160

"I am the door; by Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved." 

John 10:9

"Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

 

"The way of Salvation is open to none otherwise than through Mary...and with confidence to the hands of Mary...he who is protected by Mary will be saved, he who is not will be lost."  pages 169,170

"I, even I, and the Lord; and beside Me, there is no Saviour."         Isaiah 43:11

"I (Christ) give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither is any man able to pluck them out of My hand."  John 10:28

"He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."  I John 5:12

 

 

Mary Is Given The Power of Jesus Christ:

 

 

Roman Catholic Church:

The Word of God:

 

"All power is given to thee in Heaven and on earth, so that at the command of Mary all obey, even God... and thus...God has placed the whole Church...under the dominion of Mary."  Pages 180,181

"And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, 'All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.'" Matthew 28:18

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."       Phillipians 2:10

"And he is the Head of the Church, Who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all thing He might have the preeminence."  Colossians 1:18

 

 

Appendix B

"It cast down the truth to the ground"  Daniel 8:12

 

 

 

REMOVED FROM

THE BIBLE

CATHOLIC CHURCH SUBSTITUTED

 

1

The Holy Spirit, Christ's representative on earth

The Pope, Vicar of Christ

 

2

Christ, the only Mediator

Many mediators: Mary, the Pope, the Saints

 

3

Christ in His Sanctuary in Heaven

The Pope in his earthly temple in Rome (the Vatican)

 

4

One Priest, after the order of Melchisedek

Many priests, after the order of tradition

 

5

Christ, King and High Priest Supreme

The Pope, king and Pontiff

 

6

Salvation by faith in Christ; No salvation without Christ.

Salvation by faith in the church; No salvation outside the church

 

7

The Bible, our guide (Psalm 119:130

The catechism and tradition

 

8

The Holy Spirit interprets the Bible

The clergy alone can interpret the Bible

 

9

Gentle persuasion by God's Spirit

Coercion through church and state

 

10

The sacrifice at Calvary

The sacrifice of the Mass

 

11

The Crucified (faith)

The crucifix (a talisman)

 

12

Christ, the chief Cornerstone of the Church

Peter, the chief cornerstone of the church

 

13

Jesus, made of a woman (Galatians 4:4) like unto His brethren (Hebrews 2:17)

Jesus, born to a woman without original sin (immaculate conception)

 

14

Repentance.

Penance.

 

15

Confession directly to God

The confessional; confession to a priest.

 

16

The forgiveness of God

The priest declares, "Ego te absolvo"- "I absolve thee"

 

17

There is no redemption of sin after death

The purging of sin after death in Purgatory

 

18

Assurance and peace in death for the believer

The soul does not die

 

19

Works do not merit salvation

Meritorious works

 

20

Baptism by immersion

Baptism by aspersion (sprinkling)

 

21

Baptism of those who accept the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20)

Baptism of infants

 

22

Sanctification by the Holy Spirit

Sanctification by the 7 sacraments

 

23

Spontaneous prayer

Prayers repeated over & over

 

24

God's immutable Law

The 3rd  Commandment removed; the 4th and 10th desecrated

 

25

Sabbath, the 7th day

Sunday, the 1st day

 

26

Christ says, "My Kingdom is not of this world."

"The Pope is...principal King of kings, having all the power that God has conferred him not only in earthly matters, but also in the Heavenly Kingdom."

 

27

The ministry of angels

The ministry of the Saints

 

28

The power of love

The love of power

 

Appendix C

LIST OF FALSE TEACHINGS AND HUMAN

INVENTIONS ADOPTED AND PERPETUATED

BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

          The dates are in most cases approximate.  Many of these false teachings had been in the church years before, but only when they were officially adopted by a church council and proclaimed by the Pope as dogma of faith, did they become binding.     


          These teachings are repudiated as having no part in the religion of Jesus as taught in the Bible. 

 

 

1.  Prayers for the dead and the sign of the cross                     

310

 

 

2.  Wax candles and tampering with God's Law (Exodus 20:3-17)                                                                      

320

 

 

3.  Veneration of angels and dead saints, about

375

 

 

4.  The mass as a daily celebration adopted

394

 

 

5.  The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the use of the term, "Mother of God" as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus in

 

 

431

 

 

6.  Priests began to dress differently from the laity in

500

 

 

7.  The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Gregory the great about the year

 

593

 

 

8.  The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in churches was also imposed by Pope Gregory in

 

600

 

 

9.  The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone.  In the primitive church never were prayers directed to Mary or to dead Saints.  This practice began in the Roman Church about

 

 

600

 

 

10. The title or Pope or universal bishop first used in

610

 

 

11. The kissing of the Pope's feet began in

709

 

 

12. Worship of the cross, of images and relics

      authorized in

 

788

 

 

13. Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by a priest was authorized in

 

850

 

 

14. Veneration of St. Joseph began in

890

 

 

15. Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV in

995

 

 

16. Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed in

998

 

 

17. Attendance of Mass made obligatory in the 11th century.

 

 

 

18. The celibacy of the priesthood decreed by Boniface VII in

1079

 

 

19. The rosary, or prayer beads introduced by Peter the Hermit in

1090

 

 

20. The inquisition of Heretics was instituted by the Council of Verona in the year

 

1184

 

 

21. The sale of indulgences (purchase of forgiveness of sins) began

 

1190

 

 

22. The dogma of transubstantiation (the literal turning of wine and bread into Christ's actual blood and  body) decreed by Pope Innocent III in the year

 

 

1215

 

 

23. Confession of sins to a priest at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent III in the Lateran Council in

 

1215

 

 

24. The adoration of the wafer (host) was decreed by Pope Honorious

 

1220

 

 

25. The Bible forbidden to laymen and placed in the index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia in

 

1229

 

 

26. The scapular was invented by Simon Stock in 1287  (it is a piece of brown cloth, with the picture of  the virgin and supposed to contain supernatural virtue to protect from all dangers those who wear it on naked skin—this is fetishism)

 

 

 

27. Forbidding of cup to laity in communion by the Council of Constance in the year

 

1414

 

 

28. The doctrine of Purgatory proclaimed a dogma of faith in

1439

 

 

29. The doctrine of 7 sacraments affirmed in

1439

 

 

30. The Ave Maria, part of the last half in 1503   It was completed 50 years later and finally approved by Pope Sixtus V at the end of the 16th century.

 

 

 

31. The Council of Trent, held in the year 1545  declared that tradition is of equal authority with the Bible.

 

 

 

32. The apocryphal books added to the Bible by the Council of Trent

 

1546

 

 

33. The immaculate conception of Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX

 

1854

 

 

34. Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of Papal infallibility in

1870

 

 

35. Pope Pius X condemned all discoveries of modern science not approved by the church

 

1907

 

 

36. Pius XI condemned the public schools

1950

 

 

37. Pius XI reaffirmed the doctrine that Mary is the "Mother of God"

 

1951

 

 

38. The last dogma, the assumption of Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in

 

1960

 

         What will be the next invention?  The Roman Catholic Church says  that it never changes.  Even Cardinal Newman in his book, "The Development of the Christian Religion" admits that "...temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and season of devotions, processions, blessings of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priest, monks, and nuns), images... are all of pagan origin."  page 359