Who is the Scarlet HARLOT of Babylon?

Was Peter the First Pope?

“Thou art Peter (petros -- a stone, a rock -- masculine person), and upon this rock (petra -- a massive foundational rock -- feminine) I will build my church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18) The church is not built on Peter, but is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner STONE” (Eph. 2:20). And again, “For other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Jesus warned his disciples not to use the title “FATHER” because “all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:10). Yet the word “POPE” actually means “FATHER.” Jesus warned his disciples not to “exercise dominion” over the flock (Mark 10:43) and said, “If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:33-35). Yet the Pope is head over a large hierarchy. Peter was married (Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5) yet the Pope is celibate. Peter wouldn’t allow men to worship him or bow down to him (Acts 10:25-26). Yet men do bow down before the Pope and worship him. Peter was not infallible in matters of faith and morals. Notice that Jesus later in the same chapter called him “Satan” (v.23). Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crow (John 13:38). Later Paul rebuked Peter because Peter was again wrong (Gal. 2:11). After that there were disputes among the disciples as to who was greatest which certainly imply that Peter hadn’t been given any superior position (Mark 9:33-35). Yet the Pope is the chief ruler of the Roman church..

The Keys To Bind And Loose?

“And I will give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The perfect passive Greek tense is used in this verse. The verse actually reads, “must be already bound” (Amp.) and “must be what is already loosed” (Amp.) because Jesus the Messiah “openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (Rev. 3:7). “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Should We Worship Mary?

Catholics place much emphasis on the worship of “Mary” -- a mere human woman -- rather than on Jesus alone. But Mary called God “my SAVIOR” (Luke 1:47). Therefore, if Mary needed a SAVIOR, she was not a SAVIOR herself. Mary is not our “MEDIATOR” either, “For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Catholics call Mary "the QUEEN of HEAVEN" but Jeremiah condemned this goddess-worship (Jer. 7:18-20; 44:17-19). The “woman clothed with the sun” (Rev. 12:1) does not refer to Mary but to “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38) since a church is symbolized by a woman (Eph. 5:22-25; 2 Cor. 11:2). The “twelve stars” upon her head (Rev. 12:1) are defined as the twelve sons of Israel (Gen. 37:9-10).

Was Mary a perpetual virgin? According to the scriptures, the birth of Jesus was the result of a supernatural conception (Matt.1:23), without an earthly father. But after Jesus was born, Mary gave birth to other children - the natural offspring of her union with Joseph, her husband. Jesus was Mary's "firstborn" son (Matt.1:25); it does not say he was her only child. Jesus being her firstborn child could certainly infer that later she had a second-born child, possibly a third-born child, etc. That such was the case seems apparent, for the names of four brothers are mentioned: James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Matt.13:55). Sisters are also mentioned. The people of Nazareth said: " . . . and his sisters, are they not all with us?" (verse 56). The word "sisters" is plural, of course, so we know that Jesus had at least two sisters and probably more, for this verse speaks of "all" his sisters. Usually if we are referring to only two people, we would say "both" of them, not "all" of them. The implication is that at least three sisters are referred to. If we figure three sisters and four brothers, half-brothers and half-sisters of Jesus, this would make Mary the mother of eight children. The scriptures say: "Joseph ... knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS" (Matt.1:25). Joseph "knew her not" until after Jesus was born, but after that, Mary and Joseph did come together as husband and wife and children were born to them. The idea that Joseph kept Mary as a virgin all of her life is clearly unscriptural.

Jesus said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him ONLY shalt thou serve” (Matt. 4:10). Looking back to the "mother" of false religion -- Babylon --- we find that the people prayed to and honored many gods. In fact, the Babylonian system developed until it had some 5,000 gods and goddesses (Hays -- "In the Beginning" vol.2,p.65). In much the same way as Catholics believe concerning their "saints", the Babylonians believed that their "gods" had at one time been living here on earth, but were now on a higher plane ("Ency. of Religion" vol.2, p.78). "Every month and every day of the month was under the protection of a particular divinity" (Williams - "The Historians' History of the World" vol.1, p.518). There was a god for each problem and each different occupation. From Babylon -- like the worship of the great mother -- such concepts about the "gods" spread to the nations. Even the Buddhists in China had their "worship of various deities, as the goddess of sailors, the god of war, the gods of special neighborhoods or occupations" (Dobbins - "Story of the World's Worship" p.621). The Syrians believed the powers of certain gods were limited to certain areas, as an incident in the Bible records: "Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they" (1 Kings 20:23). Catholics merely adopted this system by changing these gods into “saints".

What Is The Abomination of Desolation?

What is the "Abomination of Desolation" that stands "in the holy place" (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15)? In 2 Maccabees 6:2 he is called "Zeus Olympios." The guides at the Vatican commonly tell visitors that the bronze statue of "Saint Peter" in Saint Peter's in Rome is the ancient pagan statue of Jupiter (Zeus) which was adopted, "canonised" and sanctified. His one big toe is regularly kissed at certain ceremonies. A round sun-wheel is suspended above his head. He is certainly in the holy (separated) place.



The ROSARY Beads Count "Vain Repetitions" in Prayer

Where did the ROSARY ritual come from? What is the significance of ROSARY beads? The ROSARY is a tool used to aid prayer and meditation. The beads of a ROSARY count the prayers as they are recited out loud or in the mind. The user relies on the ROSARY beads to keep track of how many times he has said a particular prayer. “Most commonly recognized in the United States as a symbol of Catholicism, other religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism and Islam employ ROSARY beads as well.” (The Meaning of Rosary Beads -- What Do Rosary Beads Symbolize? By Jessica Ciosek) The Bible warns us against using vain repetitions: “But when ye pray, use not VAIN REPETITIONS, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their MUCH SPEAKING." (Matthew 6:7). Just as "They all cried out with one voice about two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" (Acts 20:34), so also Roman Catholics repeat ten Ave Marias for every one Paternoster in their bead roll of prayers to the Virgin.

“Prayer beads, or prayer ROSARIES, are really another form of the 'WITCH'S ladder,' a knotted rope or cord used to count repetitions during a SPELL or RITUAL. Praying with beads is a spiritual practice with a long history in most of the world’s religions.” (-Sacred Mists Shoppe, Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone) Furthermore, “prayer beads originated with the Hindu faith. Using beads for devotions dates to the 8th century BC in the cult of Shiva. In India sandstone sculptures, statues ca 185 BC, show Hindus with prayer beads. The names of Hindu gods and prayers are repeated on stringed beads, called mala, separated by larger or different colored beads.... Hindu converts kept their traditional use of prayer beads. Buddhist monks always carry a strand of prayer beads, or rosary, usually of 108 beads.... Often, when religions sought converts, they allowed them to retain some of their pagan ways: ceremonial garb, heathen rituals and traditions; in order to add to their numbers. This led to spiritual pollution.... Before the 12th century, ROSARIES were used for TALISMANS (amulet or occult charms). ROSARIES and prayer beads were intended by the catholic church hierarchy, for use by the ignorant.... Pagans had used prayer beads even before the 8th century before CHRIST, and they still use them today.” (A HISTORY OF PRAYING ON BEADS Patricia A. Dilley)

Satan Worship

The ancient name of Rome was SATURNIA, the city of SATURN (Pliny's Natural History 3:5; Ovid's Fasti 6:2). A week of feasting was held in Rome, dedicated to SATURN, called SATURNALIA. It lasted from December 17 to 23. "SATURN or Belus was the first KING of BABYLON" (Eusebius Chronicon 1:81) just as SATAN is called the "KING of BABYLON" (Isa. 14:4,12). Hislop states that SATURN is known in Chaldee (Babylonian language) as "SATUR" (Hislop's Two Babylons, p.269) or SATYR-- the GOAT-legged god. The Azazel "Scape GOAT" of Leviticus 16 that is taken to an "uninhabited wilderness" (Lev.16:22) is a type of SATAN and reminds us of 'SATYRS" who dance in "Babylon" -- a place that "shall never be inhabited" (Isa. 13:19-21). These same SATYRS are translated "DEMONS" in Leviticus 17:7 (see also 2 Chron. 25:14-15). SATURN was the secret name revealed only to the initiates of the Chaldean mysteries which, in Chaldee, was spelled with four letters: STUR. In this language S=60, T=400, U=6 and R=200 making a total of 666. Jacob Grimm mentions the possibility that the name SATURN is related to the name SATAN (Teutonic Mythology translated by J. Stallybrass, pp.247-248 7 1601). SATURN was the "father of the gods" (Hislop's Two Babylons, p.42)

The author of "The Mexican Messiah," (Gentleman's Magazine, Sept. 1888, pp.242-243) suggests that the Mexican religion was a form of Christianity introduced by Quetzalcoatl. His reasons for this conclusion are that the Mexicans, like the Roman Catholics, worshipped the CROSS, supposed their children regenerated by a WATER BAPTISM, believed in a PURGATORY after death, ATE SACRED CAKES like the Roman Catholic wafer which they believed to be the body of their god, had a CELIBATE PRIESTHOOD, to whom the people made CONFESSION, inflicted PENANCES, including flagellation and piercing the flesh with sharp thorns, etc. But all these were pagan customs long before they were adopted by the Church of Rome. Furthermore, the custom of WORSHIPPING THE SERPENT (Satan -- Rev. 12:9) goes back to Cush's Babylon. A huge figure of a DRAGON was placed on the summit of the Mexican pyramid temple on which human victims were sacrificed to the Sun. The Spaniards on first landing, found at Campeachy a large SERPENT IDOL, still warm with the blood of human victims, and according to M. Aglio, there was scarcely a deity who was not symbolized by a DRAGON or SERPENT. These primitive Mexicans offered 50,000 HUMAN SACRIFICES per year. This tells us the origin was Satan who was "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).(pp. 241-245, Worship of the Dead, by Garnier).

Blasphemy

In his Encyclical Letter of June 20, 1894, Pope Leo XIII stated, "We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." Pope Boniface VIII said, “The Roman pontiff judges all men, but is judges 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 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?” (TIME Magazine, May 25, 1981, p.12)

"The Bishop of Rome is not bound by any decrees. He hath authority to judge all men, but no man hath authority to judge him. It is not lawful for any man to dispute his power. He may excommunicate emperors and princes, depose them from their states, and free their subjects from their oath of obedience to them, and so constrain them to rebellion. The emperor is the Bishop of Rome's subject, and he may therefore revoke the emperor's sentences in temporal causes. The Bishop of Rome is judge in temporal things, and hath two swords, spiritual and temporal. It belongeth to the Bishop of Rome to judge which oaths ought to be kept and which not. Princes' laws, if they be against the canons of the Bishop of Rome, be of no force. The Bishop of Rome may be judged by none but God only; for although he neither regard his own salvation, nor any one's else, but draw down with himself innumerable people by heaps into hell, yet may no mortal man in this world presume to reprehend him. Forasmuch as he is called God, he may be judged of no man." (Cranmer's Remains and Letters, pp.68-75, Parker Society Edition).

I saw "a WOMAN (Church -- Eph. 5:23) sit upon a scarlet-colored BEAST (Roman Empire is the dragon -- Rev. 12:3-4), full of names of BLASPHEMY ("Vicar of Christ," "Holy Reverend Father," "Your Holiness," "Infallible," "Mother of God") having SEVEN HEADS (seven forms of government: Kings, Consuls, Dictators, Decimvirs, Military Tribunes, Military Emperors, and Despotic Emperors) and TEN HORNS" (Rev. 17:3). (Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Sueves, Franks, Burgundians, Heruli, Huns, Lombards, and Anglo-Saxons. Three independent authors all testify that these were the ten Gothic kingdoms -- Gibbon, Procopius and Machiavelli [Hist. Floe. i]). Catholic priests are called "FATHER" as a religious title (Judges 17:10; 18:19) and nuns are called "MOTHER" just as the priests of Mithra were called "Father" and the priestesses of Cybele were called "Mother." But Jesus told us to "call no man your FATHER upon the earth; for one is your Father, who is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9).



Homosexual Priests

"And the woman was arrayed in PURPLE and SCARLET color (Church bishops dress in purple and "Babylonian" cardinals wear bright red garments -- Ez. 23:14-15; Catholic Encyclopedia pp.175,178. The regular priests are black-robed Baal worshippers -- Zeph. 1:4, wearing vestments -- 2 Ki. 10:22) and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a GOLDEN CUP (Babylonian doctrines -- Jer. 51:7; Isa. 47:12-15) in her hand" (Rev. 17:1-4). This Chalice is "the most important of the sacred vessels ... (It) may be of gold or of silver" (Catholic Encyclopedia, pp.103-104). But this cup is "full of ABOMINATIONS and filthiness of her FORNICATION" (Rev. 17:4). Why? Because she demands her priests to be CELIBATE. This leads to fornication and homosexuality which are abominations, or to molesting choir boys. Paul wrote that a bishop should be "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:5-6). The Bible defines itself in Leviticus 20:13 which says, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an ABOMINATION."

Murdering Jews and Christians

"I will show unto thee the judgment of the great WHORE that sitteth upon many waters (peoples, multitudes nations, tongues -- Rev. 17:15); With whom the kings of the earth have committed FORNICATION, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Rev. 17:1-2). "And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, BABYLON the Great." Babylon is another name for Rome (Sibylline Oracles 5:159f; the Apocalypse of Baruch ii,1 and 4 Esdras 3:1). She is "the Mother of HARLOTS (Protestant churches) and ABOMINATIONS of the Earth (Catholic dealings with the Mafia and laundering drug money are fully documented in police and court records), ... DRUNK with the BLOOD of the SAINTS" (Rev. 17:6). This refers to the murder of Huguenots, Albigenses, Waldensians, Jews and Protestants. These "heretics" were burned at the stake and tortured in the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition. "Heretics, Schismatics, and Rebels against our Lord the Pope, I will, with all my might, persecute and impugn." (Romish Prelate's Consecration Oath) "The seven heads are SEVEN MOUNTAINS on which the woman sitteth. And the woman ... is that great city (Rome -- "the eternal city"), which reigneth over the kings of the earth" (Rev. 17:3-18) just as Semiramis the Queen of Babylon committed harlotry with all the kings of the earth. Pliny mentions "the SEVEN HILLS" of Rome (Natural History 3:66). Even the name VATICAN means "place of Divinations" (Ancient Monuments of Rome, p.75). She has the NUMBER 666 (Filii Vicarivs Dei) (Rev. 13:8).

On pages 76-83 of Roth's The Spanish Inquisition, we find reprinted the Edict Of Faith issued by Doctor Andres de Palacio, Inquisitor in the city and kingdom of Valencia: "To all faithful Christians, both men and women, chaplains, friars and priests of every condition quality and degree ... (who have) seen known and heard of any person or persons, either alive or dead, who have said or done anything against the Holy Catholic Faith; cultivated and observed the LAW OF MOSES.... or the rites and ceremonies of the same; or perpetrated diverse crimes of heresy; OBSERVING FRIDAY EVENINGS and SATURDAYS and wearing better clothes than on other days; PREPARING on FRIDAYS the food for SATURDAYS, in stewing pans on a small fire; who DO NOT WORK on FRIDAY EVENINGS and SATURDAYS as on other days; who kindle lights in clean lamps with new wicks on Friday evenings; place clean linens on the beds and clean napkins on the table; CELEBRATE the FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, eat UNLEAVENED BREAD and celery and BITTER HERBS; OBSERVE the FAST of pardon (Day of ATONEMENT) when they DO NOT EAT all day until the evening, after star-rise, when they pardon one another and break their fast.... who DO NOT wish to EAT PORK, HARES, RABBITS, SNAILS, or FISH THAT HAVE NOT SCALES.... if any know of the effort of a Jew or convert to preach the LAW OF MOSES and convert others" they were to be EXCOMMUNICATED.

Fish Worship

The pope's hat originated from the "head of the fish (that) formed a mitre above that of the man, while its scaley, fan-like tail fell as a cloak behind, leaving the human limbs and feet exposed" (Layard's Nineveh and Babylon). Furthermore, Catholics won't EAT FISH on Friday which is a "doctrine of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1-3). The Messiah "began to be popularly called ICHTHYS (or ICHTHUS), that is 'the Fish,' manifestly to identify Him with Dagon" (Hislop's Two Babylons, p.247; see also pp. 252 & 270). Augustine excused it this way, "If you combine the initial letters of the five Greek words, which are Iesous Chreistos Theou Uios Soter, Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior, they make the word ICHTHUS." (City of God, 5:447). Tertullian called Jesus "our FISH" (Whittick's Symbols Signs and their Meaning, p.185). Deuteronomy 4:15-19 says, "Watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not ... make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape ... any fish in the water ... do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping" (NIV). The son of the Syrian goddess Atargatis was known as ICHTHUS too (F. Creuzer, Symbolik und Mythologie der alten Volker 2:394). Yet how often do we see the fish-ICHTHYS bumper sticker on "Christian" vehicles.

Sun Worship

The nimbus (radiant light) or HALO around many of the ancient gods and goddesses originated in SUN worship. Statues of "Mary," "Joseph" and the baby "Jesus" all have HALOS around their heads. J.C. Cooper's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols, p.112 says, "NIMBUS, HALO ... originally indicative of SOLAR power and the SUN'S DISK, hence an attribute of SUN-GODS." Our words "HOLY" and "HALO" both come from the Greek word "HELIOS" meaning "the SUN god." But God says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any GRAVEN IMAGE, or any LIKENESS of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God" (Ex. 20:4-5). Furthermore, monks and priests cut bald TONSURES upon their heads (Lev. 21:5). But God says, "They shall not make baldness upon their head" (Lev. 21:5). Men "shave the hair of their heads as, they say, Dionysius, shaved the hair of his. That is, they cut their hair in circular shape and shave the temples" (Her. 3:8)




Idol Worship

Catholics worship "the QUEEN of HEAVEN" ("Ishtar" -- Jer. 44:17-19) using HOT CROSS BUNS (Jer. 7:18-20), graven IMAGES (Ex. 20:4; Deut. 4:16) and PICTURES (Num. 33:52). They kiss BAAL STATUES (1 Ki. 19:18) and carry them around (Isa. 46:6-7). They GIVE MONEY for their DEAD in purgatory (Deut. 26:14) and recite "VAIN REPITITONS" (Matt. 6:7) such as "Hail Mary." But only Jesus is MEDIATOR between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14). Why CONFESS to a priest (cp. James 5:16)? Why WORSHIP ANGELS (Col. 2:18)? God is our ROCK -- not Peter (Ps. 18:31). Catholics celebrate ISHTAR SUNRISE services (Ez. 8:16) and pollute God's name with their X-MASS (Ez. 20:39) and X-MASS TREE (Jer. 10:1-5). They WEEP for TAMMUZ during 40 days of LENT (Ez. 8:14) because Tammuz died at age 40. The CROSS came originally from the first letter in his name, a "T." The letters IHS stand for the Egyptian trinity of Isis (Semiramis), Horus (Tammuz) and Serapis (Osiris or Nimrod) (p.42, Conder's Mystery Babylon the Great). Satan is worshipped as a "Holy" GHOST. Rome dismisses "freedom of religion" or the "private interpretation" of scripture as "liberty to err."

Phallic Obelisks Became Steeples

"There is evidence to show that the spires of our churches owe their existence to the uprights or obelisks outside the temples of former ages" (Sex Worship And Symbolism of Primitive Races, p.38 by Brown). "There are still in existence today remarkable specimens of original phallic symbols ... steeples on churches ... and obelisks" (Eichler, The Customs of Mankind, p.55). But "the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more" (Isa. 27:9 ASV). God says, "I will cut off your carved images and your pillars out of the middle of you, and you shall no more worship the work of your hand" (Micah 5:13 ASV). Erect obelisks were phallix symbols. "Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself IMAGES of MEN, and didst commit whoredom with them" (Ez. 16:17). Lucian, who was an Assyrian, and visited the temple of Dea Syria, near the Euphrates, said there are two PHALLI standing in the porch with this inscription on them, "These PHALLI I, Bacchus, dedicate to my step-mother Juno." The Israelites erected an "image of jealousy in the entry" of the temple" (Ez.8:5) and since "obelisks were ... set up ... in front of the entrance of temples" (p.945, vol.19, Encyc. Brit.), it follows that the "image of jealousy" was an obelisk. There is an obelisk at the entrance of St. Peter's Bascilica in Rome which came from Heliopolis, Egypt, in Caligula's reign (37-41 A.D.). Heliopolis is the Greek name of Beth-shemesh -- an ancient center of sun-worship. The obelisks there were called "images of Beth-shemesh" (Jer.43:13). Since the obelisk had to be ERECT in order to symbolize a PHALLUS, God foretold that these "images shall not stand up" (Isa.27:9). Obelisks became STEEPLES. It is no coincidence that BELLS are found in church STEEPLES and are called "BELLS" -- Baal's PHALLUS. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any carved IMAGE, or any likeness of anything (such as the PENIS) that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not BOW DOWN thyself to them ("BOW DOWN" is defined as SEX in Job 31:10), nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a JEALOUS God (Why jealous unless SEX is involved?) (Ex.20:4-5). ADULTERY is IDOLATRY.

God is the only UPRIGHT rock (Ps.92:15) that BEGOT US (Deut.32:18), just as a penis is upright and begets children. Both a rock and a penis are HARD also. Moses said, "Ye shall overthrow their altars and break their PILLARS, and burn their ASHERAH with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven IMAGES of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God" (Deut. 12:1-4; 4:15-16; Lev.26:1). Baal Peor means "My Lord the OPENER," and Peor signifies "the OPENING of the MAIDEN'S HYMEN." In Syria, says St. Jerome, the image of Baal Peor had a PHALLUS protruding from its mouth. "They went to Baal Peor, and separated (STRADDLED) themselves unto that SHAME; and their ABOMINATIONS were according as they loved" (Hos.2:16).



Temple Prostitutes Became Nuns

In pagan Rome the Vestal virgins tended the sacred fire of Vesta. In Scandinavia the priestesses of Freya were bound to perpetual virginity and also watched the sacred fire (Mallet's Northern Antiquities 1:141) and in Peru Incan nunneries housed the virgins of the sun (Prescott's Peru 1:103). In Athens virgins were maintained at public expense, who were strictly bound to a single life (Potter's Antiquities 1:369). The term "NUN" itself is a Chaldean word meaning "daughter." The Mithratic, Eleusinian, Isiac and Cabiric mysteries all had their VESTAL VIRGIN priestesses who lived in monasteries and took vows of chastity just like NUNS. Catholic priests and nuns are FORBIDDEN to MARRY (celibate) which is called a "doctrine of demons" in 1 Timothy 4:1-3. There were girls and men (Hierodouloi) regularly attached to the heathen temples for sexual service and were expected to surrender themselves to men-worshippers in much the same way as Herodotus describes in the temple of the Babylonian Venus Mylitta where every native woman, once in her life was supposed to sit in the Temple and have intercourse with some stranger (Her.1:199; Baruch 6:42-43). The Nautch girls of India are connected with Hindu temples and had in times past a sexual function, and whose dances in honor of the god are, even down to the present day, sexually expressive. (see Carpenter's Origins of Pagan & Christian Beliefs, p.182). Temple revenue was generated by "the hire of an HARLOT" (Micah 1:7). James Breasted says that in his opinion the Egyptian Osiris Mysteries emerged in "Europe three thousand years later" (Development of Religion and Thought in Ancient Egypt, p.27).



The Roman Catholic Church In Prophecy

The Pope "shall speak great ("pompous" -- R.A.V.) words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints ... and think to change the times ("the feast days" -- New American Catholic Bible) and the laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time" (Dan.7:25). Since a "time" is 360 days (Rev. 12:6,14), we know this is 1260 days, or 1260 years, each day for a year (Nu. 14:34; Ez. 4:6). In 538 A.D., Justinian wrote a letter to the Roman Pope offering to unite church and state. The pope accepted. Then 1260 years later on February 11th, 1798, Napoleon's general Berthier took Rome and established the Roman Republic February 15th, 1798. Pope Pius VI was taken prisoner. In 606 A.D., Constantinople's Emperor Phocas decreed Roman Pope Boniface III head of all churches, thereby giving the popes temporal power. On October 5, 610 A.D. Phocas was "taken out of the way" (2 Thess. 2). Then 1260 years later, the temporal power of the Papacy ended when Garibaldi overthrew the Papal States of Italy in stages: Venetia fell October 1866 and Tuscany on October 1870. Also a literal 1260 days transpired between the Lateran Council in May 1514 to October 1517 when Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wurtemburg Church.

"Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms ... But these two things shall come to thee ... in one day: the loss of children (Protestant Reformation in 1517), and widowhood (Loss of temporal power in 1798, 1866 and 1870) (Isa. 47:5,9). Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4).


Ten Kingdoms (Horns or Toes) Continue For 1260 Years Under Antichrist (2 Th. 2:3-4) After Restrainer (Roman Emperor -- 2 Th 2:7) is Taken Away

The Historian Machiavelli, without the slightest reference to prophecy, gives the following list of the nations which occupied the territory of the Western Empire at the time of the fall of Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of Rome, A.D. 476.: The Lombards, the Franks, the Burgundians, the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Heruli, the Sueves, the Huns, and the Saxons -- TEN. The following list gives the contemporary kingdoms existing in Western Europe at intervals of a hundred years from the 9th to the 19th centuries. A question mark indicates some doubt about it's independent sovereignty.

860 A.D.: Italy, Provence, Lorrain, East France, West France, Exarchate, Venice, Navarre, England and Scotland -- TEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

950 A.D.: Germany, Burgundy, Lombardy, Exarchate, Venice, France, England, Scotland, Navarre and Leon -- TEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

1050 A.D.: Germany, Exarchate, Venice, Norman-Italy, France, England, Scotland, Arragon, Castile, Normandy(?) and Hungary (?) -- NINE to ELEVEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

1150 A.D.: Germany, Naples, Venice, France, England, Scotland, Arragon, Castile, Portugal, Hungary and Lombardy (?) -- TEN or ELEVEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

1250 A.D.: Germany, Naples, Venice, Lombardy, France, England, Scotland, Arragon, Castile, Portugal and Hungary -- TEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

1350 A.D.: Germany, Naples, Venice, Switzerland (?), Milan (?), Tuscany (?), France, England, Scotland and Castile -- NINE to TWELVE and the Little Horn called Pope

1433 A.D.: Austria, Naples, Venice, France, England, Scotland, Arragon, Castile, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland (?), Savoy (?), Milan (?), and Tuscany (?) -- ELEVEN to FOURTEEN and the Little Horn called Pope.

In 1517 the Reformation begins to consume the Pope's dominion. Kings throw off his yoke. Daniel 7:26 says, "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end."

1552 A.D.: Austria, Venice, France, England, Scotland, Spain, Naples, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland (?) and Lombardy (?) -- NINE to ELEVEN and Papal power being consumed.

1648 A.D.: Austria, Venice, France, Britain, Spain, Naples, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland, Savoy, Tuscany and Holland -- ELEVEN and Papal power being consumed.

1750 A.D.: Austria, Hungary, France, Savoy and Sardinia, Venice, Tuscany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Naples (?), Britain and Holland -- TEN to ELEVEN and Papal power being consumed.

1816 A.D.: Austria, Bavaria, Wurtemburg (?), Naples, Tuscany, Sardinia, Lombardy (?), France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Britain and Switzerland -- ELEVEN to THIRTEEN and Papal power being consumed.

In 1870 the Pope's temporal power fell, but the TEN TOES or TEN HORNS continued.

1916 A.D.: Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Britain, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal -- TEN.

Mithraism Became Roman Catholicism


According to the Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition vol. 18, p. 624, article "Mithras" (commentary added in parentheses), we read:

Prayers were addressed to him (Mithra) by devotees who had purified themselves by ablution (like BAPTISM by sprinkling or immersion -- Justin's First Apology, ch.61) and repeated flagellation (like PENANCE -- 1 Ki. 18:28).... It seems at first to have had relations with the cult of the Great Mother of the Gods at Rome (MARY-worship is really "Queen of Heaven" worship -- Jer. 44:17-25 & p.64, Land of Sinim by Gillespie) (like a CONVENT for women -- priestesses of Cybele were known as "Mothers" in a cult for women only), whose influence served to protect it and facilitate its growth.... From the end of the 2nd century the emperors encouraged Mithraism, because of the support which it afforded to the divine right of monarchs. (Constantine dedicated his coins to "Sol Deus Invictus"; forbade work on SUNDAY in 321 AD -- Eusebius, Life of Constantine 4:18; then endorsed Easter SUNDAY at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD) ... Its importance at Rome may be judged from the abundance of monumental remains—more than 75 pieces of sculpture (IDOLS)... Heaven and Earth ... begat Ocean, who formed with them a TRINITY corresponding to Jupiter, Juno, and Neptune. (cp. Cumont, Mysteries of Mithra, pp. 109, 111, 191) ... Tertullian speaks of "marking the forehead ... which may have been the branding of a Mithraic sign (of a celestial CROSS -- Plato's Dialogue, Timaeus; Nabarz, The Mysteries of Mithras, p.36) (similar to LENT -- Ez. 8:14) ... A sacred communion of bread (like a HOST or HOT CROSS BUNS -- Cumont, p.160; Justin's First Apology, ch. 66; Jer. 7:18), water and possibly wine, compared by the Christian apologists to the EUCHARIST, was administered to the mystic who was entering upon one of the advanced degrees ... The ceremony was probably commemorative of the banquet of Mithras and Helios before the former's ASCENSION, and its effect strength of body, wisdom, prosperity, power to resist evil, and participation in the IMMORTALITY enjoyed by the god himself.... The Mithraic priest, sacerdos or antistes, was sometimes also of the degree of PATER (Padre or Father -- cp. Matt. 23:9) ("Simon [Magus] ... was known as FATHER among the Samaritans" -- p.122, Augustus to Constantine by Robert Grant). ("Simon [Magus] ... those who follow his lead, while pretending to accept that sober Christian philosophy [2 Cor. 11:13-15] ... prostrate themselves before PICTURES and IMAGES of Simon himself and his companion ... Helen ... WORSHIPPING THEM with INCENSE [Ez. 8:11; Hos. 11:2; 2 Ki.17:11], sacrifices and libations [blood -- Ps. 16:4]. Their most secret rites ... make sport of wretched women" [SEX with temple prostitutes] -- Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. p.48) Tertullian (De praescr. haeret. 40) calls the chief priest summus PONTIFEX (bridge between God and man), probably the PATER PATRUM (Father of Fathers -- cp. Matt. 23:9), ("who always lived at ROME" -- Arendzen's Mithraism) who had general supervision of all the initiates in one city, and states that he could marry but once (Even the pope's Dagon MITER comes from Latin MITRA). According to the same author, there were Mithraic, as well as Christian, VIRGINES et conlinentes (like NUNS). Besides the administration of ("the SEVEN" -- Aiken C.F., Mithraism and Christianity, p. 380) SACRAMENTS ... the priest ... addressed prayers to the SUN AT DAWN (like EASTER SUNRISE service -- Ez. 8:16), midday and twilight, turning TOWARDS EAST, south and west respectively. ... There was pouring of libations, (Gregorian?) CHANTING and MUSIC, and BELLS and CANDLES were employed in the service. ... The most interesting aspect of Mithraism is its antagonism to Christianity. Both religions were of Oriental origin; they were propagated about the same time, and spread with equal rapidity on account of the same causes, viz. the unity of the political world and the debasement of its moral life. At the end of the 2nd century each had advanced to the farthest limits of the empire ... the struggle was the more obstinate because of the RESEMBLANCES between the two religions, which were so NUMEROUS and so CLOSE as to be the subject of remark as early as the 2nd century, and the cause of mutual recrimination. (Mithra had "TWELVE DISCIPLES" -- p. 203, Carpenter, Origins of Pagan and Christian Beliefs).The FRATERNAL (convents of "BROTHERS" -- Cumont, p.190; "Mithraism had its MONKS and NUNS, as Tertullian admits, with the TONSURE in honour of the disc of the SUN" -- Khwaja, The Sources of Christianity, p. 100; cp. Leviticus 21:5; Ezekiel 44:20) ("in sacerdotal ROBES" -- Cumont, p.166) and democratic spirit of the first communities, and their humble origin; the identification of the object of adoration with LIGHT and the SUN; the legends (in both) of the SHEPHERDS with their gifts and adoration, the FLOOD, and the ARK; the representation in art of the FIERY CHARIOT, the drawing of WATER from the ROCK; the use of BELL and CANDLE, HOLY WATER and the COMMUNION; the sanctification of SUNDAY (Justin's First Apology, ch.67) and of the 25th of DECEMBER (Birthday of the SUN; X-MAS) ("the large-scale celebration of BIRTHDAYS in Europe began with the cult of Mithras" -- Wikipedia "Birthdays"); the insistence on MORAL CONDUCT, the emphasis placed upon ABSTINENCE and SELF-CONTROL; the doctrine of HEAVEN (an initiate may "ascend into HEAVEN" -- Wright, Early History of Heaven, p. 112) and (torture of wicked in) HELL, of primitive REVELATION, of the mediation of the LOGOS emanating from the divine, the ATONING SACRIFICE, the constant warfare between GOOD and EVIL and the final triumph of the former, the IMMORTALITY of the SOUL, the LAST JUDGMENT, the RESURRECTION of the flesh and the fiery destruction of the universe—are some of the resemblances which, whether real or only apparent, enabled Mithraism to prolong its resistance to Christianity. At their root lay a common Eastern origin rather than any borrowing. (CONSTANTINE BORROWED from Mithraism) On the other hand, there were important contrasts between the two. Mithraism courted the favour of Roman paganism and combined monotheism with polytheism, while Christianity was uncompromising. The former as a consequence won large numbers of supporters who were drawn by the possibility it afforded of adopting an attractive faith which did not involve a rupture with the religion of Roman society, and consequently with the state. In the middle of the 3rd century Mithraism seemed on the verge of becoming the universal religion. (It finally did in the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH)




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