Biblical Church History

Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

Revelation 2:8-11c.325-500 A.D.P

ergamos “Much

Marriage”

Pergamos

I. The CommissionRev. 2: 12

(Rev 2:12) And to the angel of the church in

Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp

sword with two edges;

Smyrna A. The

marriage of the

Church “Much

Marriage ”

Smyrna C. The

effects of Constanti

ne “Much

Marriage ”

Smyrna D. The

Christianized Pagan events

“Much Marriage ”

Smyrna E. The Family tree of

this marriage

“Much

Marriage ”

Smyrna F. The

Christianizing of Pagan Idols

“Much

Marriage ”

THE WORSHIP OF MARY

THE WORSHIP THROUGH ROSARY BEADS

STATUES OF MARY

THE WORSHIP OF SAINTS

Smyrna G. The

Christianizing of Pagan

Hierarchy

“Much Marriage ”

1. What does the bible say about church offices?

HPergamos

The Bible only speaks of two offices in the church:The office of Pastor, elder, or biship. (These are terms used to refer to different functions of the same office.)Their qualifications are listed in I Tim 3 and Titus 1 Their responsibilities:

(Act 20:28-31) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the

church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that

after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to

draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that

by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with

tears.

(Eph 4:11-15) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the

saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the

knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the

stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind

of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in

wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all

things, which is the head, even Christ:

(1Pe 5:2-3) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the

oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of

a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's

heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

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The office of a deacon. (the “servant”-leaders).Their qualifications are listed in I Tim 3:8-13

After Constantine, in the Pergamos Church period, when the pagans flooded the church, the two simple offices within the local church are quietly done away with!

Overview of WHAT happened….

The pagan Roman Emperor becomes the PopeThe pagan Roman Senate becomes the College of CardinalsThe pagan Roman Imperial Governors becomes the Arch BishopsThe pagan Roman Provincial Governors become the BishopsThe pagan Roman Civitas becomes the PriestThe vestal virgins from the pagan Roman temples become Nuns

THE ORIGIN OF THE POPE

HPergamos

Its pagan origin is from BabylonGen 10 and 11..Satan’s first or false system of religion under Nimrod in Babylon..He was it’s political leader, and it’s religious leader..He was a priest-kingThis “church-state” set up continued in Babylon after the Tower of Babel…

(Dan 5:1-4) Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and

drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and

silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the

temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that

were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his

concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold,

and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

HPergamos

When Rome came into world domination, they had gotten their religions from Babylonians, which included the idea of a “priestly-king” who led the empireHe was referred to as the “Pontifex Maximus”.This was the office held by the Ceaser.63 BC dating back to the time of Christ coins had Caesar’s image on it, with his title “Pont Max”

HPergamos

Matt: 22:20The image… CaesarThe superscription was his name and title “Pontifex Maximus”.“Pontifex Maximus would have been his title as head of the pagan Priesthood.“Maximus”= SupremePontifex= “Pons”..which means “Bridge”Facio..which means “Maker”Literally..”Bridge-Maker”He was seen to be the “Bridge” or the connection link between this life and the next.This would have been religious title.

HPergamos

“Maximus”= SupremePontifex= “Pons”..which means “Bridge”Facio..which means “Maker”Literally..”Bridge-Maker”He was seen to be the “Bridge” or the connection link between this life and the next.This would have been religious title.

HPergamos

The origin of the papal office (and his titles):As Emperor, Constantine is now recognized as head of the “Christian” religion.He begins to be called, “The Bishops of Bishops”Constantine begins to refer to himself as “Vicarius Christi” or “Victor of Christ”

HPergamos

“In the Middle Ages, the bishops of Rome began to claim that they were the sole representatives of Christ upon this earth. Demanding that the entire church worldwide muse be subject to their rule, they forbade any other bishops to be called “papa” or pope and took to themselves the three titles of Constantine-Pontifex Maximus, Vicar of Christ, and Bishop of Bishops which they retain to this day.Hunt, A Woman Rides the Beast, 46

HPergamos

Something to note about the title “Vicar of Christ”: The prefix “Anti” comes from the Greek language.It has two meanings “opposed to” and “in the place of” or “substitute for”

The Latin equivalent of the Greek word “anti” is Vicarious or Vicar.

So what does “Vicar of Christ” literally mean??? Hunt, A Woman Rides the Beast, 45

TT

THE ORIGIN OF THE POPE’S CLOTHING

HPergamos

“The vestments of the clergy..were legacies from Pagan Rome”Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, Vol. 4, 745

The mitre the pope wears is identical to the shape of the one worn by the “gods” found on the pagan Syrian tablets.Thomas Inman, Ancient Pagan & Modern Christian Symbolism, 63-64

CARDINALS

HPergamos

It’s pagan origin from Babylon.From the booklet This Is The Catholic Church published by the Knights of Columbus..”In ancient times the cardinals were the chief clergy of Rome-the word is derived from the Latin word cargo, “hinge”, and thus referred to those who were the pivotal members of the clergy.”Ritter, This is the Catholic Church, booklet 50 p 38

HPergamos

It’s origin as a part of the papal system.“The college of Cardinals, with the Pope at its head, is just the counterpart of the pagan college of Pontiffs, with it’s “Pontifex Maximus”, or “Sovereign Pontiff”, which had existed in Rome from the earliest times, and which is known to have been framed on the model of the grand original Council of Pontiffs at Babylon.Hislop, The Two Babylons, 206

HPergamos

Interesting references to “red” in the Scripture:Ezk 23:14-15-Rev. 17:4-5A harlot symbolizing the Babylon religion dressed in Scarlet or Red.

(Eze 23:14-15) And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of

the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to,

after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the

land of their nativity:

(Rev 17:4-5) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked

with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden

cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written,

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF

HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

HPergamos

Why Cardinals wore red…“The priest of the hinge (cardinals) in pagan days were known as the “Flamens” The word is taken from flare, meaning one who blows or kindles the sacred fire. They were the keepers of the holy frame which they fanned with the mystic fan of Bacchus. Like the color of the fire they tended, their garments were flame color-red.Woodrow, Babylon Mystery Religion,103

BISHOPS

HPergamos

The Roman Catholic usage of the word: Refers to a minister of superior rank, who has authority over a group of other ministers and churches.

Refers to all ministers, not just some in certain cities.Titus 1:5 “..ordain elders in every city”Note: Titus 1:7 refers to these elders as “Bishops”

PRIEST

HPergamos

The Roman Catholic usage of the word:Someone who makes up a “priestly” class that is over the common man.This is the “doctrine of the Nicolaitanes” referred to in the Pergamos Church period in Rev. 2:15

Note Peter’s warning in I Peter 5:3 about church leaders being “lords” over God’s heritage.”

HPergamos

The Bible’s usage of the word:All believers are “Priest” unto God. (Rev.1:6)All believers are “a royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9)Once the church allowed a group to be elevated as “lords over God’s heritage” into a priest class, taking a position in the church that was totally unscriptural..That is also when they began to use titles to refer to them that were totally unscriptural..For example “Fathers” (Judges 17)

NUNS

HPergamos

The pagan origin from Babylon:We have noted the “sacred fires” that burned in connection to Baal worship..The female goddess “Bridget’s” who was regarded as the daughter of the sun god, and was represented with a child in her arms, had her chief temple at Kildare.The temple was served by “Vestal Virgins” who tended to the sacred fires.

HPergamos

Their origin into the papal system:•After Rome became “Christian” under Constantine, the temple became a convent, and the vestals became Nuns.•They continued to tend to the ritual fire, only now it was called Saints Bridget’s fire.