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The Catholic Church: Denomination or ABOMINATION?

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:3)

Thousands of years ago, not long after the flood in Noah's day, there existed a one world religion that manifested itself in the form of a tower. This tower is found in Genesis 11 and it is referred to as the Tower of Babel. The name of the chief builder of it was Nimrod. He had a mother named Semiramis. Nimrod and Semiramis had an intimate affair and she conceived. This was before Nimrod was killed (possibly by his father whose name was Cush according to Genesis 10:8-10). You also know that Nimrod was the ruler of Babel in the land of Shinar according to those verses in Genesis 10. Now it gets sort of interesting on the religious side of this. When Semiramis gave birth to her son from her affair with her older son, she claimed that it was Nimrod "reincarnated." (Note: This is where reincarnation got its start).

As a result of this, the people of that city made a statue in honor of Semiramis and baby "Nimrod" and it portrayed her holding the baby in her arms. This same statue has carried on through history in different styles throughout various parts of the world. They were even given different names although the original "characters" are Semiramis and so-called baby Nimrod, who she said was reincarnated. Hundreds of years later, the Romans adopted this same idol and "christianized" it by calling the mother and child statue "Mary" and "Jesus." This was instituted under the authority of Constantine, who actually was the first pope and not Peter (I'll explain later), and he adopted the same teachings and methods that were practiced in ancient Babylon. Thus we have the true roots of Roman Catholicism in a nutshell.

A lot of things can be brought out concerning this lengthy subject. Especially how "nuns" came about. You can't find them anywhere in the Bible which is one of the many things you can't find in God's Word that the Catholic Church promotes. Nuns, a modern term, were anciently known as "temple virgins" that Semiramis had around the old city of Babylon. I bring this to your attention because I'm showing the connection with ancient Babylon and the Roman Catholic Church. There is a good book that goes in-depth on the history behind this. The book is titled "The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop. I also recommend a comic book series referred to as the "Alberto Series" which is a six part story about the experiences of an ex-Jesuit Priest, Alberto Rivera. You will read about the eye-opening things how the Roman Catholic Church is the "Mother Of Harlots" according to Revelation 17:5. No wonder Catholics don't like to rely solely on the Bible!

You can find those materials at Chick Publications. It is a ministry of a man named Jack Chick just in case you were wondering. Out of all the lies that are exposed about the Roman Catholic system in the "Alberto Series," it gives the wonderful testimony of Dr. Rivera how he received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and how he was delivered from the spiritual bondage that the Papacy put him through. Now, getting to the main foundation that the Catholic Church rests upon is the twisted lie that the apostle Peter was the first pope. This is based upon a verse that is taken out of context in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Now this can be taken many ways and can easily be fit to justify Roman Catholicism by reading this verse alone. But when you properly keep this verse in the context of this chapter, this magnifies Jesus as the Head of the church and not Peter. Jesus asked His disciples earlier in this same chapter in verse 13, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" The disciples answered Jesus in verse 14, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Then Jesus asked them in verse 15, "But whom say ye that I am?" Immediately Peter spoke up and said in verse 16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now here comes verses 17 and 18 where Jesus says, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

Then Jesus continues to say to Peter in verse 18, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." The question is what is the "rock" that Jesus is referring to that He will build His church upon? The answer is the testimony that Peter answered to Jesus in verse 16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." The reason why Jesus said in verse 18, "Thou art Peter" is because Jesus is reminding Peter that he is the little stone, which is the meaning of the name Peter. Not the cornerstone (Christ) that Jesus was going to build His church on. He gave Peter a good promise in verse 19, "And I will give unto thee 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."

Did you know that this was a promise to all the disciples in other verses in the Gospels? These things were fulfilled in the lives of Peter and the other apostles in the book of Acts. To sum up the matter of verses Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus is the Rock that he will build His church (18) and He has the power to distribute the keys of heaven (19). If you are not convinced that Peter is not the rock, then why did Peter himself say in his own words that he and other believers are "lively stones" that "offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" in 1 Peter 2:5? He goes on to say in verses 6-8 of the same chapter of how Jesus is the "chief corner stone" and the "head of the corner." In other words, Peter would disagree with Catholicism that declares him to be the rock. He is saying that he is just one of the little rocks that serves the big "Rock."

Still not convinced? Well, lets look at Ephesians 2:20. It gives the purpose of the apostles of the New Testament and the prophets of the Old Testament and they all fall under the leadership of Jesus Christ, not Peter! It says, "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Lets move on to another side of this. The Catholic Church claims that the pope is infallible and basically you shouldn't rebuke him. Well, guess what! Peter was rebuked by Paul in Galatians 2:11-14 about the Gentiles having liberty in Christ. Did you also know that Peter had a wife according to Mark 1:30? Of course not if you are a Catholic because you listen to your priest more than you read your Bible! Also, ask yourself how Peter can be buried in Rome when Peter never was recorded in the Scriptures of ever being there.

It was Paul who wrote the book of Romans, not Peter! Also ask yourself why there are so many churches named after various saints and apostles. Peter had this idea when he saw Moses and Elijah appear to talk to Jesus when Jesus was transfigured on a mountain in Matthew 17:1-3. Peter said in verse 4, "Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." Look at what happens next in verse 5, "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Why do we have "churches" that name themselves in honour of others rather than Jesus? The answer is simple. People don't care what God's Word has to say. They are more in love with their religious franchise than they are Christ! They love ritual and not righteousness! They want to feel good without being good!

This is a generation of "churchianity" and not genuine Christianity! People fear the status quo and not the Saviour! I have Catholics who email me and ask why I should defend the Bible and rely just upon that. Well, if Psalms 119 doesn't convince you, and Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18-19 doesn't, then read here what Jude 3 says, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Did you notice in that verse that the faith was "once" delivered to the saints and not over and over again with strange doctrines that we are commanded to beware of (Read Hebrews 13:8-9)? And I can relate to what Jude says about it being "needful for me to write unto you" of the "common salvation."

It is the same salvation that can save your soul. This is the main intention for me taking the time and writing about this controversial subject. I care about your soul. I'm not trying to make you a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or etc. They go to the same Hell if they are not truly saved even if they do here the truth of God's Word. If all they have is religion and not a relationship with Jesus Christ then, speaking the truth in love, Hell is their home! Read Matthew 23 sometime and you will see that Jesus preached that same message to a bunch of religious people who were not saved. I actually have people who call me a persecutor of the "Church" (their way of describing the Roman Catholic Church). Well, first of all, I don't see on the news billions of Catholics running for their lives because of the ruthless tyranny that I am causing.

I haven't even molested or even thought about molesting a young boy in a confession booth like the "innocent" Catholic priests do. Yet, they are the ones who are portrayed as a victim. So persecuting I am not, but condemning I am guilty of that. But if you read your Bible and consider the things that I have shared with you, then you'll realize I am not condemning a "Church" but rather a "Cult!" By the way, why also attend Mass (or is it "Mess") that portrays Christ being repeatedly sacrificed over and over? He only died ONCE for us (Read Hebrews 9:28)! I could present to you more but if you haven't got it by now, then you're just not going to get it!

I will leave you with 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." I don't see anything about Mary in there, do you? Please, trust in Christ and not your "Church!"

- James S. Hodges

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