Answers to Catholic Converts, 6

Jeff,

To your credit, you ask a pertinent question: Is the Papacy biblical? If the office of Pope is not biblical it did not come from God. If it is not of God then its origin could only be from one other source. Surely you know who that is.

However, our Lord did not leave His Elect Church without knowledge of the invention of the Papacy. The Papacy is taught in the New Testament.

In Matt. 7:15 ff., the Bishop of Rome is described as wolf in sheep's clothing, a corrupt tree, who will be cut off and cast from the presence of Jesus.

In Matt. 24:4-5, the Pope is described as a deceiver who shall claim come in the name and authority of Christ as His Vicar. Yet he is a liar, deceiving many.

In verse 24, he is described as a false Christ who shows great signs and lying wonders, deceiving the reprobate.

In John 5:43, the Pope is predicted as one coming 'in his own name,' whom the world will receive.

In Acts 20:28 ff., the Bishop of Rome is prophesied as a grievous bishop-wolf who will speak perverse things, devouring his flock.

In Romans 1:27 ff., the Pope is described as a sodomite, filled with wickedness, proud, unmerciful, and murderous.

In 1 Cor. 6:9 ff., the Pope is foreshadowed in Paul's description of those not entering Heaven: idolatry being one of his main attributes.

In II Cor. 6:16 & 11:4 ff., the Pope is predicted as one who will have his temples filled with idols, who preaches another Jesus, a false apostle, appearing to the world as a priest of righteousness, yet is Satan's priest.

In Galatians 1, the Pope is described as one who preaches another Gospel, and for it accursed of God.

In Eph. 5:3 ff. Paul lists the sins which the Papacy will embrace, including idolatry and covetousness, who practices abominations in secret.

In II Thess. 2:3 ff., the Pope is called the Man of Sin, the son of perdition, who would claim to be the most high Christian who rules the Church.

In 1 Timothy 4:1 ff., Paul warns of the Papacy who teaches Satan's commands by decreeing celibacy a requirement of its priesthood and orders, as well as decree certain fast days.

In II Timothy 3:1 ff., Paul warns of the Papacy as being false accusers of the brethren, despisers of those who are good, having a false form of godliness in the eyes of the world.

In Hebrews 10:29, the Pope is seen as one who tramples Christ, viewing His blood an unholy thing, as he offers to God another sacrifice in the Mass - an unbloody sacrifice which slanders the Spirit of grace.

In II Peter 2:1 ff., Peter describes the Papacy as false teachers and false prophets who will have many followers to lead to destruction.

In I John 2:19 ff., the Pope is called the Antichrist, having left the true faith to deny Christ's offices and attributes by taking them on himself.

In Rev. 8:10-11, the Pope is called Wormwood, having fallen away from the true faith, teaching poisonous doctrines.

In Rev. 9, he is called the star who fell from heaven, as did his father, Satan. He has not the keys of the Church to bind and to loose; rather he has the key of the bottomless pit. As king of the locusts he looses the demonic Dominicans and Jesuits to destroy the earth. In Rev. 9:20-21, he is described as an idolater, murderer, thief and sorcerer who will never repent of his fornication.

In Rev. 13, he is prophesied as the Beast who rises up out of the sea, who demands the world take his sacramental Mark on their foreheads. He also commands the worship of graven images, contrary to the commandments of God.

In Rev. 17, the Pope is seen as the scarlet Beast, red from sin and innocent blood which he shed.

Jeff, the Lord has not left His true Church ignorant of the Antichrist and his true identity.

Rand Winburn

Director

Protestant Reformation Publications

http://www.iconbusters.com