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LOL

The only “history” showing the RCC being around in the first century is that which has been made up by the RCC - which did not exist until the 4th century. There is no such thing as Apostolic Succession except for within the man-made doctrines of the RCC. There is no record of Jesus creating the RCC - He instituted His church by gathering together those He had redeemed.

How on Earth do you equate someone outside the RCC as the eunuch who cannot understand Scripture? This is ludicrous. The eunuch is a lost person who cannot understand spiritual Truth The RCC does not sit between God and anyone.

A TALE OF TWO BISHOPS

The degree of change which Constantine caused in the Church can be illustrated by looking at the lives of two Bishops of Rome. So let’s go back in history for about 100 years before Christianity became “politically correct,” to look at the life of Bishop Pontian. Then we will compare Pontian’s life with the life of Bishop Silvester, who lived during the time of Emperor Constantine.

(The following information about Bishops Pontian and Silvester comes from several sources. See Note 9.)

Pontian became the Bishop of Rome in the year 230 A.D. He was made bishop suddenly and unexpectedly when his predecessor was arrested and killed by Roman authorities.

On September 27, 235 A.D., Emperor Maximinus decreed that all Christian leaders were to be arrested. Christian buildings were burned, Christian cemeteries were closed, and the personal wealth of Christians was confiscated.

Bishop Pontian was arrested the same day. He was put in the Mamertine Prison, where he was tortured for ten days. Then he was sent to work in the lead mines of Sardinia.

The prisoners worked in the mines for 20 hours a day, with four one-hour breaks for sleep. They had one meal of bread and water per day. Most prisoners died within six to fourteen months from exhaustion, malnutrition, disease, beatings, infection, or violence.

Pontian only lasted four months. In January, 236 A.D., Pontian was killed and his body was thrown into the cesspool.

What happened to Pontian was not unusual. Many Christians were sent to the Sardinian lead mines, or persecuted in other ways. If a man accepted the position of being a Christian leader, he knew that his life from that time on was likely to be short and painful. There were 14 Bishops of Rome in the 79 years between the arrest of Pontian and the coronation of Silvester.

In 314 A.D., Emperor Constantine crowned Silvester as Bishop of Rome. Silvester lived in luxury, with servants waiting on him. Constantine confessed his sins to Silvester and asked for his advice. Silvester presided over worldwide Church councils. He had a splendid palace and a sumptuous cathedral. He had power, prestige, wealth, pomp, and the favor of the Emperor.

Churchmen wore purple robes, reflecting the purple of Constantine’s court. That was an external change. The most important change was an internal one. The Church took on the mentality of Rome. Under Silvester, the internal structure of the Church took on the form and practice and pomp of Rome.

Silvester died in December, 336 A.D. He died peacefully, in a clean, comfortable bed, in the Roman Lateran Palace. He died surrounded by well dressed bishops and priests, and attended by Roman guards. His body was dressed in ceremonial robes, put in an elegant casket, and carried through the streets of Rome in a solemn procession. He was buried with honor and ceremony, attended by the cream of Roman society and by the Roman people.

It is understandable that many Christians would have preferred an officially approved status for the Church. But what was the result?

Before Constantine, the church was a band of heroic men and women who were so committed to serve the Lord Jesus Christ that they would endure any hardship. After 314 A.D., the Church became infiltrated by opportunists who were seeking power and political advancement. Church leaders were no longer in danger of persecution. Rather, they enjoyed all the trappings of power and luxury.

Historian Paul Johnson asks, “Did the empire surrender to Christianity, or did Christianity prostitute itself to the empire?” [Note 9]

The temptation for an ungodly alliance with Rome was very great. But at what cost?

1. Malachi Martin, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church” (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1981), pages 31-33. A major theme of this book is the radical change which occurred in the Church as a result of Constantine. The author was a Catholic priest and a theologian.

2. Paul Johnson, “A History of Christianity” (New York: Touchstone, Simon & Schuster, 1995), pages 67-68. Paul Johnson is a Catholic and a prominent historian.

3. Malachi Martin, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church,” page 33; and Paul Johnson, “A History of Christianity,” page 67. Information about the days of the week being named for pagan gods and goddesses can be found in a good dictionary. Look up each day of the week, and “Saturn”. I used “Webster’s Dictionary,” 1941 edition, which gives the origins of words.

4. Paul Johnson, “A History of Christianity,” pages 68-69.

5. Paul Johnson, “A History of Christianity,” page 69.

6. Malachi Martin, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church,” pages 33-34.

7. Malachi Martin, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church,” pages 34-35.

8. James G. McCarthy, “The Gospel According to Rome” (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1995), pages 231-232. James McCarthy is a former Catholic

9. Claudio Rendina, “The Popes: Histories and Secrets” (Santa Ana, California: Seven Locks Press, 2002), pages 29 and 41-45. Richard P. McBrien, “Lives of the Popes” (San Francisco, California: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997), pages 45-46 and 57-58. Hans Kung (translated by John Bowden), “The Catholic Church: A Short History” (New York: Modern Library: 2001, 2003), pages 33-44. Malachi Martin, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church,” pages 19-38. Paul Johnson, “A History of Christianity,” pages 67-69 and 99-103. (The quotation is from page 69.)

***The RC edifice was NOT around at Pentecost. Revisionist history just does not wash with those truly exammining the UNRUBBERIZED HISTORICAL RECORD.***

The Catholic Church began at Pentecost;

That is sooooooooooooo outrageously untrue as to almost be well . . . is . . . galactic Olympic level outrageousness. It's untrue to History and Untrue to Scripture.

every other church is a construct of men that was cobbled together during the last few centuries (except for a few during the first half of the last millennium). We have the history, we have the Church Fathers, we have the Apostolic Succession, we are the creation of, and have the blessing of Jesus.

HOGWASH. The RC edifice has political fantasies and fables held forth as fact when they are anything but fact.

God has been well able to build HIS CHURCH just as he was well able to lead Samuel Morris through the jungle to a mission compound without any aid of any human at all. The Holy Spirit's light and voice led him for 2 weeks. God has built HIS CHURCH UNIVERSAL similarly in countless spots around the globe . . . sometimes with only scraps of Scripture. NO RC edifice in sight AT ALL. But folks learned to Love and follow the Jesus of The UNRUBBERIZED Bible.

***But God has quite a different perspective from that of the RC magicsterical.***

Have you acquired the Reformed ability to speak for God?

Actually, God has required me to speak for Him on occasion. But, alas, my fasting has not been sufficiently up to snuff often enough and I've often missed acting and acted amiss for Him. Thankfully, His Mercy and Grace avail.

One time, against my better judgment, I agreed to see an alcoholic woman at a Baptist counseling center late in the evening. Turned out she was drunk--further violating a boundary I had. Suddenly, I listened to words flowing out of my mouth ordering her to sober up instantly. She was virtually falling down drunk. It's a wonder she could walk at all. Yet, amazingly, she INSTANTLY sobered up and the session was fruitful. She was shocked and scared spitless. I was just a bit surprised but not that shocked because I'd already seen God do some amazing things in my life.

BTW, no apparitions were involved.

***but only received the Bible and began believing it and applying it.***

Ethiopian eunuchs read and do not understand. They have the words but not the teachings. You may wish to peruse Acts 8: 26-40 for further clarification.

I'm well acquainted with Acts 8. Sometimes God uses others. Sometimes He speaks directly as in Samuel Morris' case. THE MARCH OF FAITH biography is a great testimony to what God can do DIRECTLY in the life of anyone 100% devoted to and in love with God. If anything, the limited magicsterical association Sammy had to put up with was probably as much of a bother as a help.

You may not not his story--he would walk more or less quietly into the side or back door of a large auditorium without others being aware that he was arriving . . . but the minute that his feet crossed the threshhold, 100's of attendees would RUN screaming and crying to the front confessing their sins and seeking salvation through Christ.

Again, ABSOLUTELY NO RC edifice, representation, apparitions, dogmas, idols, icons, rituals etc. were involved IN THE LEAST.

I suppose that the RC magicsterical might pontificate that it must have been demons calling individuals to repent and turn to Christ . . . but as Christ declared in the New Testament . . . that's a rather silly postulation, interpretation on such an event. I certainly wouldn't recommend it even to the grasping-at-straws RC edifice.