***The Catholic Church existed from Pentecost, which was BEFORE any books of the New Testament were written.
Yeah, yeah... that’s what you keep going on about. I find it a dubious claim, and would suggest that if it is so, that any similarity was long forgotten when she snuggled up into the belly of the beast. ***
The history of the Church is open to all. I don’t know how you find Acts dubious. It describes the commissioning of the Church. Belly of the beast?
Revelation
Chapter 13
1
1 Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name (s).
2
The beast I saw was like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear’s, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. 2 To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority.
3
I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. 3 Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast.
4
They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast 4 and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?”
Seven heads? I know that many claim that it is the Catholic Church, but could it be the seven main branches of the Reformation with the 10 horns being the 10 main Reformers?
***We understand what the Word is and we do not deify it.
Neither do we. ***
Some of the children of the Reformation do. I’ve experienced them even here.
***Walking away from the Church of Christ with Martin Luther does not bode well for one’s soul.
History would prove otherwise.***
Would it? How so?
Now you're on to something there!
??? Ok... But where is the "power given for 42 months"? Protestants have been around a lot longer than 1260 actual days, and I doubt we have enough time left for Protestants to have power for 1260 years. The only empire the Protestants have had would be the British Empire, and perhaps the UK/US... but no 1260...
[We understand what the Word is and we do not deify it.] Neither do we.
Some of the children of the Reformation do. I’ve experienced them even here.
Link please.
[Walking away from the Church of Christ with Martin Luther does not bode well for one’s soul.] History would prove otherwise.
Would it? How so?
Idolatry. Always with the idolatry. Just look what happened to Israel... Bowing down to Mary and the Pope... And the whole Sabbath thingy too... False priesthood... *shakes head* Best to leave all that behind, just as the Bible says.