"HE ONLY TAUGHT FOR 3 1 /2 YEARS," "YET IN ONE GENERATION" "WHAT HE SAID TRANSFORMED THE WORLD." "ALL THE ARMIES THAT EVER MARCHED," "ALL THE NAVIES THAT EVER SAILED;" "AND ALL THE KINGS THAT EVER REIGNED, COMBINED," "HAVE NOT AFFECTED HISTORY" "AS MUCH AS THIS ONE SOLITARY LIFE." "NOW, TWO THOUSAND YEARS LATER" "HIS FOLLOWERS NUMBER IN THE BILLIONS" "AND COVER THE EARTH," "YET THE PRACTICE OF MODERN CHRISTIANITY TODAY" "SCARCELY RESEMBLES THE EARLY TEACHINGS OF JESUS" "PROPHEC Y FORETOLD THIS WOULD HAPPEN..." "CIRCA AD 91 PRISON ISLAND" " PATMOS" "A WOMAN, A CHILD AND A DRAGON." "AT FIRST GLANCE THIS MIGHT SOUND" "LIKE THE INGREDIENTS FOR A FRIGHTENING FAIRY TALE." "IN FACT, THE TROUBLING SCENES THAT YOU JUST WITNESSED" "ARE PART OF A TRUE AND POWERFUL PROPHEC Y" "GIVEN TO THE APOSTLE JOHN NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AGO." "WHAT DOES THIS PROPHEC Y," "FOUND IN REVELATION 1 2, TELL US?" "DOES IT POINT TO SOME EVENT" "THAT HAPPENED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO" "OR DOES IT DESCRIBE THINGS" "THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?" "AND WHO DO THE WOMAN," "THE DRAGON AND THE CHILD REPRESENT?" "JOIN US NOW AS WE JOURNEY DEEP INTO A WORLD" "THAT FEW HAVE EVER SEEN BUT ALL ARE A PART OF." "REVELATION:" "THE BRIDE, THE BEAST AND BABYLON." "REVELATION:" "THE BRIDE, THE BEAST AND BABYLON" "IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, REVELATION," "THE APOSTLE JOHN WAS SHOWN A VISION" "OF A GREAT STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL," "A PROPHEC Y OF A BATTLE" "THAT HAS BEEN RAGING BEHIND THE SCENES" "SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME." "THE SECRETS BEHIND THIS PROPHEC Y" "HAVE BEEN SHROUDED IN MYSTERY FOR CENTURIES..." "UNTIL NOW." "FROM THE KINGDOMS AND THE RULERS" "THAT HAVE FALLEN AROUND THE WORLD" "TO THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT STOOD UP TO FIGHT" "FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN," "THIS IS THE STORY OF CHRISTIANITY," "THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH" "AND THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FAITH OF BILLIONS." ""NOW A GREAT SIGN APPEARED IN HEAVEN:" ""A WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN," ""WITH THE MOON UNDER HER FEET," ""AND ON HER HEAD A GARLAND OF TWELVE STARS..." ""..." "THEN BEING WITH CHILD," ""SHE CRIED OUT IN LABOR AND IN PAIN TO GIVE BIRTH..." ""AND THE DRAGON STOOD BEFORE THE WOMAN" ""WHO WAS READY TO GIVE BIRTH," "TO DEVOUR HER CHILD AS SOON AS IT WAS BORN."" "MANY BIBLE SCHOLARS AND HISTORIANS" "HAVE STUDIED THIS PROPHEC Y OVER THE YEARS" "AND AGREED THAT THE PROPHEC Y OF REVELATION 1 2" "POINTS TO AN EVENT" "KNOWN AS "THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS"" "WHICH OCCURRED IN FIRST CENTURY JUDEA." "IN THE DECADES LEADING UP TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST," "THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "HAD CONQUERED THE WHOLE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD," "INCLUDING JUDEA." "AND AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THAT HISTORY" "THEY HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE RULING OVER IT." "TWENTY YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN YOU HAVE KING HEROD," "A CLIENT KING FOR ROME." "WE HAVE DOCUMENTS ABOUT HIM OUTSIDE THE BIBLE" "THAT TELL US THAT HE WAS VERY CRUEL." "HE WAS CAPABLE OF KILLING HIS OWN SONS." "HE WAS RUTHLESS" "AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GET ON HIS BAD SIDE." "HEROD WAS VERY ANXIOUS" "WHEN A SMALL DELEGATION OF WISE MEN FROM THE EAST" "CAME TO JERUSALEM" "ANNOUNCING THEIR SEARCH FOR THE NEWBORN KING OF THE JEWS." "WHY WOULD HEROD BE UPSET ABOUT THAT?" "BECAUSE THAT WAS HEROD'S TITLE AS BESTOWED UPON HIM" "BY THE ROMAN EMPIRE:" "KING OF THE JEWS." "AND HE ASKS HIS ASTROLOGERS," ""HOW LONG IS IT POSSIBLE" "THIS CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN BORN AGO?"" "AND THEY DETERMINE" "IT'S PROBABLY BEEN MAYBE 2 YEARS AT MOST" "SINCE THIS CHILD WAS BORN, MAYBE LESS." "HE FINDS OUT FROM THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES" "EXACTLY WHERE THIS CHILD WAS TO BE BORN" "AND HE FINDS OUT IT'S BETHLEHEM" "AND HE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING HIS THRONE." "AND SO HE HAS SUCH ANGER AGAINST THIS CHILD" "HE SENDS IN THE SOLDIERS TO TRY AND KILL JESUS." "THE BIBLE TELLS US THIS BARBARIC ACT" "WAS INSPIRED BY MORE THAN JUST THE TYRANNICAL JEALOUSY" "OF AN OLD KING." "MANY BIBLE SCHOLARS BELIEVE" "THAT IT'S PART OF A MUCH BIGGER STRUGGLE" "THAT HAS SPANNED THE AGES AND IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY." "TO UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THIS PROPHEC Y" "WE'RE GOING TO FIRST NEED TO IDENTIFY THE MAIN CHARACTERS:" "THE WOMAN, THE CHILD AND THE DRAGON." "HE SAYS, "THEN I SAW ANOTHER SIGN, A WOMAN," ""CLOTHED WITH THE SUN, WITH THE MOON UNDER HER FEET," "AND ON HER HEAD A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS."" "LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOMAN." "WE KNOW THAT SHE'S A SYMBOL OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING." "DOES THE BIBLE TELL US WHAT THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS?" ""HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES," ""JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH" "AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER."" "WE GATHER FROM THIS" "THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST." "NOT ONLY IS SHE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST" "BUT IN A CERTAIN SENSE, SINCE NO MAN HATES HIS OWN FLESH," "THE CHURCH IS JESUS' BODY." "VERY CLEARLY A WOMAN, IN SCRIPTURE," "REPRESENTS THE CHURCH." "YOU HAVE A WOMAN AS REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD'S PEOPLE." "WE SEE THIS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT." "WE SEE IT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT." "JESUS COMES FROM THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL" "AND THEN THE CHURCH GROWS UP" "AS SOMETHING THAT JESUS DEVELOPS." "MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS WOMAN IS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH" "TO A SPECIAL MALE CHILD." "WHO IS THE CHILD?" "WE HAVE A COUPLE OF INDICATIONS:" "ONE:" "HE RULES WITH A ROD OF IRON OVER THE NATIONS." "THAT'S A REFERENCE TO THE OLD TESTAMENT" "WHERE CLEARLY GOD IS THE ONE" "RULING OVER THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON." "AND THEN HE SAYS HE'S CAUGHT UP INTO HEAVEN" "AND WHO IS CAUGHT UP INTO HEAVEN?" "JESUS CHRIST, RIGHT?" "HE'S THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." "SO THESE TWO INDICATIONS PRETTY DEFINITIVELY TELL US" "THAT THIS IS JESUS." "NOW LET'S CONSIDER THE ARCH VILLAIN" "IN THIS IMPORTANT PROPHEC Y:" "THE DRAGON." ""AND ANOTHER SIGN APPEARED IN HEAVEN:" "BEHOLD, A GREAT, FIERY RED DRAGON..."" "I WISH I COULD JUST GIVE YOU A FANCIFUL THEORY HERE," "BUT THE BIBLE TELLS US WHO THE DRAGON IS." "THE DRAGON IS THE DEVIL." "BOTH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT" "WHO TRIES TO DESTROY?" "THAT IS SATAN, THE ANGEL, THE DEVIL." "AND SO HE ATTACKS" "AS SOON AS CHRIST COMES UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH;" "THE ATTACK IS THERE." ""SO THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT," ""THAT SERPENT OF OLD, CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN." ""WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD;" ""HE WAS CAST TO THE EARTH," "AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM."" "WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THE FIRST PART OF REVELATION 1 2" "IS A SYMBOLIC PORTRAYAL" "OF THE AGE-OLD CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND SATAN." "AND WE FIND THIS DESCRIPTION" "GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN" "WHERE YOU HAVE A SNAKE WITH WINGS." "WHAT'S A SNAKE WITH WINGS?" "IT'S A FORM OF A DRAGON." "AND WE HAVE THIS SERPENT, THIS DRAGON," "COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH SCRIPTURES." "ALL THROUGH THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST" "SATAN TRIED TO DISRUPT JESUS' PLANS" "TO PROVIDE SALVATION FOR HUMANITY." ""BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS," ""HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES;" ""THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM," "AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED."" "AT VARIOUS POINTS THEY KICKED HIM OUT OF SYNAGOGUES" "AND WANTED TO PUSH HIM OFF A CLIFF." "THEY TRIED TO SILENCE HIM." "THEY TORTURED HIM TO DEATH PUBLICLY." "BUT SATAN'S SCHEME TO DERAIL THE PLAN OF SALVATION" "WAS UTTERLY SHATTERED WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD." ""AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP TO GOD AND HIS THRONE."" "WITH THE SON OF GOD NOW PHYSICALLY BEYOND HIS REACH," "THE DEVIL DIRECTED ALL OF HIS FURY AT THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS," "THE NEW CHRISTIANS." "HE DID MUCH OF THIS" "THROUGH THE CRUEL POWER OF IMPERIAL ROME." ""NOW WHEN THE DRAGON SAW" ""THAT HE HAD BEEN CAST TO THE EARTH," ""HE PERSECUTED THE WOMAN" "WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE MALE CHILD."" "CHRISTIANITY WAS A STRUGGLING, SMALL PERSECUTED MINORITY" "THAT DIDN'T HAVE OFFICIAL STATUS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "AND THERE WERE A SERIES OF PERSECUTIONS," "SOME OF WHICH WERE QUITE SEVERE." "ONE OF THE ROLES OF RELIGION IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "WAS TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF THE STATE." "THE IDEA WAS IF THE GODS WERE WORSHIPED PROPERLY" "THEN THEY WOULD FAVOR THE EMPIRE" "AND IF THEY WERE WORSHIPED IMPROPERLY" "THEN BAD THINGS WOULD HAPPEN TO THE EMPIRE" "AS A RESULT OF DIVINE WRATH." "THEY DO NOT WANT TO SACRIFICE TO THE GODS" "AND THE GODS AT THAT POINT INCLUDE THE EMPEROR." "SO IT'S EASY TO CONSIDER THESE PEOPLE" "RELIGIOUS SCAPEGOATS." "BASICALLY, IF SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG" "PROBABLY IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE CHRISTIANS AROUND" "WHO ARE REFUSING TO GIVE THE GODS THEIR PROPER DUE." "OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO PUNISH THEM" "AND PUNISHMENT MEANT, MOST OF THE TIME, DEATH." "WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT" "WAS THAT CHRISTIANS GATHERED TOGETHER" "ALSO SEEMED TO MAKE LOVE WITH THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS." "BECAUSE THERE WERE RUMORS ABOUT THEM" "THAT THEY COMMIT INCEST." "THE CHRISTIANS USED TO CALL THEMSELVES "BROTHER" AND "SISTER"" "AND THEY USED TO EAT THE FLESH OF CHRIST." "PEOPLE HEARD, APPARENTLY," "THAT CHRISTIANS WERE EATING CHILDREN." "SO WHEN PAGANS HEARD ABOUT THIS" "THEY THOUGHT THE WORSE;" "THEY ASSUMED THE WORST." "CHRISTIANS ARE PROGRESSIVELY STRIPPED OF THEIR CIVIL OFFICES," "THEIR MILITARY OFFICES." "THEIR BOOKS ARE CONFISCATED." "THEIR CHURCHES ARE DESTROYED." "THEY'RE FORBIDDEN TO MEET AND SO ON," "ALL BECAUSE THERE'S AN ANXIETY" "THAT THIS IS REALLY UNDERMINING THE WELFARE OF THE EMPIRE." "AS THE EARLY CHURCH SUFFERED" "UNDER THIS WITHERING PERSECUTION OF ROME," "THEIR LIVES BECAME A POWERFUL TESTIMONY FOR TRUTH." "WHILE THE PAGANS LIVED IN CONSTANT SUPERSTITIOUS FEAR," "THESE CHRISTIANS FACED TORTURE AND DEATH" "WITH A SUPERNATURAL PEACE." "BASICALLY, WHAT NERO DID WAS HE FED THEM TO THE LIONS." "HE HAD THEM TIED TO PILLARS, PUT PITCH ON THEM," "AND THEN HE SET THEM ON FIRE AS HUMAN TORCHES" "SO THEY COULD HAVE THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE ON INTO THE NIGHT." "HE HAD THEM STRETCHED, PULLED INTO TWO," "BEING KILLED BY GLADIATORS." "JUST ABOUT EVERY CREATIVE WAY" "THAT YOU CAN DISPOSE OF CHRISTIANS." "WHEN FACING THE PAINFUL END OF THEIR LIVES" "THEY OFTEN SANG AND REJOICED." "AS THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS" "PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR FAITH," "THEIR DYING PRAYERS AND BLOOD" "ESSENTIALLY BECAME SEED FOR THE NEW CHURCH." "PEOPLE ARE SO ENTHRALLED BY HOW THESE CHRISTIANS ARE DYING" "THAT IMMEDIATELY THE REACTION IS, "SIGN ME UP."" "AND SO THE CHRISTIANS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE." "THE MORE YOU KILLED THEM" "THE MORE THEY STOOD FOR THEIR FAITH." "IT IS TRUE AND I THINK IT HAS TO BE EMPHASIZED," "THAT THE EARLY CHURCH SPREADS" "DESPITE THE VERY CONCERTED ATTEMPTS AT REPRESSION" "OF EXTREMELY AUTOCRATIC AND POWERFUL EMPERORS" "WHO SET THEMSELVES VERY FIRMLY AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS" "AND YET THE EARLY CHURCH SURVIVES." "TERTULLIAN ARGUES, WHENEVER SOMETHING GOES WRONG," "WHENEVER THERE'S A FAMINE, OR WHENEVER THERE AN ILLNESS," "A PESTILENCE THAT SWEEPS THROUGH," "EVERYBODY SAYS, "THE CHRISTIANS TO THE LION,"" "AND THEN HE SAYS SNIDELY," ""AS IF SO MANY COULD BE FED TO SO FEW."" "AND HIS POINT IS THAT YOU CAN'T DESTROY US ALL." "DURING THIS TIME OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH," "CHRISTIANS ALL ACROSS THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "QUITE LITERALLY WENT UNDERGROUND." "THIS LABYRINTH OF TUNNELS AND CHAMBERS" "BENEATH THE ROMAN CITIES" "BECAME KNOWN AS "THE CATACOMBS."" "NOW, THE CATACOMBS ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND." "FIRST, MANY PEOPLE IMAGINE" "THAT THERE ARE CAVES NATURALLY UNDER ROME" "AND THE CHRISTIANS SIMPLY WENT INTO THEM." "THE CATACOMBS, ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION," "ARE NOT NATURAL CAVES." "THEY WERE EXCAVATED BY THE CHRISTIANS." "AND SO THE CHRISTIANS MADE A WHOLE LABYRINTH UNDERGROUND." "SOMETIMES SERVICES WOULD BE HELD THERE" "IN THE VERY TOMBS OF THE MARTYRS." "THE SECOND POINT IS THE VERY ACT OF BURYING YOUR DEAD" "IS HUGELY SIGNIFICANT." "CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN A RESURRECTION OF THE BODY." "OF COURSE, THAT BELIEF HAS SHIFTED AND CHANGED" "OVER THE CENTURIES, BUT FROM ALL WE UNDERSTAND," "EARLY CHRISTIANS BELIEVED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESURRECTED" "IN THAT ACTUAL BODILY FORM, AND THEREFORE," "THEY CHOSE TO BURY THEIR DEAD, NOT TO CREMATE THEM." "THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE SEEN TO BE BURYING YOUR DEAD," "ESPECIALLY AT TIMES" "WHEN THERE ARE INTENSE WAVES OF PERSECUTION," "YOU'RE MORE OR LESS SAYING TO THE POLICE," ""COME AND INVESTIGATE ME." "I MAY WELL BE A CHRISTIAN."" "IN AD 306, A NEW ROMAN EMPEROR CAME INTO POWER" "AND THINGS BEGAN TO RAPIDLY CHANGE." "CONSTANTINE THE GREAT WAS A CAPABLE MILITARY LEADER" "AND A SHREWD POLITICIAN." "SO CONSTANTINE HAD TO FIGHT A SERIES OF CIVIL WARS" "IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE" "HIS POLITICAL AIM OF BECOMING EMPEROR" "AND THAT'S HIS OWN PERSONAL AND POLITICAL AIM" "THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANITY." "HE GOES DOWN FROM GAUL- MODERN DAY FRANCE" "WHERE HIS POWER BASE WAS," "TO CONFRONT HIS RIVAL MAXENTIUS, IN ITALY." "CONSTANTINE MOVES DOWN FROM THE NORTH " "AND YOU THINK OF ITALY, THERE'S THIS LONG STRETCH " "AND HE WINS ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER." "AS HE WAS MARCHING WITH HIS ARMY" "HE HAD A DREAM ONE NIGHT WHERE GOD CAME TO HIM" "AND TOLD HIM "YOU WILL BECOME A CHRISTIAN" "AND PUT THIS SIGN ON YOUR SHIELD AND YOU WILL CONQUER."" "SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE ACTUALLY HAD A VISION," "WHICH HISTORY TELLS US WAS SEEN BY HIS ARMY" "AS WELL AS BY CONSTANTINE, HIMSELF." "HE LOOKED UP TO THE SUN AND HE SAW A CROSS OF LIGHT ABOVE IT" "AND THE GREEK WORKS "EN TOUTU NIKA":" "BY THIS, CONQUER." "THE STORY THAT HE HAD HAD THIS DREAM" "DOES APPEAR AT A RELATIVELY EARLY STAGE." "IT'S DESCRIBED BY EUSEBIUS." "THERE ARE DIFFERENT SOURCES." "THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS," "BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT CONSTANTINE DOES SAY," ""I'VE HAD THIS DIVINE ENCOUNTER" ""AND AN ANGEL HAS TOLD ME" "THAT IN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS I WILL CONQUER."" "CONSTANTINE COMMANDED HIS TROOPS" "TO ADORN THEIR SHIELDS WITH THE CHRISTIAN SYMBOL." "HIS OPPONENT THEN MOVES OUT OF THE CITY" "TO FACE THE ONCOMING CONSTANTINE WITH HIS ARMY," "WHICH HAS NOW BEEN TRAINED QUITE A BIT" "BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY WON SEVERAL VICTORIES" "ON THE WAY DOWN FROM THE NORTH," "FROM MILAN DOWN." "HIS OPPONENT MOVES ACROSS THE RIVER AT THE MILVIAN BRIDGE," "HAS CONSTANTINE AND HIS ARMY IN FRONT OF HIM," "THE RIVER AND THE CITY BEHIND HIM;" "NOT A GREAT SITUATION TO BE IN." "IF YOU DO NOT BEAT THE ONCOMING ARMY," "YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO RETREAT." "SO HE LOSES." "SO FOR CONSTANTINE, WHO IS CERTAINLY NOT YET A CHRISTIAN," "THIS IS A POWERFUL THING BECAUSE HE HIMSELF BELIEVES" ""THE CHRISTIAN GOD HAS GIVEN ME VICTORY."" "THE CHRISTIAN GOD" "IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THESE OTHER DEITIES." "IT IS CLEAR THAT CONSTANTINE MADE THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTIANITY" "PART OF THE IMPERIAL STANDARDS" "AND THAT HE FOUGHT UNDER THAT SYMBOL AND HE WON." "BEING A GOOD ROMAN EMPEROR, HE WOULD THEN THINK," ""YEAH, I GOT THE SIGN." "I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH."" "SO IF YOU'RE A PAGAN" "OR JUST SOMEBODY WHO'S CONFUSED ABOUT RELIGION," "YOU'VE HAD HERE THIS CLASH OF DEITIES" "AND WHO'S EMERGED ON TOP?" "THE CHRISTIAN GOD." "YOU CAN DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS." "GRADUALLY, THE NATIONAL SENTIMENT" "AGAINST CHRISTIANITY BEGAN REVERSING." "DURING CONSTANTINE'S REIGN," "CHRISTIANS WENT FROM BEING A PERSECUTED SECT" "TO OPENLY HOLDING POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE" "IN THE COURTS AND PALACES OF KINGS AND GOVERNORS." "SO A LARGE PART OF THE ELITES, USED TO RUNNING THE SHOW," "AUTOMATICALLY THEN BECOME ALSO THE LOCAL BISHOPS, ETC." "YOU KNOW, BECOME CHRISTIAN." "IT WASN'T SUCH A BIG LEAP BECAUSE MOST OF THEM," "ANYWAY, BELIEVED IN ONE SUPREME DIVINE BEING" "WHICH HAD DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIONS." "IF YOU WANT TO ADVANCE IN THE ARMY" "OR IN THE IMPERIAL CIVIL SERVICE," "THERE'S EVERY INCENTIVE TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN" "BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP ARE CHRISTIANS." "SO, IF YOU WANT TO ADVANCE IN THE HIERARCHY," "WHETHER IT'S MILITARY, CIVIL SERVICE, OR JUST AT COURT," "PEOPLE BECOME CHRISTIANS." "IT BECOMES VERY ATTRACTIVE" "BECAUSE CONSTANTINE'S EDICT OF TOLERATION MAKES IT SO." ""CONSTANTINE CAN RIGHTFULLY CLAIM THE TITLE OF GREAT," ""FOR HE TURNED THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD" ""INTO A NEW COURSE AND MADE CHRISTIANITY," ""WHICH UNTIL THEN HAD SUFFERED BLOODY PERSECUTION," "THE RELIGION OF THE STATE."" "AND SO AS PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "AND SO AS PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE ROMAN EMPIRE" "ENTERED THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH," "THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM" "MANY OF THEIR FORMER PAGAN BELIEFS AND PRACTICES." "NOW THAT CHRISTIANITY HAS BEEN GIVEN THE STATUS" "AS A FULL LEGAL RELIGION, THEN IT BECOMES ATTRACTIVE" "SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE NEXT GENERATIONS," "FOR A BROAD NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THIS UPPER ELITE." "NOW THE PERCENTAGE OF CHRISTIANS IN THIS TOP 1 0% , 15% , 25%" "INCREASES AND IT INCREASES DRAMATICALLY IN THE TOP 1 % -2% ." "THAT'S THE REAL CHANGE." "THAT IS WHEN CHRISTIANITY" "REALLY BECOMES THE CHRISTIANITY THAT IT IS TODAY," "BECAUSE NOW THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE SHOW," "THEY ARE NOW CHRISTIAN." "OVER TIME, CHURCH LEADERS BEGAN TO EMBRACE" "THE REGAL ROBES AND FLAMBOYANT CEREMONY" "THAT WAS PART OF THE PAGAN RELIGIONS" "AND IN PLACE OF THE SIMPLE COMMANDS OF GOD," "THEY BEGAN TO TEACH SUPERSTITIONS AND MAN-MADE TRADITIONS." "NOW, INSTEAD OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH" "CONVERTING THE HEATHEN WORLD," "THE PAGANS WERE CONVERTING THE CHURCH." "THERE IS A TRAIN COMING OUT OF THE FIRST CENTURY," "REPRESENTED BY THE DOCUMENTS WE HAVE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT" "THAT DEMONSTRATE, THE SHAPE OF THE CHURCH THERE," "GOING INTO THIS LONG DARK TUNNEL" "OF THIS 2ND THROUGH 4TH CENTURIES" "AND THEN COMING OUT IN THE 4TH CENTURY," "OF THIS LONG, DARK TUNNEL," "AND THE TRAIN OF THE CHURCH THAT COMES OUT" "IS SO DIFFERENT THAN THE TRAIN OF THE CHURCH THAT GOES IN" "THAT YOU SAY, "WHAT HAPPENED?"" "IN AD 391 , BY THE ORDER OF EMPEROR THEODOSIUS THE FIRST," "CHRISTIANITY BECAME THE OFFICIAL STATE RELIGION OF ROME." "WORSHIP AT PAGAN TEMPLES WAS OUTLAWED" "AND ALL OTHER RELIGIOUS PRACTICES CEASED." "YOU'RE TRYING TO CHRISTIANIZE AN EMPIRE." "YOU'RE TRYING TO CHRISTIANIZE A PAGAN CULTURE." "THE OLD BASILICAS WERE BASICALLY PAGAN TEMPLES." "PUT A CROSS OVER IT." "PUT IN PAINTINGS OF BIBLICAL SCENES," "BIBLICAL HEROES AND SAINTS AND MARTYRS." "CHRISTIANS ARE VERY PURPOSEFUL AND INTENTIONAL" "ABOUT TAKING OVER PAGAN TEMPLES" "AND THERE'S A NOTABLE CHURCH LEADER" "WHO ACTUALLY WRITES THIS IN A TREATISE THAT SURVIVES." "HE WRITES A REBUTTAL OF PAGAN ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANITY" "AND PART OF HIS EVIDENCE IS HE SAYS," ""YOUR VERY OWN PLACES OF WORSHIP" ""ARE NOW CHRISTIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP." ""WE HAVE TAKEN THEM OVER." ""WE HAVE CLEANSED OUT THE IDOLATRY." ""WE HAVE SANCTIFIED THEM AND WE HAVE MADE THEM PLACES" ""WHERE THE ONE TRUE GOD IS WORSHIPED." ""WHAT CLEARER EVIDENCE COULD YOU WISH" ""THAT YOUR WHOLE SYSTEM OF BELIEF IS FALSE?" ""WHERE ARE YOUR GODS IF THEY'RE ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN?"" "SO CHRISTIANS, ACTUALLY," "DELIBERATELY AT TIMES AND PURPOSEFULLY, AS A STRATEGY," "TAKE PAGAN, NOT ONLY PLACES BUT RITUALS OR IDEAS" "AND, AS THEY THINK, SUBVERT THEM" "TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF SPREADING CHRISTIANITY." "WHAT WE DON'T KNOW" "IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY THINK THIS THROUGH" "AND SAY, "AT WHAT POINT IS IT LEGITIMATE TO DO THIS" "AND AT WHAT POINT" "DO WE PERHAPS BEGIN TO BE TAKING ON OTHER IDEAS?"" "THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE EARLY CHURCH" "TOBOGGANED INTO APOSTASY WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY." "AS MILLIONS OF PAGANS HASTILY JOINED THE CHURCH," "THEY WERE NATURALLY RELUCTANT" "TO DISPOSE OF THEIR IDOL TREASURES." "THE ROMANS AND THE GREEKS" "WERE SO USED TO BEING SURROUNDED BY SYMBOLS OF THEIR DEITIES," "THEY BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING WITH CHRISTIANITY." "SO MANY OF THESE NEW CONVERTS" "JUST RELABELED THEIR IDOLS WITH CHRISTIAN NAMES" "LIKE PAUL, MARY AND PETER." "A STATUE OF JUPITER BECAME A STATUE OF PETER." "AND WE KNOW THAT" "BECAUSE IT HAS A SUN DISC RIGHT OVER ITS HEAD" "THAT INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT PETER" "BUT IT'S A PAGAN STATUE THAT'S BEEN RENAMED." "INSTEAD OF ROMULUS AND REMUS," ""HEY, WHY NOT THE MARTYRS," "THE GREAT MARTYRS COSMOS AND DAMIAN, RIGHT?"" "THE REPRESENTATIONS OF ISIS," "WHICH IS ORIGINALLY AN EGYPTIAN GODDESS" "BUT HAS BECOME VERY GREEK ALREADY BECOMES, ESSENTIALLY," "THE REPRESENTATION OF MARY CARRYING HER CHILD." "YOU HAVE A MOTHER AND CHILD TRADITION" "ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH HISTORY." "YOU HAVE IT IN MITHRAISM, YOU HAVE IT IN BABYLON," "YOU HAVE IT ALL THE WAY BACK IN PERSIA." "IT APPEARS THAT MARY ACQUIRED SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS" "THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER GODDESSES." "SHE WEARS A DARK BLUE COAT AND SHE STANDS ON THE HALF MOON." "SHE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL GODS, ISIS CARRYING HER SON HORUS," "THAT IS THE IMAGE THAT GETS A NEW NAME" "AND NOW THE NAME IS MARY CARRYING THE CHILD JESUS." "OR A DEPICTION OF THE GOD HERMES," "HE IS SHOWN AS CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD." "ASCLEPIOS IS THE ICONOGRAPHIC MODEL" "FOR A LOT OF THE DEPICTIONS OF JESUS, YES." "A YOUNG VIBRANT GOD WITH CURLY HAIR" "DOWN TO ABOUT HERE AND A LITTLE BEARD." "SOON THE STATUES OF THE SAINTS AND EVEN JESUS" "BEGAN ADORNING THE CHURCHES." "EVEN THOUGH GOD CLEARLY FORBIDS THIS PRACTICE" "IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS," "PEOPLE CONTINUE TO REVERE" "AND TO PRAY TO THESE RELABELED IDOLS." ""THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE" ""OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANYTHING THAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE" ""OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH" ""OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH." "THOU SHALT NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, NOR SERVE THEM."" "RELATED TO THE LAST POINT" "IS THE VENERATION OF MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS." "WHILE IT IS TRUE MARY WAS A FAITHFUL WOMAN" "AND GREATLY HONORED TO BE HIS MOTHER," "THE SCRIPTURES TEACH NOWHERE" "THAT SHE IS TO BE DEIFIED OR WORSHIPED." "MARY HAD ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT IN ANCIENT CHRISTIAN HISTORY," "BUT OVER THE MIDDLE AGES" "SHE BECOMES ELEVATED ALMOST TO A" " LOOKING AT IT DETACHEDLY" "ALMOST TO THE RANK OF A SEMI-DEITY." "THE VIRGIN MARY WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONE" "WHO WOULD SPEAK UP FOR GUILTY HUMAN BEINGS" "TO HER SUPREMELY VIRTUOUS AND JUDGMENTAL" "AND RATHER CENSORIUS SON." "VERY STRANGE IMAGE," "BUT THAT'S HOW THE RELIGIOUS ART OF THE PERIOD SHOWS IT." "THE BIBLE DOES NOT VENERATE MARY AS A SPECIAL SAINT." "IT LIFTS HER UP AS A PURE, WONDERFUL WOMAN" "USED BY GOD TO GIVE BIRTH TO THE MESSIAH." "YET, AT THE COUNCIL OF NICEA IN 325," "THE CHURCH ELEVATED MARY TO THE STATURE OF A GODDESS" "AND CO-MEDIATOR WITH CHRIST." "EVEN AS EARLY AS THE LATE 4TH CENTURY," "CHURCHES WERE BEING DEDICATED TO THE VIRGIN MARY." "BUT SADLY, THESE WERE NOT THE ONLY ERRORS" "THAT SLIPPED IN DURING THIS TIME." "DURING THE APOSTOLIC AGE, BAPTISM WAS A SACRED CEREMONY" "RESERVED ONLY FOR THOSE OLD ENOUGH" "TO MAKE A RATIONAL DECISION FOR CHRIST." "IT WAS A PUBLIC TESTIMONY" "OF ACCEPTING CHRIST AND HIS FORGIVENESS." "BAPTISM LITERALLY REPRESENTS BEING DEAD" "AND BURIED TO OUR OLD LIFE" "AND BEING RESURRECTED, OR BORN AGAIN," "TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST." "IT COMES TO BE, IN THE COURSE OF THE CENTURIES," "SEEN MORE AS A RIGHT OF INITIATION INTO CHRISTIANITY" "AND SO IT BEGINS HAPPENING AT EARLIER STAGES OF LIFE," "WHEN YOU'RE SORT OF IN LATE CHILDHOOD" "OR EARLY ADOLESCENCE AND DEEMED READY," "TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO YOUR FAITH." "THE BAPTISM CEREMONY WAS ALSO PERFORMED IN A LAKE OR A RIVER" "WHERE A PERSON COULD BE FULLY SUBMERGED," "SIGNIFYING THEY WERE FULLY WASHED FROM THEIR SINS." "THE PRACTICE OF BAPTISM" "WAS GRADUALLY ALTERED BY THE CHURCH." "HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER CHRIST," "SPRINKLING AND POURING WERE INTRODUCED" "AS A MORE CONVENIENT MODE OF BAPTISM." "THIS ACTUALLY UNDERMINED" "THE POWERFUL SYMBOLISM OF THE SERVICE" "AND IT CONTRADICTS THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS," "WHO WAS BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION." "THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE" "UP UNTIL ABOUT THE 1 2TH CENTURY, ACTUALLY," "BECAUSE THE 1 2TH CENTURY IS A TIME" "WHEN THEOLOGIANS ARE REALLY RE-EXAMINING CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE" "AND THEY COME TO CONCLUDE THAT ORIGINAL SIN," "THE SIN THAT ALL OF HUMANITY HAS AS A RESULT OF THE FALL" "IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN," "EXISTS IN THE SOUL FROM THE MOMENT OF BIRTH." "THERE WAS THIS UNBIBLICAL CONCEPT" "THAT A CHILD COULD SIN RIGHT AWAY" "AND SO, THEREFORE, IF HE SINNED," "HE WAS IN DANGER OF GOING TO HELL" "AND BURNING FOREVER IN HELL." "THE ONLY WAY TO TAKE CARE OF HIM" "WAS TO BAPTIZE HIM" "AND HE HAD TO BE BAPTIZED INTO THE CHURCH." "IF YOU WEREN'T A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH," "IT WAS TICKETS FOR YOU." "SO THEOLOGIANS SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?" ""WE NEED TO START BAPTIZING BABIES IMMEDIATELY." ""AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THEY'RE BORN" "SO THAT IN CASE THEY DIE- "" "OF COURSE, THIS IS A PERIOD" "WHEN INFANT MORTALITY IS HIGH AND A LOT OF BABIES DO DIE" ""THEY CAN GET INTO HEAVEN."" ""THEY CAN GET INTO HEAVEN."" "ANOTHER CHRISTIAN TRUTH" "THAT WAS ALTERED BY PAGAN INFLUENCE" "WAS THE LORD'S SUPPER." "JESUS INSTITUTED THE COMMUNION SERVICE," "ALSO KNOW BY SOME AS THE EUCHARIST," "TO BE A BEAUTIFUL, YET SIMPLE CEREMONY" "WHERE HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD DRINK UNFERMENTED WINE" "AND EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD." "THESE SYMBOLS OF JESUS' SINLESS BODY AND BLOOD" "ARE DESIGNED TO HELP BELIEVERS" "REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE AND THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST." "BY FAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT RITE FOR LATE MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANS" "WAS THE EUCHARIST OR COMMUNION," "OR AS THEY MOST COMMONLY CALLED IT, THE MASS." "MEN AND WOMEN ALL COME TOGETHER" "AND TAKE THE SACRAMENT." "THEY CELEBRATE WHAT WE WOULD CALL COMMUNION," "TAKING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST." "BUT AGAIN, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HEATHEN RITUALS," "THE HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE" "WAS GRADUALLY CHANGED BY CHURCH LEADERS" "INTO A MYSTICAL CEREMONY." "IN THIS NEW RITUAL, FERMENTED WINE WAS USED AND THE PRIEST," "ALLEGEDLY HAD THE POWER TO TRANSFORM" "THE BREAD AND THE WINE" "INTO THE ACTUAL BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST." "THIS IS TRANSUBSTANTIATION," "THE NOTION THAT A PRIEST TRANSFORMS THE EUCHARIST" "INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST" "THROUGH THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE FORMULA" ""HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM":" ""THIS IS MY BODY."" "THEY WERE POWERFUL WORDS" "BELIEVED TO HAVE THE PROPERTY THAT WHEN THEY WERE UTTERED" "GOD TRANSFORMED THE NATURE OF THE BREAD AND THE WINE" "INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF A RISEN JESUS CHRIST." "EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE LATER ON THEY SAY," ""WE ARE CREATING GOD"" "BY SPEAKING THE WORDS OF MYSTAGOGIA." "ESSENTIALLY, WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ALTAR" "WAS THAT BREAD BECAME BODY, WINE BECAME BLOOD," "BUT THEY JUST STILL LOOKED LIKE BREAD AND WINE." "THIS OFFERING OF THE SACRIFICE IN THE EUCHARIST," "THIS SACRIFICE OF PRAISE, THIS COMMUNAL MEAL" "NOW BECOMES NOT A REMEMBRANCE OF THE SACRIFICE" "BUT A SACRIFICE IN AND OF ITSELF AND IS GIVING SALVATION." "THEY BELIEVED AND THEY TAUGHT THAT IN THE MASS" "JESUS CHRIST, IN THE PERSON OF THE PRIEST," "SACRIFICES CHRIST TO GOD THE FATHER" "AND, THEREBY WINS GOOD, WINS QUANTUM OF HOLINESS," "WHICH THE CHURCH CAN THEN ASSIGN" "TO THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT MASS." "BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BY CELEBRATING A MASS" "YOU WERE DOING SOMETHING GOOD WHICH WAS OFFERED UP TO GOD," "THERE WAS A THEOLOGICAL RATIONALE" "FOR DOING IT LOTS AND LOTS OF TIMES." "BY 1 415 AD, AT THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE," "CHURCH LEADERS FURTHER DECREED" "THAT ONLY THE PRIESTS COULD DRINK THE WINE" "AND THE LAITY WOULD ONLY RECEIVE THE BREAD;" "YET THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS" "THAT WHEN JESUS ESTABLISHED THE COMMUNION SERVICE" "THEY ALL DRANK FROM IT." "ABOUT 300 YEARS AFTER CHRIST THE CHURCH BEGAN TO DEVIATE" "ABOUT 300 YEARS AFTER CHRIST THE CHURCH BEGAN TO DEVIATE" "FROM ANOTHER OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS;" "SPECIFICALLY THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT" "THAT REQUIRES BELIEVERS" "TO REMEMBER THE 7TH DAY AS THE SABBATH." ""REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY." ""SIX DAYS YOU SHALL LABOR AND DO ALL YOUR WORK" ""BUT THE SEVENTH DAY" "IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD."" "IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE JEWS ARE AN OLD RELIGION" "AND OLD RELIGIONS ARE RESPECTED." "WHEN THE JEWS KEPT FIGHTING AGAINST ROME" "WHAT HAD BEEN AN UMBRELLA OF SAFETY UNDER JUDAISM" "BECOMES A LIGHTNING ROD TO CHRISTIANITY" "THE CHRISTIANS BECOME ALIENATED FROM THE JEWS" "JEWS PERSECUTED THEM" "AND SO THEY TRIED TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE JEWS." "CHURCH LEADERS BEGAN TO DEVALUE" "THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" "IN PREFERENCE FOR THE MORE POPULAR ROMAN SUNDAY." "SOME CHRISTIANS MISTAKENLY THOUGHT" "THAT YOU SHOULD FAST ON THE SABBATH" "BUT YOU COULD FEAST ON SUNDAY." "THAT'S WHAT THE PAGANS DID," "THEY FEASTED ON SUNDAY, FASTED ON SATURDAY." "NOT A JEWISH CONCEPT," "THE JEWS FASTED FRIDAY AND FEASTED SABBATH," "BUT THAT'S HOW SOME CHRISTIANS THOUGHT OF IT." "SO IF YOU'RE FASTING ON ONE DAY AND YOU'RE FEASTING ON THE NEXT," "YOU CAN GUESS WHICH DAY BECOMES THE MORE POPULAR DAY." "AND CHRIST IS RESURRECTED ON A SUNDAY" "THERE'S A VERY NATURAL TENDENC Y, THEREFORE," "TO MARK THAT AND CELEBRATE THAT." "THERE'S A THIRD REASON" "AND THAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF SUN WORSHIP" "THAT CREEPS INTO THE CHURCH" "AND WHEN SUN WORSHIP BEGINS TO CREEP INTO THE CHURCH," "CONSTANTINE CAN MAKE USE OF THAT" "TO LEAD TO THE EXALTATION OF SUNDAY," "THE DAY OF THE SUN," "AS BEING THE DAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD WORSHIP ON." "THIS GRADUAL DEPARTURE" "FROM GOD'S LAW OVER THE CENTURIES" "HAS BECOME SO WIDELY ACCEPTED" "THAT MOST ARE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT SUNDAY KEEPING" "HAS NO FOUNDATION IN THE BIBLE." "IN AD 313 CONSTANTINE PUBLISHED THE EDICT OF MILAN," "ESTABLISHING SUNDAY AS A DAY OF REST." "THE EMPEROR'S SUNDAY LAW" "HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANITY," "IT WAS ACTUALLY TO HONOR THE MAIN GRECO-ROMAN SUN GOD" "CALLED HELIOS, OR APOLLO." "THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE BECAME A CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY" "AND ALSO, BECAUSE HE REMAINED PARTIAL TO THE SUN GOD," "THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE" "MOVED THE DAY OF WORSHIP FROM SATURDAY THE SABBATH," "AS HAD BEEN TRADITIONAL IN JUDAISM, OBVIOUSLY," "TO SUNDAY, THE DAY OF THE SUN GOD." "AND EVER SINCE CHRISTIAN FOLKS, AT LEAST FOR THE MOST PART," "OVERWHELMINGLY HAVE HELD THEIR DAY OF WORSHIP ON SUNDAY" "RATHER THAN SATURDAY." "THIS IS CLEAR FROM ANOTHER EDICT OF CONSTANTINE," "GIVEN IN AD 321 , WHEN THE EMPEROR ORDERED:" ""ON THE VENERABLE DAY OF THE SUN" ""LET THE MAGISTRATES AND PEOPLE RESIDING IN CITIES REST," "AND LET ALL WORKSHOPS BE CLOSED."" "NOTICE, THE EDICT USES THE WORD "SUN," S-U-N." "IT'S ALSO RECORDED THAT CONSTANTINE THE GREAT" "MADE A LAW FOR THE WHOLE EMPIRE" "THAT SUNDAY SHOULD BE KEPT AS A DAY OF REST." "OBVIOUSLY, THIS CHANGE DID NOT INFILTRATE THE CHURCH OVERNIGHT." "HISTORY TELLS US THAT FOR DECADES THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH," "TOGETHER WITH SUNDAY, WERE BOTH OBSERVED AS HOLY DAYS." "THE VERY, VERY EARLY CHURCH" "CLEARLY IS STILL WORSHIPING ON THE JEWISH SATURDAY" "IN THE TIMES OF THE APOSTLES," "BUT BY THE MID TO LATE 3RD CENTURY," "THAT HAS LARGELY BEEN ABANDONED" "OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ABANDONED." "BY THE EARLY FOURTH CENTURY, IN MANY PARTS OF THE ROMAN WORLD," "CHRISTIANS ARE GENERALLY WORSHIPING ON SUNDAY." "A LOT OF CHRISTIANS, DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME," "WOULD OBSERVE THE SABBATH" "AND THEN ON SUNDAY THEY WOULD HAVE A SERVICE" "REMEMBERING THE RESURRECTION" "AND THEN THEY'D GO ABOUT THEIR REGULAR WORK." "IT'S DURING THE TIME OF CONSTANTINE" "IN WHICH THE IDEA OF TRANSFERRING THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SABBATH" "TO SUNDAY IS FIRST EXPRESSED." "CENTURIES EARLIER THE PROPHET DANIEL" "HAD FORETOLD A RELIGIOUS POWER WOULD ARISE" "THAT WOULD THINK TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS." "WITHIN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THERE'S ONLY ONE LAW" "THAT IS ALSO A TIME:" "THE SABBATH." "THE DOCTRINE OF HELLFIRE" "WAS ALSO DISTORTED BY PAGAN MYTHOLOGY." "IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION" "THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT FOLLOWING THE GREAT JUDGMENT DAY" "THE LOST WILL BE CAST INTO A LAKE OF FIRE." "AT THAT TIME, EACH PERSON IS PUNISHED" "ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY DESERVE" "AND THEN THEY'RE TOTALLY CONSUMED AND ETERNALLY PERISH." ""AND DO NOT FEAR THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY" ""BUT CANNOT KILL THE SOUL," ""BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DESTROY" "BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL."" ""FOR THE LIVING KNOW THAT THEY WILL DIE," "BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING."" "THE PRIESTS BEGAN TO TEACH THAT HELL" "WAS A PLACE OF ETERNAL TORMENT RULED BY THE DEVIL" "AND IT BEGAN AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH." "THE FALLEN CHURCH WAS ABLE TO USE" "THIS FRIGHTFUL CONCEPT OF NEVER-ENDING TORTURE" "TO TERRORIZE AND MANIPULATE BOTH THE KING AND THE COMMONER." "MOST TRAGIC OF ALL, THIS FALSE TEACHING" "PORTRAYS JESUS AS SOME SORT OF SADISTIC FIEND." "IT'S ENCOURAGED SOME ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS" "TO CHALLENGE CHRISTIANITY" "AND CHRISTIANITY'S IDEA OF A LOVING GOD" "IF HE DOES SOMETHING" "THAT IS WORSE THAN EVEN WHAT HITLER DID." "NO MATTER WHAT SOMEBODY HAS DONE," "IS BILLIONS OF YEARS OF TORTURE," "FITTING THE CRIME?" "SO THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HATED GOD" "AND HAVE LEARNED TO HATE GOD BECAUSE OF THIS." "ANOTHER PAGAN CONCEPT THAT INFILTRATED CHRISTIAN THINKING" "WAS REGARDING THE AFTERLIFE." "PURGATORY IS THE IDEA THAT TEACHES THAT AT DEATH" "SOME PEOPLE WILL ENTER A TEMPORARY HELLFIRE" "WHERE THEY'RE PURIFIED FOR HEAVEN." "PURGATORY'S A HALFWAY HOUSE," "HALFWAY, KIND OF, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL." "AND THE THING WITH PURGATORY IS YOU CAN ESCAPE FROM IT." "AS THE MASS SAYS, "CONSIGNED TO FLAMES OF WOE,"" "IT'S FILLED WITH VERMIN, IT'S FILLED WITH SULPHURIC SMELLS," "IT MAY BE QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN HELL," "BUT IT'S NO PICNIC EITHER." "THE CHURCH DEVELOPS GRADUALLY" "AND, AGAIN, IT GROWS ON THE CHURCH BY SLOW DEGREES," "THE IDEA THAT ANYONE WHO DIES" "WITH THEIR WORKS OF SATISFACTION INCOMPLETE" "WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY THEM OFF" "IN SOME PLACE OF POST-MORTEM SUFFERING." "THEY ARE SUFFERING IN ORDER TO BE PURIFIED," "PURGED FROM THEIR SINS AND OFFENSES" "WHICH THEY'VE COMMITTED IN LIFE." "MEDIEVAL PEOPLE BELIEVED" "ALMOST EVERYONE WILL BE SAVED AND REDEEMED," "WHO IS A BAPTIZED MEMBER OF THE CHURCH." "BUT ALMOST EVERYONE WILL ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SATISFACTION" "FOR THE SINS THAT THEY'VE COMMITTED" "AND THAT THEY HAVEN'T CONFESSED" "BY SPENDING SOME TIME IN PURGATORY." "SO THE REAL TASK THEN" "IS TO REDUCE THE TIME IN PURGATORY." "MANY PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND PURGATORY AND HELL." "THERE'S AN IDEA YOU CAN GET OUT OF HELL;" "YOU CAN'T." "IF YOU GO TO HELL THAT'S IT." "THERE'S NO RELEASE." "YOU'RE VERY, VERY WICKED AND YOU'RE JUST DOOMED." "BUT MOST PEOPLE," "WE HAVE A LOT OF BAD THINGS IN US" "SO HOW CAN WE BE MADE GOOD FOR HEAVEN?" "WE HAVE TO HAVE IT PURGED OUT OF US" "AND THUS YOU GET THE WORD 'PURGATORY'." "THEREFORE, MOST CHRISTIANS BELIEVE" "THAT THEIR RELATIVES ARE SUFFERING IN PURGATORY" "AND PURGATORY IS NOT A NICE PLACE." "YOU'RE THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS." "THE IDEA OF PURGATORY" "DATES BACK CENTURIES BEFORE JESUS' TIME." "WRITINGS FROM PLATO, AS EARLY AS 400 BC," "HELP SHED LIGHT ON WHERE THIS CONCEPT" "OF PURIFICATION AND PUNISHMENT CAME FROM." "HOWEVER, PURGATORY DIDN'T BECOME REGARDED" "AS AN ACTUAL PLACE UNTIL CENTURIES LATER." "BETWEEN 1 1 60 AND 1 180 AD," "THEOLOGIANS DEVELOPED THE DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY" "LEADING TO THE FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF IT" "AT THE SECOND COUNCIL OF LYONS IN 1 27 4." "THE CHURCH THEN OFFERS TO SUPPORT THE DEAD IN PURGATORY" "BY ITS PRAYERS AND BY ATTRIBUTING TO PEOPLE" "THE BENEFITS OF THE SACRAMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNION." "THIS IS ALL PERFECTLY ORTHODOX." "THE CHURCH BELIEVED THAT THIS IS DOING GOOD" "AND LAYPEOPLE SEEMED TO BE WILLING" "TO PUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO IT" "AND YOU HAVE" "AN EXTRAORDINARY PROLIFERATION OF INSTITUTIONS" "FOUNDED PRINCIPALLY FOR PRIESTS" "TO SAY MASSES FOR THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED," "PARTICULARLY IN THE 1 4TH AND 15TH CENTURIES." "THIS DOCTRINE WAS FABRICATED" "TO MANIPULATE THE MASSES FOR FINANCIAL GAIN." "PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO PAY HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY" "TO RELEASE A LOVED ONE" "FROM THE TORTURES OF PURGATORY." "OF COURSE, BELIEVERS COULD NEVER REALLY BE SURE" "WHEN SOMEONE LEFT PURGATORY," "SO THE MONEY KEPT FLOWING" "INTO THE POCKETS OF CORRUPT PRIESTS." "THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH" "WOULD HAVE PEOPLE GOING OUT TO RAISE MONEY" "AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR MONEY TO THE CHURCH," "BUY PEOPLE OUT OF PURGATORY," "SO THEY COULD FUND THESE ELABORATE BUILDINGS." "THIS BELIEF IN PURGATORY" "IS ALSO BUILT ON THE DANGEROUS CONCEPT" "THAT THE WORKS AND THE PRAYERS OF THE LIVING" "CAN SOMEHOW ALTER THE DESTINY OF THE DEAD," "YET JESUS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THERE IS NO LIMBO OR PURGATORY." "AFTER DEATH, A PERSON'S NEXT CONSCIOUS THOUGHT" "WAS THE RESURRECTION AND THEIR ETERNAL REWARD." ""DO NOT MARVEL AT THIS;" "FOR THE HOUR IS COMING" ""IN WHICH ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVES" ""WILL HEAR HIS VOICE AND COME FORTH;" ""THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE," ""AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL" "TO THE RESURRECTION OF CONDEMNATION."" "CENTRAL IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE" "CENTRAL IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE" "IS THE TEACHING OF HOW WE OBTAIN FORGIVENESS." "THIS WAS ANOTHER MAJOR BIBLE TRUTH" "THAT SUFFERED DURING THIS AGE OF COMPROMISE." "IT WAS TAUGHT THAT IF A PERSON WISHED TO BE FORGIVEN," "HE OR SHE MUST FIRST CONFESS THEIR SINS THROUGH A PRIEST," "THROUGH A RITE CALLED THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE," "MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS "CONFESSION."" "SO IN ORDER TO MAKE UP FOR OUR INSUFFICIENT GOODNESS" "AND OUR ACTUAL WRONG ACTIONS," "WE MUST ALL- LAYPEOPLE AS WELL AS CLERGY" "WE MUST ALL CONFESS OUR SINS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR," "AND PREFERABLY MORE OFTEN THAN THAT, TO A PRIEST." "THIS WAS A NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENT ON SEVERAL COUNTS." "FIRST OF ALL, IT'S TAUGHT NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE." "SECONDLY, IT PUTS A MORTAL MAN IN THE PLACE OF CHRIST" "AND IT MADE GOD SEEM DETACHED FROM THE AVERAGE PERSON." "OF COURSE, AT THE TIME, IT ALSO PLACED THE PRIEST" "IN AN AWKWARD POSITION" "TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE WICKED DEEDS" "OF HIS PARISHIONERS." "WHEN ONE GOES TO A PRIEST IN THE MIDDLE AGES," "THERE ARE REALLY THREE THINGS THAT ARE ACCOMPLISHED" "THROUGH CONFESSING ONE'S SIN." "FIRST OF ALL, YOU MAKE THE CONFESSION," "THE PRIEST GRANTS THE WORDS OF ASSURANCE" "THAT THE SIN IS ABSOLVED" " IT'S GONE" "BUT A PERSON, BECAUSE THEY HAVE VIOLATED" "THE LAWS OF THE CHURCH AND THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST," "HAS TO PERFORM A WORK OF SATISFACTION" "IN ORDER TO MAKE UP" "FOR THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE SINNED." "THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT MANKIND IS HELPLESS TO SAVE HIMSELF." "THIS IS WHY JESUS CAME TO THIS WORLD." "THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT SALVATION DEPENDS ENTIRELY" "UPON OUR TRUST IN GOD FOR MERC Y AND GRACE," "THAT WE DON'T DESERVE IT;" "IT'S A MAGNIFICENT GIFT" "THAT CAN NEVER BE EARNED BY OUR EFFORTS OR GOOD WORKS." "EVEN OBEDIENCE COMES THROUGH A GIFT OF GRACE." "THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCTRINE OF SALVATION BY FAITH" "IS WIDELY TAUGHT AND UNDERSTOOD TODAY," "BUT DURING THE DARKNESS OF THE MIDDLE AGES" "IT WAS EASIER TO CONVINCE THE ILLITERATE MASSES" "THAT THEY NEEDED TO PERFORM GOOD DEEDS" "IN ORDER TO EARN GOD'S FAVOR." "THE PEOPLE WERE TAUGHT THAT IF A SINNER" "WAS TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF APPEASING GOD," "HE OR SHE WOULD NEED TO PAY HUGE SUMS OF MONEY," "PERFORM PAINFUL ACTS OF PENANCE," "OR MAKE SOME WEARY PILGRIMAGE." "THIS WOULD OFTEN INCLUDE" "AN ASSIGNMENT TO RECITE CERTAIN PRAYERS OVER AND OVER" "AS A REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS." "FORTY "HAIL MARYS" AND TEN "OUR FATHERS"" "AND PUTTING A COIN IN THE COLLECTION BOX." "IN THE HEATHEN RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD" "THE IDEA OF REPETITIVE PRAYERS OR CHANTS" "WAS NOTHING NEW." "IT WAS BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD APPEASE OR INFLUENCE THE GODS" "BY CONSTANT ECHOING OF PRAYERS" "OR BY USING SPECIAL MAGICAL WORDS." "JESUS CLEARLY WARNED AGAINST THIS FORM OF PRAYER." ""AND WHEN YOU PRAY," ""DO NOT USE VAIN REPETITIONS AS THE HEATHEN DO." ""FOR THEY THINK" "THAT THEY WILL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MANY WORDS."" "CORRUPT CHURCH LEADERS KNEW," "CORRUPT CHURCH LEADERS KNEW," "IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ANY LASTING POWER OVER GOD'S PEOPLE," "THEY WOULD NEED TO SEPARATE THEM" "FROM THE ONE THING" "THAT THEY KNEW COULD EXPOSE THESE DECEPTIONS:" "THE HOLY SCRIPTURES." "THE BIBLE WAS NOT INITIALLY WITHHELD FROM THE PEOPLE," "IT WAS ACCESSIBLE." "BUT, IN TIME, WHEN PEOPLE SAW DIFFERENCES," "THEY CHALLENGED THE CLERGY." "AND SO IT WAS IN THEIR INTEREST, OVER TIME," "NOT TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE BIBLE TO THE PEOPLE." "ONLY THE PRIESTS CAN INTERPRET SCRIPTURE" "BECAUSE THEY COMBINED SCRIPTURE WITH TRADITION" "AND SO TRADITION INTERPRETED SCRIPTURE" "AND THE ONLY ONES" "WHO UNDERSTOOD THIS LONG TRADITION WERE THE PRIESTS" "AND THEY COULD READ THE SCRIPTURES" "MANY OF THE COMMON PEOPLE COULDN'T EVEN READ THE SCRIPTURES" "AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY INTERPRETED SCRIPTURE" "IN A WAY THAT WOULD HARMONIZE WITH TRADITION." "SO FROM THE 5TH CENTURY TO THE 15TH CENTURY, 1 ,000 YEARS OF HISTORY," "IT WAS TAUGHT AND ACCEPTED THAT ONLY RELIGIOUS LEADERS" "WERE QUALIFIED ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THE SACRED TEXTS." "THE COMMON MAN WAS TOLD" "HE COULD NEVER HOPE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES" "WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A PRIEST." "WITH THIS LETHAL DECEPTION," "THE CHURCH LAITY WAS KEPT IN DARKNESS." "MEANWHILE, THE VISIBLE CHURCH," "ONCE A BIBLICAL BASTION OF TRUTH," "HAD DEGRADED INTO A CORRUPT POLITICAL ORGANIZATION" "TRIMMED WITH SPIRITUALISTIC CEREMONIES." "IT'S NO WONDER THAT THIS TIME PERIOD" "OF CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL DETERIORATION" "IS KNOWN AS "THE DARK AGES."" "IT'S TRAGIC HOW, IN JUST A FEW SHORT CENTURIES," "THE WONDERFUL LIGHT THAT HAD BEEN BLAZING" "FROM THE LUMINOUS BRIDE OF CHRIST" "HAD BEEN ECLIPSED BY PAGAN TRADITIONS." "NOW A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF WOMAN" "EMERGED TO TAKE HER PLACE." ""AND I SAW A WOMAN SITTING ON A SCARLET BEAST," ""WHICH WAS FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY," ""HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS." ""THE WOMAN WAS ARRAYED IN PURPLE AND SCARLET" ""AND ADORNED WITH GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES AND PEARLS," ""HAVING IN HER HAND A GOLDEN CUP FULL OF ABOMINATIONS" ""AND THE FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION." ""AND ON HER FOREHEAD A NAME WAS WRITTEN," ""'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS" ""AND THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.'" ""I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS" ""AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS." "AND WHEN I SAW HER I MARVELED WITH GREAT AMAZEMENT."" "IN REVELATION CHAPTER 1 7, JOHN SEES A WOMAN" "WHO HE DESCRIBES AS STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT" "FROM THE PURE WOMAN OF REVELATION 1 2." "WHO IS THIS NEW BLOODTHIRSTY HARLOT" "AND WHAT ABOUT THE BIZARRE BEAST THAT SHE'S RIDING?" "IF YOU'RE NOT SITTING DOWN, THIS MIGHT BE THE TIME TO DO SO." "YOU MAY FIND WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR A BIT SHOCKING." "THERE'S ONLY ONE EMPIRE, ONE CHURCH," "ONE INSTITUTION THAT MATCHES THE CRITERIA IN THIS PROPHEC Y:" "THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH." "THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WITHIN THIS FAITH" "ARE BAD, INSINCERE, OR LOST." "THE CATHOLIC PEOPLE ARE AMONG THE MOST KIND" "AND HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF GOOD" "THROUGHOUT HISTORY." "THIS IS REALLY ABOUT A BIGGER STRUGGLE" "BETWEEN SPIRITUAL POWERS AND INSTITUTIONS" "BATTLING OVER THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE." "BUT NOW WE NEED TO PULL BACK THE VEIL" "AND REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE FACTS." "IN REVELATION 1 7:1 ," "WE OBSERVE THIS HARLOT WOMAN SITS ON "MANY WATERS."" "FORTUNATELY THE ANGEL EXPLAINS" "THE MEANING OF THIS SYMBOL FOR US IN VERSE 15." ""THEN HE SAID TO ME," ""'THE WATERS WHICH YOU SAW, WHERE THE HARLOT SITS," "ARE PEOPLES, MULTITUDES, NATIONS, AND TONGUES."'" "SO THE WOMAN REIGNS" "OVER A DENSELY POPULATED CIVILIZATION." "YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THE EXPRESSION" ""ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME."" "DURING THE ZENITH OF THEIR RULE," "THE ROMANS HAD BUILT A NETWORK WITH 50,000 MILES OF ROADS" "CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EMPIRE." "JUST AS IMPERIAL ROME BEGAN TO UNRAVEL," "THE CHURCH IN ROME WAS GAINING IN STRENGTH." "IN EFFECT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH" "KIND OF RUSHES IN TO FILL THE POWER VACUUM" "THAT IS LEFT BY THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE." "AND YOU GET INTO SITUATIONS WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE," "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 5TH CENTURY, WHEN ATTILA THE HUN" "IS ADVANCING ON THE CITY OF ROME WITH HIS ARMY," "THE EMPEROR IS NOT THE ONE WHO GOES OUT TO STOP HIM," "THE POPE IS, THE BISHOP OF ROME." "THIS KIND OF PROMINENCE," "POLITICAL PROMINENCE AS WELL AS RELIGIOUS PROMINENCE," "COMES TO REALLY DEFINE THE POPE'S ROLE." "THE PROPHEC Y ALSO INDICATES" "THAT THE WOMAN IS RIDING A BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS." "OBVIOUSLY THESE THINGS ARE SYMBOLS." "THIS CREATURE HERE CLEARLY REPRESENTS THE SAME MONSTER" "WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS THAT WE JUST SAW" "WARRING WITH THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IN CHAPTER 1 2" "AND IT'S THE SAME BEAST" "THAT THE WORLD IS COMPELLED TO WORSHIP IN CHAPTER 13." "SO WHAT DO THESE SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS REPRESENT?" ""THE SEVEN HEADS ARE SEVEN MOUNTAINS" "ON WHICH THE WOMAN SITS."" ""THE TEN HORNS WHICH YOU SAW ARE TEN KINGS..."" "THERE IS ONLY ONE CITY IN THE WORLD" "THAT SITS ON SEVEN HILLS LIKE THIS," "ONE MAJOR CITY, AND THAT'S THE CITY OF ROME." "SO THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MOST EXPOSITOR'S MINDS" "THAT WHEN JOHN IS TALKING ABOUT THIS WOMAN," "HE IS TALKING ABOUT ROME." "SO YOU SEE THE CONNECTION HERE, SEVEN HEADS, SEVEN MOUNTAINS." "YOU GO IN REVELATION 1 2:" "SEVEN HEADS." "REVELATION 13 DEALS WITH SEVEN HEADS." "THERE IS A CONTINUITY HERE." ""IT IS WITHIN THE CITY OF ROME, CALLED THE CITY OF SEVEN HILLS," ""THAT THE ENTIRE AREA OF VATICAN STATE PROPER" "IS NOW CONFINED."" "THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH" "THAT IS ALSO AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY" "AND HAS POLITICAL WORLD POWER:" "THE VATICAN." "THIS COUNTRY, WITH THE WORLD'S SMALLEST POPULATION," "WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE" "WITH 1 09 ACRES WITHIN ROME." "BEHIND THE WALLS OF VATICAN CITY" "THERE ARE LESS THAN 1 ,000 PEOPLE" "LIVING WITHIN THIS SMALL COUNTRY THAT IS GOVERNED BY THE POPE" "WHO HAS ABSOLUTE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL POWERS." "AMBASSADORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD" "MEET WITH THE POPE AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES" "SEEKING THE INFLUENCE AND GUIDANCE" "OF THIS INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS POWER." "EVEN THE UNITED NATIONS" "WILL ASSEMBLE TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE POPE." "WHEN THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE FELL," "THEIR TERRITORY FRAGMENTED INTO TEN PRIMARY DIVISIONS." "THE TEN HORNS REPRESENT THE TEN KINGS OR KINGDOMS" "INTO WHICH IMPERIAL ROME WAS EVENTUALLY SPLIT." "THE TEN HORNS ARE A DESCRIPTION OF ROME" "WHICH BREAKS UP INTO TEN SMALLER KINGDOMS." "THROUGHOUT HISTORY" "CATHOLICISM HAS BEEN DOMINATING MANY KINGDOMS." "SO YOU HAVE THE CHURCH RIDING ON A POLITICAL POWER." "YOU SEE, BECAUSE THE WOMAN RIDES THE BEAST" "AND SO FOR MANY CENTURIES SHE WAS IN CONTROL." "YOU HAVE A UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE." "THE NAMES OF BLASPHEMY" "IS ANOTHER KEY ELEMENT TO THIS PROPHEC Y" "THAT POINTS DIRECTLY AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH." ""WE HOLD UPON THIS EARTH THE PLACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY."" "THIS PUTS A MORTAL MAN IN THE POSITION OF GOD" "AND IS ULTIMATELY THE VERY DEFINITION OF BLASPHEMY." "THIS IS NOT MEANT TO QUESTION THE SINCERITY" "OF ANY SPECIFIC POPE," "BUT THE PROPHEC Y IS ADDRESSING THE OFFICE THAT HE HOLDS" "AND THE INSTITUTION HE REPRESENTS." "THE WOMAN IS ALSO CLOTHED IN UNIQUE COLORS." "SHE HAS SPECIFIC COLORS THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE," "NOT THE COLOR OF WHITE ANYMORE," "BUT NOW WE HAVE COLORS THAT REPRESENT," "STRANGELY ENOUGH, TWO THINGS:" "ROYALTY AND PROSTITUTION." "AND SPECIFIC COLORS THAT WE HAPPEN TO SEE" "COMING OUT IN THE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH LATER ON" "IN THE COLORS OF THE PRIESTS" "OF THE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH." "NOT ONLY WERE THESE THE PRINCIPLE COLORS" "OF THE ROMAN CAESARS," "BUT ACCORDING TO THE CATHOLIC ENC YCLOPEDIA," "PURPLE IS THE OFFICIAL COLOR OF BISHOPS" "AND SCARLET FOR CARDINALS." "IN ADDITION TO THE SCARLET AND THE PURPLE," "WE SEE THAT THIS HARLOT, OR CORRUPT CHURCH," "POSSESSES VAST MINERAL RICHES." "WHEN ONE CONSIDERS ITS COUNTLESS ARTISTIC TREASURES OF GOLD," "SILVER AND PEARLS, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH" "IS BY FAR THE WEALTHIEST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION ON EARTH." "EVERY YEAR TOURISTS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD" "TO VIEW THE GLITTERING OPULENCE OF THE ROMAN CHURCH." "ANOTHER DISTURBING MARK OF THIS WOMAN" "IS FOUND IN VERSE 6." ""I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS" "AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS."" "HISTORY REVEALS THAT THE ROMAN CHURCH" "WAS THE WORST OPPRESSOR OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS" "OVER THE CENTURIES." "IN FACT, HISTORIANS TELL US OVER 50 MILLION MARTYRS" "FELL VICTIM TO THE TERRIBLE INQUISITIONS AND PERSECUTIONS" "OF THE CHURCH OF ROME." "SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE" "IS A PROPHEC Y SAYING THAT THE CHURCH" "WOULD ENGAGE IN INCREDIBLE PERSECUTION" "AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT TOOK PLACE." "AND THE CHURCH STARTED A LEGAL PROCESS, A LEGAL SYSTEM," "KNOWN AS 'INQUISITION' TO INTERROGATE THESE PEOPLE," "TO FORCE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE TO RECANT" "AND TO RETRACT THEIR IDEAS" "AND TO GRAB HOLD OF THE LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT" "AND TO STOP THEM SPREADING ANY FURTHER." "THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS EVER RECORDED" "OCCURRED WHEN THE CHURCH" "PERSECUTED THOSE WHO DISAGREED WITH THEM" "AND THAT LEVEL OF REPRESSION" "CONTINUES THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES." "SO THIS WOMAN, OR CHURCH, IS A PERSECUTING POWER" "THAT OPPRESSES CHRIST'S TRUE FOLLOWERS." "THAT OPPRESSES CHRIST'S TRUE FOLLOWERS." "WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SEVERAL BRAVE SOULS" "THAT RISKED THEIR LIVES" "TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE CORROSIVE PAGAN INFLUENCES" "AND TO SHARE GOD'S WORD" "DURING THIS TIME OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS." ""THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS" ""HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT:" ""THOSE WHO DWELT IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH," "UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS SHINED."" "LIVING IN LYONS, FRANCE, THERE WAS ONE YOUNG MAN" "WHO WOULD ALTER THE COURSE OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY." "PETER WALDO, ALSO KNOWN AS VALDES," "A VERY WEALTHY AND EDUCATED YOUNG MERCHANT" "HAD A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE." "A YOUNG FRIEND OF WALDO'S DIED SUDDENLY." "REALIZING THE BREVITY OF LIFE" "AND THE VANITY OF WORLDLY TREASURE," "WALDO MADE A FIRM DECISION TO FORSAKE ALL FOR CHRIST." "HE GAVE HIS WEALTH TO THE POOR" "AND BECAME AN ITINERANT PREACHER." "WALDO TAUGHT THAT THE BIBLE SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD LITERALLY" "AND FREELY PROCLAIMED TO THE PEOPLE" "IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE." "HE ENCOURAGED BELIEVERS" "TO LIVE LIVES OF SIMPLICITY AND POVERTY" "AND AT THE SAME TIME," "HE BOLDLY DENOUNCED THE EXCESSES OF THE PRIESTS." "BY AD 1 1 70 PETER WALDO" "HAD GATHERED A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS" "WHO WERE REFERRED TO" "AS 'THE POOR OF LYONS' OR WALDENSIANS." "PETER WALDO, BY CONVENTIONAL SCHOLARSHIP," "IS THE FOUNDER OF THE WALDENSES," "A GROUP OF BIBLE-BELIEVING INDIVIDUALS" "LIVING IN FRANCE AND ITALY." "HE WAS A CATHOLIC LAYMAN WHO BECAME INSPIRED" "BY THE PREACHING REGARDING THE EARLY CHURCH" "AND HE STARTED A GROUP OF TRAVELING PREACHERS" "WHO WOULD TEACH THE GOSPEL." "HE SPOKE AGAINST TRANSUBSTANTIATION AND THE MASS," "ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME WALDENSES WHO SEEM TO GO TO MASS" "AND THEN DO THEIR OWN WORSHIPS AS WELL." "ONCE OFFICIALLY-TRAINED INQUISITORS ARE OUT IN EUROPE," "THEY START FINDING PEOPLE WHOM THEY START CALLING 'WALDENSES'" "OR FOLLOWERS OF VALDES ALL OVER THE PLACE." "SO SPRINKLED ACROSS EUROPE" "YOU GET THESE LITTLE CELLS OF COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE" "WHERE LAYPEOPLE ARE MOSTLY," "LET'S BE HONEST, THEY'RE MOSTLY GOING TO CATHOLIC CHURCHES" "MOST OF THE YEAR." "BUT ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, MAYBE EVERY YEAR OR 2," "THEY WILL HAVE A TRAVELING TEAM OF WALDENSIAN PASTORS" "WHO WILL ARRIVE AND TALK TO THEM." "EVERYWHERE HE WENT" "PETER WALDO SAW PEOPLE HUNGERING FOR TRUTH." "HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND" "FOR THE WORD OF GOD, SO WALDO PAID A CLERIC" "TO ASSIST HIM IN TRANSLATING THE NEW TESTAMENT" "INTO THE FRANCO VERNACULAR." "THE STORY IS THAT VALDES COMMISSIONED TWO LEARNED," "RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IN LYONS" "TO PREPARE A TRANSLATION OF PART OF THE BIBLE" "AND SOME SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS" "INTO THE VERNACULAR LANGUAGE." "SOMETHING BETWEEN FRENCH AND PROVENCAL" "IT'S REALLY KIND OF HARD TO DESCRIBE" "BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE ESTABLISHED A TRADITION" "THAT THE WALDENSIAN COMMUNITIES" "WOULD TRY TO ACQUIRE COPIES OF SCRIPTURE" "IN THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE." "AND THEY WOULD CARRY SCRIPTURES AROUND WITH THEM." "THEY WOULD ACT AS MERCHANTS AND TRADERS," "SHARE THE SCRIPTURES WITH THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY WENT." "THERE'S EVEN REFERENCES TO THEM SENDING THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE" "TO THE GREAT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF THE LAND" "SO THEY COULD SHARE THEIR FAITH THERE" "AND ALSO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGY" "AND USE IT TO REACH OUT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY." "BUT THE ROMAN CHURCH COULD NOT LONG TOLERATE" "THIS FREE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL BY PEASANTS." "DURING THE THIRD LATERAN COUNCIL IN 1 1 79," "WALDO'S IDEAS WERE OFFICIALLY CONDEMNED AS HERESY" "AND SOON AFTER," "HE AND HIS FOLLOWERS WERE EXCOMMUNICATED." "DRIVEN AWAY FROM LYONS, THE WALDENSIANS SETTLED" "IN THE HIGH VALLEYS OF PIEDMONT AND THE FRENCH ALPS." "HERE, AMONG THEIR FAMILIES, THE BIBLE WAS MADE THE CHIEF STUDY." "THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW AND JOHN WERE COMMITTED TO MEMORY," "ALONG WITH MANY OF THE EPISTLES." "WITH NO PRINTING PRESS," "THE WALDENSIANS WERE FREQUENTLY EMPLOYED" "IN HAND-COPYING THE SCRIPTURES." "KNOWN FOR THEIR STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE BIBLE," "THESE LAY PREACHERS SPREAD THEIR TEACHINGS ABROAD" "WHILE TRAVELING AS PEDDLERS." "TO AVOID ARREST," "THEY'D SOMETIMES SEW HAND-COPIED PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE" "INTO THE LINING OF THEIR GARMENTS" "AND THEN THEY'D CAREFULLY SHARE THEM" "WHEN THEY DETECTED AN OPEN HEART." "EVEN FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF PETER WALDO IN 1 218," "THE ROMAN CHURCH" "CONTINUED TO FIERCELY PERSECUTE THE WALDENSIANS." "FOR CENTURIES, MANY WERE TRIED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH" "IN VARIOUS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES." "THE HOLY SPIRIT STIRRED UPON MANY WITHIN THE CHURCH" "WHO COURAGEOUSLY STOOD UP AND CALLED FOR REFORM." "ONE SUCH MAN WAS JOHN WYCLIFF," "AN ENGLISH THEOLOGIAN AND LAY PREACHER," "TRANSLATOR, AND TEACHER AT OXFORD." "HIS EDUCATION PROVED TO BE A GREAT ASSET TO HIM" "AS HE BEGAN TO ADDRESS THE CANCEROUS ERRORS" "THAT WERE SPREADING AMONG GOD'S PEOPLE." "WYCLIFF NEVER WANTED TO SET HIMSELF UP" "AGAINST THE CHURCH'S LEADERS," "BUT AS HE SAW THE GLARING CONTRADICTIONS" "BETWEEN WHAT THE BIBLE SAID AND WHAT THE CHURCH WAS DOING," "HE COULD NOT KEEP SILENT." "WELL, WYCLIFF IS REALLY A RATHER UNUSUAL PERSON" "TO HAVE BECOME A HERETIC BECAUSE HE WAS AN OXFORD DON," "HE WAS VERY MUCH" "BROUGHT UP WITHIN THE POWER STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH" "AND, YET, HE WAS DISTRESSED BY WHAT HE SAW AROUND HIM." "AS HE SAW ROME" "SUBSTITUTING TRADITION FOR THE HOLY SCRIPTURE," "HE ACCUSED THE PRIESTHOOD" "OF WITHHOLDING THE BREAD OF LIFE" "FROM THE SPIRITUALLY STARVING PEOPLE." "HE BELIEVED THAT THE BIBLE WAS A SUPREME AUTHORITY" "AND HE COMMISSIONED THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE." "HE HAD SOME FOLLOWERS CALLED LOLLARDS" "THAT WENT AROUND DISTRIBUTING SCRIPTURE AND PREACHING." "THEY DID BELIEVE IN BIBLE READING." "THEY DID READ WYCLIFF'S BIBLE" "AND THEY DID BELIEVE IN THE SAME KIND OF SIMPLER PIETY" "THAT THE WALDENSIANS AND OTHERS HAD ADVOCATED" "AS EARLY AS THE 1 2TH CENTURY." "THIS WAS THE GREATEST GIFT" "HE COULD GIVE THE COMMON PEOPLE." "NO DOCUMENT HAS ALTERED THE COURSE OF HISTORY" "MORE THAN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE." "HE BROUGHT FORWARD SOME OF THE TRUTHS" "THAT PROTESTANTISM WOULD LATER BRING FORWARD" "AND AS I JUST SUGGESTED," "HIS TEACHINGS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S CENTURIES BEFORE," "IS PREPARING THE WAY FOR MANY PEOPLE IN ENGLAND" "TO ACCEPT THE REFORMATION WHEN IT COMES." "WYCLIFF HAD THE AUDACITY" "TO DECLARE THAT THE UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY OF THE POPE" "WAS UNBIBLICAL." "IT WAS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THAT ON MAY 22, 1377" "POPE GREGORY THE 1 1 TH" "CONDEMNED THE WRITINGS OF JOHN WYCLIFF" "STATING THAT HIS TEACHINGS" "WERE DANGEROUS TO THE CHURCH AND THE STATE." "WYCLIFF CONTINUED TO TEACH SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST ALONE" "AND THAT THE SCRIPTURES WERE INFALLIBLE" "RATHER THAN THE ROMAN CHURCH." "OVER TIME, HIS WRITINGS AND WORK OF REFORM" "SPREAD OUT LIKE SEISMIC WAVES" "INFLUENCING MILLIONS OF GOD'S PEOPLE." "THEY CAN BE READ ANYWHERE WHERE THERE ARE SCHOOLMEN," "WHERE THERE ARE SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGIANS WHO CAN PICK THEM UP." "THEY DO TRAVEL AND THEY TRAVEL TO BOHEMIA" "THEY DO TRAVEL AND THEY TRAVEL TO BOHEMIA" "AND THEY INSPIRE JOHN HUSS AS WELL." "AND HUSS SHARES THE ATTACK ON TRANSUBSTANTIATION," "ON CLERICAL POWER AND ON, AS WITH WYCLIFF," "ON THE WEALTH OF THE CHURCH." "HUSS WAS ONLY A YOUNG BOY WHEN WYCLIFF PASSED AWAY," "BUT WYCLIFF'S WORKS HAD A POWERFUL INFLUENCE" "ON HIS LIFE AND HIS FUTURE MISSION." "JOHN HUSS WAS A BOHEMIAN PREACHER," "ALSO A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR" "AND ALSO KING'S CHAPLAIN FOR AWHILE." "HE'S ENTRUSTED, EVENTUALLY WITH THE OFFICE OF PREACHING" "AT A LITTLE CHAPEL THAT HAS JUST BEEN FOUNDED," "THE BETHLEHEM CHAPEL." "LIKE WYCLIFF, JOHN HUSS PREACHED THE SCRIPTURES" "IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE" "A PRACTICE THAT THE CHURCH HAD NOW FORBIDDEN" "IN FAVOR OF THE LOST LANGUAGE OF LATIN." "HE DID PREACH IN THE VERNACULAR LANGUAGE" "AND THE BOHEMIANS HAD HAD SCRIPTURE IN THEIR LANGUAGE" "DESPITE CHURCH COUNCILS." "AND IT'S FROM THAT" "THAT HE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE TEACHINGS OF WYCLIFF" "AND HE ESPECIALLY IS DRAWN TO THE ATTACK ON TRANSUBSTANTIATION," "ON THE ATTACK ON THE WEALTH AND INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH." "WALKING THROUGH TOWN ONE DAY, HUSS NOTICED A COUPLE OF PAINTINGS" "THAT TWO MEN HAD DISPLAYED AS A SILENT PROTEST." "EACH OF THE CANVASES PORTRAYED A DIFFERENT SCENE." "ON ONE WAS THE IMAGE OF THE LOWLY JESUS" "HUMBLY ENTERING JERUSALEM WITH HIS TRAVEL-WORN DISCIPLES." "ON THE OTHER CANVAS WAS AN IMAGE OF THE POPE" "DRESSED IN RICH AND LUXURIOUS CLOTHING," "CARRIED ON A LITTER" "AND FOLLOWED BY A REGAL PROCESSION." "THE PAINTINGS CERTAINLY PRESENTED A CONTRAST" "BETWEEN JESUS," "WHO SAID THAT FOXES HAVE HOLES" "AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS" "AND THE SON OF MAN HAS NOWHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD," "WITH THE MAGNIFICENT SPLENDOR" "OF THE PAPAL PALACE AND THE PAPAL ENTOURAGE." "MOVED BY THIS KNOWLEDGE," "HE BEGAN TO PUBLICLY DENOUNCE THE PRIDE, AMBITION," "AND CORRUPTION OF THE CLERGY" "AND HE FEARLESSLY CALLED FOR THE CHURCH TO REFORM." "IF YOU MUST INTERPRET SCRIPTURE ACCORDING TO TRUTH," "TRUTH IS DEFINED BY WHAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES." "HOW DO YOU CORRECT AN ERROR IN THE CHURCH?" "YOU DON'T HAVE A CHECK ON MISTAKES." "THERE IS NO CORRECTING THE CHURCH." "AND THAT, I THINK, IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FLAW" "OF WHAT ALLOWED THE CHURCH TO START GOING WRONG" "AND KEEP GOING WRONG." "JOHN HUSS WAS INVITED TO COME TO CONSTANCE, GERMANY" "TO DEFEND HIS CRITICISM OF THE CHURCH OF ROME." "SIGISMUND, KING OF HUNGARY, AND LATER, THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE" "GUARANTEED HIM A SAFE PASSAGE," "BUT IMMEDIATELY UPON HUSS' ARRIVAL IN THE CITY," "HE WAS ARRESTED AND PLACED IN THE DUNGEON" "AT GOTTLIEBEN CASTLE." "KING SIGISMUND WAS GREATLY ANGERED" "AT THE IMPRISONMENT OF HUSS" "AND HE THREATENED THE CHURCH COUNCIL" "BUT THE COUNCIL CONVINCED SIGISMUND" "THAT PROMISES MADE TO A HERETIC WERE NOT BINDING." "ON JULY 6, 1 415, THE COUNCIL GATHERED" "INTO THE CATHEDRAL AFTER MASS AND LITURGY" "AND JOHN HUSS WAS THEN LED IN FOR HIS TRIAL." "HE WAS ASKED TO DEFEND HIS POSITIONS." "IN THE ACT OF DEFENDING THEM" "HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE VOICED A HERESY" "AND SO HE WAS SEIZED AND TRIED FOR HERESY." "GUARDS THEN LED HUSS AWAY TO BE EXECUTED." "AT THE PLACE OF HIS EXECUTION, HUSS STOOD FIRM." "AS THE FLAMES ROSE ABOUT HIM," "HE WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO LIFT HIS VOICE IN SONG." "AMONG HIS DYING WORDS, HUSS PREDICTED," ""IN A HUNDRED YEARS GOD WILL RAISE UP A MAN" "WHOSE CALLS FOR REFORM CANNOT BE SUPPRESSED."" "RAISED IN A HUMBLE HOME IN MANSFIELD, GERMANY," "MARTIN LUTHER, THEOLOGIAN, AUTHOR, COMPOSER," "AND PRIEST WAS ARGUABLY" "THE BEST KNOWN RELIGIOUS REFORMER" "OF THE 1 6TH CENTURY." "LUTHER WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 1 0, 1 483," "NEARLY 70 YEARS AFTER THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN HUSS." "BORN INTO A HARDWORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY," "WITH SEVERAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS," "LUTHER DEVELOPED A FIRM CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY." "THE LUTHER FAMILY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN," "TO SOME EXTENT, A FAMILY OF OVER-ACHIEVERS." "THEY WERE VERY STRICT," "ACCORDING TO LUTHER'S LATER STORIES." "THEY WERE VERY STRICT ON THE YOUNG MARTIN" "AND THEY CERTAINLY SAW" "THAT THE WAY FORWARD FOR THEIR SON WAS THROUGH EDUCATION." "BUT WHEN HE WAS YOUNG," "HE WAS INTENDED TO BECOME A LAWYER." "HOWEVER, A DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE" "FOREVER ALTERED THE COURSE OF HIS LIFE." "LUTHER IS CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM AND FEARS FOR HIS LIFE." "HE'S OUTSIDE AND HE FEARS HE'LL BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING." "LIGHTNING WAS STRIKING IN FRONT OF HIM AND BEHIND HIM" "AND ON BOTH SIDES OF HIM AND SO IN TERROR HE CRIES OUT" "AND PROMISES THAT IF A SAINT WILL SAVE HIM," "HE WILL BECOME A MONK." "HE CALLED OUT TO SAINT ANNE, THE SAINT OF HOPELESS CAUSES." ""SAINT ANNE, DELIVER ME AND I'LL BECOME A MONK!"" "AND HE KEPT HIS WORD." "IN SPITE OF HIS FATHER'S ANGRY PROTESTS," "LUTHER DROPPED HIS LAW STUDIES, SOLD HIS BOOKS," "AND ENTERED A CLOSED AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY AT ERFURT" "AND FULLY DEDICATED HIS TIME TO THE MONASTIC LIFE." "FOLLOWING HIS DESPERATE LONGING FOR SALVATION," "HE PRACTICED FREQUENT FASTINGS, LONG HOURS OF PRAYER," "AUSTERE LIVING AND ENDLESS CONFESSION." ""IF ANYONE COULD HAVE GAINED HEAVEN AS A MONK" "THEN I WOULD, INDEED, HAVE BEEN AMONG THEM."" "HE FOUND AN ELDER CONFESSOR THERE" "WHO REALIZED THAT LUTHER HAD A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SOUL" "AND THIS CONFESSOR REALIZED" "THAT LUTHER NEEDED TO TEACH THE BIBLE." "SO HE BECOMES SIMULTANEOUSLY PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY," "PREACHER IN THE TOWN CHURCH," "AND A MEMBER OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY" "IN THE AUGUSTINIAN HOUSE." "HE'S BASICALLY DOING THREE JOBS." "AT WITTENBERG HE LEARNED TO STUDY THE BIBLE" "IN ITS ORIGINAL TONGUES." "SOON, HE BEGAN TO FREELY SHARE THE TRUTHS" "THAT HE WAS LEARNING IN HIS LECTURES" "AND HIS LISTENERS WERE DELIGHTED." "IN 151 0, LUTHER MADE A PILGRIMAGE" "TO VISIT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CHURCH" "IN THE HOLY CITY OF ROME." "HE WAS SICKENED TO WITNESS THE TERRIBLE GREED AND WICKEDNESS" "THAT HE SAW AMONG ALL CLASSES OF THE CLERGY." "HIS GREAT EXPECTATION OF THE HOLY CITY" "WAS CRUSHED AS HE BEHELD" "THE DECADENT LIFESTYLES OF THE MONKS AND THE PRIESTS." "THIS WAS IN STARK CONTRAST" "TO HIS VERY FRUGAL LIFE IN GERMANY." "BUT LUTHER'S MOST UNSETTLING REVELATION" "WAS YET TO COME." "HE WENT TO ROME AND HE WAS CLIMBING UP THE STAIRS THERE" "AND HEARS A VOICE" "NOT NECESSARILY A VERBAL ONE, BUT ONE IN HIS HEAD" ""THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."" "AND SO CLIMBING UP THESE, PILATE'S STAIRS, ON HIS KNEES," "WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO EARN YOU SOME KIND OF ASSURANCE" "OF NOT BURNING IN PURGATORY FOR TOO LONG." "AND IT JUST DAWNED ON HIM AS HE LOOKED AROUND," ""WHAT ARE WE DOING?" "THE BIBLE SAYS THIS COMES BY FAITH."" "AND HE GOT UP OFF HIS KNEES" "AND THIS SEEMED TO BE A TURNING POINT." "LUTHER FINALLY UNDERSTOOD" "THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING IN THE MERITS OF CHRIST" "FOR FORGIVENESS." "AFTER RETURNING FROM ROME IN 151 2," "LUTHER WAS AWARDED THE DOCTORATE OF DIVINITY" "AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WITTENBERG" "AND HE BEGAN TO BOLDLY PREACH TO THE PEOPLE" "THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY DOCTRINE" "UNLESS IT CAME FROM THE BIBLE" "AND IT WAS THIS PRINCIPLE OF "SOLA SCRIPTURA"" "THAT WOULD BECOME THE BATTLE CRY OF THE REFORMATION." "IT'S IN A SERIES OF THREE TREATISES IN 1520" "THAT HE PRESENTS THE NOTION THAT NOW," "SINCE THE TRADITION OF THE CHURCH" "HAS BECOME SO CORRUPTED BY HUMAN INNOVATION," "THAT THE CHURCH SHOULD ONLY FOLLOW" "THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES." "THIS IS THE COMMON THREAD" "IN THE STORY THAT DESCRIBES THE DECLINE OF THE CHURCH." "IT'S WHEN PEOPLE LOST SCRIPTURE" "AND THE ABILITY TO READ SCRIPTURE FOR THEMSELVES" "AND THERE WAS A BARRIER" "BETWEEN THEM AND SCRIPTURE AND THEM AND CHRIST." "AND THEN IT BEGAN TO RECOVER" "WHEN MARTIN LUTHER AND HIS COLLEAGUES" "DECIDED THAT SCRIPTURE REALLY WAS THE AUTHORITY," ""SOLA SCRIPTURA, TOTA SCRIPTURA, PRIMA SCRIPTURA"" "AND THEY BEGAN TO CLIMB BACK OUT." "ABOUT THIS SAME TIME," "ROME WAS BREAKING GROUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION" "OF THE MAGNIFICENT NEW SAINT PETER'S BASILICA." "THE CHURCH SENT JOHN TETZEL, A DOMINICAN FRIAR," "TO GERMANY TO SELL INDULGENCES" "IN ORDER TO RAISE THE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE CATHEDRAL." "THE CHURCH BELIEVES," "NOT ONLY THAT ITS SERVICES AND OFFERINGS" "CAN HELP THE DEAD," "BUT ALSO THAT THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN THE WEST, THE POPE," "CAN, OUT OF THE SUPER ABUNDANCE OF SAVED UP GRACE," "WHICH IS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CHURCH," "THE CHURCH CAN SIMPLY DECLARE" "THAT SOMEONE'S PENALTIES OWED AFTER THEY DIED" "ARE JUST WIPED OUT." "THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED AN INDULGENCE." "THE FULL PLENARY INDULGENCE" "ABSOLVED A PERSON OF ALL THE SINS" "THAT THEY HAD COMMITTED UP TO THAT TIME" "AND THUS SPEEDED YOU, ACCORDING TO CHURCH TEACHING," "THROUGH PURGATORY DIRECTLY INTO HEAVEN." "BY VERY LATE IN THE MIDDLE AGES," "THE CHURCH HAS GOT INTO ITS HEAD" "THAT IT CAN SAY TO PEOPLE," ""IF YOU ARE WILLING" ""TO MAKE AN OFFERING TO THE CHURCH," ""THE CHURCH WILL GIVE AN INDULGENCE" ""IN THE MANNER OF AN OFFERING," ""FOR YOUR DEPARTED FAMILY, FRIEND, RELATIVE, LOVED ONE" "AND THAT LOVED ONE WILL ESCAPE THE PAINS OF PURGATORY,"" "SUPPOSEDLY IMMEDIATELY." "THIS BECAME, BY THE 1 4TH AND 15TH CENTURY," "A VERY POPULAR BELIEF" "AND PEOPLE CLAMORED FOR INDULGENCES." "WHEN LUTHER LEARNED" "THAT HIS MEMBERS WERE PURCHASING INDULGENCES," "HE WAS OUTRAGED." "AS THE PEOPLE CAME TO HIM TO CASH IN THEIR INDULGENCES," "HE FLATLY REFUSED TO HONOR THEM." "LUTHER DECLARED THAT WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED TO DO" "WAS TO SINCERELY REPENT AND TURN FROM THEIR SINS." "THIS WAS THE FIRST ISSUE THAT FORCED LUTHER INTO BATTLE" "WITH HIS OWN BELOVED CHURCH." "ON OCTOBER 31 , 151 7," "LUTHER NAILED HIS FAMOUS PROTEST" "TO THE DOORS OF ALL THE SAINTS CHURCH IN WITTENBERG." "WHAT ARE THE 95 THESES THAT HE FAMOUSLY NAILS" "TO THE DOOR OF WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH?" "IT'S AN ACADEMIC INVITATION TO A DEBATE." "YOU WRITE DOWN 95 THESIS STATEMENTS" "AND YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING, "HERE ARE MY PROPOSALS"" "AND THEY'RE ALWAYS MORE STRONGLY WORDED" "THAN YOU MAY THINK BECAUSE IT'S A DEBATING POINT;" "IT'S WHAT'S CALLED A DISPUTATION." "THE 95 THESES IS JUST A SERIES OF 95 PROPOSITIONS" "THAT HE INTENDS TO SPARK A UNIVERSITY DEBATE ON." "AND THIS IS STANDARD ISSUE LATE MEDIEVAL ACADEMIC PRACTICE." "SO LUTHER IS ENGAGING" "IN A VERY NARROWLY ACADEMIC EXERCISE." "IT'S LIKE PUBLISHING A PAPER IN A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL TODAY." "AS A HISTORIAN MYSELF AT TIMES," "YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY EXPECTING VERY MANY PEOPLE TO READ THIS," "YOU'RE JUST GOING INTO A VERY NARROW CIRCLE." "SO HE TAKES IT AND HE NAILS IT TO THE DOOR" "OF WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH" "BECAUSE THAT'S THE TRADITIONAL PLACE" "YOU POST INVITATIONS FOR A DISPUTATION." "SO HE'S NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING, NECESSARILY, TO COME OF THIS." "AND THIS GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION," "INCLUDING THE POPE'S." "AS FAR AS LUTHER'S CONCERNED, HE'S NOT PROMOTING SOMETHING" "THAT THE CHURCH WOULD BE HOSTILE TO," "HE BELIEVES HE'S PROMOTING THINGS THAT THE CHURCH WILL WELCOME." "AND, INDEED, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS," "INCLUDING AUGUSTINE," "YOU CAN FIND MANY THINGS IN THEIR WRITINGS" "IN ACCORD WITH LUTHER'S IDEAS." "SO LUTHER ACTUALLY EXPECTS PEOPLE TO SORT OF SAY," ""OH, GREAT." "THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT."" "WHICH WAS PERHAPS A TRIFLE NAÏVE" "AND PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT COMES FROM HIM BEING AN ACADEMIC." "BUT LUTHER IS NOT TRYING TO SET UP ANOTHER MOVEMENT" "JUST THE OPPOSITE." "BUT THE REALITY, OF COURSE," "IS THAT THE CHURCH DOES NOT WELCOME" "MUCH OF WHAT LUTHER HAS TO SAY." "AND A BULL WENT OUT" "A PAPAL BULL MEANING A KIND OF DECLARATION " "CONDEMNING LUTHER AND HIS WRITINGS" "AND SAYING THEY SHOULD BE CONSIGNED TO THE FLAMES." "THE BULL WAS DELIVERED AT WITTENBERG" "AND INSTEAD OF CONSIGNING THE WRITINGS TO THE FLAMES," "LUTHER HAD A BIG GATHERING IN WITTENBERG" "AND CONSIGNED THE BULL TO THE FLAMES" "AND THERE WAS A BURNING OF THIS PAPAL BULL" "AND THIS, OF COURSE, WAS A "THROW DOWN" NOW, RIGHT?" "THE CHALLENGE HAD BEEN SENT OUT" "AND THE CHALLENGE HAD BEEN RESPONDED TO." "AND THAT'S WHEN LUTHER SAYS," ""RIGHT, IF YOU CONDEMN ME I WILL CONDEMN YOU,"" "BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THIS IS A MATTER OF TRUTH." "AND SO, IF THE CHURCH IS CONDEMNING BIBLICAL TRUTH" "THEN THE CHURCH MUST ACTUALLY BE ANTICHRIST" "AND HE CALLS IT THAT AND, OF COURSE," "ONCE YOU CALL SOMEBODY ANTICHRIST," "IT'S RATHER HARD TO REACH CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE." "SO THE GERMAN EMPEROR ORGANIZED A HEARING" "AND ALL THE IMPORTANT PRINCES AND PRIESTS" "WERE ASSEMBLED FOR AN HISTORIC MEETING" "AT A PLACE CALLED WORMS." "SO THERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES HERE" "OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PRINCES, NOBLES," "AND FREE CITIES OF THE EMPIRE" "AND LUTHER GOES, BELIEVING HE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO DEBATE." "THE CHURCH KNOWS THAT LUTHER'S A BRILLIANT DEBATER" "AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM ANY CHANCE." "HE WAS PULLED UP BEFORE THE GROUP." "HE WAS SHOWN A PILE OF HIS BOOKS." "HE WAS ASKED TWO QUESTIONS:" ""ARE THESE BOOKS YOURS?"" "AND "WILL YOU RECANT?"" "WILL YOU WITHDRAW THE TEACHINGS YOU'VE MADE IN THEM?" "AND HE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY REPLY." "HE SAID, "WELL, YES THEY ARE MY BOOKS" "BUT THERE'S MANY THINGS WRITTEN THERE" "AND I NEED SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT."" "HE ALMOST LOSES HIS NERVE , BUT ULTIMATELY HE DOESN'T," "THE NEXT DAY HE COMES IN" "AND HE STARTS TO PLAY WITH WORDS AND THEY SAY," ""ARE ALL THESE YOUR WORKS AND DO YOU RECANT THEM?"" "HE SAYS, "DO YOU ASK ME TO RECANT ALL MY WORKS" ""BECAUSE SOME OF MY WORKS" ""EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH WOULD AGREE WITH?" ""I'VE WRITTEN AGAINST CERTAIN EVILS" "THAT THE CHURCH GENERALLY AGREES ARE WRONG."" "HE'S TRYING TO GET INTO A DEBATE" "AND THE AUTHORITIES AREN'T HAVING ANY OF THIS." "THEY SAY, "NO, NO, NO." "YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY- ARE YOU GOING TO RETRACT THESE?" "ARE YOU GOING TO RECANT?"" "IT'S AN HEROIC MOMENT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE," "AS FAR AS LUTHER IS CONCERNED," "HE BELIEVES IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO HIS DEATH." ""UNLESS I AM CONVINCED BY THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES" ""OR BY CLEAR REASON," ""FOR I DO NOT TRUST EITHER IN THE POPE" ""OR IN COUNCILS ALONE," ""SINCE IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THEY HAVE OFTEN ERRED" ""AND CONTRADICTED THEMSELVES," ""I AM BOUND BY THE SCRIPTURES I HAVE QUOTED" ""AND MY CONSCIENCE IS CAPTIVE TO THE WORD OF GOD." ""I CANNOT AND WILL NOT RECANT ANYTHING" ""SINCE IT IS NEITHER SAFE NOR RIGHT TO GO AGAINST CONSCIENCE." ""HERE I STAND." "I CAN DO NO OTHER." "MAY GOD HELP ME." "AMEN."" "THE COUNCIL DID NOT HAVE MUCH IT COULD SAY IN REPLY." "LUTHER WAS DECLARED AN OUTLAW." "HIS LITERATURE WAS BANNED AND HIS ARREST ORDERED." "THE DOCUMENT SAID, "WE WANT HIM TO BE APPREHENDED" "AND TO BE PUNISHED AS A NOTORIOUS HERETIC."" "NOW LUTHER HAD BEEN GIVEN A SAFE CONDUCT" "TO THE DIET OF WORMS," "JUST AS HUSS HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE" "JUST OVER 1 00 YEARS EARLIER." "AND THERE WERE THOSE AUTHORITIES" "WHO URGED THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, CHARLES THE V," "TO IGNORE THE SAFE CONDUCT," "JUST AS THE EMPEROR SIGISMUND HAD WITH HUSS' SAFE CONDUCT." "CHARLES THE V DIDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN" "AS THE SECOND EMPEROR THAT HAD RENEGED" "IN A GOOD-FAITH CONDUCT PASSAGE AND SO," "FOR WHATEVER REASON," "THIS REASON AND MAYBE SOME OTHERS," "HE ALLOWED LUTHER TO LEAVE TOWN AND START HOME." "THE THOUGHT WAS HE WOULD PROBABLY BE KILLED" "BY SOMEONE ON THE WAY" "BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPEN PRICE ON HIS HEAD." "INSTEAD, OF COURSE, LUTHER IS KIDNAPPED" "BY AN ARMED GROUP OF MEN" "WHO WERE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR FREDERICK THE WISE" "WHO DECIDES HE NEEDS TO TAKE LUTHER OUT OF CIRCULATION" "FOR A LITTLE WHILE." "TO WARTBURG CASTLE," "WHICH THE ELECTOR FREDERICK KNEW ABOUT" "BUT NOBODY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO LUTHER." "MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS DEAD." "FOR THE NEXT YEAR, FROM THIS LONELY EXILE," "WHICH LUTHER REFERRED TO AS 'MY PATMOS'," "THE FORMER PRIEST CONTINUED HIS WORK OF PROLIFIC WRITING." "HE EVEN MANAGED TO TRANSLATE THE NEW TESTAMENT" "FROM GREEK INTO THE GERMAN LANGUAGE." "NOW, ABOUT 72 YEARS" "BEFORE LUTHER COMPLETED HIS NEW TESTAMENT TRANSLATION," "GUTENBERG CHANGED HISTORY" "WITH THE INVENTION OF THE PRINTING PRESS." "WITH THIS WONDERFUL NEW TECHNOLOGY," "THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD BEGAN TO SPREAD" "LIKE THE LEAVES OF AUTUMN ALL THROUGH EUROPE." "AND SO, IN THE MIDST OF THIS GREAT REFORMATION," "THE LORD ARMED HIS PEOPLE WITH THE SWORD OF HIS WORD." "AROUND THIS SAME TIME," "SEVERAL OTHER POWERFUL CHAMPIONS OF TRUTH ROSE UP" "FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH OF ROME." "AMONG THESE BRAVE MEN CALLING FOR A RETURN TO THE SCRIPTURES" "WERE PHILIPP MELANCTHON, WILLIAM TYNDALE, JOHN CALVIN," "AND JOHN KNOX, JUST TO NAME A FEW." "AS THE REFORMERS PREACHED AND THE PRINTING PRESS CLATTERED," "THE TEEMING MASSES STUDIED THE WORD OF GOD." "GRADUALLY THE LIGHT OF TRUTH" "BEGAN TO DISSOLVE THE SHACKLES OF ERROR AND SUPERSTITION" "THAT HAD BOUND THE PEOPLE FOR AGES." "LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH SPRING AIR," "EUROPE EXPERIENCED A RELIGIOUS RENAISSANCE." ""AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH" "AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE."" "THE BOOK OF REVELATION ALSO FORETELLS THAT IN THE FINAL DAYS" "THE DRAGON, SATAN," "WILL ONCE AGAIN INTENSIFY HIS EFFORTS" "TO PERSECUTE THE CHURCH OF GOD." "THEY ARE IDENTIFIED" "AS THE ONES WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD" "AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS." "REVELATION WARNS THAT IN THE LAST DAYS" "THERE WILL BE A VERY CONVINCING COUNTERFEIT OF GOD'S REAL CHURCH" "THAT COMPROMISES THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE." "JESUS WARNS IT WILL NEARLY DECEIVE THE WHOLE WORLD." ""FOR FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL RISE" ""AND SHOW SIGNS AND WONDERS TO DECEIVE," "IF POSSIBLE, EVEN THE ELECT."" "SHORTLY AFTER THIS FINAL DECEPTION CHRIST WILL RETURN." "AND HE WILL COME FOR A CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN PURIFIED" "FROM ALL THE FALSE TRADITIONS AND PAGANISM." "IT WILL BE A CHURCH" "THAT REQUIRES A "THUS SAYETH THE LORD"" "FOR EVERY DOCTRINE THAT IT HOLDS." "JESUS ALSO SAID THAT WHEN HE RETURNS," "THE WORLD WILL BE ABSORBED" "IN SELFISHNESS, VIOLENCE AND MUTINY." ""AND YOU WILL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS." ""FOR NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION" ""AND THERE WILL BE FAMINES, PESTILENCES AND EARTHQUAKES." ""THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD" "AND THEN THE END WILL COME."" "THIS SPIRITUAL WAR HAS BEEN RAGING DOWN THROUGH THE AGES" "AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS PROPHEC Y IS FAST FULFILLING." "AS THE BATTLE INTENSIFIES, WE'RE ALL FACED WITH A CHOICE." ""CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE."" "FRIENDS, WE'VE JUST SEEN" "HOW THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF GOD'S CHURCH" "WAS OVERSHADOWED AND DISTORTED" "THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF MYTHOLOGY." "WE'VE ALSO SEEN" "HOW EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE GRADUALLY ENTICED" "TO ADOPT PAGAN RITUALS AND TRADITIONS" "IN PLACE OF BIBLICAL TRUTH." "BUT THEN GOD ROSE UP FAITHFUL MEN AND WOMEN" "TO RESIST THE ERRORS OF AN ENTIRE EMPIRE." "HISTORY IS NOW REPEATING ITSELF." "SOON ALL WILL EITHER JOIN THE BRIDE OF CHRIST" "OR FOLLOW THE BEAST OF BABYLON." "WHERE WILL YOU STAND?" "THE BIBLE IS CLEAR." "THE EVIDENCE IS IRREFUTABLE." "THE DECISION IS ULTIMATELY YOURS." ""SURELY I AM COMING QUICKLY." REVELATION 22:20 NKJV"