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p.2 The Roman catholic churches influence on history and God's people The Roman emperor, was the head of the pagan priesthood in Rome known as the Pontifical College (headed by the Pope), called Pontifex Maximus. He called himself Vicarius Christi (Vicar of Christ). Constantine headed the church, as all the emperors who followed after him for centuries. The popes claimed the emperor’s titles, Pontifex Maximus and Vicar of Christ, as their own. Since Constantine the Church of Rome views itself as the authoritative visible head of Christianity over all who call themselves Christians. But continuing to officiate at pagan celebrations and endowed pagan temples along with his building Christian churches! Constantine never renounced his devotion to the pantheon of pagan gods. “Under Constantine, pagan practices were given a Christian veneer and adapted by them." (Chadwick, The Early Church (Wm B. Eerdmans, 1976), p. 243. He did not abolished the pagan Altar of Victory in the senate nor the Vestal Virgins; the sun-god continued to be placed on imperial coins. Throughout his rule “Constantine mixed pagan and Christian rites and continued to rely upon “pagan magic formulas to their protect crops and heal diseases. Catholic priest and Historian Philip Hughes, writes: In his manners he [Constantine] remained, to the end … the Pagan of his early life. Hisfurious tempers, the cruelty which … spared not the lives even of his wife and son, are … an unpleasing witness to the imperfection of his conversion .” Constantines supposed Christian life began by being baptized on his deathbed by a Eusibius of Nicodemia a non believer in christ. Yet in 339, Eusebius of Nicomedia was made Bishop of Constantinople( a secondary Rome). A synod in Antioch Eusebius influence a second expulsion of Athanasius from Alexandria whom he opposed at Nicea. The church which was situated in Rome, was run by emperor Constantine who stated that the Jews are no longer to be accepted and that all the blessings were for the church only, they were cursed. Contrary to what Peter and there apostles wrote, whom they later claimed to be their first Pope. Those who spoke these words caused atrocities, their actions call into question if they really were Christian. Because one who is grafted into the covenant of Israel, should have compassion on Israel not animosity and anger toward them. Emperor Claudius (AD 41-54) drove the Jews out of Rome because of the uproar among them raised by someone called Chrestus. whom many believe refers to Jesus Christ, it was the Christian that message aroused a dissension in the synagogues. The church was made for there to be one people of God, Jews and gentiles, as it was prophecied by Isaiah. It comes by being grafted into Romans 11 olive tree blessing, whose roots are Jewish and branches reach out into the Gentile nations, the people that are not Jews. In light of a church history that persecuted and belittled Jews from Rome who destroyed the temple, we should have understanding what this all means. The New Covenant is not fulfilled by the church, the writer of Hebrews quote it (Hebrews 8:6-13; 10:15-19).Twice states, the New Covenant belongs to “the house of Israel” (Heb. 8:8, 10 ). For if there is no Israel there is no covenant. God’s covenant with Israel — the land is given throughout the Scripture. Forty–six books of the Bible, record the history of salvation from creation through the covenant with Israel. Word of God was replaced and made irrelevant … The people of 11Israel were also replaced by a gentile church – AND the covenant was made void. The believing remnant which are the faithful in Israel is not grafted into a gentile church, a but grafted into faithful remnant of Israel’s covenant. In 135 A.D., the Romans destroyed 1,000 Jewish villages, killed 500,000 Jews, and enslaved thousands. They renamed Israel to Provincia Palestina after the Philistines, Israel's ancient enemies changing their name from Israel/ Judea for 1,500 years. But Jews also lived there, and were included to be called "Palestinians," by Rome. It was Rome, who later legalized the Christian religion after hundred of years of persecution and then took advantage and very soon after to merge their empire with Christianity, so it was no longer a threat. “It was after Diocletian in 313 When we, Constantine Augustus and Licinius Augustus, met so happily at Milan, and considered together all that concerned the interest and security of the State, we decided ... to grant to Christians and to everybody the free power to follow the religion of their choice, in order that all that is divine in the heavens may be favorable and propitious towards all who are placed under our authority.” As far as we know, none with Jewish ethnicity were accepted, Constantine the emperor ostracized them. The change to the Christian church came from Rome; It Was settled that Christianity whose roots are from Judaism should never have anything in common with them, and certainly not to base any observances on the Jewish calendar. Constantine supported the separation of the date of Easter from the Jewish Passover which included the first fruits, the resurrection. Why? Because the Jews may have objected to Constantine's proposed changes regarding Passover an Easter. “He declared it improper to follow the custom of the Jews of this holy festival, because, their hands having been stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily blinded. ... Let us, then, have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries. ... Let us ... studiously avoiding all contact with that evil way. … out of their minds, are guided not by sound reason, but by an unrestrained passion, wherever their innate madness carries them. ... lest your pure minds should appear to share in the customs of a people so utterly depraved. ... Therefore, this irregularity must be corrected, in order that we may no more have any thing in common with those parricides and the murderers of our Lord . ... no single point in common with the perjury of the Jews."(Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History) At this time Constantine began an increasingly ‘hostile policy toward the Jews.’ It is during this time period Emperor Constantine Augustus wrote to the churches saying, "We ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Savior has shown us another way. And consequently, in unanimously adopting this mold, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews. How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Savior, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence as their delusion may urge them? It would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people as the Jews. It is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord.” This was The ONE ANCIENT accusation of deicide that stayed with the Roman Catholic church to our day. The Church’s anti-Semitism has come down through the ages, starting from Constantine. It was Augustine that taught Amillennialism, the concept that Christ currently rules the earth through the church, the millennium has already commenced. Of his surviving letters written during the Council of Nicaea in 325CE. One letter his mentions and refers to Jews, he uses language such as bloodstained men, mentally blind, a detestable mob, thoroughly evil persons, Lord-killers, murderers of the Lord. He also accuses the Jewish nation of perjuring themselves alluding to their part in the death of Jesus as well as attacking them on what he reckoned amounted to parricide i.e. killing of their parent meaning Jesus or God. Nicea, laid the foundation for the anti-Semitic legislation and judgments of later church councils. The Council of Antioch (341 CE) prohibited Christians from celebrating Passover with the Jews. The Council of Laodicea in the same century forbade Christians from observing the Jewish (and biblical) Sabbath. (Prior to this time, Christianity was somewhat divided, with some Christians observing the Sabbath, some observing Sunday, some were observing both.) Christians were also forbidden from receiving gifts from Jews or matzo from Jewish festivals as well as other “impieties.” The Roman emperors who came after Constantine – were his sons – and then emperors like Theodosius and Gratian much later put an increasing amount of pressure on the non-Christian population through persecution to convert to Christianity. Under the Roman emperors, it was known as the Era of the Martyrs, by which the Roman authorities that crucified Christ also killed his followers (that at the time was mostly Jews, later Gentiles.)
One of the early Church Fathers John Chrysostom of Antioch-- teaching in
Homily 1.
What was cited was John 8:44 – “You belong to your father the devil,” pulling this verse out of its context has fueled antisemitism for centuries in the roman church. This ancient Hatred of Jewish people by Romanized Christianity, was active for centuries from a church that spoke ill of God’s chosen people of Abraham and Moses’ covenant. Ignatius (c. 36-108 AD) wrote that Jesus Christ suffered, “ at the hands of the Christ-killing Jews.” Ignoring Rome’s part. Shifting the blame for the crucifixion of Jesus from Rome to only the Jews, but the whole Jewish people as a whole which was being dishonest. Origen (185-254), the people of Israel were “abandoned because of their sins.” Saying, “ And we say with confidence that they [Jews] will never be restored to their former condition. Origen also saw a distinction between carnal (unbelieving) Israel and spiritual Israel. the church was the spiritual Israel, where the promises would find their fulfillment. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue With Trypho, who made some good points also argued that the destructions of Jerusalem were God’s judgment on Christ-rejecting Jews. That the Jews “justly suffer,” using the Jewish cities as rightly “burned with fire.” Ignoring the future promises of restoration in their land. This policy was later adopted by Augustine The New Israel –‘the church’ became a substitute of ancient Israel. Allegorizing Bible prophecy and teaching that the Catholic Church is the new Israel and the kingdom of God. this became the official position of the chruch. Augustine often referred to Matthew 27:25 with the eternal curse on “the Jews. Augustine, “ we are Israel, the seed of Abraham … The Christian people then is rather Israel … But that multitude of Jews … for the pleasures of the flesh sold their birthright, so that they belonged not to Jacob, but rather to Esau.” *( Expositions on the Book of Psalms by Saint Augustine, 114.3) In his book, Augustine was the first person to teach that the Catholic church is the Messianic kingdom and that the Millennium began with the first coming of Christ. ‘Therefore the Church even now is the kingdom of Christ, and the kingdom of heaven. Accordingly, even now His saints reign with Him.’That the PRESENT AGE is the Millennium. That Satan IS CURRENTLY bound “This binding of Satan began when the church began to spread.” Augustine also taught the heresy of apostolic succession from Peter.The Roman church was establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, WITHOUTthe King of the JEWS being present. Without Israel being a factor in prophecy. Augustine was an outspoken on the Jews, continuing to label them all as God’s enemies, “ How hateful to me are the enemies of your Scripture! How I wish that you would slay them [the Jews] with your two-edged sword, so that there should be none to oppose your word! Gladly would I have them die to themselves and live to you!" It’s hard to win them by the word when you have this ATTITIUDE. What of Augustines opposition to the Scripture? Replacement was the policy of the Roman empires state church The Gentile separation came early on, “Cyprian records Jacob, who God renamed Israel, really represents the Gentile church Esau, whose name was changed to Edom, really represents the Jews, Genesis 25:23 It was Sylvester, bishop of Rome from AD 314-335, incited the inhabitants of the Roman Empire against the Jews. The bible and Jesus position: Acts 1 tells us that Christ taught that the kingdom of Israel will be restored. After His resurrection, He spoke to the disciples “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Before He ascended, the disciples asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). This kingdom Christ taught them about was what was promised in Old Testament prophecy and He did not teach them that the church has replaced Israel. They believed that Israel’s kingdom would be restored, they just didn’t know when. Jesus’ makes it very clear that there is a future kingdom of Israel coming. He said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Act. 1:7-8). Dave Hunt writes, “ In 1919, Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, Vatican Secretary of State, said, “The danger that frightens us the most is that of the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.” A 1928 Vatican decree refers to Jews as “the people formerly chosen by God.” The Second Vatican Council in 1965 affirmed the centuries-old claim that “the Church is the new people of God....” We have quoted [TBC, Sep. '99] the June 22, 1943 letter to President Roosevelt from Pope Pius XII which said in part, “If a 'Hebrew Home' is desired, it would not be too difficult to find a more fitting territory than Palestine. With an increase in the Jewish population there, grave new problems would arise.” Dave Hunt concludes so the “vicars of Christ” and their Church have consistently opposed the fulfillment of God's promises to His chosen people! This was the policy of Rome from its inception when they hijacked the church to be Roman. The Church of Rome cannot call itself Holy because it allows as members in good standing adulterers, drunkards and corrupt politicians and citizens. Many of the leaders of the Roman church, including its popes, bishops and priests have been wicked men. This was the Holy Roman empire within their church. The very things they accused the Jews of. In Nostra Aetate at Vatican Council II in 1965, the Catholic Church subtly and cordially rejected there replacement theology. “The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: ‘theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh’ (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's mainstay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people ...God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle” However it also claims: Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God. Augustine in ‘ The City of God, book 18, chapter 46 “ ’Do not slay the Jews, lest my people forget. By your power, make them homeless wanderers Therefore, God has shown the Church in her enemies the Jews, the grace of His compassion ” The scripture says the very opposite , God said he would bring them back into THEIR land. So here we see the Roman church position is keeping Israel from possessing her land given by God. The Roman Catholic Church may at times acknowledge that the Jews were and are once God's people, but their position now, is that they must individually join "the new people of God," the Roman Catholic Church. The "one, holy, catholic and apostolic" Church headquartered in Rome. Rome calls itself the New Jerusalem; for the old Jerusalem and the Jews are no longer part of God’s plan. At the same time, the Roman Catholic Church states Muslims "hold the faith of Abraham" but not Israel, as the people of God. The Jewish state was formed in 1948, as prophesied for the latter days, was not acknowledge by Rome. Israel's existence to this day, Jerusalem is understood to be an international city not governed by Israel. Yet heavenly Jerusalem that is to come after the millennial reign of Christ is not earthly Jerusalem that will fulfill prophecy. The Roman Catholic Church finally recognized the State of Israel, establishing diplomatic relations on December 30, 1993, over 45 years...On November 4, 2025. Pew Research Center states that 53% of US Catholics now have an unfavorable view of the State of Israel, as opposed to 45% who have a favorable view. They do not support Christian Zionism as a church, but as individuals. How can they support Israel as a people and land when the ‘One, Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church’ is said to now be Israel and Zion, new Jerusalem. |
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