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The Apostolic succession of Peter, a Jewish apostle or a ROMAN Pope ? Pope Leo I, held the office of Pope from AD 440 to 461, and who with Gregory I, known by common consent as the Great. None previously had been as forceful or had exercised such a great an influence. Insisting that by Christ’s decree Peter as the rock, was the foundation, the doorkeeper of the kingdom of heaven, set to bind and loose, whose judgments retained their validity in heaven, and that through the Pope, as Peter’s successor, continued to perform the position AND assignment which had been GIVEN to him by Christ. On the day of Pentecost thekey was used in opening a door. Peter was appointed to open the door to the Jews first to come and be part of the Church Christ has formed. He preached to the Jews, and admitted three thousand persons, as they proved they believed by their baptism. The rock on which the "one true Church" was built on was Christ, and all who have held that office, no matter what they claimed by ex-cathedra, calling themselves Pontifex Maximus (as Nero), or how evil they acted were accepted as his successors, or how violent they were, dressed in purple like Nero. The throne (the Roman state) imposed their Christian religion on all its subjects, but it was not the Christianity of Christ and the APOSTLES who laid its foundation that are found in the Scripture, by doctrine who were not to conquer by forcebas Constantines vision instructed him. After Constantine their father's death, his three "Christian" sons (Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans) were given their separate regions of the empire. They enforced the "Christianization" of the Roman empire as it was then called the Holy Roman Empire, the Church was used for Rome’s own ends, to continue its empire as it wed Christianity to its states power. Romes Emperors The Popes of the Catholic Church attitude to the Jews Dave Hunt points out, “Shamefully, many who claimed to be Christians and thus followers of Christ, who was Himself a Jew, were in the forefront of Jewish persecution and slaughter. Having gained full citizenship in the pagan Roman Empire in A.D. 212 under the Edict of Caracalla, the Jews became second-class citizens and the object of increasing persecution after the emperor, Constantine, supposedly became a Christian. Thereafter, it was those who called themselves Christians who were far more cruel to the Jews than pagans had ever been.”(A woman rides the Beast). The Roman Catholic popes followed Constantine’s precedent, developing an anti-Semitic attitude to the people the savior came from. Rome, its army conquered Jerusalem and severed the Jews from their homeland in 70 AD. From then on they called the land Palestine; not the people. But today, the squatters of the original land of ISRAEL say it belongs to them using this very name Rome changed Judea from, to have it named as its people. Everytime someone utters the name Palestine, it affirms what Rome did. The Roman Catholic Church does not today believe in Scripture as their infallible rule of faith and practice, nor do they endorse of any saint that points to it, including the authors of it. This is especially true when it comes to the promises of Israel that are written by the prophet.
It was Constantine who said, “Let us then have nothing in common with
the detestable Jewish They intentionally severed the growing Gentile church in Romans provinces from its Judaic roots, that came to believe by the Jewish believers. Even the name ‘Jesus’ was transliterated, being derived from then ancient Hebrew name “Jehoshua” (Smiths Bible Dictionary “The word ‘Jesus’ used today is the transliteration of the Hebrew ‘Jehoshua’, meaning ‘Jehovah is Salvation’ (The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 8, p. 374 ) But he is not their Salvation, as they depend on the physical Sacraments, AND NOT HIS blood by his Death for sin. The Roman Catholic Church, and its ecclesiastiacal system DEVELOPED THEIR TRUTH, with added traditions tyhat took centutries. Apart from Peter, no Pope in history healed the blind, made the deaf hear, heal a cripple, cleanse a leper or have raised a dead man. Nor has any healed themselves. Yet they determine who are Saints released from purgatory, (a made up intermediary place.) Zachello, a former priest, in his book ‘the Secrets of Romanism’ correctly points out “ Paul expressly denied that Peter was the Pope andhe further maintained that whatever Peter was to the Jews, he, Paul, was to the Gentiles. This certainly was incompatible with any idea of a Pope in Paul's day. Gal. 2:7, 8. Scripture taches apostolic pairs went to plant churches. When did Peter go to Rome to be established as Pope by the Church? Never. 5 times Paul mentions Peter in his epistle to the Galatian church, Gal 2:11-13. Again the Scripture explains in Gal. 1:18 “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.”This meeting takes place many years LATER, he is still among his brethren as he was instructed to be. Later in Gal. 2:7-8 Paul tells us that he was sent to the Gentiles “the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),Peter was assigned to the Jews, not the Pagans, Gentiles of Rome. Explaining when Peter had come to Antioch (which was the center of gentile Christianity – not Rome), I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James,(who was in Jerusalem the center of the Jewish church) he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” How is he ruler of the whole church in Rome when he was killed? Besides What Popes are Jewish? and were known of Peter? The First Ruler of the Church of Rome . After the martyrdom of Paul and of Peter (which does not coincide the idea that Peter was Pope or, being in Rome to rule the church), who succeeded as Bishop of Rome after Peter's death 68 AD to his death in 80? According to Catholicism it was Linus. F Irenaeus, wrote in 180 AD that " the blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate.” Eusebius appointed under Contantine says that Linus was bishop for twelve years, Jerome says eleven. Exact information on the history of Linus is untrustworthy. The Roman Church gives the following order: of the Popes-Linus, Clement, Cletus, Anacletus, following Hippolytus in making Cletus and Anacletus out of the single Anencletus of the original tradition. The apocryphal martyrdoms of Peter and Paul are falsely ascribed to Linus (see Tischendorf, Acta Apost. Apocr.p. xix. sq.). Are these order of succession or dates reliable? How much that comes from Eusibius of Pamphilius is reliable? The same identification is made by Irenæus, Adv. Hær.III. 3. 3, and by Pseudo-Ignatius in the Epistle to the Trallians(longer version), chap. 7.176 Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praiseof Constantine by Eusebius Pamphilius ) After Constantine, his three supposed "Christian" sons, Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans) rule over their separate regions of the empire. They enforced the "Christianization" of the Roman empire as the Holy Roman Empire. The bishops of Rome continue in the fourth century. Julius I (337-52) strongly affirmed the supreme authority of the Roman see, but Liberius (352-66) submitted, through weakness or age, to the Arian dictates of Constantius. Upon his death Damasus and Ursinus contested the papacy; rival mobs supported them in the most vigorous tradition of Roman democracy; in one day, in one church 137 persons were killed in the dispute. ` Praetextatus, then pagan prefect of Rome, banished Ursinus, and Damasus ruled for eighteen years with pleasure and skill. He was an archaeologist, and adorned the tombs of the Roman martyrs with beautiful inscriptions; he was said the irreverent, an auriscalpius matronarum, a scratcher of ladies' ears- i.e., an expert in wheedling gifts for the Church from the rich matrons of Rome. Leo I, surnamed the Great, held the throne of Peter through a generation of crisis (440-61), and by courage and statesmanship raised the Apostolic See to new heights of power and dignity. When Hilary of Poitiers refused to accept his decision in a dispute with another Gallic bishop, Leo sent him peremptory orders; and the Emperor Valentinian III seconded these with an epoch-making edict imperially confirming the authority of the Roman bishop over all Christian churches. The bishops of the West generally acknowledged, those of the East resisted, this supremacy. The patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria claimed equal authority with the Roman See; bn furious controversies of the Eastern Church proceeded with slight obeisance to the bishop of Rome. In the West, however, the popes exercised a growing leadership even in secular affairs. They were subject in nonreligious matters to the Roman state until the seventh century they sought the confirmation of their election from the emperor. the Church developed centuries later as the popes extended their authority, over kings and kingdoms exercising rule and control over other earthly rulers. Constantine the Great has recognized that the pontiffs held the place of God upon earth, the divinity not being able to be judged by any living man. Being infallible. It was Constantine who called himself "Bishop of Bishops." Today's popes, who bear Constantine's titles and wear his regalia, are his successors; not Peter's. The apostle Peter, previously a fisherman said, "Silver and gold have I none" (Acts 3:6). He did not enjoy the papal’s luxurious living of the later Popes who claimed his position. Popes called themselves by such titles as "supreme ruler of the world" and "king of kings." Claimed to be "God on earth," that it was, "Jesus put the popes on the same level as God." Peter whom they claimed their first Pope along with the other apostles would have assigned blasphemy to these claims. The Popes power Pope Gregory XI's papal bull of 1372 (In Coena Domini) pronounced papal dominion over the entire Christian world, secular and religious, he excommunicated all who disobeyed the popes and to pay them taxes. They replaced Christ in so many areas of his present authority of the church. This continued, “The Saviour Himself is the door of the sheepfold: 'I am the door of the sheep.' Into this fold of Jesus Christ, no man may enter unless he be led by the Sovereign Pontiff; and only if they be united to him can men be saved, for the Roman Pontiff is the Vicar of Christ and His personal representative on earth.” (Pope John XXIII in his homily to the Bishops and faithful assisting at his coronation on Nov. 4, 1958). They believe that through this man they vote in each time a Pope dies, that he continues the work that Christ appointed to Peter. So the Pope is instrumental for salvation along with sacraments and the church. But it actually proves that their is no apostolic succession as they claim. “This is our last lesson to you: receive it, engrave it in your minds, all of you: by God's commandment salvation is to be found nowhere but in the Church ; the strong and effective instrument of salvation is none other than the Roman Pontificate. ” (Pope Leo XIII, Allocution for the 25th anniversary of his election, February 20, 1903; Papal Teachings: The Church, Benedictine Monks of Solesmes, St. Paul Editions, Boston, 1962, par. 653). If you can't believe that by Christ alone we obtain redemption through the crucifixion by faith – trust in his work, then your sins are permanently NOT forgiven. If you also believe redemption is being accomplished through the ongoing work of ROMAN Catholic sacraments then you have not entered the way Jesus spoke of. If you can't believe salvation is by faith and “not of works,” then you have not entered the way He spoke of. In other words, you can't practice the Bible and the traditions of the church, at the same time. They are in opposition to each other. “...the faithful are obliged to submit to their bishops' decision...in matters of faith and morals....This loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given ...[to] the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra.... For the Roman Pontiff...has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church ....(Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, III, 22., 24.) [underlines added] Though they tell you they go together, they in fact do not. When a Roman Catholic “believes in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he finds himself in a conflict with the doctrines and practices of his Church. As do Muslims, Jews, Mormons, because it is all about Jesus Christ and not a sinful man nor any organization. Again when carefully looked at, it is not logically POSSIBLE for Roman Catholics to truly BELIEVE THE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE, and of their church at the same time. You cannot hold to the bibles teachings from the apostles and AT THE SAME TIME hold to the tenets of Roman Catholicism’s added traditions long after the apostles. They are diametrically opposed to each other. “...the faithful are obliged to submit to their bishops' decision...in matters of faith and morals....This loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given ...[to] the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra.... For the Roman Pontiff...has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church ....(Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, III, 22., 24.) [underlines added] So it was from Constantine’s time onward to today! That is the reason for their tradition. Because when you believe and live by the words of the apostles you cannot be brought into bondage to any man or religious system, Christ Jesus has set you free. And whom he son sets free, is free indeed!
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