TEXT:
Revelation 2:24 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
I. The Papalcy
The Roman Church (PAPAL) placed unlimited and immediate authority over the lives of all as was true of the Babylonian Pontiff,
The worship and veneration of images was begun early.
It was first decreed by the Second Council of Nice, 787 AD.
In the ninth century certain emperors attempted to abolish image worship but it was so rooted in the people and the attempt was so resisted by the ignorant and the monks that the emperors gave up their persecutions.
In 896 AD a synod at Constantinople declared in favor for them.
Image worship is purely pagan and came from Babylon.
II. The Priests
Private confession to a priest grew from a small beginning in the second and third centuries
It became an elaborate system in the time of Innocent III, 1215 AD,
It was decreed by the Council of Trent, 1551.
People were compelled to confess to a priest at least once a year and to do penance according to the degree of sins committed.
Penance was fasting, scourging, pilgrimages, etc.
Without confession no one had a right to the sacraments this is the same system Babylon had, which bound the people to the priests by fear of exposure or divine wrath.
III. The Sign of the Cross
This had its origin in the mystic "Tau" of the Babylonian Cult.
It came from the letter, the initial letter of Tammuz (Ezek. 8:14), but better known in the classical writings as Bacchus
The Lamented one, who was Nimrod, the son of Cush.
IV. Lies About The Pope
Attacks against the Pope and Papacy have been something that the Catholic Church has lived with since Peter was first appointed to the position by our Lord Himself
PETER WAS NOT APPOINTED TO THE POSITION BY THE LORD.
2. The Pope has the authority given to him by Christ
CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIM NO SUCH AUTHORITY, only to BELIEVERS
3. To be truly Catholic, one must be in communion with the Pope. And using the Pope's personal flaws to deny that God gave the Pope special authority is wrong.
God did not give the Pope special authority over the Earth 2 Cor. 13:14 - Communion of the Holy Ghost.
4. No bishop can proclaim official teaching except when all the bishops of the world meet in an Ecumenical Council. Most Anglicans and Orthodox deny that an Ecumenical Council can be held until the Church East and West re-unites.
THIS IS THEIR GOAL
5. Protestants also overlook the commission of Christ to Peter in John 21 to feed his lambs and sheep, or any other authority that Jesus gave to St. Peter. Peter was 1 of the 12! Not the Pope
Ezekiel 8:14 - Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? tur three yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: ad, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
The seven churches were chosen by the Holy Spirit! And portray the entirety of the church age.
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamos
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodicea