Can we Trust the Holy Bible?

Can we really believe the Bible? Or to some can we believe it as the Word of God?

There is one reason we can believe it. And that's prophecy. The Holy Bible commends itself as the Word of God. It is in fact the testimony of Christ, sent to us by God the Father.  It’s a revelation of God and his creation; his plan for humanity from the beginning. The Bible can be summarized in a word: Christ. So Christ came to live the Word literally. And this testimony of Christ has the spirit of prophecy- meaning it predicts the future of mankind among others. Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you things now that when they happen you will believe me." He also said (in the Old Testament) that he declares the end from the beginning and his plan and purposes for all creation will not be thwarted. 

The coming of Christ as a man was predicted 4000 years more or less in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. The (book of the) Prophets predicted the birth: (1) place (Bethlehem), the time (reign of Herod); the virgin birth (with Virgin Mary); (2) his life and ministry; (3) his death, (4) and his resurrection. In fact the Old Testament prophecies about Christ coming as Messiah or the Anointed One are all fulfilled in the New Testament. I have concluded that the Bible is the history of the universe - past, present and future - from creation to last day of all creation. The last day of the old creation will be the beginning of the new creation where: (1) sin and its consequences of pain and suffering, and (2) death will be no more.

In the book of Daniel of the Old Testament it predicted the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Rome later was divided into 10 but three were overthrown leaving 7 nations – Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. History will tell us that three of these ten nations were overthrown by Papal Rome because they opposed the latter’s teachings about Christianity. (How’s that for someone to force somebody to believe one’s faith.) Out of the remaining seven nations came a state (or nation) that is different from all others - the Vatican state (Papal Rome). It's different in the sense that it has both secular or temporal powers (although this power was enforced in the past through kings, queens or monarchs of states) as well as ecclesiastical. In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, Vatican or papal Rome is the little horn or sea beast that wages war against the true believers of God .i.e., true Christians. History has again proven true this prophecy and is recorded as the Dark Ages when the Protestant Reformers like Luther, Calvin, Knox, Jerome, Zwingli, Wycliffe, etc. were persecuted and many were burned at the stake because of their opposition to the Catholic Church. The book of Daniel foretold these nations including Vatican and all others will last until the last day when the Kingdom of God will overthrow them all. These the Bible predicted. Notice that from our viewpoint today the Bible narrative has a past, a present and a future.

There is another important prophecy from the Bible. The Vatican is portrayed as the antichrist. Take anti to mean covertly against or deceptively like counterfeit money. The latter deceives many for it looks the same as the original. This is true for the Roman Catholic Church system. They appear to be the true church (in fact they claim they are) but they are counterfeit in fact. She is in truth the front man of Satan, who gave her the throne, power and authority. However, in the last days preceding the overthrow of all nations the Vatican will be exposed as the antichrist – one truly opposing Christ and many people will get the surprise of their life. It will be too late however for billions of people to change their destiny.

Incidentally I was a Catholic for 55 years since birth. My parents and their parents and I am sure my great grandparents’ parents, were also Roman Catholics. It’s a good thing I got undeceived and got out of the Roman Catholic faith to save myself from Satan’s deception or grip. I would end up lost otherwise.

Actually the meaning of anti is in place of God (or substitute). The early popes claimed that they are substitutes of God (Vicarivs Filii Dei) on earth. (Count the Roman numerals which amount to 666. This is affirmed by the scriptures in the book of Revelation chapter 13). They place themselves in the place of God. The book of Daniel says Papal Rome will speak blasphemous words. Saying you are God on earth and you can forgive sin, Papal Rome proves true to what Daniel prophesied. This power state also thinks he can change the times and the laws of God. This she actually did when she removed the 2nd commandment (image worship), changed the fourth commandment with Sunday replacing Saturday or Sabbath; with the removal of the 2nd commandment they broke into two commandments the 10th to bring back the total to 10. This leaves the Roman Catholics breaking two of God’s laws involuntarily. They feel secure or safe when they are not if truth be told.



31st Anniversary of Medjugorje



The biggest and present lie that is being presented as truth is the elevation of the Virgin Mary and the Pope to the level of Christ. As a result Christ is eclipsed in importance. In this manner the Pope and the Virgin Mary act as substitutes of Christ on earth. Either one is presented  as a way to eternal life just like Jesus. This is Satan’s deception. However, Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Note that Jesus did not say I am a way, a truth, or a life. Rather He is the only way, the only truth and the only source of life (redemption).



Pope Delivers Blessings to Worshiping Crowd

Read the Bible then to know the truth about where the earth and each individual will go. There are only two kinds of people: the saved and the condemned. Those saved will have a second life or eternal life. The other group when they die will have a second death. Let me explain. Every man dies once for we are mortal (both body and soul die) then the dead will rest on the grave and be resurrected for judgment although at different times. The righteous dead will be rewarded with eternal life; the condemned will be destroyed by fire from heaven, which is the eternal death or second death. (Incidentally I cannot find a scripture text that affirms the existence of hell at present where Satan is supposed to rule over wicked people being tormented. The Roman Catholic Church uses the presence of hell from the very beginning to scare people into submission to the Catholic faith. Many blaspheme God because of this doctrine.)

Let me add that those living when the last day comes (Judgment Day or Day of the Lord, which is Christ’s return) will have a divided fate: the righteous living, i.e. true believers, will be taken to heaven alive together with the resurrected righteous dead who were all the time resting in their grave (this includes the virgin Mary, John, Peter and all apostles, et al.) In contrast the unrighteous living - those left living after a great tribulation that precedes Christ’s return for God’s people - will be killed and destroyed and left on earth with no one to bury them. Thus the earth will be desolate of any living thing and return to its formless and void nature as in the beginning before creation of men and other living creatures. Satan will be left alone on the desolate earth with no one to tempt. He is virtually imprisoned. The unrighteous dead will remain dead for a thousand years when they will be resurrected to suffer the second death. Satan and his demons will suffer the same fate as the unrighteous. The hell fire from heaven not only kills all humans – the resurrected unrighteous dead - but will destroy all creation including all things on earth and the heavens. This will purify the heavens and the earth of sin and its consequences. God will make new the heavens and (same) earth. On this earth made new God the Father and the Son and all the redeemed will come down to live. This is our future as Christ reveals through the Word of God.

I recommend that you read the Holy Scriptures. In it you will trace history of mankind, you included, and the history of the heavens and earth and all things in them. Your present and future life is at stake. Seize this opportunity to make your destiny secure. You have two choices: God- empowered life or go on your own effort and counsel but virtually powerless to resist the influences of Satan and the fallen world.

As for me I have chosen to completely depend on God’s counsel and instruction as written in the Holy Bible. For He said in his Word that living with your own effort and counsel is tantamount to living dangerously and without safety. I have found this to be true.

God's Word is Truth



The Holy Scripture

What is truth? God reveals himself to us – who he is, His will, His ways, His pleasures, plans and purposes for his creation. Out of love He does this. At the same time He tells us who we are. This is what scholars and theologians are telling us as the absolute truth – which is found only in the Scriptures. It is all about God, us and all other things in this life –visible and invisible, natural and supernatural, physical and spiritual. All these things apart from God, were the creation of God the Almighty and the Most High: man for His pleasure and delight and the other created things as God’s gifts for men‘s sustenance to increase; to give pleasure or enjoyment, joy and meaning to life.

 God wants us to know all truth and these He reveals in His Word to keep us from lies that the Devil promotes. For this knowledge and understanding will immensely benefit us as we live our lives in the freedom that God gives. (In contrast doers of evil are captives of the devil.) Great benefits come to man as they tend, keep, care for and nourish the other part of creation—moving, creeping and other living things on earth, fish on the sea, and elements in the atmosphere. As we do right and keep God’s ways, God’s pleasure with and of us is graciously shown. On the other hand the unrighteousness of humans—symptom of the fallen nature of humanity—only brings disorder, destruction, confusion, hopelessness, fear, guilt, shame and the like. For God did not create us to do these things. They cause Him displeasure and ultimately bring condemnation in the end. The latter inevitably will come unless we return to Him repentant and asking for His forgiveness.

As we please and delight God in doing only righteous and just acts, He rewards and delights us in turn with the desires of our hearts. He works out circumstances for good in your home, at work, in the office or business and at times of ordinary activities. He will provide the knowledge and wisdom you need to make the right choice or decision at any given time. In addition the material things—money and other resources—will be in your hands at the time of need to accomplish your plans.



Jesus with Followers



His love for his creation—especially men—is the primary motivation God is doing these just and good things. He is cordial, gracious, kind and He shows us good will. Natural and supernatural powers are manifested and they are the ingredients of God’s love or grace. During these times we may feel amazed or may wonder or will bring praise to our lips and most of all worship. As a consequence the faith He gave us initially will grow and mature. Trusting God in all things comes as a matter of course. That’s the time you will feel life is really meaningful and thus worth living. Joy and happiness are yours forever more.

God’s work in our lives is not done in a vacuum but in an intimate relationship with Him. He is our beloved Father and we are His children. We need to remember that in the beginning He created us for His pleasure. We are His delight—His treasure. To be so He provides all the means so we can become as desirable children. He wants us nearby always; to be obedient and dependent to His will and providence for we know them to be reasonable and just. As we are these, He becomes generous with good things coming our way.

 

There's No Such Thing as Everlasting Love

There's No Such Thing as Everlasting Love (according to science) - The Atlantic

In contrast, the Scripture says, God is love. God is eternal, too. And God never change! So there's is everlasting love.

To be sure, the latter speaks the truth. The former is cute but men know only infinitesimal truth compared to God.

Body, Soul and Spirit

Introduction

There’s a confusion among the faithful about the body, soul and spirit. After death, will the soul depart or is it the spirit which does? If the soul did, it is immortal. If the latter did, it is the eternal one.

Usually with the body – its form now and in the eternal- there is no disagreement that has surfaced that I know of. 

The Scripture Defines Soul and Spirit

 I heard a pastor of PMCC-4thWatch (Marikina, Philippines) discuss about man’s soul departing after death. He cited Genesis 35:18 of the King James Version. The verse: “And it came to pass, as her (Rachel) soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.”

The pastor, as can be expected, concluded that when a person dies, the soul departs. This supports their church claim that the soul of the dead leaves the body and departs for either heaven or hell. Is this a case of one text-doctrine? Would other texts in the whole Bible confirm or contradict such teaching? At the conclusion of our study our reader can easily form their belief as I have.

We have parallel or similar texts in New International Version (NIV) of the particular text.¹ [The following discussion will touch on variations, i.e. understanding, of translations. Knowing which translation is correct or more precise is left to readers. This is where those with the Spirit and those without will be truly separated.  Consider my suggestion: line up as many texts as necessary about the topic as we do below. All scriptures come from the NIV. This is letting the Bible be consistent with its truth; it will give readers the correct understanding of the Word of God.]

1.                   As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni…” (Genesis 35:18)

2.                  We consider Jesus as he is in the throes of death. “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

3.                 Then we look at 1 Corinthians 5: 5, NIV “…hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord [think of the execution of judgment at the second coming of our Lord]  

                          

4.                 Another verse to appreciate: “When their spirit departs, they return to the ground (think of man’s death and burial); on that very day their plans come to nothing.” (Psalm 146:4)

5.                  We see a reverse. i.e., return of the spirit to a dead girl in Luke 8: 55 as Jesus revived her: “Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.”

6.                “…the breath of God is in my nostrils,” says Job 27:3

7.            “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4

It is very clear that it is the spirit of man that departs and not the soul as commonly known. The latter is the result of the ascendancy of the KJV over newer translations. The latter belief, which is false, is the source of another false belief: immortal soul. This is a common pagan belief. In contrast, the first century Christians, those taught by the apostles, the twelve apostles and succeeding generations, believed that the dead -- body and soul -- go to the grave to await resurrection. This belief was gradually lost and gained greater momentum in the fourth century when King Constantine made himself a nominal Christian to get the gentiles into the Christian faith.

If you consider the alignment of the seven texts above, which amounts to the perspective of the whole Bible, it is not the soul that departs after death but the spirit. And during the resurrection of the dead, God returns the individual’s spirit—which is the same one that departed. Then, the spirit serves a double purpose: breath of life and person’s identification, with the latter also having the person’s lifetime record, which is vital in the judgment. Consequently, I can say for sure that the “soul” in Genesis 35:18 of the King James Version is synonymous as the ‘spirit” in the NIV. It is more accurate to have ‘soul’ translated as ‘spirit’, the breath of life from God.

King James Version is not as Precise as New International Version

This same translation ‘inconsistency’ between the King James Version –an early English translation (1611)—and later translations like the NIV also occurs with the words hell and grave.  There are 54 references to hell in KJV; only 15 in NIV. The reason is for the fact that NIV translated all 31 ‘Sheol’ (Hebrew) in the OT as grave, a place for the dead, in place of hell that KJV used; and 8 Hades (Greek) in the NT also as grave. This leaves only 15 translated as hell. Some of the 15 ‘hell’ words are meant as hyperbole—not to confirm the presence of hell as we know it; and the rest ‘hell’ words are translated from the Greek word ‘gehenna’—a burning, garbage heap—always seen with smoke rising into the sky—outside  the Jerusalem. This burning heap symbolizes the burning earth at judgment time for the wicked that includes Satan and his demons.

What to make out of this?

The context of the whole Bible must be the only consideration: the soul is destroyed with the body as Jesus said so in Matthew 10:28; it is the spirit that returns to God.

John 3: 16 would also be instructive: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Note the word ‘perish’. It also means to die.

We appreciate next the event in the Garden of Eden. [Eve speaking to Satan]” …God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” With the last underline think of the second death or eternal death, the judgment of the unrighteous at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, think of those declared righteous because of the faith in the gospel of Christ. They will not surely die [think eternal life].

The Brain Makes the Soul

Indirectly, we can know if our understanding is correct by defining the word ‘soul’. Our usual understanding of the soul would be synonymous to the sum-total of our character. In other words the word ‘soul’ embodies our character, which is predestined by God to conform to that of Christ (Romans 8:29) as we are freed from committing sins in our lifetime. In turn character is molded by our thoughts, will, conscience, attitudes, feelings, choices and actions. All these are mediated and brought about by our mind. i.e., brain. Have you heard of the term ‘brain-dead’? Doctors use this term to pronounce anyone dead. On the other hand, the word spirit in the Bible is the breath in our nostrils. (Job 27:3; 33:4) When one expires—we say he or she has breathed his or her last. Therefore, death is body and soul (mind) minus the spirit.

 Jesus Death and Resurrection is Our Model

Finally, we look at Jesus’ death and resurrection as model as I earlier suggested to which we test doctrines. Before he breathed his last, Jesus re-committed his spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46), his body and soul went to the grave [think of Sheol of OT and Hades of NT) and he rested there for three days, after which He was raised to life by God by returning His spirit. In the familiar body form, Jesus stayed for 40 days after resurrection and appeared to the Twelve Apostles and to many before He ascended into heaven body, soul and spirit, meaning the whole person. Come to think of it, if His soul has really departed for heaven after He died on the cross, it would have caused inconvenience for the Father to send Jesus’ soul back to earth. Of course this is a lie that most of us have known from the beginning, even the pagans belief of immortal soul.

 To apply it to my deceased father: (1) he breathed his last in 1995; if Christ returns in 2013 and he is one of God’s children, he will be raised from Sheol (grave) or Hades (grave) where he slept for 18 years, after God has returned his spirit; then he is taken by angels into heaven together with the living children of God, who, unlike my father, will not have experienced death. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17) 

My testimony: Praise God for this eternal hope of immortality, as a result of which I do not fear death.

Notes:

¹ The King James Version [and New King James Version] are word for word literal translation of the Scriptures, with manuscripts being orginally written in Hebrew and Greek. On the other hand, the New International Version is a meaning to meaning translation of the same original manuscripts. This fact undeniably will cause a difference between the two translations.

Substitutes of Christ

Introduction

The Holy Bible describes—albeit symbolically—the antichrist power as an organized religious system, given authority by Satan. It is a counterfeit system with a beautiful façade, i. e. Christ-like, tasked to promote the devil’s prime interest as he competes with Christ for the loyalty of humanity.¹ The Bible underscores Satan’s primary purpose as spoken of by Jesus: “Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy” and he does it surreptitiously under the cover of darkness (ignorance of truth). That we cannot see Satan and his demons makes for an environment pregnant and fertile for their work of deception. As a result they easily put doubt on people’s mind of the true character of God and much more that He exists.

False Religions are Antichrists

First, there’s the antichrist religious power, i.e., the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) ² and second, the minor antichrists, all false CHRISTIAN religions. ³ (There are now thousands of Christian denominations or congregations worldwide and increasing day by day. Only one of these is the true religion).⁴ They act, behave and promote themselves as true religions. But this is only an outward appearance for they are really counterfeits. Think of the Pharisees of the Old Testament; or the “Padre Damasos”, hypocritical priests in the Philippine hero Rizal’s writings.” People tend to believe them for they are teaching from the Bible and appropriating for themselves positions they themselves created. They actually use religious language and infuse mysticism and more mystery on their teachings, practices and rituals. These make their followers more confused or not nearer to the truth. Some leaders and teachers do it with sincere hearts but as they are being deceived by Satan, they are teaching a mix of truth and error. Most will do it with intention to make money or to gain power out of their so-called service to God. The Bible calls the latter groups false prophets who peddle (sell) the truth.⁵

Notes:

^{1 “}And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14, ESV)

² This is an old revelation, traced even as early as the first century at the time Paul and John. It was given more emphasis during the time of the Protestant Reformation. Luther, et al. pointed their finger to the Roman Catholic Church as the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible.  This history of the church (God’s people) has been totally forgotten to the detriment of succeeding believers—generations to generations. Their  assurance of salvation is totally compromised unless they study the Bible on their own.

³ The ultimate Antichrist will be Satan himself. As God’s people [Church] eagerly awaits Christ’s Second Coming Satan will counterfeit Christ’s appearance. Those who have not loved the truth, meaning who have not read, understood and practiced the Bible’s truth or principles will fall for this sham and will be destroyed in the true Second Coming of Christ. In fact many generations have died who have believed the lies. And for them Judgment has been entered in the books of Heaven; its execution done in the 2^nd Coming.

⁴ The sum total of all Christian religions (denominations or congregations) comprises the Church. Within every congregation are true believers and false. God will separate them ultimately in the Day of Judgment for He alone knows everyone’s heart. Therefore, Luther, the protestant reformist, in saying that the true church is invisible is telling us what it really is. What we are seeing now is every Tom, Dick or Harry is calling his church as true as if they (leaders) can know of everyone’s heart and God has entrusted them with the judgment. Can any man be fair? No man can be. Precisely, Jesus said that no man should judge for who can be a fair one when man is fallible. What about the non-Christian religions? In God’s eyes they are unbelievers (heathens), to be grouped with the false Christians at the Day of Judgment.

⁵ Some false prophets may even believed what they teach are indeed true, although they are rare. Let’s hear Paul on this subject. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3-6 (ESV) Paul says, “³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with words of flattery,^[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.” Like Paul, false prophets also claim these things mentioned above. 

The Bible affirms that Satan has deceived the whole world. He rules the world now.⁶ This is not an over exaggeration. Tens of millions members of these false church systems are as deceived as their priests, pastors, preachers, ministers and so-called founders. And they are not aware of it. There lies the great danger of deception—that you are not aware you are being deceived. Members think they are worshiping the true God but in fact they are worshiping a substitute image (god). They feel secure and safe but in truth this is false security. 

Nevertheless, the Bible also affirms that true believers are inside these false religions and God will call them out at the opportune time that He will determine. I am one good example being called out from the Roman Catholic Church when I was already 55 years old. I got deceived just as my parents were, as their parents were, as the latter’s parents were and so on. By God’s grace through His Word I got undeceived.  I feel great, thankful and really secure with my deliverance from lies.⁷

This is the meaning of the truth of Antichrist as written in the Bible: false religions teach and practice some doctrines that in fact obscure or divert the focus of the believer from Christ. By their teachings they make an image or present a person, e.g. Pope or the dead Virgin Mary and other dead saints or living persons claiming to be the Christ, to take the place of God and make people worship them subconsciously  As a result their followers think they have come to believe and worship Christ and/or God the Father. What they actually worship is a substitute poised before their eyes and hearing. The dark reality is hidden from their consciousness. This is not different from the idolatry that the second commandment speaks about. They are thinking Christ while worshiping a powerless graven image impressed on their minds by false teachings. This is unlike the time the Israelites worshiped the golden calf fashioned by Aaron at their instigation.

Notes:

⁶ And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, which is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9, ESV) Another text to consider, “…concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16: 9-11, ESV)

⁷ Baptism of children at least one year of age makes a continuous line of generations of Catholics. Each person’s faith is inherited so to speak. This is not biblical for one’s faith must be each individual’s decision. Faith in God comes from both reason and heart and not through an ordained practice of any church. Out of ignorance of the truth, the parents of Roman Catholics are inadvertent parties to the deception of their children.

False doctrines and false practices come from misunderstanding the Bible

Bible misinterpretation, intentional or not, is the root cause of false practices and wrong teachings. In addition the Roman Catholic Church holds traditions and old pagan practices as worthy as the Scripture for rules of faith and practice. Traditions are actually rules derived from the opinions of men that have been passed from generations to generations. The Romans’ practice of polytheism is one good example of the numerous pagan practices. History tells us that the RCC adopted the images of the Romans’ gods and goddesses and conveniently renamed them with the names of well-known religious figures like St. Peter, St. Paul, et al. There is an amalgamation of true religion concepts or beliefs and false ones--appearing beautiful and truthful but in fact a bitter and dangerous brew.

On the other hand the mainline Protestant Christians, whom biblical prophecy names as daughters of the RCC,⁸ hold the Bible as the sole source of truth or principles. In this group misrepresentation is the main source of error for they have the spirit of darkness teaching them. Error is fatal for one’s salvation however sincere one may be in one’s faith.

Salvation is God’s Primary Blessing

The most important or primary blessing being given by God is our salvation or redemption. This is the foundation of all God’s providence. God is holding all men—from Adam to the last human--accountable for their sins and the penalty of death hangs on their heads. Salvation through Christ frees you from Satan and his lies, from being captive of sin and from the penalty of death. It involves God putting to death your inherited sinful nature, changing your heart and spirit and transforming your mind as you behold Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection. Freed from sinful tendencies, from Satan and from the world’s influences, one has the freedom to do right and truly become a child of God. When saved, one’s life - physical, mental, social and spiritual—here on earth changes for the better and this will grow, mature and hold firm into the resurrection life. ⁹ Physical death is just a temporary rest between the present life and life in the eternal. In fact Jesus said death is like sleep. As you awake from sleep in the resurrection you take up the moment or memory of things before your sleep. This is the manner that death and sleep are similar. (The unrighteous dead will have the same identity and experience when they wake up on their resurrection. For example Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Napoleon, Stalin, Gadhafi and the like will still be wicked harboring unrighteous thoughts. It is not far fetched to think that Satan will employ them to lead big armies of wicked people as they war with the righteous in the last battle called Armageddon.) ¹⁰

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ^{Notes: 8} The bible prophecy we are talking about is found in these texts: “The woman [=Roman church] was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes [=Protestant religion] and of earth's abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus [=persecutions done by the Roman Catholic Church in the early and Middle Ages].( Revelation 17:4-6) The Roman Catholic Church is really in apostasy, which was prefigured by Israel in the Old Testament, who were first in apostasy. In contrast, what the Old Testament called the “remnant” of Israel prefigures the true people of God in these modern times. If the remnant Israelites are said to have scattered in the four corners of the earth, the contemporary remnant people of God are also scattered.  Many believers today are confusing the physical and organized church with the true “temple of the Spirit (God)”, which is the individual believer, and taken collectively they are the invisible Church. That’s the reason they take the bait of the rampant false teaching that an organized church can take them into the Kingdom of God. Consequently, many of these Christians are nominal in their faith, which should be expected.

⁹ In practice, all these good things accrue to one who is faithful as he reads and study, accept and obey what the Bible teaches. In short God’s way to redemption is found in the Bible. Understanding the gospel and walking in conformity on a daily basis and standing in faith until the end give assurance of one’s salvation.

^{10 “}For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.  (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:14-16, ESV)

False Religion Teaches a Way to Eternal Life other than Jesus

The ultimate reward of salvation is immortality. False religions or these antichrists present to people ways to salvation, which is essentially the GOSPEL, that deviate from what the Bible ordains. The Bible calls these ways FALSE GOSPELS. Invariably a false church preaches that you can only be saved by being baptized in their church. The RCC claims this false gospel; and also the Philippines’ “Iglesia Ni Kristo” (INC) just to name two. One who claims their whole church membership will be saved is saying the same thing as the RCC and INC, e.g. the Philippines’ “The Old Path” of Bro. Eli Soriano. In these cases the church as they define is made the image to take the place of Christ as Savior. This is a subtle deception not readily discerned or known by the members or anyone for that matter, but their ‘fruits’ will manifest the real character of the ‘faithful’. In truth, this teaching lacks the power to transform and renew a person.

But what does the Scripture say? Christ said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Note the definite article the preceding way, truth and life. It means Christ is the only way towards the Father, he is the absolute truth and he is the only source of eternal life. God the Father ordained it this way even before the creation. ¹¹ He has given Christ all the authority in heaven and on earth.  This is the essence of the GOSPEL. What Christ has done when he came the first time as a man, his death, and his resurrection produced the bases whereby salvation is secured for anyone who receives Christ and believes. He has ascended to heaven to serve as our High Priest and is forever living to intercede in behalf of the true believers; ¹² and giving power to their lives through the Spirit. He will come back as King and Lord, overthrow all earthly kingdoms and re-establish the Kingdom of God that will last forever. This is the ultimate prophecy that the Scriptures have in the book of Daniel and Revelation.

The antichrist powers obscure this truth about Christ. For example RCC says 1) you can be forgiven of your sins by doing penance and being credited of indulgences earned by the Pope, Mary, the saints, religious brothers and nuns after confessing your sins to a human priest, 2) the soul of the dead can go to purgatory and be forgiven sins by the offering of a mass by the living or given indulgences after giving a gift to the church; 3)The Eucharist (mass) is a real sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and beneficial for salvation. In all these cases a false image is impressed on the minds of the faithful.The truth is you confess your sins directly to God and Christ will intercede in your behalf. Christ’s death is the once for all (men including those yet to be born) sacrifice that has paid the penalty of past, present and future sins. The way mentioned above as means of salvation for the dead is purely a lie for after death one’s fate has been sealed, for one is judged by his deeds when he or she was living or if he or she has acknowledged, received and believed Christ in his or her life or not. These two options are the same, meaning they have the same dynamics. Mentioned above is the fact that Christ needs only to die once. Therefore, the daily masses done by the Catholics is absolute absurdity. The deception is patent when you know the truth.

The minor antichrists will say: 1) faith in Christ plus membership in their church will save you; 2) their founder is a “messenger”- one sent from God - so their doctrines and the church can only be true and salvation is assured; the doctrine of infallibility is implied; 3) the name of their church is the same as that one written in the Bible (it implies the church name makes the church a true church; ¹³ 4) their programs extol and lift up the founder more than Christ; 5) the founder of the church is Christ himself or an equivalent e.g. Philippine Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Sun Myung Moon, Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, José Luis de Jesús Miranda, et al. All these take away the focus on Christ. Although Christ is also preached together with these extraneous teachings, a different image other than Christ are impressed on their minds. This is where the daily or weekly rituals and church rules and practices—(e.g. weekly worship, pilgrimage to the main or central church or miracle sites; big donations)--of this kind of churches obtain power and becomes the ends rather than the means toward redemption. On the other hand a church that preaches Christ solely cannot go wrong for Christ is both the means and the end. ¹⁴

In the first case above, they would be thinking their church would save them so they devote themselves zealously to practices, causes, services and ministries of the church. On the second case, they would adhere blindly to whatever their “messenger” teaches them. They are blind to the fact that he is a fallible human just as anyone else. In the third case, the inanimate object, which is the church name, gives them false security. And on the fourth and fifth cases, we take Pastor Quiboloy as a good example. He takes the place of Christ (God)--the essence of the antichrist. Instead of preaching “follow Christ” he tells his members “follow me.”These five examples impress a substitute image of Christ in their members’ mind. These false images, being visible and continually promoted have power. In contrast, with Christ not visible and second priority in the preaching program, Christ remains mostly under the radar of the members’ mind. There is great danger in these impure teachings for they blindside the ‘faithful’. As a result, they may feel secure in their redemption but are actually lost.

Truth is only found in the Scriptures

Truth can only be found in Christ or in the Word of God. They are one and the same. The Bible is the Word of God given to us by God himself. God preserved it through the ages for everyone; primarily to counteract the many lies that Satan speaks through his evil followers. From cover to cover Christ dominates the Word. He is the creator, the lawgiver, the covenant maker and invisible leader and deliverer, protector and judge of his people in the Old Testament. In the New Testament he is the incarnate Christ (one who came in the flesh), the one who lived the Holy Spirit-empowered life that we should follow, the one who died, the one who resurrected, the one who ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of God, the exalted one of God, the one who lives forever to act as mediator or our advocate before the Father, and in the future the one to come for his brothers and sisters (the righteous or true believers of both the Old and New Testament times) to be presented to the Father in heaven. All these things embody what Christ says that he represents: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Nothing can add to our salvation for Christ is all-sufficient. Only in complete union with Christ—in death and in life--is one saved.

Salvation is God’s Free Gift

Our salvation is a gift from God! Indeed, all the means—faith, repentance, power, strength, purification, godliness, hope, etc.—beneficial for redemption proceeds from him. No church or person (even Mary as Catholics are made to believe and who is resting in her grave up to this moment) can add to what Christ has done and what he is doing and what He will do for us. A true believer only has to accept and believe Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and live as he lived. And one can only do so on Christ’s grace, i.e. power and strength. In doing this they enter a covenant i.e. relationship and fellowship, with God the Father and Christ through the Holy Spirit that dwells within them. The same Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) gives them power or strength to obey God’s commands, precepts and teachings found in the Bible, e.g. the true Ten Commandments, that they might please the Father and find grace throughout their lifetime; preserved to stand faithful until the end.

From the beginning the Father has given the authority to his Son to do all of the above. The Son has really delivered so far and there is no question the Son will complete his work until all is accomplished. All things, especially humanity, that are wrought by man’s greed and sin are beyond saving; of course except for the true believers. They will be destroyed by a consuming fire from heaven (as exemplified by the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah) and turned to ashes to be trampled upon by the righteous who will inherit the earth made new by God.

The Church was Ordained and Established by Christ

Do we still need a church then? Yes, the Bible teaches that you need a church. In fact it is the body of Christ and He is the head. If we speak of the body this is the collective living body of the faithful and not the physical churches that are visible. Now Christ lives forever seated in the right hand of the Father. It means all things co-here in Him. It also means He is in command over the heavens and the earth and all things in them. (It is not Peter or the Pope as the RCC teaches. In fact they are dead and they are in their graves. Who can have power while dead, or much more act in our behalf?). The church has some essential purposes and roles to play on the earthly life of the believers. It proclaims the gospel to the ends of the earth and this inexorably builds the church. It teaches the Word of truth which is the power to cleanse and purify the saints’ lives to prepare them for the future eternal Kingdom.

Read and Study the Bible First on your Own,

...to answer the question: is the true church visible as a particular denomination that we know now or remains invisible?

As a new seeker of truth, you must read and study the Bible first because of the circumstances I have told above. False religions abound worldwide and one will most likely meet one. Probably you are already in one of the religions or denominations I have mentioned above. Satan rules the world at the moment so that most of the teachers of Scriptures are being deceived.

 First thing to do is to get to know the theme(s) and topics that the whole Bible presents. Get the overview first thing.  View the forest so to speak from above not minding the trees (details) at the meantime. For example one grand theme is the spiritual as well as the physical battle of Christ (with his angels) and Satan (with his fallen angels). The battle is arguments of truth (the Scripture) in case of Christ and of lies (misrepresentation of the Scripture) in the case of Satan. Both will use human instruments, true religion systems and false or counterfeit, respectively).  And humanity is in the middle of the war.¹⁵ But of course the one big and encompassing and primary theme is the salvation story, where God the Father through Christ enters into an everlasting covenant with His children whom He sovereignly calls, chooses and preserves for the eternal life!

 When you got the feel of the story of salvation, i.e. gospel, which is Christ’s deliverance of humanity from being captive of Satan and unrighteousness you are ready to read religious books and articles in magazines dealing with the Bible and hearing preachers as they preach Christ. But note down the teachings they are presenting and the references on Scripture and study them at home. Your understanding of scripture must prevail always. Do not take as Bible truth their teachings until you have checked it against your understanding of the reference text (s). The Bible has a promise that God himself teaches his children—God knows His true children-- as they read scriptures. The Holy Spirit who is the author will reveal truth progressively. Be patient, for deep truths will take time to be understood or revealed in your study of the Word. 

May God bless you with His grace and peace!

Notes:

¹¹ Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” This statement defines the complete process of salvation. The WAY speaks of a path to the Father’s heart, who is Christ; Christ brings the Word of TRUTH to all men; the Word makes them holy (Christ said in John 17:17: “Father, sanctify them with your truth. Your WORD is truth.”) Being made holy you can enter LIFE, which is the blessed hope. To be precise eternal life has started upon baptism into the faith of Christ. Then God gives the assurance of eternal life as one remains in Christ until the end. God, when He calls someone has already qualified him or her as His child. The experience is exclusive to the individual, which we cannot say to be true with any collective visible church. However, it is to be said that true and false believers make up the membership of every Christian church. It is for this reason that no visible church can say they are the true church. Any church that does this misrepresentation is making a false image that becomes a stumbling block for the salvation of anyone. In contrast, the image of Christ when lifted up by a preacher becomes the power of God for salvation.

¹² This presents the importance of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray to God and Christ, who is our High Priest seated on the right hand of the throne. He intercedes for us.

¹³ In the Old Testament Israel is the equivalent of the Church of God today. Israel is a Biblical name. Has the name “Israel” saved every Jew? Today, will a church named “Church of God” save every one of its members? No is the answer for both questions. This falsifies the statement that a church to be true must have a name that is written in the Bible. Another good example is the fact that the term “Holy Bible” cannot be found in the Scripture. But still believers are treating every word of the Bible as the Word of God and as truth.

¹⁴ In you have an interview with a Bro. Eli Soriano follower you will invariably, if not all the time, elicit praise for the preacher.  In this case the follower believes he is saved by being a follower of Bro. Eli Soriano and will live that way. This image is always on the top and center of his mind and Christ is just in the perimeter. Consequently, over time he or she follows Bro. Eli’s pronouncements faithfully and believes all of them to be true. It is doubly dangerous as the follower now neglects totally the reading and studying of the Bible on his or her own. I call this following an image of Bro. Eli rather than of Christ. This proves to be the power of the antichrist as I have mentioned. I am sure the antichrist himself is not aware of this. It would take another man—that has the Spirit of God—to discern this deception. As a counter ploy God takes the initiative to teach His children that He has foreknown.

^{15 “}Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve”. (Luke 22:3, ESV) The Judas’ betrayal resulted in the killing of Jesus. The Bible also records the killing of all innocent children less than two years of age as ordered by Herod, with the purpose of possibly killing the baby Jesus.  This is a couple of good examples of the physical battle between Christ and Satan. The spiritual battle is translated into the physical. (This should make people believe the unseen, which God is). Judas, one of the chosen, is called the man of perdition; the antichrist (RCC) is called with the same name. Before the betrayal, Judas presents a beautiful face but it turns out he is a counterfeit, dark and ugly in the inside. Indeed, false prophets are inside the church and those they have deceived—false believers—are inside too. Jesus said this to be the case. (Read: Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

The Antichrist Unmasked (3)

Foreword

Is the merit-demerit ledger the norm that God use for our redemption? The biblical language: Does our good works merit our salvation? Philstar (Philippine Daily Star) columnist William Esposo is of the belief our merits must outweigh the demerits to have a good standing with God. Good works are our duty as children of God. They don’t merit salvation. We are saved and reconciled with God only through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation comes from Him alone, not from inside us.

What is the relevance of the latest message of the present Pope to the Philippines to our topic? In not so many words he told our newly anointed Cardinal Tagle to bring the Filipinos nearer to him—the “Holy Father” on earth. In contrast the Bible teaches that we come near to God (Christ), and not to any man. It also says not to call anyone on earth father, more so call someone Holy. For someone to call himself holy is the height of pride. ¹ For God alone is holy! In contrast, all men are sinners and they need to be humble before God and fellowmen.

I.  Judgment, Heaven and Hell

Persons Judged Twice (Second Chance Belief)

This belief of the Catholic Church includes: (1) Judgment at death and at the end of life at the Second Coming; (2) ascension of the righteous souls to heaven after death (first judgment), or travel of the unrighteous souls direct to hell after death (also first judgment) or (3) transition in purgatory of some souls and going later to heaven once purged of sins, which is the second chance concept. Comment: purgatory is not found in the Bible canon; only in the Apocrypha. ² I guess the word was ingeniously coined from the word purge. Or borrowed from fiction: “Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy…. It is an allegory ...” (Wikipedia)

Scriptures that falsify these notions are:

Salvation is a process and so is the judgment. The judgment process involves: (1) Satan putting up the charge against us before God, (2) investigation and opening of records, and (3) sentencing and execution of judgment. We will put out below a set of texts to explain the process and the timelines. It is not correct to put out a doctrine with just one scripture or a couple or to pit texts of the Old Testament against those of the New. The Holy Scripture is just one book although composed of many books. It teaches us this in this manner:  “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”. (Isaiah 28:9, 10)  In other words, study as many texts as possible to teach a doctrine. Let’s begin.

Preface: After death judgment begins. Everyone will be charged against the law.

1.      “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)

2.     a.  For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law,                        and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

            (Romans 2:12)
 b.    So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of  

   liberty [The Ten Commandments]. (James 2:12)

Notes:

¹ Again, the Pope is caught in his words. When he says, “Let the people come near me,” he means he is God’s substitute on earth, and has the power to bestow grace and blessings. God is hidden by deception. Consequently, instead of God being worshiped, the Pope is. It is classic idolatry. One who has the Spirit can easily spot the absence of God in the Pope’s message and the presence of a SUBSTITUTE, in this case the Pope is.

² The Apocrypha is not supposed to be part of the Bible Canon. That it has reference of purgatory, which is not found in the canon, speaks for the correctness of historical agreement for its non-inclusion. In other words, it is not an inspired book.

Comment: The Bible teaches that keeping completely the Decalogue is a duty of one chosen and elected by God, which occurs when he or she comes into faith, ³ get baptized and has committed his or her life to God. This is the so-called God’s everlasting covenant with His people, i. e. children, which is in force in all ages.  It is for the love of God and for his or her fellowmen that the elect or faithful obeys God’s will not to sin. Can we do it? “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1: 3, NIV)  

           

First, Satan is the accuser. Our advocate or lawyer is our Lord Jesus Christ, in    His blood we have redemption; He is also the infallible Judge, having been given all authority by the Father.

1.   And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, which is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser [Satan] of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10)  

2.    And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:27, NIV)         

3.    My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1, NIV)

Second, after the announcement of the start of judgment, the investigation of the life’s record begins. It begins with those who professed to be Christians, dead or living, of all generations. [That an investigation is being done now is implied by the fact that at the imminent Second Coming, Christ already has the reward for everyone, either: (1) eternal life, or (2) being killed by the fire of His coming for the unrighteous living, or (3) staying on the grave for the unrighteous dead, later to be raised from the grave and be part of the second resurrection of the damned. [The first resurrection is solely for the righteous.]

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead… And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his,  judgment has come   and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14: 6, 7)

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it             begins with us [Christians], what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) Atheist, agnostics and other unbelievers of Christ are already condemned.   (John 3:18)

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:12)

The dead are asleep in their graves while waiting for the execution of judgment, whether eternal life or second death.

a.   Acts 2:29: “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day.                  

b.    Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6: For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more shares in all that is done under the sun.

c.    Psalm 115: 17: The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.

Notes:

³How then will they call on him [Christ] in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him [Christ] of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14) If you haven’t notice I have been preaching through my articles.

Third, there are two resurrections of all the dead for the execution of judgment at the end of all life--the first, which is the resurrection of life for those of the righteous dead at the Second Coming of Christ and the second—the resurrection of judgment for those of the wicked dead one thousand years later.

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, (1) those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and (2) those that have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:28, 29)

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the  authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of  Jesus and or the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image  and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands [all dead saints]. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years [first resurrection]. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand  years were ended.) Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over  such the  second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they  will reign with him for a thousand years. [Second resurrection]  And  when the thousand years   are ended, Satan will be released from his prison  and will come out to deceive the  nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea [the wicked dead who were resurrected]. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them… [Second death]” (Revelation 20: 4-9)

II.   The second reason why a two-time judgment process is false is the fact that it is solely the individual’s lifetime acts that is judged. One can only prove his or her faith in Christ while living. After one is dead there will be no more acts to add or subtract to his or her record. In addition, the deed or deeds of another person or persons (living) e.g., praying for pardon or buying a written pardon (indulgences) for the benefit of the dead, has no justifiable effect on their redemption. An individual is judged by his deeds and not of another’s.

              III.   When the major premise, i.e., immortality of the soul, is false, any other premise, like second chance pardon, that follows will logically be false as well. In a word, dead persons have no more options to reverse their judgment. This is what Hebrews 9: 27 implies, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (NKJV)

               IV. We cannot work for our redemption. Our good deeds have no redemption merit. We are saved solely on the basis of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We appreciate two texts: (1) “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…” (Ephesians 1:7) and  (2) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12) If we can work for our salvation Jesus did not need to die. 

           B.    Heaven (Author’s note: we have not found any thing wrong with the Catholic’s idea of Heaven.)

           Bible Truth: things that the Bible teaches about Heaven:

1.    The residence of God is the third heaven. The atmosphere, the one nearer to earth is the first heaven; the second heaven is where the planets, sun, moon and stars are.

2.    It is where the true temple of God is—the place where our Lord Jesus Christ ministers to us as our High Priest before He returns to earth for the final judgment of all life. God receives our prayers through Him. He mediates for us in this place.

3.    It is where God’s people are taken at the time that they are rewarded with eternal life at the first resurrection. They will reign with Jesus Christ—meaning they will pass judgment on the unrighteous, Satan and his demons, the fallen angels. [The righteous will see for themselves the record of their family member/s not present in heaven.] They will stay here for 1000 years and at its close they will be brought back to earth which is really their eternal home. Here God and the Lord Jesus Christ will dwell with them.

C.   Hell

The Catholic Encyclopedia states: Hell (infernus) in theological usage is a place of punishment after death. Theologians distinguish four meanings of the term hell:

• Hell in the strict sense, or the place of punishment for the damned, be they demons or men.

Bible truth:  In the Bible, as we already argued, hell is the grave, a place for the dead, where they rest temporarily while waiting execution of judgment.

• The limbo of infants (limbus parvulorum), where those who die in original sin alone, and without personal mortal sin, are confined and undergo some kind of punishment;

Bible truth: A person does not inherit the original sin as we have written The Antichrist Unmasked (1). The Bible speaks not in the details of mortal, venial or any type of sin as the basis of our salvation. But rather that all have sinned and are accountable to God (Romans 3:23); and that the penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23); and that by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ we are saved. Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ brings us forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell us to give us that divine power to live a godly and holy life. The Bible terms this yoked, i.e., union, with Christ. It is only after one is pardoned—justified is the biblical term--which we are again held under the guidance but not condemnation of the Decalogue. (Romans 8:1; Gal 3:23-25)  If we are truly God’s children we are to keep them. Recall the fate of the Israelites—they broke the covenant, which is to say they were not able to keep the laws of God, particularly the Ten Commandments; so that God rejected the first generation; and later the whole of Israel except for a few before the Cross.The application today is the situation that only those whose name is already written in the BOOK OF LIFE will believe the preaching of the word; those not written will not believe the word.

• The limbo of the Fathers (limbus patrum), in which the souls of the just who died before Christ awaited their admission to heaven; for in the meantime heaven was closed against them in punishment for the sin of Adam.

Bible Truth: The Bible speaks not of a transition place between death and final judgment other than the grave.

• Purgatory, where the just, who die in venial sin or who still owe a debt of temporal punishment for sin, are cleansed by suffering before their admission to heaven.

Bible Truth: Again, the Bible speaks not of a transition place between death and final judgment other than the grave.

Things that the Bible teaches or not about hell:  

1.    Hell is not what we know now as a place of eternal burning and eternal torment of the immortal soul, where Satan and his demons rule. The false belief of immortality of the human soul gave birth to this idea. We consider 2 Peter 2:4: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment…” Do you see a trace of eternal burning? Eternal torment? None whatsoever. Instead hell is a place of darkness, which the grave is. Also, the execution of judgment for these fallen angels is still to come, which is on the next return of our Lord after His Second Coming.

2.    Jesus meant hell simply as grave, a place of the dead. It is the translation of the Hebrew word sheol in the Old Testament and Greek word Hades in the New Testament. It was really what they meant to Hebrew and Greek mythology culture at that time. We consider a few texts:

a.         Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Romans 5:12) When one dies, the grave is the only place to go.

b.         [Jesus speaking] “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) It implies that hell is an enemy of God’s people. The next text will clarify the topic further.

c.          [Job speaking] “…where then is my hope—who can see any hope for me?
Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?” (Job 17: 15, 16, NIV) Gates of hell and gates of death are the same, which is the grave.

d.         The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26, NIV) Our Lord Jesus Christ’s victory over death is to be shared with true disciples. Consequently, they have eternal life, the opposite of eternal death, which is the fate of the wicked.

3.     Some reference to hell as translation of Sheol or Hades—those not translated as grave—are meant to be hyperbole. By fire the wicked will be killed; then they go down to the grave. Can a whole person survive a burning ‘hell’? Indeed not. Accordingly the idea of eternal burning is preposterous; and the false belief of the soul being immortal also feeds into the imagined eternal torment of hell.  The following texts are hyperbole:

    a.   And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. (Matt 18:9)

    b.    And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:43)

    c.    “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:11) Can we really ever see the smoke of torment? It is hyperbole.

   d.    But if it is the grave that is meant, why is there an element of fire? And why is it unquenchable? Gehenna is the Greek word that is translated into hell in these verses. It describes the garbage heap just outside the gate of the city, i.e., Jerusalem, where every refuse, dead animals and domestic wastes are dump and are kept burning all the time; also, there’s not a moment that smoke is not seen rising above it into the sky.  This describes what Peter says as the earth becoming burning furnace at the time fire from heaven will kill, destroy and consume all the wicked during their final judgment. Ultimately the eternal fire refers back to God, whose great wrath brought the well deserved eternal condemnation of the wicked, demons and their father, the Devil.

4.    The type of judgment by hell fire for the wicked at the end of time is the fate that doomed Sodom and Gomorrah. The people were destroyed (killed) by consuming fire, which the Lord sent from heaven. In the Bible, eternal fire, i.e. unquenchable, is also a reference to God; sinners cannot see God and live. (Genesis 19:24, 28; Deuteronomy 29:23; Jeremiah 49:18; 50: 40;  Zephaniah 2:9; 2 Peter 2:6;; Matthew 18:8, 25:41; Jude 1: 7.)

5.    Second death, not burning hell, is the punishment of the ungodly:

a.    Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Revelation 20: 14)

b.    But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21: 8)

6.    The end result for the wicked:

a.    [ The Great Day of the LORD ] “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

b.    [The hell fire will turn them to ashes] And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 4:3) Genesis 3:19 prophesied about this: “…for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Note: In the couple of texts quoted above, it is clear that the whole person will be consumed by fire and it leaves ashes on the very place he or she previously occupied. It is inconceivable to think of living persons—since we have already discounted the soul to be living after death—being burned for eternity.

c.    [They are not burning in hell; they will no longer be) Psalm 140:10: Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! Proverbs 10:25: When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever

J.    Exclusive privilege to Interpret

The Bible contradicts this claim of the Roman Catholic Church. God promises His children they will know Him if they seek Him with all their heart, all their soul, their entire mind and all their strength. This is the promise of the new covenant—the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The new covenant is the gospel. Therefore, Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father’s heart, is the gospel in its truest sense. He says, “Come to me those who are weary and heavy laden. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The promise is fulfilled in the true believers—for in Christ Jesus God’s children are born again, i.e. born of God or born of the Spirit. Let the two witnesses—the Old and New Testament—testify on this new covenant, which was inaugurated by Jesus at the Last Supper. (See Deuteronomy 19:15; Revelation 11:1

First, God calls and chooses His children:  

 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.  And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36: 22-28)

Second, God makes a new covenant with His children [think being born again]. It does three things: (1) God forgives all their sins and casts them into the deep seas, to be remembered no more; (2) God sends the Holy Spirit to teach them all truth, and (3) the Holy Spirit indwells believers to impart power to live a holy life. It’s new—compared to that before Christ—because of the empowering new spirit and new heart that God has given, i.e. the conversion, helped about by God’s Spirit in their persons. The Spirit of God will reveal to the children of God of all ages: (1) all truths about Himself [think revelation through the Scriptures], (2) about themselves [that they are sinful and can do nothing without God], (3) about the world [corrupted by sin) and (4) about their redemption, i.e., the gospel. And more the Spirit provides them with wisdom and power to live a holy life that pleases God. If only for these things we are called to be humble. We read Jeremiah 31: 31-34:

           

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new               

covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah [literal as well as

symbolic of all God’s children], not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt,

my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For

this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,

declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their                 

 hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall

 each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for

they shall all know me,from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.

For I will forgive their iniquity,and I will remember their sin no more.”      

We add more scriptures: How are we to know we are God’s children?

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Romans 8:16) How does God teach them? (1) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 6:13) (2) ...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, 12-13)

These arguments of truth demolish all pretensions of exclusivity. Indeed those empowered by God through the Holy Spirit, which includes all children of God, can interpret scriptures by themselves. All along this is God’s design and promise. The written Word of God exists for the purpose that God has envisioned—that every one of His chosen children will fully know Him through the special revelation of His eternal Word. Then in having the Son, whom He sent, they will have life. In having the Son they have the Father. For the Son is the “…radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His (God) being.” (Hebrews 1: 3, NIV)

K.   The doctrine of Pope’s Divine Authority

We quote their statement: “The doctrine of papal primacy upholds the divine authority of the Successor of St. Peter to rule over the entire Church with ordinary and immediate jurisdiction… …Pope Boniface VIII, in his Bull Unam Sanctum (1302), spelled out the doctrine of the necessity of the Church for salvation and with it the necessity of submission to the Roman Pontiff. Regarding the primacy of authority of Peter and his successors he stated:

But this authority, although it is given to man and is exercised by man, is not human, but  rather divine, and has been given (1) by the divine Word to Peter himself and to his successors in him, whom the Lord acknowledged an (2) established rock, when he said to Peter himself: Whatsoever you shall bind etc. [Matt. 18:19]. Therefore, whosoever resists this power so ordained by God, resists the order of God [cf. Rom. 13:2] ...  Furthermore, we declare, say, define, and proclaim to (3) every human creature that they by necessity for salvation are entirely subject to the Roman Pontiff.

“...all the faithful of Christ must believe "that the Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff hold primacy over the whole world, and that the Pontiff of Rome himself is the successor of the blessed Peter, the chief of the apostles, and is the (4) true vicar of Christ and head of the whole Church and faith, and teacher of all Christians; and that to him was handed down in blessed Peter, by our Lord Jesus Christ, full power to feed, rule, and guide the universal Church,                   just as is also contained in the records of the ecumenical Councils and in the sacred canons.”

We find error in the Papal statement on these counts:

1.    On the idea that Peter is the rock—the Papacy’s source of wisdom, understanding and authority—we have argued that according to the Scripture, Peter is not the rock but Jesus Christ. We noted at the same time that Peter is dead and no longer has any part on human affairs. Therefore, the papacy’s claim of divine authority that is passed through Peter to “feed, rule, and guide the universal Church” is an fatal error.  When the major premise, i.e., Peter is the rock, is false, the minor premise also is false.

2.   Peter as head of the church is preposterous. The truth is the living Christ,

      seated at the right hand of the Father, is the real head of the invisible church.

      (Ephesians 5:23; 4:15, RSV)

3.   Peter, or anyone, cannot delegate the authority He received from the Lord

      Christ through the Spirit. “He [Jesus Christ] who descended is the one who

      also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he

       gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and

       teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body

       of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:10-12)

4.         All are subject only to Christ for salvation, not to the Roman Pontiff. Consider this text: “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master (or Lord) that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14: 4) Compare with: (1) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10: 31) (2)  not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…(Ephesians 6:6-7) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men… (Colossians 3:23)

5.        Being Vicar of Christ is different from ambassador of Christ. Men of God are called upon only to act as representatives of Christ—models of thought, words, behavior and actions. These cannot be imparted by any man to another. On the other hand they cannot be vicar or substitute of God. They can quibble about this but I say they are acting as if they are the substitute of God on earth—claiming power and authority that God has not given them. What are these acts, which are God’s sole prerogatives? (1) They do the judgment of men on earth; (2) They forgive men of their sins; (3) They altered the LAW of God, by which sinners are judged. In effect they make their own laws and with them they supplant those of God; (4) they claim the name of “Holy Father” and demand worship. (5) They claim supremacy over all of humanity and thus act as Lord of all men.

Conclusion

We are at the end of a three-part article on the claim of the Papacy of infallibility. It has been a fruitful study for short of two months in the sense that God’s Word, i.e., the Holy Scriptures, fulfills its promises in: (1) 2 Timothy 2:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (NIV); (2) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

All throughout the article we have known the lie and the truth; and we wrote them down for your appreciation. I hope you file them as reference as you study the Bible yourselves. The claim of divine power and authority of the Papacy solely for the fact that they are supposed to be the chosen successors of Peter, one the twelve Apostles, has been the magical, mysterious and mystical potion that held many people into a religious trance. The scriptures found the claim false.

As we delved deeper into the Word of God to test this claim, a test that God himself mandated, ⁴ we found out the Roman Catholic Church is being led and guided by a spirit other than the Spirit of God not closer but farther away from God. If God’s good news, i.e., gospel, is the power of one’s salvation, ⁵ then, being far from God removes one’s only chance and hope for immortality (eternal life).

I thank God for the revelation of many truths during the study through His Word. That I shared it with you brings me fulfillment beyond measure. Like Paul I feel oblige to proclaim the gospel, which is the same as preaching the Kingdom of God, which is inviting everyone. ⁶  It’s your choice to heed or not accept God’s pleading. God has given us the free will to accept or reject His proffered covenant with us. God is saying to us all: “If you be my children, fear and worship me and keep my commandments.” If you enter His covenant it will just confirm the fact that your name is written in heaven’s BOOK OF LIFE. No condemnation awaits you, but rather God’s graces.

Notes:                                                                                                                                                      ⁴ [Test the Spirits] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) 

⁵ [The Righteous Shall Live by Faith in the gospel of Christ] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

 ⁶ [Jesus preaching] ^“And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1: 15)