Foreword
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| Pope Benedict VI |
Second, is the Philippine Senator Miriam Santiago right when she says there are many ways to interpret scripture?
Third, is Peter the first Pope, the source of guidance and wisdom of the Catholic Church?
Fourth, does the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) accept evolution?
Firsthand the writer stipulates that all arguments will have support of scripture so please don’t mind the many references of Bible texts which are drawn from the English Standard Version unless stated otherwise. This will assure everyone that what we say here are not our opinions or conjectures or of human philosophy.
False Claims of the Papacy is the Result of Bible Misinterpretation
In Part I (this article) we will discuss three dangerous misinterpretations of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). They are: (A) Peter is the Rock that the RCC is being built on, (B) that the Eucharist (Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) is called for by God; (C) Rejection of Creation; acceptance of evolution instead. Part II & III will add more of the critical mistakes of interpretation like (D) idolatry, (E) immortality of the soul, (F) Judgment on Earth (canonization of saints), (G) original sin, and (H) alterations on the Ten Commandments and (I) exclusive right to interpret the Bible; (J) Judgment, purgatory and hell; and many more but we will no longer discuss them. We will tie all these to the encompassing doctrine of divine authority, which they have claimed since the time of the early Popes. History tells us they were competing with Kings and Queens in claiming such authority. Notice the long chain of significant errors. To be sure they have grave consequences in one’s redemption. Indeed it will lead to one’s damnation. It gets us to suspect that a spirit other than the Spirit of God is the source of their ‘wisdom’ or ‘inspiration’. At the end of this 2-part article we will reveal who is the spirit behind the Roman Catholic Church, which is the inevitable conclusion of the teachings of the Scripture [and not of our opinion].
I. General Discussion of Infallibility
The Vatican Defines Infallibility
A Vatican council defines the doctrine of infallibility as, “…that the Roman pontiff when he teaches ex cathedra "enjoys, by reason of the Divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, (emphasis mine) that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer wished His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith and morals". Further, infallibility is said to be distinct from revelation and inspiration. “…whereas infallibility is concerned with the interpretation and effective safeguarding of truths already revealed…” (Catholic Encyclopedia)
Bible Interpretation by Natural Man is for Sure Fallible 1
That the Holy Bible is both revelation and inspiration is assumed. This strongly suggests double authorship—God and man—of the Holy Scriptures. To be sure, revelation and inspiration are divine initiatives and doings through the Holy Spirit. Let the Scripture tell us: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1: 20, 21) In other words, men of God, i.e. Bible writers, who wrote the books, poetry, epistles and other writings of the Bible, were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit while composing them. Therefore we discount man in these two undertakings. On the other hand, man without the inspiration of the Spirit of God when speaking or writing would not be of God. The latter’s teachings or pronouncements mislead people and lead them farther away from God and nearer to a contrasting spirit.
In contrast, bible interpretation is solely of human origin and undertaking. Here lies the problem. But God has a way about this so that anyone can understand scriptures. He reveals how in the Scriptures.
Caught by their Words
The underline ‘…the Roman pontiff enjoys by reason of the Divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter’ gives away the fallacy of the claim of infallibility.2 As we argued earlier (Part II of Get Informed Series) dead men have no plans, no memory and no longer have a hand on human affairs. Also, the dead do not praise the Lord. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Job 7: 9-10; Psalms 115: 17) For this reason Peter could not offer any help or wisdom to any Pope or to anyone in matters of interpretation of scriptures much as they would wish him to. (Peter, even the living Peter, cannot share what he does not possess in the first place.) In invoking the dead Peter it is as if the Pope et al. are standing on their natural selves, bereft of inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The act itself—summoning the dead Peter’s wisdom—is the evidence of their unspiritual condition.
In contrast, let’s see what the scriptures say about ‘in Christ’ being substituted for blessed Peter. (Have in mind that Christ Jesus has resurrected, (He defeated death, did He not?) is living and serving as our High Priest and sits—meaning He is in control—at the right hand of the Father. Christ continues to give graces to God’s children through the Holy Spirit.
First, “…and because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Second, “When the Spirit of truth (think of Christ’s Spirit) 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 16:13)
Notes 1 Sen. Miriam Santiago of the Philippine Senate stated months ago that scriptures can be interpreted in many ways. I am not sure if she holds each of them equally true. If that’s the case truth becomes relative, which is not the case with Bible truth. Truth is absolute. What she says is correct and it’s happening. But there’s only one correct interpretation and only true believers—those having the Holy Spirit within them—can interpret rightly. Truth to tell the Senator has not the Spirit. Her proud attitude is far from what is ideal for the Spirit to be teaching her the truth. Consider what Jesus said, “So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” Jesus was by nature humble and it is in this state that He receives from the Father the Spirit. This is also true to a true believer. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5: 5)
2 Fallible doctrines of RCC are derived in trusting dead saints like the Virgin Mary and Apostle Peter. They make them ‘alive’ by believing in the doctrine of immortality of the soul, which is definitely not taught by the Bible. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28, NIV). What the Bible teaches is that it’s the spirit of man (breath) that goes back to God after his or her death. In this spirit are imprinted the identity and days’ record of the individual person—to be returned during the individual’s resurrection (from the dead). (1 Corinthians 5:5) The plain spirit without the body would not have faculties like what the individual possessed while living. Death is body and soul minus the spirit. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) Body + spirit is equal the living soul (person).
Third, “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb (think of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ) standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God (think the Holy Spirit in his fullness that He can work the whole earth) sent out into all the earth (think Christ through the Spirit pouring out wisdom and understanding to God’s anointed people). (Revelation 5: 6)
Consulting the dead Peter, who is resting in his grave, unquestionably gives no one any wisdom or understanding; while praying for the Spirit of God surely does. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore…” (1 Kings 4:29) Also consider: “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11: 2) The latter verse speaks of the Lord’s Spirit resting upon the man Jesus. This anointing by the Spirit is also given to all of God’s children, which they use to discern spiritual truths.
Error in Interpretation is Very Plausible.
There are two opportunities of mistake of text interpretation:
Second, the Bible speaks of men in their natural selves, i.e., not having the Spirit, ‘not accepting the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.’ (1 Corinthians 2: 14) The Bible is wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit and he is also the one revealing (revelation) the correct meaning of every scripture. We will prove with support of scriptures that the Catholic Church, at the least the Popes and Vatican Councils who document and promote doctrines, tenets, rules of practice and the like, are not taught by the Holy Spirit. We enumerate below their numerous misinterpretations as the body of evidence.
II. Specific Discussion of Pope’s Fallibility
A. Peter is the first Pope, the first head of the Church.
[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.” (Matthew 16:18)
The misreading of above quoted text caused the RCC to have this belief. We consider four reasons why I regard this belief an error.
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
The misreading of above quoted text caused the RCC to have this belief. We consider four reasons why I regard this belief an error.
1. Christ is the rock spoken of in the text and not Peter. We consider a couple of texts.
a. “…as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him [Christ] will not be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33)
b. “…and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that
followed them and the Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10: 4)
followed them and the Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10: 4)
The Bible interprets itself—the rock is Jesus Christ. To whom do we believe that we will not be put in shame? Jesus Christ, not Peter. To what rock can we have a spiritual drink? Jesus Christ and not Peter. What we are doing is putting to bear the context of the whole Bible to a correct understanding of a particular text [or topic].We continue to get the whole context as we proceed with the task immediately below. 3
In the Old Testament the ROCK that Moses struck to provide water for the Israelites symbolizes Christ. 4 In two separate occasions Moses struck the Rock, with God getting angry with Moses with the second incident, for it is not what God instructed him to do. Moses, as told by God, was to strike the rock the first occasion; and only to speak to the rock at the second, and water (think of God’s saving grace through the Spirit that is poured out to His children as they call on Him—this after Christ has been sacrificed—from which proceeds the promise of the new covenant) will gush out for the Jews in the wilderness.5 This OT testimony prophesies what is to happen with Christ, who only has to die once for the whole world.
2. Would a dead Peter be capable of guiding and leading the Church? Certainly not. Of course the Bible spoke of him as an elder of the Church and as one of the Twelve Apostles. The church was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…” (Ephesians 2:20) As well Peter wrote two letters for the church so we are being taught by him still. These two letters are divinely inspired just like the other books, poetry, psalms and letters of the Holy Bible. Nevertheless, Peter is not coming back to life. His reserved role in the church in eternal life will only resume in the resurrection of the righteous when he get his reward. (John 5:29) The opposite is true when speaking of Christ—who forever lives.
3. Building the household of God (Church) on Peter will not meet the complete requirements of God. We consider Matthew 7: 24, 25 (Jesus speaking) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house [think church] on the rock [think Christ]. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” The house of God is built on the words of God, even Christ. It will withstand the gates of Sheol or Hades (think of grave, then eternal death). Built on Peter? Yes partly—also of Paul, James, John, but the cornerstone is that of Christ. As well, Peter, James, John, other apostles can do nothing without the Spirit. In the end it’s all God’s work. The Bible in fact speaks of Christ as the author and finisher of our salvation.
Notes: 3 The use of a concordance is very useful in this task. Alternatively, I use the computer in accessing www.biblegateway.org and I can search for a key word or combination of words, e.g. righteousness, faith-righteousness, etc. to get relevant verses. It is very helpful that you are well versed with the whole Bible.
4 I go all out to help you out with what I already know. It is not God the Father talking and appearing, guiding and leading (pillar of fire and cloud), commanding and judging in the Old Testament but Christ, the pre-incarnate One. He is the Creator and the giver of the law, i.e., The Ten Commandments. This is important to know otherwise one will fall into many errors in interpretation. For example the ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses Church’ believes that the Father is the God in the OT and not Jesus. This belief logically is leading them to discount Jesus divinity. Discounting either divinity or humanity of Jesus will not lead into one’s redemption. You’ll be lost.
5 First time with Rock: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.” (Exodus 17:6, ESV) Second time: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle….Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” 13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself holy. (Numbers 20: 8, 10-13 ESV)
4. The true church of God is not made of human hands. (Similar is the principle that with man salvation is impossible, but with God all is possible.) The true believer of Christ is a temple of God. It’s all God’s handiwork. (1 Corinthians 6: 19; 1 Peter 2:5) “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” (Mark 14:58) Like the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, not made with human hands are the true believers of all ages collectively—the true Church of God. They are found in all Christian churches—regardless of name or denomination. They are together worshipping with the false believers. (Read Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43) It is an invisible church. It is what God sees from above. Peter, without the Spirit of God—cannot build the whole church of God; only God through Christ can. 6
B. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Eucharist)The Eucharist is described by the RCC as the Sacrifice, a Sacrament and the Presence. It means (1) Christ is sacrificed again and again in the Mass; (2) the faithful eats of the real flesh and blood of Christ in the Communion, i.e., transubstantiation, and (3) get the grace of God as benefit of His real presence.
Again this is a monumental error in textual interpretation. We put forward the following considerations:
1. About the sacrifice, the Bible is teaching that Christ’s death in the cross was a one time and for all sacrifice for humanity’s sins. It need not be repeated. “He (Christ) has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27)
2. If the Eucharist (Mass) is done for the purpose of the daily sacrifice of Jesus again, it goes against Hebrews 10: 26 implied meaning “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” [Emphasis mine] Christ will not die again, not for any sin. Before Christ breathed his last on the cross He said, “…It is finished…” (John 19:30) No more sacrifice to be done by Him, for the one sacrifice he did on the cross is all-sufficient for all ages. We spoke of this too above, as we talk of Christ as the Rock in the wilderness.
3. “And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’”And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14: 22-25)
a. Note the first underline. The blood represents the new covenant, which is the death in the cross of Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind. We are called to believe this truth to have eternal life. (It is not that we drink literally Jesus’ blood.)
b. Note the second underline. At the end the drink remained as ‘grape juice’ notwithstanding the ceremony.
c. Luke 22:19b only speaks of a commemoration. “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” A memorial cannot mean a repeat of the original manner of sacrifice.
4. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’” (John 6: 53) The last supper is not the context of this text; it is the feeding of the multitude that followed Jesus as He was preaching. If we read further John 6 we can…
Notes: 6 The principle that God (Christ) is building His Church alone can make you spot the false churches. The latter will be preaching that their church has the right name, e. g. Iglesia Ni Kristo (INC), Church of God International (Bro. Soriano), or that their teachings are from the Bible and complete, e.g. Bro. Soriano, or their founder is a model Christian, e.g. Apollo Quiboloy, or that their leader is God-sent, e.g. PMCC-4th Watch, or the church brings untold prosperity to members, e.g., El Shaddai of Mike Velarde.; or their leader works miracles, e.g. Jesus Miracle Crusade. In clear contrast a truly Bible-based church will just preach Christ. Jesus says, “My people know my voice.” Understandably, the mindset of the followers of false churches about redemption would be GOD + Church; or God + true prophet. With the Roman Catholic Church the mindset would be God + Idol (Virgin Mary et al.) or God + Eucharist + absolution of priest). All these formulae for salvation is against what Christ said that’s He is the ONLY WAY. These are impure gospels or what the Bible says as false. Followers of a Bible-based church would be trusting Christ alone. In others words, between the two, the followers’ brains work differently.
...have the right meaning of this text. Notice verses 63 and 64: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” In any case it is not the literal flesh and blood that gives life, but the words that proceeds from the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4: 4) Christ, both the written and living Word, is the Bread of Life. (John 1: 1; 6:35) Remain (believe) in the Word and have life and the living Christ lives in you. (John 3:16; Gal 2: 20) 7 To believe in Christ is the biblical context of this teaching. It is not to eat literally the real flesh and blood of Christ
5. The transubstantiation cannot happen. Transubstantiation as explained by the Catholic Church is like magic—something (Christ’s flesh and blood) appearing out of literal bread and drink. This is claiming the power of God, which He possesses alone. The Bible calls this blasphemy.8 God cannot promote sinning. (James 1: 13) The Catholic priesthood must take this warning of scriptures to heart.
6. It, too, follows that if there’s no real transubstantiation, there’s no real presence of God. Instead the Bible speaks of God the Father and Christ, i.e., one God, dwelling inside God’s children through the Spirit. (John 14:22)
6. It, too, follows that if there’s no real transubstantiation, there’s no real presence of God. Instead the Bible speaks of God the Father and Christ, i.e., one God, dwelling inside God’s children through the Spirit. (John 14:22)
C. Evolution as Against Creation
Catholic position is this matter is acceptance of evolution and rejection of creation. Here is the position of RCC: “…A five-day conference, Biological Evolution: Facts and Theories, held in March 2009 by the Pontifical University in Rome, marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species, generally confirmed the lack of conflict between evolutionary theory and Catholic theology, and the rejection of Intelligent Design by Catholic scholars. The Church has deferred to scientists on matters such as the age of the earth and the authenticity of the fossil record. Papal pronouncements, along with commentaries by cardinals, have accepted the findings of scientists on the gradual appearance of life….” (Wikipedia) Note the underline. Rejection of Intelligent Design is the same as rejecting Creation for Intelligent Design refers to God, the Creator spoken of in the Bible. This is in agreement with the Catholic Church and Peter Nery’s belief, which we quote below.
“According to the Church’s own understanding of “historical condition,” the “meaning of the pronouncements of faith depends partly upon the expressive power of the language used at a certain point in time and in particular circumstances.” It also depends partly on whether “some dogmatic truth is first expressed incompletely (but not falsely), and at a later date, when considered in a broader context of faith or human knowledge, it receives a fuller and more perfect expression.” (Newsstand, September 17, 2012)
“According to the Church’s own understanding of “historical condition,” the “meaning of the pronouncements of faith depends partly upon the expressive power of the language used at a certain point in time and in particular circumstances.” It also depends partly on whether “some dogmatic truth is first expressed incompletely (but not falsely), and at a later date, when considered in a broader context of faith or human knowledge, it receives a fuller and more perfect expression.” (Newsstand, September 17, 2012)
[My comment: It is unthinkable for the Papacy and Catholic scholars to have science, which is the expertise of men, to trump God’s Word. Absolute truth, which is God’s word, is eternal. It’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. A spiritual man, (in contrast with a natural man), can get the revealed truth the first time and can keep it in all his or her days for the Spirit seals him or her into the truth. The truth changes not over time. Speaking to the Father, Jesus says, “Sanctify them (God’s children) with the truth, your word is truth.” John 17:17] This promise of the Word of God is available to everyone who seeks God with all his or her might.
Notes: 7 I do not subscribe as well with what most Protestant denominations do with their memorial of the Last Supper. As with the Catholic Church they regard it as a sacrament. As with all commands it does not give grace. For obedience of God commandments is a duty. Grace comes from God and He initiates it; He pours it unconditionally on His children, who are sealed by the Holy Spirit for redemption.
8 There are two acts of blasphemy that the Bible defines: (1) claiming you are God, and (2) that you can forgive sins. Consider this couple of passages: (1) “Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.’” (Matthew 26: 62-65) The Jews were accusing Jesus of blasphemy because He s claiming He is God. (2) Also this text: “The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” Luke 5: 21) The Jews were accusing Jesus of blasphemy for He claims He can forgive sins. Of course we know Jesus is God and He has authority to forgive sins. So He has not committed blasphemy. But for any man to do either one or the other would be tantamount to committing the sin. Have you gone across in the Bible what’s the unpardonable sin? It is blasphemy of the Spirit. We have come to this understanding as we let the Bible to interpret itself.
At another time: “Pope John Paul II shocks the Christian world by announcing that "Evolution is Compatible with Christian faith"!! How could this Pope so strongly and directly contradict the Biblical teaching and the Traditions of the Fathers? Is Pope John Paul II a Holy Traditional Pope or is he the Unholy Anti-Pope?” (Wikipedia)
[My comment: The term that the Bible uses and prophesies for ‘the Unholy Anti-Pope’ is Antichrist or man of sin; also man of lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 John 2:18); beast also represents this antichrist (Revelation 13:).This man of lawlessness “will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”(2 Thessalonians 2: 4, NKJV) Judas, which the Bible calls the man of perdition, is a type of the Roman Catholic Church. Judas is a disguised Christian disciple; RCC is a disguised Church.
If the leadership of the RCC is double-minded on the particular question, the Bible on the other hand speaks of Creation to the exclusion of the evolutionary theory of origins and corollary ideas like old earth, i.e., a range of 4.5 to 13.7 billion years old, survival of the fittest, big bang, God particle, etc.
We will compare evolution with creation in the following criteria, which is the scientific community’s own: 1) Is it observable? 2) Is it repeatable? 3) Is it consistent (true all the time)?
1. Creation: “The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind.” (Genesis 1: 12) [Think of specie (kind) reproducing the same specie (kind) all throughout.] Example: A mango tree bearing fruit (mango) year after year will satisfy all the three questions.
Evolution: I saw one morning that the mango tree I planted years ago in our yard bore apple fruits. From them I grew seedlings hoping to have pears next, then tamarind, and so on. (Think of specie evolving to different specie and to another and so on.) The answer is ‘No’ to all three questions.
2. Creation: And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.” (Genesis 1: 20, 21, ESV) Example: The ‘Maya’ laid a few eggs; laid on them and in days they hatched into young ‘mayas’. The fisherman I know gathers a lot of mackerel among other kinds of fish. In all his years fishing every time he catches mackerel among others. Again, these examples satisfy three questions.
Evolution: The ‘Maya’ laid a few eggs; laid on them and in days they hatched into young ducks. The fisherman I know gathers a lot of mackerel each day for 50 years; now he gathers in the same place only whales; no more mackerel. The latter evolved into whale? Again, the answer is ‘No’ to the three questions.
3. Creation: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1: 27, 28) Every time male and female babies are born from human parents until today. 9
Evolution: I was told that my grandfather, who is half-monkey and half-man, transformed into a full man just before he got married. That’s the reason that my father and his descendants like me are fully man. I have heard of similar stories in different places of the nation. The answer to the three questions is ‘No’.
4. Creation: “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” (Genesis 1: 5b) This is also true for the 2nd, 3rd 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th day. Until today this is true. We still have the 7-day week and the night and day cycle of each day that comes. This truth satisfies the three questions.
Evolution: One day can be a few million days. (This preposterous idea is latched on to by scientist to support evolution and Darwin’s corollary theory of natural selection; they say, over a long, long periods of time things evolved from simple to the complex—(upgraded would also be an appropriate term.) The answer for the three questions is ‘No’. In actual fact there is decay, aging and death of all living things. At the end of life the dying retains the likeness in nature and in kind at the beginning.
Another indirect check we could do is the population number. At the close of the 18th century, the world population was 1 billion; now at the close of the second millennium we have a reported number of 6.5 billion. If one projects these numbers in a 4.5 or 13.5-billion–year-old-earth, the world population would be off the charts many times over. In contrast, the numbers would fit a young earth—6000+ years. (A Christian scientist, writing in two science publications—Science and Nature, has proved this through experiments. Another Christian estimated the earth to exist starting 4004 B. C. through the genealogy of humanity written in the Bible.)
Preliminary Observations
Men are being trusted instead of God, which by His Word the latter warns against. Here lies the root of the Pope’s et al. problem. All men are fallible. And men cannot share what they don’t possess, i.e. infallibility. Therefore, Peter, even the dead Peter is incapable to share infallibility to any man, even the Pope et al. As a consequence, it is expected not to see the power of God in the doings of the Catholic Church; expect though a contrasting spirit. On the other hand, scriptures are our arguments. God’s word, which is truth, destroys all lies that include the infallibility claim of the Pope et al. We cite the following circumstances:
1. Peter trusted as the Rock—a man Peter, who is dead, is relied upon by the Pope and other leaders to provide wisdom in matters of bible interpretation and safeguarding the truth.
2. In the Eucharist, a man, the priest is relied upon to bring God, even Christ down to sacrifice himself again and again in the Mass. Christ our Lord is told to do something he says to be a lie? Anyway, the priest was to do magic in the religious ritual, and like all magic tricks they mesmerize people. Deception of the many is inevitable.
3. In the evolution theory—men, the scientists, are believed more than God’s word. Vatican has rejected Creation outright and instead gives credence to evolution as the origins of life. Have they truly safeguarded revealed truth? Scriptures as we have put forward and explained belie this claim.
Next: The Antichrist Unmasked (2)
Notes: 9 Trivia: The creation story answers the chicken and egg riddle. It is still a puzzle today with many including intellectuals and scientists. Read the story in Genesis 1 and you can answer it readily. Tip: Regarding man, were Adam and Eve started first as fertilized eggs or as mature adults? They were created as mature adults. From their union came offspring, which God considers also as created. The offspring inherit the nature of the parents. This is how we got the sinful nature (weakened flesh) that the Bible speaks about. This is now a part of what we now call as the Mendel’s law.
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