History of Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Empire, also known as Rome, was established in the 5th century B.C. Rome grew as a group of villages on seven hills on the east bank of the Tiber. Rome was ruled by seven kings until 510 B.C., when it was made a republic. From 27 BC to 446 AD, the empire was the most dominant ruling authority on earth.Rome defeated Carthage in the Punic wars (1st Punic war (264 -241 BC); 2nd Punic war (218 -201 BC); 3rd Punic war (149 -146 BC). Rome also gained territory in Spain, Sicily, Sardina, most of N. Africa, and Macedonia in 146 BC.

Rome produced Great war Emperors, amongst the likes of Emperors Julius Caesar (101 – 44 B.C), Augustus (27 B.C. - 14 A.D), Tiberius Julius Caesar (14 – 37) Caligula (37 – 41), Claudius (41 – 54), Nero (54 – 68), Alexander Severus (222 – 35), and Romanus Agustulus –the last Empire, (475 – 476), who he was disposed by Odaocer, and spent the rest of his life in retirement. These war inspired heroes conquered nations and placed them under tributary compliance under the Roman Empire.

Atheist like Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-dong did not show their displeasure over certain religious sect like the Romans did against Jews and Christians. Rome has been the perpetuators of religious killings and persecution in ancient times. In the 1st c. AD, the Roman Empire, under Emperors Caligula, Claudius and Nero, caused the gruesome murder of many of the early Apostles. The faith of most of the Apostle was decided in Rome. First, Emperor Gaius Caesar Germanicus (Caligula) ruled with so much cruelty and tyranny that many attributed to have resulted from madness. Next was Tiberius Julius Caesar; then Claudius Caesar (Nero) –who used the fire which destroyed much of Rome as a pretext to persecute Christians in 64 AD.In the year 303 – 305 AD, Emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (Diocletian) began a bitter persecution on Christians and was abdicated from office in 305 AD by Constantine I “the Great” –the first Christian Emperor.

Constantine made Christianity the official religion (313) and refused the heresies of Arianism and nestorianism. Constantine also defeated the Byzantine Empire (present day Turkey) in the East and re-named it Constantinople, which became the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD. Constantine died in 337 AD. Years later, Emperor Theodosius I, together with his half brother –Gratian, established Catholic-ism as the official religion (380) and convened the council of Constantinople (381). Theodosius I “the Great” ruled the eastern Roman Empire from 346-95 AD and the western part as Valentinian II from 375-92 AD. After his death, the decline of the Roman Empire became final, and the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire was eminent as papal influence over Rome was increasing. A furious religious set of beliefs was set up in Rome by the Pope who commissioned kings in England, France, Prussia (Germany and Poland), and in the most nations of N. Africa..

In the 5th century AD, Pope Leo I helped to re-establish the supremacy of the Romans, and prevented further attacks on Rome by Attilla in 452 AD.mThe Roman Empire has brought urban civilization and a high degree of material prosperity, as well as Roman law, the Latin language and the Christian religion to a to a large part of Europe. Rome came to be the capital of the Papal States in 756 and the Holy Roman Empire became the spiritual centre of Western Europe throughout the middle ages.



In 962 AD, the Holy Roman Empire, a loosed confederation of central European states was endorsed by Pope Leo III, when he crowned Emperor Otto I of the Byzantine Empire as Holy Roman Emperor, ostensibly to protect the papacy, and also to enact the imperial power of Charlemagne, which had disintegrated. Charles I (Charlemagne) intervened to save the pope from disposition in 799 AD, and was rewarded with the title of Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD. He ruled a vast empire bounded by the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic.

Rome was several times devastated by invading armies, but began to recover in the late 15th c. and became a centre of the Renaissance between the middle ages and modern times. The Renaissance reached its height in the 16th c. AD, especially under the patronage of Pope Julius II, who restored the Papal States to the papacy by suppressing Venice in 1509, and driving France from Italy in 1511, with the help of the Holy League (An alliance formed in 1510, comprising of Ferdinand V of Spain, Henry VIII of England, and Emperor Maximilian I). Julius II also began the building of St Peter’s at Rome. Other patriarchs of the Renaissance include: Pope Leo X, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli –who brought a new approach to political thought.


The Catholic Church long believed that Christ is the Lord of the whole world, and that at His departure He left His dominion to His representative, Peter, and to Peter’s successors, the popes (How untrue). Therefore, it is the stated believe of the Catholic Church that true and genuine temporal power and dominion lie exclusively in the hands of the pope. The primacy and power the Church enjoyed globally up to 1798 had enabled her to persecute her enemies, and hence was tagged in Bible prophecy as a beast power.The history of the Roman Catholic Church is full of deception. The Roman Catholic Church combines religious and political power simultaneously. Saint John saw this union in a prophetic vision concerning the fourth and final kingdom of the world and described it as, "a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast" Rev. 17:3.


In the Bible, a woman is a symbol of a church, "as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD." "For I...I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" Jeremiah 3:20; 2 Corinthians 11:2.



In addition, it is unanimously understood in prophecy that a beast is a nation. Even in today's world, nations are symbolized as beasts. The USA is seen as an eagle, Russia is likened unto a bear, and China carries the image of a dragon.


Many years ago, God unveiled to Daniel all the world empires until the end of time. In a vision, Daniel saw the last beast to be "diverse from all the others" Daniel 7:19. But how would it be diverse? According to Revelation 17:3, as seen above, this beast (nation) will have a woman (church) ruling it.


Today, is there a church and state working together as one globally recognized power? The only entity in the world that has accomplished this is the Roman Catholic Church.


The Roman Catholic pope is absolute religious leader of over one billion followers world-wide.


"The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful." Vatican Council II (1962-65)

"Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope." Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)

Simultaneously, the pope is king over the independent nation Vatican City. The Vatican is a distinct sovereign miniature nation, although within Italy. Thus, the papacy is a unique power combining religious and civil power.


Informed Catholics readily confirm forgeries as a way of life for the popes. Hans Kung, a Catholic priest and theologian who was a consultant to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), stated that as early as the fifth century, the popes "decisively extended their power with explicit forgeries." The Catholic Church: A Short History (translated by John Bowden), p. 61



One of the best examples is the document Donation of Constantine, dated March 30, 315 AD, which the Roman Catholic Church forged to extend her power and authority. Through this false document, Pope Stephen III in the eighth century convinced Pepin, king of the Franks, that the territories of the Lombards had been given by Constantine to the Roman Catholic Church. This led Pepin to fight the Lombards and usurp the cities for the pope. In 1440, this document was proven forged by a papal aide called Lorenzo Valla, yet pope after pope never admitted nor confessed this forgery. To this day, there is an inscription in the baptistery of St. John Lateran in Rome perpetuating this forged document.



""The great over-riding feature of the entire system of the Anti-Christ -- the New World Order -- is blatant deceit. In fact, New World Order writers boast of their planned deceptions, because they arrogantly believe the great majority of the world's population is too stupid and lazy to know what is best for them. Only the New World Order Planners know what is best for the world, and they have determined that they can achieve their goals only by deliberate deception of the poor masses." Bill Cooper, " Behold A Pale Horse" p.49


The Roman Catholic Church ruled ruthlessly for 1260 years having absolute dominion over other nations. This period has a clear starting point, and a 'deadly wound' at its end. The Roman Catholic Church received its deadly wound in 1798 when [Pope Pius VI] was taken prisoner in France at the behest of Napoleon.




"In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one." Encyclopedia Britannica, 1941 edition. Having established the end of the prophecy to be 1798, going back 1260 years, we arrive at 538 AD. For the papacy to fulfill this identifying mark, an important event must have occurred in 538 AD to mark the start of the 1260-year period.




Historical evidence reveals that in 533 AD the Roman Emperor Justinian recognized the pope's ecclesiastical supremacy as 'head' of all the churches in both east and west of the Roman Empire. However, it was not until 538 AD when the papacy was effectively freed from its last Arian opponent, the Ostrogoths (who were at that time ruling Italy) that the pope emerge as the leading figure in the West. Thus, in 538 AD the stage was set for the gradual but steady ascendancy of the papacy.

"Vigilius...ascended the papal chair (538 A.D.) under the military protection of Belisarius." History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 327



As the papacy increased in power, she subjugated not only her followers but also the rulers and kings of Europe. To that end, the popes issued several papal bulls to bolster their authority over the kings of Europe. "It is the office of the papacy to tread under foot kings and emperors." J.H. Ignaz Dollinger, The Pope and the Council, (London), p. 35



"Fear, then, our wrath and the thunders of our vengeance; for Jesus Christ has appointed us [the popes] with his own mouth absolute judges of all men; and kings themselves are submitted to our authority." Pope Nicholas I (858-867 AD)




In the papal bull of Pope Gregory XI, dated 1372 AD, and entitled In Coena Domini, the pope pronounced papal dominion over the entire Christian world, secular and religious, and excommunicated all who failed to obey the popes and to pay them taxes. This papal bull was confirmed by subsequent popes and, in 1568 AD, Pope Pius V vowed that it was to remain an eternal law.

The Roman Catholic Church persecuted Christians during the 1260-year period. During this period of history (also known as the Middle Ages), the Roman Catholic Church held a strong sway over Europe, and every citizen was required to be a Roman Catholic. Anything short of total submission to the pope was punishable by torture or death. This led the Roman Catholic system to become one of the most persecuting religions the world has ever known, according to Vicars of Christ: the Dark Side of the papacy, by Peter de Rosa, p. 180


"That the Church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind will be questioned by no Protestant who has a complete knowledge of history. It is impossible to form a complete conception of the multitude of her victims, and it is quite certain that no powers of imagination can adequately realize their sufferings." W. E. H. Leeky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Vol. 2:32, 1910 edition

In the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 12, page 266, the reader will find a lengthy article describing the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in punishing 'heretics', whose only crime was that they were faithful Bible-believing Christians.

The Roman Catholic Church will fully recover from its 'deadly wound' and the whole world will wonder after it:

When Pope Pius VI died in captivity in France in 1799, the world expected an end to the Roman Catholic Church. However, God had told us about 2000 years ago that the beast would recover from its deadly wound. Here is how the New York Times reported the healing of the beast, the papacy:

"MORTAL WOUND HEALED: Rome, June 7.--From 11 o'clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini ... exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence." New York Times, July 7, 1929

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the 'recovery' of the papacy as follows:

"Mussolini and Gaspari (Cardinal) Sign Historic Pact... Heal Wound of Many Years." The San Francisco Chronicle, July 7, 1929

Does the world today 'wonder' after the papacy, as the Bible predicted?

"The best way to honor Pope John Paul II, truly one of the great men, is to take his teaching seriously; is to listen to his words and put his words and teachings into action here in America. This is a challenge we must accept." President George W. Bush, March 21, 2001

"Pope John Paul II is one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of this century." Billy Graham in the Saturday Evening Post, Jan-Feb. 1980

"I admire Pope John XXIII tremendously. I felt he brought a new era to the world". Billy Graham, Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1963

"Pope John Paul II celebrates outdoor mass in Spanish for over a million people in Mexico City." The New York Times, Jan 25, 1999

The Roman Catholic Church has the mysterious number 666. The official title of the pope is "Vicarius Filii Dei", which translated is, "Representative of the Son of God". To confirm, the Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor of April 18, 1915 wrote: "The engraved letter on the pope's Mitre is as follows: 'Vicarius Filii Dei '". Since in Latin certain letters have numerical values, we only need to add them up to come to 666.


The Roman Catholic Church blasphemes by claiming to be God and granting absolutions."We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." Pope Leo XIII, in an Encyclical letter, dated June 20, 1894

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, hidden under a veil of flesh." The Catholic National, July 1895

"But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff... [who] requires... complete submission and obedience of will... as to God Himself." Pope Leo XIII, the Great Encyclical Letters, p. 193

The Roman Catholic Church created a vast 'market' on earth for a unique kind of merchandise, for which she had no competitors and unquenchable demand. She claimed that she had the right to sell God's grace, His free act of forgiveness, to the sinners. To this day, this blasphemous power, maintains the power to forgive sin.

"This judicial authority will even include the power to forgive sin." The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol. 12, -article "Pope", p. 265

"And God himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priest and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse to give absolution, provided the penitent is capable of it." Dignity and Duties of the Priest, p. 27, New York: Benziger Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, 1888


The Roman Catholic Church made other blasphemous claims by undertaking actions belonging only to God:

Here are samples of the blasphemous claims and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church:

"The priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, of making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priests... The Sovereign Master of the universe only follows the servant by confirming in heaven all that the latter decides upon earth." Liguori, "Duties and Dignities of the Priest", pp. 27, 28

"Thus the priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by saying the words of the consecration, he creates, as it were, Jesus in the sacrament, by giving him a sacramental existence, and produces him as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father...The power of the priest, is the power of the divine person; for the transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world." Saint Bernadine of Sienna

"Priests are the saviors of the world." Saint Jerome

As for her blasphemous actions, the Roman Catholic Church has committed the most blasphemous act of all. She altered the very law of God- the Ten Commandments. She dared to cancel the second commandment altogether, for it condemned her practices and rituals. And worse, she changed the day of worship in the Fourth Commandment from Saturday to Sunday. This was done although God gave Adam this perpetual command at creation and has confirmed to us "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips" Psalms 89:34.

The Ten Commandments are the only portion of the Bible that was uttered by God's voice in the presence of a congregation. And to ensure that Moses did not miss a letter, God wrote them with His own finger and handed them to Moses. "These words [The Ten Commandments] the Lord spake unto all your assembly...and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone..." Deuteronomy 5:22.

Christ further stressed the immutability of the Ten Commandments when He said, "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail" Luke 16:17. The sun shining in the heavens, the solid earth upon which you dwell, are God's witnesses that His law is changeless and eternal. Though they may pass away, the divine precepts shall endure. Christ further confirmed "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" Matthew 5:17, 18.

The Catholic Church is not ashamed that she changed the day of worship. In fact, she takes pride in this action, and regards it as her 'mark' of authority and superiority over other churches and religions.

"The Sabbath, the best known day of the law, was changed into the Lord's day. These and others have not ceased because of instructions received from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it), but because due to the authority of the church they have been changed." Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon on 1-18-1562, Mansi XXIII, p. 526

"The Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claim for sacredness can be defended only on Catholic authority...In Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end we find not one single text which justifies the transfer of the weekly public worship service from the last to the first day of the week." Catholic Press, Sidney, 8-25-1900

"Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that worship should be changed from Saturday to Sunday. The fact is that the Church was in existence for several centuries before the Bible was given to the world. The Church made the Bible; the Bible did not make the Church." Things Catholics Are Asked About, by Martin J. Scott, 1927 ed, p. 136

"We celebrate Sunday instead of Saturday, because the Catholic Church has transferred the sacredness from Saturday to Sunday at the council of Laodicea in the year of 364 AD." The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, from P. Geiermann, the work of Pope Pius X, on 1-25-1910

According to the Roman Catholic Church 'Sunday' is their distinct and distinguished mark of authority.

"Sunday is our mark of authority. The church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, September 1, 1923

"The observance of Sunday by Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) Church." Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, by Monsignor Segur, p. 213

"But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that in...observing the Sunday... they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church, the pope." Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic weekly, Feb. 5, 1950

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act... a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Office of Cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor C. F. Thomas, Nov. 11, 1895

Why is this mark so important? Have you ever signed a document to validate or confirm its authenticity? Have you ever given your 'seal of approval' to something? It is compulsory in any government. Only by signing, is a document authenticated. Government declarations must always bear an official mark or seal. What are the features of these governmental marks or seals? An official seal or signature must include three features:

1. The name of the official

2. The title of the official

3. The territory or domain of his authority

For example, when the President of the United States signs a bill into law, he must sign it, George Washington (name), President (title) of the United States of America (territory). Every document must be signed in this manner to be official and legal.

Looking to the Almighty Creator, we realize that He has a Heavenly Kingdom. And the document containing the law of His Kingdom is The Ten Commandments. Looking directly in the midst of them you will find the seal of the living God! "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea..." Exodus 20:11.

Notice the three distinct features:

1. Name: THE LORD ("I am the Lord: that is my name" Isaiah 42:8)

2. Title: CREATOR ("the LORD made")

3. Territory: HEAVEN AND EARTH (Heaven and earth)

Clearly, the seal of the Creator is found in the Sabbath commandment of His law. It is an acknowledgement of His authority as our Creator. When we keep His Sabbath, we are expressing that we acknowledge Him as our Creator.

On the Sabbath, we have the opportunity to worship God as our Creator. When we keep holy the day the Lord chose, we are proclaiming to the entire world that the Creator of the universe is our God! The devil, "Lucifer" is attacking the Sabbath, because he wants to be worshiped "like the Most High" Isaiah 14:14. The Creator seeks your worship on His holy Sabbath day, and Satan, seeking to be like the Creator, wants your worship on his Sunday. Which will you choose?

"And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God" Ezekiel 20:20.

From the overwhelming weight of evidence, we can decisively conclude that the History of the Roman Catholic Church is full of Apostasy. , and that the Catholic Church has never practiced the exuberant faith of Jesus Christ.