The fall of Roman Catholic Church

The 1st century Church of Christ and the Apostasy

Here is the video about what happened on the Church of Christ in the 1st century, and how it is apostatized. If you want to know more about the apostasy that happened in the church, click here.

And let us now watch this very informative video:

Apostasy: After the death of the Apostles

Lets make things clearer.

What the INC believe is that the church that was established by Christ in the 1st century that is, the Church of Christ or Christian Church, (the became "Catholic Church") was fallen to apostasy, meaning:

"Definition: 1- Turning or falling away from true gospel teachings as individuals or as a people." source: about.com

because of creating/formulating/adding/subtracting and so on to what is written in the Scriptures. And if the Catholic Church have doctrines that is not from the bible and not from the faith of the 1st century Christians, then it is indeed fallen away from the TRUE GOSPEL that is called APOSTASY.

But, sadly, many Catholics cannot accept that FACT. Because as they say, their church is the continuation of the church in the 1st century, what happened is apostolic succession, and so Christ has a promise.

Questions:
1.What apostolic succession? Does the doctrines of the Catholic Church "APOSTOLIC"? Meaning, FROM THE APOSTLES?
2. What promise? Did Christ said, whatever happened in his church it will never apostatized even if he and the apostles died?

A Catholic, named Ryan have asked us this in my post when and how apostasy occurred?:

"When has the so called Church APOSTASY became UNIVERSAL, COMPLETE and DEFINITIVE?"

FACTS:
1. Apostasy is a prophecy from the bible.
2. The INC teaches about Apostasy not his so called "Church Apostasy".
3. It is not the INC, the only Christian religion in the world believe that the church that was established by Christ had fallen to Apostasy.

The Apostasy occurred in Christ's church (that became "Catholic Church") is called Great Apostasy.

"The Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Papacy which allowed the traditional Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship back into the church, and that in their opinion not representative of the faith founded by Jesus and his twelve Apostles: in short, that the church has fallen into apostasy." source: wikipedia

for more, click here.



Understanding Mt. 16:18
Catholic church's evidence of "Christ's promise":

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Mat. 16:18

But, what "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" mean?

“…. and death itself will not have any power over it.” Contemporary English bible

“….and the power of death will not be able to defeat it.” New century version

“…. and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.“Holman Christian standard bible

“….The power of death will not destroy it.” Worldwide English

"The word katiscuvsousin occurs only three times in the New Testament (Matt 16:18; Luke 21:36, 23:23), and it is derived from katiscuvw, which means “to win a victory over.” In other words, the power of death will not win a victory over the church. It makes sense that the antecedent for aujth'" refers to ejkklhsiva rather than pevtra since “church” is closer in proximity. Therefore, the church, as an eschatological community, will never die or come to an end." source: bible.org
The death that will not overcome the "church" is the death that is the full payment of sin, which is the second death in the lake of fire (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:14). It is from that death, that members (of Christ's church) are spared or saved on Judgment day. What Christ is saying is that there is resurrection of life:

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." john 5:28-29

There are two kinds of resurrection: One that is to life and the other is to condemnation. Those who are included in the first resurrection of the dead are the fortunate ones who will be raised from the dead at the return of Christ and meet him in the air. Those who are still alive will no longer taste the first death, for they shall be caught up together with the ones resurrected first:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." I thess. 4:16-17

But where will we end up?

In the Holy City where we will have a life that is glorious:

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:1-4

Notice that in Holy City, there will be no more death. The ones can hope for this are the members (of Christ's church). So considering that the church of Christ will not be overcome by death, is it any wonder that we, members, give such great value to the Church? (Pasugo July 2011)


After the death of the Apostles
Again, what the INC believe is that the 1st century church of christ (the church that was established by christ) is the true church, and the faith of the 1st century christians is what should we believe, not the teachings/doctrines/dogmas and so on that the latter administration or those who took over the church after the apostles CREATED/FORMULATED.

Again, i will post about the prophecy concerning Apostasy:

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will come, except there come a falling away first…” II thess 2:3

“…for it will not come until after the great apostasy…” (II thess 2:3 twentieth century new testament)

Wait, what's this? On twentieth century new testament it says about the GREAT APOSTASY, hmmmm...

"Don't you remember? I told you all this while I was with you. Yet there is something that keeps this from happening now, and you know what it is. At the proper time, then, the Wicked One will appear. The Mysterious Wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the one who holds it back is taken out of the way." II thess. 2:5-7

You can notice here that in the time of the Apostles, wickedness is ALREADY AT WORK but there is something that KEEPS THAT FROM HAPPENING. and it will not happen UNTIL the one who HOLDS it will be taken out of the way.

Lets proceed if who's referring to this...

"I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them." Acts 20:29-30

This is Apostle Paul, we can see who HOLDS or KEEPS THAT FROM HAPPENING.

What does Apostle Paul "after i leave" mean?

"As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life." II tim. 4:6

What Apostle Paul is referring is his death, that's why whom HOLDS apostasy from happening are the APOSTLES.

"Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition)," (II thess. 2:3 amplified bible)

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Apostle James, son of Zebedee died A.D 44
Apostle Jude died A.D 65
Apostle Paul died A.D 67
Apostle Peter died A.D 67
and the last apostle to die, Apostle John died A.D 100

Just some of the 12 Apostles, all died in the 1st century. Most of the teachings of the Catholic Church only showed up in 2nd century and beyond.

"Doctrine was further refined by a series of influential theologians and teachers, known collectively as the Church Fathers. From the year 100 onward, proto-orthodox teachers like Ignatius of Antioch and Irenaeus defined Catholic teaching in stark opposition to other things, such as Gnosticism. In the first few centuries of its existence, the Church formed its teachings and traditions into a systematic whole under the influence of theological apologists such as Pope Clement I, Justin Martyr and Augustine of Hippo." source: wikipedia

200 AD	Immersion of infants who are dying, but considered sinless. (Tertullian V.12)
250 AD	North Africa region is first to practice infant baptism and reduced the age of baptism from minors to all newborns. This is opposed by other regions.
257 AD	Baptism by sprinkling for adults instead of immersion first used as an exception for those on sick beds, but it caused great dispute.
300 AD	Prayers for the dead
320 AD	Special dress code of the clergy in worship
325 AD	At the general council of Nice, 325, it was proposed indeed, probably by the Western bishop Hosius, to forbid entirely the marriage of priests; but the motion met with strong opposition, and was rejected.
325 AD	The date for Easter was set.
379 AD	Praying to Mary & Saints. (prayers of Ephraim Syrus)
385 AD	In the West, the first prohibition of clerical marriage, which laid claim to universal ecclesiastical authority, proceeded in 385 from the Roman church in the form of a decretal letter of the bishop Siricius to Himerius, bishop of Tarragona in Spain.
389 AD	Mariolatry begins with Gregory Nazianzen, who mentions in a eulogy, how Justina had besought the virgin Mary to protect her virginity.
400 AD	Impossibility of apostasy or once saved always saved, (Augustine XII.9)
416 AD	Infant baptism by immersion commanded of all infants (Council Of Mela, Austin was the principal director)
430 AD	Exhalation of Virgin Mary: "Mother of God" first applied by the Council of Ephesus
502 AD	Special dress code of the Clergy all the time.
500 AD	The "Habit" of Nuns (Black gowns with white tunics)
519 AD	Lent
526 AD	Extreme Unction
593 AD	The Doctrine of Purgatory popularized from the Apocrypha by Gregory the Great
600 AD	First use of Latin in worship (Gregory I)
Beginning of the Orthodox/Roman Catholic church as we know it today in its present organization.
607 AD	First Pope: Boniface III is the first person to take the title of "universal Bishop" by decree of Emperor Phocas.
608 AD	Pope Boniface IV. turns the Pantheon in Rome into a temple of Mary ad martyres: the pagan Olympus into a Christian heaven of gods.
670 AD	Instrumental music: first organ by Pope Vitalian
709 AD	Kissing of Pope Constantine’s feet
753 AD	Baptism by sprinkling for those on sick beds officially accepted.
787 AD	Worship of icons and statue approved (2nd council of Nicea)
787 AD	Rome (Latin) and Constantinople (Greek) part ways and begin the drift towards complete split, resulting in two denominations emerging in 1054 AD.
965 AD	Baptism of bells instituted by Pope John XIII
850 AD	Burning of Holy Candles
995 AD	Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
998 AD	Good Friday: fish only and the eating-red meat forbidden
1009 AD	Holy water
1022 AD	Penance
1054 AD	Roman Catholic church breaks away from the Orthodox church
1054 AD	Roman Catholics officially embrace instrumental music, Orthodox reject instrumental music down to the present time.
1079 AD	Celibacy enforced for priests, bishops, presbyters (Pope Gregory VII)
1090 AD	Rosary beads: invented by Peter the Hermit
1095 AD	Instrumental music
1190 AD	Sale of Indulgences or "tickets to sin" (punishment of sin removed)
1215 AD	Transubstantiation by Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council
1215 AD	Auricular Confession of sins to priests instituted by Pope Innocent III, (Lateran Council)
1215 AD	Mass a Sacrifice of Christ
1217 AD	Adoration and Elevation of Host: ie. communion bread (Pope Honrius III)
1230 AD	Ringing bells at Mass
1251 AD	The Scapular, the brown cloak worn by monks invented by Simon Stock
1268 AD	Priestly power of absolution
1311 AD	Baptism by sprinkling accepted as the universal standard instead of immersion for all, not just the sick. (Council of Ravenna)
1414 AD	Laity no longer offered Lord's cup at communion (Council of Constance)
1439 AD	Purgatory a dogma by the Council of Florence (see 593 AD)
1439 AD	Doctrine of Seven Sacraments affirmed
1480 AD	The Inquisition (of Spain)
1495 AD	Papal control of marriage rights
1534 AD	Order of Jesuits founded by Loyola
1545 AD	Man-made tradition of church made equal to Bible (Council of Trent)
1545 AD	Apocryphal books added to Bible (Council of Trent)
1546 AD	Justification by human works of merit
1546 AD	Mass universally said in Latin (see 600 AD)
1547 AD	Confirmation
1560 AD	Personal opinions of Pope Pius IV imposed as the official creed
1864 AD	Syllabus Errorum [Syllabus of Errors] proclaimed that "Catholic countries" could not tolerate other religions, (no freedom of religion), conscience, separation of church and State condemned, asserted the Pope's temporal authority over all civil rulers (Ratified by Pope Pius IX and Vatican Council) condemned
1870 AD	Infallibility of Pope (Vatican council)
1908 AD	All Catholics should be christened into the church
1930 AD	Public Schools condemned by Pope Pius XII (see 1864 AD)
1950 AD	Sinners prayer, invented by Billy Sunday and made popular by Billy Graham. (Some Catholics now use this)
1950 AD	Assumption of the body of the Virgin Mary into heaven shortly after her death. (Pope Pius XII)
1954 AD	Immaculate conception of Mary proclaimed by Pope Pius XII
1995 AD	The use of girls in the traditional alter boy duties
1996 AD	Catholics can believe in Evolution (Pope John Paul II)

source: bible.ca


You can also look on my post Still the original church?


Apostasy of the 1st century church of Christ
Let's go back on the argument of a Catholic named Ryan,

"When has the so called Church APOSTASY became UNIVERSAL, COMPLETE and DEFINITIVE?"

He accused us of not answering his simple question even though the comments on that post reached 200+ comments! Look here.

First of all, he wanted us to answer him by giving an exact date or year when this happened, about "universal, complete and definitive apostasy" of the church, where i already answered about this in my post. I said, the apostasy happened AFTER THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES.

But still, he complained that his question still unanswered. I said to him: why do you wanted us to answer "WHEN THE CHURCH APOSTASY became universal, complete and definitive" if we dont have that doctrine in the first place?

I already confirmed in that post:

"Walang IISANG petsa ang pagtalikod ng Iglesia Katolika. Bawat pagbabago sa aral ay PAGTALIKOD."(There is no exact date on Catholic church's apostasy. Every changes in the teaching is apostasy.) Pasugo issue march-april 1980

Just look again the contents above (Catholic doctrines), how can we determine the exact date or year when it happened if in the first place, changes/adding of doctrines does not occurred in just 1 day or 1 year?

I asked him these questions for his argument end(but he is afraid to answer until now!):

1.Kung ipinag utos ba ng papa sa roma o mga emperador doon na sumamba sa rebulto at larawan, ang utos ba na yon ay sa simbahan lang sa roma??? (If the Pope or Emperor in Rome will command to worship idols and images, is that command only for the church in Rome?)

2. Hindi ba iyon pambuong kautusan ibg sabhin para sa lahat ng katoliko sa buong mundo? (Is it not for the catholics in the world?)

3. Kung mag kaka isa kayo na sambahin ang rebulto at larawan(dahil ito ay naging credo na) ang susunod ba nito ay yung mga nag utos lang? (emperador o ang papa) o ang buong katoliko sa buong mundo? (If catholics will be united in worshiping idols and images because it is in the creed for example, the ones who will follow this command is only the emperor or pope, OR the catholics in the world?)

4. Ang church ay pwede ring tumukoy sa members,dba, ang apostasy ay ang pagtalikod sa tunay na aral,dba, kung ipinag utos na halimbawa na sambahin ang rebulto at larawan, at ang lahat ng myembro ay sumunod dito,at sapagkat itoy taliwas sa utos ng dyos, hindi pa rin ba ito pwedeng sabihin na "the church(members) had fallen to apostasy?" (the word "church" can also refer to "members", right?, Apostasy means turning away from the true gospel, right?, If it is commanded to worship idols and images, and the whole members will follow to this, and because it contradicts God's commandment, is it not right to say "that the church (members) had fallen to apostasy"?)

5. Nung 2nd centry wala na si kristo, wala ng apostol,(sa pagkakaalam ko) at ang mga lider na nito ay ang mga sumunod nakung sino-sino, church fathers, at emerador, ibig sabihin sila na ang may hawak sa CHURCH, kung mag uutos sila ng mga doktrina na hindi naman galing sa mga apostol at kay kristo,at ang iba pay labag sa utos na nasa bibliya, hindi pa rin ba natin pwedeng sabihing "the CHURCH has fallen to apostasy?" (apostasy means being lead way from the TRUE FAITH.) (In the 2nd century, Christ and Apostles had already died, and the next administration who took over the church [church fathers, emperors and etc.] If they will command us to follow a doctrine that is not from the Apostles and Christ, and others even violates teachings from the bible, is it still not right to say "that the church had fallen to apostasy"?)

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He avoided these questions, why? Because it answers his question about his so called CHURCH APOSTASY that became universal and so on...

I also made a challenge for him, a challenge that i asked to catholic defenders (like Catholic defender2000, and A priest Fr. Abe) and to others but still no one CAN DO:

"If the Catholic CHurch is still the original church based on doctrines,list atleast 10 or 5 main doctrines and/or traditions of the church with the date IT BEGAN?"

How about you, CAN YOU???^^



Strict teachings from the BIBLE

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

"It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!" Mat. 15:9

So, worshiping God is useless if youre following a teaching not of God, but from humans. And if a church teaches doctrines that are not from the bible, and especially violates commandments of God therefore you will receive not blessings, but punishment from God!

When and how was the APOSTASY occurred?

One of the doctrines of the INC is that the true church of Christ was apostatized as it becomes the Catholic Church that come up with so many new doctrines that are not found and even contradicts the bible.

They say: "If that happened, CAN YOU GIVE US THE DATE WHEN IT HAPPENED? If you cannot then theres no apostasy that occurred!"

One thing we can sure about this:
The Catholic Church will never be the same 1st century church of Christ as of its doctrines!

Here is what a nonmember said:

Please note that the INC preach apostasy of the early Church as whole. This includes the Church hierarchy, its clergy and all members. However, a difficulty for INC is that they can't say exactly when the apostasy took place. According to Pasugo throughout the years, they have identified not one, but several points in history for the occurrance of the Great Apostasy:

1. 400AD plus. Pasugo Feb. 1959, p.1.

2. 1870 Vatican I. Pasugo Aug. 1962 as well as Pasugo March 1956. p.25.

3. 400AD.Roman Empire. Feb. 1952, p.9.

The current magazines appear to now claim apostasy occurring after the death of the last Apostle. If the INC is God Inspired, why can't they figure out when the apostasy took place? source: network54.com

Another thing we can be sure about this:

"Walang IISANG petsa ang pagtalikod ng Iglesia Katolika. Bawat pagbabago sa aral ay PAGTALIKOD." Pasugo issue march-april 1980

Definitely!

It is true that it is hard to find the DATE when the Catholic Church apostatized because every time there are new and contradicting doctrines in the church, it is a process of turning away to the true gospel.

Many may ask: "If it is true then why it is not recorded in the bible?"

How could an event be IN THE BIBLE if it happened after it was all written? Huh?
It is indeed not written in the bible, the date and etc. Ofcourse the bible does not contain EXACT DATES. But there is a thing that can support our claim, through PROPHECY.

And the answer when it happened?

AFTER THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLES.


HERE IS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will come, except there come a falling away first…” II thess 2:3

“…for it will not come until after the great apostasy…” (II thess 2:3 twentieth century new testament)

Wait, what's this? On twentieth century new testament it says about the GREAT APOSTASY, hmmmm...

"Don't you remember? I told you all this while I was with you. Yet there is something that keeps this from happening now, and you know what it is. At the proper time, then, the Wicked One will appear. The Mysterious Wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the one who holds it back is taken out of the way." II thess. 2:5-7

You can notice here that in the time of the Apostles, wickedness is ALREADY AT WORK but there is something that KEEPS THAT FROM HAPPENING. and it will not happen UNTIL the one who HOLDS it will be taken out of the way.

Lets proceed if who's referring to this...

"I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them." Acts 20:29-30

This is Apostle Paul, we can see who HOLDS or KEEPS THAT FROM HAPPENING.

What does Apostle Paul "after i leave" mean?

"As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life." II tim. 4:6

What Apostle Paul is referring is his death, that's why whom HOLDS apostasy from happening are the APOSTLES.

"Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition)," (II thess. 2:3 amplified bible)

What is "apostasy" and how this happened

"The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them." acts 20:30

In short, they will lead the believers doing not in the will of God and accordance to the gospel, but of their will.

"False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction." II pet. 2:1 (Good News Translation)


"BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." II pet. 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

As what Apostle peter's, there are FALSE PROPHETS appeared in the PAST and there will be in the same way FALSE TEACHERS. and will introduce heretical doctrines/untrue doctrines.

What else is about the PROPHECY concerning apostasy?

"But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons." I tim. 4:1 Darby Translation


"Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times some people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teachings of demons." I tim. 4:1 (New Century Version)

It is the bible who said that some people will stop believing the faith, instead they will follow spirits that lie and teachings of demons


The FULFILLMENT of the PROPHECY

"BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies),..." II pet. 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

To see Catholic Church's heretical doctrines click here.

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"The Spirit says clearly that in later times some believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teachings of demons. These people will speak lies disguised as truth. Their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red-hot iron. They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth. " I tim. 4:1 (God's word translation)

What "certain foods" is that?

"...and commanding to abstain from meats,.." I tim. 4:1 (21st century KJV)

In his book, the faith of our fathers, James cardinal gibbons states that:

“prohibiting priests to marry” is both discipline and a law upheld by the catholic church (p.401).

And...

“By the law of abstinence the church forbids us to eat either meat or soups or gravies made from meat, on all Friday’s in the year.” (a handbook of the catholic faith, p. 424)

Clearly the prophesied APOSTASY occurred in the Catholic Church, it is not us who called prohibition to marry and commanding abstinence from meats are teaching of DEMONS, but it is in the BIBLE.

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"...even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." II pet. 2:1 (Amplified Bible)

“5. Did Jesus Christ establish a Church? Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ… This Church, founded and organized by Jesus Christ and preached by the apostles, is the Church of Christ,… It is the only true Church and the one which God orders all men to join. ”

(Religion: Doctrine and Practice, by Rev. Francis Cassily, pp. 442-443 and p. 444)

The Christian Church or Christ's Church or Church of Christ. But what did the Catholic Church have done?

“In 1870, at the Vatican Council, the name ‘Roman Catholic Church’ was proposed, but it was rejected. The bishops assembled unanimously decided upon this official name: ‘The Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church’” (Discourses on the Apsotle’s Creed, Rev. Clement Crock, p. 191)

They change the name of Christ's Church which according to the bible:

“But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life…Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.” Acts 4:10,12

In what other way they deny Christ?

"This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]." Acts 4:11

"For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid." 1 Corinthians 3:11

But the Catholic Church teaches:

"The Catholic Church teaches the Biblical account of the foundation of the Church, by Christ, on Peter." source: apostolic apologestics

Clearly the Catholic Church deny Christ as of changing the name of the church(BEING THE FOUNDER) and even rejected our Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation of the church!

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By the way, what is the meaning of APOSTASY?

"Definition: 1- Turning or falling away from true gospel teachings as individuals or as a people. 2- The time after Christ's death when the people turned wicked and killed the apostles and disciples,..." source: about.com
"Apostasy means falling away, defecting, forsaking or departing from the faith." source: discoverrevelation.com

Meaning to say, if the Catholic Church teach doctrines that are not from the true gospel, then it is indeed APOSTATIZED!

Do i need to say those teachings/doctrines/traditions and so on that are not written in the scriptures? From the name itself "Roman Catholic Church" to its pagan inspired celebrations like "Christmas" to the invention of "Purgatory"... Do you think this Church is the same Church that was founded by Christ?

Of course NOT!

Again, there is no SPECIFIC date when the Catholic Church apostatized, but it was prophesied that it will be. Accept the truth or not, it will never change the reality.

“This question poses itself with great urgency today. Does the claim of the Catholic Church to be the true church of Christ still make sense? Is this claim, endorsed in the document of Vatican II, the last remnant of ecclesiastical pride…? For several reasons the Church’s claim to unicity has become a very difficult issue on our day.

What are some of these reasons?

In the first place the traditional apologetical arguments in favor of the Catholic Church’s uniqueness are generally no loner regarded as valid. We cannot offer a strict historical proof that the Catholic Church is in essential continuity with the Church of the New Testament.” (Gregory Baum, Faith and Doctrine a Contemporary View [New York: Paulist Press], pp. 91-92)

“…Few historians would suggest that this continuing self-identity of the Church can be demonstrated historically. When for instance, we look at the profound change that occurred in the early Church when the monarchial episcopate replaced other forms of apostolic ministry, we realize that we cannot “prove” that throughout this change the Church remained identical with herself.” (p.92)

Gates of Hades shall not prevail

What is the meaning of “and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it”?

Does it mean that the forces of evil or Satan will never destroy the church? Or whatever happens to the church, even if there’s an apostasy and many others, it will still remain?

For us to understand the verse better, lets look to other bible versions:

“…. and death itself will not have any power over it.” Contemporary English bible

“….and the power of death will not be able to defeat it.” New century version

“…. and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.“ Holman Christian standard bible

“….The power of death will not destroy it.” Worldwide English

The gates of hell or hades that will not prevail against the church of Christ is the POWER OF DEATH… Meaning, even if the members of the Church of Christ will die, they shall live again.

Lets read Jn. 11:25 that says

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;”

And the resurrection of the dead in Christ will be on his second coming,

Let’s read I thess. 4:16-17 that says,

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

So, this is what the Lord Jesus Christ meant when he said that the powers of death shall not prevail against his church, that the dead Church of Christ members will be resurrected FIRST on judgment day, and that those who will still be alive by then will not die anymore. Together, they will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus Christ and be him forever. 

Prophecy: The Apostasy

“Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first...” II thess 2:3

 

What truly happened to the first-century Church of Christ?

Finding the answer to this question is crucial for us to understand why, despite the fact that Christ established only one church, there are so many churches today all claiming to be the Church of Christ.


There are proofs through biblical records that god’s policy of election in stands even until the Christian era. And it is through uniting with Christ by becoming members of the one church he founded that we can have the privilege to be among god’s chosen people and thus have the right to worship him and receive his promises.

But with the proliferation of various churches at present, not to mention catholic church’s staunch claim to apostolicity (a term that will be explained later in this article), there is no confusion as to which one is the true Church of Christ today. 

It could not be that all churches are of Christ considering that the bible attests that the true Church of Christ is but one body having one faith, one hope, and believes in one god (Eph. 4:4-6; Col. 1:18). Whereas the many “Christian” churches today are divided especially in matters of doctrine and leadership.

Apostasy prophesied

Our lord Jesus Christ established the church he called his own when he was still on earth fulfilling his ministry. After his death, resurrection, and before his ascension to heaven, Christ entrusted the administration of the church to the apostles.

Under the care of the apostles, the church increased greatly in membership. From Jerusalem where it began, the church spread throughout the gentile lands despite severs persecutions from its adversaries. 

This is so far as the New Testament writers narrate concerning what had happened to the church. But we should remember that the bible is not all history; it contains divine prophecy as well. As to what really happened to the church following the death of the apostles, we have the prophetic words of our lord Jesus Christ and his apostles as bases for finding out the truth. 

Preaching to his disciples, our lord Jesus Christ forewarned of an apostasy or falling away which would be perpetrated by false prophets. “Many will fall away”, said Christ to his disciples, as he exhorted them to “beware” because “many prophets will arise and lead many ashtray” (matt. 24:10, 4, 11) 

The same concern was echoed by the apostles. Apostle peter forewarned that destructive and untrue doctrines would be brought in by false prophets who would arise from within the church itself:

“False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines and will deny the master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction.” II pet. 2:1

On a similar note, Apostle Paul issued these warnings to the early Christians: 

“The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them.” Acts 20:30

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will come, except there come a falling away first…” II thess 2:3

“…for it will not come until after the great apostasy…” (II thess 2:3 twentieth century new testament)

From these prophetic warnings, it is clear that there was an impending danger facing the church during the those times. A “great apostasy” would come; false prophets would arise also from within the church to lead unbelievers away from the true Christian faith by infusing lies and false teachings in the church. In fact, the seeds of apostasy had already begun to sprout by then. 

The only reason that was keeping such departure from the true faith to take full effect was the presence of what apostle paul referred to as the “restraining power”:

“Don’t let anyone deceive you by any means whatsoever. That day will not come before there arises a definite rejection of god and the appearance of the lawless man. He is the product of all that leads to death,…” ”Evil is already insidiously at work, but its activities are restricted until what I have called the ‘restraining power’ is removed.” II thess 2:3, 7

The “restraining power” refers to the apostles and their removal from their being such departure or death (Acts 20:29-30; II tim. 4:6; II pet. 2:1, 1:4, 15). Hence, it would be after the death of the apostles that the “work of iniquity” or the apostasy would ensue and go unabated. It would be when the administration of the church fell into hands of the false teachers who took over the death of the apostles that the church would begin to gradually drift away from the true Christian faith. 

Christ said that many would fall away; he did not say all. 

Doesn’t this mean that there would be those who would remain faithful to the true Christian teachings? 

Yes, there would be, but according to Apostle Paul, “savage wolves” would come and not spare the flock (acts 20:29), thus confirming what the lord Jesus Christ himself forewarned that the disciples would be persecuted and put to death (Matt. 24:9). 

Thus, even though not all of the disciples were led away from the true faith, the church that continued to exist after the death of the apostles was no longer the true church. The disciples who remained faithful were martyred and executed, while the rest had fallen victims to the deceptive teachings of the false prophets who had control over the organization. And so, although the church did not cease to exist as an organization, what continued, nevertheless, was already an apostate church.

Apostasy perpetrated

The prophesied apostasy of the early church did happen as foretold. And this can be proved by examining what the bible gives as the signs identifying the perpetrators of apostasy as well as the apostate church.

ESPOUSING FALSE DOCTRINES

In one of his epistles, Apostle Paul identified two teachings that false prophets would use in leading the believers to depart from the faith—“forbidding to marry” and “commanding to abstain from meats”:

“Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

“Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which god hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” I tim. 4:1-3

 
IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING THE APOSTLE TIMES

As we have pointed out earlier, the apostasy would start to be revealed after the death of the apostles, which would signify the removal of the “restraining power” (or the apostles) that held the apostasy in the check:

“Evil is already insidiously at work, but its activities are restricted until what I have called the ‘restraining power’ is removed” II thess. 2:7

“I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you and they will not spare the flock. The time will come when some men from your own group will tell lies to lead the believers away after them.” acts 20:29-30

“As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life.” II tim. 4:6

HAVING A HISTORY OF TORTURE AND MURDER

This may sound extreme but based on the pronouncements of the lord jesus Christ himself and of the apostle paul, the false prophets whom they likened to ferocious wolves would persecute and kill:

“I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you and they will not spare the flock.” acts 20:29

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” matt. 7:15

“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death…” matt. 24:9

Whichever church is characterized by all these signs—having as its teachings the “doctrines of devils” immediately succeeding the apostles, and having a history of committing mass murder—is undoubtedly the apostate church. Is there such a church?

Which church traces its root back at the time of the apostles yet is found upholding what the bible forewarned as “doctrines of devils”? 

In his book, the faith of our fathers, James cardinal gibbons states that

“prohibiting priests to marry” is both discipline and a law upheld by the catholic church (p.401).

 

In fact, the law of celibacy has been enforced by the Catholic Church on her priests since the beginning of the fourth century.

Another doctrine of the devil is “commanding to abstain from meats.” Is this also found in the Catholic Church?

The following is stated in another catholic book:

“By the law of abstinence the church forbids us to eat either meat or soups or gravies made from meat, on all Friday’s in the year.” (a handbook of the catholic faith, p. 424)

Aside from forbidding her priests to marry, the Catholic Church also claims to immediately succeed the apostle’s time:

“When the early fathers wished to use a most convincing argument to prove the true church, they always appealed to the fact of its apostolic origin.” (The question box, p.135)

This is what catholic authorities refer to as the apostolicity of the church. By this, they mean that the church claims to be christ’s own must able to prove its legitimate descent from the apostles. (the faith explained, p. 156)

Indeed, the Catholic Church is the only church that claims to have an unbroken line, tracing her origin to the first century. But does this prove as legitimate her claim as the true church of Christ? Quite contrary, by claiming to be chronologically linked with pristine Christianity, the Catholic Church has proven otherwise. 

For, what followed the death of the apostles was the great apostasy. And the Catholic Church therefore is the result of it.

It comes as no surprise, then, that despite her claim to apostolicity, the Catholic Church is very much different from the true church of Christ. This, even catholic writers admit:

“We Catholics acknowledge readily, without any shame, nay with pride, that Catholicism cannot be identified simply and wholly with primitive Christianity, nor even with the gospel of Christ, in the same way that the great oak cannot be identified with the tiny acorn.” (The spirit of Catholicism, p.2)

A further proof that the Catholic Church is indeed the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the apostate church is her bloodstained history. In his book, The truth about the inquisition, John A. o’brien, a Jesuit priest reveals:

“’the first law of history’ declared pope Leo XII, as we mentioned previously, is to assert nothing false and to have no fear of telling the truth. In conformity with the wise principle, we frankly acknowledge the responsibility of the popes in the use of torture and in the burning of thousands of heretics at the stake. Their sanctioning of such cruel and brutal measures is unquestionably one of the blackest strains on the record of the holy office and will remain to the end of time a cause of obloquy and shame upon the papacy.” (p.49)

Looking back to that dark period in the catholic church’s history, one is reminded of the prophecy of apostle Paul that fierce wolves who would perpetrate the apostasy would not spare the flock.(Acts 20:28-30)

 

The apostate church: ‘mother of harlots’

There is more to be told about the prophesied apostasy of the church in addition to what were already revealed in the pronouncements of our lord jesus Christ, apostle peter, and apostle paul. Apostle John had other meaningful revelations concerning what would happen to the church as it apostatized after the death of the apostles. 

One such prophecy referred to the apostate church as an unchaste woman, the “great harlot” who “sits on many waters” and on whose “forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev. 17:1, 5)

We know that the harlot or whore mentioned in the prophecy does not refer literal woman because she is said to be sitting on “many waters” which signify “nations, peoples, races, and languages” (Rev. 17:15). What then does the “harlot” in the prophecy symbolize? It is the church after her having apostatized as contrasted with the Church of Christ during the time of the apostles, being likened to a chaste virgin or a pure woman (II Cor. 11:2).

Aside from “sitting on many waters” or embracing nations, peoples, races, and languages (or, being universal in scope), the apostate church can also be identified by the name she bears—she is called by the name “Babylon”, which, according to the new American bible, is the code name for “Rome” (I pet. 5:13, footnote). 

Which church bears the name of Babylon or rome and “sits on many nations and peoples” or is universal in scope? She is, as her name obviously indicates, the Roman Catholic Church. This is affirmed by the Catholic Catechism, Part II, which states:

“… The Church is called Roman Catholic because its chief ruler is the lawful bishop of Rome…” “The word ‘Catholic’ means ‘universal’ or ‘extending all over the world’”

Apostle John’s vision of “the great harlot” in revelation 17, therefore, confirms that there was indeed an apostasy after the death of the apostles, which gave rise to the Roman Catholic church.

However, this is not the only truth that we should understand about the apostasy that took place within the church. Going back to verse 5 of the said chapter in revelation, it was foretold that the prophesied “great harlot” would become “mother of harlots”. 

Therefore, she would have offsprings that are likewise “harlots” or false churches.

Who are the offsprings of the prophesied great harlot in revelation 17? In the book, Religion in the united states, author Benson Landis writes:

“The Protestant Episcopal Church in the united states is one of the eighteen independent religious bodies that grew out of the church of England… The principal characteristics of the protestant Episcopal Church have thus been arrived from the church of England, which in 1534, after a long process of separation, became independent of the roman catholic church…”

Indeed, the roman catholic church gave birth to other churches. From her sprung in 1534 the church of England, which bore 18 independent religious bodies that later brought forth the tens of thousands of protestant sects and denominations that are in the world today.

  

GOD’S POLICY OF ELECTION IN RETROSPECT

Unquestionably, the Catholic Church denounces all these and maintains that no apostasy ever took place. The assertion of its defenders is that even after death of the apostles, the church had remained pure and undefiled through the centuries. And this church which has survived until this day is said to be none other that the Catholic Church. 

But even the past groups of people who were formerly god’s elect also would not admit to having apostatized. The Jews after the age of the prophets, for one, continued to believe that they were the chosen race and that they still had a share in god’s covenant with their forefather Abraham. But as proven by god’s commissioning of Christ and of the apostles, that was not the case.

Reviewing the history of the generations of god’s chosen people, it is noticeable that every time a chosen generation of people turns away from god by transgressing his will, he chooses and sets apart a new group of people in place of the old. With the apostasy of the church after the demise of the apostles, whom did god elect as his people in the remainder of the Christian era?

Is there a truth in the claim of the Protestants that they are the restored true Christian church after the apostasy? Who are the next chosen people of god since god’s standing policy of election must continue?