mac wrote: ↑November 9th, 2020, 4:29 pmgjwd84115 wrote: ↑November 9th, 2020, 11:51 am Yea, I don't trust them either:
Verse 1 The apostle John sees a vision in which the sea, representing peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues (see Rev. 17:15) form the
Roman Empire. The seven heads refer to the kingdoms prior to Rome as well as the Roman Empire itself (as a result), and the horns represent the countries that came out of the Roman Empire. The crowns refer to ten countries that will come out of the Roman Empire later which are monarchies. It is in the day of these kings that the church and the kingdom of God is restored (see Daniel 2:44). Obviously, these "heads" have committed much blasphemy.
Verse 2 The characteristics of of this "beast" is depicted as similiar to the three kingdoms before it (see Daniel 7:1-7). The dragon, or satan (see Rev. 12: 3-4) gives this empire and its rulers their power, seat, and authority.
Verse 3 One of the heads (Rome itself) receives an apparent mortal wound, but the deadly wound was helaled, or in other words, the Roman rule was revived through the Catholic church at which the world wonders or marvels at.
Verse 4 And they (much of the world) worship the dragon, or satan, unknowingly, of course (see 1 Nephi 14:10), and they say; who can contend against this empire.
Verse 5 This revived Roman Empire, or Catholic church, is given a mouth, or in other words a leader who speaks for it. This leader is ther Bishop of Rome, or pope, who has through the years stated many great (bold) things as well as many blasphemies consisting of many untruths about God, heaven, and the true gospel. The 42 month period mentioned is a prophetic time period in which each day represents one year (see Clark's Commentary). There is a misunderstanding concerning this time period as many falsely interpret this as a literal time period when it is not. Therfore, this time period is 1260 years (from 570 AD to1830 AD when the true church of Jesus Chrit was "driven in the wildernes" of obscurity with no public ministry). (see also Rev. 12:6 and the JST Rev. 12:5)
Verse 6 The blasphemy is described further.
Verse 7 This verse tells of the great apostate church's war against the saints, it's temporary victory, and it's great dominion.
Verse 8 All those who belong to this corrupt church or any other false religion can not be written in the Lamb's Book of Life as long as they belong to such. (see 1 Nephi 14:10, 1 Nephi 13: 26, and Alma 5:58).
Verse 9 This verse admonishes all to open their ears to hear the whisperings of the Spirit of God.
Verse 10 This is a warning to all those who oppress. It is estimated that during the dark and middle ages 50, 000, 000 were put to death by this wicked empire, and this does not include the many saints who were martyred by the Roman Empire during the days of the original apostles and shortly thereafter. John closes this verse by mentioning the patience and faith of the saints.
Verse 11 John sees another beast (or kingdom) coming out of the earth which represents the Catholic church. The two horns represent the Roman and Greek branches of this church and they are dipicted as like a lamb (seemingly Christlike), however, it speaks as a dragon, meaning that it speaks deceitfully as satan would.
Verse 12 The beast is said to exercise all the power of the beast (or kingdom) before it. In other words, it now exercises the power that the Roman Empire had before. The last part of this verse means that the people worship this Empire, the one that satan set up. It just has a new more popular face.
Verse 13 This verse refers to the false miracles which satan has employed through this church.
Verse 14 These false miracles deceive many on earth in the sight of the beast, or, in other words, wherever this beast or kingdom exists. The "image" or likeness means that the papacy would rule just as the emperors did before, only now they would appear more Christlike.
Verse 15 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast," refers to satan, through the emperor Constantine, giving his "seat" to the bishop of Rome. The emperor Constantine placed the bishop of Rome over all other bishops which began the papacy. This verse goes on to state that those who opposed this false form of worship were put to death.
Verse 16 There is also a mistake here in the translation which has led to much confusion and much speculation and false doctrine. The Greek preposition en (transliteration) can mean in, on, at, by, and with, and it was mistakenly translated as "in" when it should have been translated as "with." There are also other problems with the translation of this verse, but it is referriing to accepting (receives) this mark with the right hand and forehead, which is a mark or a sign of this kingdom. It is what is commonly known as the sign of the cross (see reference under "Sign of the Cross" in "Mormon Doctrine"). Constantine claimed to have seen a vision of Christ along with a bright cross in the sky, and he was instructed to follow that mark and conquer. However, I don't believe that it was Christ whom he saw. Anyhow, that is the mark or sign of both of those apostate empires, the Roman empire as well as the Catholic church.
Verse17 This verse simply refers to a practice done for a time during the inquisition. The phrase "name of the beast" is referring to a person being a Catholic. The phrase "number of his name" refers to a persons allegiance to the papacy, of whom he following number refers to.
Vrese 18 The man referred to in this verse is the bishop of Rome, or the pope. An inscription on the mitre of the bishop of Rome read "DCLXV," or 666 in our numbers.
I hope that this was helpful. God bless you!
George Joseph DeMetz
't trust them either:
Though it is true that when the Gospel went amongst the gentiles of the west they in some instances added pagan doctrine, and also one must remember in those first few centuries Rome was not the centre nor ruler of the varied christian churches thru out the known world, there was many Christian centres that did not accept any Authority from Rome, both inside and outside of the Roman empire.
To be fair to them all as it is the continual habit of the Protestant movement to constantly demonise and generate bias propaganda about any other Christian church that is not part of them.
These earlier Christian assemblies wether it be Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, etc, always held true to the most essential, yes even the most precious saving truth of the Gospel, that is that Jesus of Nazerath is the Messiah, the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, was sacrificed apon the cross of calvary for the sins of the world and that after three days in the tomb arose from the dead.
They also kept the most precious accounts of Him most sacred, ie the Gospels of the Apostles, etc.
Rome was never in control of christianity, save it be in some portions of the west. Nor could it of been the abominable church, the Anti christ, nor could the eastern churches be either, for not one denied the divinity or Sacrifice or ressurection of Christ, which are the essential teachings to bring about a mans redemption.
However in the seventh century there arose a prophet whom taught that Jesus was not Gods son, that He did not suffer and die apon the cross, that he was only one of the prophets.
This new prophet claimed that he was the final prophet and the greatest of the prophets, that Jesus was subserviant to him.
He was given power to create a new religion, and thru violence and force it swept thru most of the christian countries, using the sword to force those christian lands to accept this new prophet as the Final Prophet or die.
Untold christian libraries, the most ancient and veritable christian centres were destroyed, their books, manuscripts burnt, like a plaque of devouring locusts the armies of this prophet came even to the doors of rome, took spain, sought even to invade france, all the faithfull and most ancient christian centres were destroyed, Alexandria, Antioch, the venerable armenian churchs, all along north africa the christian centres were laid waste, were no more.
Rome whom for all its failings still had the most precious truths preserved and the Lord seen fit to prevent the armies of the beast, and its anti christ prophet from taking Rome and the northern gentile countrys that held fast to faith in Jesus.
No pope of Rome ever denied the divinity, atonement or ressurection of Jesus, no Greek Arch bishop did either, neither did the remnants outside of the control of this prophet and his religion.
Only one major religion did which did indeed take control, not only of the holy land but nigh on every christian country in the east and all of north africa and some parts of europe.
This prophet and his religion is what the Apostles were talking about concerning the emergance of a man, the Anti christ, a false prophet whom would oppose all religions and set himself up in the seat of God..
As stated this prophet denied the divinity of Jesus, denied His sacrifice apon the cross and denied His ressurection. This prophet claimed that he himself was the Main prophet, that he was higher than Jesus, therefore he set himself up in the seat of God.
Even in jerusalem to this day apon temple mount sits this prophets church and inscribed on its outer walls is a denial that Jesus is Gods son..
That is the abomination of desolation set up in the temple mount of the true God as spoken of by the apostles and prophets of old.
This false prophet and his anti christ religion has held sway since the eigth/ninth centuries..
This is so over looked today by Christians of this latter times, but if one reads the scriptures concerning the false prophet, the beast, the anti christ, reads the apostles description of what an Anti Christ is and then read this false prophets words in his own book, you will discern for yourselves.
Be gratefull for the faithfull remnant of Christians in the gentile churches that held fast to the saving graces of the gospel, preserving what they could of the scriptures during the great slaughter and the destruction thats lasted nigh on 1200 years, were apon a great war, both spiritual and temporal has been waged apon the true Saints of God whom in their untold numbers died rather than give worship to the beast and the false prophet.
Whom preserved for mankind today the most precious of truths that Jesus is Lord, He is Gods Son, that he paid the price of sin on calvarys hill and after three days arose from the dead!
Neither the evil one and his sevants within christian churches or out of it, neither his armies thru the centuries could eradicate this simple message of salvation that we have today.The catholic church, the greek church, the ancient armenian church, the ancient ethioptian church, the protestant church for all their faults held fast to that most precious of saving truths.
Protecting us at the same time from the beast, the false prophet, the anti christ whom even to this very day holds great power in eastern lands.
The ecumenical councils in the 300 and 400s A.D. that the Catholics and others point to for legitimacy of doctrine would suggest otherwise. Instead of allowing the word of God to speak for itself, they adopted creeds (in addition to or on top of the scriptures) which must be accepted as well as altering the scriptures to suit these creeds/doctrines in some cases.They also kept the most precious accounts of Him most sacred, ie the Gospels of the Apostles, etc.
You don’t have to deny the divinity of Christ to co-opt it’s perceived legitimacy or use it for something it was never intended for. It’s much more useful (and less work) to use it’s perceived authority as justification of one’s own agenda. The crusades and inquisitions are great examples of this.No pope of Rome ever denied the divinity, atonement or ressurection of Jesus, no Greek Arch bishop did either, neither did the remnants outside of the control of this prophet and his religion.
This father of BS-ers said:
I said (in my mind) “GOOD ONE!” 
