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The apostle Paul wrote these words of warning to the early church..."Take heed therefore unto yourselves, For I know this, that after my departing shall grievious wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock, Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-30)
This happened! The Word of God was taken from the common man and relegated to a self exalted hierarchy. This brought the "Spiritual" famine! An Apostate church came forth with Paganistic practices and rituals, garbed in the cloak of Christianity. According to our previous A-Millennial diagram, we can see that the great apostasy began to develop about 270 A.D. History verifies that this departure from the Word of God did come to pass! A decree from the Emperor Valentinian in the year 445 A.D. recognized Leo, the bishop of Rome as the "Head" of this Apostate church. The name "Pope" was adopted from the name "Pa-Pa" in the Italian language.Leo the great was then heralded as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Emperors and the Popes became united in a reign of tyranny and oppression over all of the world! The Apostle Paul had foretold that this very thing would come to pass, as he wrote... "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come (speaking of Christ's return) except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." This is a confirmation of the self exalted position of the Papacy that arose after Paganism was cast down. There arose the apostasy of The Roman Catholic Church and has presented itself as the "True" Christian church. This apostasy continues to this present day! Amen.
The Popes have always presented themselves before their adherents to be worshipped and have accepted praise which is due to God alone! Even in our present day, we view this "kingly" exaltation via the television. Throughout all these years, this Apostate church has made void the Word of God, yet proclaims itself to be the one true "Holy Catholic Church." These Popes have claimed the name of "Vicar of the Son of God" thus usurping the authority and the very name of the blessed and ONLY Holy Spirit. |
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Rev.6:5 "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third creature say, Come and see, And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four creatures say, A measure of wheat for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
As historical events unfold before us and through the symbols of this prophecy, we understand that this "Black horse" represents the continuing saga of the Roman Empire, which brought a "spiritual famine" of the Word of God. This rider holds balances in his hand, and a voice is heard saying, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny." This existing condition is barely enough to keep people from starving to death in a literal situation. However! This symblic language is describing a time of severe "Spiritual" famine in the land. A Spiritual famine did indeed take place under the historical events of this third seal message. Concerning this time in history, the prophet Amos wrote... "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:1)
The Black horse... symbolizes what is historically called, the Dark Age period. History records that for over one thousand years, the Papacy ruled even over the Emperors. Those Christians who would not bow down to the Pope were persecuted and many fled into wilderness areas to save their lives. According to Foxes Book of Martyrs,milions of true Christians were burned at the stake and murdered in other henious ways by the Popes edict. This period of time represents the prophetic time mentioned in Rev.12:6 of 1,260 years. This was the time that the TRUE church was in the wilderness. The reigning Popes with the Emperors of that time held the world in spiritual darkness and bondage. This rider, being a human agent symbolizes the the Papacy of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The Word of God was taken from the common man and replaced with the unscriptural dogmas of the Popes.
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