We continue where we left off in our previous post.

B. But, can we say the Papacy denies God or Christ? Is the language – “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped,” – applicable to that system?

A. Yes; as Paul said of some: “They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.” I refer to the Papal system; NOT to individual Roman Catholics.

If you are not familiar with the claims of Papacy, you cannot so well understand how it exalts itself, and opposes God.

Papacy claims that its representative, the Pope, is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” – “The Prince of the kings of the earth.” As Christ’s vice-gerent, he is the Pa-pa – Pope – Father, i.e., “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of peace,” “The Mighty God.” All of these, and every other title announced by the Prophets, is considered as proper and applicable to the Pope, since he is Christ’s vicar, or instead of Christ.

Did the prophets declare the reign of Christ for a thousand years over the nations, and that he should reign until he should put all enemies under him?

Papacy claims that when exalted to power, it did put down all enemies, and that for a thousand years it did reign over the kings of the earth. (Generally dated, I believe, from A.D. 792 to A.D. 1792.) And they claim that the millennial reign of Christ and his saints, of Rev 20, took place, is now in the past, and that the period since the overthrow of Papacy’s dominion (1798) is the “little season,” mentioned in Rev 20: 3, 7 and 8, during which the “Devil is loosed.” (Protestantism and all infidelity to the church.) During her reign over the earth’s kings, she did “Rule with a rod of iron,” and claimed Divine authority, and that it was the fulfilment of Psa 2:6-12. Read it.

“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”

 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”

To verses 10-12 were given emphasis, especially “Kiss the SON.” Actually, the Kings of the earth did kneel down before the Pope, kiss his great toe, receive his blessing and their crowns from his hands. (Sometimes the crown was placed by the Pope’s feet upon king’s heads.) And for centuries no king reigned in Europe without this blessing and appointment of the Pope. To offend or disobey was to forfeit their titles and thrones. Thus, by claiming God’s honor, Papacy exalted itself and opposed the true God. To illustrate the claims of Papacy let me quote a few of its “great swelling words.” –

Pope Martin: “The greatness of priesthood began in Melchisedec, was solemnized in Aaron, continued in the children of Aaron, perfectionated in Christ, represented in Peter, exalted in the universal jurisdiction, and manifested in the Pope. So that, through this pre-eminence of MY priesthood, having all things subject to me, it may seem well verified in me, that was spoken of Christ, ‘Thou hast subdued all things under his feet.’…I am all in all and above all, so that God Himself, and I, the vicar of God, have both one consistory. …Wherefore, if those things that I do be said not to be done of man but of God: WHAT CAN YOU MAKE OF ME BUT GOD? Again, if prelates of the church be called and counted of Constantine for Gods, I then, being above all prelates, seem by this reason to be ABOVE ALL GODS. Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things, yea, with the precepts of Christ.”

Pope Gregory II. boasted that: “All the kings of the West reverence the Pope as a God on earth.” An oft accepted title was, “Our Lord God the Pope.” At the Lateran Council the Pope was addressed: “Thou art another God on earth.”

B. It would appear that in olden times the Popes had made great pretensions.

A. Yes, brother; and you will remember that the late Pious IX. promulgated the dogma of his own Infallibility. And the present Pope (at the time), “Leo XIII. claims to be “The Lion of the tribe of Judah.” This, like other titles belonging to the true Christ, is claimed by the Anti-Christ, as you will see by this extract from the Pittsburg Dispatch of June 14, 1879:

“A rich American, now residing at Rome, desiring to possess the bust of Leo XIII., engaged the services of the celebrated sculptor, Tadolini. The latter, not content with the simple portrait of the Holy Father, went to the Vatican and asked permission of Leo XIII. to reproduce his features from the original. The Pope consented. When the work was finished, Leo congratulated the artist, who asked him to trace a word on the still fresh clay. His Holiness took the burin from the sculptor, and wrote with a smile, ‘Leo de tribu juda.’” [“The Lion of the tribe of Judah.”]

B. It does seem very clear when so put together; but how about the remainder of the verse, – “Who sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

Continued with our next post.