tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post6603352220094644828..comments2023-07-21T18:55:28.541-05:00Comments on Early Christian Life: Leo Tolstoy: The kingdom of God is within you: Helchitsky 1440 A.D.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-45456000477982793592014-05-26T12:56:19.315-05:002014-05-26T12:56:19.315-05:00Hello! Do you know if is possible to see the book ...Hello! Do you know if is possible to see the book of Helchitsky? thanks Jefferson Figueiredohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570627080737886552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-71572770014419392202010-11-17T12:55:51.400-06:002010-11-17T12:55:51.400-06:00Continued...
Concerning the open tyranny, secret ...Continued...<br /><br />Concerning the open tyranny, secret treachery, and deadly poisoning, imputed to some of the popes, the following account is given from Vergerius and others<br />I. Their Tyranny.-Julius II had more than two hundred thousand Christians put to death, in the space of seven years.<br />Gregory IX caused the emperor's envoys by whom he was informed, that Jerusalem was retaken, to be strangled, contrary to all justice.<br />Clemens IV openly beheaded Conrad, the son of the king of Sicily, without valid reasons, or legal proceedings.<br />It is not necessary to give a recital here, of the innumerable multitude of true Christians, who, through the pretensions of some popes, were deprived of life, in all parts of the earth, by fearful deaths at the hands of the executioner, only on account of their religion; for this is sufficiently known, and needs no further demonstration.<br />II. Their Treachery.-The Emperor Frederick, at the diet of Nuremburg, openly complained of the treachery of Pope Alexander III, and that in the presence of the princes of the empire, before whom he read the letter containing the treason, which the pope had sent to the soldiers of the Turkish emperor.<br />Gregory II secretly issued a prohibition, not to pay to the Emperor Leo his customary (and due) tax.<br />Alexander VI availed himself of the assistance of the Turks (or at least, called upon them), against the French.<br />III Their Poisoning.-Ancient writers mention, that Pope Paul III poisoned his own mother and niece, that the inheritance of the Farnesi might fall to him.<br />Innocentius IV, through a priest, administered poison to the emperor, in a host, thus removing him from this life.<br />Moreover, how another pope, whose name is sufficiently known, put to death by poison, in accordance with Turkish custom, the brother of Gemeno Vajazet, the Mohammedan emperor, which was contrary to common justice, because he was ransomed with two tonnen treasure, needs not to be recounted, as the fame of it has gone out both into the east and the west.<br />This same pope had at a certain time determined to poison in like manner some cardinals, when the cupbearer made a mistake in the tankard containing the poison (as the ancient writers have annotated), and he who had arranged this, was himself served with it, insomuch that he died with the cardinals who had drank of it. Compare De Tractaten Contarcene, hergerij des Onpartijdigen Rechters, especially pp. 48, 49, 50, with the Cleronijk van den O;ndergang, first part, for the year 1227. p. 544. col. 1. 2. Also p. 768. col. 2, of the bad conduct of Pope John XXIV, taken from Fase. Temp. f od. 187. Platin. fol. 401 Ontc f r. fol. 406. 417. Hist. Eccl. Cusp. H.edio. part 3. lib. 11. Chronolog. Leonh. lib. 6. Henr. Bull. of the councils, 2d Book, chap. 8. Joh. Stumph. fol. 21. Hist. Georg. lib. 6. Seb. Fra. (old edition) fol. 31 fol. 89. Hist. Andriani fol. 53 to fod. 66. Jan Crisp. fol. 256 tto 369. Chron. Car. lib. 5. Zeg. fol. 326Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-28118698717457822562010-11-17T12:55:09.063-06:002010-11-17T12:55:09.063-06:00Continued...
In addition to the evil testimony wh...Continued...<br /><br />In addition to the evil testimony which is given of John XXIV, P. J. Twisk gives the following account, "This Pope John, as some say, forcibly took possession of the papal chair, and is styled by the ancient writers a true standard-bearer of all heretics and epicures. He was a man better fitted for arms and war, than for the service of God."-Chronijk, P. J. Twisk, 15th Book, for the year 1411. p. 768. eol. 2.<br />about the revenue of twenty-eight tonnen gold [2,800,000 guilders, or $784,000], annually drawn by the popes from said kingdom, proceeds, to say, "How true the foregoing is, appears sufficiently from the fact that John XXII. at his death left two hundred and fifty tonnen gold ($7,000,000) in his private treasury; as Franciscus Petrarcha, a credible writer, plainly states.<br />Boniface VII, finding that he could no longer remain in safety at Rome, surreptitiously took the precious jewels and treasures. from St. Peter's coffers, and fled with them to Constantinople.<br />Clemens VIII, and other popes, were at various times convicted of such sacrilege, by their own people.<br />Gregory IX sold his absolution to the emperor for a hundred thousand ounces of gold.<br />Benedict IX, being stricken with fear, sold to Gregory VI the papal chair, for fifteen hundred pounds of silver.<br />The simony and sacrilege of Alexander Vi is also sufficiently known, from his epitaph, whieh we, for certain reasons, omit.<br />Further, how Leo X, through Tetzel, and many other popes, through their legates and nuncios, sold their letters of indulgence, is better known throughout all so-called Christendom than the popes of Rome desire. Compare this with Ghron.. Plat. ( old edition) fol. 183. Fran. Ala. fol. 58 Onpartijdigen Rechter, fol. 28.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-34720252877805790632010-11-17T12:54:09.938-06:002010-11-17T12:54:09.938-06:00Continued...
OF THE UNGODLY LIFE AND DISORDERLY C...Continued...<br /><br />OF THE UNGODLY LIFE AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT OF SOME OF THE POPES<br />Many of the ancient writers, even good Romanists, are so replete with the manifold ungodly and extremely disorderly conduct of some of those who occupied the papal chair, and are placed in the Register of the true successors of Peter, that one hardly knows how to begin, much less how to end.*<br />We shall therefore, so as not to cause any doubts as regards our impartiality, not adduce all, but only a few, and these not the worst, but, when contrasted with those whom we shall not mention, the very best examples of the kind; and shall then soon leave them, as we have no desire to stir up this sink of rottenness, and pollute our souls with its stench.<br />Concerning the simony or sacrilege of some popes, a brief account is given from Platina and other papistic writers, in the Chronijk van den Ondergang, 9th Book, for the year 828. p. 281. cot. 2. and p. 282. cot. 1. The writer of said chronicle, having related the complaint of the king of France<br /><br />* Besides what is told in the body of the work concerning the ungodly life and disorderly conduct of some popes, it is related by other authors, that some of them were accused (even by those of the Roman church) of heresy, and apostasy from the Roman faith. From"Platina's Register of the Popes, number 37," is adduced the apostasy of Pope Liberius to the tenets of the Arians; which happened in this wise: The emperor, being at that time tainted with the tenets of the Arians, deposed Pope Liberius, and sent him into exile ten years. But when Liberius, overcome by the grievousness of his misery, became infected with the faith and the confession of the Arian sect, he was victoriously reinstated by the emperor, into his papal chair at Rome. Compare Chron. Platinae (old edition) fol. 73. Fasc. Temp fol. 102. Chron. Holl. div. 2. cap. 20. with P. J. Twisk Chron. 4th Book, for the year 353, page 150. cot. 2. <br />Concerning the apostasy of Pope Anastasius II to the tenets of Achacius, bishop of Constantinople, and, consequently. to the Nestorians, we find, from various Roman authors, this annotation: Anastasius was at first a good Christian, but was afterwards seduced by the heretic Achacius, bishop of Constantinople. This was the second pope of bad repute who adhered to the heresy of Nestorius, even as Liberius adhered to the heresy of Arius. -Plat. Regist. Pap. fol. 100. Fasc. Temp. fol. 113. Chron. Holl. div. c. 20. compared with the Chronijk van den Ondergang, edition of 1617, 5th Book, for the year 497. p. 171. cot. 2.<br />Some time after Hononus I had been exalted to the dignity of the Roman chair, it was found that he did not maintain the doctrines of the Roman church, but was opposed to them, although he seemed to ingratiate himself with her in some external things. Concerning this, the following words are given by a certain author: Honorius added the invocation of the saints to the litanies: he built many temples, and decorated them with great magnificence; but this pope was afterwards condemned as a heretic, together with six prelates, by the sixth council of Constantinople. Compare-Hist. Georg . lib. 4. Franc. Ala. fol. 44. Platin, Regiat. Pap. fol. 130. with the last mentioned Chronicle, edition of 1617, for the year 622, page 218. cot. 1.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-72096516582841689352010-11-17T12:52:53.315-06:002010-11-17T12:52:53.315-06:00continued...
After that he. makes mention of. Pop...continued...<br /><br />After that he. makes mention of. Pope Honorius I (in the Regiter the seventy-second), that he, having instituted the exaltations of the Holy Cross, the Saturday processions, which had to be held at Rome, the special prayers in the invocation of the departed saints, etc., was deposed by a certain council at Constantinople; and that, he having died the chair at Rome was vacant for one year and seven months. See above mentioned Chronicle, page 218. cot. 1. ex hist. Georg. lib. 4. Franc. Ala. Reg. fol. 44. Platin. Succ. Papae. fol. 130.<br />When Pope John XXIV was deposed on account of his wicked life and ungodly conduct, and placed in confinement somewhere, in the time of emperor Sigismund and the council of Constance, there was for the time of two years and five months no one who took charge of the papal government; hence the chair was without an occupant for that length of time. See aforementioned Chronicle, for the year 1411, p. 769. cot. v. ex Fasc. Temp. fol. 187. Platin. fol. 401. Onu f . fol. 406. 417. Hfst. Eccl. Casp. Hedio. part. 3. lib. 11. Chronol. Leonh. lib. 6. Joh. Stumpf. fol. 21. Hist. Georg. lib. 9. Hist. Mart. Adr. fol. 53. to 66. Jan Crisp. fol. 356. to 175. Zeg. fol. 326.<br />Moreover, twice it happened, that for the space of about three years no one was pope, or general head of the Roman church; first, after the deposition of Pope Benedict XIII of Avignon; secondly, before the election of Otto Calumna, called Martin V, thus named because he was consecrated or ordained on St. Martin's day. Concerning the first time, see P. J. Twisk, Chron. for the year 1415. page 774 cot. 1; concerning the second, see in the same book, for the year 1417, or two years afterwards p. 781. cot. 1. compared with Fasc. Temp. fol. 187 Platin. fol. 470. Hist. Georg. lib. 6. Mern. fol. 913. Seb. Fr. (old edition) fol. 31. After the death of Pope Nicholas I (the 108th in the Register), information is obtained from Platina, according to the account of various other authors, relative to the condition of the Roman church at that time; namely, that she had no pope or head for eight years, seven months and nine days. Compare Plat. Reg. Pap. fol. 197. with Georg. hist. lib. 5. Joh. Munst. fol. 14. Mern. fol. 556. Francisc. Ala. fol. 60. Also, P. J. Twisk, Chron. 9th Book, edition of 1617. p. 297. cot. 2.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-8145144060447891202010-11-17T12:52:12.292-06:002010-11-17T12:52:12.292-06:00HOW THE ROMAN CHAIR STOOD VACANT
As great as was a...HOW THE ROMAN CHAIR STOOD VACANT<br />As great as was at times the inordinate desire manifested by some for the possession of the chair of papal dominion, so great was at other times the negligence and aversion as regards the promotion of the same cause;** for it occasionally happened that the chair stood vacant for a considerable time, in consequence of the contentions and dissensions of the cardinals; so that the whole Roman church was without a head; without which, as the papists themselves assert, it cannot subsist.<br />In order to demonstrate this matter, we shall (so as not to intermix all sorts of writers) adduce the various notes of P. J. Twisk, who gives information in regard to this subject from Platina's Registers of the Popes, and other celebrated papistic authors, in his Chronicle, printed Anno 1617 at Hoorn; from which we shall briefly extract the following instances, and present them to the reader.<br />* Concerning this matter, P. J, Twisk gives this account, "At this time there were three popes at once, namely, Gregory XII, Benedict XIII, and Alexander V. Thus was the' great city, the spiritual Babylon divided into three parts, as a token of its approaching fall.-Chron. for the year 1409, page 762, col. 1. <br />* Where no true foundation is, there is no stability; this is apparent here: for as immoderate as they were in seeking to possess the Roman chair, so immoderate they were also in leaving it vacant. <br />We shall, however, omit brief periods of a few days, weeks, or months, and pass on to intervals of more than a year, which, consequently, are not reckoned by months, or still lesser periods. In this we shall begin with the shortest period, and end with the longest.<br />On page 225, cot. 1, mention is made of pope Martin I (in the Register the seventy-sixth), that he was carried away a prisoner by Constantine, emperor at Constantinople, and sent into exile, where he died; whereupon the chair stood vacant for over a year. Ex. Hist. Georg; lib. 4. Platin. fol. 135. Zeg. fol. 224, 225.<br />Page 260, cot. 2, the same writer relates of Paul I (the ninety-fifth in the Register), that he excommunicated Constantine V, who had thrown the images out of the church; and that Constantine, not heeding this, in his turn excommunicated the pope; whereupon the latter died, and the Roman chair was without occupant, and the church without a head, one year and one month. Ex. Platinae Regist. Pap. fol. 166. hist. Georg. lib. 4. Franc. Altars. fol. 54.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-70629590992604628092010-11-17T12:49:29.292-06:002010-11-17T12:49:29.292-06:00Continued...
Concerning the overthrow of these th...Continued...<br /><br />Concerning the overthrow of these three popes the same author gives this statement, "In this year, Pope John XXIV, having been convicted in fifty four articles, of heresies, crimes, and base villainies, was deposed from papal dignity, by the council of Constance, and given in custody to the palsgrave. When these articles were successively read to him, he sighed deeply and replied, - that he had done something still worse, namely, that he had come down from the mountain of Italy, and committed himself under the jurisdiction of a council, in a country where he possessed neither authority nor power.<br />After he had been in confinement at Munich three years, to the astonishment of everyone, he was released, and made cardinal and bishop of Tusculum, by Pope Martin V, whose feet he submissively came to kiss at Florence. Shortly afterwards in the year 1419, he died there, and was buried with great pomp and solemnity in the church of St. John the Baptist.<br />After he had thus received his sentence, the other two popes were summoned; of whom Gregory XII, who resided at Rimini, sent Charles Maletesta thither, with instructions to abdicate voluntarily in his name the papal dignity; in reward of which he was made a legate in Marca d'Ancona, where he subsequently died of a broken heart, at Racanay, a seaport on the Adriatic Sea.<br />Benedict XIII, the pope at Avignon, remained obstinate in his purpose, so that neither entreaties nor threats, nor the authority of the council could move him, to submit, or lay down his office, for the tranquillity of all Christendom. See the afore<br />* So writes Jan Crispijn. mentioned Chronicle, 15th Book, for the year 1415 page 773. Col. a. and 774. Col. z. <br />NOTE -Pope Benedict XIII, through the incitation of the Ring of France, and the University of Paris, sent his legates to Pope Boniface IX; but they received as an answer, that their master could not properly be called a pope, but an antipope; whereupon they refuted him. See De Ondergang, 15th Book, Anno 1404. page 757. Col. z.<br />Here it is proper to note what the last mentioned author narrates concerning the plurality of the popes, who existed at one and the same time., "Besides this," he writes,"it is related that there were sometimes four, sometimes three, and sometimes two popes at the same time."<br />Victor, Alexander III, Calixtus III, and Paschalis, possessed together the papal authority, at the time of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa; and also Benedict VIII, Sylvester II, and Gregory V were popes together, till finally, Henry III deposed them.<br />Likewise Gregory XII, Benedict XIII, and Alexander V arrogated, by excommunications, the papal authority.*<br />Further, how Stephen III and Constantine, Sergius III and Christophorus, Urbanus V and Clemens VII, Eugene IV and Clemens VIII, and many other popes, whom to mention it would take too long, strove and contended with each other for the triple crown, their own historians have sufficiently elucidated. See in the 9th Book o f the Chronicle for the year 891. page 315. Col. 2. from the tract, Den Onpartiidigen Rechter.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-76464804506154973962010-11-17T12:47:43.504-06:002010-11-17T12:47:43.504-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-55111470462833737432010-11-17T12:45:40.580-06:002010-11-17T12:45:40.580-06:00Dear Michael:
I was able to view your blog for a ...Dear Michael:<br /><br />I was able to view your blog for a bit and noticed that you think when Jesus said: "There shall be one fold and one Shepherd," that the Shepherd Jesus is talking about must be the pope. However, there were several bishops all over the world during the time of the apostle John; and after. Jesus is the Shepherd. Whoever hears His sayings and does them is a wise man. Whoever does not is a fool. (Matthew 7)<br /><br />I also noticed you mentioned the Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians and their theology. None of that will save them. <br /><br />Below is a list of information you can investigate yourself, that history teaches us that their were at times, several popes reiging at once, and other times there were several years where their was none reiging at all. I am only alllowed to post about 4,000 characters at once, so their will be a series of comments.<br /><br />“TWO, THREE, AND FOUR POPES REIGNING AT THE SAME TIME; THE CHAIR OF ROME OCCASION ALLY WITHOUT A POPE FOR A LONG TIME<br />Formerly, when the papal dominion was coveted, the aim was directed solely to the Roman chair, but now it was quite different; for, instead of according to Rome, the honor of electing the pope, as had always been the case heretofore, they of Avignon, in France began, without regarding the Romans or Italians, to constitute themselves the electors of the pope; insomuch that they for this end elected a certain person, whom they call Benedict XIII, notwithstanding the Roman chair was occupied by a pope called Gregory XII; thus setting not only pope against pope, but France against Italy, and Avignon against Rome.*<br />Of this, P. J. Twisk gives the following account"At this time there reigned two popes, who were for a long time at great variance with each other; the one at Rome in Italy, the other at Avignon., "When Pope Innocentius at Rome was dead, Benedict XIII still occupied the papal chair in France. Then Gregory XII was elected pope." Chron. P. .I. Twish, ISth Book, for the year 1406. page .758. col. z. ex Chron. Platinae, fol. 396. Fasc. Temp. fol. 187.<br />The same writer, after narrating successively several other things which happened in the five subsequent years, again makes mention, for the year 1411, of this Pope Benedict, who was elected at Avignon; as well as of two others, who arose during his reign, namely, Gregory and John; and<br />* After pope Anastasius, Symmachus was elected pope in a tumult; and immediately also Laurentius was elected, with whom he had two contests, yet came off victor, as the papists say, for the clergy and king Diederik were on his side. But after four years some of the clergy, who lusted after uproar and contention, and some Roman senators, recalled Laurentius; but they were sent into banishment. This caused a fearful riot at Rome.-. J. Twisk, 5th Book, Anno 499. page 171. col. 2 ex Platinal Chron, fol. 101. Fasc. Temp. fol. 114. <br />also of their mutual contentions. These are his words, "At that time. there were three popes at once, who incessantly excommunicated one another, and of whom the one gained this potentate for his adherent, the other another. Their names were Benedict, Gregory, and John., "These strove and contended with each other, not for the honor of the Son of God, nor in behalf of the reformation and correction of the adulterated doctrines or the manifold abuses of the (Roman) church, but solely for the supremacy; to obtain which, no one hesitated to perpetrate the most shameful deeds., "In brief, the emperor exerted himself with great diligence, and traveled three years through Europe, to exterminate this shameful and pernicious strife and discord which prevailed in Christendom. Having, therefore, rejected these three schismatic popes, he brought it about, that Otto Columnius was made pope by common consent; for, within the last twenty-nine years there had always been at least two popes; one at Rome, and the other at Avignon. When one blessed, the other cursed.* See aforementioned Chronicle, 15th Book, for the year 1411. page 765. Col. r, a.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-36013694577488379192010-11-17T12:08:16.503-06:002010-11-17T12:08:16.503-06:00Michael:
The Catholic Church is composed of all w...Michael:<br /><br />The Catholic Church is composed of all who have the King reigning in them, who fear Him and keep His commandments, who live His faith on earth. They are born of God who live the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Most Roman Catholics, most Protestants, do not do this, especially the popes, cardinals, pastors, evangelists, and so forth. Almost everyone is walking in a broad way. Only those who walk the narrow way will have life. And only those who do the will of the Father in heaven will inherit the kingdom. Only those who are faithful unto death, enduring till the end, shall be saved.<br /><br />"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head." (1 Corinthians 11:3-4) The pope dishonoureth his Head--Christ! <br /><br />"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. <br />And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. <br />Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." (Matthew 23:5-10) <br /><br />"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:38-45) War, defending yourself and family by force is forbidden by Jesus. Love your enemies--resist not evil.<br /><br />Every painting of Jesus, every cross, every sculpture of Mary are images that must be destroyed. <br /><br />All of those expensive cathedrals and protestant church buildings should be sold and the money used to help the poor. <br /><br />It is a great folly for men to build extravagant buildings and think they offer God a service! I went to the St. Augustine of Hippo Cathedral in Washington D.C. and it was as if I traveled to Thailand and was inside a Bhuddist Temple. God will punish all of those who waste His resources on such folly with bad stewardship.<br /><br />Jesus will judge us by our works. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12) He will not quiz us on what we know, but will reward us according to our works, whether good or evil. <br /><br />The only way to be cleansed is to walk in the light as He is in the light. (1 John 1:7)<br /><br />"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My followers would fight for Me; but now My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36)Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034594959546724491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4282267512914375775.post-54588867364796033122010-11-17T05:46:49.946-06:002010-11-17T05:46:49.946-06:00The Kingdom of GOD is the Catholic Church!
The Ki...<b>The Kingdom of GOD is the Catholic Church!</b><br /><br />The Kingdom of God! Sounds kind of heavenly, doesn’t it. But is it? Or is it right here on earth now in the midst of us all? Let’s see what the Holy Bible has to say about it.<br /><br />In Matthew 12:28, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God has come upon them. In Mark 12:34, He also tells the scribe that he is not far from the <b>Kingdom of God.</b> <br /><br />In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom, and then establishes His Church on Peter the Rock. Jesus says that whatever this Church binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, where Jesus reigns now. <br /><br />So what does all of this tell us? It tells us that the <b>Kingdom of God</b> was established on earth by Jesus Christ in the year 33 AD, in the form of His Church, led by Peter.<br /><br />Why did Jesus Christ become Incarnate in the first place? Was it to leave us with a book, or to establish a Church? Well, in this verse He told us one of the reasons why:<br /><br /><i>"But He said to them, "To the other towns also I must PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN SENT"."</i> (Luke 4:43)<br /><br /><i>"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."</i> (Luke 19:10)<br /><br />And how are we, who are the lost ones, to be saved? It is through the Church which He founded.<br /><br /><i>"Therefore, if you harken to My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My special possession, dearer to Me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. YOU SHALL BECOME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, A HOLY NATION."</i> (Exodus) 19:5-6<br /><br /><b>The Kingdom of GOD will last forever:</b><br /><br /><i>"And when your days shall be fulfilled and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM. HE SHALL BUILD A HOUSE TO MY NAME, AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER...AND YOUR HOUSE SHALL BE FAITHFUL, AND YOUR KINGDOM FOREVER BEFORE YOUR FACE AND YOUR THRONE SHALL BE FIRM FOREVER."</i> (2Samuel 7:13, 16)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942noreply@blogger.com