CHURCH HISTORY, CHAPTER 12 THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE Thyatira Period, 500 – 1000 AD
…they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Sam 8.7) …We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19.14)
The goal of the RCC during the Dark Ages was to establish unity and power under the dictatorship of Rome, whereas true unity is only found among Bible-believing people who agree on what God said in His book (1 Cor 1.10).(pg 271) Rome wanted to “Christianize” (Romanize) Europe. Evangelization of sinners was never a consideration. (pg 273)
Patricius (St. Patrick of Ireland) had trained some young men as missionaries. One of them, Columba, born about 521 AD, went to Iona, an island off West Scotland, where he in turn trained young men who went through Scotland, England & Northern Europe evangelizing. (pg 275) They soon butted heads with Holy Mother Church when a controversy arose over transubstantiation, prayers to dead saints, the adoration of Mary & the dating of Easter (pagan, Babylonian Ishtar).
The British Isles had been established in Biblical Christianity since before 200 AD…much to the dismay of the papacy, who sent Augustine, (534 – 634 AD) a Benedictine abbot, to Romanize the “heretics.” He did such a good sleezy job of convincing man that salvation was by works and only through the RCC that Pope Gregory ordained him Archbishop of Canterbury and made him a saint (today prayers are made to St. Augustine). (pg 277) Augustine made sure that there was an adequate supply of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (RV, ASV, NIV, etc).
The RCC now reigned supreme throughout Europe, of which the British Isles are part, although the Brits gave Augustine a fit by resistance. He finally convinced the Saxons to invade and convert these heathen to Christ (tongue- in-cheek) (pg 278).
Before 200 AD Bible believers were to be found throughout Germany (pg 280) and much to the chagrin of the RCC they used the old Syriac of Byzantine origin. The same old four-stage cycle which will parallel the history of any European nation from 100 to 1000 AD, was operating: 1. Evangelism (discovery) 3. Culture (civilization) 2. Teaching (colonization) 4. Apostasy (deterioration) By the time the third stage was reached the teaching was usually infiltrated by false doctrine, so the rot set in (pg 281). Severinus and Columba both with their disciples were a great influence for good, but in would step Holy Mother Whore (Rev 17) and out went truth and righteousness – which never came via Rome.
Boniface (Winifred…the pope changed his name) was commissioned by Pope Gregory II to evangelize (Romanize) the Bible believing Goths. Columba’s missionaries had preceeded Boniface and had done a fine job. Also, a Goth by the name of Ulfilas three hundred years earlier had translated an Antiochan-style Bible for them. Boniface was facing some tough opposition, so to make his gospel preaching effective, he enlisted the aid of Charles Martel’s army (a stroke of missionary genius) (pg 283).
Clemens (Irish missionary) and Adelbert (French missionary) proved two formidable Bible- believing opponents (pg 283) for Boniface – he eliminated them. For his faithful performance on behalf of Holy Mother Church, he became St. Boniface (along with Augustine) – patron saints of England.
Enter Charlemagne (Karl Der Grosse) (747 – 814 AD). He subdued the Saxons into becoming “Christians” (Romanized them). Pope Leo crowned Charles Augustus Emperor of all Europe. Everyone except the pope (God on earth) was expected to bow before him (pg 290). Many times Charlie assisted the “Holy Papa” with his military might. The implication of “Charles Augustus” was, “He is as a Caesar… heralding the supremacy of the Holy Roman Empire.”
The RCC claimed that the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God were now established, and Holy Mother Church was it (contrary to Scripture Rom 14.17). The pope is now the supreme ruler of Europe and potentially of the world, identifying him as the Antichrist (2 Thess 2.1-9). The King James translation in the 17th century recognized the pope (any pope) as the man of sin.
Charlemagne led Europe staunchly into Alexandrian culture (anti-Scripture) apostasy, which quickly took all Europe back to paganism. Because the Emperor Charlemagne was a powerful military ruler, he often did things (including appointing bishops and abbots) without consent of the pope. Although he remained a faithful Catholic, always willing to aid the pope whenever necessary (pg 292). When he died, none of his succesors were able to fill the gap, so the papacy soon assumed full control. This Thyatiran Period (500 – 1000 AD) was probably the greatest falling away from “the faith once delivered…” (Jude 3) (pg 295) Paganism was rampant again. The Vatican was turned into a brothel, and prayers were offered to Jupiter and Venus.
About this time a woman became Pope…she retained the title “Holy Father” and was even referred to as John VIII!! (pg 295) Also about this time the Psuedo-Isidorian Decretals (three forgeries, as Sinaiticus and Vaticanus) were written to enforce the desires of the RCC, who claimed them to be equal or superior to the New Testament. They contained ex-cathedra papal decrees from at least 35 popes and were to establish with finality papal theocracy (God on earth) (pg 296).
If any light is to be found in the Dark Ages, it must come through the light source (Ps 119.105) – (also see John 17.17). This light was only carried by such as the Bogomiles, Paulicians, Waldenses, Albigenses, Paterines, etc. (forefathers of Baptists – not related to the Mother of Harlots of Rev. 17).
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Lycopolis – (Alexander) wrote a scathing indictment against the Manichaens (Bible believers & and believer-only baptism) who believed like those mentioned above – the war goes on (John 15.18). A hundred thousand Paulicians were murdered by Catholics because they would not conform. These attacks were typical of 15 centuries of hatred towards Bible believers.
To summarize…the eternal war between…good versus evil, Bible believers versus Holy Mother Church, Jesus Christ versus Satan, the words of God versus the traditions of men… is as follows: 1. Rejection of infant baptism 2. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then baptism 3. Baptism by immersion only 4. Rule by church councils & denominations not Scriptural 5. Transubstantiation not Scriptural 6. Papal authority not Scriptural 7. Only Scripture is the final authority The bottom line: then, as now… attack the absolute authority of the Book Prov. 30.5, “Every word of God is pure” versus Genesis 3.1, “Yea, hath God said?”