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Was Peter the First Pope?

             NO CONCLUSION CAN be any more certain than the premises upon which it rests.

If it cannot be proved conclusively that Peter was the first Pope, as our Catholic friends claim; it follows, therefore, that they are building upon an assumption.

If it can be proved that Peter was not the first Pope, the corner stone of Catholicism is removed, the foundation crumbles, and the entire superstructure falls. This is a vital point with Catholics. In fact, all Catholicism is dependent upon it. However, we purpose to show that it is merely through assumptions, and unwarranted inferences that Catholics have arrived at this point. There is no proof.

We appeal to our Catholic friends to assert themselves and to exercise their right of religious freedom to read and think for themselves, and to study with us carefully this question.

No Personal ill-Will "Intended"

All broadminded persons recognize that religious questions can be freely discussed without any personal ill-will toward those who hold different positions. It is the truth, not error, that makes men free (John 8:31-32). Catholics boldly assert that Peter was the first Pope, and surely they will not resent a frank discussion of it. All honest and sincere persons desire to know the will of the Lord, and will not refuse to consider the evidence on any question that pertains to the salvation of the souls of men.

ROMAN CATHOLICS ARE OBLIGATED TO PROVE

1. That Christ wanted an earthly head of the church.

2. That Peter was chosen to be that head.

3. That successors were appointed to this office, and what qualifications they would have to have.

4. That Peter had exercised authority over other Christians.

5. That this authority could and was transmitted to others.

6. That miraculous powers of an Apostle could be transmitted through all ages to come, or else that one can hold the office and not have the powers: such as, drinking deadly poison, being bitten by deadly vipers without harm, and raising the dead (Mk. 16:17-20; Matt. 10:8; Acts 9 :40; 20:9-12).

7. That Peter lived in Rome and exercised the authority of his office over the entire church, whereas there is no proof that he was ever in Rome.  It is purely traditional--another assumption.

If Peter Were the First Pope

1. Why did Jesus never speak of such an office nor speak of Peter as filling it?

2. Why was Peter never recognized as being the Pope by other Apostles?

3. Why did the early church not go to Peter to settle the question about circumcision? (Acts 15).

4. Why did Paul write Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon in Rome and never refer to Peter at all?

5. Why did Paul write the books of Romans to the church at Rome, refer to many individuals by name, and never mention Peter?

6. Why did James and John not know of Peter's position and refrain from asking for places of special honor? (Mk. 10:35).

7. Why did Paul and Barnabas not report to Peter after their missionary tour rather than to the church in Antioch? (Acts 14:26).

8. Why did the Lord appoint a married man?  Peter was married (Matt. 8:14) .If it is best for the Pope and Catholic priests not to marry, wouldn't Jesus have known it?

There is absolutely no proof that Peter was the first Pope. This point is assumed pure and simple by Catholics. Hence, they assume the very foundation stone upon which all Catholicism is built.

A.G. Hobbs, Fort Worth. Texas --- Via Christian Worker, Wichita, KS 2/6/1958

What You’ve Been Seeing - Friday, April 08, 2005

            In the very likely event that you have turned on your TV a time or two within the past several days, if you left it on for even a few moments, at least on one of the news channels or news programs of a broadcast channel, you’ve noticed that the Pope of Rome has died,  His body has been laid out in public display for five days prior to his funeral as throngs of folk (did I hear 2,000,000?) stand in line and pass by for a brief glimpse of the richly attired earthly remains of a man who has headed up the apostate church.  If you’ve listened to even a little of the discussion about what has happened and about what is about to happen over the next several days in that system of religion, you did not hear anything that is practiced or will be practiced because of anything you can read in the Bible, the Word of God.  

You can search your New Testament through from front to back and you will not find anything that looks like a 42nd cousin to Romanism. You can’t read about the Catholic Church.  You can’t read about the Pope. You can’t read about the Pope being the successor of Peter. You can’t read about Peter ever being Pope (see article in this issue). You can’t read about Cardinals. You can’t read about archbishops.  You can’t read about bishops in the fashion of those in Romanism. You can’t read about the Catholic bishops inheriting “the ordinary power of the Apostles” as claimed by Rome.  You can’t read about the church being governed by one central, earthly head.  You can’t read about the church being divided into dioceses. You can’t read about the Holy See or the Apostolic See of Rome. You can’t read about Papal nor clergy’s garb nor the Papal Insignia and staff.  You can’t read about the distinction made between clergy and laity as in the case of priests and nuns. You can’t read about such things as beatification and canonization of a person to sainthood.  You can’t read about Mass or Eucharist. You can’t read about the church having an earthly head that is also the head of a small state, Vatican City.  

Did you say you didn’t know that Vatican City is actually a state?  Why else would governments of the world send ambassadors to it?  Here’s how the dictionary defines Vatican City: “A sovereign papal state, established in 1929, in an enclave of about 108 acres in the city of Rome, Italy.  Population, 1,000).”  The population may be different now since my American Heritage Dictionary is about twenty-five years old.   It is not uncommon to hear someone criticize our government for “meddling in the affairs of a sovereign nation” as in the case of our involvement in Iraq or in the recent demands that were made by our government and many others that Syria get out of Lebanon; but when did you ever hear anybody criticize the Pope for “meddling in the affairs of a sovereign nation” when he criticizes the US for practicing capital punishment of such criminals as those who’d destroy us, as the 911 criminals would like to have done? Vatican City is a “sovereign papal state” whose tentacles reach into every nook and cranny of the world where it has its agents, the prelates.

The development of the apostasy that is Roman Catholicism was foreseen in the apostolic era.  The New Testament declares that a corruption of the divine order would occur as some would arise from among elders “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30).  History records the changes in church government that took place in the early centuries.  See if you don’t see a foreshadowing of the Roman religion in I Tim. 4:1-3 and in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.  Regarding that last passage, how many times have you heard in the past few days the expression “Holy Father”, so-called even by the very men (the Cardinals) that elected him from among themselves to be Pope?

“So, be prepared for at least another month of several hours a day prime television coverage devoted to the goings-on in Rome (or if you just can’t take it any more, be content with the coverage of Michael Jackson’s trial.  Or better still, take a break from it all and spend some time in THE WORD and in reading other good and wholesome literature.).” -- Norman Fultz – Raytown Missouri Church Bulletin -

ATHEISM – a foolish religion

     Atheism (Greek, atheos, “without God”) is a word that was originally used in Greece of those who, even though they believed in the God of heaven, did not believe in the gods of the Greek and Roman state.  Socrates was executed for atheism because he sought to expose the evil of these demonic “gods.”  Justin Martyr wrote, “Thus we are called atheists.  And we admit that in respect of such supposed gods as those we are atheists: but not in regard to the most true God…” (Apologia I, vi).  Atheism is the religion that says “no God.”

     Until the nineteenth century the word atheist was used of those who thought that the existence of God was an unprovable thesis.  Then came the term agnostic, originating with Thomas Huxley (1825-1895).  An agnostic claims that the existence of God is unknowable.  Madalyn Murray O’Hair, in a debate with James D. Bales said, “An agnostic is an atheist with no guts.” Clarence Darrow once said, “I am an agnostic; I do not pretend to know what many ignorant men are sure of.”

     In recent news, Texas authorities believe that they have found the remains of the famous atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, who has been missing since 1995.  In September of that year Ms. O’Hair vanished, along with her son Jon Garth Murray, granddaughter Robin Murray-O’Hair and $629,500 from the treasuries of atheist organizations that she founded.  Her reputation grew in the wake of her 1963 Supreme Court case of Murray v. Curlett, which along with two other significant cases, resulted in the high court’s decision to prohibit prayer in public schools.  Ms. O’Hair was proud to be known as “America’s most hated woman.”  By 1977, however, a diary entry shows a much lonelier view, where she wrote repeatedly, “Somebody, somewhere, love me.”  The name of the well-known atheist still produces excitement when uninformed people get worked up over false rumors of a supposed FCC petition (RM 2493) limiting or eliminating religious programming.  These rumors are revived every few years.

     Atheism is a foolish religion.  The psalmist wrote, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14:1).  The words “There is” are in italics in the KJV meaning they were supplied by the translators.  The text actually reads, “The fool hath said in his heart, no God.”  Why is one who affirms, “There is no God” a fool?  There are many reasons.  Here I will mention only three:

     First, contrary to principles of logic and science, the atheist must believe that “something” (life) came from “nothing” (non-living matter).  This is impossible.

     Second, atheists believe that the entire universe accidentally began from a submicroscopic particle of matter.

     Third, atheists believe that life, human consciousness and moral sensitivity all came from a tiny speck of inorganic self-created matter.  Foolish indeed!                  By D. Gulledge

Articles selected by Garreth L. Clair—4/21/2005

glclair@sbcglobal.net

Our prayer is that we will be able to aid in the great work of teaching and encouraging people from all walks of life to take a little time and look at the evidence for God’s existence, His love for mankind, and His Holy Book             (i.e., the BIBLE).

PSALMS 23:1-6

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

NKJV BIBLE

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The information that we will deal with from throughout the world will be printed in the English (i.e., American) language. The news and events will be gleaned from existent news sources, both electronic media and printed media. We will always give the source and credits for  the origins of our NEWS ITEMS.

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS COMING!

There will never again be a great flood to cover the whole earth, but there will be another day of judgment coming for all mankind. As one reads the account of the first judgment of humanity in - Gen 6:5-10,

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah  found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah . Noah  was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah  walked with God. NKJV

God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a great flood - Gen 9:15-17, 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah , "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me a. NKJV

God's second judgment is coming - Rev 20:12-21:1,

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death.   15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire . NKJV

Prepare now and avoid the clamity that is to befall the wicked - Eccl. 12:13-14

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man's all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil. NKJV