THE
MARK OF THE BEAST
PART III
By Donald Adkins
CHANGE OF PONTIFEX MAXIMUS
Earlier we learned from the prophecy of Daniel chapter two that the fourth beast (Rome) was to continue through the centuries until the stone (kingdom of YAHWEH) smashed the whole image. The stone was then to grow up into a huge mountain and fill the earth (Dan. 2:32-33; 40-45). How can this be if, as we are told, the Roman Empire came to an end in 476 C.E. when it was overrun by the Germanic Barbarians? Is it possible that Satan’s seat has been transferred again? But if so how can it still be in the fourth beast Rome because Rome, according to Daniel’s prophecy must continue until the establishment of the Kingdom of YAHWEH? What a mystery! What is the answer to this mystery?
I quote: "When Rome conquered the world, the paganism that had spread from Babylon and developed in various nations, was merged into the religious system of Rome. This included the idea of a Supreme Pontiff (Pontifex Maximus). Thus, Babylonian paganism, which had originally been carried out under the rulership of Nimrod, was united under the rulership of one man at Rome: Julius Caesar. It was the year 63 B.C.E. that Julius Caesar was officially recognized as the "Pontifex Maximus" of the mystery religion….
"The Roman emperors (including Constantine) continued to hold the office of Pontifex Maximus until 376 when Gratian, for Christian reasons, refused it. He recognized this title and office as idolatrous and blasphemous. By this time, however, the bishop of Rome had arisen to political power and prestige. Consequently, in 378, Demasus, bishop of Rome, was elected to the Pontifex Maximus—the official high priest of the mysteries! Since Rome was considered the most important city in the world, some of the Christians looked to the bishop of Rome as "bishop of bishops" and head of the church. This produced a unique situation. One man was now looked to as head by both Christians and pagans. By this time, and through the years that followed, the streams of paganism and Christianity flowed together, producing what is known as the Roman Catholic Church, under the headship of the Pontifex Maximus, the Pope." (Babylon Mystery Religion pp. 79-80 by Ralph Woodrow).
"It is certain that the title "Supreme Pontiff" or Pontifex Maximus" which the pope bears is not a Christian designation, for it was the title used by Roman emperors before the Christian era. The word "pontiff" comes from the word pons (bridge), and facio (make). It means "bridge-maker." The priest-king emperors of pagan days were regarded as the makers and guardians of the bridges of Rome. Each of them serves as high priest and claimed to be the bridge or connecting link between this life and the next."
SATAN’S SEAT
"The branch of the mysteries known as Mithraism grew in Rome until it became—at one time—almost the only faith of the empire. The head priest was called the Pater Patrum, that is, the FATHER of the FATHERs. Borrowing directly from this title, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, is the Papa or Pope—the FATHER of FATHERs. The "FATHER" of Mithraism had his seat at Rome then, and the "FATHER" of Catholicism has his there now." (Ibid p. 83)
Do you realize what you have just read? The seat of Satan, the man who is backed by Satan is the Pontifex Maximus and that man is today sitting on Satan’s seat in the Roman Catholic Church! It was Christianity that grew out of the merger of Sun-worship of Mithras with the true Messianic belief with the Pope as its head.
THE TIME, TIMES & HALF TIME
I stated earlier that the time, times and half a time of Dan. 7:25 was 3-1/2 years but that it could represent 1,260 days that in prophecy could represent 1,260 years. (c.f. Num. 14:33-34; Ez. 4:6) I believe this to be the case because Rome was to continue throughout many centuries till the establishment of the Kingdom of YAHWEH.
In 538 C.E. the Emperor Justinian made a decree that made the Pope head (Pontifex Maximus) of all churches within the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire. If we begin our prophecy of the time, times and dividing of time from that date (538 C.E.) and count down 1,260 years, we come to a remarkable fulfillment. In 1798 C.E. Napoleon, the emperor of France, sent his general Berthier to Rome to arrest the Pope. The Pope was taken to Valence, France, where he died. They elected a new Pope, true enough, but the 1,260 years of Papal supremacy came to an end. The Roman Church did receive a deadly wound (Rev. 13:3) but the wound would be healed and all the world would wonder after the beast (Rev. 13:3) . Is it just coincidence that the Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church are beginning to gain back their power? What do you think will be the result when Rome again reigns supreme? What are some of the bold claims of this apostate church? What do they claim that they have done and had the power to do?
POWER AS GOD
I quote: "The Roman Pontiff, when he speaks—ex cathedra—that is, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines...a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole church—is, by reason of the Divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility...and consequently such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable." (The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, p. 796, art. ‘Infallibility’)
Pope Innocent III said, "We may according to the fullness of our power, dispose of the law and dispense above the law. These whom the Pope of Rome doth separate, it is not a man that separates them but God. For the Pope holdeth place on earth, not simply of a man but of the true God." (I Book of Gregory 9 Decret. c. 3)
Pope Nicholas said, "I am all in all and above all, so that God Himself, and I, the Vicar of God, hath both one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do...Wherefore, if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God what can you make me but God?...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 dispense with all things, yea, with the precepts of Christ." (Decret. Par. Distinct 96. Ch. 7 Edit. Lugd. 1661)
Marcellus, in the Lateran Council, said to Pope Julius, "Take care that we lose not that salvation, that life and breath which thou hast given as, for thou art our shepherd, thou art physician, thou art governor, thou art husbandman, thou finally art another God on earth." (Council Edt. Colm. Agrip. 1618)
Truly, these blasphemous claims by the Pontifex Maximus of Satan against YAHWEH, YAHshua, and YAHWEH'S law and YAHshua's precepts fulfill the prophecies of Dan. 7:15; Dan. 11:36-39; II Thes. 2:3-12; Rev. 13:5-7. A person would have to be completely spiritually blind or dead not to see the truth herein presented.
THE MARK
All these things are shocking, yes, but I must reveal a bold admission of the beast, for the beast will tell us exactly what its mark really is. I quote: "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change [of the Sabbath to Sunday] was her act...And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things." H.F. Thomas Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.
"And he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup filled with abominations and the filthiness of her whoring, and upon her forehead a name written, a secret: BABEL THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE WHORES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH," Rev. 17:3-5.
Do you not now understand who this woman is and who the other whores and abominations are that she is the mother of? Are your eyes so blind or is it that: 1) Elohim sent you a strong delusion so that you will believe the falsehood? (2 Thes. 2:11), or is it 2) that your hearts are weighed down by gluttony (of Babylon’s delicacies) and drunkenness ( of Babylon’s wind) and the cares of this life (loving the world and all it contains [c.f. Lk. 21:34]).
Babylon the Great and her daughters, the whores and abominations are the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant sects that have come out of her! What has our Heavenly FATHER commanded before it is too late to be done?: "...Come out of her [Christianity, I.e. the abomination that makes desolate or the abomination of desolation] My people, lest you share in her sins [I.e. transgressions of YAHWEH'S law], and lest you receive of her plagues [I.e. the punishment soon to fall on her from YAHWEH] (Rev. 18:4, c.f. Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; I Jn. 3:4; Rev. 18:8).
If we come out and obey YAHWEH, returning to Him with a whole heart, what will our assembly be like in our FATHER'S eyes? What will our Husband YAHshua say? I believe He will say: "My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the only one of her mother, the choice of the one who bore her. The daughters saw and called her blessed, sovereignesses and concubines, and they praised her. Who is she who shines forth as the morning, fair and the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners," Song of Sol. 6:9-10.
Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate, says YAHWEH, and do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. And I shall be a FATHER to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says YAHWEH El Shaddai," 2 Cor. 6:17-18.
May you heed the call before it is too late or before Babylon regains her power and forces her mark on all in such wrath as the world has never seen. When she uses the beast she rides: "And he causes all, both small and great, and rich and poor, and free and slave, to be given a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads, and that no one should be able to buy or sell except he that has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name," Rev. 13:16-17.
Since 1/26/03