Come Out of Her My People by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2015, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 From the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, book of Revelation chapter 18, verse 4-- And I heard another voice from heaven, "Come out of her, my people, so that you're not partakers of her sins, and so that you're not a victim of her plagues." If we're Christians, whose people are we? Christians belong to Jesus. He has purchased us with his blood, which blood also washes us whiter than snow. "You are not your own, you're bought with a price." (1 Cor 6:20) "COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE." Who said that? Jesus. Are you one of the Lord's people? Do you belong to Jesus? If so, then the Lord wants you to come out of her if you are in her. Out of what? The Catholic church. Where did you get that, Brother Fred? From the book of Revelation, last book of the Holy Bible. If you're a Christian, don't be a Catholic. See Rev chapt 14, chapt 16, chapt 17, chapt 18. And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon has fallen, has fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication." (Rev 14:8) "...and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his anger." (Rev 16:19) ___Revelation chapter 17 1 And one of the seven angels came, who had the seven bottles, and talked with me, saying to me, "Come here, I'll show you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters, 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sit on a red beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and red, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, 5 And on her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Whores and Abominations of the Earth," 6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said to me, "Why were you impressed? I'll tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into hell, and those who live on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 And there are seven kings, five have fallen, and one is, and the other hasn't yet come, and when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into hell. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who've received no kingdom yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." 15 And he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw on the beast, shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is that great city, that rules over the kings of the earth." ___Revelation chapter 18 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he shouted mightily with a strong voice, "Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen, and has become the dwelling place of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the abundance of her delicacies." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, "Come out of her, my people, so that you're not partakers of her sins, and so you're not a victim of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her sins. 6 Reward her as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works, in the cup that she has filled, fill to her double. 7 As much as she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her, for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will see no sorrow. 8 Therefore her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be completely burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who've committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing far off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall cry and mourn over her, for no man buys their merchandise anymore, 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and red cloth, and all thyine wood, and all kinds of containers of ivory, and all kinds of containers of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and animals, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that your soul lusted for have departed from you, and all things that were dainty and good have departed from you, and you'll find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand far off for the fear of her torment, crying and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and red cloth, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches has come to nothing. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood far off, 18 And when they saw the smoke of her burning, shouted, What city is like this great city! 19 And they threw dust on their heads, and shouted, crying and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which all that had ships in the sea were made rich because of her costliness! For in one hour she's made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you against her." 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of flutists, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you, and no craftsman, of whatever craft he is, shall be found anymore in you, and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you, 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you, and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorceries all nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were killed on the earth." Rev 17:1, refers to "The great whore that sits on the waters". Rev 17:4,5 continuing about the great whore-- 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and red, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, 5 And on her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Whores and Abominations of the Earth," The whore is a city referred to as "Babylon." Notice in 17:8-- "whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world..." What is this book that people can get their names written into, and how does someone get their name written into it? That book is also called, "The Lamb's Book of Life," the Lamb being Jesus, who is the Lamb Killed from the Foundation of the World." (Rev 13:8, 21:27, 3:5, 3:8, 20:12, 20:15, 22:19) When Jesus and God the Father created the world and Adam and Eve, they knew that man would commit sin, and would therefore need a Savior, a Redeemer. That Person is Jesus. He is Yeshua, Ha Meshia, Jesus, the Savior. You get your name written into that book when you become a born-again Christian. AND YOU MUST HAVE YOUR NAME IN THAT BOOK TO GO TO HEAVEN. For more on becoming a born-again Christian, please see the end of Chapter 2 in this book. Now some people think "once saved, always saved." In other words, once you get saved, you can't lose it. But THAT TEACHING IS A LIE." Jesus said, "He that endures to the end will be saved." (Matt 10:22) Jesus said, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Rev 2:10) And when Moses was pleading to God for the Children of Israel, Moses used the argument that if the Lord wouldn't do it, then "Blot out my name from your book." (Exo chapt 32) God answered, "Him that has sinned I will blot out of my book." You see, even though a person gets their name in the Lamb's book of life, their name can be removed from the Lamb's book of Life. And I think I know a man in that category. More about him in my book, "Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?" Notice in 17:15 that the waters on which the woman sits are people. Notice in 17:18, "that great city that rules over the kings of the earth." What great city? The city being referred to as Babylon, which we know as Rome. Notice 18:4,5 "Come out of her my people, so that you're not partakers of her sins, and so that you're not a victim of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her sins." This Revelation "Babylon" is not the same city as ancient Babylon that was in what is now Iraq, which city has been destroyed. This Revelation Babylon is a city that sits on seven hills, which is also the great whore that sits on the waters. (Rev 17:9) I believe there was a movie made that was titled, "The Seven Hills of Rome." The only major city in the world, that I’m aware of, that sits on seven hills, is Rome. Rome, of course, is also the headquarters of the Catholic church. (At Vatican City, adjacent to Rome). What is now Vatican City was part of Rome, and then was partitioned off. They had their reasons for doing that, but essentially, it's still Rome. Vatican City is where the Pope lives. If you tell your travel agent to get you a ticket for Vatican City, he'll get you a ticket for Rome, and once you get to Rome, you could take a taxi to Vatican City. But why would you want to? When we lived in Houston, TX, my wife and I broke bread with Charles and Elizabeth Melton. We met them at Lakewood Church, a Protestant church. Charles was an Usher at Lakewood church. The Meltons had come out of the Catholic church. They said, "When we were in the Catholic church, we were not taught like Jesus said, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, but instead, we were taught that you'll go to heaven if you're a good Catholic. I guess that means that when you're supposed to light a candle, you do. When you're supposed to go to Confessional, you do. When you're supposed to put money into the offering, you do. No, Jesus said, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, (John chapt 3), but their Catholic church taught contrary to that. When Jesus says, "You must be born again," we had better take him seriously, because there is no substitute for being born again. (John chapt 3) No church anywhere has a right to teach contrary to the Bible. In Rev chapt 17:1, an angel tells us about the judgment of Babylon, "the great whore that sits on many waters." But in what sense is the Catholic church a whore? The Catholic church is a whore in that it provides a false salvation based on works without getting born again as Jesus taught was necessary. Notice in Rev 17:2, "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Now can we think of an example of that? The Pope recently came to the U.S., and was given a royal welcome by the President at the White House. He was treated like a king. Why would the President do that for the Pope? Well, it's the "politically correct" thing to do. The Pope has a constituency--the Catholics of the world. The President is not running for reelection, but his Party is. It would be good to remember, at this point, that the "politically correct" thing to do is not always the right thing to do. For a head of state to chum around with the Pope tends to lend legitimacy to the Pope and to his wrong religion, where they pray to Mary, in violation of one of God's Ten Commandments, "You shall have no other Gods before me." (Exo chapt 20) Someone might ask, "But how is that fornication?" It is fornication because the truth has been polluted and corrupted. When the kings of the earth treat the Pope and the Catholic church as legitimate, that is fornication, because Catholicism, bottom line, is a false religion. If the kings of the earth don't know that, then they're not properly qualified to be kings because of such ignorance. I'm not saying that every king (or, head of state) ought to be a Theologian, but every king has advisers, and the advisers to the kings (and heads of state) ought to be explaining to their kings the follies of the Catholic church. If that isn't being done, then the kings (or, heads of state) need to get themselves better advisers. But there are probably some true Christians in the Catholic church, and that's why Jesus said, "Come out of her my people." There's a scripture that talks about the truth having fallen in the street. (Isa 59:14) Please look again at what I said above about in what sense is the Catholic church a whore? It is fornication in the sense that the Catholic church provides a false salvation, quite different from Jesus' salvation of getting born again. This subject of Advisers to kings reminds me of Adel al-Jubeir who was a guest on Fox News Sunday during the period of time that Tony Snow was host. During the discussion, the man told a huge lie. He said that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are compatible with each other. Nonsense. Because the Muslims don't have salvation through The Lord Jesus Christ, they are on the road to hell. Not even Judaism and Christianity agree on everything. The Jews, mostly, are still waiting for the Messiah, the Savior. The Christians proclaim the good news that the Messiah, the Savior, has come, and that his name is Jesus. And then this Adel al-Jubeir went on to become an Adviser to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, you don't need advisers like that liar, Adel al-Jubeir. In Rev 18:4, Jesus says, "Come out of her, my people." Jesus is saying in that scripture that the true believers should come out of the Catholic church. Martin Luther was a Catholic Priest. But in studying the Bible, he found 95 things (his "95 Theses") where the Catholic church was going against the Bible. Martin Luther wrote out his 95 Theses, and nailed them to the door of the Catholic church, and left the Catholic church to became a Protestant. You can see the word protest in the word Protestant. When I was in the U.S. military, they issued me "dog tags." You wear the dog tags on a chain around your neck. One of the items of information on the dog tags is the soldier's religion. So, on my dog tags it said "Prot" for Protestant. Protestant means Christian but not Catholic. But what is there to protest against in the Catholic church? Many things, one of which is that, as a normal, every day thing, they commit idolatry by praying to Mary. I am sure, that if you pray to Mary, she can't hear you. If Mary made it to heaven, and I expect that she did, I believe the Lord would not allow that she be troubled by having to listen to foolish, disobedient, idolatrous, ignorant people praying to her. God's Ten Commandments are found in Exodus chapter 20. One of the Ten Commandments is verse 3, "You shall have no other gods before me." To pray to Mary is to treat her like God, thus committing the sin of idolatry. But the Catholic church has a prayer called the Rosary that is addressed to Mary. I don't have that prayer memorized, but some of the words are "full of grace." That's from John 1:14, and it's talking about Jesus, not Mary. It says that Jesus is full of grace and truth. Those words don't apply to Mary. How is it that the Catholics get Jesus and Mary mixed up? Is it because they haven't received the love of the truth? (2 Thess 2:10) Yes, I think that's it. Decide right now to receive the love of the truth. Say to the Lord, "Lord, I receive the love of the truth, in Jesus' name." Say out loud, "I bind all spirits that would hinder my love of the truth, according to Matthew 16:19, in Jesus' name." The Catholics even have prayer beads on a necklace. You pray the prayer once, then push a bead over, then pray the same prayer again until you've gone through all the beads. But Jesus said, "When you pray, don't use vain repetitions like the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Matt 6:7) Thus praying the Rosary with the beads violates Jesus' instructions in Matt 6:7. Going against Jesus' commandments is sin. This is a sin committed by every Catholic who prays the Rosary with the beads for repetition. Seems like the Muslims also use prayer beads, contrary to the teachings of Jesus. The Muslims say that Jesus is one of their prophets. So then, why won't they obey the Prophet Jesus, and not use vain repetition? But an even more serious problem for Muslims is that they're praying to Allah. Unfortunately for the Muslims, this Allah that they're praying to is not God. Some of the Muslims, of course think that if you won't convert to Islam, you should be killed. Now let's look at the next verse, Matt 6:8. Jesus is still talking. "Therefore, don't be like them (the heathen), because your Father knows what you need before you ask him." So it is clear that Jesus is telling us to pray to God the Father, not Mary. So then, the Pope sins by praying to Mary, a violation of the Ten Commandments, thus behaving as though Mary were part of the Godhead, and commits the sin of idolatry by doing so. But Mary is not part of the Godhead. The Bible teaches that there is only one God. And God is a three-part God. He is God the Father, and God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Ghost (or, Holy Spirit, or, Comforter, also called The Spirit of Truth). Notice that Mary is not part of God. When those 400 young Nigerian women were kidnapped by Boko Haram, the Pope said he'd pray to Mary about it. Might as well spit into the wind. Do I think that Mary doesn't care about those girls? I don't think Mary knew anything about it. Mary died about two thousand years ago. Why would you pray to her? There is no scripture anywhere authorizing anyone to pray to Mary, and no one in the Bible ever prayed to Mary. To pray to Mary is to commit the sin of idolatry. And how come the Pope doesn't know that? Can't he read? Have you noticed that any mother is usually older than any of her children? So have I. But in the case of Mary and Jesus, the child was older than the mother. Jesus, you see, was present at the foundation of the world, and was a co-creator with God his Father. But when I say, co-creator, I don't mean to say that Jesus and God the Father are equals, because Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I am." (Jhn 14:28) I don't have the words of the Rosary memorized, but I know it starts, "Hail Mary, mother of God..." But how is Mary the mother of God when Jesus is older than Mary by thousands of years? Mary, you see, is only the mother of Jesus' earthly body that he had during his life on earth for about thirty three years. It is absolutely incorrect to say that Mary is the mother of God. And generally, when we use the word "God," it means God the Father, who has no parents at all. (Please see my book, "Is Mary the Mother of God?") But the Pope is not just an ordinary Catholic who commits idolatry by praying to Mary. No, he is not only a Catholic, but also the head of the Catholic church, the leader of it. And by praying to Mary himself, he not only commits the sin of idolatry, but he also commits the sin of setting a bad example to his followers, the rest of the Catholics. Chapter 2 As the Senior Citizen that I am, my Mother has passed on, and gone to be with Jesus in heaven. Would it be OK for me to pray to my Mother in heaven? Of course not. That would be idolatry, just as the praying to Mary is. You don't pray to anyone who is not God. And Mary is not God. You can pray to God the Father, and you can pray to Jesus, but not to Mary. The Pope is teaching bad Theology by his wrong example. When Catholics go to the Confessional, they confess their sins to a priest, and the priest tells them that they're absolved. Since when does a priest have authority to forgive a man's sins? No, it's God that we need to forgive our sins. And we can have that forgiveness of sins with 1 John 1:9-- "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But notice that in 1 Jhn 1:9, there's no priest involved (except our High Priest, Jesus). You go directly to God in prayer for this. During the Pope's recent visit to the U.S., he asked the U.S. Congress to do away with the death penalty. But God says in Numbers 35:33 that murderers must be executed-- 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are, for blood defiles the land, and the land can't be cleansed from the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Therefore don't defile the land that you'll inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the children of Israel. How did it happen that the Pope got to be smarter than God? IT DIDN'T, of course. God says to execute murderers, the Pope says don't execute murderers. So we must choose whether to follow God or the Pope. I choose God. And we all should. And I predict that if you choose to follow the Pope instead of God, you will surely regret that choice. I believe that guy is on the road to hell. What presumption to get up and tell people to go against the teachings of God in the Bible! Of course, it is popular in Europe at this time not to execute murderers. Thus Europe is becoming increasingly defiled, polluted, made dirty by their not executing murderers, according to the above scripture. Now someone might say, "But don't you know that Jesus said, Don't judge so that you won't be judged?" Yes, I'm aware of that. But Jesus also said, "You'll know men by their fruits." (Matt 7:16) We are authorized to be fruit inspectors. And the Pope has bad fruit. And the Catholic church has bad Theology. Why then would someone think that the Pope is holy, in view of his sins? This Mary is just another sinner saved by grace. I spoke like that to a Catholic neighbor in Oak Park, IL, and he answered, "But she was a virgin." I said she wasn't a virgin by the end of her life. He said, "What do you mean?" I said that Mary was a virgin prior to her conceiving Jesus, and until after the birth on earth of Jesus, but that after that, Mary had at least four more sons and at least two daughters the normal way, by sexual intercourse. (Mary's husband was Joseph.) The Bible doesn't tell us the names of the daughters, but the names of the sons are, James, Joses, Simon (not Peter), and Judas (not Iscariot). But my Catholic neighbor's statement, "But she was a virgin," seems to indicate that he thinks the only kind of sin is sexual sin. No, there are many other kinds of sin. Coveting, lying, blasphemy, stealing. And in the book of James we are told, ___James chapter 3 1 "My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." So then, nearly everyone in the world has sinned with their words at one time or another. I know I have. And in Romans we are told, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) And since "all have sinned," that would include you and me and Mary. It is not necessary that we know which sins she committed. The only one who never sinned was Jesus, "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." The Bible says that Jesus was without sin. (Heb 4:15) A foreshadowing of Jesus was the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, under the Mosaic laws. And when you offered an animal sacrifice, the animal had to be without spot or blemish. But the Old Testament sacrifices have been replaced by the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of crucifixion for the sins of the world. Jesus is a sacrifice acceptable to God the Father in heaven. But what about the Jews? The Jews can become born again Christians, in which case, they are called Fulfilled Jews, or Messianic Jews, because they've embraced their prophesied Messiah (Savior), the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord Jesus came down from heaven, he went first to the Jews. Later, the Lord raised up the Apostle Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Thank God for the Apostle Paul. Another false teaching of the Catholic church is when they have taught the existence of a place called Purgatory, which is supposed to be a place where people can go when they die if they didn't qualify to go to heaven. A place where they can somehow work it out to qualify to go to heaven. A third alternative to heaven and hell. THERE IS NO SUCH PLACE AS PURGATORY, for it is written, "And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment," (Heb 9:27) Do you get it? You either get straight with God in this life, or when you die, you'll go to hell. Everyone, when they die, goes to one of two places: to Heaven, if they were born again Christians, or to Hell, if they were not. No, you have to get straight with God during this life. You don't get another chance after you die. And Jesus said that most people go to hell. (Matt 7:13,14)-- 13 Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. When Jesus is talking here about going to destruction, he means hell. When Jesus is talking here about obtaining life, he means going to heaven. When you die, it's only your body that dies. Then the inner man is carried up to heaven by the angels if he was a Christian, or goes down to hell if not. Read what Jesus said about the rich man and Lazarus-- 19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, also the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being tormented, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he shouted, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, so he can dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in these flames. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and you're tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a large gulf fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you can't, nor can they pass to us that want to come from there. 27 Then he said, Please, therefore, father, send him to my father's house, 28 For I have five brothers, so that he'll testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham. But if someone went back to them from the dead, they'll repent. 31 And he said to him, If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded, even if someone rose from the dead." (from Luke chapt 16) Jesus said to "Call no man on earth your father." But Catholic priests call themselves "Father," and want you to call them "Father," also. But I won't, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose I am, and whom I serve. Another problem with the Catholic church is the pedophile priests. And then, when a pedophile priest has been caught, do they defrock him and prefer criminal charges against him? No, in many cases they reassign him to a different parish where he can start again with a different set of boys. But the Old Testament priests got married and had children. Why can't the Catholic church be wise enough to do like the priests in the Old Testament, and require their priests to marry and have families. Surely that would greatly diminish the number of cases of pedophile priests, because they would have that normal, natural outlet for the sex drive. But instead, the Catholic church requires an oath of celibacy of their Priests. An oath that many of the Priests are not able to keep. It has been a teaching of the Catholic church that the Pope is infallible (can't make mistakes). If the Pope were infallible, he wouldn't be praying to Mary. Here is a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew-- 13 "Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are greedy wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, nor can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 20 So, by their fruits you'll know them. 21 Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then I will tell them, I never knew you, go away from me, you sinners. 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock, 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it didn't fall, because it was founded on a rock. 26 And everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand, 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it fell, and it was a big disaster." (Matt 7:13-27) Notice in verse 21, Jesus said that to go to heaven, we must do the will of God the Father. But the Pope thinks he has a better idea that doing God's will. He is wrong, he doesn't have a better idea than God has. But since the Pope advocates going against the laws of God, I expect that the Pope is on that broad road that leads to hell. I expect, too, that the Pope is a Hebrews chapter 6 person, in case he ever was a born again Christian. Notice Hebrews 6:4-6-- 4 "For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame." I believe the Pope can't be renewed again to repentance, as someone hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. In Matt 5:19,20-- 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, unless you are more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, you'll in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. In vs 19, you'll be least in the Kingdom of heaven if you teach false doctrine like the Pope does. But now look at vs 20, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you don't get to heaven at all. The blood of Jesus makes us sufficiently righteous to go to heaven, but I think the Pope may not make it to heaven, and I believe there are already Popes in hell. If you're one of the world leaders, and you get up and tell the world that they shouldn't have the death penalty, then you are speaking words for Satan, and not for God, and God will surely punish you. And I expect that we'll see a replacement Pope rather soon, because this Pope thought he had a better idea than God. But no one has a better idea than God. However, replacing the Pope won't fix the Catholic church because they will no doubt choose another Pope who will carry on the bad traditions, and the bad Theology. God has a better idea than anyone who is in disagreement with him. So let's try not to disagree with God. And to do as the Pope has done is to fail to give proper heed to Psa 111:10-- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all of those who do his commandments, his praise endures forever." The Pope is lacking in the fear of God in that he advocates going against God's laws. But in a multitude of examples in the Bible, those who choose to fight against God always come out second best. God has never lost a battle. I would have thought the Pope would have known that. But sometimes, men become lifted up with pride. If Bill Clinton can get up and tell the world the lie that he didn't have sex with Monica Lewinsky, how much more severe will the punishment be for this Pope, who got up and told the lie that we ought to disobey God by not executing murderers? The Pope immediately prior to the current Pope retired early, citing health problems. Yes, but what about Ex 15:26, "I am the Lord that heals you"? What about Psa 103:3, "Who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases"? What about 1 Pet 2:24, "By whose stripes you were healed"? What about Rom 8:2, "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death"? In the light of the various scriptures on divine healing, how is it that the Pope needed to retire because of health problems? Doesn't that Pope know about Mark 16:17,18? Can Popes read? It seems to me, that if someone can't read, they shouldn't be Pope. Apparently, divine healing isn't working very well in the Catholic church. And if the Pope can't get healed, then which of the Catholics can get healed? Also, if you're a Christian, you shouldn't be Pope because Jesus said, "Come out of her my people..." (the Catholic church) (Rev 18:4) But if the Pope is not a Christian, then why are the Catholics following him? Jesus is the head of the church, not the Pope. In this last sentence, when I used the word "church," I mean all true believers in Jesus. That probably includes some Catholics. And I expect that some of the Catholics are born again, by following Rom 10:9,10 But no doubt, some Catholics are trusting in the Catholic church to get them to heaven without being born again, as the Meltons were taught at their Catholic church. I don't know whether they're still doing this, but for a while, the Catholic church was selling "indulgences." That is, if there's a sin you want to commit, you first buy an indulgence from the Catholic church, and then you can commit that sin. God is very much against that. That is wickedness on the part of any church that does so in the sight of God. The Bible teaches that we are to keep the flesh under subjection. From 1 Cor chapt 9-- 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore run in such a way, not uncertainly, I don't fight like someone beating the air, 27 But I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection, so that after I've preached to others I won't somehow be a throw away. Notice in vs 27 that Paul says that if he doesn't keep his body under subjection, he could become a throw away (go to hell). What do you think, that in hell that you can call out to God and say, "But God, I paid for an indulgence." God will say, that heaven doesn't recognize those indulgences. Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapt 3) To become a born again Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.