The diaspora of the Hebrews… part 2
I have one question buzzing in my head: what happened to the Hebrew believers who had left the Land in the diaspora?
The divide, or fracture, is now between the early 1st century Hebrew believers in Messiah and the “Christ” of the Roman Church of Constantine. Why the term ‘early church fathers’ would not have been the Jerusalem council and the apostles is never questioned. However, it becomes obvious from historical study that those men entitled ‘fathers’ were fathers of a new religion, not the faith based upon the holy writings given to Israel.
The most heretical claims I have yet found appear in a 107 A.D. writing of Ignatius of Antioch, although he is not alone. Protestant denominations, to this day, hold in high esteem these ‘early church fathers’ despite claiming rejection of the Roman Catholic Church doctrines.
This heretical statement contains the first mention of the ‘Catholic Church’ I have found: “Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there just as wherever Jesus Christ is there is a Catholic Church.” (Ignatius of Antioch, 107 A.D.)
“See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father … He who honors the bishop has been honoured by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop does (in reality) serve the devil.” (Ignatius, 107 A.D.)
If one doesn’t follow the orders of the bishop over the Bible, one is working for the devil. Really?!
In less than 100 years, the church had become its own religious institution with a formalized hierarchy which claimed increasing power. Its hierarchy had attained the status of lords to be given honor befitting their positions with sole authority to impose rules upon its followers.
“He cannot be reckoned as a bishop who succeeds no one. For he has despised the evangelical and Apostolic traditions, springing from himself. For the true shepherd remains and presides over the church of God by successive ordination.” (Cyprian of Carthage, 250 A.D.)
Writings of the ‘early church fathers’ include the development of ‘St. Peter’ as the head of the already named Catholic Church. Was Peter head of the Jerusalem council? No. Did Saul, Jacob, or Peter, himself, make this claim in their letters? No. Is Peter mentioned as head of the church in the book of Revelation? No. But, he is established as such by the Catholic Church:
“Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but a primacy is given to Peter. Whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair.” (Cyprian of Carthage, 251 A.D.)
By the early fourth century, the Catholic Church came under the control of a Pope appointed by Emperor Constantine, who called himself Pontifex Maximus, as did prior Roman emperors. One Pope ruled the eastern leg of the empire, while the other ruled the western leg, subject to the first.
“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” (Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous)
Pontiffs (popes) were also part of the Roman Empire. As in all polytheistic societies since Babel, religious and secular authority were held by one monarch. Simply stated, Pontiffs were the religious leaders of Roman polytheism; and, they were presided over by the Pontifex Maximus. (See also: http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman…/roman-religion.htm). The Catholic Church borrowed the term, Pontiff, for their leader over the whole church institution, eventually combining both terms for the Roman religious leaders into one.
Constantine’s edict established “the venerable day of the sun” (Sunday), which had been the day to honor Sol Invictus, as the new day of rest for Rome. This affirmed the continued status and honor of Sol Invictus for the citizenry and established the false god as part of the Catholic Church of Rome. But, it was the Roman Catholic Church which enforced the unscriptural doctrine, claiming it obviously had the authority because God had done nothing in response.
“Not the Creator of Universe, in Genesis 2:1-3,-but the Catholic Church can claim the honor of having granted man a pause to his work every seven days.” (S. C. Mosna, Storia della Domenica, 1969, pp. 366-367)
The best answer I can come up with for the buzzing question….. the Hebrew Believers were used for ‘buzz words’ to revamp the same ole Roman paganism.
Berean Breadcrumbs 
Leave a Reply