The Church of Jesus Christ and the Church of Constantine The Great could not be more antithetical. The Kingdom Christ preached is not the kingdom Constantine seeked to build. Constantine was a Roman, a pagan, and his embracing of Christianity was not purist, or as the Apostles teaches, "But whatever was an asset to me, I count as loss for the sake of Christ, Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ," (Philippians 3:7-8), and "I am the Way, The Truth, and the Life, none may come to Father except through me." (John 14:6). Constantine believed he could with impunity mix Christianity with the paganisms of his realm, known as Byzantium. Constantine had no qualms combining the Son of God with Sol Invictus, the Sun god and primier diety of his people. This is in fact is why many images of Jesus Christ have nimbus or halo behind His head, it isn't to denote Jesus dieship (Colossians 2:9) but rather it is the sun of Sol Invictus and part of propaganda to merge Christianity with Roman paganism.Constantine's successors, both in Church and State would expand his pagan overtake of Church by adding the Cult of Saints (where people pray to saints as intermediaries between them and God, violates these verses), Cult of Virgin (they pray and worship Mary, ask her for prayer, which violates scriptures, Roman Catholics go as far as making her Redeematrix, equal to Christ, this Mary really is Ashtoreth in disguise oppose to the Mary who really lived and gave birth to our Lord as recorded in the Holy Bible), and more. Constantine effectively imperialized the Church, creating a caste system of clergy and laity, and making Christians have to seek courtiers to go to King of Kings instead of directly approaching God's throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus Christ came into the world for intimacy. Mankind had fallen away from God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and there was no longer a way for man to be fully reconciled to God and thus be in His presence and be intimately close. To solve the impediment of sin, God became a man (John 1:1-5) and bore our sins on the cross, and rose from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:14). If we confess Jesus is Lord and God, and believe in our hearts God raised Him from dead, we are saved form our sins, guaranteed eternal life, and free access and intimacy with God (Ephesians 2:18, Hebrews 10:19). Christ opened the door for all who will believe in Him, so that we may come in and stand before God righteous and without blemeish or stain (Colossians 1:22, Ephesians 1:4). Jesus then asked His disicples to make disicples, to find others who would believe and become intimate with the One True God again as the Prophet Isaiah fortold and as King David was promised. Unofruntately, the enemy, Satan was not pleased that sin no longer bares man from God, and so to seduce man from pure and simple devotion to Christ (2 Corinthains 11:3) he devised a way to change the Church. There was a battle between two Emperors for the throne of Eastern Rome, one one side was Dimosenes and on the other Constantinus or Constantine. At the Battle known as the Battle of Milvan Bridge, Constantine was given a sign in heavens, in the sun he saw a cross and either heard or in dream saw the words, "In Hoc Sig natius, In this sign you shall conquer." Constantine's mother Helena, was Christian, but it become more plausible that Constantine did not see this sign from the Son of God Jesus Christ, but rather a sign from Sol Invictus, the Sun god, since this did appear in the sun afterall. Constantine had his entire army paint crosses on their shields and promised if he won the battle he would become Christian. Unforuntately, Constantine did win the battle, and he kept his promise. For many Constantine's actions of ending persecution of the church in all Roman dominions, and financing the church with revenues, and priests was a glorius affair, However, the consequences of Constantine's victory and becoming the head of the church would prove diasterious to the Christian faith for sixteen centuries, causing the church to fall into the shadow of polytheism, ingnorance of the Scriptures, cults, pagan rites, and other problems that would make the Apostles Peter and Paul roll their eyes.
Christ had promised to make all Christians children of God (Galatians 3:26-29) and we are told by the Apostles that we have Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit dwelling in us bodily, "" (share all verses). There is no need for a temple, for we are temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19), and even when New Heaven and Earth come, we are told God will have no temple anymore, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." (Revelation 21:22-23). But Constantine did not desire such freedom and intimacy in Christ, instead he restored and re-erected the veil, the separation, the outer court between God and man, and appointed priests in place of every Christian being a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Constantine contradicted the apostle Peter and Paul without a pause, and the result was return of the old temple of Jerusalem torn down by Titus. We must understand firstly, God the Trinity never intended nor wanted a building or temple, "But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?” Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever." (2 Samuel 7:4-7, 11-16), and "But that same night God said to Nathan, Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in. I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?” Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for me. And I will secure his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever." (1 Chronicles 17:1-14). Within these passage, the Lord reveals to His servant David that He never wanted a building or temple, but rather He went with His people from tent to tent. The Tabernacle of God could be pitched and taken a part and went with Israelites everywhere, this was part of symbolism to the people of Israel, their God, Jehovah, is not like the other gods who needs a temple of stone and makes people come from corners of the Earth to worship Him, but rather this God goes with His people everywhere, and He visits other peoples, this is forshadowing of Jesus coming to tabernacle with us (John 1:1-15) and that Jesus was going like a tent to all nations to make them His disciples, rather than make all nations have to come to a building to receive the Gospel in Jerusalem!
We are told by the Apostle Matthew that when Jesus died upon the cross, an earthquake shook Judea, and it tore a fissure through the land, and right through the Temple of Herod (formerly Zerubabel), "When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, "Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27:51-54). When Jesus died the viel in Temple tore in two. This is significant for two reasons, firstly, the veil was in Holy of Holies and represented the separation between God and the people of Israel, if anyone but the High Priest entered, they died, but in Christ's death this death (sin) is destroyed and we may freely enter into his holy presence without fear of death and be close again to our Creator. Secondly, it is merely by the hand of God that the veil tore in the earthquake, for the Veil was made of metal and gold, and the curtain connected was heavy fabric many feet thick! (Mindi Gunda, Archaeologist, Israel). Another detail worth noting is that often we think the centurions who said "Truly, this was son of god," simply felt the earthquake, but as Jesus' death there was raising of dead, and thus the combination of seeing the dead rise and an earthquake shake Jerusalem, it makes sense why the centurions would make such a declaration. Christ tore the veil of the Holy of Holies, and as the Apostles says, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus," (Hebrews 10:19), "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence," (Ephesians 3:12), "Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault," (Colossians 1:22), "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes," (Ephesians 1:4), and "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit, After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits." (1 Peter 3:19-20). Constantine in contrast decided to rebuild the Viel that was torn, and add trellis, "But I will say this: after completed the great building I have described, he finished it with thrones high up, to accord with dignity of the prelates (bishops, priests), and also with benches arranged conveniently throughout. In addition to all this, he placed in the middle the Holy of Holies -the altar- excluding, the general public from this part too by surrounding it with wooden trellis..," (The History of the Church, Eusebius, Penguin Classics, pg 315, include more chapter passages from Eusebius to prove this was ordered by Constantine). Notice the exluding of the general public, and the restorying of the holy of holies. We are now the holy of holies! God dwells inside us as temples (Hebrew 3:6). As the Lord said to the Prophet Nathan, "I have gone from tent to tent," (2 Samuel 7:9, 1 Chronicles 17:5), indeed we are those tents now! Jesus Christ reveals Himself and lives in any Christian wither they have a seminary degree or work in sanitation, wither they are rich or poor, female or male, slave or free, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gelatins 3;28). Constantine's desire was to create an Imperial Church, and he saw Christ as emperor of the faith, while he was emperor of his domains [Constantine Imperialism made the Christian faith what is seen in Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, where courtiers of priests and dead saints must approach God the Emperor on behalf of common citizen], but then Constantine decided he should have some authority over God, and become both Head of the Church and Head of State, something familiar to Eastern Orthodox Christians, but not to Roman Catholics who had separate powers of Pope and Kings. Constantine was putting the proverbial jack back in the box, or rather Jesus back in the Tomb, and open the Temple back up, when we already have become the Temples of God! With one victory at Milvan Bridge, Constantine built a bridge of Pharisees into the Church, and began to paganize and pollute the pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). In place of every believer being beacon and disciple of Christ as our Lord Jesus and the Apostles affirm (Matthew 5:10-16), Constantine restored the Old Temple and Testament methods, he had priests put in positions above what were called the laity, and this priestly class had existed in Old Testament, the Levites, but the author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the High Priest, and He has done greater than any former preist, "But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises," (Hebrews 8:6), "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most," (Hebrews 4:14-16), and "That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now. When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come.He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds[f] so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead.The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect. That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats,along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.”And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him," (Hebrews 9:1-28), and "The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.
You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds
Then he says, “I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.
And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
And so, dear brothers and sisters,we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us." (Hebrews 10:1-29). In addition, Paul and Peter understanding we are now equals with Christ, co heirs and children of God (Romans 8:17), we are royal priest hood (1 Peter 2:9), we God's holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), and we are even told by Christ himself we sit at His throne, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6) and we shall sit on Christ's throne, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."(Revelation 3:21). In place of direct relationship with Christ that we really have (free access, add verses), Constantine placed intermediaries known as priests and bishops, but we are told there is only one intermediary between God and man, "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5).
Constantine's restructuring of the Church destroyed its purpose. The Scriptures testify that the church is the family of Christ, it is believers of all races coming together to worship Christ, "Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). But Constantine instead made the Church a building, his Hagie Sophia, and a system based on Old Testament and Pagan priesthoods. Constantine's Clergy built the altar and pulpit, making one man the sole speaker and arbiter of God's gifts. As aforementioned, the Apostle Paul says otherwise, that each person who is member of the church should come with a gift, word, hymn, and teaching! Sadly, what was a living, vibrant, and alive Christian community became dead tombs again thanks to Constantine and his clerics. I imagine Jesus would have said to the Byzantines what he said to Pharisees, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Mattheww 23:27-28). This is exactly what happened, the priests became like Pharisees, even copying their outfits (see verse) and these priests invented ways to keep people away from salvation, the gospel, and Jesus, just as Pharisees had done, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either." (Matthew 23:13). The priesthood of Constantine's Church began to devise the old separations, the Law and pennace, instead of trusting soley in Christ's sacrifice for salvation (Ephensians 2:4-7), for the apostle Paul says, "" (share Romans) only Christ can save us, nothing we do can merit salvation, our good works are filthy rags (). Constantine's clergy became the barrier between Christians and Christ, they taught ideas of men as commands of God, "You teach the traditions of men as if they come from God," (Mark 7:7). As a result the Church experienced a dark age until one thousand and six hundred years later (1600 A.D.), when finally the Holy Bible was printed in the common langauges, and people were literate enough to read the Gospels, Epistles, and writings of the Apostles to discover Constantine and His Church are not Christ's Church, but a Satanic antichrist church meant to keep Christians from every knowing Christ, "always learning, they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth [John 14:6]," (2 Timothy 3:7), "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people," (1 Timothy 3:5), "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear," (1 Timothy 4:3), and, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the Word of God [Jesus, John 1:1-5, Revelation 19:13, this means Jesus Christ consecrates it because everything was made for Him, by him, and through Him John 1:3, Colossians 1:13] and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1-5).
Today Constantine's Church is preserved in almost every church on earth. In Eastern Orthodox, 100% of Constantine Church is preserved in its authenticity. The Orthodox churches do Sol Invictus worship on Friday night Vigil, during prayer to the sun, which is Constantine's invention, and idolatry. The Orthodox have preserved the teachings, models, theology, doxology, and services of Constantinople, Constantine's seat of power. The Roman Catholic Church preserves an estimated 60% of Constantine Church. For 1054yrs, really 954yrs, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches were one, but the Roman system deviated in details and added uniquely European pagan traditions along with Eastern ones, and over time the two churches had schism and broke apart. Messianic Churches have about 10% of Constantine Church but 70% of the Old Testament Law which is no better than Constantine and actually is inspiration or rather ironic parallel. Anglicanism is about same as Roman Catholicsm, with 68% of Constantine's Church preserved, most Anglican Churches are just English Catholic Churches. Lutheran Churches are 30% Constantine, because despite Solae Scriptura and back to the sources, Luther conceded to Transubstantiation, a doctrine dating back to The Second Council of Trent in 1545-1563 A.D. (get your Mccluch book), which means it was never instituted by Christ [rather Christ's Last Supper was symbolic of the death He would die on cross to enact The New Covenant and His body that was broken by the centurions in His flogging]. Evangelical Churches are actually 50% Constantine, perhaps even 70%. Though modern and sound on doctrine, Evangelicals still have a priest, the Pastor, and let Him lead a stage, with an pulpit or altar, like the priests of Hagia Sophia. Jesus said, "Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ [Pastor] for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah [Christ]. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23:8-12). Charismatic Churches vary from 20% to 70% Constantine, depending on their leaders and how it is run. The only Charismatic, Evangelical, and other churches at 0% Constantine are in homes or modest building for prayer and worship w no clergy or Constantine systems, have no monopolizing priest or pastor, read the Holy Bible, and seek to be like Christ's Church via Scripture and the Holy Spirit. I have only been in three churches or rather assembly of believers in my lifetime with 0% Constantine Church preservatives, and 100% Organic Christ's Church. In the case of one of those churches with 100% Biblical Christ's Church, people went to Heaven and saw the Trinity, God Father, God Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit face to face. What Constantine Church do you hear has people actually being taken to heaven and seeing the Lord face to face?!
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds
Then he says, “I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.
And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
And so, dear brothers and sisters,we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us." (Hebrews 10:1-29). In addition, Paul and Peter understanding we are now equals with Christ, co heirs and children of God (Romans 8:17), we are royal priest hood (1 Peter 2:9), we God's holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), and we are even told by Christ himself we sit at His throne, "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6) and we shall sit on Christ's throne, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."(Revelation 3:21). In place of direct relationship with Christ that we really have (free access, add verses), Constantine placed intermediaries known as priests and bishops, but we are told there is only one intermediary between God and man, "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5).
Constantine's restructuring of the Church destroyed its purpose. The Scriptures testify that the church is the family of Christ, it is believers of all races coming together to worship Christ, "Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). But Constantine instead made the Church a building, his Hagie Sophia, and a system based on Old Testament and Pagan priesthoods. Constantine's Clergy built the altar and pulpit, making one man the sole speaker and arbiter of God's gifts. As aforementioned, the Apostle Paul says otherwise, that each person who is member of the church should come with a gift, word, hymn, and teaching! Sadly, what was a living, vibrant, and alive Christian community became dead tombs again thanks to Constantine and his clerics. I imagine Jesus would have said to the Byzantines what he said to Pharisees, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Mattheww 23:27-28). This is exactly what happened, the priests became like Pharisees, even copying their outfits (see verse) and these priests invented ways to keep people away from salvation, the gospel, and Jesus, just as Pharisees had done, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either." (Matthew 23:13). The priesthood of Constantine's Church began to devise the old separations, the Law and pennace, instead of trusting soley in Christ's sacrifice for salvation (Ephensians 2:4-7), for the apostle Paul says, "" (share Romans) only Christ can save us, nothing we do can merit salvation, our good works are filthy rags (). Constantine's clergy became the barrier between Christians and Christ, they taught ideas of men as commands of God, "You teach the traditions of men as if they come from God," (Mark 7:7). As a result the Church experienced a dark age until one thousand and six hundred years later (1600 A.D.), when finally the Holy Bible was printed in the common langauges, and people were literate enough to read the Gospels, Epistles, and writings of the Apostles to discover Constantine and His Church are not Christ's Church, but a Satanic antichrist church meant to keep Christians from every knowing Christ, "always learning, they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth [John 14:6]," (2 Timothy 3:7), "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people," (1 Timothy 3:5), "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear," (1 Timothy 4:3), and, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the Word of God [Jesus, John 1:1-5, Revelation 19:13, this means Jesus Christ consecrates it because everything was made for Him, by him, and through Him John 1:3, Colossians 1:13] and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:1-5).
Today Constantine's Church is preserved in almost every church on earth. In Eastern Orthodox, 100% of Constantine Church is preserved in its authenticity. The Orthodox churches do Sol Invictus worship on Friday night Vigil, during prayer to the sun, which is Constantine's invention, and idolatry. The Orthodox have preserved the teachings, models, theology, doxology, and services of Constantinople, Constantine's seat of power. The Roman Catholic Church preserves an estimated 60% of Constantine Church. For 1054yrs, really 954yrs, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches were one, but the Roman system deviated in details and added uniquely European pagan traditions along with Eastern ones, and over time the two churches had schism and broke apart. Messianic Churches have about 10% of Constantine Church but 70% of the Old Testament Law which is no better than Constantine and actually is inspiration or rather ironic parallel. Anglicanism is about same as Roman Catholicsm, with 68% of Constantine's Church preserved, most Anglican Churches are just English Catholic Churches. Lutheran Churches are 30% Constantine, because despite Solae Scriptura and back to the sources, Luther conceded to Transubstantiation, a doctrine dating back to The Second Council of Trent in 1545-1563 A.D. (get your Mccluch book), which means it was never instituted by Christ [rather Christ's Last Supper was symbolic of the death He would die on cross to enact The New Covenant and His body that was broken by the centurions in His flogging]. Evangelical Churches are actually 50% Constantine, perhaps even 70%. Though modern and sound on doctrine, Evangelicals still have a priest, the Pastor, and let Him lead a stage, with an pulpit or altar, like the priests of Hagia Sophia. Jesus said, "Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ [Pastor] for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah [Christ]. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23:8-12). Charismatic Churches vary from 20% to 70% Constantine, depending on their leaders and how it is run. The only Charismatic, Evangelical, and other churches at 0% Constantine are in homes or modest building for prayer and worship w no clergy or Constantine systems, have no monopolizing priest or pastor, read the Holy Bible, and seek to be like Christ's Church via Scripture and the Holy Spirit. I have only been in three churches or rather assembly of believers in my lifetime with 0% Constantine Church preservatives, and 100% Organic Christ's Church. In the case of one of those churches with 100% Biblical Christ's Church, people went to Heaven and saw the Trinity, God Father, God Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit face to face. What Constantine Church do you hear has people actually being taken to heaven and seeing the Lord face to face?!
Constantine's imperialized Church isn't authentic or Biblical Christianity, but rather is a demonization of God's plan. Under the imperialist model of making mere men gods and autocrats of religion, no one hears God for themelves and fears punishment. Biblical Christianity is free access, closeness, intimacy with God through love (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8) not through fear and terror of judgement! To quote myself, Constantine was an antichrist, "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18). Jesus Christ warned false christs would come, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect," (Matthew 24:24), and the Apostle Paul warned against those who come to teach another Jesus and seduce the elect, "I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ, For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily," (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) and "Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed." (Galatians 1:8-9). I believe that Constantine did exactly what Paul confronts, that he introduced another Jesus called Sol Invictus Son of God, and that he was an antichrist because he reestablished the old Temple system and old covenant methods. Antichrist means to replace Christ in your heart and mind, to distort Jesus image and make Him appear as unforgiving Baal (war god) or Judge. Satan worked hard through Costantine to restore the shackles of the old covenant where man must be good enough, and convinced people to forget the New Covenant in Christ's Blood which is better, "But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises," (Hebrews 8:6), and "When God speaks of a "new" covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:13).
Since Satna oculd not stop our Savior from dying for our sins and Disciples spreading the Gospel, that dragon and fallen angel had to infiltrate the church and from within pollute it with the venom he used in Eden, pride of life, lust of flesh, and lust of the eyes (). For Satan was creator of commerce, and obessed with material wealth, merely look at Constantine's church buildings and you will see gold and precious gems, but God and His presence are no where to be found, here is why,
"Then this further message came to me from the Lord: 12 “Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord,
You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.
13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God.
Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone[b]—
red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,
blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,
blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—
all beautifully crafted for you
and set in the finest gold.
They were given to you
on the day you were created.
14 I ordained and anointed you
as the mighty angelic guardian.[c]
You had access to the holy mountain of God
and walked among the stones of fire.
13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God.
Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone[b]—
red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,
blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,
blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—
all beautifully crafted for you
and set in the finest gold.
They were given to you
on the day you were created.
14 I ordained and anointed you
as the mighty angelic guardian.[c]
You had access to the holy mountain of God
and walked among the stones of fire.
“You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created
until the day evil was found in you.
16 Your rich commerce led you to violence,
and you sinned.
So I banished you in disgrace
from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
from your place among the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was filled with pride
because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
by your love of splendor.
So I threw you to the ground
and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
18 You defiled your sanctuaries
with your many sins and your dishonest trade.
So I brought fire out from within you,
and it consumed you.
I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.
19 All who knew you are appalled at your fate.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will exist no more." (Ezekiel 28).
until the day evil was found in you.
16 Your rich commerce led you to violence,
and you sinned.
So I banished you in disgrace
from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
from your place among the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was filled with pride
because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
by your love of splendor.
So I threw you to the ground
and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
18 You defiled your sanctuaries
with your many sins and your dishonest trade.
So I brought fire out from within you,
and it consumed you.
I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.
19 All who knew you are appalled at your fate.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will exist no more." (Ezekiel 28).
As can be clearly seen, Satan is covered in gold and precious gemes, so he seduces many Christians through Constnatine's beautiful churches decked in gold and gems, he seduces us from pure devotion to Christ, "I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ," (2 Corinthians 11:3) through the "For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world./For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." (1 John 2;16 NIV and NLT). The gold onion domes, the crosses in precious silver and adorned with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, draw our eyes, we lust in our flesh (covet) not only these things, but also want to live fat and have every pleasure without suffering for Christ, Constnatine and his priests never suffered for Jesus, and finally the pride of life is in the Constnatine clergy and churches, for they believe they are holier, they have true way, and walk pompouslyn in their priestly robes, whne in truth Jesus will say to them, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23). I think it is possible that Babylon the Harlot is the Constantine Church that survives in many countries, keeping in mind all aforementioned in this paragraph, read about Bablyon, she is a city and she is about commerce, gems, and gold,
"Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul spirit,
a hideout for every foul vulture
and every foul and dreadful animal.
3 For all the nations have fallen
because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
the merchants of the world have grown rich.”
"Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!
She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul spirit,
a hideout for every foul vulture
and every foul and dreadful animal.
3 For all the nations have fallen
because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
the merchants of the world have grown rich.”
Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,
“Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.
5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.
6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’
8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
fAnd the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out,or the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.
5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
and God remembers her evil deeds.
6 Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
so brew twice as much for her.
7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
and I have no reason to mourn.’
8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
fAnd the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out,or the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”
How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city!
In a single moment
God’s judgment came on you.”
In a single moment
God’s judgment came on you.”
The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. 12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. 13 She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.
“The fancy things you loved so much are gone,” they cry.
“All your luxuries and splendor
are gone forever,
never to be yours again.”
“All your luxuries and splendor
are gone forever,
never to be yours again.”
The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out,
16 “How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,
decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 In a single moment
all the wealth of the city is gone!”
decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 In a single moment
all the wealth of the city is gone!”
And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. 18 They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?” 19 And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out,
“How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
The shipowners became wealthy
by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone.”
The shipowners became wealthy
by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone.”
Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets!
For at last God has judged her
for your sakes.
For at last God has judged her
for your sakes.
Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted,
Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.” (Revelation 18:1-24)
and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.” (Revelation 18:1-24)
In many ways one could read this chapter with Constantinople in mind. For when Constantinople fell in 1204 A.D. and later in 1548 A.D. to Ottoman Turks, one could read many of these passages as the perfect description of what happened. Constantinople was City Capital of Constantine and His Church of gold.
God wants to be close to us, He died on a cross and bled to make sure we could be His bride. Christ wants intimacy, closeness, and deep connection with us Christians, but Constantine and Satan have made barriers via religion. It is time to practice Christianity as it is written in the Holy Bible, not in the annuls of Orthodoxy, the catechisms of Catholicism, or the traditiosn of men! (Mark 7:7). It is time to be Christ's Bride, a bride is close to bridegroom, see Song of Songs! The Lord God has purchased our freedom and made it possible for us to be close to Him, He lives in us now! (Romans 8:11). So caste aside Constantine, and catch hold of Christ! For Jesus Christ is tender, meek, mild, loving, offers light yoke and rest (Matthew 11:28-30), and wants us, all Christians who confess the New Testament faith, to be his priests. It is time for Babylon to fall in all churches, come out of her as the Lord says, "Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,“Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her." (Revelation 18:4) or else He will send Babylon to do it for you in form of D'ash (ISIS) and other descendnats of the Babylonians!
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