brakelite
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Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
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Ask any Christian to give a summary of Christian church history and they will likely begin with the apostles, work briefly through the early church fathers to the establishment of the church in Rome, mention possibly the dominance of Rome in political life throughout Europe during the middle ages until the reformation and the constant battles and debates that era brought upon the world, then on to more modern spiritual revivals such as the great spiritual awakening of the early nineteenth century and down to our day with the development of so many diverse and independent church ministries throughout the world. As we consider the above brief summation of church history, and if we have any reasonably competent knowledge of history, we are struck by the dominance of Rome within that paradigm. Long bitter controversies over theology and dogma and at times even bloody battles and disputes marked her march to greatness and power. It is a history dominated by political manipulation, religious wars, arranged marriages among the royal houses of Europe to solidify power, and very little record of true religious life apart from the cloistered life of scholars, the privileged lives of the political or business elite and the superstitions of the common man.
There is however another paradigm not taught in the history classes of the average seminary, and even less so in today’s churches. It is a history of the church in the wilderness. This church is that which the scripture speaks of as being persecuted and harried by the powers of darkness for over 1000 years. It is the church that traces its roots to the teachings of the apostles. It is a history redolent with consecrated evangelical labour that changed lives and sowed truth in the hearts and lives of men and women from the far east to Great Britain, from Scandinavia to Africa. This church was not centered in any single city or nation, nor did she lay claim to any hierarchal system or structure which elevated man above others such as the gentiles practiced and was so characteristic of the Roman church. The church in the wilderness had very little, if any contact with those intellectual scholars that twisted scriptures to suit their own devices such as the Gnostics, nor did she accept the introduction of pagan innovations such as monasticism, much less did she involve herself with the enforcement of religious dogma and law upon the unwilling or unbelieving through political cruelty, torture or the threat of imprisonment or death. It is through the church in the wilderness that the modern church has its only connection with the apostolic age, and not through the church of Rome that has dominated the religious landscape for the last 1500 years. This church taught and practiced truth, and flourished. Sadly, much of its history and evidence of its existence has been destroyed by its enemies. However, with careful research and investigation evidence can be found, not only of her wonderful exploits, but also of the bitter and violent opposition she met from both pagan and the nominal churches.
One of the principal features of the values of the church in the wilderness was her commitment to freedom. She taught and practiced the teachings of the apostles. She did not force compliance, she did not pursue and destroy her enemies, she did not call upon the state powers to enforce her doctrines. She allowed the Spirit of God to attend her evangelical efforts, and the gospel spread throughout the then known world. Religious liberty was one of the keynote characteristics of the wilderness church, allowing freedom of conscience for not only her members, but even of her enemies.
The book of Revelation reveals that this spirit of freedom will be sadly lacking in the predominant church of the last days. Worship of a sort will be enforced by the state, and the scriptures tell us that apart from a remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, the entire world will go along with this deception. Rev. 13:7,8,11-18.
The beautiful woman of Revelation 12 is revealed in direct contrast with the ***** of Revelation 17,18. As the ***** represents a global church that by her adulterous relationship with the state is accounted an apostate church, so the woman of Revelation 12 through her having given birth to the Saviour and willing to suffer persecution rather than compromise truth, this OT church and NT church is accounted righteous. If you like, you may describe her as being God's people, or even the Jews, both OT and spiritual NT, but either way, I put it to you that she is representative of God's true children, just as the ***** is representative of apostasy.
Throughout time God's people had longed for their Deliverer. They looked for their Messiah, and every Jewish woman had hopes that she might be the one that would bring Him forth. And yes, the One who would rule all nations with the rod of iron is Jesus.
After giving birth, the church was persecuted and had to escape into the wilderness. Persecuted first by the Jews, then by pagan Rome, and finally by papal Rome, she survived through faith and cleaving to the truth. Just before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70ad, Christians settled in the cities of Syria and Antioch became the first real centre of evangelical Christianity. From there missionary endeavours spread the gospel far and wide. However, opposition and persecution attended their efforts, and history reveals that there has never been a time when true fully consecrated sons and daughters of God who were willing to surrender their lives to their Saviour and 'go into all nations teaching whatsoever He commanded them" did so without exciting the wrath of Satan.
The 1260 days of Revelation 12:6 is in fact repeated a further 6 times in the scriptures. Twice in the book of Daniel, 5 times altogether in the book of Revelation, and although in different forms, yet all add up to 1260 prophetic years. This time frame is given in relation to two distinct but parallel subjects, the first being the time the woman or the church is to suffer hardship and persecution, the second directs our attention to the life span of the persecuting power. Neatly covering the dark ages from the 6th century to the 18th century, from the year of autonomous independent rule of the papacy in 538AD to the year of the pope's capture and the declaration of a new republic in Rome in 1798 by General Berthier , the revolutionary leader of Napoleon's army. The time frame and the circumstances of the woman's flight can only refer to the NT church.
The Roman church has no interest of course in admitting that Christianity spread throughout the world independently of Roman authority. The churches of Britain that existed before Patrick had no connection with Rome.
<dl id="" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 460px" data-mce-style="width: 460px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt">
</dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">The Roman Church 'adopted' such early stalwarts of faith such as Patrick and Columba, building her own edifaces on the sites of the original colleges. Here is the ruins of a 13th century nunnery built on Iona, the island which was home to Columba and his school of evangelism from which he sent many preachers of the truth to such places as Scandinavia, Holland, and Germany</dd></dl>
And the great theological colleges and missionary schools that sprang up throughout Britain, raised up by people such as Patrick, Dinooth, Aiden , Columba and Columbanus, had their roots in apostolic Christianity quite apart from papal authority.
When the gospel was first introduced by Paul to the Galatians, even Paul could not have known the widespread impact his missionary ministry would have. The Galatians were of Celtic origin.Originating in Britain 3 to 4 hundred years before Christ, these fiery warriors at first settled southern France, then ventured into Italy where they decimated Rome, and finally settled in the area of Asia Minor where Paul found them. These Celtic people retained their connection with their homeland and with their own blood, regularly travelling back through the south of France to Britain for trade. And after Paul's visits and success with the gospel, these people took the gospel with them back to Britain. The Celtic church of Britain therefore had its origins possibly before the turn of the first century, spread quickly throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, bringing peace to those who embraced it, and uniting tribes and clans that formerly were bitter enemies.
When Augustine arrived in Britain as a Roman missionary in the 4th century he was shocked to find a flourishing church already in existence there. His demands that the Celtic churches submit to Rome were roundly refused, while fellowship with Rome was respectfully accepted. Rome would have none of that of course, and political intrigue and war ensued over the centuries and continue to this day.
The same went for other independent churches such as the Waldenses. To allow a Christian church to exist within a stones throw of Rome yet not be subject to Roman authority was anathema to the Vatican and for centuries the Waldensian people were pursued, persecuted, and their books and writings destroyed to correct this anomaly on the papal doorstep. The Waldenses, named for the area in which they lived (Vallenses Valleys of Northern Italy east of the Cottian Alps around Milan), began as a small protest movement against the inroads of paganism into Christianity, particularly in Rome. Monasticism and asceticism plus the introduction of 'baptised' pagan festivals offended these simple people of the valleys but their protests went unheeded and eventually they were chased from their homes and were among the first Christians to flee into the wilderness and settle as Christian communities away from the influence of the organised church/state union developing in Rome.
Freedom of conscience and to worship accordingly has been at the forefront of controversy since pagan Rome entered Jerusalem. Caesar was regarded as god, and this of course grated on the nerves of every Jew.
When pagan Rome abandoned the city for Constantinople, and the empire in the west lost its grip on power in favour of the Germanic barbarian tribes, the bishops of Rome took on greater importance. Over time, the Roman church devolved into a state/church entity and grew into a kingdom in its own right. Involvement in politics and civil rule , and compromise with pagan belief systems and rites, created a church far removed from it's apostolic roots. The popes replaced the Caesars (pontifex maximus was common to both powers) and over time absolute submission to them was enforced. Thus developed the nominal church of the dark ages. Even as late as the 19th century, such statements as the following were being issued from the Vatican.
"It was proposed that all religious persuasions should be free and their worship publicly exercised. But we have rejected this article as contrary to the canons and councils of the first Catholic Church."
Pope Pius V11 1808.
"The state has not the right to leave every man free to embrace whatever religion he shall deem true....the church has the right to require that the Catholic religion shall be the only religion of the state to the exclusion of all others.
Let those who assert liberty of conscience and religious worship.... and all such as maintain that the church may not employ force, let him be anathema."
Pope Pius IX December 1864.
Ten years earlier the same pope had this to say:
"The absurd and erroneous doctrines or ravings in defence of liberty of conscience are a most pestilential error - a pest of all others, to be most dreaded in a state."
August 15th 1854.
Notice that Pius VII said that freedom is not in accordance to the canons and teachings of the RCC. The current pope and his predecessor have however made some noises in favour of religious freedom, but one cannot help but wonder if these announcements and speeches have more to do with currying favour with a world that is far more media savvy and less tolerant to religious persecution, than a genuine change in Catholic teaching and doctrine. I understand from my reading that at Vatican II it was at the instigation of the American bishops alone that certain compromises were made along the lines of religious freedom , but the European bishops and particularly the curia, were not so liberally minded.
That Revelation reveals a time to come when freedom of worship according to one's conscience is non-existent, is clear. There are some who claim Islam to be the main threat to religious freedom in the west. But with this I strongly disagree. The two paradigms that I spoke of earlier still exist. A nominal apostate Christian church, and a true church that doesn't seek political power or the use of political authority to promote or enforce her doctrines. The gospel is still being taught and spread throughout the world, and the Holy Spirit is giving His full support to these endeavours. Thousands are being baptised every day all over the world, and these new converts are not being taught to submit to any earthly spiritual power, but to Christ Himself, Who is still walking among the churches of the wilderness and providing them with all the encouragement and discipline and power they need to extend His kingdom. A spiritual kingdom of righteousness and power through the Holy Spirit.
The nominal church, and its future restoration of relationship with her once 'departed daughters', I do not believe has lost her ambition for global power. And the strengthening of the protestant right in American politics and the constantly improving relations between Rome and Washington is setting up what I believe to be a far greater threat to religious freedom than Islam. Rome has never shied away from using the state (any state) to further her aims. The battles and wars throughout British history is testament to Rome's ambitions with regard to that part of the world, the US has long been seen as a prime candidate for Catholicism in the hearts of those within the Vatican who would find agreement with the sentiments of the popes I quoted earlier. The protestant churches do not need to 'convert' to be Catholic. Simply adopting Roman doctrine would be sufficient spiritually speaking to be considered in light of the scriptures to be 'fallen, fallen.'
Impossible you say? Unlikely? On the 25th July 1963 The Catholic News had this to say. "I want to hear some American stand up and shout, "give us justice, give us decency, and to hell with the constitution."
If a Vatican approved media outlet can be so opposed to the constitution and have such little regard for that which stands as a bulwark against tyranny and persecution, and recent attacks on that same document from the religious right as far as church/state union issues are involved, then today's rapid restructuring of the world's political powers and Revelation 13's depiction of religious persecution being rooted in apostate Christianity and not Islam, is not so far-fetched.
<dl id="" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 514px" data-mce-style="width: 514px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt">
</dt></dl>
Ask any Christian to give a summary of Christian church history and they will likely begin with the apostles, work briefly through the early church fathers to the establishment of the church in Rome, mention possibly the dominance of Rome in political life throughout Europe during the middle ages until the reformation and the constant battles and debates that era brought upon the world, then on to more modern spiritual revivals such as the great spiritual awakening of the early nineteenth century and down to our day with the development of so many diverse and independent church ministries throughout the world. As we consider the above brief summation of church history, and if we have any reasonably competent knowledge of history, we are struck by the dominance of Rome within that paradigm. Long bitter controversies over theology and dogma and at times even bloody battles and disputes marked her march to greatness and power. It is a history dominated by political manipulation, religious wars, arranged marriages among the royal houses of Europe to solidify power, and very little record of true religious life apart from the cloistered life of scholars, the privileged lives of the political or business elite and the superstitions of the common man.
There is however another paradigm not taught in the history classes of the average seminary, and even less so in today’s churches. It is a history of the church in the wilderness. This church is that which the scripture speaks of as being persecuted and harried by the powers of darkness for over 1000 years. It is the church that traces its roots to the teachings of the apostles. It is a history redolent with consecrated evangelical labour that changed lives and sowed truth in the hearts and lives of men and women from the far east to Great Britain, from Scandinavia to Africa. This church was not centered in any single city or nation, nor did she lay claim to any hierarchal system or structure which elevated man above others such as the gentiles practiced and was so characteristic of the Roman church. The church in the wilderness had very little, if any contact with those intellectual scholars that twisted scriptures to suit their own devices such as the Gnostics, nor did she accept the introduction of pagan innovations such as monasticism, much less did she involve herself with the enforcement of religious dogma and law upon the unwilling or unbelieving through political cruelty, torture or the threat of imprisonment or death. It is through the church in the wilderness that the modern church has its only connection with the apostolic age, and not through the church of Rome that has dominated the religious landscape for the last 1500 years. This church taught and practiced truth, and flourished. Sadly, much of its history and evidence of its existence has been destroyed by its enemies. However, with careful research and investigation evidence can be found, not only of her wonderful exploits, but also of the bitter and violent opposition she met from both pagan and the nominal churches.
One of the principal features of the values of the church in the wilderness was her commitment to freedom. She taught and practiced the teachings of the apostles. She did not force compliance, she did not pursue and destroy her enemies, she did not call upon the state powers to enforce her doctrines. She allowed the Spirit of God to attend her evangelical efforts, and the gospel spread throughout the then known world. Religious liberty was one of the keynote characteristics of the wilderness church, allowing freedom of conscience for not only her members, but even of her enemies.
The book of Revelation reveals that this spirit of freedom will be sadly lacking in the predominant church of the last days. Worship of a sort will be enforced by the state, and the scriptures tell us that apart from a remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, the entire world will go along with this deception. Rev. 13:7,8,11-18.
The beautiful woman of Revelation 12 is revealed in direct contrast with the ***** of Revelation 17,18. As the ***** represents a global church that by her adulterous relationship with the state is accounted an apostate church, so the woman of Revelation 12 through her having given birth to the Saviour and willing to suffer persecution rather than compromise truth, this OT church and NT church is accounted righteous. If you like, you may describe her as being God's people, or even the Jews, both OT and spiritual NT, but either way, I put it to you that she is representative of God's true children, just as the ***** is representative of apostasy.
Throughout time God's people had longed for their Deliverer. They looked for their Messiah, and every Jewish woman had hopes that she might be the one that would bring Him forth. And yes, the One who would rule all nations with the rod of iron is Jesus.
After giving birth, the church was persecuted and had to escape into the wilderness. Persecuted first by the Jews, then by pagan Rome, and finally by papal Rome, she survived through faith and cleaving to the truth. Just before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70ad, Christians settled in the cities of Syria and Antioch became the first real centre of evangelical Christianity. From there missionary endeavours spread the gospel far and wide. However, opposition and persecution attended their efforts, and history reveals that there has never been a time when true fully consecrated sons and daughters of God who were willing to surrender their lives to their Saviour and 'go into all nations teaching whatsoever He commanded them" did so without exciting the wrath of Satan.
The 1260 days of Revelation 12:6 is in fact repeated a further 6 times in the scriptures. Twice in the book of Daniel, 5 times altogether in the book of Revelation, and although in different forms, yet all add up to 1260 prophetic years. This time frame is given in relation to two distinct but parallel subjects, the first being the time the woman or the church is to suffer hardship and persecution, the second directs our attention to the life span of the persecuting power. Neatly covering the dark ages from the 6th century to the 18th century, from the year of autonomous independent rule of the papacy in 538AD to the year of the pope's capture and the declaration of a new republic in Rome in 1798 by General Berthier , the revolutionary leader of Napoleon's army. The time frame and the circumstances of the woman's flight can only refer to the NT church.
The Roman church has no interest of course in admitting that Christianity spread throughout the world independently of Roman authority. The churches of Britain that existed before Patrick had no connection with Rome.
<dl id="" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 460px" data-mce-style="width: 460px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt">
And the great theological colleges and missionary schools that sprang up throughout Britain, raised up by people such as Patrick, Dinooth, Aiden , Columba and Columbanus, had their roots in apostolic Christianity quite apart from papal authority.
When the gospel was first introduced by Paul to the Galatians, even Paul could not have known the widespread impact his missionary ministry would have. The Galatians were of Celtic origin.Originating in Britain 3 to 4 hundred years before Christ, these fiery warriors at first settled southern France, then ventured into Italy where they decimated Rome, and finally settled in the area of Asia Minor where Paul found them. These Celtic people retained their connection with their homeland and with their own blood, regularly travelling back through the south of France to Britain for trade. And after Paul's visits and success with the gospel, these people took the gospel with them back to Britain. The Celtic church of Britain therefore had its origins possibly before the turn of the first century, spread quickly throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, bringing peace to those who embraced it, and uniting tribes and clans that formerly were bitter enemies.
When Augustine arrived in Britain as a Roman missionary in the 4th century he was shocked to find a flourishing church already in existence there. His demands that the Celtic churches submit to Rome were roundly refused, while fellowship with Rome was respectfully accepted. Rome would have none of that of course, and political intrigue and war ensued over the centuries and continue to this day.
The same went for other independent churches such as the Waldenses. To allow a Christian church to exist within a stones throw of Rome yet not be subject to Roman authority was anathema to the Vatican and for centuries the Waldensian people were pursued, persecuted, and their books and writings destroyed to correct this anomaly on the papal doorstep. The Waldenses, named for the area in which they lived (Vallenses Valleys of Northern Italy east of the Cottian Alps around Milan), began as a small protest movement against the inroads of paganism into Christianity, particularly in Rome. Monasticism and asceticism plus the introduction of 'baptised' pagan festivals offended these simple people of the valleys but their protests went unheeded and eventually they were chased from their homes and were among the first Christians to flee into the wilderness and settle as Christian communities away from the influence of the organised church/state union developing in Rome.
Freedom of conscience and to worship accordingly has been at the forefront of controversy since pagan Rome entered Jerusalem. Caesar was regarded as god, and this of course grated on the nerves of every Jew.
When pagan Rome abandoned the city for Constantinople, and the empire in the west lost its grip on power in favour of the Germanic barbarian tribes, the bishops of Rome took on greater importance. Over time, the Roman church devolved into a state/church entity and grew into a kingdom in its own right. Involvement in politics and civil rule , and compromise with pagan belief systems and rites, created a church far removed from it's apostolic roots. The popes replaced the Caesars (pontifex maximus was common to both powers) and over time absolute submission to them was enforced. Thus developed the nominal church of the dark ages. Even as late as the 19th century, such statements as the following were being issued from the Vatican.
"It was proposed that all religious persuasions should be free and their worship publicly exercised. But we have rejected this article as contrary to the canons and councils of the first Catholic Church."
Pope Pius V11 1808.
"The state has not the right to leave every man free to embrace whatever religion he shall deem true....the church has the right to require that the Catholic religion shall be the only religion of the state to the exclusion of all others.
Let those who assert liberty of conscience and religious worship.... and all such as maintain that the church may not employ force, let him be anathema."
Pope Pius IX December 1864.
Ten years earlier the same pope had this to say:
"The absurd and erroneous doctrines or ravings in defence of liberty of conscience are a most pestilential error - a pest of all others, to be most dreaded in a state."
August 15th 1854.
Notice that Pius VII said that freedom is not in accordance to the canons and teachings of the RCC. The current pope and his predecessor have however made some noises in favour of religious freedom, but one cannot help but wonder if these announcements and speeches have more to do with currying favour with a world that is far more media savvy and less tolerant to religious persecution, than a genuine change in Catholic teaching and doctrine. I understand from my reading that at Vatican II it was at the instigation of the American bishops alone that certain compromises were made along the lines of religious freedom , but the European bishops and particularly the curia, were not so liberally minded.
That Revelation reveals a time to come when freedom of worship according to one's conscience is non-existent, is clear. There are some who claim Islam to be the main threat to religious freedom in the west. But with this I strongly disagree. The two paradigms that I spoke of earlier still exist. A nominal apostate Christian church, and a true church that doesn't seek political power or the use of political authority to promote or enforce her doctrines. The gospel is still being taught and spread throughout the world, and the Holy Spirit is giving His full support to these endeavours. Thousands are being baptised every day all over the world, and these new converts are not being taught to submit to any earthly spiritual power, but to Christ Himself, Who is still walking among the churches of the wilderness and providing them with all the encouragement and discipline and power they need to extend His kingdom. A spiritual kingdom of righteousness and power through the Holy Spirit.
The nominal church, and its future restoration of relationship with her once 'departed daughters', I do not believe has lost her ambition for global power. And the strengthening of the protestant right in American politics and the constantly improving relations between Rome and Washington is setting up what I believe to be a far greater threat to religious freedom than Islam. Rome has never shied away from using the state (any state) to further her aims. The battles and wars throughout British history is testament to Rome's ambitions with regard to that part of the world, the US has long been seen as a prime candidate for Catholicism in the hearts of those within the Vatican who would find agreement with the sentiments of the popes I quoted earlier. The protestant churches do not need to 'convert' to be Catholic. Simply adopting Roman doctrine would be sufficient spiritually speaking to be considered in light of the scriptures to be 'fallen, fallen.'
Impossible you say? Unlikely? On the 25th July 1963 The Catholic News had this to say. "I want to hear some American stand up and shout, "give us justice, give us decency, and to hell with the constitution."
If a Vatican approved media outlet can be so opposed to the constitution and have such little regard for that which stands as a bulwark against tyranny and persecution, and recent attacks on that same document from the religious right as far as church/state union issues are involved, then today's rapid restructuring of the world's political powers and Revelation 13's depiction of religious persecution being rooted in apostate Christianity and not Islam, is not so far-fetched.
