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Endnotes

1“…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV). “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 (KJV). “…Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46–47 (KJV). “…Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21 (KJV). “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (KJV). “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 (KJV). “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:20 (KJV). “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15 (KJV).The Early Church“The apostles have preached the gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand.” Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. 42, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

2“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:11–13 (KJV). “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (KJV). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him…” Colossians 1:16 (KJV). “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 (KJV). “Fight the good fight of faith…” 1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV). “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:3–4 (KJV). “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” Jude 9 (KJV). “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 (KJV). (Illustrating that there are many dimensions to the spirit world and to the heavenlies.) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations…” 2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV). “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” Deuteronomy 10:14 (KJV). “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” 1 Kings 8:27 (KJV). “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host…” Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV). “Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.” Psalm 148:4 (KJV). “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:9–10 (KJV). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…” Ephesians 1:3 (KJV). “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come…” Ephesians 1:20–21 (KJV). “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 4:14 (KJV).The Early Church“Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed…” Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. 13, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

3“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” Job 1:7 (KJV). “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Job 2:7 (KJV). “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV). “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” Zechariah 3:1 (KJV). “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15–17 (KJV). “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:19–25 (KJV). “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:16–22 (KJV). “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:12–13 (KJV). “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.” Luke 22:3 (KJV). “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.” Acts 16:16–22 (KJV). “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…” 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV). “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:7–12 (KJV). “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17 (KJV). “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Revelation 13:7 (KJV). ↩︎

4“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.” Psalm 94:20–21 (KJV). “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!” Isaiah 10:1–2 (KJV). “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” Exodus 1:22 (KJV). “And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” Esther 3:8–9 (KJV). “And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.” Esther 3:13 (KJV). “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:4–6 (KJV). “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” Daniel 6:4–7 (KJV). “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” John 19:7 (KJV). “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:17–18 (KJV). “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” Acts 17:6–7 (KJV). “For, what never before happened, the race of the pious is now suffering persecution, being driven about in Asia by new decrees. For the shameless informers and coveters of the property of others, taking occasion from the decrees, openly carry on robbery night and day, despoiling those who are guilty of no wrong.” Melito of Sardis, quoted in Eusebius, Church History 4.26.5, trans. Arthur Cushman McGiffert, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1890). “What is the ground of this judgment? Why have you punished this man, not as an adulterer, nor fornicator, nor murderer, nor thief, nor robber, nor convicted of any crime at all, but who has only confessed that he is called by the name of Christian?” Justin Martyr, The Second Apology, chap. 2, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “It forbids them to be sought after as innocent, and it commands them to be punished as guilty.” Tertullian, Apology, chap. 2, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

5The following citations illustrate when law is used for a righteous purpose to protect innocent life, theft of property, and other acts of lawlessness which harm other people or cause instability and insecurity in the lives of citizens. This is to be contrasted with when the law is used as a weapon against the people to fatten the ruling class at the expense of the citizenry, to oppress and steal the God-given rights of the citizenry, and to result in the total enslavement of the citizenry for the benefit of the few who call the god of this world, master (“…In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)). “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:3–4 (KJV). “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” 1 Peter 2:13–14 (KJV). “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (KJV). “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 16:18–20 (KJV).The Early Church“Earthly rule, therefore, has been appointed by God for the benefit of nations, and not by the devil, who is never at rest at all, nay, who does not love to see even nations conducting themselves after a quiet manner, so that under the fear of human rule, men may not eat each other up like fishes; but that, by means of the establishment of laws, they may keep down an excess of wickedness among the nations.” Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.24.2, trans. Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “For courage, which in war preserves one’s country from the barbarians, or at home defends the weak, or comrades from robbers, is full of justice…” Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 1.27.129, trans. H. de Romestin, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 10, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1896). ↩︎

6“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15 (KJV). “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11 (KJV). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24 (KJV). “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6–8 (KJV). “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4 (KJV). “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (KJV). “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29–30 (KJV). “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1 (KJV). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 (KJV). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (KJV). “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars…” Revelation 2:2 (KJV).The Early Church“But not every one that speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; but only if he hold the ways of the Lord. Therefore from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known.” The Didache, chap. 11, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 7 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). ↩︎

7“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” 1 Timothy 4:1–2 (KJV). “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:10–11 (KJV). “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17–18 (KJV). “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3 (KJV). “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” Matthew 12:31 (KJV). “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” Revelation 13:5–6 (KJV). “I therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, entreat you that you use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For those [that are given to this] mix up Jesus Christ with their own poison, speaking things which are unworthy of credit, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine, which he who is ignorant of does greedily take, with a fatal pleasure leading to his own death.” Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, chap. 6, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885).The Early Church“Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected.” Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 1, preface, sec. 2, trans. Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

8“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10–12 (KJV). “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22 (KJV). “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20 (KJV). “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” John 16:2 (KJV). “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59–60 (KJV). “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” Acts 12:1–2 (KJV). “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented…” Hebrews 11:36–37 (KJV). “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV). “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 (KJV). “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held…” Revelation 6:9 (KJV). “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11 (KJV). “…Away with the Christians to the lion!” Tertullian, Apology, chap. 40, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.” Tertullian, Apology, chap. 50, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

9“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (KJV). “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV). “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV). “And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Exodus 32:6 (KJV). “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 1 Corinthians 10:7 (KJV). “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.” Numbers 25:1–2 (KJV). “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” Revelation 2:14 (KJV). “But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.” Matthew 14:6–10 (KJV). “…were instituted entirely for the devil’s sake…” Tertullian, The Shows, or De Spectaculis, chap. 24, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “At first the theatre was properly a temple of Venus…” “These two evil spirits are in sworn confederacy with each other, as the patrons of drunkenness and lust.” Tertullian, De Spectaculis, chap. 10, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “…immodesty’s own peculiar abode…” where “nothing is in repute but what elsewhere is disreputable.” Tertullian, De Spectaculis, chap. 17, trans. S. Thelwall, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 3 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “Stage-plays also drew me away, full of representations of my miseries and of fuel to my fire. Why does man like to be made sad when viewing doleful and tragical scenes, which yet he himself would by no means suffer?” Augustine, Confessions 3.2.2, trans. J. G. Pilkington, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st ser., vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “…some people have left us, and deserted us for the spectacle of horse racing…” “…as a prisoner of the devil were you dragged off to that spectacle?” “…the devil is tormenting this flock…” John Chrysostom, Against the Circuses and the Theatre (Contra ludos et theatra), trans. Mark Vermes (2012), released into the public domain, The Tertullian Project, tertullian.org. At the Council of Elvira “it was decided that actors might be baptized, but only on condition of their giving up that way of life,” and at the Council of Arles (314) “theatrici and agitatores (actors and charioteers in the games) were declared excommunicate.” Herbert Thurston, “Theatre,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 14 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912). “The power of the motion picture consists in this, that it speaks by means of vivid and concrete imagery.” “They are occasions of sin; they seduce young people along the ways of evil by glorifying the passions.” “…the motion picture be no longer a school of corruption.” Pius XI, Vigilanti Cura, encyclical letter on motion pictures, June 29, 1936 (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana), vatican.va. ↩︎

10Peter’s Eyes on Christ, Then on the Storm“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Matthew 14:28–31 (KJV). “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1–2 (KJV).Paul on Worldliness and the Cross“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18–19 (KJV). “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14 (KJV). “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 (KJV). “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2 (KJV). “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1–2 (KJV). “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 (KJV). “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV). “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…” 2 Timothy 4:10 (KJV). “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4 (KJV). “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV).John and James on Love of the World“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15–17 (KJV). “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4 (KJV).Christ’s Warnings“…Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23 (KJV). “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19–21 (KJV). “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 (KJV). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 (KJV). “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22 (KJV). “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:14 (KJV). “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34 (KJV). “…Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41–42 (KJV). “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:38–39 (KJV). “…No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (KJV). “And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” Luke 14:18–20 (KJV). “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32 (KJV). “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26 (KJV). “…What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40–41 (KJV). “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV).Distracted While the Enemy Struck“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:25 (KJV). “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.” 2 Samuel 11:1–2 (KJV). “And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.” Judges 16:19 (KJV). “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.” Daniel 5:1–5 (KJV). “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” Daniel 5:30 (KJV). “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:4–6 (KJV). “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” Numbers 11:4–6 (KJV). “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage…” Galatians 2:4 (KJV). “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4 (KJV).Keeping the Eyes Fixed“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” Psalm 119:37 (KJV). “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” Proverbs 4:25 (KJV).The Early Church“I do not now-a-days go to the circus to see a dog chasing a hare; but if by chance I pass such a coursing in the fields, it possibly distracts me even from some serious thought… How is it, when sitting at home, a lizard catching flies, or a spider entangling them as they rush into her nets, oftentimes arrests me?… then are our prayers often interrupted and disturbed thereby…” Augustine, Confessions 10.35.57, trans. J. G. Pilkington, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st ser., vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). ↩︎

11“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…” Exodus 20:3–5 (KJV). “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:16–18 (KJV). “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” Acts 12:21–23 (KJV). “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 (KJV). “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15 (KJV). “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14 (KJV). “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 1 John 5:21 (KJV). “They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 (KJV). “What harm is there in saying, Lord Cæsar, and in sacrificing…” The Martyrdom of Polycarp, chap. 8, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “Swear by the fortune of Cæsar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.” … “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury…” The Martyrdom of Polycarp, chap. 9, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885).A Roman Governor’s Record (Ancient Non-Christian Source)“Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ—none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do…” Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96, to the Emperor Trajan (ca. AD 112), English translation as published by James J. O’Donnell, Georgetown University, faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/pliny.html (translator not credited on the page). ↩︎

12“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:6 (KJV). “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13 (KJV). “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood…” Proverbs 6:16–17 (KJV). “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.” Psalm 106:37–38 (KJV). “Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind…” Jeremiah 19:4–5 (KJV). “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:13–16 (KJV). “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV). “…you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten…” The Didache, chap. 2, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 7 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring.” The Epistle to Diognetus, chap. 5, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “And when we say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder, and will have to give an account to God for the abortion, on what principle should we commit murder?” Athenagoras of Athens, A Plea for the Christians, chap. 35, trans. B. P. Pratten, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 2 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

13“And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.” Judges 16:25 (KJV). “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Corinthians 4:9 (KJV). “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.” Hebrews 10:32–33 (KJV). “Honorius, who inherited the empire of Europe, put a stop to the gladiatorial combats which had long been held at Rome. The occasion of his doing so arose from the following circumstance. A certain man of the name of Telemachus had embraced the ascetic life. He had set out from the East and for this reason had repaired to Rome. There, when the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he went himself into the stadium, and, stepping down into the arena, endeavoured to stop the men who were wielding their weapons against one another. The spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the mad fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death. When the admirable emperor was informed of this he numbered Telemachus in the array of victorious martyrs, and put an end to that impious spectacle.” Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History 5.26, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 3, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1892). “For, directly he saw that blood, he therewith imbibed a sort of savageness; nor did he turn away, but fixed his eye, drinking in madness unconsciously, and was delighted with the guilty contest, and drunken with the bloody pastime.” Augustine, Confessions 6.8.13, trans. J. G. Pilkington, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st ser., vol. 1, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles.” Athenagoras of Athens, A Plea for the Christians, chap. 35, trans. B. P. Pratten, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 2 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

14“Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name…” Amos 2:6–7 (KJV). “Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” Amos 5:11–12 (KJV). “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” Proverbs 14:31 (KJV). “Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.” Proverbs 22:22–23 (KJV). “The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” Isaiah 3:14–15 (KJV). “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” James 5:1–4 (KJV). “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9–10 (KJV).The Early Church“You shall not turn away from him that is in want, but you shall share all things with your brother…” The Didache, chap. 4, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 7 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “Instead of lands, therefore, buy afflicted souls, according as each one is able, and visit widows and orphans, and do not overlook them; and spend your wealth and all your preparations, which ye received from the Lord, upon such lands and houses. For to this end did the Master make you rich, that you might perform these services unto Him…” The Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude 1, trans. F. Crombie, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 2 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885).Papal Documents“To defraud any one of wages that are his due is a great crime which cries to the avenging anger of Heaven.” Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, encyclical letter on capital and labor, May 15, 1891, sec. 20 (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana), vatican.va. In the same section, the encyclical condemns any attempt “to exercise pressure upon the indigent and the destitute for the sake of gain,” and states that “to gather one’s profit out of the need of another” “is condemned by all laws, human and divine.” Ibid. ↩︎

15“And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:16 (KJV). “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.” Deuteronomy 24:7 (KJV). “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine…” 1 Timothy 1:9–10 (KJV). “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.” Revelation 18:11–13 (KJV). “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (KJV). “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” Philemon 1:16 (KJV). “‘I got me slaves and slave-girls.’ You are condemning to slavery human beings whose nature is free and characterised by free will. … For how many obols did you value the image of God?” Gregory of Nyssa, Homilies on Ecclesiastes 4, trans. Andrew Maguire, Early Church Texts (earlychurchtexts.com). ↩︎

16“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” Deuteronomy 18:10–12 (KJV). “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:31 (KJV). “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” Isaiah 8:19 (KJV). “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV). “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Acts 19:19 (KJV). “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21 (KJV). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 (KJV). “My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads the way to idolatry; neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer…” The Didache, chap. 3, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 7 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “They who are of the priesthood, or of the clergy, shall not be magicians, enchanters, mathematicians, or astrologers; nor shall they make what are called amulets, which are chains for their own souls. And those who wear such, we command to be cast out of the Church.” Council of Laodicea, canon 36, trans. Henry R. Percival, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 14, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1900).Catechism“All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), para. 2116. ↩︎

17“And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” 1 Kings 21:17–19 (KJV). “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 (KJV). “And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.” Micah 3:1–3 (KJV). “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:2–4 (KJV). “Justice being taken away, then, what are kingdoms but great robberies?” Augustine, City of God 4.4, trans. Marcus Dods, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st ser., vol. 2, ed. Philip Schaff (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1887). “I dare not offer the sacrifice if you intend to be present.” Ambrose of Milan, Letter 51.13, to the Emperor Theodosius, trans. H. de Romestin, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 10, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1896). ↩︎

18“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” Acts 8:18–21 (KJV). “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:2–4 (KJV). “The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:11 (KJV). “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2–3 (KJV). “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre…” Titus 1:7 (KJV). “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:12–13 (KJV). “Forasmuch as many enrolled among the Clergy, following covetousness and lust of gain, have forgotten the divine Scripture, which says, ‘He has not given his money upon usury,’ and in lending money ask the hundredth of the sum [as monthly interest], the holy and great Synod thinks it just that if after this decree any one be found to receive usury, whether he accomplish it by secret transaction or otherwise, as by demanding the whole and one half, or by using any other contrivance whatever for filthy lucre’s sake, he shall be deposed from the clergy and his name stricken from the list.” First Council of Nicaea (325), canon 17, trans. Henry R. Percival, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 14, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1900). “If any bishop performs an ordination for money and puts the unsaleable grace on sale, and ordains for money a bishop, a chorepiscopus, a presbyter or a deacon or some other of those numbered among the clergy; or appoints a manager, a legal officer or a warden for money, or any other ecclesiastic at all for personal sordid gain; [let] him who has attempted this and been convicted stand to lose his personal rank…” Council of Chalcedon (451), canon 2, in Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, ed. Norman P. Tanner, vol. 1 (London: Sheed & Ward; Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 1990), as reproduced at papalencyclicals.net. (The online text reads “led him”; corrected in brackets.) ↩︎

19“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (KJV). “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20–21 (KJV). “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:3–6 (KJV). “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV). “Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? … Why do we divide and tear in pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that ‘we are members one of another?’” Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. 46, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church, sec. 6, trans. Ernest Wallis, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 5 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “…the coat of the Lord Jesus Christ is not at all divided nor cut, but is received as an entire garment, and is possessed as an uninjured and undivided robe by those who cast lots concerning Christ’s garment…” Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church, sec. 7, trans. Ernest Wallis, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 5 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). ↩︎

20“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32–33 (KJV). “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24:9–10 (KJV). “And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:60–62 (KJV). “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:38–39 (KJV). “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” Revelation 2:13 (KJV). “Immediately at the first words of the threatening foe, the greatest number of the brethren betrayed their faith, and were cast down, not by the onset of persecution, but cast themselves down by voluntary lapse.” Cyprian of Carthage, On the Lapsed, sec. 7, trans. Ernest Wallis, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 5 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). “They indeed did not wait to be apprehended ere they ascended, or to be interrogated ere they denied. They ran to the market-place of their own accord…” Cyprian of Carthage, On the Lapsed, sec. 8, trans. Ernest Wallis, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 5 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886).A Roman Governor’s Record (Ancient Non-Christian Source)“Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ—none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do…” Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96, to the Emperor Trajan (ca. AD 112), English translation as published by James J. O’Donnell, Georgetown University, faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/pliny.html (translator not credited on the page). ↩︎

21“When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” Matthew 13:19 (KJV). “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” Mark 4:15 (KJV). “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (KJV). “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (KJV). “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.” Acts 13:8 (KJV). “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” Daniel 10:12–14 (KJV). ↩︎

22The word “Church” here means not only organized churches, but individual believers who are individually a part of the body of Christ. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 (KJV). “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV). “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5 (KJV). “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22–23 (KJV). “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 (KJV). “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV).The Early Church“Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, chap. 8, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

23“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (KJV). “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” 1 Chronicles 12:32 (KJV). “…O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:3 (KJV). “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1 (KJV). “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.” Ezekiel 3:17 (KJV). “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6 (KJV). ↩︎

24Christ’s Command to Write to the Churches“…I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Revelation 1:11 (KJV). This is the strongest citation on the point that Christ Himself commands the writings to be sent to particular churches in one region, named one by one. Christ Himself notes that not all communications need to be directed to the universal church at large, but that certain special messages are necessary for certain churches in certain locations at certain times. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…” Revelation 2:7 (KJV). This verse of Scripture shows that a letter addressed to one church still speaks to all of the churches on certain issues. The previous citation to Revelation 1:11 notes that some messages are meant for specific churches in specific locations at specific times. This citation evidences the point that even though the mandate of Revelation 1:11 is in effect, remaining churches can still be instructed in the faith through the teaching to the specific churches to whom the Revelation 1:11 messages are directed. “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” Revelation 2:1 (KJV). This is Christ addressing a single church. Christ provides the ultimate model for us all to follow, including those of us under holy orders. Therefore, certain writings will be addressed to certain single churches.Apostolic Letters to Churches by Region“And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia…” Acts 15:23 (KJV). This evidences the fact that the Jerusalem Council addressed letters to defined regions, a practice adopted by the bishop here. “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” Acts 16:4–5 (KJV). Acts 16:4–5 is the follow through to Acts 15:23. Acts 15:23 shows the Jerusalem Council writing a letter to the churches of a defined region. Acts 16:4 and 5 shows the same decisions were then carried from city to city and delivered to the churches. And it records that the result was that the churches were more established in faith and increased in number. The decrees issued by the Jerusalem Council did not remain in Jerusalem. They were actually taken out to the churches that they were intended to be delivered to. The churches that received the communications were fed and established in the faith and increased in number. This is the purpose of the regional writings to the Ten Kingdom churches. Essentially, these two verses show the regional letter when read aloud to the gathered churches had effect. “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” Colossians 4:16 (KJV). This verse of Scripture shows that apostolic letters, which were addressed to one church, were then circulated to neighboring churches. “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.” 1 Thessalonians 5:27 (KJV). This citation shows the point that a particular message may need to be delivered to a specific church at a specific location and yet have simultaneous application to the rest of the church spread through the Ten Kingdoms and of equal importance, although perhaps not as urgent as the church addressed.Letters to the Churches in Diaspora“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…” 1 Peter 1:1 (KJV). This verse of Scripture illustrates the point that not all believers attend church services and that some are spread throughout the communities in which they live. These people, being believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, are just as much a part of the body of Christ as those who are in church services. And this is the primary reason why the bishop directs communications to the “churches in diaspora.” The Holy Spirit is within each believer. He who says otherwise blasphemes the Holy Spirit. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1 (KJV). This is an example of an address to the universal church spread throughout the globe in diaspora. It is a universal message to the entire church. It references the twelve tribes, whereas in The Kingdom Scribe, communications are addressed to the Ten Kingdoms. Nevertheless, it sets the precedent for addressing churches globally. The precedent for addressing churches in a region specifically has previously been established by the foregoing endnotes.The Early Church: Letters Addressed Church to Church“The church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.” Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, salutation, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied.” The Martyrdom of Polycarp, salutation, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

25“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” Matthew 10:18 (KJV). “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.…” 2 Samuel 12:7 (KJV). “For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.” Mark 6:18 (KJV). “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” 1 Kings 18:17–18 (KJV). “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” Daniel 4:27 (KJV). “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10 (KJV). “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:25 (KJV). “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Acts 26:28–29 (KJV). “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 (KJV). “I dare not offer the sacrifice if you intend to be present.” Ambrose of Milan, Letter 51.13, to the Emperor Theodosius, trans. H. de Romestin, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 10, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1896).The Early Church“To the Emperor Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Cæsar, and to his son Verissimus the Philosopher, and to Lucius the Philosopher, the natural son of Cæsar, and the adopted son of Pius, a lover of learning, and to the sacred Senate, with the whole People of the Romans, I, Justin, the son of Priscus and grandson of Bacchius, natives of Flavia Neapolis in Palestine, present this address and petition on behalf of those of all nations who are unjustly hated and wantonly abused, myself being one of them.” Justin Martyr, The First Apology, chap. 1, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

26“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV). “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order…” Luke 1:3 (KJV). “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV). ↩︎

27“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15 (KJV). “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV). “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Matthew 18:16 (KJV). “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11 (KJV). “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV). ↩︎

28“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV). “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 12:31 (KJV). “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:30 (KJV). “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” John 16:11 (KJV). “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience…” Ephesians 2:2 (KJV). “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19 (KJV). “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.” Revelation 9:11 (KJV). ↩︎

29“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:8–10 (KJV). “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:5–8 (KJV). ↩︎

30“And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Luke 4:6 (KJV). “…Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10 (KJV). “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 12:31 (KJV). “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:30 (KJV). “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19 (KJV). ↩︎

31“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” Job 1:12 (KJV). “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” Job 2:6 (KJV). “…Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31–32 (KJV). “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV). “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:2–3 (KJV). ↩︎

32“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44 (KJV). “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:26 (KJV). “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:8 (KJV). “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:5 (KJV). “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:1–2 (KJV). “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Revelation 13:2 (KJV). ↩︎

33“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully…” 1 Timothy 1:8 (KJV). “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12 (KJV). “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:4 (KJV). “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 (KJV). “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!” Isaiah 10:1–2 (KJV). “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?” Psalm 94:20 (KJV).The Early Church“…by means of the establishment of laws, they may keep down an excess of wickedness among the nations.” Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.24.2, trans. Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

34“And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” 1 Samuel 8:11–18 (KJV). “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.” Exodus 1:8–14 (KJV). ↩︎

35“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16–17 (KJV). “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:7–8 (KJV). “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:23–25 (KJV). “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Revelation 17:12–13 (KJV). “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” Revelation 17:17 (KJV). “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (KJV). “…concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules [the earth] shall be partitioned…” Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.26.1, trans. Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “…by the toes of the feet he meant the kings who are to arise from among them…” “…the ten toes of the image are equivalent to (so many) democracies…” “…the ten horns of the fourth beast are distributed over ten kingdoms…” Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist, chaps. 25, 27, trans. J. H. MacMahon, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 5 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1886). ↩︎

36“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV). “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7–9 (KJV). “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13 (KJV).By the Signing of a Law“Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.” Esther 3:12 (KJV). “Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.” Daniel 6:9 (KJV). ↩︎

37Outlawing the Worship of Christ and the Assembly in His Name“All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” Daniel 6:7 (KJV). “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:18 (KJV). “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” Acts 5:28 (KJV).The Means by Which Men May Remain Free“Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.” 1 Samuel 13:19–22 (KJV). “…But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” Luke 22:36 (KJV). “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.” Exodus 22:2 (KJV). “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Nehemiah 4:14 (KJV). “They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.” Nehemiah 4:17–18 (KJV). “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight…” Psalm 144:1 (KJV).The Early Church“He who does not keep harm off a friend, if he can, is as much in fault as he who causes it.” Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 1.36.179, trans. H. de Romestin, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 10, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1896). “For courage, which in war preserves one’s country from the barbarians, or at home defends the weak, or comrades from robbers, is full of justice…” Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 1.27.129, trans. H. de Romestin, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 10, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1896). ↩︎

38The Law of the Medes and Persians, Which Altereth Not“Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.” Daniel 6:8 (KJV). “Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.” Daniel 6:15 (KJV). “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” Esther 8:8 (KJV).With God All Things Are Possible“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:22 (KJV). “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey…” Esther 8:11 (KJV). “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.” Acts 12:7–10 (KJV). “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 (KJV). “…With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (KJV). ↩︎

39Prayer“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV). “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV). “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 (KJV). “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint…” Luke 18:1 (KJV). “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (KJV).Gathering Together“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24–25 (KJV). “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42 (KJV). “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46–47 (KJV). “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20 (KJV).Service to God“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (KJV). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 (KJV). “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23–24 (KJV).Standing Together United“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…” Philippians 1:27 (KJV). “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (KJV). “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:3–6 (KJV). “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20–21 (KJV).Citizens of Heaven, Sojourners in This World“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Philippians 3:20 (KJV). “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13 (KJV). “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…” 1 Peter 2:11 (KJV). “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God…” Ephesians 2:19 (KJV). “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16 (KJV).The Good Fight of Faith“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV). “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…” 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV). “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3 (KJV).The Early Church“They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven.” The Epistle to Diognetus, chap. 5, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). “Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when you assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed…” Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. 13, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

40“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:18 (KJV). “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:3 (KJV). “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…” 2 Thessalonians 2:7–9 (KJV). “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” Genesis 11:4–6 (KJV). “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 (KJV). “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:7–8 (KJV). ↩︎

41“Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.” Psalm 64:2–6 (KJV). “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” Psalm 83:3–5 (KJV). “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?” Isaiah 29:15 (KJV). “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19–20 (KJV). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Ephesians 5:11–12 (KJV). “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” Luke 8:17 (KJV).A Papal Precedent on Secret Societies“There are many things like mysteries which it is the fixed rule to hide with extreme care, not only from strangers, but from very many members, also; such as their secret and final designs, the names of the chief leaders, and certain secret and inner meetings…” “Candidates are generally commanded to promise - nay, with a special oath, to swear - that they will never, to any person, at any time or in any way, make known the members, the passes, or the subjects discussed.” “…the Freemasons, like the Manichees of old, strive, as far as possible, to conceal themselves, and to admit no witnesses but their own members.” Leo XIII, Humanum Genus, encyclical letter on Freemasonry, April 20, 1884, sec. 9 (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana), vatican.va. ↩︎

42“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19 (KJV). “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (KJV). “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6 (KJV). “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1 (KJV). ↩︎

43“Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective—a new world order—can emerge: a new era—freer from the threat of terror, stronger in the pursuit of justice, and more secure in the quest for peace. An era in which the nations of the world, East and West, North and South, can prosper and live in harmony.” George H. W. Bush, “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Persian Gulf Crisis and the Federal Budget Deficit,” September 11, 1990, transcript, Miller Center, University of Virginia. (This quotation documents the phrase “New World Order,” not the speaker’s beliefs.) ↩︎

44“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…” Acts 17:26 (KJV). “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32:8 (KJV). “So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:8–9 (KJV). “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Revelation 17:12–13 (KJV). “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” Revelation 17:17 (KJV). “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:23–25 (KJV). “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (KJV).The Early Church“…who shall seize for himself the power of the Roman empire, and shall falsely style himself Christ…” Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 15.11, trans. Edwin Hamilton Gifford, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 7, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1894). “But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the Roman empire shall have been fulfilled…” Ibid., 15.12. “…concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules [the earth] shall be partitioned…” Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 5.26.1, trans. Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

45“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV). “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22–23 (KJV). “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church…” Colossians 1:24 (KJV). “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 (KJV).The Early Church“Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, chap. 8, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 1 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885). ↩︎

46“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16 (KJV). “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 (KJV). “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords…” 1 Timothy 6:15 (KJV). “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15 (KJV). “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6 (KJV). ↩︎

47“…That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 (KJV). “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44 (KJV). “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:27 (KJV). “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:33 (KJV). “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear…” Hebrews 12:28 (KJV).The Creed of the Councils“And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead. Whose kingdom shall have no end.” The Creed of the 150 Fathers (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed), First Council of Constantinople (381), trans. Henry R. Percival, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd ser., vol. 14, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (New York: Christian Literature Publishing, 1900). ↩︎