Left To Another People

One argument used by Pope Francis earlier this year is that God's providence allowed the Papacy and the Catholic church to rise to supremacy over all other cities and above all faiths. Though it is plausible that God allowed it, it doesn't mean Catholicism is the true church, or that papal power has any merit in God's eyes.

The beast in Revelation would also rise to rule over all peoples and nations. This would only match the Catholic church because no other group has power described in such terms, most other religions are regional in their authority. The Church of Christ has churches world wide but we never exercised secular power over the world as Catholics have.

The church is not described as ruling the worldly powers but was redeemed out of the world. The Gospel was preached to every tongue and nation.

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

The only verses that describe conquering the nations are in chapters two and three.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

This is not directed to a single individual but to all Christians. Plus it is future. The Catholic church describes the Papacy in their view as extending from Peter, yet the rule in Revelation is future. It couldn't be Peter.

Keep in mind this verse is connected to churches who mixed with idolatrous practices as Catholics did, over centuries they evolved to introduce more idolatry. First in Revelation, second under Constantine, and third under Julian who caused the Roman religions to remix into Christianity.

Idolatrous practices in the church started in the era when Revelation was written.

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 

Rev 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 

Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 

This could provide the precedent for Catholics to evolve later, citing earlier Christians who practiced similar acts of idolatry. The internal traditions of Catholics were likely just memories of those false and idolatrous groups who mixed with paganism. Their backdrop of early traditions were produced from being mixed with idolatry.

This would paint those who overcome as those resisting Paganism and the Churches that intermixed through Gnosticism and other practices.

The idea God would allow the idolatrous mixed churches to rise to claim power over his church is just blaspheme. God said his kingdom would never be given to another people.

Dan 2:44  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. 

God's kingdom still exists today in the smaller peoples such as the Churches of Christ. Though we don't rule secularly, we do exercise power through the Gospel and our fight to limit idolatry is on going.

The keys to the kingdom are exercised through the Gospel which provides a single baptism which presents a figure of burial and resurrection. In Catholic baptism where sprinkling or pouring are administered, there is no picture of being buried or raised.

We are buried with him through baptism and raised to walk in newness of life.

Catholic baptism is not the actual key to God's kingdom. Peter and the rest of the apostles held those keys. They never taught the rights given in Catholic baptism, you can see glimpses of those rights in Gnostic traditions carried from paganism.

The Christian baptism is conditional

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

In Christian baptism we are buried and planted. We are planted in his likeness. It is amazing that protestants claim we must be like Christ, but argue against a baptism in his likeness. How can we become anymore like Christ than being buried as he was.

For those who teach Christ's grace allows us to mix with paganism through baptism or worship of many sorts, you should reread Revelation.

Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 

Rev 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 

Mixing with Paganism wasn't covered under grace. Instead of saving her children it kills them.