A Deeper Dive Into the Book of Revelation - Part 67
The church is Sardis was the 5th church that Jesus addressed in his messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. This city was the center of the worship of the goddess Cybele. Cybele was worshiped as a mother figure and seen as the mother of the gods. Worship of this false goddess corresponds to worship of Semiramis in Babylon, which became the worship of Mary in the Roman Catholic tradition that continues to this day. This idolatrous Babylonian practice of worshiping the “Mother of God” is one of the reasons the false church bears the name “Babylon the Great” in Revelation chapter 17.
The Deception of Mary as Mother of God
It can be clearly seen in the Catechism of the Catholic Church today that Roman Catholic doctrine falsely ascribes deity to Mary, elevating her to the status of a goddess. Here are some direct quotes from the official Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“Blasphemy is the use of the name of God, of Jesus Christ, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints in an offensive way.” (CCC, 2162)
“The Virgin Mary … is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer… She is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ’ … since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head.” “Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church.” (CCC, 963)
“In celebrating this annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, Holy Church honors the blessed Mary, Mother of God, with a special love. She is inseparably linked with the saving work of her Son.” (CCC, 1172)
Mary is not and cannot be the “Mother of God.” In order to give birth to God, she would have had to exist before God! This is a concept brought into the Roman Church from pagan idolatry. It is not found anywhere in Scripture.
God has no mother. God is eternal. He was not born. He had no beginning, and His life will have no end.
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”—1 Timothy 1:17 (KJV)
The Deception that Mary was Sinless
Roman Catholic doctrine falsely claims that Mary was sinless, just as Jesus was without sin. Here are some examples:
“By the grace of God, Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.” (CCC, 493)
“But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary”: in her, the Church is already the “all-holy” (CCC, 829)
“It is in the Church, in communion with all the baptized that the Christian fulfills his vocation. From the Church he receives the Word of God containing the teachings of “the law of Christ.” From the Church he receives the grace of the sacraments that sustains him on the “way.” From the Church he learns the *example of holiness *and recognizes its model and source in the all–holy Virgin Mary” (CCC, 2030)
This directly contradicts Scripture which tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
“Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has sinned.”—Romans 5:12 (ISV)
“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’”—Romans 3:9-10 (NKJV)
The Deception of Mary as Perpetual Virgin
The doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church falsely claims that Mary remained a virgin all of her life, even after the virgin birth of Jesus. Here is how that is stated in the Catechism:
“The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood, led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man. In fact, Christ’s birth “did not diminish his mother‘s virginal integrity but sanctified it.” And so the liturgy of the church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the “Ever-virgin.” (CCC, 499)
“And the liturgy of Saint John Kristin, proclaims And sings: “oh only begotten son and word of God, immortal being, you Who gained for our salvation to become incarnate of the holy mother of God and ever virgin Mary, you without change, became man and were crucified, oh Christ, our God, You who By your death have crushed death, you who are One of the holy Trinity, glorified with the father and the Holy Spirit, save us!” (CCC, 469)
“Mary, the all holy ever virgin mother of God, is the master work of the mission of the son And the spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation, and because his spirit had prepared her, the father found the dwelling place where his son and his spirit could dwell among men. In this sense, the churches tradition has Often read the most beautiful texts on Wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the “seat of wisdom.” (CCC, 721)
The truth is that Mary had several children by her husband, Joseph, after the birth of Jesus. The boys are even named for us in Scripture, and we have historical records of them.
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?”—Mark 6:3 (NKJV)
“And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”—Matthew 27:55-56 (NKJV)
“There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.”—Mark 15:40-41 (NKJV)
“And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.”—Mark 15:47 (NKJV)
Scripture refers to Jesus’ half-brother, James, several times. He is referred to by name in Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:12; and Galatians 1:19, where Paul clearly writes that James was the brother of Jesus.
“But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”—Galatians 1:19 (NKJV)
James also wrote the New Testament book of James.
Jesus’ half-brother Judas (also known as Jude) wrote the New Testament book of Jude.
So, the Roman Catholic doctrine claiming that Mary remained a virgin all of her life is false.
The Deception that Mary Ascended to Heaven
Roman Catholic doctrine falsely claims that Mary ascended bodily into Heaven as Jesus did after His resurrection.
“The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.” (CCC, 974)
This is nonsense. At the end of her life, Mary died, just like everyone else, and she will face the judgment seat of Christ, just like everyone else.
“And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment”—Hebrews 9:27 (AMPC)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”—2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV)
In claiming that Mary ascended bodily into Heaven, the Catholic Church is revealing that they do not understand the Kingdom of God and the spiritual realm. Human bodies of flesh and blood cannot inhabit Heaven. Jesus was able to ascend into Heaven because He was in a resurrected spiritual body, not an earthly body at the time of His ascension.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”—1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV)
“There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”—1 Corinthians 15:40-44 (NKJV)
The Deception that Mary is the Mother of the Church
Roman Catholic doctrine falsely teaches that Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but that she is also the Mother of the Church, which would greatly expand her position in the Kingdom of God, giving her a supreme position of authority and honor. Here is just one example from the Catechism:
“We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ” (CCC, 975)
Of course, this is not found anywhere in Scripture.
This is directly contradicted by the apostle Paul who declared that our mother is the New Covenant:
“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”—Galatians 4:21-26 (NKJV)
Jesus acknowledged and honored Mary as His physical mother, but He declared plainly that Mary was NOT His spiritual mother.
“While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’
“But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’”—Matthew 12:46-50 (NKJV)
Scripture never claims that Mary was a spiritual mother to anyone.
The Deception of Praying to Mary
The Roman Catholic Church deceives its followers into worshiping Mary and praying to her, even though Mary has no ability to hear or to answer prayers. This is idolatry. It puts Mary in the place of God. Here are some examples from the Catechism:
“Mary is the perfect Orans (pray-er), a figure of the Church. When we pray to her, we are adhering with her to the plan of the Father, who sends his Son to save all men. Like the beloved disciple we welcome Jesus’ mother into our homes, for she has become the mother of all the living. We can pray with and to her. The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary and united with it in Hope.” (CCC, 2679)
“Beginning with Mary’s unique cooperation with the working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to the holy Mother of God, centering it on the person of Christ manifested in his mysteries. in countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer, two movements usually alternate with one another: the first “magnifies” the Lord for the “great things” he did for this lowly servant and through her for all human beings; The second entrusts the supplications and praises of the children of God to the Mother of Jesus, because she now knows the humanity which, in her, the Son of God espoused.” (CCC, 2675)
“The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the ancient litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: “From everlasting death, Lord, deliver us, we pray”; to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us “at the hour of our death” in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.” (CCC, 1014)
Throughout Scripture, we are instructed to direct our prayers to God alone. There is no record, anywhere in Scripture, of any Christian praying to anyone other than God, and we are never instructed to pray to anyone other than God.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”—1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”—Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”—Matthew 6:9 (NKJV)
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”—Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)
“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You”—John 17:1 (NKJV)
“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”—Matthew 26:53 (NKJV)
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper”—John 14:16 (NASB)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”—Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me”—Romans 15:30 (NKJV)
“So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”—Matthew 9:38 (AMP)
“Now I pray to God that you do no evil”—2 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”—Colossians 1:3 (NKJV)
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers”—1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NKJV)
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”—Romans 10:1 (NKJV)
“And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen’”—Acts 1:24 (NKJV)
“So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.”—Acts 8:22 (AMP)
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”—Acts 10:1-2 (NKJV)
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”—Acts 12:5 (NKJV)
The false church deceives people into believing and practicing many false doctrines and traditions of men. This false doctrine of Mary worship makes Mary into an idol and leads many people into idolatry, giving them false hope and turning them away from the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Reference:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (n.d.). Catechism of the Catholic Church. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Library. https://usccb.cld.bz/Catechism-of-the-Catholic-Church2
