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Gen 14:18, "Then Melchisedek, the King of Salem, brought
out bread and wine; for he was a priest of the most high GOD."
This is a
clear prefigurement of Jesus Christ as King and Priest, and the offering of Holy
Communion in the Church.
2Sam 7:12-13, "And when thy
days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up
thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish
his kingdom. He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne
of his kingdom forever."
These verses refer to the 'seed of David', who is
Jesus Christ. The 'house' is a place of worship. His 'Kingdom' is the
everlasting Church.
Psalms 127:1-2, "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Tobit 13:10-23, many details about the Church of GOD are given, and also warnings are given to those who despise His Church.
Hosea 2:14-24, GOD spoke of His Church as His Spouse.
Isaiah 54:1-17, Christ's Church is the New Jerusalem tossed with the tempest as Noah was. GOD will lay the foundation. No weapon formed against it will prosper. Many other details are given here.
Isaiah 59:19-21, GOD promises perpetual orthodoxy for the
Church which the promised Christ will found.
Isaiah 22:20-24, Prefigures
the Papacy and its Authority, the Seat of Peter, and the Vatican.
Sirach
50:6-21, Prefigures the Pope, the Sacrifice of Mass, the Holy Eucharist, the
Precious Blood.
Isaiah 62:5, Jer 7:34, Jer 16:9, Jesus Christ is the
Bridegroom, and His Church is the Bride.
Jeremiah 23:1-8, a Messiah is
promised who will shepherd His flock and set up pastors over them who will feed
them.
Micah 4:1-3, many people and nations will come to GOD's
'Mountain of the House of the Lord'.
GOD, the architect and chief cornerstone of His Church,
emptied Himself
and took on the nature of a slave and was made like unto man
in the person of, Jesus The Christ... Phil 2:7, Luke 2:7, John
1:1,14
Matthew 16:18, Jesus Christ founded His Church and promised it would be defended from within and from without as He said, "...and the Gates of Hell shall NOT prevail against it." This is a guarantee of perpetualty for His Church. All of those who enjoy kicking His 'Rock' will not prevail.
Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them all that He has commanded them, and that He would be with His Church all days in every century until the end of the world. The three 'alls' signify unity and universality. The word 'Catholic', means Universal. 'UNIVERSAL', is one of the Four Marks of Christ's Church.
Isa 40:11, John 10:16, John 17:20-21, Rom 16:17, Eph 4:3-6, 1Pet 2:25, Jesus Christ commanded that His Church must be ONE. It must be ONE in its founder, in its head, in its final aim, in its teaching, and in its government. There shall be ONE fold with ONE shepherd. Common sense tells us that GOD cannot be the author of various opposing systems of religion. GOD is the Author of Truth and Truth is ONE. 'ONE', is one of the Four Marks of Christ's Church.
Eph 3:20-21, He who is able to accomplish all things, will be Glorified in his Church, and in Jesus Christ down through 'ALL THE AGES OF TIME WITHOUT END'. I would say this guarantees again, the perpetualty of the Church which Jesus Christ founded, wouldn't you agree?
Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus Christ chose the man to lead His Church on earth by changing his name from Simon to Peter, which means 'rock'. He gave Peter and his descendants, the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the power to bind and loosen sins. There is an unbroken line of leaders of the Church, first 'Bishops of Rome', and then 'Popes', going all the way from Pope Benedict XVI, the present Pope, back to St. Peter. 'APOSTOLIC', is one of the Four Marks of Christ's Church.
Matthew 5:48, John 17:17-19, the Church which Jesus Christ founded, has a Holy Founder, Holy Doctrine, and produces Holy members (just look at the thousands of Saints and read of their lives). 'HOLY', is one of the Four Marks of Christ's Church.
Matthew 18:18, and John 20:22-23, Jesus gave all of the Apostles the power to forgive sins. This power was passed down through their descendants by the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Matthew 18:17, Jesus Christ demonstrated that His Church has the authority, as He told His followers to appeal to it, and if they refused to hear His Church, to let them be heathens.
Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, Jesus Christ introduced the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, when He said, "THIS IS MY BODY...DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 8:6-13, the New Covenant was initiated, fulfilling the Old Covenant. The Old and New Covenants are together one story.
John 3:29, St. John the Baptist referred to Jesus Christ as the 'Bridegroom', and to His Church as the 'Bride'.
Rev 19:7-9, the marriage of the 'Lamb' and His 'Spouse'.
Acts 2:1-13, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and filled them with the Spirit of Truth. They were endowed with many languages so that they could teach all nations, and every person would understand each in his own native tongue. Jesus had commanded them to teach all the nations in Matthew 28:19.
Eph 1:22, Eph 5:23, Col 1:18, Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church.
Eph 5:30, Col 1:18,24, we are the Body of Christ, the Church. Whatever happens to the body is registered in the Head.
Eph 5:25, Jesus Christ loves His Church which He calls His Bride.
John 14:16-17, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, will dwell forever within the Church which Jesus founded. Once again the perpetualty and indefectibility of the Catholic Church is guaranteed by GOD.
1Tim 3:15, the Church is the pillar and mainstay of the truth.
Eph 5:27, the Church is Holy and Spotless.
Acts 8:27-40, 2Pet 1:20-21, the Church discerns Holy Scripture, as moved by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41,47, Acts 5:14, Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31 the new Church grows and spreads.
Acts 2:42,20:7, the Eucharistic Communion, the Mass, is celebrated in the new Church, and it is celebrated on Sunday, and now every moment of every day, and not just the Sabbath of the Old Covenant.
Acts 15:7, the Primacy of Peter is sealed as he said, "...GOD made choice among us, that through MY mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe." It is clear that GOD did indeed make the choice in Matthew 16:18.
Proverbs 20:18, "Designs are strengthened by
Councils".
Proverbs 11:14,24:6, "Where there is no governor, the people shall
fall; but there is safety where there is much counsel."
Acts 15:4-29, the fledgling Church held its first council, the
Council of Jerusalem. They discussed issues, and selected representatives, and
made decisions about the problems facing them at that time. Church Councils are
still being held periodically; the most recent one being Vatican II in
1963.
Galatians 2:2, the leaders of the Church consult with one another about divine revelation.
Acts 5:29, the Church must obey GOD rather than men.
Acts 1:26, the leaders of the Church vote among themselves.
Acts 20:28, the Holy Spirit placed Bishops in the Church to rule the Church of GOD.
Hebrews 7:11-17, a new Christian priesthood is initiated according to the order of Melchisedech. It replaced the Old Covenant priesthood of the order of Aaron.
Hebrews 13:17, 1Thess 5:12, St. Paul stressed the importance of obedience to the superiors, as they are charged with having to account for the souls of the faithful.
1Cor 15:9, 1Tim 1:13, St. Paul called himself the 'least of the Apostles', and said he was 'not worthy to be an Apostle' because he persecuted the Church of GOD. A clear warning to persecutors of the Catholic Church. Paul repented once he was shown his error.
1Cor 10:32, St. Paul warned all not to be a 'stumbling block' to the Church of GOD.
1Cor 11:22, St. Paul warns, 'despisers of the Church of GOD will not be commended'.
Matthew 28:19-20, the Church which Jesus Christ founded is given the teaching authority for the whole world.
1John 4:6, those who know GOD listen to His Church; those who do not know GOD do not listen to His Church. By this we will know the Spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error.
John 15:16, 1Cor 3:10-11, Matthew 18:17-18, the Church is self propagating.
John 15:15-16, Acts 13:3,14:22,19:6, 1Cor 3:10-11, 1Tim 3:8-13,4:14,5:22, 2Tim 1:6, Titus 1:5, knowing that the Apostles will not live forever, provision is made to perpetuate the clergy by the 'laying on of hands' for new Priests, Deacons, and Bishops. This is the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
1Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11-12, St. Paul said, GOD has placed some in His Church as, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. GOD has bestowed upon His Church, miracles, gifts of healing, services of help, power of administration, and the speaking of tongues.
1Cor 3:2, St. Paul said he feeds us with milk and not solid food as we are not ready for it. Our minds have to be open and receptive, and not have the blindness of Paul (Acts 9:8-9), in order to receive the revelations from GOD.
John 14:25-26,16:12-15, The Holy Spirit 'will' teach the Church all the truth and all things. The word 'will', indicates future tense. Jesus said, "Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." All truth will be taught to the Church. Here Jesus dispensed the authority for doctrine to be defined by His Church.
104-107 A.D., the name 'Catholic Church', which had been in use earlier, was recorded by St. Ignatius of Antioch in his 'Letter to the Smyrneans'. He said, "Where the Bishop appears, let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
313 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine signed the 'Edict of Milan', giving Christians freedom to practice openly. They no longer had to hide and practice the faith in the catacombs for fear of persecution. At this time the 32nd 'Bishop of Rome', St. Melchiades, was in office. Yes, there is a list of 'Bishops of Rome', soon to be called 'Popes', in an unbroken line, going all the way back to St. Peter. See 'The Unbroken Line', for a complete list of all the Popes, found elsewhere on this website.
325 A.D., the first world Council, the Council of Nicaea is convened only 12 years after the Church was released from the yoke of tyranny. This Council decreed that Jesus Christ is GOD and is consubstantial with the Father. It also formulated the Nicene Creed.
Eusebius of Caesarea 263-339 A.D., wrote a ten volume history of the Catholic Church which spans the time from before Jesus Christ was born until about 335 A.D.. It is available on the Internet. Search on 'Eusebius'.
381 A.D., the Council of Constantinople I, declared the Holy Spirit consubstantial with the Father and the Son. This Council revised the Nicene Creed to the version which the Church uses today.
Holy Scripture was limited to the Old Testament, the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew O.T.. There was no New Testament, as we know it now, in use from the beginning of the Church until 397 A.D.. The N.T. books were written, as were many others, but someone had to decide which of the books were inspired by GOD and which ones were not.
397 A.D., a Catholic Council, the Council of Carthage, made a decision as to which books were inspired, and were to be included in both the Old and New Testaments.
404 A.D., the first Bible incorporating the New Testament was completed by St. Jerome. It had all 46 books of the Old Testament, and 27 books of the New Testament, the same books as we have today, as decreed by the Council of Carthage. It was called the Latin Vulgate, and was the main Bible for the Catholic Church for over 1000 years. The Vulgate is still, to this day, the official Bible of the Catholic Church.
431 A.D., the Council of Ephesus was convened. The Blessed Virgin Mary was declared to be the Mother of GOD.
451 A.D., the Council of Chalcedon declared the Primacy of Rome.
787 A.D., the Council of Nicea II commanded to preserve and protect the traditions of the Church.
1545-1563, the Council of Trent, the longest Council in Church history was called in response to the reformation. The Protestants had just removed seven books and parts of others from the Old Testament. This Council reaffirmed that these books would remain in the Bible just as they had been for over 1500 years in the Vulgate and Septuagint.
1854, the Pope declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Four years later in 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette and said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." This was a confirmation from Heaven of the 1854 declaration.
1870, the Council of Vatican I declared the doctrine of Papal Infallibility.
1950, Pope Pius XII declared the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1962, the Council of Vatican II was convened. It has been called the greatest religious event of the 20th century.
Today... The Church is still growing with over 1 billion Catholics spread through every country of the world. The Catholic Church is truly Universal. Jesus Christ is still the Invisible Head, and the Holy Spirit is still guiding the Church which Jesus Christ founded in about 30-33 A.D..
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