“For three hundred years fierce persecution lashed at the early Christian Church, and then in A.D. 311, peace came and things changed. Constantine, the ruler of the Roman Empire, decided for political reasons to become friends with the Church—and what it brought changed all history for all time to come. Compromise, conformity, and persecution of former brethren began. Gradually the Church took all the steps down. The primary dates in this chapter cover nine centuries—from A.D. 311 (Constantine’s Edict of Toleration) to 1229 (when the Inquisition began). The papacy was firmly established by the sixth century; and, in A.D. 538, the 1260 years of papal oppression (predicted in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5-7) began. The Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787) finalized the establishment of image worship as a necessary part of Catholic worship. But it was Constantine’s decree of march 7, 321, making Sunday a public holy day, that laid the foundation for the their apostasy. The Council of Laodicea (c. 337) officially endorsed that first National Sunday Law. Shortly afterward, candles were burned before images and prayers were made to them. Gradually the apostasy deepened. By the Sixth Century the papacy was firmly established in power; and, in A.D. 538, the terrible 1260 years of papal oppression, predicted in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5-7, began. As though purgatory, prayers for the dead, and paid indulgences for sin were not enough, the terrible Inquisition, on an “official” basis, began in order to slay Christians—and also seize the property of wealthy Catholics. Millions were to die under its stroke.” ~Chapter Introduction, Harvestime edition.
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