Christian Forums

Quote from: gbzone on Sun Sep 22, 2013 - 18:16:19
You  cannot exsercise   authority  without  being under  authority.

There  is a world of difference   between  POWER  and AUTHORITY.

Power  without authority  ALWAYS leads  to tyranny and oppression.

The  Religious leaders  o who  'reigned'    when Jesus  walked this earth. Had power .

But no authority save that of  sanction and approval. Which is   not true  authority.

For true authority never comes from below  (from man) But from  above.

Rome  has a great deal of power . But it is the power  of this world .

Jesus  "spoke  with authority"  not as the  Pharrasees spoke and there lies the 'rub'    for  they spoke  of one sort  and Jesus  spoke of quite  another "sort"

Authority does not come  with pomp  and glory  and self aggrandisement  and being lifted up  on the shoulders of men.

Gods authority    does  not come   from  the fact  that he is bigger  than any body else  and more powerful and could thus impose  His  'truth'  upon all.
The truth   is not a tyrant. as Jesus  so proved.
But neither  is it democratic   as he so proved also .

God is God because  He is  worthy  to be called God  and there is no one else worthy of that title .

Jesus  proved that  as well .

When  God spoke  "let there be light "  it was not just in power (which it was)   but it was also with authority .Which is why it was good!

God always  brings light   before he does any work.

Many people  carelessly ask  "what  is truth"  In the hope   that  it cannot  be answered.

But  the truth  is the light  that' shines  in the darkness  and needs  no external  scource  for its continuance.

and the truth  has  an authority  above  all .

For  there is no darkness where the light shines .

and the darkness  comprehended it not .

It was not  heaveN  then   that needed light . For there is  no sun or moon   in heaveN  for God  is the light thereof .
But it was the EARTH   that was in darkness.

Which is another reason why Gen 1:1  should  be translated  heaveN   NOT heavenS.

and it was not God  who was in darkness  For God  IS  light  and in Him there is no shadow of turning .but it was MAN  .

If then  man has  or can have  any authority .
Jesus  had authority because and ONLY  because   he was  subject to the  Father .

The  FATHER  was HIS authority   and  he said he that  seeketh the glory   of HIm that  sent him  is both rightteous and true .

But eh that cometh   in his own name   is not  righteos.
Now in that Jesus came not to do his own will  but the will of the  Father.
Then  he had also POWER  and could excercise it without  fear or hinderence of the world or the devil.

and knowing that he came  from  the father  and was going to the father  and that  all power  was given  into his hands .He exalted himself?
Demanded  that all kiss his ring  and bow  before him?

No.

He put  a towel  around him and  as a humble  servant   began to wash  the disciples feet.


in Christ 

gerald

in Christ
gerald

And the Pope's authority comes from above - from Jesus.

So that's Ok then.

Quote from: Mog19 on Sat Sep 21, 2013 - 14:41:11

So who gave the pope permission to change God rules and agree to homosexuality etc, just look in the news in the things being changed?

So what has the Pope changed that he does not have authority to change?

Quote from: winsome on Mon Sep 23, 2013 - 05:21:35

Quote from: Mog19 on Sat Sep 21, 2013 - 14:41:11

So who gave the pope permission to change God rules and agree to homosexuality etc, just look in the news in the things being changed?

So what has the Pope changed that he does not have authority to change?

Quote from: winsome on Mon Sep 23, 2013 - 05:20:14

Quote from: gbzone on Sun Sep 22, 2013 - 18:16:19
You  cannot exsercise   authority  without  being under  authority.

There  is a world of difference   between  POWER  and AUTHORITY.

Power  without authority  ALWAYS leads  to tyranny and oppression.

The  Religious leaders  o who  'reigned'    when Jesus  walked this earth. Had power .

But no authority save that of  sanction and approval. Which is   not true  authority.

For true authority never comes from below  (from man) But from  above.

Rome  has a great deal of power . But it is the power  of this world .

Jesus  "spoke  with authority"  not as the  Pharrasees spoke and there lies the 'rub'    for  they spoke  of one sort  and Jesus  spoke of quite  another "sort"

Authority does not come  with pomp  and glory  and self aggrandisement  and being lifted up  on the shoulders of men.

Gods authority    does  not come   from  the fact  that he is bigger  than any body else  and more powerful and could thus impose  His  'truth'  upon all.
The truth   is not a tyrant. as Jesus  so proved.
But neither  is it democratic   as he so proved also .

God is God because  He is  worthy  to be called God  and there is no one else worthy of that title .

Jesus  proved that  as well .

When  God spoke  "let there be light "  it was not just in power (which it was)   but it was also with authority .Which is why it was good!

God always  brings light   before he does any work.

Many people  carelessly ask  "what  is truth"  In the hope   that  it cannot  be answered.

But  the truth  is the light  that' shines  in the darkness  and needs  no external  scource  for its continuance.

and the truth  has  an authority  above  all .

For  there is no darkness where the light shines .

and the darkness  comprehended it not .

It was not  heaveN  then   that needed light . For there is  no sun or moon   in heaveN  for God  is the light thereof .
But it was the EARTH   that was in darkness.

Which is another reason why Gen 1:1  should  be translated  heaveN   NOT heavenS.

and it was not God  who was in darkness  For God  IS  light  and in Him there is no shadow of turning .but it was MAN  .

If then  man has  or can have  any authority .
Jesus  had authority because and ONLY  because   he was  subject to the  Father .

The  FATHER  was HIS authority   and  he said he that  seeketh the glory   of HIm that  sent him  is both rightteous and true .

But eh that cometh   in his own name   is not  righteos.
Now in that Jesus came not to do his own will  but the will of the  Father.
Then  he had also POWER  and could excercise it without  fear or hinderence of the world or the devil.

and knowing that he came  from  the father  and was going to the father  and that  all power  was given  into his hands .He exalted himself?
Demanded  that all kiss his ring  and bow  before him?

No.

He put  a towel  around him and  as a humble  servant   began to wash  the disciples feet.


in Christ 

gerald

in Christ
gerald

And the Pope's authority comes from above - from Jesus.

So that's Ok then.

All abuse and misrepresentation and flaunted exalting of  ones  authority does not come from Jesus. That is not OK

Quote from: Mog19 on Sat Sep 21, 2013 - 14:41:11
I have done a lot of reading about the Roman Catholic Church of late, just so that I can be clear in my own mind if I agree with it or not.    And I found I do not...

Christians love God, because He loves them. We all agree on that yes?  Good.

Now, we know that because God loves us so much that He died for our sins, we know we can trust Him.  We know God never lies. He always tells it like it is.  Do this and don't do that...  So we know that we can trust Him.
If a person TRULY believes in our mighty eternal Heavenly Father, then that person will whole heartedly follow The Father, there would be no reason to not to.

Gods word is the baseline guidance for all Christians yes?  Good...

So who gave the pope permission to change God rules and agree to homosexuality etc, just look in the news in the things being changed?

So, clearly, the pope is not taking instruction from God is he? 

The pope didn't change God's rules and agree to homosexuality or abortion.  The news is interpreting the Pope's comments wrong.

The pope hasn't changed the Church's rules with regard to priestly celibacy.  That is a rule that he has the authority to change.  The news sources are flabbergasted that someone suggests that they might change what they refer to as "dogma".  But the celibate priesthood is not dogma, but church discipline (rules).

Quote from: Mog19 on Sat Sep 21, 2013 - 14:41:11
Again, no one on tis earth, you, me, joe blogs down the road, ANYONE deserves the honour glory and praise (which the pope has) baring God himself.  Even Jesus didn't take credit for what He did, He too gave praise only to God.

So the pope is not getting his authority from God.

That people praise the pope for his Godly actions, is praise for people seeing God through him.  We all can receive praise from other people.  That is ok.  Because their praise is because they see God living in us.  And so we can take that praise people give us and give it to God.  That is the proper attitude for a Christian who is humble (which it seems the pope has demonstrated that he is).

Quote from: Amo on Sat Sep 21, 2013 - 12:28:12Where does the Pope get his authority?

The Church of Rome did not receive it's power and authority from God as His authoritative voice on earth, but rather from the kings of this earth, through her adulteress relationships with the same.  The following quotes are just some of the evidence of the same.

Then came Constantine, the best imperial representative of the new
paganism, and  the most devout worshiper of the sun as the supreme and
universal deity, with the avowed purpose, as expressed in his own words,
"First to bring the diverse judgments formed by all nations respecting the
Deity to a condition, as it were, of settled uniformity." In Constantine the
new paganism met its ideal, and the New Platonism -  the apostate,
paganized, sun-worshiping form of Christianity - met its long-wished-for
instrument. In him the two streams met. In him the aspiration of
Elagabalus, the hope of Ammonius Saccas and Clement, of Plotinus and
Origen, and the ambition of the perverse-minded, self-exalted bishops,
were all realized and accomplished - a new, imperial, and universal
religion was created.
 Therefore, "the reign of Constantine the Great forms one of the epochs
in the history of the world. It is the era of the dissolution of the Roman
Empire; the commencement, or rather consolidation, of a kind of Eastern
despotism, with a new capital, a new patriciate, a new constitution, a new
financial system, a new, though as yet imperfect, jurisprudence, and, finally,
a new religion." ( Milman - History of Christianity, book 3, chap. 1, par. 1 )
 The epoch thus formed was the epoch of the papacy; and the new
religion thus created was the PAPAL RELIGION. ( The Great Empires of Prophecy by Alonzo Jones page 361 )


The following is from The Two Republics, by A. T. Jones.

"The Catholic Church demanded assistance in her ambitious aim to make
her power and authority absolute over all; and for Constantine's purposes
it was essential that the church should be a unit. These two considerations
combined to produce results both immediate and remote, that proved a
curse to the time then present and to ages to follow. The immediate result
was that Constantine had no sooner compassed the destruction of Licinius
in A.D. 323, than he issued an edict against the Novatians, Valentinians,
Marcionites, Paulians, Cataphrygians, and "all who devised and supported
heresies by means of private assemblies," denouncing them and their
heresies, and commanding them all to enter the Catholic Church. The edict
runs as follows: —

"Victor Constantinus Maximus Augustus, to the heretics:
Understand now, by this present statute, ye Novatians,
Valentinians, Marcionites, Paulians, ye who are called
Cataphrygians, and all ye who devise and support heresies by
means of your private assemblies, with what a tissue of falsehood
and vanity, with what destructive and venomous errors, your
doctrines are inseparably interwoven; so that through you the
healthy soul is stricken with disease, and the living becomes the prey
of everlasting death. Ye haters and enemies of truth and life, in
league with destruction: All your counsels are opposed to the truth,
but familiar with deeds of baseness; fit subjects for the fabulous
follies of the stage: and by these ye frame falsehoods, oppress the
innocent, and withhold the light from them that believe. Ever
trespassing under the mask of godliness, ye fill all things with
defilement: ye pierce the pure and guileless conscience with deadly
wounds, while ye withdraw, one may almost say, the very light of
day from the eyes of men. But why should I particularize, when to
speak of your criminality as it deserves, demands more time and
leisure than I can give? For so long and unmeasured is the
catalogue of your offenses, so hateful and altogether atrocious are
they, that a single day would not suffice to recount them all. And
indeed it is well to turn one's ears and eyes from such a subject, lest
by a description of each particular evil, the pure sincerity and
freshness of one's own faith be impaired. Why then do I still bear
with such abounding evil; especially since this protracted clemency
is the cause that some who were sound are become tainted with this
pestilent disease? Why not at once strike, as it were, at the root of
so great a mischief by a public manifestation of displeasure?
"Forasmuch, then, as it is no longer possible to bear with your
pernicious errors, we give warning by this present statute that none
of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. We
have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all the houses in
which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies: and our care in
this respect extends so far as to forbid the holding of your
superstitious and senseless meetings, not in public merely, but in
any private house or place whatsoever. Let those of you, therefore,
who are desirous of embracing the true and pure religion, take the
far better course of entering the Catholic Church, and uniting with
it in holy fellowship, whereby you will be enabled to arrive at the
knowledge of the truth. In any case, the delusions of your perverted
understandings must entirely cease to mingle with and mar the
felicity of our present times; I mean the impious and wretched
doublemindedness of heretics and schismatics. For it is an object
worthy of that prosperity which we enjoy through the favor of God,
to endeavor to bring back those who in time past were living in the
hope of future blessing, from all irregularity and error, to the right
path, from darkness to light, from vanity to truth, from death to
salvation. And in order that this remedy may be applied with
effectual power, we have commanded (as before said), that you be
positively deprived of every gathering point for your superstitious
meetings; I mean all the houses of prayer (if such be worthy of the
name) which belong to heretics, and that these be made over
without delay to the Catholic Church; that any other places be
confiscated to the public service, and no facility whatever be left for
any future gathering; in order that from this day forward none of
your unlawful assemblies may presume to appear in any public or
private place. Let this edict be made public." ( Eusebius's- "Life of Constantine," book 3, chaps. 64, 65. )


Some of the penal regulations of this edict "were copied from the edicts of
Diocletian; and this method of conversion was applauded by the same
bishops who had felt the hand of oppression, and had pleaded for the rights
of humanity." ( Gibbon- "Decline and Fall," chap. 21, par. 1. )


 But above all things else that Gratian did, that which redounded most to the glory of the Catholic Church was his choice of Theodosius as associate emperor. Valens was killed in a battle with the Goths, A.D. 378. A stronger hand than that of a youth of nineteen was required to hold the reins of government in the East.
In the establishment of the Catholic Church, the place of Theodosius is
second only to that of Constantine. About the beginning of the year 380 he
was baptized by the Catholic bishop of Thessalonica, and immediately
afterward he issued the following edict: —

"It is our pleasure that the nations which are governed by our
clemency and moderation, should steadfastly adhere to the religion
which was taught by St. Peter to the Romans, which faithful
tradition has preserved, and which is now professed by the pontiff
Damasus, and by Peter, bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic
holiness. According to the discipline of the apostles, and the
doctrine of the gospel, let us believe the sole deity of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost: under an equal majesty, and a pious
Trinity. We authorize the followers of this doctrine to assume the
title of Catholic Christians; and as we judge that all others are
extravagant madmen, we brand them with the infamous name of
"heretics," and declare that their conventicles shall no longer usurp
the respectable appellation of churches. Besides the condemnation
of divine justice, they must expect to suffer the severe penalties
which our authority, guided by heavenly wisdom, shall think proper
to inflict upon them." ( Gibbon's "Decline and Fall," chap. 27, par. 6. )


In the supremacy of the papacy, Justinian holds the same place as does
Constantine and Theodosius in the establishment of the Catholic Church.
"Among the titles of greatness, the name 'Pious' was most pleasing to his
ears; to promote the temporal and spiritual interests of the church was the
serious business of his life; and the duty of father of his country was often
sacrificed to that of defender of the faith."  ( Gibbon - "Decline and Fall," chap. xlvii, par. 23. )

In the year 532, Justinian issued an edict declaring his intention "to unite all
men in one faith." Whether they were Jews, Gentiles, or Christians, all who
did not within three months profess and embrace the Catholic faith, were
by the edict "declared infamous, and as such excluded from all
employments both civil and military; rendered incapable of leaving anything
by will; and all their estates confiscated, whether real or personal." As a
result of this cruel edict, "Great numbers were driven from their habitations
with their wives and children, stripped and naked. Others betook
themselves to flight, carrying with them what they could conceal, for their
support and maintenance; but they were plundered of what little they had,
and many of them inhumanly massacred."  ( Bower - "History of the Popes," Boniface 2,
par. 2. )




THE CODE OF OUR LORD
THE MOST SACRED EMPEROR JUSTINIAN.
SECOND EDITION.

BOOK 1.
�

TITLE 1.
CONCERNING THE MOST EXALTED TRINITY AND THE
CATHOLIC FAITH AND PROVIDING THAT NO ONE
SHALL DARE TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE THEM.
   1. The Emperors Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius to the people of the City of Constantinople.
   We desire that all peoples subject to Our benign Empire shall live under the same religion that the Divine Peter, the Apostle, gave to the Romans, and which the said religion declares was introduced by himself, and which it is well known that the Pontiff Damascus, and Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic sanctity, embraced; that is to say, in accordance with the rules of apostolic discipline and the evangelical doctrine, we should believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit constitute a single Deity, endowed with equal majesty, and united in the Holy Trinity.
   (1) We order all those who follow this law to assume the name of Catholic Christians, and considering others as demented and insane, We order that they shall bear the infamy of heresy; and when the Divine vengeance which they merit has been appeased, they shall afterwards be punished in accordance with Our resentment, which we have acquired from the judgment of Heaven.
    Dated at Thessalonica, on the third of the Kalends of March, during the Consulate of Gratian, Consul for the fifth time, and Theodosius.
   2. The Same Emperors to Eutropius, Praetorian Prefect.
   Let no place be afforded to heretics for the conduct of their ceremonies, and let no occasion be offered for them to display the insanity of their obstinate minds. Let all persons know that if any privilege has been fraudulently obtained by means of any rescript whatsoever, by persons of this kind, it will not be valid. Let all bodies of heretics be prevented from holding unlawful assemblies, and let the name of the only and the greatest God be celebrated everywhere, and let the observance of the Nicene Creed, recently transmitted to Our ancestors, and firmly established by the testimony and practice of Divine Religion, always remain secure.
   (1) Moreover, he who is an adherent of the Nicene Faith, and a true believer in the Catholic religion, should be understood to be one [pg. 10] who believes that Almighty God and Christ, the son of God, are one person, God of God, Light of Light; and let no one, by rejection, dishonor the Holy Spirit, whom we expect, and have received from the Supreme Parent of all things, in whom the sentiment of a pure and undefiled faith flourishes, as well as the belief in the undivided substance of a Holy Trinity, which true believers indicate by the Greek word �These things, indeed do not require further proof, and should be respected.
   (2) Let those who do not accept those doctrines cease to apply the name of true religion to their fraudulent belief; and let them be branded with their open crimes, and, having been removed from the threshhold of all churches, be utterly excluded from them, as We forbid all heretics to hold unlawful assemblies within cities. If, however, any seditious outbreak should be attempted, We order them to be driven outside the the walls of the City, with relentless violence, and We direct that all Catholic Churches, throughout the entire world, shall be placed under the control of the orthodox bishops who have embraced the Nicene Creed.
   Given at Constantinople, on the fourth of the ides of January, under the Consulate of Flavius Eucharius and Flavius Syagrius.
    3. The Emperor Martian to Palladius, Praetorian Prefect.
   No one, whether he belongs to the clergy, the army, or to any other condition of men, shall, with a view to causing a tumult and giving occasion to treachery, attempt to discuss the Christian religion publicly in the presence of an assembled and listening crowd; for he commits an injury against the most reverend Synod who publicly contradicts what has once been decided and properly established; as those matters relative to the Christian faith have been settled by the priests who met at Chalcedony by Our order, and are known to be in conformity with the apostolic explanations and conclusions of the three hundred and eight Holy Fathers assembled in Nicea, and the hundred and fifty who met in this Imperial City; for the violators of this law shall not go unpunished, because they not only oppose the true faith, but they also profane its venerated mysteries by engaging in contests of this kind with Jews and Pagans. Therefore, if any person who has ventured to publicly discuss religious matters is a member of the clergy, he shall be removed from his order; if he is a member of the army, he shall be degraded; and any others who are guilty of this offence, who are freemen, shall be banished from this most Sacred City, and shall be subjected to the punishment prescribed by law according to the power of the court; and if they are slaves, they shall undergo severest penalty.
   Given at Constantinople, on the eighth of the Ides of February, under the consulship of Patricius.
   4. John, Bishop of the City of Rome, to his most Illustrious and Merciful Son Justinian.
   Among the conspicuous reasons for praising your wisdom and gentleness, Most Christian of Emperors, and one which radiates light [pg. 11]as a star, is the fact that through love of the Faith, and actuated by zeal for charity, you, learned in ecclesiastical discipline, have preserved reverence for the See of Rome, and have subjected all things to its authority, and have given it unity. The following precept was communicated to its founder, that is to say, the first of the Apostles, by the mouth of the Lord, namely: "Feed my lambs."
   This See is indeed the head of all churches, as the rules of the Fathers and the decrees of the Emperors assert, and the words of your most reverend piety testify. It is therefore claimed that what the Scriptures state, namely, "By Me Kings reign, and the Powers dispense justice;" will be accomplished in you. For there is nothing which shines with a more brilliant lustre than genuine faith when displayed by a prince, since there is nothing which prevents destruction as true religion does, for as both of them have reference to the Author of Life and Light, they disperse darkness and prevent apostasy. Wherefore, Most Glorious of Princes, the Divine Power is implored by the prayers of all to preserve your piety in this ardor for the Faith, in this devotion of your mind, and in this zeal for true religion, without failure, during your entire existence. For we believe that this is for the benefit of the Holy Churches, as it was written, "The king rules with his lips," and again, "The heart of the King is in the hand of God, and it will incline to whatever side God wishes"; that is to say, that He may confirm your empire, and maintain your kingdoms for the peace of the Church and the unity of religion; guard their authority, and preserve him in that sublime tranquillity which is so grateful to him; and no small change is granted by the Divine Power through whose agency a divided church is not afflicted by any griefs or subject to any reproaches. For it is written, "A just king, who is upon his throne, has no reason to apprehend any misfortune."
   We have received with all due respect the evidences of your serenity, through Hypatius and Demetrius, most holy men, my brothers and fellow-bishops, from whose statements we have learned that you have promulgated an Edict addressed to your faithful people, and dictated by your love of the Faith, for the purpose of overthrowing the designs of heretics, which is in accordance with the evangelical tenets, and which we have confirmed by our authority with the consent of our brethren and fellow bishops, for the reason that it is in conformity with the apostolic doctrine.

The following is the text of the letter of the Emperor Justinian, Victorious, Pious, Happy, Renowned, Triumphant, always Augustus, to John, Patriarch, and most Holy Archbishop of the fair City of Rome:
  With honor to the Apostolic See, and to your Holiness, which is, and always has been remembered in Our prayers, both now and formerly, and honoring your happiness, as is proper in the case of one who is considered as a father, We hasten to bring to the knowledge of Your Holiness everything relating to the condition of the Church, as We have always had the greatest desire to preserve the unity of your Apostolic See, and the condition of the Holy Churches of God, as they [pg. 12] exist at the present time, that they may remain without disturbance or opposition. Therefore, We have exerted Ourselves to unite all the priests of the East and subject them to the See of Your Holiness, and hence the questions which have at present arisen, although they are manifest and free from doubt, and according to the doctrines of your Apostolic See, are constantly firmly observed and preached by all priests, We have still considered it necessary that they should be brought to the attention of Your Holiness. For we do not suffer anything which has reference to the state of the Church, even though what causes difficulty may be clear and free from doubt, to be discussed without being brought to the notice of Your Holiness, because you are the head of all the Holy Churches, for We shall exert Ourselves in every way (as has already been stated), to increase the honor and authority of your See.


One Hundred and Thirty-First New Constitution.
The Emperor Justinian to Peter, Most Glorious Imperial Praetorian Prefect.
PREFACE.
   We enact the present law with reference to ecclesiastical rules and privileges and other subjects in which holy churches and religious establishments are intrusted.
Chapter I.
   Concerning Four Holy Councils.
   Therefore We order that the sacred, ecclesiastical rules which were adopted and confirmed by the four Holy Councils, that is to say, that of the three hundred and eighteen bishops held at Nicea, that of the one hundred and fifty bishops held at Constantinople, the first one of Ephesus, where Nestorius was condemned, and the one assembled at Chalcedon, where Eutyches and Nestorius were anathematized, shall be considered as laws. We accept the dogmas of these four Councils as sacred writings, and observe their rules as legally effective.
Chapter II.
   Concerning The Precedence of Partriarchs.
   Hence, in accordance with the provisions of these Councils, We order that the Most Holy Pope of ancient Rome shall hold the first rank of all the Pontiffs, but the Most Blessed Archbishop of Constantinople, or New Rome, shall occupy the second place after the Holy Apostolic See of ancient Rome, which shall take precedence over all other sees.
�
Source: Corpus Juris Civilis (The Civil Law, the Code of Justinian), by S.P. Scott, A.M., published by the Central Trust Company, Cincinnati, copyright 1932, Volume 12 [of 17], pages 9-12, 125.

1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.Rev 17:1-6 (KJV)

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. Rev 18:1-8 (KJV)

It definitely is temporal and not just religious, as can be seen in the political and judicial liberties it asserted for itself in its oppression of true believers... https://www.history.com/topics/religion/inquisition