What were these things that were spoken? Church History tells us that they were the various dogmas and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as it evolved through the ages.
Let us review them individually...The claim of the apostolic succession of Peter is in direct opposition to Christ's proclamation. Christ proclaimed Himself to be the "Rock." Christ was referring to Peter's confession that He was the Christ when He said "I will build My church." Christ redeemed the church by His own Blood. He came to this earth from Heaven and established His church through His sacrifice on Calvary and validated it by His resurrection! He surely did not ordain a man or succession of men to build His church. The Lord is the LIVING HEAD of His church, not the Popes of Rome.
The power and authority of one man opened the way to a dictatorship over this apostate church, and the heresies began to multiply!
As far back as the third century, prayers for the dead became a ritual in this apostate religion. God's word tells us that after one is dead, if they die in their sins there they remain.
The burning of candles were introduced into the apostate church which came directly from pagan rituals.
The veneration of angels and praying to dead saints also is an affront to Christ who proclaimed Himself to be the only mediator between God and man. The sacrifice of the Body of Christ in the ritual of a "Bloody Mass" was adopted in the later part of the third century also. Hebrews 9:28 affirms that Christ was offered up ONCE to bear our sins.
Mary has been venerated as a saint through the false doctrine of the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The dogma of the Catholic Church places Mary in Heaven as an intercessor with Jesus Christ. She is proclaimed to be the "Mother of God." The worship and adoration of Mary is not only blasphemous to the Word of God, it is also a affront to Mary herself!
The "Immaculate Conception" of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope IX in the 18th century. He claimed that Mary was born without "original sin." The Bible declares that "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)These falsehoods misrepresent the humble handmaiden of the Lord who is represented in the gospels.
The false dogma of "purgatory" was first proclaimed and established by one called Gregory in the latter part of the 5th century.
Men began to exalt themselves as Priests and adorn themselves in sarcerdotal apparel in about 500 AD.They proclaimed themselves to be the sole mediators between God and man.
The auricular confession was instituted by Pope Innocent III in the Lateran Council in the 12th century. The Word of God tells us that we are to confess our sin to God through Christ alone. God's Word tells us that EVERY Christian is a "Priest and a king before God."
The worship and signing of the cross, images, relics and scapulars was authorized in the latter part of the 7th century. Such practices are idolatrous according to Ex. 20:4
The "Rosary" or prayer beads were introduced by a man called Peter the hermit which he copied from the Hindus and Mohammendans in the year 1090 AD.
The doctrine of purgatory was proclaimed by the Council of Florence in the 14th. century. The Bible clearly teaches us that there will be no place for repentance after death. (Rev. 21:27 - Rev. 22:11)
The so-called seven sacraments (meaning an addition to salvation) were affirmed in the 14th century. The council of Trent declared tradition (dogmas and human teachings of the Popes as equal authority with the Bible in the 15th, century Jesus condemned the Pharisees for accepting their traditions making void the Word of God (Mark 7:7)
The apocryphal books were added to the Catholic Bible by the Council of Trent in the 15th. century.
The infallibility of the Popes was proclaimed as a dogma of the catholic Church in the latter part of the 18th. century.
These are but a few of the "changes" that Daniel foretold in his prophecy when he wrote: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and think to change times and laws." (Dan.7:25) The supreme blasphemy of all is the Popes claim to be the Vicar of the Son of God on earth! Every Pope has claimed to be the "voice" of God! This is usurping the very authority of the Holy Spirit Himself! The Popes have ascribed to themselves the very names of the true and living God!
