Page 58 - Attractive Deception - The False Hope of the Hebrew Roots Movement

church father Tertullian’s writing in which he reproves Calistus who is the “bishop of bishops” of
th
the Christian church in Rome. The Roman Catholics consider Calistus to be the 16 Pope in a line
of succession that began with the apostle Peter.

In opposition to this [modesty], could I not have acted the dissembler? I hear that there has even
been an edict sent forth, and a peremptory one too. The ‘Pontifex Maximus,’ that is the ‘bishop of
bishops,’ issues an edict: ‘I remit, to such as have discharged [the requirements of] repentance, the
sins both of adultery and of fornication.’ O edict, on which cannot be inscribed, ‘Good deed!’ ...Far,
far from Christ's betrothed be such a proclamation!
[On Modesty 1, Ante-Nicene Fathers IV:74]

Calistus - Pope 217-222 A.D.

Tertullian may have been writing facetiously when he referred to Calistus as the “Pontifex
Maximus,” for this title was given to the Emperor of Rome who was the de facto head of the College
of Pontiffs. It would not be until Constantine the Great, ruler of Rome from 306-337 A.D. that an
Emperor would declare himself to be a Christian, and the official religion of Rome to be Christianity.
Consequently, the title of Pontifex Maximus was not officially applied to a “Christian” ruler until
Constantine’s reign. The early church fathers of Tertullian’s day recognized the Pontifex Maximus
as the evil high priest of a profane and idolatrous religion. They referred to the Pontifex Maximus
as “the king of heathendom.” This title which from antiquity was assigned to the top religious leader
of the Roman mystery religion is now borne by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. All of the
costumes, rites, symbols, holidays, and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church which are such a
departure from the pure apostolic faith of the early church, are elements carried over from the ancient
mystery religion, the worship of Satan, which began in Babylon.

Hislop relates that although Rome became a renowned center of Satan worship under the guise of
worshiping Saturn, the true seat of Satan was in Pergamon. This fact is attested to in the Bible as
Christ is addressing the church residing in that city.

Revelation 2:13
“I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My
faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where
Satan dwells.”