The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2016 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 25

Who Has Authority Straight from God

Is a religious authority right because it’s the religious authority, or is the religious authority right because it’s actually teaching what’s right?

One man ruled a small Christian denomination in a papalistic manner. That group observed the Christian festival of Pentecost on a Monday. That was not the day observed at the temple, or by the Karaite Jews, or by the later Jewish Pharisee calendar or by Christians, so that church came to believe they were observing Pentecost on the wrong day. They then changed their Pentecost observance to Sunday.

This one man, the religious authority for that church, explained that even when they had observed the wrong day, they were right. He, as the head of the church, sat in the position of Peter, which was not a name but a title of authority. Since he was in the Peter position, even when he was wrong, he was right. Even when they had observed what they came to believe was the wrong day, while they observed it, Monday was still right, because the Peter had proclaimed it right, and in the position of Peter, he could not be wrong.

If he could change the day of Pentecost from Sunday to Monday, that gave him the power to change God’s law. Peter Power!

What a great position to be in. Even when you’re wrong, you’re right. Can we husbands try that line on our wives? Since I am in the position of husband, obviously created by God — the ‘Peter position’ of the family — if I say that committing adultery with that slinky, winky, stinky young blonde is good, does that make it right?

My wife just said “No.”

Of course, if what that church was doing was right when it was wrong, then why did they change?

Again —

Is a religious authority right because it’s the religious authority, or is it the religious authority because it is right, actually teaching what’s right? Was that church right when it was wrong, simply because the religious authority said it was right?

Over and over this is the issue.

The Jewish rulers did not consider themselves papalistic, of course. They were long before the popes and would have taken great umbrage at the thought that they were like Christian ecclesiastical monarchs, sitting in the position of Peter. In reality though, like the church leader just mentioned, they considered themselves right, simply because they were the religious authority.

All theological religions claim to get their authority from God. And in that position, they often act like they are God. In fact, the Talmud, rabbinical commentary on God’s law, is accepted as being equal to God’s law.

Rabbinical tradition holds that the Talmud expresses a sacred Oral Torah, equally authoritative to the Written Law given to Moses at Sinai, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Talmud. 4/10/17.

The religious authority is considered right just because it is the religious authority. Rabbis rule!

Well, maybe not.

When the baby boy who was born King of the Jews was about thirty years old, he began to teach. This real Rabbi didn’t teach like the counterfeit rabbis. He taught as if he really had the authority of the one and only Rabbi, the King of the Jews.

Mark 1
21)They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22) They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

Christ taught as one having authority, because he did have authority.

Rabbis thought they had authority, too, even if they didn’t teach like it.

Rabbis were extensively taught. Unfortunately, they were only taught by other rabbis.

Being taught by men who study about God is never the same as being taught by God. It is assumed that people in religious positions have been taught by God. Often they’ve only been taught by other men in religious positions.

The learned rabbis were egocentrically surprised when anyone who wasn’t taught by them knew the scriptures.

Luk 2
46) After three days they found him [Yeshua] in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
47) All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

The rabbis were amazed at the understanding of that twelve year old boy — and Yeshua had not even been taught by them! Wow!

Why should God allow his son to be taught by rabbis? That twelve year old boy understood more than any of those rabbis ever would!

Their amazement was compounded when that boy had matured into a thirty year old man.

John 7
14) But when it was now the midst of the feast, Yeshua went up into the temple and taught.
15) The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”

Which is to say, ‘How can he know anything, since we didn’t teach him?’

The rabbis based their position on what they knew, their knowledge. “This multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed,” they scoffed in John 7:49. Obviously the Pharisees thought they knew the law better than anyone. They were rabbis. They knew some stuff.

Christ based his position — his authority — on Who he knew. He was educated, but not by the rabbis. The rabbis had been to Bible college to study about God. Yeshua was taught by God. His authority did not come from any human institution but came straight from the Father in heaven. No one else can claim that authority —

Although many have. In religion somebody is always getting between people and God.

When Christ and his disciples ate lunch on the Sabbath while traveling, the rabbis accused them of breaking the Sabbath. This was a question of authority. Yahweh has his Sabbath commandment. The Jews had their Oral Law. Who had the authority here?

Mat 12
1)  At that time, Yeshua went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2)  But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.

Which law will be followed, God’s Sabbath law or the Pharisees’ Sabbath laws? Eating lunch broke their laws but did not break God’s law.

Mat 12 (cont.)
3)  But he said to them, Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
4)  how he entered into God’s house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5)  Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
6)  But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

What an incredible statement that is — “one greater than the temple is here.” Nothing about Christ depended on anything that man built. The first temple, filled with the shekinah glory of Yahweh, was built by Solomon, yet “someone greater than Solomon is here,” Matthew 12:42.

Mat 12 (cont.)
7)  But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
8)  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Christ cited his authority as Lord of the Sabbath. What does that mean?

This Son of Man, who is also Son of God, created all things.

Joh 1
3)  All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

Eph 3
9)  and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Yeshua Christ;

Col 1
16)  For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
17)  He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

Heb 1
1)  God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2)  has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

Heb 1
8)  But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9)  You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
10)  And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

The one who came as the savior of the world made the world. Therefore, when the Son purposely rested at creation —

He created the Sabbath.

Since Christ created the Sabbath, he is naturally lord of the Sabbath. The Pharisees were arguing about what was lawful on the Sabbath —

With the one who made the Sabbath! The Pharisees argued for their Sabbath rules with the Ruler of the Sabbath.

Mat 12
9)  He departed there, and went into their synagogue.
10)  And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
11)  He said to them, What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, wont he grab on to it, and lift it out?
12)  Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.

Christ was doing good on the Sabbath day and that is lawful. He fulfilled the purpose of the Sabbath law that he made.

Amazingly, the Pharisees, for all their supposed law-keeping, repeatedly thought it was unlawful to do good on the Sabbath. When a deformed man got his hand back, they thought that was sin! When a blind man got his sight, they saw red. And when a paralyzed man took up his mat and walked on the Sabbath, the Pharisees thought he was jaywalking.

The Pharisees had no authority for their laws other than themselves.

On the other hand, Christ was anointed by God with God’s spirit.

Mat 12 (cont.)
13)  Then he told the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.
14)  But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
15)  Yeshua, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
16)  and commanded them that they should not make him known:
17)  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18)  Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations.

This Rabbi — the one real Rabbi — not only had knowledge; he had a totally different spirit than the counterfeit rabbis. This King of the Jews had a different spirit than all human kings. This Rabbi and this king, the Son of God, was full of the spirit of God.

The enormous problem with all human kings is just that — their human nature. This king, however, was not subject to David’s weakness when he saw Bathsheba bathing, or Solomon’s idols for his thousand women, or Uzziah’s arrogant urge to be a priest, or Hezekiah’s swaggering bragging to the Babylonians — and those were the good kings!

Also —

The enormous problem with all religious leaders is —

Their human nature. When they think they sit in the position of Peter in Jerusalem, they act like Caesar in Rome.

But this king and this Rabbi, like no other, has authority directly from the Father in heaven. No other king, no other religious leader, no other person has this authority directly from the Father.

Mat 9
1)  He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2)  Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Yeshua, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.

The Pharisees argued endlessly about what is sin and continually added more minutiae to the legal maze of their laws defining sin. Yet here was one who had the authority to forgive sin — to forgive the breaking of the law!

Throw out the whole Pharisees’ game plan! They focused on fencing in the law to keep from breaking it. It always was broken, though, by everyone. When that happened, they had no way to undo what was done.

Then along comes the Real Rabbi —

“cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”

Mat 9 (cont.)
3)  Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes.
4)  Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5)  For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Get up, and walk?
6)  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins- (then he said to the paralytic), Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.
7)  He arose and departed to his house.
8)  But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

It is indeed something to marvel at, by all those whose sins need forgiving, that God gave to this One, and only to this One, the authority to forgive sin.

And to judge sinners.

Joh 5
16)  For this cause the Jews persecuted Yeshua, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17)  But Yeshua answered them, My Father is still working, so I am working, too.
18)  For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19)  Yeshua therefore answered them, Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20)  For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21)  For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22)  For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23)  that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24)  Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25)  Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of Gods voice; and those who hear will live.
26)  For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27)  He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

This Son of Man, Son of God, Rabbi of rabbis and King of Kings has life in himself — the ability to give life. And the Father gave him the authority to execute judgment — to decide who will be given life.

No political king, no religious leader can ever even remotely approach the authority of this Rabbi — authority directly from God.

The Pharisees arrogantly refused to accept that Christ gets his authority directly from His Father in heaven.

Joh 8
13)  So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify concerning yourself! Your testimony is not true.”

So where did the puffed up Pharisees get their authority?

Joh 8:37-59, in paragraph form.
I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you.”

Yeshua’s father is the Father in heaven. Who was the Pharisees’ father?

They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”

“If you really were Abraham’s children,” Yeshua replied, “you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what your father did.”

Their father was not Abraham, because they didn’t act like Abraham. Again — who is the Pharisees’ father?

“God himself is the only Father we have,” they answered, “and we are his true children.”

Yeshua said to them, “If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.

The Pharisees’ father is not God, because they rejected God’s son. Christ was sent with the authority of the Father. Where did the Pharisees’ get their authority? Who is their father?

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

The Pharisees and the Jewish religious rulers who rejected the Son of God were children of the devil.

Period.

All Jews who reject Yeshua as the Messiah and Son of God are always offended at that truth.

And it is the truth.

But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me.

Which one of you can prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why do you not believe me? He who comes from God listens to God’s words. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen.”

Of course, all others who reject the Messiah are also children of the devil, naturally having the same spirit. They are also offended at that idea.

The Pharisees then said that Yeshua had a demon himself.

They asked Yeshua, “Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”

“I have no demon,” Yeshua answered. “I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. I am not seeking honor for myself. But there is one who is seeking it and who judges in my favor. I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.”

They said to him, “Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?”

Yeshua answered, “If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing. The one who honors me is my Father—the very one you say is your God. You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word.

Astonishing! The religious Jews, who studied about God, who taught about God, and who almost everyone thought sat in place of God — didn’t know God at all.

“You have never known him.”

The religious authority had no authority at all from God!

Those religious leaders got their religion from their position — their religious knowledge, their religious titles, and their religious clothing. That’s why religions have big titles and funny clothes. They look really good! The only thing missing from their religion was God.

On the other hand, Christ was sent from God, by God, and is God. There is no other religious authority like that.

Is a religious authority right when it’s wrong, because it’s the religious authority? Or is a religious authority right only because it teaches what is right? Should a religious authority add to and change what God said? Or should a religious authority just teach and practice what God said?

Over and over, religious authorities go from teaching what is right to teaching who is right. And, of course, that’s them.

Christ has authority directly from God the Father. No one else does. No others should act as if they do. Religious leaders can obey God’s laws. Religious leaders can teach God’s laws. But no religious authority can make or change God’s laws.