Catholics: Priesthood?

Question

What? Where? When? And how? Did Priests get the power to make that into the body and blood of christ? How was it passed down?

Answer 1

It's Jesus who has the power;-} priests only have permission.
This was given to the Apostles at the Last Supper.
They in turn gave it to the Bishops (Episcopos).
As the Church grew in numbers, it was delegated to priests.

Answer 2

The wealthy Roman hierarchy can suppose, pretend, falsify and make up whatever it wishes, for that is what they do and this is what they have done. The Roman Circe is the antithesis to God's lawful government "on earth as it is in heaven." That's why the Roman Catholic Church is also recognized as a "State." This is God's most direct and despicable adversary. You can verify this for yourself at:

http://biblelight.net/index-mystery-babylon.html

The Heart of the Bible - The Constitutional Convention

While the emphasis has traditionally been on the bread and the wine, the "Last Supper" is much more than just an eating event. What can be drawn from the conversations is what we would call a "Constitutional Convention." It is the bringing of God's Government. The spiritual "baton" is handed from God, to His Son, and to His followers that were with Him. And this event, the Last Supper, is the heart of the whole Bible. It is the pivotal point of the Government of God being put into place.

If we take a look at Luke 22:24-30, strife arises among the disciples and they want to know who is going to be accounted the greatest. Well, most people, when they think of "accounted the greatest," think in terms of arguing, "I'm better than you." "Oh no, you're not." "Oh yes, I am." "Oh no, you're not." No, that is not what was going on. These disciples understood that they were involved in establishing government. And when they argued about who was going to be considered the greatest, they were trying to figure out what seats they were going to take. "I'm most qualified to sit in the highest spot." "No, you can have this position as my assistant." So they were striving amongst themselves.

And Yahshua (J-sus) stops them in their quarrel and says, "Hey guys, we're not going to be like the world. We are not going to lord over each other. I've got a new kind of government for you." This was an important event. He was preparing for the ultimate feat, something no other King had done, giving His life to birth a nation.

Most worldly kings, like Pope's, Premier's and President's, are caught up in power and glory for themselves. But not this King. This King is special. He says, "I'm going to die, and in so doing I am going to bring My Father's government to the people." By this one Man's death, He sets us free. And don't "apostate people in power" still kick and spit over that today? "We don't know who He is," they say. "We have no king but Caesar!" Caesar, today, is the Roman Pontiff by the way; "with whom the sovereigns of the earth are committing fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Rev.17

So anyway, back to Luke 22:24-30. This is the center of the whole Gospel because this is where the Government of God is being handed over to mankind, particularly a few men who have stayed with Him in His trials and tribulations. Again, these men are arguing about which positions they are going to hold in God's Government. Messiah stops them in their quarrel and says, "The kings of the nations lord over the people. But we are not going to be like them."

In other words, Yahshua is giving us a commandment: "You are not to be like the governments of the world in exercising authority over others." We are going to have a different Government - a government of service. And Messiah sets the example of one who serves by washing the disciples' feet at the beginning of the meal. As He serves, He also wants us to serve one another, and that is the form of government He has in mind.

Finally, verse 29 is the essense of the whole passage. Yahshua says:

"And I appoint unto you a Kingdom (government), as My Father hath appointed unto Me." Luke 22:29

In other words, He came from Heaven (born from Above; born of God), bringing with Him a Kingdom, a government; and He is handing it over to His appointed Yisraelites at the Constitutional Convention, commonly known as the "Last Supper."

Now I welcome anyone to spend time with Scripture in hand at our website http://www.embassyofheaven.com/ and the BibleLight site above to study and verify these things to see if they are true. Study the dogma, bulls and history of the Roman Catholic Church State, as well as taking a good, hard look at this Thing that sits upon the seven hills of Rome and then make up your own mind on who to follow.

Researching YOURSELF, you will no longer be confounded with her babel.

Fair enough?....

Answer 3

Are you talking about transubstantiation, when the priest turns the elements into the literal body and blood of Jesus? I've often wondered that myself. If they are actually doing that wouldn't that be a form of cannibalism, which is strictly forbidden in the bible? And if they are not transforming the elements, would they not be lying? Jesus, himself only used bread and fruit of the vine, why must the catholics use flesh and blood? Such an enigma.

Answer 4

The only actual priesthood that was ever stated and ordained by God Himself is that of Aaron and his descendants, for all eternity according to God's word there.

Christianity came in and attempted to wipe that out and said they are the NEW priesthood, which they actually are not.

They say that Jesus is in the lineage of Melchitzedek, a NEW priesthood. Unfortunately for them, this shows an extreme ignorance about who Melchitzedek was. According to the Oral Torah (which is the main body of the Torah, the Written Torah is just the notes, so to speak), Melchitzedek was Shem, one of the sons of Noah, and the direct male ancestor of Aaron, the first Priest appointed by God.

So it is not a "new" priesthood whatsoever. It is the exact same one. And Jesus had no male ancestors that were from the lineage of the tribe of Levi, therefore he could not have been a Priest himself, nor would he have been able to appoint or create any kind of new priesthood and override God's. Nor would any of his followers be able to do this legitimately. They may SAY it's a legit priesthood, but it isn't.

The only legitimate priesthood EVER sanctioned and created by God, is that of the Kohanim from the Tribe of Levi, Aaron and his male descendants from then until now, as God says in the Torah "for ETERNITY".

So Christians may run around with their priests, but these are not a legitimate God appointed priesthood whatsoever.

The Christians were not able to wipe out the Jewish priests though. They have survived, and records were always kept in each community and family as to who the Priests were (and are). The records were not kept in the Temple, nor were they lost when the Temple burned down, as Christianity falsely teaches.

Genetics have now found the Kohen Gene, the Jewish priestly genetic marker. Around 75% of the Jewish males who claim to be from a family of Kohanim (Jewish priests) have tested positive for this gene. If you are interested, google "Cohen Gene" or "Kohen Gene".

If you would like to see the REAL Priests of the world today, please see the Kohanim giving their blessings in Israel on a regular basis at the Western Wall. Here are some videos that show them. They are the ones in the white prayer shawls covering their heads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN9lkI5ZaOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fG7YQbtEMQ&feature=related

Answer 5

Christ Established the Eucharist at the Last Supper(The Gospels according to Sts. Matthew, Mark, & Luke).

Answer 6

Ordained Leaders Share in Jesus' Ministry and Authority
Matt. 10:1,40 - Jesus declares to His apostles, "he who receives you, receives Me, and he who rejects you, rejects Me and the One who sent Me." Jesus freely gives His authority to the apostles in order for them to effectively convert the world.

Matt. 16:19; 18:18 - the apostles are given Christ's authority to make visible decisions on earth that will be ratified in heaven. God raises up humanity in Christ by exalting his chosen leaders and endowing them with the authority and grace they need to bring about the conversion of all. Without a central authority in the Church, there would be chaos (as there is in Protestantism).

Luke 9:1; 10:19 - Jesus gives the apostles authority over the natural and the supernatural (diseases, demons, serpents, and scorpions).

Luke 10:16 - Jesus tells His apostles, "he who hears you, hears Me." When we hear the bishops' teaching on the faith, we hear Christ Himself.

Luke 22:29 - the Father gives the kingdom to the Son, and the Son gives the kingdom to the apostles. The gift is transferred from the Father to the Son to the apostles.

Num 16:28 - the Father's authority is transferred to Moses. Moses does not speak on his own. This is a real transfer of authority.

John 5:30 - similarly, Jesus as man does nothing of His own authority, but He acts under the authority of the Father.

John 7:16-17 - Jesus as man states that His authority is not His own, but from God. He will transfer this authority to other men.

John 8:28 - Jesus says He does nothing on His own authority. Similarly, the apostles will do nothing on their own authority. Their authority comes from God.

John 12:49 - The father's authority is transferred to the Son. The Son does not speak on his own. This is a transfer of divine authority.

John 13:20 - Jesus says, "he who receives anyone who I send, receives Me." He who receives the apostles, receives Christ Himself. He who rejects the apostles and their successors, rejects Christ.

John 14:10 - Jesus says the Word He speaks is not His own authority, but from the Father. The gift is from the Father to Jesus to the apostles.

John 16:14-15 - what the Father has, the Son has, and the Son gives it to the apostles. The authority is not lessened or mitigated.

John 17:18; 20:21 - as the Father sends the Son, the Son sends the apostles. The apostles have divinely appointed authority.

Acts 20:28 - the apostles are shepherds and guardians appointed by the Holy Spirit / 1 Peter 2:25 - Jesus is the Shepherd and Guardian. The apostles, by the power of the Spirit, share Christ's ministry and authority.

Jer. 23:1-8; Ezek. 34:1-10 - the shepherds must shepherd the sheep, or they will be held accountable by God.

Eph. 2:20 - the Christian faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles. The word "foundation" proves that it does not die with apostles, but carries on through succession.

Eph. 2:20; Rev. 21:9,14 - the words "household," "Bride of the Lamb," the "new Jerusalem" are all metaphors for the Church whose foundation is the apostles.

Authority is Transferred by the Sacrament of Ordination
Acts 1:15-26 - the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Catholic Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ's own authority.

Acts 1:20 - a successor of Judas is chosen. The authority of his office (his "bishopric") is respected notwithstanding his egregious sin. The necessity to have apostolic succession in order for the Church to survive was understood by all. God never said, "I'll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own."

Acts 1:22 - literally, "one must be ordained" to be a witness with us of His resurrection. Apostolic ordination is required in order to teach with Christ's authority.

Acts 6:6 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority has transferred beyond the original twelve apostles as the Church has grown.

Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.

Acts 13:3 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority must come from a Catholic bishop.

Acts 14:23 - the apostles and newly-ordained men appointed elders to have authority throughout the Church.

Acts 15:22-27 - preachers of the Word must be sent by the bishops in union with the Church. We must trace this authority to the apostles.

2 Cor. 1:21-22 - Paul writes that God has commissioned certain men and sealed them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.

Col 1:25 - Paul calls his position a divine "office." An office has successors. It does not terminate at death. Or it's not an office. See also Heb. 7:23 – an office continues with another successor after the previous office-holder’s death.

1 Tim. 3:1 - Paul uses the word "episcopoi" (bishop) which requires an office. Everyone understood that Paul's use of episcopoi and office meant it would carry on after his death by those who would succeed him.

1 Tim. 4:14 - again, apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination).

1 Tim. 5:22 - Paul urges Timothy to be careful in laying on the hands (ordaining others). The gift of authority is a reality and cannot be used indiscriminately.

2 Tim. 1:6 - Paul again reminds Timothy the unique gift of God that he received through the laying on of hands.

2 Tim. 4:1-6 - at end of Paul's life, Paul charges Timothy with the office of his ministry . We must trace true apostolic lineage back to a Catholic bishop.

2 Tim. 2:2 - this verse shows God's intention is to transfer authority to successors (here, Paul to Timothy to 3rd to 4th generation). It goes beyond the death of the apostles.

Titus 1:5; Luke 10:1 - the elders of the Church are appointed and hold authority. God has His children participate in Christ's work.

1 John 4:6 - whoever knows God listens to us (the bishops and the successors to the apostles). This is the way we discern truth and error (not just by reading the Bible and interpreting it for ourselves).

Exodus 18:25-26 - Moses appoints various heads over the people of God. We see a hierarchy, a transfer of authority and succession.

Exodus 40:15 - the physical anointing shows that God intended a perpetual priesthood with an identifiable unbroken succession.

Numbers 3:3 - the sons of Aaron were formally "anointed" priests in "ordination" to minister in the priests' "office."

Numbers 16:40 - shows God's intention of unbroken succession within His kingdom on earth. Unless a priest was ordained by Aaron and his descendants, he had no authority.

Numbers 27:18-20 - shows God's intention that, through the "laying on of hands," one is commissioned and has authority.

Deut. 34:9 - Moses laid hands upon Joshua, and because of this, Joshua was obeyed as successor, full of the spirit of wisdom.

Sirach 45:15 - Moses ordains Aaron and anoints him with oil. There is a transfer of authority through formal ordination.