Dear Alex,

Your Question(s): Which was the first and real religion? Was it the Catholic religion? And is it true John was the first pope?

My Answer(s): Thank you for your questions, and for visiting my web site and may you continue to return to it for answers to your questions on the spiritual things. I pray that my God and Father in heaven and His Christ will bless you with understanding these spiritual things. Again, I ask that Christ Jesus give you the strength and courage to resist those who seek to indoctrinate you into their so-called "real" religions and human philosophies. I pray that you seek the kingdom of God above all these doctrines and commandments of men. That you should obey God’s Holy Scriptures rather than the traditions of men (Acts 4:19 and Acts 5:29). You asked about the first and real religion.

First, I must point out that you should read my article on Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots on my web site. And read the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, they too will help you understand the churches of this evil and adulterous world. This will help you to understand the Bible teachings on the religion denominations of this evil and adulterous world. This religion called Mystery Babylon in the Bible has it beginnings at the tower of Babel in the book of Genesis. From this following at the tower of Babel, the religions of this world all have their origins in this religion set in motion by Nimrod, the world first civil and religious leader. These religions have taken varies names throughout the times, however they are filled with confusions and some even openly opposing God the Father in heaven and His Christ. Yet, this truth is not always clearly known or seen by those practicing these religions. But, this truth will be revealed as it is written: "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:3-4 NKJV).

Now, as for your question about the "real" religion, if you mean the religion that God the Father in heaven accept as true then you have to read the book of James in the Holy Bible. For the Holy Spirit has clearly defined what God accepts as religion in this present age, that is: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27 NKJV). Besides this there is no such thing as a "real" religion on this planet all are man-made human organizations called by many names. So, if by your question, which is the real religion you mean, which is God’s true or real religion, then no man-made religion are real according to the above Scripture. For there are no religion that have as there main mission the caring for the poor and needy of this world, and not becoming entangled with the affairs or cares of this present age (Matthew 25, Galatians 2:10, 2 Timothy 2:4 and Hebrews 6:4-6). And the Holy Bible clearly speaks of a religion a man-made religion called by the name Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots. This phrase "mother of harlots" means this Mystery Babylon have other man-made religions with their origins from it.

As for John of the Bible being the first pope, I find no such reading of this in the Holy Scriptures. You must remember that of these man-made religions called by the name Mystery Babylon in the Holy Bible, they will all attach themselves to parts of the Scriptures in an attempt to validate there existence. These same religions will openly violate the word of God all the while claiming to uphold the law of Christ. (See Mark 7:9-13 where the hypocrites in Christ time preached that giving to the temple releases a person from the commandment to honor your mother and father. Today, we have their descendants still preaching tithing is above caring for your family and the poor. Again, these hypocrites make the law of Christ, to care for the poor and widows of no effect because of their traditions, see also Matthew 25). For Christ Jesus Himself says: "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV). These verses speak of so-called Christians proclaiming Christ Jesus’ name and even preaching and casting out demons in His name. Yet, these so-called Christians do not follow Christ word or the will of His Father in heaven, not bearing any fruit of the Holy Spirit, as the law of Christ requires.

As for the man-made religion called by the name Catholic being the first religion, the answer is no. And if you think the Catholic religion is the "real" religion then you are wrong, as stated above see James 1:27 for the "real" religion of God. And as for the man-made religion called by the name Catholicism, this was the state founded religion set up by the Roman government around 300 AD. Around 1500 AD there was a break away from the doctrines of men under Catholicism, and these man-made religions that broke away are collectively called Protestantism. Today, these Protestants are referred to as any man-made Christian denominations not adhering to Catholicism doctrines of men. Now, the doctrine of Catholicism teaches that Peter of the Bible was there first pope not John of the Bible, either way both stories are not true neither were the Catholic first pope. Therefore, I exhort you to "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8 NIV).

Again, I exhort you to continue to question these man-made religions with there "commandments of men". As it is written, "in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9 KJV). For the Holy Spirit exhort you to test everything that comes into your mind, and rejecting all that is not from God the Father in heaven (1 Thess. 5:21 and 1 John 4:1). And call no man father in the spiritual context, for you have only one Father, and He is both your God and Father in heaven (Matthew 23:8-10). I pray that God bless you in understanding His Holy Word. I exhort you to pray all the time, for the days are evil, remembering what Christ Jesus instructed His disciples to do in the Garden of Gethsemane, to watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation (Mark 14:37-38). And I pray that you bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, for "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). For this is commendable before God the Father and His Christ. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, minister of Christ