As a missionary, having visited all the continents over the span of forty years without interruption, month after month, I know that men in all religions and cultures regard many things as holy. For some it is the “holy cow”, for others the “holy mountain”, the “holy water”, the “holy temple”, the “holy place of pilgrimage” or the “holy prophet”, the “holy tradition” and many more things. But what do all these have to do with God? Absolutely nothing, of course! For Bible believers only God is holy and all that comes from Him and those who are sanctified by Him in the Word of Truth, as it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44; Lev. 19:2; 1. Pt. 1:16). There is no sanctification possible by the will of men, for it is written, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). The Saviour prayed for His Own, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. In His intercessory prayer He speaks about them, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (Jn. 17:17+19). It is also written, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14). Self-sanctification through one’s own performance of righteous works is self-deception.

In the Christian churches things are declared untouchable, especially holy for every church is what they believe and teach and also their tradition. Therefore all watch over their doctrines, which they esteem to be holy, as over the apple of their eyes, and they wish to keep them pure. Whoever touches the statement of their faith, which they regard as true, can quickly become a child of death. Jan Hus experienced it when he was burned at the stake on July 6^th, 1415, in Konstanz/Germany, while the church council fathers were laughing. Also Michel Servetus suffered death and was executed publicly in 1553 in Geneva/Switzerland, because he rejected the Trinity-teaching. True servants of the Lord only used the armour of God as described in Eph. 6 and the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God. Not a single time did a servant of the Lord use worldly power, but rather always preached the Word of God and left the working of it to God. Only what comes from God also leads to Him. Only what is written in the Bible bears the handwriting of God.

Satan, the prince of this world, has succeeded in bringing confusion to those who carry the responsibility in the religious and political spheres and has given unto them the kingdoms of this world, which he offered to Christ and the Saviour rejected (Mt. 4: 1-11). Thereby he could exercise his reign through them on earth. After the founding of the State Church, salvation was determined by an institution and its servants and no longer by the personal faith in Jesus Christ, in Whom alone true salvation can be found. This more or less applies to all denominations, not only to the state churches, as they exist in European countries. They promise salvation to their members according to their own ways. The Catholic church is honest about it, telling those who are left behind that the deceased, although having received all the sacraments, is being punished in purgatory. The Holy Scripture does not know the teaching about indulgence, does not know about receiving salvation by sacraments, nor does it know of a purgatory.

The Scripture also does not know the practice of beatification and canonisation of the dead. Only the living who have experienced the grace and full salvation in Christ are pronounced blessed and holy. Beginning with the pronouncement of blessings in the sermon on the mountain, right to the last chapter of the Bible (Rev. 22:7+14), only the living are pronounced by the Lord Himself as blessed and holy. They are the ones who believe in Him as the Scripture says (Jn. 7:38). Noteworthy is the pronouncing of the blessing upon Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Mt. 16:17).

The beatification of Mary was spoken in connection with her faith, believing the promise given to her, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk. 1:45). The eyes and ears of the true disciples of Jesus were spoken of as being blessed,“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Mt. 13:16). In the introduction to the last book of the Bible we read, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3). And then we hear about the beatification of the righteous ones, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection …” (Rev. 20:6). Beatifications carried out by men have no value whatsoever, because they have no biblical foundation. This practice also needs to be charged at the Judgement Seat.

As a missionary, having visited all the continents over the span of forty years without interruption, month after month, I know that men in all religions and cultures regard many things as holy. For some it is the “holy cow”, for others the “holy mountain”, the “holy water”, the “holy temple”, the “holy place of pilgrimage” or the “holy prophet”, the “holy tradition” and many more things. But what do all these have to do with God? Absolutely nothing, of course! For Bible believers only God is holy and all that comes from Him and those who are sanctified by Him in the Word of Truth, as it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44; Lev. 19:2; 1. Pt. 1:16). There is no sanctification possible by the will of men, for it is written, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). The Saviour prayed for His Own, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. In His intercessory prayer He speaks about them, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (Jn. 17:17+19). It is also written, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14). Self-sanctification through one’s own performance of righteous works is self-deception.

In the Christian churches things are declared untouchable, especially holy for every church is what they believe and teach and also their tradition. Therefore all watch over their doctrines, which they esteem to be holy, as over the apple of their eyes, and they wish to keep them pure. Whoever touches the statement of their faith, which they regard as true, can quickly become a child of death. Jan Hus experienced it when he was burned at the stake on July 6th, 1415, in Konstanz/Germany, while the church council fathers were laughing. Also Michel Servetus suffered death and was executed publicly in 1553 in Geneva/Switzerland, because he rejected the Trinity-teaching. True servants of the Lord only used the armour of God as described in Eph. 6 and the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God. Not a single time did a servant of the Lord use worldly power, but rather always preached the Word of God and left the working of it to God. Only what comes from God also leads to Him. Only what is written in the Bible bears the handwriting of God.

Satan, the prince of this world, has succeeded in bringing confusion to those who carry the responsibility in the religious and political spheres and has given unto them the kingdoms of this world, which he offered to Christ and the Saviour rejected (Mt. 4: 1-11). Thereby he could exercise his reign through them on earth. After the founding of the State Church, salvation was determined by an institution and its servants and no longer by the personal faith in Jesus Christ, in Whom alone true salvation can be found. This more or less applies to all denominations, not only to the state churches, as they exist in European countries. They promise salvation to their members according to their own ways. The Catholic church is honest about it, telling those who are left behind that the deceased, although having received all the sacraments, is being punished in purgatory. The Holy Scripture does not know the teaching about indulgence, does not know about receiving salvation by sacraments, nor does it know of a purgatory.

The Scripture also does not know the practice of beatification and canonisation of the dead. Only the living who have experienced the grace and full salvation in Christ are pronounced blessed and holy. Beginning with the pronouncement of blessings in the sermon on the mountain, right to the last chapter of the Bible (Rev. 22:7+14), only the living are pronounced by the Lord Himself as blessed and holy. They are the ones who believe in Him as the Scripture says (Jn. 7:38). Noteworthy is the pronouncing of the blessing upon Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Mt. 16:17).

The beatification of Mary was spoken in connection with her faith, believing the promise given to her, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk. 1:45). The eyes and ears of the true disciples of Jesus were spoken of as being blessed,  “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Mt. 13:16). In the introduction to the last book of the Bible we read, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3). And then we hear about the beatification of the righteous ones, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection …” (Rev. 20:6). Beatifications carried out by men have no value whatsoever, because they have no biblical foundation. This practice also needs to be charged at the Judgement Seat.