While listening to Christopher talk about the Pope's hat in this teaching, it reminded me of an image I saw while researching Catholicism and other "denominations" several years ago. The image was a comparison of the Pope's hat to one that a pagan fish god wore. I Google searched "pope mitre" and the second search suggestion that popped up was "pope mitre dagon". I could not remember what "dagon" was, but it sounded familiar so I clicked on that one. The attached image was one that came up and I showed it to my husband. As I read the description I realized that Dagon is actually the name of the pagan fish god and a lightbulb went off in my head - I had just finished reading 1 Samuel and remembered it mentioning Dagon. I couldn't remember which chapter it was in, so I did a search and found that not only was he mentioned in 1 Samuel but Judges as well.
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
-Judges 16:23
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
-1 Samuel 5:1-5
I do not expect this to post generate much discussion, but thought I would share as I found it interesting that the very same pagan influence of the Catholic Church is mentioned right in the Bible! They no longer call him Dagon, but they certainly continue to worship a god who looks strikingly similar, only he is not made of wood, gold, or stone and goes by a new name - the Pope. This is one of many examples of the wonderful instruction God has provided for us to identify and mark those who oppose the Lord and walk as wolves in sheep's clothing, but the funny thing is, this is not hidden, as Christopher said, the Pope's title, Vicar of Christ (antichrist), "is so overt it's covert!"
