First of all, you have NOT pointed out any SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE of MULTIPLE "Christian denominations" in existence before 1500 AD, and secondly, the Eastern Orthodox Church was under the authority of the Pope since it's beginning ... so it was STILL a branch of the Catholic Church!
The idea of a Historical church knowing we walk by faith the unseen, knowing the kingdom of God which is not of this world and therefore it does not come by observation. It is not a biblical form of interpretation but that of a private interpretation of the kind of fathers,(two kinds) Christ called a brood of vipers to indicate false prophets.
No such thing as a historical church.We walk by faith the unseen.
We therefore continue to walk by faith (the unseen).All saints die not receiving the promise. All will receive the promise our new incorruptible body in the twinkling of the eye, simultaneously.
There are no saints reining on earth as those who have left this realm under the sun. One mediator between God and man (God not seen)
The two sects or denominations that you offered above are like that of the Pharisees
with Sadducees .
Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would “shew them a sign” from heaven.
They would not believe exercise or work out faith unless they did see a sign .
John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
They were two sects or denominations that put aside their differences so they could continue to walk by sight as the things of natural man, as a law of the fathers, a false zeal for knowing God. .
We know they were walking by sight after the natural course of this world because those kind of fathers as high priest like the Pope, gave then letters of authorization to kill the perceived completion ...as in out of sight out of mind , just as in the fifteenth century reformation... when all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura) restored the biblical order.
Below...The criterion of the Pharisees also
with the Sadducees denominations duplicated in the fifteenth century .
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.And I persecuted this way unto “the death”, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. Act 22:3
No such thing as no denomination or sect.
The first sect on this side of the cross mentioned in the scriptures was called the Nazarene or the Way .Paul was a new convert to the Nazarene sect/denomination as one of the leaders. They mocked him by calling him a ring leader .And they judged him according to the law of the fathers (out of sight out of mind)
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.Act 24:5
The law of the fathers not the law of our one father in heaven.
They tried to prove all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura) was heresy but only shot themselves in their own foot.
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which “they call heresy”, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Act 24:14
And not worshiping the fathers as God in the likeness of men as pagan form of worship.
Paul is shown using the fathers in a God honoring way... worshiping our father in heaven not seen, unlike those who walk by sight worshiping the fathers seen called apostolic succession . Therefore having the faith that comes alone from hearing our father I respect to men called fathers on earth.Not walking by faith the unseen will of our one Father of all spirits .
It is one of the “think not” doctrines that protects the authority of all things written in the law and the prophets. (sola scriptura)
The Catholics followed the same order of walking by sight usurping the authority of our father in heaven and giving it to men seen called fathers.
Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The church is made up of many lively stones to represent the spiritual unseen house of God
The Catholic version paraphrased
Matthew 3:9 And
think not to say within yourselves, We have
Peter to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
