awal of the Faithful
After a long and severe conflict the faithful few decided to dissolve
all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from
falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity
if they would obey the Word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal
to their own souls and set an example which would imperil the faith of
their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they
were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but
they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of
principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and
righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. Well would it be
for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast
souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people.
The apostle Paul declares that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution
seems in a great
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degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to
the world’s standard, and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion
current in our day is not of the pure and holy character which marked the
Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of
the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word of
God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness
in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world.
Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the
spirit of persecution will be revived and the fires of persecution will be
rekindled.
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45: The Mystery of Iniquity
The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the
great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the papal power.
He declared that the day of Christ should not come, “except there come
a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God.” And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that “the
mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7. Even at
that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare
the way for the development of the Papacy.
Little by little, at first in stealth and silence and then more openly
as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, the
mystery of iniquity carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work.
Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the
Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained
for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under
paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts
and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and
His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan
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priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted
human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine
in the early part of the fourth century caused great rejoicing; and the
world, arrayed in robes of righteousness, walked into the church. Now
the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to
be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church.
Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the
faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.
This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the
development of the man of sin foretold in prophecy as opposing and
exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a
masterpiece of Satan’s power—a monument of his efforts to seat himself
upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.
To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the
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favor and support of the great men of earth, and having thus rejected
Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the representative of
Satan—the Bishop of Rome.
It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the
visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme
authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of t