The Great Apostasy
When Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the
scenes of the second advent, He foretold also the experience of His people
from the time when He should be taken from them to His return in power
and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms
about to fall upon the apostolic church, and, penetrating deeper into the
future, His eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat
upon His followers in the coming ages of darkness and persecution. In
a few brief utterances, of awful significance, He foretold the portion
which the rulers of this world would mete out to the church of God. The
followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and
suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the
world’s Redeemer would be manifested against all who should believe on
His name.
The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the
Saviour’s words. The powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against
Christ in the person of His followers. Paganism foresaw that should the
gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore
she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution
were kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions and driven
from their homes. They “endured a great fight of
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afflictions.” They “had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment.” Hebrews 11:36. Great numbers
sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor,
learned and ignorant, were alike slain without mercy.
In vain were Satan’s efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence.
The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives
did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post. By
defeat they conquered. God’s workmen were slain, but His work went
steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number of its
adherents to increase. It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible,
even to the eagles of Rome. Said a Christian, expostulating with the
heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution: You may “kill
us, torture us, condemn us.... Your injustice is the proof that we are
innocent.... Nor does your cruelty ...avail you.” It was but a stronger
invitation to bring others to their persuasion. “The oftener we are mown
down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is
seed.”
Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprang up to fill
their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured
to Christ, and accounted of Him as conquerors. They had fought the good
fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should
come. The sufferings which they endured brought Christians nearer to one
another and to their Redeemer. Their living example and dying testimony
were a constant witness for the truth; and, where least expected, the
subjects of Satan were leaving his service and enlisting under the banner
of Christ.
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The Compromise With Paganism
Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the
government of God, by planting his banner in the Christian church. If the
followers of Christ could be deceived and led to displease God, then their
strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy
prey.
The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he had
failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead were
substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly
honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while
they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the
Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection; but they had no
conviction of sin and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart.
With some concessions on their part, they proposed that Christians should
make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ.
Now was the church in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and sword
were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood
firm, declaring that they could make no compromise. Others reasoned
that if they should yield or modify some features of their faith, and unite
with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, it might be the means
of their full conversion. That was a time of deep anguish to the faithful
followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was
insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith and turn their
minds from the word of truth.
At last the larger portion of the Christian company lowered their
standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism.
Although the worshipers
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of idols professed to be converted, and united with the church, they
still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their worship
to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints. The foul leaven
of idolatry, thus introduced into the church, continued its baleful work.
Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were
incorporated into her faith and worship. As the followers of Christ united
with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted and the church lost
her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not misled by
these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth
and worshiped God alone.
There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be
followers of Christ. While one class study the Saviour’s life and earnestly
seek to correct their defects and to conform to the Pattern, the other class
shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors. Even in her
best estate the church was not composed wholly of the true, pure, and
sincere. Our Saviour taught that those who willfully indulge in sin are not
to be received into the church; yet He connected with Himself men who
were faulty in character, and granted them the benefits of His teachings
and example, that they might have an opportunity to see and correct their
errors.
But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of
darkness, and there can be no union between their followers. When
Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from
paganism, they entered upon a path which led farther and farther from the
truth. Satan exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number
of the followers of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more fully
upon them, and inspired them to persecute
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those who remained true to God. None could so well understand how
to oppose the true Christian faith as could those who had once been its
defenders; and these apostate Christians, uniting with their half-pagan
companions, directed their warfare against the most essential features of
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the doctrines of Christ.
It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to
stand firm against the deceptions and abo