Tract 22c
The Apostasy
- Supplement to Lesson 22
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, showing 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 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 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, cloaked with a
form 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.
Satan once endeavored to form a compromise with Christ. He came to
the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and, showing Him all the kingdoms of the
world and the glory of them, offered to give all into his hands if he would but
acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the presumptuous
tempter, and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater success in presenting the
same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek
the 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.
Calling Himself God
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 the world. More than this, the pope has arrogated the
very titles of Deity. He calls himself "Lord God the Pope," assumes
infallibility, and demands that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim urged by Satan
in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast
numbers are ready to yield him homage.
But those who fear and reverence God meet this Heaven-daring
assumption as Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: "Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:8. God has never given a hint in
His Word that He has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal
supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no
power over Christ's church except by usurpation.
The Charge of Heresy
Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge
of heresy, and willful separation from the true church. But these accusations apply rather
to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ, and departed from
"the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 3.
Blotting out the Word
Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern
his deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the Word that even the Saviour of the
world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal
truth, saying, "It is written." To every suggestion of the adversary, he opposed
the wisdom and power of the Word. In order for Satan to maintain his sway over men, and
establish the authority of the papal usurper, he must keep them in ignorance of the
Scriptures. The Bible would exalt God, and place finite men in their true position;
therefore its sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed. This logic was adopted by
the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was prohibited. The
people were forbidden to read or to have it in their houses, and unprincipled priests and
prelates interpreted its teachings to sustain their pretensions. Thus the pope came to be
almost universally acknowledged as the vicegerent of God on earth endowed with authority
over Church and State.
Changing the Law of God
The detector of error having been removed, Satan worked according to
his will. Prophecy had declared that the papacy was to "think to change times and
laws." Daniel 7:25. This work it was not slow to attempt. To afford converts from
heathenism a substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote their nominal
acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images and relics was gradually introduced
into the Christian worship. The decree of a general council (the Second Council of Nice,
A.D. 787) finally established this system of idolatry. To complete the sacrilegious work,
Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second commandment, forbidding image
worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number.
Setting Aside the Sabbath
The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still
further disregard of Heaven's authority. Satan tampered with the fourth commandment also,
and tried to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified
(Genesis 2:2-3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as
"the venerable day of the sun." This change was not at first attempted openly.
In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous
for the honor of God, and, believing that His Law is immutable, they zealously guarded the
sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety, Satan worked through his agents to
bring about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it
was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were held
upon it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly
observed.
To prepare the way for the work which he designed to accomplish,
Satan had led the Jews, before the advent of Christ, to load down the Sabbath with the
most rigorous exactions, making its observance a burden. Now, taking advantage of the
false light in which he had thus caused it to be regarded, he cast contempt upon it as a
Jewish institution, While Christians continued to observe the Sunday as a joyous festival,
he led them, in order to show their hatred of Judaism, to make the Sabbath a fast, a day
of sadness and gloom.
Through Government Decree
In the early part of the fourth century, the emperor Constantine
issued a decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the Roman Empire. The day of
the sun was reverenced by his pagan subjects, and was honored by Christians. It was the
emperor's policy to unite the conflicting interests of heathenism and Christianity. He was
urged to do this by the bishops of the church, who, inspired by ambition, and thirst for
power, perceived that if the same day was observed by both Christians and the heathen, it
would promote the nominal acceptance of Christianity by pagans, and thus advance the power
and glory of the church. But while Christians were gradually led to regard Sunday as
possessing a degree of sacredness, they still held the true Sabbath as the holy of the
Lord, and observed it in obedience to the fourth commandment.
Through Church Councils
The arch-deceiver had not completed his work. He was resolved to
gather the Christian world under his banner, and to exercise his power through his
vicegerent, the proud pontiff who claimed to be the representative of Christ. Through
half-converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world-loving churchmen, he accomplished his
purpose. Vast councils were held, from time to time, in which the dignitaries of the
church were convened from all over the world. In nearly every council the Sabbath which
God had instituted was pressed down a little lower, while the Sunday was correspondingly
exalted. Thus the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a divine institution, while
the Bible Sabbath was pronounced a relic of Judaism, and its observers were declared to be
accursed.
The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself "above all
that is called God, or that is worshiped." 2 Thessalonians 2:4. He had dared to
change the only precept of the Divine Law that unmistakably points all mankind to the true
and living God. In the fourth commandment, God is revealed as the Creator of the heavens
and the earth, and is thereby distinguished from all false gods. It was as a memorial of
the work of creation that the Seventh day was sanctified as a rest-day for man. It was
designed to keep the living God ever before the minds of men as the source of being and
the object of reverence and worship. Satan strives to turn men from their allegiance to
God, and from rendering obedience to His Law. Therefore he directs his efforts especially
against that commandment which points to God as the Creator.
This Child of the Papacy
Protestant leaders now urge that the resurrection of Christ on
Sunday made it the Christian Sabbath. But Scripture evidence is lacking. No such honor was
given to the day by Christ or His apostles. The observance of Sunday as a Christian
institution had its origin in that "mystery of lawlessness," (2 Thessalonians
2:7 R. V.), which, even in Paul's day, had begun its work. Where and when did the Lord
adopt this child of the papacy? What valid reason can be given for a change which the
Scriptures do not sanction?
The Destroyer of the People
In the sixth century the papacy had become firmly established. Its
seat of power was fixed in the imperial city, and the bishop of Rome was declared to be
the head over the entire church. Paganism had given place to the papacy. The dragon had
given to the beast "his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation
13:2. And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of
Daniel and the Revelation. (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5, 7.) Christians were forced to
choose, either to yield their integrity and accept the papal ceremonies and worship, or to
wear away their lives in dungeons or suffer death by the rack, the fagot, or the
headsman's ax. Now were fulfilled the words of Jesus, "Ye shall be betrayed both by
parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be
put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake." Luke 21:16-17.
Persecution opened upon the faithful with greater fury than ever before, and the world
became a vast battlefield. For hundreds of years the church of Christ found refuge in
seclusion and obscurity. Thus, says the prophet: "The woman fled into the wilderness,
where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two
hundred and threescore days." Revelation 12:6.
The Antichrist of Prophecy
The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of
the Dark Ages. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of
Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal
salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he
delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator, and that
none could approach God except through him, and further, that he stood in the place of God
to them, and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed.
Those were days of peril for the church of Christ. The faithful
standard-bearers were few indeed. Though the truth was not left without witnesses, yet at
times it seemed that error and superstition would wholly prevail, and true religion would
be banished from the earth. The gospel was lost sight of, but the forms of religion were
multiplied, and the people were burdened with rigorous exactions.
Penance and Payment
They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator, but
to trust to works of their own to atone for sin. Long pilgrimages, acts of penance, the
worship of relics, the erection of churches, shrines, and altars, the payment of large
sums to the church,--these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of God
or to secure His favor; as if God were like men, to be angered at trifles, or pacified by
gifts or acts of penance!
Church Forgeries
Notwithstanding that vice prevailed, even among the leaders of the
Romish Church, her influence seemed steadily to increase. About the close of the eighth
century, papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the church the bishops of
Rome had possessed the same spiritual power they now assumed. To establish this claim,
some means must be employed to give it a show of authority; and this was readily suggested
by the father of lies. Ancient writings were forged by monks. Decrees of councils before
unheard of were discovered, establishing the universal supremacy of the pope from the
earliest times. And a church that had rejected the truth, greedily accepted these
deceptions.
The few faithful builders upon the true foundation (1 Corinthians
3:10-11) were perplexed and hindered, as the rubbish of false doctrine obstructed the
work. Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day, some were ready to
say, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish,
so that we are not able to build." Nehemiah 4:10.
Wearied with the constant struggle against persecution, fraud,
iniquity, and every other obstacle that Satan could devise to hinder their progress, some
who had been faithful builders became disheartened; and for the sake of peace and security
for their property and their lives they turned away from the true foundation. Others,
undaunted by the opposition of their enemies, fearlessly declared, "Be not ye afraid
of them; remember the Lord, which is great and terrible," (Nehemiah 4:14), and they
proceeded with the work, everyone with his sword girded by his side. Ephesians 6:17.
The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired
the enemies of God in every age, and the same vigilance and fidelity have been required in
His servants. The words of Christ to the first disciples are applicable to His followers
to the close of time: "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. "Mark 13:37.
Images and Candles
The darkness seemed to grow more dense. Image worship became more
general. Candles were burned before images, and prayers were offered to them. The most
absurd and superstitious customs prevailed. The minds of men were so completely controlled
by superstition that reason itself seemed to have lost her sway. While priests and bishops
were themselves pleasure-loving, sensual, and corrupt, it could only be expected that the
people who looked to them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice.
Babylon the Unerring
Another step in papal assumption was taken, when, in the eleventh
century, Pope Gregory VII, proclaimed the perfection of the Romish Church. Among the
propositions which he put forth, was one declaring that the church had never erred, nor
would it ever err, according to the Scriptures. But the Scripture proofs did not accompany
the assertion. The proud pontiff next claimed the power to depose emperors, and declared
that no sentence which he pronounced could be reversed by anyone, but that it was his
prerogative to reverse the decisions of all others.
Proud Conqueror of Kings
A striking illustration of the tyrannical character of this advocate
of infallibility was given in his treatment of the German emperor, Henry IV. For presuming
to disregard the pope's authority, this monarch was declared to be excommunicated and
dethroned.
Terrified by the desertion and threats of his own princes, who were
encouraged in rebellion against him by the papal mandate, Henry felt the necessity of
making his peace with Rome. In company with his wife and a faithful servant, he crossed
the Alps in midwinter, that he might humble himself before the pope. Upon reaching the
castle whither Gregory had withdrawn, he was conducted, without his guards, into an outer
court, and there, in the severe cold of winter, with uncovered head and naked feet, and in
a miserable dress, he awaited the pope's permission to come into his presence. Not until
he had continued three days fasting and making confession, did the pontiff condescend to
grant him pardon. Even then it was only upon condition that the emperor should await the
sanction of the pope before resuming the insignia or exercising the power of royalty. And
Gregory, elated with his triumph, boasted that it was his duty "to pull down the
pride of kings."
How striking the contrast between the overbearing pride of this
haughty pontiff and the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who represents Himself as
pleading at the door of the heart for admittance, that He may come in to bring pardon and
peace and who taught His disciples, "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be
your servant." Matthew 20:27.
The advancing centuries witnessed a constant increase of error in
the doctrines put forth from Rome. Even before the establishment of the papacy, the
teachings of heathen philosophers had received attention and exerted an influence in the
church. Many who professed conversion still clung to the tenets of their pagan philosophy,
and not only continued its study themselves, but urged it upon others as a means of
extending their influence among the heathen. Serious errors were thus introduced into the
Christian faith. Prominent among these was the belief in man's natural immortality and his
consciousness in death. This doctrine laid the foundation upon which Rome established the
invocation of saints and the adoration of the virgin Mary. From this sprang also the
heresy of eternal torment for the finally impenitent, which was early incorporated into
the papal faith.
Purgatory--to burn off sin
Then the way was prepared for the introduction of still another
invention of paganism, which Rome named purgatory, and employed to terrify the credulous
and superstitious multitudes. By this heresy is affirmed the existence of a place of
torment, in which the souls of such as have not merited eternal damnation are to suffer
punishment for their sins, and from which, when freed from impurity, they are admitted to
Heaven.
Indulgences--by Warfare and by Money
Still another fabrication was needed to enable Rome to profit by the
fears and the vices of her adherents. This was supplied by the doctrine of indulgences.
Full remission of sins, past, present, and future, and release from all the pains and
penalties incurred, were promised to all who would enlist in the pontiff's wars to extend
his temporal dominion, to punish his enemies, or to exterminate those who dared deny his
spiritual supremacy. The people were also taught that by the payment of money to the
church they might free themselves from sin, and also release the souls of their deceased
friends who were confined in the tormenting flames. By such means did Rome fill her
coffers, and sustain the magnificence, and vice of the pretended representatives of Him
who had not were to lay His head.
The Blasphemous Mass
The Scriptural ordinance of the Lord's supper had been supplanted by
the idolatrous sacrifice of the Mass. Papist priests pretended, by their senseless
mummery, to convert the simple bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ.
With blasphemous presumption, they openly claimed the power of "creating God, the
Creator of all things." All Christians were required, on pain of death, to avow their
faith in this horrible, Heaven-insulting heresy. Multitudes who refused were given to the
flames.
The Terrible Inquisition
In the thirteenth century was established that most terrible of all
the engines of the papacy,--the Inquisition. The prince of darkness wrought with the
leaders of the papal hierarchy. In their secret councils, Satan and his angels controlled
the minds of evil men, while unseen in the midst stood an angel of God, taking the fearful
record of their iniquitous decrees, and writing the history of deeds too horrible to
appear to human eyes. "Babylon the great," was "drunken with the blood of
the saints." The mangled forms of millions of martyrs cried to God for vengeance upon
that apostate power.
The World's Despot
Popery had become the world's despot. Kings and emperors bowed to
the decrees of the Roman pontiff. The destinies of men, both for time and for eternity,
seemed under his control. For hundreds of years the doctrines of Rome had been extensively
and implicitly received, its rites reverently performed, its festivals generally observed.
Its clergy were honored and liberally sustained. Never since has the Roman Church attained
to greater dignity, magnificence, or power.
TRADITION: THE STORY OF THE STEPS DOWNWARD