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men. Those who are called to endure torture and martyrdom, are but
following in the steps of God’s dear Son.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise.” [2 Peter 3:9.]
He does not forget or neglect his children; but he permits the wicked
to reveal their true character, that none who desire to do his will may
be deceived concerning them. Again, the righteous are placed in the
furnace of affliction, that they themselves may be purified; that their
example may convince others of the reality of faith and godliness;
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and also that their consistent course may condemn the ungodly and
unbelieving.
God permits the wicked to prosper, and to reveal their enmity
against him, that when they shall have filled up the measure of their
iniquity, all may see his justice and mercy in their utter destruction.
The day of his vengeance hastens, when all the transgressors of his
law and the oppressors of his people will meet the just recompense
of their deeds; when every act of cruelty or oppression toward God’s
faithful ones will be punished as though done to Christ himself.
There is another and more important question that should engage
the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares
that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu-
tion.” [2 Timothy 3:12.] Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber?—The only reason is, that the church
has conformed to the world’s standard, and therefore awakens no
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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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Chapter 3—The Roman Church
The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, fore-
told 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 re-
vealed, 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 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 con-
formity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which
the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased,
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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 require-
ments 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 doc-
trines, 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
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Roman Church
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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
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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 the world. More
than this, the pope has arrogated the very titles of Deity. He styles
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.
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 ba
delivered to the saints.
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 has resisted his attacks. At
every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal truth, saying,
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