Chapter 3 : The Apostasy

Adopted by the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation

of the Bible was prohibited. The people were forbidden to read it

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.

The detector of error having been removed, Satan worked according

to his will. Prophecy had declared that the papacy was to [P-52]

“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

[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.

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 essayed 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

[53] 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.

In the early part of the fourth century, the emperor Constantine

issued a decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the

Roman Empire. [See Appendix, note 1.] 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.

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 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 [54]

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.

Protestants 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, Revised Version.]

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?

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;

See Appendix, note 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 kinsfolks, 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 [55]

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 accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning

of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness

deepened. 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. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for

the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of

the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from

God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay more, to the prince of

darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was

disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed,

and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only

for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of

human laws and traditions, was manifest the corruption that ever

results from setting aside the law of God.

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.

[56] 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!

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 which 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, every one with his sword [57]

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.]

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.

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 any one, but that it was his prerogative

to reverse the decisions of all others.

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

[58] 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.”

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 erApostasy

49

rors 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 sprung also the heresy of eternal torment for the

finally impenitent, which was early incorporated into the papal faith.

Then the way was prepared for the introduction of still another [59]

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.

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, luxury, and

vice of the pretended representatives of Him who had not where to

lay his head.

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.

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

[60] 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.

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.

The noontide of the papacy was the world’s moral midnight. The

Holy Scriptures were almost unknown, not only to the people, but

to the priests. Like the Pharisees of old, the papist leaders hated

the light which would reveal their sins. God’s law, the standard of

righteousness, having been removed, they exercised power without

limit, and practiced vice without restraint. Fraud, avarice, and

profligacy prevailed. Men shrank from no crime by which they

could gain wealth or position. The palaces of popes and prelates

were scenes of the vilest debauchery. Some of the reigning pontiffs

were guilty of crimes so revolting that secular rulers endeavored to

depose these dignitaries of the church as monsters too vile to be

tolerated. For centuries Europe had made no progress in learning,

arts, or civilization. A moral and intellectual paralysis had fallen

upon Christendom.

The condition of the world under the Romish power presented a

fearful and striking fulfillment of the words of the prophet Hosea:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou

hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee; ... seeing thou

hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

“There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing

adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.” [Hosea 4:6, 1,

2.] Such were the results of banishing the Word of God.