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Chapter 3—Spiritual Darkness in the Early Church
The apostle Paul 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 worshipped; so that he as
God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
And furthermore, “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.”
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Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7
. Even at that early date the apostle saw,
creeping in, errors that would prepare the way for the papacy.
Little by little, “the mystery of iniquity” carried forward its
deceptive work. The customs of heathenism found their way into the
Christian church, restrained for a time by fierce persecutions under
paganism; but as persecution ceased, Christianity laid aside the
humble simplicity of Christ for the pomp of pagan priests and rulers.
The nominal conversion of Constantine caused great rejoicing. Now
the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, appearing
vanquished, became the conqueror. Her doctrines and superstitions
were incorporated into the faith of the professed followers of Christ.
This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted
in “the man of sin” foretold in prophecy. That false religion is a
masterpiece of Satan, his effort to seat himself upon the throne to
rule the earth according to his will.
It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is
invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all the
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world. More than this, the pope has been styled “Lord God the Pope”
and declared infallible
The same claim urged by
Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through
the Church of Rome, and vast numbers yield him homage.
But those who reverence God meet this assumption as Christ met
the wily foe: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve.”
Luke 4:8
. God has never appointed any man head
of the church. Papal supremacy is opposed to the Scriptures. The
pope can have no power over Christ’s church except by usurpation.
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