“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in

among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,

speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Therefore

watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn

every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:29-31. Paul saw the awful

apostasy from the simple faith of Christ arising. The shadows of the dark

noonday were slowly and surely creeping on. He beholds it with tears. This

was not really some heathenish foreign power, but he says it should be men

of their own selves arising, speaking perverse things. He saw that the

leaders and overseers of the flock (see ver. 28) would become greedy of

worldly gain, contentious, followers after pride, filled with envy, loving

preeminence, speaking things contrary to the doctrine of Christ. It had

begun to work already in his day. “The mystery of iniquity doth already

work.” 2 Thes. 2:7.

John says these false prophets “even now already are in the world.” Even

before the apostles had closed their labors they saw this dark power

working. Year after year, decade after decade, it developed and grew. Star

after star had fallen until by the middle of the third century there was

“scarcely left a luminary of godliness in existence.”

Paul seeing the great crisis coming, is in fear. “But I fear, lest by any

means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds

should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Jesus. For if he that

cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye

receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel,

which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with me.... For such are

false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the

apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into

an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be

transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be

according to their works.” 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13-15. Thus Paul gives warning

to the Corinthians of false apostles and deceitful workers. All of this

certainly is not without meaning. He foresees great danger. He earnestly

exhorts the Thessalonian brethren to be not soon shaken, saying: “Let no

man deceive you by any means: for that day shall 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. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with

you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he

might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already

work: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.

And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with

the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his

coming: even him, whose coming is after the workings of Satan with all

power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thes. 2:3-9.

This is indeed a wonderful and an awful prophecy. Surely a dark image or

power called a “man of sin” and “son of perdition” shall arise and eclipse

the sun (Christ) and the moon (the church) and cause the stars (the holy

ministry) to fall. “There shall come a falling away first.” This has

direct reference to the corruption of God’s professed people led by an

exalted, selfish, greedy and blinded ministry. “The falling away” is

translated from the Greek _apostasia_, and means a departure.

Lexicographers define the word as meaning “an abandonment of what one has

professed.” In this text it means an abandonment of the true principles

and doctrines of Christianity.

That “man of sin,” “son of perdition,” or, as in Rotherham’s translation,

“man of lawlessness,” and “son of destruction,” is what arose and obscured

the sunlight. This epithet is given to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of

Christ, in John 17:12, this “man of sin” is a betrayer of Christ and his

pure doctrine. This “man of lawlessness,” no doubt, has reference directly

to the pope of Rome as the prime factor in the apostasy; but in its

broadest sense it includes the whole of the beast religion, both Romanism

and Protestantism. This “man of sin” is a manism, or a power under the

government of man, and is identical with the beast power of Rev. 13. This

“son of destruction” “opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is

called God.” He opposes or denies, and perverts the doctrines of God that

are not congenial to his desires. He denies in a measure the divine

authority, and forms creeds and laws for the government of God’s people,

thus arrogating to himself what properly belongs to God. They take upon

themselves such titles as “Father,” “Holy Father,” “Vicegerent of the Son

of God,” “Doctor of Divinity,” “Reverend,” etc. These are titles or

distinctions belonging to God only. “Call no man your Father,” is the

command of Jesus; and, “Be ye not called Rabbi.”

Vicegerent is one acting in the place of another. The pope’s claim was

that God had ceased to reign and had delegated all power unto himself—the

power to forgive sins and to grant indulgences. An indulgence is an act of

the Roman pontiff, wherein men by making certain vows and paying certain

sums of money receive pardon of their sins. By the payment of certain

amounts they can commit most any crime and their purchased indulgence

absolves them from guilt.

The Price Of Pardon.

Below we will give an extract from page 263 of “The Master Key to Popery,”

by Anthony Gavin, formerly one of the Roman Catholic priests at Saragossa,

Spain. He says: According to a book called the “Tax of the Roman

Chancery,” in which are contained the exact sums levied for pardon of each

particular sin, we find some of the fees to be thus:

Robbing a church $ 2.25.

Simony 2.25.

Perjury 2.00.

Forgery and lying 2.00.

Robbery 3.00.

Burning a house 2.75.

Eating meat in Lent 2.75.

Killing a layman 1.75.

Striking a priest 2.75.

Procuring abortion 1.50.

Priest to keep a concubine 2.25.

Ravishing a virgin 2.00.

Murder of father, mother, brother, 2.50.

sister or wife

Nun for fornication in or out of 5.00.

the nunnery

Marrying on a day forbidden 10.00.

Adultery committed by a priest with 10.00.

nuns and others

Absolution of all crimes together 12.00.

Following this we will give a few of the secret instructions of the

Jesuits as revealed by Z. T. Griffin:

“A Christian (Romanist) may deliberately discard his Christian character

and act like other men in those things which are not properly Christian.

By the command of God it is lawful to murder the innocent, to rob and

commit all lewdness because he is Lord of all things, and thus to fulfil

his mandate is our duty.

“It is lawful to kill an accuser whose testimony may jeopardize our life

and honor.

“If an adulterous priest, aware of his danger, having visited an

adulteress is assailed by her husband, kills the man in his own defense,

he is not a criminal.

“Papist children may accuse their parents of heresy, although they know

their parents will be burned.

“A priest may kill those who hinder him from taking possession of any

ecclesiastical office.

“Servants may secretly steal from their masters as much as they judge

their labor is worth more than the wages which they receive.

“A woman may take her husband’s property to supply her spiritual wants and

to act like other women.

“A witness is not bound to declare the truth before a lawful judge, if his

deposition will injure himself or his posterity, or if he be a priest; for

a priest can not be forced to testify before a secular judge.

“Priests may kill the laity to preserve their goods, etc.”

Such appears extremely shocking to a man of integrity and principle. Such

laws and tolerations and the direct sale of indulgences brings a blush of

shame to a moral man, and much more to the Christian. The sale of

indulgences is not true of Romanism only. Throughout the realms of

Protestantism there is a shameful sale of these indulgences in an indirect

way. Wicked and designing men are tolerated and fellowshiped by the sect

ministry because of their liberality to the church. It is true it matters

not if a man does occasionally get drunk, or if he does defraud his

neighbor, or commit adultery, abuse his wife, attend theaters, and such

like sins, if he is a liberal contributor to their treasury, he is smiled

at, welcomed and encouraged to be faithful.

While in the papacy we find such titles as “Holy Father,” etc., in

Protestantism we find the “D. D.” and “LL. D.” and “Reverend.” They who

assume such honorary titles set themselves up to be equal with God. The

word “reverend” is from the Hebrew “_yare_,” and means “to be feared.” So

man is thus setting himself up as one to be feared, when the Word of the

Lord tells us to “fear not man, but fear God.” “Holy and reverend is his

name.” God alone is to be revered, and for man to prefix such a title to

his name is to sit as God the temple of God.

Popes and bishops are found in the councils and conferences framing laws

and passing resolutions for the government of their membership and for the

qualifications of a minister, like as if God had ceased to reign and there

was no Bible and they alone were invested with power to govern and control

the kingdom of heaven. The qualifications of a minister in some of the

popular denominations of to-day are a certain number of years in school

and a certain number of histories and commentaries mastered. The

qualifications as given by Paul are almost wholly ignored. The profession

of the ministry in the sect world has been dragged down to a level with

the professions of the world. A young man decides to be a physician. He

goes to school and learns his profession. He receives his diploma, comes

out and practises what he was taught at school, and makes his living

thereby. Another young man decides to be a lawyer. He studies for that

profession, is admitted to the bar, practises, and makes his living

thereby. Another young man decides to be a preacher. He goes to school and

learns his profession. He is licensed, comes out and preaches, and makes

his living thereby.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” This is the spirit of

antichrist, of which John says, “even now already is it in the world.”

This antichrist, apostate spirit is a mystery. It contains a hidden

mysterious power that has blinded and deceived millions of souls. Even in

Paul’s time it began its hidden mysterious working. The Roman Catholic

sect arose and met this description of the “man of sin” as given by Paul.

The Waldenses in the thirteenth century looked upon the church at Rome as

the “whore of Babylon,” and the “man of sin.” Those blinded by the

mysterious, delusive spirit of iniquity considered such language against

the “holy church” as blaspheming against God. Protestantism to-day with

its great bishops and reverends and D. D.’s and creeds and systems, forms

and ceremonies, almost as perfectly meets the description of the “man of

sin” as does the Roman hierarchy. The same hidden mysterious delusive

spirit has so intoxicated its subjects that they consider such speech as

blasphemy.

This “man of sin” is described as coming with signs and lying wonders. The

lying wonders of this dark reign of the “son of perdition” are almost

innumerable. It is said that a milkwhite dove descended from heaven with a

phial of oil at the baptism of Cloris.

A Sicilian hermit had a revelation from heaven in which was revealed that

the prayers of the monks of Clugny would be effectual for the deliverance

of the departed spirits from the expiatory flames of a middle

state.—_Mosheim’s Church History_.

A woman named Julian pretended she had a revelation from God in which it

was disclosed to her to be the will of God that a peculiar festival should

be held annually in honor of the real presence of Christ in the holy

sacrament. She said that as often as she addressed herself to God or to

the saints in prayer she saw a full moon with a small defect, and the

spirit informed her that this defect was the want of this annual festival.

This festival was established by Clement V in 1311 A.D.

The fables of the removal of the chapel of Loretto, the wandering Jew, the

visions of Stockius and Sims, and St. Anthony’s obliging an ass to adore

the sacrament as related by Mosheim, are astonishing lying wonders and

ridiculous inventions. The Protestant daughters of mystic Babylon are not

free from lying wonders to this present day. The book of Mormon contains

fabulous stories; the spiritualists’ work is freighted with many satanic

wonders, and frequently we hear of visions and revelations that when tried

by the immutable Word of God are proven to be lying wonders. Our God is

able to perform wonders, and of a truth, wonderful are his doings at this

present time, but all that he does is in decency and in order, and

contains nothing of the fabulous.

Paul says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times

some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and

doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience

seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain

from meats.” 1 Tim. 4:1-3. You will only have to read the history of the

Roman Catholic sect, of its fabulous inventions, of its awful tyranny, its

superstitions, its rites, and ceremonies, to find the fulfilment of this

prophecy. It is extremely astonishing that men of intelligence would be

the supporters of such a dark institution. It only shows the seductive

power of demon spirits. The doctrines of devils that have been originated

both in Romanism and Protestantism are almost without number, some of

which we will speak of in our next chapter. The hypocritical lies that

have been invented and the persecutions and contentions and quarrelings

and fightings against one another can only be carried on by men whose

conscience is seared by a hot iron. The Catholics abstain from eating meat

on certain days and at certain times. A certain law sect, called the

Seventh Day Adventist, teaches abstinence from pork. The papists forbid

the marriage of the clergy. Neither is this unscriptural prohibition

confined to the papacy alone, but some of her harlot daughters have

patterned after her, and even gone beyond her in this respect.

In the time of this apostasy it is said by the apostle that “they will not

endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to

themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their

ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.

Where shall we look for a fulfilment of this prophecy? Who does not know

that we have now come to that time? The sound doctrine which if obeyed

will make men a light in the world is not endorsed in the circle of the

papacy, neither in the Protestant denominations. To-day the generality of

mankind, even in professed Christianity, do not care to hear the practical

truths of the gospel as we have recorded in part first of this work.

Theories and speculative opinions have taken the place of sound doctrine

in the Protestant pulpit of this present day. The congregations in general

have become so proud and vain in their imaginations, and so spoiled

through philosophy, that they heap to themselves teachers having the

wildest speculative opinions. Their itching ears have an insatiable desire

for fine essays, amusing stories, and historic tales. The proud, arrogant

pulpit orator of this present day makes it a study how best to calm the

fears, gild the sins, and strew with flowers the iniquitous path of his

passionate congregation.

Protestantism presents a most deplorable picture to those who have escaped

her ruinous walls. Many a bishop and lord is bewailing his sad spiritless,

powerless state, and crying, “Whither are we drifting?” Where will you

have to go to-day but to Protestantism to find a fulfilment of Paul’s

prophecy in 2 Tim. 3:1-5? “This know also, that in the last days perilous

times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent,

fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded,

lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Paul here speaks of a religious people. They have “a form of godliness.”

While the “last days” and “last time” often include the whole of this

gospel day, yet this prophecy particularly relates to the nearing of the

end of time. Jesus says, “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the

coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood

they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the

day that Noe entered into the ark.” Mat. 24:37, 38. Let us considerately

review this prophecy.

“Lovers of their own selves.” Such a disposition of heart will manifest

itself. Such people have more concern for their own welfare than for their

neighbor’s. They will look out for their own best interest. In the

ministry it would be manifested in seeking places of ease, luxury, honor,

and wealth.

“Covetous.” A desire for worldly gain, loving money. By their conversation

and general manner they manifest a strong desire for wealth, resorting to

festivals and fairs to gain money.

“Boasters.” Placing a high estimate on their own personal worth and

accomplishments. As a man recently remarked of a stained window in a

meeting-house: “See that window! Is not that fine? That cost one hundred

dollars. That is my window, I put that in. These others only cost

seventy-five dollars. See, here are my initials.”

“Proud.” Studying to make a fine appearance, striving to excel in pulpit

oratory, advertising the work they have done—so many have been converted

through my labors, etc. All these works are indications of a proud heart.

“Blasphemers.” To speak lightly of sacred things, to ridicule any portion

of God’s Word. Many professors of Christianity of to-day when asked if

they believe in the ordinance of feet-washing will make some such answer

as, “If your feet are dirty, you ought to wash them.” The doctrines of

holiness and divine healing are often impiously spoken of. Jesus Christ is

sometimes charged with being a freemason, and recently a man said that the

Savior went to school and studied for the ministry.

“Disobedient to parents.” Is there not many a young lady and young man in

apostate Protestantism, trampling under their feet the commands and wishes

of their parents? The “old man,” or the “old woman” (as they often speak

of their parents), they say, “is not going to rule me.”

“Unthankful.” Murmuring when reverses come; complaining if their financial

undertakings are unsuccessful; dissatisfied and discontented. These are

evidences of an unthankful and ungrateful heart.

“Unholy.” Those who dispute the doctrine of holiness, of purity or sinless

perfection. They confess that they commit sin, and their life bears

evidence that their confession is true. Or should they profess holiness

and yet not live a true holy life they are classed with the great dark

apostasy.

“Without natural affection.” Many times the love of self, the love of

pleasure, the love of the world, and sin in general destroys the natural

affection. Mothers in their heart regret their children were born, because

it prevents their entering society as they would like. They bewail the

state of pregnancy for the same reason, and resort to murderous means for

the privilege of enjoying more of the pleasures of sin and the world.

Children also often betray a great lack of natural affection by their

treatment of parents and one another.

“Truce-breakers.” Having but little regard for a promise or obligation;

violating obligations and promises to God and to man.

“False accusers.” Slandering those who do live and obey the whole Word of

God.

“Incontinent.” Those who are living in the lust of the flesh; controlled

by a depraved appetite.

“Fierce.” Getting angry and becoming quarrelsome; all that is the opposite

of gentleness and kindness.

“Despisers of those that are good.” Because a man lives a good, pure,

consistent Christian life it puts a rebuke upon the hypocrite, and for

this reason he despises the good man.

“Traitors.” Actually denying and renouncing portions of the Holy Bible,

which they profess to believe. They are traitors to God and to

Christianity.

“Heady.” They are unteachable. No matter what the Bible says, they know

they are all right if they do indulge in things that are wrong.

“High-minded.” So lifted up in themselves that the humble doctrines of the

Savior are beneath their observance. These humble truths of the Bible are

considered as nonessentials by the heady and high-minded.

“Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” Take more real comfort and

delight in the party or festival than they do in worship. A sermon of

thirty minutes is about as long as they can endure. Reading the Bible is

an unpleasant task, therefore the good old book lies unused; but they can

spend hours in the place of revelry.

Where do we have to look for such doings and characters as we have

described? They abound in great numbers in the various denominations of

to-day. Adam Clarke in his commentary in speaking of this prophecy, says:

“This description the papists apply to the Protestants. The Protestants in

their turn apply it to the papists. There have been both teachers and

people in every age of the church and world to whom these words may be

most legitimately applied. Both Catholics and Protestants have been lovers

of their own selves,” etc., “having a form of godliness, but denying the

power thereof.” How often the sectish lords lament the deadness of their

congregations, and also grow weary of their own spiritless, formal prayers

and sermons.

Bishop Weaver of the United Brethren denomination uses the following

language, as quoted by a holiness periodical:

“_Power Versus Form._

“The pulpit ought to be a center of power. But is it? God said to Jonah,

‘Preach the preaching I bid thee.’ Jesus said, ‘Preach the gospel.’ Paul

said, ‘Preach the Word.’ Again he said, ‘We preach Christ.’ Philip

‘preached Jesus.’ All this means the selfsame thing. Christ is the soul of

the gospel as well as the substance of all doctrine. Much of the

preaching, reading or talking—whatever you please to call it—is Christless

and powerless. Of course, this is a refined age, and the people are away

up, but the devil can appear as refined as a saint. Nothing suits him

better than to get the preacher away from the gospel on to some fine topic

and then get some one to tell him (the preacher) that he made a fine

effort. The pulpit should proclaim the great, fundamental doctrines of the

Bible. But does it? The people are often treated to a well-written essay

or dissertation on some abstract question that does not contain an ounce

of pure gospel. There is neither lightning nor thunder in it. One reason

why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ was because it was the

power of God unto salvation. But it was no more the power of God unto

salvation then than it is now. It is the same eternal truth, yesterday,

to-day, and forever.

“In Hosea we read, ‘Like people, like priest.’ In Isaiah we read, ‘As with

the people, so with the priest.’ There is a great deal of harmony between

the pulpit and the pew. Everything goes along in an orderly manner. All

services must be short or the people can not stand them—short prayers,

short sermons, short everything. Oftentimes the service is gone through

with, and nothing in it but an out-and-out performance; no life, no

spirit, no power. Protestants often speak disparagingly of the ritualistic

services gone through with by the Roman Catholic church, but if you come

right down to it you will find about as much spirit and power in the one

as the other. The result is that scores and hundreds of men, and women,

and children are being gathered into the Protestant church who have not an

ounce of Christian experience. If reformation was necessary in the times

of Luther and Wesley in Europe, and Otterbein and Asbury in America, it is

scarcely less necessary now. But some one may say this is putting it too

strong. What are the facts? Is it not a fact that the church is drifting

away from the more spiritual to the social and intellectual? If the

religion of Jesus Christ is what the Bible represents it to be, then the

church in general is far below the standard. Where is the spiritual power

that was breathed into the apostolic church? Peter’s sermon on the day of

Pentecost was not what the people of to-day would call brilliant, but the

people were pricked, not in the head, but in the heart.

“What did it? Two things. First, he preached the gospel straight. Second,

the Holy Spirit quickened the Word spoken and made it powerful. What would

the people do if there should be such an uproar in some of our

congregations to-day? It would scare some of them half to death, and many

would run for dear life. But we have the same gospel Peter had, and the

same Holy Spirit to accompany the Word. What is the matter? The people do

not want it that way, neither does the devil. Thousands of church people

instead of praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, are asking such

questions as these: Is it wrong for a Christian to dance? to go to the

theater? to visit places of amusement? to play progressive euchre? etc.

Why don’t they ask such questions as these: Is it wrong to pray? to go to

church? to take the sacrament? etc. The fact is, a man or woman filled

with the Spirit of Christ knows without asking any questions whether a

thing is right or wrong.

“But some may say that the writer is getting old and feeble, and has

fallen far behind in the race, all of which is readily granted; but the

fact remains that we have the same gospel, which is as changeless as the

throne of God. If in the days of the Son of man and his inspired apostles

it was necessary that a man should be ‘born again,’ ‘born of the Spirit,’

‘made a new creature,’ and be ‘cleansed from all sin,’ it is necessary

now. If there ever was a time when men were born into the kingdom of grace

by the power of the Holy Ghost, it remains the same to-day. What under the

heavens is the use for preachers and people to go whining around, and

winking at this and that when they know it is out of harmony with the

plain teaching of God’s Word? It is all well enough to be nice and orderly

in the house of God, but there is no substitute for the power of the Holy

Spirit. Jesus Christ is the advocate between God and man, and the Holy

Spirit is the executive officer in the holy trinity. If the church with

its splendid machinery were endued with power as it might and ought to be,

there is no telling what might be done in the next ten years. But what

good is all this machinery, with no power to run it? What good is an

engine without steam? I saw Engine 999. It was beautiful to look at.

Everything was as near perfect as it could well be. But it was standing

stock-still. Why? There was no steam; no power to move a wheel. That

represents a good many congregations. The machinery is there, but no power

to run it. In Ezekiel’s vision he saw a marvelous vehicle, which moved

with great rapidity. But it did not move itself. The spirit of the living

creature was in the wheels; but for that it would not have moved at all.

So it is with the church. If the Spirit of the living God is not in it, it

will not and can not move forward. Oh, this spiritless, powerless

performance called worship. How it detracts from the usefulness of the

church!”

Such a description as given by Paul in the above prophecy, and by this

bishop, is true of sect Babylon of to-day. Such graceless, spiritless,

Christless institutions are dark enough to obscure the beautiful light of

the gospel.

The _Christian Advocate_, the organ of Methodism, a few years ago said:

“We are approaching a crisis in church life. Gradually, but surely,

disregard for the Bible, for the Sabbath, for the church, and for God, is

taking possession of Christians. Teachers whose reputation for scholarship

gives them wide influence, give it as their opinion that the Bible is not

inspired at all, except as other great books are inspired. This poison has

penetrated all our churches. The virus of skepticism has entered the

pulpits in our own denomination.”

Who can take issue with this editor? We very heartily agree with him. If

any one is disposed to doubt that the virus of skepticism has entered the

Methodist pulpits, he will only have to read the account of the meeting of

four hundred of the leading ministers of New York and vicinity, including

Bishop Edward G. Andrews. Below we give an account of the meeting as

published in the _Atlanta Journal_.

_Methodist Ministers Question The Bible._

At a meeting of Methodist ministers last Monday morning in New York City,

the validity of many of the stories of the Bible was questioned. Rev. S. P

Cadman urged at that meeting that the Bible could not be accepted as the

sole rule of faith any longer. He pointed out alleged discrepancies in it,

and said people could find truth only at its fountain head, Christ. The

other ministers applauded him.

“That the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible are no longer possible

of belief among reasonable men.”

This proposition, the acceptance of which will tear away the fundamental

pillar of Methodist theology, was urged in all force, sincerity, and

enthusiasm by the Rev. Cadman, pastor of the Metropolitan Temple, before

the regular weekly meeting of the Methodist ministers of New York.

Four hundred of the leading ministers of New York and its vicinity,

including Bishop Edward G. Andrews, were present when Mr. Cadman’s paper

was read. He was applauded when he arose to read it, and applauded again

when he got through.

Mr. Cadman’s paper was one of a series on Bible criticism. A paper taking

practically the same ground was read before the ministers on the Monday

evening before last, another paper on the subject will be read next

Monday.

This bold portentous utterance, involving the most radical departure from

accepted tenets of the Methodist church since its very foundation, was

made before the most representative body of Methodist clergy in America.

It included the vast majority of the preachers of Greater New York. It is

the first announcement of an impending controversy, which may shake the

Methodist church to its very foundation stones.

The acceptance of Dr. Cadman’s proposition, heard with respect and

applause by the New York ministers, is comparable to the adoption of a new

constitution for the United States. It places the Bible on the basis of

historical works on other than divine subjects; it rejects the

authenticity of all parts of Holy Scripture which are repugnant to human

reason.

Some of the details of the Bible that these ministers find fault with are:

That the earth was created in six days.

That Methuselah died at the age of 969 years.

That a whale swallowed Jonah, in whose belly he lay three days.

That the Red Sea was divided in order to permit the passage of the

children of Israel out of Egypt.

That a snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden.

That Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and that it obeyed him.

The tower of Babel narrative.

The turning of Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt.

The story of Noah, the flood, and the ark.

That God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush.

That Aaron turned his rod into a serpent.

That Moses tapped a rock, and that water gushed forth.

That Moses drew forth his hand and that it was “leprous, white as snow.”

That Elijah was translated to heaven in a chariot of fire.

That Elisha threw the mantle of Elijah across the Jordan, causing it to

dry up and allow him passage.

That the earth opened and swallowed Achan and his companions.

That Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked in a fiery furnace unharmed.

That Daniel stayed unhurt in the lions’ den.

Wm. S. Breakey, of New York, in a letter to the editor of the _Revivalist_

spoke concerning the above meeting and Methodism as follows: “I enclose a

clipping from the _New York Herald_ of recent date. It needs no comment,

and explains the lack of spiritual power in the M. E. church of to-day.

The attitude of the listening ministers and bishop, and their approval (of

a majority at least) of the sentiments expressed by the speaker and

indicated by the applause shows the extent to which this so-called liberal

element has permeated the M. E. church. This man is the leader of the

so-called forward movement of the M. E. church in New York City, a

movement consisting of short popular sermons, pleasant hours, Sunday

evening concerts, lectures, united choir, and the innumerable fandangoes

to entertain the people and keep the church crowded.

This is the Methodism of to-day in a leading metropolis of the country. It

makes my soul—and, I believe, the soul of every one jealous for the glory

of God and the honor of the Holy Spirit and the eternal welfare of human

souls being led into the ditch of eternal night by these blind,

reason-exalting leaders—cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, how long,’ must the

followers of the life of Jesus Christ endure these things and by their

silence be charged (by implication) with endorsing the present condition

of things and methods of church work?”

We are often told by those who know no better, that this world is becoming

more Christianized. The Bible says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax

worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13. People are

more advanced in invention and education than in former years, we frankly

admit. There are not the inhuman wars and barbarous massacres and bloody

persecutions that once were, and by hasty external view of political

governments and educational interest one may conclude that the world is

growing better. But where matters are growing worse and things becoming

more deceivable is to be found in “mystery Babylon the great” and her

harlot daughters; namely, Catholicism and the Protestant sects. They are

becoming more worldly and covetous, more proud and popularity-loving. They

are denying much of the Bible, turning their meeting-houses into concert

halls and opera-houses. In a village where we resided until recently the

Methodist meeting-house was called by the community in general the

Methodist theater.

The paper by Mr. Cadman as quoted above is a specimen of how they deny the

Bible. They almost unanimously deny the unity of the Bible, divine

healing, holiness and some of the ordinances. But in the decade to come

you will see much more astonishing things. The sectarian world is now just

setting sail upon such a sea of revelry, banqueting, money getting,

lewdness, and idolatry, as we have not seen before. Her awful sins will

reach unto heaven, yea, for some years past have been crying out against

her, but each year growing worse. Where is the aged man or woman but who

remembers the day when Methodists had a plain, unassuming, consecrated

ministry? The laity went plainly and modestly dressed. They had real Holy

Ghost revivals, but those days are gone. To-day she is intoxicated with

the spirit of worldliness. Every effort is being put forth, every nerve

strained, the power and energy of intellect used to dazzle the world by

oratory, and pompous show. O God, as we behold the awful sins of

sectarianism we feel in our soul like Jeremiah when he wrote his

Lamentation.

“Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, ... because the

children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.” “How is the

gold become dim! how is the fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary

are poured out in the top of every street.” “The kings of the earth, and

all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the

adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have

shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, they have wandered as

blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so

that men could not touch their garments.” “God will visit thine iniquity,

he will discover thy sins.”

The sins of Protestantism are sufficient cause to wring tears and prayers

and fastings from every Christian heart. Who will not consecrate his time,

talent, and means for the deliverance of God’s beloved from their

captivity?

The Prophecies Of Peter.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall

be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,

even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift

destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of

whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness

shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now

of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Pet.

2:1-3.

Here the inspired apostle foretells the coming of false teachers, who

shall bring in damnable heresies. Heresy is translated from the Greek word

_hairesis_. The word “sect” is translated from the same Greek word. The

word “damnable” is from the Greek _apoleia_, and means destruction. So the

rendering of Rotherham, “parties of destruction,” and of the German,

“destructive sects,” corresponds with the original. Protestant teachers

will readily tell you that these “false teachers” and “destructive sects”

refer to the heresies that sprang up in the first few centuries of this

Christian era. We admit that sects and parties arose in those primitive

days. We see something of this spirit in 1 Cor. 3:1-5.

But are sects damnable in one age of the world and commendable in another?

We conclude that if partyism, sectarianism, schisms, divisions, and

heresies were destructive and brought destruction upon their adherents in

the first centuries, it will do likewise in the last centuries. Paul says,

“I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you

all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions [schisms, margin]

among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and

in the same judgment.” 1 Cor. 1:10.

Many shall follow in the pernicious ways of these heresies. Is not this

true at this present time? By them the way of truth shall be evil spoken

of. There is scarcely a sectarian in the universe but will speak evil of

some portion of the truth. These false teachers shall with feigned words

make merchandise of their followers, because of their covetousness. This

is really more true of present day sectarian preachers than it was of the

false teachers in the first centuries. Does not the ministry of the

present day resort to the telling of amusing stories, and touching

incidents, and fabulous tales to amuse and allure the people, and are they

not making merchandise of them? Are they not receiving large salaries? And

no matter how poor you may be you must pay your preacher or else you have

no hearty welcome to membership. The preacher can sit in his easy chair

with folded arms while you labor and strive for his support. He can spend

his evenings in luxury and pleasure while you are tossing upon your bed

thinking and planning how to clothe and feed your little ones and get

money to pay your church dues; for you know full well if you do not pay

you will be snubbed and rejected and finally cut off and made believe, if

possible, that you are on your way to hell.

The remainder of this chapter, beginning with the twelfth verse is a vivid

description of the hireling ministry of these days. For the benefit of the

reader we will quote and number each verse and give brief comment. 12.

“But these as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak

evil of the things they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their

own corruption.”

They are not governed by the Bible, but as “brute beasts” follow their

covetous ways, speaking evil of the holy commandments of God, which they

do not understand. They are the “blind leaders of the blind.”

13. “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count

it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting

themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.”

The excursions of sightseeing and pleasure, the picnics and parties they

count great pleasure. Characters that engage in such revelry and

worldliness are spots and blemishes to Christianity. We are commanded to

keep ourselves unspotted from the world. “Sporting themselves with their

own deceivings while they feast with you.” They will teach their young

members that it is no harm to go to the party, to attend the shows and

fairs, the suppers and entertainments, to play cards for amusement, and

many like things; and with their own deceivings they will feast with them

in such sports.

14. “Having eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin;

beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous

practises; cursed children.”

Their hearts are inclined to evil ways and filled with fleshly desires;

loving the things of the world and often confessing, “We can not live in

this world without committing sin.” By their evil example and false

teachings they are beguiling many unstable souls. Their covetous heart is

scarcely ever satisfied.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of these prophets saying, “They are all

ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they can not bark; sleeping, lying down,

loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough.”

Isa. 56:10, 11. This is a lazy, ease-loving greedy ministry. If they are

getting $500.00 a year they will want $600.00. If they are receiving

$1,000.00 they will want $1,200.00, and go wherever they can get the most.

“Cursed children.”

15. “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the

way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

These false teachers have known a better way. The Lord showed Balaam the

right way, but he was seduced by the reward offered by Balak. So with

these teachers; they once knew a more righteous way, but have turned aside

for the wages of unrighteousness.

16. “But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s

voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” As Balaam was rebuked by the

dumb ass, so these false teachers in their madness for worldly honor, gain

and wisdom are rebuked by the humble ignorant Christians, whom they

consider as dumb ignorant creatures.

17. “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a

tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.”

Salvation is often spoken of as the “water of life.” These false teachers

are wells without water. Their preaching does not feed and water their

flock. Their empty forms and stale essays contain no spiritual food. For

this reason there is a famine throughout Babylon. “Behold, the days come,

saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of

bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos

8:11. From the pulpit we hear lectures, stories, and history, and not the

pure gospel; this is the cause of this famine. “Clouds they are carried

with a tempest.” When there is some appearance of rain or water from these

teachers, and you have hopes of hearing some of the Word of God, behold

some false wind of doctrine for personal advantage carries away every sign

of rain.

18. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure

through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were

clean escaped from them who live in error.”

They preach in sublime style, and speak great words of vanity, almost

incomprehensible to common people, and by touching incidents and

sympathetic stories they allure, and those who were really converted are

often led into error and formalism by these vain teachers.

19. “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of

corruption.”

From the pulpit they speak in elegant, flowery language of Jesus and

heaven, and give great promises of blessings to their hearers, while they

themselves are walking in sin and under bondage to the flesh.

It is not difficult for all who are not entombed in the mystic fogs of

Babylon delusion to locate the fulfilment of this prophecy. Were Peter

living today and should look over the Catholic and Protestant ministry he

could not pen a better description of them than he has here done.

The Prophecy Of Jude.

“Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion,

and speak evil of dignities.” Ver. 8.

“But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they

know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily

after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of

Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you,

feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried

about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,

plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own

shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness

forever.” Ver. 10-13.

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lust; and their

mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration

because of advantage.” Ver. 16.

We believe that comment here is unnecessary since commenting on Peter’s

prophecy. In verses seventeen and eighteen Jude tells us these are the

mockers of Christianity that should come in the last time, who should walk

after their own ungodly lust. Jude foresees the great dark beastly manism

that was to darken the earth in the clear day, the same as was seen by the

Savior, Paul, and Peter.

When quoting the twelfth verse the Spirit of the Lord referred us to the

wonderful prophecy of Ezekiel: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds

of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the

shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!

should not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you

with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The

diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was

sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye

brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that

which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezek.

34:2-4.

These shepherds feed and clothe themselves. They are more concerned for

their own personal gain than for the souls of the people. If they do not

receive an ample salary they will leave the souls to perish. They are

unlike Paul, who labored with his own hands for his support while he fed

starving souls upon the words of life. He was a light in the world, and

the covetous, greedy shepherds are creators of darkness. These prophecies

are all true of the present day sectarian ministry. They are the hireling

shepherds that flee when they see the wolf coming. When poverty comes,

they flee to a place where they are better supported. The prophecies

concerning the apostasy are more particularly against the ministry than

the laity, because the ministers are the leaders, leading their followers

on in darkness.

The Revelation Of John.

The prophecies of the book of Revelation have long been a mystery to the

people. Occasionally some honest soul, laboring under the confusing mists

of sectish night, has attempted to reveal the secret things of this book.

His interpretations were so obscure and erroneous that he has only added

confusion to confusion and mystery to mystery. However in the past few

years as we are nearing the “time of the end,” God by his Spirit has made

clear these prophecies unto his humble, devoted people. Trusting in God to

give the proper interpretation by his Spirit we will ask the reader to

consider with us some of the prophecies of this book.

_Chapter 13._

Ver. 1. “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out

of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten

crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”

“Beast” means a fleshly, human, or mannish power. “Sea” is often used to

represent trouble, upheaval, and commotions. History abounds with accounts

of the upheavals in the ecclesiastical heavens between bishops in the

third century. Out of these contentions and strivings and confusions arose

in the year 325 A.D., a beastly or mannish form of ecclesiastical

government; namely, the Roman Catholic church.

The “seven heads” have by some writers been interpreted to be the seven

mountains on which the city of Rome is situated. For proof of this

interpretation they quote Rev. 17:9. How that inanimate, literal mountains

can represent heads, since the head contains the power of intellect and

authority, lies beyond our comprehension.

That the ten horns are the ten kingdoms spoken of by Daniel (chap. 7, ver.

24) is, we consider, unquestionable. Now it may be a little obscure why

the Revelator will make use of ten stately kingdoms to represent the ten

horns of an ecclesiastical government. It is because this ecclesiastical

government is human the same as a state government; and because the

beastly Romish church was supported, and became what they were pleased to

call both church and state.

The seven heads are seven supreme forms of government. These seven heads

are seven mountains (not literal) and the seven mountains are seven kings.

Rev. 17:9, 10. History tells us there were seven distinct forms of

government in the Roman empire. The first, a royal or kingly government,

continued about 428 years. The second was republic in form under the

administration of dictators. This form of government continued eighty and

eight years. The third form of government was under the absolute control

of ten magistrates called decemvirs, and are also called prætors. The

duration of this form of government exceeded three hundred years. In the

year 336 B.C., the third form of government came to an end by the Latins

being conquered by the Romans, and the consulate government succeeded,

which continued until about the year 50 B.C. The fifth form of government

was under the control of three men, and therefore called a triumvirate.

The triumvirate form of government came to an end before John’s vision of

these heads. These are the five “fallen ones.” Rev. 17:10. The power that

then was, which was the sixth head of the beast, was the imperial power of

the Cæsars, which continued more than four hundred years. The seventh

power was the patriciate, which continued about fifty years.

These are the seven heads and ten horns—the seven forms of government, and

the ten kingdoms out of which grew the eleventh horn which Daniel saw, or

the beast which John saw. Thus we have the beast with its seven heads and

ten horns.

Ver. 2. “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet

were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the

dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”

Sins and worldliness are termed spots by the Bible. The leopard is a

spotted beast, so no other animal could better represent the Romish sect

with its dark spots of sin and crime. The bear makes use of the foot to

deal the deadly blow upon an enemy. The papacy with its tyrannical feet

has trodden down all that would dare rise against it. Great thunderings

and loud roarings proceed out of the mouth of the lion in his strength and

glory. So this beast fitly represents the Catholic church in her boasted

strength, power, and authority.

The dragon that gave this ecclesiastical beast its authority and seat was

the Roman state. In connection with this we will consider the first three

verses of the twelfth chapter of Revelation. “And there appeared a great

wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her

feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” Ver. 1. The woman is the

church. By believing or standing upon the Word a soul is brought into the

church by the Spirit. Thus the church stands upon the moon (the Word of

God), clothed by the sun (the Spirit). This is no disagreement with a

former use we have made of the sun and moon as symbols. An object may be

used to symbolize different things in different prophecies.

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red

dragon, having seven heads and ten horns.” Ver. 3. This dragon is the same

as the dragon that gave power to the beast of Rev. 13:2; namely, the Roman

state. The Roman empire, pagan as it was, endeavored to devour the church

as is said of the dragon in Rev. 12:4.

We will now return to Rev. 13:3: “And I saw one of his heads as it were

wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world

wondered after the beast.”

As we have before observed, the seven original heads were the seven

principalities, or forms of government, which gave rise to the Roman

empire. A head or an ecclesiastical form of government in Romanism

received a wound. The world wondered after the beast. This beast

religion—manism—the Catholic sect, was now looked upon as the church. It

was considered the only way to heaven. There was no salvation outside her

walls. The true church was hidden. The sun, moon and stars were eclipsed.

Christ had given his authority over to the pope, so it was believed, and

the Romish sect stepped into the place of the true church. Christ and his

church—the lights of the world—were no longer seen. The pope and his

church stood up in their sins and abominations, and the world looked upon

them as the church. This is certainly sufficient cause for darkness at the

noonday.

Ver. 4. “And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:

and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is

able to make war with him?”

The people worshiped not only the church of Rome, but both church and

state; for they were now consolidated. So the people worshiped the dragon

and the beast, and boasted of their greatness.

Ver. 5. “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and

blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two

months.”

From this text there opens a wide field before us, which we will enter for

a while, and then return again to the further consideration of this

chapter.

The pope’s claims of power to forgive sins, to be infallible, to be the

vicegerent of the Son of God, to have power to deliver from purgatory, and

a number of other shameful pretensions, are certainly shocking

blasphemies. Power was given him forty and two months.

In Rev. 12:6, the woman (the church) is described as fleeing into the

wilderness prepared for her of God, there to be fed a thousand two hundred

and three score days. Here we learn that the woman fled from before the

dragon and was protected of God (or fed) from the dragon’s power for a

thousand two hundred and three score days. This is virtually the same

power; namely, the Romish state and church, that continued forty and two

months as spoken of above.

In Rev. 11:3 we have another allusion made to the church of God at this

period. “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall

prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in

sackcloth.” A day in Scripture is used in different texts to represent

different lengths of time. In some texts quoted in the introduction of

this work a day is used to represent the whole of the Christian

dispensation. Again it is said that “one day is with the Lord as a

thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” In Rev. 11:11, a day is

used to represent one hundred years; and in Ezek. 4:6, we learn that a day

is often used to represent one year. A day in Rev. 11:3 and 12:6 signifies

one year. Forty and two months (as mentioned in Rev. 13:5) are equal to

1260 days, allowing 30 days to the month. Here also a day signifies a

year. Thus the beast supported by the dragon had power 1260 years. While

this beast was in authority the woman was in obscurity, which was 1260

years. While the beast was in power and the woman in silence the two

witnesses could only testify in sackcloth, which was 1260 years. These two

witnesses in the church of God are the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.

A sackcloth dress is one donned in a time of grief or lamentation. The

Word and Spirit of God, because of the sad state of the church, were

draped in mourning or sackcloth.

We have before learned that the date of the rise of the apostasy was 270

A.D. By these prophecies made plain by the Holy Spirit we clearly

understand the first beast as seen in the apostasy was to continue 1260

years, which added to 270 years will bring us down to 1530 A.D. At this

date we have the Lutheran reformation, when the power of Catholicism as a

universal state church was broken. The world as a whole no longer looked

upon that dark, ungodly institution as the only way to heaven. They saw

there was salvation outside the pales of Romanism.

Now we will return to Rev. 13th chapter. Ver. 6. “And he opened his mouth

in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and

them that dwell in heaven.”

We have already spoken of how the papacy uttered blasphemy against God and

his name, his church and his true people.

Ver. 7. “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to

overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and

nations.”

Catholicism numbers her slain by the thousands. If your human heart can

endure the reading of a book on martyrdom and the tortures of the

inquisition, you would there learn that it was the Romish sect that made

war with and overcame the saints. To her was granted power over kings and

nations. While the state gave her her power, she in turn rose to power and

rule over the state.

Ver. 8. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names

were not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation

of the world.”

Ver. 9. “If any man have an ear to hear, let him hear.”

Ver. 10. “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that

killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience

and the faith of the saints.”

All worshiped the papacy except those who were really spiritual, and those

were slain. The tenth verse is a prophecy against her; as she killed with

the sword, so she shall be killed with the sword (the Word of God).

Ver. 11. “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth: and he

had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”

Here appears upon the scene another beast. A human ecclesiasticism, a

manism. Protestant authors who brand the first beast as the Roman

hierarchy are confounded at the appearance of this second beast. By these

two beasts we understand the apostasy to be under two forms. We have no

hesitancy in branding this second beast as Protestantism. In the church of

God all is controlled exclusively by the Holy Spirit. There is no manism

in the church of God, therefore it is not animal or beastly. All sectism

is controlled largely by man, therefore is a beast power. At first

Protestantism had a mild, gentle, lamb-like appearance compared with

Catholicism.

The two horns are two state powers that gave support to the beast. Germany

and England supported Protestantism, therefore are the two horns. The

dragon spoken of in this eleventh verse is, like in the second verse and

also in chapter 12:3, a state power.

This second beast “exercised all the power of the first beast before him.”

See ver. 12. Was this not true in England, where the king was head of both

church and state? Consequently we see that the second beast or man

religion spoken of was authorized by a dragon or state power. In verse

thirteen it is said he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come

down from heaven on the earth. Throughout the reign of Protestantism there

has been frequent spiritual revivals and reformations. God really sent the

Holy Spirit fire upon the honest efforts of men, and wonders were

accomplished betimes in the name of Jesus.

In the fourteenth verse it is said that he deceived them that dwell on the

earth by the means of those miracles which he did. Each reformation in the

past three centuries was begun by holy men, upon whom God sent the holy

fire; but others rising up subsequently, who were devoid of spirituality,

built upon their foundation, and now deceive the people in making them

believe that they and their sect institutions are of God because God

manifested himself to their predecessors. In this verse we also learn that

an image was made unto the first beast. Upon the work of each reformer a

sect institution was organized, which was fashioned after the Roman

Catholic sect the mother of all sects.

According to the words of the fifteenth verse these images will in some

future day, which the Lord knows, find a consummation in one great image,

unto which all bow and pay homage or else suffer martyrdom. To receive the

mark of the beast as spoken of in verse sixteen is to receive the

ceremonies and customs and doctrines peculiar to each respective sect. Any

one acquainted with the customs and doctrines of the different

denominations can to-day determine to what denomination a stranger belongs

by his dress or manner of speech. The number six hundred sixty-six refers

to the number of leading religious denominations.

We will now, briefly as possible, consider the first eight verses of the

seventeenth chapter of Revelation. In verse one John speaks of seeing a

great whore sitting upon many waters. In verse two he speaks of the kings

of the earth becoming drunk on the wine of her fornication. This has all

been true in the papacy. There is in this hierarchy an enchanting,

delusive spirit that has intoxicated her subjects. This is the real secret

of her power.

In Rev. 17:5 the apostasy is termed “Mystery, Babylon the Great, The

Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” Here we see again the

apostasy in two forms or generations. The mother is the first, and is

identical with the first beast of Rev. 13:1. The harlot daughters are the

second, and are identical with the second beast of Rev. 13:11. We consider

it needful to enquire what is meant by the term

Babylon.

There is the natural world and the spiritual world. Babylon has existed

under both. There are many references made to it in both the Old and New

Testaments. In the Old Testament we find the origin and final doom of

literal Babylon. In the Apocalypse we find the origin and final doom of

spiritual Babylon, the antitype. In the days of Noah the world became very

wicked and God destroyed all save Noah and his family. For a time after

the flood the people were righteous and the whole earth was one language

and one speech. Gen. 11:1. God’s people in those days all spoke the same

language and understood each other, because they understood truth as it

was.

“And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a

plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to

another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had

brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let

us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let

us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole

earth.” Gen. 11:2-4.

God’s people started on a pilgrimage in the order of God, but they

tarried, they ceased to “go forward.” Had God’s people continued on

Babylon would never have been built. This has its spiritual import. When

God’s spiritual people cease to advance, when they get out of God’s order,

they will soon seek some other way to heaven.

This ancient city of Babylon grew until it became a mighty, resistless,

universal empire. For a time in its history it held the people of God in

captivity. The day came, however, when this mighty city passed away

forever. The only dwellers among its lonely ruins are wild beasts and

hissing serpents. The Babylon mentioned in Revelation is the spiritual

antitype. The great tower of ancient Babel finds its antitype in mystery

Babylon, the mother, and the diversified city at its feet finishes its

antitype in the multiplicity of sects and creeds, where they speak a

different spiritual language, as they cluster around their mother’s knee.

In this great apostate Babylon the true children of God have long been

taken captive, but the day comes when God’s own make their escape and

return to spiritual Jerusalem, their native home. The Revelator beholds

spiritual Babylon in a fallen condition inhabited only by foul, devilish

spirits, and unclean and hateful birds. Rev. 18:2.

There are many prophecies in Daniel and other chapters of Revelation

relating to the dark apostasy of the noonday, which we reluctantly forbear

to consider in this work, but are compelled to do so lest our volume swell

to too great proportions.

In the conclusion of this chapter we desire to make a few quotations from

other authors concerning mystery Babylon and her harlot daughters.

“This woman (popery) is called the mother of harlots and abominations. Who

are the daughters? The Lutheran, the Presbyterian, and the Episcopalian

are all branches of the Roman Catholic. Are not these demonstrated harlots

and abominations in the above passage? I so decide. I could not, with the

stake before me decide, otherwise. Presbyterians and Episcopalians compose

a part of Babylon. They hold the distinctive principles of papacy in

common with papists.”—_Tennessee Baptist._

“I think Christ has a true church on earth, but its members are scattered

among the various denominations, and are more or less under the influence

of mystery Babylon and her daughters.”—_Bible Doctrine_ p. 249.

“Is antichrist confined to the church of Rome? The answer is readily

returned in the affirmative by Protestants in general, and happy had it

been for the world were that the case. But although we are fully warranted

to consider that church as the mother of harlots, the truth is that by

whatsoever arguments we succeed in fixing that odious charge upon her, we

shall by parity of reasoning be obliged to allow other national churches

to be her unchaste daughters, and for this plain reason, among others,

because in their very constitution and tendency they are hostile to the

nature of the kingdom of Christ.”—_Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge._

“The writer of the book of Revelation tells us he heard a voice from

heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people.’ If such persons are to be

found in the mother of harlots, with much less hesitancy it may be

inferred that they are connected with her unchaste daughters, these

national churches, which are founded upon what are called Protestant

principles.”—_Encyclopedia of Religion._

“If she be the mother, who are the daughters? It must be the corrupt

national established churches that came out of her.”—_Lorenzo Dow._

Chapter III. False Teachings Of The Apostasy.

This is subject enough for volumes. There is scarcely a text in the Bible

but what has been perverted by some one confused by the fogs of Babylon.

Perhaps you can not find two individuals in the whole of sectism that see

“eye to eye” upon the whole truth. To mention all the erroneous teachings

of apostates would be almost impossible. However we believe it to be

compatible with this work and to the glory of God to mention and refute a

few of the false doctrines that have been most effectual in obscuring the

light of the sun and moon.

We will quote from an unknown author the following unscriptural dogmas of

the Romish sect, and the date of their origin:

Prayers for the dead A.D. 200.

Worship of saints, angels and martyrs 350.

Worship of Virgin Mary developed 431.

Worship in unknown tongue 600.

Papal supremacy 606.

Worship of images and relics imposed 788.

Baptism of bells 965.

Obligatory celibacy of priests 1000.

Infallibility of church 1076.

Sale of indulgences 1190.

Transubstantiation officially decreed 1215.

Auricular confession officially imposed 1215.

Cup kept from laity officially sanctioned 1415.

Purgatory officially recognized 1430.

Romish tradition put on level with Scripture 1540.

Immaculate conception proclaimed 1864.

Papal infallibility proclaimed 1870.

These dogmas are without Scriptural authority. They are only the

traditions of men, and is it any wonder that the pure light of the gospel

of the Son of God was dimmed when such blasphemous doctrines were

substituted? Besides these, in the papacy originated many other erroneous

superstitious doctrines that have been handed down and perpetuated through

Protestantism. One of the most general is that of

Infant Baptism.

This ceremony is wholly without Scriptural foundation. We have previously

shown the true object and mode of baptism, and who are proper candidates.

We asked a mother recently, whose babe had just been “christened,” as she

termed it, by a Methodist preacher, “What benefit has your child derived

from this ceremony?” Her answer was like this: “None at all, but I had it

done because others do it.” And so it is with many other traditions and

customs of men. Many a parent has their babe “christened” merely because

it is a custom, or the preacher has said so, never searching the Word of

God to know the reason why. Had she searched the Word of the Lord to know

something of this doctrine she never would have found the object of her

search. As we look upon the “christening” of an infant we are reminded

more of heathendom than of the kingdom of grace.

The word “christen” we have not been able to find in the Bible. Nowhere

since the ordinance of baptism was instituted have we a commandment to

baptize infants, and nowhere in all the evangelistic work of the apostles

is there an instance of infant baptism recorded. If it is as important as

some teach, even the child’s eternal destiny depending upon it, do you not

think there would have been some plain commandment in the teaching of

Jesus and his apostles to that end? One command would be sufficient, but

we have none. Infant baptism originated in the confusions of the apostasy.

John refused to baptize some because they bore no fruit of repentance.

Repentance, therefore, must precede baptism. This was plainly taught by

Peter. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of

you in the name of Jesus.” Acts 2:38. A little child can not repent, and

needs no repentance.

Does baptizing an infant prepare it for heaven? If so, give one text as

proof. If an unbaptized infant dies, will it be damned? If so, give one

text as proof. Does baptism make the child any more religiously inclined,

and will it not go into sin the same as unbaptized children? Give one text

showing what is effected by infant baptism. Thousands are having their

children baptized, and they do not know the reason why any more than that

it is a custom. Thus we behold the meaninglessness, looseness, and

carelessness of professed Christians. Just doing things because others do

them. They have no conviction from God nor the Bible. God wants us to be

able to give a Scriptural reason for all we do in our form of worship.

Some have taught that circumcision of the Old Testament typifies infant

baptism. This is a gross error. The circumcision of the Mosaic law is

typical of a broken, penitent heart. “For he is not a Jew, that is one

outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh;

but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the

heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men,

but of God.” Rom. 2:28, 29. A man was made a Jew under the old law by

circumcision. He is made a spiritual Jew by the circumcision of the heart

under the New Testament. It was only the male children that were

circumcised according to the law of Moses. If circumcision be typical of

infant baptism, it is only the boy infant that would be Scripturally

baptized. You may ask, “What harm can result from such ceremony, even if

it accomplishes no good?” It leads the child into error, and blinds his

understanding to the true mode and object of baptism. To be a light in the

world is to be and do just as Jesus did. To be in error concerning any

doctrine of the Bible is to be to that extent in darkness.

The baptism of infants is wholly without Scriptural foundation, and is one

of the erroneous teachings of the apostasy, a doctrine that aided in

darkening the pure light of the gospel.

Sprinkling And Pouring.

These forms of baptism originated among the heretics of the second

century. “_Ego men baptizo humas en hudati._” Mat. 3:11. To give this a

true literal translation, we have: “I indeed immerse you in water.”

Immersion is a mode of baptism, and the only Scriptural one. We have no

account of sprinkling and pouring until the third century. The Novatians

practised it in the third century. When we understand the true object of

baptism, and what it represents, we find that sprinkling and pouring would

be altogether inappropriate.

Trine Immersion.

This is another doctrine of the apostasy. We have before stated that

baptism represents a burial. Rom. 6:4. We can at once see the

inappropriateness of three immersions. So far as we know all trine

immersionists immerse forward. This does not fitly represent a burial. The

baptismal formula of Mat. 28:19 is the trine immersionists strongest

proof-text. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Ghost.” These three, we are told, are one. 1 John 5:7. There are three

personages in the Godhead, but these three are one. It does not require

three acts of faith for pardon, yet we are told to believe in God, and to

believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, etc. To be baptized in the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ is to be baptized in the name of the full triune God,

because in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead. Col 2:9.

The disciples well understood the Savior in his commission in Mat. 28:19.

They baptized under his direction before the commission. One act in the

name of the Lord Jesus is all we can find them practising. “And he

commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 10:48. “When

they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts

19:5. “They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 8:16.

Tertullian in the third century in writing on the subject of baptism says,

“We solemnly profess that we disown the devil and his pomp and his angels.

Hereupon we are thrice immersed, making a somewhat ampler pledge than the

Lord has appointed in the gospel.”—_The Crown._

Trine immersionists make use of such historical records to establish the

doctrine of trine immersion. Instead of being in its favor, it is against

them. They were at this time under the delusions of a heresy. Apostate

teachers had elected exorcists in what they called the church, whose

business it was to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism. This is

an awful heresy. Those of whom Tertullian writes disown the devil under

the hand of these exorcists and are then thrice baptized. Tertullian

understands, however, that this heresy is performing more than the Lord

Jesus had appointed. Sprinkling, pouring, and trine immersion originated

under the apostasy. Single immersion is the only Scriptural mode of

baptism.

Church Organization.

To-day the teachers in Babylon and their subjects are in darkness

concerning church organization. The election of officers and their framing

of laws, and the location of the ministers by the annual conference are

all human authority, and belong to the apostasy. The Holy Spirit is the

sole organizer in the church of the Bible. There are a few texts in which

the Holy Spirit is spoken of as working in conjunction with man, or using

man as an agency. This is very limited. Conferences claim to work in

conjunction with the Holy Spirit, but we have no such instances in the

Scripture. One minister told me he trusted the Holy Spirit to direct

conference to give him the proper appointment. This is popish—man not able

to be directed by the Holy Spirit himself, but has a mediator.

Our space will prevent our telling of the adding of tradition to the

Scripture, and of the rejection of much of the Word of God. Catholicism

and Protestantism largely deny the doctrine of holiness. Some of the

Protestant teachers teach holiness to a degree, but very few, or none of

them, teach true Bible holiness. By far the large majority of sectarians

reject the doctrine of Christian perfection, heart purity, or freedom from

sin. Is it any wonder they are a great object of darkness when they are

living in and can not be free from the very element of darkness? There is

no light in them. The vast majority of the beast worshipers reject the

doctrine of divine healing. As plainly as it is recorded in the Bible,

they in the darkness comprehend it not. The whole of the sectarian world

denies the unity of God’s people as taught by the Savior, and as

experienced by the church in the morning light. Nearly the whole of

mystery Babylon and her harlot daughters reject the sacred ordinance of

feet-washing. Some of them deny all the ordinances, and the others have

misused and misapplied them so as to make them without meaning. But few

sects that practise the lifting up of holy hands, and the greeting with a

holy kiss.

The humble ordinances of feet-washing and greeting with a holy kiss are

very repugnant to the generality of proud-hearted sectarians. They look

upon these ordinances as being degrading to morality. They call it an “act

which public decency abhors.” Here they are mistaken: it is not public

decency that abhors it; it is a proud heart. A holy kiss is not indecent,

whether it be public or private.

Proud, sensual hearts have very depraved ideas of what is true decency. We

will here give an authentic newspaper account of a scene which all the

pure in heart consider a public indecency, moral degrading, Christian

disgracing and soul damning.

“Buffalo, Feb. 4—A lively row is in progress at Burns, a little town about

twenty miles from Buffalo, growing out of a new money-making scheme,

introduced at a church social held there in the Lutheran church parlors.

The church is heavily in debt, and the ladies advertised a social in the

church to raise money to pay the preacher and buy some coal. The men of

the congregation had all been seen and informed that the women had a big

surprise for them.

“Across one end of the room was a curtain. For an hour the guests chatted

after the old-fashioned church social style. Then the curtain was suddenly

withdrawn. There in a row stood six of the prettiest women in the

congregation, blushing and smiling, each bearing upon her bosom a placard,

on which were the words, ‘You may kiss me for 25cts.’

“It was fifteen minutes before the device began to work; but when it did,

the silver quarters fairly showered into the young ladies’ circle. Old and

young rushed eagerly to the front to exchange coins for kisses. The show

lasted only a short time, when the curtain was drawn. Then the storm

burst. The women were jealous of their husbands, and a dozen or more

family fights were started at once.”

Similar scenes, and still more degrading ones, are occurring daily in the

aristocratic religious denominations. The sect parties and socials, the

fashionable balls, the obscene theatrical performances, are enjoyed, and

admired, and applauded, by thousands so low in morality that they feel no

shame. Their hearts are so naturalized and inclined to lewd ways that sin

can scarcely bring a feeling of shame. It is only holy and pure things

that are repugnant to their dispositions and inclinations.

A large majority of the sectarian world reject the scriptures that teach

plainness of dress, that condemn revelry and fleshly lusts. There is not a

sect upon the earth but what rejects some portion of God’s Word, and

taking them all together, probably there is not a text in the Bible but

what is rejected or perverted by them. Sectism to-day presents a

deplorable picture.

I would ask the reader to look at the plain, simple truths of the Bible as

taught by the Savior and the disciples. Picture to your mind, by what

knowledge you have of Scripture, the life of Christ and the apostles and

the church in their day. Notice their humility, their equality, their care

for souls, their privations, their persecutions, their holiness, their

faith for healing the sick, their oneness, their unselfishness, their love

for each other, their separation from the world, and their belief of the

whole truth. Alongside of this place a picture of the religious

denominations of to-day with their proud, highly educated and

high-salaried ministry, rejecting much of the Bible; denying holiness and

the humble ordinances, no healing faith, assuming proud titles, building

fine temples, living in ease and luxury, joined to the world free from

persecution—their greed for money, their revelry, the pomp and show—and,

oh, what do you see of the church of God? Truly, this great dark beastly

sect religion has darkened the pure church of God.

We can scarcely forbear mentioning and exposing many other false teachings

of the denominational world, but will console ourself with the hope that

the reader will thoroughly acquaint himself with the Word of God and try

every spirit and doctrine by the same. There remains yet one almost

universal false and dangerous doctrine, which we deem but justice to the

reader to refute. I refer to the doctrine of the

Millennium.

This is not a Bible word, nor a Bible doctrine. It is a word and teaching

of the apostasy. The word is used to denote a thousand years. The most

general teaching of the millennialist is that there will be a personal

reign of Christ upon this earth of a thousand years after his second

coming. There are very many theories respecting the millennium. This of

itself is enough to make the doctrine very questionable. If there is such

a doctrine in the Bible it should be so sufficiently clear as to not admit

of so much disagreement. The millennial doctrine as taught by sectarian

teachers we emphatically declare to be wholly without Scriptural

foundation. It is a purpose of Satan to cause man to place what should be

a present realization to some time in the past or future.

In the days previous to the coming of Christ the Jews were in great

expectation concerning the kingdom of God. They looked forward with great

joy and anticipation to the coming of Christ, their King, who should set

up a kingdom which should never be destroyed. They expected him to reign

in a pomp and splendor that excelled the Cæsars. The kingdom of God came,

but their proud hearts and high mind overlooked it altogether. The same is

true to-day. The cold formal professors in Babylon see in the Bible a

glowing description of the kingdom of God, and they, failing to come to

its present and blessed realizations, have come to the conclusion that it

must be in an age to come.

With perfect confidence we say there is not one text in the Bible speaking

of the glory of Christ’s kingdom but what is fulfilled here in salvation

or in the eternal glory world above. There is no intervening state of

peace and righteousness. We will briefly notice some of the principal

texts used by millennial teachers, and we will find almost every one, if

not every one, refers to the wonders of salvation here in this life. Mr.

Talmage, in a sermon in October 1898, said in referring to Isa. 35:6: “In

the millennial the lame man shall leap as an hart.” Where can we behold a

greater exposition of Bible ignorance? There is not a sentence in the

whole of this chapter but points to the blessings of grace in this gospel

day. Did not the lame man leap as an hart in the days of Christ and the

apostles? Why will man be so unfair or so blind as to place the fulfilment

of such prophecies in a millennial, when every word has been fulfilled,

and is being fulfilled to-day, in those who are possessing the fulness of

Christ’s kingdom?

A text quoted by millennial teachers everywhere is found in Isa. 11:6-8:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down

with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;

and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed;

their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw

like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and

the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.” In the next

verse you will learn where this peacefulness shall reign.

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” It is in God’s

holy mountain where they shall not hurt nor destroy. What is God’s holy

mountain? It is Zion, the church. “And it shall come to pass in the last

days [the gospel days] that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be

established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the

hills; and all nations [both Jew and Gentile] shall flow unto it. And many

people shall go and say, Come ye; and let us go up to the mountain of the

Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways,

and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and

the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isa. 2:2, 3.

This is surely too plain to need comment, Zion is the Lord’s mountain. The

wolf dwelling with the Lamb is figurative language, and never will be

literally fulfilled, but has been spiritually and figuratively fulfilled

throughout the whole of this Christian dispensation. It shows the wonders

of God’s grace. Jesus called Herod a “fox.” Luke 13:32. He certainly did

not mean that he was truly a fox, but that he had a thieving, dishonest,

foxlike disposition. Paul says, “Beware of dogs.” Phil. 3:2. He is not

giving us a warning against this literal animal, but against men that have

a fierce and doglike nature. Jesus again says, “Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening

wolves.” Mat. 7:15. Here we learn that men are inwardly ravening wolves;

that is, they have a devouring, wolflike disposition. Thus we could

continue.

In Isa. 35:9 it says that no lion shall be in the highway of holiness. In

a Christian’s holy life there is no lionlike nature. God’s salvation saves

men from such dispositions. And the whole of Isa. 11:6-8 is a prophecy

relating to this present time, when the salvation of Jesus saves men from

all wolf, bear, lion, and leopardlike natures, and fills all with a

peaceable nature, that an innocent child shall lead them.

Please read the first verse of this chapter. Do we not find its fulfilment

in Christ? Also read the tenth verse. Does it not point to the Savior? It

all relates to the time when Christ shall come and the Gentile can be

saved as well as the Jew. The ninth verse is often misquoted. Many say

that in the millennium “righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters

cover the sea.” Such is not Scripture. But in this ninth verse it is said,

“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover

the sea.” This relates to the coming of Christ, when not only the Jews

shall have the Word of God and a knowledge of him, but every nation is

granted the Bible and salvation.