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One who sees beneath the surface, who reads the hearts of all men, says
of those who have had great light: "They are not afflicted and astonished
because of their moral and spiritual condition." Yea, they have chosen their
own ways, and their soul delighteth in their
abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears
upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did
not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I
delighted not." "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie," because they received not the love of the truth, that they
might be saved," "but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Isaiah 66:3, 4; 2
Thessalonians 2:11, 10, 12.
The heavenly Teacher inquired: "What stronger delusion can beguile the
mind than the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and
that God accepts your works, when in reality you are working out many things
according to worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? Oh, it is a
great deception, a fascinating delusion, that takes possession of minds when
men who have once known the truth, mistake the form of godliness for the
spirit and power thereof; when they suppose that they are rich and increased
with goods and in need of nothing, while in reality they are in need of
everything." (8T 249)
“Babylon
is also charged with the sin of unlawful connection with "the
kings of the earth." It was by departure from the Lord, and alliance
with the heathen, that the Jewish church became a harlot; and Rome, corrupting herself
in like manner by seeking the support of worldly powers, receives a like
condemnation.
Babylon is said to be
"the mother of harlots." By her daughters must be
symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow
her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to
form an unlawful alliance with the world. The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to
religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this
message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last
days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church
has been in a fallen condition for many centuries.” (GC 382-383;
emphasis added.)
What was
the origin of the great apostasy? How did the church first depart from
the simplicity of the gospel? By conforming to the practices of
paganism, to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen.
The apostle Paul declared, even in his day, "The mystery of iniquity
doth already work." 2 Thessalonians 2:7. During the lives of the
apostles the church remained comparatively pure. But "toward the latter
end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form; the
first simplicity disappeared, and insensibly, as the old disciples
retired to their graves, their children, along with new converts, . . .
came forward and new-modeled the cause."--Robert Robinson,
Ecclesiastical Researches,
ch. 6, par. 17, p. 51. To secure converts, the
exalted standard of the Christian faith was lowered, and as the result
"a pagan flood, flowing into the church, carried with it its customs,
practices, and idols." --Gavazzi, Lectures,
page 278. As the Christian religion secured the favor and
support of secular rulers, it was nominally accepted by multitudes; but
while in appearance Christians, many "remained in substance pagans,
especially worshiping in secret their idols."--Ibid.,
page 278.
Has not the same process been
repeated in nearly every church calling itself Protestant? As the
founders, those who possessed the true spirit of reform, pass away,
their descendants come forward and
"new-model the cause." While blindly
clinging to the creed of their fathers and refusing
to accept any truth in advance of what they saw, the children of
the reformers depart widely from their example of humility, self-denial,
and renunciation of the world. Thus "the first simplicity disappears." A
worldly flood, flowing into the church, carries "with it its customs,
practices, and idols." (GC
385-385; emphases added)
The greatest want of the
world is the want of men-- men who will not be bought or sold, men who
in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call
sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the
needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens
fall. (Ed 57; emphasis added.)
Some will be honest when it
costs nothing; but when policy will pay best, honesty is forgotten.
Honesty and
policy will not work together in the same mind. In time, either
policy will be expelled
and truth and honesty reign supreme, or if
policy is cherished, honesty will be
forgotten. They are never in agreement; they have nothing in common.
One is the prophet of Baal, the other is the true
prophet of God. (2MCP
638; emphases added)
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