department of the church are rather more to its disgrace than its honor.”

Speaking further of this time in another chapter he says: “The pagan
temples were pulled down or converted into Christian churches: the
exercise of the old priesthood was proscribed and the idols destroyed;
elegant structures for Christian worship were raised, and those already
erected, enlarged and beautified; the episcopacy was increased and honored
with great favors and enriched with vast endowments; the ritual received
many additions; the habiliments of the clergy were pompous, and the whole
of the Christian service at once exhibited a scene of worldly grandeur and
external parade. What a mighty change! But a short time since, and
Christianity was held in sovereign contempt: now she is a favorite at
court, and the companion of princes. Alas! such is the change, that it
scarcely affords ground for triumph. The kingdom of our God and his Christ
is become a kingdom of this world, and the church of Jesus reduced to a
mere worldly sanctuary. The glory is departed, the gold is become dim, and
the fine gold is changed.

“Indeed prelatical pride had been rising very high for a century before
this. The pastors had forgotten their Master’s instruction. ‘Be ye not
called Rabbi: for ye are brethren.’ Lord bishops and archbishops and all
the spirit of such distinction had been long enough upon the advance to
congratulate such an emperor as Constantine. The materials for a hierarchy
having been prepared it was no difficult thing for a set of worldly-minded
bishops, countenanced by a prince, to put them together. Under all these
circumstances, real religion was not likely to be bettered by such a
reverse in external affairs, and so the event proved. The ancient contest,
which was for the faith once delivered unto the saints, declined apace,
and a strife for worldly honor, fleshly gratification, and spiritual
dominion substituted in its stead.”

Such was the true condition of things in the year 311. Surely there had
been a change, the kingdom of God had become the kingdom of the world, the
glory was gone, strivings for worldly honor, fleshly gratification, and
spiritual dominion had taken the place of “striving for the faith once
delivered to the saints.” What a change from the humble, self-denying,
flesh crucifying days of Christ and the apostles. Truly we can say
sometime before this the morning light had dimmed and died, and darkness
intervened. The historian does not fix this date (311) as the beginning of
the dark noonday. (The reader already begins to see, no doubt, why it was
dark at the noontime.) He says in a preceding chapter, “About A.D. 264, a
considerable stir was made by Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch. ‘Great
was the falling off in this church since the renowned Ignatius. The
principles of Paul were exceedingly loose, and his practise was
correspondent.’ He rejected the divinity of the Son and substituted his
own reason for the light of the Spirit. The way in which he lived fully
proved that he was a man of the world.”

The historian proceeds to tell more of this bishop’s wicked life. The
Scriptural qualifications of a bishop are, blamelessness, the husband of
one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to
teach; “not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but
patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house,
having his children in subjection with all gravity.” 1 Tim. 3:3, 4. The
seventh verse adds: “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are
without.” Such a bishop must be, in the very strictest sense, to be a
light in the world. Here was a bishop, of perhaps the strongest Christian
congregation in the world, almost everything to the contrary. How true the
Savior’s prophecy: “The moon shall not give her light, and the stars of
heaven shall fall.” Paul, of Samosata, became so wicked he was deposed
from his office and became a “fallen star.”

Sabine speaking of divisions and their causes says: “In this century the
general church was rent in twain. This century also produced a train of
other officers (beside bishops and deacons), such as subdeacons, who were
all to the deacon what the presbyter was to the bishop; acolytes, persons
to attend at service time on the ministers; ostiaries, doorkeepers;
readers, men who were appointed to read the Scriptures in public;
exorcists, officers of weak and superstitious appointment, whose business
was to pretend to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism. All
these encroachments and changes mark, strongly mark, a great decline in
the spirit and power of primitive Christianity.”

All of these things, and many more similar ones, were occurring in the
latter part of the third century.

In the year of our Lord 248 Cyprian was ordained a presbyter in the church
at Carthage. Ten years later he laid down his life for Jesus. It is said
of him that he “displayed a benevolent and pious mind and evinced much of
the character of the Christian pastor in the affectionate solicitude with
which he watched over his flock.” In epistle eleven he says: “It must be
owned and confessed that the outrageous and heavy calamity which hath
almost devoured our flock, and continues to devour it to this day, hath
happened to us because of our sins, since we keep not the way of the Lord,
nor observe his heavenly commands, which were designed to lead us to
salvation. Christ our Lord fulfilled the will of the Father, but we
neglect the will of Christ. Our principal study is to get money and
estates; we follow after pride, we are at leisure for nothing but
emulation and quarreling, and have neglected the simplicity of faith. We
have renounced this world in words only, and not in deed. Every one
studies to please himself and to displease others.”

This account of professed Christianity at this time by Cyprian is
confirmed by the testimony of Eusebius, who was nearly contemporary with
him. “Through too much liberty they grew negligent and slothful, envying
and reproaching one another, waging, as it were, civil wars among
themselves, bishops quarreling with bishops, and the people divided into
parties. Hypocrisy and deceit were grown to the highest pitch of
wickedness. They were become so insensible as not so much as to think of
appeasing the divine anger; but like atheists they thought the world
destitute of any providential government and care, and thus added one
crime to another. The bishops themselves had thrown off all concern about
religion, were perpetually contending with one another, and did nothing
but quarrel with and threaten and envy and hate one another: they were
full of ambition and tyrannically used their power.”—_Eusebius’ History_,
Book VIII, Chap. I, as quoted in _Jones’ Church History_.

Ruter’s Church History. (Third Century.)

“With the opinions, the Christian teachers had adopted the habits and
manners of the philosophic school. They assumed the dress of the pompous
sophist, and delivered the plain doctrines of the gospel with strained and
studied eloquence.”

“This season of external prosperity was improved by the ministers of the
church for the exertion of new claims and the assumption of powers with
which they had not previously been invested.”—p. 52.

“Several alterations in the form of church government appear to have been
introduced during the third century. Some degree of pomp was thought
necessary to render so singular an institution respectable to the minds of
a gross multitude who are only capable of judging from external
appearances. As their numbers increased their labors became proportionally
greater, and it was necessary to provide assistance and more agreeable to
good order to assign to each his proper function. Inferior ministers were
therefore instituted, who derived their appellations from the office they
filled.

“These ministers probably derived their emoluments, not merely from the
precarious bounty of the society, but from a certain proportion of the
fixed revenues of the church. The principal of them had obtained before
the close of this century the possession of several considerable estates,
which had been bequeathed or presented to the church. The external dignity
of the ministers of religion was accompanied by a still greater change in
its discipline. The simple rules prescribed by the apostles for the
preservation of good order in the church branched out into so many
luxuriant shoots that it was difficult to recognize the parent stem.”—p.
53.

“A regular form of discipline began to take place during the third century
in every matter which fell within the cognizance of the church.” p. 51.

Following this, Ruter gives an account of the penitents seeking salvation
who had to proceed step by step. The first degree was to prostrate
themselves in the avenues of the church building. Here they were called
_flentes_. In the second degree they were allowed to enter the building
and hear the sermon. Here they were called _audientes_. In the third
degree they were allowed to unite in prayers offered in their own behalf.
Here they were called _genuflectentes_. In the fourth degree they were
allowed to approach the altar and were called _consistentes_. In the
taking of these degrees the penitents were compelled to appear in
sackcloth and ashes, and in some places the men were obliged to shave
their heads and the women to wear veils. The duration of their penitence
was regulated by the bishop. He could make the time of taking these
degrees short, or extend it to any length. This was called an indulgence.

This is shocking in the extreme. Where in the humble acts of Jesus and his
apostles do you hear of such an order of things? Truly at this time the
sun was darkened, and the moon did not give her light, and the stars had
fallen. How true now appears the prophecy of Isaiah: “The people of thy
holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have
trodden down thy sanctuary.” Isa. 63:18. Jesus says, “Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon the earth,” and Paul says to the bishop to be
“not greedy of filthy lucre”; and Peter says, “Taking the oversight not
for filthy lucre’s sake”—and here before the close of the third century we
find the bishops coming into possession of large estates through the
revenues of the church, and as Cyprian has said of the bishops of this
time, “Our principal study is to get money and estates.”

We have before us Mosheim’s Church History. In speaking of the internal
history of the church in the third century he says that “the bishops of
Rome, Antioch and Alexandria had a kind of preeminence over all others,
and particularly the bishop at Rome.” There was a change in the form of
government and this change was followed by a train of vices. “Many of
those who had the administration of the church affairs were sunk,” he
says, “in luxury and voluptuousness, puffed up with vanity, arrogance and
ambition; possessed with a spirit of contention and discord. They
appropriated to their evangelical function the splendid ensigns of
temporal majesty: a throne, surrounded with ministers, exalted above his
equals, the servant of the meek and humble Jesus.... The titles of
subdeacons, acolythi, ostairii, readers, exorcists, copiatæ, would never
have been heard of in the church if its rulers had been assiduously and
zealously employed in promoting the interest of truth and piety by their
labors and their example.” He gives an account of the trouble in the
church of Rome between Cornelius and Novatian, in the year 250, who were
aspirants for the Roman See.

Eusebius tells of the increasing vices, schisms, quarrelings of the
bishops, of their greed for money and preeminence in the last half of the
third century. In speaking of the bishops and pastors who had the
administration of church government in the year 260, he says: “But some
that appeared to be our pastors, deserting the law of piety, were inflamed
against each other with mutual strifes, only accumulating quarrels and
threats, rivalship, hostility and hatred to each other, only anxious to
assert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves.” Then he
adds, “As Jeremiah says, ‘The Lord in his anger darkened the daughter of
Sion [the church or moon], and hurled from heaven to earth the glory of
Israel.’ ”

By this we learn that Eusebius would place the darkening of the church, or
the beginning of the dark noonday, near the year 260 A.D. Quotations could
be transcribed from Coleman, Marsh, Waddington and others, in which they
all place the close of the morning light and the rise of the apostasy or
dark noonday between the years 260 and 280 A.D. To our knowledge, Joseph
Milner is the only non-contemporary historian that fixes the date to any
definite time. He says, “I know it is common for authors to represent the
great declension of Christianity to have taken place only after its
external establishment under Constantine. But the evidence of history has
compelled me to dissent from this view of things. In fact we have seen
that for a whole generation previous to the persecution, few marks of
superior piety appeared. Scarce a luminary of godliness existed, and it is
not common in any age for a great work of the Spirit of God to be
exhibited but under the conduct of some remarkable saint, pastor and
reformers. This whole period as well as the whole scene of the persecution
is very barren of such characters. Not but that many precious children of
God suffered in much patience and charity. But those who suffered with
very much of a different spirit, found no pastor to discountenance their
self-will and false zeal: a sure sign that the true spirit of martyrdom
was less pure than it had formerly been. Moreover the prevalence of
superstition on the one hand, and the decay of evangelical knowledge on
the other, are equally apparent. Christ crucified, justification purely by
faith, and the effectual influences of the Holy Ghost, ... were ideas at
least very faintly impressed at that day on Christian minds. It is vain to
expect Christian faith to abound without Christian doctrine. Moral and
philosophical and monastical instructions will not effect for men what is
expected from evangelical doctrine. And if the faith of Christ was so much
declined (and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year 270)
we need not wonder that such scenes as Eusebius hints at without any
circumstantial detail took place in the Christian world.”—_Century IV_, p.
31.

After searching history we find no objection in making use of the year 270
A.D. as the date of the _beginning of the dark noontime_. Milner says at
this time, “Scarcely a luminary of godliness existed. The great
luminaries, or lights, were eclipsed and darkness reigned. Some of our
contemporary writers have fixed upon this year as the date of the rise of
the beast power, which created this darkness.” “The real papacy was set
up, not at the Nicene Council, A.D. 325, as some affirm; but we find vivid
traces of the very same beast authority as early as A.D. 270.”—_Biblical
Trace of the Church._ In the city of Nice in Bithynia, A.D. 325, was held
what is called “The First General Council.” There was present at this
council the Emperor Constantine, as the historian says, “Like an angel of
God exceeding all his attendants in size, gracefulness and strength, and
dazzling all eyes by the splendor of his dress, showing the greatest
humility, seated in a chair covered with gold.” There were present at this
meeting three hundred and eighteen bishops, and a number of deacons and
subdeacons, amounting in all to two thousand and forty-eight persons. Here
was drawn up a creed, declaring to be the only true and orthodox faith. It
bears the title of Nicene. This creed was at once confirmed at Rome by two
hundred and seventy-five bishops, and was the setting up of the Roman
hierarchy. This council can not however with propriety be said to be the
true setting up of the beast power. Nearly all the forms and doctrines of
this creed had been observed and taught by the bishops and pastors for
several decades. The most sensible date, and most consistent with
revelation, _for the bringing in of the dark noontime of the gospel day is
A.D. 270_. We feel confident that no one can rightfully object to us
making use of this date for this work. Those who do so must do it through
prejudice or ignorance.

Chapter II. Scriptural Predictions Of An Apostasy.

Who has not wondered, as they read of the Savior’s and the apostles’
warnings of “false teachers,” grievous wolves, delusive powers, and
deceptive lights, what it all could mean? These things certainly are not
without meaning. Jesus says, “And many false prophets shall rise, and
shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many
shall wax cold. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Mat. 24:11, 12, 24. The Son
of God foretells the arising of false prophets and teachers. He tells us
how they may be known. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits.” Mat. 7:15, 16.

By the pen of the apostle John we learn something of the fruit of these
false, deceiving prophets. “For many deceivers are entered into the world,
who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver
and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which
we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him
not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him
Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 7-11. The fruit of a false
prophet is a false doctrine. A doctrine in opposition to the plain, simple
doctrine of Christ is the principal characterizing feature of a deceiver.
The doctrine of Christ is light. All who abide in the doctrine of Christ
are a light in the world. Any doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christ
is darkness, and its propagator, a deceiver and an antichrist. This same
apostle in his first letter, cautions us to “try the spirits [and
doctrines], whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that
it should come; and even now already it is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3.

We feel like it would be justice to the reader to here explain how we can
confess that Christ is come in the flesh, and how we can deny that he has
so come. That this does not refer to his personal coming in the flesh, as
a sacrifice for sin, is evident. But few but what confess that Christ was
here in the flesh as recorded in the Gospels, yet many of them are not of
God. Jesus says, “We will come unto him and make our abode with him.”
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?” “For ye are the temple of
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.” “At that day ye shall know
that I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” John 14:20. That day
spoken of is when the Holy Spirit would come and teach them all things.
That was at Pentecost. Then they knew that Christ was in them. This then
is Christ come in the flesh.

Now it is not every one either that confesses by the word of mouth that
Christ dwells in them that are of God. A Scriptural confession is not by
word only, but by the deed, or life. Every one who confesses by their life
that Christ is come in the flesh or dwells in them must and will abide in
the whole doctrine of Christ, and live just as he lived. Such a one is of
God, and is a light even as Christ was a light. Whoever rejects any of the
Savior’s doctrine, and does not, and will not, experience and practise it
in his life, the same is an antichrist, however much he may profess to be
of God. Try all doctrines and spirits by the doctrine of Christ, is the
infallible rule.

The Prophecy Of Paul.

“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.

One strong text for millennial teachers, as they suppose, is Acts 3:21:
“Whom [Christ] the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of
all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets
since the world began.” A text they use to teach there shall be a thousand
years in which restitution is to be made, makes no such intimation. In
fact, it teaches to the contrary. Let us carefully examine it. Christ was
taken up to heaven. He will some day come again. Acts 1:11. The positive
teaching of this text is that the heavens will retain the Lord Jesus until
everything is restored to the Father. Christ came to restore all things.
Mat. 17:11. Full restitution for sin was made by the Savior. The Holy
Spirit all through this dispensation is leading men to the blood and
restoring them to the Father. The day will soon come when the Holy Spirit
has gleaned out the last one and all has been restored to the Father that
will be restored. This then is the full restitution of all things. Then
the heavens will retain the Son of God no longer. He will come to claim
his own. Instead of this text teaching that restitution is to be made
after Christ’s second coming, it teaches that the restitution is to be
made before he comes the second time.

We will now ask the reader to read the only text that speaks of a thousand
years. This is found in Rev. 20:1-10. If you will open your Bible and
read, we can by the help of the Lord show you that this can not possibly
mean a thousand years of Christ’s reign upon the earth after his second
coming. This language is figurative. Satan is an evil spirit and can not
be bound with a literal chain. After the thousand years have expired,
Satan is to be loosed, and shall deceive the nations. After Christ reigns
here a thousand years in righteousness shall Satan be loosed and deceive
the nations? Who can look forward to such an end with joy? How do you know
but you will be one that will be deceived? If you are building hopes upon
a millennium you are already deceived, and this deception is among the
deceptions which are to come after the thousand years. This thousand years
is in the past. This may be a startling statement to one who has been
educated to believe in a reign of Christ in person here upon the earth in
some future age of a thousand years’ duration. Reader, will you please
notice that the devil and Satan, that was to be bound a thousand years, is
also called the dragon? Now the Scriptures do not always mean Beelzebub
when speaking of Satan. Jesus upon one occasion, because Peter was
remonstrating with him concerning his death, said, “Get thee behind me,
Satan.” Christ did not mean to say that Peter was the devil, but he
addressed him as Satan, because the devil was using him as an instrument
to persuade the Savior to escape the death he came here to endure for all.
So Satan and the devil spoken of in Rev. 20:2 does not refer to the
personal devil, the prince of evil spirits, but to some great power
antagonistical to gospel light and truth as revealed in the church of God.

Now we feel ourself under obligation to the reader to give him the correct
interpretation of this binding of Satan a thousand years, and of his being
loosed at the end of that period. The term “dragon” is used to represent a
state power, which gives power to some religion antagonistical to the
religion of the Bible. However the original and real fundamental dragon
power was Rome, when she supported a heathen religion, and when the world
on the whole was so under the seducing charms of idolatrous worship that
it knew not the one true God and his relationship to man. The Syriac New
Testament, in speaking of this dragon in verse two, says, “Who seduced the
whole habitable world.” The binding of Satan refers to some time when the
delusive charms of heathenish worship were largely cleared away and there
became a greater universal knowledge of the true God. At the end of that
thousand years, or long period of time, which time we have reached, the
true God and the pure religion will be lost or unknown to the generality
of mankind, and heathenish rites and customs and ceremonies will be the
universal religion. Do we not read that at the end of the thousand years
Satan shall again deceive the nations? We understand by this that the
world on the whole shall be reveling in the delusive seductions of a lewd,
lustful, idolatrous religion, making the times like it was in the days of
Noah. Let me again say we are now entering these times, and this world is
swiftly passing under awful and blinding delusions. So great are the
delusions that if possible the very elect should be deceived.

The religious teachers of to-day on the whole are in ignorance concerning
the binding of Satan. We will give you a sample of the ignorance of these
teachers. In the _Gospel Messenger_ of March 25, 1899, the Querist
Department in answer to a question asked concerning the binding of Satan,
said: “Satan will then be bound, cast into the bottomless pit, and there
will be a chance to convert the unrighteous and lead them to accept Christ
as the Savior.”

A subscriber in search of knowledge asked the Querist Department to give a
scripture to prove the last clause. He received this answer: “It seems to
us that it is one of those self-evident views that needs no proof. If the
Bible teaches otherwise let us have the chapter and verse. The Querist
Department does not pretend to know everything.”

There are many other chapters and verses that teach otherwise. “Now is the
day of salvation.” “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”
The wicked shall be resurrected to damnation. John 5:29.

Conclusion Of Part Second.

We have now passed the noonday. The reader, no doubt, fully comprehends
why it was dark. The morning was light because the whole Word of truth was
taught and experienced by the church. All were under the immediate control
of the infallible Holy Spirit.

The noonday was dark because the leadings and teachings of fallible man
were substituted for the Holy Spirit and Word. A thousand errors were
brought in, the Word of God rejected. The faith once delivered to the
saints was lost, sin and iniquity abounded and their love waxed cold. The
preachers divined for money, and sought places of affluence, and thus the
day was dark over them. Sectism to-day is a mass of worldliness.
Infidelity abounds and every abominable work. If you desire a perfect
description of sectism as it appears upon the scene to-day, read that
given by the angel in Rev. 18:2.

PART III. THE EVENING.

                                   Or,
           Christianity In The Closing Days Of This Gospel Era.

We have now come to consider the evening time of this gospel day. The
morning was light because of the truth being experienced and taught. The
noonday was dark because traditions and theories and vain philosophies of
man became substitutes for the Word of God. This evening time was seen by
prophetic eye. “But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord,
not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it
shall be light.” We are nearing the close of this gospel day. The sun of
time hangs low in the western horizon. The gospel light is now shining in
peaceful splendor like the clear setting of the sun after a dark and
cloudy noonday.

    “Misty fogs so long concealing
      All the hills of mingled night
    Vanish, all their sin revealing,
      For the “evening shall be light”

    “Lo, the ransomed are returning,
      Robed in shining crystal white,
    Leaping, shouting, home to Zion,
      Happy in the ev’ning light.”—_Sel._

Chapter I. The Apostasy In Two Days.

In our introduction we gave a number of texts which spoke of the whole of
the gospel dispensation as one day; but any period of time distinguished
by some extraordinary historic event may be and is also termed a day. The
apostasy or dark noonday being under two forms is marked in Bible history
as two days. The first form of the apostasy, namely, Catholicism, is
called by the Scriptures a “dark day.”

A Cloudy Day.

The second form of the apostasy was not such utter darkness as the first,
and is therefore called a cloudy day. “For thus saith the Lord God;
Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a
shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that
are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of
all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”
Ezek. 34:11, 12. The cloudy day was a day of the scattering of God’s
people. This has been true of Protestantism. God’s own people have been
divided and scattered among the various organizations of man. The time of
the seeking out refers to the evening, when God is going to gather his
children together that “were scattered abroad,” and they shall be “one
heart and one soul” as in the morning.

One more text refers to the cloudy day. “And it shall come to pass in that
day that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day
which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to
pass, that at evening time it shall be light.” Zech. 14:6, 7. This day of
Protestantism was neither “clear nor dark”; was neither “day, nor night.”
It was a mixture of light and darkness, truth and error, and therefore is
fitly termed a cloudy day.

A Revival.

After those two days there shall be a great revival caused by the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for
he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us
up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us
up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to
know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall
come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
Hos. 6:1-3.

The two days of beastly power come to an end. The time comes when they
shall no longer govern God’s true people. It was true of literal Babylon,
that had taken captive the children of God, that the time came when they
returned from their captivity. The same is true of spiritual Babylon. The
children of God have long been taken captive in her. In the evening time,
after two days, they shall say, “Come, let us return unto the Lord: for he
hath torn, and he will heal us; he will revive us in the third day, he
will raise us up,” etc. Praise God! Then shall we know the Lord. “His
going forth is prepared as the morning.” Just as God was known in the
morning in his holiness and power, just so he will be known in the
evening. Throughout the “two days” (apostasy) the Lord in his power to
save to the uttermost, to heal, and to exclusively control his church was
unknown. Therefore he says: “Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the
diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no
answer of God.” Micah 3:7.

Such is the ignorance of the seers of Babylon. They are educated in the
wisdom of the world, but know little of God. Their sermons are the
theories of man, and not the pure Word of God. For this reason there is a
great spiritual famine in Babylon.

The evening time is called the third day, when God shall send copious
showers of rain. The first day is a “dark day,” and relates to the reign
of the Catholic power. The second or dark and cloudy day relates to the
reign of Protestantism. The third day is the “time of the end,” when there
shall be a consumption of the beast powers. Dan. 7:26. Daniel was told
that the fourth beast he saw in his vision was a fourth kingdom. This was
the Roman kingdom. Three had preceded—the Babylonian, Medo-Persian and
Grecian. This beast had ten horns. Ver. 7. These ten horns were ten kings,
or kingdoms, which were created out of the Roman empire by the barbarians
of the North. History records the overrunning of the Roman empire from
A.D. 376 to A.D. 476 by the different “powerful and warlike nations of the
North; namely, the Huns, Goths, Vandals,” etc. Thus in one century of time
the kingdom of the Cæsars gave rise to ten different minor kingdoms.

In verse twenty-four of Daniel seven the prophet was told that another
horn should arise after these ten. From the description of this horn we at
once learn it to represent the Roman hierarchy, or to be the same as the
first beast of Rev. 13. In verse twenty-six the prophet says, “Judgment
shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to
destroy it unto the end.” The apostasy is being consumed by the powerful
and sharp judgments of God’s Word being executed by the faithful and true
who are proclaiming, “Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his
judgment is come.” This is in the time of the end, this glorious evening
hour.

The apostle Paul gives a description of the apostasy in 2 Thes. 2. In
verse eight he speaks of its consumption, which is being effected in this
evening of time. Babylon is being consumed. Hear her cries of pain. The
prophet Isaiah foretells the consumption of the apostasy in these words:
“And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be
together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.” This is being
accomplished in this present day. The gospel truth is being held up as a
“lamp that burneth,” and Babylon is consumed. The Lord is washing “away
the filth of the daughter of Zion, ... by the spirit of judgment, and by
the spirit of burning.” Isa. 4:4.

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul.”

Morning And Evening Light Compared.

How light shall be the evening? Will God “revive us and raise us up” in
the third day to the apostolic plane? The answer is, “His going forth is
prepared as the morning.” “Then shall thy light break forth as the
morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy
rearward.” Isa. 58:8.

By these two texts we are given to understand that in the evening the
light shall shine as bright as in the morning. The church of God will be
raised to the same plane from which it was dragged down by ecclesiastical
lords. God’s people shall enjoy the same degree of holiness in the evening
as they did in the morning. They shall enjoy the same blessed unity—“one
heart and one soul,” “and all speak the same thing.” They shall possess
apostolic faith. They shall have power with God to heal the sick, to open
blinded eyes, to cause the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, to cast out
devils, and to raise the dead the same as did the saints in the morning.
Why shall they be given such power? Because they believe, experience and
practise the whole truth. They are free from all manism. God has absolute
control in each and every heart. Every hindrance to faith is removed,
every barrier between them and God is taken away, and the Lord works with
them, “confirming the word with signs following.” Glory to his name!

Chapter II. The Time Of The Evening.

The morning was of 270 years’ duration. The first form of the apostasy
lasted, as we have shown, 1260 years, bringing us to the Lutheran
reformation in 1530. Now when we ascertain the duration of the second
beast power we will know the time the sun, moon and stars reappear in the
evening. One especial text that gives us information on this subject is
found in Revelation. In speaking of the two witnesses the Revelator says:
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make
merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets
tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and a half
the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their
feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.” Rev. 11:10, 11.

In this we learn the duration of the power of Protestantism and the
breaking forth of the evening light. We have before proven that a day in
Scripture is used to represent different lengths of time, sometimes the
whole of the Christian era, sometimes a thousand years, sometimes a
hundred years, and sometimes a year. In this text a day represents a
century. Three days are three centuries, and a half day is a half century.
After three days and a half, which are three centuries and a half, or 350
years, of the reign of Protestantism, the Spirit of life from God entered
into them. This is the dawning of the evening, when the whole and entire
Word of God is believed and experienced and the Holy Spirit has the same
power in governing the church of God as he did in the days of the
apostles. The downfall of the first beast, or Romanism, and the arising of
the second beast, or Protestantism, was in the year 1530. The duration of
Protestant power is 350 years, which added to 1530 brings us to the year
1880 A.D., at which time the dark noonday closes and we emerging hail with
joy the peaceful glowing evening light.

Prior to the year 1880 it was, with rare exceptions, universally conceded
that to gain heaven we needs must unite with some religious denomination.
About this time God by his Holy Spirit gave to men everywhere (whose
hearts were prepared) an intuitive knowledge that we could be saved and
live a Christian life outside the walls of sectism. Just to lean upon God
alone and be guided solely by his Word and Spirit, they discovered to be
their blessed privilege. We are not alone in thus interpreting Rev. 11:11.
We will quote from other authors. “Cloudy day (Protestantism). Length of
period 350 years.” Rev. 11:9.—_S. L. Speck in Bible Readings_, p. 104.

“The two witnesses [Word and Spirit] lie dead three days and a half [three
and one-half centuries]. Rev. 11:7-9. The church dwells in a wilderness,
which is neither dark nor light. Period 350 years. Time from 1530 to
1880.”—_W. G. S. in Bible Readings_, p. 69.

“Time of reign of second beast, from the year 1530 to 1880, making 350
years.”—_H. C. Wickersham in Holiness Bible Subjects_, p. 178.

This same author on page 244 in quoting Rev. 11:11 encloses in brackets
the words: “At the end of three hundred and fifty years of Protestant
sectism the true children of God come out of Babylon and are sanctified.”

“The three days and a half they were to lie dead is interpreted by the
Holy Spirit to mean three centuries and a half. This gives us the length
of the Protestant age.”—_Biblical Trace of the Church_, p. 143.

In the few years prior to 1880 A.D., there was a great declension in the
spirituality of Protestantism. Who can deny this fact? Quite a number of
the leading denominations held revivals, where was witnessed the power of
the Holy Spirit. People were genuinely converted. They loved and worshiped