MYSTERY OF BABYLON - Part 3

THE MISTERY OF BABYLON - Part 3 http://www.lastampa.it/esteri/vatican-insider/en “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” Revelation 17:05 “I also think Christ has a true church on earth, but its members are scattered among the various denominations, and are all more or less under the influence of Mystery Babylon and her daughters.”The State of the Churches, p. 2.7 -- Merritt E. Cornell Mr. Hopkins, in a treatise on the millennium, says: IBID, 2.8 “There is no reason to consider the anti-Christian spirit and practices confined to that which is now called the Church of Rome. The Protestant churches have much of anti-Christ in them, and are far from being wholly reformed from the corruptions and wickedness.” IBID, 2.9 Mr. Simpson, in his “Plea for Religion,” says: “For though the Pope and Church of Rome is at the head of the grand 1260 year’s delusion, yet all other churches, of whatever denomination, whether established or tolerated, which partake of the same spirit, or have instituted doctrines or ceremonies inimical to the pure and unadulterated gospel of Christ, shall sooner or later share in the fate of that immense fabric of human ordinances; and that Protestant churches should imitate the Church of Rome, in this worst part of its conduct, can never be sufficiently bewailed.” IBID, 3.2 On this question of What is Babylon? Eld. J. N. Andrews remarks: “It can symbolize nothing less than the universal worldly church. War, slavery, conformity to the world, pride, intemperance, politics, and the like, identify, with sad and faithful accuracy, the great body of the Protestant churches as an important constituent part of this great Babylon.” IBID, 3.4 Alexander Campbell says: “The worshiping establishments now in operation throughout christendom, increased and cemented by their respective voluminous confessions of faith, and their ecclesiastical constitutions, are not churches of Jesus Christ, but the legitimate daughters of that mother of harlots, the Church of Rome.” IBID, 3.6 Lorenzo Dow says of the Romish Church: “If she be a mother, who are the daughters? It must be the corrupt, national, established churches that came out of her.” Dow’s Life, p. 542. IBID, 3.8 In the Religious Encyclopedia (Art., Antichrist), we read: “The writer of the book of Revelation tells us he heard a voice from Heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues,’ If such persons are to be found in the ‘mother of harlots,’ with much less hesitation may it be inferred that they are connected with her unchaste daughters, those national churches which are founded upon what are called Protestant Principles.” IBID, 3.10 Dr. Cumming of England, speaking of our duty in reference to great Babylon, says: “Then what is our duty? To call to all that at this moment. In the Church of Rome, whether sprinkled by her baptismal waters, or imitating within another church her forms her ceremonies, her pomp, and her grandeur, to come out of her, lest partaking of her sins they receive also of her plagues.”—The End, p.241. IBID, 4.2 Steven Nelson Haskell wrote in 1901: “It is written that Babylon, the mother of harlots, fell because of imputing her power unto the gods of the heathen. Pagan Rome fell because she presumed to hold authority over the person of Christ and his followers. Then arose the little horn, and it “made war with the saints and prevailed against them.” “He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws.”Margin Rome in the days of Christ was the center of the world. Paul and others preached the gospel in that city. A church was organized, and for years this church of Rome ranked with the churches of Jerusalem, Constantinople, and others. Gradually but surely, worldliness took the place of the spirit of Christ, and Roman bishops became exalted. The mystery of iniquity of which Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, was at work in Rome. At the time of the division of the empire the bishops were greedy for civil power, and in the time of national distress the church grasped the reins of government; the little horn had received power. This was a. d. 538, when the last of the three horns was plucked up and the decree Justinian made in 533 went into effect. (See Gibbon, chapter 41.) Paganism on the throne had been cruel enough, but when those pagan principles which had lived since the days of Babylon took the name and outward form of Christianity, the power which bore sway was still more cruel. Not only would the little horn speak stout words against the Most High, but it would “presume to change the appointed times and the law.” (Spurrell’s trans.) IBID, 95.3 Roman Catholics believe that the POPE, is chosen by the HOLY SPIRIT! DO YOU? [the Roman Catholic Holy Spirit may be, but not at all by God’s Spirit of the Bible!] http://ideas.time.com/2013/03/11/does-the-holy-spirit-choose-the-pope/?iid=tl-main-mostpop2 [I believe that any sincere Monk, Bishop or Cardinal would not be involved in any of this mysterious practices of Babylon but would like Luther and most other Reformer declare were this power comes from and forsake it!] “In an appeal to the emperor and nobility of Germany in behalf of the Reformation of Christianity, Luther wrote concerning the pope: “It is monstrous to see him who is called the vicar of Christ, displaying a magnificence unrivaled by that of any emperor. Is this to represent the poor and lowly Jesus or the humble St. Peter? The pope, say they, is the lord of the world! But Christ, whose vicar he boasts of being, said, `My kingdom is not of this world.’ Can the dominions of a vicar extend beyond those of his superior?” Great Controversy, {GC88 140.3} He wrote thus of the universities: “I fear much that the universities will be found to be great gates leading down to hell, unless they take diligent care to explain the Holy Scriptures, and to engrave them in the hearts of our youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Holy Scriptures are not regarded as the rule of life. Every institution where the Word of God is not diligently studied, must become corrupt.” IBID, {GC88 140.4} This appeal was rapidly circulated throughout Germany, and exerted a powerful influence upon the people. The whole nation was stirred, and multitudes were roused to rally around the standard of reform. Luther’s opponents, burning with a desire for revenge, urged the pope to take decisive measures against him. It was decreed that his doctrines should be immediately condemned. Sixty days were granted the reformer and his adherents, after which, if they did not recant, they were all to be excommunicated. IBID, {GC88 140.5} That was a terrible crisis for the Reformation. For centuries Rome’s sentence of excommunication had struck terror to powerful monarchs; it had filled mighty empires with woe and desolation. Those upon whom its condemnation fell, were universally regarded with dread and horror; they were cut off from intercourse with their fellows, and treated as outlaws, to be hunted to extermination. Luther was not blind to the tempest about to burst upon him; but he stood firm, trusting in Christ to be his support and shield. With a martyr’s faith and courage he wrote: “What is about to happen I know not, and I care not to know.” “Wherever the blow may reach me. I fear not. Not so much as a leaf falls without the will of our Father; how much rather will he care for us! It is a light matter to die for the Word, since this Word, that was made flesh for us, hath himself died. If we die with him, we shall live with him; and, passing through that which he has passed through before us, we shall be where he is, and dwell with him forever.” IBID, {GC88 141.1} When the papal bull reached Luther, he said: “I despise it, and resist it, as impious and false.... It is Christ himself who is condemned therein.” “I glory in the prospect of suffering for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty; for I know now that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself.” IBID, {GC88 141.2} Yet the mandate of Rome was not without effect. Prison, torture, and sword were weapons potent to enforce obedience. The weak and superstitious trembled before the decree of the pope, and while there was general sympathy for Luther, many felt that life was too dear to be risked in the cause of reform. Everything seemed to indicate that the reformer’s work was about to close. IBID, {GC88 141.3} But Luther was fearless still. Rome had hurled her anathemas against him, and the world looked on, nothing doubting that he would perish or be forced to yield. But with terrible power he flung back upon herself the sentence of condemnation, and publicly declared his determination to abandon her forever. In the presence of a crowd of students, doctors, and citizens of all ranks, Luther burned the pope’s bull, with the canon laws, the decretals, and certain writings sustaining the papal power. “My enemies have been able by burning my books,” he said, “to injure the cause of truth in the minds of some, and to destroy souls; for this reason I consume their books in return. A serious struggle has just commenced. Hitherto I have been playing with the pope; now I wage open war. I began this work in God’s name; it will be ended without me, and by his might.” IBID, {GC88 142.1} AN APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE: A.T.Jones wrote in his book: “Lessons From The Reformation”, pgs. 175,176 the following: The principles of the Reformation 1. The Church ”the fullness of Him who filleth all in all.” 2. The Head of the Church, “Head over all things to The Church.” 3. The building of the Church: Christ The Foundation and Christ The Head-Stone, and “all the building” built in Him. 4. The Guidance of The Church: “The Spirit of Truth guiding into all truth,” and “teaching all things whatsoever He has said.” 5. The Unity of The Church: unity with the Father and the Son, in the Spirit of the Father and the Son. 6. The Standard of Faith: “The word of God, the whole Word of God, and nothing but the Word of God.” 7. The Way of Salvation and Righteousness: “The Commandments of God and The Faith of Jesus: “the Law of God and the Gospel of Christ: the Government and Righteousness of God maintained by the Sacrifice and Ministry of Christ. 8. The Equality of Believers: all true worshippers, and all true servants of all in the liberty of Love and the love of Liberty. 9. Religious Liberty: each individual soul free in God by the Spirit of God, in the Liberty wherewith Christ and His truth hath made us free 10. The Exposure of Antichrist. These principles…are not a creed, it is not a new form of “systematic theology” nor of “dogmatic theology” nor of “theology” at all: it is the Reformation. Not one of the Reformers ever thought of “theology.” All that they cared for was the truth of God as expressed in His Word and made plain by His Spirit…. And through and above all the formalism, ceremonialism, selfishness, and ambition, of natural-minded men, there was still that same original spirit of the Antichrist to manipulate, centralize, and swing, all against Christ; but still under the name of Christian and Protestant. The result was the same as before. There came again “a falling away.” Again there entered human machinery in the place of the divine Spirit, and the rule of men in the place of the rule of Christ as the Head of “His own house” and Father in His own “family.” For churches to be under no other conduct than the Word and Spirit of God, was not enough. There must be a general “assembly,” formal “association,” of men. There must be “synod,” “council,” “delegation,” official “election,” and human domination. For churches to be under no other conduct than the Word and Spirit of God, would never do; for then only Christ and God would have a chance to occupy their own place in and over the churches. Therefore the churches must be under the conduct of men in mere human ”administration” and “organization.” A. T. Jones – Lessons from the Reformation, 175 – 177. [A. T. Jones wrote much of which was not really for his time! We should praise God he did. Besides this I say: Those bodies of organized churches, which follow in the track of Romanism, are in as lost a state as the Mother Harlot her self. The call to come out of it (Rev. 18:1-5) will come to them all! No exceptions: Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists and every humanly organized body, whatever name or profession]. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR GOD”S PEOPLE? Of Babylon, at the time brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared, “Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered heriniquities.” [Revelation 18:5.] She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of his judgments, these faithful ones must be called out, that they “partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.” Hence the movement symbolized by the angelcoming down from Heaven, lightening the earth with his glory, and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard, “Come out of her, my people.” These announcements, uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth. Great Controversy, {GC88 604.1} Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” [Revelation 13:16.] shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false Sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator’s rest-day demands obedience, and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts. IBID, {GC88 604.2} With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning from Heaven is, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” [Revelation 14:9, 10.] IBID, {GC88 604.3} A FEARFUL VISION OF THE FUTURE! “In this state of things it was decided that we would return to Battle Creek and there remain while the roads were in a muddy, broken-up condition, and that I would there complete No. 12. My husband was very anxious to see his brethren at Battle Creek and speak to them and rejoice with them in the work which God was doing for him. I gathered up my writings, and we started on our journey. On the way we held two meetings in Orange and had evidence that the church was profited and encouraged. We were ourselves refreshed by the Spirit of the Lord. That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: “This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.” Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: “If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!” Testimonies for the Church, {1T 577.2} I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: “If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!” My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me. IBID, {1T 578.1} What is the meaning of this writing? Will the SDA Church yet turn against it’s own teachings and embrace the belief’s and practices of “BABYLON”? WHAT IS TO BE EXPECTED IN THE FUTURE? AN APPEAL TO YOU AND ME: Thus the substance of the second angel’s message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history. All the world will be tested, and all that have been in the darkness of error in regard to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will understand the last message of mercy that is to be given to men. SELECTED MESSAGES, VOL. 2, {2SM 116.2} Our work is to proclaim the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12), is the warning to be given to the world. It is a warning to us individually. We are called upon to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. There is a work for you, my brother, to do, to yoke up with Christ. Make sure that your building is on the rock. Do not risk eternity on a probability. You may not live to participate in the perilous scenes on which we are now entering. The life of no one of us is assured for any given time. Should you not watch every moment? Should you not closely examine your own self, and inquire, What will eternity be to me? IBID, {2SM 116.3} The great burden of every soul should be, Is my heart renewed? Is my soul transformed? Are my sins pardoned through faith in Christ? Have I been born again? Am I complying with the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)? ... Do you count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? And do you feel it your duty to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?—Manuscript 32, 1896. IBID, {2SM 117.1} http://ideas.time.com/2013/03/11/does-the-holy-spirit-choose-the-pope/?iid=tl-main-mostpop2