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Chapter 44
The Great Apostasy
WHEN Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the second
advent, He foretold also the experience of His people from the time when He should be
taken from them to His return in power and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the
Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon the apostolic church, and, penetrating deeper
into the future, His eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat upon His
followers in the coming ages of darkness and persecution. In a few brief utterances, of
awful significance, He foretold the portion which the rulers of this world would mete out
to the church of God. The followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation,
reproach, and suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the
world's Redeemer would be manifested against all who should believe on His name.
The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the Saviour's words. The
powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against Christ in the person of His followers.
Paganism foresaw that should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept
away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution
were kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes.
They "endured a great fight of afflictions." They "had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." Heb. 11:36. Great
numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned
and ignorant, were alike slain without mercy.
In vain were Satan's efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great
controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when
these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post. By defeat they conquered. God's
workmen were slain, but His work went steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread,
and the number of its adherents to increase. It penetrated into regions that were
inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome. Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen
rulers who were urging forward the persecution: You may "kill us, torture us, condemn
us. . . . Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent. . . . Nor does your cruelty .
. . avail you." It was but a stronger invitation to bring others to their persuasion.
"The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of
Christians is seed."
Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprang up to fill their places. And those
who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ, and accounted of Him as
conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory
when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured brought Christians nearer to
one another and to their Redeemer. Their living example and dying testimony were a
constant witness for the truth; and, where least expected, the subjects of Satan were
leaving his service and enlisting under the banner of Christ.
The Compromise With Paganism
Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God, by
planting his banner in the Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived
and led to displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and
they would fall an easy prey.
The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he had failed to secure by
force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of
temporal prosperity and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the
Christian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept
Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection; but they had no
conviction of sin and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart. With some
concessions on their part, they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all
might unite on the platform of belief in Christ.
Now was the church in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings in
comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no
compromise. Others reasoned that if they should yield or modify some features of their
faith, and unite with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, it might be the means
of their full conversion. That was a time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of
Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the
church, to corrupt their faith and turn their minds from the word of truth.
At last the larger portion of the Christian company lowered their standard, and a union
was formed between Christianity and paganism. Although the worshipers of idols professed
to be converted, and united with the church, they still clung to their idolatry, only
changing the objects of their worship to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints.
The foul leaven of idolatry, thus introduced into the church, continued its baleful work.
Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were incorporated into
her faith and worship. As the followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian
religion became corrupted and the church lost her purity and power. There were some,
however, who were not misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to
the Author of truth and worshiped God alone.
There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While
one class study the Saviour's life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and to
conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose
their errors. Even in her best estate the church was not composed wholly of the true,
pure, and sincere. Our Saviour taught that those who willfully indulge in sin are not to
be received into the church; yet He connected with Himself men who were faulty in
character, and granted them the benefits of His teachings and example, that they might
have an opportunity to see and correct their errors.
But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there
can be no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who
were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led farther and
farther from the truth. Satan exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number
of the followers of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more fully upon them, and
inspired them to persecute those who remained true to God. None could so well understand
how to oppose the true Christian faith as could those who had once been its defenders; and
these apostate Christians, uniting with their half-pagan companions, directed their
warfare against the most essential features of the doctrines of Christ.
It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the
deceptions and abominations which were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced
into the church. The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of
religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated and proscribed.
Withdrawal of the Faithful
After a long and severe conflict the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the
apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw
that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the Word of God. They dared
not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls and set an example which would imperil the
faith of their children and children's children. To secure peace and unity they were ready
to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace
would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured
only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even
war. Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those
steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God's professed people.
The apostle Paul declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree
to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard, and
therefore awakens no opposition. The religion current in our day is not of the pure and
holy character which marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It
is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word
of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the
church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival
of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived
and the fires of persecution will be rekindled.
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