The Two Mysteries by J. B. WEST

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

The Two Mysteries

By J. B. WEST

J. B. WEST

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1: 6-9.

There are two mysteries referred to by the apostle Paul, the “mystery of the gospel” and the “mystery of iniquity.” The character and work of these two mysteries are so clearly revealed in the Scriptures that we may discern the true from the false. According to Paul’s epistle, some of the Christians of Galatia had been influenced to turn from the true mystery “unto another gospel,” which was “not another” because it did not bear the divine credentials. It is very evident that the Papacy is teaching a counterfeit gospel in opposition to the true gospel. Dr. Wylie, in “History of the Papacy,” page 404, truly says:—

“This counterfeit church has its high priest,—the pope,—who blasphemes the royal priesthood of Christ by assuming his office when he pretends to be lord of the conscience, lord of the church, and lord of the world; and by assuming his names, when he calls himself ‘Light of the world,’ ‘the King of glory,’ ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah,’ ‘Christ’s vicar and God’s vicegerent.’ This counterfeit church has, too, its sacrifice,—the mass,—which blasphemes the sacrifice of Christ by virtually teaching its inefficiency, and needing to be repeated as is done when Christ’s very body and blood are again offered in sacrifice by the hands of the priests of Rome, for the sins of the living and the dead. This church has, moreover, its Bible, which is tradition, which blasphemes the Word of God by virtually teaching its insufficiency. It has its mediators,—the saints and angels, and especially the Virgin,—and thus it blasphemes the one Mediator between God and man. In fine, it blasphemes the person and office of the Spirit as the sanctifier, because it teaches that its sacraments can make holy; and it blasphemes God by teaching that its priests can pardon sin, and can release from the obligations of divine law. Thus has popery counterfeited, and by counterfeiting set aside, all that is vital and valuable in Christianity. It robs Christ of his kingly office by exalting the Pope to his throne; it robs him of his priesthood in the sacrifice of the mass; it robs him of his power as mediator by substituting Mary; it robs him of his prophetic office by substituting the teachings of an infallible church; it robs God the Spirit of his peculiar work as a sanctifier, by attributing the power of conferring grace to its own ordinances; and it robs God the Father of his prerogatives by assuming the power of justifying and pardoning men.”

The fourth commandment is the only one of the ten in the decalogue that defines the true and living God. It is not a matter of surprise, then, to find that the man of sin has sought to release men from the obligations of the fourth commandment by instituting a counterfeit sabbath as a substitute for the Sabbath of Jehovah. By means of the Sunday sabbath the “man of sin” will cause all the world to worship him as God. According to the prophecy of Revelation 13, as far as the majority are concerned, he will succeed in his deception. But there will be a faithful remnant who will refuse to acknowledge his sign of authority. We should pray for a holy boldness to declare the true mystery, which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1: 16. Thank God there is power in the gospel of Christ to save from sin. This is being proved by the experience of many who are being delivered from “the mystery of iniquity” and are now rejoicing in the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Kirkintilloch, Scotland.