IT is stating a well-known fact to say that ever since the pope was driven to give up his temporal power, he has remained in the Vatican, as a protest against what he regards as the surrendering of some of his most dearly cherished rights. While at first the popes were inclined to be very strict about applying to themselves the term “a prisoner in the Vatican,” there has been a growing tendency, particularly on the part of the present pope, toward disregarding this “Vatican prisoner” idea. A short time ago, the dispatches told of Pope Benedict XV leaving the Vatican to visit a church, and a later dispatch states:
“It is understood that Pope Benedict, at the approaching consistory, will declare renunciation of temporal power. The pontiff takes this step to guarantee liberty in spiritual work, and to allow his presence at the general conference following the war.”
It will be necessary to await the action of the consistory to ascertain whether or not the determination of the pope, as expressed in this dispatch, will be carried out. But regardless of whether that particular thing is done or not, one of the most remarkable occurrences connected with the progress of the European war is the very active interest that has been taken in the proceedings by the papacy. Every effort is made to leave the papal power in a position where it can wield a powerful influence when settlement shall be under consideration in the peace congress that must follow.
The European war is an explosion of the pent-up feelings of strife that are in the world. Men had insisted that conditions on our earth were growing better and better, but the Bible prophecies had warned us to the contrary. The prophets had specifically and plainly told of the turbulent conditions that would prevail toward the close of time. These prophecies had forewarned us that evil men and seducers would grow worse and worse. They had told us that the days just preceding the second coming of Christ would be marked by the outbursts of violence and rioting that characterized the world just before its destruction by the Flood.
But men had disregarded these Bible warnings, and treated them as idle tales. They thought, if their oft repeated remarks were any indication of their sentiments, that those who held to these Bible teachings were narrow-minded fanatics, worthy of no particular consideration.
But the explosion in Europe came; and the most awful, the most barbarous, the most destructive war that the world has ever seen, is in progress. Indeed, all previous wars in the world's history fade into insignificance compared with the slaughters and the barbarities of the war of 1914 and 1915. This war has come in the very face of the teaching which has been carried around the world, that we have reached the period of the greatest enlightenment, when every one has recognized “the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of men.”
This war has created conditions that lay the foundation for revolutions and strifes the worst that have ever been. Turbulent unrest seems to be in the very air we breathe, and this is true of nations universally. And if we may place any dependence whatever in the divine Book and its inspired predictions, we may know that unrest, strife, rioting, and turbulent revolution will grow worse and worse. To use the Master's own words, men will be “fainting” [“expiring,” margin] for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world.” Luke 21: 26, A. R. V.
Under such conditions, the natural thing for men is to turn to religion. The most dominant religion in the world is that of the papacy. And events as they are now shaping themselves in the world, should lead men to see, through the sheer philosophy of history, that the papal power is coming toward a well-nigh universal supremacy. But on this subject we are not left to the philosophy of history. The prophet, as presented in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, saw the papacy receiving a “death stroke.” This “death stroke” came to the papal power through the influences of the Reformation, which gave the spirit of freedom to Europe, and laid the foundation for the further freedom that has characterized our great nation.
But almost in the same breath in which the prophet tells of the death stroke received by the papacy, he informs us that “his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth wondered after the beast.” Rev. 13: 3. He goes on to say further that “they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?”
Observe the significant questions that the world, in a mighty chorus, will ask. The people will say, “Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?”
On the part of many people, one of the cherished dreams of this time is that we will have a universal peace. Men insist that regardless of forbidding conditions, there must be a world-wide cessation of war. This sentiment will open the way for the papacy to step in, and say that its communicants in all parts of the world are so vast in number, that from the sheer force of political power, it can create peace if opportunity is only given it. The opportunity will be granted. All the world will wonder after the beast. Or, as expressed in the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, the kings of the earth “have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.” Rev. 17: 13. Then they count their numbers. They point to the vast array of the millions who are under the sway of the papacy, and in exultation they exclaim, “Who is able to war with the beast? For a brief time, while under this delusive spell, the world will cry out, “Peace and safety.” They will say we shall have no more wars. But God's sure word of prophecy, which foretells conditions as they are, and not as men paint them, says that then “sudden destruction” shall come upon them, and “they shall not escape.” When the conditions throughout the world are so clearly fulfilling the Bible prophecies, men should stop to consider carefully, devoutly think and pray. The issues of eternity are in the balances, and the great day is rapidly approaching.
Photo Underwood & Underwood
It has never been the plan or the desire of the publishers of this paper to utter scathing and scornful protestations against the papal power, for we believe that some of the very best people in this world are communicants of the Catholic Church. But it is our desire to present the prophecy, and to ask not only Protestants, but Catholics as well, to note carefully the trend of events in the light of the prophetic Word. We are not the authors of the prophecy. God has given that; and the Spirit that gave the prophecy, will impress its teaching upon the heart, if we will but permit it. God will send convictions deep down into our souls as we study His word; and we need to be careful that prejudices do not keep us from receiving truth which God has ordained for our salvation, in these tempestuous times in earth's history. There is too much at stake for us to afford to take any chances.
