The Church by C. S. Longacre

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 11, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 31.

The Church

By C. S. Longacre

VI. The False Church in Prophecy

By C. S. Longacre

THERE is nothing more evident in the sacred Scriptures than that a false church was to arise. This false church was to reach such enormous proportions in numerical adherents that the true church would be called the “little flock” as contrasted with “Babylon the Great”—a power so great that it was prophesied that “all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life.” Rev. 13:8.

When writing to the true church, the Lord calls the false church “that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess.” Rev. 2:20. That there was to be a schism and apostasy in the true church is apparent from the following scripture: “That day shall not come [Christ’s second coming], 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.” 2 Thess. 2:3, 4. “The man of sin,” that is, the man of lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness, was to sit in the temple, or church, of God, calling himself God, at the same time opposing God and His worship by directing it to his own exalted person and mandates.

And again, Paul, in addressing the elders of Ephesus, said: “I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29, 30. The expressions, “not sparing the flock,” and “to draw away disciples after them,” show unmistakably the forming of an antagonistic church, one that would lead disciples or learners away from the church of Christ.

The Testimony of Christ

The word of Christ Himself shows clearly that this false church was even to work miracles, prophecy, and do wonderful works, and at the same time work lawlessness. He said, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:22, 23. The Greek word for “iniquity” in this verse is anomian, which means literally “opposition to the law.” This is the reason that the head of that false system of religion is called “that man of sin,” or the man of lawlessness.

This false system of religion is the Papacy. While claiming to be the “spouse of Christ” and the true form of Christianity, she is not, but is, in fact, the very opposite. The Papacy and true Christianity are antagonistic systems. The Papacy has been a persecuting power, and consequently unchristian, while Christianity was compelled to flee from before the face of the Papacy, and to hide in the recesses of the Alps and the Piedmont Mountains and other secluded places of the earth, lest it be entirely obliterated.

Advance History of the Two

As already stated, the history of the true church and the false were written in advance in the book of Revelation by the Lord Himself. In the history of the seven churches of the book of Revelation, seven distinct phases or epochs through which the true church was to pass from the first advent of Christ unto the second, are brought to view parallel with a picture of the false church that would exist at the same time. Thus the false church is presented under different expressions and figures characteristic of her work and teachings.

The first church, that of Ephesus,—the first phase of the church,—has this plainly said to her, “Thou art fallen.” In these words we see fulfilled the inspired words of Paul who prophesied of the “falling away.”

The second church, covering the period from the death of the apostles, about A.D. 100, to the professed conversion of Constantine, receives warning against those who call themselves God’s true people “and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.”

The third church, embracing the time from Constantine to the establishment of the Papacy, when its power supplanted that of the emperors of Rome, is reproved for having its headquarters “even where Satan’s seat is,” and it was not to deny the Lord “even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr.” “Antipas” means: anti, against, and pas, papas, or pope,—against the pope. Those who opposed the establishment of the Papacy in Rome, became “faithful martyrs of Jesus,” and were denominated by the Lord as “Antipas” in contradistinction to those who were antichrist.

To the fourth church, whose point of beginning is coincident with the establishment of the Papacy, God gives His faithful warnings, and calls the apostate church the “woman Jezebel, that calleth herself a prophetess.” The true church was not to suffer her to teach in its midst and thus seduce or lead away God’s people.

A Number of Parallels

The woman Jezebel very aptly represents the Papacy. Let us notice a number of parallel characteristics:

1. She called herself a prophetess, but was not one. A prophet is the mouth-piece of God. Exactly this the Papacy claims to be.

2. Jezebel sought to establish a heathen religion. The Papacy introduced heathen worship, and christened it in the name of Christ and venerated saints.

3. Jezebel persecuted the true servants of God. It is said that the Papacy put to death fifty million souls, whom it called “heretics.”

4. Jezebel forced King Ahab to sell himself to the persecution beyond his own wishes in the matter. The Papacy forced the kings of the earth to persecute heretics beyond their own wishes, or face papal excommunication and interdict.

5. The charge against Jezebel was fornication and idolatry. In setting aside the marriage institution for the clergy, the Papacy filled all Europe with her fornication. And by legal worship of images idolatry became an essential part of the Catholic religion, and this further is spiritual adultery.

6. As the prophets met their fate near Megiddo at the River Kishon through the judgment of God, so will the great apostate church “and the kings of the earth and their armies,” when gathered together to make war against the Lord and His army, meet a similar fate on the same spot, at Armageddon.