THE PAPACY by J. M. Gallemore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 16, 1877

THE PAPACY.

By J. M. Gallemore

In the days of our Saviour’s humiliation, Pagan Rome held universal dominion. It was this power that put to death the male children under two years of age, in order that the Saviour, whose birth had been foretold, might be destroyed. And it was this power that crucified the Saviour of mankind at the close of his earthly ministry. The Saviour died upon the cross, was buried, was raised from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended to his Father, to plead his shed blood in behalf of sinful man. Years rolled on, and Pagan Rome became Christianized, so-called, and was no longer Pagan Rome, but Papal Rome.

Pagan Rome we find symbolized in the book of Revelation by the great red dragon, while Papal Rome is symbolized by the beast with ten horns, representing Rome in its division into ten kingdoms. To this beast (Papal Rome) the dragon (Pagan Rome) gave its seat and power. Being possessed of the same power and actuated by the same spirit, the beast, or Rome Papal, also persecuted the Lord and Saviour in the person of his followers, millions of whom were put to death on account of their faith. In Rev. 13, this antichristian power is represented by the beast with “a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.” Of this presuming, persecuting, and blaspheming power, there is a great deal said in God’s word, which contains a terrible threatening against it.

In the book of Daniel, seventh chapter, the head of this Papal power is symbolized by a little horn, which arises, speaks great words against the Most High, wears out his saints, and thinks to change times and laws (of God).

In 2 Thess. 2: 3, 4, this same presuming power is represented as the “man of sin,” “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.”

So, in the Revelation, we have the “beast,” in Daniel the “little horn,” and in 2 Thessalonians the “man of sin,” all referring to the same power, Rome Papal, as generally admitted by Protestants. In each instance, this power speaks the same blasphemous words, performs the same wicked acts, and, lastly, comes to the same terrible end—destruction in the lake of fire that shall destroy the tares when the angel reapers shall come to reap the harvest of the world in the last day.

Dear reader, there is no surmising or guess-work in the above. It is plainly revealed in God’s word. The word of the Lord is against this wicked power; and it is also against those who, in the last day, will be found possessing its mark. For the papacy has a mark of its power, in contradistinction to the memorial of God’s power, the holy Sabbath. It has set up an institution which is the rival of the Sabbath. This institution is the Sunday, a day to be kept for a different reason from that given by God for the observance of his Sabbath. And because all the world, as it were, acknowledge, by their words and acts, the authority of the Papal Church to make this change in God’s law, substituting the first day of the week for God’s Sabbath, it therefore claims Sunday as its mark of power.

Now, dear reader, against the reception of this mark of the beast, in the full light of all the facts in the case, God has a solemn warning. If you wish to read this warning, turn to the fourteenth chapter of Revelation, in which is a definite message from God, to be proclaimed to the world just prior to the coming of our Lord and Saviour from Heaven to receive his waiting people. As you value your soul’s salvation, do not put this subject away without giving it a thorough investigation.

J. M. GALLEMORE.