BABYLON'S MYSTERIES IN THE CHURCH OF THIS DISPENSATION.
By Elder William Covert
WE have learned how the people of God were anciently led away from the worship and obedience of the Creator through the mysteries of Babylon of old. We find a parallel to this among his people since the times of Christ. The same iniquity by which Satan was anciently adored, has found its way into the church of this dispensation, and many are taken captive in its toils. In less than twenty-five years after the ascent of Christ to heaven, Paul wrote, "The mystery of iniquity doth already work." 2 Thess. 2:7. This he said with reference to things already taking place among those who were in the church. But he indicated that this iniquity would constantly take on greater proportions until it should become all that Satan desired it to be. The first step in this iniquity was made in losing a great connection by faith with Christ as the living head of the individual Christian. There are those who were teaching that it would be an evidence of greater humility if Christians would approach the Father in a more remote way than to come directly to the throne through Jesus Christ. They taught worship through angels, thereby showing humility and neglecting the body. In this way they did penance, and thought that they possessed merit in themselves. They taught that ordinances of self-abasement would show greater humility than to claim a direct and living connection with the righteousness of Christ and his heavenly fullness. The book of Colossians shows the anxiety of the apostle because of the early introduction of these elements of heathenism in the church. The greatness of Jesus Christ and the might of his deliverance and his omnipotence both in creation and redemption are all taught in the first twenty verses of this wonderful823epistle. In verse 21 he begins to show that man's alienation through sin does not prevent an entire reconciliation. Following this he shows that Christ in the body of his flesh through death could and would present the Christian holy and unblamable and unreprovable in the sight of the Father. Therefore he urged that they should continue in the faith, grounded and settled in the hope of the gospel. What need was there then of any middle power between the believer and the Saviour? Evidently some had already lost their comfort and hope of the gospel, and many more would do so through the working of this mystery of iniquity, therefore he wrote:— "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh [this includes the reader]; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." Col. 2:1-4. Let the reader study carefully the above scripture and then notice that in verse 18 he warns against being beguiled into the worshiping of angels through a voluntary humility. When this is done, the tie that binds to Christ is broken and the nourishment of his life is cut off. Not anything can come in between the believer and Christ without severing the union that should exist. Any voluntary service that is offered in professed humility draws the mind away from Christ and severs the connection from his life. These he says are but the ordinances and commandments of men. They have a show of human wisdom, but are sin and lead to death. While some were led to believe that it was best to worship God through the angels, it will be remembered that none but fallen angels would encourage or receive worship from any man. See Rev. 19:10; 22:8, 9. The term "angel," as used in the text quoted, meant an agent or messenger, and could be applied to any creature that might be supposed to act between the Creator and man. By the Gentiles this medium was often supposed to be a deified man—the spirit of some dead person. When Paul preached Christ to the Athenians, some of their philosophers encountered him, and said that Paul himself seemed to be a "setter forth of strange gods [a little god, a demon, young]; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." Acts 17:18. At the first, they thought that Jesus was a new kind of demon, one who had gone to heaven bodily instead of becoming a demon in the regular order of their ancient philosophy. Therefore they took Paul into their highest court, that he might set his new philosophy prominently before them. Anything that the heathen called god was an object of worship, and the objects thus designated were multitudinous. When a miracle was wrought at Lystra, the people said the gods had come down to them in the form of men, and it was with difficulty that Paul and Barnabas prevented the heathen population from doing sacrifice to them as gods. Acts 14:11-18. These references to the idolatry of those times show what the tendency of the Gentile mind then was, and how closely allied all their practices were to their heathenish worship. If we judge from the apostles' instruction to the churches, there was constant need of carefulness on the part of Christian brethren, lest some of the poorly informed members should think they were in league with some of the reputed gods of the heathen. Referring to current customs and theories, he said: "Though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many, and lords many), but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." 1 Cor. 8:5, 6. But as all were not well established in their minds on these things, it became necessary for them to be guarded as to their eating of flesh, for he said, "Some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled." Verse 7. But in explanation of what it was that these Gentiles worshiped he said, "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils [demons], and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." 1 Cor. 10:20. From these scriptures it is seen that idolatry and demon worship in all ages have been associated together. But the doctrine of demons is wholly based upon the falsehood told by Satan in Eden, that man should not die, but that, instead of death, he should become as gods. Out of this teaching came the practice of invoking the protection and blessing of the dead. This idolatry in modern times is called the If the good people of the past whom we see no more upon earth are still living, it is argued that they can do the kind office of interceding for those who seek the favor of God through their ministry. Especially is Mary, the mother of Jesus, invoked to intercede with her Son in behalf of the needy. These practices all have their counterpart, both in Modern Spiritualism and ancient necromancy. The doctrine of purgatory and prayers for the dead also grew out of the same evil seed. In addition to all that has been noticed above, there is the teaching of eternal torture for the lost, which could not for a moment find countenance in any creed were it not for the theory that man is possessed of natural immortality and therefore cannot die. There was also the horrid practice of killing slaves that they may accompany their dead masters in the spirit world, the burning of children in the fire to appease the wrath of angry demons, the worshiping of animals, believing that the souls of deceased ancestors are dwelling in them, together with all the barbarous and pagan mysteries of both ancient and modern times. These all are based upon the belief that men do not die, but that instead of death they become gods. But the glorious truth of life and righteousness through Christ is that which alone makes and holds the Christian. While there is gospel faith and hope in Christ these idolatries cannot come in to deceive and lead away from God. Let all laborers in Christ's cause ever hold up Christ as all in all, the Fullness of the Godhead bodily, the Source of all joy and comfort to the believer, and the Treasure House of all wisdom and knowledge. The apostle said that those who through voluntary humility engaged in the worshiping of angels were "not holding the Head [Christ], from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseeth with the increase of God." Col. 2:19. It was the letting go of a direct connection with Christ and taking hold on something else that resulted in the great apostasy. It was this latter union that revealed the man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposed and exalted himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, who has tried to show himself that he is God. To connect wholly with this man of sin is to get as far from God as possible. The danger lies in taking the first step. Let not one thing come between the soul and Christ. It is through him and in him and by him alone, first and last and all the time, that light and life and righteousness are received and maintained.