p. 427 | RESPONSE TO A TEACHER by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1880

RESPONSE TO A TEACHER.

By John Nevins Andrews

[Translated from "Les Signes des Temps."]

IN our last number we have answered our friend's objections to the Sabbath; in this number we notice what he says concerning the man of sin. He thinks that the Papacy is represented in Rev. 17, but that it cannot be the man of sin of 2 Thess. 2. His reason is that the man of sin is said to exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; whereas the pope not only professes to worship God, but even to worship Mary and the consecrated host. He also professes to act as the vicegerent of God upon earth, which our friend thinks he could not do if he exalted himself above God. The pope professes faith in God and in Christ, but it is said that antichrist shall deny both (1 John 2:22); wherefore our friend thinks the pope cannot fulfill this prophecy.

He looks for an antichrist who shall say in so many words: "I deny the existence of God and of Christ, and I assert that I am greater than any other being to whom men pay adoration." But if antichrist were to come in this manner he would deceive no one. Every person who has the least knowledge of the Bible or the least regard for divine truth would recognize him as an atheist and a blasphemer. Even common sinners would say that this self-styled divinity was a presumptuous rebel against God. He would not come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:9, 10), but he would come without deception and without disguise, and there would not be the slightest danger that he would deceive one of the elect. Matt. 24:24.

Satan does not do his work in this manner. He is a deceiver, and such are all his agents. Antichrist does his work by deception. 2 Thess. 2:8-10. He is, according to John, a liar and a seducer. 1 John 2:22-26; 4:1-3. There is such a thing as professing to know God while actually denying him in works. Titus 1:16. Antichrist denies the Father and the Son, but this denial is in works while making profession of allegiance with the lips. 2 Pet. 2:1-3; Jude 4.

It is true that the pope represents himself as the vicegerent of God upon earth. This seems to acknowledge the sovereignty of God; but if we examine his acts we shall find that he does not hesitate to set aside what God has said. He can release himself or any other person from the obligation of the most solemn oaths; but this is something that God cannot do. Men who have aspired to the office of pope have solemnly sworn to the cardinals that they would do certain important things if they should become pope. But on obtaining that office they have at once released themselves from the obligation of that oath. God could not do such a thing, because it is wicked; the pope could not do it if he did not exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped.

An immense number of cases might be given in which the popes have dared to transgress the law of God while acting professedly as the representatives of God and of Christ. The acts of Pope Alexander VI may be cited as examples. They are so vile that we do not wish to name them, but they are well known to all students of history. The popes have dared to do these things because they have, according to the prophecy of Dan. 7:25, thought themselves able to change the law of God.

But let us mention one recent fact as an illustration of this principle. Cardinal Manning, the head of the Romanists in England, was formerly a clergyman of the Church of England. He embraced Romanism and desired to become a priest. But there was one obstacle in his way. He was the husband of an amiable, virtuous lady, and Rome forbids that a priest should have a wife. God's ordinance makes the relation of husband and wife indissoluble except for crime, and there was no pretense that crime had been committed. The pope divorced Mr. M., but he had to exalt himself above God in order to do it.

Even the pretense that he is the vicegerent of God upon earth and the vicar of Christ is an exaltation above the Most High. For God never created the office of vicegerent, and Christ never gave to man his own office of head of the church. It is therefore direct rebellion against the Almighty for anyone to create for himself such offices, and to pretend that God has bestowed them upon him. He seems indeed to acknowledge God and Christ by professing to act as their vicegerent. But in fact he denies both by daring to create this great office, and by demanding that all the world shall obey him absolutely in the exercise of this usurped power.

But it is said the man of sin shall sit in the temple of God (2 Thess. 2:4); and as God's temple at Jerusalem has been destroyed, it is argued that the man of sin when he comes will rebuild the temple at Jerusalem and take his place therein. But in the epistles of Paul the term temple of God is used with reference to the church. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:20-22. And we know that the pope claims to be head of the universal church, not only of all members of the church of Rome, but of all Christian churches.

But there are certain facts that leave no room for doubt as to the one intended by the man of sin in 2 Thess. 2. Paul drew his account of the man of sin from the prophecy concerning the little horn in Dan. 7. And this prophecy is repeated in substance in Rev. 13:1-10. We find in these chapters the time when this man of sin should arise, the place where he should have his seat, the nature of the office that he should hold, the work that he should do, and the length of his dominion over the people of God.

Thus in Dan. 7 we learn that when the fourth or Roman empire should be divided into ten kingdoms, which was accomplished before the end of the fifth century, then the little horn should obtain dominion. Now it was at the commencement of the sixth century that the pope was elevated to power or head of the church. In Rev. 13 we learn that the beast (representing the same power as the little horn of Dan. 7) received from the dragon his power and seat and great authority. And from Rev. 12 we learn that the dragon represents the power which ruled the world at the birth of Christ. This was imperial Rome. Now it is a remarkable fact that the seat of the Roman empire was removed from Rome to Constantinople, and that Rome, the ancient seat of the dragon, was given to the pope.

The nature of this power represented by the man of sin is distinctly marked. It is diverse from the ten kings; it rules as the representative of God. In other words it is a priest-king. His work is to wear out the saints; and the inquisition and the wars which he has instigated against the people of God attest the accomplishment of this. He has thought to change times and laws. He has thought to change the ten commandments and the ordinances of the New Testament. He was to have dominion for a time and times and half a time, or 1260 days, meaning years. Rev. 12:6, 14. This dominion extended from the decree of Justinian till the captivity of the pope in 1798.

The man of sin was therefore to arise when the Roman empire was divided into ten kingdoms. This took place 1300 years ago. It cannot therefore be a future event. He is to have his place in Rome. We know therefore where to look for him. He was to be a priest-king. We know therefore who to look for. He was to persecute those who would not accept him, and to think to change the law of God. We know his work and how vast it has been. He was to have 1260 years of dominion. He has had that period, and he has seen the time when he could humble the mightiest monarchs of Europe. Paul told the Thessalonians that Christ was not coming in their time, because the prophecies concerning the man of sin were to be accomplished. But we now look for Christ's advent at hand, because all this has been fulfilled to the letter. J. N. A.