Chapter 4

The Leaven of Babylon

Moral Darkness

So, we get back to our main point of discussion. This power, the Roman Catholic system has taken the focus of attention for a number of centuries. As a result, many generations knew no other church. The fact is that The True Church of God - those individuals who worshipped the Lord in spirit and in accordance with the truth of His Word, were in hiding in desolate corners of the earth due to persecution from that system which presented itself to the world as God’s Church. Quite true to the words of the prophecy, “the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there.” Rev.12: 6.

During this time (mainly during the sixth to seventeenth century), the Bible was forbidden to be read by the ordinary people upon pain of death. The Bible, God’s Word being removed (except as preserved by the faithful ones in hiding), superstition and ignorance flourished and the truth of God was trodden under foot. Daniel the prophet also spoke about this situation when the truth of God would be trodden under foot and men would usurp the place of God. Under the symbol of the “little horn” he describes it as follows:

“It waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.” Dan.8: lO-12.

The Reformation

As foretold by the Word of God, and as recorded in history, the truth of God was trampled under foot.

But this state of affairs would not remain indefinitely. The Spirit of God moved upon humble and sincere servants of God who had access to the Scriptures, so that they realized that the popular church was truly not representative of the God who revealed Himself in the Bible. A major revolution took place, that saw individuals braving the threat of torture and death in order to make copies of the Bible available to the common people and to exercise their God-given right of worshipping Him in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience. This great revolution which is known as The Reformation resulted in people throwing off the yoke which bound them to human theories and dogmas.

For the first time, many people breathed the air of freedom and experienced what it meant to be able to think for themselves and act in accordance with their own convictions, in matters of faith. The tide was irreversible. The threat of torture and death no longer served as a deterrent because the minds of the people were now free and they clearly understood that it was neither relevant nor necessary to salvation for them to show any obedience or allegiance to that system which was long perceived as God’s True Church.

Thus, in the fullness of time, God ordained that the truth should be brought back to light. This propelled the Reformation. But as we would imagine, the truth was brought back gradually. Revelation was progressive, under the influence of persons such as Luther, Wesley, Huss, Calvin, Jerome, Wycliffe and others.

The Problem

However, there was a problem: when a particular truth was brought to light - brought to the understanding of one individual who was in touch with God, that individual understanding the truth of how God’s Word should be shared with His people, proceeded to share that truth with as many as he could. In many cases he understood quite clearly the truth about God’s Church. As a result, he felt no guilt about separating himself from that which then posed itself to the world as God’s Church - that counterfeit which had trodden under foot the truth of what God’s Church really is, and had set up itself in its place) to the world as God’s Church. But that truth about God’s Church, in many cases, was not properly understood by those who embraced the particular truth that came to the understanding of that particular reformer. Thus, instead of sharing the particular truth that was revealed to them progressively with others until eventually, all those who are called by the name of Christ - all them that are Christ’s, came to a knowledge of that truth,, they said: Ah! We are The True Church, because truth has been brought to us that has not been brought to the rest out there. So, we are The True Church.

But this is an error! As we have shown, one is not a member of God’s church by virtue of the amount of knowledge that he has, or the amount of light that has been communicated to him. Remember Apollos. He was no less a member of God’s Church than those who shared that further light with him. The Bible declares that Apollos was “fervent in the spirit” and “spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.” Acts 18:25. Such an individual would definitely be a part of God’s family, in accordance with the words of the apostle Paul:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:14,17.

So, Apollos did not become a member of God’s Church upon his gaining new light. Rather, he was a member of God’s Church by virtue of having the Spirit of God in him. (Acts 18:25).

So, from the very moment that they started to see themselves as being The True Church, rather than seeing themselves as being a particular church, or particular churches, depending upon the number of groups of worshippers there were, they had started to go off track. All this occurs because of their misconception created by that original false system, that The Church of God is some little organization that a group of individuals gather together and set up, and lay down their own little rules for, and administrate and run in the manner that they see fit.

So, they immediately sit and write creeds and dogmas and policies that ensure that further light is not communicated to them. Having convinced themselves that they are The Church of the Scriptures -”The pillar and ground of the truth”, they as it were feel that they have “the truth”, and hence, any other truth that is yet to be revealed will have to be revealed through them. Further, whatever they lay down, has to be the truth, because, being the “pillar and ground of the truth”, they cannot preach error.

All Over Again

So then, when God is to bring another bit of truth to light, the individual through whom that truth is to be brought to light has to go back and cover old ground. He has to go back through the process of being seen as a heretic, a schismatic, a “disturber of the brethren”, an “offshoot” and all the other like names, in order to struggle earnestly to bring that truth to light.

The reason for this, is that those who had embraced that first truth, who had organized themselves into a body claimed to be The Church, now set up a barrier that inhibits and prevents them from being open to receive this other truth that the Lord now brings to light. Those creeds that they had laid down had, as it were, come to be regarded as the laws of the Medes and Persians, which could not be changed. To change them and accept this new truth which is now brought to light is to admit that, on that particular point, they were really not teaching the truth before. Hence, they would not have been The True Church - “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

So now, this person through whom the Lord brings to light this other truth, struggles earnestly by the Spirit of God to communicate this truth to as many people as he can. But unfortunately, those who embrace this other truth, having the same false concept about The Church, go back and make the same mistake. They too, settle down and say to themselves: Ah! We are The True Church; and hence, proceed to do the very same thing.

As a result, when another truth is to be brought to light, the same process has to repeat itself all over again. God has to speak to one who is attuned to him. Having spoken to that one, that one is motivated to respond to Him, and that one has to go through the same old process of being seen as a heretic, as a schismatic and all the other names that are generally used to refer to such so-called revolutionists.

Devil’s Strategy

This whole activity is a reflection of an ancient strategy of the Devil. That strategy embodies two principles: CENTRALIZATION and HIERARCHISM. God has His way and the Devil has his way. God reigns as Sovereign by being Sovereign over each individual - by dwelling in the life of each individual and making that individual walk according to His way; His dwelling in that individual being so, only by that individual willingly inviting Christ to dwell in him. But, for the Devil it is different.

The Devil tries to gain control over the entire world by the principles of CENTRALIZATION and HIERARCHISM. These principles are generally represented as a pyramid with an eye at the apex. The base of the pyramid represents the masses of people. The eye at the top represents the “enlightened ones”, or the ones with the -vision”. Between the base and the eye at the top is a hierarchical structure. Those at the base submit to the authority of those at the level immediately above them. Those at that level, submit in turn to those at the next higher level. This continues progressively for each level, leading up to the eye at the apex of the pyramid.

The “enlightened ones” represented by the eye at the apex exercise authority over all who are below. This authority might eventually culminate in a single person who is the ultimate ruler.

God’s Way

In God’s way it is different. There is one Head - Jesus Christ, and all human beings are on the same footing, forming one large base. Consider what Jesus said to His disciples:

“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you.” -Matt. 20:25,28.

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  -Matt. 23:8-12.

So, in Christ’s programme all human beings are on the same footing. The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion and authority over them, but, says Jesus: “it shall not be so among you”; no exercise of authority by any human being over another in matters of faith. There is only one Head - Jesus Christ. This one Head comes into intimate contact with every member of the Body, and He directs and leads and guides only as each individual willingly invites Him to do so in his life.

At Its Highest, A Servant

It is important to note that Jesus outlined not only the relative status of each follower with respect to the other - namely, that all are equal, but He also specified their absolute status: “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

The greatest of His followers (which is every genuine follower, since all are equal) can rise no greater than being a servant. Servants do not exercise rulership. Their role is simply to obey and do their masters bidding. The wise man Solomon was fully aware of the incongruity of one who is rightfully only a servant assuming kingly power. Consider his words in Proverbs 30:21,22.

“For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear.” The first on the list in the order in which the wise man Solomon chose to list them, is: “a servant when he reigneth.”

Indeed, the fact and truthfulness of those words could hardly be verified more forcibly than by looking at the Roman Catholic Church kingdom.

That which originally was declared by Christ to be at its highest, only a servant, rejected its only legitimate Master and proceeded to make itself “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

And what has been the result? Moral and intellectual darkness as well as the most abject tyranny that the world has ever seen, protracted over the greater part of nearly two (2) millenniums. So deep was that night of darkness that the gradual breaking of its power was marked by two (2) great revolutions: One relating to intellectual recovery - The Renaissance (or rebirth of learning -14th century - 16th century); the other relating to moral and spiritual recovery - The Reformation (16th century).

We have seen Christ’s way and we have seen the Devil’s way. The Devil’s way, that hierarchical structure based on the principle of the pyramid with the eye at the top is the same principle we see in virtually all the systems of this world. But for the Church of Christ it is different. This is not the principle that Christ employs in governing the affairs of His Church.

Attempts By Satan

Consider how the Devil operates using these principles of centralization and hierarchism. We see these principles in operation as far back as the experience of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). God told the inhabitants of the world to spread - to scatter over the face of the earth and multiply. God did not need to have them all amassed at one place because God could dwell in the heart of each individual who would willingly allow Him.

But the Devil had a different idea. He wanted them to gather together in one place and come together under one system. By virtue of controlling the head of that system the Devil would automatically gain control over all those who give their allegiance to that system. As for the minority that doesn’t, he is able to suppress them, using the majority that have submitted to him through that system. Of course, as the record tells us, that first attempt did not work, because God Himself intervened and thwarted that plan of the Devil.

The Devil did not, however, abandon his idea, because, even in the Christian dispensation we see the same plan operating again. Persecution was very heavy upon God’s people. They scattered all over the world. But this was an advantage to the spread of the gospel, because each one that fled to some corner in the world took the message with him. The Devil, realizing that he could not wipe out all of them in order to get rid of the gospel of truth from the face of the earth, decided to go back to the old plan; He decided to befriend them and bring them together under one system operated by deception.

That system which he eventually brought them under, is the same system which bore sway over the entire world throughout medieval times, which is generally reckoned as the dark ages. Of course, in the activities of that system we see the very nature of the Devil coming out, because that was why he instituted that system. He used the system to deceive the majority through their conforming to it, and ultimately to him, then he subverted the minority who would not conform. That minority naturally included God’s true followers. Accordingly, during those dark ages, individuals were killed simply because they were found with a Bible, even though that particular system presented itself to the world as The Church of God.

But thanks be to God, there were individuals who, through the Holy Spirit and their contact with God were able to realize and say: NO–this is not The Church of God; this is not the way God works. Hence, God was able to use them to bring back the truth to light -the truth that was trampled under foot by this’ system that presented itself to the world as the Church of God.

But alas, as one truth was brought to light the Devil reared his ugly head once again, by deceiving those who embraced that truth with that same original deceptive strategy of centralization and hierarchism. He was determined to bring them together, and bring them back under his power; to stop the promulgation of that truth; to have them lock it up to themselves, and not only locking it up to themselves, but also to close the door to God bringing further light to them.

For each truth that the Lord has brought to light, the Devil has motivated individuals to do the very same thing. He has led them to establish a centralized organizational structure which they are made to regard as The Church of Christ. Thus, the faith of a multitude becomes dependent on the pronouncements of either one individual or a small group of religious elite who are, in some cases, not even converted. Hence, the multitude, being conditioned to walk after these leaders and not being diligent to “prove all things” from the Scriptures, allow themselves to be led astray. Such has been the spiritual downfall of many who were initially zealous and sincere followers of Christ.

Eventually those to whom the truth about the Sabbath, the Sanctuary and the gift of prophecy was revealed, followed the very same erroneous pathway. They have followed the same example, building up a system on the very same principle that the Devil motivated men in those early centuries of the Christian era to build that first false one.

The Bible depicts the governing authority of that first false system as a woman (BABYLON) that is a mother (Rev. 17:5). Indeed the mother Babylon is the first of many, all of which, though claiming to have protested against the mother Babylon (by their being classified as Protestant) have all assimilated her doctrines and traditions, one of which is the setting up of men in the place of God for regulating the faith of God’s people. Not only does the Bible refer to the fact of Babylon having daughters, but these daughters, like the mother Babylon are referred to as harlots. (Rev. 17:5). They all have sacrificed truth and the approval of God in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world. They all had an origin of purity but rejected Christ in accepting the Devil’s gifts of centralization and hierarchism, and seeking popular favour at the expense of truth.

Repeat Of Israel’s Mistake

It is important to note however, that these religious groups which initially started on the foundation of genuine faith and genuine desire for Godly reform are not rejected by God simply because of their mistake in establishing a centralized hierarchical structure similar to that of mother Babylon. Despite their mistake God tries to work along with them in order that they night be enlightened and He tries to accomplish His purposes for them and through then despite the obvious limitation that they have placed upon their openness to be led by God.

But invariably, these religious groups end up compromising and rejecting truth in order to obtain popular favour for their religious establishment and also to sustain their man-made creeds and dogmas. It is when truth is thus rejected that they positively place themselves along a path of backsliding.

Their experience becomes similar to that of Ancient Israel. Israel rejected the guidance that God had been giving them and desired to have a king in an effort to be like the surrounding nations. Although God was displeased, He allowed them to have their way in having a king. Nevertheless He did not leave them utterly to their misguided judgement, but made the choice for them. The Bible outlines God’s response to their request:

“But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice and make them a king.” - 1 Sam. 8:6,7,9,10,19,20,22.

The person that God chose to be king of Israel was Saul, the son of Kish. Israel’s demand for a king proved to be a great snare to them, because their level of spirituality and commitment to God, as a nation, rose no higher than that of the various kings that successively ascended the throne. When there was a king who did good in the sight of the Lord, Israel obeyed God, but when they had a king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Israel did the same. Unfortunately for them, most of the kings that reigned chose to do evil in the sight of the Lord and Israel drifted progressively further away from God.

Eventually, because of their backsliding, God allowed them to be taken into captivity (2 Kings 17:18-22). The ten tribes that comprised the kingdom of Israel were overthrown by the Assyrians and scattered among the nations (2 Kings 17:8-8) and the kingdom of Judah was later taken captive also when it was declared:

“And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Eze. 21:25-27.

Thus the kingly office, throne and diadem of Israel was discontinued.

Like with Israel, God bears patiently with each group of genuine believers even though they unknowingly set His leadership aside by establishing their own systems of centralized self-government and taking their guidance from the various religious dignitaries that they have appointed to themselves. However, when they openly reject the truth that is presented to them and place themselves as its opponents, God has no choice but to leave them to walk in the course that they have charted for themselves. Of such the apostle Paul declares:

“Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2 Thess. 2:10-12.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -  2 Tim. 4:3,4.

The condemnation which individuals and groups face is not particularly due to the fact that they are in darkness, but “this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light.” John 3:19.

Rejected By Reformers

If there is one thing that many of the reformers had in common initially (apart from their rejection of Roman Catholicism and the desire to see a restoration of true Godliness) it is an appreciation of the Biblical concept of The Church. Consider the words of a few of the notable ones:

“There is one only universal Church: consisting of the whole body of the predestinate.” “All who shall be saved in the bliss of heaven are members of the Holy Church, and no more.” - WYCLIFFE.

“Certain of the tenets of John Huss and the Bohemians are perfectly orthodox. This much is certain. For instance, that there is only one universal Church’; and again ‘that it is not necessary to salvation to believe the Roman church superior to all others.’ Whether Wycliffe or Huss has said it, I care not. It is the truth.” “There is no other Church than the assembly of those who have the Word of God and are purified by it” - LUTHER.

“In every nation whosoever believeth with the heart in the Lord Jesus Christ, is saved. This is The Church out of which no man can be saved.” “The Church universal is diffused over the whole world wherever there is faith in Jesus Christ - in the Indies as well as in Zurich. And as for particular churches, we have them - at Berne at Shaffhausen, here also. But the Popes, their cardinals, and their councils, are neither the Church universal, nor the church particular - ZWINGLE.

The words of the three (3) reformers quoted above reflect the general understanding that many of the others had. In some instances, earnest efforts had to be made to resist trends that were leading to the adoption by fellow believers of a form of church establishment in accordance with the principle of Babylon. A typical example of this is found in the words of a pioneer of one such group that, notwithstanding his earnest protests eventually followed the same path of building a structure in accordance with the example of Babylon. Says the pioneer:

“While Israel obeyed God, He defended and blessed them; but when they desired a king like the surrounding nations, and said, “Give us a king, God departed from them, or suffered them to follow their own wisdom: and the result was, a yoke was laid upon their necks by their: king, who was given to them ‘ in wrath and taken away in anger.’

“While the primitive church stood upon the foundation laid by Christ, obeyed His law, and followed Him, they were humble, prosperous and happy.

“But when they began to lay other foundations, adopt other laws, and follow other leaders, the glory departed from them:

they committed fornication with the kings of the earth, and soon constituted the ‘mother’ whom John saw seated on the scarlet coloured beast, drunk with the blood of the saints.

“While the seceding sects were young, humble, and submitted to Christ and His word, they were blessed, and proved a blessing to The Church and the world.

“But when they patterned after the “mother of harlots”, they, like her, “committed fornication”, and became identified with mystery Babylon, that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth of the earth.

“From this fallen city, brethren, we have fled, in obedience to the command, “Come out of her”. Let us not go back to her polluted temples, nor build one of our own after any of her patterns.

“Obey Christ and His word, and you have nothing to fear. But if you depart from Him, like the examples before us, He will cast us off forever.

“Finally, we object to the doings of the Albany Conference, because the proceedings as a whole, look like forming a new sect, under a sectarian name, instead of coming to the order of the New Testament, under the name there given to the true Church.

“It looks like laying plans of our own devising, when we have in our possession the perfect economy of the Lord, by which we should be guided, and when we profess to be looking for His coming every hour.

“Can we for one moment suppose it is a time now to be fixing up a creed for years, or even months, to come? Is this our faith? O I cannot, I cannot - I must not,

“What! The advent people have a creed?

“What! The advent people organize into a sect?

“O, brethren, do let us be consistent.

“Did not our enemies tell us that after the time passed - if it did pass - we should organize into a sect? What did we answer them?

“You who are disposed to organize and have a creed, answer it. “Let us remember three things, and overcome them.

 “1. The beast.

 “2. His mark.

“3. The number of his name.

“Here is the patience and faith of the saints. Let the Gentile princes exercise their dictation; but let us not be so.”  - Advent Review, 1850; (published by Hiram Edson, David Arnold, Geo. W. Holt, Samuel W. Rhodes, and James White; article from which the above is taken signed with the initial “W”.)