WORLD CRISIS FORETOLD –CIVIL AND DIVINE LAWS ENDANGERED-part 19-
INTERPRETING THE SYMBOLS-part 4-
UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE
WHEN the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the Papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of “heresy”. In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends.
It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the Papacy –the beast. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast.
HISTORY REPEATS
THE Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord there will exist a state of religious declension similar to that in the first centuries. “In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils”. (1 Timothy 4:1). When this state of ungodliness shall be reached, the same results will follow as in the first centuries.
FORMATION OF THE IMAGE
WHEN the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, the Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.
“The wall of separation between church and state’ is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor that has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned” (Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Time, December 9, 1991).
A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court “declared that when religious rights clash with the government’s need for uniform rules, the court will side with the government.” (Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1990)
Lupitacalifornia's Blog 