Great Controversy – 03
The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great apostasy which would result in the establishment of the Church of Rome power. He declared that the day of Christ should not come, “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 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.” And furthermore, the apostle warns his brethren that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7. Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy.
VERSÍCULO DE LA BIBLIAE BIBLE VERSE. l Apóstol Pablo, en su segunda carta a los Tesalonicenses, predijo la gran apostasía que resultaría en el establecimiento del poder de la Iglesia de Roma. Declaró que el día de Cristo no vendría, “sin que antes venga la apostasía, y se manifieste el hombre de pecado, el hijo de perdición, el cual se opone y se levanta contra todo lo que se llama Dios o es objeto de culto; tanto que se sienta en el templo de Dios como Dios, haciéndose pasar por Dios”. Y además, el apóstol advierte a sus hermanos que “el misterio de la iniquidad ya está obrando”. 2 Tesalonicenses 2:3, 4, 7. Incluso en esa fecha temprana vio, infiltrándose en la iglesia, errores que prepararían el camino para el desarrollo del papado.
ONE UNO. Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, “the mystery of iniquity” carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, [50] in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.
UNO ONE. Poco a poco, al principio en sigilo y silencio, y luego más abiertamente a medida que aumentaba en fuerza y ganaba control sobre las mentes de los hombres, “el misterio de la iniquidad” llevó adelante su obra engañosa y blasfema. Casi imperceptiblemente, las costumbres del paganismo se abrieron paso en la iglesia cristiana. El espíritu de compromiso y conformidad fue restringido por un tiempo por las feroces persecuciones que soportó la iglesia bajo el paganismo. Pero cuando cesó la persecución, y el cristianismo entró en las cortes y palacios de los reyes, dejó de lado la humilde sencillez de Cristo y sus apóstoles por la pompa y el orgullo de los sacerdotes y gobernantes paganos; y en lugar de los requisitos de Dios, sustituyó las teorías y tradiciones humanas. La conversión nominal de Constantino, [50] a principios del siglo cuarto, causó gran regocijo; y el mundo, revestido con una forma de justicia, entró en la iglesia. Ahora el trabajo de la corrupción progresó rápidamente. El paganismo, aunque parecía vencido, se convirtió en conquistador. Su espíritu controlaba la iglesia. Sus doctrinas, ceremonias y supersticiones fueron incorporadas a la fe y adoración de los profesos seguidores de Cristo.
TWO DOS. Satan once endeavored to form a compromise with Christ. He came to the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered to give all into His hands if He would but acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater success in presenting the same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the great men of earth; and having thus rejected Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the representative of Satan—the bishop of Rome.
DOS TWO. Satanás una vez se esforzó por llegar a un compromiso con Cristo. Vino al Hijo de Dios en el desierto de la tentación, y mostrándole todos los reinos del mundo y la gloria de ellos, se ofreció a entregarlo todo en sus manos si reconocía la supremacía del príncipe de las tinieblas. Cristo reprendió al tentador presuntuoso y lo obligó a partir. Pero Satanás se encuentra con mayor éxito al presentar las mismas tentaciones al hombre. Para asegurar ganancias y honores mundanos, la iglesia fue inducida a buscar el favor y el apoyo de los grandes hombres de la tierra; y habiendo así rechazado a Cristo, fue inducida a rendirle lealtad al representante de Satanás, el obispo de Roma.
THREE TRES. It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the Bishop of Rome is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the Bishop of Rome has been given the very titles of Deity. He has been styled “Lord God” (see Appendix), and has been declared infallible. He demands the homage of all men. The same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage. [51] But those who fear and reverence God meet this heaven-daring assumption as Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8. God has never given a hint in His word that He has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of Romish supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The Bishop of Rome can have no power over Christ’s church except by usurpation.
TRES THREE. Es una de las principales doctrinas del romanismo que el obispo de Roma es la cabeza visible de la iglesia universal de Cristo, investido con autoridad suprema sobre obispos y pastores en todas partes del mundo. Más que esto, al obispo de Roma se le han dado los mismos títulos de Deidad. Ha sido llamado “Señor Dios” (ver Apéndice), y ha sido declarado infalible. Exige el homenaje de todos los hombres. El mismo reclamo instado por Satanás en el desierto de la tentación es todavía instado por él a través de la Iglesia de Roma, y un gran número está listo para rendirle homenaje. [51] Pero aquellos que temen y reverencian a Dios se enfrentan a esta suposición de osadía celestial como Cristo se enfrentó a las solicitudes del astuto enemigo: “Al Señor tu Dios adorarás, ya Él solo servirás”. Lucas 4:8. Dios nunca ha dado una pista en Su palabra de que Él ha designado a ningún hombre para ser la cabeza de la iglesia. La doctrina de la supremacía romana se opone directamente a las enseñanzas de las Escrituras. El obispo de Roma no puede tener poder sobre la iglesia de Cristo excepto por usurpación.
FOUR CUATRO. Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern his deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the word that even the Saviour of the world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal truth, saying, “It is written.” To every suggestion of the adversary, He opposed the wisdom and power of the word. In order for Satan to maintain his sway over men, and establish the authority of the papal usurper, he must keep them in ignorance of the Scriptures. The Bible would exalt God and place finite men in their true position; therefore its sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed. This logic was adopted by the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was prohibited. The people were forbidden to read it or to have it in their houses, and unprincipled priests and prelates interpreted its teachings to sustain their pretensions. Thus the bishop of Rome came to be almost universally acknowledged as the vicegerent of God on earth, endowed with authority over church and state.
FIVE CINCO. The detector of error having been removed, Satan worked according to his will. Prophecy had declared that the bishop of Rome was to “think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25. This [52] work it was not slow to attempt. To afford converts from heathenism a substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote their nominal acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images and relics was gradually introduced into the Christian worship. The decree of a general council (see Appendix) finally established this system of idolatry. To complete the sacrilegious work, Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second commandment, forbidding image worship, and to divide the tenth commandment, in order to preserve the number. The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven’s authority. Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified (Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of the sun.” This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable, they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to bring about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were held upon it; yet it was regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly observed.
SIX SEIS. The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay, more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God.
SEVEN SIETE. The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the bishop of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the bishop of Rome, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the bishop of Rome was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay, more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God.