Chapter Six/Unlocking the Sacred Secret

Conclusion of  The  Great Apostasy

Jesus had warned the Sardis congregation against being spiritually dead.  (Revelation 3:1)  Like those in Sardis, professed Christians quickly forgot about Christian works and soon delegated the highly important work of preaching to a small, paid clergy class. Jesus had warned the congregation in Thyatira against idolatry and fornication.  (Revelation 2:20) Yet, Christendom openly  sanctioned the use of images, as well as the promoting of  the more subtle idolatry of nationalism and materialism.  And immorality  while sometimes preached against, has always been widely tolerated.  

Here Jesus' words to the seven congregations expose the total failure of all of Christendom's religions to be Jehovah's special people.  Indeed, the clergy of Christendom have been the most prominent members of Satan's seed.  Speaking of these as 'the lawless one,' the apostle Paul foretold that their "presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents and with every unrighteous deception." -2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. 

While claiming to be shepherds of the flock of God, Christendom's leaders, religious and secular, showed special hatred for anyone who tried to encourage Bible reading or anyone who exposed their unscriptural practices.  John Hus and  Bible translator William Tyndale were persecuted and martyred.  During the bedarkened Middle Ages, apostate rule reached a peak in the diablolic Catholic inquisition.  Any who disputed the teachings or authority of the church were unmercifully  suppressed, and countless thousands of so-called heretics were tortured to death or burned at the stake. Thus Satan endeavored  to ensure that any true seed of God's womankind organization would be quickly crushed. When the Protestant rebellion, or Reformation, occurred (from 1517  onward), many Protestant churches manifested a similar  intolerant spirit. They too became blood guilty by martyring those who endeavored to be loyal to God and Christ.  Truly "the blood of holy ones" was freely poured out! -Revelation 16:6; compare Matthew  23:33-36. 

Next time: Chapter Six/Unlocking the Sacred Secret - The Seed Endures 

From the book of Revelation