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As we have covered, the biggest falling away from the faith began after the Roman Empire made Christianity the imperial religion. This brought a flood of unsavory and selfishly ambitious people into the church. They sought leadership positions in the church, viewed as the easiest and quickest path to wealth and power. Quickly, the church was transformed from a vitally alive and powerful force spreading faith throughout the world in the face of relentless persecution to little more than a political pawn of the state.
Seeing the trap the church fell into during this period caused many to think that the church should not have anything to do with the state, but that is not the case. The Great Commission given to the church is a call to “disciple all nations,” not just individuals. How can we do this if we do not engage with them? There is a ditch on either side of the path of life, and those who overreact to the ditch on one side will often fall into the other extreme. The path of life is usually between extremes, and it takes great faith, wisdom, and above all, staying close to the Lord to stay on the path. This is also true in the church’s relationship to the state. We are called to be “in” the world as salt and light, but not “of” it—or not like it in basic ways.
No doubt there were many great Christians both within and outside the institutional church during the time of the great falling away in the Middle Ages. Many of these were part of the “antipas,” or anti-pope, movement that the Lord commended in His word to the churches. Even so, as access to the Scriptures was removed from church life—and in church authority, dogma was elevated as a higher authority than the Scriptures—the church and the Western world descended into a terrible darkness. During this time, those who held to the apostolic faith based on the Scriptures were persecuted even more viciously than under the Roman Empire.
We will not go into the detail of how horrible and antichrist the church became in this period, but historians generally agree that about fifty million declared heretics by the church in this time were martyred. Halley’s Bible Handbook corroborates this number. The pope assumed every title attributed to Christ in Scripture and was elevated to be considered, by doctrine, even “God on earth.” Allegiance to the pope, by acknowledging him as “the lamb of God,” was a primary way one was declared a heretic or not.
The pope was not considered a secular authority, but he dominated the West by determining who could hold secular authority. In “Christian Europe,” those who held the position of king would have to crawl on their knees up a hill to the pope’s throne, kiss his ring, and receive his blessing before they could assume their own throne. In this way, the “harlot” church fulfilled the prophecy that she “reigns over the kings of the earth” (see Revelation 17:18).
In Revelation, this harlot church was identified to those “with wisdom” as “seven hills on which the woman sits” (see Revelation 17:9 NIV). Rome was built on seven hills and was known throughout the world as the “city on seven hills.” This is likely how the early church fathers, who lived several centuries before the great falling away, identified Rome as being the seat of the “man of sin,” or the “abomination that desolates,” as seen in their writings.
We have these writings readily available and known as “The Early Church Fathers.” We also have the Bible compiled and readily available as the bestselling book in the world for centuries. However, before the printing press, books were rare, as were the Scriptures. Even literacy was rare. Ignorance and superstition ruled the masses. The authority of kings was absolute, but they depended on the church’s endorsement to assume and maintain it. As imagined, the favors given by kings to church authorities were great.
The corruption of the church continued and deepened throughout this long spiritual night over Western civilization. There were occasional popes and church leaders who tried to bring reform, but for every step forward there seemed to be two taken backward by the next generation. At the same time, millions were persecuted and often executed as heretics for refusing to submit to the church. The methods of torture used made the Nazis look compassionate. The classic book, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, covers this in detail.
During this time, it is likely that the world witnessed its greatest depravity ever in the lands where the Roman Catholic Church was preeminent. This was all prophesied in the revelation given to John. It unfolded just as he was shown. As the revelation became known, it was a great comfort to those who suffered through this period of our dark history.
This was allowed to happen for a reason. If we forget this and do not understand the reasons for it, we will keep making the same mistakes until a generation arises that understands. The church continues to make many of the same mistakes today, even if on a much lesser scale and in different ways. The same spirit of corruption still has great influence in the church. This is why we need to examine the doctrines and practices of this period in more detail, as painful as it may be. However, continuing to practice them will lead to much more pain.
This is an interesting word from Rick Joyner. Especially at the end where he says:
“This is why we need to examine the doctrines and practices of this period in more detail, as painful as it may be. However, continuing to practice them will lead to much more pain.”.
What was the major doctrine of Rome? It was the Trinity Doctrine. Certainly we need to question that doctrine and test it.
Here is an in-depth look at the Trinity Doctrine.
If all history was ignored then you would have to ignore much of the Bible to start with.
Luke 1
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye witnesses and servants of the word.3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.Further, if we had no history, then how would we know if or when some prophecies were fulfilled. If there was none, then we would have to assume that all prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.
And all the scriptures that talk about knowing the times and season that we live in, then without history we would have no context.
History is a great teacher that we should never ignore.
you realise that your read quote is from the bible and so is regarding the bible,
when Daniel look in the scriptures and understood that the 70 years have ended ,he was not referring to world history,but God prophecy
when the future apostles were waiting for the anointed one to come ,it was the scriptures that show them when and were,
when Jesus came as the anointed one he showed them what was written about him in scriptures ,not in the world news ,
God does not operate with world events the devil does and the devil try to mimic what scriptures says but the wicked will not understand says scriptures,
it is good to know the truth of history
you seem and many others to not understand the season we live in at all ,Jesus talk about the season we live in to his apostles ,it was for his apostles the time to harvest,can you show me a change of season since then ? i cannot find any change
The bible is a historical book among other things. History is not bad, It teaches us if we have ears to hear. History has the word ‘story’ in it. We learn by observing the failures and successes of others. We know a good tree and a bad tree by its fruit. History attests to the fruit that has been produced over the centuries and millennia.
If you are referring to religious history, then it is still history and history is a teacher too. e.g., if a particular doctrine like the Trinity is created and enforced by a group that has killed and persecuted those who do not adhere to their doctrine, then history shows us the bad fruit and helps us judge the root. It is not the only teacher here, but another sign for those who have eyes to see.
terraicca you are flogging a dead horse. If you do not believe that history is a teacher and we have nothing to learn from it, then that is your decision and your loss. I am not going to spend the rest of my days trying to convince you otherwise. I have more important things to do. Personally for me, history shows the fruit of many things. I do well to learn from that. It is a part of life and life in this world gives us many lessons to learn. Not everything good is strictly found only in the Bible. When Jesus came into this world he learned obedience for example. Was that strictly from scripture only? Even scripture teaches history for the lessons we can learn are valuable.
remember that I mention TRUE HISTORY as something good to know
Jesus learn obedience through obeying God his father will and not his own will ,and so should we as well ,
there is only so much a person can learn from history ,if you cut yourself do you need more cut to show you that it hurts or should not be a good practice ?
remember that I mention TRUE HISTORY as something good to know
Where?
And the word ‘history’ includes true history right?
God wants us to learn in every way that is presented to us. Jesus learned obedience by coming into this world. Life has many lessons to teach us. History is part of life. It is what happened in the past. If scripture was the only way to learn, then we should all become monks, live in an isolated community, and read scripture all day.
I will let you win this topic if that makes you happy. Not sure what the point of it is really. lol.
Good, then let scripture win.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.Job 8:8-10
“For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?Psalm 78:3-4
Things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.Deuteronomy 32:7
Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you
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