Almost imperceptively, the customs of heathenism found their way into the early Christian Church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions that the early church endured under the paganism of Rome.
But as persecution ceased and Christianity entered the courts, palaces of kings, and governments, the early Christian church laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and his apostles, for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers. Sadly, in the place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church under Constantine in the early part of the 4th century.
Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church, and her doctrine ceremonies and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of the man of sin foretold in prophecy, as opposing, and exalting himself above God.
The little horn power in the book of Daniel, the beast from the sea depicted in Revelation and the final events, and the man of sin brought to view by Paul are one and the same political-religious system, the papacy. Daniel says this system is characterized by “speaking great words against God, all the while claiming to represent God”.
Likewise, John says this power opened his mouth in blasphemy to God, blaspheming His name.
In effect, slandering and attempting to abrogate God’s character of other-centered love.
Paul says this power opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.
He is known as the Man of Lawlessness.
Paul further states that this pretender system of Christianity has engaged in a great falling away or apostasia in the Greek, from which we get the English word apostasy. The Roman church is history’s grand masquerade, claiming to be God’s church while misrepresenting God’s character by its false teaching and coercive conduct about The Final Events.
The Beast, Papacy, Rises Out of the Sea
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months (1260-day years). It opened its mouth to blaspheme God and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given the power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast (papacy)—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
Whoever has ears, let them hear.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NIV, Daniel 7-8
NOTE: In this series, various events overlap and transpire more as an intersecting and mutually intensifying process, than as isolated events in strict succession.
