Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/293

 give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all those that love his appearing. i Cor. 4 : 10-1 7 ; 2 Tim. 4 : 8.

But, after a great deal of persecution had been faithfully endured by the early Church, theories began to spread to the effect that the mission of the Church was to conquer the world, establish the kingdom of heaven on earth and reign over the nations before the Lord's second advent. This laid the foundation for worldly intrigue, pomp and pride, ostentatious show and ceremony in the Church, which was designed to impress, captivate and overawe the world, and which led step by step to the great claims of Papacy that as God's kingdom on earth it had a right to command the re- spect and obedience to its laws and officers of every kindred, nation and people. Under this false claim (and they seem- ingly deceived themselves as well as others) Papacy for a time crowned and uncrowned the kings of Europe, and still claims the authority which it is now unable to enforce.

The same idea through Papacy has come down to Protest- antism, which also claims, though more vaguely, that some- how the reign of the Church is in progress ; and like the Corinthians its adherents are "full" and "rich, "and reign "as kings," as graphically described by our Lord. (Rev. 3:17, 18.) Thus it has come to pass that the merely nom- inal members of the Church those not really converted, not really wheat, but tares, mere imitations of the wheat far outnumber the true disciples of Christ. And these are much opposed to every real sacrifice and self-denial, do not suffer persecution for righteousness' [truth's] sake, and at most hold to only a form of fastings, etc., instead. They are really reigning with the world and are not in the line of preparation for sharing in the real kingdom which is to be set up by our Lord at his second presence.

To any careful observer, there is a manifest incongruity between this view and the teaching of Jesus and the apostl

��les.

�� �