He is called the Pope

of the apostasy is at Rome. as a title of his supremacy, and the father of the Christian Church. Paul says of him that he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped." It is true that the Pope has exalted himself above all powers on earth and in heaven. As a bishop of the Church he is more ambitious than any king in the world. He assumes to himself universal dominion. He has exalted his authority above the kings of the world. He has required them to seek their crowns at his hand. In the Church he has exalted himself above God, in forbidding things that God has allowed, as marriage and meats; and allowing things which God has forbidden, as idolatry, the worshiping of images and relics, the praying to saints, the working of spurious miracles, the granting of indulgences to commit sins by permission from him, and many other similar things. The titles and attributes which his followers apply to him without rebuke from him are blasphemous. The following are illustrations of "exalting himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped": "Our Lord God the Pope." "He is another God on earth." "He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." "The dominion of God and the Pope is the same. The power of the Pope is greater than all created power and extends itself to things in heaven, to things on earth, and to things in hell. The Pope does whatever he pleases, and even in unlawful things he is greater than God." These are quotations from Roman Catholic books. These are the assumptions of the Papacy.

Is not this blasphemy? All this the Pope claims as supreme bishop of the world. He as a religious teacher assumes to himself all power and authority. He sits in the seat of the Church; in the "temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

But let us go back to the apostle. Read verses 5-7. It seems that Paul had foretold these things in his preaching among these people. He told them also "what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." He saw the rising of that power in his day. He knew that it would succeed in the end. For he says, "The mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way." The word "let" here has changed its meaning since the Bible was translated. It meant at that time to "hinder." It now means to "permit." This will make the passage plain: "Only he who now hindereth will hinder, until he be taken out of the way." The thing which hindered was the Roman Senate. When that power declined, the Papacy arose. In the propagation of Christianity ecclesiastical power arose in a natural way. The ablest ministers were called to the influential city churches. The men of less power and ambition held positions among the country churches. When a matter of difficulty arose, the presbytery, or consistory, was called together for counsel. The man of greatest influence was elected. as moderator of this ecclesiastical body. That man, as a general thing, was the pastor of the city church in the province where the assembly met. This soon grew into a custom. The pastor or bishop of the city

church presided at all presbyteries or ecclesiastical meetings. The result was he soon became ambitious, and claimed this as a right. The next step was he soon began to regard the province in which the city was situated, as his diocese. Paul saw this usurpation of power in his day. The bishops would then have usurped the right to govern in civil matters, had it not been for another power, which was the Roman Senate. It was this that hindered these self-constituted heads of the Church from making themselves popes at that time. This ambition was then creeping into the church. That was the "mystery of iniquity" which Paul saw. He saw still further, that if it had not been for the Roman empire in the way, this apostasy would have been set up in his time.

The Roman power began to decline. The barbarians of the north entered on a series of invasions. Things grew worse instead of better. The emperor finally moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople. Now the way was open for the bishop of Rome. Already was there a great controversy among these tiaraed heads who should be the first or supreme bishop. Five of the principal cities in the empire laid claim to this honor. Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, each had its peculiar arguments why it should be preferred for this distinction. The contest was narrowed until in the beginning of the seventh century, when Phocas the emperor declared Boniface the universal bishop or Pope. Then the "little horn" of Daniel began to lay claim to civil power, and soon obtained three king

"Then was that wicked

doms already mentioned. revealed." This, in short, is the history of the rise of the "little horn" of Daniel, the great apostasy of the "last times."

I need not here detail how that system of unrighteousness is propagated and sustained. The prophecy concerning it was, that it would be by "speaking lies in hypocrisy: having their consciences seared with a hot iron."

In Thessalonians his "coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders." These are well known characteristics of the Papacy. To this day they profess to work miracles. They lay claim to heal the sick, and to do many signs and wonders among men. One of their leading bishops (Spaulding) in this country has, within this generation, published a book in defense of their miracles. So that this system of "lying wonders" is still the

same as ever.

Now we turn to a more interesting theme. This apostasy is to come to an end. How? and when? are two questions which naturally arise. How, is here revealed in 2 Thessalonians 2: 8. "Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." As remarked in the last lecture, many persons think that the Romish Church will be converted by the preaching of the gospel. The Bible does not teach this. The system is to last until Christ Himself puts an end to it, "by the brightness of His coming."

When shall this take place? This is a difficult

topic, which will be discussed in another lecture.

We seem to be approaching this great crisis in the world's history. Many scoff and say, "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they did from the creation." But the present dispensation must come to an end. And we may live in the day when these things will come to pass.