The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 32

The European Union in Prophecy
acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the
presumptuous tempter and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater
success in presenting the same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains and
honours, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the great men of earth;
and having thus rejected Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the
representative of Satan --the bishop of Rome.
It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head
of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and
pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope has been given the very
titles of Deity. He has been styled "Lord God the Pope" (see Appendix), and has been
declared infallible. He demands the homage of all men. The same claim urged by
Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of
Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.
But those who fear and reverence God meet this heaven-daring assumption as
Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and
Him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:8. God has never given a hint in His word that He
has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal supremacy
is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no power
over Christ's church except by usurpation.
Romanists have persisted in bringing
against Protestants the charge of heresy and willful separation from the true church.
But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down
the banner of Christ and departed from "the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints." Jude 3.
Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern his
deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the word that even the Saviour of the
world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal
truth, saying, "It is written." To every suggestion of the adversary, He opposed the
wisdom and power of the word. In order for Satan to maintain his sway over men, and
establish the authority of the papal usurper, he must keep them in ignorance of the
Scriptures. The Bible would exalt God and place finite men in their true position;
therefore its sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed. This logic was adopted
by the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was
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