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universal sovereignty, not only supreme over all other churches and bishops, but over
kings and rulers as well, and Rome did not hesitate to topple thrones if it suited her
purpose. The Lord's Supper began to degenerate into the Mass with Transubstantiation
advocated in 831A.D., and finally promulgated as a doctrine of the Roman church at the
Lateran Council in 1215. This has enslaved millions from that time onwards. Purgatory
had gained around ever since Augustine had expressed his belief in its probability. This
was a direct take-over from paganism in which the belief in Purgatory was common.
Prayers for the dead, indulgencies, and masses for the dead naturally grew up as the
belief in Purgatory increased. Such prayers were officially recognized by Rome at the
second Council of Nicaea in 787. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, Mary was declared
to be Theotokos, the mother of God. By the end of the sixth century, adoration was
offered her and prayers were addressed to her. This, again, was paganism in disguise, for
we find a similar practice with regard to Cybele, Demeter and others. Private confession
of sin before a priest, at first voluntary, became compulsory around 765, thus increasing
the power of the priesthood over the people. Places of worship became more and more
ornate and by 814 the worship of images had become a scandal.
Long before this the Muslims had begun to taunt the Christians with being idolaters
because of their image worship. The burning of incense was used at first only for the
fumigation of Christian buildings and both Tertullian and Lactantius refer to burning
incense as pagan and not practiced by Christians. Later this became a recognized part of
the corrupt system of worship. Vestments seem to have first been introduced in the reign
of Constantine and by the end of the sixth century had become an essential part of the
priest's equipment. In the early centuries leaders had worn no distinctive clerical dress,
nor were there such divisions as clergy and laity.*
[* - We strongly recommend our readers to obtain the paperback
Roman Catholicism by Loraine Boettner, published by the Banner
of Truth Trust at 8/6 and obtainable through any bookseller.
This is an up to date presentation of Roman Catholic doctrine,
fairly expressed in their own terms. It is an eye-opener to all who
read it, specially to any who are taken up with the fashionable
ecumenical ideas.]
Soon Rome's power, with its bondage and darkness over Europe, was complete.
When we add on top of this the inability of the ordinary person to read and write, the fact
that the printing press had not been invented and practically all learning was confined to
the monasteries, we have a state of affairs, from a human standpoint, which was utterly
hopeless. The truth was all but swamped. How could it possibly flourish when the
human mind was gripped as in a vice by the cruel bondage of Romanism and no
possibility of any individual getting unrestricted access to, or being able to read the Word
of God? Occasionally there were stirrings as some, sensing the darkness and bondage,
tried to revolt. But it was not until the events leading to the Reformation and the
Reformation itself that this monstrous slavery was broken. It is surely clear that the
special truth for this age, given through the Apostle Paul, was forced underground during
the terrible period of spiritual blindness covered by the Middle Ages.