In answer to this question we would turn the attention of our readers to Rev. 2:18-2918And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:18‑29), where we get the address to the Church in Thyatira. There we read what was the actual condition of that assembly at the time when the Apostle John wrote. At the same time it is the considered opinion of many students of Scripture that the addresses to the seven assemblies in Asia, besides describing their actual state in the eyes of the Son of Man, give us a prophetical sketch of Church History as it unfolded itself down the ages. When we get to the address to the Church at Thyatira we are struck with the similarity there is between that and Rev. 17, which we have just considered. The similarity is so great than we can only come to the conclusion that the Church at Thyatira prophetically considered, represents the Romish Church.
In this address we read of Jezebel, lurid figure in Old Testament history, calling herself a prophetess, seducing the servants of the Lord to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. The threat is made that she would be thrown into a bed of tribulation with her guilty paramours unless she repented. We have no hesitation in tracing the Romish Church in this description.
This is one verse in this address that will answer the question, Can a Roman Catholic be a Christian?
Here are two qualifications made: (1) Such as do not hold "this doctrine." (2) Such as are ignorant of the subtlety of Satan. In other words, any Christian found in the Romish fold are Christians, not because of the system, but in spite of the system. If Satan has sought to destroy Christianity by covering paganism with a thin veneer of Christian teaching, thank God there is in that thin veneer something of the Word of God, which He can graciously use to the blessing of souls. Difficult as it is to get hold of the Word of God in Romish circles, still they outwardly acknowledge the Scriptures, and have at least the Douay Bible in their midst. They teach the Deity of the Lord Jesus, His gracious Manhood, His atoning work on the cross, and then spoil all this with their dogmas that so largely contradict the simplicity of the Gospel, and smother it under their ornate ritualism, their services largely conducted in the Latin tongue, not understood by the common people.
Yet in spite of all this God works in souls, and we are assured there are a number of sincere Christians in the Romish system.
We have a testimony as to this from the dark middle ages. We are indebted to the late Mrs. Frances Bevan for translations of many beautiful hymns dating from pre-reformation times, hymns which speak of the heart-breathing desires of love, and adoring worship of the Savior from many a lonely Christian scattered up and down the land.
She drew attention to the hymns of Gertrude, the Nun (1256-1330); Dr. Johann Tauler (1291-1361); Heinrich Suso (1291-1365); and of others. She wrote: " How distinct was the witness of those called ' the Friends of God ' may be easily seen by comparing their writings with those of the true servants of God, who remained under the influence of Roman Catholicism only. A comparison of Thomas A Kempis with Tauler will serve as an instance of this contrast. In the case of the latter, the present possession and enjoyment of eternal life, and of the riches of Christ; in the case of the former, an earnest and true desire to attain to that possession. In the latter, forgiveness, peace and joy, the starting point; in the former, the goal to be reached by strenuous effort. The joy of Heaven, Christ in glory known and rejoiced in whilst here below, may be said to mark the Friends of God of old " (Hymns of Ter Steegen and others. Mrs. Frances Bevan, Second Series, p. 6 preface).
We will now give just a line or two of the poetry of these eminent Christians, in spite of their being brought up and surrounded by the paganized superstition of Romanism.
Take the case of Gertrude the Nun:
"Lord, not through works of righteousness,
The works that I have done,
But through the glory of Thy grace,
The merit of Thy Son."
Not a trace of Roman Catholicism in these beautiful lines.
Here is a verse from Heinrich Suso:
"Forever through endless ages,
Thy cross and Thy sorrow shall be,
The glory, the song and the sweetness
That makes heaven to me."
Not a word about the Virgin Mary and the countless mediators of Rome. The poet sees "Jesus only."
Dr. Johann Tauler wrote of those led by the Spirit of God: " It is no longer they who work, but God who works in them... far above all sense and nature and reason. Were a man to do nothing else for a whole year but yield himself up to the work of God within him, he would never have spent a year so well and with such blessing."
Here we have a deep and spiritual ministry with no taint of Romish superstition in it.
We remember walking with a friend in Ireland some years ago. He pointed out an old countryman, walking a few yards ahead. He said, " Quicken your steps and catch up with that old man. He has never been to a Protestant place of worship in his life, but talk to him and you will be surprised at his knowledge of the Bible." We quickened our steps, and were soon talking to the old man. He quoted Scripture freely in a most edifying manner, showing a deep spiritual knowledge of the Word of God. We could only rejoice in meeting a brother in Christ. But alas! he was a very great exception to the rule of complete ignorance of the Bible among Romanists. If only the Bible were freely circulated in popish lands, many would be delivered from Roman Catholic superstition.
One last word. A current pamphlet published by the Catholic Inquiry Center has been quoted: " The Catholic Faith," by Dwyer. It is evidently intended to bring about the conversion of Protestants to Roman Catholicism. It states that there are nowadays about 14,000 converts every year. It is not surprising that in this book things should be put in such a way as is calculated to tempt Protestants. The dark side of popery is kept well in the background. All looks more or less fair and reasonable.
There are many most attractive and persuasive characters pressing the claims of Rome. It is easy to forget that the hand stretched out to invite is stained with the blood of the martyrs.
On the last page of The Catholic Faith we read: " There may come a moment when you are convinced that the Catholic Faith is the truth. And yet you hesitate to take the step which will lead you into the Church."
Do more than hesitate. Turn away. For Holy Scripture speaks exactly at this point: " Come out of her My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities " (Rev. 18:4, 54And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:4‑5)).
For the word of God prophesies that the Church of Rome, the Papacy, will meet a fearful doom in the last days. Little does this proud hierarchy realize that she will soon be called upon to meet the frightful doom she deserves. Little does she realize that the terrible, anguished cries of her victims these long centuries have been accumulating and calling for an adequate answer, and the answer will most assuredly come. Her true name is branded on her brow, " MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH " (Rev. 17:55And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5)). She is described in striking symbolic language as sitting on a scarlet colored beast, the revived Roman Empire, which in the last days will make a strange compact to work together. But this cannot last long. The Papacy, a politico-religious institution, will be seeking for world-supremacy, the revived Roman Empire, will likewise be seeking world-supremacy; there is bound to be a clash. " And the ten horns which thou sawest on the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.... And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth " (Rev. 17:1616And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16) and 18).
We may well ask, What does symbolic language such as eating her flesh and burning her with fire mean, but the most wholesale confiscation and destruction of all her cathedrals, churches, monasteries, nunneries, colleges and buildings; the appropriation of her vast wealth, the taking possession of her landed property; in short it means the destruction of that evil system that has persecuted God's true believers all down the long centuries. What a reckoning! It beggars description. Such a complete rooting out of an institution hoary with age is unknown in all the history of the world.
It will forever cause great joy on the part of God's people. We read, " And after these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God; for true and righteous are His judgments: for He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up forever and ever " (Rev. 19:1-31And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. (Revelation 19:1‑3)).
God's grace refused, His patient longsuffering ignored, at long last the day of God's vengeance must come, and sweep away " the refuge of lies," for God's righteous government must be vindicated. When that day comes it will produce answering joy on the part of God's saints, that good must triumph, error cease and God's holy government be displayed.
To Him be glory and majesty, dominion and power, forever and ever. Amen.
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