"The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas."--GC 443, 445 (1911). {LDE 228.3}

Notice it is your local Baptist, "Community Christian Church", Fellowship Family Churches that will be developed, not obvious Catholic churches.

"Image", means carbon copy, or in current jargon, clone.

So when did the early church first "seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas." in history?

What was the politcal and economic atmosphere at that time?

If answered correctly, we can see what the future will be like.

I think I have found some interesting clues....

(4) 19th century europe
(5) todays china
(6) would the puritan english american colonies count?

Thomas No,it is not a blanket statement. We must consider every word of the SOP statement: "...apostate Protestantism..." in those churches, not fully Protestant believers, will forge a link with the government to enforce their doctrines. Saints never force anyone, state law or not. Sure, there are saints in every church, but they have never been the majority, at least in God's eyes.
And they never will be the majority until He has separated the sheep from the goats forever.

Let's examine the time periods mentioned:

(1) The time of Constantine...{Ahhh!! There is the parent of the trouble!}

(2) The Dark Ages....{This was simply the maturing of the evil seeds sown in under Constantine and the clerics union. The primary nation was called the "Holy Roman Empire", but was centered in Germany)

(3) Pre-renaissance Europe...(Is this not a name for the last part of the Dark Ages,razorren? A continuation of the same Constantinian union of church and state.)

(4) 19th century Europe...(The churches did not have absolute rule in Europe's politics after the French Revolution. Think of Napoleon, Garibaldi,Bismark, Kulturkampf, the brewing of Marxism, anarchism, etc.. Not a docile, church centered Europe any longer)

(5) todays China... (Christianity has no influence in Chinese politics. The State controls the activities of all churches and religions.)

(6) Puritan English American Colonies...(Yes! A perfect example, Thomas and one that is a direct Protestant attempt to build a civilization unknowingly on Constantine's model, one which brought on the Dark ages in Europe. Thank God it failed in America, although attempts are right now being made to raise this from the dead.

It will be the Church in America that will control the State, not the State the Church: THAT is the carbon copy of the Papal Beast of the 1260 years of papal rule!

Yes, I guess my examples 4 and 5 where the state controlling the church, or atleast the official legal church, and not the other way around.

/Thomas

Getting backto confessing all sins at the time of Jacob's trouble, my dear Avalee, there is not much hope for me who have been into so much mischief there's no way to remember it all! Born with more energy and daring than one person should ever have charge of, I have done almost everything, and more than once, except actually kill somebody outright. I'm sure almost everything I've done has been something Bad, to some degree or other.

Restin,

this is when you ask the Holy Spirit to bring each unconfessed sin to your remembrance so you can confess them... and He will!!

He's done/doing this for me.

God bless! i'll be praying for you.

Very true..