THE DARK AGES

THE DARK AGES--
CAUSE AND EFFECT


Most of us are aware of the fact that the period from the early 300's AD to about the mid 1500's is called the Dark Ages.

However, not so many people know what caused it to happen.

here were, perhaps, several contributing factors, but a few facts stand out among the others as being of primary importance.

After Pentecost, the Church had experienced TEN DISTINCT PERIODS of terrible persecution-- part of it from Jewish leaders, but most from the secular government.

Secular government, by the way is called "THE DAILY" by the Prophet Daniel. The translators added the word "sacrifice", because they had no revelation of what it meant.

John, in the Revelation, had told the church of Smyrna that they would: Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

These "ten days" of persecution extended over about two hundred years. They could not succeed to stamp out Christianity-- indeed, the more they persecuted, the faster it grew.

About 325 AD a Babylonish priest, who ASPIRED TO RULE THE WORLD and was already well on his way, found that one thing was hindering. It was the Church, which BELIEVED IN THE LIVING GOD, AND HAD NO IDOLS NOR MYTHS.

He was smart enough to recognize that he could not persecute them out of existence. So he resorted to the same approach that Balaam had used after God had forbidden him to curse Israel on the plains of Moab.

CORRUPT THEM FROM WITHIN, was the scheme.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

You know the story of Balaam. When God would not let him curse Israel, he conceived the plan of Baal-peor. It was a plan to invite the children of Israel to a "free open house" of Baal. That is what Baa-peor means.

PROSTITUTION AND ADULTERY were key elements of their pagan worship, and had a strong appeal to the natural senses. The end result was that 24 thousand Israelites committed adultery with the Midianitish people-- and lost their lives for doing it. Read all about it in Numbers 25.

The young Babylonish priest who held the title of Pontifex Max in the religion (Mithras) of his home land, promised the Christians that if they would be favorable to him, he would see to it that all persecution by the State ("daily" [sacrifice]) would cease. The Christians fell for it.


The religion of Mithras had "mother and child", and the festivals of the Spring and Fall equinoxes, as well as those of the Summer and Winter solstices.

"Really, we are not so far apart as we seem to be," was the slogan of the day. Soon, Christian names were affixed to the festivals.

Then, this Pontifex Max (Constantine) maneuvered to REPLACE THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS WITH THE THREE-PARTITE GOD OF MITHRAS. The names of Babel, Arach and Akkad were changed to our modern term for God. Then that pagan religion DISAPPEARED AND CEASED TO BE KNOWN AS SUCH, EXCEPT IN HISTORY. But it continued in the new form, under a different name.

What word should we use-- conquered-- absorbed-- assimilated-- evangelized? Take your pick._

The Church of the Living God was CORRUPTED FROM WITHIN! The corruption didn't all happen over night. It took
maybe a generation or two, but the end result was the same-- the
Church lost its way. The "Truth was cast to the ground".

DNL 8:12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and IT CAST DOWN THE TRUTH TO THE GROUND; and it practised, and prospered.

Constantine was now the Pontifex Max of both the State (daily) and the Church. BUT HE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN. He was only "favorable to the Christians". He had succeeded to become the supreme leader of the world. The "twain had become one."

The Church had moved into the "Pergamos" age. "Married to Power." An unholy union, by the way.

Ceremonies rapidly replaced reality (Truth). People were held in bondage to the progressively corrupt system by fear of excommunication and reprisals. The feudal system arose out of the combined church-state (Daily) form of government. Human culture deteriorated to a very low condition.

The State (Daily [sacrifice] ) was eventually displaced (absorbed, assimilated) by the corrupted church. This corrupted church then became what is described as "The Little Horn with eyes LIKE the eyes of man (deception), and a mouth speaking great things." It "waxed exceeding great." See Dnl 7:8 8:9

Job had spoken of this sort of condition: Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, --

Isaiah had prophesied about it also: Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET, and equity cannot enter.

Daniel saw a vision of the "takeover" of Christianity by the forces of a pagan religion: Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

He also saw the struggles of those who tried to keep the Truth alive in the midst of the horrible corruption of the Church:

Daniel 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.

John, on the Isle of Patmos, wrote of the coming conflict, and the temporary subjugation of the Christians under this Church/State (Daily) union.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

But God was NEVER WITHOUT A WITNESS in the earth, throughout the entire 1200 years. Though the Truth was cast to the ground, and lay in the streets, there was ALWAYS A MAN OR GROUP OF MEN who stood for, and kept the Truth alive. They increased in number greatly as the time of awakening drew near.

One such defender of the Truth was a man named Huss. The name meant "a goose". As he was being prepared for his death, he remarked, "You can kill the goose, but in a hundred years there will come a swan, whose song you can not silence."

It was a prophecy of the coming of Martin Luther (Swan), whom God anointed for the specific purpose of introducing small rays of light to pierce the "dark of the ages". The Church-State (Daily) regime could not silence him. Glory to Jesus!

From that point in time, it is very interesting to watch the progress of the restoration of Truth to the Christian community.
That restoration is still in progress today.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if suddenly, Peter, James, and John, along with Paul were returned by some "time machine" operation, to live again among us? I have.

In their search for a Church to attend, they could "identify" with "Justification by Faith" in the Lutheran Church. But soon they would find themselves lost in a maze of things they didn't know anything about. With the Baptists, they could recognize "Baptism by immersion." With the Presbyterians, they would be happy for "Man's responsibility to God." The Methodists, along with others, would make a hit with "Holiness to the Lord." Yet each Church would display a great void in their understanding and practice, compared to that of the Church after the Day of Pentecost, the one which they had known.

But, following the progression of restoration, they would eventually find a good Pentecostal Church-- one where they shout for joy, revel in the goodness of God. In this Church people receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and talk in tongues and prophesy. Imagine their joy at such a discovery! They might be on the verge of joining the church, but a "glitch" is discovered at a Baptismal service after a Sunday night meeting. "What are they saying to the candidates when they put them under the water," they ask one another. "That isn't the way we did it," said Paul and Peter. "Where did they get that?"

Well, we could follow those four men for several days, and it is doubtful if they could ever find a church just like the one they left behind when they went to be with Jesus.

We still have some of the "grave clothes" of the dark ages clinging to us. It is beyond the ability of mankind to free ourselves of these grave clothes by ourselves.

It takes a revelation from God for us to even SEE them, let alone discard them. Oh! How greatly we need the Lord to take the scales from our eyes.

But God HAS MADE SOME PROMISES to His people, and He WILL PERFORM THEM.

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Rejoice with me!

The Word of the Lord is SURE AND STEADFAST. The Truth, which was cast to the ground, and that lay in the street, shall, according to God's Word, SPRING UP AGAIN, and flourish in the earth.

Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].

Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

I want, desperately, to see it, and have a part in it!

Don't you?