"Constantine was the founder of the "little horn" of Daniel 7, when he united church and state, and his successors, pursued the same course in strengthening the union of church and state.
Numerous laws were enacted against heresies, as recorded in the Theodosian Code.
Sects multiplied during this period of the church in Pergamos.
The Lord reproved this church because of the doctrine of Balaam which was held by the church.
They also professed the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, and were admonished to repent or their light would be removed.
Neverthless, the Lord says that there were in that church those holding the true faith, and who had not denied the name of the Lord. (See Rev. 2:12-17.)
The pressure of worldliness was so great that the true children of God would in the future have to separate themselves from the apostates in the church. This separation took place in the days of Justinian, the Eastern emperor. We will let the historians tell the story.
Concerning Justinian, we read:
"For by an edict which he issued to unite all men in one faith, whether Jews, Gentiles, or Christians, such as did not, in the term of three months, embrace and profess the Catholic faith, were declared infamous, and, as such, excluded from all employments, both civil and military, rendered incapable of leaving anything by will, and their estates confiscated, whether real or personal. These were convincing arguments of the truth of the Catholic faith; but many, however, withstood them; and against such as did, the imperial edict was executed with the utmost rigor. Great numbers were driven from their habitations with their wives and children, stripped and naked. Others betook themselves to flight, carrying with them what they could conceal, for their support and maintenance; but they were plundered of the little they had, and many of them inhumanly massacred, by the Catholic peasants, or the soldiery, who guarded the passes."
Another historian says:
"The reign of Justinian was a uniform yet various scene of persecution; and he appears to have surpassed his indolent predecessors, both in the contrivance of his laws and the rigor of their execution. The insufficient term of three months was assigned for the conversion or exile of all heretics; and if he still connived at their precarious stay, they were deprived, under his iron yoke, not only of the benefits of society, but of the common birthright of men and Christians."
In Italy the Arian Ostrogoths held rule, but they were tolerant, and tried by equitable laws to purge out simony from the church. The Vandals were rooted up in 534 A. D., and the Ostrogoths in 538 A. D. The "little horn" rooted up three horns,—the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. These nations perished, root and branch, from history, as independent nations. The year 538 A. a marks the supremacy of the "little horn," which is a union of the Catholic Church and the Roman state."
N. J. WALDORF Ministry 5/1935
Numerous laws were enacted against heresies, as recorded in the Theodosian Code.
Sects multiplied during this period of the church in Pergamos.
The Lord reproved this church because of the doctrine of Balaam which was held by the church.
They also professed the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, and were admonished to repent or their light would be removed.
Neverthless, the Lord says that there were in that church those holding the true faith, and who had not denied the name of the Lord. (See Rev. 2:12-17.)
The pressure of worldliness was so great that the true children of God would in the future have to separate themselves from the apostates in the church. This separation took place in the days of Justinian, the Eastern emperor. We will let the historians tell the story.
Concerning Justinian, we read:
"For by an edict which he issued to unite all men in one faith, whether Jews, Gentiles, or Christians, such as did not, in the term of three months, embrace and profess the Catholic faith, were declared infamous, and, as such, excluded from all employments, both civil and military, rendered incapable of leaving anything by will, and their estates confiscated, whether real or personal. These were convincing arguments of the truth of the Catholic faith; but many, however, withstood them; and against such as did, the imperial edict was executed with the utmost rigor. Great numbers were driven from their habitations with their wives and children, stripped and naked. Others betook themselves to flight, carrying with them what they could conceal, for their support and maintenance; but they were plundered of the little they had, and many of them inhumanly massacred, by the Catholic peasants, or the soldiery, who guarded the passes."
Another historian says:
"The reign of Justinian was a uniform yet various scene of persecution; and he appears to have surpassed his indolent predecessors, both in the contrivance of his laws and the rigor of their execution. The insufficient term of three months was assigned for the conversion or exile of all heretics; and if he still connived at their precarious stay, they were deprived, under his iron yoke, not only of the benefits of society, but of the common birthright of men and Christians."
In Italy the Arian Ostrogoths held rule, but they were tolerant, and tried by equitable laws to purge out simony from the church. The Vandals were rooted up in 534 A. D., and the Ostrogoths in 538 A. D. The "little horn" rooted up three horns,—the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. These nations perished, root and branch, from history, as independent nations. The year 538 A. a marks the supremacy of the "little horn," which is a union of the Catholic Church and the Roman state."
N. J. WALDORF Ministry 5/1935
