Union With the World

Many Protestant churches have followed Rome's example of connecting with “the kings of the earth.” The state churches have done this by their relation to secular governments, and other denominations have done it by seeking the approval of the world. The term “Babylon”—confusion—applies to these groups that claim to get their doctrine from the Bible, yet are divided into nearly countless sects with conflicting beliefs.LF 160.5

A Roman Catholic work argues that “if the Church of Rome were ever guilty of idolatry in relation to the saints, her daughter, the Church of England, stands guilty of the same, having ten churches dedicated to Mary for one dedicated to Christ.”^{3Richard Challoner, The Catholic Christian Instructed, preface, pages 21, 22.}LF 160.6

And Dr. Hopkins declares: “There is no reason to think that the anti-Christian spirit and practices are found only in what is now called the Church of Rome. The Protestant churches have much of antichrist in them, and they are far from being completely reformed from ... corruptions and wickedness.”^{4Samuel Hopkins, “A Treatise on the Millennium,” Works, volume 2, page 328.}LF 160.7

Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome, Dr. Guthrie writes: “Three hundred years ago, our church marched out from the gates of Rome with an open Bible on her banner and this motto, ‘Search the Scriptures,’ on her scroll.” Then he asks the significant question: “Did they come clean out of Babylon?”^{5Thomas Guthrie, The Gospel in Ezekiel, page 237.}LF 160.8