FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
ARIANISM OF THE HERULI, VISIGOTHS, VANDALS AND OSTROGOTHS: THE THREE HORNS ‘UPROOTED’ BY THE ‘LITTLE HORN’ POWER
We now resume our focus on the “another little horn” that came up “from among” the “ten horns” of the fourth beast, Rome, and uprooted “three of the ten horns” bringing it into power.
D & R 120: What was Arianism, the religion of the Heruli, Vandal, and Ostrogoth kingdoms of Italy at that time?
“The fourth century was destined to witness an obstacle thrown across the path of the ambitious dream [of the Bishops of Rome]. The prophecy had declared that the power represented by the little horn would ‘subdue three kings’ (kingdoms). In the rise and development of ARIANISM early in the fourth century and the challenge it presented to the Papal supremacy, we find the CAUSES leading to the ‘plucking up’ of 3 of the kingdoms of WESTERN Rome by the papal power.
“ARIUS, parish priest of the ancient and influential church in Alexandria [Eastern Rome], promulgated his doctrine to the world [civilized world then], occasioning so fierce a controversy in the Christian church [at that stage of the seven church periods] that a general council was called at Nicaea, by the emperor Constantin in A.D. 325, to consider and rule upon its teaching.
What was Arius’ controversial doctrine? “Arius maintained that ‘the Son was totally and essentially distinct from the Father; that He was the first and noblest of those beings whom the Father had created out of nothing, the instrument by whose SUBORDINATE operation the Almighty Father formed the universe, and therefore INFERIOR to the Father, BOTH in nature and dignity.’
“This opinion was condemned by the council, which decreed that Christ was one and the same substance with the Father. Hereupon Arius was BANISHED to Illyria, and his followers were COMPELLED to give their assent to the creed composed at that occasion.” – Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, pp. 120, 121.
To be continued tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF