God made the holy angels upright, perfect, pure, and innocent. They delighted to do His bidding out of abundant love for His style of governing (Psalm 103:20, 21; Hebrews 1:14).

Yet there was one beautiful and talented angel, Lucifer, who came up with the notion to take a different twist. Instead of being thankful for all the bounties bestowed upon him, he decided to complain and sow discontentment in order to egotistically draw attention to himself—to such a degree that he became known as Satan, the adversary.

“O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13, 14).

“Satan’s words, the lie against God, was received and the world has ever since received the words of a tempting devil, once a high and exalted angel in glory, who became an apostate and fell from his high and holy estate. He insinuated that the law of God was not perfect and needed to be remodeled. This insinuation grew until his presentation to the angels was of such a deceiving character that he carried a large number with him. God expelled him from the abodes of bliss with all his satanic sympathizers, but he has worked ever since to make his lies appear as truth. With his long practice in deception and evil-working in his evil assertions, his masterly deceptive statements make the grossest errors appear as truth. All who allow the wisdom of men to guide them, who do not cleave to their Bibles to read and search and believe the Word, but accept the assertions of men, and voice the words of the great deceiver, are just as surely under the curse of God as was pronounced upon Satan.”1

Hungry for personal gain and power, this fallen angel, Satan, quickly began his diabolical plot to weaken planet earth in its infancy by inciting rebellion against the commandments of God. Adam and Eve, our first parents, were warned not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had known only goodness in blissful paradise; they were meant to be spared the misery that would result from giving ear to perverse reasoning for evil. They had been faithfully warned that death would be the sure consequence of partaking of the fruit of that tree. But the archenemy disputed, implying that the Creator of both himself and them was just plain wrong. “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). (We’ve all heard the sly, familiar line, “Awww, come on, it’s not going to kill you!) This was his argument, and he then proceeded to tell what may have seemed like plausible reasoning—but was actually just a nasty, envy-driven lie to turn the pure pair against their Creator who loved and cared for them so perfectly. Such was the beginning of sorrows on our planet.

During the time that Martin Luther was carrying out a reformation appealing to Christian believers to uphold the Word of God as revealed in the sacred Scriptures to be the sole foundation for their faith and doctrine, a contrasting movement rose up to compete against it. Among the various challenges to the great Reformation, this competing movement was one that set aside the Holy Scriptures and instead exalted human wisdom as the source of religious truth and knowledge. This notion of religious rationalism idolizes human reasoning and sets it up as the basis for religion.

“Religious Rationalism asserts the claims of reason against those of revelation or authority. The fundamental principles of religion are held to be innate or self-evident and revelation unnecessary.”2

In Luther’s day, this type of idea was promoted by Thomas Münzer, a man of considerable ability who, like Lucifer, thirsted for fame and recognition. He renounced the Reformers’ reliance upon Scripture, preferring instead to rely on his own impressions to be the source of guidance. As a result, some of his followers even burned their Bibles.

“Münzer’s teaching appealed to men’s desire for the marvelous, while it gratified their pride by virtually placing human ideas and opinions above the word of God. His doctrines were received by thousands. He soon denounced all order in public worship, and declared that to obey princes was to attempt to serve both God and Belial. “The minds of the people, already beginning to throw off the yoke of the papacy, were also becoming impatient under the restraints of civil authority. Münzer’s revolutionary teachings claiming divine sanction, led them to break away from all control and give rein to their prejudices and passions. The most terrible scenes of sedition and strife followed, and the fields of Germany were drenched with blood.”3

Did the rationalist movement end in Germany? Unfortunately, no.

In the early 18th century, Thomas Paine (1737–1809), a British-American activist, wrote a book entitled The Age of Reason. As a deist, his logic could not deny that a Creator did exist, but he touted that this Creator was totally uninvolved in the lives and mechanisms of the creation. (The notably impressive talents, abilities, and accomplishments of that era were not typically credited to the Source of all knowledge and understanding, but rather were simply attributed to the mere creature.) Tainted as his book was with arrogance and sarcasm, the influence of Paine turned many people into infidels.

“It matters not whom Satan makes to speak, if his object is only accomplished. He was intimately connected with Paine upon earth, aiding him in his work, and it is an easy thing for him to know the very words and the handwriting of one who served him so faithfully and accomplished his purposes so well. Satan dictated much of Paine’s writings.”4

So, it may have been an age of reason—but whose reason?

After France had renounced the worship of the living God, it was not long before the nation descended into degrading idolatry. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

Soon after the spirit of hatred that had waged the horrible St. Bartholomew Massacre for two months, mercilessly dragging 70,000 Bible-believers of all ages out of their homes at midnight for slaughter in cold blood, the French Revolution (1789–1799) soon waged all-out war against God and His holy word.

“The worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly. Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn. The law of God was trampled underfoot. The institutions of the Bible were abolished. . . .

“Infidel France had silenced the reproving voice of God’s two witnesses [the Old and New Testament]. The word of truth lay dead in her streets, and those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God’s law were jubilant. Men publicly defied the King of heaven. Like the sinners of old, they cried: ‘How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Psalm 73:11.”5

As things degenerated even further, it was not long before France descended into the degrading idol worship of the Goddess of Reason, in the person of a profligate woman: “To this person, as the fittest representative of that Reason whom they worshipped, the National Convention of France rendered public homage.

“This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion; and the installation of the Goddess of Reason was renewed and imitated throughout the nation, in such places where the inhabitants desired to show themselves equal to all heights of the Revolution. The churches were, in most districts of France, closed against priests and worshippers—the bells were broken and cast into cannon—the whole ecclestastical establishment destroyed. . . .

“Intimately connected with these laws affecting religion, was that which reduced the union of marriage, the most sacred engagement which human beings can form, and the permanence of which leads most strongly to the consolidation of society, to the state of a mere civil contract of a transitory character, which any two persons might engage in, and cast loose at pleasure, when their taste was changed, or their appetite gratified. If fiends had set themselves to work to discover a mode of most effectually destroying whatever is venerable, graceful, or permanent in domestic life, and of obtaining, at the same time, an assurance that the mischief which it was their object to create should be perpetuated from one generation to another, they could not have invented a more effectual plan than the degradation of marriage into a state of mere occasional cohabitation, or licensed concubinage.”6

The legislative assembly of France was urged to acknowledge no divinity but Reason. This was followed by the public burning of the Bible. The populace revolted against the monarchs whose cruelty had known no bounds because of their rejection of the Reformation.

After the remaining Huguenots (who were faithful adherents to Scripture) had been compelled to flee for their lives, France was in truly a dire situation.

“ ‘With the flight of the Huguenots a general decline settled upon France. Flourishing manufacturing cities fell into decay; fertile districts returned to their native wildness; intellectual dullness and moral declension succeeded a period of unwonted progress. Paris became one vast almshouse, and it is estimated that, at the breaking out of the Revolution, two hundred thousand paupers claimed charity from the hands of the king. . . .

“The gospel would have brought to France the solution of those political and social problems that baffled the skill of her clergy, her king, and her legislators, and finally plunged the nation into anarchy and ruin.”7

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the Atlantic, a noble document being penned back in 1776—the founding document of the United States—the Declaration of Independence, refreshingly asserted that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”8 And the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, declaring that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”9

“ ‘The framers of the Constitution recognized the eternal principle that man’s relation with his God is above human legislation, and his rights of conscience inalienable. Reasoning was not necessary to establish this truth; we are conscious of it in our own bosoms. It is this consciousness which, in defiance of human laws, has sustained so many martyrs in tortures and flames. They felt that their duty to God was superior to human enactments, and that man could exercise no authority over their consciences. It is an inborn principle which nothing can eradicate.’ Congressional documents (U.S.A.), serial No. 200, document 271.”10

The implementation of these documents brought a brighter future not only to the new nation that signed them—but the principles therein became an inspiration to many other thinking people around the world as well.

“The year 1848 was the high-water mark of socialist mass movements and marked the beginning of a new type of socialist theory and practice. In the beginning of that year the Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marx and Engels appropriated what they found valid in previous socialist movements, but they contrasted the romantic idealism of ‘utopian socialism,’ with their own ‘scientific socialism’ which claimed to demonstrate that the victory of the working class (the proletariat) over the capitalist class, and thus the appropriation by society as a whole of the means of production was historically inevitable. Following a few ‘birth pangs’ the coercive structures of the bourgeois [middle class] state would eventually ‘wither away.’

“Marx and Engels used the word ‘communist’ to describe this classless society, and generally reserved the word ‘socialist’ to refer to transitional phases and movements in which the proletariat had indeed acquired the means of production but in which the state had not yet vanished. The party they founded in 1847 was called the ‘Communist League.’ ”11

(Many still alive today remember with dread the scenes perpetuated by scientific socialism, particularly as it spread like a plague throughout eastern Europe in the 20th century. The eventual collapse of that system in that part of the world brought a welcome reprieve to those who suffered under it for decades.)

Meanwhile, in the mid-1800’s, another landmark piece of confusion came on the scene, highlighted with the book, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin. (Most are not familiar with the entire title of Darwin’s book and thus may not be aware of the wicked horror that his exposition of the theory of evolution implied.)

Yet thankfully, in stark contrast around the same time, great hope for all humanity was offered by the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14, which confirmed the God of heaven as Creator of the entire human race as a whole—and carefully formed in His own image.

Strangely, another landmark in history came in 1871, when Albert Pike, the high-ranking member of secret society, wrote of an international plan for three world wars, the third of which would ultimately wipe out the human race. The occultic nature of his wicked connections reveal the actual source of such evil plotting—and the philosophy that eventually crept in to corrupt much of the free world.

Such philosophy is contrary to the wholesome ideology of free and just societies established on noble principles. Yet, gradually, a series of steps have worked to undermine those basic tenets throughout the world. Freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion, are being chipped away from those who fear the Creator of heaven and earth, while those whose philosophies and practices that blatantly defy the moral uprightness of the God of heaven are aggressively promoted even at the expense of the life, liberty and basic pursuit of happiness for all. The message being asserted with cultic zeal is a quick road to mediocrity and failure; it stamps out the precision and accuracy necessary for quality, responsible production, the objectivity necessary for fundamental fairness to others, the individualism necessary for basic human dignity, the comfort necessary for mental and physical health, and the gracious social interaction necessary for the pursuit of an atmosphere of mutual happiness.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Government buildings torched, statues toppled down (many with a hidden agenda to replace them with Luciferian monuments), churches vandalized and set ablaze, Bibles burned in the streets, and history grossly distorted—all are actually part of a sinister plot to erase every trace of human dignity and reverence for God.

It’s sadly true that human governments have human imperfections; heroes depicted on statues were but flawed humans with shortcomings in their specific stage of development, and history on a fallen planet inevitably has its shameful moments. Yet these all are put in perspective in a stable society based upon the distinct ideals and principles intended for the benefit of all. When those ideals and principles are ruthlessly attacked with a distorted slant steeped in hatred and bitterness, lawless misery is the result.

Besides the lawlessness, what about the occult connection? Are multitudes preparing to be deceived? Founding instigators from which much violence has recently spawned proudly boast spiritualism as a basic premise of their philosophy. The groundwork for widespread spiritualism has been laid for decades with television programs, movies, and videos laced with ghosts and supposed communication with and worship of the dead.

A “new normal” appears to be where Scientism is considered a god to control your temporal destiny, using stark intimidation to confront whomever might wonder about the changeable nature of scientific development in its unfolding.

A “new normal” appears to be one where sudden bitterness triggered from outside sources estranges old friends, and a perverse and exaggerated sense of guilt and gross humiliation are heaped upon people. It seems as if no one is even permitted to trust anyone else, much less be encouraged to do so. The logical, legitimate need for physical spacing and understandable precautions during pandemic conditions often results in cold, compulsory estrangement from our fellowmen.

Although Bible prophecy has foretold that this would happen, it certainly is not what the God of all comfort wants to see.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:6–10).

“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good” (Proverbs 16:28, 29).

The bitterness and violence prevailing in this world are actually not reasonable. Thus, the so-called age of reason has not produced the goal it boasted.

“The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world, represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening.”12

We have spoken here about the concept of reason. Is reason in itself bad? No, quite the contrary! Our power of intelligent reasoning comes from the Creator Himself. The only problem arises when we have the audacity to arrogantly presume to exalt our own tiny tidbit of reasoning above His limitless, eternal Omniscience.

In His tender kindness—instead of treating us like mindless robots steeped in stupidity—our infinite Creator actually appeals to the intelligence He has bestowed upon us erring mortals when He says: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:18–20). He knows we have all been beaten and bruised by the adversary in various ways, so He tenderly bids us come unto Him for refuge.

Yes, under the shadow of His wings, the Master of the universe invites us to take advantage of the blessing He wants to give to every single human being. All are made in His image—and He who watches even over the sparrows tenderly cares about every child of Adam and Eve.

“As the time of Christs second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God’s law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, are offered pardon.”13

Should not all who value truth beware of that which would tamper with history? What are some people trying to hide? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Yet we see a common thread in most of the various landmark events mentioned above: a hatred of the sacred scriptures—even to the burning of Bibles, all stemming from a reckless thirst for power steeped in a satanic hatred of God and eternal truth.

Instead of trying to distort reality, the Bible actually employs utter candor regarding both the virtues and failures of all in its biographical accounts of men and women. Likewise, a free and just society has nothing to hide; in its growing pains, it gains greater fortitude through resolutely learning from the mistakes and shortcomings of the past. To distort history is to teach a lie—thus breaking the ninth commandment of the moral law of God. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). Thus Scripture clearly has strong words to speak against liars. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life” and “no lie is of the truth” (John 14:6; 1 John 2:21, last part).

For all who value honesty, “we have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.”14

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

Despite the complaints which Christ and His disciples might have uttered with regard to the authorities managing the Roman empire in their day, no such sentiments escaped their lips.

In fact, “the government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.

“Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God’ (John 1:12, 13). Here is the only power that can work the uplifting of mankind. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and practicing of the word of God.

“When the apostle Paul began his ministry in Corinth, that populous, wealthy, and wicked city, polluted by the nameless vices of heathenism, he said, ‘I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified’ (1 Corinthians 2:2). . . .

“Now, as in Christ’s day, the work of God’s kingdom lies not with those who are clamoring for recognition and support by earthly rulers and human laws, but with those who are declaring to the people in His name those spiritual truths that will work in the receivers the experience of Paul: ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me’ (Galatians 2:20). Then they will labor as did Paul for the benefit of men.”15

Each believer can extend to others a message of eternal hope through Christ. This is an amazing invitation designed for every human being!

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. . . . The meek [not the thugs and arrogant bullies!] shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37:7, 8, 11).

A final promise for every believer is: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). Amen!