The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Withdrawal From the Main Body

As the church began to depart more and more from the true doctrines of the Bible, and to turn from the high spiritual and moral standards of the apostolic church, devoted, loyal believers were first grieved, and then alarmed, and finally aroused to determined opposition. In vain they appealed and protested to bishops, priests, and other leaders. Receiving no friendly response assuring them of a reformation, and seeing the apostasy expanding steadily and becoming entrenched, some of the zealous, courageous leaders, together with their churches, began to withdraw from the main body of the professedly Christian church, as has been stated in the preceding chapter: AGP 200.2

“After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God.” “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan,” p. 45.

It was this opposition to the growing apostasy, and this withdrawal of loyal groups from the dominant church, that marked AGP 200.3

the beginning of the long series of protests and conflicts which kept the true light shining through the long, dark night. The great Reformation of the sixteenth century and the marvelous light of the gospel that floods the whole world today form the climax to the service of those loyal, suffering believers through the struggles of a thousand years. It is fitting, therefore, that we should acquaint ourselves with some of these courageous leaders and their loyal churches, for this acquaintance will reveal the forces that culminated in the glorious Reformation. AGP 201.1