Rooting Up Day Is Coming
"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matt. 15:13)
Do not think that this Scripture refers to the rooting up of trees and garden vegetation. Far from it. This is only a prediction by Jesus the Christ that the "doctrines and commandments of men" will not stand. "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matt. 15:9)
And since the doctrines and commandments of men will not stand, it follows that every institution, spiritual or otherwise, that is found upon the doctrines and commandments of men will not stand. The creeds of men, upon which the Catholic and Protestant world stand, are sure to come in this great rooting up. All these denominations, whether Catholic or Protestant, are institutions that will be rooted up, because they are built upon the doctrines and commandments of men. They are established upon plants (teachings) which the heavenly Father did not plant. Jesus had false teaching in mind, and the various Jewish sects of his day in mind, as well as the various kinds of false teaching since that day, when he said, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matt. 15:14) It must be evident to any reasonable mind that when Jesus said, "let them alone," he meant what he said. For the life of me I cannot see why some seem to want to hobnob around with sectarian preachers in the ministerial alliance, or any other alliance, and especially so, when one's hands are tied, and he has no opportunity to set forth the truth of God to such an apostate group. Divergent views are taboo in all such ministerial alliances of which I know anything about. Then there is always present this danger, weak brethren, and sectarian folk in general, who know what preachers are present at these associations, because they see the names in the daily papers, think perhaps that denominationalism is not so bad after all, else the church of Christ preacher would not attend their meetings.
When Will It Come?
Because denominationalism thrives today in point of numbers over the church of our Lord, some are inclined to think it must be approved of God. And some others seem to think that there is safety in numbers. Neither of these conclusions is correct. The rooting up will not take place until the judgment day, and then only the faithful "few" will be permitted to enter through the gates into the city. "Many are called, but few are chosen." Of that eternal home it is said, "Few there be that find it."
The preceding paragraph speaks of the rooting up day taking place at the judgment day. We need not be surprised to find false teaching thriving to the very end. As proof, positiveness of this, we need only to think of the prophecy made concerning the rise and fall of Catholicism. We first notice the prophecy of its rise. "And he shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to an end, and none shall help him." (Dan. 11:45) To me this seems to be a prophecy of the rise of the Catholic Church and the pope. Rome, on the river Tiber, is between the seas Adriatic and the Mediterranean, and built on seven hills. In this city, in the country of Italy, is the Vatican where the pope lives. It seems hard for me to believe that the Catholic Church herself cannot see her own condemnation written here. "And he (the man in the palace between the seas, the pope in the Vatican) shall come to an end, and none shall help him." It seems to me that the Catholics and pope can read their finis here. "He shall come to an end." This Scripture doesn't say when he shall come to an end. It doesn't tell us when the rooting up will take place. It just tells us it will take place. Of this we may rest assured. How much blood shed, how much misery, how much woe this great corrupt religious power will cause before it comes to an end, we do not know.
But this power will come to an end, but it will be at the end of the world. As proof for this statement, we read: "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." (2 Thess. 2:6-8) This is proof enough that, when Jesus comes down (the second time) Catholicism will be rooted up. At the second coming, then, the rooting up will take place. Then we may expect Catholicism, and every other religious-ism, to be here till the Lord comes again.
I hear some people talk like they thought Catholicism is just about ready to tumble. Well, if it is, Jesus is just about ready to return, but of this fact no one can be sure. The Catholics being persecuted in Italy, as they like to think, and not only Italy, but many other countries in Europe and Asia, as well, only causes them to make a harder fight for this country of ours. And there are so many Catholics in office in this country that, their opportunity for growth and power here is almost unlimited. Notwithstanding all this, some day, and that day will be when our Lord returns; Catholicism will come to an end; and not even the political power of this or any other country can help it.
Countless millions of people will die, feeling secure in their religious beliefs, that are based upon the plants (teachings) that God did not plant. It doubtless will continue so until the judgment. And in the judgment they still feel secure. They will come before the judge of all the earth with great respect for their accomplishments while on earth. They will boast to the Lord about themselves even on the judgment day. Jesus, himself, tells us about these people, and about what they will tell him, and about what he will tell them, on the judgment day. Let us hear Jesus. "Many will say to me in that day (judgment day), Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (taught) in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:22, 23)
This conversation was taking place between Jesus and religious people. It represents the events of the judgment day. Certainly it isn't enough to be religious. A system of religion that is built upon plants (teachings) which the Father did not plant will be rooted up. My great wish is that denominational people would consider where they stand before it is too late to change and remedy the situation. But the gospel message among these people today, for the most part, seems to fall upon deaf ears and hardened hearts. But there is only one thing left to do, and that is, "Preach the word."
— Rt. No. 3, Box 135, Coraopolis, Penna.