The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"Infallibility in controversial theology means the immunity from error in all that regards
faith and morals, which is claimed by the Roman Catholic Church [as represented in its
head, the pope], . . . Infallibility, as put forward by the Roman Church, which involves not
alone an actual historical immunity from error, but also such a positive and abiding
assistance of the spirit of God as will at all times both protect against the possibility of
error, and guide and direct in the faithful teaching of all necessary truth. The infallibility
claimed by the Roman Church is thus of two kinds, passive and active--the first (Matt.
16:18), in virtue of which the Church never can receive or embrace any erroneous doctrine,
no matter by whom proposed; the second, in virtue of which she is charged with the
function (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Eph. 4:11-16) of permanently teaching to the world the
essential truths of God, of actively resisting every access of error, and of authoritatively
deciding every controversy by which the oneness of belief among the faithful may be
endangered. Catholics regard this gift as a natural and necessary accompaniment of the
authority in matters of faith with which they believe the Church to be invested, and which
if not guided in its exercise by such infallible assistance would be a false light, and an
attractive but dangerous instrument of delusion."
Up to the year 1870 this infallibility was supposed to be centered in the decisions of the
great general councils presided over by the pope, but at the general Ecumenical Council
convened at Rome in 1870, it was decided that this power and authority was centered in
the pope. In regard to this matter we quote further from the above authority:
"Two very important and practical questions, however, arise regarding it, both of which
have been occasions of much controversy even among Catholics themselves, viz.: as to the
subject, that is the seat or the organ of this infallibility, and as to the object, that is, the
matters to which it extends. . . . By the decree of the Vatican Council, 1870, this controversy
has been decided; and it is now agreed that the doctrinal decrees of the pope teaching excathedra
are to be accepted as possessing the same infallibility which attaches to the
teaching of the Church."
And they bit their tongues
Papacy's kingdom being darkened by this plague seems to refer to a time when there
would be a lack of unity and harmony among her leaders, as expressed by Mr. Russell:
"It [the trouble] comes on the throne or ruling class, and their kingdom is filled with
darkness--uncertainty--absence of former unity and harmony, and in their trouble the pain
will be increased by tongue-biting."
This symbol of biting the tongue is a very peculiar one and evidently has a deeper
significance than that attached to it by most all expositors. The general idea has been that
this expression refers simply to the effects on Papacy because of the troubles that came to
her on account of her loss of power and influence by Napoleon. We believe, however, that
it refers to matters that have occurred since 1870 and will meet fulfillment in a deeper
sense in the near future.