Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists

guidance of the Holy Spirit eventually gave way to
ecclesiastical authoritarianism at the hands of a
single official, the bishop, to whom every church
member was personally subject and through whom
alone he had access to salvation. Henceforth
leadership thought only of ruling the church instead
of serving it, and the 'greatest' was no longer one
who considered himself 'servant of all.' Thus,
gradually, developed the concept of a priestly
hierarchy that interposed between the individual
and his Lord."[3]
As the importance of the individual and the
local church eroded, the bishop of Rome emerged
as the supreme power in Christianity. With the
assistance of the emperor this highest bishop, or
pope,[4] was recognized as the visible head of the
universal church, invested with supreme authority
over all church leaders throughout the world.
Under the leadership of the papacy,[5] the
Christian church plunged into yet-deeper apostasy.
The increasing popularity of the church accelerated
its decline. Lowered standards caused the
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