9. “What the Apostle [John, in 1 Jn. 2:18] in effect did mean is simply this: The end of the Church with inspired Apostles, prophets, and teachers leading, guiding, and directing the faithful is at hand. The time predicted by Christ and his Apostles respecting an apostasy and overthrow of the Church is upon us.” (Sperry, “New Light,” p. 711; cf. also pp. 744, 746–51.) Talmage, The Great Apostasy, p. 37.