THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
PART 4: THE PROTESTANT REFORMERS BREAK RANKS
History records that the first signs of a religious awakening began to take place in the latter part of the 14th century. The Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel. Many famous historical figures, courageously played an important part in the grand prologue to the restoration of the gospel being set in motion by the Almighty.
Professor John Wycliffe (1320–1384) of Oxford University denounced the doctrines of the Catholic church, was branded as a heretic, and became known as the “Morningstar of the Reformation.”
John Hus (1372–1415), a disciple of Wycliffe preached openly against the church and was burned at the stake as a martyr.
Johannes Gutenburg invented the first moveable type printing press and printed a Latin Bible in 1455. This feat is widely recognized as one of the most significant events in the history of world progress and enlightenment.
1455 Gutenberg Bible
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In 1517 Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, and at the risk of his life, nailed his 95 complaints against the church to the door of the Wittenburg Castle Church in Germany, officially igniting the fire of the Reformation. He challenged the papacy over the sale of indulgences (the permission to commit sin) and other papal abuses, one of the most heroic acts in history, considering he was under the threat of death by fire.
Other men made significant contributions at different times and places toward the growth of Protestantism and helped pave the way for the total restoration of the gospel. These included John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Philip Melanchthon, William Farrel, Pierre Viret, William Tyndale, John Knox, and Roger Williams.
The reformers valiant efforts tried to fix things but they could not and did not re-establish the essential elements of salvation found in the original Church. Revelation and priesthood authority were not restored. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
In the absence of divinely called apostles and prophets, the end result was less unity and toleration, more chaos and division, and the emergence of many religious parties.
Other men made significant contributions at different times and places toward the growth of Protestantism and helped pave the way for the total restoration of the gospel. These included John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Philip Melanchthon, William Farrel, Pierre Viret, William Tyndale, John Knox, and Roger Williams.
The reformers valiant efforts tried to fix things but they could not and did not re-establish the essential elements of salvation found in the original Church. Revelation and priesthood authority were not restored. “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
In the absence of divinely called apostles and prophets, the end result was less unity and toleration, more chaos and division, and the emergence of many religious parties.
Tens of thousands different Protestant denominations exist today. So here we are, centuries down the road from the creation of the world. The gospel and God’s great plan of salvation has been on the earth six times and has been rejected six times. The Church of Jesus Christ, the Church and gospel which Christ established again for the seventh time when He was on the earth, has been broken into numberless pieces. There are now at least a score of differing interpretations of the Holy Bible. Over two billion people identifying themselves as Christians believe in a God they don’t fully understand and can’t describe. They don’t know their own beginnings, why they are here, or where they are going, and don’t know anybody that can tell them.
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