And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.... And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Revelation 12:6 & 14. ROME...From Pagan...to Papal... From Paganism to professed Christianity??? Constantine The Great | Episode 1 | Lineage
We begin our journey with an event that changed the Christian landscape immeasurably - the conversion of Constantine. This event would lead to the persecution of Gods faithful believers from within the church and the beginning of a clear distinction between the two branches of Christianity that would emerge. Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch… To find out more information read our extended article on Constantine on our website. https://lineagejourney.com/episodes/constantine-compromise-controversy-history/ Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ *Read The Great Controversy FREE online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25833/25833-pdf.pdf *Free Online Study Guide For The Great Controversy:* https://adventistbookcenter.com/amfile/file/download/file/38/product/1927/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:8-15 Columba & Iona | Episode 2 | Lineage
Isolated from the rest of Britain and Europe lies the island of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. Yet from this small, barren and windswept island a great impact would be felt far and wide. Columba, that great missionary and trainer of missionaries made this his base and set up a school that would last for several centuries. Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch… To find out more information read our website. https://lineagejourney.com/reformation/reformers/columba-missionary-scotland/ Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ *Read The Great Controversy FREE online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25833/25833-pdf.pdf *Free Online Study Guide For The Great Controversy:* https://adventistbookcenter.com/amfile/file/download/file/38/product/1927/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6 It is no exaggeration to say that, with the exception of Kent and Sussex, the whole English race received the foundation of their faith from Celtic Missionaries. Truth Triumphant p127 Holy Island & Aidan | Episode 3 | Lineage
Lindisfarne, also known as the Holy Island, situated on the north Coast of England would be the base of mission operations in England in the 7th century. Aidan came from Iona, planted a school here and along with his two successors would convert almost three quarters of England in under 50 years. To find out more information read our extended article: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes/episode-3-holy-island/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Further Reading: Wilkerson, B.G. (1944) – Truth Triumphant https://www.sabbathtruth.com/…/documen…/Truth_Triumphant.pdf *Read The Great Controversy FREE online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25833/25833-pdf.pdf *Free Online Study Guide For The Great Controversy:* https://adventistbookcenter.com/amfile/file/download/file/38/product/1927/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14 God Will Set Everything in Order - There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work, and He will set everything in order. If matters need adjusting at the head of the work God will attend to that, and work to right every wrong. Let us have faith that God is going to carry the noble ship which bears the people of God safely into port. —Last Day Events 52 Though the cause of evil prosper. Yet tis truth alone is strong. (Once to Every Man and Nation). James Lowell Whitby Synod/ Episode 4/ Lineage
Crucial decisions would be made during the Whitby Synod in 664 A.D. that would affect the future of Christianity in the British Isles. The tide would turn away from Celtic Christianity. To find out more information read our extended article: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes/episode-4-the-tide-turns/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Further Reading: Wilkerson, B.G. (1944) – Truth Triumphant https://www.sabbathtruth.com/…/documen…/Truth_Triumphant.pdf *Read The Great Controversy FREE online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25833/25833-pdf.pdf *Free Online Study Guide For The Great Controversy:* https://adventistbookcenter.com/amfile/file/download/file/38/product/1927/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it... Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:4-10 Dinooth & Columbanus | Episode 5 | Lineage
This week we travel from Iona to Wales where another training school was established and then we follow one of their missionaries as he went to France, Switzerland, Germany and then finally Italy, setting up training mission schools along the way. Dinooth lived from 530-610 AD and rose to the leadership of the Celtic church at a very young age. He was trained by Columba and later used much of what he learned in evangelizing Wales. The most notable thing he accomplished was establishing a training school at Bangor in Wales, which became a center of spiritual influence in that region, deploying missionaries. Columbanus was trained at Bangor and was intelligent, gifted and completely consecrated to God, a combination that rarely, if ever, falls short of making a significant impact. Columbanus cast his eyes from the well-watered fields of Celtic Christendom to the dry and barren lands of continental popery. Europe would be his mission field and he was bent on revolutionizing the continent for Jesus. How do you begin to make an impact? The common threads that run through the stories of Dinooth and Columbanus are consecration and faithfulness. Sometimes it can be easy to look around us and be discouraged. Not only is there war and bloodshed but there seems to be a communal fist waving angrily and defiantly in the face of God. As a Christian, how do you navigate that? Still, make an impact in spite of that? To find out more information read our extended article on Dinooth & Columbanus on our website: https://lineagejourney.com/ep…/episode-5-dinooth-columbanus/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Further Reading: Wilkerson, B.G. (1944) – Truth Triumphant https://www.sabbathtruth.com/…/documen…/Truth_Triumphant.pdf *Read The Great Controversy FREE online here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25833/25833-pdf.pdf ***Free Online Study Guide For The Great Controversy:*** https://adventistbookcenter.com/amfile/file/download/file/38/product/1927/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days...And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Revelation 12:6 & 14 Waldenses : People of the Valleys
The Church in the Wilderness of Revelation 12:6 & 14, is perhaps best illustrated by the experience of the Waldensians. This week, and the next few weeks, we will visit the valleys that they called home and see where they lived and died. Seeing their faithfulness and commitment to mission and service for God. The mingling of Paganism with Christianity in the form of the Roman Catholic Church sparked a revolution in Christendom. It led those who desired to preserve the purity of true Bible religion to coalesce into a single organized system, geographically spanning northern Italy and south-western France. This group was known as the Waldenses. The Waldenses were a group of people that formed a resistance against the moral corruption and physically damaging practices advocated by the system of monasticism that blossomed under the papacy. Vigilantius, who is credited with being the leader of this movement, encountered monasticism through his interactions with many of the scholars of his day. He was a peasant from southwestern Gaul which encompassed the areas we now know as France, Northern Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium and most of Switzerland. Vigilantius and The Early Waldensian Movement Vigilantius (Christian presbyter), was first brought into contact with monasticism through his employer Sulpicius Severus and through his interactions with the famous Roman Catholic monk Jerome, who translated the Latin Vulgate. What he saw was a system of spiritual pride and hypocrisy that rested on outward rites and rituals while the heart was still full of the corruption of sin. In addition to this, he was exposed to the subtleties of how paganism was thinly veiled under the guise of all that was Roman Catholic by witnessing the celebration of pagan holidays under Christian names and the worship of pagan gods under the guise of Christian saints. He was appalled by what he saw and soon began to preach against this system to those in Gaul who occupied what is now known as Southwestern France and Northern Italy. Vigilantius denounced the hypocrisy and pride of the Roman Catholic Church and called for those who were longing for something more spiritually substantial to join him in making the Bible their only rule of faith and practice. Many flocked to his standard, choosing to walk away from a religious system that relied on the traditions and dictates of men to stand under the banner of God’s word. One of the earliest known names of these believers was insabbati, demonstrating that they were Sabbath-keepers, being named after the day on which they worshiped. Persecution Under The Papacy The Waldenses became the vanguard of a powerful resistance movement that quietly and unobtrusively began to work to educate people about Bible truth and expose the errors and fallacies propagated by Rome. They were known for taking great pains to preserve the Bible, transcribing copies by hand for distribution throughout Europe. They didn’t see themselves as reformers because many of them had rejected the advances of the Roman Catholic Church from the outset. Instead, they saw themselves as champions and curators of biblical truth in the midst of a reign of spiritual darkness and apostasy. For this they paid dearly, being slaughtered by the thousands and relegated to living in the caves of the alpine wilderness. Their story has been told and retold by countless writers and poets of the Renaissance who witnessed the terrible persecutions they faced. Yet in the face of such ruthlessness, they still clung unwaveringly to their faith in God and His Word, as firm and unyielding as the mighty mountains that had become their home. One thing that the Waldenses did have in common with the Roman Catholic church was that they both saw the barbarian tribes that occupied Europe as a mission field. The fundamental difference, however, was that while the Roman Catholic Church used the power of the state, the terror of the sword and the inducement of political gain to advance their cause, the Waldenses put their faith in the strength of God’s Word. To find out more information of the Waldenses check out our extended article. https://lineagejourney.com/reforma…/movements/the-waldenses/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com Deep in the valleys this sturdy people lived and worked, but they were not hermits. Through their well-trained children, young people, and older people, they impacted the whole continent, spreading the gospel throughout Europe as missionaries ‘disguised’ as students and workers. A Mission Movement
They kept a low profile, making the rugged regions of the alpine valleys their homes and moving quietly among those who lived in the great cities of Europe. Eventually, facing relentless persecution in the lower valleys, the Waldenses moved into the higher alpine regions. Here they settled themselves and focused on evangelizing papal Europe, and to this end, they built training schools that covered the rugged mountainous region of the Piedmont Valley. The College of the Barbs, nestled high in the Italian Alps, is the only remaining example of what must have been a network of educational centers of influence. The college was driven by a singular vision, that of preparing an army of young workers rightly trained and equipped for the missionary work before them. To accomplish this they trained the children and youth to commit large portions of scripture to memory and to painstakingly copy the Bible by hand. As they did this they would achieve two goals, the first was of hiding the word of God in their hearts and minds and the second was that of producing written copies of the scriptures that could be distributed. Once they had completed their training, Waldensian youth were sent to the best universities in Europe and wherever they went they took the word of God with them. Having committed large portions of scripture to memory they had ready access to the truth as the need arose. In addition, they sewed portions of scripture into the folds and hems of their clothing, thus enabling them to distribute the truth as discreetly as possible. As they went about gaining an education they mingled with a wide variety of people and would make an effort to befriend them. As time went by and they discerned genuine spiritual interest, they would share the Bible either verbally or in the form of small handwritten rolls of parchment. In this way, the light of God’s word spread slowly and unobtrusively throughout a European continent that was teeming with tradition and superstition. Other Waldenses would learn a trade or sell goods from door to door, and as they bought and sold, traded and repaired they would watch for the moving of God’s Spirit on the hearts of their listeners. When they discerned spiritual interest they would share the truth, either from memory or by handing out those precious portions of hand-copied scripture. Thus, the ultimate focus of the Waldensian way of life was to share the truth with others. They worked, studied and raised families but in the midst of this, their focus was clear and unwavering. To find out more information of the Waldenses check out our extended article. https://lineagejourney.com/reforma…/movements/the-waldenses/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com 'Lux Lucet in Tenebris' is the Waldensian motto and it translates as 'A Light out of Darkness.' Hunted and persecuted they often had to retreat into the bowels of the earth and worship God in the shelter of caves - but even in the darkness their light shone brightly. Lux Lucet in Tenebris
In times of intense persecution, these people of the valleys would gather together in their mountain hideouts, huddling for shelter in the dim and dank caves that crisscrossed the mountains. These caves were not only a place of refuge but a place of worship as well and here shut in by the cold stone walls, in a place of perfect peace and silence they sang their hymns and praises to God and spent time in simple but earnest congregational worship and prayer. The Waldensian motto was Lux Lucet in Tenebris (Latin), light shining in the darkness and theirs was a light that burned steadily without waxing or waning for centuries, even in the face of terrible persecution. They chose to fiercely guard their commitment to the word of God and were willing to bear the cost that came with that commitment. Often that cost was to leave behind their homes and livelihoods to flee into the wild and rugged regions of the Alpine valleys. Here they braved the most grueling conditions and their children had to learn the hard lessons of self-sacrifice, frugality, and resilience. To Waldensian parents, these lessons became the keystone of the training they offered their children and it was these lessons that forged them into hardy soldiers for the cause of Jesus. From a young age, they were trained in the scriptures, trained to endure privation and hardship to the end that they might be able missionaries for God amidst people held fast in the fetters of falsehood. Continued Persecution Yet even in their high mountain strongholds, the Waldenses were not immune to the fires of persecution breathed against them by the Roman Catholic Church. One of the most chilling and yet poignant examples of this is the story of the Waldensian massacre that took place atop the mighty Mt. Casteluzzo, one of the bloodiest and most horrific acts of genocide ever committed against a group of people. And yet even in the face of such strong persecution the Waldensian people refused to bow their knees to the darkness and error of the Roman Catholic Church, they refused to be bullied into submission. In his poem “Invictus”, William Ernest Henley wrote: In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody but unbowed. The poem is a testament to the man who instead of allowing his circumstances to mold him, takes hold of his circumstances, and by his grit and fortitude, molds them. To a great extent, this was the spirit of the Waldenses, the spirit that made them a light shining in the darkness. Why were they so vehemently hated? Because they chose to stand for what was right, to stand against a religiopolitical machine that was oppressing the lives of so many innocent people. They were hated because they were unafraid and unashamed of holding up the torch of truth to expose the terrible secrets of darkness. They stood like Daniel in Babylon and weathered the worst storms of persecution and their example is a challenge to us today, presented most poignantly in the words of that old children’s classic that says; “Dare to be a Daniel Dare to stand alone Dare to have a purpose firm Dare to make it known” To find out more information of the Waldenses check out our extended article. https://lineagejourney.com/reforma…/movements/the-waldenses/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com Pope Innocent III was anything but innocent. During his reign, numerous groups were persecuted at the start of the 13th century, in particular the Albigensian's. Over a 20 year period he attempted to wipe out this faithful, Bible believing people in Southern France. The Albigenses and The Papacy https://youtu.be/dHfv9EuAFu8
The Papacy: A force to be reckoned with At the turn of the 13th century, Europe was no longer held together by the common political tie of the Pagan Roman Empire yet it was being slowly gathered together under the decidedly religiopolitical banner of the Papacy. Imperial Rome held the Empire together under the auspices of economic gain but the Papacy held the Empire together under the auspices of Hell Fire and the imminent threat of death. The not-so-subtle hold that the church wielded over a man’s eternal well-being seized his attention and also his purse strings and the political power the church had been granted from its inception guaranteed its continued conquest throughout Europe. The Papacy of the 13th Century found itself acting as the voice of conscience for every man and his dog, presuming to prescribe what they should believe and proceeding to crush out any murmur of dissent. The horrific crusades of the 12th century against the Saracens, in an attempt to recover the Holy Land from the grip of Islam, are a testament to this fact. One of the keynotes of these crusades was the promise of eternal glory to whoever chose to engage in battle and immediate entrance into heaven should they die on the battlefield. Many a crusader returned home broken in health and ruined in fortune with little to show for his battle scars except the pale assurance of escaping hellfire when his miserable life came to a close. But a greater threat than that of the distant Saracens were the small pockets of Bible-believing Christians that were popping up across the landscape of Europe. The Albigenses of Southern France were of particular interest to the Papacy but were not considered an imminent danger in light of their small numbers. This perception changed with the ascent of Innocent III to the head of the Papacy, who, surveying the religiopolitical climate of the Papacy decided that though this group of people were small in number they could potentially cause the church a large amount of trouble. The Socio-Economic Climate of France In the 13th Century, France was made up of four great divisions and the southernmost division was the region of Narbonne-Gaul or what is now known as Provence and Languedoc. This region was populated by people who were intelligent, industrious and hardworking and many of them maintained their own vineyards or cultivated corn. The area was also known as a booming commercial center engaging in trade with neighboring Italian republics via the Mediterranean. It was the seat of a powerful and vibrant nobility and the cradle of art and poetry and the home of the troubadour, a lyrical poet who wrote in Provencal, the local dialect. The region had also been evangelized by early Christian missionaries like Irenaeus and others from Gaul and this coupled with the coalescing of the Arts, education, and freedom of thought made it a hotspot for the preservation and spread of Biblical Christianity. The people had access to the Bible in their own language and many of the troubadours from Provence who traveled throughout Europe were really Colporteurs or missionaries in disguise, spreading the gospel wherever they went and the truth began to spread to places like Italy, Hungary, Spain, and Flanders. This led to the formation of a small but powerful resistance movement against the Papacy, which began to look more and more like a threat to the shrewd eye of the Pope. In his mind, the only option was to crush them out and he issued an edict calling for the immediate destruction of all heretics, setting in motion the destruction of villages, cities, art, and culture in a way that would plunge Europe into the dark ages. But none of that was significant because the only thing that mattered was the preservation of the continued religiopolitical dominance of the Papacy. The Albigensian Crusades Princes of France were commanded by the Papacy to route out and destroy all heretics in their kingdoms or face excommunication and the loss of property. In addition, Innocent III looked around for a ready-made army that could dispose of the heretics quickly. He decided to refuse the call to arms that had been so successfully sounded by his predecessors in the Crusades of the 12th Century and offered any man who should join the cause complete Papal immunity from Hell and immediate translation to heaven in exchange for just 40 days of service as a killing machine for the church. This was a far more lucrative deal, both spiritually and economically, for the professional Christian Knight, far better than braving the horrors of an unknown battlefield in Syria. It was a dark chapter in the history of Europe and the Papacy. The first wave of cleansing was discharged by the able Citeaux monks who went through France in 1206 preaching the crusades. Next came the Dominican monks, who went out two by two to round up every single suspected heretic in order to dispute with them in public and then set a mark on every man who was to be burned, thus laying the foundation for the Inquisition. Then came the first wave of the crusades in 1209 continuing for a period of 20 years leading to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. The story of the Albigenses is one of the most gut-wrenching in all history. To think that a peaceful, thriving, socially, economically and culturally, vibrant group of people could be murdered simply for choosing to have different beliefs to that of the Pope defies all logic. Why were they treated like this? Why did every single political leader, appointed to protect them, quake and bow down before a religious leader bent on destroying them? Why did men from all walks of life throw decency to the wind in order to engage in such a horrific act? Why was the basic human right of freedom of worship denied these people? Why was it that the loss of these lives was viewed as a triumph when in actual fact it set back the progress of the entire continent of Europe? Could this kind of a horrific act repeat itself? The concepts of Genocide, politically backed religious agenda and fratricide are not new. They are as old, well worn and impossibly familiar to all of us living in the 21st century as they were to those who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries. It would serve us well to remember this and to also remember that the repetition or rewriting of history is in our hands individually. John Donne wrote “no man is an island, entire of itself, each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main, if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less…each man’s death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind, therefore send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee” To find out more information about the Albigensians check out our extended article: https://lineagejourney.com/uncategorized/the-albigenses/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in history, yet many have never heard of it or read it in full. Its legacy has inspired liberty and freedom around the world, showing that no one is above the law. Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom | Episode 10 https://youtu.be/RMTeCyksY5o
Magna Carta and Church History I am sure each of us, as we trudged through the educational systems of our respective countries, heard about the Magna Carta; its significance, its background and the political turmoil amidst which it was spawned. A Google search will give you a quick rundown on the historical wherewithal of this controversial and deeply significant document. So why would we look at Magna Carta as we trace our spiritual lineage? Because the story of Magna Carta would be incomplete without understanding its place in the greater story of the Protestant Reformation and that is something Google can offer very little insight on. We begin a little over a century before the birth of John Wycliffe in the year 1205 with King John sitting upon the throne of England. John was, at times, quite capable of courage and conviction when the occasion called for it but by and large, he was weak-willed and known to be violent and even cruel. The man who sat upon the throne of the Papacy was Innocent III, the same Innocent we encountered in the story of the Albigensian massacre. What John lacked in grit and force of character, Innocent III more than made up for and added to that he was probably more cruel and violent than John. The face-off between these two power brokers took place over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury. King John’s nominee was dismissed by the Pope who put forward his own nominee, thus negating the authority of the king of England to appoint a successor and seeking to install the power of Rome as absolute in matters pertaining to the leadership of the church. In an age where religious authority was a more formidable force than that of the crown itself, this move was a harbinger of what was to come. If the Pope felt that he had the authority to appoint the most powerful ecclesiastical position in England then what could stand in the way of him appointing the successor to the throne itself? King John saw the inevitable fallout that would ensue as a result of him acquiescing to the Pope’s appointment and he withstood the authority of the Pope for a time. The problem was, however, that in a duel between England’s weakest monarch and the Papacy’s strongest pontiff the odds were not stacked in favor of England. John eventually bowed to the pressure of Rome, allowing Innocent to appoint the man of his choosing to the seat of Canterbury and, as if that were not enough, also agreeing to pay a Papal tax of 1000 marks to the Papal See. The transaction took place on the 15th of May 1213 and to seal the deal John paid homage to the Papal Legate, Pandulf, by bowing down and laying his crown at his feet. Pandulf, in an attempt to display the power of Rome over the Monarchy of England, is said to have kicked the crown about like a worthless bauble. England was humiliated. Stunned by the King’s submission to Rome, the Barons of England came together and vowed to protect the ancient liberties of England or to die trying. Appearing before King John at Oxford in April of 1215 they presented him with a charter detailing their rights and liberties which were to be protected by the crown. They demanded that John sign it and after some protest, he signed the document at Runnymede. The charter in effect communicated to the Pope that England was taking back the kingdom that had been laid at his feet and was revoking its vow to serve the Pope. Writing about the Magna Carta the prominent historian Wylie states “Magna Carta was constitutional liberty standing up before the face of Papal absolutism and throwing down the gage of battle to it” The first clause of the Magna Carta states “the English Church shall be free, and shall have its rights undiminished, and its liberties unimpaired” This would become the focal point of John Wycliffe’s early disagreements with Rome, an issue that would rumble on for over a century. The mechanism that triggered the drawing up of the Magna Carta was a desire to guard the principles of civil and religious liberty, principles that were trampled upon by the authority of Rome. Today this truth is held as self-evident, that the powers of church and state be separated, thus ensuring freedom of conscience for all. It is our privilege to use the opportunities afforded by this separation to spread the gospel now because the tide may turn at any time. Further Reading
To find out more information read our extended article on the Magna Carta on our website. https://lineagejourney.com/episodes/episode-10-magna-carta-the-foundation-of-freedom/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com John Wycliffe - Morning Star of the Reformation, lived over 600 years ago, yet his legacy lives on. Translator of the Bible, defender of national sovereignty and trainer of missionary preachers - his impact was great and paved the way for those who would come after him. John Wycliffe: Morning Star of The Reformation https://youtu.be/FcXfwSUo920
Wycliffe’s Early Years and Education John Wycliffe was born in the village of Hipswell, Yorkshire in 1324 and little is known of his early childhood and adolescence. He was sent to Oxford at the age of 16 where he became a scholar and later a fellow of Merton College. While at Merton Wycliffe was influenced by Bradwardine, one of the pioneering mathematicians and astronomers of his day, who had studied the word of God and had wholeheartedly embraced the truths of the Gospel. Bradwardine began to share these truths with his students and his views on biblical truth greatly influenced the young Wycliffe. Wycliffe had a razor-sharp mind and retentive memory and he soon began to rise through the ranks at Merton and to distinguish himself as an able scholar. He was deeply interested in Philosophy and soon became a master of scholastic philosophy, able to take on and argue even the most subtly complex concepts and ideas. He also pursued the study of ecclesiastical and civil law, exploring not only the various laws that governed the church but also the Constitution and laws that governed England during the late middle ages as well. Through the agency of Bradwardine’s instruction, Wycliffe came to learn about the truths of righteousness by faith and these truths began to capture his attention in a more magnetic way than the writings of Plato or Aristotle ever could. The Plague and Its Effects When Wycliffe was 25 years old the plague swept through England like a flood, carrying with it swarms of men, women, children, and animals. The corpses of men and animals lay piling up in graveyards and fields and the economy began to groan under the weight of so much loss and devastation. The effects of the plague deeply touched Wycliffe and he turned to the Scriptures searching for answers not as a scholar searching for intellectual stimulation but as a lost sinner exposed to the stench of death on every hand, seeking for hope and assurance beyond the grave... What he found as he searched the scriptures was not only the blessed assurance of hope in Jesus but also the truth that was able to satisfy every other longing of his soul and it was this time of wrestling with God’s word that prepared Wycliffe for the work that was ahead of him... Wycliffe spent 20 years at Merton College, first as a scholar and then as a fellow and in 1360 was appointed as Master of Balliol College in Oxford. Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology he was now offered the privilege of lecturing on the Bible at the University and this work he took up with great enthusiasm. As he studied the Word of God in preparation for his lectures he became extremely well versed in the Biblical truth, further preparing him for the work of reformation that lay before him. Wycliffe and The Demands of Urban V A hundred years before the birth of Wycliffe, England, under the rule of King John had pledged to submit to the Papacy in ecclesiastical matters and to pay a levy of 1000 marks to the Pope. This payment had lapsed for a period of 35 years before Pope Urban V demanded that England resumes its payment in 1365. The Pope intimated that not only should the annual tribute be resumed but all arrears be paid as well and should King Edward III of England refuse to do this he would be summoned to appear before the Pope to answer for stubborn disobedience to the Papacy. England was stung by the insult to her sovereignty and Urban V’s demand proved to be the final straw in a long line of Papal abuses that England had chafed under for a considerable period of time. Edward convened his parliament in 1366 and after reading to them the Pope’s letter of demand asked them to formulate a formal response on behalf of the nation. After taking a day to deliberate over the matter the Parliament unanimously decided that they would not submit themselves to the authority of the Pope and would not pay him the tribute he so arrogantly demanded. The decision of the Parliament was greatly influenced by the teachings of Wycliffe from his Chair in Oxford. He had taught many of the Barons who were members of Parliament and his views regarding the authority of Scripture and the fallibility of the Pope were implanted in the minds of these men and thus had a telling influence on the decision they made to resist the authoritarian advances of Rome. Wycliffe’s voice was one of the loudest to be raised against the overreaching of Papal power and the abuse of ecclesiastical authority in presuming to reach into the affairs of the state. He made it clear that the Pope had no business meddling in the affairs of the English nation, nor did he have any business to demand the submission of the Monarch or people of that realm. Other Issues Wycliffe Championed The second issue he championed was that of denouncing the lifestyle and practices of the monks. England was already weighted down with economic turmoil in the wake of the Hundred Years War and the plague and the Roman Friars added to this burden by their avaricious lifestyle. The monks didn’t engage in any form of useful labor but instead went from house to house begging to sustain themselves. The people they visited were obliged to give generously or risk eternal damnation as a result of the friars refusing to pardon their sins or to grant them indulgences. One of the worst curses to blight England and Europe at large was the fact that the people relied upon the Papacy and, by extension the clergy, to interpret the Bible for them and, as a result, were steeped in superstition and error, thus enabling the friars to auction off salvation to the highest bidder. Wycliffe struck at the root of this tyranny denouncing the entire system as false and unbiblical. Thousands began to feel the warm rays of truth shining in their minds and winding tendrils of hope around the despair that had chilled their hearts. The dawn of the revolution was almost upon them. All of this activity did not fail to elicit a response from Rome and the Pope dispatched a Papal bull to investigate the writings of John Wycliffe. However, due to his high standing at Oxford and his general popularity among the people, the bull was never put into effect and was forgotten by the Papacy, which was embroiled in what would later be known as the Papal Schism. Wycliffe’s strength was in preaching and teaching and he trained men known as Lollards who went throughout Europe preaching the gospel. Perhaps the most significant thing Wycliffe accomplished was translating the Scriptures from the Latin Vulgate into the vernacular of the people. To put the revolutionary nature of this into perspective it’s important to understand that during this time the reading of the scriptures in the language of the common people was considered dangerous and forbidden and in giving the Bible to the people in their own language Wycliffe began a movement in England that would culminate in the revolution that was the Reformation. Wycliffe’s Death and Exhumation Wycliffe fully expected to die a martyr’s death. “Why do you talk of seeking the crown of martyrdom afar?” he said. “Preach the gospel of Christ to haughty prelates, and martyrdom will not fail you. What! Should I live and be silent? … Never! Let the blow fall, I await its coming.” But despite his waiting, the blow never fell and he died peacefully in his parish at Lutterworth. The papacy, however, was out for blood and they would extract it, even if it meant prying it from his lifeless corpse. They had been too busy dealing with the embarrassment of the Papal Schism while Wycliffe was alive to offer him a decent Martyrdom but at the Council of Constance, convened in 1415 for the purpose of resolving the Schism, the heresy of John Wycliffe was at the top of the agenda. It was decreed that his bones be exhumed, cursed, relegated to the farthest parts of Hell and then burnt to ashes. The unhappy task fell to the Bishop of Lincoln who happened to be a former friend of Wycliffe’s. The good bishop procrastinated until he was removed from his office in 1420 and his successor, possibly equally fond of Wycliffe, procrastinated a further 8 years by which time the Papacy had had enough and under duress prevailed upon the new Bishop of Lincoln to finally get around to the task. Wycliffe’s bones were duly exhumed, cursed, burned and then scattered in the nearby Swift River which in turn flowed into the Avon River. No amount of Papal anathema could stop the spread of the work begun by Wycliffe and even in death his remains, scattered on the waters of a relatively obscure river in England, were a testimony to this fact. Huss and Jerome were influenced by his writings and later Luther would come on the stage of action to carry forward the torch he had lit. Wycliffe’s work encompassed a broad spectrum of issues ranging from the abuse of power by the Papacy, its blasphemous and false claim to infallibility and the hypocritical, greed and power mongering of its monastic system but the most significant thing that Wycliffe championed was that of the right and privilege of every man to read and understand the word of God individually. This was the foundation upon which the entire Reformation was built and this is the foundation upon which we are to build our own personal spiritual revolution day by day. To find out more information about John Wycliffe visit our in depth article. https://lineagejourney.com/uncategorized/john-wycliffe-morning-star-reformation/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com The small region of Bohemia, located in modern day Czech Republic, was home to two mighty heroes of the reformation: John Huss and Jerome. Their legacy spread beyond their home city of Prague and lives on to this day. https://youtu.be/lZ6ao7uLND0 Huss and Jerome: The Bohemian Reformation
Huss and Jerome: Beginnings Huss and Jerome, like Wycliffe before them, were in many ways the forerunners of the Reformation. Their work stirred Bohemia and Europe in a way that left a visceral impression on the continent. Together they made a formidable team, much like Luther and Melanchthon after them. Jan Huss was born on the 6th of July 1373 in Hussinetz near the source of the Moldau River. His family were peasants and his father passed away soon after his birth leaving Huss’ widowed mother to raise him single-handedly. His mother wanted him to gain an education and after he had finished his education at the local provincial school she took him to Prague to enroll him at the university there. She took with her a gift for the rector but lost it on the way and thoroughly grieved by the misfortune and taking it to be an omen of bad luck she knelt down beside her son and implored God to protect him and care for him while he was in Prague. Little did she realize how effective her fervent prayers would be in protecting her son from the trials that lay ahead of him. Bethlehem Chapel, Prague, Huss Huss gained entrance into the University of Prague as a charity scholar with a full scholarship and took hold of his academic work with a ferocious intensity that belied his pale and thin physical appearance. He was hard-working, meticulous and intelligent and this coupled with an impeccable sense of integrity set him apart from his peers and placed him on a trajectory to attain the priesthood. He became Bachelor of Arts 1393, Bachelor of Theology in 1394 and Master of Arts in 1396 but never became a Doctor of Theology. Early Career Two years after completing his Master of Arts he began to lecture at the University and was soon brought to the notice of the new King of Bohemia Wenceslaus, whose Queen, Sophia, elected Huss as her personal confessor. At this time Huss was an ardent follower of the Roman church and though he had read and studied the writings of Wycliffe he could not see the truth behind Wycliffe’s theses. Huss’s intellectual attainments, his spiritual zeal and his close ties with the Royal family soon led to him being hailed as Bohemia’s favorite son. His career really began with his appointment to preach at the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague in 1402. The Bethlehem Chapel had been founded by a citizen of Prague by the name of Mulhamio who placed great stress on the preaching of the Bible to the common people in their native tongue. When the first pastor of the church, Stephen of Colonia, vacated his seat, Huss was selected to fill his place. Huss ascended the pulpit wielding the word of God like a thunderbolt and his sermons served to rouse the population to self-awareness, leading the spiritually starved masses to flock to the Chapel to hear him speak. The frequency with which Huss preached led him to study the word of God with equal frequency leading to his own spiritual awakening. Jerome of Faulfish Throughout his labors in Prague Huss had a friend and companion in Jerome of Faulfish, a knight who had studied at Oxford and brought back the writings of Wycliffe with him. On his way back from Oxford Jerome had challenged the most learned men of the Universities of Paris and Vienna in relation to the teachings of Wycliffe and had ended up being thrown in prison for his zeal. Managing to escape he found his way back to Bohemia and came in contact with Huss in Prague. Jerome was a more gifted orator and had a more brilliant mind than Huss but Huss was a man of firmer and more consistent character and Jerome looked up to him as a spiritual leader. They made an excellent team with Huss’s restraint of spirit providing a much-needed balance to Jerome’s fiery impetuosity and while Huss preached from the Pulpit at Bethlehem Chapel, Jerome debated in the Universities and popular assemblies. One a brilliant, charismatic orator and the other an intelligent, even-keeled scholar. The Writings of Wycliffe in Bohemia Through Jerome, Huss was once more brought into contact with the writings of Wycliffe and as he restudied these writings he began to see that the author was a man of genuine spiritual depth and experience and was not completely opposed to the reforms he proposed. The writings of Wycliffe were also brought to Bohemia through the agency of the Queen of England. Richard II of England had married the Bohemian Princess Anne who had become an ardent disciple of Wycliffe and when the Queen passed away her ladies in waiting brought back the writings of the Reformer to their native land. Prague, Huss, Jerome The Impact of James and Conrad on Huss At this point, Huss had already set himself onto the road to Protestantism by placing the authority of the Word of God above that of the Pope or Ecclesiastical Councils. Yet he still considered himself a true son of the Church and would never have dreamed of separating from it even though one of the most basic steps he had taken was one which would ultimately lead to his separation from Rome. Around this time there came to Prague two young theologians who had recently graduated from Oxford and were disciples of Wycliffe and the gospel. James and Conrad of Canterbury entered the city with the singular purpose of preaching the gospel and throwing down the authority of Rome and they attempted this in spectacular fashion by holding public disputations in the center of the city regarding the supremacy of the Pope. Prague was not ready for this kind of a stir and the authorities soon put a stop to their preaching. Undaunted they cast about for an alternate means they could use to attain their end goal and decided that they would put their artistic talents to use. They set up camp in the city center and drew two contrasting images, one of Jesus, meek and lowly, sitting on a donkey and the other of the Pope, in all his finery and splendor, surrounded by his retinue of Bishops and Cardinals. What they had failed to accomplish through preaching they accomplished through the agency of their canvasses and the entire city of Prague was struck by the contrast between the founder of the church and its current leader. The art caused such a stir in the city that James and Conrad thought it wise to beat a hasty retreat and leaving Prague they headed back to England. Huss was among those who came to view the paintings and his mind was completely gripped by what he saw. He went back and pored over the writings of Wycliffe again but this time with a mind that was more readily open to accepting the truths that were written there and he began to grasp with clarity the truths that Wycliffe was championing. He started to share these ideas with his parishioners, never dreaming of separating from his beloved church but impassioned to see it reformed. To find out more information about Huss & Jerome visit our in depth article. https://lineagejourney.com/…/huss-jerome-catalysts-bohemia…/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAortNXplLTgL7xXwlONUUC0i2pbH8QIE&app=desktop Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ https://youtu.be/lZ6ao7uLND0 3AngelsMesages.weebly.com In 1415 the Council of Constance convened to settle the papal schism and deal with 'heresies' that were arising. Two men from Bohemia would find themselves there. Huss was called to trial and Jerome came seeking to help him, though he would end up in prison himself. https://youtu.be/Jf5TKzgH6wo In 1415 the Council of Constance convened to settle the papal schism and deal with 'heresies' that were arising. Two men from Bohemia would find themselves there. Huss was called to trial and Jerome came seeking to help him, though he would end up in prison himself. https://youtu.be/Jf5TKzgH6wo
Rome Reaches Out News of his teaching soon reached Rome via Germany causing Pope Alexander V to issue a bull commanding the Archbishop of Prague, Sbinko, with the assistance of the secular authorities, to stop the spread of the work of Wycliffe. What followed was a proscription of the works of Wycliffe throughout the city of Prague and the burning of 200 handwritten copies of books containing his writings. Huss Monument, Prague This act instead of stunning Huss into silence fuelled the fire that was already raging inside him and he began to attack the doctrine of indulgences with vigor from his pulpit. A second bull was issued summoning Huss to appear before Alexander V in Rome to answer for his teachings in person. Everyone understood that to go to Rome would be certain death and the monarchy and nobility banded together to request a trial in absentia where the case would be presented by Huss’ legal counsel. This was denied and the trial went ahead without him, resulting in the entire city of Prague being placed under Papal interdict. Prague under Interdict The gravity of the situation is best understood against the backdrop of the day; the authority of Rome was unparalleled because it held in its hand the power of eternal damnation, the invention of an eternally burning hell being the chief among the Papal trump cards. In order to tick off the Papal checklist on the heavenward way, there were certain ordinances administered by the church, that were crucial; baptism, marriage, burial and the mass being among them. A Papal interdict shut down all these services, thereby shutting out those under its pall from the gates of heaven and sending them all straight to hell. Hussite Wars, Huss and Jerome The city was plunged into a state of superstitious terror as they saw the awful omens of Papal damnation on every side. The sacred images that lined the streets were covered in sackcloth, the corpses lay piling up beside the road unable to receive a proper burial, the church doors were locked. Many called for Huss to be offered up to Rome in order that the city at large would not be sacrificed to the fires of hell. Huss Withdraws and Rallies Huss withdrew to his native village of Hussinetz where he enjoyed the protection of the territorial lord who was his friend and while he was there began preaching throughout the Bohemian countryside to eager audiences. But while he was received with such joy by the masses in the country his own mind was overshadowed with gloom. To obey Rome was sin and yet why should obedience to the infallible bride of Christ cause such an issue? These are the dissonant concepts that Huss struggled to reconcile in his mind. After things quieted down somewhat in Prague he again returned to the pulpit of his beloved Bethlehem Chapel and preached the truth to eager audiences. The popular sentiment began to swell against the Papacy and many of Huss’s disciples became emboldened to continue their labors but clouds were beginning to gather on the horizon. Huss Summoned to Konstanz The church was in a state of crisis with the humiliating debacle of the schism on one side and the so-called ‘heresy’ of Huss on the other. To bring about some semblance of order Emperor Sigismund called for a council to be convened to discuss the issues at hand, summoning Huss to appear before him in Konstanz, Germany and agreeing to grant him safe passage to the city. The storm clouds were gathering on the horizon and the darkest days for Huss and Jerome lay just ahead. Huss had traveled to Konstanz upon the promise of safe passage by the Emperor and in the document, Sigismund had pledged upon his honor and the power of the Holy Roman Empire the safety of Huss. He enjoyed this protection in the first few days after his arrival in Konstanz but this safety was short lived and at the command of the pope and cardinals he was thrown into prison. Sickly and enfeebled by the ghastly conditions in prison and weighted down with fetters, he appeared before Sigismund and his council in the Munster of Konstanz. His trial was long and arduous but he firmly maintained his position, denouncing the corruption of the hierarchy of Rome and when ordered to recant or to face a martyr’s death, with a quiet dignity he chose the latter. They sent him back to prison to await his final sentencing and when he was brought back before the council he stood unbowed and unashamed before Sigismund, who had promised him safe passage and had shamefully gone back on his word. He was given one more chance to recant or face death, to which, fixing his eyes on the Emperor he replied: “I determined, of my own free will, to appear before this council, under the public protection and faith of the emperor here present.” All eyes turned to Sigismund as his betrayal of trust was revealed and historians note that the Emperor flushed crimson with rage. To find out more about Huss & Jerome read our extended article on their lives. https://lineagejourney.com/…/huss-jerome-catalysts-bohemia… Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ https://youtu.be/Jf5TKzgH6wo 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com Burned for their faith, Huss and Jerome approached the stake as if they were attending a wedding not a martyrdom. As the flames encircled their bodies they sang hymns, and The legacy of their faithful and heroic lives would prove to last much longer than their relatively short lives. https://youtu.be/0nup3vD8Zyg The Matyrdom of Huss
Huss was sentenced to death and once the sentencing was complete the Bishops of the Roman Church began his ceremony of degradation. They first dressed him in the robes of a priest and asked him one last time if he would recant, to which he responded “How should I look on those multitudes of men to whom I have preached the pure gospel? No; I esteem their salvation more than this poor body, now appointed unto death.” Then the bishops began to remove his papal priestly robes, each pronouncing a curse on Huss as he performed his part in the ceremony. Finally, they put a dunce cap made of paper on his head on which they had painted the faces of demons and inscribed the word “arch-heretic” conspicuously on the front. Once they had done this they pronounced their final sentence on him saying “Now we devote thy soul to the devil” to which Huss replied, “And I do commit my spirit into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus, for Thou hast redeemed me.” He was then handed over to the secular authorities and led away to be burned. Three times they relit the fire in order to make sure that his body was burned to ashes and when it was done they dug up his ashes along with the soil underneath and scattered it in the Rhine river. Trial and Martyrdom of Jerome Meanwhile, in Prague, Jerome had received news of Huss’s trial and left Prague for Konstanz in the hopes of offering Huss his help. Upon arrival, he found there was little that he could do on behalf of Huss and as he turned back toward Prague. However, as he was returning to Prague he was arrested and imprisoned in Konstanz. The martyrdom of Huss had led to an outcry among the people, largely due to the fact that he had been sacrificed in violation of an imperial safe conduct. To martyr Jerome in the midst of this was not advisable and he was kept imprisoned, for a year. He might as well have been relegated to the belly of hell and when he was summoned to appear before the council a year later, pale, emaciated, plagued with doubt and riddled with illness his fortitude gave way leading him to recant. Instead of releasing him they sent him back to prison where the magnitude of his recantation hit him with full force. He was overcome with grief for having denied Jesus and repenting, he resolved to stand his ground. When at last they summoned him before the council again he boldly declared that he could not recant and chose a martyr’s death. A year later Jerome was brought to the same spot where Huss was martyred and as his executioner prepared to set the fire behind him he requested the fire be lit before his face, stating that if he had been afraid to die, he would not have been standing there. Both Huss and Jerome died with the kind of peaceful dignity that was a testament to the quality of their faith in Jesus and the depth of their assurance in what he offered them beyond the grave. They knew the best was yet to come. Speaking of their deaths an eyewitness had this to say “ Both bore themselves with the constant mind when their last hour approached. They prepared for the fire as if they were going to a marriage feast. They uttered no cry of pain. When the flames rose, they began to sing hymns; and scarce could the vehemency of the fire stop their singing” The story of the reformers of Bohemia is a testament to the power of conviction and its influence on the human mind. Both Huss and Jerome were willing to sacrifice their lives because they could not go against what they believed to be true. When the final step before them was death, they were able to walk on unafraid because they had walked forward in unquestioning obedience to God at each prior step. Faith is never a leap, we are never called to make great strides but to take small steps and if we are faithful to submit ourselves to the step that is before us we may have the assurance that he will carry us through each unknown step ahead. To find out more about Huss & Jerome read our extended article on their lives. https://lineagejourney.com/…/huss-jerome-catalysts-bohemia…/ Find more episodes season 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist… Find episodes for season 2 here: https://lineagejourney.com/episodes-season-2/ https://youtu.be/0nup3vD8Zyg 3AngelsMessages.weebly.com |
Welcome to our blog!Archives
May 2024
Categories |