Now we shall take a look into history. 482 years ago, November 19^th, 1523, was the last time a German was elected as pope, namely Pope Clemens VII. It was at the time of the Reformation. On October 31^st, 1517, the German monk Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses unto the church door in Wittenberg. Whoever makes the effort to read the statements carefully will come to the conclusion that he hit the nail on the head every time. In 1518 Martin Luther refused to withdraw his statements, in 1520 he published his main articles of the Reformation. On January 3^rd, 1521, he was banned by the pope. In 1522 the New Testament translated by Martin Luther was published. At the same time the Swiss theologian Huldrych Zwingli published his writings about the Reformation in their entirety.

The breakthrough of the Reformation had the effect that Germany, Europe, and the Christian world were split into two different Christian camps. The Catholic Church, non-reformable, remained in power, the Protestant churches prepared the way for the subsequent revivals, which are still continuing until now, mainly in all the non-denominational churches. Sadly, the Protestant churches which came out from the Catholic Church have taken the main unscriptural doctrines about the Trinity and the triune baptism with them. Only now, after the last Pentecostal revival, the breakthrough into the original state of the first Church is taking place. For this purpose the ministry of William Branham, which was supernaturally confirmed by God, was used in a mighty way.

Now we shall skip a few centuries and come to the political division between East and West. It was after World War II that Germany and the European continent and the world were divided. Those who still remain of the war generation have felt the pain and the effect of the division. Then we also experienced the end of the political division, when on November 9^th, 1989, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was re-opened. Before this happened, there were demonstrations held by Lech Walesa’s Catholic labour union Solidarnosc at the shipyard in Gdansk, Poland. According to the article by Bernhard Eibisberger in the magazine “Wirtschaftsnachrichten 1/2005”, the Vatican supported it with millions of dollars. The Protestant churches in East Germany contributed their part with the so-called “Monday demonstrations” in the larger cities, which finally led to success.

Now we are experiencing how after the political division the religious division is also being overcome. All know that it was Pope John Paul II who, as they say, was “led by providence” to bring down world communism and, as Lech Walesa said, “to knock out the teeth of the Russian bear”. Pope Benedict XVI does not need to do much, for all the daughter churches are ready to return into the lap of the mother church. Likewise all the other world religions not only look towards Rome, but they come and wish to be integrated into the world family, in which all cultures and religions must find their place. Now the religious division is being overcome just like the political division. No one recalls that Pope Benedict XV as recently as the year 1915 declared the protestant pulpits to be “plague-boils”. Now there is unity in multiplicity and multiplicity in unity.

A German was the main reformer through whom the free proclamation was brought to the people and the Word of God was placed back into the hearts and hands of mankind. Now it is once again a German who is inviting all the churches that came forth since the Reformation back into the Church of Rome. As he stated at the inauguration on April 24^th, there shall be “one shepherd and one flock”. However, there are people whose conscience urges them to ask for an investigation committee. As long as we have the freedom of speech, we must be allowed to ask if the course of church history is one of biblical developments, or if the 3^rd century marked the establishment of a completely unscriptural tradition which subsequently took its course. Sharp tongues ask again if those dressed in scarlet are indeed the representatives of the mother church, which is spoken of as “Great Babylon” (Rev. 17:1-6). However, she is not the mother of sons and daughters of God, but rather the mother of daughter churches.

Where today can we find those who sincerely ask, as Pilate did, “What is truth?” and who are ready to hear the One who wore the crown of thorns, despised by the religious world, Who said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (Jn. 18:37)? Back then Jesus was flagellated, he was beaten, scorned, dressed in scarlet and was given the crown of thorns. All those dressed in scarlet in Rome were crowned in dignity. The burning question is, “What is truth?” — not religious truth, not church truth, not Jewish truth, not Christian truth, but rather the only truth that exists — the Word of God which remains for ever. We must search with an honest heart to find the only way that leads to eternal life. For this we need the one road map which shows us the only scriptural way. As the saying goes, “Many ways lead to Rome, but only one leads the way out!” The fact of the matter really is to be or not to be, to have eternal life or not. What is truth? What is deception? There is only One Who could say of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). This statement of our Lord is contrary to the assertion, “Only those who have the church as mother can have God as Father.”

In no way shall the dignity of the pope, the Catholic Church, or any other church and religion be touched. This is, however, a very serious matter, and we must look into the Holy Scripture to get the answers on every subject which is in connection to the Church of Jesus Christ. We also must take a good look into church history.

The world is divided into twelve main religions. Their representatives obeyed the call of Pope John Paul II on January 24^th, 2002, beckoning them to the pilgrimage place of Assisi in Italy. The six best-known of those religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Then there are the various nature and tribal religions. The dignity of mankind, regardless of race, colour, and religion must remain untouched. Every one is free to decide for oneself. It is also understandable that all the people on earth are sure of themselves, their religion, and their view of the world. But that does not provide anyone with real assurance that they are indeed right. We have to take a good look at this whole matter from above. Only that which originates with God brings us back to Him. In my monthly travels during more than 40 years of missionary work I have repeatedly made missionary trips to over 130 countries, and therefore have come to know the religions at first hand.

Every religion is void of the finality, of the true absolute which carries the seal of God. We all need something that is beyond any shadow of doubt and even beyond our human comprehension, something confirmed by God. The numerous religions have adopted various ways of temporarily servicing the soul. Reference might be made to the hereafter and some even speak about paradise. But upon closer examination we realise they are only applicable to this passing life. At the same time they are the actual obstacle standing between God and humanity. Any philosophy or view that stirs hope for an afterlife, without giving us the direct connection to the Eternal One, will lead to grave disappointment. We always reach the point where our final questions are not being answered. The true destiny of those who have passed on remains veiled. Only the One Who died and rose from the dead can give us the one true answer. He taught the apostles after His resurrection during the forty days before His ascension to heaven and they became His true witnesses. Everything that is temporal — no matter how religious it is — has its limits. The access to eternity was not automatically given unto us when we entered this world. Before we can deal with the main subject about God and eternal life, we must first recognise how the Eternal One stepped into the realm of time.

In this exposition we cannot go into detail with the many religions and the statutes of their beliefs. We also cannot concern ourselves with the statements that the philosophers of this world left behind. What advantage could a human being possibly gain, for instance, from the belief that through meditation he will be re-incarnated in various life forms, undergo a process of purification, with the goal of eventually reaching nirvana, which means he ceases to exist? Of what use is the theory of evolution, when it bypasses the reality of creation? Thinking men who look past the realm of time are only interested in proven facts which are beyond human explanation. All have to admit that the majestic creation is a living reality in which we all exist. Even life itself and the inevitable death are facts. They are things which do not need our assessment, for they are final within themselves. What we should know is that human beings have a conscious inner life, a soul, and are destined to be in fellowship with their Creator. The first humans were cut off from that divine fellowship with God through unbelief and transgression. Then God Himself redeemed us through the work of redemption by Jesus Christ and reconciled us with Himself (2. Cor. 5:28). At this point every religion and philosophy comes to an end, the spirits are separated and living faith in the living God sets in.

This brief exposition is addressed to all mankind of good will on earth. The God of heaven can only have one eternal plan. He wishes to show it to all men in all religions and cultures. He is a personal God Who desires to be in fellowship with us, ever since the beginning of time. The fact is that only those who have received eternal life can live eternally. There is only one book on earth that is rightfully called “the Holy Scripture” and the Word of God, only one that sheds light on all the important questions, and that is the Bible. In finality, there is only One that is Holy, and that is God and all which originates with Him. Only the Bible testifies about Him Who is from eternity to eternity, and He only testifies of Himself in His Own Word.

God’s original Word is not found in any other book on earth, whether it is the Babylonian or the Jerusalem Talmud or the many other Jewish books. Therein we find the interpretations given by Rabbis of what is written in the Thora — the five books of Moses. Within the 114 suras of the Koran — God, be merciful — one searches in vain for any correspondence with the Bible. Mohammed could not read, he only recited by memory from the Old and the New Testament, but unfortunately not once exactly the way it is written in the Holy Scripture. Surely, thereupon no man on earth can rely. The word “Allah” is not found a single time in the Bible, but the Word “Elohim” over six thousand times. In Islamic countries the Hebrew word “Elohim” was replaced in the Bible with the word “Allah”.

In the Holy Scripture God has foretold all things and He fulfils them in the course of time. The Old Testament, ending with the Prophet Malachi, is complete in itself, as is the New Testament with the last book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Together the two Testaments are one perfect harmony, wherein nothing needs to be changed, added, or taken away. In the last chapter of the Bible God Himself pronounced judgement upon those who would dare to do so. When someone makes his debut six hundred years later, claiming to have received direct revelations from the Archangel Gabriel, which actually have nothing in common with the Word of God, then one must take the following warning to heart, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8). Who could possibly add anything to what the prophets of God and the apostles of Jesus Christ left unto us? They have announced the entire plan of redemption and have shown the same in its realisation right to the very completion. What man would dare to correct God Himself?

Through the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour we have the proof that He was not only a man, but the Lord Himself Who conquered death, which had come upon the entire human race. We need to for ever respect the fact that after the resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to His Own, as recorded in Lk. 24:44-45, showing the fulfilment of all the things written of Him in the laws of Moses, in the Psalms, and in the prophets. In Him and through Him we have the proven divine legitimation that all things which God had foretold in the Old Testament concerning the Saviour were accomplished. Likewise, since the foundation of the New Testament Church all things God promised unto His Own have been coming to fulfilment. The same now applies to the end-time. All events predicted to take place before the Return of Christ and before time merges into eternity are being fulfilled. Only when we have promises in God’s Word can we look for their fulfilment. The resurrected Lord gave His disciples the understanding of all the Scriptures back then, and He still does the same today.

There is no need and no promise for revelations that go beyond the Scriptures. Redemption had taken place. The New Testament Church was brought to life in a supernatural way by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The life of Christ entered into all believers, the different ministries and gifts were present in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was no need for the establishment of a “state church” in the Roman Empire, as it happened in the 4^th century. That was a political decision. It was also not necessary to introduce the religion of Islam in the 7^th century. That was a political decision as well. First the Jews, then the Christians, and then also the Arabs, all of whom refer to Abraham, obviously missed the connection to God’s work of grace according to His plan of Salvation. There was no need to arrange any of the councils, no need for new doctrines and dogmas. Each time a new creed or dogma was proclaimed, the Word of God was set aside (Mk. 7:9). God had already spoken and ordained all things. Every teaching, every practice for the New Testament Church was already revealed and in place. The New Testament had long since been completed. There was no need to force the Islamic religion upon the people. Nothing that is man-made has any connection whatsoever to the Will of God. He is only bound to what He promised in His Word. All things in the Kingdom of God must and will only happen according to the declared Will of God.

Now we shall take a look into history. 482 years ago, November 19th, 1523, was the last time a German was elected as pope, namely Pope Clemens VII. It was at the time of the Reformation. On October 31st, 1517, the German monk Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses unto the church door in Wittenberg. Whoever makes the effort to read the statements carefully will come to the conclusion that he hit the nail on the head every time. In 1518 Martin Luther refused to withdraw his statements, in 1520 he published his main articles of the Reformation. On January 3rd, 1521, he was banned by the pope. In 1522 the New Testament translated by Martin Luther was published. At the same time the Swiss theologian Huldrych Zwingli published his writings about the Reformation in their entirety.

The breakthrough of the Reformation had the effect that Germany, Europe, and the Christian world were split into two different Christian camps. The Catholic Church, non-reformable, remained in power, the Protestant churches prepared the way for the subsequent revivals, which are still continuing until now, mainly in all the non-denominational churches. Sadly, the Protestant churches which came out from the Catholic Church have taken the main unscriptural doctrines about the Trinity and the triune baptism with them. Only now, after the last Pentecostal revival, the breakthrough into the original state of the first Church is taking place. For this purpose the ministry of William Branham, which was supernaturally confirmed by God, was used in a mighty way.

Now we shall skip a few centuries and come to the political division between East and West. It was after World War II that Germany and the European continent and the world were divided. Those who still remain of the war generation have felt the pain and the effect of the division. Then we also experienced the end of the political division, when on November 9th, 1989, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was re-opened. Before this happened, there were demonstrations held by Lech Walesa’s Catholic labour union Solidarnosc at the shipyard in Gdansk, Poland. According to the article by Bernhard Eibisberger in the magazine “Wirtschaftsnachrichten 1/2005”, the Vatican supported it with millions of dollars. The Protestant churches in East Germany contributed their part with the so-called “Monday demonstrations” in the larger cities, which finally led to success.

Now we are experiencing how after the political division the religious division is also being overcome. All know that it was Pope John Paul II who, as they say, was “led by providence” to bring down world communism and, as Lech Walesa said, “to knock out the teeth of the Russian bear”. Pope Benedict XVI does not need to do much, for all the daughter churches are ready to return into the lap of the mother church. Likewise all the other world religions not only look towards Rome, but they come and wish to be integrated into the world family, in which all cultures and religions must find their place. Now the religious division is being overcome just like the political division. No one recalls that Pope Benedict XV as recently as the year 1915 declared the protestant pulpits to be “plague-boils”. Now there is unity in multiplicity and multiplicity in unity.

A German was the main reformer through whom the free proclamation was brought to the people and the Word of God was placed back into the hearts and hands of mankind. Now it is once again a German who is inviting all the churches that came forth since the Reformation back into the Church of Rome. As he stated at the inauguration on April 24th, there shall be “one shepherd and one flock”. However, there are people whose conscience urges them to ask for an investigation committee. As long as we have the freedom of speech, we must be allowed to ask if the course of church history is one of biblical developments, or if the 3rd century marked the establishment of a completely unscriptural tradition which subsequently took its course. Sharp tongues ask again if those dressed in scarlet are indeed the representatives of the mother church, which is spoken of as “Great Babylon” (Rev. 17:1-6). However, she is not the mother of sons and daughters of God, but rather the mother of daughter churches.

Where today can we find those who sincerely ask, as Pilate did, “What is truth?” and who are ready to hear the One who wore the crown of thorns, despised by the religious world, Who said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (Jn. 18:37)? Back then Jesus was flagellated, he was beaten, scorned, dressed in scarlet and was given the crown of thorns. All those dressed in scarlet in Rome were crowned in dignity. The burning question is, “What is truth?” — not religious truth, not church truth, not Jewish truth, not Christian truth, but rather the only truth that exists — the Word of God which remains for ever. We must search with an honest heart to find the only way that leads to eternal life. For this we need the one road map which shows us the only scriptural way. As the saying goes, “Many ways lead to Rome, but only one leads the way out!” The fact of the matter really is to be or not to be, to have eternal life or not. What is truth? What is deception? There is only One Who could say of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). This statement of our Lord is contrary to the assertion, “Only those who have the church as mother can have God as Father.”

In no way shall the dignity of the pope, the Catholic Church, or any other church and religion be touched. This is, however, a very serious matter, and we must look into the Holy Scripture to get the answers on every subject which is in connection to the Church of Jesus Christ. We also must take a good look into church history.

The world is divided into twelve main religions. Their representatives obeyed the call of Pope John Paul II on January 24th, 2002, beckoning them to the pilgrimage place of Assisi in Italy. The six best-known of those religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Then there are the various nature and tribal religions. The dignity of mankind, regardless of race, colour, and religion must remain untouched. Every one is free to decide for oneself. It is also understandable that all the people on earth are sure of themselves, their religion, and their view of the world. But that does not provide anyone with real assurance that they are indeed right. We have to take a good look at this whole matter from above. Only that which originates with God brings us back to Him. In my monthly travels during more than 40 years of missionary work I have repeatedly made missionary trips to over 130 countries, and therefore have come to know the religions at first hand.

Every religion is void of the finality, of the true absolute which carries the seal of God. We all need something that is beyond any shadow of doubt and even beyond our human comprehension, something confirmed by God. The numerous religions have adopted various ways of temporarily servicing the soul. Reference might be made to the hereafter and some even speak about paradise. But upon closer examination we realise they are only applicable to this passing life. At the same time they are the actual obstacle standing between God and humanity. Any philosophy or view that stirs hope for an afterlife, without giving us the direct connection to the Eternal One, will lead to grave disappointment. We always reach the point where our final questions are not being answered. The true destiny of those who have passed on remains veiled. Only the One Who died and rose from the dead can give us the one true answer. He taught the apostles after His resurrection during the forty days before His ascension to heaven and they became His true witnesses. Everything that is temporal — no matter how religious it is — has its limits. The access to eternity was not automatically given unto us when we entered this world. Before we can deal with the main subject about God and eternal life, we must first recognise how the Eternal One stepped into the realm of time.

In this exposition we cannot go into detail with the many religions and the statutes of their beliefs. We also cannot concern ourselves with the statements that the philosophers of this world left behind. What advantage could a human being possibly gain, for instance, from the belief that through meditation he will be re-incarnated in various life forms, undergo a process of purification, with the goal of eventually reaching nirvana, which means he ceases to exist? Of what use is the theory of evolution, when it bypasses the reality of creation? Thinking men who look past the realm of time are only interested in proven facts which are beyond human explanation. All have to admit that the majestic creation is a living reality in which we all exist. Even life itself and the inevitable death are facts. They are things which do not need our assessment, for they are final within themselves. What we should know is that human beings have a conscious inner life, a soul, and are destined to be in fellowship with their Creator. The first humans were cut off from that divine fellowship with God through unbelief and transgression. Then God Himself redeemed us through the work of redemption by Jesus Christ and reconciled us with Himself (2. Cor. 5:28). At this point every religion and philosophy comes to an end, the spirits are separated and living faith in the living God sets in.

This brief exposition is addressed to all mankind of good will on earth. The God of heaven can only have one eternal plan. He wishes to show it to all men in all religions and cultures. He is a personal God Who desires to be in fellowship with us, ever since the beginning of time. The fact is that only those who have received eternal life can live eternally. There is only one book on earth that is rightfully called “the Holy Scripture” and the Word of God, only one that sheds light on all the important questions, and that is the Bible. In finality, there is only One that is Holy, and that is God and all which originates with Him. Only the Bible testifies about Him Who is from eternity to eternity, and He only testifies of Himself in His Own Word.

God’s original Word is not found in any other book on earth, whether it is the Babylonian or the Jerusalem Talmud or the many other Jewish books. Therein we find the interpretations given by Rabbis of what is written in the Thora — the five books of Moses. Within the 114 suras of the Koran — God, be merciful — one searches in vain for any correspondence with the Bible. Mohammed could not read, he only recited by memory from the Old and the New Testament, but unfortunately not once exactly the way it is written in the Holy Scripture. Surely, thereupon no man on earth can rely. The word “Allah” is not found a single time in the Bible, but the Word “Elohim” over six thousand times. In Islamic countries the Hebrew word “Elohim” was replaced in the Bible with the word “Allah”.

In the Holy Scripture God has foretold all things and He fulfils them in the course of time. The Old Testament, ending with the Prophet Malachi, is complete in itself, as is the New Testament with the last book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Together the two Testaments are one perfect harmony, wherein nothing needs to be changed, added, or taken away. In the last chapter of the Bible God Himself pronounced judgement upon those who would dare to do so. When someone makes his debut six hundred years later, claiming to have received direct revelations from the Archangel Gabriel, which actually have nothing in common with the Word of God, then one must take the following warning to heart, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8). Who could possibly add anything to what the prophets of God and the apostles of Jesus Christ left unto us? They have announced the entire plan of redemption and have shown the same in its realisation right to the very completion. What man would dare to correct God Himself?

Through the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour we have the proof that He was not only a man, but the Lord Himself Who conquered death, which had come upon the entire human race. We need to for ever respect the fact that after the resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to His Own, as recorded in Lk. 24:44-45, showing the fulfilment of all the things written of Him in the laws of Moses, in the Psalms, and in the prophets. In Him and through Him we have the proven divine legitimation that all things which God had foretold in the Old Testament concerning the Saviour were accomplished. Likewise, since the foundation of the New Testament Church all things God promised unto His Own have been coming to fulfilment. The same now applies to the end-time. All events predicted to take place before the Return of Christ and before time merges into eternity are being fulfilled. Only when we have promises in God’s Word can we look for their fulfilment. The resurrected Lord gave His disciples the understanding of all the Scriptures back then, and He still does the same today.

There is no need and no promise for revelations that go beyond the Scriptures. Redemption had taken place. The New Testament Church was brought to life in a supernatural way by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The life of Christ entered into all believers, the different ministries and gifts were present in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was no need for the establishment of a “state church” in the Roman Empire, as it happened in the 4th century. That was a political decision. It was also not necessary to introduce the religion of Islam in the 7th century. That was a political decision as well. First the Jews, then the Christians, and then also the Arabs, all of whom refer to Abraham, obviously missed the connection to God’s work of grace according to His plan of Salvation. There was no need to arrange any of the councils, no need for new doctrines and dogmas. Each time a new creed or dogma was proclaimed, the Word of God was set aside (Mk. 7:9). God had already spoken and ordained all things. Every teaching, every practice for the New Testament Church was already revealed and in place. The New Testament had long since been completed. There was no need to force the Islamic religion upon the people. Nothing that is man-made has any connection whatsoever to the Will of God. He is only bound to what He promised in His Word. All things in the Kingdom of God must and will only happen according to the declared Will of God.