Shortly before the outbreak of the Reformation the historical development of the church reached its zenith. The exercise of combined power of the state and the church in that period of time is unimaginable. Those who thought and believed differently were accused of heresy, condemned as heretics, and deprived of life in every conceivable manner. Here may be mentioned only the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th Century, as well as the witch trials, and the associated burnings. We do not wish to go into the many human failings here. We are only desirous of pointing to the stage of spiritual development to which a degenerated Christianity arrived in the course of time.

This earth was saturated with much blood. One of the best-known martyrs before the outbreak of the Reformation was Jan Hus (martyred 1415). His voice was heard for the last time at the Council of Constance, but was however shouted down without being able to straighten out anything. Kneeling with his eyes raised heavenwards, he listened quietly while he heard his doom pronounced. Then he cried, “Lord Jesus, I implore Thee for the sake of Thy mercy: Forgive all my enemies.” The fathers of the Council laughed, and he was led away to the stake to be burnt.

But the Reformation, which introduced a turning-point in the history of the church, could no longer be stemmed. The truth of the Gospel blazed a trail with power. Martin Luther and others stood up against the abuses which were approved of and even supported by the church. The well known dealer in indulgences, Tetzel, belonged to those who blasphemed God in words and deeds, in that he preached that the Pope had the absolute right to forgive the sins of the living and the dead, and that the absolution of the Pope was just as effective as the cross of Christ. Among other things he also maintained that the Pope for the price of an indulgence could even forgive the sins of anyone who had raped the mother of God. In simple words it meant: everyone could commit the worst crimes and the Pope would forgive everything and grant an indulgence, provided the money was heard to drop in the box.

Church history records the following: “Luther heard of the dreadful items which the shameless monk preached, that the power of the sale of indulgences was as effective as the cross of Christ, that he had a commission from the Apostle Peter, and that by means of his indulgences he had saved more souls than Peter had with his sermons.” And “what Luther perceived concerning the practical consequences of the preaching of indulgences gave the impulse to the first reformatory act.” As had always been the case, on this occasion also God used men on earth for the honour and glorification of His Name. God sent men who are not only known in history and are of significance in the history of church, but who were also God’s servants through whom history was made in spreading the gospel of the Kingdom of God upon earth.

Such men were Martin Luther, Huldreich Zwingli, Philip Melanch­thon, John Calvin, John Knox and a great number of others who lived at that time. After centuries during which the Holy Scriptures were withheld from mankind, men began to read the Bible and translate it. First the Bible was printed and published in 14 languages; by about 1600 it was already available in forty, around 1800 seventy-two, and by 1900 five-hundred-and-sixty-seven languages. In 1950 the milestone of eleven-hundred languages and dialects was passed. In spite of all attempts to destroy it, God’s Book has enjoyed the largest number of editions and the most extensive distribution.

Through His Word God spoke afresh and allowed Biblical truth to become once more a reality in the personal life of faith of the individual. However, the believers did not stop there, but tried also to bring that which had become great and valuable closer to other men. The success which the reformers had, provoked the resistance of the established clergy, who at all costs wanted to hinder the spreading of the Word. The result of this was that the message that makes joyous and free encompassed still larger circles.

Seen from the standpoint of church history, each of the participating men had a definite task to fulfil. Looked at more closely, they comple­mented one another in the doctrines they especially emphasised. Stress was again on the Bible as the only criterion for the propagation of the Gospel. No one would dare today to denote the issues so clearly by name as Luther did. It is noteworthy how he laid bare the Antichrist. He did not concern himself with specious arguments, but appealed again and again to the Scriptures, in the degree in which they had been revealed to him. Thus, for example, he wrote of the end of the Babylonian captivity of the church and threw into sharp relief justification by faith, which the individual receives by the grace of God, in opposition to justification by works, which can give salvation to nobody.

Many are of the opinion today that the Reformation was only necessary because moral decay and external circumstances supplied the cause. Although this state of affairs existed, this viewpoint must be contradicted. With the Reformation it was not a matter of moral rearmament, but much rather that of a break-through to a spiritual regeneration. A new beginning was necessary. Spiritual tutelage had for ever to come to an end, and the day of grace, the day of salvation, had to be proclaimed afresh. Nevertheless all men were not ready to believe and to take their place on the side of God. But in spite of all a break-through was made and the unlimited universal power of the church broken.

Only few today still appear to remember or be conscious of what a price had to be paid for the free propagation of the Word of God. The bloody counter-reformation attempted in almost all European countries to smite the Reformation movement to the ground, which in part it also succeeded in doing. Especially well known are the persecutions of the Protestants in the Netherlands and of the Huguenots in France, in which on St. Bartholomew’s night in 1572 the blood of thousands of Protestants flowed in the streets of Paris.

At that time the Roman church exercised spiritual and worldly power simultaneously. Within the region of her domination every army stood at her disposal. Again and again these armies intervened in the spiritual dispute. Everywhere where the Reformation broke out particularly strongly and threatened to advance, a powerful army put in an appear­ance. When the spiritual struggle was fully underway in Switzerland, the army was also mobilised there. The Reformation had to be halted and forced to retreat. On the side of the citizens of Zurich, the people gathered about Zwingli in order to defend themselves against this attack. He himself marched in the foremost rank and said to them: “Commend yourselves to God, He can take care of us and our loved ones. Let God do as He pleases!” During the bitter fighting he was struck by a stone and wounded by a spear. He lay among the dead, folded his hands, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed. The captain of the Catholic army saw this, strode over to him and demanded of him to make confession. Zwingli declined to do this. With difficulty he succeeded in speaking out the words, “They can kill my body, but not my soul,” before he received the death-dealing thrust.

In Germany the Reformation appeared to be completely quashed by the counter-reformation. King Gustav Adolf of Sweden came with his army to the help of the Elector of Saxony on the Protestant side. On 17th September, 1632, a significant battle was won. Beforehand the King had prayed in the following words, “Almighty God, from whom victory and defeat come, show us, Thy servants, a gracious countenance who are come from distant countries in order to fight for freedom, truth and Thy Holy Gospel. Grant us victory for the sake of Thy Holy Name. Amen.” Two months later, on 16th November, 1632, he fell in battle on German soil.

Under no circumstances is it possible to approve of the introduction of worldly and military might for the defence or propagation of the Gospel. But for the sake of truth it must be said, that the Protestants in this situation were pressed into action. It would lead to too great lengths, if we were to go into the detail of many of the arguments during the counter-reformation, in the course of which thousands gave up their lives.

The founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius of Loyola, he who was mainly responsible for the counter-reformation, for this reason went down as a hero in the history of the Roman Catholic church. A more than life-size memorial has been erected to him in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, at whose feet a monster lies, on which are written the names “Luther” and “Calvin”. In this way is symbolically represented that he emerged as victor over the “monster of Protestantism”.

He was buried in the church “del Gesù” in Rome under an altar richly furnished with splendour and dedicated to him. A similar symbolism is found there. Marble figures in groups on both sides of his coffin represent the victorious Catholic faith and victorious religion, at whose feet lie books and heretics, on which likewise are found the two names “Luther” and “Calvin”. Those two memorials speak a clear language.

In Protestant circles today no one appears to give the matter any further thought; filled with the spirit of the times, most people just become immersed in the routine of the day. Everywhere one speaks of dialogue and longs for unification. However, what would all the martyrs and protagonists of the Reformation say to the modern surrender of the most sacred values of the Faith and of the Gospel? But, on the other hand, this development belongs to the final run of events at the end-time.

The Reformation was dearly paid for. Its sense and purpose can therefore not have been merely to leave us the well known state churches and community churches, which differ from country to country. Rather it established the foundation and point of departure for all further spiritual awakenings right up to the present time. If this powerful beginning had not then been made, the many free churches and Christian fellow­ships would not be able to exist at all today. It is a matter of progressive Reformation, whose objective is the restored church of Jesus Christ.

The eruption of the Reformation was an event of great historical significance in the propagation of the gospel. The Spirit of God brought light and life into the dead religious world. The Word was placed at the centre of all preaching. Since that time internationally well known personalities have to an extent emphasised different doctrines. If these are assembled together, they result once more in a harmonic whole.

To be sure, not all truths were suddenly preached at one and the same time. Also there were points of doctrine, such as those of the Trinity and the Trinitarian formula of baptism, both of which are not anchored in the testimony of the prophets and apostles, and which were not dealt with in the ‘official’ Reformation movement. In part, a weighty Roman inheritance was carried along into the Reformation, one which today still burdens all Protestant denominations and free churches.

In the second round John Wesley made his appearance, and with him a large number of fiery preachers of spiritual awakening. They empha­sised the second experience of a converted man. Just as justification by grace alone through faith in the complete redemptive work of Christ was originally emphasised in the Reformation, so did these men give pro­minence to the need for believers justified by faith to experience an inner dedication, a total sacrifice. The Bible denotes this experience as “sanctification”. True reverence towards God affected the believers to a greater and greater degree. There emerged from this period the Methodist churches and other religious orientations founded in a special way on the testimony of these Biblical truths, but which in other points of doctrine varied in their interpretations.

John Smith then followed, and consecrated evangelists appeared with him. Believer’s baptism was proclaimed without compromise. Only he or she who had made a personal decision for Christ and was prepared to follow the Lord was baptised by immersion. From this emerged the Baptist churches and likewise others which laid common stress on the baptism of believers, but again differed recognisably in other doctrines.

In the individual countries spiritual developments assumed different forms. In the Protestant areas the emphasis was generally laid on the personal experience of salvation and the related assurance of salvation. Alongside the generally known spiritual movements, smaller ones were always found which separated themselves from all those organised along religious lines and in turn laid emphasis on particular Biblical truths. We refer only to such movements which in spite of differing doctrines, linked salvation of the soul to the grace of God made manifest in Jesus Christ alone.

Where so-called special revelations are proclaimed on which salvation is made dependent, we are no longer dealing with the continuation of Biblical renewal. All the sects of recent times are an excellent example of this. Redemption is dependent on the Redeemer alone; salvation only from the One Who brought it and paid for it with His own blood, for­giveness solely from the One that granted it: but not from a self-proclaimed guru or leader.

Again and again men of God endued with divine power appeared on the scene who proclaimed anew the old Biblical truths and thereby approached the witness of the Apostles more closely. Early in the present century a general revival came. What until then individuals had expe­rienced, now became an experience of believers throughout the whole world. All who hungered and thirsted for righteousness were given spiritual food and drink. Everywhere the Spirit of God was active in a manner like that in the early church. Baptism with the Holy Spirit was now experienced as previously had been justification and sanctification. The initial supernatural visitation at Azusa Street in Los Angeles and the Welsh revival are well known. This movement, which suddenly sprung up, had no founders. God Himself was working in all continents. Similar testimonies were to be heard in Russia and China, in America and Europe, in Asia and Africa, as far as the uttermost part of the earth. Anointed men of God were produced in this move of God, especially among the Anglo-American ministers.

In August 1906 Dr. R. A. Torrey visited Germany and preached at the annual conference of the Evangelical Alliance on the subject of “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Many were most deeply stirred, among them Lieutenant-General von Viehbahn. In 1907 the leading brothers of the movement within the church gathered for their conference week. The immediate theme was: “Did the first Christian church grieve the Holy Spirit?” After lengthy discussion Pastor Stockmeier stood up and cried out like a prophet, “Brethren, we are arguing about whether the first Christian world grieved the Holy Spirit or not. I now address the far more important question to all who are gathered here: Have we grieved the Holy Spirit?” That struck like a thunder-bolt. Many knelt down and humbled themselves before God.

Throughout the world many experienced a gracious visitation from God. During the days of each revival the message preached at the time went around the globe. The development of this school of belief which was denoted as Pentecostal, differed from one place to another. Where Baptist preachers were gripped by the Spirit of God, only believers were baptised, which is understandable. Where Lutheran ministers were seized by the Spirit, the familiar sprinkling of infants continued. There was as yet no clear break-through to the original Christianity, but a start had nevertheless been made. Various unscriptural doctrines were still introduced without testing them by the Word, and have continued until the present time.

After the second World War, in May 1946, the one-time Baptist preacher William Branham started with his unique ministry because of a mighty supernatural visitation. Like Paul he had received an extra­ordinary calling into service. Much earlier, after his first evangelising, he proceeded to the Ohio River, accompanied by about four-thousand people, for the purpose of baptising several hundred converts. While he was about to baptise the seventeenth person, an extraordinary event occurred. A bright light came through the brassy skies and was seen by all present to descend and hover over this young man of God. Out of the supernatural pillar of light a mighty voice was heard to speak, “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, you are sent with a message that shall forerun His second coming!” That took place about 2 o’clock in the afternoon of 11th June, 1933. The writer has met eyewitness of that event at the eastern conference in Jeffersonville itself in April 1966. Such a powerful send-off must of necessity be followed by an unusual ministry. There was a man sent from God with a message of God to the people of God. An incomparable visitation, foreordained since the foundation of the world, was granted to this generation. “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isa. 53: 1). In this case one can speak of a commission of historical significance in God’s plan for mankind.

The second World War involved some fifty nations and demanded the sacrifice of more than 50 million lives, as well as bringing untold misery to millions of displaced people and leaving ruins and suffering when it was ended. In 1946 no one had yet heard of Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, or any of the evangelists who later became world famous. The mentioned divinely empowered apostolic ministry was an inspiration for hundreds of preachers. It spearheaded this last revival. Although none of them received a direct calling and commissioning like his, they nevertheless contributed their part in proclaiming the Gospel to this generation. Literally millions were reached by means of evangelistic campaigns and over the radio and television.

The decisive break-through occurred during the period 1946-1949. The masses were attracted by this original proclamation. Since the days of our Lord and the apostles a divine vindication is not recorded in church history. The Full Gospel churches opened their doors and received a great inflow of converts. Soon the numbers attending meetings exceeded 10,000. Large halls, sports stadiums and racing tracks were used to accommodate them. The masses streamed together; in Bombay, India, and Durban, South Africa; the crowds reached several hundred thousands. As though caught in a flood wave, evangelists began with their own campaigns since the early 1950’s. In this age of technical advance the spiritual awakening spread as never before. The most varied currents flowed from this. Evangelistic associations, such as the International Full-Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship and the charismatic movement trace their origins directly or indirectly to this time. Each of the spiritual movements has its own stamp and reaches a particular class of followers. The charismatic movement has penetrated into the Roman Catholic Church as into all denominations and free churches.

In every case it is now the working of the Spirit that grips the whole religious world. At the end the original Word must come into the true members of the Body of Christ, bringing forth the same results as recorded at the beginning. Experiences are good and gifts of the Spirit can be a blessing, but only where the Word is preached in truth and is received as a divine Seed can the Spirit of God bring forth genuine new life. The Word is the Seed.

The Spirit falls upon all flesh in accordance with the promise in the prophet Joel. It can be compared with the rain. But even a cloudburst is of no use if the seed of the Word has not previously been sown in the heart. At the most, the people will be made wet without anything lasting being brought forth. Everything hangs upon this point. In the beginning was the Word, not the interpretation, and so must it be in the end. It depends upon whether men accept the pure Word of God as divine seed in their souls. Only then can the Holy Spirit bring forth divine Life. Only thus can a man be born again (Jn. 3; Jas. 1: 18; 1 Pet. 1: 23). The natural types the spiritual. The rain does not produce the seed. The sowing of the seed comes first, then the rain and the sun play their God-ordained part.

The best example we can find is shown us at the beginning of the New Testament. For four-thousand long years men had been waiting for the Messiah to appear. When the time was fulfilled, the Word of promise was sent to Mary. She accepted it, believed, and the Holy Ghost overshadowed her. Thus was the Word made flesh in the form of a man. In like manner we also must accept God’s Word of promise intended for us. Only then can the Holy Spirit bring it to a reality in us. In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord said, “For he (God) maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mt. 5: 45). Wheat and weeds grow in the same field. Both receive the same rain and the same sunshine. The same rain waters the different seeds. Reference is also made to this thought in Hebrews 6: 7-8. Each seed brings forth after its own kind.

Reliance on the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit alone does not suffice for entrance into the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 7: 21-23 the Lord rejects many who have operated mighty gifts, saying, “I never knew you.” Both, the Word and the Spirit, belong together. Now the Word-Seed must be sown and brought to life in all of God’s children by the Spirit. Only thus can a Biblical church come into existence which is ready to allow itself to be led into all truth by the Spirit of God. First the teaching must go forth and the Word-Seed be sown in the heart. Only after that can the harvest be gathered in.

We have exposed what deviations have occurred in the course of church history, and also proved that since the Reformation spiritual development is leading back to the original Christianity. However, compromises are again being made everywhere. Everyone believes what he wants to, and does not accept what he does not want to. At the same time many witness joyously of having received the Holy Ghost. We are still in confusion as to what is right. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth and will never identify Himself with the errors that have been adopted by men. A total return to the original Word is necessary. It must first be discovered in what way the development has taken a wrong turning, so that a correction in course can be undertaken accordingly. Now the whole religious world finds itself in the hour of decision. Who is for Christ — the Word, and who for the Antichrist — the interpretation? Some will return into the lap of the old church, while others will experience the fulfilment of the promises of the Word as a little, called-out flock which will receive the kingdom (Lk. 12: 32).

All who represent in their proclamation a traditionally handed-down manner of thinking that stems from the Roman church will return to her again. Precisely considered, the spiritual link has never been completely severed since the time of the Reformation. There were only individuals who followed the call of God, who consistently accepted the Biblical truths and rejected the unbiblical errors. As we shall see, in spite of the independent stance of the Protestant churches, doctrines have remained which are not in agreement with the Bible.

Also remarkable is what is to be denoted as the striving for unity and peace since the second World War. Historical enemies have become friends. On the one hand we have the political union, the United Nations — whose founding charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco on 24th October, 1945 — and on the other there is the World Council of Churches, founded in Amsterdam in 1948. Almost all nations, today 150 in number, belong to the “United Nations”, and the majority of Christian churches have joined the World Council of Churches. Our attention is focused on the religious development. In 1948 135 Protestant deno­minations joined the World Council of Churches; by 1968 it was already 234, and today it is 310. Originally the World Council of Churches, which is of course a Protestant association, was not recognised by the Vatican. In 1960 Pope John XXIII established in Rome the “Secretariat for Christian Unity”. In the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965, the decretal concerning Ecumenicity was published. The first official contact took place at the conference of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden, in July 1968, when 15 delegates of the Vatican participated as observers. In June 1969 Pope Paul VI then visited the headquarters of the World Council of Churches in Geneva. In 1984 Pope John-Paul II travelled through Switzerland; he also paid a visit to the World Council of Churches.

It surely has struck some, that for a long time the Protestants have ceased to protest. Who today desires a spiritual altercation? Even the free churches, which fifty, forty or thirty years ago were in part viewed with disfavour, enjoy in the meantime general recognition. Most are corporate bodies according to public law, and their representatives sit at the green table. What is still missing? The word “unity” has received a magic meaning; the word “peace” is everywhere written large; the concept “safety” is the wish of all. Thus are minds soothed.

Martin Luther would doubtless say the same today as then, “Cursed is the unity which comes into existence at the cost of Truth!” Whoever is at one with Christ is at one with His Word. Whoever agrees with the antichrist unites with him. One need only to think of the words of the Lord, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” The moment of truth has come, and everyone is forced to make a decision. The broad masses, without knowing it, will greet the coming antichrist with shouts of joy. Only a little flock of true believers will hold to Christ and His Word. The cry is going forth, to come out of Babylon and its religious confusion and be separate. The Christian unions will not take this cry seriously, only all those within them who are enlightened by the Spirit of God.

In the Christian West is of course much that is Christian. We are a Christian society, have Christian political parties, Christian trade unions, Christian clubs, and so on, and are provided with a rich in tradition Christian culture. It must only be asked whether Christ is not confused with the antichrist, and God with the devil. “Anti” means “against”; whatever is contrary to Christ and His doctrine is antichristian. Who is still able to differentiate between divine worship and idolatry? and between faith and superstition?

Those who are consecrated to the Word of God listen attentively for the catchwords “peace and safety”, for they know that it is written, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape!” (1 Thess. 5: 3). All fits exactly with the aforesaid run of events pertaining to the End Time. The politicians are also aware how far the time has advanced. Thus for example, on 20th January, 1985, the President of the United States said, “I fear that we shall soon experience Armageddon.” By this was meant the final great battle (Rev. 16: 12-16). A short time previously a prominent Senator had expressed himself in the following terms, “We are the first generation that knows this is the last.” All who have a role to play are now entering upon the world stage. Somehow, there is a general expectation of a global tragedy to strike soon: time is running out.

This generation will at its end experience the great “Miracle” — a surprise such as never was, nor will ever occur again. Political, financial and religious power will for a short time be placed at the disposal of the world ruler, the Antichrist. East and West will make avail of the services of a mediator, who will then give his blessing to the achieved deceptive peace treaty. The last world power will be acted out mainly from a united Europe based on the model of the old Roman empire. Biblical prophecy will soon reach its culmination.

The fear of total annihilation exists on both sides, hence the enforced efforts towards peace and disarmament talks. At the same time re­armament is in full swing, and even the inclusion of space in future warfare is under consideration. As was to be inferred from the mass media, a conference on the plans of the American President for mobilisation of space took place in the Vatican 21st-24th January, 1985, at which Soviet scientists also participated. All this is happening because the time for it has come. In 2 Peter 3 the Apostle refers to the End Time and wrote in his day, “The heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men ... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up … Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

The general and economic world-wide situation enforces mutual co-operation. All hope to survive, and therefore all must pull together. Whoever does not submit to this last world order, will be boycotted and cut off from international trade. Then will be fulfilled what is written (Rev. 13: 17), that one will not be able to buy or sell. Irrespective of the contemporary ideology and social order, all peoples will bow to the final world power. Whoever does not do it will have no chance of survival. Without the general public throughout the world being aware of it, the collective happenings lead to the final apocalyptic round of events. Already we find ourselves in the midst of fulfilment of end-time prophecy.

The development of that time must be considered from the prophetic viewpoint, for the signs of the times speak a clear language. It is not presumptuous to say: Whoever knows the plan of God laid out in the Bible knows the future. After men have managed the Word for long enough, it is high time that God should have His say and way.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Reformation the historical development of the church reached its zenith. The exercise of combined power of the state and the church in that period of time is unimaginable. Those who thought and believed differently were accused of heresy, condemned as heretics, and deprived of life in every conceivable manner. Here may be mentioned only the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th Century, as well as the witch trials, and the associated burnings. We do not wish to go into the many human failings here. We are only desirous of pointing to the stage of spiritual development to which a degenerated Christianity arrived in the course of time.

This earth was saturated with much blood. One of the best-known martyrs before the outbreak of the Reformation was Jan Hus (martyred 1415). His voice was heard for the last time at the Council of Constance, but was however shouted down without being able to straighten out anything. Kneeling with his eyes raised heavenwards, he listened quietly while he heard his doom pronounced. Then he cried, “Lord Jesus, I implore Thee for the sake of Thy mercy: Forgive all my enemies.” The fathers of the Council laughed, and he was led away to the stake to be burnt.

But the Reformation, which introduced a turning-point in the history of the church, could no longer be stemmed. The truth of the Gospel blazed a trail with power. Martin Luther and others stood up against the abuses which were approved of and even supported by the church. The well known dealer in indulgences, Tetzel, belonged to those who blasphemed God in words and deeds, in that he preached that the Pope had the absolute right to forgive the sins of the living and the dead, and that the absolution of the Pope was just as effective as the cross of Christ. Among other things he also maintained that the Pope for the price of an indulgence could even forgive the sins of anyone who had raped the mother of God. In simple words it meant: everyone could commit the worst crimes and the Pope would forgive everything and grant an indulgence, provided the money was heard to drop in the box.

Church history records the following: “Luther heard of the dreadful items which the shameless monk preached, that the power of the sale of indulgences was as effective as the cross of Christ, that he had a commission from the Apostle Peter, and that by means of his indulgences he had saved more souls than Peter had with his sermons.” And “what Luther perceived concerning the practical consequences of the preaching of indulgences gave the impulse to the first reformatory act.” As had always been the case, on this occasion also God used men on earth for the honour and glorification of His Name. God sent men who are not only known in history and are of significance in the history of church, but who were also God’s servants through whom history was made in spreading the gospel of the Kingdom of God upon earth.

Such men were Martin Luther, Huldreich Zwingli, Philip Melanch­thon, John Calvin, John Knox and a great number of others who lived at that time. After centuries during which the Holy Scriptures were withheld from mankind, men began to read the Bible and translate it. First the Bible was printed and published in 14 languages; by about 1600 it was already available in forty, around 1800 seventy-two, and by 1900 five-hundred-and-sixty-seven languages. In 1950 the milestone of eleven-hundred languages and dialects was passed. In spite of all attempts to destroy it, God’s Book has enjoyed the largest number of editions and the most extensive distribution.

Through His Word God spoke afresh and allowed Biblical truth to become once more a reality in the personal life of faith of the individual. However, the believers did not stop there, but tried also to bring that which had become great and valuable closer to other men. The success which the reformers had, provoked the resistance of the established clergy, who at all costs wanted to hinder the spreading of the Word. The result of this was that the message that makes joyous and free encompassed still larger circles.

Seen from the standpoint of church history, each of the participating men had a definite task to fulfil. Looked at more closely, they comple­mented one another in the doctrines they especially emphasised. Stress was again on the Bible as the only criterion for the propagation of the Gospel. No one would dare today to denote the issues so clearly by name as Luther did. It is noteworthy how he laid bare the Antichrist. He did not concern himself with specious arguments, but appealed again and again to the Scriptures, in the degree in which they had been revealed to him. Thus, for example, he wrote of the end of the Babylonian captivity of the church and threw into sharp relief justification by faith, which the individual receives by the grace of God, in opposition to justification by works, which can give salvation to nobody.

Many are of the opinion today that the Reformation was only necessary because moral decay and external circumstances supplied the cause. Although this state of affairs existed, this viewpoint must be contradicted. With the Reformation it was not a matter of moral rearmament, but much rather that of a break-through to a spiritual regeneration. A new beginning was necessary. Spiritual tutelage had for ever to come to an end, and the day of grace, the day of salvation, had to be proclaimed afresh. Nevertheless all men were not ready to believe and to take their place on the side of God. But in spite of all a break-through was made and the unlimited universal power of the church broken.

Only few today still appear to remember or be conscious of what a price had to be paid for the free propagation of the Word of God. The bloody counter-reformation attempted in almost all European countries to smite the Reformation movement to the ground, which in part it also succeeded in doing. Especially well known are the persecutions of the Protestants in the Netherlands and of the Huguenots in France, in which on St. Bartholomew’s night in 1572 the blood of thousands of Protestants flowed in the streets of Paris.

At that time the Roman church exercised spiritual and worldly power simultaneously. Within the region of her domination every army stood at her disposal. Again and again these armies intervened in the spiritual dispute. Everywhere where the Reformation broke out particularly strongly and threatened to advance, a powerful army put in an appear­ance. When the spiritual struggle was fully underway in Switzerland, the army was also mobilised there. The Reformation had to be halted and forced to retreat. On the side of the citizens of Zurich, the people gathered about Zwingli in order to defend themselves against this attack. He himself marched in the foremost rank and said to them: “Commend yourselves to God, He can take care of us and our loved ones. Let God do as He pleases!” During the bitter fighting he was struck by a stone and wounded by a spear. He lay among the dead, folded his hands, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed. The captain of the Catholic army saw this, strode over to him and demanded of him to make confession. Zwingli declined to do this. With difficulty he succeeded in speaking out the words, “They can kill my body, but not my soul,” before he received the death-dealing thrust.

In Germany the Reformation appeared to be completely quashed by the counter-reformation. King Gustav Adolf of Sweden came with his army to the help of the Elector of Saxony on the Protestant side. On 17th September, 1632, a significant battle was won. Beforehand the King had prayed in the following words, “Almighty God, from whom victory and defeat come, show us, Thy servants, a gracious countenance who are come from distant countries in order to fight for freedom, truth and Thy Holy Gospel. Grant us victory for the sake of Thy Holy Name. Amen.” Two months later, on 16th November, 1632, he fell in battle on German soil.

Under no circumstances is it possible to approve of the introduction of worldly and military might for the defence or propagation of the Gospel. But for the sake of truth it must be said, that the Protestants in this situation were pressed into action. It would lead to too great lengths, if we were to go into the detail of many of the arguments during the counter-reformation, in the course of which thousands gave up their lives.

The founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius of Loyola, he who was mainly responsible for the counter-reformation, for this reason went down as a hero in the history of the Roman Catholic church. A more than life-size memorial has been erected to him in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, at whose feet a monster lies, on which are written the names “Luther” and “Calvin”. In this way is symbolically represented that he emerged as victor over the “monster of Protestantism”.

He was buried in the church “del Gesù” in Rome under an altar richly furnished with splendour and dedicated to him. A similar symbolism is found there. Marble figures in groups on both sides of his coffin represent the victorious Catholic faith and victorious religion, at whose feet lie books and heretics, on which likewise are found the two names “Luther” and “Calvin”. Those two memorials speak a clear language.

In Protestant circles today no one appears to give the matter any further thought; filled with the spirit of the times, most people just become immersed in the routine of the day. Everywhere one speaks of dialogue and longs for unification. However, what would all the martyrs and protagonists of the Reformation say to the modern surrender of the most sacred values of the Faith and of the Gospel? But, on the other hand, this development belongs to the final run of events at the end-time.

The Reformation was dearly paid for. Its sense and purpose can therefore not have been merely to leave us the well known state churches and community churches, which differ from country to country. Rather it established the foundation and point of departure for all further spiritual awakenings right up to the present time. If this powerful beginning had not then been made, the many free churches and Christian fellow­ships would not be able to exist at all today. It is a matter of progressive Reformation, whose objective is the restored church of Jesus Christ.

The eruption of the Reformation was an event of great historical significance in the propagation of the gospel. The Spirit of God brought light and life into the dead religious world. The Word was placed at the centre of all preaching. Since that time internationally well known personalities have to an extent emphasised different doctrines. If these are assembled together, they result once more in a harmonic whole.

To be sure, not all truths were suddenly preached at one and the same time. Also there were points of doctrine, such as those of the Trinity and the Trinitarian formula of baptism, both of which are not anchored in the testimony of the prophets and apostles, and which were not dealt with in the ‘official’ Reformation movement. In part, a weighty Roman inheritance was carried along into the Reformation, one which today still burdens all Protestant denominations and free churches.

In the second round John Wesley made his appearance, and with him a large number of fiery preachers of spiritual awakening. They empha­sised the second experience of a converted man. Just as justification by grace alone through faith in the complete redemptive work of Christ was originally emphasised in the Reformation, so did these men give pro­minence to the need for believers justified by faith to experience an inner dedication, a total sacrifice. The Bible denotes this experience as “sanctification”. True reverence towards God affected the believers to a greater and greater degree. There emerged from this period the Methodist churches and other religious orientations founded in a special way on the testimony of these Biblical truths, but which in other points of doctrine varied in their interpretations.

John Smith then followed, and consecrated evangelists appeared with him. Believer’s baptism was proclaimed without compromise. Only he or she who had made a personal decision for Christ and was prepared to follow the Lord was baptised by immersion. From this emerged the Baptist churches and likewise others which laid common stress on the baptism of believers, but again differed recognisably in other doctrines.

In the individual countries spiritual developments assumed different forms. In the Protestant areas the emphasis was generally laid on the personal experience of salvation and the related assurance of salvation. Alongside the generally known spiritual movements, smaller ones were always found which separated themselves from all those organised along religious lines and in turn laid emphasis on particular Biblical truths. We refer only to such movements which in spite of differing doctrines, linked salvation of the soul to the grace of God made manifest in Jesus Christ alone.

Where so-called special revelations are proclaimed on which salvation is made dependent, we are no longer dealing with the continuation of Biblical renewal. All the sects of recent times are an excellent example of this. Redemption is dependent on the Redeemer alone; salvation only from the One Who brought it and paid for it with His own blood, for­giveness solely from the One that granted it: but not from a self-proclaimed guru or leader.

Again and again men of God endued with divine power appeared on the scene who proclaimed anew the old Biblical truths and thereby approached the witness of the Apostles more closely. Early in the present century a general revival came. What until then individuals had expe­rienced, now became an experience of believers throughout the whole world. All who hungered and thirsted for righteousness were given spiritual food and drink. Everywhere the Spirit of God was active in a manner like that in the early church. Baptism with the Holy Spirit was now experienced as previously had been justification and sanctification. The initial supernatural visitation at Azusa Street in Los Angeles and the Welsh revival are well known. This movement, which suddenly sprung up, had no founders. God Himself was working in all continents. Similar testimonies were to be heard in Russia and China, in America and Europe, in Asia and Africa, as far as the uttermost part of the earth. Anointed men of God were produced in this move of God, especially among the Anglo-American ministers.

In August 1906 Dr. R. A. Torrey visited Germany and preached at the annual conference of the Evangelical Alliance on the subject of “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Many were most deeply stirred, among them Lieutenant-General von Viehbahn. In 1907 the leading brothers of the movement within the church gathered for their conference week. The immediate theme was: “Did the first Christian church grieve the Holy Spirit?” After lengthy discussion Pastor Stockmeier stood up and cried out like a prophet, “Brethren, we are arguing about whether the first Christian world grieved the Holy Spirit or not. I now address the far more important question to all who are gathered here: Have we grieved the Holy Spirit?” That struck like a thunder-bolt. Many knelt down and humbled themselves before God.

Throughout the world many experienced a gracious visitation from God. During the days of each revival the message preached at the time went around the globe. The development of this school of belief which was denoted as Pentecostal, differed from one place to another. Where Baptist preachers were gripped by the Spirit of God, only believers were baptised, which is understandable. Where Lutheran ministers were seized by the Spirit, the familiar sprinkling of infants continued. There was as yet no clear break-through to the original Christianity, but a start had nevertheless been made. Various unscriptural doctrines were still introduced without testing them by the Word, and have continued until the present time.

After the second World War, in May 1946, the one-time Baptist preacher William Branham started with his unique ministry because of a mighty supernatural visitation. Like Paul he had received an extra­ordinary calling into service. Much earlier, after his first evangelising, he proceeded to the Ohio River, accompanied by about four-thousand people, for the purpose of baptising several hundred converts. While he was about to baptise the seventeenth person, an extraordinary event occurred. A bright light came through the brassy skies and was seen by all present to descend and hover over this young man of God. Out of the supernatural pillar of light a mighty voice was heard to speak, “As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, you are sent with a message that shall forerun His second coming!” That took place about 2 o’clock in the afternoon of 11th June, 1933. The writer has met eyewitness of that event at the eastern conference in Jeffersonville itself in April 1966. Such a powerful send-off must of necessity be followed by an unusual ministry. There was a man sent from God with a message of God to the people of God. An incomparable visitation, foreordained since the foundation of the world, was granted to this generation. “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isa. 53: 1). In this case one can speak of a commission of historical significance in God’s plan for mankind.

The second World War involved some fifty nations and demanded the sacrifice of more than 50 million lives, as well as bringing untold misery to millions of displaced people and leaving ruins and suffering when it was ended. In 1946 no one had yet heard of Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, or any of the evangelists who later became world famous. The mentioned divinely empowered apostolic ministry was an inspiration for hundreds of preachers. It spearheaded this last revival. Although none of them received a direct calling and commissioning like his, they nevertheless contributed their part in proclaiming the Gospel to this generation. Literally millions were reached by means of evangelistic campaigns and over the radio and television.

The decisive break-through occurred during the period 1946-1949. The masses were attracted by this original proclamation. Since the days of our Lord and the apostles a divine vindication is not recorded in church history. The Full Gospel churches opened their doors and received a great inflow of converts. Soon the numbers attending meetings exceeded 10,000. Large halls, sports stadiums and racing tracks were used to accommodate them. The masses streamed together; in Bombay, India, and Durban, South Africa; the crowds reached several hundred thousands. As though caught in a flood wave, evangelists began with their own campaigns since the early 1950’s. In this age of technical advance the spiritual awakening spread as never before. The most varied currents flowed from this. Evangelistic associations, such as the International Full-Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship and the charismatic movement trace their origins directly or indirectly to this time. Each of the spiritual movements has its own stamp and reaches a particular class of followers. The charismatic movement has penetrated into the Roman Catholic Church as into all denominations and free churches.

In every case it is now the working of the Spirit that grips the whole religious world. At the end the original Word must come into the true members of the Body of Christ, bringing forth the same results as recorded at the beginning. Experiences are good and gifts of the Spirit can be a blessing, but only where the Word is preached in truth and is received as a divine Seed can the Spirit of God bring forth genuine new life. The Word is the Seed.

The Spirit falls upon all flesh in accordance with the promise in the prophet Joel. It can be compared with the rain. But even a cloudburst is of no use if the seed of the Word has not previously been sown in the heart. At the most, the people will be made wet without anything lasting being brought forth. Everything hangs upon this point. In the beginning was the Word, not the interpretation, and so must it be in the end. It depends upon whether men accept the pure Word of God as divine seed in their souls. Only then can the Holy Spirit bring forth divine Life. Only thus can a man be born again (Jn. 3; Jas. 1: 18; 1 Pet. 1: 23). The natural types the spiritual. The rain does not produce the seed. The sowing of the seed comes first, then the rain and the sun play their God-ordained part.

The best example we can find is shown us at the beginning of the New Testament. For four-thousand long years men had been waiting for the Messiah to appear. When the time was fulfilled, the Word of promise was sent to Mary. She accepted it, believed, and the Holy Ghost overshadowed her. Thus was the Word made flesh in the form of a man. In like manner we also must accept God’s Word of promise intended for us. Only then can the Holy Spirit bring it to a reality in us. In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord said, “For he (God) maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mt. 5: 45). Wheat and weeds grow in the same field. Both receive the same rain and the same sunshine. The same rain waters the different seeds. Reference is also made to this thought in Hebrews 6: 7-8. Each seed brings forth after its own kind.

Reliance on the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit alone does not suffice for entrance into the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 7: 21-23 the Lord rejects many who have operated mighty gifts, saying, “I never knew you.” Both, the Word and the Spirit, belong together. Now the Word-Seed must be sown and brought to life in all of God’s children by the Spirit. Only thus can a Biblical church come into existence which is ready to allow itself to be led into all truth by the Spirit of God. First the teaching must go forth and the Word-Seed be sown in the heart. Only after that can the harvest be gathered in.

We have exposed what deviations have occurred in the course of church history, and also proved that since the Reformation spiritual development is leading back to the original Christianity. However, compromises are again being made everywhere. Everyone believes what he wants to, and does not accept what he does not want to. At the same time many witness joyously of having received the Holy Ghost. We are still in confusion as to what is right. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth and will never identify Himself with the errors that have been adopted by men. A total return to the original Word is necessary. It must first be discovered in what way the development has taken a wrong turning, so that a correction in course can be undertaken accordingly. Now the whole religious world finds itself in the hour of decision. Who is for Christ — the Word, and who for the Antichrist — the interpretation? Some will return into the lap of the old church, while others will experience the fulfilment of the promises of the Word as a little, called-out flock which will receive the kingdom (Lk. 12: 32).

All who represent in their proclamation a traditionally handed-down manner of thinking that stems from the Roman church will return to her again. Precisely considered, the spiritual link has never been completely severed since the time of the Reformation. There were only individuals who followed the call of God, who consistently accepted the Biblical truths and rejected the unbiblical errors. As we shall see, in spite of the independent stance of the Protestant churches, doctrines have remained which are not in agreement with the Bible.

Also remarkable is what is to be denoted as the striving for unity and peace since the second World War. Historical enemies have become friends. On the one hand we have the political union, the United Nations — whose founding charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco on 24th October, 1945 — and on the other there is the World Council of Churches, founded in Amsterdam in 1948. Almost all nations, today 150 in number, belong to the “United Nations”, and the majority of Christian churches have joined the World Council of Churches. Our attention is focused on the religious development. In 1948 135 Protestant deno­minations joined the World Council of Churches; by 1968 it was already 234, and today it is 310. Originally the World Council of Churches, which is of course a Protestant association, was not recognised by the Vatican. In 1960 Pope John XXIII established in Rome the “Secretariat for Christian Unity”. In the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965, the decretal concerning Ecumenicity was published. The first official contact took place at the conference of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden, in July 1968, when 15 delegates of the Vatican participated as observers. In June 1969 Pope Paul VI then visited the headquarters of the World Council of Churches in Geneva. In 1984 Pope John-Paul II travelled through Switzerland; he also paid a visit to the World Council of Churches.

It surely has struck some, that for a long time the Protestants have ceased to protest. Who today desires a spiritual altercation? Even the free churches, which fifty, forty or thirty years ago were in part viewed with disfavour, enjoy in the meantime general recognition. Most are corporate bodies according to public law, and their representatives sit at the green table. What is still missing? The word “unity” has received a magic meaning; the word “peace” is everywhere written large; the concept “safety” is the wish of all. Thus are minds soothed.

Martin Luther would doubtless say the same today as then, “Cursed is the unity which comes into existence at the cost of Truth!” Whoever is at one with Christ is at one with His Word. Whoever agrees with the antichrist unites with him. One need only to think of the words of the Lord, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” The moment of truth has come, and everyone is forced to make a decision. The broad masses, without knowing it, will greet the coming antichrist with shouts of joy. Only a little flock of true believers will hold to Christ and His Word. The cry is going forth, to come out of Babylon and its religious confusion and be separate. The Christian unions will not take this cry seriously, only all those within them who are enlightened by the Spirit of God.

In the Christian West is of course much that is Christian. We are a Christian society, have Christian political parties, Christian trade unions, Christian clubs, and so on, and are provided with a rich in tradition Christian culture. It must only be asked whether Christ is not confused with the antichrist, and God with the devil. “Anti” means “against”; whatever is contrary to Christ and His doctrine is antichristian. Who is still able to differentiate between divine worship and idolatry? and between faith and superstition?

Those who are consecrated to the Word of God listen attentively for the catchwords “peace and safety”, for they know that it is written, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape!” (1 Thess. 5: 3). All fits exactly with the aforesaid run of events pertaining to the End Time. The politicians are also aware how far the time has advanced. Thus for example, on 20th January, 1985, the President of the United States said, “I fear that we shall soon experience Armageddon.” By this was meant the final great battle (Rev. 16: 12-16). A short time previously a prominent Senator had expressed himself in the following terms, “We are the first generation that knows this is the last.” All who have a role to play are now entering upon the world stage. Somehow, there is a general expectation of a global tragedy to strike soon: time is running out.

This generation will at its end experience the great “Miracle” — a surprise such as never was, nor will ever occur again. Political, financial and religious power will for a short time be placed at the disposal of the world ruler, the Antichrist. East and West will make avail of the services of a mediator, who will then give his blessing to the achieved deceptive peace treaty. The last world power will be acted out mainly from a united Europe based on the model of the old Roman empire. Biblical prophecy will soon reach its culmination.

The fear of total annihilation exists on both sides, hence the enforced efforts towards peace and disarmament talks. At the same time re­armament is in full swing, and even the inclusion of space in future warfare is under consideration. As was to be inferred from the mass media, a conference on the plans of the American President for mobilisation of space took place in the Vatican 21st-24th January, 1985, at which Soviet scientists also participated. All this is happening because the time for it has come. In 2 Peter 3 the Apostle refers to the End Time and wrote in his day, “The heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men ... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up … Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

The general and economic world-wide situation enforces mutual co-operation. All hope to survive, and therefore all must pull together. Whoever does not submit to this last world order, will be boycotted and cut off from international trade. Then will be fulfilled what is written (Rev. 13: 17), that one will not be able to buy or sell. Irrespective of the contemporary ideology and social order, all peoples will bow to the final world power. Whoever does not do it will have no chance of survival. Without the general public throughout the world being aware of it, the collective happenings lead to the final apocalyptic round of events. Already we find ourselves in the midst of fulfilment of end-time prophecy.

The development of that time must be considered from the prophetic viewpoint, for the signs of the times speak a clear language. It is not presumptuous to say: Whoever knows the plan of God laid out in the Bible knows the future. After men have managed the Word for long enough, it is high time that God should have His say and way.