Translations: 
Copyright 2003, 2004 People of G-d Inc. All Rights Reserved. Not for reproduction or redistribution without Written Permission and Consent of People of G-d Inc.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
Most Born Again Christians who are not Roman Catholics are taught that the Protestant Reformation was a "good thing". What did it really teach? Few really know. Here are some major characters and events that reflect the History of The Protestant Reformation that many are unaware of to this day.
THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD
They loved not their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
John Hus. Roman Church seized and burned alive as a heretic by the popes' agents while under a Passage of Safe Conduct from the Emperor.
Savonarola. He was condemned as a heretic by Rome and put to death by burning.
Martin Luther. Germany.
1517: Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. Returned back to true Christianity, the authority of Scripture, and protested against Roman Catholicism. He organized and taught the Doctrines which later formed such core Doctrines as Total Depravity, Predestination, Election, Limited Atonement and Perseverance of the Saints. Luther appeals to the Emperor to call a Council or Synod to decide these issues. The Roman Church declared him heretic and tried to burn him, but Luther was protected by Prince Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony. Luther translates the whole Bible into German.
1525: Luther publishes Bondage of the Will. Bases the work on early Church Councils, such as The Council of Orange. 529 A.D.
1526: The Diet of Spires. Freedom to preach the Gospel annulled. Followers of Martin Luther first called "Protestants" here by the Roman Church as a term of derision.
Ulrich Zwingli, Switzerland.
John Calvin. Switzerland. b. July 10, 1509. The theologian. Categorized Luthers' teachings. Luther, who is alive at the time, reads Calvins' works and fully endorses them. d. May 27, 1564
Queen Mary, Also known as "Bloody Mary". Daughter of Henry VIII. As an obedient Roman Catholic she ordered burned at the stake 300 Reformers; both men and women, in England. (1546)
William Tyndale was burned by the Roman Catholic Church.
1545-1643: All the while, the Roman Catholic Church worked on The Counter-Reformation. The pope convenes the Council of Trent in 1545 to do away with The Protestant Reformation and the teachings of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and John Knox. It does not succeed.
1557: Bishop John Hooper burned at the stake.
John Knox. Scotlands' greatest Reformer. Studied with John Calvin. Presbyterian Church established.
1560-1602: The Geneva Bible is published in English. It contains the famous Marginal Notes based on Luther and the Reformers which made it easy for the layman to understand. Massive Revival breaks out.
1579: De Jure Regni Apud Scotus written.
Huguenots of France.
1611: King James I has another Bible produced which heavily plagiarizes the Geneva Bible (1560-1602) and it is dubbed the "King James Version, 1611". It is basically a political document which removes all the Reformers' Marginal Notes based on Luther. King James I bans the Geneva Bible in all English Churches and forbids anyone speaking from the Marginal Notes in his churches.
1618-1619: The Netherlands: The Synod of Dort Convened in response to "The Five Articles of Arminianism". The whole Protestant Church Rules Unanimously against Arminianism and its "Five Points". King James I of England (of the KJV 1611 Bible) also sends Representatives who vote Unanimously against Arminianism. Authorized to be Convened and Ratified by Prince Maurice, Commander of the Armies and Navies of Holland.
1620: Pilgrim Reformers arrive in America. (Protestant Reformers) They were not Puritans. They carry with them their Geneva Bibles and would not have taken a King James 1611 if you would have given them one.
1641: Charles I, King of England, son of James I, tries to force the Scots to accept the Episcopacy. The Scots refuse. Charles I is furious, declares war on Scotland.
Charles I attempts to hire a Roman Catholic army to subdue the English people.
Protestants and Puritans becoome personna non grata in England. Those apprehended have their ears cut off and noses slit by the kings' men.
1642-1651: English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan landowner, is commisioned Colonel in the Parliamentary "Roundhead" army. The Parliamentary forces are defeated. Cromwell resigns from the Roundhead army and when accused of being a deserter says, "I will raise an army, the likes of which this nation has never seen!" Cromwell does raise an army, and begins scoring victories one after the other. He is made Commander-in-Chief of the Parliamentary forces. His army is named "The New Model Army" and troops are named "Ironsides".
General Cromwell makes the Parliamentary army all subject to punishments and heavy fines for profanity, drunkeness, or indecency with women. This was unheard of in its day, especially among the mercenary armies hired by the king. Cromwells' troops advance into battle singing the Psalms of David and "The Cross is in the Field". Their Standards have Bible verses on them for all to clearly behold. The kings' forces are routed in every engagement.
The London Confession of Faith is written. 1644
Lex, Rex is written. 1644
The Westminister Confession of Faith is written. 1646 [1]
Cromwells' forces are undefeated in every battle against the kings' forces. The kings' armies surrender to Cromwell. Charles I is placed under house arrest at his castle. He is dicovered attempting to hire another foreign Catholic army to invade England! He is brought before Parliament to stand trial for his life on a Charge of High Treason against the English people. Charles I is found guilty on all charges and executed by beheading, January 20, 1649. Cromwell is offered the crown of England but refuses it. Becomes Lord Protector of England; puts in place the style of government still used in England today. John Milton is made Cromwells' secretary. Cromwell enforces the closure of all houses of prostitution in England, enforces morality. England under Cromwell then defeats every nation that rises up against them.
1658: Oliver Cromwell passes on. Unusually violent windstorms recorded all over England on that day.
1660: The Restoration of the Monarchy. Charles II, son of Charles I, House of Stuart, ascends to the Throne of England. People had thought that they had learned a lesson. Instead, Persecution of the Reformers begins again.
Archbishop Laud again presses for the Episcopacy. They makes outlaw anyone who posseses a copy of Lex, Rex or De Jure Regni Apud Scotus. All copies are ordered burned by command of the king at the hand of the hangman. Any person found with a copy of these Reformation books is to be arrested and put on trial charged with High Treason.
Netherlands. Synod Convened. Arminianism is totally rejected at the Synod of Dort. The Synod of Dort is attended by more Protestant theologians and scholars than were ever assenbled before or since. Their Ruling against Arminianism as a false doctrine and a Heresy. The vote was unanimous.
1500s to 1600s. All these were Men of the Reformation: William Perkins, Thomas Goodwin, Richard Sibbes, John Rogers, Samuel Rutherford, Richard Baxter, John Owen, John Bunyan, John Milton, Matthew Henry and others preached the Reformation Doctrines.
John Wesley, a Minister in the Anglican Church, is jilted by his girlfriend whom he hoped to marry. She rejects Wesley and marries another instead. Wesley cannot abide this, and soon afterwards refuses to give her Communion at Church. Anglican Church censures him for this. Wesley leaves and embraces Arminianism instead.
17th Century. Matthew Henry (1662-1714)
18th Century, Americas' greatest theologian Jonathan Edwards was born. Later writes Veritas Redux
George Whitefield. (1714-70) Arguably the chief individual of "The Great Awakening" in America. Also wrote Letters of Rebuke to John Wesley.
Charles Hodge (1797-1878)
R.L. Dabney (1820-1898)
John Ryle (1816-1900)
Charles Haddon Spurgeon. (1834-1892)
Translations:
Copyright 2003, 2004 People of G-d Inc. All Rights Reserved. Not for reproduction or redistribution without Written Permission and Consent of People of G-d Inc.