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WHY STUDY THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH?

 

Because:

From the pages of history we can prove the validity, credence, and authenticity of the TRUTH once delivered to the Saints as recorded in the Holy Scriptures themselves!

 

 

 

 

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33 - 100 AD 150 - 318 AD 325 - 381 AD  431 - 476 AD 500 - 600 AD 732 - 1291 AD 1100 - 1530 AD

 

1517 - 1900 AD     AD -  1914

Rapture

Anti Christ

Tribulation

Armageddon

Second Coming

 

Millennial Reign

White Throne Judgment

At White Throne

Lake of Fire

Time Shall Be No More

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Within this page an entire outline of  major Church History events will be recorded for your reference convenience.  The major highlights from History show how the Truth of Christianity faded from a Brilliant Consuming Fire  in 33 AD to smoldering embers and finally ashes... 

From the advent of Pentecost in 33 AD (upper R hand corner), to the horrific persecution of Christians (upper middle R), to the conversion of Constantine (upper middle L), to the Crusades (upper L hand corner), to the evolving of Church Father Christianity and Reformation Christianity (lower middle and bottom background), to the full color fire of Apostolic Christianity which is falling in these end times  -- Exactly as Scripture declared!!!

Apostolic Christianity (an experienced Christianity)  which began with the advent of Pentecost in 33 AD evolved into a Church Father Christianity (a developed Christianity), and provoked the protest of the so called Christian world into Reformation Christianity (a developed Christianity.)

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Church History:  A Timeline

Apostolic Christianity  AD 33  -  AD 100

An 'Experienced' Christianity!

 

 

AD 33  

Crucifixion

AD 33

Birth of Church

 

AD l00

Apostolic Fathers

 

The Disciples:

Peter

Andrew

James

John

Philip

Nathaniel

Thomas

Matthew

James the Less

 Lebbaeus (Jude)

Simon (Zelotes

Judas (Hanged himself)

 

The Apostles

Simon Peter - Andrew 

Brothers

James the Elder - John

Brothers

James the Less - Lebbaeus or (Jude)

Brothers

Philip

Nathaniel

Matthew

Thomas

Simon (Zelotes)

Matthias  (Replaced Judas)

 

The Apostolic Fathers

l.  Clement of Rome

2.  Hermas of Rome

3.  Ignatius of Antioch 

4.  Barnabus of Alexandria

5. Polycarp

Polycarp, pictured above, is remembered in Church History for his famous dying words:  "Eighty and six years have I served Him, He hath done me no wrong"  In other words, I CANNOT DENY HIM!!!

The Apostolic Church endured until approximately AD 100.

History proclaims:  there were 50,000 believers in Jerusalem & 50,000 believers in Antioch

 

 

The important fact to remember about the Apostolic Fathers is that their lives overlapped the lives of the Apostles.  For example, history tells us that Polycarp knew  the Disciple John the Beloved.  Therefore their teachings and doctrines echoed more accurately those preached by the Apostles.

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Church Father Christianity AD 100  -   AD 400

A 'Developed' Christianity!

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AD 150

 

AD 284 - 305

 

AD 318

 

Early Church Fathers

Emperor Diocletian

Emperor Constantine

 

 

AD 150   Early Church Fathers  Church Fathers AD 150 - AD 400

 

The Early Church Fathers were:

1. Justin Martyr  AD 100 - 165)

2.  Irenaeus  (AD 130 - 202)

3.  Clement of Alexandria  (AD 150 - 215)

4.  Tertullian  (AD 160-220)

5.  Origen  (AD 185 - 284)

This group became known as "Apologists"  --  they wrote against false accusations, tried to explain and lost the simplicity of the Gospel preached by the Apostles in AD 33.  

Out of this period came three historical important results:

1.  Apostles' Creed,   2.  Canonization of Scripture,   and   3.  Church Organization

 

By AD 150 there were two main heresies in the church:

 
1.  Montanism

     + enemies wrote about it (only)

     + possibly last vestiges of Apostolic Truth

2.  Gnosticism

    + very much like modern Christian Science teachings

 

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AD 284 - 305  Emperor Diocletian

 

Church Severely Persecuted

 
The Jews in the Temple at Jerusalem were the first persecutors of the Church; but in approximately AD 60, Nero began his persecution of the Christians throughout the empire.  He was the first to do so...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last persecution of Christians by Rome was the most severe.  Under Diocletian, so many Christian bodies (mostly scraps of human flesh) were left from the martyrdoms that it was chopped up and sold like hamburger to the Romans to feed their household pets.  Human flesh was sold in the shops...

With the advent of the Pentecostal experience breaking forth upon the world in the early 1900's, they no longer believe the early Christians were singing Quo Vadis  as they breathed their last breaths, but rather they were:  SPEAKING IN TONGUES... Acts 2:4, Acts 2:38

   

Diocletian divided his empire into four parts.  Among his successors were:

CONSTANTIUS CHORUS  -- father of Constantine

GALERIUS  -- responsible for the "Edict of Galerius"   =  1.   this edict allowed Christians to worship freely

2.   Christianity was recognized as a 'lawful religion'   3.   this decree was also called the EDICT OF TOLERATION

 

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AD 313   Emperor Constantine

Persecution Stopped!!!

 

At the Battle of Milvan Bridge, Constantine supposedly saw the sign of a cross in the sky and heard the words:  "By This Sign Conquer!"

 

 

As a result, 

he issued a decree 

THE EDICT OF MILAN

That resulted in:

1. Christianity being made the official religion of the state

2.  All persecution of Christians ceased immediately

3.  The title "Christian" became a passport to political gain in the Roman Empire

4.  Thousands of pagans joined the Christian Church  -- without experiencing conversion!

 

Thousands of pagans 'joining' the church politically because of their Emperor embracing Christianity, making it desirable  could only result in one thing.  They were not spiritually converted to the God of the Old Testament, nor the visible manifestation of that God in the flesh of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  The promise of the Comforter by Jesus and the receiving of same in Acts 2:4 and throughout the book of Acts WAS NOT EXPERIENCED!

RESULT:  Thousands of pagan practices were woven into the fabric of Christianity, adulterating it to an unrecognizable status of that which the Apostles knew.  The church began very quickly evolving into a 'Developed Christianity' not known by the early Christians nor the Apostles.  Unfortunately it remains to this very day!

Influence of the Church Fathers was felt heavily from  AD 150 - AD 400

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Christology

 

Christology:    The first four Church Councils in history were totally given over to:  Who was Jesus Christ?   Was He human?  How much human?   Was He Divine?   How much divine?   They did not know.  The great revelation of the Mighty God In Christ, the Invisible God of the Old Testament being made Visible in the New Testament was lost...     The opinions of the church leaders were varied and it led to the greatest apostasy of all time  -   ( the Triune concept)  -    which has nothing to do with Apostolic Christianity.  The Triune concept  relates only to Church Father Christianity which gave birth to it and most unfortunately  was retained by the Reformationists in their development of Reformation Christianity!!!

 

 

AD 325

 

AD 381

 

Nicene Council

Council of Constantinople

 

 

AD 325   Nicene Council

The basic result of this council was a declaration that     'Christ is Divine'

There were two main points of view expressed by two main speakers at the Council.  ARIUS:  An old man.  He believed in One God!  However, his belief was distorted to mean "If there is one God, then Jesus can't be that God."  He saw Jesus as less than God, a sort of demigod.

ATHANASIUS:  A young man.  He considered antitrinitarianism the most dangerous enemy of the church.  His statement was "God is very God of Very God."  He was banished from the church on four separate occasions!

NOTABLE MEN OF THIS PERIOD

Ambrose    (AD 340 - AD 397)    He was the governor of Northern Italy.  The Bishop of Milan.  He was appointed due to the exclamation of a child...

Augustine   (AD 354 - AD 430)    He wrote a book entitled "City of God."  He used Luke 14:23 as a basis for using physical force to compel people to convert to Christianity.  As a result, he justified persecution in South Africa.  He said, "I should not have believed the gospel except as taught or moved by the Catholic Church."  He was responsible for the doctrines of original sin and infant baptism.  He founded the first monastery in North Africa.  He was very paganistic in his thinking, basically backslidden from the pure Christianity as taught by the Apostles.

Jerome   (AD 340 - AD 420)    He translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Latin.  This version of the Scriptures came to be known as the Latin Vulgate.  It remains the Official Bible for the Roman Catholic Church.

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AD 381  Council of Constantinople

The basic result of this council in AD 381 was a declaration that     "the Holy Spirit is Divine"

After this council, the doctrine of the Trinity was fully established!  Their conclusion was "the Holy Spirit is divine" and with the Father and the Son comprises the Triune God.

In AD 330, the capital of the Roman Empire had been moved to Constantinople, making it the center for the state religion.

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AD 431

 

AD 451

 

Council of Ephesus

Council of Chalcedon

 

 

AD 431  Council of Ephesus

The basic result of this council was a declaration that "Christ is complete God and complete man."

There were two rivals vying for primacy in the East at this time:   (1)  NESTORIUS, Bishop of Constantinople  --  He believed Mary to be the mother of the flesh of Jesus but not the mother of God.

(2)  CYRIL, Bishop of Alexandria  --  He believed Mary to be the mother of God.

DOCTRINE OF MONOPHYSITES:  This doctrine projected that Jesus had a humanity but he had so much of God in Him that His flesh was like a drop of wine in the ocean.  Christ had just one nature, and it was divine.

EUTYCHES:  He supported this doctrine of the Monophysites and was excommunicated for it.

THE ROBBER SYNOD:  This council in AD 449 restored Eutyches.  An outraged Pope Leo gave it the name, "The Robber Synod." 

The Robber Synod gave this result:  WE ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS CHRIST AS COMPLETE GOD AND COMPLETE MAN.

 

 

AD 451  Council of Chalcedon

The basic result of this council was a declaration  that "Jesus is one person with two natures, separate but not apart."

The principle purpose in convening this council was to assert the orthodox Catholic doctrine against the heresy of Eutyches and the Monophysites.

Pope Leo wrote a letter to define the issue, stating "that each nature (of Jesus) acts according to its own qualities."

This was the largest church council, with 600 bishops present and 16 sessions conducted between October 8 and November 1 of AD 451. 

This council also ruled that Rome and Constantinople were officially equal in authority.

Significant to reiterate that the express purpose of the first four church councils was to determine the question of Christology (i.e., "Who Is Christ?")

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AD 476

Barbarians 

Conquer

 Rome

The Barbarians conquered the CIVIL (political power) of Rome in AD 476.  This effectively gave the Pope more power than the government.  Although the Barbarians conquered the political power of Rome, they did not conquer the Religious Power of Rome.  This left the Pope in Rome the most powerful figure there.  You now can see how slowly the Papal power and the Papacy began to evolve into what it is today.

CLOVIS OF THE FRANKS:   In AD 496, Clovis of the Franks was converted to Christianity.  This was an important event because 200 years later the Franks would provide a barricade against the invading Moslems.

Significant to remember that from AD 378 - AD 476, it was a period of chaos as Barbarians attempted to conquer Rome

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AD 500

 

AD 570

 

AD 600

 

The Medieval Period

Birth of Mohammed

Corruption of the Papacy

 

 
AD 500  The Medieval Period  (AD 500 - AD 1300)

Rome moved from its Imperial Era to its Classical Era in AD 500.

 

By AD 500, several disturbing trends had already developed in the Roman Catholic Church.

l.    Purgatory

2.   Lent

3.   Priesthood

4.   Mass

5.   Veneration of Saints

6.   Adoration of Martyrs

7.   Candles

8.   Magical power of relics

9.   Images, pictures, vestments

10.  Holy pilgrimages

11.  Less preaching

12.  Persecution of the heathen

 

 
Gregory the Great established the doctrine of Purgatory in AD 593 totally believing in it!  But the dogma of Purgatory was assimilated by Pope Eugene IV in the fifteenth century...

The Apostles knew nothing of such a doctrine nor preached such a doctrine...

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AD 570  Birth of Mohammed

 

 

Mohammed was orphaned by the time he was six. 

Adopted by his merchant uncle, he traveled throughout Egypt and the Near East, where he learned the theology of the Jews and Christians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He claimed to have received a revelation from the angel Gabriel.

Mohammed authored the Koran, containing prayers, rules of etiquette and calls  to wage "holy wars."

The Islamic Creed is:  "There  is no god but Allah,  and Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah." or prophet of Allah.

Muslims claim Abraham as  their father...

By AD 718, the Muslims conquered throughout Spain and North Africa.  They were at the height of their power during this time in history.

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AD 600 Corruption of the Papacy

 

By AD 600, the Papacy had been firmly established.  However, various forms of corruption had crept in.

Lay Investiture:  This was the practice of wealthy noblemen electing a Pope, usually from among themselves.  Thus, some Popes did not even have religious training as a priest!

Simony:  This was another name for the same practice.  It meant "the buying and selling of a church office," and was named after Simon the Sorcerer.

Immorality:  Some Popes had many concubines and even illegitimate children who were appointed cardinals and priests.

Illiteracy:  During the medieval period, there were even some priests who could neither read nor write.

The Borgias:  These were a particularly corrupt group of Popes during the medieval period of the Catholic Church.

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AD 732 - 771

 

AD 1054

 

AD 1096 - 1291

 

A Political Papacy

The Church Divides

The Crusades

 

 

AD 732 - 771 A Political Papacy  

 

 

AD 732

Battle 

of 

Tours

 

CHARLES MARTEL:  At the Battle of Tours in AD 732, Charles Martel, called the 'Hammer' and the Frankish Army met the host of Islam in battle and defeated them, thus preventing Islam from spreading throughout Europe.

 

 

PEPIN:   In 751, Pepin, (son of Martel) made himself king with the sanction of the Pope.  This was the first time for such sanction to be granted, and it set a precedent whereby Popes had great influence over kings.

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AD 800

Charles

Son

of

Pepin

 

CHARLEMAGNE:   In AD 800 Charles (son of Pepin) was made Emperor of The "Holy Roman Empire" by the Pope. This crowning took place on Christmas day AD 800.   He was known as Charlemagne, or commonly as Charles the Great. He succeeded in securing for the people of western Europe this invaluable triple blessing of   (1)  law and order  (2)  civilization, and (3)  Christianity.  

This was the beginning of the great controversy over the role of church and state.

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AD 1054 The Church Divides

The great schism which occurred in the church in AD 1054 was really caused by debate over the "Western Trinity" and the "Eastern Trinity."  There were also other minor issues:

+  The Western Church spoke Latin and believed in icons.

+  The Eastern Church spoke Greek and did not believe in icons.

Thus, the church divided into two parts, one loyal to Rome in the West and the other to Constantinople in the East.

BY AD 1073, THE TURKS CONTROLLED ALL OF THE LAND OF PALESTINE.

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AD 1096 - 1291 The Crusades

The Crusades were born when Pope Urban expressed in a speech his desire to see the infidels driven out of the Holy Land.

-

Urban 11 

Proclaims 

the 

First Crusade

 

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Crusaders

on 

the 

March

 

 

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Godfrey of Bouillon, 

Raymond 1V of Toulouse, 

Bohemond of Tarentum, 

and Tancred of Hauteville 

lead the first Crusade, 1096-1099

 

 

THE CRUSADES:   

The Crusades failed because:   (1)  The Crusaders had no sea power to aid their flight   (2)  There was no unity in Europe  (3)   Christianity itself was divided

THE CRUSADES WERE A POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR 200 YEARS, AND WERE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RENAISSANCE.  (Age of enlightenment after the Dark Ages)

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AD 1100 - 1190

 

AD 1233

 

AD 1309 - 1377

 

Opposition & 

Indulgences

 

The Inquisition

 

Babylonian Captivity 

of the Church

 

 

AD 1100 - 1190 Opposition and Indulgences

DUE TO THE CORRUPTION OF THE CHURCH, OPPOSITION BEGAN TO GROW WITHIN ITS RANKS IN FRANCE.

 

THE ALBIGENSES:

  +  Believed marriage was earthly

   +  Believed in a separated life

   +  Believed the Bible to be the sole rule of faith

   +  Rejected papal authority

 

Pope Innocent III Urging  War Against the Albigenses

 

 

 

THE WALDENSES:

  +  Sent out by Peter Waldo

  +  Ministered in groups of two

  +  Believed the Bible to be the sole rule of faith

  +  Rejected papal authority

 

These two groups, the Albigenses and the Waldenses would later be important in the reformation...

In opposition to them, the church developed the Dominican and Franciscan scholars to combat the heresies, but it did not work!

Many Albigenses and Waldenses fell victims to the Inquisition.  But their numbers in southern France were so great that the task of destroying them was too big for the Inquisition.  Then the popes resorted to other measures.  They preached a crusade against the heretics.  Some of the nobles responded to the call of the popes.  They marched at the head of their armies into southern France.  For twenty years, "blood flowed like water."  The country was devastated by war of the most savage kind.  What had been the fairest province of France was turned into a wilderness, and its cities into ruins.  The Albigenses were rooted out.

The Waldenses found a place of refuge in the high valleys of the Alps. They still live there today.  At the time of the reformation they accepted its teachings and became Protestants.  Of the Christians who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, they are the only group that has survived to the present time...

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INDULGENCES:

When money was needed to finance the expensive cultural tastes of the Popes, indulgences were sold.  John Tetzel was the first seller of them in AD 1516.  The system pleased the church and the sale of indulgences was a source of huge income.  It kept money flowing into the pope's coffers. Luther and Tetzel were contemporaries - both were Germans...

Tetzel, an eloquent Dominican Friar and high-pressure salesman, was peddling indulgences in an unusually scandalous manner near the Saxony border in the neighborhood of Wittenberg.  In his sales talks he said, "The moment you hear your money drop in the box, the soul of your mother will jump out of purgatory."  In other words, When the gold in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs!

 

John Tetzel Selling Indulgences

 

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AD 1233 The Inquisition

When scholarly debate did not stop the tide of dissent within the church, force began to be used.  THE INQUISITION BEGAN!

The Inquisition was a traveling court of the church.  It turned the "guilty" over to secular powers for punishment.  Since the church controlled these rulers, it was successful in executing thousands...

One million Jews were torn apart on the rack because they were "heretics" (so judged by the RCC) who would not accept the Trinity and submit to the Pope's authority.

 

The Dark Ages:

  +  Sprinkling of infants practiced

  +  Communion believed to impart the life of Christ

  +  Confession to man took the place of repentance to God

  +  Doctrine of purgatory taught (a second chance after death)

  +  Light hidden for 1200 years, and true salvation lost!

 

AD 1309 - 1377 Babylon Captivity

This period of church history is so dark that it has been called the "Babylonian Captivity" of the church.

The Papacy moved at this time from Rome to Avignon, France.

There were three popes at one time!  (1)  Pretender in Rome  (2)  Pope in Avignon  (3)  Newly elected Pope by Council

The cry for reformation of the church was growing louder due to:

  +  The immorality of the Popes and priests who often had mistresses

  +  The secularization of a church that was amassing huge land holdings through Simony

  +  Heavy papal taxes paid to Italy

  +  Resentment of kings and lords toward the political interference of the church in their affairs

  +  The conflicting papal decrees and excommunications issued from multiple popes

  +  A heartfelt cry for Biblical Truth!

It is important to remember here that the MEDIEVAL PERIOD  was from AD 500 - AD 1300

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AD 1300  -  1500

 

AD 1517

 

AD 1517  -  1900

 

Light Begins To Dawn

The Reformation

 Rise of Denominations

 

 
AD 1300  -  1500 Light Begins to Dawn!

As the Dark Ages came to a close, the modern era of enlightenment began.  It was called the Renaissance (meaning, "Rebirth")

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JOHN WYCLIFF:     In AD 1320, Wycliffe produced a translation of the Bible in English

 

JOHN HUSS:  

A sincere Bohemian man, Huss was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415 by the church, in ONE OF HER MOST INFAMOUS ACTS.  One of his last statements was prophetic when he said, "You are roasting a poor Bohemian goose, but in 100 years there will arise a swan whom you will neither roast nor boil."  

His prophecy was fulfilled in the person of Martin Luther 100 years later!

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IN AD 1453 , CONSTANTINOPLE FELL TO THE TURKS

 

 
SAVONAROLA:

 

 

 

In Florence, Italy, a priest by the name of Savonarola preached boldly against the wickedness of his time.  He did not spare pope Alexander VI.  In 1498 he was hanged, and his body was burned.

From history we can find no fault in this man.  Evidently he was fiery for his faith in God and promoted Righteousness; attacking especially the moral abuses of his day.  IT COST HIM HIS LIFE...

 

 

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ERASMUS  

 (AD 1467 - 1536)

 

A Humanist who wanted to reform the church from within, he published a Greek New Testament.

He was against prayer to saints, the rosary, images and relics, the sale of indulgences, and what he referred to as the "Brainless Monks."

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AD 1517 The Reformation

 

The Reformation

A 'Developed' Christianity!

 

 

Martin Luther

At noon on October 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted his "95 Theses" in protest of the sale of indulgences on the door of Palast Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

Luther had enough support that the reformation of the church was launched in Germany!

 

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 AD 1519

Leipsig Disputation with Johann Eck.  

Martin Luther in this debate questioned the infallibility of  Pope  Leo X  -  he was enraged!  

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AD 1520

 

Pope Leo X  

Luther burns the Papal Bull 

 

Enraged with Luther, the Pope issued a Papal Bull (legal document demanding Luther be examined and questioned)  If the Pope ordered his writings to be burned, then Luther decided to do something more...   and he did something more:  On December 10, 1520, a large crowd of students, professors, and citizens assembled outside the walls of the city of Wittenberg.  One of the professors kindled the pile.  Luther placed the books of canon law (church law) on the burning wood.  Then amid solemn silence Luther placed a copy of the bull on the fire, and said:  "As thou hast wasted the Holy One of God, so may the eternal flames waste thee."  He waited until the books and the bull were consumed.  Then with his friends and colleagues he returned to the town.

Luther was excommunicated  -- the Pope was furious and failed at apprehending Luther.  In the end result, Luther's success was due to the great favor he had in the eyes of Prince Frederick who despised the Papal taxes and protected him.  Though to our knowledge, Luther and Prince Frederick never met.  

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AD 1521

 

In 1521,   Luther felt he was going to his death at this Diet and wrote to Melanchthon, a colleague at the university, "My dear brother, if I do not come back, if my enemies put me to death, you will go on teaching and standing fast in the truth; if you live, my death will matter little."

Luther was cross examined at the Diet of Worms, and tricked into saying that Huss had been unjustly condemned.

Luther's second appearance at the Diet heard him say:  "It is impossible for me to recant unless I am proved to be wrong by the testimony of Scripture.  My conscience is bound to the Word of God.  It is neither safe nor honest to act against one's conscience.  Here I stand.  God help me.   I cannot do otherwise."

Luther before the Diet of Worms

It was planned that Luther would be put to death as a pestilent heretic.  Prince Frederick had Luther carried off to the Wartburg Castle, famed refuge of Luther in Eisenach where Luther stayed for ten months while the storm quieted.  Luther was a volcano whose eruptions from 1517 to 1521 caused the quakes which convulsed the Church, first in Germany, but soon also in many other countries of Western Europe.

 

AD 1524 to AD 1515

The Peasant's War (an uprising of the peasants in central and south Germany) took place at this time.

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AD 1530

Augsburg Confession     In this year,  Luther's beliefs, were written by Melanchthon and presented

 

During this time

Truth demands to be told.  Tremendous persecution of the Reformationists  was carried out by the Roman Catholic Church against those that 'protested' their version of Christianity.  The Reformationists 'protested' the dogmas, rules, doctrines, and corruption of the Church at this time in history.  Thus they were called 'Protestants'  -  and are stilled called Protestants to this day (meaning basically any form of Christian faith that is not Roman Catholic)  The etymology  of the name Protestant is derived from protest...

The Reformation Christians, or Protestants as they came to be known, continued to hold some of the doctrines of the Church Father Christianity. For example, the formula for water baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and the concept of a triune God as well as other things which are not listed here. Neither of these doctrines we have pinpointed were held nor taught by the Apostles. Hence, Protestantism was not Apostolic Christianity -- it was again, a developed Christianity.

Persecution

 

The Huguenots:  (A French word)  Who were they?  They were Protestants of France sought out by the Roman Catholic Church and hunted down like animals.  The men were burned alive at stakes.  The women and children were drowned or buried alive...

 

 

A new torture was devised about this time, a device to lift the victim in and out of the fire, roasting him alive slowly instead of burning him all at once.  Now where in France was a Protestant safe...  
 

 

Torture was widespread in an effort to make Protestants confess their heresies.  Untold atrocities were committed in the name of the Church.  Many were beheaded and their heads raised on long poles and paraded through the streets by riders on horseback against a backdrop of martyrs burning alive at stakes, screams from torture chambers and dungeons...

Persecution of Christians has been carried on down through the centuries.  We are now told that in the last century (the 1900's) more Christians were martyred and/or murdered than in all other centuries put together...

 

 

AD 1517 - 1900   The Rise of Denominations

Here we see the rise of denominations and a 'development' of Reformation Christianity which looked neither like Apostolic Christianity as preached by the Apostles in the Book of Acts from 33 AD through approximately 100 AD nor Church Father Christianity which 'developed' shortly thereafter. Up to this point, we have the Dark Ages.  The Light was basically hidden for 1200 years - True Salvation as the Apostles had 'experienced' and  preached it was basically LOST to the church in history!  Let me reiterate:

Man made substitutions arose:

1 - Sprinkling of infants

2 - Communion or Lord's Supper was believed to impart the Life of Christ

3 - Confession to man took the place of repentance to God

4 - Doctrine of Purgatory or second chance after death instituted

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But Now:  

  Step by Step

 Church Father Christianity and Reformation Christianity 

are faced with 

APOSTOLIC TRUTH!!!

For the:

Lutheran Church - AD 1517:  Saw - Justification by faith...

Presbyterian Church - Ad 1536:  Saw - Communion as a Memorial...

Congregational Church - AD 1580:  Saw - Separation of Church and State...

Baptist Church - AD 1609: Saw - Water Baptism by Immersion...

Methodist Church - AD 1739:  Saw - Personal Holiness...

Christian Church - AD 1820:  Saw - Baptism for Remission of Sins...

Trinitarian Pentecostalism - AD 1900:  Saw - Baptism of the Holy Ghost - Evidence: Speaking with Tongues as in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost...

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AD 1914

 

AD ????

 

Seven Years

 

Invasion

Rapture of the Church

The Great Tribulation

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AD 1914 Invasion of Apostles Doctrine from 33 A.D.!

The revelation of God in Christ  (ONENESS), and the truth of baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ by immersion for the remission of sins brought the fire of Apostolic Christianity into full focus again to the Church Father Christians and the Reformation Christians!  This 'Invasion' has shaken the both of them. 

Apostolic Christianity has always had this enduring and continuing truth from 33 A.D. until this present hour.  Even though persecution of the most intense and cruel  measures was placed upon Apostolic Christianity throughout church history,  Apostolic Christianity has always existed somewhere in the world in total or in part.  From pages of history we can find our people and Apostolic Christianity existing continually from 33 A.D.  Renowned scholars have documented this truth, though it was suppressed in the truest style of typical resistance from the church in history.  The major difference from Apostolic Christianity in 33 A.D. and throughout history is that now we are experiencing the 'Latter Rain' outpouring as prophesied in these last days.  Hundreds of thousands are being baptized in Jesus' Mighty Name and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  Video clips of these outpourings will appear here in time and also on the TRUTH page of this website.

The promise of Acts 14:17 is profoundly true:  "Nevertheless he left not himself without a witness,..."  Once TRUTH came into the world at the advent of Pentecost in 33 A.D., the flame may have flickered in the winds of opposition but it has never been extinguished. The Witness was indestructible!!! And as we have previously stated, history itself declares this fact!  But then that is additional study and research which could be added to this simple outline...

 

1 - REPENTANCE 

with divine forgiveness 

(Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:22, 17:30, 26:20)

 

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2 - WATER BAPTISM by immersion 

IN THE NAME OF 

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

for the remission of sins 

 (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5)

 

 

 

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3 - BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST  

with the initial evidence of Speaking with Other Tongues 

(Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6)

 

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4 - PERSONAL HOLINESS 

and power to live a Christian Life 

(Heb 12:14)

 

 

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Then

 

5 - DIVINE HEALING 

 (James 5:14-15)

 

 

Now

 
   

Esther Glugston

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Note:

All of Reformation Christianity or what is termed in our day as denominational Christianity is only 485 years old as of  (2002)  The Baptist Church as of (2002) is only 393 years old.  They were never heard of before AD 1609.   

Church Father Christianity or what evolved and developed into the Roman Catholic Church can only trace itself back to about 100 to 150 AD in its roots of conception and development.  

But Apostolic Christianity is 1969 years old as of this year (2002).  Apostolic Christianity, an experienced Christianity, is CLASSICAL CHRISTIANITY - it is the original!  And everything developed after 100 AD looks nothing like the original recorded in the Book of Acts AD 33  which records the 'acts' or activity of the first church in history including Paul's missionary journeys..  

It behooves the student and the scholar to seriously take inventory of the events of history and what the Bible presents.  Where are you in your Christianity?  Is it Biblical or developed by the understandings and thinkings of man throughout Church History?  You cannot risk your eternal destiny to the teachings of men, but you are safe in identifying with Apostolic Doctrine as set forth by the Apostles in AD 33.  The Apostle Paul was extremely emphatic about this exact subject and set forth the will of God in:

Gal 1:8 (KJV) 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 1:9 (KJV) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

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The Prophets

and Apostles

Spoke of the

End Times...

 

 

 

John on Patmos gave the REVELATION of the end times and put the continuation of Daniel's prophecies in perspective, completing  what theologians refer to as Daniel's Seventy Weeks or 'The Backbone of Prophecy.   We find this entire beginning account in the book of Daniel and the conclusion of it is found in the book of Revelation. We are, in our day,  NEAR TO THIS!

 

2 Pet 1:20 (KJV) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2 Pet 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

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Time Is Running Out

 

TIME

IS 

QUICKLY

RUNNING

OUT

 

AS

THE

BIBLE

FORE-

TELLS!

 

 

 

Church History has marched forward from AD 33 to this present hour  -  what is the next greatest event?  Time is running out in God's Plan for the ages.  Theologians, statisticians, and world leaders agree that life as we know it in this tumultuous world cannot continue at its present pace...  There is a downward spiraling of events catapulting toward cataclysmic, catastrophic events as predicted in the Bible.  Jesus is coming as He foretold and the chain of events following will unfold according to all the prophecies!

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THAT WHICH IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE

 

 

THE

 RAPTURE

of 

the 

CHURCH!

 

The Rapture is the next great event on God's calendar for the Church!

The living and the resurrected saints will be caught up to meet Him.  This is the first coming of Christ, for His saints in the air.

 

1 Th 4:13 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1 Th 4:14 (KJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1 Th 4:15 (KJV) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:


1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

There is nothing Biblically that has to be fulfilled before the Coming of the Lord  -  Everything is in place, exactly as has been foretold in the Scriptures.  The daily news appears to be coming from the Holy Script as penned by Holy Men of Old...

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MANIFESTATION 

of the 

ANTI CHRIST

 

 

2 Th 2:3 (KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Th 2:4 (KJV) Who
opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

2 Th 2:7 (KJV) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he (The Church) who now letteth (hinder) will let (hinder), until he (The Church) be taken out of the way  -  (The Rapture!)

2 Th 2:8 (KJV)
And then shall that Wicked (Anti Christ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2 Th 2:9 (KJV) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Th 2:10 (KJV) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

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The 

Tribulation

Period

 

After the church is removed from the earth, the Anti Christ will be revealed and the world will be plunged into the worst time of trouble they have ever known.  The Anti Christ will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon.  This is the second coming Christ, with His saints to the earth.

The Tribulation Period begins in Revelation chapter six when the Seals are opened.  There are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials - in TOTAL:  2l phases of God's wrath upon the earth after the Rapture upon those that know not God...

Rev 6:1 (KJV) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Dan 12:1 (KJV) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

NOTE:  Church Will Not Go Through the Tribulation Period   -  PROPHECY

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BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

 

Rev 16:16 (KJV) And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Zec 14:1 (KJV) Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

Zec 14:2 (KJV) For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Zec 14:3 (KJV) Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.


The Anti Christ is Destroyed!  

Rev 19:20 (KJV) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet (Anti Christ) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

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THE  SECOND COMING  OF

CHRIST

 

 

Zec 14:4 (KJV) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

See Matt 24 and Rev 19...

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THE MILLENNIAL REIGN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church reigns with Jesus on the earth for 1000 years.

Rev 1:6 (KJV) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 (KJV) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit during this time.  (this will bring automatic peace upon the earth) 

Rev 20:1 (KJV) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Rev 20:2 (KJV) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Rev 20:3 (KJV) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be loosed for a short season and will lead those who rebel against the rule of God to the Battle of Gog and Magog, where Satan's forces will be defeated once and for all.  At this time Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire!

Rev 20:10 (KJV) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

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The White Throne Judgment

 

 

Every human being will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment to be judged according to their works.  The only EXCEPTION to this is the Church.  The Bible says that some men's sins follow after them and some men's sins go before them.  Our sins have gone before us...  there will be no White Throne Judgment for the saints who stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ daily.

The Great White Throne Judgment will separate the wicked from the righteous.  The wicked will be cast into the Lake of Fire, while the Righteous will enter into His Gates...  "That at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow...  And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..."  We as believers have already bowed our knees and we have already confessed!

 

Rev 20:11 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Rev 20:12 (KJV) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13 (KJV) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14 (KJV) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 (KJV) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

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 At the White Throne Judgment

 

 

 

 

To His Right Hand will go the Righteous to Everlasting Life!

Dan 12:2 (KJV) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

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Mat 25:31 (KJV) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 (KJV) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 (KJV) And he shall set the sheep
on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34 (KJV) Then shall the King say unto them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:46 (KJV) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

 

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The Lake of Fire

 

 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet (Anti Christ) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

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Time Shall Be No More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev 10:6 (KJV) And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

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When we were born again, we were saved from the PENALTY of sin.

As we abide in Christ daily, we are saved from the POWER of sin.

But when we enter Heaven, we will be saved the very PRESENCE of sin!

HEAVEN IS MORE THAN JUST A DESTINATION; IT IS ALSO OUR GREATEST MOTIVATION!

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Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely

 I come quickly.

 Amen. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

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DISCLAIMER:  Though I love the study of Church History and am preparing this page with total enjoyment, I do not welcome questions, nor discussions  --  time will not permit...   My motive for presenting this is for your information and the provoking of your person to dig into the records of History where you will  find the beauty of Biblical Truth preserved also...  Happy Studies!!!  Lee Stoneking

 

Bibliography and Source Materials:

The Bible

Forty years of endless lectures by scholars, Bible College courses, periodicals, etc.

The Church in History  by B. K. Kuiper;   Printed in USA 1951 through 1966;  The National Union of Christian Schools

This book is highly recommended reading.  It is simple to read and extremely comprehensive.  The Church in History was a textbook for Church History courses in the Apostolic Bible College, St. Paul, Minnesota from which I received my degree.

 

 

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