500 Years Later. Is The Protestant Reformation Dead?
November 2, 2016
October 31, 2016 is behind us, which means we are now living in the 500th year since the Protestant Reformation began.
499 Years ago, on October 31, 1517 to be exact, Augustinian monk Martin Luther hammered his famous “95 Theses on the Power of Indulgences” onto the door of the Castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. At that time, when Luther’s hammer hit the nail, he was still a loyal member of the Roman Catholic Church; but his confidence in Romanism had been shaken, especially since Rome was peddling phony certificates called “indulgences” that supposedly granted payees pardon for all their sins.
Indulgences are lies, thundered the German monk. God’s forgiveness is a gift. It’s not for sale!
In 1517 A.D., Luther’s bold action against papal indulgences rattled Europe. As this monk’s revolutionary message spread far and wide, Luther became God’s tool to ignite an unstoppable reformatory movement. The word, “Protestant,” stems from the word, “protest.” As a result of Luther’s protesting movement, millions eventually lost confidence in popes and priests, and abandoned the Roman Church. Protestant churches—such as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Mennonite, Methodist—rose abundantly in its wake.
Fast-forward 500 years to today. How are Protestant churches reacting to this “anniversary” year? When my wife and I celebrate our anniversary annually—we’ve been married now for 16 wonderful years—we fondly remember our original vows and renew our commitment to each other. What is the Lutheran Church doing? Remembering its vows? Holding the torch ignited by its founder? Sadly, its exactly the opposite. Instead of exalting the banner of “truth above tradition” which Martin Luther upheld at the risk of his life, much of Lutheranism just recommitted itself to holding hands with Rome.
“Catholic and Lutheran Churches Pledge to Work for Shared Eucharist,” was the title of an October 31, 2016 article in the Catholic publication, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse. The feature picture shows Pope Francis hugging Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, as they signed a joint statement pledging themselves “to remove the obstacles to full unity between their Churches.” Their meeting took place in Lund, Sweden, “to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation.”
“Does the Reformation Still Matter?” was the title of an October 30, 2016 parallel piece written by religion editor Jacob Lupfer published by the Religion News Service. Making his case that Protestantism itself should be allowed to die a natural death, Mr. Lupfer quoted Southern Baptist Mega-Church pastor Rick Warren who stated that the word “Protestant” itself is “an old term. It’s like saying, ‘I’m a Pilgrim.’ No one calls themselves a Pilgrim or a Puritan anymore.”
In other words, R.I.P. Protestantism is deceased. Mr. Lupfer’s musings end with this reflection: “Five centuries is a long time…In another 500 years, Protestantism will have either gone back to Rome or splintered into a billion churches.”
Some comments are in order. First, based on prophetic signs we see around us (see Daniel 12:4; Luke 17:28-30; 21:25-28), the Lord Jesus Christ will surely return to earth long before “another 500 years” passes (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-14). Next—and this is especially true in light of the growing political influence of Pope Francis and his ecumenical activities—the basic issues that ignited the Protestant Reformation aren’t dead at all. They live, and remain today.
Essentially, in the16th-century, the Protestant Reformation took its stand against the Roman Catholic Church over the authority of the Holy Bible verses manmade traditions—especially traditions that undermined the New Testament message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and over Church authority. The Protestant rallying cry became (using Latin words):
- “Sola Scriptura,” by Scripture alone
- “Sola Christo,” through Christ alone
- “Sola Fide,” by faith alone
- “Sola Gratia,” by grace alone
Yes, the Roman Catholic Church also taught (as it does today) the importance of faith, the value of Bible reading, and salvation through Christ and His grace; yet that small 4-letter Latin word “sola” (meaning “alone”) became the dividing line between reforming Protestants and Catholicism.
In the 1500s, Protestants taught that a person can enter heaven by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ’s perfect merits alone, based on what is written in the Bible alone; whereas Rome added to the requirements of salvation numerous traditions, such as praying to Mary and dead saints, repeating the rosary, confessing sins to priests, performing works of penance, paying money to release one’s dead relatives from the flames of purgatory, and above all, belief in the supreme authority of the Pope as the successor of St. Peter and universal head of Christianity. Rome also added the notion that God’s forgiveness could be obtained by purchasing indulgences.
“Yes, these traditions aren’t mentioned in the Bible specifically,” popes and priests admitted, “but they come from the Holy Spirit working through God’s Church.” “Sorry,” countered the Protestants, “we don’t buy it. We’ll stick with Scripture, not misguided myths.” In the 1500s, these issues divided Christendom.
Significantly, as the struggle intensified, Luther eventually turned to the prophecies. By candlelight he read Paul’s solemn prediction of a “falling away” (apostasy) in Christian history (2 Thessalonians 2:3); of a “man of sin” to arise in its wake (verse 4), of a “beast” waging fierce “war with the saints” (Revelation 13:1,7), and of a mysterious Babylonian harlot (a false church) having illicit geo-political relationships with “the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:1,5; 18:4). Little by little, God’s prophetic puzzle-pieces fit together. Horrified, Luther finally realized that he had discovered both Christ and antichrist. Compelled by the Spirit of God, Luther finally cast political correctness aside, went public, and declared, “We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist.” [1]
Catholicism is a cleverly crafted counterfeit Christianity, Luther soberly realized. This teaching became standard Protestant doctrine, and was shared by John Calvin (Presbyterian), John Wesley (Methodist), Charles Spurgeon (Baptist), Matthew Henry (Bible commentator), and countless others. Google this. These are facts. Protestant historian John Foxe, author of the Christian classic, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, echoed the same conviction when he wrote:
Disregarding the maxims and the spirit of the gospel, the papal church, arming herself with the power of the sword, vexed the church of God and wasted it for several centuries, a period most appropriately termed in history, the "dark ages." The kings of the earth, gave their power to the “beast.”[2]
But haven’t times changed? you may be wondering. Indeed, they have. But essentially, Rome hasn’t. Notice carefully these 21st-century errors of Romanism:
1. In harmony with Catholic traditions, Pope Francis still strongly teaches the importance of praying to Mary and dead saints; whereas the Holy Bible says “there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, emphasis added). “One Mediator” means “one,” not two, three, or more. Francis is wrong. Christians should never pray to Mary, but to God the Father alone, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ (see John 14:6; 15:16)
2. The Roman Church still teaches that it alone is the true Church and Bride of Christ because its popes are the thought to be successors of Peter, who was supposedly the first Pope, upon whom Jesus Christ supposedly built His church. This is Rome’s bedrock interpretation of Matthew 16:18, where Jesus told Peter, “you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.” But Rome’s interpretation is faulty for these reasons: 1. The word “Pope” itself is nowhere found in the Bible. Such a man-exalting title was assigned to its chief leader years later in an unholy effort by the Roman Church to boost its own authority above other churches; 2. Jesus Christ didn’t say, “you are Peter, and on you I will build My Church,” but rather “on this rock I will build My Church.” Immediately prior to this statement, Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (verse 16). Jesus Himself is the “rock” upon which God’s church is built, not poor Peter, who was even used by the devil shortly after Christ’s statement (see verses 21-23). “The Lord is my rock,” wrote David in Psalm 18:2. The “rock” is “Christ,” said Paul (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). The notion that impetuous and faulty Peter became the foundation of God’s Church is part of Rome’s heresy.
3. The Roman Church still teaches the doctrine of “purgatory,” the significance of “relics,” bowing to statues, the validity of indulgences, plus many other man-made traditions which are mentioned nowhere in God’s Word.
Unwittingly, Protestants now seeking union with Rome are fulfilling God’s holy prophecy which states that in the closing moments of time, “All the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3).
The Bible is still the Bible, the beast is still the beast, and eternal salvation from our sinful violations of God’s Ten Commandments comes only through simple faith in Jesus Christ alone (see 1 John 3:4; Acts 4:12). Prophecy also predicts that right before our Savior returns (Revelation 14:14-16), God Almighty will initiate His closing phase of the Protestant Reformation through the global proclamation of three angel’s messages recorded in Revelation 14:6-12. Pick up a Bible. Read Revelation 14:6-12 for yourself. God’s three angels are now announcing that the “hour of His judgment has come” (verse 7), urge the true worship of the Creator (verse 7), and warn about “the beast” (the Roman Church) who has even changed God’s original “seventh-day” Sabbath (Saturday) into Sunday (see Genesis 2:1-3; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 14:7,12; Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:8; 28:1,2; John 14:15).
Above all, God’s end-time reformatory message urges belief in “the everlasting gospel” (verse 6) of Jesus Christ who loves everyone, and paid the full price for our sins (see John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
What of the future?
A well-known writer has said:
God’s Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage-ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the Word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution. [3]
Make no mistake about it: The basic issues that divided Luther from Rome still exist today. According to prophecy, the Vatican is still the beast. We’ve come 500 years since Luther first protested in Wittenberg. Yes, times have changed, but the Bible hasn’t. Neither has Rome. God’s Reformation yet lives, and will continue to the close of time.
“Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” urged Moses at the golden calf (see Exodus 32:26). In an age of perilous ecumenical compromises, King Jesus Christ is asking the same question.
By Steve Wohlberg
Speaker/Director, White Horse Media
Author, End Time Delusions
[1] LeRoy Froom, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. II (Washington D.C.: Review and Herald, 1948), 121.
[2] John Foxe, Fox’s Book of Martyrs, edited by William Byron Forbush, D.D. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1926), Chapter IV, p. 43, emphasis added.
[3] E.G. White, The Great Controversy (1911 edition), p. 58