Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001286
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00:01 ♪[Dramatic It Is Written Theme]♪
00:08 Narrator >: It has stood the test of time. 00:12 God's book, the Bible. 00:17 Still relevant in today's complex world. 00:21 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:35 [Lightning sounds] 00:47 JB: I'm John Bradshaw. 00:48 This is It Is Written. 00:50 Thanks for joining me. 00:51 Peter was a wealthy tailor who lived in 12th century France. 00:56 By all accounts he wasn't a very religious man early in his life, 01:00 but when he became a Christian his life took a very dangerous 01:04 course, because Peter dared oppose the most powerful man 01:10 in all of Europe. 01:11 A man who had put to death many people like Peter before. 01:16 And Peter's story opens up to us a fascinating Bible prophecy. 01:27 I'm in Worms, Germany, the very place where the famous German 01:32 reformer, Martin Luther, took a bold and courageous stand 01:36 against a corrupt medieval church which demanded that he 01:40 renounce his belief in salvation by grace. 01:44 It was just 150 yards or so behind where I'm now sitting 01:48 that Martin Luther squared off against that medieval church 01:52 and he spoke boldly declaring these words: 01:56 "I cannot and will not recant anything. 02:00 For to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. 02:04 Here I stand. 02:06 I can do no other, so help me God." 02:10 Luther's courageous faith enabled the Protestant 02:12 Reformation to sweep across Germany and Europe, 02:16 forever changing the face of Christianity. 02:21 It is also here in Worms that you find another much larger 02:24 monument to Luther. 02:26 Here you see him as the central figure, and those who assisted 02:30 in the Reformation surround him. 02:33 One of these men is Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant 02:37 turned preacher. 02:39 Peter's story and that of his followers 02:41 is amazing, but it's one 02:43 that's almost forgotten by the modern Christian church. 02:47 While this monument places Waldo and Luther close to each other, 02:51 in real life this was not the case. 02:54 In fact, Waldo and Luther never met, 02:57 because Peter Waldo lived more than 300 years 03:00 before Luther. 03:03 But it was Waldo's legacy that reached across the centuries to 03:06 influence Luther and other Reformers to faithfully stand 03:10 for the true gospel. 03:14 Peter was living in Lyon, in France, 03:17 when he gave his life to Jesus and began reading the Bible. 03:21 His determination to live by the Bible alone put him in direct 03:25 conflict with the most powerful man in Europe, the pope of Rome. 03:31 Twelfth-century Europe was dominated by popes and the 03:35 priests and kings loyal to them. 03:38 It was also a time when the church strayed far from the 03:41 simple gospel. 03:42 Prophecy had predicted this, in Daniel and Revelation. 03:46 Daniel 7 verse 25: "He shall speak pompous words 03:50 against the most high, shall persecute the saints 03:53 of the most high, and shall intend to change 03:57 times and law. 03:59 Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time 04:02 and times and half a time." 04:07 Peter and his followers saw this departure from Bible truth and 04:10 they began to show from the Bible that many of the church's 04:13 teachings were not found in Scripture, and in fact were 04:17 positively harmful to people. 04:20 They correctly pointed out that the teaching of purgatory 04:23 is not in Scripture. 04:25 They also rejected the veneration of saints. 04:28 They challenged the Mass, and the Catholic church's 04:30 authority as being the sole determiner 04:33 of truth and salvation. 04:36 Peter ultimately found himself here at the Vatican in 1179, 04:40 in a meeting with Pope Alexander III. 04:43 Along with one of his disciples, Peter had to defend his beliefs; 04:48 beliefs that ultimately would condemn at the Third Lateran 04:51 Council later that year. 04:55 And then a few years later, in 1184, 04:58 Peter and his followers were excommunicated 05:00 from the church. 05:02 Finally, at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, 05:06 the Waldensians, as they later became known, 05:09 were declared to be heretics. 05:14 This put the Waldensians in a very dangerous predicament. 05:17 They were conscience bound to follow the teachings of Jesus 05:20 as found in the Bible, but the Roman church, 05:24 aided by the strong arm of the state, made it impossible 05:27 for them to do this without risking torture and even death. 05:31 And this threat was very real. 05:34 Just a few years before, in the year 1211, 05:37 the church had begun persecuting the Waldensians when she burned 05:42 more than 80 of them to death. 05:44 As the fires of persecution were lit, 05:47 a unique Bible prophecy came to life, 05:50 helping the Waldensians survive a period of intense persecution. 05:57 These rugged mountains became their hiding place during long 06:00 centuries of persecution. 06:03 The Roman church of that era sought through every possible 06:06 method to destroy this people's loyal obedience to Scripture. 06:11 But God had His hand on His faithful servants. 06:14 In fact, Bible prophecy predicted the precise way God 06:18 would protect them from their persecutors. 06:21 We read it in Revelation 12:14: "But the woman was given two 06:26 wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to 06:30 her place where she is nourished for a time and times and half a 06:35 time from the presence of the serpent. 06:38 So that serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after 06:41 the woman that he might cause her to be carried away 06:44 by the flood. 06:45 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth 06:49 and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out 06:53 of his mouth." 06:54 You see, in a very real way, the earth helped the woman, 06:58 the church, as she was being persecuted. 07:01 Those Waldensian Christians refused to compromise their 07:03 faith in God's Word even in the face of death. 07:07 And so the earth helped the woman. 07:10 They fled to the place that God had prepared for them. 07:13 Here in the recesses of these grand mountains, 07:16 in their valleys, peaks and caves 07:19 the Waldensians were free to worship God 07:21 according to the Scriptures, where no pope or priest 07:25 could menace them. 07:27 I'll have more in just a moment. 07:32 ♪ [Gentle Melody] ♪ >: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of 07:35 God says: "It is written. 07:37 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that 07:41 proceeds from the mouth of God." 07:43 "Every Word" is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 07:46 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed especially 07:49 for busy people like you. 07:51 Look for "Every Word" on selected networks or watch it 07:55 online every day on our website, ItIsWritten.com. 07:58 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 08:00 Watch "Every Word." 08:02 You'll be glad you did. 08:03 Here's a sample: 08:07 ♪ [Uplifting rhythm] ♪ 08:14 JB: Thanks for stopping by. 08:15 Here's a Bible verse that spells out the reality of growing 08:18 in faith in God. 08:20 Malachi 3:3 says: "And he shall purify the sons 08:22 of Levi and purge them as gold and silver 08:25 that they may offer unto the Lord an offering 08:27 in righteousness." 08:29 Do you want to know the uncomfortable truth? 08:31 We need purifying. 08:33 That's often why difficulties come our way, because God knows 08:36 we need them to refine us. 08:38 Few people enjoy trials, but the truth is 08:40 trials are often the best thing that can happen to us 08:43 because they refine us. 08:44 They drive us to God in prayer. 08:46 They help us see our spiritual weak points and they encourage 08:48 us to grow and learn new habits and attitudes. 08:51 No, I'm not campaigning for more trials in my life. 08:55 But when we see that we need God to purify us, we'll react 08:59 differently when trials come. 09:01 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 09:03 Let's live today by every word. 09:08 ♪ [Melancholic tune] ♪ 09:15 JB: This is It Is Written, and I'm John Bradshaw. 09:17 Thanks for joining me. 09:19 The Waldensian Christians weren't content to keep the 09:22 gospel to themselves in their mountain retreats here in 09:25 northern Italy. 09:27 They understood how the church's superstitious teachings were 09:31 destroying people's lives, and even worse how they were 09:34 destroying people's hope of eternal life. 09:37 They saw multitudes of people across Europe struggling 09:40 under false teachings. 09:42 They saw people trying to achieve salvation by relying on 09:45 their own works, afflicting their bodies 09:49 through wearisome pilgrimages, health-destroying fasts, 09:53 painful penances, and even self-imposed tortures. 09:58 People living in the Dark Ages were emotionally burdened, 10:02 laboring under the misconception that the God of heaven is a 10:05 hateful, vengeful God who inflicts the most awful 10:09 punishments upon people for the least infractions 10:12 of the church's rules. 10:15 The Waldensians longed to see their fellow human beings 10:17 understand the true gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoy the peace 10:21 that comes from that, so beautifully explained 10:23 in these words from the Apostle Paul. 10:27 Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9 says: 10:29 "For by grace you have been saved through faith 10:33 and that not of yourselves. 10:35 It is the gift of God, not of works 10:38 lest anyone should boast." 10:41 Hundreds of years before Martin Luther discovered this truth, 10:45 the Waldensians were living it. 10:47 They knew the blessing of relying on God's grace and 10:51 goodness and Jesus' perfect life for salvation and not on their 10:55 own good works. 10:57 Just like it says in Romans chapter 3. 11:01 Romans 3, 10-12: "There is none righteous, 11:05 no not one. 11:07 They have all turned aside. 11:09 They have together become unprofitable. 11:11 There is none who does good, no not one." 11:16 The Bible is very clear that our own good works 11:19 can never save us. 11:21 In fact, Isaiah wrote that our righteousnesses 11:24 are as filthy rags. 11:27 The only way we can hope to go from unrighteousness to 11:29 righteousness is by accepting that we are sinners and by 11:32 believing that God loves us just as we are. 11:36 Jesus came into this world to die for us 11:39 and pay the penalty for our sins while we were sinners. 11:44 And there's nothing we can do to earn the favor of God. 11:48 We can respond to the favor of God, 11:51 but we can never earn it. 11:54 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ 11:58 died for the ungodly. 12:00 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a 12:04 good man someone would even dare to die. 12:07 But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we 12:12 were still sinners, Christ died for us." 12:16 Romans 5:6-8. 12:20 It was for the purpose of sharing this wonderful news of 12:23 salvation that the Waldensian believers established little 12:27 schools such as this one. 12:29 Here they trained their pastors and sent them out 12:32 as missionaries to the rest of Europe. 12:34 The school was known as the College of the Barbs and it's 12:38 still remote, even today, hidden way back up here 12:41 in the mountains. 12:42 And even though it was built centuries ago, its stone walls 12:46 still stand as a witness of the unshakable faith these people 12:51 had in Jesus and the Bible. 13:00 The word "barb" meant uncle, which is what the Waldensians 13:04 used to call their pastors. 13:06 Uncle. 13:07 Now, this was in stark contrast to the practice of 13:10 the Roman church, which would refer to its 13:12 priests as "father," something the Waldensians 13:15 understood to be condemned by what Jesus said in 13:18 Matthew 23 in verse 9, when He said, 13:22 "And call no man your father upon the earth. 13:25 For one is your Father, which is in heaven." 13:29 ♪ [nostalgic melody] ♪ 13:42 Here, the young Waldensian pastors would train under the 13:45 more experienced barbs. 13:47 They would study Scripture around this table, and since the 13:50 printing press had not yet been invented they hand copied the 13:54 Bible and translated it into the common language. 13:59 Then they would go out from this place, disguised as peddlers 14:02 and merchants. 14:04 Some went as students to the universities, for three years 14:07 serving as missionaries. 14:09 They traveled throughout Europe with their hand-copied 14:11 Scriptures hidden in the linings of their clothes 14:14 or in their bags. 14:16 Very carefully they would share portions of Scripture with 14:19 people they thought were receptive. 14:22 Often, they would secretly leave a portion of Scripture for 14:25 someone to find, and that little fragment of Scripture 14:29 would beam a glorious light into the darkened hearts 14:32 and lives of people who had been so long kept in bondage. 14:38 ♪ [disconcerting drone] ♪ Wherever they went, 14:41 they left a revival behind them. 14:44 Now, this angered the priests, who lost their superstitious 14:48 stranglehold on the people. 14:50 And if the Waldensian pastor was caught, he knew his fate. 14:55 First, he'd be tortured in an attempt to get information 14:59 about where his people lived. 15:01 And then, he'd be killed in the most painful of ways. 15:11 Over a period of several hundred years, 15:13 those loyal to the popes of Rome invaded these peaceful valleys. 15:18 The Waldensians were hunted like wild animals; 15:21 men, women, even children 15:25 were ruthlessly murdered. 15:27 No one was spared. 15:29 During these times, the Waldensians moved higher 15:31 up these valleys, often hiding in caves 15:34 like the cave behind me. 15:36 In fact, hiding in the cave behind me. 15:40 It was here that the Waldensians fled. 15:43 Here they hid. 15:44 Here they worshiped. 15:46 Here they prayed. 15:48 And all too often, tragically, here they died. 15:55 It was in this very cave and other caves just like it 15:59 throughout this area that the Waldensian believers hid as 16:03 their persecutors sought to find them. 16:07 Maybe the cave could hold 100 people, 16:10 perhaps a few more. 16:11 But not many more. 16:13 You can imagine them huddled together, waiting in faith for 16:17 the persecution time to pass. 16:21 They certainly weren't here because it was comfortable. 16:24 It's cold in here, and damp. 16:27 The walls are damp. 16:29 There's water dripping down constantly from above. 16:33 Underfoot it's just dirt. 16:35 What isn't dirt is stone or rocks. 16:40 The ceiling is high up there, the stone ceiling arching 16:43 over us. 16:45 It's a lot like a cathedral in here. 16:52 Many were not able to escape the savagery of their persecutors. 16:58 History records that this group of people stood up against some 17:01 of the worst persecutions any human beings have ever endured, 17:06 and they did so for hundreds and hundreds of years. 17:11 And all because of their biblical faith in Jesus. 17:16 [Chorus] ♪ Faith of our fathers, ♪ 17:19 living still In spite of dungeon, 17:25 fire and sword, O how our hearts 17:32 beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious 17:40 word! 17:41 Faith of our fathers! 17:44 holy faith! 17:47 We will be true to thee till death. 17:56 Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, 18:02 Were still in heart and conscience free; 18:08 How sweet would be their children's fate, 18:14 If they, like them, could die for Thee. 18:20 Faith of our fathers! 18:23 holy faith! 18:26 We will be true to thee till death. 18:34 Faith of our fathers, we will love 18:40 Both friend and foe in all our strife, 18:47 And preach thee, too, as love knows how 18:53 By kindly words and virtuous life. 18:59 Faith of our fathers! 19:02 holy faith! 19:05 We will be true, we will be true, 19:13 We will be true to thee till death! 19:27 ♪ [Melody of Hope] ♪ JB: In the 1520s and '30s, 19:40 the Waldensians decided to investigate the stories they'd 19:43 been hearing about Christians from Germany and other places, 19:47 who were returning to the Bible and were rejecting the 19:51 traditions of Rome. 19:53 So, some of their pastors traveled north into Switzerland 19:56 and Germany and met with the Reformers. 19:59 They shared with the Protestant leaders about their ancient 20:02 faith and their long, dark night of persecution. 20:07 Both parties were shocked. 20:10 The Reformers, because they had no idea there was a people who 20:13 had been able to resist Rome's tyranny, and the Waldensians to 20:18 discover that they were not alone, that there were others 20:22 who also believed the gospel of salvation by grace. 20:28 On October 12, 1532, Protestant leaders from across Europe came 20:34 here to the Waldensian valleys and met with the spiritual 20:38 leaders of the Waldenses during a six-day Bible conference in 20:43 the little village of Chamforan. 20:46 This monument memorializes this historic event, when the church 20:50 in the wilderness, so long in hiding, joined with the 20:54 Reformation; a Reformation that would take its faith from the 20:58 Bible, the Bible alone. 21:07 One of their agreements was that the Waldenses would help the 21:10 Reformed churches translate the Bible. 21:13 So, the ancient manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments that 21:17 the Waldenses had preserved for centuries were now translated 21:21 into French, and the worldly poor Waldenses took up an 21:25 offering from their meager resources to pay for its 21:28 printing. 21:30 In this way, the Waldenses gave the light of truth 21:34 to the rest of Europe. 21:37 You see, these faithful believers understood something 21:41 that we need to be reminded of today. 21:43 True, saving faith cannot be possessed outside the Bible. 21:48 Church, traditions, and forms can only take a person so far. 21:53 Religious ceremonies and customs do not save a person. 21:58 Real, saving faith: the type of faith that's able to withstand 22:02 the fires of persecution; the sort of faith 22:04 that Jesus said will lead to eternal life, 22:08 is found in the Word of God. 22:11 The Apostle Paul said in Romans 10 and verse 17: 22:14 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 22:21 That's why it's so vital that we come to the Bible and get to 22:24 know it for ourselves. 22:26 It's more important than I can stress that we take the time 22:30 necessary to read God's Word, to study God's Word, 22:34 and hear His voice speaking to us individually. 22:37 And God will do that in the Bible. 22:40 If it's peace you need, you need look no further 22:43 than the holy Scriptures. 22:45 If you're looking for love, you'll find the One who loves 22:48 the most, in God's Word. 22:51 If you're looking for freedom from guilt 22:54 and forgiveness from sin, you can read about Calvary 22:57 and God's perfect plan of forgiveness: a plan He devised 23:02 especially for you. 23:05 The Bible contains everything that we need for life and love 23:11 and hope and faith. 23:14 And the Waldensians understood that. 23:18 I hope you'll get the book I'm offering you this week. 23:19 It's called "Revelation Today." 23:21 It adds a lot of details to the end-times scenario presented in 23:24 the book of Revelation. 23:25 This little book is going to help you understand what the 23:27 book of Revelation is really all about. 23:29 It untangles the end-time prophetic scenario to let you 23:33 see how the battle between good and evil ultimately plays out. 23:36 Just call or write and I will send you "Revelation Today." 23:39 There's no cost, no obligation. 23:40 It's absolutely free. 23:42 All you need to do is call 1 (800) 253-3000 23:45 and ask for "Revelation Today." 23:47 You can call 24 hours a day. 23:48 If the line's busy, please just keep on trying. 23:51 You can also request your free copy of "Revelation Today" 23:53 by writing to It Is Written, Box O, 23:57 Thousand Oaks, CA 91359, and we'll mail you a copy to 24:01 your address in North America. 24:03 Please note: this free book is limited to the supply on hand. 24:07 To get it right away, you can download a free electronic 24:09 version of the book "Revelation Today" 24:11 from our website ItIsWritten.com. 24:14 It Is Written is a faith-based ministry made possible by 24:17 viewers like you. 24:19 Thank you for your kind support. 24:20 Your help makes it possible for us to share God's good news 24:23 with the world. 24:25 Your tax-deductible gift can be sent to the address on your 24:27 screen, or you can support us online at ItIsWritten.com. 24:32 Thank you for your continued support. 24:34 Our toll-free number is 1 (800) 253-3000, 24:37 and our web address is ItIsWritten.com. 24:52 Peter Waldo and his fellow Waldensians 24:55 are the hidden heroes of the Reformation. 24:57 They remained faithful to God throughout one of the darkest 25:00 periods of persecution in all of history. 25:04 That's why it's so incredibly appropriate that Martin Luther 25:07 and Peter Waldo are united here on this monument 25:10 in Worms, Germany, even though they were 25:13 separated by 350 years of history. 25:17 You see, they both understood that the Bible, 25:20 and the Bible alone, is the basis of our faith. 25:25 Some of these men and women depicted here at this monument 25:29 died for their faith in Jesus Christ. 25:32 It might not be that God is calling you 25:35 to die for Him today, but it's certainly true 25:39 that God is calling you to live for Him today. 25:44 Can you do that? 25:45 Can you make that decision? 25:46 That decision that the Bible, the Word of God, 25:49 will be the foundation for your life. 25:51 That the God of the Bible, the creator of the Bible, 25:54 can create in you a new heart. 25:57 That the Savior of the Bible can take away your sins and give you 26:01 heaven's forgiveness in the place of your guilt. 26:06 Can you make the decision today that faith in God will be the 26:11 cornerstone of your life and that you will allow 26:13 the power of God into your life to make you what you 26:18 could never make yourself and to keep you in a way 26:21 that you could never yourself. 26:23 These believed in the power of the Word of God, 26:26 and you can experience the power of the Word 26:29 of God today. 26:31 Let's pray together now. 26:33 Our Father in heaven, thank You for the example given us by 26:37 these great heroes of the faith, some of the hidden heroes. 26:43 We perhaps don't really appreciate what others before us 26:46 have done to deliver to us access to the Word of God, 26:50 freedom to worship, and the privilege 26:52 of knowing You. 26:54 Lord, while in this world the vast majority of us have the 26:57 freedom to read what we want to read and worship 27:00 how we want to worship. 27:01 I pray that guided by Your Spirit we wouldn't squander that 27:04 opportunity, but lead us to know Jesus the Savior truly, 27:08 according to the Bible. 27:09 Give us the freedom that the Bible promises us, 27:13 that we can walk not in darkness but in Your marvelous light. 27:18 We look forward to the day when Jesus is going to return. 27:21 I pray that day would be soon. 27:23 We look forward to eternity with You. 27:26 And we thank You for this promise, for this great hope, 27:29 and we pray in Jesus' name. 27:31 Amen. 27:35 ♪ [heartfelt melody] ♪ 27:50 Thanks for joining me today. 27:51 I look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:53 Until then, remember, It Is Written: 27:57 man shall not live by bread alone 28:00 but by every word that proceeds 28:03 from the mouth of God. 28:05 ♪ [It Is Written Theme] ♪ |
Revised 2015-06-18