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Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001429A
01:30 ♪[Theme music]♪
01:49 ♪[Music]♪ [Lightning sounds] 02:08 JB: I'm John Bradshaw. This is It Is Written. 02:11 Thanks for joining me. Peter was a wealthy tailor who 02:14 lived in 12th century France. By all accounts he wasn't a very 02:18 religious man early in his life, but when he became a Christian 02:22 his life took a very dangerous course, because Peter dared 02:27 oppose the most powerful man in all of Europe. 02:32 A man who had put to death many people like Peter before. 02:36 And Peter's story opens up to us a fascinating Bible prophecy. 02:48 I'm in Worms, Germany, the very place where the famous German 02:52 reformer, Martin Luther, took a bold and courageous stand 02:57 against a corrupt medieval church which demanded that he 03:01 renounce his belief in salvation by grace. 03:05 It was just 150 yards or so behind where I'm now sitting 03:08 that Martin Luther squared off against that medieval church 03:12 and he spoke boldly declaring these words: 03:16 "I cannot and will not recant anything. 03:20 For to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. 03:25 Here I stand. I can do no other, 03:28 so help me God." Luther's courageous faith 03:32 enabled the Protestant Reformation to sweep across 03:35 Germany and Europe, forever changing 03:38 the face of Christianity. 03:42 It is also here in Worms that you find another much larger 03:45 monument to Luther. Here you see him as the central 03:48 figure, and those who assisted in the Reformation surround him. 03:53 One of these men is Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant 03:58 turned preacher. Peter's story 04:00 and that of his followers is amazing, 04:03 but it's one that's almost forgotten 04:05 by the modern Christian church. While this monument places Waldo 04:10 and Luther close to each other, in real life 04:13 this was not the case. In fact, Waldo and Luther 04:16 never met, because Peter Waldo lived 04:19 more than 300 years before Luther. 04:24 But it was Waldo's legacy that reached across the centuries to 04:27 influence Luther and other Reformers to faithfully stand 04:31 for the true gospel. 04:35 Peter was living in Lyon, in France, 04:37 when he gave his life to Jesus and began reading the Bible. 04:41 His determination to live by the Bible alone put him in direct 04:45 conflict with the most powerful man in Europe, the pope of Rome. 04:52 Twelfth-century Europe was dominated by popes and the 04:55 priests and kings loyal to them. It was also a time when the 04:59 church strayed far from the simple gospel. 05:03 Prophecy had predicted this, in Daniel and Revelation. 05:07 Daniel 7 verse 25: "He shall speak pompous words 05:11 against the most high, shall persecute the saints 05:14 of the most high, and shall intend to change 05:17 times and law. Then the saints shall be given 05:20 into his hand for a time and times and half a time." 05:27 Peter and his followers saw this departure from Bible truth and 05:31 they began to show from the Bible that many of the church's 05:34 teachings were not found in Scripture, and in fact were 05:38 positively harmful to people. They correctly pointed out that 05:42 the teaching of purgatory is not in Scripture. 05:45 They also rejected the veneration of saints. 05:48 They challenged the Mass, and the Catholic church's 05:51 authority as being the sole determiner 05:53 of truth and salvation. Peter ultimately found himself 05:58 here at the Vatican in 1179, in a meeting with 06:02 Pope Alexander III. Along with one of his disciples, 06:06 Peter had to defend his beliefs; beliefs that ultimately would 06:10 condemn at the Third Lateran Council later that year. 06:16 And then a few years later, in 1184, 06:18 Peter and his followers were excommunicated 06:21 from the church. Finally, at the Fourth Lateran 06:24 Council in 1215, the Waldensians, 06:28 as they later became known, were declared to be heretics. 06:34 This put the Waldensians in a very dangerous predicament. 06:37 They were conscience bound to follow the teachings of Jesus 06:41 as found in the Bible, but the Roman church, 06:44 aided by the strong arm of the state, made it impossible 06:48 for them to do this without risking torture and even death. 06:52 And this threat was very real. Just a few years before, 06:56 in the year 1211, the church had begun persecuting 06:59 the Waldensians when she burned more than 80 of them to death. 07:05 As the fires of persecution were lit, 07:07 a unique Bible prophecy came to life, 07:11 helping the Waldensians survive a period of intense persecution. 07:18 These rugged mountains became their hiding place during long 07:20 centuries of persecution. The Roman church of that era 07:25 sought through every possible method to destroy this people's 07:29 loyal obedience to Scripture. But God had His hand 07:33 on His faithful servants. In fact, Bible prophecy 07:37 predicted the precise way God would protect them from their 07:40 persecutors. We read it in Revelation 12:14: 07:45 "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she 07:49 might fly into the wilderness to her place where she is nourished 07:53 for a time and times and half a time from the presence 07:57 of the serpent. So that serpent spewed water out 08:00 of his mouth like a flood after the woman that he might cause 08:03 her to be carried away by the flood. 08:06 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth 08:10 and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out 08:13 of his mouth." You see, in a very real way, 08:17 the earth helped the woman, the church, 08:19 as she was being persecuted. Those Waldensian Christians 08:23 refused to compromise their faith in God's Word 08:25 even in the face of death. And so the earth helped the 08:29 woman. They fled to the place that God 08:32 had prepared for them. Here in the recesses 08:35 of these grand mountains, in their valleys, 08:38 peaks and caves the Waldensians were free 08:41 to worship God according to the Scriptures, 08:44 where no pope or priest could menace them. 08:47 I'll have more in just a moment. 08:52 ♪ [Gentle Melody] ♪ >: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of 08:55 God says: "It is written. Man shall not live by bread 08:59 alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 09:03 "Every Word" is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional 09:07 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed especially 09:10 for busy people like you. Look for "Every Word" 09:13 on selected networks or watch it online every day on our website, 09:17 ItIsWritten.com. Receive a daily spiritual boost. 09:21 Watch "Every Word." You'll be glad you did. 09:24 Here's a sample: ♪ [Uplifting rhythm] ♪ 09:35 JB: Thanks for stopping by. Here's a Bible verse that spells 09:38 out the reality of growing in faith in God. 09:40 Malachi 3:3 says: "And he shall purify the sons 09:43 of Levi and purge them as gold and silver 09:46 that they may offer unto the Lord an offering 09:48 in righteousness." Do you want to know the 09:50 uncomfortable truth? We need purifying. 09:54 That's often why difficulties come our way, because God knows 09:56 we need them to refine us. Few people enjoy trials, 10:00 but the truth is trials are often the best thing 10:02 that can happen to us because they refine us. 10:04 They drive us to God in prayer. They help us see our spiritual 10:07 weak points and they encourage us to grow and learn new habits 10:10 and attitudes. No, I'm not campaigning for more 10:14 trials in my life. But when we see that we need God 10:17 to purify us, we'll react differently when trials come. 10:22 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 10:24 Let's live today by every word. 10:28 ♪ [Melancholic tune] ♪ 10:36 JB: This is It Is Written, and I'm John Bradshaw. 10:38 Thanks for joining me. The Waldensian Christians 10:41 weren't content to keep the gospel to themselves in their 10:44 mountain retreats here in northern Italy. 10:48 They understood how the church's superstitious teachings were 10:51 destroying people's lives, and even worse how they were 10:54 destroying people's hope of eternal life. 10:58 They saw multitudes of people across Europe struggling 11:01 under false teachings. They saw people trying to 11:04 achieve salvation by relying on their own works, 11:07 afflicting their bodies through wearisome pilgrimages, 11:12 health-destroying fasts, painful penances, 11:16 and even self-imposed tortures. People living in the Dark Ages 11:20 were emotionally burdened, laboring under the misconception 11:24 that the God of heaven is a hateful, vengeful God who 11:28 inflicts the most awful punishments upon people 11:31 for the least infractions of the church's rules. 11:35 The Waldensians longed to see their fellow human beings 11:37 understand the true gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoy the peace 11:41 that comes from that, so beautifully explained 11:44 in these words from the Apostle Paul. 11:47 Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9 says: 11:50 "For by grace you have been saved through faith 11:53 and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, 11:57 not of works lest anyone should boast." 12:01 Hundreds of years before Martin Luther discovered this truth, 12:05 the Waldensians were living it. They knew the blessing of 12:09 relying on God's grace and goodness and Jesus' perfect life 12:14 for salvation and not on their own good works. 12:18 Just like it says in Romans chapter 3. 12:21 Romans 3, 10-12: "There is none righteous, 12:26 no not one. They have all turned aside. 12:29 They have together become unprofitable. 12:32 There is none who does good, no not one." 12:36 The Bible is very clear that our own good works 12:40 can never save us. In fact, Isaiah wrote that 12:43 our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. 12:47 The only way we can hope to go from unrighteousness to 12:49 righteousness is by accepting that we are sinners and by 12:52 believing that God loves us just as we are. 12:57 Jesus came into this world to die for us 13:00 and pay the penalty for our sins while we were sinners. 13:05 And there's nothing we can do to earn the favor of God. 13:09 We can respond to the favor of God, 13:11 but we can never earn it. 13:15 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ 13:18 died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man 13:23 will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare 13:26 to die. But God demonstrates His own 13:30 love toward us in that while we were still sinners, 13:34 Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8. 13:41 It was for the purpose of sharing this wonderful news of 13:44 salvation that the Waldensian believers established little 13:47 schools such as this one. Here they trained their pastors 13:51 and sent them out as missionaries 13:53 to the rest of Europe. The school was known as the 13:57 College of the Barbs and it's still remote, even today, 14:00 hidden way back up here in the mountains. 14:03 And even though it was built centuries ago, its stone walls 14:07 still stand as a witness of the unshakable faith these people 14:11 had in Jesus and the Bible. 14:21 The word "barb" meant uncle, which is what the Waldensians 14:25 used to call their pastors. Uncle. 14:28 Now, this was in stark contrast to the practice of 14:30 the Roman church, which would refer to its 14:32 priests as "father," something the Waldensians 14:36 understood to be condemned by what Jesus said in 14:39 Matthew 23 in verse 9, when He said, 14:43 "And call no man your father upon the earth. 14:46 For one is your Father, which is in heaven." 14:50 ♪ [nostalgic melody] ♪ 15:02 Here, the young Waldensian pastors would train under the 15:05 more experienced barbs. They would study Scripture 15:08 around this table, and since the printing press had not yet been 15:12 invented they hand copied the Bible and translated it 15:17 into the common language. Then they would go out from this 15:21 place, disguised as peddlers and merchants. 15:24 Some went as students to the universities, for three years 15:27 serving as missionaries. They traveled throughout Europe 15:31 with their hand-copied Scriptures hidden in the linings 15:34 of their clothes or in their bags. 15:36 Very carefully they would share portions of Scripture with 15:39 people they thought were receptive. 15:42 Often, they would secretly leave a portion of Scripture for 15:46 someone to find, and that little fragment of Scripture 15:49 would beam a glorious light into the darkened hearts 15:52 and lives of people who had been so long kept in bondage. 15:58 ♪ [disconcerting drone] ♪ Wherever they went, 16:02 they left a revival behind them. Now, this angered the priests, 16:06 who lost their superstitious stranglehold on the people. 16:11 And if the Waldensian pastor was caught, he knew his fate. 16:15 First, he'd be tortured in an attempt to get information 16:19 about where his people lived. And then, he'd be killed 16:25 in the most painful of ways. 16:31 Over a period of several hundred years, 16:34 those loyal to the popes of Rome invaded these peaceful valleys. 16:38 The Waldensians were hunted like wild animals; 16:42 men, women, even children 16:45 were ruthlessly murdered. No one was spared. 16:49 During these times, the Waldensians moved higher 16:52 up these valleys, often hiding in caves 16:55 like the cave behind me. In fact, hiding in the cave 16:59 behind me. It was here that the Waldensians 17:03 fled. Here they hid. 17:05 Here they worshiped. Here they prayed. 17:09 And all too often, tragically, here they died. 17:15 It was in this very cave and other caves just like it 17:19 throughout this area that the Waldensian believers hid as 17:24 their persecutors sought to find them. 17:28 Maybe the cave could hold 100 people, 17:30 perhaps a few more. But not many more. 17:33 You can imagine them huddled together, waiting in faith for 17:37 the persecution time to pass. They certainly weren't here 17:42 because it was comfortable. It's cold in here, and damp. 17:48 The walls are damp. There's water dripping down 17:51 constantly from above. Underfoot it's just dirt. 17:56 What isn't dirt is stone or rocks. 18:00 The ceiling is high up there, the stone ceiling arching 18:03 over us. It's a lot like a cathedral 18:07 in here. 18:13 Many were not able to escape the savagery of their persecutors. 18:18 History records that this group of people stood up against some 18:22 of the worst persecutions any human beings have ever endured, 18:27 and they did so for hundreds and hundreds of years. 18:32 And all because of their biblical faith in Jesus. 18:37 [Chorus] ♪ Faith of our fathers, ♪ 18:40 living still In spite of dungeon, 18:46 fire and sword, O how our hearts 18:52 beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious 19:00 word! Faith of our fathers! 19:05 holy faith! We will be true to thee 19:12 till death. Our fathers, 19:18 chained in prisons dark, Were still in heart 19:25 and conscience free; How sweet would be 19:31 their children's fate, If they, like them, 19:37 could die for Thee. Faith of our fathers! 19:44 holy faith! We will be true 19:49 to thee till death. Faith of our fathers, 19:58 we will love Both friend and foe 20:04 in all our strife, And preach thee, too, 20:10 as love knows how By kindly words 20:16 and virtuous life. Faith of our fathers! 20:23 holy faith! We will be true, 20:29 we will be true, We will be true to thee 20:39 till death! 20:47 ♪[Music]♪ [Thunder sounds] 20:58 ♪ [Melody of Hope] ♪ JB: In the 1520s and '30s, 21:09 the Waldensians decided to investigate the stories they'd 21:12 been hearing about Christians from Germany and other places, 21:16 who were returning to the Bible and were rejecting the 21:19 traditions of Rome. So, some of their pastors 21:23 traveled north into Switzerland and Germany 21:26 and met with the Reformers. They shared with the Protestant 21:29 leaders about their ancient faith and their long, dark night 21:33 of persecution. Both parties were shocked. 21:38 The Reformers, because they had no idea there was a people who 21:42 had been able to resist Rome's tyranny, and the Waldensians to 21:47 discover that they were not alone, that there were others 21:50 who also believed the gospel of salvation by grace. 21:57 On October 12, 1532, Protestant leaders from across Europe came 22:03 here to the Waldensian valleys and met with the spiritual 22:07 leaders of the Waldenses during a six-day Bible conference in 22:12 the little village of Chamforan. This monument memorializes this 22:17 historic event, when the church in the wilderness, so long in 22:21 hiding, joined with the Reformation; a Reformation that 22:25 would take its faith from the Bible, the Bible alone. 22:36 One of their agreements was that the Waldenses would help the 22:39 Reformed churches translate the Bible. 22:42 So, the ancient manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments that 22:46 the Waldenses had preserved for centuries were now translated 22:50 into French, and the worldly poor Waldenses took up an 22:54 offering from their meager resources to pay for its 22:57 printing. In this way, the Waldenses gave 23:01 the light of truth to the rest of Europe. 23:06 You see, these faithful believers understood something 23:09 that we need to be reminded of today. 23:12 True, saving faith cannot be possessed outside the Bible. 23:17 Church, traditions, and forms can only take a person so far. 23:22 Religious ceremonies and customs do not save a person. 23:26 Real, saving faith: the type of faith that's able to withstand 23:30 the fires of persecution; the sort of faith 23:33 that Jesus said will lead to eternal life, 23:36 is found in the Word of God. The Apostle Paul said 23:41 in Romans 10 and verse 17: "So then faith comes by hearing, 23:46 and hearing by the word of God." 23:49 That's why it's so vital that we come to the Bible and get to 23:53 know it for ourselves. It's more important than I can 23:57 stress that we take the time necessary to read God's Word, 24:01 to study God's Word, and hear His voice speaking 24:04 to us individually. And God will do that 24:07 in the Bible. If it's peace you need, 24:11 you need look no further than the holy Scriptures. 24:13 If you're looking for love, you'll find the One who loves 24:17 the most, in God's Word. If you're looking for 24:21 freedom from guilt and forgiveness from sin, 24:24 you can read about Calvary and God's perfect plan of 24:27 forgiveness: a plan He devised especially for you. 24:34 The Bible contains everything that we need for life and love 24:40 and hope and faith. And the Waldensians 24:44 understood that. 24:52 Your Father God, Your Creator 24:54 and originator is also the God of the future. 24:57 In His ability to tell us what is still ahead, God reminds us 25:00 of His sovereignty and power over all things. 25:03 To help us trust Him, God has provided amazing evidence of His 25:07 reliability, and the reliability of His Word. 25:11 Today, I'd like to send you a booklet that demonstrates how 25:13 God foretold world events with absolute accuracy thousands of 25:17 years in advance. This booklet is called, "Can God 25:20 be Trusted?" and it's absolutely FREE. 25:23 Just call 1 (800) 253-3000 and ask for "Can God be Trusted." 25:29 If the line's busy, please keep on trying. 25:32 Or write to us at It Is Written, P.O. Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 25:37 37401. we'll mail a free copy to your 25:40 address in North America. It Is Written is a faith-based 25:44 ministry and your support makes it possible for us to share 25:48 God's good news with the world. Your tax-deductible gift can be 25:52 sent to the address on your screen, or through our website 25:55 at ItIsWritten.com. Thank you for your continued 25:59 prayerful support. Again, our toll-free number is 26:02 1 (800) 253-3000, and our web address isItIsWritten.com. 26:11 [soft piano music] Peter Waldo 26:20 and his fellow Waldensians are the hidden heroes 26:22 of the Reformation. They remained faithful to God 26:26 throughout one of the darkest periods of persecution 26:28 in all of history. That's why it's so incredibly 26:31 appropriate that Martin Luther and Peter Waldo are united here 26:36 on this monument in Worms, Germany, 26:38 even though they were separated by 350 years 26:42 of history. You see, they both understood 26:45 that the Bible, and the Bible alone, 26:48 is the basis of our faith. Some of these men and women 26:53 depicted here at this monument died for their faith 26:56 in Jesus Christ. It might not be 27:00 that God is calling you to die for Him today, 27:04 but it's certainly true that God is calling you 27:07 to live for Him today. Can you do that? 27:11 Can you make that decision? That decision that the Bible, 27:14 the Word of God, will be the foundation 27:16 for your life. That the God of the Bible, 27:19 the creator of the Bible, can create in you a new heart. 27:23 That the Savior of the Bible can take away your sins and give you 27:28 heaven's forgiveness in the place of your guilt. 27:32 Can you make the decision today that faith in God will be the 27:37 cornerstone of your life and that you will allow 27:39 the power of God into your life to make you what you 27:44 could never make yourself and to keep you in a way 27:47 that you could never yourself. These believed in the power 27:51 of the Word of God, and you can experience 27:54 the power of the Word of God today. 27:57 Let's pray together now. Our Father in heaven, thank You 28:02 for the example given us by these great heroes of the faith, 28:06 some of the hidden heroes. We perhaps don't really 28:10 appreciate what others before us have done to deliver to us 28:14 access to the Word of God, freedom to worship, 28:18 and the privilege of knowing You. 28:20 Lord, while in this world the vast majority of us have the 28:24 freedom to read what we want to read and worship 28:26 how we want to worship. I pray that guided by Your 28:29 Spirit we wouldn't squander that opportunity, but lead us to know 28:33 Jesus the Savior truly, according to the Bible. 28:36 Give us the freedom that the Bible promises us, 28:39 that we can walk not in darkness but in Your marvelous light. 28:44 We look forward to the day when Jesus is going to return. 28:47 I pray that day would be soon. We look forward to eternity 28:51 with You. And we thank You for this 28:53 promise, for this great hope, and we pray in Jesus' name. 28:57 Amen. 29:01 ♪ [heartfelt melody] ♪ 29:16 Thanks for joining me today. I look forward to seeing you 29:18 again next time. Until then, remember, 29:22 It Is Written: man shall not live 29:24 by bread alone but by every word 29:28 that proceeds from the mouth of God. 29:31 ♪[It Is Written theme]♪ |
Revised 2017-08-22