The Greatest Century of Reformation: Updated and Expanded

By Dr. Peter Hammond

Practical Resources to Empower You for Reformation Today
There are also chapters on Martin Luther’s Practical Programme to Revive your Prayer Life, How the Reformation Changed the Church and How the Reformation Changed the World. The Appendices include a Chronology of the Reformation, a Reformation Calendar of key events and dates, the people of the Reformation, the popes of Rome, Libel against Luther and articles tackling thorny issues, such as, Did the Reformers Persecute the Anabaptists? and Is Celebrating the Reformation Anti-Catholic? There are lists of Roman catholic heresies and inventions and the approximate dates of when they were introduced. The Challenge of Islam According to the Reformers, The Five Points of Calvinism in the Teachings of Christ, 25 Steps You Can Take for Reformation Today, Key Contacts for Reformation Today, Questions for Discussion, either for home educators, or at Bible college classes, are also included. The book concludes with an inspiring example of how to celebrate and promote Reformation Today, applying the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.

Dedicated to R.C. Sproul
This book is dedicated to Dr. R.C. Sproul of St. Andrews Chapel, Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Bible College. His Reformation Trust books and the Reformation Study Bible, which he edited, have faithfully promoted the historic, Reformed Christian Faith and been invaluable aids in discipling pastors and missionaries throughout Africa, to return to the Word of God as our ultimate authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

Reformed Leaders Endorse the Greatest Century of Reformation
Dr. Jay Grimstead of the Coalition on Revival has written the Introduction and the book includes Forewords from Dr. Philip Kayser, Mike Evans, Dr. Fritz Haus, Dr. Shai Mulder, Rev. Bill Bathman, Alison Shortridge, Dorothea Scarborough, Rev. Mike O’Donovan, Pastor Mike Kiley and Dr. Martin Holdt.

A RECENT ENDORSEMENT:

“If you could read only one book about the Reformation, I'd recommend The Greatest Century of Reformation by Dr. Peter Hammond. Dr. Hammond (Peter) has a unique ability to be concise yet complete, readable yet scholarly, specific yet broad-based, impassioned yet objective. In 284 pages, Peter explains the need for the Reformation (anti-Scriptural teaching in the Church), the leaders of the Reformation (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox among many others, all of whom he treats evenhandedly), and ways the Reformation changed the church and the world --and he shows how the Reformation can change you as well. His glossary of people of the Reformation, his chronology of the events of the Reformation, and his other appendices are most helpful for gaining understanding. And how could he compress all of this into 284 highly readable pages? That's Peter's unique gift. Having recently spent a week with Dr. Hammond in Wittenberg, I know how dear the Reformation is to his heart. And I will always remember singing together, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."

- John Eidsmoe, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Ret.); Chaplain (Colonel MS), Mississippi State Guard; Pastor, Association of Free Lutheran; Congregations Professor, Oak Brook College of Law & Government Policy; Senior Counsel & Resident Scholar, Foundation for Moral Law

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Peter Hammond
• Release date: Apr 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463984086

Dr. Peter Hammond

Dr. Peter [e-mail]. O. Box 74 Newlands 7725 Cape Town South AfricaTel: 021-689-4480Academic:Baptist Theological College, Cape Town - Christian Missions Diploma (Cum Laude), 27 November 1984 (Baptist Theological College is now: Baptist Theological Seminary)Whitefield Theological Seminary, Lakeland, Florida, USA, Graduate School of Theology - Doctorate of Missiology in the Field of Applied Missions, 16 October 1998Antioch Bible College Institute and Seminary, Cartersville, Georgia, USA – Doctorate of Divinity, 22 May 2004Accomplishments:Founder and Director of Frontline Fellowship since 1982Founder and Director of Africa Christian Action since 1991Founder and Convenor of the Biblical Worldview Summit since 1991Founder and Chairman of Christian Liberty Books since 1995Founder and Convenor of Great Commission Camps and Courses since 1998Founder of Literature4Africa in 2003Founder and Chairman of The Reformation Society since 2005Founder and Chairman of Livingstone Fellowship since 2006Founder and Principal of William Carey Bible Institute since 2007Founder and Principal of the Henry Morton Stanley School of Christian Journalism since 2018.Author of:Answering Skeptics (also translated into Afrikaans)Frontline: Behind Enemy Lines for ChristBiblical Principles For Africa (also translated into Afrikaans and French)Biblical Worldview ManualChaplains HandbookCharacter Assassins - Dealing with Ecclesiastical Tyrants and TerroristsChristian History of Africa ManualChurch History ManualThe Discipleship HandbookDiscipleship Training ManualFaith Under Fire In Sudan (first published in 1996, expanded edition 1998 and third edition 2010)Holocaust In Rwanda (also translated in to French)In the Killing Fields of MozambiqueMake a Difference - A Christian Action Handbook For Southern Africa (co-authored with Miriam Cain and Philip Stott)New Testament Survey - Exploring the Central Messages of Every Book of the BibleOld Testament Survey – Exploring the Central Messages of Every Book of the BiblePower of Prayer HandbookPractical Discipleship (also translated into Afrikaans)Putting Feet To Your FaithReforming Our Families (co-authored with wife, Lenora Hammond)Security and Survival HandbookSketches from South African HistorySlavery, Terrorism and Islam - The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat (three editions)South Africa - Renaissance or Reformation?The Christian at War (also translated into Afrikaans, German and Spanish)The Great Commission Handbook (formally The Great Commission Manual in 9 editions)The Rise of the GayGB and the Pink Inquisition (co-authored with Christine McCafferty and Taryn Lourens)The Ten Commandments –God's Perfect Law of Liberty (also translated into Afrikaans) in two editionsVictorious Christians – Who Changed the World (also translated into Afrikaans)Editor of Frontline Fellowship News since 1982.Editor of Christian Action magazine since 1992.Contributing Editor of JOY! Magazine from 2006-2016Producer of weekly radio program Salt and Light on Radio Tygerberg from 1995-2016Editor of Gospel Defence League since 2016Weekly presenter of Christian Perspective on the News on Radio Cape Pulpit since 2018Initiator and Convenor of the 1995 and 1996 Christian Voice marches to Parliament.Initiator of the Calvin500 movement and conference in Geneva, Switzerland July 2009Initiator and Convenor of the Livingstone200 in 2013Initiator and Convenor of the Reformation500 culminating in Wittenberg, Germany, October 2017Initiator and Convenor of the ZwingliReformation500 culminating in 2019Chairman of Flame Lily Foundation – Cape of Good Hope since 2018.Chairman of the Cape Independence Forum since 2019.Missionary to Mozambique and Angola in the 1980s, to Zambia, Rwanda and Sudan in the 1990s.Initiator of the Boxes with Love and Bibles and Bikes Projects for evangelists. Have conducted over 18,000 meetings, church services, lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, Bible studies and outreaches across 38 countries since conversion and call to Missions in 1977.Courses completed include: Evangelism Explosion 3, Cross Cultural Communication, Way of the Master, Muslim Evangelism and Child Evangelism. Received missionary training and worked in Scripture Union and Hospital Christian Fellowship.

Book preview

Forewords - by Rev. Phillip Kayser, Mike Evans, Dr. Fritz Haus, Dr. Shai Mulder, Rev. Bill Bathman, Alison Shortridge, Dorothea Scarborough, Rev. Mike O'Donovan, Pastor Mike Kiley and Dr. Martin Holdt

Introduction - Dr. Jay Grimstead

Preface

Chapter 1 A Century of Repression, Revolt and Reformation

Chapter 2 Preparation for Reformation – Waldensians, Wycliffe, Anne of Bohemia, Hus, Gutenberg and Savonarola

Chapter 3 Martin Luther - Captive to the Word of God

Chapter 4 Ulrich Zwingli – The Reformer of Zurich

Chapter 5 William Tyndale and the Battle for the Bible

Chapter 6 Heinrich Bullinger – Consolidating the Reformation

Chapter 7 Martin Bucer – The Reformer of Straßburg

Chapter 8 Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation

Chapter 9 The Politicians Behind the English Reformation

Chapter 10 Anne Askew – A Daughter of the Reformation

Chapter 11 Bloody Mary and the Martyrs of the English Reformation

Chapter 12 Philipp Melanchthon – The Teacher of Germany

Chapter 13 Guillaume Farel - Fiery Debater and Evangelist

Chapter 14 John Calvin - A Heart Aflame and a Mind Renewed

Chapter 15 John Knox – and the Reformation in Scotland

Chapter 16 Pierre Viret – French Evangelist and Reformer

Chapter 17 Albrecht Dürer – Evangelist and Reformer in Art

Chapter 18 How the Reformation Changed the Church

Chapter 19 How the Reformation Changed the World

Chapter 20 Luther’s Practical Programme to Revive Your Prayer Life

Appendix 1 The People of the Reformation

Appendix 2 Chronology of the Reformation

Appendix 3 Reformation Calendar of Key Events and Dates

Appendix 4 The Popes of Rome

Appendix 5 Libel Against Luther

Appendix 6 Did the Reformers Persecute the Anabaptists?

Appendix 7 Some Roman Catholic Heresies and Inventions

Appendix 8 Is Celebrating the Reformation Anti-Catholic?

Appendix 9 The Challenge of Islam According to the Reformers

Appendix 10 The Five Points of Calvinism in the Teachings of Christ

Appendix 11 The Power of Printing

Appendix 12 25 Steps You Can Take for Reformation Today

Appendix 13 Reformation Key Contacts

Appendix 14 Questions for Discussion

Appendix 15 Map of the Reformation

Appendix 16 Reformation Celebration with the Eurochor

Bibliography

Other Resources Available

The Reformation Monument in Worms, Germany

Forewords

Dr. Peter Hammond’s newly revised book The Greatest Century of Reformation is a gem. No, it is more than a gem; it is spiritual dynamite. It will be nearly impossible for a Christian to read this book without being stirred up to serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ even more passionately, faithfully and consistently than he, or she, already has. It is not just a fantastic reference; it is a fantastic devotional read.

Like the best of the older historians, Peter does not just present facts; he applies them to God’s glory and for the good of the Church. Our Providential History Festival has always been impressed with Peter’s grasp of history and his ability to practically apply the lessons of history and he has not disappointed with this new book.

At times I was moved to tears by the testimonies of the past and at times I was moved to action, but the book is a gripping read from beginning to end. We live in a time when the lessons of the Reformation are desperately needed and this book extracts those lessons in powerful ways.

May The Greatest Century of Reformation be a book that is read far and wide. A big Thank You to Dr. Hammond for serving the Church in this way.

Rev. Phillip G. Kayser, PhD, Biblical Blueprints, President of Providential History Festival, Chairman of the Board of Frontline Fellowship

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There has never been a greater need for a book on the Reformation than now. Historical facts have been, at best, ignored or blurred, at worst evacuated! The absolutes of yesterday, Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide... no longer hold sway. Instead, the uncertainties of open theology, the vagueries of experimental theology and the insistence on unity have all but cancelled the non-negotiables of the Reformation!

To be reminded of the major battles of yesterday, and the men who paid the supreme sacrifice for the upholding of Truth, is vital if the present generation is not to sell out to the trends and the fads which are culturally inherited and have nothing to do with the Gospel as revealed once and for all to the saints!

Peter Hammond, in his unique non-compromising style, leaves the reader with no alternative...either a return to Biblical revelation or the ongoing pursuit of man-pleasing religion!

Mike Evans, Directeur Général, Évangile 21, Previous Principal of Geneva Bible Institute

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Having known Peter Hammond as a young unmarried student of Theology (I was one of his lecturers), the author has, in recent years, surprised me with amazement and respect by his grasp of history, and clear understanding of events and designs of the Eternal Plan of Heilsgeschichte (Salvation History).

As one who was born in the land of the Reformation and predestined to grow up among the Lutheran, Reformed and Free Church traditions, I count it a tremendous privilege to have walked many times the streets of Wittenberg, Zurich, Geneva, Saxony, Wartburg and many other Reformation sites.

Dr. Hammond has done a lot of disciplined reading and research to enable him to write these objective, factual and documentary chapters. It’s an inspiration for our Faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible. I heartily endorse and recommend this Reformation Book.

Dr. Fritz Haus, Baptist Theologian and Missionary

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The Reformation reminds us of ordinary Christians of the past, who stood their ground as brave soldiers of the Cross of Jesus Christ! We as soldiers of Christ’s Army are challenged by Luther, Calvin and other war heroes, to stand our ground in the 21st Century, to make a difference and to seek the face of God for Revival. Let us take up the challenges of our day, by facing the music, not running away, taking the bullet from the front and not from the rear. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6. May God give us Godly wisdom according to James 1:5 and that we soldiers of Jesus Christ will keep our eyes on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).

Dr F Shai Mulder, Back to the Bible Mission, South Africa

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By the beginning of the 16th Century true Christianity was virtually unrecognizable. The Church had moved far from its original message of salvation by grace through faith as the gift of God.

Our Lord Jesus, Who promised to build His Church and not allow the gates of hell, or Rome, to prevail against it, raised up a succession of godly men to bring the ship of Faith back on God's intended course. This book examines the lives and times of these divinely chosen men.

It has been my pleasure and spiritual benefit to hear Dr. Hammond's Reformation lectures at Livingstone House. This book is the fruit of many years of diligent study, searching historical records and personally visiting all the major geographical centres of Reformation activity in Europe. I make no apology in recommending this book as a classic crash-course in understanding how the Protestant Reformation changed forever the history of Western Civilization and quite possibly led to the establishment of the United States of America.

Rev. Bill Bathman, Chairman, Frontline Fellowship

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Sometimes we tend to forget how much we owe to the courageous Reformers of five hundred years ago. Our Bibles, our freedom of worship, our educational opportunities, to say nothing of our prosperity and our scientific achievements - all these are directly attributable to the Reformation. Yet these freedoms and benefits we enjoy were won by the blood, sweat and tears of our Christian brothers and sisters of half a millennium ago. It is a sad fact that many of us have forgotten the sacrifices that they made.

Peter Hammond has undertaken a monumental task in producing a book to help inform us of our Christian history and heritage. As he discusses each Reformer, we begin to understand the dynamic quality of these men, who were very ordinary human beings with their normal human failings, but who were driven by a Faith and a vision that puts ours to shame. We are inspired anew as we see what Christ did with these ordinary - and yet extraordinary - individuals, and how His purposes were realized, although it often took many years of suffering and tears before the results came.

Not only does this book help us gain some insight into the Reformation, and those who led it, but it also encourages us to continue their work in our day. Getting back to the truth of God’s Word was not easy for those sixteenth-century people, but they persevered - even to the point of laying down their lives - and the generations who followed them reaped the benefits, both spiritual and material. We too need to face the apostasy of our day with courage and determination and lay a foundation on which future generations will be able to build - a foundation of Faith, courage and hard work. As you read The Greatest Century of Reformation, may you be inspired to put on the full armour of God and with the sword of the Spirit do battle with the enemy - and prevail. ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the LORD of Hosts Zechariah 4:6

Alison Shortridge, Co-Director: Theocentric Christian Education

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The great events of the Reformation are largely forgotten today. Many Christians are ignorant of the sacrifices that secured their religion and liberty. In the words of the late Bishop Stephen Bradley, we are in danger of forgetting truths for which previous generations gave their lives.

This book is to correct that situation. In bold style it outlines the lives and times of Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John Knox and others. It describes their spiritual awakening and commitment to the cause of God. It chronicles their Faith, struggles and sacrifices. All the Reformers were persecuted. Many were burned at the stake. Their Bibles and writings were destroyed. And yet, through them God brought light, truth and freedom to the nations.

When the Bible (being in Latin) was a closed book to most, the Reformers translated and made it available to all. They showed that God is sovereign and His Word the final authority on all things, that Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church and that man is justified by God's grace alone on the basis of His finished work.

Jesus says: Behold, I make all things new. And so, with the knowledge of the Bible came newness of life to families and nations, a Revival and revitalisation of Christendom. It affected all areas of life: church, government, economics, science and art and laid the foundations for our present freedoms and living standards.

This book makes us proud of our noble Christian heritage. It shows Who God is, what He says, what He has done and how He works. It strengthens faith and raises courage. May the Lord use it to accomplish great things in our time.

Dorothea Scarborough, Founder Gospel Defence League

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Dr Peter Hammond's book The Greatest Century of Reformation is a must-read for any believer who recognizes the cultural decay that has beset the Western world and who longs to see the restoration of a fully authentic and comprehensive Biblical Christianity in our time. The call is upon us to contend earnestly for the Faith that was once for all delivered to the saints Jude 3.

To be effective in this task of recovery, we need to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in history. We need to see how He accomplished His amazing work of Reformation in previous times of departure from Holy Scripture, wherein we have been given the divine blueprint for the building of Christ's unstoppable Church and the transformation of society in every nation.

The Great Reformation of the sixteenth century was a historical watershed that involved an astounding return to Biblical Faith, that reset the foundations for an ascendant Western civilization, that demonstrated the power of godly order in society. The signature of God that was unmistakable in Western culture must be recovered in our day of declension by means of a new and more comprehensive Reformation wherein we will see the Revival of Biblical Faith to the glory of God. We can and must seek the Living God for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a day of power that will drive back the gates of hell and raise the banner for the victory of King Jesus. God has commissioned His people to bring the nations under the sway of the Lord's crown and sceptre through the regenerating power of Christ's glorious world- transforming Gospel. The Reformers of yesteryear understood this. May God raise the same spirit of Reformation and Revival in our day, in a tide- turning outpouring of His mercy and power that unseats the wickedness and darkness that seeks to dominate our age.

The Greatest Century of Reformation will be a vital tool and indeed an effective weapon in the hands of many, as God's covenanted people press forward in this day of challenge and unprecedented opportunity that we face on our watch. May we be found faithful to the charge of the Lord. May His honour be celebrated as we pray and apply His own awe-inspiring Words, Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Rev. Mike O'Donovan, His Heart Beat Ministries

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Having known Peter Hammond for many years, as a man who holds the truth as a sacred trust, I urge you to read, The Greatest Century of Reformation. Be awakened to courage as you walk in the path of God's messengers during this period of Reformation. Experience a fresh awakening to Faith as you witness God's sovereign power at work when a man or woman places their trust in Him.

Walk in the steps of the Reformers and watch them challenge the impossible, with God behind them. Then consider in this most perilous hour of history, do we dare believe that God will act in that way again in our time?

Luther faced a most destructive antagonism against Biblical Christianity. Once again this antagonism is rampant in modern history. When you lay down this book, dare to call upon the Mighty God, who arms Himself with light and pray for a new Reformation to challenge this pervading darkness. Will you count yourself as one who will stand for God? Together, let us say to the next generation, we gave our best.

Pastor Mike Kiley, Founder of The Home Church

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Church history is an amazing and wonderful record of how God has worked in the world in which we live. Tragically, most Christians know all too little about the remarkable movement of the Spirit which took place in Europe centuries ago, the effects of which are still with us today. So many of the things we take for granted, which God gives to mankind by common grace, are legacies of the Reformation. Had it not been for the Reformation, we would still have been in a state of spiritual darkness such as prevailed in our world before this awakening took place and we would have been far worse off than we are now.

The instruments God used to overturn evil and establish truth and righteousness, men like John Calvin, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and others were eminently godly men who became mighty in the Scriptures and through whose preaching and writing masses of people were brought out of spiritual ignorance into the glorious light of the Gospel. Such was the impact of these men upon society that at all levels life was enhanced for the glory of God.

As a priority,we need to know our Bibles well. By the same token, we ought to be well acquainted with history, because history is His story. The story of the Reformation is the story of Gods mercy towards mankind. It is a story of Gods power to overturn unrighteousness and to establish His truth, in a fallen world, on a large scale. There is so much that we can learn from this chapter in church history.

Reading Peter Hammond's outstanding outline of what happened then will surely stimulate a yearning for a Reformation to come upon the Church of Jesus Christ again. If conditions in Europe were so abysmal before the Reformation, and if that part of history is a demonstration of how mightily God is able to step in and change the course of history,then we ought to take fresh courage from the fact that our God, who does not change, is able to do the same in our day.

We are deeply indebted to Peter Hammond for a fresh and excellent reminder of the facts of history concerning the greatest century of Reformation. This is a book we ought not only to read for ourselves, but we should urge our friends, and especially our children, to read it too. They need to be acquainted with the truth of how God glorifies His Son Jesus Christ when it seems as if all hope is lost. We become the beneficiaries of the work the Holy Spirit does when God raises up men to spread the truth of His Word in such a way that people return to their Maker through the Redeemer Jesus Christ.

What a book, and how sorely needed is this new book!

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Psalm 85: 6

Dr. Martin Holdt, Reformed Baptist Association

Back to the Table of Contents

Introduction

by Dr. Jay Grimstead

It is indeed an honor to write an Introduction to Dr. Peter Hammond’s expanded version of The Greatest Century of Reformation. I tell friends and fellow Theologians that Peter’s 2006 edition of this book is the most exciting and most inspiring book I have read in the past 25 years! It inspired me the way the books of Dr. Francis Schaeffer, my mentor and personal friend, inspired me in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. It is also an honor to be the personal friend and Co-worker in the Kingdom of God with Peter Hammond whom I consider to be one of my modern-day heroes.

When I first encountered the heroes of the Church’s history in seminary in the 1950’s, I found the church’s history to be fascinating and very inspiring to me personally.  As I read and re-read the powerful, world-changing histories of these heroes of the Faith which Dr. Hammond brings before us in this book, my heart kept pumping adrenaline and I continually was re-motivated to pour out my life blood for King Jesus as did these courageous brothers and sisters of earlier generations. I have probably bought and given away more of this one book to young, Christian warriors I know and love than any other book in my library.

I hope to some day teach a class based upon this entire book to young leaders and use the Questions for Discussion in the back of the book as my discussion guide. There are powerful tools for Reformation work in the back of this book and the 6 pages of the Chronology of the Reformation (pages 207 to 212) are worth the price of the book.

I suggest that every young, Christian Warrior in the Kingdom of God read, study and teach the character studies and doctrine of this book.

Dr. Jay Grimstead,

Director of the Coalition on Revival, Convenor Global Church Council

Back to the Table of Contents

Preface

The Greatest Century of Reformation is the next in the series begun by our Greatest Century of Missions book. The vision is to provide pastors, teachers, parents and students with a series of inspiring history books which will give the broad sweep of memorable characters and momentous events that shaped that century. By incorporating a generous quantity of selected artwork, photographs and maps, focusing on the personalities and activities that God used, it is my prayer that these books will inspire, inform and involve you in a hunger for Revival and vision for Reformation in our own day.

The 16th Century was the greatest century of Reformation.

The 17th Century was the greatest century of the Puritans.

The 18th Century was the greatest century of Revival.

The 19th Century was the greatest century of Missions.

The 20th Century was the greatest century of Persecution.

By focusing on a common theme for each century I pray that these books will enrich, encourage, empower and enlist readers to be more courageous, faithful and effective in fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am eternally grateful to my Theological Professor, Dr. Fritz Haus who taught me to love praying the Psalms and singing Martin Luther’s A Mighty Fortress is Our God. It was Dr. Haus’s enthusiasm for the Reformation doctrines of Dr. Luther that first inspired me to read up on and research the Reformation.

My father-in-law, Rev. Bill Bathman, arranged for my research visit to Wittenberg, after our mission to Poland. I am grateful for all his encouragement and practical support that ensured that this book was thoroughly researched.

I am also grateful to Mike Evans for inviting me to minister at the Geneva Bible Institute and showing me around St. Peter’s Church where Calvin ministered and for taking me to the inspiring Reformation Monument.

I also want to thank Alison Shortridge, Dorothea Scarborough, Nicolas Collins and Taryn Lourens for helping with the proof reading; and Colin Newman for all the typesetting and DTP work. My Graphic Design daughter, Daniela, designed the cover and most of the posters at the end of the book.

May God be pleased to use this book to motivate and mobilize us to work for Biblical Reformation and pray for Spiritual Revival. May the examples of the Reformers inspire you to go back to the Bible, love God wholeheartedly and fear God alone. Refuse to be intimidated, distracted or deviated. Seek first God’s Kingdom. Expect opposition and criticism as an inevitable price of taking God’s Word seriously. Let us get back to the Bible and apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.

Back to the Table of Contents

Chapter 1

A Century of Repression, Revolt and Reformation

A Geo-Strategic Overview of the 16th Century

Shortly after Martin Luther was born, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, Grenada, fell and the liberation of the Iberian Peninsula was complete. Then Christopher Columbus, sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, discovered the Americas, the New World. While South Western Europe was celebrating its freedom after 8 centuries of oppression and occupation under Islam, South Eastern Europe was facing the relentless onslaughts of invasion by the Turks. Since the fall of the greatest city in the world at that time, Constantinople, to the Turks, in 1453, with the massacre of all the Christians in that city, the Turks had been an ever-present threat to Christendom, as Europe was then known.

The Renaissance

Threatened from the East by a relentless Islamic Jihad, Europe was suffering from the internal corruption of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a time of material advance and spiritual decline. It led to the rise of absolutism and the