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The Betrayal of Martin Luther
by Tom Stewart
October 30, 1999
Martin Luther, a symbol of the historic remonstrance against Rome's
franchise on Eternal Salvation, escaped betrayal and death after Babylon the Great
(the Church of Rome) interdicted him for his stubborn refusal to recant of his "heretical"
opinions; however, he will be again betrayed on Halloween 1999-- and, this time officially
by Lutherans. "But Jesus said unto him,
Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke
22:48). Sunday, October 31st 1999 coincides with the modern celebration of Halloween,
which historically is the pagan celebration of the Witches' Sabbath on All
Hallows Eve. "Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20). This inauspicious time was also preceded 70 years earlier
by the devastation of the Stock Market on what is now remembered as Black Friday
or the Crash of '29 (October 29th 1929). "He
that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall
come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22). And, 400 some years earlier,
on October 31st 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, objecting to the
papal sale of indulgences, i.e., the right to sin without punishment, on the church
door in Wittenburg. "Being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ"
(Romans 5:1).
On October 31st 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, representatives of the 58 million members
of the Lutheran World Federation will sign a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine
of Justification with papal emissaries of the 1.4 billion strong Roman Catholic
Church, officially ending the doctrinal separation between Lutherans and the Church
of Rome over the "faith vs. works" controversy concerning Eternal Salvation.
"It is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:33). The Declaration's purpose is to demonstrate ecumenical unity
in the essential area of the Doctrine of Justification, between Catholicism's traditional
opponent, the Lutheran Church, and the Church of Rome; as they stated: "Thus
it becomes clear that the mutual condemnations of former times do not apply to the
Roman Catholic and Lutheran doctrines of justification as they are presented in the
joint declaration." "But woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against
men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to
go in" (Matthew 23:13).
Why all this concern over a seemingly innocuous attempt to bring unity to Professed
Christianity? "Cursed be he that doeth
the work of the LORD deceitfully" (Jeremiah 48:10). As
the Roman Pontiff, John Paul II, vies for the headship of the world's religions,
e.g., the United Religions Initiative, the soon possibility of the False Prophet
or beast "out of the Earth" (Revelation 13:11) arising to direct the worship of the Antichrist, is
imminent. Consequently, Rome must find ecumenical union with its traditional foes,
i.e., Lutherans, to bring about this goal. Those who do not "discern the signs of the times"
(Matthew 16:3) and "are at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1), cannot fully appreciate that this ecumenical Joint Declaration
on the Doctrine of Justification represents the final stage(s) of preparation
before the Antichrist will unify the world through political, economic, and military
treaties. "And [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [the Tribulation Week]" (Daniel 9:27). Only shortly thereafter, will Antichrist reveal his real
intention of forcing the world to worship him as God.
"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, shewing himself that
he is God" (2Thessalonians 2:4).
Ostensibly, the statements made in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
complement the salvation by faith of the traditional Lutherans with that of the salvation
by works of Rome. "Yea, a man may say,
Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will
shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). However,
both Lutherans and Catholics seem to miss the underlying point that though faith
saves, i.e., "8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9), and faith is always accompanied by works, when given
the opportunity, i.e., "But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James
2:20), it is Jesus-- and, Jesus only-- that saves! "Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).
The question is not so much if faith or works are necessary for Eternal Salvation,
but who saves us from our sins? "Who
is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression
of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth
in mercy" (Micah 7:18). Both the Old and New Testaments
agree that God alone saves. "Tell ye,
and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this
from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there
is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me" (Isaiah 45:21). And, Jesus is the prophesied "Wonderful,
Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), that came nearly 2,000 years ago to redeem mankind by His
sacrificial death on the Cross. "And without
controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16). And, if Martin
Luther were yet alive today, he, too, would be fervently awaiting the soon appearing
of the LORD Jesus Christ to judge the world; and, he would not be making appeasements
with Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5). "Looking
for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). Though Luther is betrayed
by this Joint Declaration, it is the LORD Jesus Christ Who is the truly Offended
Party. "Seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews
6:6).
Brethren, be watchful! "Keep yourselves
in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life" (Jude 21).
[Please see our "Babylon the
Great" ---New Window series of articles to better
understand the historical circumstances of the tragedy of the Joint Declaration
on the Doctrine of Justification. Also, our "Topical
Links On Sound Doctrine" ---New Window series of articles may aid your
understanding of the "wonderful works of God"
(Acts 2:11).]
.
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