The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 106

The European Union in Prophecy
men, once even the shepherd Amos. In every age, the saints have had to reprove the
great, kings, princes, priests, and wise men, at the peril of their lives. . . . I do not say
that I am a prophet; but I say that they ought to fear precisely because I am alone
and that they are many. I am sure of this, that the word of God is with me, and that
it is not with them."-- Ibid., b. 6, ch. 10.
Yet it was not without a terrible struggle with himself that Luther decided upon
a final separation from the church. It was about this time that he wrote: "I feel more
and more every day how difficult it is to lay aside the scruples which one has imbibed
in childhood. Oh, how much pain it has caused me, though I had the Scriptures on my
side, to justify it to myself that I should dare to make a stand alone against the pope,
and hold him forth as antichrist! What have the tribulations of my heart not been!
How many times have I not asked myself with bitterness that question which was so
frequent on the lips of the papists: 'Art thou alone wise? Can everyone else be
mistaken? How will it be, if, after all, it is thyself who art wrong, and who art involving
in thy error so many souls, who will then be eternally damned?' 'Twas so I fought with
myself and with Satan, till Christ, by His own infallible word, fortified my heart
against these doubts."--Martyn, pages 372, 373.
The pope had threatened Luther with excommunication if he did not recant, and
the threat was now fulfilled. A new bull appeared, declaring the Reformer's final
separation from the Roman Church, denouncing him as accursed of Heaven, and
including in the same condemnation all who should receive his doctrines. The great
contest had been fully entered upon. Opposition is the lot of all whom God employs
to present truths specially applicable to their time. There was a present truth in the
days of Luther,--a truth at that time of special importance; there is a present truth
for the church today. He who does all things according to the counsel of His will has
been pleased to place men under various circumstances and to enjoin upon them
duties peculiar to the times in which they live and the conditions under which they
are placed. If they would prize the light given them, broader views of truth would be
opened before them. But truth is no more desired by the majority today than it was
by the papists who opposed Luther. There is the same disposition to accept the
theories and traditions of men instead of the word of God as in former ages. Those
who present the truth for this time should not expect to be received with greater favor
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