The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 144

The European Union in Prophecy
learned the first principles of true religion. "He was possessed with a desire of
reforming the world, and forgot, as all enthusiasts do, that the reformation should
begin with himself."-- Ibid., b. 9, ch. 8. He was ambitious to obtain position and
influence, and was unwilling to be second, even to Luther. He declared that the
Reformers, in substituting the authority of Scripture for that of the pope, were only
establishing a different form of popery. He himself, he claimed, had been divinely
commissioned to introduce the true reform. "He who possesses this spirit," said
Munzer, "possesses the true faith, although he should never see the Scriptures in his
life."-- Ibid., b. 10, ch. 10.
The fanatical teachers gave themselves up to be governed by impressions,
regarding every thought and impulse as the voice of God; consequently they went to
great extremes. Some even burned their Bibles, exclaiming: "The letter killeth, but
the Spirit giveth life." Munzer's teaching appealed to men's desire for the marvellous,
while it gratified their pride by virtually placing human ideas and opinions above the
word of God. His doctrines were received by thousands. He soon denounced all order
in public worship, and declared that to obey princes was to attempt to serve both God
and Belial.
The minds of the people, already beginning to throw off the yoke of the papacy,
were also becoming impatient under the restraints of civil authority. Munzer's
revolutionary teachings, claiming divine sanction, led them to break away from all
control and give the rein to their prejudices and passions. The most terrible scenes of
sedition and strife followed, and the fields of Germany were drenched with blood.
The agony of soul which Luther had so long before experienced at Erfurt now
pressed upon him with redoubled power as he saw the results of fanaticism charged
upon the Reformation. The papist princes declared--and many were ready to credit
the statement--that the rebellion was the legitimate fruit of Luther's doctrines.
Although this charge was without the slightest foundation, it could not but cause the
Reformer great distress. That the cause of truth should be thus disgraced by being
ranked with the basest fanaticism, seemed more than he could endure. On the other
hand, the leaders in the revolt hated Luther because he had not only opposed their
doctrines and denied their claims to divine inspiration, but had pronounced them
rebels against the civil authority. In retaliation they denounced him as a base
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