Christmas, the celebration of our Savior’s birth, and the start of the new year has begun. People have finally rested, caught their breath and feel recharged for 2025. So, the “Revelation – Historically” Bible study topic continues this Tuesday for the women of Archuleta County.
Many women are curious about what Jesus’ disciples of the first century early church, and beyond, believed about “end times”. Of course, many just assume what was in their hearts and minds but never researched it. But, learning the history of early church beliefs is exciting and easy to comprehend.
Do we know what many important people of God thought and proclaimed, some even losing their lives for their faith? We have the New Testament thoughts and convictions of the early church, but what about Christian leaders later on?
What did they believe and how did they spread the gospel of Jesus Christ? You can see who and how they lived. Here are but a few of these mighty servants of Christianity:
John Foxe, the author of the highly acclaimed “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”, wrote in detail of great leaders, from 1331-1360, many of whom lost their lives for refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.
John Wyclif (sometimes spelled Wycliffe) was a noted English reformer. Many have heard of, or own, the “Wyclif Study Bible”.
John Huss, a well-educated man who become heavily influenced by the writing of Wyclif, began his writings and lectures that gained thousands of followers even under heavy persecution from established theological leaders of various sects.
Martin Luther, a former priest that became known as the “Father of the Protestant Reformation” and the Lutheran Church.
William Tyndale was the first to translate the Bible from the Greek to English, and his writings inspired the translators of the King James Bible and King James himself.
Other great men of the Bible included: Sir Isaac Newton, John Wesley, John Calvin and so many more. Yet, some of their ministries are now fuzzy or nearly forgotten over the centuries.
For the first 1,800 years of Christianity, most popular doctrines of Revelation didn’t exist, were not known, taught or believed. Words like “rapture” and “Great Tribulation” weren’t in existence until the early 1830s. What a conundrum. Who believed what and when?
Do we need Sherlock Holmes, Ben Matlock or a congressional committee to sort this out? Not really, for history is clear on the whole matter.
All women are invited to this exciting study of the last book of the Bible. We meet at Grace in Pagosa every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Grace in Pagosa is located at 1044 Park Ave. Come visit us in the fellowship hall to learn from God’s Word.
You will be surprised.