Post on 14-Jan-2016
Faithful Faithful MissionariesMissionaries
Faithful Faithful MissionariesMissionaries
From the Apostles to the WaldensesFrom the Apostles to the Waldenses
Lesson 26Lesson 26
From the Apostles to the WaldensesFrom the Apostles to the Waldenses
Lesson 26Lesson 26
Pure, uncorrupted Christianity came early to Great Britain, but persecution by Roman
emperors followed the spread of Christianity to England, and many of these Christians fled to
Scotland.
Scotland, North Sea
Scotland
Scotland
In Scotland, a century later, light “shone out with a brightness that
extended to Ireland and far-distant lands.
Ireland
Ireland
Ireland
From Ireland came the pious Columba and his co-laborers, who, gathering about
them the scattered believers on the lonely island of Iona, made this the
center of their missionary labors. . . .
A school was established in Iona, from which missionaries went out, not only to Scotland and England, but to Germany, Switzerland, and even Italy” (The Great
Controversy, p. 62).
Ionian Bay
Iona, an island in Scotland, three miles long, one mile wide
When the Saxons invaded Great Britain, the Christians were forced to retreat to the mountains and the wild
moors.
Mountains in Scotland
Mountains in Scotland
Mountains in Scotland
A moor is a tract of open, uncultivated upland.
Rannoch Moor, Scotland
Scottish Moor
While these Christians were hiding away in the mountains and moors, the
papacy determined to bring Britain under her control. She sent
missionaries to convert the Saxons, and then these converted Saxons, along with the papal leaders, turned their attention to the little group of true
Christians.
The Roman Christians found these Christians in to be different from them. The descendants of the early Christians in Britain were simple and humble, and they based their doctrine, manners, and
character only on the Scriptures; whereas, the Roman Christians were
superstitious, pompous, and arrogant. The representative from Rome
demanded that these true Christians acknowledge the supremacy of the
pope.
But they refused, and war and deception were used against them until the
churches of Britain were either destroyed or submitted to the pope.
This was in Britain.
In northern Italy the papacy also pushed her way among the early Christians, and the group foremost who stood against
the papacy were the Waldenses.
Peter Peter WaldoWaldoPeter Peter WaldoWaldo
Some believe Peter Waldo started the
Waldenses.
Some believe Peter Waldo started the
Waldenses.
Piedmont Valley in northern Italy, Piedmont Valley in northern Italy, with Alps in the background.with Alps in the background.
Piedmont Valley in northern Italy, Piedmont Valley in northern Italy, with Alps in the background.with Alps in the background.
Piedmont Valley, with Alps in the background.
The Waldenses fled from persecution and became humble peasants in
obscure retreats, shut away from the world, toiling daily with their flocks and
their vineyards.
They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A separation took place. Those who
adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew; some, forsaking their native
Alps, raised the banner of truth in foreign lands; others retreated to the
secluded glens and rocky fastnesses of the mountains, and there preserved their freedom to worship God. (The
Great Controversy, p. 64)
God provided for his people a sanctuary of awful grandeur, befitting the mighty truths
committed to their trust.
Italian Swiss Alps
They valued the principles of truth above houses and lands, friends, kindred, even life itself, and they earnestly taught
these principles to their children.
They “learned to love the silent symbols of Jehovah’s presence. . . . they were never lonely amid the mountain solitudes. . . . They rejoiced in their
freedom to worship before Him. . . . From many a lofty cliff they chanted the praise of God, and the armies of Rome could not silence their songs of
thanksgiving” (GC, p. 66).
They pointed their children to the heights towering above them in unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, whose word is as enduring as the
everlasting hills. (GC, p. 66)
Copies of the Bible were rare, so its precious words were committed to memory. Many were able to repeat
large portions of both the Old and the New Testament.
Parents taught the children to endure hardness, to submit to control, and to
think and act for themselves.
Very early they were taught to bear responsibilities, to be guarded in
speech, and to understand the wisdom of silence. One indiscreet word let fall in the hearing of their enemies might
endanger the lives of hundreds.
Far from the monuments of human pomp and pride the people assembled, not in magnificent churches or grand
cathedrals, but beneath the shadow of the mountains, in the Alpine valleys . . .
or, in the time of danger, in some rocky stronghold, to listen to the words of
truth from the servants of Christ.
The youth were instructed. The Gospels of Matthew and John were committed to memory, with many of the Epistles.
They also copied the Scriptures, by patient, untiring labor, sometimes in the deep, dark caverns of the earth, by the
light of torches.
Angels from heaven surrounded these faithful workers.
When the young were ready, they left their homes as missionaries to share their faith and spread portions of the
Scriptures.
“With naked feet and in garments coarse and travel-stained as were those
of their Master, they passed through great cities and penetrated to distant lands. Everywhere they scattered the
precious seed” (GC, pp. 71, 72).
“There was a strange and solemn power in the words of Scripture that spoke
directly to the hearts of those who were longing for the truth. It was the voice of God, and it carried conviction to those
who heard” (GC, p. 75).
CreditsSlide 3: Bernt Rostad at flickr
Slide 4: Miguel Angel Arroyo Ortega at flickrSlide 5: Keith Yahl at flickrSlide 7: dusi_bbg at flickr
Slide 8: C. K. Hartman at flickrSlide 9: Dainis Matisons at flickr
Slide 16: Chad K at flickrSlide 18: Martin Sojka at flickr
Slide 19: kfcatles at flickr Slide 29: Megan Mallen at flickrSlide 30: Joel Sowers at flickr
Slide 31: Alkuin at flickrSlide 32: whatleydude at flickr