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