By Robert Serreyn
Question? After talking to several Lutherans about End Time Events, I was left with the impression that they believe in Soul Sleeping, My question is, Is this REALLY correct?
Answer: YES, your assumption is correct.
The Lutheran denomination as a whole is AMILLENNIALIST in doctrine.
The organization DOES NOT teach about the Rapture, The Seven year Tribulation Period, The Second Coming of Christ, or the One Thousand Year Rein of Jesus Christ here on earth, Their Reasoning is, that they believe that the Book of Revelation should be taken symbolically rather then literally.
In other words this basically translates into meaning that when a person dies they really are just in a sleep like state (Soul Sleeping) awaiting for Jesus to awaken them from their slumber to live with him in the New Jerusalem.
The scary part to all of this, is that… Jehovah’s Witness Believe and Teach the very same thing with only the difference being… JW’s believe that they will (if only they have been a faithful JW) live on paradise earth – See Q & A #209.
Another thing that might surprise you as well, Is that the Lutheran organization also holds to a preterist interpretation of the scriptures.
Preterism by definition means PAST.
Adherents of this belief system TEACH that all the prophecies concerning the Olivet Discourse (Future Events) have ALL come to past.
Preterist claim…
– That Nero was the anti-christ.
– That the Second Coming of Christ has come to past.
– Since 70 AD the world has been living in the Millennial Kingdom.
– The Tribulation Period occurred from 63 AD to 70 AD
To put it bluntly, Preterism is a FALSE BELIEF SYSTEM…
In Dr. Max D. Younce’s EXCELLENT EXPOSE’ of Martin Luther in his book “Martin Luther, The Master Of Deceit”.
Dr. Younce pulls back WITHOUT APOLOGY the curtains to show exactly for who Martin Luther really was, What Luther truly believed in, in Luther’s own words.
Down below I have included a small portion of this WONDERFUL WORK to give you just a bird’s eye view into the mind and beliefs of this man called Martin Luther.
To read more of this FULLY DOCUMENTED book click on Books by Dr. Max Younce in the menu of this website
Martin Luther trusted in water baptism to give him eternal life; his own words will substantiate his belief. On Page 16, #11, in the Small Catechism, he writes the following…
“THE BLESSINGS OF BAPTISM, What does baptism give or profit? It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this…”
Luther quotes the same on Page 174, #11, in the Small Catechism. On Page 177, #257, Luther explains the meaning of the above statements.
“The word of God places these great blessings into baptism; and through faith, which trusts this word of promise, we accept the forgiveness, life and SALVATION OFFERED IN BAPTISM and make these blessings our own.”
Luther further states on Page 179, in the last paragraph,of the Small Catechism, he states the following… “By baptism we are made partakers of Christ.”
Here are some more of Luther’s words concerning his faith in water baptism for salvation, as stated in his Large Catechism:
Page 81, #6 – “Moreover it is solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized, or we shall NOT be saved.”
Page 83, #24 – “To put it most simply, the power, effect, benefit, fruit, and PURPOSE OF BAPTISM IS TO SAVE.” To be saved, we know, there is nothing else than to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil and to enter into the Kingdom of Christ and live with Him forever.”
Page 85, #36 – “But it becomes beneficial to you if you accept it as God’s command and ordinance, so that, baptized in the name of God, you may receive in the water, the promised salvation.”
Page 86, #44 – “But I am baptized! And if I am baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body.”
Page 86, #46a – “Since the water and the word together constitute one baptism, body and soul shall be saved and live forever.”
Page 86, 46b – “No greater jewel, therefore, can adorn our body and soul than baptism, for through it we obtain
perfect holiness and salvation, which no other kind of life and no work on earth can acquire.”
I could go on and on in quoting Luther and his faith in baptism for Salvation.
Luther Says, “Faith is Not Necessary for Baptism to be Valid.”
In the Large Catechism,Luther said, “The just shall live by faith?”
That is supposed to be one of his famous statements. But, in his Large Catechism, he states that as long as you have been baptized, even though you do not have faith, it does not render your baptism for eternal life void. This is nothing more than Satanic heresy!
Here are Luther’s words as stated in his Large Catechism…
“Further, we are not primarily concerned whether the baptized person believes or not, for in the latter case (i.e., does not believe) Baptism does NOT become invalid.” (Page 87, #52).
“Baptism is valid, even though faith be lacking.” Baptism does not become invalid even if it is wrongly received or used, for it is bound NOT to our faith, but to the Word.” (Page 87, #53).
Even though a Jew should today come deceitfully and with an evil purpose, and we baptized him in all good faith, we should have to admit that his baptism was valid (i.e., gave him eternal life). (Page 87, #54).
The bottom line is this…
God’s Word exposes Martin Luther, He is TRULY the “Master of Deceit.”
Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Also In Romans 4:3 God declares…
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Last but not lest, Since Martin Luther believes that Baptism gives a person eternal life; then, you would have to conclude that Luther is saying you don’t have to believe, or have faith to inherit eternal life! BUT, God disagrees! Let’s see what God has to say about faith and being saved…
Ephesians 2:8,9.says…
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Dr. Max D. Younce is not alone in his assessment of Martin Luther.
David J. Stewart of jesus-is-savior.com further adds…
Sadly, the Lutheran religion is just that, a FALSE RELIGION that came from the Roman Catholic church. The Lutheran religion is based largely upon man made TRADITIONS and NOT upon the Word of God. The Word of God is the ONLY Authority upon which we should base our beliefs and faith.
One of the easiest ways to identify a FALSE religion is by finding out upon what authority their beliefs are based upon.
For example: The Seventh-Day Adventists are a false religion whose beliefs are largely based upon the godless writings of a woman named Ellen G. White. Christian Scientists base their religious beliefs upon the heathen writings of Mary Eddy Baker.
The Jehovah’s Witness cult base their beliefs largely upon the heretical writings of Charles Taze Russell. The cult of Scientology base their beliefs upon the hellish teachings of Ron Hubbard. Do you see what I am saying? EVERY false religion/cult can be traced back to some human AUTHORITY.
The Word of God, the Bible, should be our FINAL AUTHORITY in every matter. The heresies of the Lutheran religion can be traced back to the heretic, Martin Luther.
According to the Bible, Martin Luther is burning in hell today. I know what I just said would flabbergast the average church member, but it is nonetheless true. Martin Luther in his large and small catechisms blatantly declared that NO ONE could go to heaven without being baptized or partaking of the holy mass.
In Conclusion:
My final thoughts In light of all of this evidence, MY ADVICE to anyone is this…
– Run from this man.
– Run from his religion.
– And especially run from his FALSE teachings.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou (you) shalt (will) be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH