1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

that he recant, he replied, "I stand by the truth. Iwill not take it back"FM49He that is [true] HOLY.— See Mark 1:24.Luther's special message was "Justification byfaith"— real holiness. One of the theses on thedoor was, "Those who truly repent of their sinshave a full remission of guilt and penalty."He that hath the key of David.— "All power inHeaven and earth." (Matt. 28:18; Luke 1:32.)Luther's theses were antagonistic to the systemactually ruling all over the world. When arepresentative came warning that his deathwould surely follow failure to recant, and askinghim where he could go when all had orders notto harbor him, he replied, "I will abide under thecope of heaven."[He] AND that openeth.— See Luke 24:32.And no man [shutteth] SHALL SHUT.— "Nodoubtall the powers of Satan were exerted toclose the door then opened; but ‘He that is true'had said, ‘which no man can shut.'"— Z.'16-347;Isa. 22:22.And shutteth and no man [openeth] SHALLOPEN.— The door of opportunity for theRoman Catholic Church to repent swung shut theday Luther was excommunicated. (Rev. 2:21.)"Luther was not in the least disconcerted by thissentence, which he had for some time expected.He renewed his appeal to the general council;declared the pope to be that Antichrist, or Man ofSin whose appearance is foretold in the NewTestament; declaimed against his tyranny withgreater vehemence than ever; and at last, havingassembled the University he cast the canon law,together with the bull of excommunication, intothe flames."— Buck.Revelation 3:8I know thy works.— A striking feature ofLuther's character was his promptness to dowhatever he saw to be the Lord's will. When thegreat test came, Luther said to Erasmus: "Youdesire to walk upon eggs without crushing