The Gospel in Revelation - Robert J. Wieland

The Protestant Christians claimed to take the
Bible and the Bible only as their rule of faith. But
they were content to continue with certain
Romanist errors, doctrines which had their origin
in paganism long ago. In the place of following
Christ in the acceptance of new truth, various
Protestant bodies were content to build walls
around them as "creeds," content to go no further
than their leaders such as Luther and Wesley had
taken them. This is one reason why Protestant
churches are divided into many denominations and
sects. Sardis professed to be "alive," but in reality
was "dead" because the church would not accept
more truth as the Lord brought it to them.
Among the "few names even in Sardis who
have not defiled their garments" may be mentioned
honest, godly men such as Luther, Count
Zinzendorf, Wesley, Whitefield, and others. These
men were used of God to awaken the religious life
of the people of Europe, including the Englishspeaking
people.
"In some respects the eighteenth century is the
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