October 7, 2003 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new video package that covers seven important periods in church history. Each of the segments is professionally produced. A multiplicity of rare photographs, video, and other visual aids are mixed into the high-quality presentations to illustrate the message.

Some of these particular periods of church history are often overlooked or glossed over in modern church histories.

The presentations are designed for use in Churches, Bible Colleges, and Home Schools that want to prepare their people to understand the past and the present.

Thank you for your consideration,
David Cloud
Director, Way of Life

MARKS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCHES

This presentation looks at the principles of a New Testament church, which is God's standard for churches throughout this age. Our standard for ecclesiology is not the "church fathers" or the "Reformation fathers"; it is the apostolic fathers. We will see that sound New Testament churches have continued to exist through the darkest periods of history.

THE BEGINNING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

This presentation traces the origin of the Roman Catholic Church during the six centuries following the death of the apostles. There was a gradual corruption of the gospel, of baptism, and of church government. During the days of Constantine in the fourth century, church and state became entangled. An unscriptural priesthood was developed, and pagan practices were Christianized. Thus Mary became the Queen of Heaven and Peter became Pontificus Maximus and the Lord's Supper became the mysterious mass. The doctrines of holy relics and purgatory and the rosary were developed. By knowing Rome's origin, God's people today can understand the great error and danger of the ecumenical movement that is yoking Protestants and Baptists together with the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC INQUISITION

This presentation traces the fearful Catholic Inquisition beginning in A.D. 1000. This era is called the Dark Ages because Rome ruled Europe and other parts of the world with an iron hand. Anyone who dared to disagree with her doctrine was persecuted. In this presentation we first trace the origin of the Inquisition, showing how it gradually increased in power and reach. We look closely at Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), under whose reign the Inquisition became a more organized, systematic entity, and at Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241), who further expanded the Inquisition and appointed the Dominicans and Franciscans as Inquisitors. We describe how difficult it was to escape the Inquisition. We look at the means of torture that were employed against those who fell into the Inquisitor's hands. We describe the horrible prison cells and the Auto De Fe or Act of Faith. And we look at the wretched condition of those who were sentenced as slaves on the galley ships. The presentation is illustrated with photos of actual torture devices from important museums in England and Europe and with material from rare antiquarian books on this subject.

THE WALDENSES

This presentation examines the history of the ancient Waldensian Christians who lived in the Alps of northwestern Italy and journeyed from their mountain strongholds throughout Europe and England preaching the gospel during the Dark Ages. We look at their doctrine, giving evidence that many of them were baptistic and rejected infant baptism as well as Rome's other false doctrines. We look at their love for the Scriptures and their glorious missionary adventures. We look at the Waldenses who preached in England from the 11th to the 15th centuries. And we look at the terrible persecutions that were poured out upon the Waldenses by Rome. The speaker, Brother Cloud, and the producer of this presentation, Brian Snider, have visited northwestern Italy and have witnessed the scenes of these events. Many of the pictures we use to illustrate the presentation were taken on location.

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

This presentation first looks at the background that set the stage for the Protestant Reformation then studies the four major denominations that arose from this period of history: Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Methodist. The history, doctrine, and polity of each denomination are dealt with.

BAPTISTS OF THE REFORMATION

This presentation considers the Baptists of the Reformation era from 1500-1700. We show that true Baptists are not Protestants and give many irrefutable evidences that they existed before the Reformation. We look at the term "anabaptist" as it was used in that day. We look at some of the slanders against the Baptists, such as blaming them for the strange revolt at Munster, Germany. We then consider the Baptists of central and western Europe (Hutterites, Mennonites, etc.) as well as the Baptists of England of that era.

THE PROTESTANT PERSECUTIONS OF BAPTISTS

This presentation traces the persecutions of the Anabaptists by the Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. We begin with Zwingli in Zurich, Switzerland, and how he put anabaptists to death by drowning, imprisonment, and torture. We next look at Calvin in Geneva, who defended his doctrine at the point of the sword and even burned a "heretic" to death. We look at the Lutherans in Germany and how they tormented the Baptists of their day. Then we look at Church of England and how it persecuted dissenters from the days of King Henry VIII, and during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I, King James I, and beyond until the end of the 17th century. The first man burned alive for his faith in England was William Sawtree in 1401. He was a baptistic Lollard. The last man burned alive for his faith in England was Edward Wightman in 1612 during the reign of King James I. He also was a Baptist. Though the burnings stopped in 1612, the deaths did not. Between 1660 and 1689 alone, an estimated 8,000 dissenters died at the hand of the Anglican Church. The last part of this presentation looks at the Protestant persecutions in early American history.

Click on the Links below to order either the Full Package or individual tapes:

PACKAGE PRICE
Package of the four DVD Volumes (Vol 1 to 4) containing the seven presentations -- $39.95

POSTAGE & HANDLING
U.S.A. -- $4.00 on 1 tape, $6.00 for 2 tapes, or $8 for all 4 tapes
Canada -- $6.00 on 1 tape, $7.00 for 2 tapes, or $9.00 for all 4 tapes
Foreign -- To be calculated at time of sale