VI. Amsdorf Prophesied Antichrist Enforcing Marks of Beast

NICOLAUS VON AMSDORF (1483-1565), friend and zealous co-worker of Luther, was born in Torgau. Dedicated to the priesthood by his mother, who was related to Von Staupitz, Amsdorf was educated at Leipzig and Wittenberg, and was given a license m theology m 1511. In the same year he started to lecture on theology and philosophy. He accepted Luther’s viewpoint before 1517, and became one of his most steadfast and unswerving followers. He accompanied Luther to Leipzig and Worms, knew about his exile in the Wartburg, and when Luther secretly left the Wartburg and came to Wittenberg, he lived in Amsdorf’s house. In 1524 Amsdorf became superintendent in Magdeburg at the Church of St. Ulrich, and was instrumental in seeing that the Reformation took deep root in Magdeburg, which later became a veritable city of refuge to the Lutherans. In 1528 he established the Reformation in Goslar and in 1539 in Meissen.PFF2 303.1

Of all the co-workers of Luther none was so near to the heart of the great Reformer as Amsdorf. Luther said, “My spirit finds rest in my dear Amsdorf.” Luther was attached to him because of his piety, sincerity, and unwavering spirit. He esteemed him highly for his keen, penetrating intellect in judicial matters, and Amsdorf repaid that trust with unlimited devotion and fidelity. On the other hand, he lacked the affectionate kindness that Luther possessed to such a high degree. His harsh and abrupt attitude may have contributed to quite an extent to the failure of the different attempts to bring unity into the Protestant camp. In 1542, when the bishopric of Naumburg became vacant, the Elector Frederick appointed von Amsdorf to become the first Protestant bishop in Naumburg. Luther preached the sermon and officiated at the consecration. ^{69About twenty-five intimate letters from Luther to Amsdorf appear in Letters of Martin Luther, translated by Margaret Currie.} A few years later, however, during the Schmalkaldic wars, he lost his see and had to flee to Jena, where he took part in the founding of the University of Jena (1548). In his strict adherence to Luther’s teaching he was, of course, firmly opposed to Melanchthon’s inclination to compromise, and urged separation from Melanchthon in the “Adiaphoristic” controversy. ^{70Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, art. “Nicolaus von Amsdorf”; Herzog, Real-Encyklo-padie, art. “Nicolaus von Amsdorf.”}PFF2 304.1

1. FIVE SIGNS OF THE APPROACHING END

In addition to writing numerous polemical treatises, Amsdorf was fully convinced that the end was near. So he published Fiinff furnem-liche und gewisse Zeichen, aus gottlicher heiliger Schrifft, so Kurtz vor dem Jungsten tag geschehen sollen (Five Prominent and Certain Signs From Holy Writ, Which Are to Happen Shortly Before the Last Day), based on Luke 21 and Matthew 24. Holding the papal apostasy to be Antichrist, he felt that the “daily sacrifice” is the preaching of the gospel, the “desolation of abomination” is human tradition, the real Babylonian harlot is the Papacy, and the mark of the beast the enforced worship by papal canons, decretals, and ceremonies. This is significant.PFF2 304.2

2. PAPAL PROHIBITIONS OF MARRIAGE AND MEATS

The first sign is based on 2 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Timothy 4, fulfilled in papal prohibition of marriage of priests and of abstinence from meats. But the kingdom that comes not with observation does not consist of meats and drinks. Such papal practice shows the falling away from the true faith. ^{71Nicolaus von Amsdorf, Fiinff fiirnemliche und gewisse Zeichen, sig. A2r., v.} The second sign indicates that he will remain hidden a long time, working in secret, but nevertheless held to be the true head of the church and vicar of Christ. The Turk is not Antichrist.PFF2 305.1

“He [the Antichrist] will be revealed and come to naught before the last day, so that every man shall comprehend and recognize that the pope is the real, true Antichrist and not the vicar of Christ.... Therefore those who consider the pope and his bishops as Christian shepherds and bishops are deeply in error, but even more are those who believe that the Turk is the Antichrist. Because the Turk rules outside of the church and does not sit in the holy place, nor does he seek to bear the name of Christ but is an open antagonist of Christ and His church. This does not need to be revealed, but it is clear and evident because he persecutes Christians openly and not as the pope does, secretly under the form of godliness.” ^{72Ibid., sig. A4v.}PFF2 305.2

3. JUDGMENT DAY FOLLOWS PAPAL LITTLE HORN

The third sign is that after the fourth beast of Daniel 7, the day of judgment will follow, because after the Roman Empire declines and changes, there shall come no other empire, but the last day shall follow soon after and make an end to the “game” of this world. ^{73Ibid., sig. B2v.}PFF2 305.3

4. ABOMINATION OF TRADITION NULLIFIES DAILY PREACHING

“The daily sacrifice (that is, the preaching of the gospel) shall cease, and as Daniel says, the abomination of desolation, that is, human tradition, will be put in its place. This sign is being fulfilled right in our time, not only among the papists but even among us. Wherever people command to believe, preach, and accept besides the gospel human traditions, as a certain kind of mass [Narrenmesse], chrism [Schmiere], abstaining from meats and other marks of the Antichrist.PFF2 305.4

“And those who refuse to accept besides the gospel the mark of the Antichrist are chased away, deprived of their offices, and hypocrites are accepted in their places. Therefore the daily sacrifice, the undenled preaching of the gospel, cannot continue very long. It will be put aside and made desolate, and faith will be extinguished and exterminated, and then the last day will not tarry much longer.” ^{74Ibid., sig. B2v., B3r.}PFF2 306.1

5. MARK OF BEAST REPRESENTS ENFORCED CEREMONIALS

The fifth sign is the enforced mark of the beast John predicts for the last days.PFF2 306.2

“This beast we know is the Roman Empire, which carries and supports the red Babylonian whore, which is the Papacy. The mark of the beast is the canons, the decrees and ceremonies of the Pope, and all ecclesiastical traditions concerning food, drink, and dress, singing, reading, and other childish things which have nothing to do with, nor belong to, the kingdom of God, which is true Christianity.” ^{75Ibid., sig. B3v., B4r.}PFF2 306.3

Declaring one should have nothing to do with the papal innovations, Amsdorf refers to many other signs that show the nearness of Christ’s coming, such as the repetition of the carelessness of the days of Noah and Lot. But even were the day of judgment in the far future, the arraignment for every soul comes when he is called out of this life. ^{76Ibid., sig. Dir.-D2r.}PFF2 306.4