Revolts against the Church of Rome.--John Wickliffe in England.-- John Huss and Jerome of Prague.--The Reformation inaugurated.-- Martin Luther, his revolt; his excommunication; his defense at Worms.--The Protestants.--Zwingle and Calvin.--The Inquisition.-- Zeal of the reformers.--Rise of the Church of England.--Divine over-ruling in the events of the Reformation.--The "Mother Church" apostate.--Fallacy of assuming human origin of divine authority.-- Priestly orders of Church of England declared invalid by "Mother Church."--The apostasy admitted and affirmed.--Wesley's testimony.--Declaration by Church of England.--Divine declaration of the apostasy.--The sequel.--The Revelator's vision of the Restoration.--The Church re-established in the nineteenth century. COPYRIGHT by JAMES E. TALMAGE. 1909. The Great Apostasy. CHAPTER I. **Introduction: The Establishment of the Church of Christ**. 1. A belief common to all sects and churches professing Christianity is that Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, established His Church upon the earth by personal ministration in the meridian of time. Ecclesiastical history, as distinguished from secular history, deals with the experiences of the Church from the time of its establishment. The conditions under which the Church was founded first claim our attention. 2. At the beginning of the Christian era, the Jews, in common with most other nations, were subjects of the Roman empire.--(See Note 1, end of chapter.) They were allowed a considerable degree of liberty in maintaining their religious observances and national customs generally, but their status was far from that of a free and independent people. 3. The period was one of comparative peace,--a time marked by fewer wars and less dissension than the empire had known for many years. These conditions were favorable for the mission of the Christ, and for the founding of His Church on earth.