Christian Beacons

John Wycliffe was a brilliant theologian and academic in England at a time when the bible was only available in Latin. He desired to translate it into English, which brought the condemnation of the Catholic Church. In time Wycliffe came to see the Papacy as the Antichrist, and began exposing the evils and excesses of this corrupt institution. He also trained and organized traveling preachers known as the Lollards, and sent them throughout the English countryside to preach the Gospel as found in the holy scriptures.

The enmity between Wycliffe and the Church continued for the rest of his life, but powerful friends and a groundswell of public support saved him from the flames of martyrdom. He died from a stroke suffered while he was preaching. This did not satisfy the Church, however. Some years later they exhumed his bones and burned him anyway.