John Wycliffe – Morning Star of the Reformation

There are times in the course of history when streams of thought, new ideologies, and momentous events come together to form defining moments that affect and change the course of human history forever. The 16th century was such a time. A moment in history when a door for massive change opened. It was a time of religious awakening; it saw the invention of the printing press; it was an age of exploration and discovery. And, in a sense, it was all encapsulated in one pivotal moment on the 31st October, 1517, when a young German monk, Martin Luther, strode to the Castle Church in the town of Wittenberg and nailed 95 propositions on the front door.  These propositions, or questions, challenged the power and authority of the most powerful empire on earth – an empire that had ruled for a thousand years. His actions set in motion a course of events that would reshape Western civilization and change the world forever.  But this pivotal moment didn’t happen in a vacuum.  Just as sunrise is proceeded by the morning star so Martin Luther and the Reformation were proceeded by an Oxford professor who laid the groundwork or foundation for the momentous events of the 16th century.  This is the story of John Wycliffe – the Morning Star.