I've been a Moravian all my life, but only in the past few years have I found the time to really "dig in" to Early Moravian History. This article was taken from Morningstar Magazine (Charlotte). They have written numerous articles on the Moravian Church over the years. This particular article goes to the very roots of the "Unitas Fratrum" and is such a powerful testimony of faith I felt I just had to share this with as many as possible.

 In His Name,
 Douglas Hedgecock
October 6, 2003
member Covenant Moravian Church
Wilmington, North Carolina

Hernnhut ---- A Prophetic Warning

by Steve Thompson
First Published in The Morningstar Journal 1999

      God is serious about teaching us the lessons of previous generations. Paul not only states this was the reason for recording the history of Israel, he also writes that these things actually happened to Israel to be examples for us. Paul then specifically warns us to heed the instruction and warnings of the failures of previous generations in order to keep from falling. 

    Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 
     Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall ( 1 Corinthians 10:11-12). 

     Many modern ministries and movements that had a profound beginning failed to accomplish their full mandate because of weak historical foundations. We also are prone to repeat the failures of previous movements if we do not learn from their mistakes. Lessons of previous generations are made available to us, if we will only examine their history. 

     Understanding the need to receive instruction from previous movements, a team from our ministry recently visited Herrnhut, Germany, the birthplace of the modern Moravian Church. Years ago we were shown prophetically our connection with the Moravians, so we were greatly expectant about this trip. As we toured the ancient buildings looking for encouragement, a number of prophetic alarms began sounding. We had come expecting to receive an impartation, but were unprepared for the form in which it came. Instead of receiving encouragement and inspiration, we left Herrnhut with a profound sense of the fear of the Lord.

 A Brief History

     Herrnhut was originally an uninhabited portion of Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf's estate in Saxony. In the early 1720s, a young man named Christian David, led a group of displaced Moravians from Bohemia and was granted permission to found a "city of refuge" by the manager of Zinzendorf's estate. Zinzendorf, serving as a judge on the king's court, was unaware that his estate manager, Herman Heitz, had agreed to grant sanctuary to this group of persecuted believers.

     The day the first tree was felled to establish Hermhut, Heitz decided to inform Zinzendorf of the new city being erected, since it was on his estate. He wrote to Zinzendorf that in granting the refugees a place to live, he hoped that while these people would be living under the watch of the Lord, they would eventually learn to watch  for the Lord. Thus was Herrnhut founded as a home for the Moravian refugees.

     Within a few years, the Moravians had established a thriving community and were functioning as a wonderful expression of the body of Christ. Indeed, Zinzendorf  himself soon was involved in the leadership of this Christian band. On August 13, 1727 the Holy Spirit was poured out there and the world would never be the same. Within two weeks, a prayer watch had begun at Herrnhut which would eventually continue for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 100 years! As Hietz had predicated, these Moravians, while living under the watch of the Lord, had learned to "watch" for Him.

     Five years later in 1732, the Moravian community at Herrnhut sent forth the first Protestant missionaries of the modern era. Eventually the Moravians had 25% of the community providing support for the remaining 75% who functioned in full time missions endeavors. As a group the Moravians were unparalleled in their combination of devotion to the Lord, work ethic, prophetic sensitivity, and commitment to living in community with one another. They deeply impacted a number of future leaders of other movements as well.

     William Carey, the great Baptist reformer credited with establishing the modern missions movement, cited the Moravians as his inspiration for missions. .John Wesley, who embodied the pioneer spirit of the Methodist movement in Europe and North America, was born again through the testimony and ministry of Moravians. It is possible that no movement since the early church has had such profound impact on so much of the church as a whole, without being very widely known.

     Like every movement before them, the modern Moravian Church eventually stopped moving. The 100 year prayer meeting or "the watch of the Lord" as it became known, ultimately ended as their fire waned. The wave of Moravian missionaries dissipated into a trickle. While there has been a renewal of spiritual life in a few congregations, the Moravian Church as a whole no longer bears the early pioneers' passion for faith and missions.

 We Must Learn the Lessons

     When we arrived at Herrnhut, we could immediately sense the righteousness upon which this town was founded. We were encouraged by the sense of God's order and peace that was still apparent. Several of our team members felt like we had arrived home and sensed that we were touching part of our spiritual heritage. 'There was a sweetness that seemed to permeate every- one working in the town.

     We had arranged for a guided tour and were thrilled to learn that our guide was a former pastor of the Herrnhut congregation. We began our tour by examining the chapel and church buildings. While examining earlier photographs of Herrnhut. we were shocked to discover that Herrnhut had been destroyed on the last day of World War II. Knowing there was no strategic reason for the destruction of this small town in Eastern Germany. we recognized that God had a message for us. The details that followed and the attesting prophetic signs we received still produce the fear of the Lord as I consider them.

     After 200 years of providing leadership to the Moravian movement worldwide, things at Herrnhut had begun waning. . During the 1930s and 1940s, the town of Herrnhut, like the majority of Germany, had become embroiled in the war effort of the Nazi party. On the last day of World War II, Herrnhut was captured by the Soviet Army, and the church building and heart of the town were burned as the War ended. We were grieved as we realized this could only have been a judgment on this town. Our expectancy was changed into sobriety as God's fear began enveloping us.

     After fire consumed the heart of the town, the only edifice from the church that remained standing was the bell tower in thechurch courtyard. While every wall of the church was at least partially destroyed, remarkably this bell tower remained completely intact. Our attention was fixed on this fact since we had received several prophetic words prior to our trip concerning bells and bell towers.

     The Herrnhut congregation originally owned three bells, that the bell tower were surrendered to the Nazi party for the German war machine during previous years. Immediately after the war ended, congregations across Germany began searching for bells to fill their belfries. Amazingly, a Moravian congregation in northern Germany located the only remaining bell from Herrnhut not melted down for military use. The bell's authenticity was confirmed because it contained a quotation that Zinzendorf had inscribed on it.

     After two years, this bell was returned to the Herrnhut bell tower. We were stunned to learn that the stanza on the bell read, "Herrnhut should only continue as long as the purposes of God go forth unhindered. " 'That the bell tower was the only structure left intact reveals that God wanted this message to sound as clear as a bell to future generations. When the purposes of God ceased to go forth unhindered, Herrnhut ceased to exist!

     Herrnhut literally means "the Lord's hat" and by implication, "the Lord's covering or protection." This is a profound prophetic warning. We cannot be deceived into a false sense of security. This bell is still tolling for our presumptuous generation. We had just received our first prophetic warning: We will only be protected as a ministry or movement as long as the purposes of God move forth unhindered.

     Our next stop was across town in the Moravian Church administration building. Our guide took us into the conference room where the scriptures are chosen for the Daily Watch Words, published and distributed throughout the world. As he was explaining how the individual scriptures were chosen from a bowl, the light over head suddenly flickered and died as the power went out. Our guide, assessing the situation, smiled and stated, "Well, I think we shall be able to continue anyway" and proceeded with the tour.

     Our next stop was a local bookstore in an effort to unearth more information. How- ever, we were unable to purchase anything because the earlier power outage had affected the entire town and the power still remained off. None of the store's electronic equipment was functioning. While we were waiting for the power to be restored, I glanced at my watch to check our time schedule. I was shocked to discover that my watch had stopped at the exact moment the power went out! Prophetic warning number two had just sounded: When the Watch stopped, the power went out!

When the 100 year prayer meeting known as the "Watch of the Lord" stopped, the power that had propelled the Moravians went out. We cannot stop our ministry to the Lord and expect that our power to minister to the people will remain. When we stop praying and waiting on the Lord, the power will go out!

It was also revealed to us that our tour guide had prophetically echoed the sentiments of the leadership during previous years as well. When the power went out during our tour, he had exclaimed lightheartedly, "Well, I think we shall be able to continue anyway." Our guide felt we could continue because of the natural light filtering into the conference room through its windows, although the "light from above" had gone out. This is a prophetic picture of a subtle, but. devastating, temptation. We cannot survive in the coming days by natural light (human wisdom) alone. We must have greater prophetic revelation than we currently have in order to accomplish our mandate.

It is a profound presumption to think that we can continue when the power of God leaves believing that our own "light" is sufficient. If we fall to this deception, we will "go out," just like the Scriptures say of Samson, not knowing the Lord's power has departed from us. This third prophetic warning was clear: Don't let the Watch stop or the power will go out!

Another reason for the destruction of Herrnhut is not as readily apparent as the others, but is just as important. Herrnhut was established, even from the first tree felled, as a "city of refuge." The Moravians were granted asylum and safety there during a time of persecution. It was the prophetic consensus among our team that God's desire for Herrnhut had been that it would serve as a place. of refuge for persecuted Jews during World War II. Because Herrnhut did not continue as it had begun, it was not allowed to continue.

 Many may argue that it would have been too dangerous for Herrnhut to be a place of refuge for Jews during the Holocaust of World War II. However, we must never forget that ours is not a safe faith. History is full of those who obeyed God in the face of deadly consequences and were protected.  In other cases, many obeyed God and were martyred as a result; these are those of whom the world was not worthy {Hebrews 11 :38). Our calling is to be obedient, regardless of the safety or the danger it brings. 

 As I have traveled throughout the church, I have seen this principle: Congregations and ministries who are involved in restoring the fallen and protecting the persecuted are being prospered by God. Indeed, the congregations that are thriving in this day are those who are willing to put themselves and their reputations on the line for others. If we are called as protectors, we must continue to protect. Our only safety is being a place of safety for others. 

Consider the biblical example of Esther who was called to risk her life for the lives of the persecuted. When Mordecai confronted Esther on her calling to risk her life for the Israelites, he told her that her only place of protection was obedience, no matter how dangerous. 

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14 KJV) 

If we deviate from God's calling on our lives, He will bring deliverance through another, but we will perish. This was our fourth prophetic warning: Our ultimate protection is walking in the will of God, no matter how  dangerous we perceive it to be. 

The Taller You Are, the Harder You Fall 

Thankfully, God's grace and protection is available to every believer. However, when we begin walking in a higher calling, there is a much smaller margin for error. With every increase in anointing, authority or visibility in ministry there is a corresponding increase in accountability as well. As with the Levitical priesthood, there are things which we can do in the outer court that will get us killed in the holy place. 

This is why we must hear and heed the prophetic warnings from the history of Herrnhut. These are real temptations and must be overcome for us to stay the course and accomplish God's purpose in our generation. This is a recap of the four warnings that we received at Herrnhut. --

Prophetic Warning #1 

     God's protection over any person, ministry or movement will only continue as long as His purposes through them go forth unhindered.

Prophetic Warning #2

     When the watch stops, the power goes out! We cannot abandon our spiritual foundations and then expect the things we have built to continue standing. Humility demonstrated through prayer is essential to functioning in God's power.

Prophetic Warning #3

      When the power stops, we cannot continue as before. Natural light or human wisdom will not be sufficient in the days to come. We must have illumination and revelation from God to fulfill our mandate. 

Prophetic Warning # 4 

     When we cease to be the "cities of refuge" God has called us to be, God's protection over our lives will cease in a dramatic fashion. 

The Final Word

     The Moravians and the Herrnhut community were some of the greatest champions of the faith that we know. Although dead, they still speak through the example of their devotion, dedication and passion. This is one reason these prophetic alarms caused such a profound sense of  God's fear in our team. If a community that had begun on such righteous and sacrificial foundations could be derailed and judged so severely, how easily can it happen to us?

     To have been used dramatically by God in the past is no assurance that He will use us again or that we will even continue as movement. While God's love for us is eternal, our calling to leadership is only valid as long as we are leading and leading in the right direction. When the purpose for which God fashioned us ceases to go forth, His protection of us as a movement or ministry will also cease. 

     Let us be encouraged and compelled to a deeper commitment to God and His purposes through the awesome witness of the Moravians. Let us also learn the lessons that are recorded through the failures of Herrnhut. May we hold fast to our purpose and keep the watch of the Lord, never forgetting that our first ministry is to Him. May we also never fall to depending on our natural wisdom instead of seeking greater prophetic clarity. Finally, as we find success .in kingdom endeavors, may we also never seek our own safety, but continue seeking to provide refuge to those whom God sends us, regardless of the cost. . 

 Used by permission
*  "Hernnhut--A Prophetic Warning" by Steve Thompson, 
       The MorningStar         Journal, Volume 9, Number 4.

*  For more information, visit www.morningstarministries.org