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THE WALDENSES The Waldenses probably got their name from Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant from Lyons who reportedly gave up most of his wealth and established a group which became known as the “Poor Men.” They believed in street preaching, Bible distribution, believer’s baptism for adults only, and eternal security. Like most believers in church history, they also considered Rome to be the whore of Revelation chapter seventeen. The Waldensen movement began in southern France late in the twelfth century and then spread into Piedmont, Austria, Poland, Germany, Bavaria, Bohemia, Passau and Konigsburg. They were forbidden to street preach at the Third Lateran Council of 1179, but they preached anyway. In the year 1212, eighty preachers were burned at the stake in Strassburg, many believed to have been Waldenses. Other persecutions arose in the 1500's. In all, the Waldenses passed through thirty-six persecutions. Yet, by the grace of God, they still exist today with about 35,000 believers in northern Italy.