Chapter 2—Persecution in the First Centuries
When Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and
the scenes of the second advent, He foretold also the experience of
His people from the time when He should be taken from them, to
His return in power and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the
Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon the apostolic church;
and penetrating deeper into the future, His eye discerned the fierce,
wasting tempests that were to beat upon His followers in the coming
ages of darkness and persecution. In a few brief utterances of awful
significance He foretold the portion which the rulers of this world
would mete out to the church of God.
Matthew 24:9, 21, 22
. The
followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach,
and suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth
against the world’s Redeemer would be manifested against all who
should believe on His name.
The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the
Saviour’s words. The powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves
against Christ in the person of His followers. Paganism foresaw that
should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept
away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The
fires of persecution were kindled. Christians were stripped of their
possessions and driven from their homes. They “endured a great fight
of afflictions.”
Hebrews 10:32
. They “had trial of cruel mockings
[40]
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.”
Hebrews
11:36
. Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble
and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were alike slain without
mercy.
These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the
martyrdom of Paul, continued with greater or less fury for centuries.
Christians were falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and de-
clared to be the cause of great calamities—famine, pestilence, and
earthquake. As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspi-
cion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gain, to betray the innocent.
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