Martyrdom
Millions of martyrs in the past ages have given witness to the power of the gospel. Rather than violate their conscience, they welcomed imprisonment, torture and death. Their enemies, incensed by Satanic fury, inflicted upon their victims the most painful and cruel torture.
Little did the disciples of Jesus understand of their future sufferings and death when they joined with Him. Would Christ have revealed it to them in the beginning, they might have turned away from Him as did the 70. All of them except John suffered a martyr’s death.
From the time of Nero, year 67, we find 10 distinct persecutions to the time of Diocletian, which began year 303.
Nero blamed the burning of the city of Rome upon Christians and started a great persecution against them. Thousands upon thousands perished in it, including the apostles Paul and Peter.
Soon after, year 81, Dominitian, who was known for his cruelty, started to persecute Christians. He cast apostle John in the boiling oil but through the intervention of God he did not die; but Nicodemus and Timothy perished in this persecution.
The third persecution began under Tajan, A.D. 108. Many thousands were put to death daily. Seeing this, Pliny the Second sent a letter to Trajan saying that these Christians are law-abiding people not deserving the persecution. But this letter did not stop it. When Calocerius, a pagan witnessed the torment of the Christians, and their patience under it, he exclaimed in a kind of ecstasy, “Great is the God of the Christians”; for this he was apprehended and suffered a similar fate.
Marcus Aurelius started the fourth persecution A.D. 162. The cruelties used in this persecution were such that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity of the sufferers. In this persecution also Polycarp perished. When he was asked to deny his faith, he answered, “86 years have I served Him, alid He’ never once wronged me; How then shall I blaspheme my King, who hath saved me?”
So the terrible persecutions continued, one after another. The tenth persecution came by Diocletian A.D. 303, and lasted the following 10 years. This time period in the history is called the Era Of The Murtyrs. The decision was made to put a termination to Christianity. In some places, whole cities of Christians were burned, and all the inhabitants perished in the fire.
These 10 persecutions were carried on by Pagan Rome. The Papal Rome in the next 1260 years killed over 50 million Christians. It looked like Christianity was perishing; but history tells us differently. The blood of the martyrs was a seed for the Gospel. When one martyr lost his life, 20 took his place. They were converted to Christianity by the witness of these men, women and children who rather suffered torture and death than deny their faith. When they were brought to the place of execution, their appearances were of one going to his own wedding, praising God and singing joyful songs, as they gave up their lives.
“Every martyr of Jesus has died a conqueror. Says the prophet, ‘They overcame him [‘That old serpent, called the devil, and Satan’ by the blood of the Lamb; and they loved not their lives unto the death.’ Rev. 12: 11, 9; PP 77
“Of all the gifts’ that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. Not Enoch, who was translated to Heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon.” MH 478
“The disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of the martyr’s until such grace was needed. Then the Savior’s promise was fulfilled.” DA 354
“As; thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deut. 33:25
Today we are asking a question, “Why does the persecution linger?” “Why is it that God’s people have so much freedom and prosperity in material things”, when Paul writes to us, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2Tim 3: 12
Sister White gives us an answer to this question, “Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world’s standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled.” GC 48
What does the Spirit of Prophecy tell us about the near future? II A great crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our nation will attempt to enforce upon all the observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day.” Last Day Events p. 144
“The persecution of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism and Papacy are combined.” Last Day Events p. 147
“Many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ’s sake in standing in defense of the truth.” 3SM 397
The prophesies are clear to us. We are not to plan our lives in this world but make speedy preparations for the future. Soon our money and property will be useless to us.
In the mighty shaking which is before us, the cowards will leave the church. World loving members will give up their faith rather than suffer persecution. But the faithful remnant, who in times of peace and prosperity were faithful, now in the time of persecution will remain true to God. The fires of persecution will purify the little remnant and prepare them to enter into their heavenly home.
May the Lord help each one of us to consecrate our lives to Him a new and bring in a revival similar to the early church, and by so doing hasten the coming of the Lord.
AMEN