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world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law。 Dark are the
records of human misery that earth has witnessed during its long centuries
of crime。 The heart sickens； and the mind grows faint in contemplation。
Terrible have been the results of rejecting the authority of Heaven。 But a
scene yet darker is presented in the revelations of the future。 The records
of the past；the long procession of tumults；
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conflicts； and revolutions； the 〃battle of the warrior 。 。 。 with confused
noise； and garments rolled in blood〃 （Isaiah 9：5）； what are these； in
contrast with the terrors of that day when the restraining Spirit of God
shall be wholly withdrawn from the wicked； no longer to hold in check the
outburst of human passion and satanic wrath！ The world will then behold； as
never before； the results of Satan's rule。
But in that day； as in the time of Jerusalem's destruction； God's people
will be delivered； everyone that shall be found written among the living。
Isaiah 4：3。 Christ has declared that He will come the second time to gather
His faithful ones to Himself： 〃Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn；
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory。 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a
trumpet； and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds； from
one end of heaven to the other。〃 Matthew 24：30； 31。 Then shall they that
obey not the gospel be consumed with the spirit of His mouth and be
destroyed with the brightness of His coming。 2 Thessalonians 2：8。 Like
Israel of old the wicked destroy themselves； they fall by their iniquity。 By
a life of sin； they have placed themselves so out of harmony with God； their
natures have become so debased with evil； that the manifestation of His
glory is to them a consuming fire。
Let men beware lest they neglect the lesson conveyed to them in the words of
Christ。 As He warned His disciples of Jerusalem's destruction； giving them a
sign of the approaching ruin； that they might make their escape； so He has
warned the world of the day of final destruction and has given them tokens
of its approach； that all who will may flee from the wrath to come。 Jesus
declares： 〃There shall be signs in the sun； and in the moon； and in the
stars； and upon the earth distress of nations。〃 Luke 21：25； Matthew 24：29；
Mark 13：24…26； Revelation 6：12…17。 Those who behold these harbingers of His
coming are to 〃know that it is near； even
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at the doors。〃 Matthew 24：33。 〃Watch ye therefore；〃 are His words of
admonition。 Mark 13：35。 They that heed the warning shall not be left in
darkness； that that day should overtake them unawares。 But to them that will
not watch； 〃the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night。〃
1 Thessalonians 5：2…5。
The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were the
Jews to receive the Saviour's warning concerning Jerusalem。 Come when it
may； the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly。 When life is going on
in its unvarying round； when men are absorbed in pleasure； in business； in
traffic； in money…making； when religious leaders are magnifying the world's
progress and enlightenment； and the people are lulled in a false
securitythen； as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling；
so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly； 〃and they
shall not escape。〃 Verse 3。
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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
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mockings 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 declared to be the cause of
great calamitiesfamine； pestilence； and earthquake。 As they became the
objects of popular hatred and suspicion； informers stood ready； for the sake
of gain； to betray the innocent。 They were condemned as rebels against the
empire； as foes of religion； and pests to society。 Great numbers were thrown
to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters。 Some were crucified；
others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena
to be torn by dogs。 Their punishment was often made the chief entertainment
at public fetes。 Vast multitudes assembled to enjoy the sight and greeted
their dying agonies with laughter and applause。
Wherever they sought refuge； the followers of Christ were hunted like beasts
of prey。 They were forced to seek concealment in desolate and solitary
places。 〃Destitute； afflicted； tormented； （of whom the world was not
worthy：） they wandered in deserts； and in mountains； and in dens and caves
of the earth。〃 Verses 37； 38。 The catacombs afforded shelter for thousands。
Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome； long galleries had been tunneled
through earth and rock； the dark and intricate network of passages extended
for miles beyond the city walls。 In these underground retreats the followers
of Christ buried their dead； and here also； when suspected and proscribed；
they found a home。 When the Life…giver shall awaken those who have fought
the good fight； many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those
gloomy caverns。
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Under the fiercest persecution these witnesses for Jesus kept their faith
unsullied。 Though deprived of every comfort； shut away from the light of the
sun； making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth； they
uttered no complaint。 With words of faith； patience； and hope they
encouraged one another to endure privation and distress。 The loss of every
earthly blessing could not force them to renounce their belief in Christ。
Trials and persecution were but steps bringing them nearer their rest and
their reward。
Like God's servants of old； many were 〃tortured； not accepting deliverance；
that they might obtain a better resurrection。〃 Verse 35。 These called to
mind the words of their Master； that when persecuted for Christ's sake； they
were to be exceeding glad； for great would be their reward in heaven； for so
the prophets had been persecuted before them。 They rejoiced that they were
accounted worthy to suffer for the truth； and songs of triumph ascended from
the midst of crackling flames。 Looking upward by fai