Blood of the Martyrs

The following presentation is a brief survey of the persecution of the early church from 33 AD (pentecost) to 313 AD (The Edict of Milan).

Church History, Volume 03: Persecution

Christians have faced persecution from many sources since the beginning. Christians have a real enemy, Satan, that would see them recant, or be tortured, imprisoned and killed. Revelation tells us of those clothed "in white, beneath the altar of God:

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been."

Revelation 6:9-11

Many were killed and many will still be killed until '...the number' has been completed. Christians have always been persecuted. The face of persecution, however, is not some shadowy devil with horns, a pitchfork and a tail. Persecution comes from the most ordinary of places. The early church had no advocates, no lawyers to appeal for them, and very few places they could flee to. They were subject to the will of the ruling power of their day.

Foxes book of Martyrs claims that during one of the two Empire wide persecutions under Decius, "numberless Christians were slain without trial, and buried indiscriminately in heaps, sometimes fifty or sixty being cast into a pit together, without the least decency." Decius (the Roman emperor) was trying to recover the traditional Roman religious order. His solution, however, was impossible for Christians to comply with. It was a challenge to their faith and their faithfulness. When Christians did not sacrifice to the Emperor or to the old gods, it was a challenge to the unity and peace of Rome. 

The solution to an obstinate and intolerant group (the Christians) was a systematic, empire-wide persecution that resulted in torture, imprisonment, loss of property and death. This persecution lasted only 1-2 years, but a greater persecution was coming. In 303, the Great Persecution under Diocletian began. This period was the greatest test to Christian faithfulness. Some Christians recanted and gave in to the torture, but many more remained faithful. 

If the Lord allows us to suffer persecution today, may we remain faithful as our brothers and sisters before us.