the great controversy-第7章

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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。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（39）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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　faith；　they　saw　Christ　and
angels　leaning　over　the　battlements　of　heaven；　gazing　upon　them　with　the
deepest　interest　and　regarding　their　steadfastness　with　approval。　A　voice
came　down　to　them　from　the　throne　of　God：　〃Be　thou　faithful　unto　death；　and
I　will　give　thee　a　crown　of　life。〃　Revelation　2：10。

In　vain　were　Satan's　efforts　to　destroy　the　church　of　Christ　by　violence。
The　great　controversy　in　which　the　disciples　of　Jesus　yielded　up　their　lives
did　not　cease　when　these　faithful　standard…bearers　fell　at　their　post。　By
defeat　they　conquered。　God's　workmen　were　slain；　but　His　work　went　steadily
forward。　The　gospel　continued　to　spread　and　the　number　of　its　adherents　to
increase。　It　penetrated　into　regions　that　were　inaccessible　even　to　the
eagles　of　Rome。　Said　a　Christian；　expostulating　with　the　heathen　rulers　who
were　urging　forward　the　persecution：　You　may　〃kill　us；　torture　us；　condemn
us。　。　。　。　Your　injustice　is　the　proof　that　we　are　innocent

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。　。　。　。　Nor　does　your　cruelty　。　。　。　avail　you。〃　It　was　but　a　stronger
invitation　to　bring　others　to　their　persuasion。　〃The　oftener　we　are　mown
down　by　you；　the　more　in　number　we　grow；　the　blood　of　Christians　is
seed。〃Tertullian；　Apology；　paragraph　50。

Thousands　were　imprisoned　and　slain；　but　others　sprang　up　to　fill　their
places。　And　those　who　were　martyred　for　their　faith　were　secured　to　Christ
and　accounted　of　Him　as　conquerors。　They　had　fought　the　good　fight；　and　they
were　to　receive　the　crown　of　glory　when　Christ　should　come。　The　sufferings
which　they　endured　brought　Christians　nearer　to　one　another　and　to　their
Redeemer。　Their　living　example　and　dying　testimony　were　a　constant　witness
for　the　truth；　and　where　least　expected；　the　subjects　of　Satan　were　leaving
his　service　and　enlisting　under　the　banner　of　Christ。

Satan　therefore　laid　his　plans　to　war　more　successfully　against　the
government　of　God　by　planting　his　banner　in　the　Christian　church。　If　the
followers　of　Christ　could　be　deceived　and　led　to　displease　God；　then　their
strength；　fortitude；　and　firmness　would　fail；　and　they　would　fall　an　easy
prey。

The　great　adversary　now　endeavored　to　gain　by　artifice　what　he　had　failed　to
secure　by　force。　Persecution　ceased；　and　in　its　stead　were　substituted　the
dangerous　allurements　of　temporal　prosperity　and　worldly　honor。　Idolaters
were　led　to　receive　a　part　of　the　Christian　faith；　while　they　rejected　other
essential　truths。　They　professed　to　accept　Jesus　as　the　Son　of　God　and　to
believe　in　His　death　and　resurrection；　but　they　had　no　conviction　of　sin　and
felt　no　need　of　repentance　or　of　a　change　of　heart。　With　some　concessions　on
their　part　they　proposed　that　Christians　should　make　concessions；　that　all
might　unite　on　the　platform　of　belief　in　Christ。

Now　the　church　was　in　fearful　peril。　Prison；　torture；　fire；　and　sword　were
blessings　in　comparison　with　this。　Some　of　the　Christians　stood　firm；
declaring　that　they　could　make　no

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compromise。　Others　were　in　favor　of　yielding　or　modifying　some　features　of
their　faith　and　uniting　with　those　who　had　accepted　a　part　of　Christianity；
urging　that　this　might　be　the　means　of　their　full　conversion。　That　was　a
time　of　deep　anguish　to　the　faithful　followers　of　Christ。　Under　a　cloak　of
pretended　Christianity；　Satan　was　insinuating　himself　into　the　church；　to
corrupt　their　faith　and　turn　their　minds　from　the　word　of　truth。

Most　of　the　Christians　at　last　consented　to　lower　their　standard；　and　a
union　was　formed　between　Christianity　and　paganism。　Although　the　worshipers
of　idols　professed　to　be　converted；　and　united　with　the　church；　they　still
clung　to　their　idolatry；　only　changing　the　objects　of　their　worship　to
images　of　Jesus；　and　even　of　Mary　and　the　saints。　The　foul　leaven　of
idolatry；　thus　brought　into　the　church；　continued　its　baleful　work。　Unsound
doctrines；　superstitious　rites；　and　idolatrous　ceremonies　were　incorporated
into　her　faith　and　worship。　As　the　followers　of　Christ　united　with
idolaters；　the　Christian　religion　became　corrupted；　and　the　church　lost　her
purity　and　power。　There　were　some；　however；　who　were　not　misled　by　these
delusions。　They　still　maintained　their　fidelity　to　the　Author　of　truth　and
worshiped　God　alone。

There　have　ever　been　two　classes　among　those　who　profess　to　be　followers　of
Christ。　While　one　class　study　the　Saviour's　life　and　earnestly　seek　to
correct　their　defects　and　conform　to　the　Pattern；　the　other　class　shun　the
plain；　practical　truths　which　expose　their　errors。　Even　in　her　best　estate
the　church　was　not　composed　wholly　of　the　true；　pure；　and　sincere。　Our
Saviour　taught　that　those　who　willfully　indulge　in　sin　are　not　to　be
received　into　the　church；　yet　He　connected　with　Himself　men　who　were　faulty
in　character；　and　granted　them　the　benefits　of　His　teachings　and　example；
that　they　might　have　an　opportunity　to　see　their　errors　and　correct　them。
Among　the　twelve　apostles　was　a　traitor。　Judas　was　accepted；　not

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because　of　his　defects　of　character；　but　notwithstanding　them。　He　was
con