Section 9 the Great Tribulation.

The approximate 3 ½ years of tribulation and persecution on the Church 64-68 A.D would almost fit inti the same time slot as the approximate 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation upon the Jewish people inside the city of Jerusalem.  This was a time of “testing or tries” of the Jewish Christians faith to see if they would remain faithful to Christ, or go apostasy and return under the old Mosaic covenant of the law.   Peter writes concerning this time of “testing. 1 Peter 4:12-13  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the (fiery trial which is to try you), as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (emphasis added)

”That (the trial of your faith), being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be (tried with fire, might be found) unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7 (NKJV) (emphasis added)    Testing gold's purity using fire is not only the oldest, method but also the most reliable gold test. This will separate the impurities from the gold. Peter is using this metaphorically.

Speaking of the tribulation to come Jesus said I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Luke 12:49 (NKJV) In order to gain the right perspective of this period it is necessary to start at the beginning.

During the early days of the first century Christianity was seen as just another sect of Judaism, a legal religion.   The preaching of the disciples had spread throughout the Roman Empire.  Paul and Silas were accused of turned the world upside down when they preached in Thessalonica.  (Act 17:6)

In Philippians 4:22, we learn of saints in "Caesar's household," which at that time would be Nero's household.   The good news of the gospel gave an impulse to the growth of Christianity.  (Act 2:47)  The Roman Empire was generally quite tolerant in its treatment of other religions.

Even the Jews, with their belief in one God and refusal of Emperor, worship was generally tolerated. The book of Acts describes the infancy period of the early Christian Church as a time when Christianity spread like wildfire.  Peter’s Pentecost speech led to the conversion of 3000 Jews, thus fulfilling God's promise to Abraham to bring salvation to the Israelites. (Acts 2:5-42) Christianity in the 1st century was at first seen largely as a apart of Judaism a Jewish sect. 

Soon after these Christians proclaimed Jesus as Israel’s Messiah the Jewish authorities who rejected the gospel of Christ denounced Christianity as a new oddball religion that had nothing to do with Judaism or God’s promises to Israel thereby forbid Christians to speak the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:1-22) 

For Jews, who made a conversion to Christianity it led to excommunication from the synagogues; and this also meant severance of long-standing friendships, and in many instances loss of means of livelihood.   This is what Paul means when he writes. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. 1 Corinthians 4:10-14 (NKJV)

Many Jews refused to recognize Jesus as Messiah because His advent was not marked by the splendors indicated in their interpretations of the Old Testament prophecies. A Messiah who was a military leader who would overthrow the Romans. The "meek and lowly" Jesus was not the world conqueror they had been led to expect.

There is much we can learn about this period of time.  The history of Christian martyrs, according to the Bible, begins in Acts with the stoning of the apostle Stephen.    Paul says in Acts 22:20, "And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.

After Stephen was martyred, a great persecution broke out against the Christian Church in Jerusalem and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria except the apostles. (Acts 8:1)  At that time, Saul began to destroy the Church.  Going from house to house  he dragged off Christian men and women and put them in prison. Saul obtained letters from the Jewish religious leaders to Jews in Damascus and he went there to bring the Christians (known as followers of the Way at that time) back to Jerusalem to be punished.

"I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished" (Acts 22:4-5).  Fortunately, the later years of Paul’s life show a marked difference as he lived his life for Christ and the advancement of His kingdom.

During the first century after Jesus' death nearly all of his flowers suffered martyrdom for His sake. The first collective persecution of the Christians started with the Jews who rejected Christ and his gospel.  Acts 23:12-14 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³ Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

The Jews felt threatened by this new religion that they felt had nothing to with God’s promises to Israel, and they wanted it stopped from spreading so they enlisted the help of Roman.

Caesar had the men and ships to destroy Christianity were ever it was started.   The Apostle John talking about this whoredom relationship, when he said he saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. (See Revelation 17:1-5)

The rapid spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire itself, was a primary factor in Nero's persecution of Christians.   The second collective persecution of the Christians took place at Rome under Nero, towards the close of the year 64, very soon after sentence had been passed on Paul.  

It was in 64 A.D. that Nero began his persecution of Christians from Rome. A fire was started which destroyed a great part of the imperial city.   Beginning on July 8^th or 9^th  it continued for six days and despite the efforts made to put the fire out it broke out again, when thought to be under control, and lasted for three days more.   The people accused the Emperor Nero for the devastation claiming he set the fire for his own amusement.    Nero needed a scape goat of his own, so he chose to blame Christians to put an end to the rumor.

The Greek word "martyr" actually means "witness" or "one who gives a testimony." Early Christians were very bold witnesses for Christ in fulfillment of His command to be His witnesses in all the earth (Acts 1:8). In those days every Roman subject was expected to acknowledge Caesar as god. They were required to say" Caesar is Lord." Christians, of course could not say this. Instead, they acknowledged "Jesus is Lord." (1 Corinthians 12:3) For this reason many early Christians were put to death by a variety of cruel methods, such as crucifixion, burning at the stake, beheading, and being fed to lions. Historical accounts of these people refer to them as martyrs.

Nero hoped to placate the people by blaming the Christians for starting the fire. He hoped this would begin a policy of persecution of all Christians.

The emperor therefore ordered the arrest of members of the sect until the entire Christian population was implicated and became fair game for retribution and torture.    As many of the religious sect that could be found were rounded up and put to death in the most horrific manner for the amusement of the citizens of Rome.   It was about this time that the Apostle John writes personally to strengthen the saints by calling himself their brother and companion in the tribulation. (Revelation 1:9)

Nero came up with some most extra-ordinary ways to tortures Christians.   Nero performed the worst atrocities upon his victims; he did not just won’t to kill Christians, he wanted to make them suffer first.  Nero enjoyed dipping Christians in tar, or oil or resin, and nailed them on pine poles were lighted and burned as torches for the amusement of the mob; while Nero, in fantastical dress, figured in a horse race, and displayed his art as charioteer. Burning alive was the ordinary punishment of incendiaries; but only the cruel ingenuity of this imperial monster, under the inspiration of the devil, could invent such a horrible system of illumination.

Around his palace, were also Christians torches that illumined the night while he yelled: "Now you truly are the light of the world."   Nero also performed many other kinds of torture, often killing them in the Amphitheater in front of large crowds of spectators where he did some of his most gruesome murders. The ghastly way in which some of the victims aroused were put to death was to wrap Christians up in animal skins and throw them to lions, or wild dogs to be ripped apart.  Many others men and woman were tied between two oxen or horses tearing these men and women apart in front of thousands of entertained spectators.

At other times he would crucify them, and after the crowd would get bored, he would set the Christians on fire.  Nero falsely accused and executed Christians, who were infamous for their faith in Christ. There were many rumors flying about that Christians were cannibals (because of the 'Lord's Supper' in which they eat the 'flesh' and drink the 'blood' of Jesus Christ), and that they performed human sacrifice (none of this was true). But ultimately Christians were executed not for the public good or any criminal acts but on the account that they were seen as a threat to the old system of Judaism and the Roman Empire.

This great persecution was raised against all who professed their belief in Christ as the Messiah. The gospel of grace spread like wildfire, at tremendous cost to the early followers of Christ.    The first century church was beset with tribulations, persecution, torture, and martyrdom. The victims, at the mercy of Nero’s denunciation, increased in number from day to day, but there was no governing body to register their names. 

                                                                                                                                               

In spite of all this, the Christian churches was being established throughout the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor, and into Europe.     We have no idea how many Christians lost their life under the Neronian persecution, but the Nero's persecution "lasted several years, and was not confined to Rome but was practiced throughout the Empire, and cost the lives of a very large number of Christians."

Before this period of tribulations, and persecution started Jesus made a profound promise to his disciples which is found in Luke. Jesus spoke of the disciples as being betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and some would even be put to death (Luke 21:16). Yet the amazing statement of Christ was that not a hair of their heads would perish (Luke. 21:18). The very context of this statement speaks of some of the disciples dying, was not a promise that no physical harm would ever come to their physical body. Not a hair of the heads of their spiritual body would perish.  We are really spirits having a humans experience in an earthly body.   We are not humans being going to have a spiritual experience some day. ~ The real you is a spirit living in a flesh and bone body. 

The Lord views everything in the light of eternity. Man tends to view things in the context of the brief life here on earth. From man's perspective, those who die for their faith in Jesus have lost a great deal. But from Jesus' viewpoint, martyrs haven't lost a thing.   There by Jesus could promise that not a hair of their heads would perish (Luke. 21:18).

All this happen during Jesus contemporary generation.