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R
ME,
A.D. 64- The
capital of the world is
in fiames!
For six days a nd
nights the great fire races out of
control through the most popu–
lous districts of the imperial
city. In its fury, the blaze
reduces half the metropolis to
ashes.
Many of the architectural glories
of ancient Rome are devoured in
the flames. Thousands of terror–
stricken Romans are made home–
less, all their worldly possessions
los
t.
From atop his palace
r oof, the Emperor
Nero views the awe-
sorne panorama.
THE
HISTORY
OF
EUROPE
&
THE
CHURCH
PARTONE
Among those imprisoned and
brought to tria! by Nero is a man
who has been instrumental in eslab–
lishing lhe ftedgling Church of God
al Rome- Paul, lhe aposlle to the
Greek-speaking gentiles.
Apostollc Martyrs
For many years Paul had warned the
churches of impending persecutions.
He had reminded them of J esus' own
words to his disciples: " l f they have
persecuted me, they will also perse–
cute you." Paul had assured them
that "all that willlive godly in Christ
Jesus
shal/ su.ffer persecucion"
(II
Tim. 3:12).
The world, he had told them,
would not be an easy
place for Christians.
Yet despite persecu–
tions- as Jesus himself
Sorne Romans sus–
pect the truth. They
believe that Nero–
inhuman, maniacal, in–
sane- has personally
triggered the conflagra–
tion. Fancying himself a
great builder, he desires
to erase the old Rome
that he might have the
glory of founding a new
and grander city–
Nero's
Rome!
THECHURCH
STRUGGLES
FOR SURVIVAL
had declared - "the
gates of hell
[hades,
the
grave] shall not prevail
against it" (Matt.
16:18). The Church of
God would never be
completely stamped
out!
Paul himself had
endured much suffer–
ing and persecution
during the course of
his long minislry. For
A rumor begins to
circulate that the fire
was contrived by the
emperor himself. Nero
fears for his safety. He must find
someone to bear the blame- and
quickly!
To divert suspicion away from
himself, Nero lays the guil t al the
door of a new religious group-the
Christians of Rome.
lt
is lhe logical choice. Christians
are already despised and distrusted
by many. They spurn the worship of
the old Roman gods and "treason–
ably" refuse to give divine honors to
the emperor. Their preaching of a
new King sounds like revolution.
They have no infiuence, no power–
the pcrfect scapegoats.
Nero orders their punishment.
The bloodbath begins!
The emperor inflicts on the
falsely accused Christians horrible
tortures and executions. Sorne are
nailed to crosses; others are covered
with animal skins and torn apart by
wild dogs in the Colosseum; still
10
by
Keith W. Stump
EDITOR'S NOTE: With this article we
begin a series examining the historie rela–
tionship between Europe and che
Church-a relationship rhat has shaped
the history of the Western wor/d.
Europe today stands at a rnomentous
crossroads. Events taking shape there will
radical/y change che face of che Conti–
nent- and che wor/d.
To properly understand today's news
and the evems that lie ahead, a grasp of
the sweep of European history is essemia/.
Only within an historical context can che
events of our time be fui/y appreciated.
This narrative series is written in che
historie present to give che reader a sense
ofbeing on the scene as mornentous events
unfold on the stage of history.
olhers are nailed lo slakes and set
ablaze as illuminalion for Nero's night–
ly garden parties.
For years the persecution rages.
It
is
a perpetua! open season on Chris–
tians.
more than two decades
he had persevered in
preaching the gospel of
the coming kingdom of
God through many of tbe provinces
of the Roman Empire. Now, at last,
his sufferings are nearing an end.
Ncro sends his servants to bring
Paul word of his impending death.
Shortly afterward, soldiers arrive
and lead him out of the city to the
place of execution. Paul prays, then
gives his neck to the sword. He is
buried on the Ostian Way. The year
is A. D. 68; it is early summer.
Most of the leading elders and
membcrs of the congregation at
Rome are also martyred in the
Neronian persecution.
Peter- chief among the original
twelve apostles- also meets his end
in A.D. 68. He is condemned lo
death- as Jesus himself had fore–
told many years earlier (John
21: 18-19)- by crucifixion.
T urmoll in J udea
Unfortunalely, the headquarters
The
PLAIN TRUTH