As a way of preparation, as the forerunner of this faith, Christ assembled His disciples strengthening their heart for the imminent inevitability. In conclusion of His charge He said “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation.” Jn 16:33a
Not quite long from that time, what will arguably be the most thrilling event of all time was how Jesus was arrested and then consequently crucified, but thanks unto God, the prophecies have now been fulfilled. On the third day, Christ rose up from dead and death was conquered.
Little do we know that this marks the beginning of hatred, strong envy and chaos for the movement all over the territory that are been dominated by the Roman law. In-spite of all the threats and intimidation, the disciples could not hide the gospel of Christ as they were totally committed to the gospel. To the emperor, this movement is denying them one thing and that is the accordance of glory to GOD which they powerfully coveted and this did not at any point in time go well with the Kings domiciling at Jerusalem and its environment. This was enough reason to persecute the disciples. Of a truth, the place of the Kings is very insignificant from the challenges the church was facing as of that time, the persecution from the priest was a major one and the opposition from those teaching people doctrines that are not of God, in other words, people going around with false doctrines. This poses a great challenge in keeping the church to be one and the disciples lived up to their bidding not minding the oppositions. What did you expect? Some, their lives went for it, some were tortured, some were ripped of their resources, some their families, powers and authority could not make them to compromise not forgetting the word of Christ that they will have tribulations and that their peace is only in Him (Jesus Christ). They all travel with this word and they travel far not accepting any form of intimidation and they stood firm in the face of persecution.
With all these persecutions both within and without, the most amazing thing was that, the gospel of Christ increase in all the tongues and tribes and souls are be won to Christ on daily basis. The persecution was not limited to the first church alone, the second century also witness a great persecution among whom Bishop Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna and that great philosopher Justin, just to mention a few, these people were brothers who stood for the course of the gospel and they became the “Apologist” at a point where heresies became what the church must battle against, thank God for these brothers who never compromise with all what they passed through.
All these went on until the time of Constantine the great who took over from Diocletian who died as the emperor, After his conversion, Constantine issued an edict in 313 AD giving liberty to everyone to worship whosoever they believed in, thereby giving us the first law of freedom of worship. Who can tell, whether you and I will be living a conservative life? That is even if we gave our lives to Christ in the first place had it not been that Constantine was won to Christ.

This is just a brief about where we are coming from.





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