A Very Brief History of the Church:Part 11

 "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the World."Matt:28:20b

 

The Christian Church had faced many hardship from it's inception on that glorious Pentecost, moving those frighten believers out of the upper room into the streets of the Holy City of Jerusalem and into all the Earth.

There were challenges and strife from within and without.There had been uncertainties which gave way to great  glory. Opposition had come from many quarters, yet the movement grew and transformed as it spread across the face of the Earth.

In the very early days of the Primitive Apostolic Church, there was a true sense of anticipation that the Lord Jesus would return, and that they would personally be on the Earth at that glorious moment, this anticipation  is evident even the Epistles of St.Paul.

But,  as time past it became clear that the return of Jesus would still be for a time yet to come which the Apostles, and other Apostolic believers  would not live to see, but rather there was Kingdom work yet to done for many years to come.

Challenges and Changes

The Church leadership had contended with and confronted questions which had arisen ,and  sometimes these questions were divisive ones,  and had had  resolved some,  only to produce more questions.

The Church had gone from thinking of itself ,and  being thought of, as a sect Judaism to emerging as something very different, yet very much an inseparable part of the sacred heritage of the History of Salvation  which had come down thru the millennia, from the Garden of Eden thru the Patriarchs and the Children of Israel and now to people of all nations.

The Church had relinquished it's hold upon the Law which original believes had been taught at the Temple of God or in the many Synagogues which were found throughout the land.Now the Church was quite different. This difference allowed for the Gentiles to be admitted into the Christian movement  as equals  participants in the work of the Kingdom, had this changes not come,  the Christian movement would languished in the shadow of Judaism and may have faded away altogether over time.

There had been over the years  Imperial persecutions which would arise at times and then close for a season giving rise to a time of peace for the Christian Church.

Perodoxicly,  these times of Imperial persecution would fuel the growth of the Church , as many onlookers saw the courage and faith of the martyrs who trusted in Jesus accepting death over deliverance, even going to the death with praises, prayers and hymns  to God that they could die for their Lord.

Diocletian's Administration

After a "relatively" peaceful season for the Church , Diocletian became the Emperor of Rome .  Many Christians had hoped that Diocletian's ascension to power was to be a blessing to the Church at large,because both Diocletian's wife, Prisca,  and their daughter ,Valeria  professed to be Christians.

Upon the ascension of Diocletian to the throne of the Empire , he created an reorganized administration whereby the Empire was governed by himself as the Supreme Emperor who ruled in the East and Maximiam who ruled in the West. Under each them was a "Caesar", Calerius under Diocletian and Constantius Chlorus under Maimiam, each of these "emperors"  had a specific territory  over-which they ruled.  This arrangement brought prosperity to the Empire and would ultimetly prove providential for the Christian Church.

Leading to Persecution

Over the years many Christians were drawn from many sector's Roman of society ,there were even Christians who wore the Armor of the Roman Legion and fought for Empire and Emperor.
The Church strongly encouraged Christians bot to join the Legions of Rome. Many Christians refused to go to the army which resulted in a death sentence passed against many around 295 AD.

Galerius exploited this Christians refusal to be in the Legion and convinced Diocletian to expel Christians out of the Roman Legion. Some commanders attempted to compel some Christians Legionaries to renounce their faith in Christ, as to not weaken their ranks which resulted in the death of many ,this occurred mainly in the Legions of the Danube under Calerius. 

Diocletian's Edict

Diocletian being influenced by Galerius issued a edict against Christians in 303 AD ,not to put them to death,  but rather  to remove them from all stations of life where they might have had influence in Roman society,  even Christians who held positions in the Roman government were not exempt.

This edict issued by Diocletian led to the destruction and confiscation of any Christian properties which were held, and any Christian literature that was to be found.

Fire and Furry

The persecution took a statutory and cruel  turn when a fire broke out at the Imperial Palace, an advisor to Diocletian named Galerius charged Christians with the responsibility for setting the fire just as Nero  had done years before. Some Christians of that day believe that Galerius himself was the one who in truth set the fire for the purpose of enraging the Emperor.

It was after the palace fire that Diocletian issued a decree demanding that Christians make a sacrifice to the "gods" .This decree led many Christians to death ,  again refusing to renounce Jesus and worship "gods" of Rome or the Empire itself.

This time of the Diocletian persecution was one of most sever  faced by the Church.

Galerius Acends

By the year 304 AD  Diocletian became sick nearly to death.  and even in what recovery which Diocletian had he was left weak and drained with a loss of vitality. This weaken state left the Emperor in a vulnerable political position for   during this period of Diocletian illness , Galerius was in the background posturing and gaining power and influence within the Imperial government.

Galerius , at first approached Diocletian under the pretense of concern for Diocletian, this pseudo concern quickly gave way to threats which led to Diocletian's abdication of the throne in 305 AD,  and ceding power  to Galerius.

Galerius also brought about the abdication of Maximinian thru threats of military action against him.....

To be Continued..

Benediction:May each and all take comfort in the ever abiding presences of our Lord Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

 Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

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