The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 25

The European Union in Prophecy
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 . . . . 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 endeavoured 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 honour. 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
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