I was carried forward to the time when heathen idolaters cruelly
persecuted and killed the Christians. Blood flowed in torrents.
The noble, the learned, and the common people were alike slain
without mercy. Wealthy families were reduced to poverty, because
they would not yield their religion. Notwithstanding the persecution
and sufferings which these Christians endured, they would not
lower the standard. They kept their religion pure. I saw that
Satan exulted and triumphed over their sufferings. But God looked
upon His faithful martyrs with great approbation. The Christians
who lived in that fearful time were greatly beloved of Him, because
they were willing to suffer for His sake. Every suffering endured
by them increased their reward in heaven.
Although Satan rejoiced because of the sufferings of the saints,
yet he was not satisfied. He wanted control of the mind as well
as the body. The sufferings that they endured only drove them
closer to the Lord, leading them to love one another, and causing
them to fear more than ever to offend Him. Satan wished to lead
them to displease God; then they would lose their strength, fortitude,
and firmness. Although thousands were slain, yet others were springing
up to supply their places. Satan saw that he was losing his subjects;
for although they suffered persecution and death, yet they were
secured to Jesus Christ, to be the subjects of His kingdom. Satan
therefore laid his plans to fight more successfully against the
government of God and overthrow the church. He led the heathen
idolaters to embrace a part of the Christian faith. They professed
to believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and
proposed to unite with the followers of Jesus, without a change
of heart. Oh, the fearful danger of the church. It was a time
of mental anguish. Some thought that if they should come down
and unite with those idolaters who had embraced a portion of the
Christian faith, it would be the means of their full conversion.
Satan was seeking to corrupt the doctrines of the Bible.
I saw that at last the standard was lowered, and that the heathen
were uniting with the Christians. Although these worshipers of
idols professed to be converted, they brought their idolatry with
them into the church, only changing the objects of their worship
to images of saints, and even of Christ and of Mary His mother.
As the followers of Christ gradually united with them, the Christian
religion became corrupted and the church lost its purity and power.
Some refused to unite with them; such preserved their purity and
worshiped God alone. They would not bow down to an image of anything
in the heavens above or in the earth beneath.
Satan exulted over the fall of so many; and then he stirred up
the fallen church to force those who would preserve the purity
of their religion either to yield to their ceremonies and image
worship or be put to death. The fires of persecution were again
kindled against the true church of Christ, and millions were slain
without mercy.
It was presented before me in the following manner: A large company
of heathen idolaters bore a black banner, upon which were figures
of the sun, moon, and stars. This company seemed to be very fierce
and angry. I was then shown another company bearing a pure white
banner, upon which was written, "Purity and holiness unto
the Lord." Their countenances were marked with firmness and
heavenly resignation. I saw the heathen idolaters approach them,
and there was a great slaughter. The Christians melted away before
them; and yet the Christian company pressed the more closely together,
and held the banner more firmly. As many fell, others rallied
around the banner and filled their places.
I saw the company of idolaters consulting together. Failing to
make the Christians yield, they agreed to another plan. I saw
them lower their banner and then approach that firm Christian
company and make propositions to them. At first their propositions
were utterly refused. Then I saw the Christian company consulting
together. Some said that they would lower the banner, accept the
propositions, and save their lives, and at last they could gain
strength to raise their banner among the heathen. A few, however,
would not yield to this plan, but firmly chose to die holding
their banner rather than to lower it. Then I saw many lower the
banner and unite with the heathen; but the firm and steadfast
would again seize it and bear it on high. I saw that persons were
continually leaving the company of those who bore the pure banner,
and were uniting with the idolaters under the black banner, to
persecute those bearing the white banner. Many were slain, yet
the white banner was held high, and believers were raised up to
rally around it.
The Jews who first aroused the rage of the heathen against Jesus
were not to escape unpunished. In the judgment hall, as Pilate
hesitated to condemn Jesus, the infuriated Jews cried, "His
blood be on us, and on our children." The fulfillment of
this terrible curse which they called down upon their own heads,
the Jewish nation has experienced. The heathen and those called
Christians alike have been their foes. Those professed Christians,
in their zeal for Christ, whom the Jews crucified, thought that
the more suffering they could bring upon them, the better would
God be pleased. Many of the unbelieving Jews were therefore killed,
while others were driven from place to place and were punished
in almost every manner.
The blood of Christ and of the disciples, whom they had put to
death, was upon them, and they were visited with terrible judgments.
The curse of God followed them, and they were a byword and a derision
to the heathen and to so-called Christians. They were degraded,
shunned, and detested, as if the brand of Cain were upon them.
Yet I saw that God had marvelously preserved this people and scattered
them over the world that they might be looked upon as specially
visited by the curse of God. I saw that God had forsaken the Jews
as a nation; but that individuals among them will yet be converted
and be enabled to tear the veil from their hearts and see that
the prophecy concerning them has been fulfilled; they will receive
Jesus as the Saviour of the world and see the great sin of their
nation in rejecting and crucifying Him. -