been
silence between the heavens and the earth.[1507] Of direct revelation
from God to man during this long interval, we have no authentic record.
As already shown, the period of apostolic ministry on the eastern
continent probably terminated before the dawn of the second century of
the Christian era. The passing of the apostles was followed by the rapid
development of a universal apostasy as had been foreseen and
predicted.[1508]

In the accomplishment of this great falling away, external and internal
causes cooperated. Among the disintegrating forces acting from without,
the most effective was the persistent persecution to which the saints
were subjected, incident to both Judaistic and pagan opposition. Vast
numbers who had professed membership and many who had been officers in
the ministry deserted the Church; while a few were stimulated to greater
zeal under the scourge of persecution. The general effect of opposition
from the outside--of external causes of decline in faith and works
considered as a whole--was the defection of individuals, resulting in a
widespread _apostasy from the Church_. But immeasurably more serious was
the result of internal dissension, schism and disruption, whereby an
absolute _apostasy of the Church_ from the way and word of God was
brought about.

Judaism was the earliest oppressor of Christianity, and became the
instigator and abettor of the succeeding atrocities incident to pagan
persecution. Open and vigorous hostility of the Roman powers against the
Christian Church became general during the reign of Nero, (beginning
about 64 A.D.), and continued with occasional respites of a few months
or even years at a time to the close of Diocletian's reign (about 305
A.D.). The inhuman cruelty and savage barbarity to which were subjected
those who dared profess the name of Christ during these centuries of
heathen domination are matters of accepted history.[1509] When
Constantine the Great came to the throne in the first quarter of the
fourth century, a radical change was inaugurated in the attitude of the
state toward the church. The emperor straightway made the so-called
Christianity of the time the religion of his realm; and zealous devotion
to the church became the surest recommendation to imperial favor. But
the church was already in great measure an apostate institution and even
in crude outline of organization and service bore but remote resemblance
to the Church of Jesus Christ, founded