in darkness, that that day
should overtake them unawares. But to them that will not watch, "the day
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."(55)

The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were
the Jews to receive the Saviour's warning concerning Jerusalem. Come when
it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is
going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in
business, in traffic, in money-making; when religious leaders are
magnifying the world's progress and enlightenment, and the people are
lulled in a false security,--then, as the midnight thief steals within the
unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and
ungodly, "and they shall not escape."(56)

2. PERSECUTION IN THE FIRST CENTURIES.

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When Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes
of the second advent, He foretold also the experience of His people from
the time when He should be taken from them, to His return in power and
glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms
about to fall upon the apostolic church; and penetrating deeper into the
future, His eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat
upon His followers in the coming ages of darkness and persecution. In a
few brief utterances of awful significance, He foretold the portion which
the rulers of this world would mete out to the church of God.(57) The
followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and
suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the
world's Redeemer, would be manifested against all who should believe on
His name.

The history of the early church testified to the fulfilment of the
Saviour's words. The powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against
Christ in the person of His followers. Paganism foresaw that should the
gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she
summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution were
kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions, and driven from
their homes. They "endured a great fight of afflictions."(58) They "had
trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment."(59) Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood.
Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant,