p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 13.0px Cambria} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 13.0px Cambria; min-height: 15.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 13.0px Cambria} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 13.0px Cambria; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} This Church history book is not about the past, but the future. Any faithful Christian must realize that a world dominated by the renewal of heathenism will not forever permit the faithful to worship the Lord peacefully. The pagans of our times will do precisely what the heathens of the past did to the faithful Church. They will get more and more irritated by the values promoted through the Holy Scriptures and will consider them to be the extreme expressions of intolerance. Thus, the Bible believer will either accept to compromise his faith or suffer the consequences of his obedience to the Scriptures. It would be nave to think that modern society had made so much progress regarding the development of liberty and tolerance that Christians will no longer be persecuted. Anyone who reads the Bible and observes the modern world understands that there is a gathering cloud above the Church that should serve as a warning for all God's servants. The pressure on the Church to compromise is an increasing trend. At some point, there will be great strife and persecution will ensue. Nevertheless, the prospect of upcoming church persecution should not be a cause for fear or panic to any committed servant of God. His old promise to His people stays the same today: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," (Hebrews 13:5). The history of the faithful of the past centuries who went through the furnace of persecution needs to be better known by the Christians of the 21st century. Those are inspiring examples that may strengthen the faith of many believers and prepare them for the time of persecution which shall come upon the Church. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. (John 16:2)