The Great Reformation, Part 2 of Chapter 6 of Holy priesthood volume 1

The Great Reformation, Part 2 of Chapter 6 of Holy priesthood volume 1

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Jesus told His disciples, “The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (John 16:2) The Romans declared that it was for a lawful and worthy cause that Christians be killed, so they devised many entertaining ways to torture and execute them. They believed that their Roman gods were pleased to see the Christians whipped, burned, fed to lions, dragged through streets, and killed by horrid means of torture.

When the true Priesthood had been driven from the earth through persecution, the Roman Empire took over the remains of the Christian Church. Like a phoenix from the ashes, however, the Church gained in power and began to purge, plunder and kill in the same way the Romans had done to them previously. Anyone who did not agree with the Church leaders was considered an apostate and was condemned. As a few righteous souls began condemning the evils of the Church, their persecutions became worse. By the time the Church gained total control of the religious and political realms, it had sunk to its lowest level.

As the scriptures began to be rediscovered and more widely circulated, persecutions increased. During the era of Martin Luther, the Church was devastating communities. Luther said, “He who desires to proclaim the word of Christ to the world, must expect death at every moment.” (D’Aubigne, bk. 4, ch. 4) The Church would ferret out these heretics, hold Church trials, and after the excommunication, turn them over to the secular authorities for execution. To offer any disagreement with Church leaders was almost a death sentence.