There was a great Christian Persecution in the years of 299 to 313 AD called the Diocletian Persecution. Antiochian fortune tellers informed Emperor Diocletian that their inability to interpret omens was caused by the presence of Christians in his territory. They decided that the most effective way was to force everyone to publicly offer sacrifices to pagan gods. They began a bloody persecution of the Church. The exercise of Christian belief was declared illegal. Those who refused to renounce their faith in Christ were subject to imprisonment, torture and/or death. Churches were burned along with private homes and businesses of Christians. It was demanded of all citizens, that they had to first make a sacrifice to a pagan deity when they appeared at court. This was something totally abhorrent to bishops, priests, deacons, and the deeply committed faithful. Many Christians were put to death or imprisoned. It was during this period that Bishop Nicholas of Myra (Santa Claus) suffered imprisonment and torture for seven years. He never faltered with his belief in Christ. Eventually Constantine conquered the Romans and in 313 AD released all the Christians along with Saint Nick from imprisonment.
Pretty easy to see some correlations to today’s world with persecution and oppression happening all over this world. Christian persecution is still rampant. across the globe, more than 245 million believers face intimidation, prison—even death—for their faith in Jesus Christ. That’s one in nine Christians worldwide suffering under the hands of their persecutors. And not just Christians but many more Uighur Muslims and Falun Gong in China, and Rohingya Muslims in Burma. There are many oppression’s that do not discriminate on religious basis like the political oppression in Hong Kong and political oppression all over the world, race relations like we are witnessing the USA today, to the murder of unborn babies all over the world.
But I believe with faith we can overcome anything, “Treat everyone like you want to be treated” There is no better place to live to combat evil than in the USA.
So with the title of my last blog I pray for you; “Peace on Earth Good will to Men”
SantaRocky 