本期视频，魏泰德牧师讨论了《善恶之争》的第二章，标题是《第一世纪的逼迫》。

基督的跟从者们遭受了屈辱、苦难和迫害。他们被剥夺了财产，被赶出家门。他们被“被诬告犯了一些最严重的罪，并被控为饥荒，瘟疫，地震等大灾难的祸根。当他们成了群众仇恨和猜疑的对象时，有许多人为了财利，以告密的手段出卖无辜的人们。定为叛国的匪徒，宗教的死敌和社会的毒害。无数的人被抛给斗兽场中的野兽，或被活活烧死。有的被钉在十字架上；有的则披上了兽皮被投入场中，任猛狗撕裂。他们的受刑常被作为公共节期的娱乐节目。广大的人群聚集观看取乐，以大笑和喝采来嘲弄他们惨痛的死亡。”（《善恶之争》40段）

尽管如此，基督徒的数量还是增加了。由于撒但没有成功地通过残酷的迫害将他们消灭，他尝试了一种更具欺骗性的方法。“于是逼迫停止了，代之以暂时的兴旺，和属世尊荣可怕的引诱。拜偶像者接受了基督信仰的一部分，而拒绝了其他主要的真理。他们口头上承认耶稣是上帝的儿子，并相信他的死和复活；可是他们并不自觉有罪，也不感到有悔改或心灵更新的必要。” （《善恶之争》42段）

这就是妥协和腐败进入教会的过程。“那时《圣经》已不再公认为信仰的标准了。异教徒的仪式和节日成为教会操行的一部分。宗教自由的教义已被斥为异端，而且凡拥护宗教自由的人，反而遭到恨恶，被人排斥。” （《善恶之争》45段）

尽管早期的基督徒因信仰而受到嘲笑，但他们仍然忠实于基督及其门徒的教义。

“这鼓励当时那些坚决不移的圣徒的原则，如能重新振作现代自称为上帝子民之人的心，那么教会和世界都必受到良好的影响。如今一般人对基督教的基本教义表示惊人的冷淡。许多人认为教义问题究竟不是最重要的，而且这种看法已在逐渐得势了。这种退化的现象正在加强撒但党羽的势力，以至多年来忠实信徒冒着性命的危险所去抗拒并暴露的虚假理论和阴毒欺骗，这时倒被千万自称为基督徒的人所赞同了。” （《善恶之争》46段）

我们生活在末日。我们唯一的安全是建立在上帝话语的坚固磐石上。因此，让我们在学习《圣经》、理解其教义、将其融入内心并与他人分享时，寻求圣灵的指引。 更多有关《第一世纪的逼迫》详情，请阅读怀爱伦著作《善恶之争》，网址是：https://greatcontroversyproject.org/ 。

This week, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses the second chapter of The Great Controversy by Ellen White, entitled “Persecution in the First Centuries.”

Christ’s followers suffered humiliation, suffering, and persecution. They were stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes. They were “falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and declared to be the cause of great calamities…As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspicion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gain, to betray the innocent. They were condemned as rebels against the empire, as foes of religion, and pests to society. Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena to be torn by dogs. Their punishment was often made the chief entertainment at public fetes. Vast multitudes assembled to enjoy the sight and greeted their dying agonies with laughter and applause” (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 40).

But despite this, the number of Christians increased. Since Satan wasn’t succeeding in wiping them out through brutal persecution, he tried a more deceptive approach. “Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection, but they had no conviction of sin and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart” (page 42).

This is how compromise and corruption entered the church. “The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith.” Pagan rituals and festivals became a part of the Church’s practice. “The doctrine of religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated” (page 45).

Though ridiculed for their faith, early Christians remained faithful to the teachings of Christ and His disciples. “Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people. There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion is gaining ground that, after all, these are not of vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions, which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands who claim to be followers of Christ” (page 46).

We are living in the end times. Our only safety is to build on the solid rock of God’s Word. As such, let us ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we study the Bible, understand its teachings, accept them into our hearts, and share them to others.

To learn more about persecution in the first centuries, read The Great Controversy by Ellen White at https://greatcontroversyproject.org/.