During the Second and Third Centuries, the Church underwent a severe persecution. The Roman Emperor Nero, Caligula, Diocletian, and others sought to destroy the Church by crushing them to pieces in spectacles of the Coliseum games, feeding them to lions, burning them on stakes, crucifying them, unleashing bulls on them, and for Nero many a Christian was his giant candle to light his garden, and in the most sickening of antichrist displays, Nero had Christians skinned alive, and wore their skin as suites (Persecution Volume II, Jerusalem Bookstore). Truly the Church in these harsh times clung to the Scriptures, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves," (Matthew 10:6), ""Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me," (Matthew 24:9), "But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me." (Luke 21:12-13). This last verse was indeed was the persecuted Christians waiting to be devoured by lions, burned on stakes, or slaughtered in some other punishment believed they were doing. Their unflinching resolve, and love of Christ moved the hardened hearts of the Romans in the Coliseums.
During this time of unbridled and unending persecution, the Church had to meet in homes, but even those were not safe. So many fled to caves and catacombs, where they prayed for those persecuting them (Matthew 5:44). These caves we would like to think were spacious cottages of stone, with every comfort, or at least an ornate chapel; the truth is they were narrow, and even ceiling might only be 2 to 4 feet tall (see pic below), forcing believers to lay on their backs as the stone ceiling born down on them like colossus foot; no windows, and no air to spare; submarines nothing compared to this living quarters, and if one had claustrophobia, this location of the Church during the Great Persecution would cure you. Many of us would like to believe such places were for only our forefathers and forerunners in the Faith, but the truth is that persecution is rising once more; and already Christians in parts of the world (I do not want to share where, lest it endanger them) are seeking shelter in caves to stay alive. As the enemies of Christ fly their flags and demolish towns around the world, and as persecution mounts in the Americas, we can be sure that the days of the Church hiding in caves is not over, but is about have a housing boom!
Jesus Christ our God and Savior makes mention of the desolation that awaits His return, "I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8), and "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:22). Christ alludes to a major destruction of life (see Revelation 8 thru Revelation 9, and Revelation 16 thru Revelation 17), and those who survive will be living under conditions that will drive all but the elect to seek death. Here is a sampling of what shall befall this world and what many of us will have to endure, "The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up," (Revelation 8:7), "Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed," (Revelation 8:9), "The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water, the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter," (Revelation 8:10-11), "The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night," (Revelation 8:12), and many more devastations will happen and it says people will, "During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them." (Revelation 9:6). From just these examples we seek fire will fall on the earth, and a blaze, heat will increase on the Earth as it is already, then waters will become bitter after an Asteroid hits the waters called Wormwood, and then the Sun and Moon will go dark, no one will see light anymore, making the whole world feel like being in a cave.
We need to get ready Church, the mansions, cathedrals, and technological church buildings are going to be destroyed; and we shall be chased back into caves. It is time to get ready ahead of time, to start weaning your dependence on buildings, and the public pride your denomination boasts. For the true Church (The Elect) shall be forced underground to avoid the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:17), and the devastations aforementioned (Revelation 8:7-12). Church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the time is now to get ready. While you enjoy your comforts and technology, learn to camp, seek tools and training in self sustainability, farming, and even raising chickens, cattle, and etc. Do not waste the time allotted you, live as usual, but also learn so that the Community of Christ may benefit in the caves, and other locations it will be forced to take up lodging in once more.
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