"Paraclete Amidst Persecution" Pt. 1

[I am inspired to relate this, for care and love of current Believers, to recall and consider, pertinent to the current times, and the times apparently upcoming . . . .  

As you probably know, I love to read a lot and have since a child, and especially read and understand history.  Circa around 297-300 A.D. regarding this entry, we are in the reign of Diocletian, Rome . . . beginning yet again one of the various (and obviously ongoing) persecution eras against Christians.

[note, MY commentary is in brackets, italicized:)] 

I am inspired to relate this, for current Believers to recall and consider, pertinent to the times, and the years upcoming; and also, simply, for the sake of honoring and remembering those, who, through the centuries, have stood fast, true, brave and convicted . . . in and OF The Truth!]

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" The edict affected churches, writings, and the Christian people but did not contain [yet] any penalty of death.  Christians, even if they held important posts, were to be stripped of all their privileges and put to the torture.  They were forbidden to defend themselves on any charge in the public courts or to make official complaints of injuries, adultery, or theft. . . . Very early in the morning a strong force of troops with tribunes and officials of the Treasury attacked the church of Nicomedia; they broke down the doors and burst in where they burned all the books of the scriptures they could find and ranging over the whole of the building, ravaging and looted everything.  Diocletian and Galerius were watching all this from a high window--for the church was in sight of the royal palace--and they discussed whether to set the church on fire or not, but Diocletian feared that so great a fire might spread to other buildings.  The praetorian guard came, therefore, and with picks and axes leveled the whole edifice in a few hours.

"On the following day the edict was published giving legal backing to the events of the day before.   

"The edict had not been up for long when a Christian pulled it down and tore it to pieces.  This was certainly a courageous deed. . . . The daring Christian--whose name remains unknown--was arrested and tortured over a slow fire; he was finally burned alive.  He bore his sufferings with great courage.  The heads of the Christian community, however, did not approve of what he had done.  Remembering earlier persecutions, they urged the people to remain calm and either to hide or to seek safety in flight.  They realized only too well how foolish and dangerous it would be to meet force with force and they feared that many of their people might not be ready to face the heroic death of a martyr."

[Not too long afterwards, curiously there was a fire at the imperial palace, where the Augustus, emperor Diocletian lived and ruled from (I'm thinking an early type" Reichstag fire"?) which was blamed on the Christians, and then another similar fire ("false flag") there, shortly thereafter, which freaked out the generally, previously moderate Augustus Diocletian.  It looks likely that both fires were actually instigated by his fellow ruler--Christian-hater Galerius and his servants in the palace, in order to falsely blame Christians and so, finally unleash the demonically inspired viscous, evil persecution which he craved and which followed.]

"Left alone in his palace, Diocletian was filled with terror and eyed everyone with the utmost suspicion.  Wherever he went he saw plots and intrigue and everyone around him viewed as a possible traitor.  To defend himself, he fell back on cruelty and torture. . . . 

"Peter, the trusted chamberlain, died a terrible death.  It is described by Eusebius: 'Since he had refused to sacrifice [to the pagan Roman gods] he was hung up naked and whipped on all parts of his body so that he might consent even though such surrender was against his will.  The executioners were unable to shake his constancy and they then poured salt and vinegar over his torn body in many parts of which the bones were now protruding.  Peter was still immovable in his decision and so they dragged a cooking stove under him and began to roast what was left of his body over a slow fire.  They did this so that the torture would be even more prolonged and thus a chance given him to surrender.  To enhance their chances still further, they roasted only a small part of him at a time giving him plenty of time to consider his position.  Those who were torturing him were ordered to continue until he surrendered ['just following orders'].  He conquered these dreadful torments however and gave up his spirit without once being shaken in his fortitude.  Such was the death of one of the imperial servants.  He was indeed worthy of his name--Peter."

--The Age Of The Martyrs, Ricciotti

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[This is part 1.  The "Paraclete"--The Holy Spirit's involvement and power within such times and tales of persecution will also be explored, and God-willing elucidated.  For that Person of the Godhead has especial relevance and succor in the scenario within which we find ourselves amidst.]