The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

exactly what did occur, and all but a few of the Lord's followers lost sight of their true
mission.
We learn from history that for a period of more than a century after its institution, the
Church of Christ was faithful to her mission--not to try to overthrow the Pagan Roman
Empire, but to preach the Gospel. The effects produced by her faithfulness were twofold:
1. To draw to herself the true wheat.
2. To exert an indirect influence upon many of the world, both upon those in high circles,
and upon those in the common walks of life, to nominally embrace Christianity. The larger
part of these in Scripture phraseology would be called "tares"--mere professors.
During nearly this entire period the Church encountered great opposition, and
experienced terrible persecution, through the influence of the Pagan priests:
"Edicts of a severe nature were issued against them, and the magistrates, animated by the
priests and by the multitude, shed their blood with a cruelty, which frequently exceeded
even the dictates of the most barbarous laws."