Those Christians, who from the beginning of the church age held true to the principles taught by the apostles, suffered great opposition at the hands of both their pagan and religious persecutors.

From the days of Nero, on through the periods of persecution under the Roman Empire, the power of the Papacy, and the Inquisition, there was great bloodshed. Thousands upon thousands died through the centuries because of their stand for the Gospel truths. The history of the church became obscured in the midnight blackness of the Dark Ages, during which time it is said that 50 million martyrs gave up their lives rather than renounce their faith in Christ.