Persecution and the Gospel

When Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” he implied that his power surpassed Caesar’s. Few statements could be more subversive than this. For the apostles to carry out their mission and call on multinational subjects of Rome to transfer their allegiance from Caesar to Christ as Lord was traitorous and seditious. It resulted in some being arrested, tried, and put to death as adversaries of the established government. Remember, Rome did not execute Peter and Paul for preaching about heaven or exile John to Patmos for preaching about forgiveness of individual sins.


The Gospel of God's kingdom ruffles political feathers. But a message that invites people to go to heaven won't raise a single political eyebrow.