“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”

2 Timothy 3:12

I believe EVERY Church, ministry, Sunday school, Bible study group should read Foxe's Book of Martyrs or Martyr's Mirror. I do not read commentaries nor books about the Bible but I do make time to read those books.

We read Martyr's Mirror at our Church and during our Street Preachers conference held 2-3 times a year in different cities and States.  These books are the history and persecution of the early Church and how they suffered for the name of Jesus. 

Foxe's Book of Martyrs was written by an English historian John Foxe, first published in 1563 by John Day.

Martyr's Mirror gives many examples of those who have suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their Saviour, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660. 

After reading these books, judge if it’s the same gospel we have in America.  And you think you understand persecution? 

This was Polycarp’s last words, in the Martyrdom, Polycarp is recorded as saying on the day of his death: ‘Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.’ Polycarp was burned at the stake and pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense to the Roman emperor. On his farewell, he said: ‘I bless you, Father, for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ.’

Polycarp was known for calling immoral people to repent but called the false teachers ‘firstborn of Satan.’

IF the reading of Foxe's Book of Martyrs or Martyr's Mirror does not wake you the Gehenna up, you need to get Born Again.

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”

John 15:20