“And unto the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you in prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation
ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” -
Revelation 2:8-11
Ye Shall Have Tribulation Ten Days- The Foxes Book of Martyrs has the Roman persecutions as ten...
67 AD
Nero The Smyrna Church Age begins with Nero setting fire to Rome.
81 AD
Domitian Declaration that no Christian should be exempt from punishment.
108 AD
Trajan and Adrian Severe persecution against Christians from 108 to 138 AD
162 AD
Marcos Aurelius commendable in study of philosophy, sharp and fierce towards Christians.
192 AD
Severus This persecution was carried out by the will and prejudice of the people and extended into Africa.
235 AD
Maximus Numberless Christians were slain without trial and burned indiscriminately in heaps
249 AD
Decius Began because of the amazing increase in Christianity, and with the heathen temples forsaken.
257 AD
Valerian The martyrs that fell during this persecution were innumerable, their tortures and deaths painful.
274 AD
Aurelian A brief persecution that ended with the emperor’s assassination.
303 AD
Diocletian The last persecution ended with Constantine’s triumph against Rome in 313 AD