Originally Posted by MrSmith764

How would you explane the percicution of the Church from almost from the time it was founded, right on up to the return of Jesus?

Here are a few example.

Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Matthew 23:34-35 (KJV)
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

John 15:20 (KJV)
20 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.

Romans 5:3 (KJV)
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Notice the last verse, tribulation produce patience. It seems like too many Christians want an easy life, a life of no problems and heart aches. Tribulations is some what like body building (I was a non competing body builder) the only way you are going to build rock hard muscle is to put those muscles under steady increasing stress of the weights. A Christians that does not experience hard ship from time to time is a weak Christians.