The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2019 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 62

Taking the Easy Road

Marcus, the first Gentile bishop of Jerusalem, and the Gentile Christians there did what Roman emperor Hadrian wanted, gave up the Sabbath and Feasts, and avoided persecution. They took the easy way out.

When Yahweh led Israel out of Egypt, He did not lead them on the easy way out. He led them into a wilderness, where Pharaoh thought he had them trapped. Israel thought so, too.

When Yeshua began His flock, He did not let them lead an easy life in Jerusalem. At first, all the Christianos were camped out in Jerusalem, fussing over food and happily waiting for the Kingdom. Many churches are like that. But soon that party was over.

Acts 8:1
1) Saul was consenting to his [Stephen’s] death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Persecution scattered the Christians. The easy life was over. The hard part had begun.

Yeshua Himself did not lead the easy life. During His 3 1/2 years of teaching the way to life, He was constantly mocked and maligned. Finally, He gave up His own life, in the most ignominious and excruciating way possible.

Luke 22
44) Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Sweating like great drops of blood is not easy.

Christ does not intend for His followers to have an easy life, either.

Matt 10
16) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18) Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

Christians are as sheep surrounded by wolves. That’s not an easy life.

Matt 16
24) Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
26) For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
27) For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.

Whoever gives up his life for Christ will be given life. The Christian must deny himself. To deny the self is the single hardest thing for the self to do. The natural self naturally wants to take the easy way out — placate the self, indulge the self, save the self.

Paul was an incredible example of giving up the self.

Acts 14
19) But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
20) But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe.
21) When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22) confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God.

After being stoned, Paul looked stone dead. The other Christians stood around him, wondering what to do. Then Paul got up and showed them what to do.

Get on with the work.

Paul immediately went on doing what he had just been stoned for. He told the new Christians that through many afflictions we must enter the Kingdom of God; he had just suffered an affliction.

And that was his whole Christian life.

2Cor 6
3) We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4) but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5) in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
6) in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7) in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8) by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9) as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;
10) as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Punished, and not killed. Having nothing, yet possessing all things. Commending ourselves as servants of God… in afflictions. And notice when Paul wrote that, he did not even exalt himself by using the pronoun “I.” Instead he said “ourselves” and “we.”

As Paul had warned, the new Christians had afflictions, too.

1Thess 2
13) For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.
14) For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Yeshua; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews;

Paul told them that afflictions are just part of the Christian calling. Christians in Judea were persecuted by Jews. Christians in Thessalonica were persecuted by Thessalonians. When Christians accept Yeshua as their Redeemer, their past is wiped clean, their future is eternal life, and their present is affliction.

1Thess 3
3) that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
4) For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

I told you so, Paul reminded. “We told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened.”

Then Paul bragged on them, because they had endured their affliction so well.

2Thess 1
3) We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
4) so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.
5) This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

Appointed to the task of affliction, Paul wrote. As our example of this, Yeshua not only had to die for the sins of others, He even had to carry the pole they hung Him on.

John 19
16) So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Yeshua and led him away.
17) He went out, bearing his cross (stauros, stake or post), to the place called “The Place of a Skull,” which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha,”

Christ’s true followers have to be willing to give up their lives, as He gave up His. And in doing that, they have to be willing to carry their stauros on the march to their deaths.

Luke 23
26) When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Yeshua.

Simon is you and me, suddenly called out of the crowd to help carry that pole.

And if you put down your pole and take the easy way out —

Matt 10
32) Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33) But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34) “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
35) For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36) A man’s foes will be those of his own household.
37) He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
38) He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me.
39) He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Following Christ is a very narrow road. There is no easy way out.

Matt 7
13) “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.
14) How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

On a personal note —

I grew up in a coal camp in southern West Virginia. The one lane road to the community was hung on the side of a mountain, with just enough dirt scraped out to let one vehicle through. One S curve that I remember curled up a slope, nothing but steep hill on one side and steep drop-off on the other. You couldn’t see what traffic might be coming, that traffic might be a big coal truck, and there was absolutely no room to get over and let someone pass. Especially a big coal truck.

That was, and still is, a narrow road. Even after growing up there, when I occasionally drive on it now, that narrow road scares me to death. Narrow roads do scare people, so most just choose to stay on the freeway.

Marcus and the Gentile Christians chose the freeway instead of the narrow road. Common sense should have told them that being approved by Rome meant being disapproved by Christ. But they really wanted Rome, so they went with what was in their hearts.

Jer 17
9) The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
10) I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

Marcus’ heart did not want affliction. What heart does?

Christians often take the easy way out, and leave the narrow road for the broad road.

What are some of the broad roads Christians take?

Rome’s approval of the Marcus Christians was not long term. Eventually just being a Christian was a crime, like a hate crime today. Finally, Christians in the Roman Empire were required to offer a pinch of incense to the emperor, to show that he was God.

Yet — in spite of periodic persecutions by Rome — the history of the post-New Testament Church is a history of adopting the ways of Rome and calling them Christian. Early Christians were persecuted for not accepting Rome’s religions, yet Christians gradually began to copy those religions, their days, doctrines, and approach.

They were in the Roman Empire and began to be like Rome. That was the broad, easy road. Since that time, most Christians have followed that pattern, keeping the ways of Rome simply because that’s what most people do. People would not and will not give them up. They don’t want the narrow, lonely road. They want to be accepted by friends and family and government.

A second way of taking the easy road — and one of the most common — is what the Corinthians did.

1Cor 5
1) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
2) You are puffed up, and didn’t rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.

Your boasting is not good, 1Cor 5:6, Paul wrote. How in the world could the Corinthians be puffed up over fellowshipping with such an impudent, flagrant sinner?

They told themselves how good they were for allowing the unrepentant sinner to be with them. They were loving Christians, hating the sin but loving the sinner, approving his sin while passing him a biscuit — or gyro — at pot luck.

Instead of confronting the adulterer, which was the hard way, they simply comforted him. Nobody rebuked him for the open adultery, so they all silently approved it. They loved him, he loved them, no one was upset, no one caused discord. It was great! The congregation was cosy and rosy.

And what they did may be the most common way of taking the easy way out. This happens during times of persecution and times of peace. Which is to say, it happens all the time. They did not stand up against sin!

Like the Corinthians, many Christians emphasize their love — agape (Greek).

John 13
35) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another.”

So Christians often follow this reasoning —

Love allows all sin, because all have sinned. Love is not judgmental, because Christ said not to judge, so no one speaks against sin. Love is all inclusive, because everyone is to be loved. Love is unconditional, so everyone with every sin is approved by the ‘agape’ Christian.

Wait a minute —

That’s the religion of Rome!

All in, none out, all approved by all. This is just anomia (lawlessness) lathered up with agape.

Christian commandment breaking!

But Paul told the Corinthians “not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don’t even eat with such a person…Don’t you judge those who are within?… “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.””

The love of God is never anomia. The love of God, both for God and people, is always shown by obeying His Commandments.

1John 5
2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
4) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

John mentioned love perhaps more frequently than any other Bible writer, and he defined love as keeping God’s Commandments. However, Christians often follow cosmopolitan Corinth with a religion that approves all others, regardless of what they do, as long as they call it Christian.

Christians were accused by Rome of being atheists because they did not accept the Roman gods. Modern Christians face the accusation of being loveless, if they make a stand and rebuke the sinful behavior of others.

On the other hand, the ‘love’ Christian doesn’t have to do anything at all — doesn’t have to make a stand, doesn’t have to offend anyone, and doesn’t have to put himself at risk. He does nothing, other than to say he loves the sinner.

That’s just the easy way out.

Yeshua met with sinners — to call them to repentance.

Mark 2
15) It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Yeshua and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
16) The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
17) When Yeshua heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Christ spoke often about gehenna, the lake of fire.

Matt 10:28
28) Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

To not warn a sinner — to not call them to repentance — is the gateway to gehenna. And Christians who don’t rebuke sinners are on the same road as the sinners. They may be in a different lane, but they’re still traveling the same freeway.

Ezek 3
17) Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word from my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18) When I tell the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand.
19) Yet if you warn the wicked, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
20) Again, when a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand.
21) Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you have delivered your soul.

What happened in Corinth was the people did not warn the sinful man. Paul did. Then the sinful man turned. The people did not show love to the sinful man by not rebuking him. Paul did.

The hallmark of the puffed up, agape/Corinthian Christian is that they never rebuke sinners and they are very proud of that. America’s great problem is that Christians don’t warn sinners of sin, but instead join lawless liberals in condemning Christians who do speak against sin. There’s a lot more preaching about ‘agape’ than there is about ‘gehenna.’

A third and most obvious example of taking the easy way out is when Christians did offer incense to the Roman emperor, and thus saved their physical lives. They did not have the heart to endure.

Giving up life itself is the greatest of all tests. Obviously many have failed this test, and many will fail this test and take the easy way out.

Christians are called to take the narrow road, yet most take the broad road — the easy way out.

Almost all Christians today follow the religious customs picked up from Rome. Most Christians also follow Corinth by refusing to condemn sin. And soon, we will see persecution against Commandment keeping Christians that will make the tortures of Rome seem miniscule.

Matt 24
20) Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,
21) for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

Great oppression, such as has never been.

Taking the easy way out is the natural way. Self-love is naturally the strongest force in people and so taking the easy road is the most natural thing to do.

But it’s wrong. That’s just putting yourself first and God’s people always must put Him first. Love of self must yield to love of God.

Only by a radical change of heart can this self-love be overcome. Only by a complete change of heart can we avoid wanting to take the easy way out and be able to persevere through persecution. This change of heart can come only by seeking God with the whole heart for a whole lifetime.

Being able to deny the self in a time of persecution comes from denying the self every day. This requires never going along with society just because it’s easy, never going along with friends and family just because they’re friends and family, and never indulging yourself just because it’s your self. This requires dedicated discipline in daily devotions, renewing your heart day by day. This requires frequent fasting. God describes fasting as affliction, necessary training for the affliction that a true Christian will always face.

Great oppression, such as has never been —

We cannot overstate how difficult it must be to face such persecution. We have never faced it. We have never known anyone who faced it. We have only heard of Rome requiring Christians to offer incense to the emperor.

What would we have done?

What will we do?

If we cannot escape the religious trappings of Rome that the Christian Church absorbed just to fit in with Rome, and most have not; …

… and if we don’t have the courage to condemn sin and rebuke sinners, and most do not;

… then we surely stand no chance of enduring through a Romish persecution. We will surely take the easy way out and ask for the incense.

Matt 24
9) Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.
10) Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
11) Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
12) Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.
13) But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

To endure to the end, whether of this age or of this life, means that we don’t take the easy way out. We stay on the narrow road, with only a few people on that road, but with the Messiah Himself.