"Some Christians they proved by fire, others by the sword, others by wild beasts; yet others tasted martyrdom from cudgels and iron claws." - Tertullian (160-225AD)
Torture not just martyrdom has been the experience of many of God's saints in history.
Christians throughout the centuries have been subject to the worst of tortures. The evil of men have excelled in its implements of torture as they punished those they deemed the worst criminals of mankind. Christians who are the light of the world and the salt of the earth were considered the dung and refuse of the earth most of the known world many times in history. The most heinous, wicked acts imaginable have been the experience of those least deserving them. History will never truly tell what satanic, devil filled men have done to the righteous of the earth. This sort of thing seems far-fetched to the modern mind yet all across the world these things still occur and will occur more at an alarming rate. An end time persecution of the church of God is coming and will be world-wide.
Several years ago I was led on a tour in a German castle on the rhine river. What beautiful architecture, inlaid stone rooms, pathways and wonderful views of the german countryside. Room after room we walked through and ending the tour going through the lower rooms of the castle. As we entered the last room I noticed right away some of the devices in the room that clearly showed me it was a room where individuals were locked up and imprisoned. Also more shockingly there were implements of torture, including crowns with spikes on them and racks to stretch bodies. My mind raced through church history to realize this room could have very well been a place were Anabaptist dissenters were tottered for their faith in Jesus Christ.
It should not surprise us that there have been so many martyrdoms in Church history when it began with the martyrdom of all the Apostles expect the Apostle John in which they attempted to boil him alive in oil and he survived being exiled to the prison island of Patmos. Here follows as per tradition the Apostles deaths by martyrdom: Apostle Andrew, Martyrdom by crucifixion (bound to a cross). Apostle Bartholomew, Martyrdom by being Flayed alive and crucified, head downward. Apostle James the Greater, Martyrdom by being stabbed with a sword. Apostle James the Lesser, Martyrdom by being thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple at Jerusalem , then stoned and beaten with clubs. Apostle Mark, Was dragged in the streets until his death. Apostle Jude, Martyrdom by being beaten to death with a club. Apostle Matthew, Martyrdom by being beheaded. Apostle Peter, Martyrdom by crucifixion at Rome with his head downwards. Apostle Philip: Martyred. Apostle Simon: Martyrdom by being sawn in half. Apostle Thomas, Martyrdom by being stabbed with a spear. Apostle Paul, Martyrdom by being beheaded in Rome.
One could rightly re-name the first historical book of the church from Acts Of The Apostles to Acts of the Martyrs.
Many of us in the modern church age consider martyrdom something of a quick death where those involved would pass away quickly. Yet in church history it has been sadly the opposite where faithful Christians have endured great torment, torture and death at the hands of wicked men. I am writing these things not condemn or frighten anyone but to give us the proper respect and realization of the suffering many will have undergone in the name of Christ and will in the future persecution. Just as the church began with a powerful revival of the word of God spreading through the anointed Apostles lips, it will end with a great revival of preaching the Gospel yet under the same circumstances of martyrdom and suffering. God is raising up end time missionaries that have no fear of death and have such a great realization of the love of Jesus Christ that they will suffer everything to spread this precious Gospel to the ends of the earth.
I ask that you plead read this list reverently as such things occurred to countless brothers and sisters in the faith of Jesus Christ throughout the last 2000 years. May God prepare us to suffer more to spread this great Gospel of God's love.
Here is a list of some of the various tortures used widely against Christians in Church History:
Martyrs suspended by one foot. Nailed to the cross, head downwards. Hung up by both arms, heavy weights being attached to the feet. Christian woman suspended by the hair. Martyrs hung up by one arm only, ponderous stones being fastened to their feet. Martyr suspended by both feet, and a great stone fastened to his neck. Sometimes the Blessed Martyrs, after being smeared with honey were bound to stakes fixed in the ground, and so exposed to the rays of the sun to be tortured by the stings of flies and bees.
Martyr suspended by the feet, and his body and head at the same time pounded with hammers. Sometimes martyrs were bound to the circumference of great wheels, and so hurled from a height over stony places. Martyr whose limbs are interwoven in the spokes of a wheel, on which he is left exposed for days, till he dies. Crushed in the press, just as grapes and olives are pressed in making wine and oil. Martyr bound to four stakes and beaten with cudgels. Martyr thrown head-first into a caldron full of molten lead or boiling oil. Martyr in a hot frying-pan.
Martyr cast into a burning fiery furnace. Martyr who's limbs are amputated one by one. Hands and feet cut off. Sawn in two with an iron saw. Martyr tortured by having sharp reeds stuck under his finger and toe nails. Thrown down naked to be devoured by wild lions. Wrapped in a wild beast's hyde, and so left to be torn by animals.
Oh saints of God may we weep for such Faithful ones that endured so much for that precious name of Christ that we speak of at times so freely. There is a force of evil so strong that will be fully loosed in the last days to wreak havoc on the Church of God in the earth. This time right now is a season of grace to spread the Gospel far and wide. To meet regularly to encourage each others in the things of the Kingdom of God. A day is coming when our freedoms will be gone to meet, bibles will be burned, churches closed and in the end suffering and martyrdom.
No matter how much persecution, torture or torment we have to endure we can steadfastly know that Christ is with us. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. Great shall be our consolation soon. That even the Apostle Paul calls every earthly trial: "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17)