War On The Saints In The First Century
A little more than fifty days after Jesus was crucified on the cross, when unbelieving, first-century Israel demanded Rome crucify him, unbelieving Israel declared war on the saints (the believers in Jesus).
They began persecuting believers.
They flogged them.
They brought them back to Jerusalem and imprisoned them.
Some they killed.
It all started in Jerusalem when the unbelieving Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John, put them in jail, and flogged them.
Acts 3:1-3
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
Acts 5:17-18, 40
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail…They called the apostles in and had them flogged.
Soon the unbelieving Jewish leaders stoned Stephen to death and began dragging believers from houses and synagogues throughout Israel.
Acts 7:54-60
When the members of the Sanhedrin [ruling assembly of Israel] heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1-3
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Jesus said this would happen.
John 15:20
If they [unbelieving Israel] persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
John 16:2
They [unbelieving first-century Israel] will put you [first-century believing Israel] out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.
Matthew 10:16-17
“I am sending you [Jesus’ apostles and future first-century believers in Jesus] out like sheep among wolves [Jewish unbelievers]. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.
Matthew 23:34
Therefore I [Jesus] am sending you [unbelieving Israel] prophets and sages and teachers [believers from Israel to share the gospel with unbelieving Israel]. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
Luke 21:12
But before all this, they [unbelieving Israel] will seize you and persecute you [believing Israel]. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
Unbelieving Israel acted alone for about 30 years.
In AD 64, Rome joined with unbelieving Israel in killing believers.
However, judgment would come upon unbelieving Israel, starting in AD 66.
From AD 66-70, judgment came upon unbelieving Israel when Roman armies destroyed the land of Israel, its cites, Jerusalem, and the temple.
As Jesus and his disciples traveled and taught in the towns and villages of Israel, he warned the people of Israel of this judgment.
Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent [of their violations of the law of Moses]. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Jesus also warned of this judgment when he said the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed.
Luke 19:41-44
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 21:5-6
Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
Matthew 23:37-38
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house [temple] is left to you desolate.
Luke 21:20-24 (NKJV)
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Luke 23:26-30
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ‘ “
Those in Israel who accepted Jesus as the Christ were delivered from this judgment.
Those who rejected Jesus as the Christ either died in judgment or were taken captive and sold to the nations of the Roman Empire as slaves.
The believers who died during the war on the saints lived and reigned with Jesus.
This is the narrative of Revelation.
The war on saints begins in Revelation 12:17 and continues through Revelation 19.
The Roman Empire unites with unbelieving Israel to wage war against the saints.
Revelation 12:17
Then the dragon [Satan] was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God's commands [to believe in Jesus as the Christ] and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 13:7 (BSB)
Then the beast [the Roman Empire joining with unbelieving Israel, the second beast in Revelation 13:13-15] was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them.
However, Jesus and the saints triumph over the Roman Empire and unbelieving Israel.
Revelation 17:14
They [the Roman Empire and the nations of the empire combined with unbelieving Israel] will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
If you found this article of interest, you may enjoy Brad’s book series on Revelation.
Revelation Volume 1: Judgment On First Century Israel
Revelation Volume 2: War On The Saints - due out in August/September 2025
Revelation Volume 3: The New Heaven and The New Earth - due out December/January 2025, 2026.
