Beginning with this part, we will examine the chart in
detail.
Dr. Carroll
The Chart
I believe, if you carefully study this chart, you will
better understand the history, and it will greatly aid
your memory in retaining what you hear and see.
Remember this chart is supposed to cover a period of
two thousand years of religious history. Notice at
both top and bottom of the chart some figures, the
same figures at both top and bottom - 100, 200, 300,
and so on to 2,000. They represent the twenty
centuries of time — the vertical lines separating the
different centuries.
Now notice on the chart, near the bottom; other
straight lines, this line running left to right, the long
way of the chart. The lines are about the same distance
apart as the vertical lines.
But you cannot see them all the way. They are covered
by a very dark spot, representing in history what is
known as the "dark ages." It will be explained later.
Between the two lowest lines are the names of
countries... Italy, Wales, England, Spain, France, and
so forth, ending with America. These are names of
~ 37 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
countries in which much history is made during the
period covered by the names themselves.
Of course, not all the history, some history is made in
some of the countries in every period. But some
special history is made in these special countries, at
these special periods.
Now notice again, near the bottom of the chart, other
lines a little higher. They, too, covered in part by the
"dark ages," they also are full of names, but not names
of countries. They are all "nick-names.” Names given
to those people by their enemies. "Christians" — that
is the first: "The disciples were called Christians first
at Antioch" (Acts 11:26). This occurred about A.D.
43.
Either the pagans or Jews gave them that name in
derision. All the other names in that column were
given in the same manner — Montanists,
Novationists, Donatists, Paulicians, Albigenses,
Waldenses, etc., and Ana-Baptists. All of these will
again and again be referred to as the lectures progress.
But look again at the chart. See the red circles. They
are scattered nearly all over the chart. They represent
churches. Single individual churches in Asia, in
Africa, in Europe, in mountains and valleys, and so
forth. Their being blood red indicates martyr blood.
Christ their founder died on the Cross. All the
Apostles save two, John and Judas, suffered martyr
~ 38 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
deaths. Judas betrayed his Lord and died in a suicide.
The Apostle John, according to history, was boiled in
a great cauldron of oil.
You will note some circles that are solidly black. They
represent churches also. But erring churches.
Churches that had gone wrong in life or doctrine.
There were numbers of these even before the death of
Peter, Paul, and John.
Having now about concluded with a general
introduction and some very necessary and even vital
preliminaries, I come to the regular history.
First Period – A.D. 30-500
1. Under the strange but wonderful impulse and
leadership of John the Baptist, the eloquent man from
the wilderness, and under the loving touch and
miracle-working power of the Christ Himself, and the
marvelous preaching of the 12 Apostles and their
immediate successors, the Christian religion spread
mightily during the first 500-year period.
However, it left a terribly bloody trail behind it.
Judaism and Paganism bitterly contested every
forward movement.
John the Baptist was the first of the great leaders to
give up his life. His head was taken off.
~ 39 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
Soon after him went the Savior Himself, the founder
of this Christian religion. He died on the Cross, the
cruel death of the Cross.
2. Following their Savior in rapid succession fell
many other martyred heroes:
Stephen was stoned,
Matthew was slain in Ethiopia,
Mark dragged through the streets until dead,
Luke hanged,
Peter and Simeon were crucified,
Andrew tied to a cross,
James beheaded,
Philip crucified and stoned,
Bartholomew flayed alive,
Thomas pierced with lances,
James, the less, thrown from the temple and beaten
to death,
Jude shot to death with arrows,
Matthias stoned to death, and
Paul beheaded.
~ 40 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
3. More than one hundred years had gone by before
all this had happened. This hard persecution by
Judaism and Paganism continued for two more
centuries. And yet mightily spread the Christian
religion.
It went into all the Roman Empire, Europe, Asia,
Africa, England, Wales, and about everywhere else,
where there was any civilization. The churches greatly
multiplied, and the disciples increased continuously.
But some of the churches continued to go into error.
4. The first of these changes from New Testament
teachings embraced both policy and doctrine.
In the first two centuries the individual churches
rapidly multiplied and some of the earlier ones, such
as Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, etc., grew to
be very large; Jerusalem, for instance, had many
thousand members (Acts 2:41; 4:4, 5:14), possibly
25,000 or even 50,000 or more.
A close student of the book of Acts and Epistles will
see that Paul had a mighty task even in his day in
keeping some of the churches straight.
See Peter's and Paul's prophecies concerning the
future (II Peter 2:12; Acts 20:29-31. See also
Revelation, second and third chapters).
~ 41 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
Acts 2:41 KJV 41 Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 4:4 KJV 4 Howbeit many of them which heard
the word believed; and the number of the men was
about five thousand.
Acts 5:14 KJV 14 And believers were the more added
to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
2 Peter 2:12 KJV 12 But these, as natural brute
beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of
the things that they understand not; and shall utterly
perish in their own corruption;
Acts 20:29-31 KJV 29 For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space
of three years I ceased not to warn every one night
and day with tears.
5. These great churches necessarily had many
preachers or elders (Acts 20:17). Some of the bishops
or pastors began to assume authority not given them
in the New Testament. They began to claim authority
over other and smaller churches. They, with their
~ 42 ~
Church History Through the Trail of Blood
many elders, began to lord it over God's heritage (III
John 9).
Here was the beginning of an error which has grown
and multiplied into many other seriously hurtful
errors. Here was the beginning of different orders in
the ministry running up finally to what is practiced
now by others as well as Catholics. Here began what
resulted in an entire change from the original
democratic policy and government of the early
churches.
This irregularity began in a small way, even before the
close of the second century. This was possibly the first
serious departure from the New Testament church
order.
Acts 20:17 KJV 17 And from Miletus he sent to
Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
3 John 9 KJV 9 I wrote unto the church: but
Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence
among them, receiveth us not.
This concludes Chapter Four.
In Chapter Five, we will continue with Dr. Carroll’s
lectures, but we will also begin to take a look at the
Seven Churches of Asia in addition.
~ 43 ~