1. The tribulation of the nascent Christian church stemming from Israel’s continued rejection of Christ as their Messiah following His death on the cross: Matt 23:34; cf. Matt. 24:8, 9; John 16:33; Rev.2:8-16. The Church would be put through severe tribulation from the beginning. The three most prominent leaders, James, Paul and Peter would be martyred during this time along with thousands of others. The church periods represented prophetically in Revelation of Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos represent this period of the severe repression of Christianity in Revelation chapter
