The Crucifixion of the Church    65 

The Young Man and the Linen Cloth (Mark 14:51 52) 

     And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his 

body; and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.  

(Mark 14:51 52). 

    This young man escaped from danger by giving up the linen cloth which 

clothed him. This event has a symbolic meaning. Some Christians, when 

they face danger, give up their baptismal robe, that is, the state of grace in 

their souls, in order to avoid some suffering or loss. I am not saying that this 

young man committed a serious sin in order to avoid capture, only that this 

event has a symbolic meaning. 

    Here is a warning to all Christians: Do not give up your white baptismal 

robe, God's grace in your soul, in order to avoid suffering. Do not commit a 

serious sin in order to avoid pain or loss or even death. Offer your sufferings 

to Jesus on the Cross and your soul will be safe. 

    There is another meaning to this passage. Even during the worst times of 

persecution, some Christians will escape from danger and persecution. This 

will be true even during the years of the Church's Crucifixion; some part of 

the Church will escape from harm (Rev 12:14). 

Jesus Condemned by the Jewish Leaders (Mark 14:53 65) 

     And the high priest tore his mantle, and said, `Why do we still need 

witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?' And they 

all condemned him as deserving death.  (Mark 14:63 64). 

    The Church will be condemned by the world just as Jesus Christ Her 

Savior was condemned by the world. The Church will also be condemned 

by some religious leaders, just as Jesus was condemned by religious leaders. 

The earliest Christians were persecuted by some Jewish leaders, and by the 

Roman empire. Similarly, when the time arrives for the Church's great 

suffering, the leaders of the world will condemn and make laws against 

Christianity. They will be encouraged in this decision by some religious 

leaders. Many Christians will be arrested, tortured, and put to death, just as 

Jesus was. The Church's great suffering must be like Jesus' great suffering, 

for the Church must be made in Christ's image. 

    The Church's greatest suffering will occur in the 25th century (during the 

2430's) It will be the last persecution of Christians before the Millennium, 

the time of great peace and holiness. A lesser persecution of Christians will 

foreshadow those years of great suffering. This lesser suffering will occur in 

the 21st century (during the 2030's). The suffering which Christians will 

endure in that earlier time will be intense, but the persecution will not be as