In the latter part of the 1st century AD, Rome literally resembled hell. While the vile emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or Nero, sat in his palace playing the lyre, Rome cauterized. Why did Nero condone the burning of his beloved city of Rome? Some say it was to build a brand new amphitheater, others say he was mentally ill. In any case, Rome was razed to the ground. But Nero still had a problem: who should take the blame for the complete and utter annihilation of Rome? That dilemma was easily resolved. Nero despised Christians, like most of Rome. Nero tortured some Christian suspects into "confessing" to starting the fire, and then told the media that it was the Christians' fault and that a crackdown on Christians had begun. Thus began the 249-year persecution of the Christian church. After Nero's death in 69 AD, the Year of the Four Emperors brought about a decline in persecution against the church. But towards the end of Domitian's reign the persecution began to begin again. Constant persecution...