Did you know that there was a time in America where the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ was illegal?

Before the Revolutionary War, the American colonies were dominated by the Church of England.

And the Church of England said that it, the Church of England, was the only religious authority in the land.

But many Christians rejected what they saw as everything that they escaped from following them here.

Many have said we have no king but Jesus.

Many have said we have no authority but the word of God. And so the colonial government imposed what became known as the great persecution.

Now you remember from the last message in the book of Revelation as I began, and I showed you that persecution

was, is, and will be. Now, many people said at that time, surely the very thing that we escaped

from should not be here in America. But the Church of England said, only the preachers who are

licensed by the church can preach. But many of these preachers got arrested. Some were beaten

until their backs were bleeding. On June 4th, 1768, there were three preachers who were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ

who were arrested. Their indictment as follows, disturbing the peace and preaching the gospel of the

Son of God. That was their indictment. These three ministers, preachers, were represented

by a young, 32-year-old attorney by the name of Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry later ignited

the Revolutionary War with the words, give me liberty or give me death. On the day of

the trial of these three pastors, Patrick Henry stood with a piece of paper waving over his head

in a courtroom where it contained the indictment of these preachers.

And here's what he said.

These men are accused of preaching the gospel of the Son of God.

And he kept repeating it.

These men are accused of preaching the gospel of the Son of God.

Heaven declared that man should be free. free to worship God according to the Bible,

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