On Persecution of early Christians

After reading these two book, I think about the metaphor of the frog put into water----The frog in the lukewarm water is easier to die than the one thrown into hot water. The one thrown into hot water will jump out at once. This metaphor may be not that proper but at least has some connection.

The maytyrdom of Chrisitans and the reaction of crowds depicted by Eusebius has shown some of the reasons of Christians' perseverance in face of persecution.

For example, Book4: 14 (P147) At his glorious death, the whole crowd was so amazed at the bravery of the God-loving martyr and at the courage of Christians in general...

Christians under persecutions are in face of severe situation where their faith will burst out into power or be burnt to ashes. Like Peter mentioned:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.(1 Peter 1:5-6)

But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(1 Peter 2:20)

The Christian maytrys are the ones  to be praised and are assured of the favor of God. Is there any great blessing than the favor of God? So, the persecution is a test. Like Jesus who died for our sins on cross, we, the persecuted, are just being put to test in front of God and are just "participating in Lord's suffering" now.  May the will of God be fulfilled. This is what they want to say, I think.