1. Revelation 11:13 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Are there examples in church history when this sort of thing has happened?

Revelation 11:13 (ESV)

13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Repeatedly after a season of persecution the church has arisen again from the mud of being trampled underfoot—to the dismay of those who oppressed her. The very fact that the church continues to exist in countless places and cultures around the world today is itself fulfilment of this prophecy.