Approval given for the persecution of God’s people

Acts 8:1-8

• Persecution and scattering of the followers of Jesus Christ.
• Burial of Stephen and house-to house raid and imprisonment of Christians.
• Philip left for Samaria, and many say “Yes” to Christ as demons were cast out.

Persecution and scattering of the followers of Jesus Christ.
“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:1

Saul is Paul before living for Jesus Christ. In Acts 7:54-60, Saul consented to the murder of Stephen. From that time, a severe persecution arose against the followers of Jesus Christ who were in Jerusalem. The Jewish people wanted them out of their city, their culture, and away from the Jewish people. They were scattered everywhere, even in Samaria where the Jewish people refused to associate with the Samaritans, “Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” John 4:9 Jesus opened the door to make His followers welcomed in Samaria, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.” John 4:39-40

In today’s culture, which is global, the beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel consents to the persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ. In the United States, for now, that persecution is done “humanely” as the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Government lawmakers no longer include the values of the Bible in laws, policies, and executive orders. The educational system prohibits the teaching of the Bible in classrooms, and there is no welcome for Christianity in any sector of society. There is no real gathering place for Believers to come together in the name of Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spriit. We are scattered. As Believers, we have to adapt to “Samaria” which symbolizes service to God outside of traditional gathering places. This is a place in the wilderness out-of-sight and out-of-mind of mainstream society. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Even today, there is literal persecution, imprisonment, and the killing of Christians all across the globe. This is happening in places of Africa, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and many more. The countries of the United Nations are mostly atheists with opposition and a despise for the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the United Nations become the undisputed one world government, persecution will become more like what is found in Africa, China etc. than what is being done in the United States. The global government and its global culture functions through the beast that gives them what to speak, think, feel, and do. This beast despises belief in God, detests the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and fights against the presence of the Holy Spirit. Their intent is to drive Christianity into extinction, as described in Revelations 12. In the wilderness of “Samaria” has become our only refuge.  “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’” Revelation 12:17

I was standing in a hallway at work with some senior supervisors standing nearby. Another custodian approached and began to be verbally abusive to a person known to embrace the teachings of the Bible. The supervisors seemed to be giving their approval. That custodian was promoted to the vacant head custodian spot the next day.

“Except the Apostles”. The Apostles remained in Jerusalem, which is before the conversion of Saul, who became Paul as a Christian. The headquarters of the Christian Church was in Jerusalem, as the Apostles were the leaders of all the Churches everywhere. After Paul became a Christian, he felt that the Apostles were a little too friendly with the Jewish culture while neglecting the ministry to the Gentiles [non-Jewish], as quoted, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?” Galatians 2:11-14

With that said, the Apostles were murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle John is the one who died of old age on the Isle of Patmos. John wrote the book of Revelations from Patmos, wrote the Gospel of John, and wrote 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd John. Jesus was talking of John when He said, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:22 That is what Jesus speaks to us today, instead of being concerned about what others are doing, we must follow Him.

Death of Stephen and house-to house raid and imprisonment of Christians.
“And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:2-4

As followers of Jesus Christ, we see the numbers of true Christians fading and the rise of many who falsely claim to be living for God, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23 In other words, the works that we do mean nothing in the eyes of God but our relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, means everything.

Today, many people prophecy about the dangers of global warming but do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and global warming is the Fourth Plague mentioned in Revelations 16:8-9. Many people boast about casting out demons to bring global peace and security to the world, but they don’t have a clue about the peace and security that Jesus gives us through the Holy Spirit. The many wonders that those of this world are doing exist side-by-side driving the Gospel of Jesus Christ into extinction. Click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:24-26

True Christians mourn over the Gospel of Jesus Christ being driven into extinction while those of today’s culture rejoices, “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” John 16:20

Saul made havoc of the church as Christians mourned while burying fellow Christians. Today, the beast that has power over physiology is making havoc of the churches by giving people what to feel, think, speak, and do. People in every city around the world allows that entity to speak and live through them. In the United States, the Gospel of Christ is kept locked in prison to prevent the spread of the testimony of Jesus. In other countries around the world, people are literally being imprisoned and murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ. Most countries of the United Nations are atheists who oppose Christianity, so what’s happening in places of Africa, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc. will become the norm when the United Nations becomes the undisputed one world government. The day is coming, and now is for many countries, when the opposers of Christianity will go house-to-house to hunt down and imprison followers of Jesus Christ.

The word of God will be heard despite how scattered and beat down Christianity becomes. This is known because the faithful witnesses are on this earth during the events of the Sixth Trumpet, just before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as described in Revelations 11. Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35 There could be zero Christians on this earth when Jesus comes, and His word would still be fulfilled, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

Philip left for Samaria, and many say “Yes” to Christ as demons were cast out.
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:4-8

Because of the persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem [led by Saul], Philip left for Samaria, where he continued to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ opened the door to the ministry in Samaria as described in John 4:4-42 Where the doors close in one place, we wait for the doors to open in another where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is welcomed. That is how the Holy Spirit works.

Multitudes in Samaria came to believe in Jesus Christ by hearing the Gospel and seeing the miracles Philip performed in the Spirit of God. The Samaritans came for physical healings, but they returned home as Believers not healers.

Philip also cast out unclean spirits/demons, and those unclean spirits/demons exist in this world today. People in every city around the world live for the beast that has power over physiology to give them what to speak, do, feel, and think. This beast is the father of unclean spirits/ demons. This is the one who gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people everywhere. By what they say and do they habitually come against belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. These are unclean spirits and demonic. The Holy Spirit says this about the type of world being created, “She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Revelations 18:2-3

The United Nations is progressing towards becoming the undisputed one world government and is creating the environment that causes the inhabitation of unclean spirits, demons, and detestable animals. The global government and its global culture live for the beast that governs through their words, and behaviors. They have a form of Godliness but deny the power of Jesus Christ, as they fixate on making the world a clean place of peace, harmony, security, and wealth. They are “cleaning house” through the “Sustainability Goals” of the United Nations. However, our Lord Jesus says that “cleaning house” without the Holy Spirit attracts demons, as quoted, “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26

“…for you are like whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27

A clean house does not come by soap and water any more than water baptism can replace the work of the Holy Spirit. A clean world does not come through the global “Sustainability Goals” any more than the teachings of human beings can replace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Cleanliness comes by belief in God, acknowledging Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the soap and water of the spirit to wash away hostile attitudes, evil spirits, and demons. Holiness is to walk each moment with a clean spirit and soul. Unclean spirits and demons can only be cast out in the name of Jesus Christ.

There is great joy within the soul when we are freed from evil spirits and able to walk with Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11