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 leaders wanted them out of their city, their culture, and away from the Jewish people. They followers of Christ 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 Christ Jesus opened the door to make His followers welcoming of Samaritans and 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 the Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. 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. That 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. 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. Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” John 21:22-23 That is what Jesus speaks to us today, instead of being concerned about what others are doing, we must follow Him.

Burial 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 devoted Christians fading from society. and that brings mourning for us, but rejoicing for the world, as the Christ, Jesus, says, “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 Today, we see how the manmade churches seem to be prospering even as they have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as quoted, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ” Revelations 3:17

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8

Today’s culture is making havoc of the churches. They live by the beast that guides them in what to speak, do, think, and feel, and have a form of Godliness but deny God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5 The beast they serve has two hons like a lamb, which is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit, as described in Revelations 13:11-13. There has been a global falling away from the message of the Cross, as described in the post on 2 Thessalonians 2. The global falling away began when the United Nations was formed in 1945 and brought the government of the beast with it, as described in Daniel 8:1-14.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—” Mark 13:35

In the days of the Apostles, there were no such thing as a manmade church for the way of Christ. The only churches were called Synagogues, worship centers for the Jewish culture. The Christian Church was anywhere that two or more people gathered in the name of Jesus Christ. More specifically, the temple of God is each individual person as the temple of the Holy Spirit, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God…?” 1 Corinthians 6:19 Our Lord Jesus is our minister, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Hebrews 4:14

A day is coming, and now is in many countries around the world, when we who acknowledge Jesus as our Lord will be hunted down. People of the culture of the beast will enter into our places of living to arrest, punish, and even kill us. Even so, our born-again experience is the gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart. Wherever we are scattered to, His Gospel will always be part of who we are. His light will shine through us and be a testimony against the darkness of this world.

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

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 8:5-8

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. In those days, a common belief was that physical diseases and handicaps happened because someone had sinned. In that light, physical healings related to having their sin forgiven. Philip, and the other Apostles, healed in the name of Jesus, as evidence that He had the authority to forgive sin. There is an example of Jesus saying to a crippled man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Our Lord had no intention of healing the man physically, but did so to prove to the unbelievers He did indeed have the authority to forgive sin, as quoted below,

“When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. ” Luke 5:21-25

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. That beast is the father of unclean spirits/demons. That beast gives breath/life to the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living 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

Demons arise from those who have a form of Godliness and cleanliness, 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 “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5

Demons are cast out by believing in God, acknowledging the Christ, Jesus as Lord and Savior, and welcoming the presence of the Holy Spirit. There is great joy within the soul when we are freed from evil spirits and able to walk with Jesus Christ. “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

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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