Anti-Christians present their case against Christianity.

Acts 24:5-9

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.” Acts 24:5-6

The case laid out against Paul had five points: 1] Paul was a plague to the social standards of Judaism. 2] Paul created dissension throughout the Jewish culture. 3] Paul was a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Nazareth, and the citizens of Nazareth, had a bad reputation, as this is said about Jesus Christ who was also called, “Jesus of Nazareth”, “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:45-46 4] Paul polluted the temple of God by being inside. 5] Jewish leaders wanted to judge Paul by their laws of Judaism.

Today’s culture has laid out the same case against Christians and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as described below,

1] Christianity is considered a plague to the community culture, which is global. Today’s culture does not want the message of the Cross to spread through their social network because Jesus Christ gives people the desire to live by the Holy Spirit. Living by the Holy Spirit deteriorates the atheistic culture living by the entity that replaces the conscience and spirit to give people what to feel, think, say, and do.

2] Christianity is accused of causing dissension throughout the community culture in cities around the world. If a Christian lawmaker wanted to implement the values of the Bible in laws and policies, there would be huge dissension, bickering, and unbending opposition in congress. With that, the masses of people in cities everywhere would aggressively protest. If a Chrisitan wanted to preach the Gospel of Christ in the churches, it would be met with dissension, opposition, and the eventual dismissal of that preacher. Remember, the Gospel of Christ includes the forgiveness of sin, His resurrection from the grave after three days, His ascension into Heaven, the judgment to come beyond the grave, and eternal life for all who live for God through Jesus Christ. If a Christian teacher decided to teach the values of the Bible in the classroom, there would be massive dissension, from students and administration. The uproar would be heard around the nation. Already, there is so much dissension against Christianity that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not wanted in any sector of society.

3] Christianity is considered a destructive sect because we do not bond with the atheistic culture of today. Our Lord Jesus teaches us, “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 “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:4-5

4] Christianity is accused of polluting the temple of God, which is the human body. That’s because when the Holy Spirit lives within us, He crowds out the atheistic entity that replaces the conscience and spirit to give people what to think, feel, say, and do. Today’s culture, which is global, exists by the atheistic entity living within them. The atheistic entity sets in the temple of God, our body, as if is God, and is the one “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ” 1 Corinthians 3:16

5] Today’s culture wants to judge us by their standards, which is by the standards of humanism. Humanism is the fig leaf worn by those serving the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. The culture of today has already judged against belief in the Living God, they have judged against the need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and have judged against the presence of the Holy Spirit. Humanism is “An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.” 

“But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.” Acts 24:7-9

The Jewish people accused the Roman commander, Lysias, of using great violence and the Roman commander accused the Jewish people of using great violence. The Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, wrote a letter to Felix saying how he saved Paul from great violence at the hands of a mob attack of the Jewish people, Acts 23:25-30. Lysias also acknowledged Paul to be a Roman citizen. Governor Félix would have immediately distanced himself from the testimony of the powerful Jewish leaders who contradicted the written word of a Roman commander by saying he was the one using great violence, not them. The last thing Governor Felix wanted is to be known as someone who aligned himself with the word of the Jewish people over the word of a Roman commander.

In today’s world, being on the peaceful side of the governing authorities is extremely important. The community leaders and keepers of the peace do not want to be portrayed as supporting the use of great violence against fellow human beings. Likewise, the collective force of the community culture does not want to be portrayed as using great violence against anyone. That would discredit today’s community culture to accuse their governing authorities of condoning the use of great violence against targeted individuals. This is the nature of the wolves in sheep clothing, those who appear to be Godly but deny the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today’s culture serves the beast with two horns like a lamb, as described in the post on Revelations 13:11-12. This is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are the sheep who hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish…” John 10:27-28 “God has called us to peace.” 1 Corinthians 7:15 3 “...be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2. 

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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, 3:1