Multitudes believed in Christ Jesus, but minds were poisoned against the Gospel.

Acts 14:1-2

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
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“Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.” Acts 14:1

Paul and his companions [Barnabas and Luke] came from Antioch [at Pisidian] to Iconium. Iconium is seen within the purple circle on the map below, and Antioch [the one at Pisidian] is seen just northwest of Iconium.

As in Pisidian at Antioch [Acts 13:13-52], Gentiles [Greeks] were also allowed to enter the synagogue to set in the worship and teaching services and were known as “God-fearers”. They were being exposed to the laws of Judaism, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, when they heard Paul speaking of serving God by faith in Jesus Christ instead of by the laws of Judaism, they believed. In fact, a great multitude of Gentiles and Jewish people believed in the Good News. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, to bring receptive souls to Jesus Christ in reconciliation to God.

“But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.” Acts 14:2 

The unbelieving Jewish people stirred up the Gentiles [those wanting to please the Jewish leaders] and poisoned their minds against Paul, Barnabas, and all who came to believe in God through Jesus Christ. Needless to say, they were hardened against the Holy Spirit and were not receptive to Jesus as being the Christ and Son of God. The Jewish people convinced the “God-fearing” Gentiles [according to the laws of Judaism], that Jesus Christ and all who follow Him were living in blasphemy of the law.

Today’s atheistic culture has their mind poisoned to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christianity is called haters of humanity, bigoted, unloving, unsupportive, uncaring, against family values, against the community culture, etc. We are being judged by their standards of humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by those living for the entity that gives them what to think, feel, do, and say. 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.” 

Those who live by the beast giving them what to speak, do, think, and feel, have their minds, feelings, words, and behaviors poisoned against belief in God, the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Evil is called good, darkness is valued over light, and bitter is given in place of sweetness, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 They covet conflict and in their wake is destruction, death, and darkness instead of life, light, and Salvation.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, all I have to do is scroll through Facebook posts to get a potent dose of mind poisoning. Every cute, decent, and honorable thing is turned into something evil or heartbreaking. If I took to heart everything that is posted, then I would believe that children are dangerous, parents are murderers and bad influences, law enforcement are inept, governing authorities are to be hated, etc.

“…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, 3:11