Singing praises to God, the earth quakes, and chains of prisoners are loosed.

Acts 16:25-26

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

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:25-26

Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for being disruptive to the social/economic system by teaching others to live for Jesus Christ and not for social and economic advantages [Acts 16:19-24]. Around midnight, while in prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God when suddenly there was an enormous earthquake, the foundations of the prison was shaken, and the doors opened as the chains of all the prisoners were loosed.

Our born-again experience in Jesus Christ is similar to what is mentioned above. The “Midnight” hour is when we lived in the chains of sin and death, imprisoned to the social/economic values of this world. When we come to Jesus as Christ and our Lord and Savior, we begin praying and singing praises to God from the secret places of our heart and soul. People around us take notice that the presence of Jesus Christ in our life gives us different values than what is found in the atheistic culture of materialism.

The foundations of our earthly body undergo an earthquake, an earthquake that breaks apart the sin that was grounded in our mind, heart, and soul. The door into the presence of God opens to make our body the home of the Holy Spirit as the chains of sin and death fall off. God gives us eternal life by the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. This is for everyone who believes in Him, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The hour of “Midnight” also refers to when our Lord Jesus is set to return.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our brothers and sisters in Christ will be living on this earth at the hour of “Midnight”, the hour just before the return of Jesus Christ [Click here for a post on the faithful witnesses]. Our Lord Jesus says that He will return after the global tribulation to gather the faithful few from around the world. To gather every one from around the world implies more than a couple, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

While we Christians of today are imprisoned to keep the Gospel of Christ from mainstream society, some Christians in other countries are suffering literal prison, persecution, and death. In the “Midnight” hour, Christian imprisonment, persecution, and death will be the norm in every city around the world. The majority of countries of the United Nations are atheists and they oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the United Nations becomes the undisputed one world government, the persecution of Christianity will be the same in every city. The global government and its global culture lives for the beast that governs through what they are given to say, do, think, and feel. This beast gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people everywhere. By what they are given to say and do they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

“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. Click here for a post on Revelation 12. “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth will worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The “him” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

As followers of Jesus Christ, now and in the future, we have to keep the praises of God alive, in the name of Jesus Christ. Today, there are imprisoned with us, other prisoners of today’s atheistic system who are listening and watching us. May we let our light shine to reveal the Light of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit living in us. May we be the lampstand holding the Light of the Candlestick of our Lord Jesus and may the olive tree bloom within us to produce the oil of the Holy Spirit. In the “Midnight” hour, may our brothers and sisters be praying and singing hymns to God in the Spirit, and may the prisoners be listening. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ will be returning in the “Midnight” hour, and there will be a great earthquake. “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” Revelation 16:17-18 This will happen about the time of the return of Jesus Christ. The chains of death will be loosed, and all Believers will arise from the grave, and the Believers who are still alive, will be lifted up together to be with Jesus Christ eternally in Heaven. We will all meet with Jesus, the resurrected and those still alive, at the very same time of His appearing.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we will always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The destruction of the global economy is described in Revelations 18. Also, the events of the Seven Trumpets of Revelations 8, 9, and 11 as well as the events of the Seven Plagues devastates the global economy.

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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