City officials rule by law-and-order on behalf of the goddess Diana.

Acts 19:35-41

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

“And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?” Acts 19:35

The people of Ephesus were gathered in the “Great Theatre of Ephesus”, which could hold about 25,000 people, as a protest/riot against Paul and the Way of Jesus Christ. Paul was causing multiple thousands of Ephesians to turn away from the false goddess Diana to serve God in the Spirit through Jesus Christ. How did the city official respond to the uproar? He said that the community of Ephesus had nothing to worry about because everyone knew that that their culture was the guardian of the “great goddess Diana“. And of the image which fell down from Zeus.

The goddess Diana/Artemis is described in the post on the introduction to Diana/Artemis. And Zeus was the god above all gods, the father of all gods. In other words, Diana could be considered an offspring of Zeus.

The god of today, that has power over physiology to give people what to speak, do, think, and feel is very much connected to the god of the airways, similar to the “…the image which fell down from Zeus…” In fact, the beast gives breath/life to the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living through people everywhere.

• The beast is born of the prince of the power of the air, “…the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” Ephesians 2:2 Disobedience is against God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
• The beast is connected to the “lead disc” that is lifted up between earth and heaven,  “Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.” Zachariah 5:6-9
• The beast is a child of Satan and Satan rules through the beast from the skies above, “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregations on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:13-14 Satan wants to be like the Most High by ruling on earth through the beast that sets in the temple of God, our body, as if is God. That is done by governing through what people are given to speak, do, feel, and think. That 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 that verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.
• The beast is connected to the vision Ezekiel saw of the space satellites, space station, and space shuttle, as described in the post on Ezekiel 1.

Today, the governing authorities are confident that today’s culture, which is global, know that the world belongs to them through the beast that governs through what they are given to speak, do, feel, and think. Even so, our Lord says, “…He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion…” Ephesians 1:20-21

Paul spoke of the third heaven, “…such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 The first heaven is up to the blue skies we see everyday [although they seem to be getting darker and cloudier day-by-day]. The second heaven is space where the space satellites are. The third heaven is far above that where the throne of God is, that is where He rules over all, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Psalms 103:19

“Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.” Acts 19:36-37

The governing authorities of today’s culture urges that uproars and violence against the followers of Jesus Christ be silenced. They are not protecting Christianity but relying on the defeat of Christianity through a process known as out-of-sight and out-of-mind. It’s a process of quietly ignoring any statements made by Christians about the Living God, Jesus, and ignoring the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are being guided in what they say and do, or don’t say and don’t do, by the god that gives them what to speak and do. The governing authorities believe that the god who governs within people’s thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors cannot be denied.

The intent to quietly extinguish Christianity is seen in that the churches have abandoned the message of the Cross to partner with the community culture. Christianity is quietly becoming extinct in governing places as government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible in their laws, policies, and executive orders. The educational system has quietly put Christianity into extinction by prohibiting the teaching of the Bible in classrooms. Christianity is not wanted in any sector of society. Click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births from Revelations 12.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we do not try to rob today’s culture of their choice of who to serve, nor speak evil words of hatred and vengeance against the false god they serve. We each must choose who to serve, but as for me, I will serve the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit reminds us of this, “Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:9 Our Lord Jesus said this to those who delivered Him to be crucified on the Cross, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:52

The Holy Spirit speaks these words to us, “…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 We want to live as those who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of their god.

“Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it will be determined in the lawful assembly.” Acts 19:38-39

The courts are and will be used against those who spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the community culture. There are already numerous ordinances, laws, and prohibitions against speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ in public places. These ordinances and laws are in every city around the world. They are all in synch against Christianity by the beast guiding their thoughts and actions against the spread of the testimony of Jesus. Even in the United States, Christians find themselves in jail for violating public peace by the simple act of witnessing about the Good News of our Lord Jesus. The persecution will become more severe as days progress, and as the United Nations becomes more powerful as the one world government of the beast.

As Christ Jesus says, “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:21-22 And, “…they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you, up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.” Luke 21:12-15

“For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.” Acts 19:40-41

The Romans were strict about keeping law and order and not allowing uproars and community wide disturbances. Those responsible for stirring up the community was the offender and subject to interrogation and punishment. In other words, the will of the community ruled regardless of the innocence of the person the community came against. That is why the city official said, “we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” That sense of law and order describes the culture we live in today. The community includes those who serve the beast that governs through what they say and do, the offender being the one who offends them. The gospel of Jesus Christ offends them, Christians offend them.

“Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.” Daniel 8:12 The transgression is unbelief in the Living God, rejection of Jesus Christ, and fighting against the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because of that transgression, the army of the global population is given over to the “horn” which is the beast that gives people what to speak, do, feel, and think. The truth is thrown down to the ground through the collective will of the global population living for the “horn”. The beast does this and causes the global government and its global culture to prosper. Click here for a post on Daniel 8:1-14.

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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