Following the will of God above the will of human beings.

Acts 4:18-22

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

“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:18

Peter and John were summonsed by the Jewish leaders and warned about speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus Christ. This is happening in today’s culture, within the United States, where people are warned against speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Employers reprimand employees for sharing Jesus Christ with co-workers, managers of apartment complexes reprimand tenants for evangelizing in the name of Jesus, school authorities reprimand teachers and students for sharing Jesus Christ on school property, public officials do not allow evangelism in public places, etc.

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

As followers of Jesus Christ, we respond like Peter and John responded, that we must do what is right in the sight of God and not to follow the doctrines of people. Those of today’s culture are atheists who listen to the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Their intent is to abolish belief in God, to silence the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and to oppose the presence of the Holy Spirit, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:9 We only speak about what we have seen and heard which are summed up in our born-again experience [the Gospel of Christ written on our heart]. We know the power of the message of the Cross, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we believe to eternal life.

We have also seen the prophecies of the Bible being fulfilled in front of our eyes in these modern times since 1945. Click here for a list of some of those prophecies.

“So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” Acts 4:21-22

Today’s culture will always use intimidation and forms of threats to discourage people from speaking in the name of Jesus Christ. In this hostile environment we must embrace these words of the Holy Spirit, “…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 Even then, we will face hostilities simply for our belief in God, speaking in the name of Jesus, and embracing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The world follows the beast giving them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Jesus says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:18-20

The cripple man that Peter healed was 40 years of age, and cripple from birth, as described in the posts on Acts 3:1-12. For 40 years, everyone knew the man as the cripple who begged for contributions at the temple gate, then he began to walk. It was undeniable. Likewise, when a person is born-again it is undeniable, and those of today’s culture do not want to mar their image by publicly persecuting Christianity. They want to quietly silence the testimony of Jesus Christ. It’s something that is not placed on voting ballots, not discussed at townhall meetings, nor heard about through news sources.

There are countries such as those in Africa, China, Russia, North Korea, far east countries etc. that publicly imprison, murder, and persecute Christians. Nowadays, there are more countries than not who are publicly hostile to Jesus Christ, and they are the majority of nations within the United Nations. When the United Nations becomes the undisputable one world government, the global persecution of Christians will be the norm. The global culture will be directly involved in their vigilance against anyone living for Christ, as Jesus says, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles…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 10:16-18, 21-22

The return of our Lord Jesus Christ is nearer than at any time ever before, and we see Him standing at the door in today’s times. We have a home in the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and earth. “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

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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