Peter sees the vision of all kinds of animals, creeping things, and birds given for food.

Acts 10:9-16

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

“The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.” Acts 10:9

The men who were on their journey are the men who were sent by the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, who were on their way from Caesarea to meet Peter in Joppa. as described in the posts on Acts 10:1-8. An Angel of the Lord wanted Cornelius to meet with Peter. While those men were on their way to Peter’s house, Peter went up on the housetop to pray around noon. At this time, Peter had no idea that Cornelius’ men were on their way to meet him.

Today, there are events happening that will shape the events of tomorrow. The only way to be prepared is from within our heart, to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit who prays for us through the Spirit. It’s impossible to pray for events that are coming our way that we know nothing about, but God knows, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

In today’s world, the beast has power over physiology to give people what to do, think, feel, and speak. By that worldly power, many “coincidences” happen to bring people together, but it is never a meeting that fosters belief in God, acknowledges faith in Jesus Christ, and embraces the presence of the Holy Spirit. For followers of Jesus Christ, those “chance meetings” are more of an affliction, or temptation, than anything else.

“Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.” Acts 10:10-11

Peter was very hungry and fell into a trance while the food was being prepared to eat. During this time, he saw something that must have looked like a dinner tray or bag full of food. He was hungry and ready to eat. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have physical needs that are necessary to be fulfilled to keep us alive from day to day, and eating is one of them. Our Lord has a huge, huge dinner tray and bag of provisions from which we can choose in order to keep ourselves physically alive. The life we have in Jesus Christ is not limited to whether we eat meat or not, pork or not, etc., “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 When it comes to life of the physical body, all things are lawful that are helpful and edifies the body.

 “In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” Acts 10:12-14

On the sheet, or within the bag, that came down to earth were every type of animal on the earth, creeping things, and birds. A voice came and said, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” God knew Peter was hungry, so he offered him any type of food that this world had to give. When someone is hungry [there is a lot of hunger in this world today] we don’t show them a menu full of pork then tell them they are not allowed to eat any of that type of food. That is ludicrous to let people starve to death because a certain type of food is not approved of by someone’s dietary rules.

Peter’s response to the new expanded food menu that God was offering was, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” Even as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Peter was still clinging to some of the laws of Judaism, believing that any food not mentioned in Leviticus 11 was not appropriate for eating. Peter, even while doing miracles and wonders, physical healings, raising Tabitha from the dead, and bringing multitudes to Jesus, had to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ [the same as every one of us]. Peter was learning that the liberation of an expanded food menu applied spiritually to the liberation of Roman soldiers, Gentiles, and non-Jewish people of all types. Anyone can be liberated from their unbelief through Jesus Christ and be added to the expanded family of God.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” 1 Timothy 4:1,3

“And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.” Acts 10:15-16

Sometimes, the liberation we have in the Spirit can be so overwhelming to our previous beliefs that we have to be reminded over and over again that our Salvation is by grace not by human efforts. As we see in the coming verses of Acts 10:28-29, the Lord was teaching Peter that no Gentile, no non-Jewish person, nor anyone else should be considered “unclean” once God has cleansed them through Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit. “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 In the same way that physical hunger must be fulfilled, regardless of what type of “kosher” or “non-kosher” food it is, spiritual hunger must be fulfilled, and Jesus Christ is the Bread and Water of life.

Every person has to eat to stay alive, and when it comes to dire hunger, no food is off limits. Likewise, when we are in dire circumstances, the Holy Spirit will convince us that the grace and mercy of God is greater than the prohibitions of long-held beliefs. “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20 The most important part of our faith is always, always to believe in God our Creator, to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and Son of God, and to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit.

“…food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” 1 Corinthians 8:8

“For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him…I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:2-3, 14-18

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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