Peter is freed by an angel of the Lord.

Acts 12:6-7

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

“And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.” Acts 12:6-7

When the Holy Spirit speaks of chains falling off, the primary focus is on being freed from the bondage of sin. Sin is what weighs the spirit down, like clogged plumbing, rust in an automobile radiator, frozen water pipes, etc. When we live for Jesus Christ, our sin is put into remission, the spiritual plumbing begins to flow again, the spiritual radiator is cleansed, the water dethaws, and the chains of sin fall off to free us in the Spirit. With that being said, the chains handcuffed to Peter were literal and an angel of the Lord literally caused those chains to fall off.

The Holy Spirit uses Herod to symbolize how governing authorities want to keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ in chains. Today’s global government and its global culture want to keep the testimony of Jesus in chains so that the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel can be free to rule. The governing authorities and the people of the community are the soldiers and guards keeping Christianity in chains. They are empowered with uncanny knowledge and authority [as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15] to oppress those living for Jesus Christ.

Peter was sleeping while in chains, then a light shone in the prison as the angel of the Lord raised Peter up and said, “Arise quickly!” We live in a world where it is easy for our faith in Jesus Christ to fall asleep. That’s because no one cares about the word of God anymore and makes faithlessness acceptable, approved, and in worldly ways beneficial. Just before our Lord was to be crucified and suffer death on the Cross, He asked His Apostles to remain awake and pray with Him, but they couldn’t, “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40

An angel of the Lord comes to us who hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, even while chains prevent us from sharing the Good News, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 The angel says, “Arise quickly!” This is to say that we are given a “second wind” so that we can be refreshed in the Holy Spirit. The light of fulfilled prophecy renews our soul as “…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelations 19:10 We see where the world is within prophecy because we see where Jesus is within the world.

Global warming is in the world today, which is exhilarating to know that the hand of God is seen working in this world just as He said He would be, global warming is the Fourth Plague of Revelations 16:8-9. Global warming has the world’s attention, but as the Lord says, they still curse Him and will not repent of their unbelief, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” Revelation 16:8-9

The more powerful the United Nations become as the undisputed one world government the hotter and more intense the effects of global warming becomes.

Something else that should wake us up is that the one who sets in the temple of God [our body] as if it is God, is in the world today, just as the Lord said would happen. That is the one who gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel, “…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 2:3-4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

Now is the time to keep the oil of the Holy Spirit burning within us by our faith in Jesus Christ. Click here for the parable on keeping the “oil in our lamp” from Matthew 25:1-13.

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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