Prisoner to a Dying World but Free through Jesus Christ

Acts 12:6-11

Today, society is dominated by those who live for the mark of the beast, which makes followers of Christ the minority by a long shot. “And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” Revelation 7:7 Of course, those who live for Jesus Christ are pinned in, severed from their social network, and guarded on every side. In these restrictive times, we must be clothed in the Holy Spirit, who will free us from dying to God as we remain alive to Christ.

The gate to the City is narrow but it leads to life, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14 In this world, following the Gospel of peace saves lives, while avoiding aggressive rebellion. This present government, that operates through the mark of the beast, puts down rebellion against them with lethal force. In the life to come, we will be given eternal life through Jesus Christ, who clothes us with the Holy Spirit today.

• Guarded On All Sides but Awakened by an Angel.
• Clothed and Being Freed from the Prison.
• Gate to the City Opens.
• No Doubt that an Angel Saves from Death.

Guarded On All Sides but Awakened by an Angel.
I made a remark to my sister that I feel like I’m living in hospice, with the next event in my life being death. People around me are apparently there to keep my life from having any meaning as a follower of Jesus Christ. The door that opens my mind, feelings, and behaviors to the Holy Spirit is guarded to make sure that it doesn’t open. What literally happened to Peter is a way for the Holy Spirit to speak to us today, “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.” Those who live for the mark of the beast are those soldiers and sentries. The only thing that a trial is for is to make a show and mockery of the followers of Jesus Christ. Peter was already jailed, in hospice, and the plan was already established to watch him die.

Even while being in virtual hospice, and even those who are literally in hospice, an Angel of God will come to us and set us free. I could bask in bitterness, hostility, and rebellion in my state of imprisonment, but then I would be a captive to sin. But through the Light of Jesus Christ, the chains fall off, the sin of bitterness is held captive, and I’m led into the presence of the Holy Spirit. One day, Jesus Christ will lead this captive through the City Gates of the New Jerusalem. As with Peter, “the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell.” The Angel of the Lord says to us, “Quick, get up!” Meaning for us to clothe ourselves in the Holy Spirit, to live for the Gospel of Christ, to let the chains of sin fall off, and to be raised to eternal life.

“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 
Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell.
He struck Peter on the side and woke him up.
“Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
Acts 12:6-7

Clothed and Being Freed from the Prison.
The Bible Scriptures are so stunningly accurate that we have to be in the same state of mind as Peter when he “had no idea that what the Angel was doing was really happening;” The book of Acts is a stunning mirror image of the society of today under those who govern by the mark of the beast. And of course, so is Daniel and the Revelation, and I just want to say the whole Bible. We see the push for the one world government, we see the world is dominated by those living by an unnatural inner presence, we see the mark of the beast is here within us, and we see how the churches are lively and wealthy but dead to Jesus Christ. And we see that “global warming” is a judgment of God that plays a role in destroying the power center of the mark of the beast, as stated in Revelation 16:8-10. In a state of shock, in a moment of unbelief, while feeling stunned we ask, “Is this really happening?”

The Holy Spirit speaks to us in the same way the Angel spoke to Peter, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” We are to clothe ourselves in the Holy Spirit, put on our walking shoes, and follow the Holy Spirit. We might be pinned in on every side, but during those times we have a doctor appointment, have to go grocery shopping, or have a rare visitation, follow the Holy Spirit. Say a word for Jesus, wear an article of clothing with words that glorify Jesus Christ. Most importantly, wear the armor of God that frees us from the prison of sin. Put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace, maintain faith in God through Jesus Christ, be wrapped in the Truth of Christ, be shielded with righteousness, put on the Salvation hat, and carry the Bible within you. Ephesians 6:10-17

“Then the Angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so.
“Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the Angel told him. 
Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea
that what the Angel was doing was really happening;
he thought he was seeing a vision.”
Acts 12:8-9

Gate to the City Opens.
There are not enough guards in this world to prevent the Holy Spirit from opening those iron gates into the presence of God. At the same time, the thing that has the power to form thoughts and emotions intends to turn those gates to iron. It wants to harden our mind and emotions to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to keep the gates closed. “It will oppose and will exalt itself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that it sets itself up in God’s temple, proclaiming itself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 It is the mark of the beast. As long as that unGodly inner presence continues to plague the mind, emotions, and behaviors with heart wrenching input, the gates are still open. Those gates of iron open by themselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit, as it is written “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Romans 9:16. It is God’s will that everyone comes to Jesus Christ for those iron gates to open.

“They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city.
It opened for them by itself, and they went through it.
When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the Angel left him.”
Acts 12:10

No Doubt that an Angel Saves from Death.
As followers of Jesus Christ, these words should be in our heart and on our lips continuously, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His Son Jesus Christ and rescued me from sin, death, and eternal torment.” Those who live by the mark of the beast want the followers of Jesus Christ to burn eternally in the lake of fire, but it is not going to happen. Jesus Christ has rescued us from sin to give us eternal life in the New Jerusalem.

“Then Peter came to himself and said,
“Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent His Angel
and rescued me from Herod’s clutches
and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Acts 12:11

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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