Praising God for fulfillment of prophecy within threats and imprisonment.

Acts 4:23-26

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

“And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
Acts 4:23-26

Peter and John were imprisoned overnight for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus [Acts 4:1-4], about His death, resurrection, and being the One in whom we have forgiveness of sin. When they were released, they went to their brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and reported what the Jewish leaders said to them. Peter and John were severely threatened and told to never speak in the name of Jesus again [Acts 4:17-18]. The followers of Jesus were not disheartened by the threats of the Jewish leaders but praised God that they were experiencing the fulfillment of prophecy.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not to be discouraged when hostilities and intimidation are hurled at us for our faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, rejoice that we too are experiencing the fulfillment of prophecy, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” James 1:2

What fulfillment of prophecy were they experiencing then? It had to do with the Jewish rulers being gathered together in a rage against God and His Christ, as quoted from Psalms 2:1-2, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed…” This is also being fulfilled on a global scale as the United Nations progress in becoming the undisputed one world government.

What other related fulfillment of prophecy are we experiencing today? It has to do with the blaspheme of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Christians, the churches, Heaven, etc. That is done by the beast that sets in the temple of God, our body, as if is God by giving people what to speak, do, think, and feel, as described in the post on 2 Thessalonians 2. “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelations 13:6-8 The “he” in those verses is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

We rejoice to see the prophecies of the Bible being fulfilled in front of our eyes, thus validating that our Lord is a Living God and His hand continues to work in this world today. Click here for a list of some prophecies fulfilled since 1945. I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever people may say.

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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