Summary of Bible references on the Rapture

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The 7 Black Cubes of Time Dream 1-14-26 to 1-19-26 Shared 1-19-26

Very encouraging message for those left behind. They are going to lose all records of everyone at the time of the rapture, this will prevent them from rounding up Christians and killing them at the start of the tribulation.
 

The Cyrus Accords will "CONFIRM" Make Stronger the Abraham Accords!
 
ZNP said:

The 3 Days of Darkness Judgment 1-20-26@8:53 PM Shared 1-21-26
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In this dream the Lord presents this concept of a plumb line. There is no verse that tells us the day or the hour of the rapture, but there is a plumb line.

Think of the Lord's word that this generation shall in no wise pass away until all these things take place. That is a plumb line. There is a date at which a generation does pass away, I would say that is when it turns 85. So that is a deadline. The rapture can take place prior to that but I would think May 14, 2033 would be a deadline.

Then you have Hosea 6:2 which says "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." If Jesus is crucified in 32 AD and left on the day of ascension in 32 AD, then Israel must be revived prior to June of 2032 AD. That is a deadline or a plumb line.
 
They were left behind because they have not wholly followed the Lord

Numbers 32:10 And the Lord'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, 11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

Caleb and Joshua have wholly followed the Lord

12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord.
 
How to deal with doctrinal disputes

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

This is a last ditch attempt by those in the Jewish religion to maintain control. This is a very persuasive argument to those who are new in the Lord. We needed the book of Galatians to debunk this doctrine. But we are children of Abraham, and Abraham was instructed to be circumcised and his children as a sign of the covenant he had with God. If you read that you would assume that as a child of Abraham that includes you.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

This is why God called Paul. In the early church there was no one who knew the word of God better than Paul. Every believer has a function in the Body of Christ. Not all can be Paul, that is fine. We need to appreciate Paul and we need to appreciate all the other functions as well. This isn't simply about Paul going, Barnabas is also essential. Remember Barnabas was known to all the apostles as a son of consolation and one who was wholly given to the Lord and one who encourages the brethren. For Barnabas to stand one with Paul on this is a very big deal. If Paul went by himself they likely would not have listened to him.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

This is the context for the apostles in Jerusalem, there has been a great increase in the church and you could see this was a fulfillment of prophecy. You don't want to risk that. For Paul and Barnabas they were on the precipice of being accused of Blasphemy. Meanwhile for the apostles the danger was they could destroy all the work that had been done in raising up these churches.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

The Bible is clear, these Pharisees believed. Do not call them "false prophets". A false prophet is a scammer, someone who is defrauding you. These were believers. We have four different groups here, we have the apostles, we have Paul and Barnabas who had been enlightened on this doctrine, you had those who were believers and yet were sure we had to be circumcised to be saved, and you had the Gentile believers.

We see the same today. Think about seventh day adventists, they teach that you must keep the sabbath day. To keep the sabbath day holy is one of the ten commandments. So let's see what they say about circumcision first, and then we'll take a look at the sabbath day second.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

This is what you want, people who have been in the word and in the Lord for many years. You don't need a free for all, with every single believer showing up to toss in their two cents.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Much disputing means that there were people on both sides of the issue debating vigorously. When we debate, or "dispute" you must be open to the Lord to enlighten you. There were probably many very good believers who felt you had to be circumcised. For all the Jews this was a minor issue as they were all circumcised already. But for Gentiles this will look like that to believe in Jesus you must become a Jew and renounce your upbringing.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Peter is the critical voice here. Paul, Barnabas and Peter were the three who took a strong stand to debunk this doctrine.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Wow, that is the real point of this doctrine. This isn't about giving in inch, rather Peter sees that if you give this inch they will take a mile. Once you accept that the word concerning circumcision applies to the New Testament then you have opened the gate to require believers to keep the whole law. Remember when Peter brought the gospel to the nations he had a vision and was told "what God hath cleansed call thou not unclean". That vision showed that in the New Testament we are to understand the dietary laws metaphorically as referring to Jews and Gentiles. And we are to understand that both Jews and Gentiles are cleansed by the Lord's crucifixion and His blood shed on the cross. There would be no way to bring the gospel to the nations if the evangelists were required to keep the dietary rules.

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
 
Blessed are the peacemakers

Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Peter has set them up. He pointed out the vision from God, the speaking from God as weighing in on this debate and now Barnabas and Paul are showing the miracles and wonders as further confirmation of God blessing this work and the work being of God.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

This is a very diplomatic approach. He is letting the believers who are converted Pharisees know that everything they love will be rebuilt, and the Jews will ultimately become priests in eternity for the nations to seek after God.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

There are people who do not like this compromise. However, we know that among Satanists and the occult eating the blood is a key component of their satanic worship. We know that idolatry and fornication are very corrosive to the people of God, that is a constant theme in the New Testament. As for things strangled, we know from a health standpoint that how an animal is sacrificed is very important. If the animal is terrified and suffers it will release toxic substances into the meat. We don't need to keep the dietary rules in the Old Testament, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about eating healthy food.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

James is trying very hard to keep the two factions together. This is a good point as well, no one is doing away with the books of Moses or with the Old Testament. We still have the Old Testament in our bible. On the other hand he has sided with Peter, Paul and Barnabas confirming that circumcision is not a sign of the new covenant. In Galatians Paul makes it clear that being crucified with Christ, that is our circumcision. This should leave a mark on you.

That also brings us to the Sabbath. This was given to the Old Creation, a day of rest. Jesus was in the grave for the entire sabbath day. That was the fulfillment of the "day of rest". We keep and sanctify the sabbath day by abiding in the death of Christ. Jesus rose on the eighth day, that is a new beginning. If we have been crucified with Christ in the likeness of His death and have risen with Him in the likeness of His resurrection then we are in the New Creation, not the Old Creation. As a result we keep the day of resurrection, the 8th day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

This is how false prophets actually behave. They pretend they have come from Jerusalem and the apostles. Yes, they came from Jerusalem, and yes that is where the apostles were, but they were not sent by them and they were not acting on behalf of the apostles. They are usurping their authority in telling the Gentiles they must be circumcised.

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is one way you can discern that someone is truly from the Lord. They hazarded their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now be careful, false prophets are liars, so just as they lied about coming from the apostles they will lie about hazarding their lives. You need to check out these stories. However, the churches raised up by Paul and Barnabas knew this to be true because they were eyewitnesses of this.
 
I am following the Lord. All are welcome to join me, but none are permitted to stop me.

Acts 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

What they did here was to confirm the authority of Barnabas and Paul. The ones who said that you had to be circumcised, if that were true it would mean that Barnabas and Paul did not know what they were talking about and it would have greatly undermined their ministry.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

They had been greatly troubled, if Paul and Barnabas didn't know what they were talking about it brings into question all of their experiences of the Lord. To have this confirmed therefore strengthens their faith and it also is a lesson on spiritual warfare. It is like recovering from a viral infection. Once you are recovered your immune system is stronger.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Silas becomes a coworker of Paul. Fellowship and visiting other churches and seeing the work is a great way to help you grow in the Lord.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

There is a lot of debate over this. Personally I agree with Paul and I believe the testimony in the New Testament also agrees with Paul. From this point on we no longer hear from Barnabas. Mark is his nephew. Prior to this we said Barnabas was absolute for the Lord. That had to do with selling his property. But when it came to family, Barnabas drew the line. Jesus said if after putting your hand to the plow you look back to take care of your family, then you are not worthy of the kingdom of the heavens. Do not twist what I am saying, we have a responsibility to care for our immediate family, but many believers get manipulated by family members. There was no obligation to take Mark on a missionary journey, Barnabas did this because he hoped Mark would become a servant of the Lord. Later Mark is mentored by Peter and writes the gospel of Mark which I believe is the "gospel to the left behind". Meanwhile Luke is one who went with Paul, was mentored by Paul and the gospel of Luke is to those who are raptured prior to the tribulation.

In my own experience, after getting saved my family rebuked me for making Jesus Christ the center of my worship at Christmas. Their argument was that our cousins are Jews (first time I heard that, and I never heard from them that they were offended, and when one of my cousins died they played his favorite song "Go tell it on the Mountain"). My response was 'if you will not permit me to make Jesus the center of this celebration then I won't celebrate Christmas at all'. This is an example of how your family will try to manipulate you and what the Lord means by not taking your hand off the plow and looking back. I am following the Lord. All are welcome to join me, but none are permitted to stop me.

When Mark turned back and abandoned the missionary journey the first time that was an attempt to manipulate them. Paul was very clear, "not going to happen again". To that I say "Amen".
 
The Judgement of God on Iran

Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Damascus is in Syria, but this provides the context for this prophecy about Iran, it happens after the leader of Syria flees, which happened last year.

24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.

In the New testament we see that Damascus is where Paul was first saved and the references to Damascus appear to refer to the Bride of Christ in a figure. This verse tells us this takes place as the church is in travail to bring forth the Man child, a picture of the rapture.

25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts.

Yes, Damascus will fall, but this is also referring to the apostasy in a figure.

27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.

In Isaiah 17 we see a similarity between Damascus becoming a ruinous heap and Methuselah dying at the time Noah and his family enters the ark seven days before the flood.

So then the context is we are very close to the rapture, very close to the judgment on the apostasy, and at the same time Damascus will become a ruinous heap.

28 Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the Lord; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.

Kedar refers to the Arabians and Hazor refers to Ishmaelites.

29 Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. 30 Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

I believe that Donald Trump is a modern equivalent of Nebuchadrezzar and that the US is the great Babylon. Right now Iran has been taken over by Islamic extremists, Ishmaelites, who are also Arabians. They are not Persians.

31 Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

We have seen this as well. Ezekiel 38 refers to this place as well and I believe this refers to the US. We dwell without care of being invaded unlike all the nations in the Middle East. We don't have bars and gates on our homes, unlike pretty much the rest of the world. And we dwell alone, in our own continent, separate from Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East. Also, as a nation we are seen as "the wealthy nation".

32 And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the Lord.

We are a nation filled with cars and filled with cattle. There are few nations that can compete with the US in both of these two areas. The US has received 20 million illegal aliens during Biden's administration and our intelligence indicates a good many of these are military men infiltrating the country to spoil it. What is happening in Minnesota with the Somalis is simply pulling the curtain back on this.

33 And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.

Hazor is referring to where these terrorists came from.

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.

The bow of Elam refers to their missiles and the chief of their might refers to their nuclear program. Elam is where Iran's nuclear program and missiles are located. Trump destroyed this with his attack using B2 bombers and MOAB's.

Once again, this is where we are today, in the current events.

36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

We are seeing this beginning to take place. The water crisis is so severe that they will need to move Tehran, the entire city to the south. The country is in the middle of a civil war. This is telling us that the whole government structure will collapse and Iranians will be scattered to the four corners of the earth.

37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

We are seeing them dismayed with this populist uprising, inflation, famine and lack of water. Trump has sent the Abraham Lincoln to the Mid East, it should arrive this weekend and many feel when this arrives the sword will be sent after the IRGC for their slaughter of Iranian civilians.

38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord.

There is also a great revival among Christians in Iran. They have seen what it is like to be under Islamic rule and this civil war is repudiating that rule.

39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.
 

Watch for the Auroras, But Not as You suppose World 1-21-26@3:05 AM
 
Teach us to pray

1. Lord Jesus, teach us what to say. (Exo 4:12)

2. Lord Jesus teach us what to do. (Exo 4:15)

3. Lord Jesus show us the way in which we must walk and the work that we must do. (Exo 24:12)

4. Lord Jesus teach us what we must to do live. (Deut 4:1)

5. Lord Jesus teach us your judgments. (Deut 33:10)

6. Lord Jesus teach us to war the spiritual war. (Judges 3:2)

7. Lord Jesus teach my hands to war. (2Samuel 22:35)

8. Lord Jesus teach us wisdom. (Job 33:33)

9. Lord Jesus teach us the things that we do not see. (Job 34:32)

10. Lord Jesus, teach me thy truth. (Ps 25:5)

11. Lord Jesus, teach us the fear of the Lord (Ps 34:11)

12. Lord Jesus, teach transgressors thy ways (Ps 51:13)

13. Lord Jesus, teach us to number our days (Ps 90:12)

14. Lord Jesus, teach me thy statutes. (Ps 119:26)

15. Lord Jesus teach us Your covenant and testimony. (Ps 132:12)

16. Lord Jesus, Teach me to do thy will. (Ps 143:10)

17. Lord Jesus, Teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight. (Ps 144:1)

18. Lord Jesus, teach me discretion. (Isaiah 28:26)

19. Lord Jesus, teach me the difference between the holy and the profane. (Ezekiel 44:23)

20. Lord Jesus, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1)
 
The Fellowship of the Apostles

Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

A modern equivalent over this debate concerning circumcision would be the King James only crowd. I agree that King James Version is an excellent translation and I have no problem with someone who says it is the best translation. I also know there are some intentionally bad translations designed to push some false doctrine. I would never use the Jehovah Witness bible or the Mormon Bible. However, it is a translation and as such it cannot fully convey the meaning of the original language. Therefore I like the Greek and Hebrew interlinear, I also like the amplified version because it will help you see the shades of meaning. I also like Young's literal translation, this translation picks one english word for every Greek or Hebrew word. The result is you will get some really strange translations of some verses. The point is not that this is a better translation but this helps you to see what you thought that verse was saying is not accurate. I think of it as a geiger counter, it will identify verses you need to examine. I also consider the 1901 American Standard version (not the New American standard) is a good version as well as Darby's translation. So this is Paul's attitude here, he will fight to the end to say that "circumcision" is not required to be a Christian. But that doesn't mean circumcision doesn't have its benefits. Another example would be the debate over the proper pronunciation of Jesus Christ's name. I have no issue with someone who uses the Hebrew or Greek pronunciation. But I also know that when I say "Jesus Christ" in english Jesus knows that I am calling on HIm. In Mexico and China they pronounce his name differently, but again, it is easy to recognize that they are calling on Jesus Christ.

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

A decree is an opinion delivered with judgment. It is an official doctrine of the church. I refer to this as the "fellowship of the apostles". For example, how to pick an elder, deacon or bishop. Christianity has this all wrong. The most important criteria is that he leads his family well. He must be married, he must have brought up his children well. The reason for this is simple, the most important function of the church is as a family and the elder is a father figure. The biggest problem in society is broken families. People who come into the church need to have a good example set for them. I grew up in a very wealthy suburb of NYC. Just about everyone I knew was upper middle class. What I saw in that town convinced me that I would never want to get married. Then when I came into the church when I was in college just about everyone in that church was lower middle class, or just slightly above the poverty line. However, I saw happy families and I realized if I could have a family like that I would want to get married. This is the most powerful testimony the church has and we need those who take the lead to set the example.

I know that many claim that "the husband of one wife" is sexist. They see no problem with the pastor being an unwed woman or even a lesbian. On the contrary a woman who is the pastor, that is sexist. Everyone in the church knows that women outnumber men, often 2:1 and they also know that the children's ministry is the most important ministry. As a result the "wife of the pastor" can be the single most important role in the church. If the pastor is single he will be besieged by women who want to marry him. When you counsel people the primary reason has to do with marriage. Why would you want someone who has never been married.

Suppose I come into a church and I think I am smarter than the pastor and I know the Bible better than he does. But if he has raised his family well and is the husband of one wife, that could convict me. Maybe I am divorced, maybe my children are a mess. I will be humbled when I see this and I will realize all my "smarts" didn't help, it only hurt. After seeing the families in the town I grew up in and then the families in the church I had a whole new understanding concerning the word in Genesis "It is not good for a man to be alone". God is giving us a number line, on one side we have nightmare followed by horrible followed by bad and then 0 (which is not good) then to the right you have good, great, and awesome. If you are single that is not good, doesn't mean it is bad, or horrible or a nightmare. Meanwhile a marriage without Christ is bad, could be horrible, might even be a nightmare. But a marriage that is full of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will be awesome.

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

This is why Paul says "you have many teachers but not many fathers".
 
The Best promotion for your ministry

Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

We must learn to be very sensitive to the Spirit's leading. It is much easier than you would think. For example, if the Lord does not permit you to preach the word in Asia but you try, you will lose the life and peace. When you are one with the Lord's leading you will be full of joy, but if you disobey you will feel dead, miserable.

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

So if you are confused, Lord what do you want me to do? Where am I supposed to go. Pray for His leading, pray for His speaking.

10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Paul is no longer going to the synagogue, but instead he heard about a prayer meeting and went there.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

One year I was teaching math in Junior High school and this one kid would yell very loud for everyone to be quiet, and he would keep doing that yelling that he wanted to learn. When everyone got quiet he would then say "OK teacher, teach". In all my years of teaching he was the most disruptive.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Why did the Lord lead them here? The answer is simple, He is going to put Satan to an open shame, He will reign victorious, and He especially wanted the gospel spoken to the jailer. This is the spiritual warfare, the resistance to the gospel.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

We behave opposite to what the world expects. We get beaten, we bless. In the world it is tit for tat, but among the believers it is you revile me, I bless you.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

His whole life he has seen prisoners, but this is the first time he saw anyone like Paul and Silas.

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

This event is the single best way to promote a ministry. Everyone in the city will talk about this and your thought would be "What were they saying that the rulers were so desperate to shut them up?"
 
ZNP said:
The Best promotion for your ministry

Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

We must learn to be very sensitive to the Spirit's leading. It is much easier than you would think. For example, if the Lord does not permit you to preach the word in Asia but you try, you will lose the life and peace. When you are one with the Lord's leading you will be full of joy, but if you disobey you will feel dead, miserable.

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

So if you are confused, Lord what do you want me to do? Where am I supposed to go. Pray for His leading, pray for His speaking.

10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Paul is no longer going to the synagogue, but instead he heard about a prayer meeting and went there.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

One year I was teaching math in Junior High school and this one kid would yell very loud for everyone to be quiet, and he would keep doing that yelling that he wanted to learn. When everyone got quiet he would then say "OK teacher, teach". In all my years of teaching he was the most disruptive.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Why did the Lord lead them here? The answer is simple, He is going to put Satan to an open shame, He will reign victorious, and He especially wanted the gospel spoken to the jailer. This is the spiritual warfare, the resistance to the gospel.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

We behave opposite to what the world expects. We get beaten, we bless. In the world it is tit for tat, but among the believers it is you revile me, I bless you.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

His whole life he has seen prisoners, but this is the first time he saw anyone like Paul and Silas.

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

This event is the single best way to promote a ministry. Everyone in the city will talk about this and your thought would be "What were they saying that the rulers were so desperate to shut them up?"
Click to expand...
In this chapter the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from going to Asia to preach. But later he does go there and raise up many churches and still others were raised up by those that Paul had mentored.

If you step back the reason is simple, they would hear about what happened in Philippi. Jesus was building up interest in the ministry so that when Paul did go everyone would want to see and hear what is going on.
 
Paul was the Lightning rod

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

This is similar to coming to a Christian forum and reasoning with them out of the scriptures that the Day of the Lord is at hand. At the beginning of the age the big question among Jews was if Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. Therefore you would point to Isaiah 53 and many other scriptures to prove that He is. At the end of the age this is still the big question, only now we are moving on to other scriptures like those concerning the end of the age. Consider the prophecies and things that Jesus told us, it is compelling proof that Jesus is the Son of God.

4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

We see this online as well. People are not being driven by reason, or by sincere desire to know the truth, but rather by envy.

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

When we see them do things like this, like that recent disruption of a church service in Minnesota with Don Lemon, understand that behavior like this is not "winning" it is evidence that they see they are losing and will lose everything. It is the last gasp for a dying regime. Do not read Revelation as though the Antichrist is winning, instead see him as the "wizard of Oz" and he has been flushed out from behind his curtain. Satan is like a serpent, snakes are effective when they are hidden, but once everyone can see the snake everything changes. Consider the great delusion that takes place after the rapture, saying that those who were raptured were the evil people. If that were so then why don't things get better during the tribulation with all the evil people gone? Every lie will ultimately be revealed. Sometimes they will lie about things that you cannot disprove. Is the vaccine good or bad? I don't know. But I do know it is experimental. I do know that HCQ, Ivermectin and Quercetin and Zinc are effective against viral infections. So I can simply watch and wait, time will tell if it is good. In the same way watch and wait when the Antichrist tells you it was only bad people who were raptured. If he is telling the truth things get better, if he is lying they get worse, and sure enough, the account in Revelation is that they will get worse, much worse.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

For those who have believed this attack does not cause them to question their faith, on the contrary it causes them to see the spiritual warfare. Now in Thessalonica they saw what happened and naturally concluded that they were at the end of the age because Satan is behaving as though he is desperate. The problem is this, Thessalonica is one city, the gospel must go out to the entire earth. What we saw in Thessalonica must also take place in Russia, in China, in Indonesia, in South America, in the US, etc. We will see people arrested for praying, we will see governments outlaw the gospel, we will see Christians killed because of their faith. Think of Paul as being Elijah, and his ministry as "Elijah's ministry". When Elijah is taken up in the whirlwind that depicts the rapture of all those who are one with Elijah's ministry.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

What a great lesson to us. Did Paul and Silas reassess? Did they tone it down, try to be more agreeable? No, they realized they were over the target and kept it up. They realized they had Satan on the run and so they kept it up.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

I was on another "Christian forum" before coming to this one and was suspended for a month. Why? Well it turns out that Atheists and Satanists will set up Christian forums as a kind of way to lure Christians in and then "beat them up". This forum allowed all kinds of vicious attacks from these ones and did nothing. But when they were unable to defeat me they suspended me. I had not violated any rule, I had not stooped down to their level. This is how Satan operates, it is like a boxing match where the other person is doing many things illegal, they let it slide, but the hope is that you will do one of those things. If they can't sucker you in to doing something that they can exploit then they have no other option but to suspend you. So I moved on to this forum and this forum is more noble than the last forum.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

This is also true, there are people who circulate among all the forums. This is how those involved in the occult and witchcraft operate. They go to church services with the mission and intention to sow strife and dissent.

14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

Paul was the lightning rod.
 
Preaching to those given wholly to idolatry

Acts 17:15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

There is a contrast here, Athens was wholly given to Idolatry while the other places Paul had been were involved in worship of the God of the Bible. If you believe that the Bible is the word of God then Paul can preach to you from the Bible that Jesus is Lord. But that approach will not work in Athens.

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

This is what the Gentile nations are like. Everyone wants to hear something new. Think of Youtube, or Tik Tok, or X.

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

They love strange things. They love to talk about Big Foot and UFOs and conspiracy theories.

21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Is this not the fundamental principle of Youtube?

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Ghost stories, when I was in China it was amazing how much everyone in that country is given to ghost stories.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

This is a brilliant angle that Paul has discovered. He is teaching them something they don't know and that they even admit they don't know. He is bringing them the word from the God they already worship and just don't know it. Yes, it is something new he is teaching them, but it isn't a new God, on the contrary it is the same God they have been worshipping only didn't know Him. In China they have a word for boat and it is composed of two characters: the character that means 8 and the character that means soul. So 8 souls = boat. So I would ask them why this would mean boat? From this you share about Noah's ark and how there were 8 souls on that boat. There are other examples, but this is a great hook. They see that their ancestors knew this God, that this is lost knowledge.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

It was quite weird, in China everywhere you go there is a Buddhist temple. But they are not like churches or synagogues. Someone might visit this at any time and leave some offering, but to my observation they didn't have "church services". Also many of these temples were on mountains that you could only get to by walking up many steps. The act of going to the temple was a pilgrimage. In the US the church would be at the center of town, but in China these temples would be in remote regions far from town. We are God's offspring, so then why is the house so far away and difficult to get to?

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

The worship of money is over the top and in your face in China. When a person dies they take paper money (monopoly money) and they burn it. The idea is that this money follows the dead person and they won't be broke in the afterlife.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The Chinese know that this practice is ignorant. They know it is superstitious. But they also know if they don't practice this they will be shunned by the society. I also met with Christians in China and they had repented of these superstitious and ignorant practices.

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

There is a contrast that can be seen between Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified, dead, buried and then rose from the dead in victory with these superstitious and beggarly practices. They pay money to these Buddhists to get the monopoly money to burn. They know that this is a beggarly practice, when you compare that with Jesus Christ it is no contest.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
 
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