Of every tree of the garden we may freely eat of….
Genesis 2:16-17 KJV
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
…for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against us such there is no law for we may eat freely of those things….and LIVE.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Let us not resist what we hear the Spirit saying in stubborn pride. The Spirit of Truth is the witness of the Lord…and we shall also bear witness of Him by speaking what we hear the Spirit saying. The “Comforter” shall come to us because we shall be persecuted by those of the churches who will not believe in what the Spirit is saying.
John 15:26-27 KJV
(26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
(27) And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
“Pergamos” meaning “fortified, height, elevation” speaks of those who will harden their necks (the fortified tower) upon the hearing of the Spirit. They will be “stiff-necked” towards what they will hear the Spirit saying and will resist in evil opposition the words of the Spirit. They will resist the Holy Spirit in their stubborn pride and will exalt themselves.
Revelation 2:12-13 KJV
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
They will “kill” any one with their evil words….. with false accusations…. as they will hate the brothers who will speak with the Holy Spirit. “Antipas” means “against the fathers, against all”. It was all of the “fathers” who were against the Holy Spirit when they did persecute and slay the prophets who were sent to them to speak His words in the Spirit.
(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
“Pergamos” = the stiff-necked people who will be uncircumcised in heart and ears and will resist the Holy Spirit as their “fathers” did before them. They will exalt themselves at the hearing of what the Spirit is saying.
Their “fathers” (of whom they will follow after being their “children”) were against the Spirit (Antipas). They were against those who spoke via the Spirit and rose up against men who spoke in the Spirit and did slay them.
The time is coming in which men shall arise up (Pergamos= fortified, height) against those who will speak what they hear the Spirit saying just like they did with Stephen who was full of the Spirit but was slain by the churches of unbelieving men….the synagogue of Satan. (Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen).
"Stiff-necked" = Pergamos. The Holy Spirit is resisted (the faithful martyr is slain) as they killed the prophets who spoke what they heard the witness (the Spirit) speaking.
Acts 7:
(51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
They did slay “Antipas”….the prophets who did speak as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. They did slay those who SHOWED BEFORE OF THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE. They were WITNESSES of the coming of the Just one as they spoke what they heard the Spirit saying. They did slay Stephen who was full of the Spirit.
(52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
They did not keep the law by having love for those sent to them by Him to speak the words of the Spirit. The time is coming again in which they will follow the evil ways of their fathers before them. The “angels” were Moses and all of the prophets…all of the biblical saints whose testimonies are written.
(53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Today, some will follow after their “fathers” and will rage against any who will speak the Truth….as they did to Stephen. They did slay Stephen….killing a man who was full of the Spirit. They did kill “Antipas”…the faithful witness….as they stopped the witness of the Spirit. They quenched the Spirit by resisting and despised Stephen as they did kill him in their pride and wrath…the throne where Satan sits. They were cut to the heart where Satan had gotten a foothold upon the throne of the heart of wrath.
(54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Where does Satan have his throne? In our wrath where there is the potential of evil speaking….falsely accusing others with slander. Give not a place …a throne…to the “devil” (which means “false accuser”) who will falsely accuse those who speak in the Spirit. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV
(26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
As Cain was very wroth in his heart, he was counseled to overcome and DO WELL and not speak evil with his mouth…..for sin lies at the “door” of the mouth. Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon our wrath. Neither give place to the devil ….the false accuser(the mouth speaks what is in the heart).
Genesis 4:5-7 KJV
(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
(6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
(7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
But some will give place to the devil and will fill up the measure of their fathers as they will persecute and “kill” those who will speak the Word of Truth to them via the Spirit. How will they escape the judgment for the mouth that speaks evil….the “Gehenna”?
Matthew 23:32-36 KJV
(32) Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
(33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(34) Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
(35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
(36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Those who will take pleasure in their unrighteousness will believe a lie: that they will be doing God “service” for doing such things.
John 16:1-3 KJV
(1) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
(2) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Whosoever hates his brother is a “murderer” and has no age-lasting life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15 KJV
(14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
(15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Prideful men will not be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which men speak as they are led by the Spirit. The synagogue of the Libertines were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spoke. Pergamos = height....as they did arise against the Spirit by which Stephen spoke.
Acts 6:8-10 KJV
(8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
(9) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
(10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
There becomes a “war in heaven”. Heaven is the air in which words travel to the ears of others. The Spirit of Truth shall prevail against the dragon and his messengers.
The words of Stephen who spoke what the Spirit was saying could not be resisted by those of the church of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia as they DISPUTED with Stephen. There was war in heaven….they DISPUTED with Stephen. The Truth prevails over the falsehoods of men. Men who will seek to defend their doctrines and commandments of men aggressively at the hearing of the Spirit. But they will not be able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which is spoken.
Revelation 12:7-12 KJV
(7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
(8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
The synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia (the dragon and his messengers) could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit (Michael and his messengers) by which Stephen spoke. They resorted then to false accusations. The accuser shall be cast down and become full of wrath and will rage against any who keep His commandments and have the WITNESS of Jesus in them.
(9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Stephen…who looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God… did overcome their false accusations. He looked to Jesus always and did not render evil for their evil. He did not love his life unto the death as he did not render evil for their evil as they stoned him to death. Likewise, today men will become full of wrath as they will falsely accuse us of being evil doers. They will also stop up their ears from hearing and will rage upon us with wrath….the gnashing of teeth. But we are to overcome them by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His witness. We are to keep His sacrifice in the face of their persecutions….their false accusations.
(11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Woe to those who will not deaden their tongues which are upon the earth….for the devil (false accuser) is come down unto them having GREAT WRATH.
Mortify therefore your members which are “upon the earth”: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
The “inhabiters of the earth” will not deaden their tongues and so will become full of wrath. The “sea” is the evil thoughts that will be churned up in their minds against the Lord.
(12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
The “sea” is the raging of the gentiles as they imagine “vain things” in their minds and will gather together against the Anointed.
Acts 4:24-27 KJV
(24) And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
(25) Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
(26) The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
(27) For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
The “religious” men who disputed with Stephen (there was war in heaven) and could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spoke (as their place was not found any more in heaven) resorted then to false accusations and wrath.
They were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. They were full of rage as the devil got a foothold in their hearts. They did cast Stephen out of the city and stoned him. Likewise, the time is coming in which men will cast us out of their churches and “stone” us with wrathful words. But we are not to return evil for their evil but be faithful unto the death….as Jesus did not render evil for evil as they crucified Him. Stephen was faithful unto the death for he did not render evil for their evil but looked steadfastly unto the Lord….whose suffering is the power of God.
Acts 7:54-60 KJV
(54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
(55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
By looking unto Jesus who did endure the suffering of the cross without rendering evil for the evil of those who crucified Him, then His life shall appear (the Son of man stands on the right hand of God) in our mortal flesh which keeps us standing upon this earth. Keeping the sacrifice of the Lamb (who died on the cross for our sins and is ALIVE NOW) is the POWER OF GOD that keeps us in the here and now. By enduring their persecutions by being faithful unto His death, we shall receive a CROWN OF LIFE. It is no coincidence that “Stephen” means “CROWN”.
(56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
(57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
(58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
(60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen looked unto heaven above and saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand. If we are risen with Christ, we are to also seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God. We are to set our affection on things above and not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-8 KJV
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
If we suffer their persecutions in Christ, then Christ ….who is our life…shall appear in our mortal flesh (the Son of man). We shall appear with Him in glory for His life shall appear in our mortal flesh and silence the wickedness of evil men.
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The synagogue of Satan will not deaden their tongues that are upon the earth as they will continue to be earthly in their thinking and behavior toward the Spirit of Truth and those who will preach what they hear the faithful witness saying.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
(8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
They did cast Stephen out of the city….and they will cast us out of their churches also. They will “stone” us with false accusations…casting out our names as evil.
Luke 6:22-23 KJV
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
They will speak evil of us as evildoers. They will falsely accuse our good behavior in Christ. But, we are to suffer for righteousness’ sake and not be afraid of their terror nor be troubled. We are to sanctify the Lord God always in our hearts keeping a good conscience when they will speak evil of us.
1 Peter 3:14-22 KJV
(14) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
(15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
(16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
(17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
We are to suffer for their “sins”…evil speaking…as Christ once suffered for the unjust.
(18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Stephen did preach Christ to the synagogue of the “Libertines”… the so-called “freemen”…but were really slaves of sin (spirits in prison).
(19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
They…. the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia….were disobedient also.
(20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
(21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
We are to look unto Him as Stephen saw the glory of God in heaven and Jesus at His right hand.
(22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Although men will profess they know God, they will in their evil works deny Him as they will be abominable and disobedient and unto every good work rejected.
Titus 1:15-16 KJV
(15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
continued in next post...
Genesis 2:16-17 KJV
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
…for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against us such there is no law for we may eat freely of those things….and LIVE.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Let us not resist what we hear the Spirit saying in stubborn pride. The Spirit of Truth is the witness of the Lord…and we shall also bear witness of Him by speaking what we hear the Spirit saying. The “Comforter” shall come to us because we shall be persecuted by those of the churches who will not believe in what the Spirit is saying.
John 15:26-27 KJV
(26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
(27) And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
“Pergamos” meaning “fortified, height, elevation” speaks of those who will harden their necks (the fortified tower) upon the hearing of the Spirit. They will be “stiff-necked” towards what they will hear the Spirit saying and will resist in evil opposition the words of the Spirit. They will resist the Holy Spirit in their stubborn pride and will exalt themselves.
Revelation 2:12-13 KJV
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
They will “kill” any one with their evil words….. with false accusations…. as they will hate the brothers who will speak with the Holy Spirit. “Antipas” means “against the fathers, against all”. It was all of the “fathers” who were against the Holy Spirit when they did persecute and slay the prophets who were sent to them to speak His words in the Spirit.
(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
“Pergamos” = the stiff-necked people who will be uncircumcised in heart and ears and will resist the Holy Spirit as their “fathers” did before them. They will exalt themselves at the hearing of what the Spirit is saying.
Their “fathers” (of whom they will follow after being their “children”) were against the Spirit (Antipas). They were against those who spoke via the Spirit and rose up against men who spoke in the Spirit and did slay them.
The time is coming in which men shall arise up (Pergamos= fortified, height) against those who will speak what they hear the Spirit saying just like they did with Stephen who was full of the Spirit but was slain by the churches of unbelieving men….the synagogue of Satan. (Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen).
"Stiff-necked" = Pergamos. The Holy Spirit is resisted (the faithful martyr is slain) as they killed the prophets who spoke what they heard the witness (the Spirit) speaking.
Acts 7:
(51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
They did slay “Antipas”….the prophets who did speak as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. They did slay those who SHOWED BEFORE OF THE COMING OF THE JUST ONE. They were WITNESSES of the coming of the Just one as they spoke what they heard the Spirit saying. They did slay Stephen who was full of the Spirit.
(52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
They did not keep the law by having love for those sent to them by Him to speak the words of the Spirit. The time is coming again in which they will follow the evil ways of their fathers before them. The “angels” were Moses and all of the prophets…all of the biblical saints whose testimonies are written.
(53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Today, some will follow after their “fathers” and will rage against any who will speak the Truth….as they did to Stephen. They did slay Stephen….killing a man who was full of the Spirit. They did kill “Antipas”…the faithful witness….as they stopped the witness of the Spirit. They quenched the Spirit by resisting and despised Stephen as they did kill him in their pride and wrath…the throne where Satan sits. They were cut to the heart where Satan had gotten a foothold upon the throne of the heart of wrath.
(54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Where does Satan have his throne? In our wrath where there is the potential of evil speaking….falsely accusing others with slander. Give not a place …a throne…to the “devil” (which means “false accuser”) who will falsely accuse those who speak in the Spirit. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV
(26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
As Cain was very wroth in his heart, he was counseled to overcome and DO WELL and not speak evil with his mouth…..for sin lies at the “door” of the mouth. Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon our wrath. Neither give place to the devil ….the false accuser(the mouth speaks what is in the heart).
Genesis 4:5-7 KJV
(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
(6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
(7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
But some will give place to the devil and will fill up the measure of their fathers as they will persecute and “kill” those who will speak the Word of Truth to them via the Spirit. How will they escape the judgment for the mouth that speaks evil….the “Gehenna”?
Matthew 23:32-36 KJV
(32) Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
(33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(34) Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
(35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
(36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Those who will take pleasure in their unrighteousness will believe a lie: that they will be doing God “service” for doing such things.
John 16:1-3 KJV
(1) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
(2) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Whosoever hates his brother is a “murderer” and has no age-lasting life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15 KJV
(14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
(15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Prideful men will not be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which men speak as they are led by the Spirit. The synagogue of the Libertines were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spoke. Pergamos = height....as they did arise against the Spirit by which Stephen spoke.
Acts 6:8-10 KJV
(8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
(9) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
(10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
There becomes a “war in heaven”. Heaven is the air in which words travel to the ears of others. The Spirit of Truth shall prevail against the dragon and his messengers.
The words of Stephen who spoke what the Spirit was saying could not be resisted by those of the church of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia as they DISPUTED with Stephen. There was war in heaven….they DISPUTED with Stephen. The Truth prevails over the falsehoods of men. Men who will seek to defend their doctrines and commandments of men aggressively at the hearing of the Spirit. But they will not be able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which is spoken.
Revelation 12:7-12 KJV
(7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
(8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
The synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia (the dragon and his messengers) could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit (Michael and his messengers) by which Stephen spoke. They resorted then to false accusations. The accuser shall be cast down and become full of wrath and will rage against any who keep His commandments and have the WITNESS of Jesus in them.
(9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Stephen…who looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God… did overcome their false accusations. He looked to Jesus always and did not render evil for their evil. He did not love his life unto the death as he did not render evil for their evil as they stoned him to death. Likewise, today men will become full of wrath as they will falsely accuse us of being evil doers. They will also stop up their ears from hearing and will rage upon us with wrath….the gnashing of teeth. But we are to overcome them by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His witness. We are to keep His sacrifice in the face of their persecutions….their false accusations.
(11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Woe to those who will not deaden their tongues which are upon the earth….for the devil (false accuser) is come down unto them having GREAT WRATH.
Mortify therefore your members which are “upon the earth”: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
The “inhabiters of the earth” will not deaden their tongues and so will become full of wrath. The “sea” is the evil thoughts that will be churned up in their minds against the Lord.
(12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
The “sea” is the raging of the gentiles as they imagine “vain things” in their minds and will gather together against the Anointed.
Acts 4:24-27 KJV
(24) And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
(25) Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
(26) The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
(27) For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
The “religious” men who disputed with Stephen (there was war in heaven) and could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spoke (as their place was not found any more in heaven) resorted then to false accusations and wrath.
They were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. They were full of rage as the devil got a foothold in their hearts. They did cast Stephen out of the city and stoned him. Likewise, the time is coming in which men will cast us out of their churches and “stone” us with wrathful words. But we are not to return evil for their evil but be faithful unto the death….as Jesus did not render evil for evil as they crucified Him. Stephen was faithful unto the death for he did not render evil for their evil but looked steadfastly unto the Lord….whose suffering is the power of God.
Acts 7:54-60 KJV
(54) When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
(55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
By looking unto Jesus who did endure the suffering of the cross without rendering evil for the evil of those who crucified Him, then His life shall appear (the Son of man stands on the right hand of God) in our mortal flesh which keeps us standing upon this earth. Keeping the sacrifice of the Lamb (who died on the cross for our sins and is ALIVE NOW) is the POWER OF GOD that keeps us in the here and now. By enduring their persecutions by being faithful unto His death, we shall receive a CROWN OF LIFE. It is no coincidence that “Stephen” means “CROWN”.
(56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
(57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
(58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
(60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen looked unto heaven above and saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand. If we are risen with Christ, we are to also seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God. We are to set our affection on things above and not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-8 KJV
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
If we suffer their persecutions in Christ, then Christ ….who is our life…shall appear in our mortal flesh (the Son of man). We shall appear with Him in glory for His life shall appear in our mortal flesh and silence the wickedness of evil men.
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The synagogue of Satan will not deaden their tongues that are upon the earth as they will continue to be earthly in their thinking and behavior toward the Spirit of Truth and those who will preach what they hear the faithful witness saying.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
(8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
They did cast Stephen out of the city….and they will cast us out of their churches also. They will “stone” us with false accusations…casting out our names as evil.
Luke 6:22-23 KJV
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
They will speak evil of us as evildoers. They will falsely accuse our good behavior in Christ. But, we are to suffer for righteousness’ sake and not be afraid of their terror nor be troubled. We are to sanctify the Lord God always in our hearts keeping a good conscience when they will speak evil of us.
1 Peter 3:14-22 KJV
(14) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
(15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
(16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
(17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
We are to suffer for their “sins”…evil speaking…as Christ once suffered for the unjust.
(18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Stephen did preach Christ to the synagogue of the “Libertines”… the so-called “freemen”…but were really slaves of sin (spirits in prison).
(19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
They…. the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia….were disobedient also.
(20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
(21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
We are to look unto Him as Stephen saw the glory of God in heaven and Jesus at His right hand.
(22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Although men will profess they know God, they will in their evil works deny Him as they will be abominable and disobedient and unto every good work rejected.
Titus 1:15-16 KJV
(15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
continued in next post...