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(Continued from ‘more than conquerors’) © COPYRIGHT NOW UNBANNED PUBLICATIONS
ON THIS PAGE: 1) What does the ‘GATES of hades’ really mean? 2) What is the difference between hades and hell? 3) Christ’s Followers of the Way are completely possessed by the True Holy Spirit, (Eph. 1:12-14.) 4) Miracles “follow” true disciples. 5) The religious binging on blood began. 6) Stephen the first martyr in court for confronting temple priests with God’s Truth.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST PROMISED, “THE GATES OF HADES, [THE GRAVE OR SPIRITUAL DEATH, NOT HELL,] WILL NOT PREVAIL [against His sincere Followers of The Way.” (Acts 9:1-2.) This verse actually means, true believers are over-comers or conquerors in Christ through His absolutely complete atonement for them, which utterly redeemed them from satanic power of all sorts, (Romans 8:37,) to live eternally in Him,” (Col. 2:8-15; Rev. 21:7-8! 1 Jn. 5:18-20.) “Hell” in Mathew 16:18 is a mistranslation of ‘hades,’ (the grave or spiritual death,) and the word ‘church’ used there was pushed into Scripture by false clergies, (see Acts 17:24-25.) Neither ‘church’ nor ‘clergies’ existed while Jesus was ministering on earth, ( Acts 9:1-2!) Neither did The Lord even suggest that Followers of The Way would cling to churches and clergies, (Acts 7:44-46; 17:24-25!) After the cross and Pentecost, The Followers of The Way congregated in their homes, called ’the ecclesia,’ and followed Christ above all else — and they still genuinely seek and serve Him today. Conversely, the broad-way church system with its countless false dogmas, (which was established in the latter part of 1 A.D. by Roman Catholic and Judaist priests at Antioch,) is excluded from this promise. ‘GOD DOES NOT DWELL IN TEMPLES MADE BY HANDS NOR IS HE SERVED BY [CLERICAL] HANDS, (Acts 11:26! 17:24-25!) All true believers in Christ are His spiritual Holy-Spirit indwelt temple, (1 Cor. 3:16-17.)
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “HADES” AND “HELL.” “Hell is where condemned demons and unrepented people spend eternity,” (Luke 16:19-31.) That is God’s final judgment. JESUS HIMSELF SAID THAT NO HUMAN can ‘return’ from hell! (Luke 16:19-31!) Allegorically, living people who are spiritually dead in sin and thus live outside the holy presence of God, are in “hades” the grave not in ‘hell!” They must hear The Lord’s Genuine Gospel to fully accept and surrender to Him and to live spiritually in Him, (Eph. 1:12-14 KJV.) ► In Jesus’ time, a battle was fought at the gates of a city to gain control of the people. If the gates could withstand the onslaught the city was safe. If the gates fell the city was invaded. [Credit Zondervan.] So, “be strong in The Lord and in His almighty power. Put on the whole armor of God.” This is actually obedience to His inward Moral Law and the Truth of His New Testament Covenant commandments, because if we sin unrepentedly we open the gates for Satan, (Heb. 10:16; John 14:15,21.) Thus, “he who was spiritually born of God, (John 1:12-17,) “KEEPS HIMSELF AND THE DEVIL DOES NOT TOUCH HIM,” (1 John 5:18-20.) This is how we may be able to STAND against the wiles of Satan. FOR WE WRESTLE [AGAINST TOTALLY CONQUERED DEMONIC ENEMIES who also work through evil humans, (Col. 2:8-15!) Furthermore, there is no lasting “deliverance” from demons except the RENEWING of the mind, which is the BATTLE fought for souls in Christ. “The weapons we use are not carnal but mighty in God FOR PULLING DOWN [not casting out] STRONGHOLDS; CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD; BRINGING EVER THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST!” (2 Cor. 10:3-5: Rom. 8:1-12.) AND SO, “HAVING DONE ALL [through obedience to God’s Word,] JUST STAND [and let God take care of the problem,]” (Eph 6:10-18.) This is why Christ only commissioned His followers to continually BE ON THEIR GUARD AND WITHSTAND all deceptions by preaching THE TRUTH and living in RIGHTEOUSNESS, (1 Tim. 6:11; Mt. 10:23; 28:18-20.) ► HERE CRASHES ANOTHER TWO CHRISTIAN DOGMAS INTO SMITHEREENS! 1) NO ONE CAN MAKE “WAR IN THE HEAVENLIES” AGAINST FULLY CONQUERED ENEMIES THAT JESUS HIMSELF VANQUISHED. 2) The so-called ‘ministries of deliverance’ that randomly cast out demons are also busy with extremely dangerous tactics! Jesus said demons that were cast out will return [if the person’s mind is not renewed] with seven worse than itself, (Mt. 12:45! Rom. 12:1-2.) We do not live under the Old Testament covenant as the Old Hebrews did while Jesus ministered on earth! I repeat: “WITHSTAND” OR IMMOVABLY “STAND” IN GOD’S TRUTH AND FULL ATONEMENT IS NOT THE WAR, WHICH JESUS ALREADY WON AT THE CROSS AGAINST “ALL PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS,” (Col. 2:9-15; 2 Ths. 10:3-6.) Believers in Christ are in a CONSTANT SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR THE deceived minds of men, who are under the fatal control of darkness. Therefore, the ONLY sure, New Testament ‘deliverance’ Jesus commanded is to “ABIDE IN HIS WORD, [FOR THEN] YOU ARE HIS DISCIPLES INDEED. AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! If The Son [The Truth] makes you free, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED!” (2 Cor. 10:3-7; Rom. 8:1-12, Jn. 8:31-32,36.) ► Whenever Jesus’ real disciples declare the Truth of His Gospel as He commanded, (Mathew 28:18-20,) they unsheathe God’s Sword of Light against the ‘gates of Hades’ or spiritual death, (Heb. 4:12.) The Lord Jesus Christ declared, “It is the Holy Spirit Who gives life; the flesh [or manmade dogma] profits nothing. The words that I speak to you [are not ordinary words;] they are spirit and life,” (Jn. 6:63.) All church and other religious systems, through their ungodly orders and clerical lies, function spiritually in hades the realm of the dead. But those they deceive still have time to repent as they are not in INESCAPABLE, ETERNAL HELL yet. Accordingly, Jesus’ warning and instruction concerning persecution will stand until His return to earth. He said, “I sent you out [into the political-religious world] as sheep in the midst of wolves… [The wolves are governmental and religious, secret masonic, satanic agents in leadership.]” In great attempts to smother The Truth, “they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues [and churches.] You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake… Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child, and children will raise up against parents… But he who endures to the end will be saved… (Mt. 24:11-14.) He who loves [his family or anyone or anything else] more than Me is not worthy of Me, (Mathew 10:37-38.) And he who does not take up his cross, [standing in My truth; boldly declaring My Gospel no matter what;] and follow Me [as My obedient disciple,] is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life [in the acceptance of people] will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake, [emotionally and even physically if necessary,] will find it [for all eternity…] (Rev. 12:11 KJV.) When they persecute you in this city, flee to another… You will not have gone through the cities… before the Son of Man [returns.]” This means persecution is an unavoidable part of life for all authentic believer-follower disciples. As seen in this study, persecution for righteousness, (not for personal sin,) is the real Scriptural “baptism with fire,” which no genuine disciple of Christ Jesus can dodge, Mt. 3:11-12; Jn. 15:19!) The world only loves it’s own. It hates The Lord Jesus Christ – and so it also hates His true disciples and real Scriptural Truth.
AUTHENTIC BELIEVERS ARE COMPLETELY POSSESSED BY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, (Eph. 1:7,12-14,) SINCE HE BEGAN TO INDWELL all Jesus’ blood-cleansed Followers of The Way That Day at Pentecost, (Acts 2:1-21.) After the cross, those Followers formed the first Unadulterated members of the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit, His spiritual body of believers, and His one and only bride that will go with Christ at His once-off return to their one and only spiritual marriage feast in heaven, (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Mt. 25:1-13! Rev. 19:7-9.) They became so drenched in love for their Eternal King, (1 John 3:1-9;) so on fire for His cause; so empowered by His Spirit; so provided for by their Father in heaven, that they became totally unstoppable preachers of His absolute Truth, (John 1:11-14; Acts 9:1-2; 2:1-21!) Although Satan pestered and murdered them, they persistently withstood and overcame him through Christ’s full atonement for them, (Col. 2:9-15.) And so Jesus’ Spiritual Kingdom still marches on; fulfilling His serious commission to make disciples from all the nations, water baptize them as He demonstrated and commanded, and teach them all HE has said, (John 3:16; 18:36; Mt. 28:18-20!) As The original Followers of The Way, (Acts 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14,) they were at the forefront of the assault on the ‘gates of hades’ or worldwide, deceptive, spiritual death without Christ, (1 Jn. 5:18-20.) Logically then, they were the first to be slain for God’s New Testament Covenant Truth, His Spiritual Kingdom on earth, and the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ. However, they did not fall like flies. True believers standing on Scriptural Truth and Holy-Spirit power will always remain God’s formidable servants and soul-winning conquerors. ► Beware clerically twisted Bible verses that omitted the appropriate word “battle” to suggest that Jesus did not utterly conquer Satan at the cross and so ETERNALLY WON THE WAR for all His authentic disciples, who BATTLE AGAINST THE DEFEATED ENEMY FOR THE MINDS OF MEN, (Col. 2:9-15.)
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit did many genuine miracles through The Followers of The Way as they preached God’s Truth. Jesus promised in Mark 16:16-17, “He who believes and [allows himself to be] baptized [in water according to Jesus’ own example,] will be saved… These signs [or actually the manifestation of Holy Spirit GIFTS] will FOLLOW [sincere believers.] In HIS Name they will cast out demons; [mostly through preaching His True Gospel, because as soon a people really accept Christ, their demons flee from them: Acts 8:5-8.] They will speak with new tongues; [as only ONE of the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ,] (1 Cor. 12:4-11.) They will take up serpents, [or do spiritual battle with all forms of evil,] (Eph. 6:10-18.) And if they [accidentally or without their knowledge or choice] drink [or are attacked by] anything deadly, it will not harm them, ([Acts 28:3-5.) They will lay hands on the sick, and [if that particular case is God’s will,] they will recover,” (1 John 3:21! 514!) ► Basically, Jesus’ ministry before the cross was supported by His miracles and prophesies regarding His full atonement at the cross and eternal salvation for true believers worldwide, (John 3:16.) After the cross that shifted to the first Followers of The Way, (Mt. 28:18-20.) So, why don’t we see so many real miracles today? Scriptural Truth: Jesus declared, “THE KINGDOM OF GOD [AFTER THE CROSS AND PENTECOST,] WILL NOT [continue to] COME WITH OBSERVATION” or ‘outward signs,’ (Luke 17:20-21 KJV!) The Lord’s New Testament Covenant for all believers worldwide, (not just for the Hebrews as in the Old Testament,) is Spiritual, (Hebrew 8:7,13!) And so, His only New Covenant temple is spiritual, because contrary to the Old Testament, God and His Spiritual Kingdom are now “WITHIN” His real believers, (Luke 17:20-21 KJV!) This does not smite Jesus’ promise of full spiritual authority or the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit that “follow” real believers, (Mt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16-18.) As Jesus’ New Testament Covenant is Spiritual, His believers “live by faith not by sight.” They do not need miracles to authenticate Jesus as The Christ like the Pharisees did, (John 10:38.) Miracles now manifests through the GIFTS of God “AS HE WILLS,” (1 Cor. 12:11!) ► While churches defile even God’s gifts horrendously, true miracles cannot be forced or given by them as they allege, (Acts 17:25.) God’s GIFTS became realities for obedient believers because the Holy Spirit empowered them at Pentecost, (Jn. 1:12-13; 3:3-5; Acts 2:17-18; Acts 5:32!) Here is an unadulterated example of the above. Following Peter’s sermon, which God used to save 3,000 souls, God healed a lame man through Peter and John. And as they “spoke boldly to the people and priests, the Sadducees came down upon them,” (Acts Chapter 4.) The Sadducees were part of the governing temple leadership: the Sanhedrin that crucified Jesus. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and were greatly disturbed that Jesus and the disciples preached resurrection from the dead, (1 Cor. 15:12-23.) Consequently, they promptly arrested Peter and John. It was already evening and they put them in prison until the next day. “But many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of believers became about five thousand.” So, despite this brutal persecution, in a short time, the Holy Spirit already made thousands of born again “Followers of the Way” through the obedience of Jesus’ Followers, (Acts 7:48; 17:24; 9:1-2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14.) ► Not surprisingly, the infuriated Sanhedrin or temple masters were becoming agitated beyond belief. They were losing massive numbers of their spiritually dead temple religionists (Acts 7:44-50,) to the Resurrected, Ascended Man Jesus Christ; Whom they horrifically tortured and publicly murdered on the cross. So, “their rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, [the two evil Judaists who led Jesus’ all-night trial and crucifixion,] as well as the family of the high priest, confronted Peter and John. Overnight, persecution became a free for all. They demanded, “By what power or name, [on who’s authority,] have you done all this?” As if they did not know the answer! This was an open satanic show of power. These persecutors of Jesus and His disciples were oblivious to the fact that, in God’s infinite mercy, they had no real authority over the disciples — just like Pontius Pilate only had the “power which God allowed Him from above” during the trial of Jesus. The Lord only allowed them to persecute His Followers of The Way so that He could declare His New Testament/Covenant Gospel to them. Even in prison, The Holy Spirit enabled Peter and John to make full use of their affliction. “Let it be known to you all…” Peter answered unafraid, “that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified but Whom God raised from the dead, [and by His healing of people through our hands,] this man stands here before you whole… [Besides,] there is salvation in no other Name, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, [except the Name of Jesus,]” (Acts 4:1-22!) When the Sanhedrin “saw the boldness of Peter and John… they knew that [the disciples] had been with Jesus. [Those religionists knew very well that Jesus had risen from the dead; although they made every effort to convince the people that His resurrection was a deception.] And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” So, they commanded Peter and John to leave the council, and conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to them? That a notable miracle has been done was evident to all who dwells in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further, let us threaten them, that from now on they speak to no one in this Name.” However, their threats (of no less than death by stoning like they did to the first martyr Stephen,) left Peter and John undeterred. All The Followers of The Way faced the intimidation of the Sanhedrin in the same calm and courageous manner as their Master did. So, the disciples answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you must judge...” But when they “further threatened them, they let them go; finding no way to punish them because of the people; since they all glorified God for what had been done,” (Acts 4:18-22.)
No sooner had the (Cabalist) Sanhedrin ‘dealt’ with the ‘problem’ of the Hebrew Christ through false accusation and death by crucifixion, or the council had to face the same dilemma all over again – only this time, it had multiplied by the thousands! Their evil hearts still blazed with hatred for this Man and His disciples. Their bloodstained hands itched to get hold of Peter and John, but this time, they had the sincerity of the multitudes to consider. They realized that, if they were to crush the newfound zeal of Jesus’ followers, they had to bide their time while slyly and stealthily, just as they did with Jesus, send out their secret agents to destroy the credibility of the assemblies of The Followers of the Way, (Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14.) They knew they were warring against God, but they did not lose heart because they did it all before — and succeeded. What they did not know, was that The Followers of the Way, calling upon the Name of their omnipotent God, Who now dwelt inside every one of them through His Holy Spirit, (1 Cor. 16-17,) “raised their voices with one accord, praying, ‘Lord, You are God… Who… have said: Why did the nations rage and the people plot vain things [against Your born again spiritual kings and priests? – Revelation 5:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10.] Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness [and without fear] they may speak Your Word…’” Jesus, the Eternal High Priest of the body of Christ, interceded on their behalf as He had promised to do and so, “believers were increasingly added to the Lord; multitudes of men and women. And they brought the sick out into the streets… [to be healed.] Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem… [to be touched by Jesus,]’ (Acts 5:15; Heb. 4:14-15.) ► What a day of God’s Divine power had broken upon this world; what a time of incomprehensible grace! How their prayers, petitions, and persistence must have infuriated the devil and his evil human companions! By now, the Sanhedrin had to know that the Risen Christ was, is, and always will be an awesome Reality in the lives of all true believers. Yet, even His omnipotent presence in and among His followers did not daunt their satanic plots to crush His blood-redeemed believers and stunt His True Gospel growth. “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him. Filled with indignation, they laid their hands on the apostles and again put them in prison. But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, [sending them straight back to the temple, commanding,] ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak all the words of life!’” What a shock and great investigation into their ‘escape’ that must have unleashed! The audacity of the disciples to ‘escape’ from prison to confront the Sanhedrin head on in the Name of Him, Whom they forbade them to speak about, must have been both baffling and infuriating. ► God did not send them back to the Old Testament/Covenant temple to worship there or to fellowship with those evil adherents of religion. “God does NOT dwell in temples made by hands [during the New Testament Covenant,]” Acts 17:24-25.) God the Father sent them back to assault the ‘gates of hades’ with the truth of His Gospel; to crack their satanic code and to break down the spiritual strongholds of the Kingdom-Now religion in the minds or thoughts of those who kept His dear, blood-cleansed body of true disciples in physical bondage. As a result, the disciples confidently declared the Real Gospel of Christ, ending their sermon with these words, ‘We are His witnesses to these things, [as it all happened right before our eyes.] And so also is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:32.) It is clear that their obedience to the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit, as well as their dedicated willingness to declare Jesus’ True Gospel under all circumstances, (Revelation 12:11,) made them an unbeatable, fearless force in the Spiritual Kingdom of God. What followed, was a deadly consequence of their advancement on Satan’s strongholds of deception in the deluded minds of the Hebrews, Greeks, and all others whom the Followers of The Way reached with the Truth of the Gospel of Christ. The Sanhedrin became even more furious and plotted to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel futilely suggested, “Let them alone, for if this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but it is of God, you cannot overthrow it – less you even be found to fight against God.”
STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR IN COURT FOR CONFRONTING TEMPLE PRIESTS WITH GOD’S WORD (Acts Chapters 6-7.) After the Sanhedrin released Peter and John, the New Testament Covenant Word of Jesus Christ continued to spread like wildfire. The number of Followers of The Way multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and even a great many of the priests became obedient to faith in Christ. ► PLEASE NOTE: Wherever ‘power in the church’ etcetera is found in the Bible, and especially in this earlier context of God’s work through the true disciples, we must realize that “the church where God does NOT dwell,” (Acts 7:44-50,) did not even exist yet. It was only established decades later by Roman Catholics and Judaist priests towards the end of 1 A.D., when Jesus’ Followers of The Way were chained to godless ‘church’ and controlling clergies — and called “christians” or ‘little christs’ for the first time in history, (Acts 11:26!) ► Thus, where The Followers of The Way and the apostles are mentioned in Scripture, false, nonexistent clergies, (Acts 17:24-25,) changed almost everything into “church!” Long before ‘the church’ was established in defiance of God’s commandment that He does NOT dwell there as His true temple is inside His authentic believers in Christ, (Luke 17:20-21 KJV! Cor. 3:16-17,) the apostles were calling out the Roman Catholic/Judaist temple priests for their rejection of Christ’s Spiritual, eternal, New Testament Covenant, which erased the Old Covenant with the Hebrews, (Heb. 8:7,13,) to make way for global salvation through Jesus, the One and Only Christ, (Jn. 3:16-21.) Read Hebrews Chapters 7-10, which tell the entire Truth about it all.
“Yet, shortly after the cross and Pentecost, (decades before the establishment of the church and clergies,) Stephen, full of faith and power, also became God’s instrument to do great wonders” among the people;” while showing also Hebrew priests to Jesus, the Only Christ and Savior, Whom they most brutally tortured to death without a flicker of conscience, (Acts 6:8.) But some arose from the Synagogue of the Freedmen, disputing with Stephen, although they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Holy Spirit by which he spoke,” (Acts 6:8-10.) Thus, they resorted to the tricks that seemingly worked ‘perfectly in eradicating’ their Only Genuine God and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ! Acts 6:11-15 recorded this part of history, testifying, “They secretly induced men to [slander Stephen’s name,] saying, ‘We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, [the Old Testament Law,] and God,’” (Gal. 2:4 KJV; 2 Tim. 3:5-7.) ► No, in reality Stephen was showing them God’s Eternal Way from the now useless Old Testament, (God’s obliterated old covenant with the Hebrew nation,) to bring them to the ever-living Christ; the Savior of the whole believing world! (Mt. 5:17-20; Heb. 8:5-13; Jn. 3:16-21.) Most Bible scholars believe the Freedmen were “such of the Jews as had obtained the Roman freedom or citizenship, as Saul had, (Acts 22:27-28.) It is certain that Saul was the most forward man of this synagogue of the Freedmen in disputing with Stephen, and engaging others in the dispute. [Of course, this was before Saul became Paul on the way to Damascus.] ” [M.H. Commentary.] ► Enraged with unwarranted anger, the crowds then “came upon Stephen, seized him, and brought him to the council.” Stephen, just like his Master, suddenly found himself on trial for his life because he spoke God’s truth to his people, the Hebrews. In contrast with all life, light, and truth, which flow from the “Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning,” (James 1:17-18) the cunning, clandestine thief and murderer Satan “does NOT come except to steal, kill, and destroy.” ► As seen, before the Sanhedrin brought Stephen to trail, they “set up false witnesses” just like they did with Jesus. Those people said in court, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy [Hebrew temple] and the law. We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this temple and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” As always, everything Satan intended for bad, God turned around for good. While the devil tried to silence God’s Voice through Stephen, God used Stephen to declare His Gospel to the Sanhedrin and the people, so that none of them could have an excuse on Judgment Day. ► It angered the Sanhedrin most that Stephen said the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ meant the end of that old temple order, which was the centerpiece of Judaism, (Acts 7:44-50.) Thus, they charged Stephen with committing the crime of blasphemy, just as Jesus supposedly did, (Acts 6 & 7.) They accused Jesus of blasphemy and inciting political revolution because He declared He Is the Son of God, and because He brought His Spiritual Kingdom to earth in the form of His born again temple of believers, (Jn. 18:36.) Now, they feared the preaching of Stephen for the same Kingdom-Now reasons. They were worried they could lose their already outdated, religious order and thereby their rule and governmental power over the people; (Malachi Chapter 2-3,) their lofty positions, and their all too generous income. Hebrew 8:13 confirms, “In that God says, ‘A New [Testament] Covenant,’ He has made the first [Old Testament covenant with Israel] obsolete… [and at the cross] it faded away.” ► The court must have been in uproar after hearing the charges against Stephen. When the high priest called the court to order, he asked Stephen, “Are these things true?” Miraculously, when the “judges who sat in the council, looked steadfastly at [Stephen to defend himself,] they [suddenly] saw his face as the face of an angel,” (Acts 6:15.) Still, they did not fear or respect God in the least. Not even that divine sight could distract them from their evil plan to murder Stephen and so, to silence his loud voice declaring the Only Way, Truth, and Life: Jesus Christ! Saul was sitting among them, his hateful, accusing gaze also fixed upon Stephen’s shining face. However, God would have kept Stephen calm by reminding him of His promise, “When they bring you to the synagogues, magistrates, and authorities, do not worry about what you should answer, for the Holy Spirit will tell you in that very hour what you must say,” (Lu. 12:11-12.) ► Stephen, “possessed” by the Holy Spirit, (Eph. 1:12-14,) must have straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. Then, God gave him the immense opportunity to address the Sanhedrin in great Scriptural detail. (Acts Chapter 7.) Boldly and directly, his voice a stern echo in the hostile silence, he explained the Old Testament Law and God’s Old Testament Covenant with the Hebrews. Then he made a sharp turn towards the Spiritual Kingdom and the Eternal New Testament Covenant of Jesus Christ. [Paraphrased.] “By building the Old Testament temple,” Stephen said, “David and King Solomon did not really serve and honor God, for ‘the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands… (Isaiah 66:1-2; Acts 7:44-50; 1 Kings 8:25-28; 2 Samuel 7:1-12.) He is Lord of heaven and earth... and is NOT worshiped with men’s hands (or clergies, Acts 17:24-25,) as though He needs anything; since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. For heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. What house will you build for Him?... Has His hand not made all these things?” ► Renouncing all religious ritualism and pagan pomp, God declared that He seeks most of all a pure, sincere ‘heart’ and renewed mind to understand and obey His Will, (Rom. 12:1-2.) So, The Lord said, “On this one will I look, [provide for, save, redeem, and bless.] On him who is poor [according to worldly standards,] of a contrite [or humble] spirit, and who trembles at My Word,” (Acts 7:48; 17:24; Isa. 66:1-2.) During the Old Testament covenant, Israel blatantly rejected God’s Divine, Theocratic Rule over them because they coveted the political and religious ceremony, imperial and priestly ‘honor,’ the grandeur of palaces and temples, and the impressive temple rituals of the pagans, (1 Sam. 8:5-22.) Still, in His immense love for them, God allowed them to crown Saul as their physical king. Similarly, on king David’s insistence, God allowed king Solomon to build Him the physical temple He never desired, (2 Chron. 2:1-6; 11-12; 3:1; 6:18.) Therefore, even during the Old Testament, God declared that temples made with hands were not His choice, (Isa. 66:1-2.) Nor could they add anything to His perfection. The pretended [so-called ‘gods’] of the pagans need temples made with hands, for they are nothing more than demons as there IS ONLY ONE GOD, (Isa. 45:5-12!) But the One and Only, True and Living God needs NO temple made by men, as His delight is in manifesting Himself in the hearts, souls, and lives of His spiritual temple of true believers.” [Credit ‘Jesus and His Times,’ Readers Digest.] Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ came to destroy the temporal, physical, Old Covenant temple to set up an eternal, spiritual temple — His Holy-Spirit indwelt temple consisting of all sincere believers from all nations.’ “(Heb. 8:13; 1 Cor. 3:16-17! Acts 7:2-56.)
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