“And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
– Acts 11:27-30
------------------------------------------------
The Man with 2 Names – Episode 3
------------------------------------------------
It’s around the year 45 AD, and It’s been a long year in Antioch.
Barnabas and Saul have been working hard to build up the church there, comprised of Jews, Greek speaking (Hellenized) Jews, Greeks, and other gentiles – Cypriots, Cyrenians, Syrians… it’s a very diverse group of people – unified by one Name – Christian!
This church is unified also with the church at Jerusalem, and there is communication and a steady flow of people to and fro. As part of this, some believers, travel to Antioch from Jerusalem to edify and encourage the church there, and we meet our first New Testament, prophet – Agabus.
He is not the first to prophesy under the influence of the Holy Spirit - Peter and the disciples did that on the day of Pentecost – however, it is instructive to note that the early church identified people that were gifted with prophecy (Truth telling – about the present, future, people, places, things) and clearly felt the need to send these people into the new congregations to support, and encourage them.
Claudius reigned from 41 AD to 54 AD and at least 2 famines, one in Rome(Suetonius), and one in Judea are recorded (Josephus). The famine ranged from 44 AD to 48 AD, giving us an approximate date for Barnabas’ and Saul’s journey to Jerusalem.
The Truth is not always pleasant or comforting. In this case, like Joseph prophesying to Pharoah in Egypt so long ago, the truth prophesied by Agabus, was the truth of impending calamity – Famine! What should Christians do when the Holy Spirit lets us know what is coming? Help others!!!
The World is in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic right now. We are not surprised – the book of Revelation says… “And I looked, and behold -a pale horse-: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the -----fourth part of the earth-----, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” – Rev 6:7
How is coronavirus related to the beasts of the earth? SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 are all what are called “zoonotic” viruses. They propagate from animals to humans. It is not known how the virus jumped – but it is interesting to note that the dietary laws in the Old Testament differentiating between clean and unclean animals could have reduced this … SARS came from horseshoe bats via civets which are hunted for food in Africa and SE Asia. MERS comes from bats via camels. COVID-19 from bats…
We have told all of you that follow us that the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse were released when Christ ascended to heaven – and we have been seeing false doctrine, war, famine, and death continuously increasing for a couple of millennia now – we are waiting only for the Sign of the Sixth Seal. All these things are the beginning of sorrows, and we should raise up our head for redemption draws nigh! These days are easy compared to what is coming when the Sixth Seal opens -
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but -----------of hearing the words of the LORD-----------:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” – Amos 8:9-12
We are not apprehensive of the sun going black or the earth going dark – the famine of the Word of God is what is truly terrifying – we are seeing the beginning of those days today!
All this to say, God is control – do not be afraid – but take the fight to the enemy. Help our health care professionals and first responders stay disease free by exercising sensible precautions, self-quarantine etc. Take some time to celebrate those in your life – spend time with the kids!
Humans sometimes need to be reminded just how fragile they are, and how dependent they are on the Grace and Mercy of God. Sometimes the land needs its Sabbaths. Sometimes the rod of correction descends to drive us back to His arms.
Sometimes it is in alignment with His purposes, as it was with Barnabas and Saul.
They went to Jerusalem, they probably were witness to James being executed by Herod, and of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison – probably staying at the house of John Mark, who accompanies them back to Antioch when their relief mission is completed.
“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of -----Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark------ ; where -many were gathered together praying-.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.” – Acts 12:11-17
Little Rhoda! How God must have laughed to see her reaction, He put it in the Word for us! She was so happy to see Peter she left him standing outside the door! A fugitive just escaped from prison…. The only thing funnier we can imagine, was if Peter had had to use the restroom …. !!!
“And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.” – Acts 12:25
Claudius Caesar rules in Rome… Nero will be the king to follow him. There is famine and persecution now, and there will be much more to follow – but the people of the Lord are safe and protected, empowered to carry out their mission of spreading the Word of God!
For now, it is a solemn trio that returns to Antioch – beginning to feel the weight of the mission that is upon their shoulders – but ready to minister in the power and strength of the Lord! That is the only thing worth doing with one’s life….
Francis Chan – a well known author and pastor recently announced a decision to devote more of his time to full time missionary evangelism. We have included a link to his video in the comments in this weeks post for you all to see…. What it looks like when a human “gets it”. When he understands what John 3:16 REALLY means when it says.. “God – SO LOVED – the world”… Please check it out- its absolutely amazing!
God Love the World? - It doesn’t feel like it – but that’s just because we have taken our eyes off the Word. God Loves us enough to reveal that plagues like this are still part of his plan, and even an instrument of justice… we just want to remind you of what we are yet to see…
…
“ And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
----- These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and ----to smite the earth with all plagues----, as often as they will. -----
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”
– Revelation 11:1-7
Darker days are coming…
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries:
---- but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. ---- Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding --shall fall---, ---to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end---: because it is yet for a time appointed.”
– Daniel 11:31-35
Hallelujah!