My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Acts 12:1, it is written, " 12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to ¹vex certain of the church. "  God says ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; Romans 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ) that the king will persecute the church from time to time.  There is a concept known as teleinformatic nervous systems.  This concept is implemented through the use of satelites orbiting the earth, and computers and the Internet on the surface of the earth.  This infrastructure, collectively, is known as The Law and Regulation of International Space Communication.¹  This infrastructure is the basis for the data-driven world in which we now live.  Specifically, as data is entered into a computer, the result is that behavior is manipulated.  This fact can be readily observed if one pays close attention to what is said or done to him or her during the course of the day, and then watches the evening news on television, for example ( notice the captions of the various news segments, and what is said on the daily television news broadcast ).  Being aware of these facts will enable us to better navigate this data-driven world, and maintain a sense of normalcy in our lives.  The apostle Paul ( see Ephesians 1:1 ) addressed ( see 3:1 and 4:1, for example ) this issue nearly 2,000 years ago.  In Ephesians 6:12, it is written ( please read this entire chapter to get the immediate context ), " 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against ^aprincipalities, against powers, against ^bthe rulers of the darkness of this ¹world, against ²spiritual wickedness in high places. " ( Emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  The satellites that are obrbiting this earth are the source of the spiritual wickedness in high places ( i.e., outer space ).  The infrastructure mentioned above is twenty-first century high-technology witchcraft.  Witchcraft has existed in this world since Old Testament times ( see Exodus 7:19, and please read 7:1-14:31 to get the immediate context ).  Man's witchcraft cannot accomplish all that God can through supernatural miracles.  Moreover, witchcraft existed during the first century A.D.  In Acts 13:6-13 ( please read all of this chapter to get the immediate context ), we read of how Barnabas and Saul encountered a sorcerer named Barjesus.  Also, Simon the sorcerer was baptized into Christ ( see Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ) by Philip, as a result of him preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ ( see Acts 8:5-25, for example ).  Whatever the case may be, the high-technology witchcraft, mentioned above, is being abused by the United States government and the media for the purpose of persecuting Christians, members of the church ( see Acts, chapter 11 ( especially verse 26, for example ); Romans 12:1-8 ( especially verse 5, for example ); 16:16; and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ( especially verses 20 and 27, for example ), for example ), for example.  One important lesson, regarding Acts 8:5-25, is that the preaching of the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ will overcome any evil influence that witchcraft has in this world.  For a consideration of more issues facing the New Testament church, please see the SmartArt graphic, below:

In addition to the issues shown in the above graphic, there are issues in society that can spill over into the local congregation, such as the feminist movement ( see Jeremiah, chapter 44 ( especially verse 19, for example ), for example ), which can have a sinful, leavening influence ( see Luke 12:1, for example ) on the local congregation, including the temptation for the Christian women to try to usurp the men's leadership role in the church ( see 1 Timothy 2:11, 12, for example ).  See also Esther, chapter 1 ( especially verse 17, for example ), for example.  The world provides a continuous attack on the church and Christian living ( see Matthew 26:36-46 ( especially verse 45, for example ); John 15:19; 20:19; Acts, chapter 3 ( especially verse 14, for example ); 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 ( especially verses 14 and 15, for example ); Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ); and Colossians 2:8, 9, for example ).  It is already an utter failure that a woman is in the Office of Vice President of the United States ( see 2 Kings, chapter 11 and Acts 17:4, for example ), for example.

God says that the church will be persecuted.  Please study the Holy Bible.  Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ). 🕮

1. The Law and Regulation of International Space Communication, White, Rita Lauria and White, Harold M., Jr., Artech House, Inc., © 1988, pp. 257, 258.