The Church: Snapshot - Acts 18:1-17 & Revelation 12

By Acts 18, the Church had breached the firewall that was the Roman Empire. Satan was beginning to launch attacks, to attempt to stop the church from going and growing. The Church had dealt with Jewish opposition but now state-sponsored persecution was on the horizon. Before becoming clearly aware of the situation, Rome began targeting Jews in general, expelling them from the European mainland around 50 AD. As time would pass and more information was gathered, the persecution became more specific towards Christians. This would last from 64 to 313 AD. Paul arrived at Corinth, and met two Jewish Christians on the run, Aquila and Priscilla. They bonded over their faith, and this couple actually joined Paul’s team. Paul goes on in Romans 16:3-4, to commend them as being crucial for helping to build the Gentile Church, saying they “risked their necks” for the cause. Tension arose in Corinth, from Jews who didn’t want to Rome thinking the new movement was their’s, and Greeks who opposed the faith. Paul and his team were in harms way, but God sent an angel to give them a reminder to fear not and endure. In this message we take a look at Revelation 12, which frames the challenge the early Church faced, and remains relevant to our own struggle. Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla all exemplify how Christians should respond to the pressure this world puts on us. Likewise, the Lord promises us as He did them that we can and will overcome. By the Word and the Blood of the Lamb slain for us, we are sealed us until the Day of Redemption.