Day 12: Jesus and The Murderous Herods

The second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel reveals to us a blood-thirsty killer in king Herod. We will call him the first Herod. He killed every newborn under 2 years of age with the intention that Christ the King would never grow up to be Lord and Saviour of mankind. And then the book of Acts 12 reveals the second blood-thirsty Herod who killed the apostle James. Both Herods at different times during the time of Christ’s birth all through the history of the early church were both antichrists because they were violently against the cause of Christ. Their hands are bloodied!

And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

1 John 4:3 NKJV

When the second Herod saw that the killing of the Apostle James pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter the Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem with the intention of starting a blood sport. This was going to be for the enemies of the cross a night of celebration. For satan’s army of demons, this was too good to be true. The only difference was that this time the Church prayed “constantly” for Peter.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Acts 12:5 NKJV

Constant prayer means they “prayed without ceasing.” It means Heaven was receiving a steady and fiery bombardment of intercession from the saints. It appears that they must have had prayer around the clock with people taking prayer shifts. There is no way for me to establish that for sure but when Peter was released by an angel it was at night time, his bedtime as he was already asleep between two soldiers. After his release by an angel, and upon arriving at the home of Mary the mother of Mark at that time of night people were still gathered praying. While Peter had gone to bed probably thinking he would be dispatched to his eternal home the next morning many believers gathered at Mary’s home refusing the comfort of sleep. There was too much at stake and so they were having a night vigil of prayers.

Peter had to pinch himself to reality as he thought at first that all that was happening was a vision.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Acts 12:11 NKJV

Today’s antichrist Herods in every nation of the world including Canada, have a problem just like the several others who have come in the spirit of the antichrist for several generations. Their names may not have been Herod but they have behaved in like manner and served the same evil master. They hate the church and do not hide their disdain for anything Christian or Christlike. The good news? Jesus already defeated them at the cross and at His resurrection. Just as they failed then, they continue to fail now. Not only that, just as we have received the revelation of the deep things of God given to us by His Spirit we can go to God to reveal to us all that the Herods of Canada our own local antichrists are planning against the Church and we can therefore be several steps ahead.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15 NKJV

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 corinthians 10:4-6 NKJV

Heaven came through for the saints against the two Herods on behalf of God’s people then and will come through for us today.

• An angel advised Joseph in a dream to take Mary as wife. Matthew 1:18-21
• An angel warned the wise men in a dream to avoid the evil Herod. Matthew 2:12
• An angel instructed Joseph to flee Herod’s murderous edict. Matthew 2:13-15
• An angel showed up in prison as the church prayed constantly bringing Peter out from under a death decree. Acts 12:5-18

Thanksgiving and Prayer

1. Give thanks to God for Day 12. We made it here.
2. Give thanks and praise to God for the access we have to Divine revelation. Deuteronomy 29:29
3. Pray for an increase in heavenly interactions in our church and for all the saints in Canada today
4. Pray that the Lord will deepen our hunger for the things of the Spirit. Matthew 5:6
5. Pray for revival. Luke 1:5-17
6. Pray for those suffering from vaccine injuries that God will heal and comfort them. Luke 1:37
7. Pray for the protection of the innocent children from Herod in the public education system. Acts 12:21-24