What-if the “prison” is in our own minds? Dumbing down society to become complacent to our rulers – living in fear, or out right denial. What-if the “first death” is that of our consciences? Where we try to cover up the pain of our past convictions with drugs, alcohol, work, food…the list could go on ad infinitum, instead of searching for the TRUTH and healing the affliction from the source, the heart and mind.
I just recently read an article about 1 in 100 Americans being incarcerated. Is it a plague of the mind? I have also known people who were so comfortable in prison, that once released, did anything they could to get back in. One man, while out of prison again for an uncountable time, eventually overdosed and died in an attempt to escape the prison of his mind.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States
Indeed, we are in a battle, but “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12 The tangible is just the surface, the disease lies deep within.
Revelation 2:8-11 8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. 11) Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the church’s. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
2 Peter 2:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With The Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day.”
