Today’s Devotional – February 18th (“John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 18th

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John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!

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**It seems that Mr. John Bunyan had some inside information concerning the Signs Of Heaven: the signs revealed on this website.**

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**You see, Bunyan fairly accurately described the Valley of Decision Constellation, or at least the middle mountain of that constellation group.**

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Yes, Bunyan wrote of the Mount of Cursing, Mount Sinai, in his discussion between Christian and Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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THE VILLAGE OF MORALITY ON MOUNT SINAI

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In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the pilgrim, Christian met up with Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who directed the Pilgrim to the Village of Morality.

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Yes, Worldly Wiseman convinced Christian that he didn’t need to go to all the trouble of going all the way to the Celestial City.

He could just live a nice moral life in this world, without needlessly going through all the trials and sorrows that Christians must endure, as they continue their Heaven-ward sojourn.

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And so, concerning this we read in Pilgrim’s Progress…

***“So CHRISTIAN turned out of his* *way to go to Mr. LEGALITY’S house for help.***

But, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head;

wherefore there he stood still, and knew not what to do.

Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way.

There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made CHRISTIAN afraid that he should be burned”

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Now the Pilgrim described this great high mountain as Mount Sinai, which biblically represents the condemnation of the Law.

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And this mountain was hanging dangerously over the pathway to the Village of Morality (which symbolized those who attempt to live a moral life, vainly attempting to keep the Law by good works.)

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I Saw A Man Clothed With Rags pilgrims progress wikimedia public domain

Pilgrim’s Progress p34 Mr Worldly Wiseman wikimedia public domain

El Greco – Mount Sinai wikimedia commons – US Public Domain

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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Notice what it says concerning this high hill, “But, behold, when he (Christian) was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high,

and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over,

that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther,

lest the hill should fall on his head;”

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So, if I go to Signs Of Heaven and view the three mountains which comprise the Valley of Decision Constellation Group, I notice that the middle mountain, which symbolizes the Mount of Cursing (Mount Sinai & the Law), seems to lean heavily to one side, the side which is toward the Valley of Decision.

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So, it seems that John Bunyan fairly accurately described this middle mountain-constellation, made largely of the Pegasus Constellation.

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Can you see what an impossible climb this middle mountain would be?

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THE MOUNT OF BLESSING

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Now it’s even more interesting that the Pilgrim was ultimately destined for the Celestial City, the heavenly Mount Zion.

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And once again, this Valley of Decision Constellation shows the mountain on the farthest left as the Mount of Blessing, Mount Zion (comprised mostly of the Cassiopeia Constellation).

**And notice in this drawing, the Galaxy, Andromeda (which is in the Valley of Decision), appears as if it is making its way up to the top of the Mount of Blessing (Cassiopeia).**

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This Andromeda Galaxy represents all those pilgrims through the ages, who decide to make the Pilgrim’s Sojourn out of the City of Destruction, (i.e., the World), to their ultimate destiny, the Celestial City, the heavenly Zion!

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IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION

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“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

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Now of course, Bunyan’s character, Christian, ultimately decided to turn away from that foreboding-looking mountain, and from the Town of Morality which sat there right next to that Mount Sinai.

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Yes, this Pilgrim decided to seek “a better country, that is, an heavenly:” Hebrews 11:16.

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This pilgrim decided to continue on his pilgrimage to the Celestial City.

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Pilgrim in a Rocky Valley by Carl Gustav Carus – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?

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But that Valley of Decision is still awaiting my decision.

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Will I accept a compromised gospel?

Am I willing to merely live a moral life, so that I can still seek after all the self-indulgent pleasures and proud pursuits of this present world?

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**Or am I willing to leave this City of Morality, i.e., this present world, and seek for that “better country”, that is, the heavenly Mount Zion, the Celestial City of God?**

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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A COMPLEX SUBJECT

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Now there is much, much more to Bunyan’s account of the Village of Morality, and the high mountain which sat next to it.

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And all are encouraged to get a faithful copy of that book and read it (or listen to an audio version, via the Internet.)

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**And there is much, much more to this Valley of Decision Constellation Group, as well! And all are likewise encouraged to read the articles concerning them.**

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But of course, the Bible is the best book of all!

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And though it can be very difficult at times, all are encouraged to study it and contemplate it!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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WALKING THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

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No, that wonderful allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress is certainly no replacement for the Bible.

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Nor is it infallible, like the Bible.

But it does bring to light the sojourn which the Christian Pilgrim walks, in such a way, that clarifies just what true Christianity really is all about!

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And like no other man-written book, Pilgrim’s Progress really clarifies just what are the many dangers and deceptions which assail Christians every day, as we journey through this dark and evil world, on our way to that Celestial City, the heavenly Mount Zion!

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Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to desire to make that Pilgrimage to the Celestial Mount Zion. Let me not be afraid to leave this world behind…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…

staples

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Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing.

In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward.

Then find the next mountain to its right (south).

Then go a little further south to the next third mountain.

The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation.

Of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky.

They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR.

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TOMORROW…

February 19th . . . . “Man Shall…Live…By Every Word”

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart – wwwtheheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial purposes

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #49 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #49

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 17th (Examine Yourself!)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 17th

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Examine Yourself!

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“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”

2nd Corinthians 13:5.

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**In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the two pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, were walking through the Enchanted Ground.**

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**And as they faithfully progressed toward their desired destination, the Celestial City, they met up with a character named Ignorance.**

And though Ignorance was also headed for the Celestial City, he did not begin his journey at the Wicket Gate (which symbolized Christ).

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**And of course, Ignorance symbolized those who claim to be Christians, yet are void of the Spirit and destitute of the truth of the Bible.**

And it did not take long for the two pilgrims to realize that Ignorance was a pretender.

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**And after they angrily parted ways from each other, the two pilgrims began a discourse about just what Ignorance was all about, and where he went wrong in his thinking.**

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Pilgrim’s Progress converse with Ignorance – Wikimedia – public domain

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*NEVER QUESTION MY SALVATION?***

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Now one interesting aspect of this encounter, was that in their discussion about why Ignorance had gone astray, they mentioned this: That Ignorance refused to question his own sinfulness (and probably his lack of Salvation), thinking it would be a denial of faith to ever question such things.

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Pilgrims Progress Ignorance – Wikimedia – public domain

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SERPENTS IN THE PULPIT

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Now the reason for bringing this up, is because this very same mistaken notion still exists today within the Christian churches and denominations.

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Yes, there are many popular evangelists and teachers today who teach this exact same error: namely that it is a denial of faith to ever question one’s salvation.

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And this great presumptuous error is not just taught by those crazy gospels, but it is even taught by many of the most conservative and revered radio and TV Bible teachers!

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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FORKED TONGUED BIBLE TEACHERS

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Oh yes, these same “fork-tongued” Bible teachers will sometimes quote this verse, encouraging their parishioners to “examine yourselves”.

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And yet, they will mostly flatter and deceive their rather naïve and unlearned congregation, leading them to believe that they are “signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered saints”!

This, of course, is a great error/deception by the Enemy-of-Souls, especially considering the pandemic apostasy and decadence in today’s mammon-loving, prosperity-driven church-world!

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Brown tree snake Boingo – Wikipedia – public domain

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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

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So, what exactly does the Bible have to say about this?

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Listen… “Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”

2nd Corinthians 13:5.

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Here is clear commandment to test and examine my salvation, to see if I am a true worshipper of God, or merely a pretender.

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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ASKING GOD TO REVEAL MY HEART

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And here is another passage from David…

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

***and lead me in the Way* *Everlasting.”***

Psalm 139:23, 24.

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Now if David was so self-distrusting, then why should we not be, as well?

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After all, David had no idea that his heart was not right with God, when he numbered Israel, or committed adultery.

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And thus it likewise is with us! Each and every Christian is in danger of being deceived if we are not careful.

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This is why Jesus warns… “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:37.

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And examination of one’s relationship with God, is an integral part of watchfulness.

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – public domain

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THE HEART NOT TO BE TRUSTED

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Listen to Jeremiah…

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the LORD search the heart,

I try the reins,

even to give every man according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Jeremiah 17:9, 10.

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**Yes, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. “Who can know it?“**

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And this is why we must ask God to reveal to us if we have gone astray.

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**This self-deceived one, Mr. Ignorance, didn’t realize that his religion was vain. He relied on what his own heart told him.**

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But the Bible says… “He that trusts in his own heart is a fool:” Proverbs 28:26.

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Pilgrim’s Progress converse with Ignorance – Wikimedia – public domain

Pilgrims Progress Ignorance – Wikimedia – public domain

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TAKE ACCOUNT OF MY DAY

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There is no better use of my time than to take inventory and account of my life and doings, to see if I have perhaps, gone astray.

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There should be an honest evaluation of one’s own self, in the light of the Bible….

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves…”

2nd Corinthians 13:5.

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

*“Dear Lord, cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins…**Psalm 19:12-14*

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer 2

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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REVELATION 12, FLEEING WOMAN

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WHO IS SHE FLEEING FROM?

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“…and the dragon stood before the woman…

for to devour her child as soon as it was born…

And the woman fled into the wilderness,

where she hath a place prepared of God…”

Revelation 12:5, 6

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Now by winter, this woman has changed into a “fleeing” woman.

And if you will go out into the country away from the city lights, you might just see that her upraised arms begin to appear as wings.

And she appears to be running, and eventually flying.

**In this heavenly scenario, this woman is fleeing from the ‘Dragon’ Constellation.**

**However, “fleeing” is mentioned many times in Scripture.**

It may refer to fleeing from apostate shepherds (John 10:5), brethren or apostate congregations (Psalm 26:5).

Or fleeing from sin and (1st Corinthians 6:18).

Or from enemies.

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It is likewise speaking of fleeing to the mountains.

**And as you can see, the Dragon is spewing water out of his mouth.**

And it is amazing that this water is always going in the direction of the woman.

The water stands for false doctrines.

False brethren. Persecutions and temptations.

**See the article on the Dragon for further insight.**

Click here…”The Dragon”.

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Star-chart (with woman drawn in by this website) – Ursa Major – colder months – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Dragon – Winter – Hyades, Pleiades, etc. – not for commercial uses

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TOMORROW:

February 18th (February 18th (John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!)

John Bunyan – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #48 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #48

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 17th (Examine Yourself!)

Today’s Devotional – February 16th (THE LITTLE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 16th

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THE LITTLE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!

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“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs

and everlasting joy upon their heads:

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Isaiah 35:10

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There are many times when parents experience real joy watching their young children!

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For instance, when the baby speaks its first word. Or the baby’s first steps. Or the first haircut.

It’s moments like these which bring such joy to parents, even a tear to the eye, at times.

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And then as the child grows, the moments of joy grow too!

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For instance, watching them board the school-bus for the very first time on their very first day of school.

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Or reading their very first report card.

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These are but a few of the little things which parents enjoy, as their children begin their journey through life.

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Baby in diaper learning to walk – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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MANY PARENTS AFRAID OF MISSING OUT

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But many parents erroneously believe that they will somehow deprive their children of the joys of life, by raising them to become Christians.

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Well, it may be true that the children will miss out on the many selfish pleasures of this sad world, and even a few world holidays.

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But this present world is so very short.

**And all too soon, those golden moments fade away like the proverbial “flower of the field”.**

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Listen to the short life of the flower of the field as opposed to the timelessness of Heaven…

“As for man, his days are as grass:

as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone;

and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

upon them that fear Him,

and His righteousness unto children’s children;”

Psalm 103:15-17

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Photo: Kids on skateboards – wikimedia – creative commons license

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CHRISTIAN PARENTS HAVE JOYS TOO!

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But the fact is, by depriving their children of a Christian upbringing, such parents will miss out on some of the really big joys, which only Christian parents get to experience.

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Such joys as hearing the child say, “I love Jesus!”

Or the first time that the child joins the family in singing a worship song around the family altar.

Or the first time the child recites a Bible verse.

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And then, as the child gets older, the times of joy continue.

For instance, the first time that parents see the child reading the Bible or praying all by themselves.

Or the joy that parents feel when the child chooses home-schooling over going to a public school.

Or the first time the child makes the choice to read the Bible rather than some secular book.

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Then as the child even gets older and continues to enjoy Christian victories, parents receive great joy from seeing each and every victory as their child chooses to reject sin!

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These are just a few of the countless joys that the Christian parent experiences with their children.

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Girls celebrate at Camp Worship Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons lic.

Child at Prayer by Eastman Johnson circa 1873 – Wikimedia – public domain

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE GREATEST JOY!

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**But the greatest joy that Christ-loving parents will experience is on Resurrection Morning, when they see their son or daughter also rise up from the grave, to meet Jesus!**

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And an equally wonderful joy will be when they get to see their son or daughter throughout all eternity, experiencing the never-ending joys that God has in store for all those who were redeemed from this lost and hopelessly dying world.

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This is the greatest joy that any parent could ever experience, and is worth more than all those supposed sacrifices that Christian Pilgrims make in Jesus’ name.

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Louis Janmot – Wikimedia – US public domain

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WHY TRADE AWAY EVERLASTING JOY?

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“For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Mark 8:36, 37

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So perhaps the question to be asked is this: is it worth trading away all the everlasting joys for both me and my children so that I can enjoy a few selfish years of miserable pleasures here on earth?

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This above passage recounts the very words of Jesus Christ, and is directed to each and every one of us!

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And none of those little earthly pleasures and joys can ever compare to the great joy that awaits all those who are willing to walk the Pilgrim’s Way to that heavenly city!

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“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs

and everlasting joy upon their heads:

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Isaiah 35:10

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Yes, gladness and joy will be the everlasting reward of the redeemed ones!

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Louis Janmot – Wikimedia – US public domain (cropped)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to really think this thing through. Help me to understand the enormity of everlasting life…

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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LOCATING ARCTURUS…

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An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

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**SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.**

This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky.

**The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south.**

**To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations.**

**Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus.**

**Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )**

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TOMORROW…

February 17th . . . . Examine Yourself!

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #47 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #47

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 16th (THE LITTLE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!)

Today’s Devotional – February 15th (THE TWO IMAGES)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 15th

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THE TWO IMAGES

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“But we all, with open face beholding

as in a glass the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image from glory to glory,

even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2nd Corinthians 3:18

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**In yesterday’s devotional (click here), this above verse was showcased, and the wonderful concept it proclaims:**

…that by steadfastly beholding Jesus in the mind’s eye, each true believer imperceptibly and gradually becomes changed into His glorious and holy image.

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And this is a wonderful and joyful truth!

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Perhaps it is the greatest truth in the Bible, second only to the truth of Salvation!

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Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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NOT ONE, BUT TWO IMAGES!

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**But as with so many Bible truths, there is “a flip-side of the coin”, as they say.**

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Yes, there is yet another image in this world.

And if I am not beholding the image of Jesus, then I am beholding that other image!

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Yes, there are two images in this world.

And they are as different as night and day.

And as already discussed, one of those images is Christ, as revealed in the Bible.

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**But since the fall of this world, the Enemy of God was given rule over this world for a time.**

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And of course, that enemy was Lucifer, whose title of office has now become, “The Devil” and “Satan”.

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US public domain.

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JESUS, THE ESSENCE OF GOODNESS

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Now it is evident that the Jesus of the Bible is the very savor of all that is good, and the very essence of all that is true, and honest, and pure, and purely lovely, and all that is holy and righteous.

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**Yes, Jesus is love, in the truest sense of the word!**

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And as already discussed in yesterday’s devotional (click here to read), by steadfastly beholding those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and etc., we become changed into that very same image.

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So, the trick then, is to steadfastly behold the things which exemplify the characteristics of Christ.

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**And such a wonderful ability can only become reality by a full surrender to Jesus, forsaking this selfish world to follow Him, as one of His disciples. (see Luke 5:11 & Luke 14:33)**

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Jesus – Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE IMAGE OF EVIL

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But also, it is likewise true, that if I behold the other things in life, which are not of these godly qualities, then those unwholesome qualities will enter into my heart, causing me to become imperceptibly changed into the image of evil.

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Yes, by beholding the qualities which rule in this world, I become changed into the image of the world: into the image of an Antichrist!

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And this truth is confirmed with such Bible passages as this… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

(Some of the modern versions say to the effect… “Don’t be deceived! Bad company corrupts good character!”)

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SHUN ALL NEEDLESS EVIL

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Now of course, it is impossible to live in this world and NOT witness evil. You don’t need to go far to see sinful selfishness!

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But that’s no excuse for me to voluntarily behold evil!

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Listen to the Psalmist… “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:” Psalm 101:2, 3.

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Here again is a Bible passage which only confirms the course which every Heaven-bound pilgrim must pursue…“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes!”

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Now this statement doesn’t allow for any compromise with sin, does it?

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain.

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GUARD THY HEART, O PILGRIM!

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The Bible reiterates this truth in yet another passage from the “wise man”…

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life.

Put away from thee a froward mouth,

***and perverse lips* *put far from thee.***

Let thine eyes look right on,

and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Ponder the path of thy feet,

and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:

remove thy foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:23-27.

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Here is one of the most straightforward passages in the Bible!

And every Christian should emblazon this above passage on the tablets of our heart!

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Oh I See Him Again – Wikimedia – public domain

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“AND (GOD) WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU”

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But here is the really Good News!

There is still time to repent and turn away from this great sin of presumption.

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Yes, the Christian can determine to turn away from any more of this foolish mingling with the world and this unholy alliance with sin and selfishness!

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The Bible commands us to… “come out from among them,

and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you,

***and ye shall be My sons* *and daughters,***

saith the Lord Almighty.”

2nd Corinthians 6:17, 18.

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**And if we take these words to heart and do come out from these ungodly influences, then God…”…will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons *and daughters***“

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Braet von Überfeldt – woman with bible – 1866 – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to guard my heart with all diligence. Help me shun all unnecessary evil, whenever I’m tempted to behold sin…

Woman praying – Heinrich Seufferheld – 1893 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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MERCURY AND THE SUN

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“CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY AGREE?”

Amos 3:3

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#2 HEAVENLY SPHERE & #2 COMMANDMENT… As discussed elsewhere in this website, the Sun seems to correspond to the First Commandment.

Likewise, Mercury, which is the second heavenly sphere in our solar system, seems to correspond very nicely to the Second Commandment.

Both the second heavenly sphere (Mercury) and the Second Commandment (no images) are closest to the ‘Sun’.

That is to say, just as planet Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so is the Second Commandment right next to the First Commandment (God compares himself to the Sun many times in Scripture).

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**Jesus says to us today…*“I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12***

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**For a more in-depth look at this argument about the Sun comparing to God, just click this link… “Discovering Bible Signs In Our Solar System”, or this link… Signs in the Sun .**

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Mercury – NASA – Public Domain

Mercury orbit solar system – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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TOMORROW…

February 16th . . . THE LITTLE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!

Innocent baby laughing – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic. 2.0

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..

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #46 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #46

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – February 13th (The True Pilgrim’s Pathway!)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 13th

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The True Pilgrim’s Pathway!

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“And an highway shall be there,

and a way,

and it shall be called

The way of holiness…”

Isaiah 35:8

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Yesterday’s devotional (click here) was on John Bunyan’s allegorical book, Pilgrim’s Progress.

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But today, there’s a question remaining to be asked: “Pilgrim’s Progress is regarding what progress?”

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Or maybe this question needs to be rephrased: “What or where was the Pilgrim progressing to?”

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Well, if we read the rest of the title, we see it actually says, “Pilgrim’s Progress, From This World, To That Which Is To Come”.

**And so, “Pilgrim’s Progress” was merely a shortened title, for brevity’s sake!**

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And so, Pilgrim was making progress toward his upward journey…to the Celestial City!

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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Now there are many who think that the Cross is where our battle ends.

But they mistakenly assume that the Cross is where they can stop searching. Stop fighting!

The journey’s over, as far as they are concerned.

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Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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OUR PILGRIMAGE BEGINS AT THE CROSS

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And so, here’s the point of today’s devotional: Just like Pilgrim, those who truly lay down their burden of sin and guilt at the Cross are to continue on in our pilgrimage.

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Oh yes, the Cross is where the Christian receives everlasting life.

But the Cross is really just where the road divides.

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“What road?”, you ask?

But those who are pretentious will take that other path.

They take that fork in the road!

The road more heavily traveled!

The Broad Way that leads to destruction!

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All Roads Lead To Rome (Except One) Public Domain www.signsofheaven.org

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WORLDLY WISE-MEN

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Oh yes, Bunyan repeatedly presented this same concept throughout the book, yet in different ways.

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For instance, there was one character, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who misdirected the Pilgrim to the Village of Morality.

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This, of course, is the place where people can merely be moral and even with a degree of religiosity, without that genuine crucifixion from self!

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And here is where many churchgoers end up.

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Pilgrim’s Progress p34 Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – public domain

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THE TRUE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY!

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**But those who truly walk the Pilgrim’s pathway, go on to a greater and greater devotion and a deeper and deeper death-to-self!**

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**Yes, those who truly fix their gaze on Christ, will ever-so-gradually be “transformed into Christ’s image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of Holiness”.**

This is the true Pilgrim’s Pathway! (2nd Corinthians 3:18)

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Flickr trials and errors The Roads to Heaven and Hell, religious tract, ca. 1896 – cropped image – share-alike lic.

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“ANOTHER JESUS…ANOTHER SPIRIT”

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And this is why the apostle, John says…

“They (false brethren) went out from us,

but they were not of us;

for if they had been of us,

they would no doubt have continued with us:

***but they went out, that they* *might be made manifest***

that they were not all of us.”

1st John 2:19.

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So, this above verse lets us know that the false brethren are walking a completely different pathway from the true worshippers of God!

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Oh yes, they still attend church. Oh yes, they still pay tithes and partake of the Lord’s Supper.

They may even hold church offices and talk of God’s grace, and of His blessings, and of their many trials.

But there is something vastly different about them, which only makes true worshippers a little nervous, when in their company!

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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888 – Wikimedia – public domain

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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM!”

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Yes, the Bible speaks of a time when God will separate the wheat from the tares.

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This is spoken of in Matthew’s Gospel…

“Let both grow together until the harvest:

and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers,

Gather ye together first the tares,

and bind them in bundles to burn them:

but gather the wheat into My barn.”

Matthew 13:30.

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When this separation time comes, that is when…

“ye (shall) return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,

between him that serveth God

and him that serveth Him not.”

Malachi 3:18.

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**Yes, there is coming the day (and even now is here!) when God’s people will be able to easily discern between the Believers and those who are merely vain deceivers.**

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Winnowing Vannage_du_riz,_Uttarakhand,_India – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike lic.

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THE REALLY GOOD NEWS!

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Now there is some really Good News in all this!

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Yes, there are many in the Church who have been deceived by the pretenders in God’s house.

Yes, there are many who have been unwittingly led astray, only to walk the wrong pathway.

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Listen… “And they that escape of you

shall remember Me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives,

because I am broken with their whorish heart,

which hath departed from Me, and with their eyes,

which go a whoring after their idols:

and they shall loathe themselves for the evils

which they have committed in all their abominations.

And they shall know that I am the LORD,

and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.”

Ezekiel 6:9, 10

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Yes, it says that we will loathe ourselves for all our abominations!

But at the same time, we will rejoice that God has graciously opened our eyes to our folly!

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We will rejoice that He has, as the Good Shepherd, brought us, like lost sheep, back into His fold!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Good Shepherd – James Tissot – Wikpedia – US Public Domain

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**And from that day forward, we will be ever-so-careful, to not let that notorious wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing lead us astray, ever again!**

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23, 24

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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THE PLEIADES: A TALE OF TWO WOMEN

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This photo is the Pleiades Cluster. Does it appear to you like an angel? Well, if it does, then you are encouraged to keep reading.

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The above two verses concerning the Pleiades are all the Bible has to say about the Pleiades, directly. But if you will read this article, you will discover that the Pleiades represents concepts which span much of the Bible!

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And The Heavens Declare.net will attempt to unravel this mysterious phenomenon in the night-sky, and will, hopefully, also interpret these two verses to show just what all this means, and how it might apply to our lives.

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The Pleiades (Above constellation can be seen in colder months in mid sky, traveling east to west through the night. With the eyes alone, it would appear much smaller than this. But with binoculars, it would appear more like this photo). NASA photo by Robert Gendler

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TALE OF TWO WOMEN

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You see, this constellation tells the tale of two women! But how can it be, that nobody has ever seen the Pleiades as a constellation of a woman?

(There is one other person on the Internet who has his own rendition of this constellation. Click here to see)

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This article will discuss this great paradox of these two women, found in the Pleiades, and what it means scripturally to us: we who comprise the global community of Christians.

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**Because this constellation (or should we say Constellations, plural), has very much to do with us: those of us who are living right now on the threshold of eternity.**

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And as you might expect, if you are at all familiar with this website, the Bible holds the key to understanding all this!

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TOMORROW…

February 14th . . . . By Beholding Jesus…Changed!

Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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20-MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #44 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #44

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 13th (The True Pilgrim’s Pathway!)

Today’s Devotional – February 10th (Television in a Perfect World!)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 10th

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Television in a Perfect World!

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Just imagine if this were a perfect world!

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And we each lived in our own perfect little cottage…

which was nestled beside a perfect little babbling brook…

in the midst of a perfectly beautiful meadow…

and all the countryside was dotted with other perfect little cottages…

which were also nestled beside perfect little babbling brooks, etc., etc….

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John Constable The Hay Wain – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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G+ RATED TELEVISION!

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And yet in this perfect world, just imagine that the television still existed.

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And yet, the TV still was there in the midst of our cottages.

But it no longer had all the scum and violence and greed and cheap humor and sarcasm and lust and all the other filth that is all-too-often being peddled on TV.

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No, instead of all that, there were only nice and wholesome and happy and pure shows. Everything was G+ rated!

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TV – Family watching television – c. 1958 – Wikipedia – public domain

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The question then, would be this: “Would television be okay?”

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“Would TV no longer be harmful, if the above-described scenario were reality?”

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb…”

Proverbs 27:7

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Well, one of the great problems, even with “nice shows”, is that they tend to squelch a person’s desire to read, much less the Bible.

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In other words, the television, with all its beautiful music, and colorful imagery, and great story-lines, just tends to over-stimulate one’s senses.

And as a result, it eventually makes any serious studying of the Bible, and perhaps with a concordance, seem just too bland and too tedious!

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Listen to the words of the Preacher…

“The full soul loathes a honeycomb;

but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

Proverbs 27:7.

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Here is a truth which can apply in many different situations of life: and TV is no exception!

Yes, even good TV fills a person with rich and tasty food!

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TV is like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

It leaves little room for anything else!

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Honey Bee – Honey-comb – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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DO CHRISTIANS STUDY THEIR BIBLES?

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A survey by pollsters found that only a small percentage of American churchgoers actually opened their Bibles each day!

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Of course, they should also have questioned the daily Bible-students on exactly HOW MUCH TIME they study their Bible daily, to get a more realistic idea of the spiritual condition of today’s Church.

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But they didn’t.

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After all, to simply open the Bible and read a verse or two, or to merely read a 3-minute daily-devotional, hardly qualifies one to say that they study their Bible each day!

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**And another poll found that most Christians believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is actually a verse from the Bible!**

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So, what does this statistic say about today’s biblically-challenged Christianity?

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Multitask – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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“O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

Psalm 119:97

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Yes, if pollsters had only asked how much time those who said they read the Bible each day, actually contemplated what they studied, they might have found a dismal answer!

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But listen to Psalm 119…“O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97

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This verse from Psalm 119 states that we should be contemplating God’s Word “ALL THE DAY”!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“The full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

Proverbs 27:7.

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So how does this above proverb apply to every-day life?

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In many ways!

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For instance, one frustrated father kept trying to get his son to eat some really healthy home-made granola.

Now the father loved that granola, but the son was accustomed only to pre-sweetened breakfast cereal, which his mother served.

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Well, one day, when the father and the boy were both at a park, the father also brought along a bag of that unsweetened granola.

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Well, after playing on the Jungle-Gym and running and swinging and jumping a while, the tired, but hungry son came over to the father and asked if he could have some of that granola.

The same granola he wouldn’t normally touch!

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Well now, the hungry boy just couldn’t get enough!

He devoured that unsweetened granola, as if it was the best thing on earth!

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Granola advertisement, 1893 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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VERDICT IS IN: GUILTY OF OVER-STIMULATION!

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And so, because God designed nature to teach us spiritual lessons, the obvious lesson learned from this little granola story, can also be applied to television!

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After all, how can you expect a child who is reared on all the lights, color, music and action from, say, today’s cartoons, to sit down and study the various Bible passages which need to be unlocked, to get the true meaning!?!

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And furthermore, with TV, all you have to do is just turn it on, and sit back and it takes over, and does everything else!

Your job is merely to keep your eyes open!

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Yes, even good television shows are like those rich and sugary breakfast cereals.

They spoil one’s appetite for healthy food!

And TV spoils one’s appetite for serious Bible & concordance study.

Television is just too over-stimulating!

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And if television is too stimulating, then what about radio and Internet and cellphones, and all the other high-tech devices?

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TV high quality – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons license

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NOT A PERFECT WORLD!

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Now back to reality.

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Well of course, this isn’t that perfect world.

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And television is an UN-wholesome medium.

And even if there are a few “nice” shows, the Devil’s not stupid!

He’s clever enough to throw in a few good shows, just so he can give Christians an excuse to keep their TV, (thus whetting the appetite of the children for more and more and more!)

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So, when we see our children grow up, not having a love for studying God’s Word, will we have anybody else to blame but ourselves, if our past history has been to raise them up to love these modern-day mind-control devices?

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Picture: TV, the Ultimate Mind Control Device

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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But there is good news!

**The Christian can begin in his or her own life, by eliminating all ungodly influences and all over-stimulating amusements and begin to purify the heart! (see 1st John 3:3)**

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Listen… “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1st Thessalonians 4:7

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Yes, God calls us to fully engage in the purification of our heart! (see 1st John 3:3) (And by working out my own Salvation, perhaps the Lord will convince my spouse to bring along the children on the upward pathway, too!)

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And so, as Psalm 101 proclaims… “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:” Psalm 101:2, 3.

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So, let’s all take heed to this counsel.

And even if we must sit alone at times, let’s remember what’s at stake: our very Salvation!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US-public-domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Remove out of my life (and my children’s lives) all things which cause the heart to become over-stimulated, so that I have an appetite for spiritual things…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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***LOCATING* *THE ARCHER***

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“He hath bent his bow,

and set me as a mark for the arrow.

He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins.

I was a derision to all my people;

and their song all the day.”

Lamentations 3:12-14

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Orion travels through the night skies, starting about late September in the pre-dawn hours.

This 1st office which Orion holds, as an Archer, is fairly easy to see.

His bow is pointed and bent as if ready to shoot his arrows.

But why astronomers have never noticed this Dragon to his left, is truly a puzzle!

It’s so obvious; at least his crocodile mouth is obvious. (Perhaps God is sending the message that Satan (the real Dragon) is so obviously real, and yet so few in this world are ready to recognize him.)

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This Archer-Orion corresponds to the 1st Horseman of Revelation, Chapter 6, speaking of a rider with a bow who goes out conquering.

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Orion courtesy IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine & Wikipedia – Share-alike license

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TOMORROW…

February 11th (“Come Out From Among Them!”)

Picture – Lot Escapes – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #41 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #41

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 10th (Television in a Perfect World!)

Today’s Devotional – February 8th (Recommended Vacation Spots For Christians!)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 8th

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Recommended Vacation Spots For Christians!

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“And Jesus said to him,

“Assuredly, I say to you,

today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:43

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“O Taste & See That the Lord is Good!”

Psalm 34:8

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There are many places in this world, which are as pretty and intriguing as one could possibly imagine!

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And with the modern means of travel, one can reach just about any place in the world! In a very short time!

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And so, where should one go?

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Maybe a chalet in the Swiss Alps!

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Or a gondola in Italy!

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Perhaps a tropical beach, loaded with palm trees, is just what many desire!

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Or maybe the Painted Desert might suit others!

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What about the snow white ski slopes of some winter destination resort?

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Others might wish to go underwater exploring off some white-sand beach!

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Or maybe taking in the view, somewhere along the beautiful Mediterranean!

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Still others have children who are wanting to see some theme park! Or camping! Or hiking!

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Or some big league sports event!

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Yes, the world offers many fun, interesting, and exciting places to go and see!

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Swiss_chalet – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

Rialto_Gondoliers by Saffron Blaze – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license 3.0

Sunset at Huntington Beach – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

Castle of Disney – Wikipedia Public dom

Woman in Mediterranian – wikipaintings – US public domain

Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover Feb 1 2009 – Wikipedia – public domain

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WHAT ABOUT THE CONFINED?

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But there are many Christians who, for one reason or another, cannot take of advantage of the rapid transportation to reach and enjoy these world-class hotspots.

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Some are in a bed-fast condition.

Some are incarcerated.

And still others are simply too poor.

While some have given all their time and means to the Lord’s cause.

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So, just what about these who cannot get away?

How do they get that rest and repose and revitalization?

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Well, the Bible offers some suggestions.

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Prison cell of Cagliostro, fortress of La Rocca, in San Leo, Italy. – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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FOLLOWING JESUS

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First of all, the Christian must remember that Jesus has called us to come follow Him.

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Listen… “If thou wilt be perfect,

go and sell that thou hast,

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven:

and come and follow Me.”

Matthew 19:21.

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And so, as His followers, Jesus is offering us a trip of a lifetime!

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Oh yes, this is a spiritual journey.

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But it is nonetheless an adventurous journey!

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J esus Discourses with His Disciples – James Tissot by Brooklyn Museum and by Wikipedia – public domain

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“UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF SPICES”

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And in following Jesus, there are various excursions that Jesus takes the Christian adventurer.

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And these are places that all Christians may go, even those with very limited mobility…

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Listen to this… “The LORD God is my strength,

and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet,

and He will make me to walk upon mine high places!”

Habakkuk 3:19.

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Yes, the Christian may go to those beautiful mountains of spices, as is written below….

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Listen again…”Make haste, my beloved,

and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart

upon the mountains of spices.”

Song of Solomon 8:14.

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To go to these mountains only requires active faith in God’s Word, combined with a vibrant prayer-life!

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And one can visit these mountains, in spite of being confined!

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The Pilgrim’s Progress by Byam Shaw – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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PHYSICAL EYESIGHT NOT NECESSARY

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And another wonderful thing is that this excursion to these Mountains of Spices doesn’t even require one to have 20/20 eyesight.

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Listen to Solomon… “The wise man’s eyes are in his head!” Ecclesiastes 2:14.

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Yes, because a wise man’s eyes are in his head, it can be said…

“we look not at the things which are seen,

but at the things which are not seen:

for the things which are seen are temporal;

***but the* *things which are not seen are eternal.”***

2nd Corinthians 4:18.

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So, from these above passages, it is becoming evident that the Christian life is a one of miraculous power: a power from far above, which energizes the Christian in such a way: a way which cannot be explained to those who have not experienced it!

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It is a pilgrim’s journey which begins here on earth, but leads upward unto a Heavenly Country, and into the golden courts of the Celestial City of God!

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UNDER THE STARRY SKY (OR IN A MALL)

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Yes, there are places the Christian can go, which surpass all human understanding!

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To walk under the starry canopy of Heaven, while silently crying out to the Lord for one’s needs, is an excursion which transcends human language to describe!

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Even in the one’s confinement, the Christian can be transported into Heaven’s Throne-Room!

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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WALKING THROUGH A MALL

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But perhaps, the same joy can be experienced by merely walking through a mall, while praying for the various people passing by!

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Or to even pray while incarcerated, for the others in that place, brings a joy which defies human understanding!

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Even to pray while working, while walking, while lying down, transports that Christian into the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary!

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Mall – Canal Walk – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE

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And for those on their sick-bed, they have this promise…

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion:

in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me;

He shall set me up upon a Rock.”

Psalm 27:5.

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So here is a wonderful place the Christian can go, even while upon one’s own bed!

**Because remember, “The wise man’s eyes are in his head;” Ecclesiastes 2:14.**

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So even a blind person needs not be left out! And this is why those Believers who are sick in body, even terminally ill, still have great hope, yes, “joy unspeakable”!

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Listen… “For which cause we faint not;

but though our outward man perish,

yet the inward man is renewed day by day!”

2nd Corinthians 4:16

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Munch – Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US public domain

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AIR TRAVEL

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And as far as getting away from all the madness of this work-a-day world, we also have a divine promise from God…

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31.

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As the Believer goes to his or her secret place of prayer, the soul becomes renewed and reinvigorated by a fresh baptism of God’s Spirit of Holiness.

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Now this above verse tells us that the Christian needs not to fly on commercial airlines!

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No, we will “mount up with wings as eagles”!

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A HOME-CENTERED LIFE

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Now our divine Pattern, the Lord Jesus, did not travel much during His time on Earth.

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Oh yes, He did accompany his family to the yearly feasts in Jerusalem.

And during His three-and-one-half-year ministry, He and His disciples did also walk through the countryside, spreading the Good News!

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But the Christian today doesn’t even need legs to do his or her evangelism!

Either by means of the Internet, or even just through prayer alone, one may send forth the Gospel to every nation under Heaven!

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And to share one’s finances with some faithful ministries, one can reach faraway places with the Gospel in ways that those early disciples simply could not, by their own physical ability!

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Jesus the Carpenters Son-by- www.lavistachurchofchrist.org US public-domain.jpg

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PARADISE NOW!

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But finally, if the Christian is tired of the humdrum routine in his or her present residence, there is a faraway residence one can move to…NOW!

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That’s right!

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You see, they can take up residence in a far-away country!

And even those who are totally bound, whether in bed, or in confinement, or by whatever other bondage there may be, can move to a new locale, permanently!

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Just listen to God’s Word…

“And [God] hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 2:6.

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Incredible! We don’t even have to wait till we die to enjoy the gilded courts of Heaven!

We can have it right now!

This is the ultimate vacation spot!

A supernatural experience!

And you don’t even need to buy a round-trip ticket!

All you need is a one-way ticket!

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And once you arrive, you will be so enamored by the beauty and splendor of Heaven, that, just as that old song says… “And the things of this world will grow strangely dim….”

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings…As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” Psalm 17:8, 15

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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SIGNS IN HEAVENS PROMISED

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God promised that before the end, there would appear “signs in the Sun…Moon, and …stars.” (Luke 21:25)

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This site is dedicated to revealing these Signs Of Heaven. If you will study just one article per day, you will begin to comprehend how to locate these heavenly messengers. But more than this, these stars will shine light on our trail and guide us safely up the pathway of Bible truth, to our destination.

(see Prov. 4:18 & Col. 3:1-4)

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Sketch is of the Gospel Ship, “Castor and Pollux” (Click for link)

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TOMORROW…

February 9th (“Waiting For The Church to Shine!”)

Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US-public-domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #39 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #39

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 8th (Recommended Vacation Spots For Christians!)

Today’s Devotional – February 7th (Why Not Just Eat, Drink & Be Merry?)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 7th

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Why Not Just Eat, Drink & Be Merry?

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“what advantage is it to me,

if the dead rise not?

let us eat and drink;

for to morrow we die.”

1st Corinthians 15:32

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Last night on the Internet, there was a debate between a leading advocate for Evolution, and a leading advocate for Creation.

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And there was much enthusiastic anticipation among both Christians as well as Evolutionists over this verbal sparring match.

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Both men were very articulate, and each laid out their respective positions very well.

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Debating – Not the two debaters mentioned in this article – Wikimedia -Share-alike License

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EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE!?

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But the Evolutionist kept repeating the concept, that he was so excited about science and kept encouraging the youngsters of America to likewise get excited about science.

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Finally, after repeating this concept a number of times, the Creationist questioned the Evolutionist by saying something to the effect, “Why get excited about finding new discoveries and making the world a better place if you’re just going to die, and lie in your grave forever? Why not just enjoy yourself for the remainder of your life? After all, when you’re finally dead in a few decades, it won’t even matter! Your memory will be forever extinct, and you won’t exist ever again! And after a few more years, those young people will also be dead!”

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Well, the Evolutionist ignored this comment, and went on with his debate, repeating his mantra regarding getting excited about new scientific discoveries.

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CalvaryCemeteryQueens – Wikipedia – public domain

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A REALLY DEPRESSING RELIGION!

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Of course, the Creationist was merely paraphrasing the Bible.

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Yes, the Bible says virtually the same thing…

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Listen… “what advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” 1st Corinthians 15:32.

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**Well, if there was an award for the “World’s Most Miserable Religion”, it might be atheism that would receive 1st prize!**

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Charles Darwin – by John Collier (artist) – www.wikimedia.com – Public Domain

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“REMEMBER…THY CREATOR…IN THE DAYS OF…YOUTH”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

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Oh yes, when you’re young and healthy, atheism seems pretty good.

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After all, if there’s no God, then I can go out and sin till the proverbial ‘cows come home’, and nobody will care!

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Yes, if there’s no God, I can cheat and steal and lie, and it won’t even matter! I can even kill, as long as I don’t get caught! (And as we look at this present society, it is amazing how corrupt and lawless we are becoming! And yet, the leaders of this society are still trying to outlaw the public display of the Ten Commandments!)

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But time brings all living things back down to the earth. Yes, the older you get, the more you hurt, the more you suffer, and the more hopeless life gets!

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And atheism slowly grows more cruel, the closer you get to your grave!

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Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Huckleberry Finn with rabbit – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE “ACCELERATING TIME PHENOMENON”

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And what many younger people don’t realize is that the older a person gets to be, the faster time seems to travel!

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Yes, when you’re young, death seems a long way off!

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But by the time a person reaches, perhaps middle age, the days begin to race by. And this phenomenon just keeps accelerating! And death becomes more and more in view.

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Yes, a poet might say it this way: “life is like a speeding locomotive, racing down the tracks of time, gradually picking up more steam down the line, till it reaches the station, its final destination right at its appointed time!”

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Midnight Train locomotive – Hans Baluschek Anfahrender Schnellzug 1909 – Wikimedia – public domain

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“…your life…is even a vapor, that…vanishes away.”

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The Bible says it this way…“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.” Job 7:6 Yes, if you’ve ever seen a weaver at work, then you can see what God is trying to tell us about the shortness of this little life!

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Listen again to Scripture…“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14 .

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Our life is merely a little vapor, a mist, which soon vanishes away! Here again, God is trying to get this message to us, not to put our hopes and efforts into this little and short life!

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Algeria – Hand-loom Weavers – Wikimedia – US Public Domain – Cropped Image –

Misty Bridge’s beauty – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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ATHEISM ONLY GROWS MORE CRUEL!

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And don’t think that your atheism will comfort you in your elderly years!

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No, atheism becomes like a cruel and cold-hearted mocker, who laughs and taunts at your unfortunate circumstances!

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At least the false religions of the world comfort their followers with some false hope for the future!

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But not atheism!

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Atheism grows bleaker and more hopeless with each passing year!

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Comedian – Laughing Fool – possibly Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen – circa 1500 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH…”

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And then, on that dreaded day, when you’re lying on your death-bed, your atheism will stand there and mock you and it will terrify you with dreams and fears about the blackness of eternity!

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Listen to Scripture… “(The people of the world), through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:15.

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So as this verse reveals, the people of the world live in fear of death, no matter how they might pretend otherwise!

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Devil Exorcism – Goya Painting – Public Domain

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THIS HORRIFIC WORLD!

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Yes, this evolution-apologist was excited about making discoveries to improve the world.

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But have all the discoveries already made, ever caused this world to become a better place to live?

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Quite the contrary! We see a world which is becoming increasingly fearful. People are getting more and more frightened, as we see the world growing more and more evil, sick, and hopeless!

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Listen… “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12, NIV.

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This verse paints a very dismal portrait of the future, doesn’t it? The love of all those who spurned the gift of Salvation will wax cold. Even right now, we witness the world’s so-called “love” waxing cold!

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When a candle goes out, the wax solidifies.

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So too, when the light of Christ is removed from the world, the world will lose whatever little love they might have had!

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ISIS murder – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

9/11 world trade center attack New York by UpsateNYer & Wikipedia – cropped image – share-alike lic.

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HOW’S OUR REBELLION WORKIN’ OUT FOR US?

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Even now, the love in this sad world is quickly evaporating!

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MILLIONS OF CHILDREN kidnapped and sold into slavery!

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MORE AND MORE RESTRICTIVE LAWS, in attempt to restrain lawless people, who do not believe in the Ten Commandments!

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DANGEROUS HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS being smuggled and sold to young and old people alike.

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TERRORISTS KILLING MILLIONS, for no good reason!

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DISEASES CAUSING ILLNESS AND DEATH, in spite of all the new discoveries in curative drugs!

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CHILDREN MADE TO SUFFER when parents divorce and remarry.

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SCHOOLS IN DECLINE, becoming more lawless and dangerous, all because the Ten Commandments have been removed by atheists!

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OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS BECOMING MORE CORRUPT. Our courts losing their love for the rule of law! The government printing money out of thin air, not caring that we’re headed for financial suicide!

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SEXUAL DEPRAVITY now celebrated as a good thing!

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CANNIBALISM now being mused. Even several thought-leaders (in US and Sweden) now beginning to call for human cannibalism as a means of population control “to save the environment”.

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THE GOVERNMENT SPYING on everybody, because people are growing less, and less trustworthy!

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RETAILERS LOCKING their merchandise in attempt to control today’s meteoric rise in thievery!

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Protests – Anti Christian sign in Federal Plaza Chicago – Andrew Ciscel – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License 2.0

Boston marathon bombing – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative-Commons-2.0

Burning Man 2013 Photo chapel – cropped and altered image – wikimedia creative commons license

March – Protest – Thank God For Satan – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or later version

Cannibalism in Russia and Lithuania 1571. – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH ARE BURNED, AND FEW MEN LEFT”

Isaiah 24:6

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And the atheist-apologist is excited for the future!?!

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It seems like the more discoveries we make, the worse this world gets! After all, God hints to us that all attempts to improve this broken world will only be met with failure!

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Listen… “That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting [lacking] cannot be numbered [filled].” Ecclesiastes 1:15. The fact is, the Bible here is saying that our efforts to correct the evils of this world are utterly futile! It’s like pulling weeds. Unless you completely remove the root, the weed will soon grow back!

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No, society doesn’t want to face the real root cause of why our world is growing more troubled and more evil every day: It is because we are Satan’s prisoners of sin!

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Earth On Stove – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE DOOMSDAY BUTTON (OR BOX)!

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And what about the scientific discoveries being made in nuclear and biological warfare?

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Little despot nations advancing in technology, soon allowing them to destroy this entire world!

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And all it will take is just one really sick or evil leader, to push that button!

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Or one egocentric scientist willing to open that box containing that doomsday-virus!

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And atheists are excited about new scientific discoveries? What about these discoveries!?!

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Castle romeo nuclear bomb – Wikipedia – Public-Domain

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LIVING IN THE STATE OF DENIAL!

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For those of us who have lived as atheists, we fully understand that atheists must create for ourselves a type of bubble-like shell, to live in: a sort of fantasy world in which we must hide from the stark reality of the true condition of this world.

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Oh yes, we put on our best face and pretend that there is hope, knowing deep down, there really is no hope!

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We live in a state of denial about our short existence in this hopeless world! As that old saying goes, we have to see the world through “rose-colored glasses”. That’s how we have to survive in this world as atheists. Reality is just too hard to face!

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Or perhaps you could say that we’re like the proverbial ostrich with her head in the sand, hiding our heads from our inevitable doom!

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Rose-colored Glasses – Conrad von Soest, ‘Brillenapostel’ (1403) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Ostriches head in sand – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication

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REAL HOPE FOUND ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION!

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**No, the only hope for that enthusiastic atheist debater (and everyone else!), is to turn to the One who bled and died on the Cross of Calvary, for the sins of this world!**

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Yes, this is Mankind’s only way out of this hopelessly suffering and dying world! That One who suffered the cruel revenge from this planet of rebels, and yet cried out, “Father, forgive them! For they know not what they do!”

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And then, we would know just what hope really looks like! Then we would suddenly see that there’s a way out of this crazy hopelessly dying world!

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We would then see that there is a pathway, which leads upward into the highways and byways of everlasting joy!

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Study for The Cross and the World…… Brooklyn Museum – Thomas Cole – US public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open my eyes to the vanity (meaninglessness) of life! Help me to put all my hope in the everlasting world to come!

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

The info and pics of the constellations on this site are all taken from Wikipedia and from The Internation Astronomical Union (click here to view their site)

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“MYSTERY FINISHED”

Revelation 10:7

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And so this puzzling question which God asked Job (“Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32.), was never answered. And the Bible seems silent on this question. And so, this question has remained a mystery for thousands of years…until now.

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**You see, God, according to His “eternal purpose” (not to mention His infinite patience), has kept these things secret through the long millenniums…until just now!**

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Yes, God is just now beginning to reveal these mysterious signs in the heavens! And now we are discovering that God has written His marvelous love story in the heavens, using the various constellations as picture symbols. And this should be no surprise. After all, God plainly declares in Psalms… “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1. But the heavens also declare God’s righteousness, as is written… “And the heavens shall declare his righteousness…Selah.” Psalm 50:6.

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TOMORROW…

February 8th . . . . Recommended Vacation Spots For Christians!

Venice Italy – Rialto Gondoliers by Saffron Blaze – Wikipedia – Share-alike License 3.0

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #38 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #38

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 7th (Why Not Just Eat, Drink & Be Merry?)

Today’s Devotional – February 4th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 1)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 4th

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Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?

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Part 1

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“And they come unto thee as the people cometh,

and they sit before thee as My people,

and they hear thy words, but they will not do them:

for with their mouth they shew much love,

but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”

Ezekiel 33:31

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Are you asking yourself the questions, “Why doesn’t my Christianity work? Why can’t I study my Bible more? Why is my prayer-life so anemic?”

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Do you sit in church each week and smile, pay tithes, and bless, and sing, and pray, all the while knowing that your Christianity just isn’t working?

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**Does your pastor constantly reassure his flock, “You’re all on the road to Heaven!” And you try to hang on to that reassurance, only to be overwhelmed with doubts?**

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Well, you are not alone!

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Probably most other churchgoers these days, are wondering the very same thing!

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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BIBLE OFFERS REMEDIES

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The Bible has the remedy for this condition. And there are perhaps a handful of passages in Scripture which offer the solution to your dilemma.

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But this little devotional will only deal with just one of these passages. It is found in Luke.

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Listen… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

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Here is perhaps the greatest reason why the vast majority of churchgoers fail to have a rich and vibrant communion with God. They have never forsaken all.

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Therefore, they have not even become a disciple of Jesus. That’s right! Unless we have, in heart, forsaken this world, with all its selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits, then we cannot even attain to the level of being called “a disciple of Jesus”!

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Jesus is still knocking on the door of our heart!

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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MAJORITY IN TROUBLE

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Now you say you don’t believe church conditions could be that bad?

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Well, for instance, one recent poll found that a majority of Christians believe that Christianity is NOT the only way to Salvation!

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So yes, this and many other similar statistics reveal that there is a big problem in Christianity today!

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Hindu God Of Wealth – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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FEW WILLING TO FORSAKE ALL

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This following story is a perfect example of a supposed Believer who really wants to obey God, and yet he knows deep down that his religion just isn’t working correctly.

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This rich young ruler wished to become a disciple and follower of Jesus. And though he tried to keep the commandments since childhood, he knew that there was something wrong in his life.

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His conscience convicted him that he was lacking something…“The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Matthew 19:20

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But just what was missing, he knew not!

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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“GO, SELL THAT THOU HAST…”

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And Jesus said to this young man… “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:21, 22.

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No doubt, this rich young ruler had various gifts and pleasures and cares, and aspirations: and these were among the riches he didn’t want to give up for Jesus. He enjoyed this life!

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This present world was “his oyster”, so to speak. There were simply too many things to give up!

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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THAT RICH YOUNG RULER IS US!

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And these are the very same riches that people today are not willing to sacrifice, to follow Jesus.

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And like that rich young ruler, there are many churchgoers who merely try to keep the Law to the letter.

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Like the rich young ruler, we think we can fulfill the Law’s demands, and yet still hold on to this life, with all its self-seeking aspirations, pleasures, and amusements!

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Listen… “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

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Yes, as this above verse reveals, Jesus accepts no one who insists on maintaining a divided heart.

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“AND THEY FORSOOK ALL & FOLLOWED HIM”

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Now, in contrast to this rich young ruler, is the account of Jesus calling Peter, John and James and Andrew. When Jesus called those disciples, it is written…

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***“And when they had brought their ships* *to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11.***

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Yes, those disciples totally forsook the selfish pleasures and proud pursuits of the world, and wholeheartedly followed Jesus.

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And those disciples were a picture of what God expects from us!

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And God expects no less from us, than He expected from those faithful disciples!

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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage 1869 – courtesy wikigallery.com – public domain

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“A BILLIONAIRE…NO…A TRILLIONAIRE!!!…”

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But just because a follower of Jesus renounces all the vain riches and tinsel-like glitter of this selfish world, does not leave that new Believer a poor man!

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No, by becoming a true follower of Jesus, the Christian will become one of the wealthiest persons on Earth! A billionaire! No…a trillionaire!!

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And how is this possible? This is because, as God’s child, He has promised eternal life to all those who persevere in following Him.

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And of course, everlasting life is worth more than all the riches that this world could possibly give, wouldn’t you agree?

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LOVE & SYMPATHY UNLIMITED

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And furthermore, you will gain a love and a sympathy and an understanding for lost sinners, just as the great love which Jesus has for miserable sinners: miserable sinners such as you and I!

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So don’t hesitate! And don’t be afraid to follow Jesus. We have everything to gain, and we’ll have all eternity to enjoy it!

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Just think! Everlasting life, filled with the treasures of joy, wisdom, purity, and God’s infinite love!

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Now that’s true riches!

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Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

July 1 (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 2: “Forgiving Others”)

Divorce – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to follow Thee unreservedly. Show me where I may be hiding any idols. Help me forsake them. Let me know what joy is in store for those who forsake all to follow Thee…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

The info and pics of the constellations on this site are all taken from Wikipedia and from The Internation Astronomical Union (click here to view their site)

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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

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This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours). In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation. Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).

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On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God. Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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TOMORROW…

February 5th . . . . The Monkey Trap!

Dhamrai Monkey Family wikimedia share-alike license

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #35 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #35

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 4th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 1)

Today’s Devotional – February 2nd (The Supernatural Life)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 2nd

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The Supernatural Life

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“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of Him

that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

2nd Peter 1:3

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POWER FROM ABOVE!

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So here’s a bold statement! “The life of a Christian, is a supernatural life!”

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Well, if one is a stickler for Bible-only terminology, you could rephrase this above statement, by saying… “The Christian life is a life of POWER from above!”

Perhaps that’s a better way of saying it!

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But either way you say it, it is nonetheless true!

**The Christian’s life is a life which is energized by the miraculous working of God’s Spirit through that true-follower of Jesus!**

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Scottobear_-_051231_sun_(by-sa) – Wikipedia – Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

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3 METAPHORS OF A CHRISTIAN’S SOJOURN

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Now, in describing this a life of Heavenly power, one could use various Bible phrases, such as: “Now we see through a glass (mirror) darkly”.

Or this phrase, “These are they which follow the Lamb, wherever He Goes”.

Or even this last phrase, “Ye shall hear a Word behind thee, saying ‘This is the way, walk ye in it!'”.

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Now these three verses each present a miraculous concept!

And while we do not literally see a mirror.

Nor do we literally see a Lamb.

Nor do we literally hear a voice in our head.

Yet, all three of these allegories are depicting the power which guides us through our daily earthly sojourn.

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I Saw A Man Clothed With Rags – Pilgrims Progress – Wikimedia – public domain

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ALLEGORIES NOT LITERAL, BUT SPIRITUAL

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**Now, as far as seeing “through a glass darkly (a mirror)”, the Spirit of God reveals to us the character of Christ, as contrasted by our own faulty character.**

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And also, as we more and more progress up the heavenly pathway, the more and more we see a brighter image of Christ, the Lamb of God, in our mind’s-eye.

But we have an ever-increasing cognizance of how He would perform each task that lies before us in each of our lives, as we go about our day.

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And likewise, the true-worshipper of God will not hear an actual voice, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it!”

No, but this is speaking of the Holy Spirit, which ever-so-gently and imperceptibly nudges our conscience, prompting us to make correct choices,

And so, these are the miraculous aspects of the life of a Christian!

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mirror – Wikimedia – public domain

Adoration of the Lamb – Wikimedia – public domain

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“WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG”

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Oh yes, the Christian may encounter many times of weakness and infirmities, even the Hand of chastening from the Lord.

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At these moments of weakness or sorrow, all one can do is to lie helplessly, throwing all confidence and trust in Christ’s sufficiency!

Paul spoke of this experience in the following passage…

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“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:

for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me…”

2nd Corinthians 12:9, 10 (Condensed for brevity)

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Paul Converted – www.thebiblerevival.com

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“YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE”

Psalm 32:7

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Yes, it’s a wonderful thing, during such times of trouble and weakness, that the Believer can revert to his or her childlike nature, and merely cast all cares upon our Heavenly Father!

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During these hours, one can simply pray, or sing, or just revel in our Heavenly Father’s tender pity and mercy, asking for God’s renewal of wisdom and strength.

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Munch Det Syk Barn 1896 – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

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AN EVER-BRIGHTENING PATHWAY

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**But somebody might say, “Well who doesn’t know all these things!?! You’re not saying anything I don’t already know!” Okay, well that may be true!**

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But the fact is, the farther one progresses up that pathway to Heaven, the greater will be the ever-growing brilliance of these things!

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And as the light grows ever-brighter on that “Highway of Holiness”, the more incredible and joyful will be the experience of allowing Jesus to live out His life of power through that faithful, trusting lamb of God!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The True Upward Pathway www.signsofheaven.org

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“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2nd Timothy 1:7

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a greater and greater knowledge of Thy Word, that I might fully understand Thy works and Thy ways…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH…

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“Let the people praise thee, O God;

let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase;

and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”

Psalm 67:5-7

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But Signs Of Heaven are now appearing.

And God has written a great message of hope in the heavens.

This is a colossal heavenly picture of Christ and His Church.

And the Church is seen here doing its best imitation of Christ, as the Church uplifts the Cross.

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“He that says he abides in Him (Jesus) ought…to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6

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This verse from 1 John says it all.

**Those who claim to be Christians must not only “talk the talk” …but also to “walk the walk”.**

This is the essence of what this particular verse above is all about.

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TOMORROW…

February 3rd . . . . Fashionable Religion

Skateboarder Jesus in Jeans – Church in the U.K – by Peter Royle – cropped image – WIKIMEDIA – SHARE-ALIKE LICENSE

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #33 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #33

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional, Year 1 – January 26th: (Arcturus, the Star That Wise Men Follow, Part 4: “Study, Study Study!!!”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional, Year 1 – January 26th

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Arcturus, the Star That Wise Men Follow,

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Part 4:

“Study, Study, Study!!!”

To read part 1, click here…December 20th (Arcturus, The Star That Wise Men Follow, Part 1)

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“Blessed is the man that walketh not

in the counsel of the ungodly…

But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:1, 2

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However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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It’s rather amazing what Internet has done to decrease the tolerance for reading, especially for the young!

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After all, you would think that these devices, which require one to often read some info, would only INcrease our tolerance, not DEcrease!

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Girl Texting – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

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“…and the cities of the nations fell…”

Revelation 16:19

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But of course, Satan is no dummy!

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He knows how to destroy a society, along with the souls of the men, women, and children therein!

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**And he has created this very alluring antichrist-world-system with the express intent to distract, deter, and mislead the children of men from ever engaging in meaningful Bible study/contemplation!**

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE HEAVENS DECLARE?

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This website has a lot of information on each article.

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And one might complain that “they’re just too long!”

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But are they? Are they too long?

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Or maybe, the actual problem is that we are simply just too distracted?

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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“when the disciples came together…Paul preached unto them…and continued his speech until midnight…and talked a long while, even till break of day”

Acts 20:7

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The Apostle, Paul, conducted at least one Bible study, which lasted perhaps for a good part of a 24-hour period…maybe for 10 or more hours! (See Acts 20:7-11)

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And if Bible study was that important way back then, how much more should we be devoting time in this momentous hour in which we now find ourselves!

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We are standing on the very threshold of eternity!

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And the dark forces of evil are now enclosing around us on every side!

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We have not a moment to lose!

Paul raiseth Eutychus to life – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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AN ARDUOUS TASK

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We must also keep in mind, that the wise men of old, after spending countless hours searching the Scriptures.

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They searched to find out just exactly what and who those prophecies were pointing to and then traveled through the deserts hundreds of miles to find the Messiah.

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All told, those wise men no doubt spent several years on this quest to find the long-awaited Messiah, from the time they first began searching the Scriptures till the time they returned home from their quest to see the Messiah in person!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Magi Journeying – James Tissot – US Public Domain

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AM I A WISE MAN?

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And so, am I willing to spend months praying and searching out this message, in light of God’s Word, to see if this message is the real thing?

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In other words, are we truly the end-time fulfillment of those wise-men of old?

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And as such, are we willing to put out the same effort that those wise men of old put out, to discover the truth?

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And with this message, we don’t even have to travel hundreds of miles!

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But to really understand this message, does take a great deal of effort.

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But wise men don’t mind that!

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After all, isn’t that the stuff that wise men are made of?

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

May 7 (Arcturus, The Star That Wise Men Follow, Part 5: “The Walk To Emmaus in Today’s World”)

Jesus on road to Emmaus – Zünd_Gang – 1877 – Wikipedia – US public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Dear Lord, Help me to hide Thy Word in my heart with all Thy Great and precious promises, and let me not become complacent in these last hours…

Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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LOCATING ARCTURUS…

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An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

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SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.

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This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky.

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**The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south.**

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**To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations.**

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**Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus.**

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**Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )**

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TOMORROW…

January 27th (It’s a Brand-X World)

Generic Cola Can Jewel wikipedia share-alike license

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS IS STUDY #26 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – January 22nd (“He That Keepeth His Mouth…”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – January 22nd

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“He That Keepeth His Mouth…”

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Perhaps it might be said, that “at least one-half a man’s troubles are the result of what goes in, or what goes out of his mouth”.

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**And “half” is probably a very conservative estimate!**

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And listen to the ‘wise man’…

…”He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life:

but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”

Proverbs 13:3.

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Such great advice!

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Wonderful counsel!

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Mocking Bird Argument – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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HEAVEN’S CHASTISEMENT BEGINS?

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The only problem is, just how does one follow such good advice?

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That is the question!

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**Yes, it’s very easy to quote this proverb (or any proverb!) But to actually put it into practice is not so easy, is it?**

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And when an ex-patriot from this world begins that sojourn up the Heavenward pathway, it probably won’t be long until he or she receives chastisement over this very vital concept.

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Yes, a Christian may just learn that most Christian trials are over this very issue!

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Saul attempts to Kill David – by Gustave Dore – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“SET ON FIRE OF HELL!”

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And speaking of the tongue, listen to this fiery passage from James…

***“And the tongue* *is a fire, a world of iniquity:***

so is the tongue among our members,

that it defiles the whole body,

and sets on fire the course of nature;

and it is set on fire of Hell.”

James 3:6 (click here to read entire quote)

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The unbridled tongue is “set on fire of Hell”.

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Brown tree snake Boiga – Wikipedia – public domain

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MANY TROUBLES AVOIDED!

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Just think about how many troubles might be eliminated by holding our tongue!

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Just consider how many arguments might be avoided by simply remaining silent!

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Or the many reputations that might remain untarnished by holding one’s tongue!

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Or the many secrets that might remain secrets!

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Or the many marriages that might be saved!

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Or the many feuds and wars that might be avoided!

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Or the many friendships that might remain!

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Or the many families that might stay together!

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Or children that might grow up to become followers of Jesus!

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Yes, there are many societal and family tragedies which might be avoided if we would only remain silent!

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And as God so aptly spoke through James, the tongue is a “world of iniquity”, and is “set on fire of Hell”.

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Gossips in the Altstadt in Sindelfingen, Germany – Sally Kennison – Share-alike License – cropped image – Wikimedia

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SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

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But again, just how does one get control of the tongue?

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Well, that is why God gave us the Bible, to help us to overcome.

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Yes, the answer to any and all problems of life are found by studying the Bible.

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And it is those nagging sins which keep recurring, that makes a Christian want to search for the solution.

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And so, the very first thing the Christian is to do, is to pray, pray, pray, and study, study, study, and then, pray and study some more!

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And for those plagued by an unruly tongue, probably the first thing to study would be the passages directly concerned with the tongue.

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A King James concordance will help to find all such verses about the “tongue”, or the “mouth” or the “lips”, etc…

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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THANKFULNESS IN TRIALS

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And then, the Christian must obviously begin to beg God for all the necessary help with such a problem.

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And the Christian must be willing to endure much chastisement over this sin.

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We must not get angry with God, when He does allow the Devil to, “sift you as wheat” Luke 22:31.

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We must remember that Satan will beg permission to tempt us on this very point!

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Yes, the Christian needs to, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1st Thessalonians 5:18.

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And this includes giving thanks in our fiery trials, too!

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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So just one more really great verse, concerning the tongue…

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“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:”

James 1:19

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

March 3 (He That Keepeth His Mouth, Part 2: “Pearls Before Swine!”)

Duct Tape Mouth – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to get control and complete victory over my tongue!

…Give me the joy that is sure to come when I finally do get that victory…

Prayer – Brooklyn Museum – Saint James the Less – by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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THE SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)

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(LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE)

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The 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down.

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But this photo and this sketch are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the Moon would appear.)

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The third face is the most difficult to see northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy.

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This face is like a furry creature of the field.

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Maybe a rabbit. Maybe a squirrel. Perhaps a chipmunk.

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Probably a mouse.

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All “seekers”; all foragers or scavengers.

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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.

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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate.

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This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily.

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This enhanced sketch to the above right is merely to help you to see this face more easily.

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Moon – by James Bowe – 3rd Face – cropped & highlighted photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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TOMORROW…

January 23rd . . . . Limiting The Holy One of Israel

Jesus Walks on Water – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS IS STUDY #22 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – NOVEMBER 18 (Eternal Torment? Part 15: “How Satan Steals Bible Truth”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – NOVEMBER 18

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 15:

“How Satan Steals Bible Truths”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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Can Satan steal Bible truth?

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Well obviously, Satan does that every day!

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Yes, there are many false gospels made up of truth, mingled with error.

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Christ battles Satan – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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HOW DOES SATAN STEAL TRUTH?

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But is there is a special way in which the Enemy of Souls steals Bible truth, and makes it very difficult to recover these truths?

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Oh yes, this clever arch-deceiver does have a special way!

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But just how can Satan steal Bible truths, making it very difficult to recover these lost truths?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”

John 10:10

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You see, when the mainstream church-world abandons any Bible truth, and replaces it with an erroneous belief…

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…Satan is right there to grab that discarded truth and make it his very own!

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But just how can the Enemy of God’s people accomplish such theological larceny?

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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FALSE GOSPELS & “CULTS”

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You see, in these last days, Satan has raised up false gospels and so-called “cults” and gives these discarded truths to such counterfeit gospels and “cults”.

(NOTE TO READER: The reason for saying “so-called cults”, is that the name “cult” is the unbiblical replacement for the more biblical name, “another gospel” [2nd Corinthians 11:4 & Galatians 1:6])

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And so now, the great majority within the Church point to these obviously false gospels, and says…

…“Now, you don’t want to be like these cults, do you?

But if you insist on believing such-and-such doctrine,

you will be just like them:

a heretic! An infidel!

An enemy of the Church!”

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Karla LaVey satanist – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU license

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ETERNAL TORMENT

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“Eternal Torment”, is a prime example of how this false doctrine has become firmly embedded in mainstream Christianity!

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And because most of the so-called “cults” teach that Hell is merely “death”…

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…therefore, it is almost impossible to convince mainstream Christians that “Eternal Torment”, is a false doctrine!

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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain (2)

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TRUTH GIVES CREDIBILITY TO FALSE GOSPELS

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And in this way, Satan not only gives credibility to these cults by giving them some discarded, actual Bible truth.

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But he also stigmatizes that abandoned Bible truth even more, when false gospels embrace those Bible truths!

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And that discarded Bible truth now becomes an abomination in the minds of the apostate, so-called, “orthodox churches”!

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“YOU’LL BE JUST LIKE THEM!”

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And thus, the end result is that churchgoers are now afraid to embrace that abandoned Bible truth, for fear of being branded as a heretic, or fanatic.

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**Because now, all the so-called, “mainstream orthodoxy”, needs to do is to simply say to any inquisitive parishioners…**

…”You don’t want to be like that heretic preacher, do you?

You don’t want to be like that group, do you?

After all, the cults teach that ‘false doctrine’!

And if you believe that ‘false doctrine’,

you’ll be just like them!”

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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OUR LEADERS CAUSE US TO ERR

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But what most Christians do not realize, is that it is not so much the so-called cults we need to fear.

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No, but mainstream Christianity has become the false Gospel to fear the most!

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Yes, God warns us…

…”O My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err,

and destroy the way of thy paths.”

Isaiah 3:12

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**It has always been the so-called, “mainstream orthodoxy”, which has misled God’s people, as Isaiah points out in this above verse.**

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Whether back in Old Testament times, or in the days of the great apostasy of European churches, it was the so-called mainstream religious body which had taught the greatest errors.

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Torture devices – The Wheel – Calas Chapbook – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE END OF THE CHURCHES

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And today’s churches are no exception!

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Listen to Paul’s prophecy concerning the last days…

…”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,

having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.”

2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

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Here is foretold a total church-wide apostasy.

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**And in this great apostasy, sound doctrine will be replaced by false teachings, which the itching ears of the apostate parishioners love to hear!**

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Church – Audience hands – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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PRAY DAILY FOR LOVE FOR TRUTH!

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And so, it is imperative that we pray daily for a truth-seeking heart.

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Because the love of truth is the gift of God and should not be taken for granted.

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And of course, this website is dedicated to restoring those discarded truths.

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May the Lord bless His chosen and elect people! Amen.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 16, GO HERE…

January (Eternal Torment? Part 16: God’s Two-Edged Sword!

Glittering Sword Constellation www.theheavensdeclare.net

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be given to a close-minded spirit. But help me to love truth, no matter if it means I will be hated by my own brethren…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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“The LORD is my shepherd;

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I shall not want (lack).

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He maketh me to lie

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down in green pastures:

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He leadeth me beside

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the still waters…

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I will fear no evil:

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for Thou art with me;

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Thy rod and thy staff

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they comfort me….”

Psalm 23:1, 2, 4

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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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This star-chart from Wikipedia, has Orion sketched in by the editor of this website.

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**With the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini)…**

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**…the sickle in Orion, the Reaper’s hand (see sketch), now extends the blade, thus transforming that sickle into the hook of a shepherd’s rod and staff.**

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**And this is a very wonderful and beautiful Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as is written…**

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“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock

in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered;

so will I seek out My sheep,

and will deliver them out of all places where they have

been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”

Ezekiel 34:12

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And so God has placed this Starry Shepherd in the winter-night heavens to remind us of His great love for a planet which has wandered away: just like sheep that wandered to where the grass looked greener.

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ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART: Orion the reaper – Wikipedia star-chart (with the Reaper drawn over by this website)

ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd (Orion Constellation and rod made of Gemini stars – with the Shepherd drawn over by this website) – www.signsofheaven.org

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TOMORROW…

NOVEMBER 19 (Flee To The Mountain, Part 9: “Stay Thou Not On The Plain!”)

Picture – Lot Escapes – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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END OF THE CHURCH AGE STUDIES ON AUDIO

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING AUDIO BIBLE STUDY BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING.

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THIS STUDY IS PART 15, CONCERNING “THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE”

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Click here to listen…Harold Camping The End of the Church Age #15 – YouTube

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 27 (Eternal Torment? Part 14: “An Eternal Torment Story”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 27

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 14:

“An Eternal Torment Story”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“Yet [God] sets the poor on high from affliction, and makes him families like a flock.

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The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

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Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Psalm 107:41-43

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Jesus The Good Shepherd – Bernhard Plockhorst – 1825-1907 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org

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This is a true story, though the details are not given.

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There once was a soldier coming home from the War.

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He had no doubt seen much death and destruction.

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But perhaps his Christian upbringing helped him deal with the horrors of war.

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Well, back home, he got the news that one of his fellow soldiers had committed suicide.

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Now this was too much for him, knowing his deceased friend was an atheist, or at least, had no relationship with the Savior.

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And as this young soldier began to think about his close friend suffering eternal torment in Hell for all the future ages of time and eternity, this soldier began to doubt God’s existence.

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After all, how can a supposedly loving God be so cruel as to cast that soldier into eternal torment in Hell?

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And so, the young soldier eventually renounced his Christianity, and began living as a secularist.

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He just couldn’t believe in a God who torments unbelievers for all time and eternity!

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Soldier (Not connected to this story) – Air Force Sergeant on guard duty – Public-Domain

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MANY SIMILAR STORIES

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The fact is, this same story probably reoccurs time and time again!

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As a matter of fact, this church-doctrine has been circulating within Christendom for many centuries.

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So, one can just imagine how many persons over the last 1,500 years or more, have rejected Christianity, out of sheer disgust, because of this heretical false doctrine!

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Many others were probably even driven to insanity and suicide because of this unthinkable church-doctrine!

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Insane Asylum – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“Mercy and truth preserve the King: and His throne is upholden by mercy.”

Proverbs 20:28

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Doesn’t this above verse chip away at our hardheartedness?

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Doesn’t this above verse press hard against our refusal to acknowledge God’s ultimate and infinite mercy?

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After all, how can a reasonable person love a God who has absolutely no mercy on those who reject His love?

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How can a human love a God who saves millions, but will torment even BILLIONS more, day after day, millennium after millennium throughout the ceaseless ages?

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It’s too horrible to even imagine!

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Only a cruel and heartless monster could do such a thing!

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Gustave Dore Inferno – freezing in River Styx – by Dore – courtesy Wikipedia – Public-Domain

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BAD HERMENEUTICS WERE RESPONSIBLE

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Fortunately, God is not a cruel and heartless monster!

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And this whole nonsense of eternal torment is a heresy invented by erring theologians from a very apostate church in early centuries, A.D., who couldn’t understand how to properly interpret scripture.

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The problem was, they did not understand that parables were not to be taken literally.

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And so, they decided that the parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus must be interpreted literally.

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And they made the same mistake concerning many other scriptures which speak of fire & brimstone.

(See Exodus 24:17 & Isaiah 30:33 for metaphorical use of fire and also brimstone)

Nicaea icon – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“THERE (IN HELL) THE WICKED CEASE FROM TROUBLING!”

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And for some reason, these same theologians rejected the numerous passages which speak of Hell as the grave, and death as sleep, such as this one from the Book of Job…

…”Why died I not from the womb?

why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

With kings and counsellors of the earth,

which built desolate places for themselves;

Or with princes that had gold,

who filled their houses with silver:

There the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there;

and the servant is free from his master.”

Job 3:11, 13-15, 17-19

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God would never have put this above passage in the Bible if it were not true.

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Every word of God is true! There is no lie in the Bible.

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Oh yes, there are many parables which are allegorical in nature, and not to be understood literally.

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But the Book of Job, like the rest of the Bible, is profitable for doctrine, confirmation, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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MANY OTHER ARTICLES ON THIS SUBJECT

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But these devotionals have covered all these factors, and today’s devotional will not go over old ground.

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But if the reader has not yet read the various lengthy articles such as “The Doctrine of Eternal Torment”, or this little series called, “Eternal Torment?”, he or she is encouraged to do so.

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Jesus Teaching Luke 4:31-32 – Jesus talks about Heaven – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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DO WE JUST FORGET ALL WE LEARNED DOWN HERE?

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Fortunately, we have a God who says 41 times of Himself, “His mercy endures forever!”

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And God has been teaching us all our lives to love mercy and to suffer with those that suffer.

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And so, after spending a lifetime becoming merciful and pitying of the sufferings of others, are we then supposed to forget all that?

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Are we to believe those erring Bible teachers who tell us that we’ll go through eternity without a tear for untold multitudes shrieking in pain and shaking their fists at an unmerciful God!

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Are we to merely shrug our shoulders and say of our unsaved family, friends and former neighbors, as they scream for mercy throughout the ceaseless ages, “Well they’re just getting what they deserve”?

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It doesn’t make any sense, does it?

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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WILL HE EVER FIND THE TRUTH?

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Well, maybe this discouraged soldier will one day find the true God and become a true follower of His Christ.

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Perhaps his faith will reignite as he discovers that this old church-doctrine is based on ignorance of true and correct Bible hermeneutics.

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And just maybe he will begin to really study to know that, in all of Scripture, God never caused people to linger and linger in suffering as they were dying.

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What do you think?…

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 15, CLICK HERE…

NOVEMBER 18 (Eternal Torment? Part 15: How Satan Steals Truths)

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me an understanding into the spiritual nature of the Bible. Help me to compare scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual to rightly divide Thy Word…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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“The LORD is my shepherd;

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I shall not want (lack).

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He maketh me to lie

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down in green pastures:

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He leadeth me beside

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the still waters…

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I will fear no evil:

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for Thou art with me;

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Thy rod and thy staff

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they comfort me….”

Psalm 23:1, 2, 4

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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered;

so will I seek out My sheep,

and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”

Ezekiel 34:12

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And so God has placed this Starry Shepherd in the winter-night heavens to remind us of His great love for a planet which has wandered away: just like sheep that wandered to where the grass looked greener.

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ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART: Orion the reaper – Wikipedia star-chart (with the Reaper drawn over by this website)

ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd (Orion Constellation and rod made of Gemini stars with the Shepherd drawn in by this website) – www.signsofheaven.org

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TOMORROW…

SEPTEMBER 28 (Come Out of Her, My People! Part 19: Why Can’t I Escape Babylon?)

Babylon – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 4.0

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #635 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 13: “Tophet NOW!”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 25

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 13 “Tophet NOW!”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“For Tophet is ordained of old;

yea, for the King it is prepared;

He hath made it deep and large:

the pile thereof is fire and much wood;

the breath of the LORD,

like a stream of brimstone,

doth kindle it.”

Isaiah 30:33

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There are many who read this above passage and assume that it is speaking of the church doctrine known as “Eternal Torment”.

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But such misunderstanding of Scripture and ignorance of God’s character can be corrected by doing a more thorough investigation of the Bible.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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FIRE AND MUCH WOOD?!

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Listen… “For Tophet is ordained of old;

yea, for the King it is prepared;

He hath made it deep and large:

the pile thereof is fire and much wood;

the breath of the LORD,

like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.”

Isaiah 30:33

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Here is a verse concerning the judgment of the last days.

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**And yet, when God speaks here of the “pile thereof is fire and much wood”, this is a tip-off that God is speaking metaphorically, and not literally.**

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**After all, this verse says that Tophet will burn because of “much wood”.**

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Thus, if we would take this literally, it would be totally ridiculous!

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And this is confirmed by the next words, “the breath of the LORD, like a steam of brimstone, doth kindle it.”

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Now obviously these metaphors, speaking of piles of wood and the breath of the LORD and the fires of Tophet are presenting an allegorical description of the great Day of God’s wrath.

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Firewood – Tres Tombs in Igualada – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning”

Isaiah 4:4

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Here is another passage which further confirms the metaphorical nature of fire & brimstone…

…“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,

let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably

with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming (devouring) fire.”

Hebrews 12:28, 29

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Here it says that our God is a consuming or devouring fire.

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Now obviously, God is a Spirit, and not an actual fire!

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Isaiah 4:4, even speaks of “the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.”

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Notice it says here, “the SPIRIT of burning”.

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Gérôme, Jean-Léon – Moses on Mount Sinai – Jean-Léon Gérôme – 1895-1900 – Wikimedia – Pub. Dom.

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DWELLING WITH THE DEVOURING FIRE

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Listen to this rather lengthy passage…

…“The sinners in Zion are afraid;

fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.

Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?

who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

He that walketh righteously,

and speaketh uprightly…”

Isaiah 33:14-17

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As this above passage reveals, only the righteous will be able to dwell with the devouring fire and everlasting burnings.

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And here is veiled, allegorical language to describe the LORD!

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It is God who is that devouring fire and everlasting burnings.

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And only righteousness can dwell with Him. And all our dross will be burned away by “the spirit of burning”.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE DEAD-WOOD OF SIN

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And so, for further confirmation, let’s examine a passage from 1st Corinthians…

…”Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold, silver, precious stones,

wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”

1st Corinthians 3:12-15

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Now here we have a big clue as to what God is speaking of, concerning the fire which will burn up the wicked.

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**It is a spiritual fire which will burn up our vain fleshly deeds… “wood, hay, stubble”.**

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And so, when Isaiah speaks of the fires of Tophet being kindled by a large pile of wood,

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He is speaking of the dead wood of our unsanctified character.

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But praise the Lord, God will not completely destroy us…“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1st Corinthians 3:15

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Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

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DON’T WAIT! BEGIN NOW!

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Now we don’t have to wait for the fires of tribulation to burn away our, “wood, hay and stubble!” (even though those fires are now already beginning to burn)!

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Yes, we can get rid of the fuel for God’s fire right now, first, by putting away all vain and ungodly influences, as far as possible!

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And then, in these final moments before the fires of Judgment Day begin, we must be busily hiding God’s purifying Word in our heart!

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And then, through our day we can pray for the ability to meditate (contemplate) upon God’s Word, and how we might, “walk, even as He (Jesus) walked.” 1st John 2:6

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**This is how we eliminate the “wood, hay, stubble” from our lives!**

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 14, CLICK HERE…

SEPTEMBER 27 (Eternal Torment? Part 14: An Eternal Torment Story)

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me an understanding into the spiritual nature of the Bible. Help me to compare scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual to rightly divide Thy Word…

Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,

which took their lamps,

and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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And five of them were wise,

and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps,

and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

Matthew 25:1-4

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FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS

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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014.

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It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

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GATHERED AROUND THE GLORIOUS CROWN!

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The position of these stars is significant in a number of ways.

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The first, being that these Five Wise Virgins are gathered around the 12-star Crown of Revelation 12.

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And the obvious message here is, that these wise virgins represent the faithful portion of God’s Church.

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And as wise virgins, they understand the importance of winning the glorious crown of victory, which Jesus promised.

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Corona Borealis/Bootes & Five Wise Virgins – (constellations highlighted by this website) – wikimedia – C.C. Commons License

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TOMORROW…

SEPTEMBER 26 (Come Out of Her, My People! Part 18: Quench Not The Spirit!)

ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #633 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 13: “Tophet NOW!”)

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 12: “Outer Darkness”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 15

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 12:

“Outer Darkness”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“And I say unto you,

That many shall come from the east and west,

and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,

in the kingdom of Heaven.

But the children of the kingdom

shall be cast out into outer darkness:

there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:11, 12

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There are many who read this above passage and assume it’s speaking of the church doctrine known as “Eternal Torment”.

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They believe that outer darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth is what all lost souls will be doing for all eternity.

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But such misunderstanding of Scripture and ignorance of God’s character can be corrected by doing a more thorough investigation of the Bible.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, NOT HELL!

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**This phrase, “outer darkness” is found three times in scripture…**

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1: One concerning the Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8),

2: The next in the Parable of the Invitation to the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22)

3: And the third is found in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25).

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**But in all three instances, the phrase, “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” is mentioned by Jesus.**

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But the outer darkness spoken of here is actually concerning the spiritual darkness that covers this unbelieving world.

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In other words, being cast out into outer darkness has to do with a churchgoer being cast out into spiritual darkness: that is, cast back into this lost world.

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People on Times Square – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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GNASHING OF TEETH

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**And “gnashing of teeth” actually is when a person gnashes on his teeth in anger at another person.**

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It’s like a growling or biting and grinding to show one’s anger at another.

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We read concerning David…

…”But in mine adversity they rejoiced,

and gathered themselves together…

With hypocritical mockers in feasts,

they gnashed upon me with their teeth.”

Psalm 35:15, 16

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And so, here we see how an apostate churchgoer will become judgmental and scornful against all the sinful behavior in this rebellious world!

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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

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EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS

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Of course, this could never ever be speaking of the state of “Eternal Torment”.

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It is utterly absurd to imagine that the lost will be eternally cursing God in some netherworld den of torment.

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All such notions are borne of abject ignorance, not only of God’s Character, but also of how to properly interpret Scripture….

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Listen… “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to Me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Romans 14:11

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On Judgment Day, all humanity will confess that they were wrong, and will admit that God is true and righteous and good.

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This above verse makes that perfectly clear!

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Triumph of Christianity by G. Dore www.christimages.org Limited use license – cropped image – see their website for restrictions

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CHAMBER OF HORRORS?

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Scripture must be properly interpreted by comparing Scripture with Scripture and “comparing spiritual things with spiritual”. 1st Corinthians 2:13

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Oh yes, God purposely put some scriptures in the Bible, which, when taken out of context of the whole and entire Bible…

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…might lead today’s careless and fully indoctrinated Bible teachers to imagine that there is some netherworld chamber of torments.

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After all, this false church-doctrine has been deeply ingrained into the minds of churchgoers for hundreds of years!

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Hell – G. Dore – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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HELL IS EVERLASTING SLEEP

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But when searching the Bible carefully and prayerfully, quite a different picture of Hell begins to emerge…

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For example, listen to Job…

…”Why died I not from the womb?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

With kings and counsellors of the earth,

which built desolate places for themselves;

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been;

as infants which never saw light.

There the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there;

and the servant is free from his master.”

Job 3:11, 13-19

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This above passage from Job gives us quite a different picture of death and Hell, wouldn’t you agree?

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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JESUS, THE LIGHT

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Listen to Jesus’ warning…

“Then Jesus said unto them,

Yet a little while is the light with you.

Walk while ye have the light,

lest darkness come upon you:

for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

While ye have light, believe in the light,

that ye may be the children of light.”

John 12:35, 36

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So here we see that Jesus was speaking of walking in the darkness as a spiritual condition right here on earth!

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Jesus – by H. Bloch – Sermon On The Mount – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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But just how do we walk in the light, and stay in the light?

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This subject and more will be dealt with in PART 2 (click here to read)

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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TO READ PART 13, CLICK HERE…

SEPTEMBER 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 13: Tophet NOW!)

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to keep my eyes steadfast upon Thee. O let me not be taken away and cast into outer darkness…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shall you labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:

in it you shalt not do any work,

thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,

thy manservant, nor thy maidservant,

nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day:

wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Exodus 20:8-11

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The Earth seen from Apollo 17 – wikipedia, – NASA, – public domain

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FOURTH SOLAR SYSTEM MEMBER

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Counting the Sun as the 1st heavenly sphere, the Earth is the 4th heavenly sphere.

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If we extend our theory (and it’s just a theory) that God created our solar system to correspond to the commandments, then planet Earth would correspond to the 4th Commandment.

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And so, on the very planet that corresponds to the commandment that exalts the idea of “rest” and “peace”, there exists very little peace.

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And very little rest. Ironic, isn’t it?

Picture: Solar System NASA public domain

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TOMORROW…

SEPTEMBER 16 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 3: All Power, Signs & Lying Wonders, continued)

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who now in these last days destroys the churches via a world-loving prosperity-driven false gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS IS STUDY #623 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 12: “Outer Darkness”)

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 11: “Is God A ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’?”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 15

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 11:

“Is God A ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’?”

To read Part 1, click here… September 8th (Eternal Torment?)

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“Let the people praise Thee, O God;

let all the people praise Thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase;

and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

Psalm 67:5-7

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For those of us who grew up on television, the term, “Good Cop/Bad Cop” was a familiar reference to an interrogation method in which one cop portrays himself as a tyrant to the man being interrogated.

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And then, just at the right moment, another cop steps in, and befriends the man being questioned, in hopes of gaining his trust by means of friendliness and sympathy.

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Well, this technique has been a very effective method of extracting information from those who are being, tight-lipped!

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Police interrogation room – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

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INTERROGATORS OF THE PAST

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Well, by looking at this photo of medieval torture devices, of it is obvious that history has been filled with men who enthusiastically enjoyed being the “bad cop”!

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And only on that soon-coming Day of Judgment, will it be discovered just how cruel mankind has been in centuries past!

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As Isaiah reveals…

“For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place

to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:

the earth also shall disclose her blood,

and shall no more cover her slain.”

Isaiah 26:21

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And much of this cruelty had been meted out by the apostate Christian churches of Europe during those long centuries of the fitly named, “Dark Ages”. And this above prophecy reveals that this world will finally be informed of horrible atrocities committed throughout millenniums of this planet’s bloody history!

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Diverse torture instruments – cropped image – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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ETERNAL TORMENT

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**And so, it is no surprise that the very same churches which meted out such cruel torture, were also responsible for the false church-doctrine of so-called “Eternal Torment”.**

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You see, “Eternal Torment” was conceived by this very same apostate religious organization who made sure that anyone who rejected the authority of the “Mother Church”, would be heartlessly and mercilessly tortured!

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After all, if the rejecters of His love will be cruelly tormented by God in fire and brimstone for all time and eternity, then those cruel European churches looked pretty good, by comparison!

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Well, isn’t it true, that to suffer at the hands of mere men for only a few days, weeks, or months until you finally die, is infinitely better than what God will do to them for ever and ever and ever?!

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Right?

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Burned at the stake – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GODS?

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But for those who are standing in the Valley of Decision today, it is very confusing to make a decision for or against serving Christ.

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Because, it almost seems as if there are two entirely different Gods in the Bible!

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Yes, there is the loving and merciful Jesus, who never ever tormented a human!

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And then, there is that “angry God”, who will mercilessly inflict fiery and painful judgment upon all those who rejected loving Jesus…for ever and ever and ever!!!

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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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So, what is it? Are there two entirely different Deities? A heavenly Good Cop/Bad Cop, of sorts? Well, that’s how it seems!

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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JESUS & HIS FATHER ARE ONE

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Listen… “Jesus saith unto him,

‘Have I been so long time with you,

and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?

he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father;

and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?'”

John 14:9

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Here we see that there is no Good Cop/Bad Cop up there in Heaven! Jesus and His Father are one! One in purpose! One in love and mercy!

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As John says… “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1st John 4:16

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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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“Now, forget everything you’ve learned!”

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Now, after Jesus has spent countless hours teaching us to love and sympathize and have compassion for the lost and suffering ones in this world of woe, are we to believe that we’re not going to shed even one little teardrop for the 90% or higher, of earth’s inhabitants, who, supposedly, will be suffering in flames of fiery vengeance throughout eternity future?!

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Sounds rather ridiculous, doesn’t it? That’s because it is ridiculous! And unbiblical too!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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IGNORING MANY BIBLE PASSAGES

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The problem is, those who believe this old church-doctrine, do not consider all the many passages in Scripture which say such things as…

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“Why died I not from the womb?

why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

With kings and counsellors of the earth,

which built desolate places for themselves;

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver…

There (in Hell, or Sheol, or the Grave!) the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there ;

and the servant is free from his master.”

Job 3:11, 13-15, 17-19

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This passage presents a vastly different picture of Hell, doesn’t it? But modern Bible teachers dismiss this passage as the mere ramblings of a depressed man, Job! But this passage is every bit as much the pure Word of God as is the parable of Lazarus & The Rich Man!

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And both need to be harmonized to get a proper understanding of the true nature of Hell!

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Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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ALL SCRIPTURE, NOT SOME SCRIPTURE!

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And let’s remember what Paul reveals to us about the infallibility of all Scripture…

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

2nd Timothy 3:16, 17

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So, this above passage by Paul reveals that Job’s so-called “ramblings” are every bit as profitable for doctrine and correction as is that parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus!

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ABOVE PICTURE – Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible

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JESUS: BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST ETERNAL TORMENT

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But just look at the life of Jesus! His whole life was all about relieving the sufferings of mankind.

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So then, how could anyone imagine that this loving, forgiving, and merciful Jesus is going to spend all eternity roasting perhaps 10 or 20 billion lost souls who spurned His love?

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That’s akin to God saying, “Well, if you refuse My love I’m going to torture you for ever and ever!”

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Does that make any sense? Hardly!

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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

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GOOD NEWS!

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Well, the very Good News is that, “His mercy endures forever!”

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There is no Good Cop/Bad Cop in Heaven! As Jesus is, so is the Father! And you and I will not be forced to endure, throughout eternity, the painful knowledge that billions are being tormented day and night for all the ions of eternity future!

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It’s all just the product of the ignorance within the apostate churches about what constitutes true Bible interpretation!

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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STUDY FOR YOUR OWN SELF!

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And so, this devotional encourages all to begin to engage in healthy daily Bible study and constant meditation upon the Words of Life.

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The Bible tells us…

“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you,

and ye need not that any man teach you:

but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,

and is truth, and is no lie,

and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.”

1st John 2:27

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It is high time that we no longer blindly accept the dogmas of the apostate churches, the unbiblical doctrines of overbearing radio/Internet/TV teachers, and begin to study for our own selves. As it says in the above verse, the indwelling Holy Spirit is well-capable of teaching us all things!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 12, CLICK HERE…

SEPTEMBER 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 12: Outer Darkness)

Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I’m tired of serving this world! I want to follow Thee with all my heart! Give me Thy Salvation, and release me from Satan’s Prison-House of sin and selfishness! Let me walk, even as Thou walked in this world…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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EARTH: PLANET OF REST

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Counting the Sun as the 1st heavenly sphere, the Earth is the 4th heavenly sphere. If we extend our theory (and it’s just a theory) that God created our solar system to correspond to the commandments, the Sun corresponding to the 1st Commandment, then Planet Earth would correspond to the 4th Commandment: the Seventh-day Sabbath.

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And so, on the very planet that corresponds to the commandment that exalts the idea of “peace” and “rest”, there exists very little peace. And very little rest. Ironic, isn’t it?

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And so the 4th member of our solar system, being Planet Earth, will be the host for this article.

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Solar system – NASA – Public Domain

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TOMORROW:

JULY 16 (All Comfy-cozy In Hell, Part 2: So, Just What Did You Expect From Hell!?!)

Welcome To Hell – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #561 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 11: “Is God A ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’?”)

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 27 (Eternal Torment? Part 10: “Endless Stripes?”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 27

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 10:

“Endless Stripes?”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

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A person has to ignore a whole lot of scriptures to arrive at the conclusion that the wages of sin is “Eternal Torment”!

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But more than that, a person has to completely ignore the wonderful and glorious character of Jesus Christ, to justify this absurd notion that 90%+ of the world’s inhabitants must suffer never-ending torture throughout eternity future!

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“…HIS THRONE IS UPHOLDEN BY MERCY”

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Oh yes, God is a God of Judgment!

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But He also is a God of Mercy!

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And so, as it is written…

“Mercy and truth preserve the king:

and his throne is upholden by mercy.”

Proverbs 20:28

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**And so, just how a person could believe the unbiblical church-doctrine of “Eternal Torment”, while telling the world that God is so tender and merciful, is truly mystifying!**

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A GIANT CLUB

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Well, on the other hand, the doctrine of “Eternal Torment” does indeed make a giant club to hit over the heads of all rejecters of Christ!

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**This “terrifying people into church”, perhaps, is one big reason why the leaders of the churches, through the centuries, have tenaciously clung to this old catholic doctrine.**

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Excessive brutal Force clubbing – cropped image – wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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A PARABLE IS MERELY A PARABLE!

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But just because “Eternal Torment” has been the long-held traditional doctrine of the apostate churches throughout the past centuries, does not make it in the least little bit, a true doctrine!

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The fact is, one has to diminish many Bible texts and truths to arrive at this unthinkable idea!

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EVEN IF the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus were to be interpreted literally, it could NOT be discovered that he was tormented eternally!

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**It just doesn’t say anything about “eternal torment” in that parable!**

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Hell – Jan van Eyck Diptych – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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RICH MAN & LAZARUS

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But truth-be-told, the Rich Man & Lazarus is merely a parable, and cannot be interpreted literally.

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It has just too many inconsistencies and impossibilities for it to be considered anything else but a parable!

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And parables were not given to be interpreted literally, but rather, to present spiritual and allegorical concepts! That’s why they sometimes make no literal sense!

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And come on! Who really believes that Lazarus was actually sitting in Abraham’s lap?

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And who really believes that the lost multitudes will have physical bodies throughout eternity, as the Rich Man had in the parable?

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Or that he really begged for merely one tiny drop of water? Most people would concede that the drop of water represented a tiny drop of mercy and grace.

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God has put in these obvious absurdities (and other similar impossibilities) to make it clear that this story is not to be interpreted literally, but spiritually!

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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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STRIPES (LASHINGS) ARE NOT ENDLESS

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Now there is another inconsistency with this church-doctrine known as “Eternal Torment”.

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Listen… “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will,

and prepared not himself,

neither did according to His will,

shall be beaten with many stripes (lashings).

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,

shall be beaten with few stripes.”

Luke 12:47, 48

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Now most teachers apply this beating to the punishment of the wicked throughout eternity.

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**But this above passage cannot be speaking of “Eternal Torment” since those who burn in the Lake of Fire are to supposedly roast in fire throughout the ceaseless ages.**

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This is what the apostate church believes.

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And let’s face it! “Eternal Torment” could never be considered to be merely forty lashes, but rather “infinite lashes”!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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WHO IS MY BROTHER?

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And in this passage “thy brother” is probably speaking of both the judge, but also, the man being punished, since Jesus is our true Judge, but Jesus also is our true “Brother” (Hebrews 2:11, 12).

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**And this passage too, is also very much the “Spirit of prophecy”, and very much is the “testimony of Jesus”.**

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Listen…“for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” Revelation 19:10.

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And so, the entire Bible is prophetic!

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In other words, all those Old Testament Laws were shadows of the Gospel.

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And they were signs, pointing to Christ.

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And this Law concerning stripes is also the Spirit of Prophecy, pointing to the Eternal Judgment of God.

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And so, this whole entire notion that billions of lost souls will receive endless stripes (lashings) from God is just not supported by the Bible.

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And it’s certainly not supported by these passages concerning the judgments of receiving stripes!

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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JESUS NO LONGER ON CROSS

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**And really, if the wages of sin were “Eternal Torment”, then Jesus would still be on the Cross, wouldn’t He?**

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**So, because He’s no longer being punished for our sins, this whole notion of “Eternal Torment” doesn’t make a lick of sense!**

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**And those who try to philosophize why Jesus did not have to go through “Eternal Torment” can probably “convince the choir” as the saying goes.**

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But those honest-hearted souls who love the truth will not be satisfied with hearing such convoluted wrestlings with Scripture.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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To read Part 11, click here…

JULY 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 11: ”Is God A ‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’?”)

Hans Thoma – The angry god, Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Jesus – Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a love for truth which causes me to insist on finding any and every related passage on any questionable doctrine…

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED SIGN

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MOON’S 1ST FACE

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Tilt your head slightly to the left.

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Do you see a man’s face?

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It’s that proverbial “Man in the Moon”.

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**We’ve always taken it for granted. But now we’re learning that God is responsible for creating this Nocturnal Watchman.**

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You see, God has etched Signs in the Moon, long ago.

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A story? Yes. And just now He is revealing those Signs. Just now He is telling that story.

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God promised that His covenant with David (who represented Christ) “shall be established for ever as the Moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Psalm 89

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Full moon over 96th St – by ed yourdon – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TOMORROW…

JUNE 28 (Flee To The Mountain! Part 2: Am I A Pillar of Salt?)

Mrs. Lot Flees , turns to salt – www.christianimagesource.com

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #543 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

.

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 9: “No Sympathy In Heaven!?!”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 25

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 9:

“No Sympathy In Heaven!?!”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

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A number of long-held traditional false doctrines have been handed down to the present-day Church…

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…the various Catholic holidays…

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…the “Age of Accountability”…

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…and the doctrine of “Eternal Torment”…

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…and “Free-Will Salvation”.

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And there are many zealous proponents of “Eternal Torment” in today’s church-world.

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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain (2)

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DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED

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So just why is Revelation 21:4 so damaging to this so-called doctrine of “Eternal Torment”?

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Because either “Eternal Torment” is true, or Revelation 21:4 is true!

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But they both cannot be true!

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In other words, Revelation 21:4 reveals the absurdity of the “Eternal Torment” doctrine.

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Hell – G. Dore – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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NO MORE SUFFERING

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Listen again… “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

***for the former things are passed* *away.”***

Revelation 21:4

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Is there anything here that suggests that “Eternal Torment” is the punishment for sin?

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After all, it says here that, “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away!”

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The River Of The Water Of Life by H. Melville – Wikimedia – Public Domain (3)

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NO MORE DEATH, SORROW, CRYING OR PAIN!

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And so, we can assume that God means exactly what He says!

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Because, if all those horrible things will be passed away…

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…then why do we insist that they will still exist in the New Heaven and Earth?

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After all, if the lost souls of our loved ones will be crying and begging for mercy, wouldn’t those cries for mercy be echoing within our hearts for all eternity?

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“Well. they’re just getting what they deserve!”, say the proponents of this God-hating doctrine!

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Buddhist Hell – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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NO SYMPATHY IN HEAVEN!?!

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And what about sympathy?

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Listen to what it says…

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice,

and weep with them that weep…

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them;

and them which suffer adversity,

as being yourselves also in the body.”

Romans 12:15 & Hebrews 13:3

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So here above is the eternal Word of God commanding us to weep and to suffer and to be bound with those who weep, and suffer and are bound.

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Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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NO MORE TEARS FOR LOVED ONES?

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And so, if our unsaved friends, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and our children are being supposedly endlessly tormented…

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…then will we be so satisfied with God’s justice that we won’t even shed a tear for their torment and eternal pain?

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Are we really to believe that when we get to Heaven, we’ll just forget all about the compassionate things that God taught us?

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Is it really Good News to imagine that a relatively small percentage of redeemed ones will be happily and joyfully flying through the eternal heavens…

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…knowing that 95 percent or more of humanity throughout history, will be suffering in some giant netherworld torture chamber?!

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Hardly Good News, wouldn’t you agree?!

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Doesn’t this sound totally ridiculous? Of course it does!

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Orphan on Mother’s Grave – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WEAK DEFENSE

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Do you see how impossible is this church-tradition called, “Eternal Torment”?

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…especially impossible when we consider that “God is love” and “His mercy endures forever” (1st John 4:8, 16 & Psalm 136, etc…)

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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STUDY CHRISTIAN! STUDY!

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And so, seeing that “Eternal Torment” does not harmonize with Scripture, we can take comfort that we won’t be crying in sorrow for this church-fabricated chamber-of-horrors!

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And if the Reader will simply study the many articles on this false-doctrine, then there will begin to be full assurance that God does not eternally torment our unsaved loved ones!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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To read Part 10, click here…

JUNE 27 (Eternal Torment? Part 10: Endless Stripes?)

whipping – forty-stripes – Wikipedia – US-public-domain. (2)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a love for truth which causes me to insist on finding any and every related passage on any questionable doctrine …

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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LOCATING THE DRAGON

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**The Dragon Constellation can be located by finding Orion in winter months.**

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**The Dragon is to Orion’s left, and the Dragon’s mouth is right next to Orion’s shield.**

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**This Dragon’s mouth is the V-like constellation The Hyades Cluster, which is the very same constellation that comprises the head of Taurus the Bull.**

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In other words, Hyades is also known as the head of Taurus the Bull.

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And Hyades is the mouth of this Dragon.

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The tip of the Dragon’s tail is composed of that star-cluster known as The Pleiades.

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The Pleiades is actually in the shape of a lion’s furry tassel tip of his tail.

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TOMORROW…

“JUNE 26 (Eating Like A Bird!)”

Saltine Crackers on plate – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #540 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 8: “Orphaned Scriptures”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 20

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 8:

“Orphaned Scriptures”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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ORPHAN MINISTRIES

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There are those who, for one reason or another, decide to share their love with others, by adopting an orphan.

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And there are a few ministries which operate in Asia and other places, providing room and board and Christian-based education for just about $600.00 per year, per orphan.

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One of these ministries is called “Child Impact International”. Their phone number is 1-866-569-7933

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Orphan on Mother’s Grave – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ORPHANED VERSES

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But this article will deal with another kind of orphan.

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You see, the so-called “orthodox” churches and denominations have a number of pet doctrines.

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And among those doctrines is the doctrine of “Eternal Torment”.

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ABOVE PICTURE – Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible

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RICH MAN & LAZARUS

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**Now, to be balanced, it must be stated that there are a number of passages which seem to suggest that there will be torment for those who reject Jesus: The Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus for one.**

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But also in Revelation 14, it speaks of…

“the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever:

and they have no rest day nor night…

and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14:11 (Condensed)

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These are the two chief passages which seem to suggest that torment, eternal torment awaits all who refuse God’s mercy.

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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STORY

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Now, from watching the TV court programs, most people have learned that you cannot decide any court-case until you hear both sides present their case.

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But after hearing BOTH sides of the story, then you realize that the case is much more complicated than you originally presumed.

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First woman jury – Wikimedia – Public domain

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LACKING A LOVE FOR TRUTH

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And so it is, with some Bible doctrines.

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**For instance, in the case of “Eternal Torment”, most churches and Bible teachers behave more like prosecuting attorneys, than truth-loving guardians of Scripture!**

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Most often, they only present one side of the issue, not even mentioning many or any opposing verses!

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And after hearing their lop-sided version of the truth, most church-attendees are convinced that “Eternal Torment” is indeed, the punishment that awaits all unbelievers!

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A newly-constructed chamber of horrors in which the torment and suffering continues on for all eternity!

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

Hell – Jan van Eyck Diptych – _Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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JOB’S REVELATION CONCERNING ETERNITY

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Well listen again… “Why died I not from the womb?

why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest…

There the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.”

(to read entire passage, click here…Job 3:11-19)

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Be sure to read this above passage carefully. Because it tells a completely different story concerning the state of Eternal Punishment!

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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MAN’S THOUGHTS PERISH

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But listen once again… “…His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth;

in that very day his thoughts perish.”

Psalms 146:3, 4

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Well, if man’s thoughts perish on the day of his death, then that well-known parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus must be spiritually understood to properly harmonize with this above passage!

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Old Jewish Cemetery – Prague Czech Republic – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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NOTHING AT ALL IN THE GRAVE (SHEOL, OR HELL)

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“…for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,

in the grave (Sheol, or Hell), where you go.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10

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Here again, this above verse presents a totally different condition to Hell than does our traditional understanding!

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Old Jewish Cemetery – Prague Czech Republic – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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BIASED & CRAFTY SPIN-DOCTORS?

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**Well, there are many other “orphaned scriptures” throughout the Bible!**

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But the bottom line to all this, is that these orphaned verses are given very little prominence…

…much less even get a mention by those biased teachers who merely teach a one-sided, lop-sided examination into the Scriptures regarding the eternal fate of the Lost.

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

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STILL THE DAY OF SALVATION

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The Good News to all this, is that it is still the day of Salvation! And we can cry out to God for mercy and grace.

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And we can use the little time left to begin to study for our own self, instead of relying on mere humans to tell us what or what not to believe!

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Listen, we are all in trouble with God (including the penman of this article!)

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All of us need to fall to our knees (spiritually) on a daily basis and plead for forgiveness and restoration!

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And then, let’s consider adopting these orphaned scriptures, instead of aborting them like so many Bible teachers are doing right now!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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To read Part 9, click here…

JUNE 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 9: No Sympathy In Heaven!?!)

Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a love for truth which causes me to insist on finding any and every related passage on any questionable doctrine …

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

THE END

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

.

LOCATING THE DRAGON

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**The Dragon Constellation can be located by finding Orion in winter months.**

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**The Dragon is to Orion’s left, and the Dragon’s mouth is right next to Orion’s shield.**

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**This Dragon’s mouth is the V-like constellation The Hyades Cluster, which is the very same constellation that comprises the head of Taurus the Bull.**

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In other words, Hyades is also known as the head of Taurus the Bull.

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And Hyades is the mouth of this Dragon.

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The tip of the Dragon’s tail is composed of that star-cluster known as The Pleiades.

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The Pleiades is actually in the shape of a lion’s furry tassel tip of his tail.

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The sketch below shows this Pleiades as the tail tip.

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Now with aid of a dark starry night, you may begin to connect this mouth and the tail with a very long body in an oval shape.

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The front and back legs are very well-defined with stars.

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The front legs are made partially of Taurus.

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**The back legs and rear fin are made of the Cetus Constellation.**

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But the long oval-shaped body has relatively few stars, but can been seen, howbeit with a dark starry night.

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The four stars of the front fins are made partially of Taurus.

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This Dragon constellation appears in the eastern horizon about mid-summer in the pre-dawn hours, spewing his flood-waters northward toward the Woman of Revelation 12 (Woman in Travail).

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The Wave of Water is primarily composed of the Constellation Auriga.

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The are two more less bright stars which are closest to the Dragon’s mouth.

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These two dimmer stars are also part of this Wave of Water.

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TOMORROW…

JUNE 21 (Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet, Part 2: Our Royal Priesthood)

Temple – Holy Place – High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #535 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 8: “Orphaned Scriptures”)

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 19 (Eternal Torment? Part 7: “The Hypocrisy”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 19

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 7:

“The Hypocrisy”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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A number of false doctrines have been handed down to the present-day Church: the various Catholic holidays, the “Age of Accountability”, and the doctrine of “Eternal Torment”.

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And there are many zealous proponents of “Eternal Torment” in today’s church-world.

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And even though this false doctrine was borne out of ignorance of proper Bible interpretation, the apostate churches are still ignorant of proper Bible interpretation to a certain degree!

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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain (2)

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BABYLONISH CONFUSION

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Now if things weren’t already bad enough, the liberal, apostate churches and what has been dubbed as “cults” are now beginning to reject “Eternal Torment”, which only further confuses the issue!

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And this rejection of so-called “Eternal Torment” by obviously false gospels has given “Eternal Torment” advocates even more ammunition…

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…ammunition to fire at those earnest Bible students who question this church tradition, as they say, “See? See?, it’s only the cults who reject ‘Eternal Torment’! And we who comprise the orthodoxy still hold fast to ‘Eternal Torment’!”

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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WHERE’S THE PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE?

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**But let’s set aside all the arguments, both for-or-against this church doctrine of “Eternal Torment”.**

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**Let’s just suppose for a moment that “Eternal Torment” is indeed, the punishment for all rejectors of God’s grace.**

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If those Christians who believe “Eternal Torment” is the wages of sin, then where is the proper response from these Christians?

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WHERE’S THE TEARS?

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After all, the proponents of “Eternal Torment” do not seem to shed even one tear when they talk about this church doctrine!

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More often than not, they don’t seem to be very bothered at all about this unthinkable idea!

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Because if we are truly indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, then we would love our fellow humans, as we love our own self.

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You would think that Spirit-filled Christians would be crying out daily, yea hourly, for God’s mercy and Salvation for the lost multitudes who are slipping into eternal torment every minute of the day around the world!

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If eternal torment was truly the punishment for rejecting God’s grace, then where is the proportionate response from those advocates of this unthinkable and hideous idea?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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“BE AFFLICTED, MOURN & WEEP!”

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The Good News is, that it is still the day of Salvation!

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And for those of us who have lived a lukewarm spiritual life, there is time to repent and return to God!

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Yes, there is time to put away our silly and foolish ways, and humble ourselves in the sight of a holy God…

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Listen… “Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God…

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and He shall lift you up.”

James 4:4, 8-10

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Here is what today’s church must do on an individual basis!

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And such a thorough repentance may just bring us to the place where, we will cry out daily for the salvation of the lost souls all around us, regardless of our viewpoint of the true eternal reward in store for the unsaved of the world!

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 8, CLICK HERE…

JUNE 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 8: Orphaned Scriptures)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to live my religion, instead of merely talking about it. Set me on fire for Christ, instead of just being another lukewarm professor …

Prayer at Day’s End – Angelus by Jean-François Millet – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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7 STARS IMITATE THE CROSS OF ORION

(LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS)

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This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

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**This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west.**

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You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.

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Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.

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**The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.**

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**The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.**

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**Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation.**

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**This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward. It stands upright a little later in the night.**

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**Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!**

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**Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.**

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**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!**

ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

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TOMORROW…

JUNE 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 8: Orphaned Scriptures)

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #534 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 19 (Eternal Torment? Part 7: “The Hypocrisy”)

Daily Devotional – May 24 (Eternal Torment? Part 6: “The Best Kept Secret In Hell”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – May 24

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 6:

“The Best Kept Secret In Hell”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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During most of WWII, the general populace of Germany was unaware that millions of Jews were being imprisoned, suffering, sometimes even tortured, and finally ushered into so-called “showers”, in which they were gassed to death.

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Yes, the cruel Nazi regime somehow kept this all a big secret from the citizens of Germany, until the war was almost over!

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Because those wicked Nazi officials knew that if the general populace discovered this horrible cruelty, there would be a mass uprising and rebellion against the “Third Reich”.

(The Reader is invited to click on this link for a 150-minute movie, “The Hiding Place”, dramatizing the true story of one family in Germany that provided a hiding place for Jewish citizens being ruthlessly hunted down and murdered by the Nazis during WWII)

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Adolph Hitler – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Nazi Death Camp – Corpses Wagon Buchenwald 18th – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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LOVED ONES FORGOTTEN?

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Two hosts on a popular Christian radio show were taking calls from listeners on various questions about the Bible.

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**And one of the callers asked about this church doctrine, “Eternal Torment”…**

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“How are we going to be happy in Heaven for all eternity, knowing that our loved ones are being tormented in fire throughout the endless ions of eternity future?”

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With such peace and quiet confidence, the hosts assured the caller that those redeemed ones will not have any knowledge of all the torment that is occurring throughout eternity.

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And for a Bible reference, came this following quote… “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17

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**And with these so-called “comforting” words, the caller said, “thank-you” and the next caller asked a different question.**

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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***THIS WORLD IS FORGOTTEN,* *BUT NOT OUR LOVED ONES!***

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One problem with this answer is that this above verse must be balanced together with other related Bible passages!

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Scripture must be compared with all other related scriptures in order to find truth!

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And so, what the talk show host did not do, was to quote the following verse from Revelation…

…”And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow,

nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

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Yes, those former things are “passed away” as this above verse actually says! That’s why Isaiah 65:13 tells us, “the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind”!

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The fact is, the former things won’t even exist any longer, as Revelation 21:4 reveals!

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The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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JUST WHAT ARE “THE FORMER THINGS”?

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**Yes, those former things are “passed away” as Revelation 21:4 reveals!**

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**And just what, “former things are passed away”, as this above verse speaks of?**

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Well, for instance, just look at all these instruments of torture in the photo: torture devices once used upon Bible-believing Christians, in hopes of forcing their allegiance to the apostate church of that day.

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But all such torment will be forever vanquished throughout eternity future!

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Diverse torture instruments – cropped photo – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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TWO VERSES TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT

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The fact is, this entire false doctrine of so-called, “Eternal Torment” has been largely built upon a misunderstanding of two passages: The Rich Man & Lazarus, and Revelation 14, in which it states, “and the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and for ever.” (Luke 16:19-31 & Revelation 14:11)

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**And if these two passages were all we had to go on, then yes, “Eternal Torment” would seem to be the destiny for all the unbelievers, through the history of the world!**

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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***MANY VERSES SPEAK OF HELL* *AS “THE GRAVE”***

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But fortunately, God is faithful, and has given us many other passages which reveal… “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4, 8)

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And beside those two above verses, this passage from Job gives a vastly different portrait of the state of lost souls in the grave…

“There (in “Sheol”, “Hell”, or “the grave”) the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.”

Job 3:17, 18

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So why do these theologians, pastors, and Bible teachers ignore or try to wrestle away all the many Bible passages which refute their favorite, non-biblical church-doctrine, “Eternal Torment”?

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Because, today’s churches continue to drink of the poisonous wine of false doctrines held in the hand of Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots (the apostate churches)!

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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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HEAVEN JUST LIKE NAZIS!?!

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Do you see the absurdity of this old church doctrine?

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Do you see just how much of an impossible idea this is?

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And just like all those naive citizens of Nazi Germany, that radio talk-show host would have Christians to believe that they will be blissfully flying around Heaven…

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…totally ignorant that their unsaved friends and loved-ones and the entire unsaved human race are supposedly being tortured by Jesus, throughout the endless ions of eternity future!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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GOD UNDERSTANDS SATAN’S POWER

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So, God realizes just how powerful tradition can be.

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And as one former Nazi, Joseph Goebbels used to say, “A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.”

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And so, God fully understands how these ideas are being pounded into the heads of listeners to religious radio and TV, “day-in & day-out”!

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Joseph Goebbels – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license.

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“THE MULTITUDE OF HIS MERCIES”

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But once we discover that Jesus is not some cruel Hitleresque dictator, not having one drop of mercy for the lost ones, we can then begin to grow into mature Christians who intelligently and biblically understand the Lord…

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Listen to God’s true character…

“But though He cause grief,

yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth,”

Lamentation 3:32-34.

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Is this above passage describing a merciless God who has an eternal torture chamber?

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Of course not!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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TO READ PART 7, CLICK HERE…

JUNE 19 (Eternal Torment? Part 7: The Hypocrisy)

Buddhist Hell – Wikipedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to understand the proper way to study my Bible! Let me depend less on what others tell me the Bible says, and more on what the Spirit of God reveals! Help me to study and contemplate the Bible throughout my day…

USMC- prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS

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This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

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**This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west.**

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You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.

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Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.

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**The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.**

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**The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.**

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**Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward.**

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It stands upright a little later in the night.

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**Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!**

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**Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.**

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**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!**

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ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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TOMORROW…

” MAY 25 ( pH Imbalanced Churches)”

Universal indicator paper – Wikipedia – Universal Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #509 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional – May 24 (Eternal Torment? Part 6: “The Best Kept Secret In Hell”)

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 28 (Eternal Torment: Part 21: “Did Jesus Get Off Too Easy?”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 28

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Eternal Torment,

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Part 21:

“Did Jesus Get Off Too Easy?”

TO READ PART 1, CLICK HERE…September 8th (Eternal Torment?)

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So why does this devotional have such an outrageous title?

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Why do we dare use the title, “Did Jesus Get Off Too Easy?”

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**Because, if indeed this ancient church-doctrine which men have named, “Eternal Torment” is true, then Jesus really had it far too easy!**

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ETERNAL TORMENT REQUIRES ETERNAL PAYMENT

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And why is this devotional making such an outrageous condemnation of Jesus?

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**Because, if “Eternal Torment” was true (which it isn’t), then six hours on the Cross was not enough!**

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Not even 600 hours! Nor 6,000 hours!

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Nor 6,000,000 hours!

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Nor 6,000,000 years!

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Nor 6,000,000 ions of ages!

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You see, if my little atheist grandma has to suffer in roasting flames for billions and billions of ages, then what Jesus did on the Cross was a sham!

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A hoax! A fraud!

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Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website

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MISGUIDED THEOLOGY of the PAST

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**Well, fortunately, “Eternal Torment” is not the punishment for unbelievers.**

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**No, “Eternal Torment” is just the product of some really misguided theology, by some really misguided theologians, from a misguided church, which ruled many long centuries ago.**

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**Oh yes, if you had only read the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus, or if you only read Revelation 14:11, then you might come to believe in “Eternal Torment”.**

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And that’s exactly what those erring theologians did, many long centuries ago!

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And unfortunately, this monstrosity of a doctrine has been handed down to us through the centuries, and most are afraid to re-examine it!

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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain (2)

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ENTIRE BIBLE MUST BE STUDIED!

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**But by merely looking at the many other passages in Scripture concerning the fate of unbelievers, it doesn’t take too long to discover that the wages of sin is not, “Eternal Torment”.**

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No, the Bible tells us… “For the wages of sin is DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

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**As a matter of fact, the Bible reveals this same fate, “death”, in many other places!**

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JOB MUST BE IGNORED!

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Take Job for instance… “Why died I not from the womb?

why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest…

There the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there;

and the servant is free from his master.”

Job 3:11, 13, 17-19 (to read entire quote, click here… Job 3:11-19)

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Now amazingly, theologians today either wrestle away the plain understanding of this above passage, or reject it altogether!

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After all, they must reject the plain understanding of this above passage!

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Because it flies in the face of their ancient traditional beliefs.

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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EZEKIEL ALSO IGNORED

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And what about Ezekiel 18:4, which plainly tells us…

…”Behold, all souls are mine;

as the soul of the father,

so also the soul of the son is mine:

the soul that sinneth, it shall die”?

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So, what does this passage say about the fate of all rejectors of God’s grace? “The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE!”

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Now here again is a verse which flies in the face of this idea that God is some kind of merciless tyrant, who is going to allow 90%+ of the world’s inhabitants to roast in fiery flames for all time and eternity!

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Tissot – Ezekiel – US Public Domain – Wikimedia

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***CHRISTIANS* *BURNED***

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Well, one reason why the churches continued to cling to this doctrine so tenaciously was because they, the apostate European churches, were burning Christians alive during later centuries.

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And so, to justify what they were doing, they lifted those two passages out of context, and made God into a willing cohort to their own cruelty against humanity!

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(But also, this ancient church-doctrine, “Eternal Torment”, made a very big “baseball bat”, that the church could use to club people into submission to their apostate church.)

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Burning at the Stake – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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GOOD NEWS – GOD HAS NO “CHAMBER OF HORRORS!”

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The Good News is, that Jesus is not the tyrant!

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Oh yes, the wages of sin is death. And, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

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But those who reject the gift of life which Jesus offers, will simply get their wish.

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They will all rest together where… “the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.” Job 3:17

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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FOREVER YOUNG!

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But the really Good News is, that nobody even needs to die an eternal death!

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**In that heavenly “Promised Land”, we will be forever young!**

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And there, nobody gets sick, and nobody dies…

…”And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

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Does this above verse say anything about a chamber of horrors?

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No, the universe will instead be a place in which we will no more sorrow for our pain, nor for the pain and suffering of others!

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All those former sorrows will be passed away!

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River of Water of Life – H. Melville – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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JESUS PAID IT ALL! THEN HE ROSE AGAIN

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Yes, Jesus died on that Cross, to provide all this!

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And nobody really comprehends the tremendous price He had to pay!

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**But when that payment was fully made, He said, ‘It is finished!’, and bowed His head and died!**

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And with that one selfless deed, the sins of Mankind were all paid for.

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For all time and eternity, our sins are fully taken away!

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And in that Promised Land, the Earth-made-new, we will serve a risen Savior!

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And there we will truly live…happily ever-after!

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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TO READ PART 22, CLICK HERE…

July 3 (Eternal Torment? Part 22: “Ignoring Scripture”)

ABOVE PICTURE – Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to search out just what the Bible says about the nature of Hell. Let me not be merely a disciple of modern-day teachers, but let know exactly what the Bible says, and not just the pet verses that are currently being taught…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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EARTH: PLANET OF REST

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Counting the Sun as the 1st heavenly sphere, the Earth is the 4th heavenly sphere.

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If we extend our theory (and it’s just a theory) that God created our solar system to correspond to the commandments, the Sun corresponding to the 1st Commandment, then Planet Earth would correspond to the 4th Commandment: the Seventh-day Sabbath.

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And so, on the very planet that corresponds to the commandment that exalts the idea of “peace” and “rest”, there exists very little peace.

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And very little rest. Ironic, isn’t it?

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Solar system – NASA – Public Domain

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TOMORROW…

“APRIL 29 (The Fearful Message of Habakkuk, Part 4: 1-Day of Worship. 6 Days of Idolatry)”

Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #484 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 28 (Eternal Torment: Part 21: “Did Jesus Get Off Too Easy?”)

Daily Devotional – JANUARY 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 5: “The Talk Show”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional – JANUARY 20

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 5:

“The Talk Show”

To read Part 1, click here…“September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“Every word of God is pure….

Add thou not unto His words,

lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Proverbs 30:5, 6

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Yesterday, there was a radio talk-show caller who asked the following question…

“Don’t you think there should be some balance concerning the church-doctrine of eternal torment?

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After all, there are many passages which speak of Hell as death!

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For instance, Job, Chapter 3 is a lament of Job as he wishes he had never been born!”

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***“And”,* the caller continued, *“Job says in his complaint…***

‘Why died I not from the womb?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

With kings and counsellors of the earth…

Or with princes…

There the wicked cease from troubling…”

Job 3:11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A SURPRISING ANSWER!

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Now the talk-show caller was totally surprised by the answer that he got:

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1. “The cults believe in Hell as being ‘annihilation'”.

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2. “We trust in church’s long-held traditional belief of, ‘Eternal Torment'”.

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3. “Chapter 3 was a scenario of Job venting his frustration, and just like Ecclesiastes, cannot be considered as Bible doctrine, but merely the venting of Job!”

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Job rebuked by his friends – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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FAULTY REASONING!

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Now certainly, the first two answers by those talk-show hosts are clearly NOT THE CORRECT WAY to interpret Scripture!

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After all, every cult has a certain amount of truth!

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No cult is made of total lies!

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But rather, most cults are made of truth mingled with lies!

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So, truth can never be defined by what false gospels believe or don’t believe!

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Second, long-held church traditions are never the test of Bible truth.

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After all, there have been many long-held church traditions which are obviously unbiblical!

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The deity of Mary, indulgences, Purgatory, etc., are just a few of the many long-held church traditions!

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woodcut of the pope selling indulgences, from Luther’s 1521 “Passionary of the Christ and Antichrist” – Wikipedia – US public domain

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“EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE!”

Proverbs 30:5

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But perhaps the most amazing error that these talk-show hosts put forth, was their third argument.

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To say that the Book of Job and the Book of Ecclesiastes are not necessarily the divine Word of Truth is utter heresy!

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You see, the Apostle, Paul proclaimed…

…”All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction…”

2nd Timothy 3:16

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This above verse gives the Bible student complete confidence that any and every Bible verse can be trusted as infallible Bible doctrine and can be used for reproof and correction of any church doctrine.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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***MANY PASSAGES CONFIRM* *HELL AS DEATH!***

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We cannot just take the Bible passages we like and reject Job Chapter 3, and the other passages that speak of Hell as death!

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Listen… “Behold, all souls are Mine (says the Lord);

as the soul of the father,

so also the soul of the son is Mine:

the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Ezekiel 18:4

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No, most talk-show hosts only mention those Bible passages which affirm their own pet church doctrines.

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And when confronted by Job 3, or this above verse from Ezekiel 18:4, they wrest away these conflicting passages, or deny them altogether as they did with Job 3!

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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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GOOD NEWS!

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But there is some very Good News!

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**Listen…*“These things have I written unto you***

concerning them that seduce you.

But the Anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you,

and YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU:

but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things,

and is truth, and is no lie,

and even as it hath taught you,

ye shall abide in Him.”

1st John 2:26, 27

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This above passage warns us that there will be those who will attempt to deceive us!

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And this above passage reveals that we don’t need to let any man teach us!

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Because every true worshiper of God has the Anointing of God.

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Now that’s really Good News!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

.

TO READ PART 6, CLICK HERE…

May 24 (Eternal Torment? Part 6: The Best Kept Secret in Hell)

Buddhist Hell – Wikipedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me depend less on what others tell the Bible says, and more on what the Spirit of God reveals!

Help me to study and contemplate the Bible throughout my day…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS

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This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

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This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in.

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**You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west.**

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You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.

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Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.

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**The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.**

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**The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.**

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**Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation.**

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**This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward.**

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It stands upright a little later in the night.

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**Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!**

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**Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.**

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**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend.**

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This can be a great witnessing tool!

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ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

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TOMORROW…

“FEBRUARY 21 (Jesus is Come in the Flesh? Or Not? Part 2)”

Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #385 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional – JANUARY 20 (Eternal Torment? Part 5: “The Talk Show”)

Today’s Devotional – February 9th (“Waiting For The Church to Shine!”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 9th

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“Waiting For The Church to Shine!”

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“…if so be that we suffer with Him,

that we may be also glorified together….

For the…the creature (or, Creation)

waits for the manifestation of the sons of God…

Because the creature (or, Creation) itself

also shall be delivered

from the bondage of corruption

into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Romans 8:17, 19-21

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Now this above passage from Romans is very difficult to understand, as just about any Bible passage about the future is difficult to understand.

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But basically, it says here that God’s Elect have been called to suffer with Christ, so that we may also be glorified together with Christ.

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But that glory is only important because it will be revealed to the world!

**And God has subjected the world to vanity (futility), not willingly, but for the reason that, hopefully, the world might be saved, as they see the glory of Christ revealed in His people!**

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Listen again to the last line of this passage from Romans…

***“Because the creature (or, Creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”* *Romans 8:21.***

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Now, such a passage as this gives great hope for the future!

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Picture: The 7 Stars Constellation, as it represents God’s people (i.e., the 7 churches). This is a picture of the Church finally uplifting the Cross for all the world to behold!

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So, the question to be asked is this: “When will all this happen?”

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When will God’s people finally be glorified?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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HOW ARE GOD’S PEOPLE GLORIFIED?

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Well, listen to this next passage…

“And He gave some…pastors, etc…

for the work of the ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:11-13

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Okay, so it says here that God’s people will finally attain to the fullness of Christ’s stature.

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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“WE ALL…BEHOLDING…THE GLORY OF THE LORD…ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE”

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Perhaps this next verse says it the most concisely as any verse in the Bible, as to how God’s people will be glorified…

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Listen… “But we all…beholding…the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image…”

2nd Corinthians 3:18. (Condensed for brevity)

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So, here is what God has ordained for His Bible-studying Elect to become: changed into the very image of Christ!

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative commons lic.

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“COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!”

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Well here below in Isaiah, God speaks of the time when God’s people will finally get tired of trying to have Christ, while we’re still clinging to the world at the same time!

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Listen… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,

which they made each one for himself to worship,

to the moles and to the bats;

***To go into* *the clefts of the ragged rocks,***

for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty,

when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

Isaiah 2:20-22

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As this above passage reveals, God’s people will finally flee from our idolatry and from our unholy alliance with fallen Mankind.

In that day, God’s people will flee to the clefts of the ragged Rocks of God’s Word, for the fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty!

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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SHINING AS THE SUN!

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And what a glorious day that will be!

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Oh yes, this will be the day when God’s people will finally cease from mingling with the false brethren in the Church.

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This will be the day when God’s people will do what the false brethren in the Church cannot and will not do!

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And this will be the day when God’s people finally separate from the earthly Mammon which has mired us in idolatry and spiritual mediocrity!

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And this will be the day when God’s true worshippers will finally go all the way in following the Lamb, as He leads His Chosen ones to the top of Heavenly Mount Sion!

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PICTURE – Constellation- Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains Mark 13:14 This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture

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“Let the people praise Thee, O God;

let all the people praise Thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase;

and God, even

our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us;

and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him”

Psalm 67:5

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to use whatever time is left to prepare myself to stand in that Day. So let me immerse myself in Thy precious promises, as I fix my gaze upon Jesus…

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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7 STARS IMITATE THE CROSS OF ORION

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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS

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This phenomenon begins in October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

.

This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in.

**You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west.**

You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.

Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.

**The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.**

**The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.**

.

**Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation.**

**This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward.**

It stands upright a little later in the night.

**Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!**

**Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.**

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**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend.**

This can be a great witnessing tool!

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ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

Picture: The 7 Stars Constellation, as it represents God’s people (i.e., the 7 churches). This is a picture of the Church finally uplifting the Cross for all the world to behold!

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TOMORROW…

February 10th (Television in a Perfect World!)

Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #40 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #40

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – February 9th (“Waiting For The Church to Shine!”)

Today’s Devotional – March 10th (Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 5: Vain-Confidence)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – March 10th

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Pilgrim’s Progress: “Vain-Confidence”

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In John Bunyan’s remarkable allegorical tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, there was a character called “Vain-Confidence”. (Vain actually means “worthless”)

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And this most unfortunate fellow was true to his name!

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You see, this Vain-Confidence did not enter into the pilgrim’s journey through that absolutely required, “Wicket Gate”!

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And as a result, his experiences were nothing like the pilgrim’s experiences!

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Vain-Confidence – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“…He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber…”

John 10:1, 2

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**This above passage speaks of those self-deceived ones whom Bunyan was referring to, in his character, Vain-Confidence.**

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**And just like Vain-Confidence, there are many modern-day Vain-Confidences who got in some other way than the Narrow Gate.**

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Perhaps by some popular evangelist or prophecy seminar with colorful time-charts, or by some exciting musical extravaganza or Babylonish holiday, such as Christmas!

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And while these exciting inducements drew them in, they nevertheless, did not enter in through the Narrow Gate, but instead, through The Broad Gate!

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VAIN-CONFIDENCE TEACHERS

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Those who have spent much time with Christian television and radio ministries can probably confirm a certain common technique often used by the various teachers and evangelists, when addressing their audience.

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This common practice is very insidious and very evil!

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**Yes, this very deceptive practice, is that of addressing the parishioners in the pews as though they are all God’s sheep, thus giving them a vain (worthless) confidence.**

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Have you witnessed this extremely deceptive and presumptuous practice?

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The Pastor, or teacher, or evangelist, will go on and on, giving practical tips and helpful hints into victorious Christian living, as though his parishioners are all born-again Believers!

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Audience hands – Wikimedia –

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“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1st Corinthians 2:14

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The Apostle, Paul realized that the Corinthians church suffered deep spiritual troubles, causing him to confess…

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,

but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”

1st Corinthians 3:1

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**He saw that they were, at best, “babes in Christ”.**

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And probably because of their unspiritual condition, Paul also confessed…

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

1st Corinthians 2:2

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Paul the Apostle – cropped & brightened photo – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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DECEIVING EVEN THE ELECT

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And in this day of great apostasy within the churches, there are probably very few, if any, who are truly God’s sheep in any one particular local congregation.

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And so, the featured Bible passage for today’s devotional is very pertinent:

“He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous;

him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,

and a good blessing shall come upon them.”

Proverbs 24:24, 25.

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This passage reminds us of these modern-day preachers being discussed today, who never ever should lead anyone to believe that they are saved, when they are not!

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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HIS FATEFUL END

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But back to the story of Vain-Confidence.

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At the end of their pilgrimage, the two pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, crossed through that River of Death, finally entering into the wonderful and glorious Promised Land!

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And soon after, poor Vain-Confidence came along too, riding on a hired ferry-boat!

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But when standing before the entrance into the City, it was discovered that this Vain-Confidence had not the proper certification papers!

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And so, poor Vain-Confidence was cast out through a door, which took him from the Celestial City directly down, down, down, to Hell!

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The Pilgrim’s Progress by Byam Shaw – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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THE TRUE PILGRIM

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But like Hopeful and Christian, there are true pilgrims sprinkled here and there, in today’s church-world.

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**Yes, and every true pilgrim who has the hope of meeting Christ at His Coming, is actively engaging in the purification process (see 1st John 3:3).**

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He is seeking to separate his or her own self from as much ungodly associations as possible.

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**He is seriously striving to walk, “even as Jesus walked”, and deeply grieved when overtaken by some sin.**

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**He sees himself as a stranger and pilgrim, sojourning through this dark and hopeless world.**

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The Word of God is his delight and is his counselor.

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The Psalms are as cool water to his thirsty soul, speaking of the same trials and joys that he is experiencing!

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He loves to get alone with God in the sweet hours of prayer.

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He shuns all outward display and strives for the simplicity which Jesus displayed.

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He loves to talk with other Believers about Jesus, and about Christ’s many wonderful qualities.

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He rejoices to make sacrifices, so that he can more closely imitate His self-sacrificing Lord.

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He patiently endures the chastening of the Lord, crying out for deliverance, but also for wisdom, so as to learn from these oft unpleasant trials.

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And he loves to share his victories and even his many trials with other Believers, who are likewise experiencing the same things in the world.

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And he longs for the day when he will open his eyes on Resurrection Morning, only to see the smiling face of His Lord, and hear the words… “enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:23

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Yes, these are just some of the qualities which the true worshipper of God will have in his or her life.

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And Mr. Bunyan has given us this dramatic comparison between the true pilgrims, and that Vain-Confidence fellow.

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Pilgrim’s Progress – Henry Altemus, 1890, p. 47 – Wikimedia – public domain

Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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To read part 6, click here…

“February 12th (Pilgrim’s Family’s Progress!)”

Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me often test myself, and see if there is any selfish way in me. Turn me from all presumptuous and vain confidence…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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NARROW GATE STARS LOCATION

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter.

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**Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story).**

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Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon

(This sketch is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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**And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left).**

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**But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan.**

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**The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.**

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark).

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**While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions.**

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It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars.

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**The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle.**

(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The R eaper”.)

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The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here).

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**The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).**

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TOMORROW…

“March 11th (Just Two Wings of the Same Bird!)”

Black-headed Gull – St_James Park London GNU Free Doc. License

.

20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #69 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #69

.

Above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Today’s Devotional – March 10th (Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 5: Vain-Confidence)

Today’s Devotional – March 9th (Free-will? What Free-will!? Part 1)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – March 9th

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Free-will? What Free-will!?

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Part 1

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“Ye have not chosen Me (Jesus), but I have chosen you,

and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit,

and that your fruit should remain:

that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name,

He may give it you…And when the Gentiles heard this,

they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord:

and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”

John 15:16 & Acts 13:48

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**The term, “free-will” is often heard bandied-about in Christian circles.**

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**No, not those “free-will offerings” spoken of in the Old Testament.**

Those offerings concerned the chosen people of God.

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**No, but rather, the “free-will” which is so often spoken of today, concerns the human race, and their innate ability to choose Salvation, or not choose Salvation.**

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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WHAT FREE-WILL!?

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And so, to this currently popular doctrine comes the response, “free-will? What free-will!?”

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And today will be a quick glance into just what the Bible says about this subject.

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But truth is not defined by human reason.

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No! Truth is defined by divine wisdom, as revealed in the Scriptures.

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Beware of dogma – Wikimedia – public-domain

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SATAN: “THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD”

John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11

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The very first place which must be examined is what happened in the Garden of Eden, when Mankind chose to rebel against God’s divine authority.

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Just what happened?

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Well, as we all know, Satan was given rule over Mankind.

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Oh yes, God was still the ultimate supreme authority.

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But Satan became known as, “the god of this world”. (2nd Corinthians 4:4).

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US public domain

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MANKIND SPIRITUALLY BLIND

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**The second point to be made is this: as “the god of this world”, just what power does Satan have over the minds of men?**

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Listen to this… “But if our gospel be hid,

it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom ‘the god of this world’ hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,

who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

2nd Corinthians 4:3, 4.

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**Now this verse says that Mankind has been spiritually blinded by “the god of this world”, so that they are unable to see the light of glorious Gospel of Christ.**

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Atheist sign – Wisconsin State – cropped photo – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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NOT JUST BLIND, BUT DEAF TOO!

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But that’s not the only place which speaks of Man’s inability to respond to the Gospel.

Listen to this…

“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for;

but the election hath obtained it,

and the rest were blinded

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber,

eyes that they should not see,

and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.”

Romans 11:7, 8.

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So, here is presented the spiritual condition of false brethren amongst God’s people: spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness.

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Therefore, they cannot respond to the Gospel, because they are blind and deaf, spiritually speaking!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James_Tissot – US public domain – Wikimedia

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DO YOU NEED MORE PROOF?

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Now does this take care of this notion that Mankind has free-will?

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Well, if it doesn’t, there is more proof!

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Okay, so let’s further explore this notion about free-will.

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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“FREE-WILL” NOT FOUND IN BIBLE!

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**Thirdly, besides the “free-will offerings” connected with the Temple Service in the Old Testament, the term “free will” is never used in the Bible concerning lost humanity.**

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“Free-will” is only used concerning Israelites in God’s Realm: God’s Elect.

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**So even the very name, “free-will” is a non-biblical term, except concerning God’s Elect.**

Yes, God’s Elect have free-will.

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**But it never, never says the word, “free-will” concerning lost humanity.**

**Never is “free-will” used in connection with those who are lost in the world and those who are still lost in the Church!**

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Jesus plainly told those false brethren… “Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word. Ye are of your father the Devil.” John 8:43, 44

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magnifying glass – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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HUMANITY SPIRITUALLY DEAD

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Okay, so what else does God say concerning humanity?

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Listen… “And you hath He quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins:

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Ephesians 2:1, 2.

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Not only does this passage call Mankind, “dead in trespasses and sins”, but also says concerning the lost, that they now have, “the prince of the power of the air, that spirit that now works in the children of disobedience”.

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Now the condemnation grows much worse!

**Now God calls lost humanity, spiritually “dead”.**

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But He also says they now have the spirit of “the prince of the power of the air” working within them! (2nd Corinthians 4:4)

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THIS WORLD: SATAN’S PRISON-HOUSE

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Now listen again to what God says here in 2nd Timothy…

“if God peradventure will give them repentance

to the acknowledging of the truth;

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,

who are taken captive by him at his will.”

2nd Timothy 2:24-26

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So, just at the time when we thought that humanity’s condition couldn’t be any worse, this above passage indicates that humanity has been taken captive by the Devil!

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Yes, this planet was eventually ordained by God to become a sort of “island prison”.

Kind-of like a “Devil’s Island”, in which this fallen rebel angel rules over lost mankind.

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Pilgrim’s Progress 15 p45_- There Sat A Man In An Iron Cage – Wikipedia – public domain

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MANKIND’S HOPELESS CONDITION!

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Thus, it is apparent from the above Bible passages, that Mankind is in a hopelessly lost condition. They are unable to repent.

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The only hope for Mankind is that God will open their blind eyes…

…loosen them from their prison and from their shackles…

…open their deaf ears, quicken their dead souls…

…nullify Satan’s antichrist indwelling spirit within them…

and “give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. 2nd Timothy 2:24

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Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

FEBRUARY 8 (Free-will? What Free-will? Part 2: Little Jack Horner Christianity)“

Little Jack Horner – WW Denslow – Project Gutenberg

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be prejudiced by the prevailing theories of the day.

But let me be like those noble Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily with an open mind…

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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THE SWINE: “LUST OF THE FLESH”

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“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1st John 2:16

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This article will introduce this third beast-like face, inscribed in the Moon: a swine.

And the three beast-like faces represent the concept taught in the above verse concerning “the lust of the flesh…the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”.

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**It has become apparent that the second face in the Moon, besides appearing as a wolf-like beast, also appears as a Swine.**

So, let’s explore this concept, for a moment.

First of all, when a person sees the second face up in the sky, it’s arguable whether or not it looks like a swine.

But it must be conceded that the photos do indeed make it appear as if this character has a “sawed-off” snout like a swine.

And of course, a swine is spoken of quite frequently in Scripture.

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Moon – Public Domain – 2nd face Pharisee Scorner – by Cezar Popescu for Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain – cropped, highlighted & rotated photo

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TOMORROW…

“March 10th (Pilgrim’s Progress: Vain-Confidence)”

Pilgrim’s Progress – Vain-Confidence – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY (#68) THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #68

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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #68

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – September 12th (The Narrow Gate Stars, Part 2)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – September 12th

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Narrow Gate Stars,

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Part 2

Continued from yesterday…click here to read

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“…And after three months

we departed in a ship of Alexandria…

whose sign was Castor and Pollux.”

Acts, 27:41, 44 & 28:11

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FIRST SHIP REPRESENTS CHURCHES

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The above abbreviated verses from Acts, 27 & 28, tell of the Apostle, Paul’s journey to Rome to be tried by Caesar.

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These two chapters describe the breaking up of the first ship in a terrible storm, followed by the boarding and safe journey of the second ship to Rome.

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Now, for those who understand the spiritual, allegorical nature of the Bible, these two chapters from Acts, 27 & 28, paint a spiritual portrait…

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…a scenario in which God’s people have been sailing toward our own Judgment Day, using Paul and the other 216 passengers as a symbolic portrait of God’s people.

(read the article, “Castor and Pollux and the Mystery Ship of Scripture”, to get a fuller understanding of this Bible allegory…click here to read).

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“And so it came to pass, that they (Paul and the other passengers) escaped (from the 1st ship) all safe to land…And after three months we departed in a (2nd) ship of Alexandria…whose sign was Castor and Pollux.”

Acts, 27:41, 44 & 28:11

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It seems as if God is trying to get a message to us right now, in a day when a great portion of the churches and congregations have become apostate.

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It seems as if God is now giving us the message that the first ship must be abandoned, and the second ship is what we must now sail into the Judgment Day (which day is even just now appearing upon the horizon).

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“But…there arose…a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon…the next day……they…cast themselves first into the sea…And…they escaped all safe to land.”

Acts 27:14, 28:38, 44 (abbreviated for brevity)

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**Yes, it seems as if God is now giving us the message that the first ship (the established churches and denominations) must be abandoned…**

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…and the second ship is what we must now sail into the Judgment Day which is now just over the horizon.

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In other words, in a day in which we are so immersed in materialism and vain and worldly aspirations…

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…that this heavenly sign of two gates is beckoning God’s people to cast our earthly idols to…well…let’s just let Scripture speak for itself…

…”In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver,

and his idols of gold,

which they made each one for himself to worship,

to the moles and to the bats;

To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks,

for fear of the LORD,

and for the glory of His majesty,

when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

Isaiah 2:20, 21.

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Notice this verse is connected with Judgment Day, a day in which God “arises to shake terribly the earth!”

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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GREAT PARADIGM SHIFTS

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This world is now rapidly changing; natural and man-made catastrophes have been ever-increasing.

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World-wide paradigm shifts are happening so fast, swifter than we ever deemed possible; shifts of a nature which no one would have believed possible just a few short years ago.

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Once-trusted secular institutions are now promoting insane and deviant behavior.

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2004 Tsunami – Wikimedia

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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE

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Sadly, the churches of today are allowing such a low-grade of piety to be substituted for the holiness of Christ, that God’s people must make a choice…

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…a choice of whether or not to come out of the Babylon of confusion found in today’s churches, and enter into the Narrow Gate…

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…or, as Scripture plainly warns…

…”And I heard another Voice from heaven,

saying, Come out of her, My people,

that ye be not partakers of her sins,

and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

Revelation 18:4.

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God’s people must now enter into what Scripture calls “The time of Jacob’s trouble”.

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Listen… “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7.

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Jacob – Wikimedia-US – Public-Domain

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GOD’S PEOPLE WILL SHINE AS THE SUN

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The Lord has no intention of “Rapturing” a world-loving Church out of this fallen, selfish world we so dearly love!

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We must overcome the world. The main message in Revelation, to the 7 churches, is that of overcoming…

…”He that hath an ear,

let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Revelation 2:11.

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Yes, Salvation is by grace alone.

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**But those who are truly Born Again will go on in their Christian warfare to victory.**

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**Those who are mere pretenders will remain in their sins. The Day of the Lord will make clear as noonday, just who it is “that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.” Malachi 3:18.**

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DOOR IS STILL OPEN!

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Yes, here is the Good News of Salvation!

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This is the door of escape which now stands wide open for any man, woman, or child who is tired of living in the midst of this angry and hateful world…

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…a doomed planet which seems to be growing angrier and more hateful with each and every passing day!

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But the Gospel ship doors will soon close forevermore!

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Thus, there should be no delay to get on-board this Heaven-bound vessel!

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The place of embarkment is within your very own soul!

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Yes, this Gospel ship is coming by to get you!

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But please do not refuse! Just come aboard.

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Our ticket required is the Gospel of Salvation!

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Our passport is a mustard-seed of faith!

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Bring me out of my Laodicean lukewarmness!

Take away all the vain pursuits out of my life, and make me into a single-minded follower of Jesus…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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***CASTOR AND POLLUX = THE NARROW WAY***

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“And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria,

which had wintered in the isle,

whose sign was Castor and Pollux.”

Acts 28:11

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NARROW & WIDE GATE STARS IN THE WEST

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter, and even into June at the beginning of night.

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It is seen best when it is the western part of the sky.

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**The Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the Narrow Gate Stars as you can see just to the left of the mountain.**

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A dark night is best for seeing this.

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It begins with the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation going towards these two doors.

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The doors are each composed of two bright stars.

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**The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle.**

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The two stars that comprise the Wide Gate Stars (to the right of the mountain) are the two brightest stars of the Wave of Water (AKA Auriga Constellation) that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”.

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TOMORROW…

September 13 (“Do Replacement Theology Christians Hate Jews?”)

Anti-Jew – Anti-Zionist RallyFeb16, 2003

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS IS STUDY #253 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – September 9th (Eternal Torment? Part 2: “Is God A Big Meanie In The Sky?”)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – September 9th

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 2:

“Is God A Big Meanie In The Sky?”

To read Part 1, go here…September 8th (Eternal Torment?)

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CRISPY CRITTERS?

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A certain disgruntled ex-church-attendee actually held a longstanding grudge against God, and could sometimes be heard saying…“Well, someday…someday, God is gonna turn everyone who won’t bow down Him…into crispy critters!”

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Yes, this discouraged man only saw God as “A big meanie in the sky!”

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And he hated a God who would do such a thing!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“For our God is a consuming fire”

Hebrews 12:29

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But truth-be-told, there is a vast multitude who share the exact same sentiment about God: That He is a “Big Meanie in the sky, just waiting to turn all Christ-rejecters into Crispy Critters!”

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Or perhaps, “God is a hideous monster who will torment all unbelievers for all time and eternity!”

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Oh yes, such ideas stem from a lack of biblical knowledge combined with the longstanding heretical church-doctrine called “Eternal Torment”.

Hans Thoma – The angry god, Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“…they that are unlearned and unstable wrest(le), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction”

2nd Peter 3:16

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The great problem is, there are certain verses in Scripture which, if taken out of context, will certainly seem to support such an idea as “Eternal Torment”.

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And even the Old Testament has many passages which seem to portray God as a vengeful, angry, and wrathful Deity!

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Gingerbread Cookie – Wikimedia – cropped and altered – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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IS GOD A BIG SOFTY IN THE SKY?

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And equally as heretical, there is yet another class of churchgoers who err greatly, supposing that God is actually just a “kindly-old-grandpa-in-the-sky”…

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…a “Heavenly Softie” who simply overlooks sin, and by no means, would never ever “judge the world in righteousness”! Acts 17:31

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And just as the “Crispy Critter” heresy, this “God is Santa Claus) nonsense is likewise borne from excluding many other verses, while clinging only to those which bolster such false and simplistic notions!

Santa’s Portrait by T. Nast 1881wikimedia public domain

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“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”

Hosea 4:6

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The Apostle, Paul, made this complaint concerning the overwhelming Bible ignorance among God’s professed people of his day…

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,

ye have need that one teach you again

which be the first principles of the oracles of God;

and are become such as have need of milk,

and not of strong meat.”

Hebrews 5:12

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Yes, even back in Paul’s day, God’s people were greatly ignorant of the Bible!

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And Paul was letting them (and us) know that we must grow in wisdom and grace through a vast knowledge of God’s infallible Word! (See 2nd Peter 3:18)

Paul the Apostle – cropped & brightened photo – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

2nd Timothy 2:15

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**The correct Bible hermeneutic (method of interpretation) is that every Bible student must compare spiritual things with spiritual, in order to be “rightly dividing the Word of Truth”.**

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In other words, you cannot merely take one or two or even three Bible passages and make those passages the sum-total of truth.

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Scriptures must be compared with ALL other related passages to arrive at any supposed Bible doctrine.

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And even then, we must leave open the possibility that we may have missed other passages which will require us to further modify our supposed Bible doctrine.

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“Whom shall He teach knowledge?…For precept must be upon precept…line upon line…here a little, and there a little…”

Isaiah 28:9, 10

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And such false doctrines as “Eternal Torment” were concocted by improper and unsanctified Bible study!

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Bible teachers, even still today, will take some Bible passages while greatly ignoring others, merely to prop up this old Catholic church-doctrine!

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ABOVE PICTURE – Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible

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“THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE”

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But the Good News is, those who are willing to forsake this present selfish world, to follow Jesus, and continue in the Word of Christ, they will eventually know the truth, “which shall make you free”. (John 8:32)

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**Yes, such “Noble Bereans” will continually “search the scriptures daily”, even as it is written…**

“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge,

and liftest up thy voice for understanding…

and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,

and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 2:3-5

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And the ever-increasing knowledge of Christ’s infallible Word shall make these truth-seekers free from all the long legacy of erroneous and abominable church-doctrines!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO GO TO PART 3, click here…

September 10th (Eternal Torment? Part 3: “Meekness”)

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be given to a close-minded spirit. But help me to love truth, no matter if it means I will be hated by my own brethren…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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WOMAN FLEEING TO NARROW GATE

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**The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (aka, “Ursa Major”) is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left).**

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**But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan.**

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**The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.**

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark).

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**While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions.**

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It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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TOMORROW…

September 10th (Eternal Torment? Part 3: “Meekness”)

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #250 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Today’s Devotional – September 8th (Eternal Torment? Part 1)

By admin On January 16th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – September 8th

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 1

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So, do you have any loved ones whom you suspect are being tormented right now in Hell?

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Perhaps an aunt or uncle or friend, who died without surrendering his or her life to Christ?

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Does this idea make us wonder if God is not as merciful as we are told by our present-day Bible teachers?

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Do we have trouble reconciling the merciful Jesus with an angry God who will cast all lost souls into a subterranean torture chamber, for all time and eternity?

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Devil and Hell’s Torment –Photo by Rama for Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 France license

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JESUS & HIS ANGELS WATCHING!?!

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And how could Jesus and all His holy angels endure watching this unspeakable horror for all eternity, as is written…

“… and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

in the presence of the holy angels,

and in the presence of the Lamb”?

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Hell’s Viewing Gallery- Signsofheaven.org – copyrighted – not for public use

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WHERE’S THE “GOOD NEWS”?

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So, what’s the “Good News” if 90% or more of the people of this world, throughout history, will be roasting in flames of fire for all eternity?

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Oh well, the fortunate few will be flying around God’s throne.

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But myriads more lost souls will be tormented day and night for all eternity!

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So just how are we “lucky ones”, who have been given hearts overflowing with love and sympathy, supposed to enjoy the serenity of heavenly bliss, knowing that our loved ones are being tortured, as they continually plead for God’s mercy?

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Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

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MANY HARD THINGS

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Here’s the problem. God wrote the Bible, not always to be easily understood.

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Oh yes, everything necessary for Salvation has been made as clear as the noonday Sun!

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But many other things are very difficult to be understood, “which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

2nd Peter 3:16

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

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The problem is that centuries ago, this church-doctrine was concocted by the apostate churches of Europe, by unsanctified theologians, who lifted some passages out of the context while ignoring other passages, such as this…

“Why died I not from the womb?…

For now should I have lain still and been quiet,

I should have slept: then had I been at rest…

There the wicked cease from troubling;

and there the weary be at rest…”

Job 3:11, 13, 17

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This above passage from Job is just one of many such oft-ignored passages which must be balanced and harmonized together with all other related passages on the subject of Hell.

Hell – Jan van Eyck Diptych – _Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TRIBULATION THRU THE ‘DARK AGES’

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But it also must be understood that the apostate church-system of Europe, during the Dark Ages, desired to imprison, torture, and kill those who rejected their ecclesiastical authority.

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And “Eternal Torment” made that wicked church-system seem to be not nearly so evil, when compared with a monstrous “god” who, supposedly, tortures all rejecters of his grace, for all time and eternity!

Burned at the stake – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS…”

Revelation 17:5

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Now, the question remains…“Why do the so-called “evangelical churches” today still cling to such ignorance of Bible truth?”

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Simply put, the formerly Protestant churches of the Reformation never made a complete separation from that particular church-system.

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And these churches unknowingly became the “Daughters of Babylon”, daughters of their harlot Mother Church.

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Consequently, they ignorantly and tenaciously clung to some of the false church-doctrines and unbiblical holy-days of that apostate organization, even to this very day!

ABOVE ENGRAVING: Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – this old engraving shows that the Church once realized that the Babylon Mother of Harlots was actually the apostate churches – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“Come out of her My people…”

Revelation 18:4

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But the time has come for God’s people to make our end-time exodus out of this Babylonian, antichrist world-system.

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Listen to this end-time message from God Himself…

“And I heard another voice from heaven,

saying, Come out of her (Mystery Babylon), My people,

that ye be not partakers of her sins,

and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

Revelation 18:4

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Here are our marching orders! And though we cannot presently come completely out of this Babylonian world, we can nevertheless come a good way out, if we so-choose!

Picture – Lot Escapes – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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“bread (God’s Word) shall be given him; his waters (of grace) shall be sure”

Isaiah 33:16

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And the really Good News is, that God promises to supply all those who do flee out of the midst of Babylon…

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…and all such “escapees” will be delighted to discover that their heavenly Bread and waters of grace will by abundantly supplied on those spiritual mountains of refuge, even as it is written…

“He shall dwell on high:

his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks:

bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty:

they shall behold the Land that is very far off.”

Isaiah 33:16, 17

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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AND YOU ENCOURAGED TO READ PART 2…

September 9th (Eternal Torment? Part 2: “Is God A Big Meany In The Sky?”)“

Hans Thoma – The angry god, Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to properly search out this confusing matter of eternal punishment…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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EARTH: PLANET OF REST

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Counting the Sun as the 1st heavenly sphere, the Earth is the 4th heavenly sphere.

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If we extend our theory (and it’s just a theory) that God created our solar system to correspond to the commandments, the Sun corresponding to the 1st Commandment…

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…then Planet Earth would correspond to the 4th Commandment: The Seventh-day Sabbath.

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And so, on the very planet that corresponds to the commandment that exalts the idea of “peace” and “rest”, there exists very little peace.

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And very little rest.

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Ironic, isn’t it?

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And so, the 4th member of our solar system, being Planet Earth, will be the host for this article.

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Solstice_revolving_earth wikipedia copyrighted but free to use

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TOMORROW…

September 9th (Eternal Torment? Part 2: “Is God A Big Meanie In The Sky?”)“

Hans Thoma – The angry god, Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

.

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS IS STUDY #249 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Signs Of Heaven

Today’s Devotional – February 18th (“John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!”)

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Today’s Devotional – February 18th

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John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!

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It seems that Mr. John Bunyan had some inside information concerning the Signs Of Heaven: the signs revealed on this website.

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You see, Bunyan fairly accurately described the Valley of Decision Constellation, or at least the middle mountain of that constellation group.

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Yes, Bunyan wrote of the Mount of Cursing, Mount Sinai, in his discussion between Christian and Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

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THE VILLAGE OF MORALITY ON MOUNT SINAI

In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the pilgrim, Christian met up with Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who directed the Pilgrim to the Village of Morality.

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He could just live a nice moral life in this world, without needlessly going through all the trials and sorrows that Christians must endure, as they continue their Heaven-ward sojourn.

And so, concerning this we read in Pilgrim’s Progress…

“So CHRISTIAN turned out of his way to go to Mr. LEGALITY’S house for help.

But, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head;

wherefore there he stood still, and knew not what to do.

Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way.

There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made CHRISTIAN afraid that he should be burned”

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Now the Pilgrim described this great high mountain as Mount Sinai, which biblically represents the condemnation of the Law.

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And this mountain was hanging dangerously over the pathway to the Village of Morality (which symbolized those who attempt to live a moral life, vainly attempting to keep the Law by good works.)

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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Notice what it says concerning this high hill, “But, behold, when he (Christian) was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high,

and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over,

that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther,

lest the hill should fall on his head;”

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So, it seems that John Bunyan fairly accurately described this middle mountain-constellation, made largely of the Pegasus Constellation.

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Can you see what an impossible climb this middle mountain would be?

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THE MOUNT OF BLESSING

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Now it’s even more interesting that the Pilgrim was ultimately destined for the Celestial City, the heavenly Mount Zion.

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And once again, this Valley of Decision Constellation shows the mountain on the farthest left as the Mount of Blessing, Mount Zion (comprised mostly of the Cassiopeia Constellation).

And notice in this drawing, the Galaxy, Andromeda (which is in the Valley of Decision), appears as if it is making its way up to the top of the Mount of Blessing (Cassiopeia).

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This Andromeda Galaxy represents all those pilgrims through the ages, who decide to make the Pilgrim’s Sojourn out of the City of Destruction, (i.e., the World), to their ultimate destiny, the Celestial City, the heavenly Zion!

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IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION

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**It seems that Mr. John Bunyan had some inside information concerning the Signs Of Heaven: the signs revealed on this website.**

**You see, Bunyan fairly accurately described the Valley of Decision Constellation, or at least the middle mountain of that constellation group.**

***“So CHRISTIAN turned out of his* *way to go to Mr. LEGALITY’S house for help.***

**And notice in this drawing, the Galaxy, Andromeda (which is in the Valley of Decision), appears as if it is making its way up to the top of the Mount of Blessing (Cassiopeia).**

**Or am I willing to leave this City of Morality, i.e., this present world, and seek for that “better country”, that is, the heavenly Mount Zion, the Celestial City of God?**

**And there is much, much more to this Valley of Decision Constellation Group, as well! And all are likewise encouraged to read the articles concerning them.**