and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to-and-fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:”
Ephesians 4:13-15
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In yesterday’s devotional (click here) the concept was laid down, of just how often we might behave like babies, when God tries to remove some particular cherished idol from our life!
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And yesterday, the example of music was presented.
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Yes, many rebel at the mere suggestion that maybe I need to reconsider what kind of music I should be listening to…“You mean to tell me that I have to give up my favorite music!?!
“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1st John 2:6
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And so, here is another cardinal rule, which will answer many perplexing questions which will undoubtedly assail us: to ask ourselves…
“What would Jesus do in this situation?
What would He say?
How would He live?
Where would He go?”
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These are the questions which we need to ask, whenever we are in doubt!
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And of course, by studying the Bible each day, and contemplating those life-giving words, will more and more help us to comprehend how He lived, and how we may follow Him!
…But at other times, the soft strings will be plucked: very soft and contemplative strings will be heard; and also, the Davidic praises will be sung.
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And through the days of eternity, as the redeemed ones will sing praises while vigilantly watching over God’s sheepfold, in those lush green flower-strewn pastures which lay against the everlasting hills!
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And so, let’s not think that God is merely trying to take away all our fun! This kind of thinking is childish!
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This kind of thinking is “Baby-Land” (Babylon)!
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No, we can rest assured, that whatever cherished idol we lay on the altar will be replaced by myriad-more wonderful and lofty things to come!
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And truth-be-told, if you (or me) are truly filled with God’s Holy Spirit, our musical tastes will gradually change, until those swelling angelic choirs and those soft Davidic pastoral strains will become our greatest joy to listen to!
Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to fully comprehend your desire for me. Give me the necessary experiences that will mold and me into Thy likeness. Let me listen to the kind of music that you would listen to…
but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Proverbs 22:15
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Children are such a wonderful blessing!
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And to experience all the joys and even the sorrows that come with parenthood, all work together to help us to become more complete and well-rounded adults!
Well, actually, one needs look no further than today’s embittered political parties, to see some really childish behavior!
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You would think that supposed mature adults could conduct business like grown-ups.
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And yet, the current partisan political divide has become so deep and wide that it has caused many of the angry leaders of the land to behave in the most child-like ways: mocking, name-calling, temper-tantrums, etc., just like little children!
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And this immaturity has seemingly attracted many immature young adults (and many oldsters too) who gather into angry mobs: screaming, cursing, name-calling, mocking, lying, hitting, etc., as though they were little toddlers, fighting over a toy in a sandbox!
So, just how are we Christians like children in our relationship with God?
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How do we likewise rebel from God’s commandments?
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Well, maybe we are rebellious in many ways!
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Maybe we’re just not aware of how many ways we behave like little children, even babies when it comes to doing God’s will!
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GENERAL PRINCIPLES
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For one thing, God doesn’t always spell out every last detail of His desires for our obedience.
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But instead, God will, quite often, merely lay down principles.
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For instance, God does not explicitly condemn gambling.
And yet, He lays down principles, when obeyed, will lead us away from all destructive behavior!
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Listen…“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” Proverbs 13:11
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And there are other concepts and principles laid down in Scripture, which will bring us to the same conclusion, that gambling is not convenient behavior for the Christian.
“Dear Lord, please teach me to keep my spiritual eyes fixed upon Jesus, that I may truly know which way to turn, and what things to choose and what not to choose in life…
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
for we have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1, 2 (Condensed)
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There exists a lot of intrigue regarding just what star did the Magi from the East follow, which led them to the First Advent of our Savior.
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The Bible speaks of Arcturus as a possibility…“canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:33.
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There’s nothing impossible for God!
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Arcturus may very well have been that star.
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Nobody knows for sure.
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RE-FULFILLMENT OF WISE-MEN OF OLD
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But there is a much greater question that confronts Mankind today.
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Because, just as a single star guided those wise men to the coming Savior, so also, God is just now giving us many stars, to guide us safely to the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior!
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And so these starry signs seem to be the re-fulfillment of those wise men following the star, 2,000 years ago!
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GUIDE US TO HEAVEN’S GATE…
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And Arcturus is that brilliant star (3rd brightest in our heavens) which leads these Gospel constellations, Summer, Fall, and Winter Constellations.
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And these star-constellations present a picture story, a heavenly allegory of sorts…
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And Arcturus, our Host Star, will lead to an understanding of God’s Word, which will, in turn, guide God’s people up a narrow pathway; onward and upward through Heaven’s Gate itself, and ultimately into the very heavenly City of God.
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Oh don’t doubt for a moment that God cannot or will not do this! For with God, all things are possible! Listen… “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23
“Woe to them that are at ease…that put far away the evil day…”
Amos 6:1, 3
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Like never before in the history of this world, the two great warring factions, Heaven and Hell, have all but completely erased themselves from visibility.
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And as a consequence, the citizens of this world are now immersed in stark unbelief!
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As a matter of fact, even the very mention of a literal Devil brings out chuckling jests and eye-rolling unbelief from most persons.
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And as far as they are concerned, if there is a literal God, He merely sits out there in deep space looking down through some giant telescope, monitoring the goings on here on “good old” Planet Earth.
“he that is married careth for…the world, how he may please his wife.
1st Corinthians 7:33
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Now of course, the Christian must attend to the needs of their unsaved families, as far as possible.
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And that Christian will probably have to make many worldly concessions which single Christians need not make.
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But in any case, the dedicated Christian must not personally allow his or herself to become so caught up in these pursuits to the degree that one’s Salvation gets crowded out.
HAVING THE “PEACE WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING”
(read Philippians, Chapter 4)
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On the other hand, just because we find ourselves in the midst of the Day of the Lord, should not cause us to live in fear!
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If one’s eyes are truly looking Heavenward, fixed on Jesus, then there should be a peace which surpasses all understanding in the heart of that true Believer, even in the midst of “The Devouring Fire” now blazing on every side! Exodus 24:17
Well, the very Good News is that today is still the day of Salvation.
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And all those who desire everlasting life are invited to armor up and join in the joyful battle, the Good Fight of faith, in which Jesus has already conquered the enemy on Calvary’s Cross.
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“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13
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ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – Orion & The Revelation 12 Dragon constellation (comprised of Hyades & Pleiades and other constellations) – www.signsofheaven.org
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Strengthen my faith that I may endure the fiery trials which are just now coming upon the horizon for God’s people…
Pray for Our Nation sign – Wikimedia – Share-alike-lic.
…and various stars from the Andromeda Constellation (valley) Pegasus (Mount of Cursing (middle mount) & Destroying Mount (right)), and Pisces (Broad Way to Hell).
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The galaxy which appears to be climbing the Mountain of Blessing is the Andromeda Galaxy.
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The above Wikipedia star-chart shows this amazing constellation group as it appears from June to fall, just prior to the winter constellation group.
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Actually, these Valley of Decision Constellations appear in early summer in the pre-dawn hours. (Editor of this website has sketched in this constellation group onto this above Wikipedia star-chart.)
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1st John 2:15-17
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In John Bunyan’s infamous book, Pilgrim’s Progress, he mentioned that the town of Vanity Fair had different sections.
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As Bunyan depicts it, “there are the several rows and streets under their proper names . . . Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row.”
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And as it was in Bunyan’s day, so it is manifold more in this high-tech age!
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Yes, we now have so many more ‘rows’ to choose to visit!
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It’s impossible to even list them all!
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And so, this arch-deceiver has provided very many amusements and distractions and hobbies and sports and games; enough to keep us busy, till we finally wake up, only to discover that we and our family are eternally lost!
“No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life”
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Listen to God’s admonition to Believers, regarding keeping ourselves free from unnecessary encumberments…
…”No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;
that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
2nd Timothy 2:4
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As this verse reveals, we are to be dedicated soldiers in the Lord’s Army!
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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“O taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Psalm 34:8.
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Oh yes, for the unsaved, such amusements as ‘wanderlust’ might be just fine!
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After all, the Bible says to all those who are contemplating Christianity…“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” Psalm 34:8.
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The people of the world often enjoy many things in this world which God has created.
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In this way, they might get a glimpse of the Lord’s goodness even on a daily basis.
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“EAT, DRINK, & BE MERRY!”
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Listen again to Jesus…
…”And take heed to yourselves,
lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting,
and drunkenness,
and cares of this life,
and so that Day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
Luke 21:34, 35.
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This passage warns us to not get too far into the world, lest “thatDay” overtakes us by surprise.
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Even the “cares of this life” can become a snare to our soul, if we allow them to!
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There must be a balance in the life of a Christian.
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THE HEAVENWARD PATH
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God’s pilgrims must continue on that upward pathway out of this City of Destruction, on their journey to the Celestial City of God…
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…even if their family (as did that Pilgrim’s family, in Bunyan’s tale) refuses to come along.
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But it’s nevertheless tearfully sad to have to see our families, when they also become part of that rebellion!
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And yet, through prayer, consecration and clinging to the “exceeding great and precious promises” of the Bible, the Christian can achieve “perfect peace” even amidst such discouraging circumstances. (2nd Peter 1:4 & Isaiah 26:3)
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”
1st Peter 2:9
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Now, because we New Testament Believers have been chosen to be a royal priesthood, we have the responsibility to carry on the duties of the priesthood.
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And God expects no less from us, than He required from those priests of olden times!
It is nothing short of amazing to consider that God has made us living and breathing and moving tabernacles!
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And it utterly incredible to realize that we are to take this living, breathing temple with us through our day!
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And whether down at work, or taking a walk, or at home, enjoying our family, or lying in bed, or even in confinement, we can be engaging in ceaseless prayer, and contemplation of Christ’s Word!
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And so, even though at present, we are still physically confined to this dark, evil world, we must strive to make our surroundings as close to Heaven as possible!
“Dear Lord, Please give me an exalted vision of what it means to be a Christian. Lead me into holiness, so that Christ may shine brightly from my soul…
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).
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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The sketch to left 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.
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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 theDragon 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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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)
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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches.
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The stars are not in their exact place.
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However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky.
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But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.
There have been a number of Bible teachers through the past few centuries, who have developed the theory ofDispensationalism.
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And several of these men have had the presumptuousness to even put their own personal opinions alongside of God’s Word, in the form of a study Bible.
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And so, it became convenient for Bible students to buy these “Study-Bibles”, and merely accept those personal opinions, almost as if they are on par with God’s infallible words!
The great error these men have made, was to take this Word, “dispensation” and give it a greater meaning than God originally intended!
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In other words, by dividing the Bible into a number of “dispensations”, they then claimed that different sections of the Bible do not need to be obeyed.
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Well, of course, this is sheer nonsense.
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And yet, because these men put out their own Bibles, this heresy has been widely accepted in today’s church-world!
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HALF-TRUTHS
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Now what made this false doctrine so deceptive, is that it is true that the Old Testament Law had many types and shadows, which found their fulfillment in Christ!
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Listen… “For the law having a shadow
of good things to come,
and not the very image of the things,”
Hebrews 10:1
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For example, the various aspects of the temple, were shadows which pointed forward to Christ, the true fulfillment of the Temple of God! (For example, see Revelation 21:22)
But there is a cardinal rule which tells us about the veracity of Scripture…
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Listen… “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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And so, this above passage in Paul’s writings, assures that any and every part of the Bible is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness!
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CHRIST, THE FULFILLMENT!
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And so, we can read such books as Isaiah, Job, Ecclesiastes, or any and every other Old Testament book, and have complete confidence that they are the infallible words of God!
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Oh yes, the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, have many things written in parabolic language, and must be interpreted as such!
And so, we can have complete confidence that the whole Bible is relevant for us today!
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And yet, we must decipher just what is to be understood literally and what is to be understood metaphorically!
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And of course, there are many places, such as in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, in which is presented earthly moral lessons, but which also have a parabolic, spiritual meaning as well!
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And so, the Bible student has his or her work before them, placing verse upon verse, and precept upon precept, comparing spiritual things with spiritual!
And the very Good News is, we still have a little time left, to get busy with all this!
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And so, we are commanded to “Come out of her (Babylon), My people, that ye partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues” Revelation 18:4.
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Yes, the city of God has become a “city of confusion” (Isaiah 24:10), to a great extent, with all the conflicting ideas which are just now blowing in every direction!
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And so, we must come out of all the confusion in the world, and in the worldly church!
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And yet, if the Bible student will become deeply humbled before the Lord, and seek after meekness, correction, and truth, then may God hear from Heaven and heal the soil of our heart!
“Dear Lord, Give me a confidence that Thou art able to teach me all that I need to know of Thy Word Help me to get all the Babylonish confusion out of my heart and mind.…
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).
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.
It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.
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The sketch to left 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.
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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 theDragon 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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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service”
John 16:2
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But not only the wicked of the world are hated and betrayed!
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No, even Jesus, a totally righteous Being, was hated by the world!
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And just as Jesus even became the enemy of those who professed to love God, so too, God’s faithful remnant can expect the same treatment from today’s church-community!
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD”
Jeremiah 17:5
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There is an old adage in the political world which says, “If You want a friend in Washington (D.C.), get a dog!”
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Yes, Washington DC probably sees more high-profile back-stabbings than any other American city.
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But Washington is not the only place in which one must be on guard against being betrayed by supposed friends.
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Listen to Scripture… “Trust ye not in a friend,
put ye not confidence in a guide:
keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
For the son dishonoureth the father,
the daughter riseth up against her mother,
the daughter in law against her mother in law;
a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
Therefore I will look unto the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation:
my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:5-7
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So here is a warning from God to Christians, that we cannot place our trust in a friend or even “her that lieth in thy bosom!”
Samson in the Treadmill – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you”
1st John 3:13
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We live in a society which has misled us into believing that the vast majority of the secular world are benign and moral.
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And yet, the Bible warns us…“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you”. 1st John 3:13
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From this above verse, we begin to understand that the world is not our friend! Just the opposite!
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And listen again as the Apostle John continues…“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19
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Dear Christian, we have no friends in this world!
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Oh yes, there is a faithful remnant interspersed in the world. And the Bible tells us…“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” 1st John 3:14
SHARING HEAVENLY MANNA…OR JUST SHARING WORLDLY FARE?
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And even though we are to have the same heavenly love that Jesus has the unsaved world, we should never get the idea that we should form relationships with them.
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The Bible clearly commands to avoid such relationships with unbelievers…
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“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean [thing]”
2nd Corinthians 6:17
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Does the distinction become clear between evangelizing and fellowship?
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When evangelizing, we are trying to get them to eat of the Bread of Heaven.
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But when fellowshiping with unbelievers, we are partaking of their worldly fare: hence we are as though eating the unclean meat of sin!
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We must never forget that we are their enemy!
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And given any opportunity, Satan will work through unbelievers to destroy our souls!
And of course, Satan works closely to natural circumstances, in attempt to, “cover his tracks”, as they say!
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In other words, Satan chooses one type of deception for persons whose environment, physical traits, or personality makes them to be most likely candidates for that particular deception.
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Double-headed Aztec Snake – British Museum – Wikipedia – Share-alike license
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TIME & EXPERIENCE MAKES US MORE SAVVY!
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Listen… “…for we are not ignorant of his (Satan’s) devices.” 2nd Corinthians 2:11
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Yes, as this above verse suggests, the Christian, by God’s Word, and by experience, becomes more and more savvy as to just how this cunning serpent, the Devil, weaves his way back and forth through society!
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Listen again…. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:
be ye therefore wise as serpents (snakes),
and harmless as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
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Here in the above verse, is a call to rid ourselves of all naivety, and become “wise as serpents”, increasingly savvy about how Satan works his various deceptions in the world!
And so, in this one respect, Christians too, can relate themselves to serpents (snakes).
So, whether this sidewinder, Satan, is winding his way in the form of global paradigm shifts, or slithering his way around the lives of individuals, we can rest confident that God is only allowing these things for our good!
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Listen…“Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”
Psalm 76:10
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Yes, all Mankind praises the Lord, whether they like it or not!
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And in today’s crazy, topsy-turvy world, we may fearfully believe that things have gotten way-out-of-control!
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And yet, God is only allowing that which will be for His glory throughout the annals of time and eternity!
A new constellation has been revealed, as of about May 29th, 2014. This constellation appears as a serpent (snake).
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Its body is comprised of stars from the Bootes Constellation, and its jaws are made of the four stars which Babylonians saw as the head of Draco, the Dragon.
It also has a small single star for an eye.
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Now in this constellation is a group of five stars, which will be called “The Five Foolish Virgins Stars”.
These are located on the opposite side of the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars (AKA Corona Borealis), from the Five Wise Virgins Stars.
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But one big difference between the two is, that The Five Wise are curved around the Glorious Crown, while the Five Foolish are curved away from it!
Notice that this snake looks somewhat short, as if it is perhaps a sawed-off snake (picture right).
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What could that be all about? Well, the picture to the left shows us the reason why!
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You see, the Five Wise Virgins represent all those who were once a part of Satan’s Kingdom of Selfishness.
But now, they have been cut off and separated from that kingdom.
Now they have now become part of God Kingdom of Unselfish Love!
And that is why this serpent looks as if its body has been severed.
It has lost part of its body!
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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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So here in this above passage, God is revealing a great concept: namely, that we who are true worshippers of God, were once part of Satan’s kingdom. But God has separated us from that old serpent, the Devil!
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And so, now it is only half-a-serpent!
The Wise were once part of that serpent.
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But now they have become free from Satan’s Prison-house of Sin!
Like never before in history, this modern-day society has become extremely hedonistic!
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It can be said that we are a pleasure-driven society! From pleasure resorts, to sports, to television, to high-tech devices (such as telephones, video games, computers, etc…) we are indeed a very pleasure-driven society!
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Even in the business world, our entrepreneurship quite often becomes a competitive sport, to see who can be first to make it to the top!
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Now, for the people of the world, all this lust for pleasure may (or may not) be fine.
Yes, the Bible counsels us…“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2
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Do I devote more time to my pleasures than I do to God’s Word?
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Well, if I do, then obviously, I am a lover of pleasures, more than a lover of God!
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Do I spend more time watching TV, or perusing the Internet, or tinkering with my hobbies, than I spend in prayer and contemplation of the “Word of Christ”?
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So, these are the types of questions each of us must ask ourselves, if we indeed, are truth-seekers!
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GOOD NEWS!
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But the Good News is that, while we still have time, we can humble ourselves in the sight of God, begging for Him to give us a new heart that desires to do the will of God supremely!
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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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Now by a careful reading of the Book of James, it doesn’t take long to realize that the above passage is not merely for an hour or a day, or even for a week!
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No, as long as my life falls short of the Book of James, I must adopt this above passage as an ongoing mission and mantra!
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And through the power of God’s Spirit, our ongoing repentance, as described in this above passage, will absolutely be a joyful endeavor with measureless rewards!
In yesterday’s devotional (click here), this above passage from 1st John was touched upon, concerning spirits confessing Jesus, or not confessing Jesus!
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And it was revealed that confessing with mere words, that, “Jesus is come in the flesh”, is not what God had in mind, when He wrote those words by the hand of John!
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No, those words of 1st John 4:2, 3 mean so much more!
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Because every man, woman, and child who is born into the world, is indwelt by a spirit!
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Listen as 1st John continues…
…”We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;
he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the SPIRIT OF TRUTH,
and the SPIRIT OF ERROR.”
1st John 4:6
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So here we see that two spirits exist in the world: the “spirit of truth”as well as the “spirit of error”.
Yes, tragically, the people of the world are not void of the Antichrist spirit!
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Now, is there any further confirmation of this?
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Yes, listen… “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 2:1-3 (Condensed)
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So here is revealed another giant concept: the concept that Satan, the “prince of the power of the air” just happens to be, “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience!”
And we further realize that those who are of an Antichrist spirit, are not necessarily some sort of “hobgoblin”or perhaps, some “Dr. Evil”.
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No, the spirit of Antichristis merely the normal every day, run-of-the-mill working-class man, woman, or child!
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Yes, everyone who has NOT been “Born Again” into God’s Spirit of Holiness, is a vessel of “the Prince of the Power of the Air”, the spirit of Satan working in them!
And here is the real dividing line between those who love God, and those who love the Devil…
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Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ) purifieth himself, even as He (Christ) is pure!” 1st John 3:3
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This is the evidence of a true worshipper of God: a true consternation and sorrow for sin, which drives that Believer to strive for purity and holiness!
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.”
1st John 4:2, 3
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So, from a quick reading of this above passage, one might get the idea that the pizza parlor employee was correct by trying to pin down the customer by making him say the words… “Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh!”
Well, truth-be-told, if we would read this passage correctly, it actually is saying that when a person has the Spirit of Holiness dwelling within, his or her life will testify that Jesus is also indwelling their fleshly body!
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Listen… “He that believes on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:” 1st John 5:10
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Yes, the true light of Jesus will shine out from that Believer in such a way that, people will sense that a different Spirit is emanating from that person!
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There doesn’t even need to be audible words spoken!
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People will sense that a purity exists within that Believer that just seems to say… “My kingdom is not of this world!” (John 18:36)
And so, those two “babes in Christ”, the pizza parlor employee, and the customer, did not yet fully grasp what John, the Apostle, was actually speaking of, when he said…
…Every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God…
…And every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…
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No, they both lacked the spiritual maturity to understand that “Jesus is come in the flesh”, refers to Him taking up residence in our mortal bodies of flesh!
“Dear Lord, Give me the discernment to understand just what is the motivating spirit within my own heart! And if I detect a worldly spirit, then help me to not rest till I have found the forgiveness and saving grace…
The Bible is very closely aligned with wheat and with harvesting.
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God has compared His people to wheat, and He has compared the end of the world to a great harvest.
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And the Reader should keep in mind that we are all doing less than we could be, in our duty to harvest the world (including the editor of this article).
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And so, the concepts discussed herein are for all of us to consider.
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We can all repent, and grow, and do better.
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For Christ is our role-model, and we have a very high and holy calling to imitate Christ in all that we think, do, and say.
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31
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How would we want Christians to seek us out, if we were the lost ones?
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Wouldn’t we want them to seek us out…to pray fervently for us?
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Sure we would!
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Then let’s go do the same!
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The Bible says that “all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
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Do they know you by your love?
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Do they know me by my love?
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Okay. We’ve messed up!
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But it’s not too late!
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Let’s start today!
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Let’s get rid of our harsh and flippant words and replace them with tender and sincere words in our agape desire for their lost souls!
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Let’s put away our toys, amusements, and worldly ambitions, and go to work for the Master…
“…behold, I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;
for they are white already to harvest.”
John 4:35
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ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org
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MY OWN HEART SHOULD BE WHITE FOR HARVEST!
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“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,
but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
…Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;
and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3, 5
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Perhaps the greatest harvest we can engage in, is the harvesting of God’s Word in OUR OWN heart!
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It is by hiding God’s Word in our hearts, that others may begin to see Christ in us.
This is evangelism in its truest form!
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There are those who travel over land and sea to win souls for Christ, and yet their own heart has never been evangelized, nor truly converted!
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FIRST SOUL RIPE FOR HARVEST: ME!
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It just might be better to stay home and commit God’s precious promises to memory, and spend time pleading for God to remove my un-Christ-like harshness, than to travel to exotic places to hand out literature.
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Listen… “He that gathers in summer is a wise son: but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame.” Proverbs 10:5.
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This verse not only applies to gathering souls, but to gathering the Word of God in the heart!
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When Christ comes, He will judge us by how I used my talents to improve the spiritual condition of my own heart, rather than how many people I preached to.
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Just listen…“Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:22, 23.
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To be so busy in some ministry or church duties, without personal purification time, is futile, at best!
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The main focus of any Christian should be the purification of his or her own heart.
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THE GOOD NEWS
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Okay, so we all have messed up!
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But what can we do about it?
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We just can’t erase what we’ve done, can we?
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Well, we can’t! But there is One who can!
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And we need to go to Him in heartfelt repentance and remorse, asking Him to diminish the evil and destruction that our heartless words and deeds have done!
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Well, we have a promise from God…
“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 4:9, 10
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Yes, if we will only humble ourselves under His mighty chastening hand, God promises to lift us up and restore us to His service.
“I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
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One of the most well-known and beloved stories of the Bible is the account inLuke, Chapter 10, of Mary and her sister Martha, on the day when Jesus came for dinner.
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As the story goes, Martha was slaving in the kitchen, while her sister, Mary, was “sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His Word”.
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This made Martha angry.
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Listen… “But Martha was cumbered about much serving,
and came to Him, and said,
‘Lord, dost Thou not care
that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me.'”
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Now the Bible makes it very clear, that “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, Mary…” John 11:5.
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But Mary was definitely a Hearer, while Martha was more of a Doer.
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Martha, today, might be called a “multi-tasker”, or perhaps a “Type-A personality”, or even a “workaholic”.
The big point of this story is, that the Lord places a higher value on His people spending much time, listening to the life-giving words of the Bible, than in the mere performance of good works.
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Listen… “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path…
Mine eyes prevent the night watches,
that I might meditate in Thy word.”
Psalm 119:105, 148.
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And Martha’s bad attitude was exactly why it is of utmost importance to allow God’s Word to fill the heart and mind!
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To vanquish away such self-righteous pride, which obviously motivated Martha’s judgment against her sister!
“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
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Now God is not calling for Christians to cease from good works.
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Good works are not necessarily bad, unless of course they begin to eclipse a Christian’s relationship with the Lord: the daily, hourly, and even, our moment-by-moment meditation of His Word!
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But God is saying that what Mary was doing was the best work.
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And Martha’s judgmental spirit was proof-positive that she, Martha, needed a change of heart.
And those who seek to become changed into the image of Christ, will find the life-transforming power in that Word-of-Life!
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Listen… “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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If our purpose for reading God’s Word, is to get to know Jesus, and make Him our divine Role-Model, then God’s Spirit will open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of the Bible!
“Dear Lord, Help me to daily sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word. Keep me from getting so involved with worldly business, that I have little time nor inclination to devote myself to studying and praying and meditating on Thy Word…
This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. 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)
Now there is another extremely incredible aspect to this star-group!
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You see, if we could step back far enough (about several light-years backward) we would see this next constellation!
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It is called, “The Sign of the Son of Man Constellation”.
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As it now stands, it spans both the Summer and Winter skies, so that only half of it can be seen at a time.
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It is more curved than this drawing.
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But you will notice that the Five Wise Virgins are gathered at the right foot of Jesus.
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This reminds us of the story of Mary and Martha, when Jesus came for supper.
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Yes, just as Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, so too, these Five Wise Virgins Stars symbolize God’s faithful people sitting at the feet of Jesus, “hearing His Word”
And history books speak of Jonathon Edwards as being the author of the most powerful and most popular sermon ever preached, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.
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Yes, that sermon had a profound effect on many or most of its hearers.
And with one hearing, it is easy to understand why that sermon had such a dramatic effect upon its hearers!
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After all, it gives a chilling dose of reality regarding the consequences of turning away from the grace of God’s Salvation.
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Yes, this passionate plea by Edwards, highlights the fiery results which he assured will await all those who choose “Eternal Torment”, rather than repentance!
Christians in the Hands of an Angry God! (Continued, Part 2)
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ETERNAL DEATH IS FOR REAL!
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Now this devotional was not intended to debate the question of “Eternal Torment”.
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But instead, this devotional merely questions why the vast majority of Christians are resting so safe and securely in our TV room, knowing that nearly 200,000 lost souls are slipping down into the grave on a daily basis.
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And so, the obvious question that comes to mind is this:
“Could it be that the vast majority of Christians are not yet truly saved?
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Could it be that most of us Christians are merely fooling ourselves?
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Are we so void of fiery Holy Spirit, the very Spirit which once inspired men (and children too!) to lay down their lives upon the altar of self-sacrifice for family, friends, and even strangers…
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…eagerly willing to sacrifice their own lives for every soul in need of deliverance from the fiery vats of vengeance awaiting all who go to their graves in an unsaved condition?”
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Yes, if I truly believe that “Eternal Torment” is the wages of sin that which awaits each and every unsaved soul, then shouldn’t I prove to the world that I really believe it?
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Or maybe I should just simply quit talking about that subject altogether, and just keep telling people that, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!”
Now, “Eternal Torment” or “eternal death” is not the question of this discussion.
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But one thing is for sure…Eternal Hell, whatever it is, awaits all who refuse God’s grace!
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Yes, by neglecting the Great Commission to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel”, we will each be guilty of breaking the Golden Rule, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”!
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“WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR THE NIGHT…”
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Well, there is some Good News!
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Listen…
“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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David here in this above painting, is mourning for his sin and for the terrible results of his sin!
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This heartfelt remorse should likewise be our same attitude!
Whether you or I believe that Hell is “Eternal Torment”, or Hell is “Eternal Death”, the important word here is the word, “Eternal”!
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And as the saying goes, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!”
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And so, today I will pray for the mercy and grace to order my life aright, and “walk even as He walked”, even as “ambassadors of Christ”, in search of lost souls!
“Dear Lord, Give me a zeal for purifying my heart in Thy Word, and prayerfully ordering my life aright, so that all the world can truly see Jesus in me, wherever I happen to be…
And with one or two hearings, it is easy to understand why that sermon had such a dramatic effect upon its hearers!
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Yes, this passionate plea by Edwards, highlights the fiery results which he said will assuredly await all those who choose “Eternal Torment”, rather than repentance!
In this sermon, Edwards emphasizes just how long eternity is!
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And he presses upon the point, that being tormented in a fiery netherworld for all eternity, is an intolerable situation which never ends, and continues through the ceaseless ages!
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And so, for about an hour, this sermon repeatedly drives this point home to the listeners!
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And thus, after an hour of hearing the description of how long eternity is, it is small wonder that this most infamous recital about the fires of Hell had such a profound effect upon the Christian world who heard it!
But here’s the great question to be answered in today’s devotional:
“If Christians really do believe in this church-doctrine,
why then, are most Christians so complacent and apathetic toward Salvation?”
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Isn’t this odd? After all, you would think that the entire Christian community would be out there knocking on the doors of each and every neighbor and family member, warning them to “flee from the wrath to come!” Matthew 3:7-12
Considering how long eternity will be, you would think that preachers would be tearfully pounding their fists, pleading for parishioners to fall to their knees in repentance!
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But most are not!
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It doesn’t seem like they really believe the church-doctrine of “Eternal Torment”, does it?
Yes, you would think that those shrieks of terror from our deceased loved-ones would be enough to get us to begin evangelizing the lost souls in the world, beginning with our very own soul!
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Well, isn’t that what our predecessors did?
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Didn’t Christians in earlier centuries train up their children in God’s Word, memorizing large portions, to take that Good News of Salvation to anyone who would listen…
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…in spite of the ongoing threat of civil penalties for preaching that Gospel?
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And all this, while at the same time, providing for their family’s temporal, earthly needs!
Now this devotional was not intended to debate the question of “Eternal Torment”.
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But instead, this devotional merely questions just why the vast majority of Christians are resting so safe and securely in our TV room, knowing that nearly thousands of lost souls are slipping down into the grave on a daily basis?
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Listen… “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,
and those that are ready to be slain;
If you say, Behold, we knew it not;
does not He that ponders the heart consider it?
and He that keeps thy soul, does not he know it?
and shall not He render to every man according to his works?”
Proverbs 24:11, 12
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If this passage doesn’t strike fear into yours and my heart, then we are spiritually dead indeed, already!
And so, if we begin right now, to pray for strength to crack open our Bibles, to get to know more and more about the matchless character of God…
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…if we beg God to open our eyes, that we might look at life through the loving eyes of Jesus…
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…if we begin to study that we might show forth Christ’s holiness to all the world around us…
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…if we begin right now to cease all nagging and scolding of our family members, and instead, showing them our silent testimony of love, tenderness, and patience, making life thoroughly enjoyable for them…
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…then dear Soul…then, we just might possibly obtain that personal Christian victory…
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…a victory more wonderful and glorious than any previous generation ever realized!
“Dear Lord, Give me a zeal for purifying my heart in Thy Word, and prayerfully ordering my life aright, so that all the world can truly see Jesus in me, wherever I happen to be…
There were at least two “Awakenings” in the Americas, in which the Church seemed to be brought to revival.
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The reason why the word “seemed” is used here, is because in the so-called, “Second Great Awakening”, there were a number of false doctrines introduced.
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And many of those false ideas are still being propagated in today’s church-world!
One such false doctrine is that a “carnal Christian”is in a saved condition.
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In other words, there are many churchgoers who are still living in the flesh, thinking that because they are church members and have made a confession of Christ, that they are saved.
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And yet they are still worldly!
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And there is no shortage of ministers and Bible teachers, both on Christian television, Internet, and on the radio, and in the pulpits, who teach this great heresy.
Now, there are many other passages that could be offered as further corroboration on this subject…
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Listen again…“He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Revelation 3:5, 6
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Now this above passage is very interesting, because it is just one admonition among many in the letters to the seven churches(which are found at the beginning of the Book of Revelation!)
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower,
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and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
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And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
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For the vision is yet for an appointed time,
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but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
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though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come,
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it will not tarry.”
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Habakkuk 2:1-3
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Early Winter in the east – Orion, Revelation 12 Woman (AKA Ursa Major) – Revelation 12 Dragon (AKA Hyades, Pleiades, etc.) – Goodly Horse in Battle with Rider (Camelopardalis, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc…) – www.signsofheaven.org – Not for profit use!
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THE REMEDY…FLEE !
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When God’s people finally come to the point where we realize that we must flee from every temptation (as far and as fast as possible), is when the church will shine most brightly.
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During the Dark Ages, the Church fled to the literal mountains to hide from the apostate church of Europe which used the civil authorities as their army of enforcers.
But now, in these last days, our only refuge is in a total and complete hiding in our Lord.
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We must be securely snuggled in His Almighty arms…every moment of every day.
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For if we dare leave His side for a moment (during this time of trouble coming soon) the enemy will be waiting to devour us, or to inflict as much damage as they possibly can…
“Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me.” Psalms 143:9.
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This verse explains how to flee from your enemies.
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Flee to God. Trust Him to hide you. Get lost in His Word.
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Get lost in prayer. Hide in your prayer closet.
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Rest in His almighty arms.
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We are “the temple of God”.
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And as co-priests with Christ, we are to walk upon our high places of the heart!
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We are to cleanse our soul-temple!
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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 (condensed)
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And so, we are to contemplate through our day upon God’s Word!
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We are to pray without ceasing!
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And so, to walk upon mine high places, very concisely put, is to live a separated-from-the-world life, but a joined-to-Heaven life.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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GOD ALLOWS CHALDEANS TO CHASE HIS PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORLD!
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And so, one of the great reasons why God has allowed the Chaldeans (unbelievers) to surround us, is to give us a wake-up call!
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And needless to say, the condition of the world today is totally intolerable, as well!
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This is why we must flee to the spiritual mountains, realizing that the Abomination of Desolation has moved in to where it ought not to be!
“Dear Lord, Help me to understand the parables of the Bible. Give me the “hidden manna”, which you promise to all those who overcome the world and the flesh…
Here in this sketch is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter.
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Satan spews out his false worldly ideologies, which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness.
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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. God’s Word, the Bible is that sickle.
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The true Strait Gate is God’s Word, the Bible.
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As a sickle harvests the wheat, so God’s Word will gather precious souls to Him.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & wide (Auriga) and narrow gates (Gemini) – NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USES
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A GREAT SIGN IN HEAVEN!
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And so, God has placed a great sign in the heavens!
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The Revelation 12 Woman Constellation, as she flees from the Dragon, and flees to the Narrow Gate Stars, is a sign for God’s people to do the same!
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And though we must still remain and work and provide for our family’s happiness, in this Babylonish world.
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Yet, in our own holy temple, the Lord will begin to work a miraculous work, as He renews our heart, causing us to become transformed into the likeness of Jesus!
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And if the Reader will read the other articles on this website, he or she can learn the direction that we must all go, as we return to the highway to Heaven, known as the Narrow Way!
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower,
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and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
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And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
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For the vision is yet for an appointed time,
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but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
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though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come,
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it will not tarry.”
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Habakkuk 2:1-3
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PICTURE – Constellation- Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 (Not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture)
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HABAKKUK, CHAPTER 3: HABAKKUK’S PRAYER
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(CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY) Now begins Habakkuk’s prayer…
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Listen… “O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid:
O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years,
in the midst of the years make known;
in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah.
His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
And His brightness was as the light;
He had horns coming out of His hand:
and there was the hiding of His power.”
Habakkuk 3:2-4
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Now here we see that Habakkuk prays for mercy in the midst of the years!
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And so, in somewhat allegorical language is Jesus described!
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And in this description is mentioned the “Signs Of Heaven”.
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Listen… “His glory covered the Heavens” Habakkuk 3:3.
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Yes, this verse alludes to the signs which God is now revealing in the Heavens!
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But more than this, the horns of light were described as coming out of the Savior’s hands!
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This horn of Salvation by the self-sacrificing love of Jesus, symbolized by the nail holes in His hands, is the only truly Good News that the lost souls of this hopelessly dying world will ever hear: a Way of escape out of this hopelessly doomed world!
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Signs Of Heaven – Winter Constellations
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“HIS GLORY COVERED THE HEAVENS”
Habakkuk 3:3
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Now, the bulk of Chapter 3, is describing Michael, the conquering priestly-soldier (see Daniel 12:1 & Revelation 12:7)
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Yes, our priestly Savior will put on His garments of vengeance (Isaiah 59:17),
and… “In that day the LORD with
His sore and great and strong sword
shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent,
even leviathan that crooked serpent;
and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”
Isaiah 27:1
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Here is an allusion to the Signs Of Heaven, which is seen in the winter skies: “bow & arrows”, “horses”, “chariots”, “glittering spear”, “sun”, and “moon” are all signs seen in the heavens, being mentioned in Habakkuk, Chapter 3.
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yes, they are likewise allegorical pictures of the Gospel.
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HABAKKUK’S SHAME
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Now at this point (verse 16), Habakkuk realizes that God is the awesome and majestic conqueror of all evil!
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And Habakkuk realizes his own wretchedness and that he too was part of the problem!
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Listen… “When I heard, my belly trembled;
my lips quivered at the voice:
rottenness entered into my bones,
and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble:
when He cometh up unto the people,
He will invade them with His troops.”
Habakkuk 3:16
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And so, Habakkuk was happy to grovel in the dust, so to speak, in hopes that God will have mercy on his wretched condition. (Habakkuk 3:16)
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And Habakkuk sees that Christ is coming to invade Christendom, to slay the wicked, but also to deliver His Chosen people from the apostate, lukewarm condition of the fallen churches! (Habakkuk 3:16)
Now in Habakkuk 3:17, is described in allegorical language, the desolate condition of the churches, as Christ removes His people…
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Listen…“Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:”
Habakkuk 3:17
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These are obvious metaphorical images often used to describe God’s sheep (people) vacating the churches, and the Holy Spirit’s oil being removed, and the resulting lack of the fruit of the Spirit in those desolate bodies (Galatians 5:22).
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.
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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.
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!
Now the problem of Habakkuk is that Habakkuk is totally frustrated and alarmed, as he beholds the wicked coming in like a flood! (Chapter 1)
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Yes, Habakkuk is greatly disturbed, because he sees a vision of God raising up the Chaldeans (pagan Babylonians), to completely surround God’s Chosen People, causing them to lose their sense of good judgment…
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Listen… “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear!
even cry out unto thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!
Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?
for spoiling and violence are before me:
and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Therefore the law is slacked,
and judgment doth never go forth:
for the wicked doth compass about the righteous;
therefore wrong judgment proceedeth”
Habakkuk 1:1-4
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So, Habakkuk is crying out to God, because he cannot understand why God merely allows the wicked to encompass the righteous, causing wrong judgment to prevail among God’s people.
In somewhat allegorical language, God begins to present the sad condition of the Church-world.
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Herein is described the apostasy within God’s house.
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This is because God has raised up Chaldeans (Babylonians) all around us!
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Even in the nations which once embraced the Gospel, the pagans have moved in, and spoiled these nations! (Chapter 2:8)
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And these Chaldeans (unbelievers) are not content to stay out in society, but have even moved into the churches.
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Listen… “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:
but the just shall live by His faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4
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The same pride, which is prevalent in the world, has also entered into God’s house!
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And yet there are those who still live by Christ’s faith! (Habakkuk 2:4)
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Yes, God has a faithful remnant within the Church.
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And this is the true Church of which God promises, “The gates of Hell shall not prevail”against it!
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JUDGMENT TO COME
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The rest of this Chapter 2 goes on to describe the sins which a church-going man is willing to commit, in spite of the fact that those covetous sins will result in many others in God’s house, to fall and be cut off (2:8-10)
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But this chapter also reveals the judgment which is sure to follow the apostate person in the Church. (2:6-17)
Now the last three verses of Chapter 2, seem to be an allusion to this very day in which we live!
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Because in former times, it was impossible to make an image that could speak.
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The idols of yesteryear were powerless to communicate verbally.
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And yet, in these last days, man has been given the knowledge to invent talking images: television, Internet (and now, even the stimulating devices in “virtual-reality”), and even radio…
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…these all project talking images which promote this kingdom of Satan.
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And these images can travel across the world at lightning speed (“swifter than leopards”: Habakkuk 1:8)
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Now, the reference to these teaching idols being laid over with silver and gold, is an allusion to television being given “a form of godliness”, thereby deceiving the hearts of the naïve viewers! (see 2nd Timothy 3:5)
This constellation is made of the Big Dipper, also called the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major ).
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However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen.
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It is actually a headless woman in childbirth.
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This is seen in springtime.
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It is seen in the northern skies.
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But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down…
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…now appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward).
In the Part 1 (click here), the concept was presented of a man living on a deserted island finding a King James Bible, and beginning to study it, completely unprejudiced by church-doctrines and man’s opinions.
Now, because it was NOT the Vernon-McGee Study Bible that washed ashore, thisnaïve and pristine Bible student had to rely only on what the Bible says…
…”Because thou hast kept the word of My patience,
I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
Revelation 3:10
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Yes, this “un-churched” this Deserted Island Theologian had only to rely on what the Bible says in this message to the Church of Philadelphia, regarding them being kept from “the hour of temptation”.
it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
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Yes, this un-groomed Bible student is now beginning to understand just where he will be during that last great Time of Trouble, soon to pass over the entire world!
“…yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
Psalm 57:1
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And in his many days of searching, this island-bound Bible student also found this next passage…
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Listen to this same concept, of being hidden, expanded upon…
“Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers,
and shut thy doors about thee:
hide thyself as it were for a little moment,
until the indignation be overpast.
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 26:20, 21.
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Oh, so here is where God’s living saints will be kept from the “hour of temptation”!
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They will be hidden with Christ in,“Heavenly Places” (see Ephesians 2:5, 6)
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And so, this above passage speaks of this coming Time of Trouble as a storm, in which Christians need to hide themselves until “the indignation be overpast”.
Well, this concept of the “Deserted Island Theologian” seems to work very well in these days of apostasy, which we are now in!
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Yes, it seems this “Deserted Island Theology”method of Bible study, has just knocked out the major non-biblical pillars of the so-called, Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory!
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This is because this Scofield-contrived, Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory must be propped up by the non-biblical pillars, that have been focused on in today’s devotional.
And just one more verse that this Deserted Island Theologian found…
“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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Finding this above passage, assured this Deserted Island Theologian that he can rest confident under his palm tree!
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And if only we could be a bit more like that Deserted Island Theologian, then we might discover that much of what we have been taught is not really according to the pristine Word of truth!
Island of Chichimen, Cuyos Limones, Guna Yala, Panama – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Let me become like a Deserted Island Theologian, not allowing non-biblical titles and study-Bibles with man’s opinions to prejudice my thinking…
Now, as Deserted Island Theologians, let’s take, for instance, the theory of the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture”.
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Yes! The Pre-Tribulation Rapture!
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This idea seems to have gained tremendous ground in theological circles, over the last 100 years!
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Ever since the days that Cyrus Scofield first put his own personal opinions and doctrines along-side of God’s infallible Word…
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…as a result, this Pre-Tribulation Rapture idea has been gaining more acceptance by the general populace within the walls of the City of the Lord!
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SO WHAT’S THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE?
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So just what is the Pre-Tribulation Rapture?
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Well, to put it very briefly, this Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory supposes that the Church will be taken out of the earth…
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…taken out just prior to when the Book of Revelation begins to be fulfilled, leaving only Israel-after-the-flesh remaining to suffer the wrath of God!
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But also, those Jews will gain their ultimate redemption, as they suffer through that fiery 7-year period known as the Great Tribulation.
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Now it must be mentioned that prior to this Rapture theory, most Christians once believed that Christ would return on the Last Day, for His people!
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And this view was held by most Christians through the centuries.
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“THE RAPTURE” NOT IN SCRIPTURE?
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Now, by applying our Deserted-Island-Theology principle, the first non-biblical element which must be eliminated would be that theologian-devised name, “The Rapture”.
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Yes, because it was not a Scofield Study-Bible that washed ashore, the stranded Bible student was not able to find the name, “The Rapture” anywhere in that King James Bible (nor is it found in any other version)!
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And so, not seeing that name, “The Rapture”, he was only left with the name that God gave to the event known as, “The Coming of the Lord”. (see 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17)
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Yes, the Bible only knows the names, “The Coming of the Lord”, and several similar titles.
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NO “PRE-TRIBULATION” IN SCRIPTURE?
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Next, because this lonely truth-seeking soul had never read the book, “The Late Great Planet Earth“, he only had to rely on what Jesus says regarding “the Coming of the Lord”.
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Listen… “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.” John 6:44
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And so, not only has the name, “The Rapture” been eliminated, but also the non-biblical theory, “Pre-Tribulation” has now been eliminated…
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…giving sway to the fact that the Church will be raised up on the “The Last Day”, as it says in the above verse, John 6:44 (and also in 6:40, and 6:54).
Now because this stranded Bible student never listened to Christian radio, he knew nothing about the church-doctrine which says that Revelation Chapter 4, through Chapter 22, only deals with literal Jews-after-the-flesh.
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Yes, this untainted Bible student had only to rely on what the pristine Word of God says…
…”For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Romans 2:28, 29.
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Yes, this island-bound Bible student had plenty of time on his hands to find numerous passages from the Epistles…
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…passages that, in essence, say that the New Testament Church is now joined with Old Testament Israel, being reconciled together as the “Commonwealth of Israel” (see Ephesians 2:12)!
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).
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 to left 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.
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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 theDragon 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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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”.)
In yesterday’s devotional (click here to read), it was presented that an old radio preacher once made the comparison: that this above nursery rhyme seems to be a good metaphor concerning “Salvation by good-works”.
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In other words, there are many who are under the false notion that they have merited Salvation by some good work!
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They did some good work, just like Little Jack Horner!
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“For by grace are ye saved through faith”
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But the Bible makes it clear that Salvation is by grace alone…
…”For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8, 9.
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Here we see that Salvation is by grace alone, and nothing can be added to that grace!
The great problem in Christendom, is that many do not understand that the Bible is a book of precepts, each of which presents an individual truth, which altogether, make up that one giant truth, which God calls “The Gospel of Christ”.
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Think of a giant diamond, which is made up of many little facets.
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And as you twirl that diamond in the sunlight, different facets begin to shine.
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And so it is with the Bible. Listen…
“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it:
whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.”
Proverbs 17:8
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So, this above verse alludes to the gift of Salvation being compared to a precious gem-stone, twirling in the sunlight.
Thus, there are little facets of truth which seemingly contradict each other.
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But God has commanded us to search out the Bible in the following manner…
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:”
Isaiah 28:9, 10
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And so, as this above passage reveals to us, that knowledge comes from placing precept upon precept, and line upon line, in order to rightly divide the “Word of truth”.
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Unfortunately, many have stumbled at the Word, by trying to take certain verses out of the Bible and making those particular verses the sum-total of any one particular church-doctrine!
Many theologians have decided that this above passage is the sum-total of how a person becomes saved.
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But listen to this next precept, “…and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48,
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Many in Christendom ignore this above verse altogether because it doesn’t fit their traditional church doctrine.
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“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it”
Deuteronomy 4:2
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And so, the correct way to reconcile such seemingly contradicting passages, is to do a prayerful search of all related passages, in attempt to balance them all together, without cancelling out any one verse.
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In other words, all related verses must be accepted and allowed to shine, whenever the sunlight shines upon them.
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But many teachers and theologians feel they must wrestle away any verse or passage which contradicts that particular cherished old church-doctrine!
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“GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY!”
Proverbs 25:25
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The Good News is, that God has graciously given us time to correct these kinds of errors.
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No, don’t expect the church-world to collectively repent of these errors.
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There will not be a mass repentance of these Babylonish errors!
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All such repentance must be accomplished by the individual Christian.
The photo to the right is the Pleiades Cluster. Does it appear to you like an angel?
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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.
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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.
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?
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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!
Island of Chichimen, Cuyos Limones, Guna Yala, Panama – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Devotional, Year 2 – FEBRUARY 9 (Free-will? What Free-will? Part 3: “Little Jack Horner Salvation”) (Continued) )
After all, if there are some who chose Jesus and many others who didn’t choose Him, then this would have to be considered as some little spark of innate goodness within those who chose to serve Jesus!
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Think about it! There must be something in me that caused me to choose Jesus: some little spark of goodness that other people do not possess!
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But listen to Paul’s testimony…
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:
for to will is present with me;
but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good, no, not one…”
Romans 3:9-18
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But for some reason, it is nearly impossible for us to give up the false notion that, “God sees something good in me!”
And so, the Devil capitalizes on this false notion, and draws me into a counterfeit gospel which requires me to exercise “that little spark of goodness” which supposedly unlocks the doors of Salvation!
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And all who are under this erroneous notion are under a works/grace gospel, which is no gospel at all!
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This, in essence, is a Little Jack Horner religion…“I did that one good work!
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 inOrion, the Reaper’s hand (sketch to left) now extends the blade, thus transforming that sickle into the hook of a shepherd’s rod and staff.
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And so now this little Gemini star becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s rod & staff.
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Thus with this additional star, Orion the Reaper Constellation now becomes the 5th personality of Orion: The Good Shepherd (sketch below right).
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Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either of the stars, Castor or Pollux.
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But faint as This little star may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, turning Orion’s sickle into a shepherd’s rod.
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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.”
But society insists that sex and violence on television, Internet, and computer games is their social right, and plays no significant role in the increase of these sins in everyday life in our decadent societies, today!
“BECAUSE INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD”
Matthew 24:12
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Case in point: three teenagers just beat a 33-year-old man to death with hammers, the other day!
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Unthinkable?
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Yes! But if one were to do a little digging into the everyday diet of music and TV, and Internet, it would be discovered that sex and violence were a significant portion of their daily audio and visual and mental diet!
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Unfortunately, these kinds of crimes are getting so frequent, this crime hardly even got a mention on the nightly news!
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HAVE OUR CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST?
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One vocal preacher made the comment… “America, your chickens have come home to roost!”
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And even though he was coming from a completely different vantage point, yet what he said was true, in a certain sense!
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Because, as we read the daily news feed, or watch the nightly news, we would have to say that, “Yes, indeed! Our chickens are coming home to roost!”
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And by allowing our children to feed themselves with all the sex and violence on TV, games, Internet, and radio, CD’s, etc., it is little wonder that God is now allowing us to have a healthy dose of our own ways!
And so, the question must be asked, “Just what am I to do about all this?”
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“How can I escape the terrible judgments which are now beginning to fall all around me?”
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Listen to the answer to this above question…
“Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers,
and shut thy doors about thee:
hide thyself as it were for a little moment,
until the indignation be overpast.
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 26:20, 21
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Here is where God’s people are to hide themselves during the coming days!
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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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HOW AND WHERE TO HIDE
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But the question comes back again… “So how am I supposed to hide? And where am I supposed to hide?”
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Well, God gives some further counsel for those who wish to be hidden from His terrible wrath which now seems to be spilling out of His cup of fury.
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Listen… “Seek ye the LORD,
all ye meek of the earth,
which have wrought his judgment;
seek righteousness, seek meekness:
it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
Zephaniah 2:3.
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Yes, all tucked away in the little allegorical Book of Zephaniah is this very solid counsel, for those of us who are seriously seeking refuge from the approaching storm!
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And so, we must be seeking for righteousness and for meekness!
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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to be a good role-model for my family, as I begin to shun the unwholesome programs on the TV.
Help me to replace this bad habit with good things which will lift up my family, as they begin to imitate my good example…
ABOVE PICTURE – The Narrow Gate & Wide Gate (this view of these stars can only be seen like this when laying on one’s back on the ground with head toward west and feet toward east!)- Late winter – Ursa Major – www.signsofheaven.org- you may use with credit – NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE
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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).
Orion, the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon.
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This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).
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 to left 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.
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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 theDragon 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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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)
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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches.
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The stars are not in their exact place.
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However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky.
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But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.
A certain public advocate for conservative values was having a debate with a young member of the audience about “gays” being “more compassionate than straights”…
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…saying this was more virtuous, “and just the way things ought to be!”
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The conservative advocate countered by arguing that “Emotionalism is mostly a female trait! When men get together, they like to talk football, and cars, and politics, while women talk about softer topics such as family, and more emotional issues.”
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And this conservative advocate continued by saying, “Men and women are ‘hard-wired’ differently from each other, and this is how it’s supposed to be!”
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Well, the young man was not convinced.
Gay Parade – Jazz Jennings 2016 – Wikipedia – Creative Commons License
Satan has been using the “Strawman Ploy” for many long centuries.
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Yes, that diabolical, “Dr. Evil” (Satan) has used his sophistry and genius to deceive all of us simple-minded humans in various ways, throughout history!
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And so, we shouldn’t be surprised by the current situation in today’s world, in which Satan has raised up the homosexual movement.
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But just one of Lucifer’s purposes for raising up this pandemic phenomenon of homosexuality, is to create a “strawman” with the intent of causing an even more negative stigma against Christ and Christians!
In other words, by displaying homosexual men as effeminate-looking creatures, Satan has created a situation which makes being Christlike somewhat uncomfortable for many men.
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Even John Bunyan, far back in the 1600’s, complained in his book “Grace Abounding”, that “effeminate men” in those days shared a few similar characteristics to Christian men, stigmatizing their Christlike gentleness with a devilish counterfeit.
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Yes, because Jesus had some soft attributes, many Christian men, today, do not want to be seen as being effeminate, in any way!
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And as a result, there has been a rather silent push-back in today’s society, against this homosexual movement, in which many men desperately want to be seen as “all-man”.
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And understandably so!
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And as a result, men try to NOT be seen as totally Christlike.
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Thus, Satan has scored a big victory, by creating this counterfeit similarity within the gay community!
Quite often in the movies, Christians are portrayed as weak and defenseless, like a flock of nervous little birds.
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On the other hand, the hero of the story is often portrayed as strong, and ruggedly handsome, and brash, and fearless, usually saving the “weak” Christians from the bad guys.
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Of course, this kind of stigma against Christians is right out of Satan’s playbook!
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But another false lesson that the movie-goer learns from such a movie situation, is that Christians shouldn’t depend on the Lord…
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…but should be more like the hero of the movie, relying on his own bravery and on his own strength to solve his dilemma.
Satan has always been hard at work, trying to “cast mud” all over the true Gospel.
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And one of his dirty tricks has been to use artists of the day to paint pictures of an effeminate-looking Jesus, or effeminate-looking disciples.
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Thus, he has successfully repulsed many from following Jesus.
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But Jesus was all-man! Make no mistake! He had not one ounce of femininity!
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Oh yes, he could be soft and compassionate.
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But he also had a quiet, manly, inner-strength.
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Nevertheless, Jesus not only possessed great physical strength, but also stood solid as a rock against sin…
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…while the so-called mighty men of that day became weak as infants in the face of temptation, often succumbing to their lower passions!
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And men should likewise be strong against the evil forces of this antichrist world, giving their sons a balanced view of how to be strong, and resilient…
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…yet tenderhearted toward his wife and children, as well as being empathetic toward those who are weak, or suffering.
“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other”
Psalm 85:10
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Now, it’s true that God has created men and women differently, just as He wrote the Old Testament to bring out His Judgment/justice attributes, while the New Testament brings out God’s merciful/compassionate nature more clearly.
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And even though man and woman were both created in God’s image, their personalities most often bring out this same dichotomy, making them seem strikingly different from each other, as this old painting attempts to correctly portray!
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And let’s face it, a husband’s strengths are complemented by his wife’s fragilities, and visa-versa, just as it is written…“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.” 1st Peter 3:7
Just who would you rather have ruling the universe?
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Perhaps, one of the Greek or Roman gods? Zeus maybe? Or perhaps Jupiter?
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Well, they were both given very hard attributes, weren’t they?
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Just imagine if one of those gods were ruling this world? (Well actually, as we look around, we have to admit that Satan is doing a fine job of giving us a picture of how those pagan gods would behave!)
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We are so very fortunate to have a tender, understanding, and compassionate Father God, Jehovah, who runs this universe!
And so, as we look around at society, we can see the footprints of this invisible Dragon, and how he has designed society to promote his various deceptions.
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In plain language, Satan will often draw persons who have certain physical traits or mannerisms into homosexuality, to give this totally unnatural lifestyle an appearance of being “natural”.
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Contrariwise, he will draw others into just the opposite extreme.
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Satan loves humans to go to unchristlike extremes!
One thing we must remember is that this world is Satan’s kingdom! 2nd Corinthians 4:4 calls him,“The god of this world”!
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And so, no matter how hard the Christian strives to strike the proper balance, it will be nearly impossible to satisfy Satan’s loyal citizenry…the unsaved!
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And so, O Pilgrim of the Cross, all that we can do, is to put on the armor of God, and ready ourselves for the fierce battle ahead, knowing that our victory has been assured, by Christ, who has already won the battle for us!
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“JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED!”
Matthew 7:1
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Now, just a word of caution. These truths from Heaven are given “for me and me alone!” We are not to look at others with a judgmental eye.
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And anyway, we just don’t know how God is working in the hearts and lives of people, nor do we know the true motives of others!
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So we simply look into the mirror and realize that, “Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. of who I AM CHIEF!” 1st Timothy 1:15
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Yes, my own heart is filled with enough evil to keep me busy for a lifetime, trying to purify it from my own innate wickedness!
But how can this be? After all, I live a highly moral life!
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I pay all my taxes, and go to church and pay my tithes!
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…”No, no, no, I am definitely not the chief of sinners!
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No way could I be compared to Adolph Hitler!
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No way could I be in the same station with such men as Osama bin-Laden…
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…or with those cut-throats over there in the Middle East!”
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But the Bible makes this statement about you and me…
…”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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GOD LOOKETH UPON THE HEART
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You see, while we judge according to outward appearances, the Lord looks upon the incredible wickedness which exists deep within our hearts!
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And the fact is, God could have easily allowed the Devil to use you or me, instead of Adolph Hitler, if we had lived back then in Germany!
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Yes, we have that much wickedness in our hearts! None of us can hold our head up!
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And none of us will hold our head up high on Judgment Day, when God reveals the hidden things of darkness, and the secrets of men’s hearts, that exists in each one of us!
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WHAT DO WE OWE SUCH WICKED MEN?
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And so, now that we are Christians, we must ask ourselves the following questions…
…”If Christ gave His life for such wicked men as Hitler, and Stalin, and bin-Laden,
…then what do we owe all the wicked men and women who are still living their evil lives in today’s world?
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Do we owe them our prayers for God’s mercy and grace?
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Should we pray for their Salvation?
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Should we have Christ’s love for them?
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And do I truly believe that I am the, “chief of sinners?”
The longer that a man or woman serves the Lord, truly serves the Lord, the greater becomes our painful awareness of just what great sinners we really are!
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And the more we gaze into the mirror of the Bible, we begin to see ourselves against the image of Christ’s majesty and supreme righteousness!
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And the more we look into that mirror, the brighter becomes that glorious mirror-image of Christ!
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And through our many trials, God reveals to us our inner wickedness!
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And gradually, we grow more painfully aware of just what dirty rotten sinners we really are!
And then, as we look out into a world full of murderers and rapists, and child-molesters and sodomites, and whoremongers, and thieves, and kidnappers and extortionists, we realize that we are no better than they!
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And though we have never outwardly committed such heinous crimes, yet the capacity to do so, exists within each and every one of us!
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Now don’t think that such knowledge and realization of our own latent wickedness is a bad thing!
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No, the more that God reveals our inner evil, the greater will be our willingness to bow down to the only truly good and righteous Personage in the universe, God!
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And we will then be able to say along with Job…
…”I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear:
but now mine eye seeth Thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:5, 6
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Yes, God allowed the Devil to sift Job as wheat is sifted.
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And even though Job was outwardly flawless, yet through that sifting process, Job became painfully aware of his own inward wickedness!
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And this is the purpose for which God sends His people through these various humbling trials…
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…to purify our hearts and conform our lives into the glorious image of our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus!
“Dear Lord, Help me to understand that a world of evil exists within my own heart! And give me a Christlike love for all mankind; even those who commit heinous acts of wickedness, praying sincerely for their Salvation…
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners”
1st Corinthians 15:33
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We parents have, at one time or another, hired a babysitter. And what we got was usually less-than the ideal.
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In other words, the babysitter was most often some teenager, who probably spent most of her time talking on the phone, while our children played within her eyesight.
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And we were content with this, since their physical safety was our main concern!
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The Phone Call – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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Of course, as Christian parents, our great hope was to find some babysitter who would read Christian stories to our children.
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Or maybe they would also sing Christian songs, or look at pictures of nature, relating those nature pictures to our Creator-God!
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Now that would indeed be money well-spent, to find such a godly babysitter! Wouldn’t you agree?
Unfortunately, the television (and Internet) also makes a great babysitter and has now become the primary designated babysitter in many homes!
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It keeps kids entertained for hours!
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And we all instinctively know it is filled with many evil sights and sounds, and ideas!
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And yet, it’s so convenient to simply plop them down, and let the TV do all the work!
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ANSWERING FOR OUR CHILDREN ON JUDGMENT DAY
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But make no mistake! On Judgment Day, many parents will stand before the throne of God and answer for the Mark of Satan’s character written upon the hearts of their children!
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And all because they allowed them access to the television and other high-tech devices, for their enjoyment!
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Oh yes, Satan starts very subtly with young children.
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All those entry-level programs for toddlers seem so cute and innocent.
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But they are simply designed to gain a firm grip on hearts and minds of children.
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TV: A SUBTLE SERPENT
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And then, gradually, Satan introduces more sensuality, more sensual music, more anger, more revenge, more selfishness, more pride, more greed and lust, more and more of Satan’s attributes.
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And finally, after years of watching the TV and Internet and computer games, these children eventually graduate into adult programming!
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And by then, they will have the impress of Satan’s character fully engraven upon their hearts!
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THIS WORLD IS SATAN’S KINGDOM
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This is what the image of the Beast is all about! This is what the Mark of Satan’s character is all about!
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The multifaceted Beast of Revelation 13 & 17, is merely this Antichrist world-order all around us.
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The kings and kingdoms of this world are the kingdoms of Satan!
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Satan is called “the god of this world” (2nd Corinthians 4:4). And this world serves and worships Satan (Revelation 13:4).
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But that is merely a façade, to mask all the underlying evil in this, the Devil’s world!
“Dear Lord, Help me to fully surrender to Thee! Help my spouse and children! Help me to live a life of Bible contemplation, prayer and spiritual sacrifices for them! Let me trust in all Thy precious promises…
This page is about the Big Dipper, also called the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major ).
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However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen.
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It is actually a headless woman in childbirth.
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This is seen in springtime in the northern skies.
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But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down, now appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward).
The 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is easy to see with its very bright 7 stars. But the Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) must be seen on a dark starry night, away from city lights.
but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 17:24
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Since man’s fall, nature has likewise fallen, to a great degree.
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And yet, if we look at nature, it is not hard to see nature’s beauty.
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Even in this fallen world, nature still retains some of the beauty which our unfallen parents enjoyed in their days when in Eden, “the garden of God” (Ezekiel 28:13)!
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The hopeful songs of the birds, the quiet mountain brook, the little flower of the field, the giant sequoias, the majestic roar of the ocean waves!
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These are just a few of the countless wonders of nature!
Now, today’s devotional will focus on a few of the forest creatures which are classified as foragers.
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That is, let’s take a moment to consider those little furry creatures whose lives are dedicated to seeking after the green herbs of vegetation in the fields and forests of this world.
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Now what lesson can we learn from them?
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Probably many gems of truth can be gleaned from considering their earth-bound existence!
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But there is an analogy to be seen between them and our own selves.
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Yes, just like those furry little forest beasts, we too, have spent our short existence, completely devoted to getting as much as we can from the earth!
Oh no, we don’t look for green herbs like those forest-and-field-foragers!
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Or do we?
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Perhaps, in our own way, we do seek for our own version of green herbs: that new car, or that new house, or that better job, or that new stereo system!
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Could these things be considered our green herbs?
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Well, one thing is for sure! These are definitely the things of the earth!
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And prior to our conversion, we have devoted much of our lives to seeking after all those countless things, which come from the earth!
But when Jesus came to live among us, He lived a life, unconcerned with all such things of the earth!
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Oh yes, Jesus ate and drank, and wore clothes, and worked as a carpenter, and slept, and enjoyed nature.
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And yet, these things were not his main focus in life!
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His main focus was on the virtues of Heaven: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, meekness, self-control, prayer and praise, wisdom, etc….
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Yes, His greatest joy was to do the will of His Father in Heaven!
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
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And through the pen of Paul, the Apostle, He counsels us…
…”If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead,
and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:1-3
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Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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“THE GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY!”
Proverbs 25:25
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The Good News in all this is, that God has still left open the door of Salvation!
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Eternal life eternal love and eternal joy!
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Yes, if we will only turn our eyes away from all the perishing things of earth, and turn our eyes upon Jesus; then the words of that old song will begin to speak to our hearts…
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“Turn your eyes upon Jesus!
Look full in His wonderful face!
And the things of the world, will grow strangely dim,
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 in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy.
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This face is like a furry creature of the field. Maybe a rabbit.
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Maybe a squirrel.
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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.
(As already stated, this 3rd face is right side up in the southern hemisphere.)
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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…
But nothing could be further from the truth! 
There were at least two “Awakenings” in the Americas, in which the Church seemed to be brought to revival. 
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