CLOUD OF WITNESSES… Also take note of the cloud on Orion’s backside.
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If you go out into the country on a dark, clear night, you can easily see the Milky Way running along Orion’s back side.
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This works very nicely with Orion the Reaper.
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Because the Milky Way is a heavenly cloud containing a myriad of stars.
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Thus, the white cloud mentioned in Revelation 14:14, 15, just might be referring to the Milky Way.
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“And I looked, and behold a white cloud,
and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man,
having on his head a golden crown,
and in his hand a sharp sickle.”
Revelation 14:14.
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But another verse about clouds likewise supports this conclusion…
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“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses…
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1
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CONCLUSION… the Milky Way, which is the cloud that the Orion the Reaper is sitting upon, symbolizes the myriads of stars which represents the myriads of those who serve god, throughout the heavens, as well as those whom the Lord seeks to save.
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This is a great and marvelous sign from heaven, and speaks of the infinite mercy of our Saviour which transcends knowledge and gives us a glimpse of things… “which are not lawful for a man to speak”2nd Corinthians 12:4
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TWO STARS ON ORION’S SHOULDERS…
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“And thou shalt take two onyx stones,
and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Six of their names on one stone,
and the other six names of the rest on the other stone…
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod
for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel:
and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD
upon his two shoulders for a memorial.”
Exodus 28:9-12 (condensed)
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Notice that there is a star on each of Orion’s shoulders.
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This would seem to represent the onyx stones, one on each shoulder of the high priest in the Old Testament temple service.
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One stone represented 6 tribes, and the other stone represented the other 6 tribes.
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This would seem to represent God’s faithful followers throughout time.
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On Orion’s right shoulder is a red star.
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This would seem to represent those Christians who were martyred throughout the New Testament era.
If you look carefully, you will notice the Dragon’s lower front tooth is also red, somewhat matching the star, Betelgeuse, on Orion’s right shoulder.
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These two red stars both seem to symbolize the martyrs who have died by the hand of Satan (the Dragon).
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So to use a popular phrase, this lower red tooth of the Dragon seems to appear as his “sweet tooth” for the blood of the martyrs for Jesus.
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“BUT HIS HAND IS STRETCHED OUT STILL”
Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21
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“For God so loved the world,
that He gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16
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PASSIONATE REAPER…
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Now during the winter and through the night, Orion begins to stand upright, as seen in the sketch on the right.
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Notice the 3 stars just inside His sickle in the left sketch.
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Also notice that Orion is seen here looking like a baseball player diving backward in a desperate attempt to make a catch.
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This Reaper is not complacent in his attempt to harvest these 3 stars.
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That should tell us something about our Savior.
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God is not just sitting up there in Heaven with His arms folded, as He sternly looks down upon us.
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No, Jesus still walks through the dusty highways and byways of this world, via His Spirit: comforting the sick, saving the lost, and freeing those who cry out to Him for deliverance from their bondage to sin and Satan, just as He did 2,000 years ago.
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GOD LOOKS DOWN AT US IN LOVE
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“And there are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which, if they should be written every one,
I suppose that even the world itself
could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”
John 21:25
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The above verse is nothing short of amazing!
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This world could not contain the books that should be written! God is truly the Good Shepherd!
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Listen again to Scripture…“I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:11.
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No, the Savior is active in this world in many ways we know nothing about.
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In this painting to the right, is an artist’s rendition of the view from the Cross.
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Do you suppose that Jesus saw any of these people in hatred? or in love and pity? Scripture says… “for God is love.” 1st John 4:8.
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Notice it doesn’t say here that God simply loves, but it says, “God is love”.
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Oh yes, God hates sin, and the workers of iniquity.
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But it is a perfect hatred, far beyond what Mankind can understand.
THE GOLDEN RULE… As believers go out into all nations (and even in their own household and neighborhoods, and (most importantly) in their prayer-closets…
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…as they cry to God on behalf of other souls), they need to pattern their lives after the divine Pattern, Jesus.
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Our prayers, our dedication, our…laying-it-all-on-the-altar attitude, should be filled with this same fervor we see illustrated in this constellation, Orion the Reaper.
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Just listen to Scripture…
…”If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
you shall love your neighbour as yourself, ye do well.
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin,
and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
James 2:8, 9
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If we were the lost ones, with how much zeal would we like God’s people to have, in reaching out to us?
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With how much fervor would we like others to be praying for us?
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This is the essence of the Royal Law…
…”Give, and it shall be given unto you;
good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you measure to others
WHEAT AND TARES (WEEDS)… There is coming a day when the world will come to an end.
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There will be a great harvest of all the people who ever lived. Jesus said…
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“The harvest is the end of the world;
and the reapers are the angels.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire;
so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels,
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,
and them which do iniquity;
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:40-43
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Just as the chaff are burned at the end of the growing season, God compares this burning of chaff to destruction of the wicked at the end of the world.
“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 seems to tell us that we must be watching for the souls of all, “as they which must give account”. Hebrews 13:17.
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We will have to give account for these things very soon!
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And this verse tells us that any time is a good time to be entering into the harvest as workers for the Kingdom…
…”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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People often shake their heads or roll their eyes every time they see a pair of evangelists from one of those cults going door to door.
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But on Judgment Day, some of those very “cultish” ones just might stand up and condemn those of us who sat on our ‘lees’, instead of doing what they did.
“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 hearts.
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It is by hiding God’s Word in our hearts, that others may begin to see Christ in us.
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This is the 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!
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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…
…”He that gathers in summer is a wise son:
but he that sleeps in harvest
is a son that causes shame.”
Proverbs 10:5.
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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“GO YE”…INTO ALL YOUR HEART & PREACH THE GOSPEL
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“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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Shouldn’t we get out there and win souls for Christ?
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Yes, they do urge us to get busy.
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And yes, we should.
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But maybe we should get busy in ways that we don’t usually think about.
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True, we certainly want to get the word out, “that people need to repent”.
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But have I repented yet? We can tell others about Jesus.
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But can others see Jesus in me? In you? Are we consistently honest in the smallest matters of life?
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Do we unfailingly treat others with love and compassion? Do we?
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Or do we see people as though they are “trees walking”? (read: Mark 8:23-25).
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In other words, do we really see the people all around us as souls in need of Salvation?
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Or do we shut up our brotherly love when we shut up our Bibles in the morning after study?
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Just like that old TV ad says… “Don’t leave home without it”,we should be so prayerful, that when we walk out our front door, we take our spirituality with us throughout our day!
Do I smile a heavenly smile as I tell another shopper about Jesus, but then angrily retaliate when a store clerk is rude?
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Do I obsess on politics, instead of meditating on God’s Word?
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Do I look with disgust on “those perverts over there”, instead of praying for their Salvation?
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“THOU WHITED WALL!”
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“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council,
said, Men and brethren,
I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Then said Paul unto him,
God shall smite thee, thou whited wall:
for sittest thou to judge me after the law,
and me to be smitten contrary to the law?”
Acts 23:1-3
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Paul, in the above passage was giving his Christian testimony before his accusers. He made the bold statement… “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day”.
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At this point the High Priest commanded him to be slapped on his mouth.
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And the result of that insulting slap, Paul reacted with proud anger.
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Paul quickly shouted…“God shall smite thee, thou whited wall!”.
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This proved to be a mistake, since it was the High Priest whom Paul was rebuking.
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Then Paul quickly apologized for speaking thus to God’s High Priest…
…”Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren,
that he was the high priest:
for it is written,
Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of Thy people.”
Acts 23:5.
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And as we read Paul’s letters and read of him in the book of Acts, we see Paul becoming more and more gracious through the years of his ministry.
The above verse should be the motto of every Christian.
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And it should have been Paul’s as well!
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But Paul realized his mistake, because it was God’s High Priest he rebuked.
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This was one of the few times in which Scripture points out Paul’s sin.
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And Paul’s weakness was usually in the area of pride.
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But regardless of who it is who offends, the Christian should not react with anger, when persecuted.
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Paul made a great mistake by calling someone a “Whited Wall”, even if it was true.
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He should have simply turned the other cheek (see Matthew 5:39).
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Jesus was the divine Example.
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When he was slapped, He remained silent…
…”He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,
yet He opened not his mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so He openeth not His mouth.”
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DAILY BEHAVIOR IS BEST WITNESS
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Many Christians desire to bring others into the fold, and yet it is easy to forget that one’s daily behavior is the greatest witness either for Heaven or for Hell.
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And even the people of the world will be nice when things are going well.
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But for the most part, it is the Christian who will remain kind even when being mistreated.
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Well, at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be!
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IT’S BETTER TO SUFFER LOSS… We need to be 100% loving, gentle, and kind to all…yes even to our enemies.
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Remember what Scripture says… “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” Proverbs 18:19.
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The love of God is not something that you turn on then turn off, at will.
and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
Matthew 6:19, 20
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There are just too many promises regarding giving and receiving to mention here.
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But let it suffice to say, that there is no safer place to invest one’s money than to invest in Heaven.
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Many in the poorer countries of the world are starving to hear the Gospel.
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Many of us in this affluent society can easily give 20 or 30 percent or more of our income, if we would only live a self-sacrificing lifestyle; especially those of us who are without a spouse and children.
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But even if we do have a family, we could possibly give much more than we presently do.
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And just listen to this promise… “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6:8.
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Quite a promise, wouldn’t you agree?
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Now God is too wise to give us riches, knowing how easily selfishness can set in, under such circumstances.
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But if we will make Heaven the place where we store our treasure, God…
“…shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19.
Now that’s also quite a promise! God will supply all our need.
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WINNING SOULS OUR PASSION
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“For if ye love them which love you,
what reward have ye?
do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only,
what do ye more than others?
do not even the publicans so?”
Matthew 5:46, 47
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It is inevitable that the world will be offended at Christians.
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But woe to us if we needlessly offend others.
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We should give absolutely no thought to our wounded pride…
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…or to our financial loss…
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…The only concern should be to win souls for Christ’s kingdom. (We must get on our spiritual knees and beg God’s forgiveness…because we all have offended in the past).
We need to have an epiphany about our past bad behavior, just like old Ebenezer Scrooge, in this picture to the right.
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Remember in that old story how Scrooge had a night of great terror over his past behavior.
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We too, have been selfish in so many ways…at so many times…thinking about our own feelings…thinking of our own loss, instead of considering just how precious are those lost souls.)
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“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20
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Let none of us allow this verse to apply to us, because of our neglect of duty.
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“If you 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.
This verse makes it clear that we have no excuse for our ignorance and prayerless-ness for others.
And so, once we really comprehend the totality of our devotion to Christ, which God requires of His sons and daughters, we can then begin to really enjoy our abundant fellowship with the Father and with His Son.
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And day-by-day, we will absorb God’s Word, by studying, by listening to audio Scripture, and by contemplating how that Word applies to our everyday life.
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And then, we can go out each with the assurance that we are a living epistle of Christ, known and read of all men!
The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
God’s people in these last days, have been flooded with every device that Satan could possibly conjure up, to cast across our pathway, and lead God’s sheep astray. And though the Church has been greatly hindered, God is about to purify His sin-laden people, who will finally lift up the Cross of Christ with such power and glory, as this world has never before seen.
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And the Reader may just discover the way that he or she might also help lift that Cross up. And God has inscribed in the heavens, a picture of how the Church lifts up the Cross, as they imitate their Lord.
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So please read this very important article. And though it may take 30 or 60 minutes or more, it will be well worth the read.
This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night, and lasts for several months, until they both appear to lie down once again.
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This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in.
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You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west. You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.
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Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.
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The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.
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The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.
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These 3 stars require a dark night to see clearly.
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Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward.
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It stands upright a little later in the night.
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Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!
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Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.
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When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!
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ABOVE PICTURE: The Cross of Orion – www.theheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial use
ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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7 STARS = 7 ANGELS of the CHURCHES
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7 CANDLESTICKS = 7 CHURCHES
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“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20.
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The above verse is from the opening chapter of Revelation, and makes mention of this constellation.
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But notice that this verse relates this constellation to God’s people…
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“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20.
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And though this passage seems to have been from a vision which John saw concerning God’s HEAVENLY sanctuary, nevertheless, the EARTHLY sanctuary was a type and symbol of the heavenly, in which this 7-Flame Candlestick enlightened the earthly sanctuary (shown in this picture).
But as Jesus spoke this prophecy, He revealed the true meaning of the earthly sanctuary, and how it actually pointed to the Church of God.
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Listen once again… “…and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20.
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Incredible! So God here is revealing an amazing revelation: that the 7-flame candlestick in the Old Testament Sanctuary Service was actually symbolizing the New Testament Church!
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Candlesticks of the Holy Place – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public-Domain
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IN SUMMER
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This sketch is of the Summer Constellations, when they are in the western skies.
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Sagittarius is in the south, and the 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is in the north.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & Cross-Scepter (stars from both Serpens & Ophiochus) & The Glorious Crown (aka: Corona Borealis plus other stars) & The star: Arcturus & The 7 Stars (aka: The Big Dipper) – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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“COME, TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME”
Mark 10:21
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“Let the people praise Thee, O God;
let all the people praise Thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase;
and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”
Psalm 67:5-7
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Jesus came to this Earth to give His life a ransom for many.
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But He also came to take up His Cross as the example of how we should also love one another.
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He was (and is) the living breathing Word of God, for all the heavens and earth to behold!
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And when His ministry was finished, He returned to Heaven.
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But He left instructions for the human family.
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And He says to us all… “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15.
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This concept is written in the heavens. God has placed the stars in such a way that tells this marvelous concept of lifting up the Cross of Christ: self-sacrificing love for Mankind.
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First, Orion, representing Christ, lifts up the Cross.
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Then, just a little later, the 7 Stars Constellation, representing God’s Church finally lifts up the Cross, seemingly in response to Orion’s prior example.
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These two constellations are the two brightest and most prominent constellations in the winter-night sky.
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And they represent the two greatest concepts of life: Christ and His Church.
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No, Christ’s true Church is not a particular denomination.
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But God’s True Church, is found wherever His individual true worshippers may be interspersed among the inhabitants of the world.
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(The sketch to the above left is ‘Orion’ as it is seen, beginning in October in the pre-dawn hours, in mid-sky. The sketch to the right is of the ‘7 Stars’ Constellation as it is seen through the first half of winter, as it imitates Orion. These above two sketches are both rough drafts of those two constellations, Orion as well as the 7 Stars. And while they are not completely accurate, they are close enough to the actual constellations, for website guests to hopefully be able to locate them in the night sky. )
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST…
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“…how can we know the way (said Thomas)?
Jesus saith… I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
John 14:5, 6
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Jesus, in the above verse, is telling the world that the law found in the Bible, is fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and third Eternal One of the Godhead.
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Jesus came, not only to give His life in payment for Mankind, but also to present His spotless life as an example of how we are to live.
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Jesus Teaching His Disciples – Luke 4:31-32
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CROSS PROVIDED A PLACE IN HEAVEN
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“In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
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From this Old English translation, many mistakenly think that Jesus went back to Heaven to begin building giant homes, even colonial mansions. But Jesus was actually talking about going to the Cross to provide a place for us in Heaven!
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And this verse can also be translated like this…“In My Father’s house are many mansions (MANY OR EVEN MUCH ROOMS)…I go to PROVIDE a place for you.”Jesus made this statement, just prior to going to the Cross. As yet, there was no place for lost humanity in Heaven. Sin had forever barred Mankind from entering the gates of Heaven…
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Listen…“And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the Heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” Revelation 20:11
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Yes, all Heaven and all earth fled away from God! And there was no place for us; we who rebelled! But by dying in our place, Jesus provided a place in God’s vast universe for as many as might turn to Jesus for life-eternal. Thus the upward pathway, to the gates of Heaven was finally opened to anyone willing to follow Jesus unreservedly.
Jesus tells us that “I am the way”. Jesus calls each and every one of us to“come and follow Me, andI will make you fishers of men”. Matthew 4:19
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When a man, woman, or child gets this call and responds, he or she then begins to embark upon a spiritual journey like none other in the world. It matters not whether a Follower is strong or weak, or even confined to a hospital bed, or even to a prison cell! Because following Jesus is accomplished in the heart (our mind). And just like those 12 Disciples, the Follower begins a sojourn, which leads on an upward pathway of experience and knowledge and love (and trials).
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And so begins a process in which the Believer will diligently cooperate with God as God works in him, to help him discard his worldly “skin”, so to speak, as he now walks upward, upon the Highway of Holiness (see Isaiah 35:8).
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Jesus provided this Way of Holiness, by His death and resurrection on the Cross.
But aside from the Way of the Salvation, His life was also an example of the Way for all to follow…
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“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.” John 8:12
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LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES… OK, so the above verse says we must follow Jesus. But how does a person follow Jesus?
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Listen… “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” John 16:24, 25. So Jesus here tells us the way to follow Him: lifting up the Cross in our own life.
The Apostle Paul says it this way, as he wrote to encourage the early Church… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am (a follower) of Christ…Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” 1st Corinthians 11:1 & Philippians 4:9.
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So these two verses show that Paul’s life was an imitation of the life of Jesus. And it is not hard to see that Paul had completely devoted his life in whole-hearted servitude to Christ.
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And Paul says that Believers should follow his, Paul’s life, in those areas in which he was Christ-like. Perhaps, the following statement by Paul could be considered his mantra for life…“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
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Of course, there were instances when Paul sinned, such as when he called the high priest“a white-washed wall” (Acts 23:3).And He is not saying anyone should follow him during those few times when he presented himself a bad example. But the greatest percentage of Paul’s converted life was such, as is worthy of our imitation.
JESUS IS THE END OF THE LAW… Jesus also says here that“I…am the truth”. Whatever we read in Scripture is seen best when contemplating Jesus. All the commandments begin to make real sense as we see just how our Savior lived out His life on Earth.
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The whole Bible points to Jesus… “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39.
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Many places in the Old as well as the New Testament, Jesus is found, as we see Him revealed in allegories, types and shadows.
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But in the above verse, Jesus is in no way downplaying the importance of Bible study. Listen to what He says in the following verse… “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
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So we see from this above verse the importance of studying, contemplating, and walking by God’s Word. Because, if we persevere in God’s Word, we shall eventually overcome the world. Thus Jesus said“…if ye continue in My Word”.
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There are those who begin in God’s Word, but do not “continue” in God’s Word, for one reason or another. As the Follower of Jesus continues to grow in the Word, he or she imperceptibly becomes more and more changed into the image of Jesus (see 2nd Corinthians 3:18). This is the essence of what it means to “continue” in Christ’s Word.
The Old Testament portion of the Church did not see the beauty of the Law, as does the New Testament Church. After all, we now see Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus hadn’t yet come in Old Testament times. So for the vast majority, they only saw the Law as rules which must be obeyed.
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Think of it this way. The life of Jesus was like a beautiful symphony. Like the laws of the Bible, music also has many, many laws which must be followed for that music to make harmonious strains and beautiful sounds. But also like the Bible, music too, needs to be composed and performed with love… else it will sound rigid and cold.
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And like the laws of music, the laws of the Bible must also be fulfilled in love, if they will be beautiful.
The Old Testament religious leaders failed, to a large degree, to keep the commandments from a heart actuated by love. Their life-style was rigid and cold as far as their attempt to keep the commandments. It became a mountain of heavy rules to follow.
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Consequently, they made, for the most part, a mockery of commandment keeping!
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They did not live by the following verse…“Love works no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10.
Then along came Jesus! His loving and faithful parents raised the child, Jesus, in poverty and in lowly home-schooling.
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The biblical training as well as the protection from wickedness which He no doubt received from them, prepared Him for the incredible ministry which awaited Him in the future.
But when that ministry began, the people, for the most part, didn’t recognize His obedience. This was because His obedience was so vastly different from their way of following the Bible.
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His life was motivated from a heart of self-sacrificing love and charity towards a fallen world. Their hearts were mostly still imprisoned in selfishness and worldly desires. Jesus was graceful and pure in His obedience. He was like that beautiful symphony!
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The laws of music are obeyed, but also blended perfectly by the music-master’s touch. So too, Jesus knew how to walk in obedience and yet blend the various laws together in such a way, that could only be accomplished by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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“YEA, THY LAW IS IN MY HEART”…
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When a composer creates a new song, he doesn’t need to think about every single musical law as he places each note and passage in order. No, the master-composer so well knows the musical laws that he instinctively incorporates those laws into his new composition. So also, Christ had hidden the law within His heart from the days of His childhood.
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And guided by the Spirit of Holiness, He walked in the beauty of holiness (see Psalms 29:2), as He led His disciples through the highways and byways of Israel. The life of Christ was as a beautiful symphony. The law flowed out naturally and harmoniously, and this was something the people of God (and the world) had never before seen!
Jesus says…“I am…the life”. The life that we are to live has been shown to us, when Jesus came down to this lost world and walked among us. Not only did He give us a chance for new life, when He atoned for our sins, by His sacrifice on the Cross; but He also gave Himself an example, that we should walk even as He walked.
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Listen…“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
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Paul is telling us that he is crucified from his old, selfish ways. And now, Paul tells us that Jesus is living out His life through Paul. Jesus became Paul’s life…“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21. These are the words of Paul. And these should be the words of each of our own hearts as well.
“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:18
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And now that a few minutes has been devoted to seeing Christ as the Divine Role-Model for the Church, a few more minutes must be spent facing the stark reality of the 20th Century Church.
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The above verse from Isaiah presents a sad picture of the failure of God’s people, and how they failed in their commission to evangelize the world. Oh, it’s not that we didn’t try to evangelize the world. Much effort had been spent (perhaps “mis-spent” is a better word) trying to get out the Good News. However, the Bible declares that an apostate Church can expect nothing from the Lord.“For let not that man (a double-minded man) think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:7
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The Revelation 12 Woman is fleeing, giving us a heavenly allegory of what God wants His people to do. This woman is fleeing to the Orion’s Gate, that is, to the Narrow Gate. This will be accomplished when God’s people finally understand their duty, and the frightful hour they are in.
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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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“YE CANNOT SERVE GOD & MAMMON!”
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“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
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Satan has thus far waged a successful campaign to prevent God’s people from fulfilling their mission in the world. Satan, the “god of this world” has flooded this modern-day world with every type of distraction imaginable, in hopes of derailing the Church from fully engaging itself in the work of overcoming.
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Energy-sapping and time-consuming careers, sports, amusements, resorts, fashions, fads, television, radio, movies, intriguing novels, curious sciences, colorful magazines, super highway Internet, gregarious clubs, time-consuming hobbies, exotic travel, bigger houses, acres of lands, feverish romance, and on and on the list goes, of all the many distractions which the Devil has invented in order to seduce the hearts, divert the energies and efforts, and win the affections of God’s people!
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And to a great extent, the Church has bought into Satan’s great lie and deception!
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Now, it’s not that having a hobby is wrong, or going on a vacation, or having an adequate car, or getting married, etc….
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But rather, it is when these things begin to take precedence over one’s life, resulting in a diminished spiritual life, that they become a destructive idolatry!
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DOUBLE-MINDED CHURCH PRODUCES NOTHING
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“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:18
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Now there are many from among the Lukewarm Church of the 20th Century, who, while realizing that we were still double-minded, yet were deluded into thinking that we were nevertheless under the blessing of God.
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And the great False Prophet, Satan, came with,“all power, signs, and lying wonders”to“deceive, if possible, even the Elect”of God into believing that we could remain in such a semi-diseased condition, and still enjoy the blessings of God. But all the while, in reality, it was Satan who was the one showering on us, his own counterfeit signs and wonders.
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JESUS OUTSIDE KNOCKING
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Jesus was yet standing outside, knocking on the door, desiring to come in and sup with us. But the Church was seeing signs and wonders, new souls brought into the Church, exciting music, charismatic evangelists, speaking-in-tongues, people slain-in-the-spirit; and yet it was a different spirit altogether, who had become the underlying power within the fallen church-world.
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Listen again to Isaiah…“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:18.
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This passage is not speaking merely of the Old Testament Church. This is speaking about the very time of the end, when God’s people are in the same worldly condition as was the Church in the days of Isaiah.
“They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.” Jeremiah 12:13
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And so, God’s professed people in the 20th Century were thinking that God was converting many into our ranks, but we were only filling up the apostate Church with more and more Anti-Christs: false brethren, and the worldly-minded. As this above verse points out, God’s people thus-far, have produced nothing as far as conquering the world for Christ.
Listen once again…“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.”Isaiah 26:18.
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Is there anything in this passage which gives any hope that the Church was successful in the slightest degree in evangelizing the world? We have not given birth to Christ, but have brought forth as it were, wind. We have not wrought any deliverance in the Earth. Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen. We have been an utter failure! At best, we have only brought multitudes into an apostate, prosperity-driven gospel,“supposing that gain is godliness! From such, withdraw thyself!” (1st Timothy 6:5)
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Rock Music Christian CHURCH – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH…
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“Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:5-7
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But the long-afore-promisedSigns Of Heaven are now appearing! And God has written a great message of hope in the heavens. This is a colossal heavenly picture of Christ and His Church. And the Church is seen here doing its best imitation of Christ, as the Church uplifts the Cross.
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“He that says he abides in Him (Jesus) ought…to walk, even as He walked.” 1st John 2:6
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This verse from 1st John says it all. Those who claim to be Christians must not only “talk the talk” …but also to “walk the walk”. This is the essence of what this particular verse above is all about.
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And there are two classes of “Christians” within the Church. Those who “talk the talk“, and yet have no great desire to lift the Cross in their daily life.
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To this class, Jesus plainly confesses…“This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8.
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And then there are those who are striving to become like Jesus in every way. And while they have not yet fully lifted up the Cross, they are struggling to do so. These are the ones whom Jesus referred to as“true-worshippers” (John 4:23).
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ABOVE PICTURE: The Cross of Orion – www.theheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial use
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“THE WICKED COMPASS ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS”
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“Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” Habakkuk 1:4
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Yes, God is giving His Elect a message of hope. And this message of hope is confirmed in the Book of Habakkuk.
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You see, very early on in the Book of Habakkuk, God reveals the fundamental issue of that prophetic Book. The righteous have been infiltrated by anti-Christs: Chaldeans. And because these false brethren have surrounded God’s people, we have, to a great degree been leavened by the worldliness and self-seeking in the Church.
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Listen… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33. And this verse from 1st Corinthians is just another verse that we have been deceived concerning.
“Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” Judges 2:3
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We have been deceived into thinking that it’s not important whether we freely associate with unbelievers, personally or by watching TV, or Internet, etc.. And many false shepherds have deceived the flock into believing that they must, “make friends with unbelievers, in order to convert them!” But God plainly declares that we are not even going to, “get to first base” with God, until we make decided efforts to separate ourselves, as far as possible from evil associations.
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Just listen to this next passage… “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]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18.
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So as this passage plainly declares, that God will be a Father to us, IF and WHEN we finally get serious with God, and obey His command to,“come out from among them, and be ye separate”.
Yes, separation and total devotion to Christ is the big message of Habakkuk.
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Listen…“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2, 3.
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Yes, at the very end, this vision of Habakkuk will begin to speak. And at that time, God’s people will flee. And as a matter of fact, the vision of Habakkuk has been made plain upon tables: yes God has written this message to flee upon the tables of the night-sky!
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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JESUS : “SEPARATE FROM SINNERS!”
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It is one thing to evangelize unbelievers. That’s OK. But to have worldly-oriented fellowship with them is quite another matter!
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Jesus had dinner with unbelievers and skeptics. But this was only for the purpose of evangelism! He did not keep company with abject unbelievers, but only with those who were contemplating Salvation. His true friends were only those who were sincere followers.
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Listen… “For such an high priest (Jesus) became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners…” Hebrews 7:26
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Yes, Jesus was separate from sinners. Tragically, there have been many church-goers who have been converted back into the world, by not heeding 2nd Corinthians 6:17…“come out from among them, and be ye separate”.
This Woman Constellation represents the Woman of Revelation 12 (You may notice that her torso and right leg is made of the 7 Stars Constellation.) And she is a picture of God’s people throughout time.
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And so it makes perfect sense that the “7 Stars” Constellation would be a part of this Woman Constellation, since the 7 Stars represents the New Testament Church. But the real point of even mentioning this Woman Constellation, is that it is only as this Woman appears to be running, that the 7 Stars begin to appear as a Cross, lifted up.
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In other words, when this Virtuous Woman appears to be fleeing from sin, and as she also appears to be running the Christian race, and as she is fleeing to the Narrow Gate, is when she also appears to be imitating her Lord Jesus. Notice that same uplifted Cross, is made of her torso and right leg, in the sketch to the right. Can you see the 7 Stars in her right leg and torso? Can you envision the Cross there?
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So God has intertwined the ideas of lifting up the Cross, and fleeing from sin, and fleeing to a Christ-like life, as she flees to the Narrow Gate Stars.
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
“The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:19
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In the above verse, the Lord is giving us an idea of just where we are to flee to: “Mine high places”. It is when God’s people really begin to comprehend the importance of cleansing the temple of their own heart, that this above passage will be fulfilled. The converted human heart is to be an extension of God’s most Holy Place. We are the Temple of God, as Scripture points out. And in the Christian’s heart is to be that sacred Ark, filled with God’s Law. A pure and undefiled Temple. This is the place in which Habakkuk warns us to run to! This is where our “hind’s feet” are to take us: to a high and holy mountain: Mount Sion, if you will!
Now this heavenly concept presents an important Biblical truth. It is when God’s people really begin to flee from sin and sinners, that the Church will begin to resemble Christ. And likewise, it is when God’s people begin to run the Christian Race, that God’s people will begin to lift the Cross of Christ for all the world to see. And when the fires of tribulation begin, then will the remaining dross of sin be fully removed from God’s people. If the Reader wishes to read more about this subject of the Fleeing Woman, just click here… “Running the Christian Race” or “Woman of Revelation 12-The Fleeing Woman”.
So the question to be answered is…“When is the Church going to imitate Christ?”God knows that His Church is not imitating Christ at this present hour. Satan has so loaded this society up with materialism (“Mammon”-see Matthew 6:24) and earthly cares and pleasures, that His Church has likewise become worldly-minded and distracted.
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His people have become “double-minded”… “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:7,8.
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As this verse states, many are double minded: stuck somewhere between materialism and the desire to become Christ-like.
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ONE THIRD AND TWO THIRDS…“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah 13:8, 9.
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This little known passage from Zechariah has far more to do with the state of God’s people today, than most people can imagine! So please proceed to the next little section below to find out why.
“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah 13:8, 9
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Notice that this above passage says that out of the three parts that make up God’s people, two-thirds will be cut off and only one-third will be brought through the fire as gold. If you put two-thirds into decimals you find that it is, .666%. And God says that two parts shall be cut off from God’s people. Do you or I belong to the two-thirds part that will be cut off from a relationship with God? Or are you or I part of the one-third part that God will purify in the fires of tribulation? For an in-depth look into this subject, just click here, “Moon Into Blood”.
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(It also must be noted, that this 666 number has more Biblical nuances. This is discussed elsewhere on this website, in articles, such as the “Moon Into Blood Trilogy” and other places.)
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Mark of the beast pub. dom. Wikipedia
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“But when will God have a people who will uplift the Cross in these last moments of history?”
“And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover THE LIGHT OF THE MOON SHALL BE AS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN. And the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD binds up the breach of His people, and heals the stroke of their wound.” Isaiah 30:25, 26.
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When God heals the breach and stroke of His people, they will shine as the Sun! This above passage seems to be speaking of the Moon as representing God’s people. So the Moon (God’s people) will shine as the sun in the day when the towers fall.
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Listens to Songs…“Who is she that looks forth as the morning, FAIR AS THE MOON,” Songs 6:10. Well who is she, who is fair as the Moon? God’s people…that’s who!
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But when will this happen? The question to ask is this:“have we reached the day when the towers have fallen?”
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Are there any verses that support this idea of the Church shining brightly?
Are there any verses that support this idea of the Church shining brightly?
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“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43.
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We always assumed this verse was speaking of the time AFTER this fallen world will be no more. But putting the above two verses together, we begin to see that there is coming a time when God will heal His Church. Then when the Church has been purified from all dross, the Church will shine forth as the Sun.
“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:40-43.
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This verse appears to be speaking of the last period of this world’s history. The dross will be removed from amongst God’s people. The Church will be purified. They,“will come forth as gold”…”tried in the fire”. (Job 23:10 & Revelation 3:18).
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God will have a purified people. But we must be subjected to the purification process. That which is offensive must be “burned away” so to speak.
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The furnace we are thrown into, is the “furnace of affliction”, spoken of in Isaiah…“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10. And so, it says here that God will refine His people.
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Listen…“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 2nd Thessalonians 1:10.
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This verse speaks of the day when Christ will be glorified in His saints. Yes, this verse reveals that Christ will then be admired in all them that believe! This is because, in that day, the perfected Christ will shine out from within his saints.
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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“EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW”
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“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10-12
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The above passage reveals that there is a day coming in which all humanity will bow before the Lord, and confess their sins to God. And most believed this will happen after the world has been burned up, and all are standing before God. And no doubt, this will happen. But there are other passages which give evidence that all humanity will surrender to God prior to the burning up of this world. Listen to the next passage…
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“Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:5-7.
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Now when it says here that all the ends of the earth shall fear God, it becomes evident that we do not fully understand the events of the last days. But it seems from this passage that when the Church finally praises God with all our heart soul, strength, and mind, then and only then, that the inhabitants of the earth shall fall.
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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“ALL YE NATIONS: PRAISE HIM”
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Here’s another interesting passage. Actually this is an entire Psalm, Psalm 117.“O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 117. Not only is this the shortest chapter in the Bible, but it is the exact middle chapter of the Bible.
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But beside those interesting facts, the most interesting aspect of this Psalm, is that it almost would make one get the idea that God will have mercy on all the inhabitants of the world.
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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“THE CREATION SHALL BE DELIVERED”
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Just one more passage along this same line of thought.
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Listen…“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-23.
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Now this passage sounds like it’s speaking of animals, when it says “creature”. But the word “creature” can also be translated “creation”. And so these passages (and many others) begin to present the concept that we just do not understand the extent of God’s mercy. Nor do we understand what will happen on Judgment Day.
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But the point to all this is: when God’s people finally and fully uplift the Cross of Christ for all the world to see, then it would almost seem as if there will be a massive conversion by the peoples of the world.
But of course, we only, “know in part, and we prophesy in part”. So we will just have to wait and see how things turn out! We just cannot get dogmatic, when there are seemingly conflicting verses concerning all these things!
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Maybe the following Psalm says it best…“LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” Psalm 131:1, 2.
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It is futile to try to fully understand Judgment Day. And while we hope for the Salvation of all, we just need to keep from trying to understand things which have not yet been revealed!
Listen to this next verse about the 7th Angel with the 7th Trumpet…“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.” Revelation 10:7. And what mystery will God reveal at the blowing of this 7th Trumpet? Listen…
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“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:26, 27.
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OK, so it says here, this mystery (Christ in you) is already known to God’s Church. But God wishes to reveal this mystery also to the unbelievers. And so, when God’s Church finally uplifts the Cross in our own lives, then will this wonderful mystery be fulfilled. The world has heard about Christ, but the world has yet to see a Church manifesting that Christ lives in us. Then will the mystery of God be finished.
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But how can God’s Church uplift the Cross while we are still clinging to so many idols? God is going to have to somehow remove our idols from our tightly clenched grip.
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GOD WILL SHAKE HIS PEOPLE…
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So the logical question to ask is this:“exactly what will happen that will prompt God’s people to cast their idols of silver and gold to the moles and to the bats?”…
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OUR IDOLS MUST GO… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to SHAKE TERRIBLY THE EARTH.”Isaiah 2:20, 21.
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It would appear from this verse that God is going to rise to shake terribly the Earth. So it appears that whatever God does to shake terribly this Earth, is going to cause His people to cast away their idols, and get themselves ready to“shine forth as the Sun”. It seems that God must shake His people out of our death-like slumber and spiritual lethargy.
A HEAVENLY PARABLE… If you go out on a dark night and find the 7 Stars in this upright position, it looks very colossal. Just imagine this incredible Cross, towering high in the heavens. When you see this constellation as the uplifted Cross, it’s almost scary to behold!
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This heavenly parable should be an inspiration to God’s people. This God-given ensign should sober us up to the solemn responsibility that lies before us. It’s time to glorify our Lord. It’s time to pour that costly spikenard upon our Savior.
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The Lord will accomplish His work in us. The fiery furnace is already being heated up seven-times. Have we prepared ourselves to stand in the evil day?
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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“THE SINNERS IN ZION ARE AFRAID”
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Listen to this next fiery verse… “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the Devouring Fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil…” Isaiah 33:14, 15.
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This verse is a tall order for God’s people to accomplish. How can we fulfill such a high calling? How can we dwell with the Devouring Fire?
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This old painting of the Apostle John, presents a wonderful concept which should not be overlooked! The artist has portrayed John as looking like his Lord. Yes, John had so merged his life with Jesus, that when reading his epistles, one comes away with the realization that John had finally achieved a total transformation into the likeness of Jesus!
“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 comes 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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This verse is definitely talking about Judgment Day. In that day, God’s people are warned by God to get into our chambers and hide ourselves. This verse seems to be speaking of that complete trust in God. We need to daily hide under God’s wings…
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“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings,” Psalm 17:8.
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We need to hide ourselves in Him, because the day is almost here when God is going to show the inhabitants of the world our sins…“the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:21….
So the day is coming in which all things will be revealed… “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (of the Lord) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1st Corinthians 3:13.
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Yes, the day we are now entering will reveal just what true nature of our work.
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And so with this sobering passage in mind, it is manifest that there is only one way to escape this awful judgment.
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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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So here we are counseled to seek even more of God’s righteousness, and even more of His meekness! And even then, God tells us that,“it MAY BE ye shall be hid in the day of His wrath”!
“In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21
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“AND THEY SHALL CAST THEIR IDOLS…TO THE MOLES AND…BATS”… There are many of us who have been struggling for years to achieve a consistent walk with the Lord. The only encouragement to those who are likewise struggling is this: 1. Immerse yourself in God’s Word. 2. Carry a small Bible in your back pocket. 3. Commit verses to memory, whenever you have a spare moment. 4. If that isn’t possible, then listen to God’s Word on cassette or MP3; while you work, if possible…while you walk…while you’re laying in your bed: the Psalms, Job, Matthew, Jeremiah, any and every book of the Bible. 5. Or simply meditate day and night on what you read. 6. Pray without ceasing. 7. Cease from amusements, hobbies, diversions and any other thing that interferes with total concentration on the Gospel. 8. Focus on Christ. 9. If you are in servitude to debt or obligations…pray to God to pay them off & free you from such entanglements ASAP. 10. And by all means, separate yourself AFAP from evil communications, which will corrupt the purity of your heart. And while we cannot come completely out of this evil world, as yet; nevertheless, we can come a good way out!
“…To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:21
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This website cannot endorse any better ways to hide yourself in Jesus, than such efforts as these (The 10 things listed in the previous section). This is all about our Salvation! Does anything else in this world of sin compare to the magnitude of going through the coming crisis? It’s going to steal upon us like a thief in the night!“What I say unto you, I say unto all…WATCH!” Mark 13:7
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And by totally immersing ourselves in Christ, in prayer and meditating on His Word, we may find that our life will begin to come into harmony with Jesus. And though Satan will assail us with tribulation and temptations, we will nevertheless find our self hiding our self in the clefts of that Magnificent Rock…Jesus Christ…“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs…” Songs 2:14.
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Like these three Rock Doves, God’s people must likewise be found in“the clefts of the rocks”. And like these three doves, we must hide ourselves in prayerful trust, separation from ungodly influences, and in His Word, the Bible. Then, when God begins to shake things up in the world, you will then be ready to dwell with the, “Devouring Fire” (Isaiah 33:14). Then the Church will lift up the Cross for all the world to behold!
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“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. No matter how discouraging things may get in the future, we must never give up hope! The Devil will try to make us believe that our case is hopeless. But we are reminded of that verse in 1 Corinthians 13:8…“Love never gives up.”
We always just took this constellation for granted! The Big Dipper! But now we can see it as God intended! Now we can see it is speaking of a most Holy concept! This page speaks of the Seven Stars Constellation (AKA Big Dipper), and how it relates to Revelation, as well as to God’s faithful people (You can find this constellation under most star-visibility conditions.)
The second article, “The 7 Stars & The 7 Bowls of Wrath” presents a new concept concerning the Book of Revelation which defies all Church Orthodoxy! But you have to click the link to read all about it!
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26
The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
to pattern their lives after the divine Pattern, Jesus. 
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behavior is the greatest witness either for Heaven or for Hell. 
“But this I (Paul) say, 
Scrooge, in this picture to the right. 
Scrooge, in this picture to the right. 
And so, once we really comprehend the totality of our devotion to Christ, which God requires of His sons and daughters, we can then begin to really enjoy our abundant fellowship with the Father and with His Son. 
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worries, and habits, to name just a few.
ch (7 Stars).
e to wait and see how things turn out! We just cannot get dogmatic, when there are seemingly conflicting verses concerning all these things! 
