Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 4 (Eternal Torment? Part 18: “Stuck In The Miry Pit!”)

By admin On February 18th, 2021

.

.

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 4

.

.

.

.

Eternal Torment?

.

Part 18:

“Stuck In The Miry Pit!”

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

.

.

.

.

.

“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:

and they have no rest day nor night,

who worship the beast and his image,

and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14:11

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

General consensus is, that this above passage from Revelation 13 concerns the torment of all the unsaved of the world beginning in the very last moments of time, and continuing onward, throughout all eternity future!

.

Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

“FOR THE LORD WILL NOT CAST OFF FOREVER!”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081218-M-4507D-001.jpg

Lamentations 3:31

.

And yet, if the Bible student digs much deeper, it is discovered that God has no desire to needlessly torment lost souls throughout eternity… “But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:31-34, 40, 41

.

Here is seen that God afflicts the children of men for the purpose of turning us away from our sin, and returning back to God.

.

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

THE OLD MAN & THE NEW MAN

.

You see, the Bible reveals that each genuine Believer has two opposing forces within: “The http://article.wn.com/view/2013/09/06/Bets_on_US_jobs_data_could_lead_gold_south/Old Man of Sin”, and the, “New Man”, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” Ephesians 4:22-24

.

And so, when a man or woman turns to the Lord for Salvation, the work of sanctification has just begun! And God sits as a purifier of gold and silver, to purify the hearts of His people.

.

And even as gold and silver are purified by fire, so too, each Christian must be cast into the furnace of affliction for the purpose of heart-purification.

.

Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpgGOD’S PEOPLE PURIFIED BY FIRE

.

Now of course, this is not currently the interpretation embraced by the so-called “orthodoxy” of the church-world.

.

They see God as a heartless tyrant, who will continually watch the billions of unsaved multitudes roasting in fire throughout the ions of time and eternity!

.

Oh no, they don’t come out and say that God is “merciless”. But this is what they are selling to the public, by their misunderstanding of what the Bible says about the true nature of Hell.

.

Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

THE LORD’S BREATH IS LIKE BRIMSTONE!?!http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Old_Man_in_Sorrow_(On_the_Threshold_of_Eternity).jpg

.

But listen to the fire and brimstone which Isaiah speaks of…“For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; He hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Weeping_Woman_(F1069).jpgbreath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” Isaiah 30:33

.

Here is revealed that the fire of Hell (Tophet) is not a literal fire, but is actually a spiritual fire, kindled by the breath of God, “like a stream of Brimstone”!

.

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

Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

FURNACE OF AFFLICTION?

.The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer - Wikipedia - US Public Domain

But let’s take a moment to explore just how God afflicts His people for the purpose of crucifying the Old Man… “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10

.

Here is seen that God chooses His people “in the furnace of affliction”.

.

And truth-be-told, we go through many types of afflictions in this life, physical, mental, and spiritual.

.

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

CRUCIFYING THE OLD MAN

.

So what kinds of affliction do Believers go through, for the crucifixion of the selfish Old Man within?

.

Well, for instance, listen to this passage from Proverbs 14:14…“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:”

.

Here is a tiny verse which reveals a giant concept!

.

It is akin to this next verse from the same Book of Proverbs…“The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes (whippings) the inward parts of the belly.” Proverbs 20:30

.

These two verses from Proverbs reveal that those of us who have iniquity in our hearts may be subjected to having our noses rubbed in our own dung, so to speak.

.

ABOVE PICTURE: Prayer – “Wherefore He is able to save to the uttermost…” Hebrews 7:25

.

.

.

.

.

GLUTTONY

.                                                                                                                         .

Yes, God looks upon the heart of a man, and sees that wickedness is found there, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Gula_II_Gluttony_II.jpgwhich must be purged out.

.

For instance, those of us who are plagued by the sin of gluttony will often have to repeatedly suffer the torment of overeating.

.

And so, day and night, the smoke of this torment causes us to fall to our knees in prayer and pleading for deliverance from such affliction which continually plagues us!

.

Gluttony – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

.

.

.

.

.

“NO REST, DAY NOR NIGHT!”

.

“So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.” Job 7:3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bonnat02.jpg

.

And those of us who have been cast into the miry pit of our fleshly sins, fully understand how Satan uses these painful months of affliction to discourage us, to make us doubt, and to cause us to murmur against God… “God, why aren’t You helping me!? Why don’t You deliver me from this sin!? Why are You allowing Satan so much leeway in my life!?”

.

And God looks down on us with great sympathy because of our sufferings, knowing that these afflictions are necessary for the crucifixion of that Old Man of the flesh.

.

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

.

.

.

.

.

ANOTHER DEVOTIONAL?

.

Well, it’s too bad that time doesn’t permit a full exploration of this subject. But perhaps it can be continued in a future devotional.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Como-investir-ouro.jpg

.

But let it suffice to be said, that those of us who are now suffering the torment of remaining in the miry pit of our fleshly sins, will not be forever tormented.

.

But, “after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1st Peter 5:10

.

Gold bars – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

.

.

.

.

.

FORMER THINGS PASSED AWAY

.

The very wonderful Good News is that our present sufferings will not last forever! No, one day soon God is going to create a New Heavens and a New Earth!

.

And all the former things, such as suffering, sorrow, pain, tears and death, will be forever vanquished out of existence! (see Revelation 21:4)

.

And instead, the entire universe will then become a place of peace, and joy, and rest, and purity, and love.

.

And throughout all the lush green eternal valleys and hills will be heard the echoes of innocent laughter, and singing, and freedom bells ringing in the total and final victory over sin.

.

And we will be forever young! And no more will there be a place of suffering and torment!

.

And this Promised Land will continue on for ever, and ever…Amen! 

.

River of Water of Life – H. Melville – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg

TO READ PART 19, GO HERE…

April 22 (Eternal Torment? Part 19: “Our God Is Fire & Brimstone!?!”

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ebenezer_Newman_Downard_Morning_prayer_1860-61.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the chastening that is so needed in my life. But in Thy wrath, remember mercy, that when the months of my affliction is accomplished, that Thou would deliver me and set my feet on the solid Rock…

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

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment, or you can also read this shorter article…AUGUST 19 (Apocalypse Now! Part 6: Fire & Brimstone!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

.

THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

.

.

.

.

ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

.

.

.Orion the Good Shepherd (5th personality of Orion)

“The LORD is my shepherd;

.

I shall not want (lack).

.

He maketh me to lie

.

down in green pastures:

.

He leadeth me beside

.

the still waters…

.

I will fear no evil:

.

for Thou art with me;

.

Thy rod and thy staff

.

they comfort me….”

Psalm 23:1, 2, 4

.

.

.

.

.

 

ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

.

01.17.20133

.

This star-chart from Wikipedia, has Orion sketched in by the editor of this website. With the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini), the sickle in Orion, 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. And so now this little Gemini star becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s rod & staff. Thus with this additional star, Orion the Reaper Constellation now becomes the 5th personality of Orion: The Good Shepherd (sketch below right). Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either of the stars, Castor or Pollux. But faint as This little star may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, turning Orion’s sickle into a shepherd’s rod. And this is a very wonderful and beautiful Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as is written…

.

01.17.20132

.

“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12 

.

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

.

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

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

.

.

.

.

.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Orion, The Good Shepherd

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:UpstateNYer

TOMORROW…

April 5 (Flee To The Mountains, Part 18: “It’s A 911 Wake-Up World!”)

9/11 World Trade Center attack – New York – by UpsateNYer & Wikipedia – Share-Alike Lic.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Comments are closed.