Signs Of Heaven

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“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:3, 6-8.

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The above verse is the call of the “voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord”. It is the cry that “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:”

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In The Meadow by Claude Monet www.wikigallery.org public domain

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FLOWER OF THE FIELD IN HEAVEN

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This Flower of the Field Constellation graces the summer night sky, reminding us of the vanity of this life. The opening verse are the words of the, “voice in the wilderness”.

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Listen… “The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? ‘All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.'” Isaiah 40:3, 6-8. This verse tells us that all the glory of Mankind is as a fading flower.

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These two constellations in the sketch are the Two Turtle-doves (AKA  Sagittarius Constellation  ) and the Flower of the Field Constellations(AKA Scorpius). The third constellation, which is only partially seen in this sketch, is the Cross/Scepter. They appear in the southern skies, moving from east to west. They are best seen from spring to early fall. This sketch is how they appear in summer, in the northern latitudes. In the southern latitudes they are more tilted. As they move through the night sky, the flower appears to bend down.

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WHY IS THIS FLOWER POINTING UPWARD?

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Do you see the long blade of Grass growing from the base of the Flower of the Field? This is made of the two highest stars of the Lupus Constellation, and the two lowest stars of the Libra Constellation. As this sketch shows, the flower appears to be pointing to Arcturus (not shown in this sketch). Arcturus represents Jesus, as He leads His sons on a spiritual journey up a heavenward pathway, as is written… “Canst you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32.

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As this flower represents the glory of Mankind, then the obvious message is this: even Mankind ultimately points to Jesus, because it withers and falls away. And as humanity considers how fragile life is, then by their sadness and hopelessness and sinfulness, they unwittingly praise the Lord… “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.” Psalm 76:10.

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So the sinfulness of Mankind praises the Lord. So the following Psalm then begins to make sense… “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 150:6.

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Therefore, it’s virtually impossible for any creature not to praise the Lord. Romans makes this concept clear… “…our unrighteousness commend(s) the righteousness of God” Romans 3:5

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For instance, the atheist, as he grows old and sad and hopeless, only makes Christianity look that much more appealing to those who are questioning and searching which direction to go in life.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART: Flower of the Field Constellation commonly known as Scorpio – seen in spring through summer 

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“IN A GREEN TREE…IN A DRY”

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“But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Luke 23:28-31

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This above passage is the words of Jesus, just prior to going to the Cross. And here He speaks of a green tree and a dry tree in relation to the end of the world.

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Jesus was saying here, that if they crucified Him at a time when the world was relatively young, then, ‘what will they do when the world has reached its end?’

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Judgment Day – People fleeing – Book of Revelation – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons – Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing – Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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PEOPLE TOO, CAN BE LIKE DEAD TREES

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Have you ever seen a dead tree, say for instance, a fir-tree? While it lived it swayed gently and gracefully back and forth in the wind, like this beautiful painting. But when it dies, it is stiffens and becomes rigid (see photo below). No longer does it sway in the wind.

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And so it is with God’s people. Just listen to the Pen of Inspiration…

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“And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.” Isaiah 7:2.

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So this verse presents the concept of trees swaying in the wind to the hearts of repentant sinners. When Christians are guided by God’s Spirit, they are easily convinced of sin. And they are easily led by the moving of the Spirit of God. This verse uses the metaphor of a tree swaying in the wind, comparing it to a repentant heart. But when church-goers are void of God’s Spirit, they are not so easily convinced of their own sin. They cannot bend. They are rigid, like a dead tree.

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Redwood Trees, Santa Cruz Mts, Cal (Boston Public Library) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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UNFORGIVING SPIRIT LIKE DEAD TREE

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This phenomenon can also be seen among people of the world, to a certain degree. When people are young, they seem to tolerate one another so much better than old folks. So often, old people become rigid and unforgiving of one another. So often they cut themselves off from family members over minor incidents: minor infractions that they would have easily let pass by in younger years.

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Old Man – Max Handrick – Alter Lastenträger – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Pilgrim’s Progress – 09, p29 – Obstinate – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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DRY TREE COMPARED TO A NATION

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Jesus in the above Bible passage from Luke 23, makes a profound statement when He says… “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

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Being the Creator, Jesus well knew the behavior of Mankind. Jesus saw that nations grow and mature just as individual people do. And likewise, Jesus knew that nations grow old and die, just as do people.

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SnagTree – cropped image – wikipedia share-alike lic.

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DRY TREE ALSO COMPARED TO THIS EARTH

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But Jesus in this statement is also pronouncing a prophecy concerning the world. In other words, Jesus is making a veiled prophecy that this world will go through a growing and maturing.

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But more than this, Jesus is proclaiming that the world will come to a point in which it will finally grow old and die, spiritually speaking.

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Oh yes, people are still living and inhabiting this world. Children are being born every second of the day on Planet Earth.

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But the world is beginning to experience a similar condition as does that fir-tree which finally dies and becomes rigid.

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Old World Map – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE

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“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished.” Isaiah 51:6 

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The purpose of this article is to convince the Reader that this dying condition now exists on a world-wide scale. This world has existed for thousands of years. But just now the world is beginning to show the tell-tale signs of death. Because of sin and its results, this Earth has grown old prematurely. 

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There is a similarity between this world and a dry tree, just as Jesus spoke of… “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Luke 23:31.

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The above passage from Isaiah clearly states… “the earth shall wax old like a garment.”

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And this article will show why the earth is ready to be burned up, just as 2nd Peter states… “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  2nd Peter 3:10.

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And though this is a less than pleasant subject to discuss; nevertheless it is a part of the truth. And as we all know, “the truth shall make you free.”

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SnagTree – cropped image – wikipedia – share-alike lic.

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4TH HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE

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“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:8 

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The 4th Horse and his rider are a symbol of this same concept of death. And though these four horsemen are a picture of the four periods of the New Testament Church history, they also seem to be a commentary of the world during this same period.

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And now that we are at the final stage of the Church in the world, we are now in the time of the 4th Horse and his rider. In a number of ways, we are in this dispensation of death. So this concept stands as a witness to us, that death has come to us: death to wicked. Death-to-self-will of Believers. Death of the churches.

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And death to a dying planet… “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  2nd Peter 3:10.

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In whatever way it occurs, this planet will finally burn.

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But just as the farmer burns his field at the end of harvest, so also the Lord will make preparations for a New Heavens and a New Earth…“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2nd Peter 3:13

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Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse_Victor Vasnetsov Wikipedia Public Domain

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IT’S A BRAINWASHED WORLD TODAY

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Have you noticed what a brainwashed world we live in today? Television hammers its pet dogmas day and night. Over and over again, we hear the same ideas from morning till night. The radio shouts its ideologies at us day and night, till we become indoctrinated into some political persuasion.

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And then, on the other hand, if we watch a lot of TV, we become indoctrinated into some other political persuasion.

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Mankind is not content to allow a person to be an independent thinker. Children’s programs start out somewhat innocent, but the older they get, the more perverted do their TV shows become.

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It’s certainly a brainwashed world today!

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Our children go to school now, under the guise of learning the three “R’s”. But more and more, a subtle objective of schools is now becoming to indoctrinate our children into godless philosophies. Any teaching about the Bible is quickly smothered by worldly philosophies..

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For more on the subject of television, read this article…  “Television & The Image That Speaks”

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RELIGIOUS INDOCTRINATION

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It’s an intolerant world today!

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Various religions are becoming more and more intolerant of other religions.

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Don’t we now see a rigidness in our ideologies today like never before?

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ISIL – Execution of man – September 2014 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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IT’S A SEXUALIZED WORLD TODAY

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And have you noticed how sexualized this world is becoming today? When TV first began airing, the moral standards were much, much higher than they are today? Nowadays the children’s programs are often so perverted, it is appalling to think of what your grandkids might someday be watching (should time continue a few more decades.)

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The Internet is so filled with pornography, and you don’t have to seek it out. It comes looking for you! And seeking for your children too! The songs on the radio are becoming so sexualized today that it is horrifying to realize that these songs are being listened to and even sung by Christians’ very own children!

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Children are becoming sexually active at younger and younger years. Sexual perversion, which once was only whispered about is now being openly taught to your children in grade-school! Is this world falling apart, or what!?! Are we becoming a modern-day Sodom? It looks like we are!

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Betty_Boop-WIKIPEDIA-Public domain

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THAT NOTORIOUS CITY OF OLD NOW BECOMING A PANDEMIC PHENOMENON

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“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”  Matthew 17:28-30

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Has there always been sexually perverted societies? Oh yes. But now we are beginning to see this practically become a world-wide phenomenon. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves…For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another…” Romans 1:24-28. 

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Notice it says repeatedly, “God gave them up”.  When a society becomes sexually perverted, that deviant behavior becomes a final sign that God has given up on that society. And it won’t be long before that society begins to fall apart. But now we are even beginning to see this phenomenon on a world-wide scale. So the obvious conclusion is that God has given up this world to its immoral condition.

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Truly this is another great sign that we have arrived at the end! 

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Picture–Lot Escapes wicked city-Genesis3- www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart-public domain.

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 A SIGN OF THE END

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It’s not that men-with-men is greater than all other sins. It’s just the last one!

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No, this sin is akin to adultery or fornication. All three of these are more or less equal in wickedness. Now most Christians understand that their own sins are just as grievous to God as are the sins of the world. And most Christians understand that we are not to be finger-pointing at the sins of others. And Christians are to have humility, considering that we are every bit as big sinners as those whom we might be tempted to scorn. 

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Listen to Paul… “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1st Timothy 1:15.

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This verse is not speaking of just Paul. He says it is, “a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptance”. In other words, we all need to accept this saying! We’re all dirty rotten sinners!

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The inhabitants of that infamously wicked city are_smitten_with_blindness-wikipedia-US-public-domain.jpg

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GOD’S WAKE-UP CALL

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But we also need to understand that God is using this unnatural sin as a wake-up call, to sound the trumpet, that the end has come. The world is becoming so wicked, that it is impossible to imagine that the world can survive much longer!

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But in Romans, Chapter 1, God has spoken of this unnatural condition as a sin which occurs when God gives up a nation over to their lusts.

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Listen… “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet (just).” Romans 1:26, 27

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Both history and the Bible exemplifies this sin as a sign of the end. Just look at the great societies in history past, which fell into promiscuity, just prior to their downfall. And of course, the unforgettable account of the destruction of that wicked city stands as a warning against perversity in any society.

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Parade – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License 

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IT’S A DIVIDED WORLD TODAY

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And have you noticed how divided the world is becoming?

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People seem as if they are binding themselves into bundles into their own ethnic or ideological groups today. What they call “celebrating our diversity”, is quite often, just a code name for bigotry… “I’m no longer just a member of the human family. I’m a ________”(fill in the blank with what ever ethnic, political, or ideological group you wish)

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And have you noticed that even the Church World is becoming divided between the conservatives and liberals? And have you noticed the growing animosity between these two groups? It seems that this division is even now beginning to break families apart.

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We, as a world, are becoming rigid, as is this dead tree photo. Oh yes, there has always been such a rigidity in the world. But now it’s become so much more pronounced in these last few decades.

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IT’S AN INTOLERANT WORLD TODAY

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And notice how intolerant people are becoming today. In a society that was founded on the idea of freedom of speech, it seems that a lot of people would like to put an end to freedom of speech which doesn’t agree with their own particular ideology?

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Someone once said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

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Well whether or not that person actually would have defended to the death my right to say something, things in the world have now deteriorated down to the level of this following statement… “I disapprove of what you say, and I’m going to court to try to stop you from saying it!”

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Word on the streets is that even some of the giant Internet search engines are merely waiting for the right moment, so they can begin diminishing the search-capability of Internet users to search the Internet for websites which don’t happen to agree with the politically correct politics of that particular search engine company. Unbelievable? Yes, unbelievable! But that’s just the word on the streets! (at the time of the writing of this article, the Internet giants had not yet begun to censor Christian websites, as they are now doing)

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Freedom of Thought Ben Franklin – cropped image – wikipedia share-alike lic.

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PEOPLE GETTING TIRED OF FREEDOM?

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Somebody once said, “Give me liberty, or give me death”. The cry we sometimes hear now is, “If they don’t keep silent, we’ll give them death”. But it seems like the great experiment in freedom called the, “Sweet land of liberty”, is beginning to wane.

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We now are beginning to see a vast throng which no longer values freedom! They seem to have a Nazi-like mentality. Law upon law is now being enacted to restrict our choices: the food we eat, the things which are said, the places we can go.

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And when it comes to freedom of speech, many are ready discard the, “the land of liberty”, and all it stands for, merely to silence their political opponents. There has been a movement afoot to restrict political speech on the radio. There is a rigidness which is sweeping through the land, that’s very similar to that dead fir-tree photo. It’s very frightening to see this happening. But it is…happening!

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Anger during a protest – cropped image – by David Shankbone – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

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DIVISIVENESS SPOKEN OF IN DANIEL

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“And others, tempting Him, sought of Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falls.” Luke 11:16, 17 

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The above passage was spoken by Jesus, as He looked down the corridors of time to this present day. But what does all this rigidness and divisiveness in today’s world have to do with anything? The fact is, not only did Jesus speak of this divisiveness in the world, but the Book of Daniel also spoke of such a time at the end.

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When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of that giant image representing the future ruling kingdom’s of this world, there was a constant deterioration of the quality of metals which comprised this image. It began with gold as the head, but then turned to silver, then to brass, then to iron, then to clay mingled with iron.

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Nebuchadnezzars dream – www.christart.com – limited use permit

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DANIEL EXPLAINS DREAM TO KING

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To make along story short, when at the very last of this prophetic account in Daniel, it is stated that at the last, just before God’s kingdom comes crashing into Earth, that the clay and iron mingled into the feet of this statue will not cling together… “And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” Daniel 2:41-43. 

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So we see that these last day kingdoms and peoples are divided and will not merge together. It was at this point that this great rock from heaven, God’s kingdom, comes crashing into Earth, and fills the whole Earth.

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http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_210747/William-Brassey-Hole/Daniel-interprets-the-dream-of-Nebuchadnezzar

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IT’S A SHAKING WORLD TODAY

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“Thou hast made the earth to tremble; Thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.” Psalm 60:2

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Have you noticed just what a shaky world we live in today? It doesn’t tend to inspire confidence in this trembling real estate, we call Planet Earth, does it? Could it be said that, “Tera Firma is not so firma tera these days?”

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But it seems that God had this all figured out long ago. Just listen… “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth…and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage” Isaiah 24:17-20 (condensed)

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The Bible actually compares this world to a woman in labor pains. Just listen… “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:7, 8.

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So then, the 2nd Epistle of Peter gives us the following exhortation… “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct & lifestyle) and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God…?” 2nd Peter 3:11-13.  

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Vespucio Norte Highway after 2010 earthquake wikimedia commons share-alike license

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