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Television & The Image That Speaks

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“And he (2nd Beast) had power to give life

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unto the image of the (1st) Beast,

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that the image of the (1st) Beast

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should both speak, and cause

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that as many as would not worship

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the image of the Beast should be killed.”

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Revelation 13:15

 

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TELEVISION: GREATEST INVENTION EVER! 

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Is the above title true? Is television indeed, the greatest invention ever?

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Well, probably many people have many different ideas about that question. But one thing is for sure: television has had an enormous impact upon the world!

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And it has found its way into more and more homes around the world, in ever-increasing numbers.

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Truly in many households, it has become the centerpiece of life!

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And it makes a wonderful babysitter for the young, and a faithful friend to the old and to the infirm and to the confined.

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

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FROM “LEAVE IT TO BEAVER” TO “BEVIS & BUTTHEAD”

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But television has not remained constant.

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Television has devolved from a somewhat quasi-moral beginning, and has gradually devolved down, down, down, into deeper and deeper decadence and immorality.

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Since its first appearance in the mid 20th Century, it has morphed from a “Leave It To Beaver” mentality to a…well…let it suffice to say: it’s less than it once was, to put it mildly.

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Cleaver family from the television program Leave it to Beaver. – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Beavis And Butthead – cropped picture – Wikipedia – Fair-Use RationaleClick here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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A FORM OF GODLINESS

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But be not deceived, O Pilgrim of the Cross!

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Just because there are still some seemingly nice shows on TV, don’t be fooled by such “innocence”.  

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Television has about it an insidious evil, which is as subtle as that double-tongued old Serpent in the Garden who deceived our first parents.

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And its chief target is the unsuspecting Christian family!

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And this article will lightly explore some of these subtle deceptions, which are spoiling God’s vineyard: deceptions so insidious, that most Christians are not even aware of!

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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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DEAF & DUMB IDOLS OF OLD…

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Never before in the history of mankind, has there been an image which could speak!

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Through the ages, people around the world have created their idols: Idols of wood! Idols of stone!

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Idols of silver or gold! Idols that couldn’t walk, talk, or do anything good…or anything evil! 

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The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat – Wikimedia – Public Domain

 

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BIBLE SPEAKS OF DUMB IDOLS…

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Concerning the idols of the world, Scripture says…

…”For the customs of the people are vain:

for one cuts a tree out of the forest…

They deck it with silver and with gold;

they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

They are upright as the palm tree, BUT SPEAK NOT:

they must needs be carried, because they cannot go.

Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil,

neither also is it in them to do good.”

Jeremiah 10:3-5 [condensed] 

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Notice that Scripture says these idols “speak not”, and also ” for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good”.

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But also notice that it says here, “BE NOT AFRAID OF THEM; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”

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So then, if we shouldn’t be afraid of mere lifeless images, then what about an image that CAN talk…and CAN do evil?

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Well, the obvious inference here is, yes, those kinds of images we should be very afraid of!

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Picture-Gold Calf – Wikipedia – public domain

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A TALKING IMAGE FORETOLD…

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Almost 2,000 years ago, the Apostle John, was given the Revelation, in which God prophesied that Satan would, in the last days, create an image which would be given life!

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This image WOULD be able to speak… 

…”And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,

that the image of the beast should both speak…“.

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And this image would, “cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed”.`

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So, this passage foretells of a day in which Satan will create a TALKING IMAGE.

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And this talking image will have the power to cause Christians to be killed! 

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John on Patmos – wikigallery – public-domain

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TALKING IMAGE NOW HERE…

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So, 2,000 years later, we have arrived at a day in which this particular Bible prophecy is now possible!

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Never before in history was such a thing devised!

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Never before was such a subtle and sinister image imagined as a reality!

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But we now have an image that can speak to almost the entire world!

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We now have an image that can teach…almost the entire world!

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We have an image that can talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year…right in the very midst of our own living room!

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It is the centerpiece of the American home, and fast becoming the centerpiece of homes around the world! A talking image! Incredible!

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Academy Awards Ceremony – cropped image – Wikipedia – share alike lic.

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WHY NO FEAR?

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IMAGINE! The Bible prophesied about this, 2,000 years ago!

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You would think that knowing this, the people would be very alarmed. But we’re not!

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We all too often have a ho-hum, laissez-faire attitude toward this most revered (and yet malignant) member of our family!

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Yes, you could say that television is the proverbial, “Soma”, for the great masses of humanity!

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Just as that drug, Soma, kept the masses self-satisfied in that infamous novel, so too, television keeps us and our children in a semi-hypnotic-like state!

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It is even the designated babysitter in many homes!

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Academy Awards Ceremony – Wikipedia – share alike lic.

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PARADISE LOST

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What people must keep in mind, is that God created this world to be a wonderful garden in which Humanity could enjoy the beauty of nature, and rich and joyful communion with their Creator.

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But of course, this paradise was lost, when mankind decided to rebel against God’s government of unselfish love.

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Cole Thomas Expulsion from the Garden of Eden – 1828 – Boston Museum – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

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LUCIFER NOW, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

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And so God, for His own eternal purpose, allowed, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan”, to tempt Mankind into sin and rebellion.

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At that point, Mankind had traded God away for a new Master…“the god of this world“, the Devil.

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Now at that moment the Earth and all its inhabitants had been taken captive by this master deceiver.

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But in spite of Man’s rebellion, God had left open the door of mercy. Mankind still had the ability to return back to God.

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But Lucifer, in his jealous hatred, was not content to allow Mankind such an easy access back to God. 

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And so, Lucifer went to work to create his new kingdom, turning it into a place which fallen Mankind could not and would not find their way back into God’s sheepfold.

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And through his own “Workers of Iniquity”, Lucifer worked tirelessly to create his kingdom, the mighty Babylon.

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The kingdom of sin and selfishness.

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And it is Satan’s purpose to invent new ways to keep the human race from turning back to God.

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And of course, television (and Internet, radio, etc.) is one of his crowning achievements in his warfare against Heaven! 

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Gustave Dore – Paradise Lost illustration – Lucifer becomes Satan – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“TELE-VISION” = “TALKING VISION”

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(OR “TALKING IMAGE”)

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Tele-vision is composed of two root words: “Tele” and “Vision”, which obviously mean a, “talking vision” (or “talking image”).

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Of course, Scripture points out…

…”And he (the False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the beast,

that the image of the beast should both speak,

and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

Revelation 13:15.

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And so, television, even by its very own name, seems to fulfill this 2,000 year old prophecy!

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The Prince of the Power of the Air (waves?) appears to have achieved his ultimate weapon against God and against God’s people! (see Ephesians 2:2). 

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“AND MY PEOPLE LOVE TO HAVE IT SO”

Jeremiah 5:31 

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And so often, God’s people plop our children right down in front of this electronic Pied-Piper, perhaps every day.

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And our children are being more and more conformed to this serpent-like talking-image every single day, right under our noses!

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And the Bible foretold that this would happen!

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Is this not amazing!? Of course, you would expect the people of the world to do these things.

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But we who claim to love God and follow the Bible should be deathly afraid of this talking-image-maker, known as television!

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TV – highquality – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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A CASE HEREIN PRESENTED…

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“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:”

Psalm 101:2, 3

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Now the Bible never says the name, “television”.

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And we need to be careful, not to add anything to God’s Word (see Revelation 22:18).

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And we need to keep an open mind, that there may be much more to this “image that speaks”, than just television.

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But the basic concept in this article of, “how Satan is now compelling the world to conform to his image”, seems to be the concept that God wants us to understand concerning the image of the Beast.

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So read this article, and see if the case presented in this article is not a compelling argument in favor of the concept that television is, at the very least, a partial fulfillment of Revelation 13:15.

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You make up your own mind.

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But even if there were to come in the future, a further understanding of this prophecy, the principles herein are nevertheless biblically sound, concerning the Beast and his image.

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Certainly, even if you were to take television completely out of this discussion, the principles laid out in this article seem to be biblically sound, and speak dramatically to this very day in which we are now living!

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But you read, and you decide for your own self.

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Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – cropped image – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

 

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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…IS STILL A ROSE…

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(AND THE DEVIL, BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL THE DEVIL)

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Lucifer knows that in order to have himself worshipped, doesn’t require the world to believe that he even exists!

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It only requires for people to love his attributes.

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The Bible points out, that a mere name has no power.

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It’s the qualities of character behind that name, which determine just who our God is.      

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Listen… “They answered and said unto Him,

Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them,

If ye were Abraham’s children,

ye would do the works of Abraham…

Ye are of your father the Devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.”

John 8:39, 44.  

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These were God’s professed people, whom Jesus called the children of the Devil!

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Because even though they invoked the name of God, they possessed the selfish attributes of the Devil!

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

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TO LOVE THIS SELFISH WORLD

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IS TO LOVE THE gOD OF THIS SELFISH WORLD!

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And so Satan works undercover, so as to make the world believe that he doesn’t exist.

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And thus, having erased himself out of existence, he then creates a world, filled with idols…which are tokens of his attributes. 

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By so-doing, he accomplishes his grand scheme…to gain the homage he desires, by causing Earth’s inhabitants to love this present sinful and selfish world that Lucifer has designed; a world with all its desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and all its proud attainments (see 1st John 2:16).

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Listen… “And they (the people of the world)

worshipped the dragon

which gave power unto the beast:

and they worshipped the beast,

saying, Who is like unto the beast?

who is able to make war with him?”

Revelation 13:4.

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And so, this passage is fulfilled, simply by the people of the world, loving this world-system, with all its selfish wares and ways.

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WHOSE CHARACTER DO WE LOVE?

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So we don’t need to bow down to a statue of a pagan idol, in order to pay homage to Lucifer.

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Simply by pursuing the things of this, the Devil’s selfish world…

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…by conforming ourselves to the customs, vanities and behaviors of this unbelieving world…

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…are we not worshiping the author of this present evil World-System…Lucifer, who Scripture refers to as, “the prince of this world” John 14:30?

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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BEFORE GOING INTO THE SPECIFIC SUBJECT OF TELEVISION, IT MIGHT BE WELL TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES DISCUSSING THE WORKINGS OF SATAN, AND HOW THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD RELATE TO HIM. SO, THIS NEXT LITTLE SECTION WILL BE DEVOTED TO JUST THAT.

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ANTICHRIST IS THE WORLD-SYSTEM

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There are many who mistakenly believe that the Antichrist Beast is going to be one single individual: perhaps a businessman or religious leader.

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And because they are so locked into this notion, they tend to ride rough-shod over this passage from Revelation Chapter 17, which explains what this Beast actually is.

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Listen… “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not;

and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit…

And here is the mind which hath wisdom.

The seven heads are seven mountains,

on which the woman (the apostate Church) sitteth.

And there are seven kings…

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings,

which have received no kingdom as yet;

but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 

These have one mind,

and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

Revelation 17:8-13

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So this Antichrist Beast, which, by the way, is in the image of the Dragon of Revelation 12, is a composite of various kingdoms and various kings.

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And if we’re going to let the Bible be its own interpreter, then we cannot conclude that this Beast is one single individual.

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This Beast is, in actuality, this present world-system, headed up by that serpent of old, the Devil, and Satan, as he has controlled various kings and kingdoms over the past millenniums of time. 

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This above old picture is one of many which came out of the Great Reformation, and shows that the Christians of that day believed that the apostate church, riding this multi-faceted beast, was a picture of the Mystery Harlot and the Antichrist Beast of Revelation!

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(These two above pictures of the Mystery Harlot are hundreds of years old, but allegorically depict Satan’s government.) 

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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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ANTICHRIST NOT GROTESQUE MONSTER

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And this is what the Mark of the Beast is actually all about, when you really think about it.

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This present World-System, and all its loyal citizens comprise Satan’s Antichrist Beast.

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Listen to Scripture…

…”Little children, it is the last time:

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,

even now ARE THERE MANY ANTICHRISTS;

whereby we know that it is the last time.”

1st John 2:18.

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From this verse it becomes evident that an Antichrist is not some hideous monster. It is not some diabolical Dr. Evil (as this picture portrays.)

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No, there are many Antichrists. And they are merely the people of this fallen world ruled over by, “the god of this world”… Satan!

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Just listen… “and this is that [spirit] of antichrist…They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:3, 5.

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OK, so antichrists are of the world, speak of the world, and the world listens to them.

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Lucifer – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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“BUT I’M NOT AN ANTICHRIST!”

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But to this concept, (that an antichrist is merely a worldly person), many might protest, saying, “Satan doesn’t have any power in my life!”

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Well, just listen to this…

…”Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Ephesians 2:2.

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So by this statement, we see that the spirit of Satan, the “Prince of the Power of the Air” now works in the children of disobedience, i.e., the people of the world!

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And so, any person whose everyday behavior, is as the people of the world, well, this is a clear indication that the, “prince of the power of the air” is the spirit now working in him or her.

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When we partake of a worldly spirit, we may just be partaking of the spirit of Anti-Christ.

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

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NO MIDDLE GROUND:

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(EITHER LOVERS OF HEAVEN OR LOVERS OF WORLD)

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And just one last proof, that there are no neutral fence-sitters in this world.

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Listen to Jesus…

…”He that is not with Me is against Me;

and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.”

Matthew 12:30.

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Either we are firmly ensconced in Christ’s sheepfold, or we are in Satan’s camp.

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There’s no middle ground, as far as the people of this world are concerned.

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And of course, there are many in the Church who, as Jesus said…

…”This people draw nigh unto Me with their mouth,

and honor Me with their lips;

but their heart is far from Me.”

Matthew 15:8.

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WHO IS CHIEF OF SINNERS!

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“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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Notice in this above verse, that Paul says… “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation”.

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Paul just wasn’t talking of himself, as the chief of sinners.

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No, this is a saying worthy of my own acceptation (and yours too!)

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God knows our hearts, each and every one!

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He sees the wickedness within.

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And as Jeremiah put it…

”The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins,

even to give every man according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Jeremiah 17:9, 10.

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Now Jeremiah 17:9, 10 is speaking in general terms.

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He’s not speaking of one heart.

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Nor is He speaking of some hearts.

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God here is speaking of every heart.

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Paul knew this. He freely admits…“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” Romans 7:18.

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44- www.lavistachurchofchrist.org –public domain

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“PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR”

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“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Ephesians 2:2, 3

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This above passage is one of the most remarkable revelations in Scripture. It reveals that Satan, is a spiritual power which indwells each and every person who is not indwelt by the Spirit of Holiness.

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But it also reveals that the, “prince of the power of the air” is working within all those who have not made the Bible their guidebook for all matters of life.

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The point is, that though we humans give credit to ourselves for our accomplishments, in reality, this world is actually being micro-managed by the “god of this world”, who works invisibly behind the scenes! 

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So, if we really want to point the accusing finger at the real bad guys in this world, then let’s give credit where credit is due.

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The Devil is now at work in the children of disobedience, orchestrating a world of selfish pleasures.

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If we look at the many inventions which entertain and allure us, we really need to understand that it is, “the prince of this world” who has most likely inspired men to invent and produce these things.

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WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY…AND IT IS US!!!

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The fact is, there are many Antichrists. An Antichrist is merely anyone who denies Jesus either in word or in lifestyle.

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Listen… “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” 1st John 2:22.

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As it states here, an Antichrist is anyone who denies the Father and the Son.

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So, Christians are safe then. Right?

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Because we acknowledge both the Father and the Son. Right?

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Let’s not imagine such nonsense for a minute!

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No, just because we profess to know the Father and Son, does not mean that we truly, truly, confess the Father and His Son.

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Let’s not think that we Christians are safe from such a condemnation!

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Just listen… “They profess that they know God;

but in works they deny Him,

being abominable, and disobedient,

and unto every good work reprobate.”

Titus 1:16.

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God is speaking here of His professed people! (And this is the New Testament being quoted!)

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And it says here that I can profess to believe in Jesus, while at the same time my ungodly behavior denies Jesus.

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So, God sees right through our façade.

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God is not impressed with mere words.

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Our life, and our thoughts, and our deeds are our true witness, as to just who is our true father…God or Satan.

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LUCIFER: THE “MAN OF SIN”

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So then, why is it that most Christians are looking for one single person to emerge as the Antichrist Beast, considering that this Beast is a composite Beast, made up of both “kings and kingdoms”, as it says in Revelation Ch. 17?

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Oh yes, it is very true that Lucifer worked through popish kings ruling over the apostate churches of Europe throughout the Dark Ages.

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This website emphasizes that truth. (read, for instance “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: ‘Atheism & Psychology'” )

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But again, why is it that most Christians are so fixated on the idea that one single person will emerge as the Antichrist Beast?

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Well, for one thing, most theologians and Bible teachers hammer that idea, day and night, about a singular person being Antichrist.

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But to be balanced here, there is one Bible passage which speaks of the “man of sin” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3).

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And this is what gives impetus to the idea that one single human individual will emerge on the world stage.

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Listen… “Let no man deceive you by any means:

for that day shall not come (the Day of the Lord),

except there come a falling away first,

and that MAN OF SIN be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God,

or that is worshipped;

so that he as God sits in the temple of God,

showing himself that he is God.”

2nd Thessalonians 2:3, 4.

And while this passage appears to be speaking of a literal human, it is not necessarily referring to a human.

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And why is that?

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“IS THIS THE MAN…?”

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After all, it must not be forgotten that Satan himself is called a “man” in the Book of Isaiah…

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Listen… “How art thou fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning!….

They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee,

and consider thee,

saying, IS THIS THE MAN that made the earth to tremble,

that did shake kingdoms;” 

Isaiah 14:16.

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So the Bible itself refers to Lucifer (Satan) as a man in this passage. Satan is the ultimate, “man of sin”, one could possible say.

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Lucifer Fallen – Gustave Dore – Wikipedia – US public domain

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SATAN: THE ULTIMATE PUPPET-MASTER

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Now, having said all this, it is possible that Satan may use various key people in the world at times, to do his own evil bidding. But the main focus should be on Lucifer, and not on humans.

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Listen… “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11, 12.

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So in this passage, God is placing the complete onus on Satan, as the true enemy of Christians, thus removing the focus from off of mere men.

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Mere humans are being used by Satan, it is true!

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But they are only puppets in his hand.

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Oh yes, humans may persecute Christians, and even torture and kill them. But it is Satan, behind the scenes, who is “pulling the strings”, so to speak.

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He is the, “spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2.

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Anyone who is not fully consecrated to God can be used as Satan’s instrument of destruction, whether he be bond or free: Christian or Gentile.

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The Puppetmaster of Politics – Property of www.theheavensdeclare.net – exclusive copyrighted

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SATAN IN DANGER OF LOSING CONTROL

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“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27

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But in these last days, Satan has developed the means of exerting mind-control over the masses: Christians and secularists alike. Satan knows that he is in danger of losing control over humanity, in these last days! And so, in effort to marshal his vast armies, he has developed the means of “brain-washing” and exerting mind-control, via the high-tech devices now being used by more and more of the world’s population.

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Oh yes, these devices have a definite benign purpose for communication. But this article will attempt to show how seemingly good things are being used also as tools of Satan to control the minds of the people and nations around the world.

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“THEY (the peoples of the world)

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SHOULD MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST”…

Revelation 13:14

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Television is Satan’s Ultimate Mind-Control Device! It is a very powerful medium. The music, the lighting, the drama, the false goodness. Television, radio, etc., possess a powerful persuasion that is often more than Human-kind can resist. As one famous Nazi commander once put it, “If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough, eventually people will begin to believe it!”

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And television, not only tells such lies 24/7/365, but also dresses up those lies, making them look and sound very appealing, mingling them with truth and beauty. 

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But what does this have to do with “Me” making an image to the Beast? After all, I’ve never even carved one single statue in my lifetime!

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But wait! If my character becomes conformed to the qualities which our modern-media society compels us to conform to…then I become an image…and image to the beast…and ultimately, into an image of Satan, though to a lesser degree! In a very real sense, I have carved an idol in my heart!

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IMAGE IS IN MY HEART

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So now it begins to be seen that this image is much more than just television. That is why this article is titled, Television AND the Image that Speaks”. Because the image of the Beast is a much deeper and broader concept than mere technical devices. It really has to do with just who is sitting upon the throne of my heart. What or who a person worships, is really about whoever a man, or woman, or child gives homage to; and the modern media is all about character. Satan’s character!

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Just listen… “And (the False Prophet) deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast…” Revelation 13:14.

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Notice that it says here that the people of the world are commanded to, “make an image to the beast”. Now obviously, not every person is making a television, are they? But those in the world who are being conformed to the image of the Beast are making an image, right in their very own heart!

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HABAKKUK SAYS “FLEE!”

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Any time I behave in an un-Christ-like manner, I am denying God. I then, am behaving in the spirit of an Antichrist.

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When the Disciples wanted Jesus to call fire down from Heaven on the Samaritans, Jesus plainly told them… “But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.'” Luke 9:55. 

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So Jesus here is plainly indicating that the Disciples were not under the power of the Holy Spirit at that moment in time.

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When Peter rebuked Jesus, He answered Peter in this way… “But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23.

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Peter was doing the work of Satan, and Jesus addressed Peter as Satan. Or perhaps Jesus was speaking to the spirit within Peter, who was Satan.

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Get Thee Behind Me, Satan – by j tissot – Brooklyn Museum & Wikipedia – US public domain

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PETER WARMS HIMSELF ALONGSIDE ANTICHRISTS

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When Peter denied Jesus, he was then, in essence, in “the same camp” with those unbelievers whom Peter was warming himself with (see John 18:18). He should not have been mingling with those Antichrists, who were surrounding him!

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Listen to Habakkuk… “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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This verse is from Habakkuk and is the essence of what the Book of Habakkuk is all about: that God’s people are surrounded by unbelievers, causing wrong judgment to come forth from God’s camp.

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Brooklyn Museum: The Second Denial of Saint Peter (Deuxième reniement de Saint Pierre)

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HABAKKUK ALL ABOUT FLEEING

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The Book of Habakkuk is about fleeing from the overwhelming influence of Chaldeans (Antichrists). Chaldeans merely represented the people of the world who would eventually surround God’s people to the point that God’s people were commanded to flee.

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Listen… “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceeds….And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth 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 1:4 & 2:2, 3. 

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(You may wish to read the article…The Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman Constellation: What is the Message of Habakkuk?)

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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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WORLDLY ASSOCIATIONS

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Yes, God has allowed the people of the world to surround His people. God has allowed His people to be corrupted by worldly associations, just as He allowed the Jews the same. But at the end, God will call His people out from among them. And this is what the Book of Habakkuk is all about.

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Listen again… “And the LORD…said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:” Incredible! If ever there were ominous and foreboding words from God, these are it!

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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! – Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“(UNBELIEVERS SHALL BE)…THORNS IN YOUR SIDE”

Numbers: 33:55. 

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This is perhaps one of the most important concepts in Scripture… “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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It is the essence of many of the Old Testament stories. All those OT stories about the children of Israel rooting out the enemies were merely metaphorical pictures of what Christians must do in our own heart and mind. We must purify our hearts! We need to root out all those sinful traits which have long ruled over our minds. Those sinful traits which are common among the unbelievers of the world, but have no place in the hearts and minds of God’s people!

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Just listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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Notice this verse says, “EVERY MAN that has this hope in Him (Jesus), purifies himself…”. The purification of the heart as Christ is pure, is not an option, but, a must! Everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity!

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judges 7-Gideon & The 300-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE & FALSE

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So here we see the difference between a true child of God, and a, “false brethren”. The false brethren love this world and have no desire to be fully purified into Christ’s image. Oh yes, they are very happy to put Jesus on a pedestal and to venerate Him. But never to become like Him within!

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To be Christ-like requires death-to-self. And death-to-self would be far too great of a sacrifice for any worldly-minded “Christian”. After all, to die-to-self, and become totally Christ-like, would then require the Christian to forsake this world with all its pleasures and pursuits. And this would be totally unacceptable to the worldly-minded. To let Jesus “live out His holy life through me”, is far more than most church-goers are willing to accept! “Let’s just put Him on a pedestal, and honor Him!”  

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MARK OF THE BEAST = IDEALS OF THE HEART

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If you or I have the attributes of this Antichrist-World-System guiding our lives, then, in essence, we have the Mark of the Beast. On the other hand, if we have the virtues and attributes of Jesus guiding our lives, we then have God’s seal in our foreheads (“in our forehead” actually means, in our heart and mind—see Deuteronomy Ch. 6:6-8). To put it concisely, it’s all about, “just who is ruling my heart?”.

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Just listen… “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6.

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This passage is commanding Christians that our hearts and minds must be totally purified, and filled with godly thoughts. Now Paul put this passage in military terms. And he did this for a very good reason. This is the battle we must fight! This is the hill we must take! And this is the war we must win! To overcome self is the great work before us!

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THE CHRISTIAN WARFARE AGAINST ANTICHRIST

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“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11, 12

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Just as this above verse shows, Paul sometimes framed Bible exhortations in a military-type language. The Christian life is one of spiritual rest. But it is also one of warfare. Spiritual warfare! This is one of the great paradoxes of the Gospel. Paul tells the Corinthian Church that it is the final achievement of every Christian to gain complete control over his or her heart and mind.

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Just listen once again… “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6.

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Isn’t this an amazing passage? These verses are very seldom spotlighted today, to say the least! As a matter of fact, most Christian circles don’t even believe this commandment is possible! But the fact is, the closer we come to Jesus, the more we realize that this is indeed possible!

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Listen to Paul’s confession… “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4;13. If a Christian is willing to stay in the battle and fight that “Good Fight”, he or she will eventually overcome in every area of life!

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BATTLEFIELD OF THE HEART

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God has spoken this very same concept, in more peaceful terms… “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee!” Isaiah 26:3. Here is a more pleasant way of saying the very same thing Paul just spoke of…  

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But Paul said it in military terms… “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2nd Corinthians 10:4, 5.

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And the reason Paul put it in military terms, is because he knew this would be every bit as much a battle as was the overtaking of the Promised Land by the children of Israel! Oh no, we are not to use slaughter weapons as does the world, to win our war. But we are to root out the enemy…out of our heart. This is the Christian warfare! This is what overcoming is all about for the Christian!  

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ABOVE PICTURE: Battle for the heart – www.signsofheaven.org

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WORLDLY CHRISTIAN, AN ANTICHRIST

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If God is ruling, then my heart will be filled with God’s attributes. And God wants no compromise. God does not accept a divided heart… “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Matthew 6:25.

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If Lucifer is ruling, then my heart will be filled with the attributes of the world. Listen to what God has to say about Antichrists… “They (antichrists) are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”  1st John 4:5.

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OK, so now we have fairly much laid the foundation of just what is to be the work and the goal of our Christian endeavors. So let’s once again address this matter of television, and how it affects the hearts and minds of Christians…

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AN ELEGY TO TELEVISION…

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Television has become the centerpiece of our society, our homes and our lives. It is a remarkable invention! It is a powerful tool! It can change minds. It can marshal armies. It can shift the paradigm of societies. It can win elections. It can ruthlessly mock its enemies, even to the point of suicide, if necessary! It can frighten us! It can pacify us. It can tell us what to wear, how to talk, what to do, what to think, what to love, and even who to hate!

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Television can be our best friend (and our worst enemy!) It is always willing to be our comforter. With just the click of a button, this “Electronic Prince of the Power of the Airwaves” will ride to our rescue: to rescue us from our loneliness…from our discouragement…from our boredom; even when nobody else wants to be with us, it never turns us away. It is the perfect “friend”! It lives to entertain us! It loves to make us smile! Make us laugh! To satisfy us with gossip! Make us cry! To sooth us with beautiful music! To tell us stories: just about any type of story we desire!

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Television is the proverbial “Needy Clown”, yearning to be adored, and willing to do or say anything to get such adoration! It is often seductive, smart, stupid, sexual, original, even intellectual, at times. It can be beautiful! Charming! Witty! Wise! Humanitarian! Revengeful! Loving! Hateful! Right! Wrong! Greedy! Generous! Good! Evil! It is the “be-all, end-all” of our wants and needs!

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Television is the Magnificent Sorcerer. It will bewitch us, performing its magic before our very eyes! It will seduce us as it sexualizes us (and sexualizes our children, too!)

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It is the Great Deceiver, with all its so-called humanitarian concerns, making us think it cares…really, really cares! And with all such so-called, and pretentious compassion and virtues, it will indoctrinate us into a conformity to this fallen world. (“And be not conformed to this world:” Romans 12:2.)

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It is the Ultimate Pied Piper of Hamlin! It is as wily and subtle as that serpent in the garden, as it utters its vague innuendos against the Bible and against those who love the Bible. It can make good appear as evil, and make evil appear as good. And it will lead us down that proverbial “primrose pathway”. And it will take us and our children down, down, down…to the place we would not want to go, if we really understood the situation…as God sees it. And if it can rule the world, it can certainly rule my heart!

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In other words, my dear darling soul, television is exactly like Lucifer (Satan), and exactly like his World of Sin; with just the same attributes of, “the prince of this world”! And as the, “the god of this world”, this Pied Piper of Sheol has the magical powers to do all these things!

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Yes, television is the ultimate “Charming Gigolo”. And he’s right there in the midst of our living room, seducing us and our children! And ultimately, this gigolo from Hell will rob us of everything we might possess, which has any eternal value, only to leave us desolate & very bankrupt on that Great & Fearful Day of God Almighty!

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Beware O stranger & pilgrim of the Cross, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (i.e., virtue).” 1st Corinthians 15:33

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“BUT ISN’T TELEVISION NEUTRAL?”…

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 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.”  1st Corinthians 5:6, 7 

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Now, at this point, many will present the argument that television is neutral… “It’s like a gun (they say). It depends on who’s holding the gun (or who’s holding the remote control). You can watch something good, or you can watch something bad. It depends on you.”

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This is the argument which is generally presented by those who wish to defend television.

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The purpose of this article is to convince, that TV is not neutral. It will be shown that TV is like a, “stacked deck of cards”. It is “stacked in favor of the house”…Satan’s house! But you have to understand exactly where it is that Satan wants to take you.

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Painting-The Cheat-Georges_de_La_Tour-circa 1620_029 – Wikipedia – US public domain

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 “SATAN…AN ANGEL OF LIGHT”

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Most people have a wrong view of what Satan is all about. They believe that if there is a Devil, that he’s only found in Satanic Cults, or with Black Magic. Few really understand that Satan is the god of this world. He can be a very moralistic spirit, if that suits his purpose.

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Listen to Scripture… “Satan himself is transformed into an ANGEL OF LIGHT. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2nd Corinthians 11:14, 15. 

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Satan actually doesn’t mind having a moral world. He just doesn’t want people to turn to the Jesus of the Bible. And so he creates religions (and other gospels) which have a form of godliness, but with, “another Jesus” (2nd Corinthians 11:4).

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Oh yes, Satan creates a lot of trouble in the world. But as one person put it, “Satan doesn’t care whether you go to Hell as a prostitute, or as a school teacher!” Just as long as you don’t begin exercising “saving faith” in Christ. And he certainly doesn’t want people devoting themselves to searching the Scriptures to get to know God (see John 17:3). And Satan really, really hates to see people becoming changed into the image of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:18)! Hence, the invention of television: Satan’s Masterpiece of Mind-Control!

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So, having said this, we begin to see the purpose of television…

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THE 7 OBJECTIVES OF SATAN’S TELEVISION…

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1. To be a time-waster, so we don’t spend our time searching the Scriptures. ( “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16)

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2. To indoctrinate the masses to follow the, “acceptable standards” of this world…Satan’s World”! (“And (the False Prophet) deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.” Revelation 13:4)

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3. To create a false standard of righteousness; a counterfeit of the true standard of righteousness, revealed in the Bible. To yoke us together with those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. (“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, etc…. HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ” 2nd Timothy 3:2, 5)

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4. To create prejudice and even hatred against sincere, dedicated Christians. (“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1st John 3:13)  

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5. To ultimately lead the world to worship the god of this world, Satan. (“and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:” Revelation 13:3, 4)

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6. To excite and titillate our senses so much, that Bible study seems boring. (“…having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”  1st Timothy 4:2). When we rely on television to entertain us, it often becomes more and more difficult to open our Bibles and just read or study.

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7. To blunt the conscience by exposing us to sinful behavior, over and over each day. (“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1st Corinthians 15:33″) When we behold sin, over and over again on TV, sin begins to lose its fearfulness and horror.

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THE ‘FROG IN THE FRY-PAN’ TECHNIQUE…

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But Satan is a very subtle being… “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.” Genesis 3:1. 

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Satan doesn’t wish to “blow his cover”. Everything he does has to be accomplished so imperceptibly, that nobody is alarmed. It’s like that old “Frog in the Fry Pan” proverb. You can cook a live frog in the hot water of the fry pan if you gradually turn up the heat. But on the other hand, if you put him all of a sudden into hot water, he’ll just hop right out.

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Froglegs Swikee_Kodok_Oh_with_Rice – Wikipedia – share-alike lic.

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BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

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“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!” Mark 13:35-37

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And like that proverbial frog-in-the-fry-pan, so too, Satan is leading the world down a gradual slope. Obviously, Satan loves wickedness. And wherever he can, he’ll drag people deep into sin. But his goal is not necessarily to make us into a world full of immoral decrepit perverts! Oh no! He’s quite often content to just kill us…spiritually kill us; to make us into a “moralistic people, yet without a true connection to the God of Scripture”. And he causes there to be enough really horrible people to make us think “we’re not so bad”.

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And so the mission of television is to steal away our burning, dedicated love for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! And to keep us so busy, busy, that we neglect that moment by moment relationship with our Lord and Savior! 

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And the goal of television is to set up an idol in our heart; an idol with the very same attributes which this world has, and which “the god of this world” possesses…Lucifer… “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34.

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Just look at this unwatchful Christian in this above drawing. He’s filled up his life with so much Mammon, he’s not aware that his Judgment Day is here!

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FULL IMMERSION (in God’s Word!)

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“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34.

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Here is a stern warning for we who are standing on the threshold of the Day of the Lord, to beware of becoming too entangled  with the affairs of this world, lest that Day come upon us by surprise. 

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Listen to this amazing verse… “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2nd Corinthians 4:4.

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Notice this verse speaks of the image of Christ. The image of Christ is the image that God wishes for us to behold! And we should be totally immersing ourselves in God’s Word, instead of allowing ourselves to become side-tracked by such entertainments as television.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF

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THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS

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Below is an expose’ of the subtle ways in which Satan gains control of the mind, through the medium of television. These are subtle ways in which Satan corrupts Christian character, which many Christians do not consider when choosing a program to watch.

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ARGUMENTS AGAINST TV NEWS…

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Well what’s wrong with watching a little nightly news? A number of things.

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1. NEWS DEADENS THE CONSCIENCE. Listen to Scripture… “Who among us shall dwell with the Devouring Fire? who among us shall dwell with Everlasting Burnings? He that walks righteously…that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil” Isaiah 33:14, 15.

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Notice it says here that only those who stop their ears from the hearing of blood, and the seeing of evil, will dwell with the Devouring Fire (God). Sounds a lot like the nightly news, doesn’t it?

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To sit and watch evil and to hear blood (violence) on a daily basis, will most certainly have an effect on the Soul. This above verse tells us just who will stand in the Day of Judgment: those who shut their eyes from seeing evil, and their ears from hearing violence. As children of God, we don’t want to dwell on crime and violence… “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report..virtue…praise, think on these things!” Philippians 4:8. Does television fulfill this Bible verse? Of course not!

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TV – ABC-Good Morning America – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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2. NEWS IS HABIT-FORMING. This fallible pen can personally testify that TV news is habit-forming. It can be a real time-thief! Paul warns Believers... “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16. Christians should be hiding God’s Word in our hearts, during our leisure hours. Obviously this cannot be accomplished when we are preoccupied with TV…or Internet…or radio.

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Internet addiction prisoner – wikipedia – creative commons lic.

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3. THE SPIRIT OF GOSSIP. Have you ever noticed that when you are with friends, and they begin to share some new gossip, how your ears perk up? Maybe even your heart beats a little faster? We sinful humans have within us, a morbid desire to hear gossip. TV or radio news can be, quite often, a form of gossip, and only strengthens that desire within us.

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Gossips in the Altstadt in Sindelfingen, Germany. – Sally Kennison – share-alike license – Wikimedia Commons

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4. “EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS GOOD MANNERS”… Many of us Christians think that we can just watch news and not be affected by TV or radio news. But in this we deceive ourselves!

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Listen to 1st Corinthians 15:33… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  We who are running the Christian race quite often are deceived into thinking that we can dabble a little bit in the world.

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But in order to gain a Christ-like character, even a, “little foolishness will destroy much wisdom”(Ecclesiastes 10:1). Oh yes, we can’t help but mingle with unbelievers in the workplace, etc.. But to voluntarily expose ourselves to the ungodly chatter of unbelievers for the sake of enjoyment…is not a wise course at all for a Christian!

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But does this mean we must lock ourselves up in our houses and never go out? No, it just means that we should take heed to what we do and who we expose ourselves to.

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Listen to Scripture… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14 

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ABOVE PICTURE – fall & winter Constellations – Woman of Revelation 12 (Ursa Major, a winter constellation) flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 – Dragon comprised of Hyades, Pleiades, etc…Valley of Decision mountain comprised of Cassiopeia, etc… (This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture since this mountain is not in this position, but is actually seen in the fall months)

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5. PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT… Have you noticed how Christians today mingle the purity of the Gospel with politics and conspiracy theories of various types? It is so important for us to not mingle our belief with the various ideologies of the world. Colossians is largely based on this idea, and warns against mingling worldly philosophies into the purity of Christ (see Colossians 2:8). 1st Timothy also warns… “…keep thyself pure.” 1st Timothy 5:23.

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If we needlessly expose ourselves to these corrupting influences, for social enjoyment, our purity will soon evaporate, and the result will be a “mingling of the holy with the common.” (see Ezekiel 22:26). When a Christian freely mingles with such common things, the following verse stands as a warning…“Quench not the Spirit.” 1st Thessalonians 5:19 

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CNBC NJ HQ – Wikipedia – share alike license

 

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6. OVER-STIMULATION… Isn’t it true that the exciting amusements of the world tend to make our Bible studies rather boring?

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Well, news can accomplish such an over-stimulation of our senses. It’s much easier and more pleasurable to just sit back and watch gossip and conspiracies and wars and controversies on the news, than it is to sit down with Bible and concordance, isn’t it?

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Again, this same verse applies… “Quench not the Spirit.” 1st Thessalonians 5:19 

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Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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7. BAD WITNESS TO OTHERS… And just think about the example I am setting for others! My kids…my grandkids… fellow Christians, neighbors, etc.. Even if they aren’t with me, they can guess what Mom and Dad, or Grandma and Grandpa are doing! My neighbors will see that certain glow from my window. And they know that glow is not an angel visitation (But actually it is…angels from HELL!) It’s the glow from my TV! And the next day, I certainly WON’T have Heaven’s glow on my face which tells the world I’ve, “been with Jesus” Acts 4:13.

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But also, setting in front of our TV, is setting a bad example for others to follow. And we just don’t realize what a powerful influence for good or evil, that our example is (see Mark 9:42).

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ABC-Good Morning America – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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MOVIES

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An entire article could be written on Satan’s sophistry in the making of movies. But one short comment will be given to show how Satan continues his stealth warfare against Christ and His Followers.

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Quite often in the movies, Christians are portrayed as weak and defenseless, like a flock of nervous little birds. On the other hand, the hero of the story is often portrayed as strong, and handsome, and brash, and fearless, usually saving the Christians from the bad guys. Of course, this kind of astigmatism against Christians is right out of Satan’s playbook! 

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But another lesson learned from such a movie situation is that Christians shouldn’t depend on the Lord, but should be more like the hero of the movie, relying on his own bravery and strength to solve his dilemma.

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Five Fingers Face – High and Mighty Trailer Screenshot- 1954 – Wikipedia – public domain

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SATAN OFTEN MISREPRESENTS MANLINESS IN MOVIES

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Along these same lines, Satan sets up a standard of conduct for his kingdom (this world). And in so-doing he has used the television and movie industry to promote the idea that men are less-than-men if they display tenderness and compassion toward others. And so, Christ, who is the very embodiment of tenderness and pity does not measure up to Satan’s standards for men. This also is right out of Satan’s playbook, in how this Master-Deceiver makes men fearful of appearing less than “manly”, if they display any softness and tenderness.

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But listen to Scripture… “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” 1st Peter 3:8, 9.

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Martin,_John_-_Satan_presiding_at_the_Infernal_Council_-_1824wikipedia public domain

 

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CHRIST, THE TRUE EXAMPLE OF MANLINESS

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Just who would you rather have ruling the universe? Perhaps, one of the Greek gods? Zeus maybe? Or perhaps Jupiter? (picture to right). Well, they were both given very hard attributes, weren’t they? Just imagine if one of those gods were ruling this world? (Well actually, as we look around, we have to admit that Satan is doing a fine job of giving us a picture of how those pagan gods would behave!)

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We are extremely fortunate to have a tender, understanding, and compassionate God, Jehovah, who runs this universe! On the other hand, we can see how things would be run, if Lucifer was the god of this universe. All we have to do is just look at this present world around us, and we can see the results of what a lack of compassion can accomplish.

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Any person who has a tender conscience needs only look around at all the woe and misery in this pathetic world, and realize that humanity isn’t doing so well in our attempt at running this world our way. And television and movies, have only amplified this idea that being hard-hearted is somehow manly, and a good thing. And as a result, Christian men who watch this stuff, become very fearful of being totally Christ-like. Satan has caused men to be deathly afraid of being seen as exercising Christ-like tenderness. 

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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – public domain

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SPORTS TELEVISION

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1. UNCHRISTLIKE CHATTER. Like most shows on television, sports shows are presented with ungodly chatter. Unmerciful mocking, sang-froid nonchalance, joking and jesting which work in us like yeast, until we become like the unbelieving world, in oneness and purpose… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14

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2. COMPETITIVE VIOLENT SPIRIT. The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, kindness, generosity… Obviously, these are not the qualities which are exemplified during sports contests… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33 

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Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover Feb 1 2009 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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COMEDY TELEVISION

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1. THE SPIRIT OF JESTING. Please observe Scripture… “And walk in love, as Christ…But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; NEITHER FILTHINESS, NOR FOOLISH TALKING, NOR JESTING, which are not proper: but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:2-5. 

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Jesus came to Earth to present himself as an example to the world.  Jesus is the role-model for all the host of Heaven and Earth. All inhabitants of the Universe are to behave in a Christ-like manner. It’s only this rebellious planet which doesn’t feel the need to imitate our loving Savior. Christ is joyful, but not frivolous. He is loving, but is not a “court-jester”

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(To read more on this subject, please read the 4-part article…(How a Joke Killed! Part 1)

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Puck Cover – Wikipedia – public domain

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CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

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1. SPIRIT OF SENSUALITY. Quite often the programs for little children are fraught with sexuality. This comes in the form of either the music…or the actors, who are dressed in a provocative manner. Or perhaps the theme of the program.

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2. VIOLENCE. Children’s programs often have violence mingled within.

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3. GROOMING CHILDREN FOR FURTHER WICKEDNESS. Even those programs which seem “harmless” are only grooming children to eventually watch other shows, even more degrading, which lead children further into sin.

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4. ANTICHRIST PHILOSOPHIES TAUGHT. The television makes a very convenient babysitter. The problem is, it is Lucifer, the, “Prince of the Power of the Air”, who becomes your babysitter! And his qualities of pride, anger, greed, unbelief in God’s Word, atheism, violence, etc., are instilled into the children’s minds, causing them to grow up as worldly-minded secularists, who have little or no love for heavenly things!

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EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION

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1. ATHEISM. Many educational programs are produced by atheists, and mingled with atheist philosophies. Atheism is the spirit of “unbelief”. Such Antichrist ideologies are like yeast, working themselves imperceptibly through the hearts and minds of viewers. And no matter whether or not the adult or child becomes an atheist as a result, there is nevertheless a spirit of unbelief transferred to the participant, which begins to doubt the power of God to fulfill His promises.

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2. UNGODLY CONVERSATION. When we choose to become a companion with the world, we begin to reflect the image of those with whom we associate. For a detailed explanation of this, click the following link… “Mercury & The Image Of The Beast”

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RELIGIOUS TV

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1. COUNTERFEIT JESUS’. As earlier stated, “Satan by any other name, is still Satan”. Just because religious television shows are constantly invoking and evoking the name, “Jesus”, does not necessarily mean the, “Jesus of Scripture”. Paul complained that there were false teachers who proclaimed “Another Jesus, who we have not preached” 2nd Corinthians 11:4.

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So when such religious stations misrepresent the true Gospel with a gospel mingled with worldly desires, they are proclaiming, “another Jesus”. Let no man deceive you, O Pilgrim!

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2. COMMERCIALISM. It is very expensive to produce TV programs, compared to, say, radio or Internet. Television requires a large audience, in order to financially support the stations.

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The point is, television must be very entertaining, to maintain such large viewership. So then they often compromise with the world in order to increase ratings. Popular music, excitement, celebrities, theatrical displays, etc., are now the order of the day in the Christian community, because of television. 

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3. “PROPHESY SMOOTH THINGS TO US” Isaiah 30:10. Furthermore, television must be careful to not offend its faithful audience. So religious stations must be careful what they say, and what they do. What is the result?

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The following verse seems to state our present crisis in the Christian culture… “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4 

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4. MILK, BUT VERY LITTLE MEAT. Religious shows usually present the most basic, entry-level Bible concepts. And it’s so easy and convenient for Christians to just leave the religious channel on all day. And as a result, the Christian begins to rely more and more upon the religious channel for his or her spiritual food and drink. The problem is, that the Christian begins to slack off on personal Bible study, and allows the religious channel to “feed” him or her. So because it’s mostly “milk” and not “meat”, the TV-watching Christian’s spiritual growth is stunted. And even if the show does happen to give significant passages, they are spoken so quickly, they simply “go in one ear and out the other”. There is no replacement for sitting down each day with a concordance and Bible, or even audio Bible readings. Certainly not religious television! Religious shows can be a great time-waster, at best! But at worst, they can deceive the biblically naïve multitudes.

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Infant_with_baby_bottle-© Michael Jastremski for wikipedia-sharealike license

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5. “BY WHOM THE TRUTH IS EVIL SPOKEN OF”… Because television is such an expensive medium, there is a constant pressure upon these well-meaning religious channels to constantly talk about money. And because of this, money becomes the focus of a lot of TV sermons. Consequently, the “celebrities” on these channels sometimes become very rich. They often become very extravagant in their personal lifestyles. Mansions, limousines, butlers, etc.. And though the faithful supporters of these celebrities don’t seem to mind such outrageous display, the general public is often more savvy than the faithful viewers of these programs. In other words, these “prosperity gospels” will quite often repulse the general public, who understand that the lowly Jesus was nothing like what they are seeing on such shows. Peter addressed this problem… 

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“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with pretending words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.” 2nd Peter 2:2, 3. And so these religious shows serve a dual purpose. They deceive their followers into a “Gimme! Gimme!” gospel. But at the same time, they repulse the more savvy general public, causing the truth to be evil spoken of. 

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And if there’s one thing the Devil knows how to do, it’s to cast dirt on the Bible!

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Rolls Royce5316 – Wikipedia – public domain

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6. MINGLING WORLDLY IDEAS WITH TRUTH… There are so many religious talk shows, mostly on the radio, which mingle politics with the Bible truth. These religious/political shows become hyper-critical of this group or that group, or of the government. The focus of these shows becomes just how to make this world a better place, and how people can change the world. But this is not what the Bible is concerned about. Our focus as Christians should be about “how I can become changed into the image of Christ”, and, “how I can spread the love of Jesus to those around me.” 

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Sony Walkman radio – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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7. CHRISTIAN MOVIES PRESENT WRONG IMAGE… TV can be very subtle. There are even a few shows about Christians on TV. And so often on these so-called “Christian” shows, compromising and worldly Christians are presented as good and rational and very acceptable, while the serious and dedicated Christians quite often are portrayed as being fanatical, slightly off-balanced mentally; even having a pent-up evil edge, which eventually surfaces as the plot develops. And by exposing ourselves to this subtlety, we become fearful of being considered by others as “fanatical”. And so, many Christians try to avoid being stereo-typed, and behave as worldly as possible. 

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“…UPON ALL PLEASANT PICTURES”

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“For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty… and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols He shall utterly abolish. 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! Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:12, 16-18, 20-22.

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This above passage really nails down just what the Day of the Lord is all about! We live in a world today, in which the False Prophet, Satan, the Dragon, is using the high-tech devices to present lying images to draw disciples after him. The Internet, the television, radio, magazines, books, movies, etc., are all churning out pleasant pictures, which portray this evil world in a very appealing manner. These pictures often incorporate the beauty of nature together with the glory and beauty of Mankind. Notice that Satan combines the three great sins in these pictures… “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” 1st John 2:16.

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Woman in Mediterranian – Wikigallery – US Public Domain

Tissot – HMS Calcutta – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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AN IMAGE JUST FOR YOU

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And so, in hopes of keeping Mankind from returning to God, Satan has given this world a “make-over”, in attempt to keep us seeking after some earthly dream.

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Whatever the career, whatever the hobby, whatever the romance, whatever the city, whatever the country, whatever the lake, whatever the river or mountain stream, or mansion, or cottage, or car, or boat, or motorcycle, or plane, or vacation resort… Satan now has an image, a pleasant picture just perfect for you to fit into!

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And he is the master at presenting this world in the most romantic light with his, “pleasant pictures”, as Isaiah 2:12, 16-18, 20-22 says (see two sections above for entire quote). And television is the perfect medium to accomplish this!

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HOLY PLACE OF THE HEART

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Now it should be touched upon, that we humans were created to be, “the temple of the Lord”.

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Just listen to this following passage… “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1st Corinthians 3:16, 17

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This above passage proclaims that the Church-Elect is the Temple of God, spiritually speaking. But individually, Peter declares… “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.” 2nd Peter 1:14.

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So then it is also true that the individual Christian is likewise the Temple of God. And God warns us that we are to keep our Temple holy. We are not to defile our temple in any way. And this article is devoted to this very subject of how not to defile our Soul-Temple. And notice what the earlier verse above by Paul to the Corinthians warns is the penalty for defiling our temple… “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

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Now just imagine for a moment if you or I were a priest in the Old Testament Tabernacle. And how long do you think you or I would last if you or I engaged in the frivolous and giddy behavior which is so common among Christians today? If we were to walk into the Holy Place or even the Most Holy Place, and spoke the way we Christians speak today, they would have had to drag us out…feet first!

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Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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GRAFFITI IN THE HEART

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Well, our mind and heart are an extension of the Holy and Most Holy Place. The mind and heart are where our treasured possessions are stored.

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So then, how could we possibly think to defile our Soul-Temple by allowing the immoral filth and worldly dribble to enter into our Most Holy Place, via the TV or radio, or magazines, Internet, etc.? It’s really unthinkable, when we consider that our heart and mind is to be a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit!

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Listen… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee, etc….” Proverbs 4:23, 24.

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No, God will not strike us instantly dead, as He did to the two priests in this picture. But eventually, we will drive that Holy Dove from our heart, if we persist in defiling ourselves with unholy communications. It will be a spiritual death. And we won’t even be aware that He’s gone!

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How in the world do Christians ever imagine that we can overcome the world, when we defile our Most Holy Place with such worldly graffiti? Rather, the world is overcoming us! And how can we ever expect that we can continue to consume the common-ness and un-Christ-like behavior we see almost every moment on TV and not grieve away the Spirit Of Holiness out of our Soul-Temple?

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If you would like to explore this concept of the Holy Place of the heart, just click here… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

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theholyofholies- www.thebiblerevival.com -public-domain.jpg

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Bodeguita del Medio, Havana,  WIKIMEDIA share-alike license

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THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST: THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD…

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“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time…They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 2:18 & 4:5 

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The spirit of Antichrist is just the spirit of worldliness in a person… “Is my focus upon the world? Does my heart go after the attractions and aspirations of the world?” Then it probably indicates that I have the spirit of Antichrist within… “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:5 

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Does this sound outrageous? Well, just listen to James, talking to Christians… “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts unto envy?” James 4:4, 5.

 

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Notice that this passage not only says that a friend of the world is the enemy of god, but it also refers to such worldly love as a “spirit” within us.

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But then, someone will answer, “but I’m not a friend of the world.”

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Well, if I make the unbelievers and worldly Christians who appear on television my daily companions, then I indeed am, “A FRIEND OF THE WORLD”. 

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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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MUSIC AND THE GOLDEN IMAGE

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“…the king of Babylon…Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols (violins)…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:4, 11, 12 

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The above passage reveals that Satan possesses great musical abilities. And do we suppose that he won’t use music to deceive the world?

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Old King Nebuchadnezzar was pretty clever. He seemed to understand the power of music. When he set up his golden image on the plain of Dura, he put together an orchestra, to add to the moment. The story in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 3, in which the evil king of Babylon set up a golden image, whose height was 60 cubits, and whose breadth was 6 cubits makes a fearful analogy to television.

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“That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:” Dan 3:7

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Remember when the music began, the people of all nations fell down and worshipped the golden image? Obviously Satan was behind all this.

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But this little scenario was much more than just a local situation! Just listen to these words… “Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:7.

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Notice it says in this passage that this scenario concerned the whole world. Listen… “all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image”.

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This golden image in the shape of King Nebuchadnezzar was a picture of the image of the beast from Revelation 13. And just as this golden image was a reflection of Nebuchadnezzar (who, by the way, was a picture of Satan, as the above verse points out), so too, television is a reflection of Satan, as has already been discussed in this article.

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Just listen… “take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:4, 12. 

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Academy Awards Ceremony – Wikipedia – Share Alike Lic.

Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image and The fiery furnace – Daniel 3-12 – www.thebiblerevival.com

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SATAN: “I’LL SETTLE FOR 5 PERCENT”

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One thing that too many Christians do not realize, is that Satan is content with just a small portion of a certain movie or television show, to sow his evil seed.

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Christian parents make a great error in thinking that their children are safe by watching a “pretty good” show. Satan laughs at all who buy into such nonsense. The Bible warns Christians… “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” 1st Corinthians 5:6, 7.

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Satan may produce a cute little show for kids, and parents don’t realize that just one or two “bump & grind” tunes in that show, is all that Satan needs to sow his evil seed within the heart of that child.

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Unleavened bread – Wikimedia

Betty Boop – WIKIPEDIA – Public domain

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DANGER FOR ADULTS TOO!

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Adult Christians are in no less danger. While a Christian may have to work and live in a worldly environment: yet to needlessly expose one’s self to common and low-grade conversation, defiles the Soul-Temple. Listen… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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The only safe thing is to realize just whose territory is the television, and pray that God will take it out of one’s home. For Christians with an unbelieving spouse, this will be very difficult, and the Believer may have to separate his or her self, during those hours that the family watches those shows.

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This next passage from Solomon really clarifies how careful a Christian must be… “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.  ” Ecclesiastes 10:1.

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In other words, this pearl of wisdom can be applied to many different areas of life, including the things we absorb into our minds.

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And the last passage to be offered on this topic, was spoken by our Lord Jesus. And every one who takes the name of Jesus on their lips should really consider the great implications which result from this Bible truth… “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10

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Bread India – Wikipedia – share-alike license

 

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“AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST”

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“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself…and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,” 2nd Corinthians 5:19, 20

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This above passage presents a great purpose for why we have been called: to be ambassadors for Christ, to reconcile a world, steeped in sin and rebellion against the government of God. But it is not merely telling them about Jesus, that reconciles lost souls. No, God has ordained that we should be transformed by the power of the Spirit of Holiness into the image of Christ. The world needs to see Jesus too…in us! And so, we are to be pure and holy, just like Jesus was pure and holy.

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Listen to Peter… “Seeing then that all these things (the heavens and Earth) shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (words & behavior) and godliness…Wherefore, beloved…be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2nd Peter 3:11, 13, 14.

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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IMPERCEPTIBLY CHANGED

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By watching television, we imperceptibly become like those we watch… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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This verse confirms that what we behold and what we hear have an effect on our personality. So if we desire to become totally and purely Christ-like, then we must separate as far as possible from all ungodly influences.

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“FOOLISH TALK & JESTING”

Ephesians 5:2

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The world has its own idea of acceptable behavior. By and large, the world has rejected the holiness and reverence of Christ, and has established its own standard. Irreverence, joking and jesting, loud laughter and other common and even cheap talk often have replaced Christ-like holiness and reverence.

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The sad part of all this, is that Christians too, have bought into this counterfeit goodness, to a great degree. Christians have rejected such admonitions as this… “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.” 1st Timothy 2:8-11. Can you imagine what kind of reception such passages as this might have been received in the 20th Century churches? 

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But for those who wish to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it will be their joy and delight to forsake any and every impure behavior and conform themselves entirely into the image of Christ. And they will be likewise willing to accept all the mocking and ridicule that such behavior will result in! 

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

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WAS THAT GOLDEN IMAGE A PROPHECY OF TELEVISION?

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The Lord had set up this story from Daniel, so that He could warn us of what we can look forward to in these last days. Even now, does television and motion pictures combine the proud and sinfulness of Mankind with swelling strains of music, to cause the world to revere the attributes of Satan. For instance TV can take a person who is otherwise greedy, and selfish, and lustful, and conniving, and vulgar, and simply add some beautiful violin strains and make that person appear absolutely wonderful…or brave…or suave, or sophisticated!

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Music is a very powerful medium, and Satan uses music to his advantage. Just look and listen to the various blockbuster productions which come to the theaters, and even into our living rooms, these days. Do you think these incredibly powerful high-tech productions have an influence upon the hearts and minds of men, women, and children? Only a fool would dare deny the powerful influence of today’s dramatic productions. Even the music today is so incredibly power, as we listen to the radio. And the words on much of this music is selling a lifestyle of licentiousness and debauchery, which has ruined the lives of millions of young people (and even many old people who should know better!)

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For more on the subject of music, You may wish to read the article, “Running The Christian Race (Part 1 Sensual Music)”.

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Nicolo_Paganini_by_Richard_James_Lane – Wikipedia – public domain

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ONE MORE WORD OF CAUTION

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“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1st Peter 5:2, 3

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We are living in a less than perfect world, to put it mildly. Things are not the way they will be, when we reach those heavenly shores. We just cannot expect the things around us to be perfect. Much patience and silence is required when we are surrounded by others who are not of the same mind as us. And there are family situations which require much wisdom and prayer. This above passage from Peter’s Epistle, concerning the Church, can also apply to the family of an individual Christian. Salvation is by grace. We cannot force Salvation on others! Nor should we try to force them to be good! (of course, when children are very young, a good swat on the behind may be necessary. But even this should be applied as sparingly as possible!)

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Signs Of Heaven website is to be an encouragement to those who wish to run that Christian Race and to fight that Good Fight of Faith. The Christian greatly desires to share his or her truths with others. But the Christian must not try to compel others to begin making changes in their life in order to appease. Whether it be music, or diet, or dress or television, etc.. It is not the Christian’s  commission from God to bend the consciences of others who are less inclined to walk as Jesus walked. God’s army is a volunteer army. No one should force others to join.

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Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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JACOB LEADS ON SOFTLY

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“And he said unto him (his brother), My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.” Genesis 33:13, 14 

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The above verse is the testimony by Jacob about his family as they traveled back to their long-lost home. This story is likewise a testimony to how we need to lead our family. We should be inclined to be more like a silent gentle breeze among our family. Not a gale force wind! After all, we appreciate how God has been tender with us. As we look at this painting of Jacob, we recall his gracious words about his family and flocks. He said “I will lead on softly”. Jacob saw how God had patiently worked with him through the years. And now Jacob was likewise determined to be gentle with his family.

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By prayer, watchfulness, and daily consecration, we can cry out for our loved ones, and have confidence that God hears our prayers. We can cling to God’s precious promises about our family, too. As we focus on our own Salvation, we can rest assured that God will work in the lives of others. And if God will peradventure bring a loved one into the fold, then they will also desire to run that Race and fight that Good Fight.

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meeting of Jacob and Esau-1844_- wikipaintings – public domain

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THE END

 

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NEXT ARTICLE

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“CHRISTIAN RACE” PART 2: EFFECTS OF SENSUAL MUSIC…

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This article discusses how we might win that Christian Race which is set before us. It uses sensual music as its theme. But the principles presented herein can be applied to just about any other area of Christian concern.

Just click the following article, “Running The Christian Race (Part 2 Sensual Music)”

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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

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

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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.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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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.

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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“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

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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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.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – 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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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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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!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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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.

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain

 

 

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Daily Devotional, Year 4 – October 4 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 29: “Bind Them Into Bundles! Kingdom of the Cults”)”

To read Part 1, click here…AUGUST 3 (Apocalypse Now! Part 1: Silencing the Gospel!)

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“Another parable put He (Jesus) forth unto them,

saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man

which sowed good seed in his field: 

But while men slept, his enemy came…

and sowed tares among the wheat…

in the time of harvest I will say (to the reapers)…

Gather ye together first the tares,

and bind them in bundles to burn them:

but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:24-30 (condensed for brevity)

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This above passage, found in Matthew 13, is that infamous parable of the wheat and tares.

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In this frightful prophecy, the wheat represents the true worshipers of God, while the tares represent the false brethren in the Church.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Enemy Who Sows – James Tissot – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“Bind Them in Bundles” Part 1

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The last devotional on this topic of “Bind Them in Bundles” (Click here to read) focused on the churches.

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Today’s devotional will, instead, turn the spotlight on the secular world, and its own set of bundles.

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Wheat Stacks with Reaper 1888 Vincent van Gogh Wikipedia US public domain

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“Melting Pot of the World?” Not So Much…

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Have you noticed how there is a massive bundling going on?

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Have you been witnessing a separation of various groups, each group retreating to their own particular culture/ideology/color-group?

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The United States was once called the “melting pot of the world” in which various cultures came together in a unified identity.

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But now this phenomenon is no longer the case. Just the opposite!

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People are flocking here, and yet maintaining their own identity, waving their own home-country flag, often refusing to learn the native language, etc…

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The Melting pot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“…but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay”

Daniel 2:43

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Just what is happening?

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What has changed?

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Well, no doubt there is no shortage of opinions on why this is happening.

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Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“Bind Them in Bundles to Burn Them”

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But the Bible has foretold of this phenomenon, so long ago…

…”in the time of harvest I will say (to the reapers)…

Gather ye together first the tares,

and bind them in bundles to burn them:

but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Matthew 13:24-30 (condensed for brevity)

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Yes, there is to be a bundling just prior to Judgment Day.

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And though this prophecy is specifically concerning the church-world, it seems as if it is likewise being fulfilled out in the general populace as well.

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The world bleeds through this prophecy.

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Harvest Seed – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided;”

Daniel 2:41

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Even in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, a vision of the future of the church (and quite possibly of the entire world) was shown to Daniel.

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And in this vision was a giant statue with a head of gold, arms of silver, loins of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron mingled with clay.

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And besides its purpose of pointing out the devolution the church, its culmination with feet with iron and clay which would not stick together, even further separating into ten toes.

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – www.freebibleimages.org

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“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”

Matthew 24:12

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The point is that this end-times separation appears to be fulfilling this very day.

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Everyone seems to be retreating into their own particular camp.

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Society has tagged this phenomenon as “Tribalism”.

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Antifa @ Protest Trump in Phoenix – 8-22-17 – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

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“The…wicked…flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.”

Psalm 36:2 

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Even with a brief look, it’s not difficult to see all this cultishness playing itself out in today’s world…

…gender wars…

…racial groups separating one from another…

…political parties hating one-another…

…nations hating one-another…

…religions aggressively taking over cultures…

…societies forcing its perverted ideas on the general populace…

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And if all this is not unnerving enough, it’s nearly impossible to reason with steely-eyed cultists on anything outside of their own particular belief-system!

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Millions of protestors in Tahrir Square – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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THE WORLD: KINGDOM OF THE CULTS

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And many political pundits are now each calling the opposing political party “a cult”.

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Both political parties are pointing the accusing finger at one-another, saying “You are a cult!”

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The fact seems to be that not only do both political parties appear to possess a steely-eyed cultish behavior, this seems to apply also to all the various other tribes of the world!

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The entire world appears to be turning into steely-eyed cultists!

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But just why is this happening?

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The Kingdom of the Cults – Wikipedia – Fair-use Rationale

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“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

Isaiah 33:14

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Well, the Bible says the following…Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.

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Yes, God’s “devouring fire” will judge the members of each group on that terrible Day of Fire!

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But that fire is further described as follows…

…”Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

1st Corinthians 3:13

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This is the “Devouring Fire” of God’s Judgment on each and every one of us, including Christians!

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Judgment of Sheep & Goats – Fra Angelico – cropped & altered photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“…and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

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The Good News is that today is still the day of Salvation!

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And the invitation goes out to every man, woman, and child to…

…”Come unto Me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you,

and learn of Me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to make my calling and election sure in these days of apostasy…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…November 21st (THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CULT!)…

…or you can also read this shorter article…“November 26 ( “The World’s Most Evil People!”)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN 

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“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…

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for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.”

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“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining… 

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“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem…

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“And the heavens and the earth shall shake…

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“But the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

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Joel 3:14-16

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LOCATING THIS VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP…

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Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation.

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Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing.

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In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left.

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In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward. It has a snowcapped top.

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Then find the second snowcap to its right (south).

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Then go a little further south to the third snow-cap which is the Destroying Mountain Constellation.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation

Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TOMORROW…

September 21 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 20: “The Day of the Lord Is Near!”)

.Judgment Day – by sweet media – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping 

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping October 23, 2002 (youtube.com)

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 6

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Sodom Rising,

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Part 22

“What is True Manliness? Part 2: Do Grown Men Cry?”

To read part 1 of this article, click here… “August 22nd (Sodom Rising!)”

 

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“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith,

quit you like men, be strong”

1st Corinthians 16:13 

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“Can a woman forget her sucking child,

that she should not have compassion

on the son of her womb?

yea, they may forget,

yet will I not forget thee”

Isaiah 49:15

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A certain public advocate for conservative values was having a debate with a young member of the audience about “gays” being “more compassionate than straights”, saying this was more virtuous, “and just the way things ought to be!”

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The conservative advocate countered by arguing that “Emotionalism is mostly a female trait! When men get together, they like to talk football, and cars, and politics, while women talk about softer topics such as family, and more emotional issues.”

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And this conservative advocate continued by saying, “Men and women are ‘hard-wired’ differently from each other, and this is how it’s supposed to be!”

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Well, the young man was not convinced.

Gay Parade – Jazz Jennings 2016 – Wikipedia – Creative Commons License

Lunch Break – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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SO, JUST WHAT IS TRUE MANLINESS?

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WHO WAS CORRECT IN THAT CURENTLY POPULAR DEBATE?

Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE STRAW MAN PLOY

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Satan has been using the “Strawman Ploy” for many long centuries. Yes, that diabolical, “Dr. Evil” (Satan) has used his sophistry and genius to deceive all of us simple-minded humans in various ways, throughout history!

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And so, we shouldn’t be surprised by the current situation in today’s world, in which Satan has raised up the homosexual movement.

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But just one of his various reasons for this pandemic phenomenon of homosexuality, is to create a “strawman” with the intent of causing an even more negative stigma against Christ and Christians!

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Straw man (or lady) – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike or GNU Free Documentation license

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SOCIETAL BACKLASH

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In other words, by displaying homosexual men as effeminate-looking creatures, Satan has created a situation which makes being Christlike somewhat uncomfortable for many men.

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Even John Bunyan, far back in the 1600’s, complained in his book “Grace Abounding”, that “effeminate men” in those days shared a few similar characteristics to Christian men, stigmatizing their Christlike gentleness with a devilish counterfeit.

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Yes, because Jesus had some soft attributes, many Christian men, today, do not want to be seen as being effeminate, in any way! And as a result, there has been a rather silent push-back in today’s society, against this homosexual movement, in which many men desperately want to be seen as “all-man”.

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And understandably so!

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And as a result, men try to NOT be seen as totally Christlike. Thus, Satan has scored a big victory, by creating this counterfeit similarity within the gay community!

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Wedding cake of a same sex marriage – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

John Bunyan by Thomas Sadler – 1684 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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SATAN’S HOLLYWOOD

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Quite often in the movies, Christians are portrayed as weak and defenseless, like a flock of nervous little birds.

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On the other hand, the hero of the story is often portrayed as strong, and handsome, and brash, and fearless, usually saving the “weak” Christians from the bad guys.

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Of course, this kind of stigma against Christians is right out of Satan’s playbook! 

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But another false lesson that the movie-goer learns from such a movie situation, is that Christians shouldn’t depend on the Lord, but should be more like the hero of the movie, relying on his own bravery and on his own strength to solve his dilemma.

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High and Mighty Trailer Screenshot1954 – Wikipedia – public domain

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PICTURES OF JESUS

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Satan has always been hard at work, trying to “cast mud” all over the true Gospel. And one of his dirty tricks has been to use artists of the day to paint pictures of an effeminate-looking Jesus, or effeminate-looking disciples. Thus, he has successfully repulsed many from following Jesus.

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But Jesus was all-man! Make no mistake! He had not one ounce of femininity! Oh yes, he could be soft and compassionate. But he also had a quiet, manly, inner-strength. 

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Nevertheless, Jesus not only possessed great physical strength, but also stood solid as a rock against sin, while the so-called mighty men of that day became weak as infants in the face of temptation!

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And men should likewise be strong against the evil forces of this antichrist world, giving their sons a balanced view of how to be strong, and resilient, yet tenderhearted toward his wife and children, as well as being empathetic toward those who are weak, or suffering.

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John the baptist – Leonardo Da Vinci – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Father & Son – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other”

Psalm 85:10

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Now, it’s true that God has created men and women differently, just as He wrote the Old Testament to bring out His Judgment/justice attributes, while the New Testament brings out God’s merciful/compassionate nature more clearly.

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And even though man and woman were both created in God’s image, their personalities most often bring out this same dichotomy, making them seem strikingly different from each other, as this old painting attempts to correctly portray!

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And let’s face it, a husband’s strengths are complemented by his wife’s fragilities, and visa-versa, just as it is written…“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.” 1st Peter 3:7

Pierre Auguste Renoir, La loge (The Theater Box) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT IF JUPITER RULED US?

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Just who would you rather have ruling the universe? Perhaps, one of the Greek or Roman gods? Zeus maybe? Or perhaps Jupiter? Well, they were both given very hard attributes, weren’t they? Just imagine if one of those gods were ruling this world? (Well actually, as we look around, we have to admit that Satan is doing a fine job of giving us a picture of how those pagan gods would behave!)

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We are so very fortunate to have a tender, understanding, and compassionate Father God, Jehovah, who runs this universe! 

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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN SCULPTS SOCIETY

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Satan has been given a certain amount of freedom to draw individuals into one lifestyle or another. And because of that, he will often draw certain people into one sin, while drawing certain other people into another sin.

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And so, as we look around at society, we can see the footprints of this invisible Dragon, and how he has designed society to promote his various deceptions. In plain language, Satan will often draw persons who have certain physical traits or mannerisms into homosexuality, to give this totally unnatural lifestyle an appearance of being “natural”. Contrariwise, he will draw others into just the opposite extreme.

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And so, as we look at all the confusion over this hotly debated issue in today’s society, we need to understand that “the prince of this world” has been hewing and sculpting society for this very purpose: to raise up Sodom and Gomorrah all over again! And yet making this totally spiritualistic phenomenon appear to be of physical, natural origin!

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

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THE BATTLE BEFORE US!

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One thing we must remember is that this world is Satan’s kingdom! 2nd Corinthians 4:4 calls him, “The god of this world”!

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And so, no matter how hard the Christian strives to strike the proper balance, it will be nearly impossible to satisfy Satan’s loyal citizenry! 

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And so, O Pilgrim of the Cross, all that we can do, is to put on the armor of God, and ready ourselves for the fierce battle ahead, knowing that our victory has been assured, by Christ, who has already won the battle for us!

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“JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED!”

Matthew 7:1

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Now, just a word of caution. These truths from Heaven are given “for me and me alone!” We are not to look at others with a judgmental eye.

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And anyway, we just don’t know how God is working in the hearts and lives of people, nor do we know the true motives of others!

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So we simply look into the mirror and realize that, “Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. of who I AM CHIEF!” 1st Timothy 1:15

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Yes, my own heart is filled with enough evil to keep me busy for a lifetime, trying to purify it from my own innate wickedness!

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“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:32

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“Be strong and of a good courage,

fear not, nor be afraid of them:

for the LORD thy God,

He it is that doth go with thee;

He will not fail thee,

nor forsake thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

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TO READ PART 6, CLICK HERE…

“May 27 (Sodom Rising, Part 6: Moving Into Sodom!)“

The sodomites are smitten with blindness – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to become wise as a serpent, yet harmless as a dove, as I walk through the battlefield of this world…

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

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…November 27 (The Armor of God, Part 1)“, or you can also read…May 3rd (True Bullet-Proof Faith!), or you can also read…October 21 (“Who Are The Daughters of Sara?”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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THE MILKY WAY RUNS THROUGH

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THIS HOLY-GHOST-RIDER

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Now one thing that is noticeable and makes this constellation even more dramatic, is the fact that the Milky Way runs right through it. And the question that must be asked is, “What biblical implications does this constellation/Milky Way connection have?”

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Well, very simply put, if stars represent Believers, then this rider works in the world through His True-Worshippers, to a great extent.

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WHY IS THIS CONSTELLATION SO INCOMPLETE IN APPEARANCE

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So why is this constellation merely an outline? Well it does show his back, rear end and leg…and arm. But unlike, say, Orion, this constellation is very vague, even mysterious in appearance. Almost vacant in appearance. Yes this horseman represents Christ. But even more than this, it represents the Holy Spirit of Christ. And as we all know, the Holy Spirit is very, very, un-intrusive, almost impossible to detect His presence.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

FEBRUARY 7 . . . Judgment Day Now, Part 1: “Viewing Sex & Violence”

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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

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THIS STUDY #402 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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