There are many erroneous ideas about Satan out there in the world. Most people, of course, are steeped in unbelief that there even exists a literal Devil! But many others have the opinion that Satan exists primarily in the dark corners of the world, such as in the occult and black magic. And of course, wherever there is overt evil in the world, it is often attributed to Satan.
Bible quotations
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One Blood
By admin On December 25th, 2018.
“Complete List of Daily Devotionals”
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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 24
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And The Nations Were Angry, Part ?: “One Blood of All Nations”
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“And (God) hath made of one blood
all nations of men for to dwell
on all the face of the earth,
and hath determined the times before appointed,
and the bounds of their habitation”
Acts 17:26
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Just when we thought that racism was beginning to subside in the western culture, this particular form of hatred is now rising up on a scale that we’ve never seen before!
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Or so it seems.
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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License
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RACISM: A PANDEMIC CRISIS
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Just look at the “ethnic cleansing” going on around the world! It’s frightening, to say the least!
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And of course, the Jews have always been hated and persecuted, even since the days of the patriarch, Isaac, right up to this present hour!
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And in this nation, one needs only look at hateful reader comments on various Internet sites to realize that racism is alive and well!
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Yes, hatred against skin color thrives on the Internet, where anonymous individuals can anonymously air their covert hatred for others: be it against people who are yellow, red, black, brown or white. Indeed, racism knows no bounds, as far as its targeted ethnic group. Racism is an, “equal-opportunity hater!” Even the government and politicians sanction a certain amount of racist rhetoric and retaliation in society, as long as that hatred is against a particular skin-color or ideology which they also hate.
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ISIS murder – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
ISIL – Execution of man – September 2014 – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“ONE BLOOD OF ALL NATIONS”
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Ken Ham has written a book on this subject of racism, “One Blood, One Race” (click here to watch a 9 minute video by Ham).
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And his purpose is to reveal what the Bible says concerning the different races…“And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” Acts 17:26
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In this above verse from Acts, in which Paul is addressing a group of unbelievers, Creation Museum/Ark Encounter founder, Ken Ham elaborates upon the Bible’s account that we are all children of Noah, and even from Adam. We’re all relatives of each other: “one blood of all nations!”
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Mr. Ham also reveals that all humans have color, howbeit different amounts of the pigment, “melanin”. And those who are considered “white people” are even a shade of brown, howbeit a much lighter shade than many others.
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Noah’s Ark – Domenico Morelli – Wikipedia – public domain
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RACISM IN CHURCH?
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And sad to say, there are some churches which “embrace” their own particular culture and/or ethnicity, instituting ethnic/cultural music, dances, ceremonies, icons, clothing, and even stylistic preaching, designed to vaunt their own particular racial/cultural backgrounds and biases.
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Of course, true Christians will bend over backward to reflect the racial color-blindness, which Jesus had. His or her behavior should be as free as possible of any cultural/racial exclusivity. We must remember that God is timeless…“Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday, today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8. And His words and actions had not the slightest taint of trendiness and fashionability! And neither should ours!
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Jesus Teaching Luke 4:31-32 – Jesus talks about Heaven – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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SATAN, THE FATHER OF THOSE WHO HATE
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But like never before, in these last days, Satan has stirred up the multitudes to fill them with rage against others of different skin-tone.
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And now we are seeing horrible racial hatred and even racial violence, both in this nation, as well as in many other nations.
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Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – Wikimedia
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GOOD NEWS! GOD’S LOVE IS COLORBLIND!
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The Good News is, that even in this late hour, God is willing to pour out of His great love into the hearts of any one who is fed up with all this current hatred and racist finger-pointing: they can call upon His name, and turn from their ungodliness! And filled with God’s wonderful love they can have compassion for all, regardless of skin color!
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No, God is no respecter of person, regardless of a person’s skin color! And that same, godly brotherly love is available to each and every needy soul!
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Bible-Study-Group – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
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“Dear Lord, Help me to begin the joyful exodus out of this sad world and into the upward pathway to the celestial city of God…
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read…“”, or you can also read this shorter article… “”
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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THE GLORIOUS 12-STAR CROWN CONSTELLATION
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If you were to go out on a dark and starry night in the summer months, and lift up your head, you might just see this constellation group. Looking at this sketch, do you see this woman as she tries to take hold of that crown?
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Well, this is a heavenly fulfillment of the above Bible verse (“And there appeared a great wonder (or “sign”) in Heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Revelation 12:1).
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And this woman is known as the Revelation 12 Woman, and that crown is known as the Revelation 12 Crown.
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You can see this constellation group in the summer months by looking in the western skies.
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… The 12-Star Crown Constellation of Revelation 12
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TOMORROW…
JUNE 25 (Eternal Torment? Part 9: No Sympathy In Heaven!?!)
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH
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YOU 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 #539 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING OF FAMILY RADIO…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain
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Replacement Theology rebuttal
By admin On November 16th, 2018.
“For I could wish that myself were accursed…for…my kinsmen”
Romans 9, (The Apostle, Paul, speaking of “Israel, according to the flesh”)
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Now, should Christians have a yearning in their hearts for “Israel-after-the-flesh”? Of course they should! And even though we know that God will never re-institute His sacrificial system in the nation of Israel (they themselves may do so), nevertheless, our prayers and hope is for the Salvation of each and every Jew!
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And it is really disingenuous for the apostate church-world to hang upon our necks, their unbiblical and derogatory tag, “replacement theology”, and make the false claim that we hate the Jews or are anti-Zionists! Just because we understand that the Bible is a spiritual Book, filled with shadows, types, proverbs, and allegories. In other words, these apostate Bible teachers try to condemn anyone who believes that Old Testament Israel was a spiritual type or shadow of all those in the Kingdom of God.
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Jewish Children with their Teacher in Samarkand – Wikipedia – Public Domain
dw
By admin On November 3rd, 2018.
Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.
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“Complete List of Daily Devotionals”
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Today’s Devotional – December 18th
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Just Who is a Wise Man?
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The King James Version says… “behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1, 2.
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Now these wise men from the east were spiritual leaders.
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But certainly they were wise men too, in the biblical sense of the word!
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After all, while the vast majority of God’s professed people were busy, going after the cares and pleasures and pastimes of the world, these wise men from the East had left all, so as to find the One who was to save the world!
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Brooklyn Museum – The Magi Journeying James Tissot – US public domain
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JUST WHO IS A WISE MAN?
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So perhaps it would do well, to take a moment to look at just what constitutes being called a “wise man”. Just what does the Bible have to say about being wise?
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Well, what better place to begin this search, than to go to the wisest mortal who ever lived…Solomon?
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Listen to this wisest of men… “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:3-6.
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So here it is! Here is the key to becoming wise! To seek after the knowledge of God, as if we are seeking hidden treasure!
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La Bible, Notre-Dame – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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THE HALF-HEARTED NEED NOT APPLY!
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Those who are truly seeking after God, are not divided in their lives: they 
are very focused on one thing only: to become like Jesus in every way!
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Listen… “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
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There are many in God’s house, who, like the Old Testament worshippers, think they can serve God and Mammon too! But God dispels all such notions…
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Listen… “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
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As this above verse reveals, God has no interest in a divided service! And only those who, like the wise men of old, are willing to leave all behind and begin their Heavenward sojourn, will ultimately find Him!
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THE GOOD NEWS!
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The Good News in all this is that God is very forgiving.
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And in His great mercy, He is allowing us time to repent of our world-loving ways, and turn back to Him with all our hearts! Yes, we too may become wise men!
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Listen… “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2nd Chronicles 7:14
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Ans so, if we will only begin to seek Him with all our heart, God is very willing to heal the polluted soil of our heart!
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER
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“Dear Lord, Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me.” (Psalms 119:18, 19)
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?” or you can also read… “January 10th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?)“
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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“It (God’s Covenant) shall be established…
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for ever as the Moon…
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and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.”
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Psalm 89:37.
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GOSPEL INSCRIBED ON THE MOON
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The Bible states… “It (God’s Covenant) shall be established for ever as the Moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven (sky). Selah.” Psalm 89:37
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God’s Covenant (The Gospel) has been inscribed in the sky. In the night sky, predominantly. It has been established “as the Moon, and as a faithful witness…”.
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That there would be “signs in the Sun… moon, and…stars” (Luke 21:25) just before the end, was a promise made by God.
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But we didn’t know exactly what those signs would be (although many thought they knew).
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Nor did we realize that these signs would be pointing us to present Bible truths!
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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”
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Please tilt your head to the left. Do you see a man with a very long pointed nose. 
(Obviously, the sketch to the right is just an exaggeration in order to help you find the face in the photo to the left.)
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Do you see an angry look? His right eye-brow is raised as if he is judging.
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This second face in the Moon appears to be that of a combination of a man as well as a fox. Or maybe a wolf. Doesn’t he have a long narrow nose like a wolf or fox? Maybe even a dog. Nevertheless, the expression on his face, as he appears to look down upon the Earth, is that of scorn. Unlike the first Moon-man’s sad shock and awe; this ‘man/fox/wolf/dog’ appears to be that of anger and scorn. As if he is disgusted at the sinful planet below. He is very moral, you see.
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner”
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TOMORROW:
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December 19 (“And Just Who is My Neighbor?”)
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY
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YOU 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 IS STUDY #350 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.
Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation
By admin On February 23rd, 2015.
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Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation (Cassiopeia Constellation) – signsofheaven – Not for commercial profit use!
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“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
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Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”
Psalm 48:1, 2
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This above passage sings of Mount Zion, in the sides of the North!
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But if one looks to the Northeast in late Summer and into Fall, there is a constellation which God created to be a heavenly picture of the Heavenly Mount Zion. And it is commonly known as Cassiopeia. But God has created it to symbolize the true Zion, which is in Heaven.
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Listen… “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” Hebrews 12:22
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Yes, Jerusalem and Mount Zion here on earth are merely earthly types, to represent the true Heavenly Jerusalem and Mount Zion.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation (Cassiopeia Constellation) – signsofheaven – Not for commercial profit use!
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LOCATING HEAVENLY MOUNT ZION
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But if the Reader will go out in August and well into November, this wonderful cons
tellation can be seen in the Northeast night-sky. But don’t wait too long! Because once it enters the western sky, it flips upside down and can no longer be seen as a mountain.
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Now, this constellation is the very same constellation as the Mount of Blessing Constellation in the Valley of Decision Constellation Group. And it represents the favored mountain to which the people of God are to climb.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Fall Constellations – Valley of Decision Constellation & Revelation 12 Dragon
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MULTITUDES IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION
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Listen… “Multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of Decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the Valley of Decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD 
also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:14-16
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Now this above passage speaks of multitudes in the Valley of Decision. And if the Reader will look closely, it can be seen that a certain galaxy appears to be climbing up this Mount Zion Constellation. This galaxy is commonly known as the Andromeda Galaxy. And it is made of an estimated trillion stars, which certainly qualifies as a “multitude”!
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Andromeda Galaxy – Adam Evans & Wikipedia – Share-Alike License
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ARISE! LET US GO UP TO ZION!
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Now, the Bible prophesies that Mount Zion will be a much sought-after mountain in the last days.
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Listen… “For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God….Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” Jeremiah 31:6, 12
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So here above is veiled, allegorical language which speaks of certain day, in which God’s people will all come to heavenly Zion.
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ABOVE PICTURE – winter Constellations – Woman of Revelation 12 (Ursa Major) 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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“SINGING UNTO ZION”
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Listen again, as we hear the sound of singing… “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Isaiah 51:11
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Yes, that day has now come and God is revealing this wonderful Sign Of Heaven, which appears as a beautiful diadem and an ensign in the night-heavens, sitting a a glorious city on a hill.
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And God’s people and anyone who is tired of this sad, selfish, and hopeless world are now invited to come to Zion, “the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation,” Isaiah 33:20
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The Pilgrim’s Progress by Byam Shaw – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain
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“His foundation is in the holy mountains.
The LORD loveth the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.”
Psalm 87:1-3
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READ MORE…
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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation
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THE END
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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 – 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 – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – 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 these people 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 – 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 Chur
ch (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 – 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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Floodwaters of the False Prophet: Socialism/Humanitarianism (Continued)
By admin On February 22nd, 2015.
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Floodwaters of the False Prophet: Socialism/Humanitarianism (Continued)
To read part 1, click here… “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: Socialism/Humanitarianism”
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WHAT IS TRUE LOVE?
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But true love is not a pick-n-choose buffet, in which we merely take what we like and refuse the 
rest! No, to use a modern-day expression, love, true love is a, “package deal”. Love is a holistic virtue. It encompasses our whole life! It rules our entire heart! It is an entire spectrum of different virtues!
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In 1st Corinthians 13, Paul explains this holistic concept to the Corinthians, who merely desired to speak in tongues, and yet had little inclination for the deep indwelling of Christ’s love…
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Listen to Paul… “But…show I unto you a more excellent way! Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profits me nothing!
“Charity (love) suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts (forces) not itself, is not puffed up, Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity (agape love) never fails:” 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:8
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This above passage begins to give us a picture of true love, showing that it transcends the mere outward acts of self-sacrifice! True love is a lamp which shines brightly within the heart. True ‘agape’ love actuates every aspect of the life. It cannot truly exist where the heavenly virtues of the heart do not exist!
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Patience, contentment, humbleness, selflessness, meekness, faith, long-suffering, humility, 
purity, kindness, gentleness: these are among the accompanying virtues which must be present at all times, for true love to exist!
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And the fact is, most persons who attempt to become humanitarians do not possess such an all-encompassing self-sacrificing love of Jesus. Our personalities are still infected with sin: impatience, harshness, pride, faithlessness, wantonness, commonness, lust, intemperance, greed, and other similar qualities. And so, our acts of giving are tainted by these aforementioned sins, thus spoiling any true ministry of love to others…
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Listen again… “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profits me nothing!” 1st Corinthians 13:3
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Braet von Überfeldt – Woman with Bible – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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THE WIDOW’S TWO MITES
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Socialism must exist where there is financial prosperity. And so, Satan knew that it could not exist on a mass scale, prior to the industrial age. He realized that during the earlier centuries, people just barely survived financially, and were in no mind to be supporting others on a large scale.
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In other words, most people only give out of their abundance. This reality is showcased in the Bible’s account of the Widow’s Mite… “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.” Mark 12:41, 42
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Jesus used this incident to be a teaching moment, about just what is true generosity. In other words, to merely give without self-sacrificial love is not true generosity. And this is the futility of most of today’s socialism. Today’s socialism requires no true love. It merely taxes wealthy people, and then, for the most part, just gives that money to its recipients.
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Listen to Jesus, as He summarizes this encounter with the widow and her two mite offering… “And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12:43, 44
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God takes very little pleasure in superficial giving. Because God does not measure generosity by dollar amount, but by the ‘agape’ love which springs forth from the heart!
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But there are so many today, who pay their tithes and offerings, withholding enough to continue living in pleasure and wantonness! All such giving is mere an exercise in futility!
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Tissot – The Widows Mite – Brooklyn Museum – US Public Domain
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WORLDLY APPLAUSE
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As most people know, the Kingdom of Heaven is not about being high-profile! No, just the opposite!
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Listen to Jesus… “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:1, 2
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This above passage was spoken by Jesus in His famous, Sermon On The Mount.
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Here is presented a common problem seen in so much of today’s humanitarianism. Far too many businesses get involved in charities, merely for the purpose of promoting their company. And, this hypocritical “charity” is quite often the motivation for individuals, as well.
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In other words, so many attempt to get involved in some career or humanitarian cause, partly or wholly for the purpose of self-exaltation. Yes, our private, personal lives may be filled with all sorts of selfish desires. And yet, we can still receive public praise by our supposed humanitarian career or charitable volunteerism!
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THE PRIDE OF LIFE
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The three great sins of Mankind are listed in the 1st Epistle of John, Chapter 2, verse 16… “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
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Yes, the lusts of the flesh, and the lusts of the eyes, are somewhat easy to discern in people. But the pride of life is not so easy to discern. Because it quite often is connected with pursuits that have what the Bible refers to as, “a form of godliness”.
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Listen… “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:1-5
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So after naming all these horrible sins, Paul concludes by saying, “a form of godliness”. But godliness without the Holy Spirit is just another form of evil. And it appeals especially to those who are proud in heart!
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Tissot – HMS Calcutta – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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THE SINS OF THE PHARISEES
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The Pharisees were an elevated class of religious leaders back in the days of Christ’s earthly ministry. They were those who were very moral and correct. And they were well-schooled in theology. And they were held in high-esteem by the common people of that day.
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But the Pharisees were not “born again”. And so, all their correctness, and all their morality was merely an outward goodness. Listen to Jesus, as he rebuked the Pharisees for their outward cleanliness… “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:25, 26
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Yes, the Pharisees looked good on the outside, but their outward cleanliness and correctness was merely a shroud for their inward wickedness!
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CHEAP RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS
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And so, the world (and worldly Christians) engage in what is called “cheap righteousness”, in which we merely give a portion of our time and money to some charitable cause, while at the same time, continuing to live out our selfish, world-loving lives! Oh yes, this is broad-brushing. Yes, there are perhaps a few of those who devote their entire life to some charity. And God knows the true motivation of their heart! And we are not to judge any individual!
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But this concept of giving out of our abundance is illustrated in a parable which Jesus told about a rich man, who, “fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.” Luke 16:20, 21
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This story applies very well to so much of what is going on today! We who live in this land of luxury, m
erely toss our proverbial “bread crumbs” at those in need, while continuing to live, “sumptuously every day!”
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So what was the outcome for that rich man in Jesus’ parable? Listen… “the rich man also died, and was buried; And in Hell he lift up his eyes…” Luke 16:21, 22.
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Oh yes, this was merely a parable. But God here, is trying to drive home the point about our meager giving.
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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikigallery – Public Domain
Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT
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Many have the erroneous notion that Satan is a totally evil entity. Well, yes, Satan is totally evil. 
But he’s intelligent enough to realize that he cannot sell his poison to humanity, unless he sugar-coats it. And so, Satan must disguise, not only himself, but also masquerade his workers, transforming them into, “those good guys, wearing white hats”!
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Listen… “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for 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 11:13-15
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This above passage let’s us know, in no uncertain terms, that Satan and his people will masquerade themselves, coming to us as, “good guys, wearing white hats”, as the saying goes!
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EATING OUR OWN
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There is a little account in which God exposes the hypocrisy of today’s socialistic communitarianism, in what happened in former times.
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Listen… “The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of My people.” Lamentation 4:10
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In this above account, God reveals that tender loving mothers actually cooked their own children and ate them, during a time of extreme hunger. And this same unbelievable atrocity has occurred at other various times of extreme famine, throughout history.
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And so, God is showing us that He is not impressed in the slightest, with all our supposed sympathies for our children. It is as superficial as any other so-called “human compassion” which currently goes on in society. In other words, when the economy totally dries up, so will human sympathy, to a great extent.
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And in the days ahead, this same unspeakable cannibalism may be repeated!
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Cannibalism in Russia and Lithuania 1571. – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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THE CROSS PLANTED ON WICKED SOIL
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“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
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When Jesus came to this earth, His mission was to show the universe an example of what true agape love is. The Cross is a symbol of what it means to give all, for our fellow man! Unselfish love came down in the form of man, and walked amidst this selfish world.
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And the light and glory of this kind of total goodness exposed our own superficial goodness to the point, that we tried to exterminate Him, and get Him out of our sight!
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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot
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TOUCHING THE ARK
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When the people of the world attempt to have “a form of godliness”, we do not realize that we are tampering with forbidden things. In other words, to want to be righteous, without surrendering to God, is a very dangerous thing.
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Listen… “And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.” 2nd Samuel 6:6, 7
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In this above passage, God is perhaps presenting a giant concept about becoming a “do-gooder”, by our own human strength. Uzzah presumed to think that God needed his help in steadying the Ark. Uzzah should have either allowed the Ark to fall, or not fall.
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And so it is with Mankind. We have chosen to rebel against Heaven’s government of Love. So then, why are we trying to retain some of that love, and yet reject the only source of true love…God? It can’t be done!
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Uzzah Touches Ark by James Tissot Wikipedia public domain
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WORLD GETTING WORSE & WORSE!
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And doesn’t it seem like, the more Man tries to conquer evil and its consequences, the worse that the situation becomes in this world?
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For instance, doesn’t it seem like, the more food baskets we hand out, the more that hunger increases? The more sick people we attempt to cure, the more sick people there are in the world? The more we attempt to control the population, the greater the population increases? The more welfare checks we give out, the more people there are who need a hand-out? The more cultures we try to embrace, the more we are hated? The more we attempt to stop violence, the more violence there is in the world?
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Yes, Mankind, by attempting good works, while remaining in rebellion against Heaven, is attempting to touch the Ark of God, just like presumptuous Uzzah! But God is not allowing us to get away with it! By all our vain attempts at “good works”, we are only bringing a greater curse on this planet!
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Yes, the False Prophet loves good works, as most false prophets do. It gives him an air of righteousness. And of course, Satan is that False Prophet.
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ISIL – Execution of man – September 2014 – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“STRENGTHEN THE HAND OF THE POOR”
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When scolding His people, the Lord compared them to “S0D0M”, saying… “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister “S0D0M”, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49
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Notice here that one of God’s complaints was the “S0D0M” did not strengthen the hand of the poor. And so, God knew it was important to do more than merely hand out money and food to the poor. The best thing to do, would be to teach the poor various work skills. But with welfare and food stamps, the poor have little incentive to enter the workplace. This is just human nature.
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Drunk Panhandler-wikipedia-public-domain-e1440775159124
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BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD SPOT!
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There is an old saying, “Being caught between a rock and a hard spot”. And t
his saying applies very well to the place that society is in today! There really is no good answer to our dilemma, as far as this world is concerned. In other words, there an increasing number of people in the world today, who are really hurting and desperately needy! And so, just what can we do?
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By continuing to try to solve the great issues of the world situation, we are only “adding fuel to the fire”, so to speak. That is, by attempting to do good without God’s Spirit, we are only bringing even more judgment down upon our world. But how can we just sit by and let all those millions of needy souls go hungry, or thirsty, or sick?
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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GOSPEL CHANGES LIVES
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Actually, there is much that a Christian can do! Listen to James… “The eff
ectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16
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To pray for and to financially support ministries that preach the soul-saving Gospel of Christ to the world, is the very best way for those of us living in affluent nations, to help this hurting world! Yes, when a man, woman, or child becomes Born-Again, that soul teams up with all the resources of Heaven! And God promises wisdom and power to every child of Jesus. So our finances are much better spent to send forth the Gospel, than to merely supply food and clothing!
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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama
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FULL SURRENDER A MUST!
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This horrible situation isn’t going to get any better! It’s only going to get worse! And we can try to relieve the suffering in the world. But until the day when the whole human race is ready to fall to our knees and confess our sinfulness and rebellion, this nightmare, called Planet Earth, is only going to get worse!
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But we cannot wait until there’s a mass repentance around the world! No, it is up to you and to myself, to “fall to my knees”, and plead with God for His mercy and grace! As one person put it, “a church revival begins in the mirror!”
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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ISAIAH’S COUNSEL TO FEED AND CLOTHE OTHERS
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“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily:” Isaiah 58:6-8
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Here is a passage which most people look at, and immediately take literally. But scripture must be compared with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual, to rightly understand. For instance, just look at Jesus. Did Jesus ever clothe a naked person, in his ministry? Not one! So how did Jesus fulfill this command to clothe the naked?
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Listen… “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” Isaiah 61:10
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So Jesus has clothed the spiritually naked with His “robe of righteousness”
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VISITING THE PRISONERS
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Now do we ever read of Jesus visiting those in prison? Well, when Jesus heard that John had been cast into prison, did He go visit him? No He didn’t!
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But listen to this… “The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Isaiah 61:1
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Again, Jesus has freed those who are locked up in Satan’s prison-house of sin and selfishness.
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Now does this make it wrong to literally go visit someone in prison? Of course not! But we must keep in mind that the whole world is locked up in prison.
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Listen… “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36
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And so, whoever will receive the Gospel of Salvation, and continues in Christ’s Word, will be freed from sin and Satan!
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Pilgrim’s Progress 15 p. 45 – There Sat A Man In An Iron Cage – wikipedia – public domain
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FEEDING THE HUNGRY
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We actually never see Jesus feeding the hungry! Oh yes, twice he fed those who came to hear Him preach. But even though they were indeed hungry, they were not like those in Africa, who are living in extreme famine. No, those who Jesus fed were in a similar circumstance as those partaking of an after-church potluck.
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So then, just how did Jesus feed the hungry?
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Listen… “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
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So the bread that Jesus gives, feeds and satisfies the hungering soul. So is it wrong to give a food basket to the hungry? Of course not! But just make sure that you are not starving for lack of the bread of life!
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Unleavened bread from Jerusalem wikipedia share-alike license
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TAKING THINGS TOO FAR
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There are many who read such verses as James, and decide to make this the centerpiece of their gospel.
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Listen to James… “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:14-17
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Yes, of course we are to help out those who are in physical need. But we need to keep our priority straight. The Gospel of Salvation is to be our main ministry. But quite often, humanitarian ministries are more concerned about physical needs than they are about Salvation.
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Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License
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LITTLE CONCERN FOR SALVATION
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There are many who have a great desire to engage in some form of humanitarianism, but have little regard for Salvation. But, because they have never personally experienced the great joy of Salvation, they do not know how priceless and wonderful is that Heavenly gift! And so, when they look out at the great needs of humanity, they do not feel the great need of Salvation for the lost souls all around! They are more concerned for the temporal need, than for the eternal need.
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Oh yes, Jesus was concerned for the physical needs of humanity. But He saw a much greater need: Salvation!
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Christ and the blind Pauper – Mironov – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
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YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
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There are many on the Church who have never truly become a disciple of Jesus. And as a result, they cannot enjoy any meaningful communion with Him. Nor do they have a love for Bible study. And so, the one thing they can do, is to volunteer for some religious duty. Thus is their guilty soul comforted, but only just a little.
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And they figure that some good works might please God. And such a sad situation is the catalyst for their volunteerism.
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Nicodemus – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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DAVID’S BRUSH WITH HUMANITARIANISM
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King David had a brush with humanitarianism, when he sought out a lone survivor of King Saul, to show kindness to. Finally, David found one lame man, Mephibosheth, and brought him into the king’s court to live out the rest of his life, eating daily at the king’s table. A pretty nice humanitarian thing for David to do, wouldn’t you agree?
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Well, this went just fine. But later on, David saw a beautiful woman, and committed adultery with her. Then, to cover his shame, David had her husband killed. Well, news of this spread throughout Israel, bringing even more shame on David.
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The point is, that whatever good David did to Mephibosheth was more than cancelled out by the evil he later did to Bathsheba’s husband by having him murdered. And so it is with so much of today’s socialism and humanitarianism.
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We want to do some kindness to one group of people, but then we oppress somebody else.
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For instance, the government decides to give money to poor people. But in the end, the poor people lose their desire to work, since they can just stay home and collect free money and food. What those poor people really needed was a job, by which they could have earned a living by honest labor. And so, our socialism became a bigger snare than if we merely provided jobs for the poor.
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King David & Bathsheba Bathing – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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PETER’S HUMANITARIANISM
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The Apostle, Peter, likewise blundered into an act of humanitarianism, when he scolded Jesus for wanting to give His life upon the Cross. And thankfully, Jesus didn’t listen to Peter’s “well-meaning” advice!
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But instead of commending Peter, Jesus rebuked Peter… “But He (Jesus) 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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Satan was actually the force behind Peter’s humanitarian effort.
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Get Thee Behind Me, Satan by j tissot brooklyn museum & wikipedia us public domain
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PAUL, OUR ROLE-MODEL
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The Apostle, Paul was given to be an earthly role-model. Oh yes, Jesus is our divine role-model. But God thought it necessary to provide another lessor example of what He expects out of us.
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Listen to Paul’s exhortation for us to do what we see that he did… “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9
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And so, as we examine the life of Paul, we can get a clearer picture of what the Christian life is all about.
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But notice, that when Paul received his commission from God, he did not begin some earthly, humanitarian ministry. Paul did not begin collecting donations for the hungry, or the naked, or those in prison. No, Paul instead, began to preach Salvation to lost souls. He began to raise up churches.
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Oh yes, he did receive donations for some of the poorer churches. But this humanitarianism was restricted to the confines of the churches. And it received only a brief mention in his epistles. But he certainly did not make it into some ongoing ministry, as we see happening today! Salvation of souls, and his own personal heart-purification were at the very top of Paul’s list of everyday priorities.
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St Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) Wikipedia US public domain
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SATAN’S GREATEST FEAR
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The one thing that Satan fears, more than any other thing, is to see people begin to open their Bibles, with the intent of getting to know Jesus.
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Listen… “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3
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Satan is not so bothered by humanitarianism. As a matter of fact, he likes humanitarianism! It just gives his evil kingdom a nice glossy outward shine!
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And so, it is Satan’s purpose to derail any person from seeking that true saving knowledge of God, which converts hearts and transforms lives into the likeness of Jesus. And whatever possible way he can derail a Christian from seeking that true saving knowledge of Christ, that is his goal.
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Christian and Apollyon – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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ANTICHRIST WORLD
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And so, in this last few centuries, Satan has attacked the very nations which once embraced the Christian Reformation, by turning this world into a place with many glittering attractions.
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Yes, this present world is full of many interesting pleasures and pursuits, enough to keep a person busy for a lifetime!
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There are places to go, things to see, books to study, high-tech devices to immerse one’s self in, houses to buy, gardens to grow, careers to pursue, clubs to join, sports-teams to cheer for, things to buy, games to play, politics to follow, and myriad more diversions, to keep lost souls busy, busy, busy, until they go down to their graves in a hopelessly lost condition!
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Castle of Disney Wikipedia Public dom
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A PLAN JUST FOR YOU!
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And Satan has a diversionary attack-plan just tailor-made for each and every man, woman, and child, born into his kingdom of the world. Maybe for one person, he can drown them in alcohol and drugs. Another person, he can mesmerize by television watching. Another person he can immerse in career-pursuits. Still another Satan can divert into politics. This is what today’s world is all about! These, and many more diversions and deceptions, are the way that “the god of this world” will attempts to keep from seeking after a saving knowledge of God.
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And there are many who must be diverted into humanitarianism.
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Chess-game – checkmate – by Friedriech Moritz August Retzsch – Wikigallery.org – Public domain
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HUMANITARIANISM GLORIFIED
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And let’s face it, Satan really tries to glorify humanitarianism! Just look at all the television shows, which over the last fifty years have glorified humanitarianism! Shows about firemen. Shows about policemen, shows about doctors, shows about so many aspects of this world. Yes, television has been used by “the god of this world”, to glorify his kingdom! Satan can take any aspect of this selfish world, and by use of swelling strains of music, colorful lighting, charismatic actors, and a sympathetic story-line, can make even the most selfish people, places and things appear wonderful, even a bit magical!
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And so, we must not be so naive! We need to become “wise as serpents (yet harmless as doves)”, in seeing through the tinsel-like facade of Satan’s many deceptions!
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NOT TO JUDGE INDIVIDUAL HEARTS
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Now every child of God knows that we cannot be pointing the finger at the world, for whatever they do. That’s not our job. And neither do we know what is the source of motivation of the heart, that makes certain people do this or that. No, our job is merely to preach the Gospel, and let the world take care of their own.
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Listen to Jesus as He spoke to His disciples… “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19
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The world loves his own, as this above verse reveals. The world takes care of worldly needs. Our commission is to spread the Good News of Salvation.
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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama
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THE UPWARD PATHWAY
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The Bible speaks of a highway called, “The Way of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8). This spiritual pathway leads out of this world, and onward and upward to God’s Celestial City, of everlasting life.
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All are invited and encouraged to be a spiritual sojourn out of this world, along this gently ascending highway of holiness. And though our mortal bodies must remain in this world for a few more years, yet our hearts may enjoy a place in heaven right now!
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But we must choose which world we will live for. We can’t have both worlds. We must choose one world or the other!
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Oh yes, the False Prophet, Satan has many counterfeit gospels which offer both worlds. But the one true Gospel is called the Narrow Way! Because only those who forsake this world, with all its glittering tinsel-like treasures and pleasures can enter in through that Narrow Gate, and begin their trek onward and upward.
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Oh yes, we must still work and provide for the needs and comfort and contentment of our family. But our hearts will nevertheless be focused upon the glorious Prize which awaits all those who overcome the world!
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A NEW HEART
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This article has tried to impress the importance of receiving a new heart. And as already stated, to engage in “good works”, without receiving an entirely new heart is futile…
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Listen… “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing!” 1st Corinthians 13:3
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Without true love, good works such as humanitarianism are meaningless. Love, true agape love is the sole possession of God. And God only gives the gift of true agape love to those who become born again: who receive “a new heart”…
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Listen again… “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26, 27
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So here above, we see that we must receive a new heart. And this happens when we become, “born again”.
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Paul Converted – www.thebiblerevival.com
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THE MIND: BATTLEFIELD OF THE SOUL
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There is a battle going on, between the Christ and Satan! But where is this battle occurring? In the mind! And in the treasure-chest of the mind, “the heart”!
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Oh yes, the entire world is Satan’s kingdom. And the deceptions are literally everywhere in this world! But the conflict between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist goes on in the mind!
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EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW
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It appears that the entire human race is on a journey.
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Listen to this prophecy, concerning the Day of Judgment… “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:10, 11
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So as this above verse reveals, every human who ever lived will bow before Jehovah God, admitting that we were wrong, and that God was right.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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TIME IS SHORT
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For those who have been walking the upward pathway of truth, it is needless to mention that time is short. But none of us know exactly how little time is left. Perhaps in years past, more time could have been devoted to various humanitarian ministries, plus other Christian endeavors.
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But the message of the prophet, Habakkuk is to “RUN!” And the message of Matthew 24:15-22 is to “FLEE!” God is not merely warning us, while at the same time, giving us a wink. No, God is dead serious! We are at the time when all earthly things are about to be burned up.
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Our personal Salvation is of utmost priority! To waste precious time is not an option! We must be fully engaged in the purification of the heart, even as Christ is pure! Bible study, plus 24/7/365 prayer and contemplation of God’s Word is an absolute necessity!
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May the Lord give us mercy and grace to be watchful unto prayer, and to hurry into the doors of mercy which are about to close!
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ABOVE PICTURE – winter Constellations – Woman of Revelation 12 (Ursa Major) 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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THE END
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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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vermont night stargazing panorama 2009 wikipedia share-alike lic.
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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 – Wikipedia – 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 these people 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 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 STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations with Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & The 12-Star Crown (aka: Corona Borealis) & The Cross-Scepter (aka: Ophiochus & Serpens) & Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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 Chur
ch (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 – winter constellations – Orion & Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Pleiades, etc…) seen at Eagle Ridge – Signs Of Heaven.org – Not for profit use!once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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 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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Floodwaters of the False Prophet: Socialism/Humanitarianism
By admin On February 16th, 2015.
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FLOODWATERS OF THE FALSE PROPHET:SOCIALISM/HUMANITARIANISM
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“And there appeared another wonder in heaven;
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and behold a great red dragon,
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And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,
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that she might fly into the wilderness…
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And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman…”
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Revelation 12:3, 14, 15
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Flood-waters of the False Prophet,
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Part 2: Socialism/Humanitarianism
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Have you noticed, that the television always advertises some humanitarian message throughout the day? It seems as though, about once every hour, you can see and hear some humanitarian plea from the television.
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But do you ever hear the television make an appeal for the purification of the heart? Do you ever hear some government sponsored ad saying, “The soul is a terrible thing to waste”?
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Of course we don’t! That’s because humanity has little concern for the soul! Oh yes, they care about the hungry! And they care about the physically ill. And about sending clothes to the naked. But do they care about the multitudes of humans who are starving for the bread of life? Or in need of spiritual healing? Or in the prison-house of sin and Satan? Of course you don’t!
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And so, why is the world so concerned about food and medicine, and other needy issues, and yet has absolutely no concern for the starving souls in need of Salvation?
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Well, that question will be addressed in this rather lengthy article. So please read along, and gain some heavenly bread which will satisfy the hungering soul….
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WORKS OF SATAN
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It is not a very enviable task to criticize and condemn an ideology which appears so good on the surface, as humanitarianism does. And this article by no means is condemning any individual, since there may be some who are being led by the Lord, to do what they do.
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But humanitarianism is not such an innocent ideology, as it seems to be! And while the Bible forbids us from judging the heart of any individual, Christian or non-Christian, it sometimes becomes necessary to expose the works of the Devil.
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And the fact is, Satan has been our unseen foe, always lurking in the shadows, as the Master Puppeteer: controlling his minions to do his every bidding, as he stealthily works his woe upon the inhabitants of the world, through such ideologies as humanitarianism.
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SATAN’S ARSENAL
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You see, Satan persecuted God’s people for many long centuries, via both the secular world, and also through the apostate churches. During the Dark Ages, violence and imprisonment were the order of the day, for those who refused to honor Satan’s government.
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But in these last few centuries, Satan had raised up a new foe: atheism. And along with atheism, came a number of ideologies and false sciences: evolution, socialism, psychiatry, psychology, along with materialism, sexual immorality, and the ideology to be explored today: hum
anitarianism.
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These ideologies had become the new battlefront in Satan’s war against the truth. And this article will lightly explore just how and why humanitarianism became such a formidable weapon against Christianity.
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And as already stated, we cannot judge the hearts of any individual, since God may be working in the hearts of many who are involved in these so-called sciences, secretly preparing them for Salvation.
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charles darwin by John Collier (artist) www.wikigallery.com public domain
Karl Marx – Wikipedia – public domain
Sigmund Freud LIFE wikipedia US public domain
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GREATEST LIE MINGLED WITH TRUTH
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But there is a certain amount of truth to Satan’s false ideologies. And because there are so many truths mingled into these “sciences”, it becomes much more difficult for the casual observer to unravel these clever lies of the Devil. After all, poison only fools the varmint, when it is mingled with 90% oatmeal. And likewise, Satan’s lies are only effective when they are combined with truth.
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And also, Satan has greatly “covered his own tracks”, so that most people do not even believe there exists such evil principalities as the Devil, in the world.
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And Satan always cloaks his lies with a veneer of goodness. Satan knows how easy it is to fool the general populace by merely adding some sugar-coating to his deceptions. And so this False Prophet has a humanitarian appeal to it. Food baskets, welfare programs, and many other humanitarian programs gives this False Prophet an air of goodness.
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But the Bible warns that false prophets will… “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:5
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Yes, the Bible commands us to turn away from those who have a “form of godliness”, but have no connection with Heaven!
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Oatmeal copyrighted but permissable for use wikimedia commons
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But before we go into this discussion, let’s introduce the host for this particular article: the Revelation 12 Dragon Constellation, and his wave of water which he spews out after the Revelation 12 Woman Constellation…
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WHAT DOES THE WATER REPRESENT?
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“When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN made me afraid. The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.
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So this above passage equates flood waters with the sorrows of Hell, with ungodly men, and with waves of death. And so then, by comparing Scriptures dealing with flood waters, we begin to see just what this Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from.
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Listen to Revelation, Chapter 12… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:15.
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As you can see in this sketch to the right, this woman is fleeing from the water which the Dragon (or, serpent) is spewing, exactly as it says in Revelation 12. And so, by looking at various related Scriptures, we begin to understand just what this wave of water represents. This Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from ‘waves of death’, from ‘sorrows of Hell’, and from ‘floods of ungodly men’, as stated in Psalm 18:4.
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DRAGON’S WAVE OF WATER
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In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation up in the night sky does not. But God has faithfully created this wave of water, in such a way, as to illustrate this same concept of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Because this wave of water is basically comprised of ten stars.
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The main body of the wave has seven stars (#’s 1 thru 7, in the sketch), and the tip of the crest of the wave has the other three stars, (#’s 8, 9, 10).
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So in this wave, we see the same 7/10 numbering found in the Revelation description of the heads/horns/crowns of the Dragon.
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And this gives us a great clue, as to where in the Bible we should look, to find out the riddle as to just what or who do these 7 heads, 10 crowns, and 7 horns represent. Because, the Bible speaks very much about floods and waters as being associated with Satan (the Dragon).
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Listen again… “When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN made me afraid. The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.
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ATHEISM AND THE NUMBER “6”
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And so, without going into a lengthy discussion, let’s just say that of all the 7 heads of Antichrist, the head which most closely aligns with atheism would logically be the 6th head. And why the 6th head? The Book of Revelation, Chapter 13 warns that the Antichrist Beast has a number of 666. And it describes this number as bei
ng the “number of a man”. The number “6” in Scripture has to do with “Man”. It is a number which reminds of the 6th Day of Creation; the day that Man was created. Man was created on the 6th day. And so, Mankind is very much connected with the number “6”
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And since atheism is the religion which holds Mankind as the supreme ruler of Earth, then the number “6”, being the number of Man, seems to correspond to the 6th head of Antichrist, very well.
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Now these ideas may not be “written in stone”, as they say. And nothing hinges upon, nor falls apart, with or without these theories. But sufficed to say, there is strong evidence that these concepts have biblical support.
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And so, this 6th star in the Revelation 12 Dragon’s wave of water, would correspond to the 6th head of the Antichrist Beast. And as already said, “waves” in Scripture, represent the many false ideologies which Satan has flooded the world with, throughout time. So that is why Signs Of Heaven website believes that atheism was the 6th head of Antichrist.
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But if the reader wishes to explore these things in more depth, please go to “Floodwaters of Satan-Introduction”.
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SOCIALISM/HUMANITARIANISM
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A VERY EVIL IDEOLOGY
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Now, as already stated, it is not a very enviable task to criticize and condemn an ideology which 
appears so good on the surface, as humanitarianism does.
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But the fact is, it is perhaps the most evil of all ideologies, in one respect.
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And just why is it so evil?
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Well, when some evil person wishes to poison another person, do they merely hand that person a bottle of poison? Don’t they rather put the poison into something that looks harmless, even good?
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And since Satan is a super-intellect, why do we suppose him incapable of figuring such cunningly subtle deceptions?
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Poison – Snow White Poisoned Apple – by Gutenberg Press for Wikimedia – Public Domain
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NOT TO BE SIMPLE-MINDED
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“A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3
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This above verse is reminiscent of a character, named, “Ignorance”, from Bunyan’s great book, Pilgrim’s Progress. And this simple-minded fellow ventured onward into places, “where angels fear to tread”, as the saying goes!
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But Jesus exhorts us not to be simple-minded, by saying… “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
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Yes, this world is full of wolves in sheep’s clothing, as they say! This is a very deceptive world, because the Devil is very deceptive. And so, we just cannot be like that simple-mind character, Ignorance!
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But the Apostle, Paul, reveals this following concept… “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2nd Corinthians 2:11
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Yes, those who are well-versed in Scripture are not so easily fooled by all the countless deceptions in this world! We realize that this world has been given into his hand for now!
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Pilgrim’s Progress – Converse with Ignorance – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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PARADISE LOST
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What people must realize and 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-domain1.jpg
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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. At that point, Mankind had traded God away for a new Master…“the god of this world“, the Devil. Now at that momen
t, 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. 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. And through his own “Workers of Iniquity”, Lucifer worked tirelessly to create his kingdom, the mighty Babylon. 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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Gustave Dore – Paradise Lost illustration – Lucifer becomes Satan – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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LUCIFER: THE gOD OF THIS WORLD
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Yes, most people just don’t realize that this world is the Devil’s world, as is written… “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom 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 4:3, 4
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As this above passage reveals, this world has been handed over to Lucifer, the fallen angel, calling him, “the god of this world”! And now, as he fulfills his role as “Satan” and as the “Devil”, he moves stealthfully and imperceptibly in the shadows, working his woes and deceptions upon this unsuspecting world!
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And one of those deceptions is “socialism/humanitarianism”. Yes, socialism/humanitarianism gives a nice glossy sheen to this, the Devil’s otherwise horrible world of death and destruction! And this is why socialism/humanitarianism is perhaps the greatest evil of all!
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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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A WORLD OF EVIL
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“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19
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This above verse from 1st John reveals a huge concept! It informs us that evil is literally everywhere in this world! Just think about all the hideous atrocities which are being committed around the world each and every day!
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Just consider the countless cruel and heartless deeds which go on behind closed doors around the world! And all the acts of selfishness and human disregard! All the foolish pride! And all the self-seeking which is literally dripping from every nook and crevice in this miserably lost and hopeless world!
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Yes, even though we may be experiencing peace and prosperity in our own little sphere, the world all around us is literally teeming with wickedness, selfishness, and deception and destruction of every type!
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Listen again to John… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19
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Apotheosis of War – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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EASILY FOOLED!
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But then, so as to cover all this up (as much as possible), Satan raises up such counterfeit ideologies as socialism and humanitarianism.
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And like little children being given a piece of candy by the proverbial boogie-man kidnapper, we naively fawn over these deceptive ideologies, as if they are a wonderful thing!
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But Satan is that great kidnapper boogie-man, who desires to steal away our hearts and imprison our souls, forever! And what is his candy? Humanitarianism (and other seemingly good and innocent things too!)
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A QUICK LOOK AT CHURCH HISTORY
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But it might be a good idea to take a glance at history, to get an overview of how the Devil has been deceiving and persecuting God’s people through the last two millenniums.
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There are two major divisions of Church history: the First Beast of Revelation, Chapter 13, and the Second Beast of Revelation, Chapter 13.
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Now, just how do we arrive at this conclusion that these two beasts were the two divisions? One major reason is that the nature of these two beasts seems to correspond to the modus-operandi (the methodology) of Satan’s persecution of the Church. The First Beast used physical persecution against God’s people, while the Second Beast has come as a False Prophet.
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Let’s glance at each beast for a moment…
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Torture devices – The Wheel – Calas Chapbook – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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RISE OF THE FIRST BEAST
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“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the se
a, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy…And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:1, 3
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The First Beast was already in place when Christ was born into the world. Rome was the 4th head of this Beast. (Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia were the 1st three heads, having already fulfilled their commission in Old Testament times).
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Yes, Rome began persecuting Christians almost immediately after the Cross. And this persecution continued until the 4th Century, when Rome suddenly had a complete change of heart, now embracing Christianity!
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But this new friendship resulted in the rise of apostate churches which compromised the truth of the Bible by the addition of many false doctrines and paganism, disguised by a thin coating of Christianity.
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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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CHURCH PERSECUTES GOD’S PEOPLE
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And over the next centuries there began to be a separation between God’s faithful Christians, and this false religious system. God’s people saw through the deception by these false churches. And eventually, the apostate church began persecuting God’s people, by banishment, civil penalties, torture, and death.
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Oh yes, this was all progressive and gradual. But more and more this apostate religious system became the Antichrist Beast, using the civil governments of Europe to do its “dirty-work”.
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Waldensians hunted by the armies of Rome – Courtesy Gutenberg.org – Public Domain.
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THE REFORMATION
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Now, as the false doctrines and the physical persecution intensified against God’s people, God eventually raised up faithful men to counter the apostasy. Such men as John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, and many others, became the voice of God, and the champions for His persecuted people against this tyrant Antichrist Beast.
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And so, the torture chambers, and the flames-of death-at-the-stake, became the punishment for any Christian who refused to bow down to the authority of the apostate churches of Europe. And Satan attempted to burn the Bible completely out of existence!
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But faithful men, women, and children secretly committed the verses of this much-hated Book to their memory!
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And armed with the Bible in their heart, they carefully ventured out through the land, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who might be receptive to hear those life-giving words of Jesus!
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Luther – 95 Theses – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
Burning at the Stake – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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GUTENBERG’S PRESS
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“…the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Revelation 13:14
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Now this physical persecution against God’s people continued for some centuries. But when the prophetic time-clock had finally expired, God gave the printing-press to the world! And as a result, Bibles began to be churned out by the thousands!
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The Bible was that sword which gave the First Beast his deadly wound!
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And now, for the first time, Europeans could read for themselves, the truths which had been suppressed by those evil churches for so many centuries.
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Caxton Showing the First Specimen of His Printing to King Edward IV at the Almonry, Westminster wikipedia US public domain
Girl with a Bible – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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HOPE IN THE NEW WORLD
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At about this time, many pilgrims began to flock to the New World, in hopes of erasing the memory of the misery and blood-baths which Satan had brought against so many Europeans, for so many centuries! Yes, America was a land rich in natural resources and full of promise and hope for a new life, free from the tyranny of that First-Beast religious system of the Old World!
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And so, many began to flock to the New World, in hopes of escaping the memory of the misery and blood-baths which Satan had brought against so many Europeans, for so many centuries!
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Truly, America was a land rich in natural resources and full of promise and hope for a new life, free from the tyranny of that beast-like religious system of the Old World!
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Mayflower Harbor by William Halsall 1882 wikipedia US public domain
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RISE OF THE SECOND BEAST
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Now, even though Satan’s First Beast had received its “deadly wound by a sword”, via the “sword of the Spirit, the Word of God”, this unrelenting and tireless foe was not ready to give up! No, Satan still had two heads of his Antichrist Beast, which were yet to rise up. Yes, this Antichrist Beast had seven heads, and the 5th head had just received its deadly wound by Gutenberg’s printing press, which filled the Old World with innumerable Bibles!
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And so, just like a deadly virus, this First Beast mutated and morphed into another beast, an even more deadly one than the first! This Second Beast was The False Prophet, having two horns like a lamb, but speaking as a dragon! And these two horns were actually the 6th and 7th heads of the First Beast!
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But the apostate church-system of Europe over the centuries, had earned itself such a bloody reputation, Satan had to re-invent himself, so-to-speak! Yes, Satan needed to put a fresh face on his war-machine. And so, he raised up this False Prophet to further deceive the world. And this beast was a “kinder and gentler beast”!
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SATAN’S NEW BATTLEFRONT
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Yes, little did those pilgrims understand, that this new frontier was now to become Satan’s new battlefront, to continue his war against Heaven. He and his unseen minions had also “packed their suitcases” so to speak, and moved across the waters to this young and brash society, which cared little for orthodoxy and tradition.
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But now Satan needed to put a fresh face on his new dispensation, and America the beautiful was just the right place to do that! God blessed America, giving it a constitution somewhat similar to God’s government: a nation dedicated to freedom of religious and political speech. America had a constitution and organization with biblical root and foundation. It was, no doubt, just the kind of challenge that Satan loves!
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First Thanksgiving_brascome wikipedia public domain
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A HORSE, A VAIN THING FOR SAFETY!
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And there is a principle which the early pilgrim’s did not fully understand. These refugees to the New World did not realize that a person cannot escape sin, by his own two legs!
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The Bible says… “An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength…The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” Proverbs 33:17 & 21:31
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As these above two verses reveal, we just cannot escape sin and danger by our own strength! Safety is of the Lord.
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And so, these pilgrims were escaping from one type of evil, only to be sailing into another form of evil! As the saying goes, they were merely, “jumping from the fry pan, into the fire!”
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Oh yes, they were escaping famine, scarcity and persecution! But what they could not have known, was that they were seeking a place of refuge, which would eventually immerse their descendants into the same miry opulence, excess, and lust, which ultimately led to the destruction of S0D0M & G0M0RRAH!
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Time – New York City Night-lights – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 Generic License
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THE AGE OF PROSPERITY
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The persecution of the Dark Ages, was a long history of deprivation: deprivation of food and material goods, of Bibles, of religious liberty, and of political freedom.
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But when Satan completely changed his strategy of warfare, no longer were the Christian nations to suffer want and deprivation.
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No, as long as the pendulum was going to swing in a different direction, the Devil was going to make sure it would swing way too far in the opposite direction!
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New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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2nd BEAST RISES FROM THE EARTH
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According to Revelation 13, this Second Beast was to rise up from the earth. And the things of this earth, materialism, and the sins of the flesh, became the power and earthy lusts which this False Prophet Beast was all about! Yes, Satan flooded the world with every conceivable invention, labor-saving device, and earthly pleasure!
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And just like the well-known laboratory experiment, in which mice are over-fed until they explode, so too, Satan would now destroy Christianity by giving her more than the heart could wish!
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And so now, the western nations were being flooded with all the pleasures and pursuits the human heart could ever desire!
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The industrial age, followed by the high-tech age, made the Protestant nations rich, beyond anything ever seen in history past!
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Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.
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THE RISE OF ATHEISM & SECULARISM
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Now, the 5th head of the Beast was the idea that the “Church” was the supreme Authority in the world. But this 5th head was merely one head of the Beast!
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You see, at the same time that the 5th head of Antichrist received its deadly w
ound by God’s sword, the Bible, Satan was already preparing the 6th head to rise up: humanism. Yes, humanism, or secularism, or atheism, or communitarianism, or whatever other name one wants to call it, it was to be the next great deception to enter onto the world stage.
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The 5th head was the idea that the “Church” was the supreme authority. But Atheism was, and is the idea that humans are the supreme beings of the universe. No God! No Heaven! Only people!
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But atheism by itself, is such a hopeless and bleak ideology, since it offers nothing in the way of hope or redemption to mankind! Only survival of the fittest, and everyone goes back to the earth…forever!
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Oh yes, when we are young, atheism leads us to believe that we can, “sin till the cows come home”, so to speak. In other words, with no God watching, then whatever we can get away with, is “fair-game”, as they say! That idea is very appealing to fallen sinful humans: sinning with no accountability to a God!
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charles darwin by John Collier (artist) www.wikigallery.com public domain
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AN OLD FAMILIAR FIEND!
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But as an atheist grows older, life gets more and more hopeless. Death becomes a 
familiar fiend, always lurking in the shadows, peering around every corner, waiting for you and for me! Old age brings aches and pains and sickness and ultimately death! That’s it!
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And so, atheism may start out as a nice idea. But more and more, as we grow older, it becomes our worst enemy, offering only an eternity of blackness and nothingness!
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The Bible says concerning humanity… “through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:15.
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Yes, even though we refuse to admit it, the multitudes of humanity are prisoners through our fear of death!
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And death haunts any and every sensitive, intelligent, thinking person every single day of his or her adult life!
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Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia US Public Domain.jpg
Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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THE RISE OF HUMANISM
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And so, because atheism (humanism) is such a bleak and hopeless ideology, Satan probably decided that he must sugar-coat it with other, more appealing philosophies.
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And so, by the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Satan was already bringing into this 6th head of Antichrist, some more satellite ideologies: evolution, sciences, psychiatry, psychology, as well as secular books on science, romance, fictional tales, and every other intriguing subject.
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And Satan raised up heroes of those causes: Darwin, Freud, Marx, Einstein, Twain, Michener, Steinbeck, and countless other such, “knights in shining armor”, to champion each of these causes!
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Some authors, like Darwin, gave credence to humanism (atheism), by the so-called “theory of evolution”. But other authors wrote books which sympathized with the down-trodden, 
giving socialism a foothold in the western nations. Still many other authors furthered America’s progressive downward march away from Christianity, into secularism, as their books promoted, “a form of godliness”, giving a certain charm to the life of a secularist. Still other authors promoted the ideology of psychiatry.
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In other words, Satan filled up this new Antichrist kingdom, tagged as “humanism”, with no shortage of people and things to captivate the minds of men, women, and children! Yes, “the god of this world” provided every conceivable art, entertainment, science, role-model, and ambitious pursuit that an atheist could ever possibly desire!
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Mark Twain – 1909 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Charles Darwin – by John Collier (artist) – www.wikigallery.com – Public Domain
John Steinbeck – 1962 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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IMAGE THAT SPEAKS
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“And he 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 imag
e of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15
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But Satan was not so content with the written word. Oh yes, the printing press worked well his purposes, for the while.
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But he had a far more powerful medium waiting in the wings! And at the appropriate hour, he launched his ultimate mind-control devices: television, radio, and eventually Internet.
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The above verse from Revelation speaks about a time when Satan would come as the Second Beast of Revelation: the False Prophet. And working through this False Prophet Beast, Satan would cause the world to make unto themselves an image to the first Beast. And he had power to give life to this image, so that the image could speak.
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Now throughout time there ha
s never been such an image that could speak. But only in this day and age is that possible (see “Television: And The Image That Speaks”).
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Listen again to Revelation… “And he 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 with the aid of these new high-tech weapons, he would engage in an assault unlike any other deception ever implemented upon Mankind. Along with the various “sciences” and ideologies, Satan has implemented music and entertainment, via these high-tech devices, as his chosen means to lead the peoples of the world into a downward spiral, and into greater spiritual darkness.
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And though it might be argued that these inventions have helped Mankind in various ways, nevertheless, they have been greatly used to decay the morality of the world, and indoctrinate Mankind into false ideologies, and to create a general prejudice against the Bible.
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While Satan’s methods have changed from time to time, nevertheless he has always been at war against the Bible at any time in history. And being the “god of this world”, Satan works through anyone who is not fully consecrated to God.
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WHAT IS SOCIALISM/HUMANITARIANISM?
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Now, among the other various satellite ideologies which surround atheism (humanism) is “socialism/humanitarianism”. It is the idea that humans are going to work collectively to relieve the sufferings and supply the basic requirements of needy humans by giving away money, food, clothes, and services.
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Humanitarianism can also be carried on by government, private groups or even by individuals. And though we must never judge any human heart, this tide of humanitarianism was not from the God of Heaven!
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Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License
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THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN WICKEDNESS
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The great problem with socialism (humanitarianism) is, just why in the world would fallen, unconverted humans even care about helping others?
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The Bible reveals… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19
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Yes, in the most concise language possible, the Lord reveals one of the greatest truths in all of creation: that this entire world lies in wickedness!
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New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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THE HUMAN HEART TOTALLY DEPRAVED
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Yes, the whole world is immersed in its own evil and sin! Everywhere we look
, sin exists. Selfishness, hate, racism, pride, lust, greed, revenge, immorality, impatience, indifference, and innumerable other sinful traits are found in every corner and crevice of this world-in-rebellion!
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And not only is this world immersed in wickedness, but also the individual human heart (mind) is immersed in wickedness… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
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As this above verse reveals, the human mind is likewise a, “world of evil”! And even though we humans have a, “form of godliness”, there lies a bottomless pit of evil within the human heart of each and every one of us!
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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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PAUL’S CONFESSION
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That greatest of all apostles, Paul, realized that he was merely a horrible wretched sinner, saved by grace!
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Listen… “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:18, 19
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This above confession by Paul shows that he realized this truth about the human heart; about his own heart! He knew that only the grace of God abiding in his heart (his mind) could be considered a good thing. But without that abiding grace, Paul knew that he would be just as fallen and wicked as the most evil human on earth!
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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – public domain
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PALLIATING THE GUILT-RIDDEN SOUL
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So what’s the reason for so much humanitarianism, today?
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Well, there are many in the western societies who have been surrounded and heavily influenced by our Christian culture. Yes, the Christian Reformation made an indelible mark on the western nations! Love for all mankind is “a pretty tough act to follow”, as the saying goes!
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But because we do not wish to follow Jesus, with all our heart and soul, we will often attempt to find a suitable substitute, in the form of humanitarianism. And so, in addition to weekly church-attendance, we may volunteer for some humanitarian project, hoping to palliate our guilt-ridden conscience.
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(Oh yes, God can and does lead humans to do some act of kindness, just as he led wicked men in the Bible to some good and merciful deed, at times. But that does not by any means save a person or even make that person into a good person.)
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The Bread Line’ – by George Benjamin Luks, – Dayton Art Institute – Wikimedia -US Public Domain
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THE RICH YOUNG MAN
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This desire to palliate one’s own guilt-ridden conscience is well-illustrated in the account of the Rich Young Man, in which a young man ran up to Jesus, and cried out… “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
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Here was an example of trying to earn Heaven, by doing some humanitarian “good deed”. But Jesus saw through this young man’s vain attempt… “Jesus said unto him…’go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:21, 22
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And like that rich young man, there are many today, who love this present world, and don’t really want to ‘forsake all’ and follow Jesus (see Luke 14:33). And so, there begins to be an attempt to raise up some ministry, as a substitute for dying-with-Jesus!
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“Maybe, just maybe, I can do some good works, thereby hanging on to the world with all its pleasures and pursuits!” Sadly, this is the inward thought of so many church-attendees, in this exciting age we are now in!
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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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To continue reading this article, click here… “Floodwaters of the False Prophet: Socialism/Humanitarianism (Continued)”
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The Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman Constellation: What is the Message of Habakkuk?
By admin On December 6th, 2014.
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The Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman Constellation:
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The Fearful Message of Habakkuk
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“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower,
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and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
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And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
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For the vision is yet for an appointed time,
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but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
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though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come,
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it will not tarry.”
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Habakkuk 2:1-3
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PICTURE – Constellation- Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 (Not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture)
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HABAKKUK: BOOK OF ALLEGORIES
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God foretells us that Book of Habakkuk will unscramble itself in these last days. That’s right! God wrote the Book of Habakkuk in allegories. And in the day that Habakkuk’s allegories unscramble themselves, and begin to speak, the Reader is counseled to “RUN!”
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Listen… “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that 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 2:2, 3
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And so, the questions to be answered are these: “Is Habakkuk’s vision beginning to speak? Is it time to run? And just where in the world do we run?”
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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But before we begin to answer these questions, let’s introduce the Host for this article. Actually, it is a HostESS to be introduced: The Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman Constellation…
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TO WHERE DOES SHE FLEE?
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WOMAN ROTATES THROUGH THE SEASONS…
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This constellation is made of the Big Dipper, also called the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major ). However, the ancient pagan cultures did not see this constellation as God intended it to be seen. It is actually a headless woman in childbirth. This is seen in springtime. It is seen in the northern skies.
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But as the seasons progress, this travailing woman flips upside down, now appearing as a woman with upraised arms like eagle wings who is running (eventually flying, as shown in sketch on right) into the wilderness (westward). The single star representing her birth-child (Christ) now becomes her head (“Christ is the head of the church.” Ephesians 5:23
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The 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is easy to see with its very bright 7 stars. But the Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) must be seen on a dark starry night, away from city lights.
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These are star charts from Wikipedia, with sketches of the Woman added.
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WHO IS SHE FLEEING FROM?
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“…and the dragon stood before the woman…for to devour her child as soon as it was born…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…” Revelation 12:5, 6
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Now by winter, this woman has changed into a “fleeing” woman. And if you will go out into the country away from the city lights, you might just see that her upraised arms begin to appear as wings. And she appears to be running, and eventually flying.
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In this heavenly scenario, this woman is fleeing from the ‘Dragon’ Constellation. However, “fleeing” is mentioned many times in Scripture. It may refer to fleeing from apostate shepherds (John 10:5), brethren or apostate congregations (Psalm 26:5). Or fleeing from sin and (1st Cor. 6:18). Or from enemies.
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It is likewise speaking of fleeing to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-17). And as you can see, the Dragon is spewing water out of his mouth. And it is amazing that this water is always going in the direction of the woman. The water stands for false doctrines. False brethren. Persecutions and temptations. See the article on the Dragon for further insight. Click here…”The Dragon”.
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Picture right: Revelation 12 Dragon
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So maybe the best thing to do, is to look at this allegorical Book of Habakkuk from a somewhat analytical vantage point.
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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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THE PROBLEM:
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Now the problem of Habakkuk is that he is totally frustrated and alarmed, as he beholds the wicked coming in like a flood! Yes, Habakkuk is greatly disturbed, because he sees a vision of God raising up the Chaldeans, to completely surround God’s Chosen People, causing them to lose their sense of good judgment.
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Listen… “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth” Habakkuk 1:1-4
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Yes, this is truly a sad situation for God’s people.
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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BUT GOD RAISED THEM UP!
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But this terrible situation is only made that much more grievous because it is God Himself who raised these pagans up!
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Listen… “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.” Habakkuk 1:6
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So Habakkuk is crying out to God, because he doesn’t understand why God has raised up that wicked nation to encompass the righteous, causing wrong judgment to prevail among God’s people.
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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THE SOLUTION
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So in Chapter 2, The Lord reveals the answer to this dilemma.
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Listen… “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 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 2:1-3
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So Habakkuk here seems to be trembling, as he watches and waits for God to answer him. And the Lord gives the solution to Habakkuk’s dilemma. “RUN!”, says the Lord.
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But this command to “RUN!” is only given when an individual reader begins to hear Habakkuk’s vision beginning to speak… “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie” Habakkuk 2:3
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And though that vision seems to tarry, but at the end it will speak and not lie! And it will only speak at the appointed time! And then, the reader of Habakkuk must run!
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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THE SAD CONDITION OF GOD’S PEOPLE:
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In somewhat allegorical language, God then begins to present the sad condition of the Church. Herein is described the apostasy within God’s house.
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Listen… “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by His (Christ’s) faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
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Pride has entered in to God’s house! Yet there are still those who continue to live by Christ’s faith! “the just shall live by His faith.”
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Yes, God has a faithful remnant within the Church. And this is the true Church of which God promises, “The gates of Hell shall not prevail” against it! (Matthew 16:18)
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And yet, Chapter 2 describes this sad condition in the apostate churches: whether pope, prelate, or parishioner, or even you or even me; this speaks of spiritual drunkenness, pride, covetousness, and a greed as big as Hell, which resides in those of us who are willing to trade our soul for the whole world, or any little part thereof (v.5)!
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As the reader can see in this not-so-funny cartoon, is a typical Christian, all caught up in the cares and pleasures of this life, not realizing that we have, “lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; (we) have nourished (our) hearts, as in a day of slaughter!” James 5:5
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MY PROUD, FOOLISH HEART!
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“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by His (Christ’s) faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
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This above verse reveals what the prophet, Habakkuk realized what was the motivation of his own foolish complaint to God: FOOLISH HUMAN PRIDE! And this realization is what we all must be given, in order for the vision of Habakkuk to begin speaking to any one of us!
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And any supposed child of God must receive the chastening of God, which will humble our proud and stubborn heart, before we can ever truly understand what any portion of the Bible is truly saying! So many of us are puffed up, by our supposed knowledge of God’s Word.
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And before I can ever receive this fearful message of Habakkuk, God must mercifully break down these iron walls of human pride, which surround and imprison me! Then and only then, can I begin to live by Christ’s faith, instead of my own self-confident knowledge!
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SATAN, THE KING OF BABYLON
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The Prophecy of Habakkuk concerns “Chaldeans”, which was another name for “Babylonians”.
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And so, Habakkuk Chapters 1 & 2 also seems to allude to the King of Babylon, who is in truth, none other than Satan.
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This concept is revealed in the Prophecy of Isaiah… “…against the king of Babylon, and say…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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Oh no, Habakkuk doesn’t come right out and say this fact about who the Chaldeans are. But Isaiah here, says it for Habakkuk! And by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, it becomes evident that Satan is the true King of Babylon!
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Yes, one of the most unpopular and most well-guarded truths is that Lucifer (now entitled: Satan, or, the Devil) is the, “god of this world” 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
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Satan controls this world, to a great extent. And God has allowed Satan, in these last days to completely surround and infiltrate the Church, via both evil angels, secular men and authorities, as well as apostate church members.
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And so, what we are now witnessing in the world, is that Satan is closing in on God’s Elect, by reason of nearly every authority, learning institution, high-tech invention, and pulpit in the land! Satan’s infiltration and totalitarian ruler-ship is so complete, that God’s chosen ones, have even been carried away captive into this spiritual Babylon, within our very own hearts!
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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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JUDGMENT TO COME
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The rest of this Chapter 2 goes on to describe the sins of which a church-going man (or woman) is willing to commit (or perhaps, this is also speaking of the sins of the entire apostate portion within God’s house, headed up by the King of Babylon, Satan!) And the sins continue, in spite of the fact that those covetous sins will result in causing many others in God’s house, to fall and be cut off (v. 2:8-10).
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Listen… “Because thou (the apostate portion of the Church, headed up by the King of Babylon, Satan) hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.” Habakkuk 2:8-10
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Here above, is a veiled reference, it seems, to God’s professed people (and their leaders), who have traded their birthright, for a bowl of pottage, so to speak: their eternal heritage, for the things of this present world!
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Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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ANTICHRIST’S PUNISHMENT
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But this chapter 2 also reveals the judgment which is sure to follow the Antichrist rulers of the apostate multitude in the Church. (Chapter 2, v. 6-17)
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“Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?” Habakkuk 2:6, 7
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But it should not be assumed that Antichrist is only speaking of one individual. Not only Satan and his ministers of counterfeit righteousness, but anyone who is of a worldly spirit is an Antichrist…
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Listen… “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world…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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And so, as this above passage reveals, “Antichrist” is much more than a single individual! Antichrist includes all those who possess a world-loving spirit! And Ephesians 2:2 speaks of, “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:”
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Yes, as this above verse reveals, Satan’s Antichrist spirit is now working in the, “children of disobedience”!
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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
The Pleiades: Mystery Babylon: Mother of Harlots
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TELEVISION, RADIO AND INTERNET, ETC…
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“Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver,” Habakkuk 2:19
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Now the last three verses of Chapter 2, seem to be an allusion to this very day in which we live! Because in former times, it was impossible to make an image that could speak. The idols of yesteryear were powerless to communicate verbally. But Habakkuk’s vision is specifically given for the last hours of this world!
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And so, in these last days, man has been given the knowledge to invent talking images: television, Internet, and even radio all project talking images which promote this kingdom of Satan. And these images can travel across the world at lightning speed (they are, “swifter than leopards”: Habakkuk 1:8)
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Now, the reference in Habakkuk 2:19, to these talking/teaching idols being “laid over with silver and gold”, is an allusion to television shows being given a form of godliness, thereby deceiving the hearts of the naive viewers! There seems to be so much morality and humanitarianism on TV/Internet, and yet it is void of God’s Spirit. This is the silver and gold spoken of here in verse 19.
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Yes, through these media, plus books, magazines and various other media, Satan has been working through the Chaldean (unbelieving) people of this world, and is now able to control the minds of the great masses of humanity, increasing daily throughout the world! And he has infiltrated and paralyzed the Church as well!
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Picture above right: from the article… “Television and the Image That Speaks”
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CHAPTER 3: HABAKKUK’S PRAYER
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Now in Chapter 3, begins Habakkuk’s prayer…
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Listen… “O LORD, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.” Habakkuk 3:2-4
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Now Habakkuk prays for mercy in the midst of the years! And so, in somewhat allegorical language is Jesus herein described! And also in this description is mentioned the “Signs Of Heaven”.
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Listen… “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the Heavens” Habakkuk 3:3.
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In this verse, is a reference to Mt. Sinai (a.k.a., Mount Paran) in which Moses received the Ten Commandments directly from God.
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And this same reference also mentions that God’s “glory covered the Heavens”.
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Now isn’t it interesting that the Ark of the Covenant is seen in the Heavens? And so, this verse alludes to the signs which God is now revealing in the Heavens!
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But more than this, the horns of light were described as coming out of the Savior’s hand! “And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.”
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This horn of Salvation by the self-sacrificing love of Jesus, symbolized by the nail holes in His hands, is the only Good News to the lost souls of this hopelessly dying world! There is no other mercy for this world, and even that is about to end! (see Habakkuk 3:4)
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Signs Of Heaven – Winter ConstellationsTissot –
Jesus Pardoning Thief – www.joyfulheart.com – Public Domain
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THE CONQUERING LORD OF HOSTS
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“Thou didst march through the land in indignation, Thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.” Habakkuk 3:12
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Now, up to the 15th verse of Chapter 3, is described (in veiled language) Michael, the conquering priestly-soldier (see also, Daniel 12:1 & Revelation 12:7)
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Yes, the eternal priestly God our Savior, will put put on His garments of vengeance (Isaiah 59:17), and “In that day the LORD with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.” Isaiah 27:1
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Here again is an allusion to that portion of Signs Of Heaven, which are seen in the winter skies! (see above star-chart)
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Picture above right: From the article… “The Orion Phenomena”
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HABAKKUK’S SHAME
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Now at this point, Habakkuk realizes that God is the awesome and majestic conqueror of all evil! And Habakkuk realizes his own wretchedness and that he too was part of the problem…
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Listen… “When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when He cometh up unto the people, He will invade them with His troops.” Habakkuk 3:16
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And so, Habakkuk was happy to grovel in the dust, so to speak, in hopes that God will have mercy on his wretched condition. (Habakkuk 3:16)
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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GOD’S CHASTISEMENTS
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“When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when He cometh up unto the people, He will invade them with His troops.” Habakkuk 3:16
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But this above verse speaks of more than merely groveling. No, the kind of fear described in the above verse, is only experienced when a Believer suffers the chastening of God, and awakes to his own presumptuous sins.
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Yes, we go merrily on our own way, not aware that there is sin in the camp: the camp of, “my own heart”!
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And so things come to the point in time when the Lord, in His mercy, must lovingly send severe chastisement into my life. But though God’s punishments really hurt, we must allow such “spankings”, that we might be ultimately purified!
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And this purification must be accomplished if we will finally be, “hidden from the wrath to come”, in the day when God comes down to punish the earth’s inhabitants.
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And just like David, when he realized his great sins, so will God’s people grovel in sackcloth & ashes (spiritually, not literally), when our sins are revealed to us, in such a stark and poignant manner!
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Yes, Habakkuk realizes that his complaint to God was made out of his ignorance of the glory of God, as seen in the great conquering Hero of all ages: the marvelous Lord of Hosts, Jesus!
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And Habakkuk also sees that Christ is coming to invade Christendom, to slay the wicked, but also to deliver His Chosen people from the apostate, lukewarm condition of the fallen churches! (Habakkuk 3:16)
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And Habakkuk knows that he can either repent now and be saved, or he can repent in the Day of Vengeance, when it’s too late to repent!
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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THE CHURCHES LEFT DESOLATE
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Now in Habakkuk 3:17 is described in allegorical language, the desolate condition of the churches, as Christ removes His people…
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Listen… “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock sh
all be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:” Habakkuk 3:17
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“Fig tree shall not blossom”, “neither shall fruit be in the vines”, the “labor of the olive shall fail”, and the “fields shall yield no meat”, and the “flock shall be cut off from the fold”, and “no herd in the stall” is obvious metaphorical language, often used in scripture to describe God’s sheep (people) vacating the churches, and the Holy Spirit’s oil being removed, and the resulting lack of the fruit of the Spirit in those churches (Galatians 5:22).
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Just as in the days of Jeremiah (picture right), this also is the sad and desolate condition which is very evident in today’s church-world! The Word of God does not cause the corporate body of the churches to repent of idolatry. Instead, the churches have mingled the purity of the Word, with the miry clay of the world! And the result is a lukewarm condition, just right for the spreading of the disease of sin throughout the corporate body!
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Repin – Cry of prophet Jeremiah – www.wikigallery.org – US Public Domain
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REAPING THE WHIRLWIND
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Hosea 8:7
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Now, with just a little research on the Internet, it is revealed the apostate condition of the church-world. Incredibly high divorce-rate (and remarriage), incredibly low knowledge/belief of the Bible, very high rate of pornography viewing among God’s professed people. Christian parents and church leaders sending their children to public schooling, and encouraging their young adults to pursue the very same affluence which eventually led to the downfall and ultimate destruction of S-0-D-0-M-A
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Most Christians have totally ignored Paul’s warning… “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition….But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1st Timothy 6:7-9, 11
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And as a result of our rebellion, God has allowed Satan to raise up S-0-D-0-M and Babylon all around us! Yes, God is now judging His people, and we are finally reaping the harvest of our vanities which we have sown, through our love of this present kingdom of selfishness and sin!
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Listen… “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.” Proverbs 1:25-27.
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This passage from Proverbs applies very well to we current-day Christians! Our destruction is at hand!
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Pride Parade – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License
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HABAKKUK COMES FULL CIRCLE
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Listen… “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that 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 2:2, 3
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So now Habakkuk comes full circle. God’s people see the apostate condition of Babylon: the world and the worldly church! It is twice fallen!
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And the command comes from the lips of Almighty God: “RUN!”
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FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS
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But we just can’t pack up and flee to the literal mountains! 
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And so, why does God fully assure us in the prophecy of Isaiah that… “And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall”? Isaiah 30:25.
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And so, this passage speaks of available water in every mountain, high hill!
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But what kind of waters is the Prophet speaking of? Literal waters, or spiritual, living waters?
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The Prophet Isaiah (Bible Card from 1904) – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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LIVING WATERS
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And so, just what high mountains and high hills are we to take refuge in? And what rivers and streams will we find there?
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Listen… “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39
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So here are the rivers of living waters in which we are to enjoy upon every high mountain and upon every high hill, during the coming crisis.
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Yes, the bible is a spiritual book, and must be understood spiritually, to make total sense.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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TOWERS FALLING ALL AROUND US!
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“And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.” Isai
ah 30:25.
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And so, in this prophecy of Isaiah, it speaks of, “the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.”
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Well, as we look around, it is not hard to discern that the towers are now falling! And not just the Twin Towers in New York City!
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Just look around! Our public schools are beginning to promote sexual deviancy to our children! The television has become an advertisement for the qualities of Satan’s 
character! Our courts no longer respect the rule of law! Our government is borrowing and printing money in an apparent financial suicide attempt!
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Everything around the world is going topsy-turvy, and all this leaves us bewildered as to just what is happening!
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And if all that is
not a fulfillment of the “towers falling”, just look at the churches and denominations!
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They are crumbling faster than society! Deviants and spiritualists and money grubbing carpet-baggers are taking over, it seems!
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Even the so-called conservative churches are greatly concerned with earthly prosperity and hedonistic pleasure-seeking!
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9/11 World Trade Center Towers attack – New York – by UpsateNYer & Wikipedia – Share-Alike Lic.
Photo – Share -Alike License – Jesus in Blue Jeans – Wikimedia
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COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE”
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“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people (Mystery Harlot city of Babylon), that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
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Now here is as good of place as any, to tie in Revelation 18 to Habakkuk’s message, to “RUN”.
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Yes, this above verse speaks of God’s final call to His people to, “Come out of her, My people!”.
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And this harlot woman, is the same harlot woman, spoken of throughout the Bible: the apostate portion of God’s house! Whether the Bible speaks of, “Five Foolish Virgins”, or Jezebel (Revelation), or Hagar (Galatians 4:), or the many other references, it nevertheless speaks of the very same truth: the apostate parishioners within the Church.
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Now whether we like it or not, Satan has made sure that his people control the local congregations. And since Christians are not commanded to fight for control of those congregations, we must do what Christians have always had to do: leave!
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James Tissot – The Flight of the Prisoners from Babylon – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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THE TWO CONGREGATIONS
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“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:4, 5.
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The above passage speaks of the “Congregation of Evildoers”. Actually, the Bible speaks of two congregations: The Congregation of the Wicked (picture lower right) & the Congregation of the Righteous (left).
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Just listen… “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” Psalms 1:5.
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Just listen to this Messianic Psalm with the prophetic words of Jesus on the Cross… “For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet.” Psalm 22:16.
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So Jesus defined here, just who it was who crucified Him: “The Assembly of the Wicked”. It was His very own professed people.
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Listen to David, “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” Psa_26:5.
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By the way, it is interesting to note, that this word, “congregation” in this verse, is the Hebrew word that is translated “church” in the New Testament.
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PAUL SPEAKS OF 2 JERUSALEMS
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So now we come to the New Testament. And Paul makes the most incredible and bold comparison of Abraham’s wife Sarah and her handmaid, Hagar to the Old and New Covenants! Paul really lays all out for us to see, comparing Sarah to the Church-Faithful, and Hagar to the Church-Apostate. Just listen carefully to the below passage…
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“Which things (Sarah & Hagar) are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26
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This is the great recurring theme in Scripture: two women, a virtuous woman and an adulterous, whorish woman. This above passage from Galatians really nails down a great concept: that Scripture presents literal historical events which God orchestrated, in order to present a spiritual concept.
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Paul correctly interpreted the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar and their children as a picture of the Church, both the apostate portion and the True Worshippers of God.
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Sarah & Hagar – Foster Bible Pictures – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“A TIME TO EMBRACE, AND…
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A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING”
Ecclesiastes 3:5
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“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb_10:25.
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There are many who read this above verse, and conclude that there will never come a time to separate from our local congregations. As it it says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”
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So what did this mean to us in relation to our assembling together?
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Let’s see what Scripture says… “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb_10:25.
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As we read this passage carefully, we see that we were not to forsake the assembling together…but exhorting…”and so much the more as WE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING”.
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As we see WHAT day approaching?
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Sketch to right not a star-chart. It is a concept picture. Constellations not correctly positioned here.
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“DAY OF THE LORD” WAS THE “DAY APPROACHING”
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The day we were to see approaching was that Day in which we were to flee to the mountains. That was the day which was approaching: the, “Day of the Lord”; “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”; “Armageddon”.
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Listen to Scripture… “flee out of the midst of Jerusalem…for evil appears out of the north, and great destruction….I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.” Jeremiah 6:1,2.
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Notice here that God compares the Daughter of Zion to a delicate and beautiful woman. The sketch here below certainly picks up this idea from Jeremiah, of a fleeing woman. Interesting! But the primary reason for presenting the above verse is not to focus on the woman; but to confirm this idea of fleeing Jerusalem (see Galatians 4:22-26, regarding Jerusalem representing the apostate Church). And also to flee from the evil out of the north (Babylon). (For an in-depth examination of Spiritual Babylon, just click here… “Mystery Babylon: Who is this Harlot of Revelation?”)
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ABOVE PICTURE IS A CONCEPT PICTURE, AND NOT A STAR-CHART
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WHERE DO WE FLEE TO?
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Now the last two verses is Habakkuk’s praise, as he declares the hiding place in which he runs to… “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:18, 19
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Yes, the high places spoken of here, is the kingdom of God which dwells within God’s faithful people… “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20, 21
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Yes, here are the high places we must walk upon! These are the mountains we are counseled to flee to!
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Listen… “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:5, 6
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But there is another aspect to fleeing! Yes, we are to flee to the heavenly Mount Zion, to be priests in His Most Holy Place! But we are also to flee from the wrath to come!
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PICTURE – Constellation- Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains Mark 13:14 This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture.
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THE REMEDY…FLEE !
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“Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20, 21
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When God’s people finally come to the point where we realize that we must flee from every temptation (as far and as fast as possible), is when the church will shine most brightly. During the Dark Ages, the Church fled to the literal mountains to hide from the apostate churches of Europe.
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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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VEILED, ALLEGORICAL LANGUAGE
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But now, in these last days, our only refuge is in a complete and total hiding in our Lord! We must be securely snuggled in His Almighty and Everlasting arms…every moment of every day! For if we dare leave His side for a moment (during this time of trouble coming soon) the enemy will be waiting to devour us, or to do as much damage as they possibly can…
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“O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.” Jeremiah 6:1, 2.
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When God’s people realize, that such passages as this, are merely encoded messages, and, “are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”, then, and only then can God’s people begin to understand the great message which God has written for His Church, in these last days.
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The Lord is telling us here, in veiled language, that God’s professed people have become soft and weak, in a time of war. God is telling His true Church to flee from this weak and ineffective apostate church-world! (see Galatians 4:21-26)
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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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SITTING WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN!
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Now let’s leave this allegorical scenario, for a moment and begin to explore another spiritual concept.
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Listen… “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:1-5
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So here it is revealed that God’s people must be seeking the things above, and forsaking the things of the earth. Yes, God’s Elect must begin to crucify our earthly members.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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THE SANCTUARY SHALL BE CLEANSED
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FLEE FROM ENEMIES… “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me.” Psalms 143:9. This verse explains how to flee from your enemies. Flee to God! Trust Him to hide you! Get lost in His Word! Get lost in prayer! Hide in your 
prayer closet (figuratively, not literally)! Rest in His almighty arms!
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We are “the temple of God”. And as co-priests with Christ, we are to walk upon our high places of the heart! We are to cleanse our soul-temple!
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And so, we are to contemplate through our day, upon God’s Word! We are to pray without ceasing! But we are to likewise shun all ungodly associations as well: the TV, secular radio, and Internet vanities, sports, clubs, unions, time-&-energy-sapping careers, opulence, gluttony, ungodly friendships, Mammon, and every other Spirit-quenching association and endeavor!
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And so, to “walk upon mine high places”, very concisely put, is to live a separated-from-the-world life, but a very joined-to-Heaven life, at the same time!
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CHRISTIAN WARFARE
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Now there is an interesting commentary on this idea of “hinds’ feet”, found in 2nd Samuel…
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Listen… “God is my strength and power: And He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like hinds’ feet: and sets me upon my high places. He teaches my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.” 2nd Samuel 22:33-35
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This above passage speaks not only of hinds’ feet, but also of making “my way perfect”. But then it speaks of teaching “my hands to war”. So what in the world do these three ideas have to do with each other?
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The Apostle, Paul clears up this matter in the following passage… “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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So now we see just what kind of warfare that the Bible wants us to fight: the cleansing of our own heart! To
bring every thought into captivity, to the obedience of Christ, is the Christian warfare that we must engage in.
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In other places, it is referred to “crucifying the ‘old man'”. Romans 6:6 & Ephesians 4:22, 23
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In 1st John 3:3, we are counseled… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ), purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
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And so, we have further confirmation that “hinds’ feet on my high places”, has everything to do with purifying the sanctuary of your heart and my heart. This is the Christian battle that we must fight and the war we must win!
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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GOD ALLOWS CHALDEANS
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TO CHASE HIS PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORLD!
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And so, one of the great reasons why God has allowed the Chaldeans to surround us, is to give us a wake-up call! Yes, in His great mercy, God has raised up “that wicked city of destruction” (and spiritual Babylon) all around us, in attempt to send the same alarm that he sent to Lot, the night before “that wicked city of destruction”…
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Listen… “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called “that wicked city of destruction” and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” Revelation 11:8
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So in this above verse from Revelation, God is comparing His city to “that wicked city of destruction” & Egypt: licentiousness and opulence and pride and unbelief (Egypt) are the great sins of the churches today! And the apostate condition of the churches grows more and more pronounced with each passing day! And needless to say, the condition of the world today, is totally intolerable, as well!
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And so, God is waiting for us to flee, just as he waited for Lot and his family to flee from the wrath to come on “that wicked city of destruction”, that fateful morning! And just as Lot tarried, so too, God’s people must quit our tarrying, and flee to the mountain!
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WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?
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But what about our children? How are we to bring our loved ones along with us?
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Listen… “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children and peace upon Israel.” Psalm 128:1-4, 6
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And so, as this little Psalm reveals, it is by walking even as Christ walked, becoming fully transformed into His likeness, that our children and even our children’s children shall ultimately be blessed with Salvation! And our spouse too!
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Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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HIDE IN HIS HEAVENLY PAVILION
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And so, it is high time that we take Habakkuk seriously, and begin to run that Christian race before us! And as Isaiah counsels, we need to cast away our idols of silver and gold, and flee to the Rock of Ages, and hide ourselves in the secret place of His pavilion! And as Paul says, we must mortify our earthly body, and become a spiritual being, sitting with Christ in the Heavenly Most Holy Place!
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After all, God has chosen us to be a Royal Priesthood! So as priests of God, where else would we possibly want to be, except together with Jesus in His holy temple?
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PICTURE – Most Holy Place of the Heart Signs Of Heaven
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“O SPARE ME!”
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And as God’s people see their children being swept away in the tidal wave of wickedness, they cry out to God…
“Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish…Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand. When Thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not Thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.” Psalm 39:11-13
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This Psalm of David is a prayer that we lukewarm Christians can all pray in these last hours of time!
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We and our children need deliverance, just as Lot and his family needed deliverance from the wickedness which rose up all around them!
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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THE HILLS OUR REFUGE?
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It is hopefully seen that Habakkuk’s prophecy is for the Church, God’s Elect, both Jews and Gentiles alike! And since the Bible is a spiritual allegorical book (contrary to popular opinion), these prophecies must be spiritually discerned, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, line upon line, and here a little, and there a little! That’s right! Nothing short of a searching through the Scriptures, will uncover what Bible prophecy is truly saying! Newspapers, history books are of no value, when trying to interpret Bible prophecy!
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And so, Habakkuk speaks of spiritual ideas, spread upon a canvas of earthly types and shadows. Yes, God’s people are to flee from Satan’s armies!
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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A GREAT SIGN IN HEAVEN!
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And so, God has placed a great sign in the heavens! The Revelation 12 Woman Constellation, as she flees from the Dragon, and flees to the Narrow Gate Stars, is a sign for God’s people to do the same!
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These are the very same signs which Habakkuk did see in his vision, it seems! And so, Habakkuk’s vision (one might say), are written on the tablets of the sky, the summer tablet and the winter tablet…
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“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it….”
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Picture above right: from the article… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”
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THE UPWARD PATHWAY
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TO THE CELESTIAL CITY OF GOD!
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And though we are to flee, yet we still must remain and work and provide for our family’s happiness, in this Babylonish world. Yet, in our own holy temple, the Lord will begin to work a miraculous work, as He renews our heart, causing us to become transformed into the likeness of Jesus!
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And if the Reader will read the other articles on this website, he or she can learn the direction that we must all go, as we return to the highway to Heaven, known as the Narrow Way! And that Narrow Way will lead us step-by-step out of this dark, hopeless world, as we climb higher and higher toward that Celestial City of God!
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Above Picture: Constellation – Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 (Not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture)
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INTO THE NARROW WAY
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And so, this starry constellation group which is best seen at the end of Winter, in the western night-sky, is the closing of the Gospel Story, as far as this world is concerned. The Revelation 12 Woman leans forward and begins to fly. But she is now seen heading in the direction of the Narrow Way Stars.
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Yes, this frightful message of Habakkuk ends on a joyful note! And all these metaphors end up together in a single message. To go into the Narrow Way is where Jesus is taking His Church. And to, “walk upon mine high places” speaks of sitting together with Christ, “in heavenly places”. Ephesians 2:6.
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And so, God is bringing His Church (no, not denominations) to the point where we finally understand that victory can only be achieved when we become willing to cast away all our earthly idols, and receive the fulness of Christ.
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This is the ultimate message of Habakkuk! And this is the ultimate message of all the other books of the Bible. But this is not going to be accomplished by some group effort. No, this will only be accomplished one-by-one, when the Christian individually hides his or her self in Christ.
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THE END
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MORE SUGGESTED ARTICLES
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FLOOD WATERS OF SATAN, PART1, INTRODUCTION… This article explains how the wave of water coming forth from this Dragon Constellation relates to the 7 heads, 10 horns, etc on the Revelation 13 Antichrist Beast.
(click on above title for link to this Dragon of Revelation 12 article)
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WHO DOES THE PLEIADES REPRESENT?… There are many who are very curious about that well-known star cluster, known as The Pleiades. But the Bible has something to tell us about The Pleiades.
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(click on above title for link to this Dragon of Revelation 12 article)
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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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vermont night stargazing panorama 2009 wikipedia share-alike lic.
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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 – Wikipedia – 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 these people 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 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 STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations with Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & The 12-Star Crown (aka: Corona Borealis) & The Cross-Scepter (aka: Ophiochus & Serpens) & Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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 – winter constellations – Orion & Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Pleiades, etc…) seen at Eagle Ridge – Signs Of Heaven.org – Not for profit use!once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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 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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The ‘Five Foolish Virgins’ Stars
By admin On May 31st, 2014.
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THE ‘FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS’ STARS
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A new constellation has been revealed, as of about May 29th, 2014. This constellation appears as a serpent (snake). Its body is comprised of stars from the Bootes Constellation, and its jaws are made of the four stars which Babylonians saw as the head of Draco, the Dragon. It also has a small single star for an eye.
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Now in this constellation is a group of five stars, which will be called “The ‘Five Foolish Virgins’ Stars”. These are located on the opposite side of the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars (AKA Corona Borealis), from the ‘Five Wise Virgins’ Stars. But one big difference between the two is, that The Five Wise are curved around the Glorious Crown, while the Five Foolish are curved away from it!
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Now another incredible aspect to all this is that this snake/serpent is winding its way around the backside of this Crown. And it is traveling in a direction away from the Crown! And one really phenomenal aspect to this, is that each jaw (composed of two stars each) is pointing in two directions. In other words, if you drew a line parallel with these two sets of stars (the head of Draco), they each go in two directions: one leading to the Valley of Decision Constellation, and the other going straight to the Broad Way to Hell Constellation (AKA Pisces).
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Now if one studies the Valley of Decision Constellation, it is soon discovered that the same concept, of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, is also depicted in this constellation group. The Five Wise Virgins being depicted by the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Five Foolish Virgins, looking like a wheel, rolling its way down into the Dragon Constellation!
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Now, before this gets too confusing, perhaps we should dissect each aspect individually, to get a basic understanding of just what all this means.
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FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS
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Now as learned in the article, The Five Wise Virgins Stars, The Five Wise are in a semi-circle, as if gathered around the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars. This symbolizes, the importance of the Christian Race, and the Glorious Crown of Victory, which will be given to each and every one who finally overcomes the world.
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Now just as the Five Wise are gathered around this Crown of Victory, the Five Foolish are turned away from the Crown, as if to say, “I’m not interested!” And isn’t so often that the vast majority of so-called Christians, have little interest in this crown! Quite often, they can be heard saying… “Oh, I got my crown when I got baptized. Jesus won the race for me!”
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This kind of lie is easily believed, since it a lie, made partly of truth! Yes, Jesus did get the victory for us. But nevertheless, the evidence that I am a true-worshipper of God, is that I will ultimately gain the victory over my sinful flesh, with all its affections and lusts.
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Listen… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
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AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD
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WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM
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Yes, the Five Wise represent all those who “go on to perfection”. They are not satisfied to remain in the world. Oh yes, they realize that they cannot come out of this world altogether, as of yet. But though they cannot come completely out of the world, they can come a good way out! These have tasted of the good things to come, and for them, all the glittering tinsel-like treasures of this world have lost their meaning!
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But the foolish have no desire to “die to self”. Their pastor tells them that they were “buried in baptism”, and they need not go any further! “Just live a nice moral life, and all will be well with your soul”, say these serpents in the pulpits of so many of today’s congregations.
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And so, the foolish virgins simply raise their hands and praise the Lord, while still pursuing all the pleasures and dreams and ambitions that this opulent society encourages.
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Francken, Hieronymus the Younger – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins c 1616
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WHY SO SHORT?
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Notice that this snake looks somewhat short, as if it is perhaps a sawed-off snake (picture right). What could that be all about? Well, the picture to the left shows us the reason why!
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You see, the Five Wise Virgins represent all those who were once a part of Satan’s Kingdom of Selfishness. But now, they have been cut off and separated from that kingdom. Now they have now become part of God Kingdom of Unselfish Love! And that is why this serpent looks as if its body has been severed. It has lost part of its body!
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Listen… “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:1, 2
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So here in this above passage, God is revealing a great concept: namely, that we who are true worshippers of God, were once part of Satan’s kingdom. But God has separated us from that old serpent, the Devil!
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And so, now it is only half-a-serpent! The Wise were once part of that serpent. But now they have become free from Satan’s Prison-house of Sin!
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WHY A SNAKE/SERPENT?
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But as for this Snake/Serpent Constellation, and what it represents, one needs only to begin with beginning of the Salvation story: “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1
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THE HEEL OF JESUS FOOT
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Now, as we step back about several light-years, we can view the great “Son of Man Constellation” (made up of the various constellations on this website as they are situated in both the summer skies and the winter skies. For a fuller explanation of this constellation, read this website’s article…Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven Constellation)
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And if we look at his right foot, it is revealed that this serpent is winding its way over the top of the heel of Jesus’ foot. Of course this reminds one of the very words of God, as He spoke to the serpent in the Garden… “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed… And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14, 15.
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Of course, this was a prophecy about Jesus, and how Satan would bruise His Heel.
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And so it is no coincidence that God has arraigned the stars in such a way as to portray this concept, concerning the serpent bruising Christ’s heel.
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WHERE IS THIS SERPENT GOING?
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Now it appears as this snake/serpent and its passengers are on a mission. But where are they headed? Well the snake is travelling away from Christ’s heel, that is for sure. Well, if you go out at night and find this serpent Constellation, you will notice that the four stars which make its jaws are pointing in two directions.
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In other words, if you were to draw a line from the two stars which compose its upper jaw, and a straight line from the two stars which compose its lower jaw, and extend those lines across the sky, one line would go to the Valley of Decision Constellation, while the other would go to the Broad Way to Hell Constellation (AKA Pisces).
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THE END
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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 – 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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
.
New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – 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.
.
Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
.
And unlike these people in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
.
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.
.
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.
.
Astronomy Amateur – 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).
.
These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
.
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).
.
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.
.
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…
.
Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
.
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!
.
(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.
.
And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
.
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!)
.
Starry Night at La Silla – 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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
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The Five Wise Virgins Stars
By admin On May 23rd, 2014
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“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
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And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
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Matthew 25:1-4
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FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS
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Perhaps the most unforgettable parable in the Bible is that of the Parable of the Five Wise and the Five Foolish Virgins. And now the Lord has revealed the “Five Wise Virgins Stars” in the Summer night skies.
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Listen…“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
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“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
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“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
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“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
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“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:1-13
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Brooklyn Museum – The Wise Virgins – James Tissot – Wikimedia – public domain
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WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART
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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.
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Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis
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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.
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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)
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GATHERED AROUND THE GLORIOUS CROWN!
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The position of these stars is significant in a number of ways. The first, being that these Five Wise Virgins are gathered around the 12-star Crown of Revelation 12. And the obvious message here is, that these wise virgins represent the faithful portion of God’s Church. And as wise virgins, they understand the importance of winning the glorious crown of victory, which Jesus promised…
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Listen… “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” 1st Corinthians 9:24, 25.
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And so, God is showing us the difference between the wise and the foolish in His Church. While the wise are gathered around this crown of victory, the foolish are nowhere to be found. This is because the foolish in the Church are much more concerned about the world, with all its pleasures and pursuits. They have little or no time to devote themselves to the pursuit of the treasures of Heaven! They pride themselves into believing that their industrious work-ethics have God’s approval. But God merely sees them only as workers of iniquity.
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Listen… “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Proverbs 21:4
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Corona Borealis/Bootes & Five Wise Virgins
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AT THE FEET OF JESUS
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Now there is another extremely incredible aspect to this star-group!
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You see, if we could step back far enough (about several light-years backward) we would see this next constellation! It is called, “The Sign of the Son of Man Constellation”. As it now stands, it spans both the Summer and Winter skies, so that only half of it can be seen at a time.
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It is more curved than this drawing. But you will notice that the Five Wise Virgins are gathered at the right foot of Jesus.
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This reminds us of the story of Mary and Martha, when Jesus came for supper.
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MARY, THE “HEARER” & MARTHA, THE “DOER”
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“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
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One of the most well-known and beloved stories of the Bible is the account in Luke Chapter 10, of Mary and her sister Martha, on the day when Jesus came for dinner.
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As the story goes, Martha was slaving in the kitchen, while her sister, Mary, was, “sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His Word”. This made busy Martha angry.
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Listen… “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.”
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Now the Bible makes it very clear, that, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, Mary…” John 11:5.
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But Mary was definitely a Hearer, while Martha was more of a Doer. Martha, today, might be called a “multi-tasker”, or perhaps a “Type-A personality”, or even a “workaholic”.
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“THE LORD LOOKETH UPON THE HEART”
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“…the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1st Samuel 16:7
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Now for most of us it would be Martha we would commend, for her busy-ness; and Mary we would scold, for her laziness. This is because our human nature is not so nearly concerned about the spiritual condition of the heart, as we are with good works. Everyone loves an industrious person.
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HEARING, THE BEST WORK
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But surprise, surprise! It was not Martha, the Doer, which Jesus commended, but it was Mary, the Hearer… “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art care-filled and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Matthew 10:40-42
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NOT TO STOP GOOD WORKS
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In this little story, the Lord is not condemning good works.
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The big point of this story is, that the Lord places a higher value on His people spending much time, listening to the life-giving words of the Bible, than in the mere performance of good works.
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Listen… “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.” Psalm 119:105, 148.
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And Martha’s bad attitude was exactly why it is of utmost importance to allow God’s Word to fill the heart and mind! To vanquish away such pride, which obviously motivated Martha’s judgment against her sister!
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But the fact is, to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word, is the best “good works”. Yes, to study the Bible, in hopes of finding any and every bit of information which will help us become more Christ-like: this is the ultimate, “Good Works”!
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MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
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“Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:9
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Many suppose that the marriage supper of the Lamb will be someday, after this world is gone! But that is a great error! The fact is, the marriage supper of the Lamb is just about to begin…right here! And God is just now calling all those who are willing to put away all their pre-occupation with the vain pleasures and pursuits of this world, and enter in!
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Listen… “Then said He (Jesus) unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things
are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
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“So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14:16-24
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Yes, God is about to serve a great feast: a feast of bread and wine and all varieties of heavenly fruit, grapes, and apples and pomegranates, dates, and figs, and rich milk and cream and butter, and Lamb, and fattened calves, and every other heavenly meat!
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But if any of those already invited, are just too busy to come, then God will call those who aren’t too busy! Yes, there are many who have nothing going, as far as this world is concerned! Maybe the homeless ones, or maybe those who are laying in the gutter. Yes, anyone and everyone is invited! Rich or poor alike!
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five wise virgins – matt 25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – public domain
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THE END
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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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vermont night stargazing panorama 2009 wikipedia share-alike lic.
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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 – Wikipedia – 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 these people 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 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 STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations with Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & The 12-Star Crown (aka: Corona Borealis) & The Cross-Scepter (aka: Ophiochus & Serpens) & Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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 – winter constellations – Orion & Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Pleiades, etc…) seen at Eagle Ridge – Signs Of Heaven.org – Not for profit use!once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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 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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Site Overview
By admin On December 1st, 2013.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;
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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
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Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:
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for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken.
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And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
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Luke 21:25
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Early Winter in the east – Orion, Revelation 12 Woman (AKA Ursa Major) – Revelation 12 Dragon (AKA Hyades, Pleiades, etc.) – Goodly Horse in Battle with Rider (Camelopardelis, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc…) – www.signsofheaven.org – Not for profit use!
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THE LOVE OF GOD
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STRETCHED FROM SKY TO SKY
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This thumbnail overview of Signs Of Heaven is a short explanation of these constellations and how they work together to tell this marvelous Gospel Story. (This article takes about an hour to read). While they basically tell the Gospel as found in Revelation Chapter 12, these “heavenly pictures” have nuances which come from passages found in many other places in Scripture.
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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
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GOD’S AMAZING SIGNATURE ON CREATION…
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This is the story found in the Heavens, as is written… “There shall be signs, in the Sun, and…Moon, and…Stars” Luke 21:25.
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These are the signs, written by God Himself, in the heavens, long, long ago…
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And what makes this incredible phenomenon even more incredible, is that these constellations interact with each other as they present an unfolding story while moving through the night skies! An orderly, well constructed story, which unfolds through the four seasons; a heavenly motion picture of sorts, made of the biggest and brightest stars and constellations of Heaven!
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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“HIS WORKS WERE FINISHED…
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FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD”
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So God has created this wonderful unfolding story back in the day when He created the heavens 
and Earth, as is written… “…the works (of God) were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3.
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And so, even though the Bible says that, “There shall be signs in the Sun…Moon, and…Stars” (Luke 21:25), nevertheless, these are also the works of God which were finished from the foundation of the world.
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But it wasn’t until our day, that God has chosen to reveal them to us.
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So once again, God has fulfilled Bible prophecy in a way we were not expecting.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Winter – Revelation 12 Woman with Eagle Wings (aka Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper)
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ONLY PICTURE STORY IN NATURE
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This is truly Heaven’s Divine Signature on Creation. Nowhere else in nature has God placed such an amazing picture-story about His Salvation Plan.
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But why should it surprise us that the heavens tell us this story? After all, Scripture reveals to us… “The heavens declare the glory of God…night unto night showeth knowledge.” Psalm 19:1, 2
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And God has even mentioned these primary constellations specifically in Scripture: Orion, the 7 Stars, the Revelation 12 Dragon and the Revelation 12 Woman, and many more.
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And He is just now revealing this heavenly-nightly-show to us.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – summer constellations – Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) -Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – Cross/Scepter Constellations (stars from Ophiochus & Serpens cut) – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial profit uses!
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JUST A BUNCH OF OBSCURE STARS?
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These signs are not made up from just a lot of obscure stars. Anybody could make a constellation using a bunch of obscure and random stars!
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But these signs were created by God in the day that He created the heavens. These signs are made of the biggest and brightest constellations in Heaven: Orion, Pleiades, Scorpio, The Big Dipper, Ursa Major, Auriga, Sagittarius, Corona Borealis, plus others which are a combination of the great constellations.
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And the Bible makes mention of these. God speaks of Orion, Pleiades, and the 7 Stars. He reveals two signs in the Book of Revelation: a woman with child, and a dragon. He speaks of the Ark of the Covenant in Revelation 11, and a horse in several places in Revelation.
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ABOVE PICTURE: The Cross of Orion – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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MIS-INTERPRETING THE SIGNS
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The point is, these signs are not the mere imagination of humans. But the big problem was, that humans just did not look at these great signs correctly, as God intended.
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Instead of seeing Orion as a soldier, they only saw it as a hunter. Instead of seeing Ursa Major as a woman with child they merely saw it as a bear.
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Instead of seeing Scorpio as the Flower of the Field Constellation, they only saw it as a scorpion.
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Instead of seeing Sagittarius as the Ark of the Covenant, they saw it as a centaur.
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Ursa Major – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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BABYLONIAN CONFUSION
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So this website begins to unravel the confusion of these mistaken identities by the ancient Babylonian astronomers, and shows them as God intended them to be seen. Then once the reader begins to see them correctly, he or she can also begin to understand the great biblical concepts which they portray. And this is why God is just now revealing these signs. Because there is a great message behind these signs, which will prepare the Reader for what is about to come upon the Earth.
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Why did God create these signs? And how do these signs work? And if they are signs from God, just what is God trying to tell us? Well, these are the questions which one must ask. And Signs Of Heaven will hopefully provide the answers.
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ABOVE PICTURE: latter winter constellation in the west – Orion – Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Auriga, Pleiades, etc.) – Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) – Goodly Horse (Persius, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc.) – Holy Ghost Rider (Camelopadelis)
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SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
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Unfortunately, this heavenly love-story has been created to be seen in the northern hemisphere. Oh yes, most of these constellations can be seen in the southern hemisphere too. But God has, for His own reasons created these signs to work better in the northern hemisphere. Perhaps this verse helps us understand why God did it this way.
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Listen… “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.” Psalm 75:6.
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Notice that this verse says, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.” Notice that it fails to mention “north” in this verse. So the obvious inference is that promotion does come from the north, symbolizing Heaven. Now this truth is substantiated by this next verse… “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:2. So these Signs Of Heaven are in agreement with this concept of north symbolizing Heaven.
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And isn’t it wonderful, that we now have the ability to look on the Internet, and still enjoy these signs, too! And there are many who cannot, for one reason or another, get out to see the Heavens. And some, may not even be able to see them on the Internet. But these can still enjoy the biblical concepts behind these signs. And actually, that is by far, the most important aspect of this website: what does the Bible have to say about all this or that? And so, Bible truth is what we are really after!
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Whole world land and oceans – NASA – Public Domain – Wikimedia
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SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS
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5 CONSTELLATIONS PLUS THE STAR, ARCTURUS…
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The Summer Constellations tell the story of Jesus as He calls His Disciples to, “Come and follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” These heavenly symbols also present the principles of God’s Salvation plan. The Summer Constellations are made of five different constellations plus the star known as Arcturus (click here to read) . This big, bright, and beautiful star, Arcturus (representing Jesus) goes in front of these five constellations, as though He is leading His Disciples, just as He did back in Israel, 2,000 years ago.
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From left to right, you may click on the following titles to read more about each…
1. the first constellation is the Ark of the Covenant Constellation (AKA Sagittarius).
2. The second is the Cross/Scepter Constellation (not previously recognized)
3. Under the Cross/Scepter is the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpio).
4. The fourth is the Glorious Crown Constellation (AKA Corona Borealis).
5. The fifth is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA the Big Dipper).
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These are the basic five constellations that make this Summer Constellation phenomenon.
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DOUBLE-ENTENDRES
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But if this is not already complicated enough, there are even more complicated aspects to this. In this sketch, if you look on the far left, you will notice that the Ark of the Covenant Constellation now appears as Two Turtle-doves.
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And at the top right, you will notice that the 7 Stars Constellation now appears as the Revelation 12 Woman With Child (Actually, this Woman is made of the Big Dipper, plus the addition of more fainter stars, which together comprise what is commonly known as Ursa Major). So these two constellations are each double-entendres.
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So with the addition of these two extra constellations (the Turtle-doves, and the Woman), we now have 7 Summer Constellations, plus the star, Arcturus guiding them.
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So maybe the best way to tell this story is to take each constellation individually…
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/doves & Rev. 12 Woman – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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ARCTURUS, THE STAR
click on the above title to explore in depth
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Arcturus must be the first participant in this heavenly story. Many have wondered whether Arcturus was the actual star, which guided the wise men from the east, unto Bethlehem.
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The Bible certainly makes that suggestion. “Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?”, God asked Job. Well if it was that very star, it would seem that God must have done something miraculous, in order to accomplish such a phenomenon. But regardless of whether or not Arcturus was that star, God is revealing Arcturus in the heavens as the “Host” of this heavenly entourage, known as “Signs in the Sun, Moon, and stars”. For brevity’s sake, they’ll be referred to as the Signs Of Heaven. This phenomenon begins in early spring, and continues on for the entire year. It is composed of both the Summer as well as the Fall and Winter Constellations. This heavenly odyssey tells the story of the Gospel. But it also tells us just what lies ahead for God’s people. And this website will prepare you “to be hidden”, so to speak, when the great Day of wrath comes upon the world; as it will come so imperceptibly, that most people won’t realize why all these things are happening.
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ARCTURUS REPRESENTS JESUS…
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This beautiful star, Arcturus, symbolizes Jesus. It is found by following the handle of the Seven Stars Constellation (also known as, The Big Dipper) to this very brightest of stars just beyond the handle.
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And if you locate the other constellations in this summer group, it appears as if this star, Arcturus, is leading this heavenly procession of constellations.
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So too, Jesus leads His children on a spiritual odyssey, even while we’re here on Earth. Just like the Twelve Disciples, we also follow Jesus (in our mind’s eye) listening to His Word…learning from our life experiences, and evangelizing the world. This star, Arcturus, is spoken of in Job… “Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?” God asks Job. And Job thought he was pretty smart until God began to question him about these eternal mysteries. But now at the end of time, God is revealing the answer to this heavenly riddle as He promised to show signs in the Sun, Moon, and stars just before the end comes. (see Luke 21:25)
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations – w/Ark & 7 Stars – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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FULFILLMENT NOW REVEALED
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And it appears as if these starry host are the fulfillment of that ante-type star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men to the First Advent. In other words, just as that single star guided those wise men of old, so too, these signs in Heaven are just now being revealed, to guide wise men today, to the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus.
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But this last-day sojourn will be a spiritual journey, and not a physical, literal journey. So no one need be left out. These will guide us into the heavens right from where we are: at home, or in confinement, or from our wheelchair, or hospital bed: wherever we happen to be. This is because we will be on a ship which is powered by the Holy Spirit; and our journey takes place in our own heart. And God’s Word, the Bible, will be our compass and our star-chart to guide us onward and upward, into the very heavens and into the very highways and byways of eternity!
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So this star, Arcturus, leads out this heavenly entourage in a northwest direction.
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD
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CONSTELLATION
(Click here to read more!)
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This is probably the best time to introduce this Flower of the Field Constellation. This is actually where the story written in the sky begins. It all starts with lost Mankind; fallen humanity; a planet in rebellion against Heaven. And just like the flower of the field, so too, Mankind has only its fading glory to hold on to.
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“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” Psalm 103:15, 16.
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For a little while in the Sun, does Mankind rejoice in its beauty and talents. And for a little while, the pleasures of sin and selfishness are sweet to the taste and lovely to behold. But eventually, the heat and the winds and time itself, begin to cause that flower of the field to wither, and eventually fall away and die.
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EVERY FLOWER SHALL BOW
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And so, this constellation in the sky presents this concept of the fading flower; the concept that Mankind’s beauty and glory is like the little flower of the field. But one incredible aspect of this phenomenon is that as summer draws to a close, this Flower of the Field Constellation (aka Scorpio) appears to bow itself completely down…in the direction Arcturus is traveling. This would seem to depict that wonderful Bible passage… “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11, 12.
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Ultimately, every man, woman, and child who ever lived will bow at the Judgment Throne, confessing that God’s ways are the best ways; and that our selfishness was only the pathway to sin, sorrow and destruction. And so, just as this constellation appears to bow itself, so will all of Mankind bow before the Judgment Throne of God, confessing that selfishness was not the way to happiness! And by bowing every knee, there will be a universal acknowledgement that Jesus is the true way to happiness.
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Above photo of sun/dandelion Wikipedia &. Click here for link.
Photo of yellow dandelion courtesy share-alike lic. Click here for link
ABOVE PICTURE: “Ark of the Covenant” (aka Sagittarius) and “Flower of the Field” (aka Scorpio) Constellations ( in the autumn) Public Domain-www.signsofheaven.org
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ARK OF THE COVENANT
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CONSTELLATION
Click here to read more!)
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The next step in this Salvation story would be the Temple Service, symbolized by this constellation of the Ark of the Covenant. The Temple Service was the beginning of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. And the Ark of the Covenant was the center-piece of the Old Testament. This Ark of the Covenant Constellation (AKA Sagittarius) is located in the southern sky and moves east to west through the night. It simply looks like a long box with a single star on either end (Symbolizing the two angels which were on either side of the actual Ark of the temple service).
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Of course, the Ark was the centerpiece of the Old Testament Sanctuary Service. It represented the mercy of God for a fallen planet in rebellion. It was where the blood of the animal sacrifices were sprinkled upon, to make atonement for the sins of God’s people. (And atonement for the entire Human Race, who are represented by that Flower of the Field.)
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And this Ark Constellation seems to be mentioned in Revelation… “And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the Ark of His Testament:” Revelation 11:19.
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ABOVE PICTURE – SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: Ark (Sagittarius) – Cross-scepter (Ophiuchus & Serpens Caput) – Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses!
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THE ZODIAC CONSTELLATION NAMES
It is not the purpose of www.theheavensdeclare.net to give any validity to the Zodiac or any pagan deities. But the common names of many constellations must be given, solely for the purpose of locating them on star-charts.
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2 TURTLE-DOVES CONSTELLATION
(Click here to read more!)
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Now, the Temple Service required a sacrifice. And so, this brings us to the Two Turtle-doves Constellation.
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This constellation is the same constellation as the Ark of the Covenant Constellation (AKA Sagittarius), and is located above the southern horizon. But this Sagittarius Constellation can be seen either way: as the Ark, or as the Two Turtle-doves.
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Two turtle-doves were among the various animals of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Turtle-doves were used for both sin offerings and also for leprosy cleansing. And so it should be no surprise that these Two Turtle-Doves are the very same constellation as the Ark of the Covenant Constellation.
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SET FREE TO FOLLOW ARCTURUS
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But this Two Turtle-Doves Constellation appears to be flying northwestward in the same direction as Arcturus and as His entire heavenly ambassage are traveling. And so this conveys the idea that these Two Turtle-Doves are being set free… free to follow Jesus (Arcturus). This makes perfect sense, because Jesus’ sacrifice abolished the Old Testament sacrifices. And this Two Turtle-Doves Constellation presents to us a picture of how God is going to deliver the Creation from the curse of death, as it states in Romans…
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“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:21
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But there is another aspect to this. You see, the Two Turtle-Doves also symbolize God’s people, who are freed from death, so that they can carry the message of God’s love to fallen humanity, symbolized by the Flower of the Field Constellation. So as you can see, these Two Turtle-Doves are flying toward the Flower of the Field (fallen and lost Humanity) with the message of peace and love and the possibility of forgiveness by God.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/doves & Rev. 12 Woman – www.theheavensdeclare.net
ABOVE PICTURE – SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: Ark (Sagittarius) – Cross-scepter (Ophiuchus & Serpens Caput) – Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses!
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CROSS/SCEPTER CONSTELLATION…
(Click here to read more!)
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“I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel…” Numbers 24:17
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This above prophecy was ultimately pointing to Jesus, as the fulfillment. Jesus was that Star which came out of Jacob. Jesus was that scepter rising out of Israel. But this wonderful Bible prophecy also alerted the wise men of the east, that there was going to be a star to guide them on their journey to Bethlehem. So here was a dual-fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
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But in addition to this duel-fulfillment, this prophecy has a triple application, now, at the end of time. You see, just as that star of old, guided the wise men of old, to the first Advent of our Savior, so too, will that star Arcturus guide wise men today to the Second Advent of our soon-coming King.
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Wise Men See Star – www.wikigallery.com – US Public Domain
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A SCEPTER SHALL RISE
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But along with the star of Arcturus, this prophecy speaks of a scepter rising out of Israel. And as you read this little section, you will discover that there is a scepter rising in the night sky! “and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”
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OK, so we have the Ark and the Two Turtle-Doves. But inside the actual Ark, along side of the 10 Commandments, and the Golden Bowl with Manna, was Aaron’s Rod which budded. Aaron’s Rod was a type of scepter; it represented Aaron’s authority to be the Priest. But the Cross/Scepter Constellation looks like, not only a scepter, but a Cross as well! This constellation is made of stars from both the Serpens Constellation and the Ophiuchus Constellation. This constellation seems to be a blending of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The scepter was a token of the king’s authority in the Old Testament.
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But this heavenly scepter is a scepter of righteousness, since it also looks like a cross (which is the token of Christ’s authority) This Cross/Scepter appears to be flying upward out of the Ark of the Covenant Constellation and appears as if it is rising northward towards the Woman Constellation. It makes sense that this scepter-like cross is rising out of the Ark Constellation, because the actual Ark contained Aaron’s rod that budded. So this constellation is a blending of these two Bible concepts: the Cross of Christ, which is Christ’s scepter of His kingly and priestly authority. And of course, as already stated, this Cross/Scepter fulfills the prophecy… “and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – summer constellations – Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) -Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – Cross/Scepter Constellations (stars from Ophiochus & Serpens cut) – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial profit uses!
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GLORIOUS CROWN CONSTELLATION…
(Click here to read more!)
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And so, the next concept is the prize: the glorious crown! This Glorious Crown Constellation looks like a wreath at first glance. It has 7 stars, plus another star in the middle. This Glorious Crown Constellation is commonly referred to as the Corona Borealis Constellation. This wreath reminds us of the victory wreath given to athletes who won races in the ancient cultures.
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This was spoken of by Paul as he compared those ancient races to the race that Christians must run… “Know you all not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you all may obtain.” 1st Corinthians 9:24 (see also Hebrews 12:1)
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Corona Borealis – Wikipedia – Taken from software called Perseus – All rights by Roberto Mura
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“A CROWN OF 12 STARS UPON HER HEAD” …
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But upon a closer examination if you have access to a very dark sky out in the country; if you watch this wreath, you will eventually see 5 more very faint stars, making a total of 12 stars, plus that single star in the middle.
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This wreath now becomes a crown of 12 stars. This goes along with Revelation 12, which tells of a crown of 12 stars upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12. Just listen to Revelation… “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Revelation 12:1. But this crown is not yet upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation. It is just above her head, as if she has yet to attain it. Of course, the 13th star in the middle would represent Christ (Who is our true Crown of our rejoicing). OK, so we have a picture of Christ and His twelve tribes of Israel. But also we have a picture of Christ and His twelve apostles, which is a picture of His Church. So this heavenly crown is a multi-faceted concept.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Revelation 12 Woman (aka: Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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7 STARS CONSTELLATION…
(Click here to read more!)
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This constellation seems to be a culmination of various portions of the book of Revelation. It is commonly referred to as The Big Dipper.
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The number ‘seven’ is repeatedly mentioned in Revelation. And this constellation appears to be symbolic of those ‘sevens’; the 7 angels of the 7 churches from Revelation ch.’s 2 & 3; the 7 angels with 7 trumpets, ch.’s 8 & 9. But more than these, this constellation especially goes well with the 7 angels with 7 bowls filled with God’s wrath (Ch. 16). This constellation appears as if it is a giant bowl. And during the winter, this bowl begins to tip each night, as though it is pouring out its contents upon the Earth. This reminds us of how those 7 angels each pour out their individual bowl of wrath upon the Earth.
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CROSS LIFTED UP
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And if this is not amazing enough, here is something even more amazing! Just when this constellation looks as though it is pouring out God’s wrath upon the world, it also begins to look like a super-giant colossal uplifted Cross on a hill.
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In other words, it seems that when God’s sons finally lift up the Cross and exalt the Cross in our own individual lives, then will God’s Church begin to, “shine as the Sun” Matthew 13:43. This world of Evil will then be destroyed by Christ’s brightness which shines out from the Believers.
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“Then shall the righteous SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43.
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But someone will say… “This is speaking of when God’s people are in the kingdom of God…in heaven.”
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But listen to Jesus… “The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.” Luke 17:20, 21. This verse tells of a day in which God’s Church will shine brightly. A Church with clean and white wedding garments.
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ABOVE CHART: 7 Stars (aka Big Dipper) – winter – 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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WOMAN OF REVELATION 12 CONSTELLATION
(Click here to read more!)
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And last, this constellation not only completes the Summer Constellations, but also the summer portion of this heavenly story. This is made of the 7 Stars Constellation and is also known as Ursa Major.
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This constellation in the spring appears in the north as a headless woman who is labor pains. There is a single star in her womb. This speaks of Revelation Chapter 12 in which the virtuous woman is in labor-pains with the Christ-child. And so that single star represents the Christ-child.
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This Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation has her left arm over her head as if she is in pain. But if you look more carefully you will notice that she, even in her pain, is actually reaching out for the Cross/Scepter Constellation (as shown to the right). This reminds us the story of Esther in which Esther reached out to grasp the king’s scepter. It’s a beautiful story about God and His bride, the Church. But is she reaching for that Cross/Scepter…or is she reaching for that Crown? Or maybe even for Arcturus! All three, no doubt! All three.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Woman of Revelation 12 In Travail (aka: Ursa Major which includes The Big Dipper) – www.signsofheaven.org
ABOVE STAR-CHART – Ark – Flower of the Field- Cross/Scepter Constellations – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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MEANING OF THE SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS…
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So the Summer Constellations are a picture of the more pleasant aspects of the Gospel. And just as summer-time is the more pleasant season for much of the world, so too, the discipleship portion of the Gospel is the more pleasant aspect of the Christian life; Bible-study, fellowship, sitting at Jesus feet and learning of His ways. Spreading the Gospel. Most of us would like this to be the total sum and entirety of our Christian life. But just listen…
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“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7.
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But as this verse points out, there is another side to Christianity: Christian warfare. And this Woman of Revelation 12 will also be present in the Winter Constellations. But by then, she will be ready to do what she must, during the winter battle scene: FLEE!
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So let’s take a look at the Winter Constellation Group…The warfare we must fight. The good fight as God calls it. It is also the race we must run. The sin we must flee from. And these sterner aspects of the Gospel are what the Winter Constellations are all about. And so let’s begin to look at these…
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FALL CONSTELLATIONS
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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION
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(Click above link to read more!)
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But wait just a minute! Before we explore the Winter Constellation group, there is a question that must be answered. A decision must be made. And right between the Summer and the Winter Constellations, is a very awesome and fearful constellation group. This constellation group can be seen best in mid summer through fall (mid-summer arises in the pre-dawn hours!). It is called the “Valley of Decision” Constellation Group. It speaks of the valley in which every person who comes into the world must walk, at one time or another in his or her life. Read this article for sure! This constellation is exactly between the ending of the Summer Constellations and the beginning of the Winter Constellations.
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After the more pleasant summer of following Arcturus, comes the moment of truth as the saying goes. It’s decision time. It’s time to follow on with the Lord into the winter-time warfare… Christian Warfare that is. Putting on the Armor of God. Fighting the good fight. Doing hand-to-hand combat with the Devil. Fleeing from sin and Satan. Being persecuted for our beliefs. Lifting up the Cross of Christ for all the unbelieving world to witness….
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…And possibly even dying for our faith… “When Jesus turned to His many followers, He said, ‘Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you….From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:53, 66.
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These verses seem to be very pertinent to this constellation group. Because just as that ‘hard saying’ of Jesus (about eating His flesh & drinking His blood), caused those “disciples” to turn back and no more follow Him, the Valley of Decision will likewise separate the Believers from the make-believers, so to speak.
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There is a third mountain in this constellation group. It is Satan’s Destroying Mountain…Babylon! But this is a very complicated subject which needs to be studied. You can click the following link… “Mystery Babylon, O Destroying Mountain Constellation” (click here to read more in depth)
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PICTURE UPPER LEFT:
THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP. They appear in mid-summer in the eastern skies in pre-dawn hours. These are made of Cassiopeia (mount on left), and various stars from Andromeda (valley) Pegasus (Mount of Cursing (middle mount) & Destroying Mount (right)), and Pisces (Broad Way to Hell)
PICTURE LOWER RIGHT:
ABOVE STAR-CHART FROM WIKIPEDIA, IN WHICH EDITOR OF THIS SITE SKETCHED THESE THREE MOUNTAINS: the 3 mountains which comprise the Valley of Decision Constellations (click here to read more) as seen when facing eastward. You can see a little oval-shaped object climbing up the Mount of Blessing (AKA Cassiopeia) . This oblong-shaped object is the Andromeda Galaxy. The 3rd mountain to right is the Destroying Mountain (click here to read more)
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MOON INTO BLOOD TRILOGY…
click on this above title to read more
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So as long as we’re discussing decision-making, it is perhaps the best time to mention the Moon. You see, there are three faces in the Moon, etched by God Himself. These faces present, not only the condition of God’s house, but also, the condition of the Human Heart. The first face is that of a man. The other two faces are those of a scavenger and also a predator. The first face represents the True Worshipers.
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The other two represent the two classes of Christians that existed in Jesus’ day: the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. The Pharisees were the Proud Scorners. The Sadducees were locked in by unbelief. They didn’t believe much of the Bible. While the second face representing the Pharisees, as they professed belief in the Bible, loved the sins of pride, the 3rd face (Sadducees) continually sought after the things of the world.
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3rd FACE: UNBELIEF
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Yes, these faithless ones (represented by this 3rd face), didn’t believe that being Christ-like could bring the joy necessary to be content. So this 3rd face is a Seeker, so to speak. Just as the little furry critters are constantly seeking after food, so too, many Christians are constantly seeking after, and nibbling of the things of the world. Now, it’s not to say that Christians do not enjoy the things of the world. But Christians are not to make the things of the world of much importance. Their chief desire is to seek the things of Heaven.
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Do you get the point of these two beasts of the Earth? And while the Moon does not deal directly with all aspects of the Revelation 13 Antichrist Beast (7 heads, 10 horns, etc.). Nevertheless, the Moon exposes the Beast Within: the Beast within the human heart.
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THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS…
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You may click on the following titles to read each individual article
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The Winter Constellations are four in number. (Five if you count the Altar of Incense Constellation.)
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1. First we see the Dragon Constellation, representing Satan and his army.
2. Next the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is the common connection between the Summer and Winter Constellations. She appears in them both.
3. Next is the hero of the story, Orion.
4. Next, we see the Glorious Horse, which represents God’s army.
5. Last is the Altar of Incense Constellation. It is pictured and discussed a little farther down the page.)
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DRAGON CONSTELLATION…
(Click here to read more!)
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This is the villain! This constellation is smack-dab between Orion and his Horse.
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This is a picture of Satan, as he is referred to as a dragon in the Bible… “And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” Revelation 12:3. And just like he is described in Revelation Chapter 12, there is a wave of water coming out of his mouth, flowing right into the path of the Woman of Revelation 12. The mouth of the Dragon is commonly known as Hyades. It is also known as the head of Taurus, the Bull Constellation. The very tip of the Dragon is known as the Pleiades. Take notice that this tail-tip actually looks like a tip of, say, a lion’s tail…or a dragon tail. Pretty amazing!
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THE PLEIADES:
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TIP OF THE DRAGON’S TAIL
click on this above title to read more
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The tip of this dragon’s tail is made of The Pleiades Cluster. Now the Pleiades is the one constellation on this website which must be seen through a telescope, to see the individual stars to any great degree. But if you look close-up at the group of stars, it begins to look like a woman. As one looks closer, it begins to appear as the Harlot of Revelation Ch. 17 & 18. But the Pleiades also represents God’s people, who have been taken captive in spiritual Babylon.
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Now this is a very complex topic. You may wish to explore this subject. Just click on the above title to read.
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WOMAN FLEEING TO THE
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WILDERNESS CONSTELLATION…
(Click here to read more!)
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Now God has done something really remarkable with this Revelation 12 Woman! By winter she is no longer in labor pains (as shown in this sketch on the left). She has given birth. And as summer turns to fall, and fall turns to winter, this constellation slowly rotates until it is completely upside down.
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And by winter, she now appears in this upside down position as the Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman! No longer does she appear as a woman in labor. And what were her arms in summer, now become her legs. And what were her legs in summer, now become her arms! And that single star which was the Christ-child in her womb, now in winter becomes her head, reminding us of the verse… “And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church:” Colossians 1:18
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DRAGON SPEWS WATER
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So now in winter this Fleeing Woman appears to be running furiously. And who wouldn’t? She is fleeing from the Dragon, who is spewing water out of his mouth in order to destroy this Woman. “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Rev. 12:15.
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So too, Satan floods this world and even the church-world with false doctrines in order to destroy God’s Elect. But as winter progresses, she leans forward until it looks as if she is flying. Of course this is spoken of in Revelation, Chapter 12, which states… “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness,” Revelation 12:14
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DOUBLE-ENTENDRE: CASTING SEED & INCENSE RISING
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This Woman of Revelation 12 also appears to be casting seed, coming from her left hand and left foot. This reminds us of various passages such as Psalms 126:6… “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” But why the left hand and foot? Read this article, (“Woman of Revelation 12 Flees“).
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INCENSE RISING… But as the season progresses, it become apparent that this Gospel seed is actually incense. This incense appears to be coming from an Altar: the Altar Constellation! This speaks of Sacrifice.
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But this also speaks of fragrant incense rising up to God…for ever and ever! But read this particular article too… (“The Woman & Altar“)!
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ORION CONSTELLATION
(Click here to read more!)
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Now every great story has a hero, and this heavenly story is no exception. You see, that greatest of all constellations, Orion, is the hero of this starry epic tale written in the night sky!
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And Orion appears as a mighty soldier, ready to fight against the Dragon, just as it is written…
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“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angel” Revelation 12:7.
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And so, you can see Orion in the winter-night sky, with the Revelation 12 Dragon to his left. Orion has his sword raised, and he is crouched, as if ready to do battle.
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LOOSING ORION’S BANDS
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This constellation is spoken of several times in the Bible… “Can you loose the bands of Orion?”, God again asks Job. Of course, Job probably had no idea of what God was speaking of. On the other hand, the ancients were much more in tune with the starry host of heaven. So they too might have been aware of this heavenly Gospel story. And there is a spiritual meaning to all this. But Orion stands with all the “Armor of God” in place, fighting against the Dragon.
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IN THE WEST
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In the late fall it appears like Orion is losing His battle with the Dragon.
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The Dragon is atop of Orion, spewing his water out of his mouth after the Woman. But as winter continues, more and more does Orion gain the advantage over the Dragon.
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Finally, in later winter, Orion is atop the Dragon looking as if He will deliver the fatal blow to the Dragon.
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FIVE ORIONS!!
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But there is much more to Orion than most people are aware of. You see, the Orion Constellation is a heavenly optical illusion. Although Orion looks like a soldier wielding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.
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Nevertheless if you look again, you might easily see Orion as holding a bow ready to shoot his arrow into the Dragon. But wait! That’s not all. If you look harder you can see Orion as a Reaper. He is holding a sickle in his outstretched hand. And as this constellation is still in the east, you might even see him laying on a cloud. This cloud is the Milky Way. This is spoken of in Revelation Chapter 14:14.
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But wait! That’s still not all! If you see Orion when it is standing upright, you might again see it as a Cross almost at the pinnacle of a hill. Each one of these four figures of the Orion Constellation are well-spoken of in Scripture as well as the book of Revelation. This is nothing short of incredible! Orion in all four roles, is a picture of Jesus Christ, and how He fights and conquers evil in the universe, from four different vantage-points: 1. Orion the Soldier 2. Orion the Archer 3. Orion the Reaper 4. The Cross of Orion. (Click on one to read more!)
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And why does Orion wear four hats? Well…
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1. Orion the Soldier represents God’s Word, and how that Word clothes us as we become soldiers in God’s army.
2. Orion the Archer represents how God uses His children (Believers) as His sharp arrows to shoot His enemy.
3. Orion the Reaper reminds us that we need to join the Lord in His harvest of lost souls.
4. The Cross of Orion, reminds us that Christ’s death on the Cross made all these things possible. But it also reminds us that we too must die with Christ & lift up our own cross (of self-sacrificial life of service) and follow Jesus. And these four “offices” of Orion likewise remind us of the four horsemen of Revelation, CH. 6.
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5. ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD… This recently revealed Orion (December 2012) speaks of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This is the 5th revealed personality of Orion. So this Orion, the Good Shepherd, reminds us that Jesus offers to give us rest unto our souls, if we will only become the sheep of His pasture.
(click on above title for link)
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GLORIOUS HORSE CONSTELLATION
(Click to read more!)
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The Glorious Horse Constellation has previously had no recognition by astronomers or even astrologers. But this is a very beautiful constellation, once you locate it. The Bible speaks of a horse as referring to God’s people in war. This horse is mentioned in Zechariah…
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“for the LORD of hosts hath visited His flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as His goodly horse in the battle….And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle:” Zechariah 10:3, 5.
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This Glorious Horse Constellation joins with Orion in battle with the Dragon. But in the beginning of winter, both the Horse and Orion are falling backward. The Dragon is winning. But as winter passes, more and more do Orion and the Horse gain the advantage. Finally, before spring, both Orion as well as the Horse are atop the Dragon. The Horse is trampling the Dragon’s tail, as Orion is about to strike his sword into the Dragon. And as you see these three constellations begin to dip below the western horizon, this heavenly motion picture displays this happy ending.
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7 STARS IMITATE the CROSS OF ORION
(Click to read more!)
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During mid-winter, for several months, a phenomenon occurs between the two constellations… The Cross of Orion, and The 7 Stars. As you have already read, The 7 Stars Constellation tips itself up and up until it seems to pour out its contents upon the Earth. At this same time it begins to appear as a giant “Cross”, standing up. You already know this. But what’s even more amazing is that this 7 Stars Constellation seems to be imitating The Cross of Orion. In other words, this 7 Stars Constellation, which represents God’s people is imitating The Cross of Orion! It reminds us that we are to imitate our Lord in all we do! If you look south in winter (at the right time of night), you see the Cross of Orion. Then, an hour later, if you look north, you see the 7 Stars imitating the Cross!
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But click on the above title link to read more.
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3 ANGELS FLYING
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IN MIDST OF HEAVEN
Revelation 14
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“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth… And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen…And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” Revelation 14:6, 8-10
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These three sets of Constellations (Summer, Fall, Winter Constellations) seem to align with messages of the three angels flying in the midst of Heaven, as presented in Revelation 14…
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1. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
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2. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
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3. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, etc…..” Revelation 14:6-9
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FIRST ANGEL (Everlasting Gospel)
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The Summer Constellations seem to align with the first Angel having the everlasting Gospel to preach, which these Signs Of Heaven are definitely the everlasting Gospel.
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This First Angel is typified by Arcturus as he leads us on this sweep through the heavens as he proclaims the everlasting Gospel, written in the heavens.
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SECOND ANGEL (Babylon has fallen.)
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The second angel proclaiming that Babylon has fallen aligns with the Fall Constellations.
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The fall Constellations point out the Valley of Decision and the Destroying Mountain of Babylon. And so these constellations present the fearful concept found in the message of the second angel of Revelation ch. 14. It is a call to come out of Babylon. It is a call to climb the Mount of Blessing, symbolized by the first mountain farthest to the left (north).
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THIRD ANGEL (Mark of the Beast)
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The Third Angel, warning to not take the Mark of the Beast aligns with the Winter Constellations which show us just how we may escape the Dragon and his deadly waters spewing out of his mouth.
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By Christian warfare, by imitating Christ, by fleeing to the mountains, by running the Christian Race, and by choosing the Narrow Way…these are God’s chosen means that He will lead each and every one of His children to do, to escape, “the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2nd Peter 1:4.
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What better personage to proclaim this message of the Third Angel, than this Woman of Revelation 12, with wings as an eagle?
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
Matthew 5:16
And so God has symbolized these Three Angels, flying in the midst of Heaven, the star, Arcturus (1st Angel), the Fall Constellations (2nd Angel), and by the Revelation 12 Woman (3rd Angel).
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As the reader studies this website, it will become more and more evident that the messages presented by these three angels is what Signs Of Heaven is all about. The reader is encouraged to study, to download, and to share this wonderful message with anyone willing to listen. And even if it seems as if nobody is willing to listen, this message is primarily for you, the Reader, so that we can know just what God has in mind for His people at this late hour. Preparation is everything. Everything else is optional. There will be NO churches forming. No big fellowship gatherings. No roll books. These messages are all about preparation: personal preparation. This is our “fleeing to the mountains” message.
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Nevertheless, to study these promised signs (see Luke 21:25) makes a wonderful and richly rewarding hobby. It is an inexpensive one, which can complement any camping trip. And you don’t need any equipment, like those in the photo below. Just a starry night and perhaps a camping chair. And once you really get to know these, your faith will become much stronger as you realize that there is nothing placed in Heaven haphazardly.
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But by all means, share these things, if possible! Then, by so-doing, we can be co-laborers with God and with each other, as we spread these three wonderful messages abroad. But the great purpose of this website is to help God’s people to understand just how we all, “may stand perfect and complete in all God’s will” Colossians 4:12.
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And then when our “obedience is fulfilled” (2nd Corinthians 10:6), we can shine “as the light of the sun” (Isaiah 30:26), which is really our true witness to every dear lost soul living in this hopelessly dying world.
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The world has heard about Jesus. Now, the world needs to see Jesus… in us! (see Romans 8:19)
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amateur astronomers Wikipedia Share alike license
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“HAPPILY EVER AFTER…”
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ORION’S GATE: THE NARROW WAY & BROAD WAY STARS… (Click to read more!)
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As just stated, this heavenly story has a happy ending. This is because in addition to Orion and his Horse finishing off the Dragon, there is another wonderful event to this grand finale. The Woman who has been fleeing to the wilderness, begins to be seen as flying toward both Orion and the Dragon. But there are two sets of bright stars; one set of bright stars at the tip of Orion’s sickle. And a set of bright stars at the tip of the Dragon’s water-wave. The two stars at the tip of the Dragon’s water-wave are about twice as far apart from each other as the two stars on Orion’s sickle. These two sets of stars represent a biblical parable; namely the parable of the Wide Gate and the Strait Gate (Narrow Gate).
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“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” Matthew 7:13
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And so these two sets of bright stars each symbolize one of those gates; the Dragon’s gate of course, is the Wide Gate, symbolizing Satan’s look-alike Gospels which offer worldly inducements to the church-world.
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And ‘Orion’s’ Gate is the Narrow Gate, which symbolizes the true Gospel which was composed of Christ alone and His wonderful Word. And so we begin to see what Orion’s sickle really is; the true Gospel. And the Dragon’s wave of water is Satan’s false gospels. But here’s really great news; the Woman seems to be swerving toward Orion’s Gate: the Narrow Gate. This happy fact is not so evident while these stars are in the eastern skies. But when in the west, she is definitely swerving toward the Orion’s Gate: The Narrow Gate. Beautiful ending! But click on link to read more. THE NARROW WAY & BROAD WAY STARS… (Click to read more!)
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CASTOR AND POLLUX STARS
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“CASTOR & POLLUX” = “Straight Gate” = “Jesus”
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“we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux…” Acts 28:11
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But there is something even more amazing to all this. The two stars representing the Orion’s Gate: The Narrow Gate are mentioned in the Bible… Castor & Pollux. If you will turn to Acts 28:11, you will read that Paul and the men who accompanied him on the first ship (which crashed on the rocks), boarded a second ship whose sign was Castor & Pollux…these two bright stars.
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So we begin to realize that God is making a big statement here. Castor & Pollux symbolize Orion’s Gate: The Narrow Gate that we all must enter, if we wish to live forever… “Enter ye in at the STRAIT (NARROW) GATE: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14.
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And to this Jesus adds… “I AM THE DOOR: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9. So we begin to realize that this mysterious reference in Acts 28:11 to these two stars, Castor & Pollux was actually a reference to Jesus, who is that Orion’s Gate: The Narrow Gate which leads to eternal life. Incredible? Very! But click on above link (Castor & Pollux Stars) to read all about this!
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THE GLITTERING SWORD CONSTELLATION
click on the above title to explore in depth
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One January night in 2011, I was riding with my brother-in-law back to Klamath Falls, from Redding. It was a good dark night, so I urged him to stop, so I could show him the Wave of Water Constellation. And as we were looking up at the stars, I began to wonder if these Winter Constellations were aligned with the Summer Constellations. Now, the Summer Constellations were no longer visible, since it was January. So in the next few days, I began to research this idea. And after some time, I realized that the Winter Constellations appeared as the top portion of a sword, and the Summer Constellations appeared as the lower shaft and tip of a sword.
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Now most star charts must show the constellations on a curve to compensate for the curvature of the Earth: and it’s not so easy to see this alignment properly. But if you go out in January and February, you can see somewhat more of this phenomenon.
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SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN CONSTELLATION
click on the above title to explore in depth
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This last year (2012) I decided to go to Wikipedia and take each constellation on this website, and chart them out onto a piece of paper.
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Upon doing so, I noticed that it appeared somewhat like a Jesus, hanging on a Cross, with his head leaning back, as if he’s in pain.
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THE FLOWER OF HEAVEN CONSTELLATION
click on the above title to explore in depth
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Well, this entire story began with the Flower of the Field Constellation. And it looks like it will end with this Flower of Heaven Constellation. The first flower (Flower of the Field Constellation) came up out of the Earth. But this second flower is suspended from Heaven. This constellation was revealed to the web host around the beginning of 2013. As you can see in this sketch, this Flower of Heaven is composed primarily of the Corvus Constellation and stars from the Virgo Constellation. It appears to be suspended from the Golden Altar Constellation (a.k.a., Leo Major).
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(click on above title for link to read this article )
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THE HOLY-GHOST-RIDER CONSTELLATION
click on the above title to explore in depth
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Here is the newest revealed constellation (Fall, 2013). It completes and compliments the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation.
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The head and back of this constellation is made of the Constellation, Camelopardalis. The back of his leg is made of various stars in the Cassiopeia Constellation (Epsilon, Chi, plus other minor Cassiopeia stars: phi, theta, upsilon, etc., etc.)
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But what is the great concept which God is wanting us to see, in giving us this constellation? Well, to put it the most concise language, this Holy-Ghost-Rider
represents the Holy Spirit’s representation of Christ, as He leads the Church into battle, working through God’s people (represented, not only by the Horse, but also by the myriad of Milky Way stars, which flow through this Rider.
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OK, so to understand this constellation is a very complex concept. But also to find this Constellation will take some work, too. But it only makes sense that the Holy Spirit would be represented by such a mysteriously faint constellation, since the Holy Spirit works so imperceptibly in the hearts and lives of Believers.
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SIGNS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
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DISCOVERING SIGNS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
(click on this above title to read)
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It would seem that God has created our solar system to represent the 10 Commandments. Now this is only a theory. But it holds perhaps more weight of evidence than other popular theories (such as the Theory of Evolution). Anyway, this article explores some of that evidence, beginning with the Sun, which seems to represent the 1st Commandment: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”.
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Of course, one big clue is that Jesus compares Himself to the Sun, as this verse shows… “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Malachi 4:2. Some of the other evidences may surprise you.
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FIVE WISE VIRGINS
click on the above title to explore in depth
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Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis
A few weeks ago (May, 2014), this group of stars was noticed, as they are aligned in a slight oval position right next to the Beautiful 12-star Crown.
And these stars were maybe even a little brighter than the Crown.
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But those stars represented the Five Wise Virgins from Matthew 25. And that slight oval pattern represented their gathering around the Glorious Crown, giving the Crown the attention it deserved. In other words, it is only true worshippers of God who highly esteem the crown of victory which awaits those who persevere with Jesus to the very end!
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So then these Five Wise Virgins are gathered at the feet of the Sign of the Son of Man Constellation, just as Mary Magdalene sat at Jesus feet to hear His Word! And so this realization gave further credence to these stars representing the Five Wise Virgins.
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But even more than this, these five stars represent the five toes of Sign of the Son of Man Constellation! And so, this means that the crown represented the heel of that Son of Man, as He hung on the Cross.
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Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis
Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven Constellation
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THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS
click on the above title to explore in depth
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But there is a group of stars which were on the opposite side of the crown also in a slight oval pattern. But unlike the wise virgins, these stars were curved away from the crown as if to say that they were ignoring the crown. And likewise they were ignoring the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus, as the Five Wise Virgins were!
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But there is more to all this. You see, these stars, along with more stars appears like a snake, winding away from the crown.
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And then, to one’s utter amazement, this snake is winding its way around the heel of the Son of Man Constellation! And of course, this reminds one of the curse that was pronounced by God against the serpent in the Garden… “And the LORD God said unto the serpent…thou shalt bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:14 (condensed).
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So here was a constellation which appeared as a serpent, and was winding its way around the heel of the Son of Man hanging on the Cross!
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Now if this is not enough, just look up on the star charts regarding what stars and constellations these stars happen to be. And to your amazement, the wide-open jaws of this serpent are the very same four stars which the Babylonians saw as Draco, the Dragon (photo right). But the body of Draco are completely different stars than this Serpent Constellation! But the head is the same, only backwards, so that it appears as the wide-open jaws of a snake.
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But this phenomena wasn’t finished! There was yet another aspect to this! You see, these four stars which represent the jaws of this serpent are pointing in two separate directions. And so, if you draw a line across the night sky, you will discover that one jaw points to the Valley of Decision Constellation. And the other jaw points to the “O Destroying Mountain Constellation”, in which there was also a group of five stars, likewise representing the Five Foolish Virgins. Now on the star-charts, you can’t see this. But out in the night sky, they definitely point in those two directions!
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HAS JUST BEGUN
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You have read the very basics of this Heavenly Love Story. But there are many other articles to read on this website. If the Reader would read one article per day or even one per week, then he or she could gain great insight into this message, and the Bible concepts which these stars are pointing us to. What better use of one’s time could there be? The care and nourishment of one’s Soul is the highest privilege and duty of Mankind. And these signs were given by God; and to understand them will greatly aid the Christian, who seeks to be fully armored up for the Last Conflict just ahead.
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EDITOR’S NOTE…
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Some of the sketches on this website are not completely 100% accurate as to the placement nor the brightness of each star. However, they are hopefully close enough so to be able to locate these constellations in the night sky.
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As to the matter of locating these stars, there is a similarity to studying the Bible. Because like getting familiar with the Bible, what appears very difficult at first, soon becomes more and more easy to see. The student needs to devote time, prayer to the study of these things. And really, it’s not so important to be able to find these constellations as it is to understand the Biblical concepts that these heavenly signs point us to.
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And more than this, as Scripture points out… “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you…” 1st John 2:27. If you are properly studying your Bible, you need not any man to teach you…not even this website. Because all these concepts are from the Bible. And the Bible makes clear, just what is the Narrow Pathway to Heaven!
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The problem is, that the concepts from this website, though Biblical, are not expounded so much in today’s Christian world. And so, this website can be a wonderful collection of signs, pointing us to some very timely Biblical truths, which will help the reader to prepare for what is now just emerging upon the horizon.
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THE END
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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 – 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 – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – 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 these people 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 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 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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5 Reasons for the Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, Published 1776-1789
By admin On November 26th, 2013
Edward Gibbon “The Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire” (published 1776-1789), said the 5 reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire: (Taken from J. Vernon McGee’s study on Isaiah, Ch. 1:4-18, in his “Thru The Bible” program.)
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1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.
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2. Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.
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3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral.
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4. The building of great armaments when the great enemy was within; the decay of individual responsibility.
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5. The decay of religion, fading into a mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.
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From The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
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The Course of Empire Destruction – 1836 – Cole, Thomas – wikimedia – public domain
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THE END
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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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vermont night stargazing panorama 2009 wikipedia share-alike lic.
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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.
.
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.
.
The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
.
New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – 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.
.
Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
.
And unlike these people in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
.
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.
.
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.
.
Astronomy Amateur 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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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).
.
These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Chur
ch (7 Stars).
.
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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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…
.
Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
.
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!
.
(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.
.
And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
.
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!)
.
Starry Night at La Silla 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.
.
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.
.
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
The Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation
By admin On November 26th, 2013.
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“Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
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an adder in the path,
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that biteth the horse heels,
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so that his rider shall fall backward”
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Genesis 49:17.
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THE HOLY GHOST RIDER CONSTELLATION
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This newer Signs Of Heaven Constellation (Fall, 2013) is by far the faintest of constellations, but is a very incredible and awesome one in a number of ways (which this article will explain).
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It is primarily comprised of the Camelopardalis Constellation (head and upper back), plus about 5 stars from the Cassiopeia Constellation (his leg), plus some random stars. It appears as an outline of a rider. Only the back of his head is detailed. And his back and the back of his legs are also detailed. Both sides of his arm are visible, and his hand is gripping the horses mane, and that is detailed by three stars (which are also part of the horse’s mane). The rider is in a position vaguely similar to a race-horse jockey. The two brightest stars in this constellation, are from the Cassiopeia Constellation, and are part of his leg. All the rest of the stars are very faint, and must be viewed on a very starry night.
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Since this constellation has just been revealed, there may be more to this constellation in the coming months. But if you can locate the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation, then you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating this Rider Constellation, provided you have excellent star-watching conditions.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Holy-Ghost-Rider in the Western night-sky – late winter – signsofheaven.org – Non-profit uses only. The above picture is not a totally accurate, but hopefully close enough to locate these constellations in the night-sky. Scroll down this page to the paragraph titled, “Another Star-Chart”, to see actual star-charts.
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BIBLE VERSES PICTURED IN THE HEAVENS
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“With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.” Ezekiel 26:12
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Notice how the right front hoof is trampling on the tail of the Dragon. Also notice his eye is a star. It is best seen when in the western half of the sky. It is found in mid-sky traveling from east to west. In January, it is in the west after midnight. As winter progresses, it can be seen earlier and earlier in the evening. a dark sky with good star-visibility is best, but not absolutely necessary to see this constellation. It is found on the opposite side of the Dragon Constellation from Orion. And as already stated, this Goodly Horse Constellation can be seen best in mid-winter when it is in the western side of the sky, and you are looking at it while you are facing west. The nose and head of this horse is partly made from the Perseus Constellation. The tail and rear end is partly of the Cassiopeia Constellation. The hind-leg is made partly of stars from the Andromeda Constellation.
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STAR CHARTS
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Here are two charts. They are both the same chart, with this Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation sketched in on the lower chart.
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Chances are, unless the star-watching conditions are nearly perfect, the Reader might only see the back of the Rider, and the back of his leg. The head and rear end are extremely difficult to see, except under the most excellent conditions.
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ANOTHER STAR-CHART
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Here is a Wikipedia star-chart, in which the Editor has sketched in these three constellations. Now, while Orion, the Goodly Horse, and the Revelation 12 Dragon are made of very prominent and highly visible stars, the Holy Ghost Rider Constellation is very faint, for the most part.
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Most of the “Rider Constellation” is from the Camelopardalis Constellation community of stars.
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Horse & Rider Constellation – Wikipedia star-charts – Winter constellation as seen in the West.
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THE MILKY WAY RUNS THROUGH
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THIS HOLY-GHOST-RIDER
winter Constellations in the east
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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?” 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.
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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. Hence, this constellation is perhaps the most faint of all the constellations of Signs Of Heaven!
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A GENTLE BREEZE
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“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James
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Yes, as this above passage indicates that the Holy Ghost works so imperceptibly in the lives of Believers, that His presence is mostly impossible to detect. (Now those who are of a signs & wonders gospel might just say just the opposite: that the Holy Ghost is very detectible even to the point of having a powerful presence.) But the Lord is just not an In-your-face God, to say it in a popular vernacular. He’s just the opposite. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21.
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Snakehandling – Wikipedia – public dom.
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ANOTHER JESUS
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There are many today, who use this above passage to justify the fact that they are 
hearing an audible voice in their head, claiming to be God. But read this verse carefully. It says, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee”. People today are not hearing an actual voice with their actual ears. But in the signs & wonders gospels, they are hearing a nondescript voice in their head, which claims to be Jesus. And so this verse must be taken spiritually signifying that we hear God in our conscience. God doesn’t literally speak with an audible voice. We don’t hear Him with our literal ears. And God certainly doesn’t actually say the words, “This is the Way, walk ye in it” in an audible voice, every time we tend to swerve off the heavenly pathway! Nobody is even claiming that! They are hearing a voice in their head which gives them advice.
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But God comes to us in a still small voice in our conscience: a conviction which prompts us to do this, or don’t do that.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation – late winter in the west
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WHY THIS HORSEMAN HAS NO HEAD
Winter Constellations in the west
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So why does this Heavenly Horseman have no head? (Well, he does have the back of his head in view.) You see, God designed the various constellations featured on this website to be a composite of various biblical concepts, this constellation is no exception. This composite-phenomenon is also the reason why the Revelation 12 Woman Constellation likewise has no head prior to giving birth, but receiving her headship in winter as she flips upside down into her fleeing position, and her birth-star then becomes her head, representing Christ, who is the “head of the Church”. We might wish to say this again. The Revelation 12 Woman Constellation appears as a headless woman in summer, but flips upside-down in winter, and then appears as the fleeing Woman of Revelation, Ch. 12, but now with a head, a single star. (see Ephesians 5:23).
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Please read this little excerpt from the article, “The Goodly Horse Constellation”
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BUT HE DOES HAVE A HEAD, AFTER ALL!
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“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Col. 1:18
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This above passage explains why the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation has such a large head. Christ is that head of the Church. The Church is Christ’s body.
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And since this Goodly Horse is a horse in battle, it is very comforting to know that Christ is our head. Just listen… “With him (the Assyrian king) is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” 2nd Chron. 32:8
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ABOVE PICTURE – Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation – later winter in the west
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RIDER FALLING BACKWARDS
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“Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.” Genesis 49:17
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This winter constellation group presents a very incredible concept, concerning a great mystery found in Scripture. Just listen to this… “Canst thou…loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31. Yes, this mysterious verse from Job has now been unlocked, by the revealing of these Winter Constellations. And by combining this verse from Job with the above verse from Genesis, this reveals the answer to these Winter Constellations. This is because they are a picture of Genesis 49:17.
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That is, at the beginning of winter, this constellation group appears as if the horse and its rider are falling backwards. And if the Disciple of Jesus will only do a study on what “falling backwards” means, spiritually, then it becomes clear that falling backwards is a sign of apostasy. Now this does not make sense, if this Holy-Ghost-Rider represents the Holy Spirit, or even if He represents Jesus. But with all the myriad of stars flowing through this Horse and its Rider, then we begin to see that this prophecy concerns God’s people.
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ABOVE CHART: Early Winter Constellations in the east with Orion – Dragon (Hyades, Pleiades, etc.) – Glorious Horse (Perseus, Andromeda Constellation, etc.) – Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation (Camelopardalis, etc.)
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CHURCH APOSTATE!
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Yes, God’s people have been deceived by Satan in these last days, believing that God was 
working mightily through them, via signs and wonders.
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But unfortunately, the signs and wonders which have been so prominent and prevalent are merely the workings of Satan.
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Now how can one know that these signs and wonders are from the Devil, and not from God? Very simple! The real giveaway is the apostate, world-loving condition of the Church today, and especially the portion of the Church which are most interested in these signs and wonders.
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Just listen to James… “For let not that (double-minded) man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:7, 8.
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Notice it says that the double-minded person should not think that he (or she) will receive anything from the Lord. And that would obviously include signs and wonders!
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Falling Backwards – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Share-alike License
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SIGN OF FALLING BACKWARD
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But there is one sign which especially gives away the demonic source of these signs and wonders: the sign known as “falling backward”, or more commonly known as “being slain in the Spirit”. This totally unbiblical miracle has been performed on thousands of unsuspecting church-goers, over the past half-century or more. It happens when some Preacher or evangelist who has a “special anointing” touches the recipient, causing that recipient to fall backward. Now beside the truth that the most prominent of TV evangelists are amongst the most lawless and apostate gospels, this phenomenon hearkens back to the various places in the Bible, which speaks of falling backward as a sign of apostasy! From Genesis 49:17, speaking of the horse and rider falling backward, to the apostate priest, Eli falling backward and dying, to the angry mob led by Judas, coming against Jesus, in the garden. These and more are pointing us in one direction: apostasy! Yes, this sign being performed in Christendom today of “being slain in the spirit” really has its origin in the Bible. But it is a sign of damnation in the Bible, and not of Salvation!
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But perhaps the most direct revelation of this sign is found in Isaiah, in Chapter 28.
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Listen… “But the word of the LORD was unto them (the apostate amongst God’s people) precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and FALL BACKWARD, AND BE BROKEN, AND SNARED, AND TAKEN.” Isaiah 28:13
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Now this is a very complex subject and needs to be studied out carefully. And the Reader may wish to read… “Fleeing to the Mountains: The Abomination in the Church, Part 1”
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Jesus – Guards fall backward – Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane – Brooklyn Museum – US Public Domain
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“HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR”
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“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;” Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22
Holy Ghost Rider (above western horizon)
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As you can easily see, this horse has some very big ears. Of course, this presents a very big concept. And since this Rider represents the Holy Spirit, it is obvious that He is leaning close, as if to whisper His words in the horses’ ears. And so what is He (The Spirit) whispering in this horses ears? Well, primarily the messages to the 7 churches, found in Revelation Ch.’s, 2 & 3.
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But not everyone has ears to hear. Listen to Ezekiel… “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.” Ezek. 12:2. Yes, the rebellion amongst God’s professing people was great, and they had all but closed their ears from hearing truth.
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Well it’s the very same problem in the New Testament. Listen to Jesus… “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 7:16.
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So this Rider whispering into this Horse’s ears is a heavenly picture of this concept… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;” Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22.
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Now the great lesson to be learned, is that there are certain truths, which those who are rebellious in God’s house, will not be able to hear. And these messages to the 7 churches are those very types of messages, that many “Christians” just do not like to hear.
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And so, what is the bottom line. Well, it would be a very good idea, for each and every one of us to humble ourselves before God, and plead with Him to give us spiritual ears to hear these deeper truths which God is trying to tell us.
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ONE FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
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This message written in the heavens comes with message written in the Bible. To use a popular phrase, this is a “package deal”! One cannot separate the Bible from this starry message written in the heavens! These signs are given for the edification of the Church. And those who merely want some sort of, “ear-tickling heavenly side-show”, will be sadly disappointed! God is not wanting to turn these signs into a giant extravaganza!
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But for those who are seeking for true unity with Christ, these signs will be an encouragement to follow the message connected with them.
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And those who are willing carefully study this message, will ultimately see this message which was foretold in Luke 21:25-27…“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; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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THE END
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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 – 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 – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – 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 these people 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 – 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 – 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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Doctrine of Eternal Torment: Part 2
By admin On September 5th, 2013.
THIS IS PART 2: A CONTINUATION OF “Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment”
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THE READER CAN ALSO READ A SERIES OF SHORT DEVOTIONALS ON THIS TOPIC… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”
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“Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I 
came out of the belly?….
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For now should I have lain still and been quiet…
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…Then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
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…Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver…
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…There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
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…There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
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…The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.”
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Job 3:11-19 (condensed)
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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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THE ETERNAL MERCY OF GOD
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“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these 
things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24
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This above verse from Jeremiah, exhorts us to get to know God, and what He is all about! And this is one big reason for this giant experiment in sin, called Planet Earth: so that the host of Heaven might explore just who God truly is…
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“And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.
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So God has called the human race to come and search out just what is the true nature of God. God has given us this Book, which must be carefully and prayerfully and thoroughly studied out, in order to ultimately find truth…
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“Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 107:43
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Jesus – Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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AN ANGRY, QUICK-TEMPERED GOD
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When one first approaches the Bible, it does not take long to discover we have a very angry, 
quick-tempered God. At least that is the way it seems. Thousands are slaughtered in multiple places in the Old Testament! And various people are instantly zapped, for minor infractions, such as gathering sticks for firewood on the Sabbath.
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But as one gets to know God, both by experience and by revelation of the Scriptures, more and more is seen a loving, forgiving God! And finally, Jesus appears on earth, and turns out to be totally kind and non-violent!
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So why is there such a seeming disparity in Scripture, regarding our God?
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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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GOD’S LOVE SEEN IN THE CROSS
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The love of God is most profoundly understood in the Cross. This wonderful painting shows all 
the people gazing up at Jesus…wondering just who is this noble Being hanging there, upon the Cross…
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“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness…For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”
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Lamentations 3:22-3:34, 40, 41 (condensed for brevity’s sake).
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In this above passage is revealed that God’s wrath has no purpose other than to turn us away from our love of sin and selfishness!
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James Tissot: As seen from the cross. – Wikipedia – US public-domain
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CHRIST DID NOT SUFFER ETERNAL TORMENT
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The Cross reveals God’s great love. “Eternal Torment” makes no sense, in the light of the Cross. Christ did not suffer “Eternal Torment” on the Cross, and neither does anyone else suffer in flames for eternity.
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Christ paid for each and every sin committed by each and every human who ever lived on this Earth, and still Christ did not suffer eternal torment!
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If He did, then He would still be suffering torment in flames…FOREVER!!! But He’s not!
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But rather… “He (Christ) said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the Ghost.”
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As this above verse declares, Christ said, “It is finished”, and then He died! Mankind’s sins had just been paid for in those six hours! Then Jesus died.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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WRESTLING WITH SCRIPTURES…
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But it is such man-contrived dogmas as, “eternal torment of the world”, that we must search out 
intelligently, comparing scripture with scripture. And if those church authorities who, long ago, originally came up with this church doctrine had done their homework, prayerfully, they would have realized that this doctrine is un-biblical.
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But this has happened, as is written… “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2nd Peter 3:16.
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With so many Bible passages that speak of Hell as simply the grave, one must aggressively wrestle away such contradictions to hold fast to this doctrine of “Eternal Torment”.
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Listen… “His (Man’s) breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4.
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This is, no doubt, a much neglected verse to many of those who tenaciously hold to the idea that the lost are endlessly tormented, beginning the moment they die. So we see here that God’s Word is written in such a way that, “they that are unlearned and unstable wrestle, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
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ABOVE PICTURE: Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible
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DEVIL PARADES SUCH HERESIES
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While there are basic Bible truths which are easily seen, there are many other truths which are very difficult to understand. And if someone just rashly tries to understand the Bible without 
careful and prayerful study, they can really end up with such doctrines as this one of “Eternal Torment”.
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And the Devil has been pleased to parade this heresy before this unbelieving world for the past centuries. Because by so-doing, Satan has caused perhaps, the most rational of humans to turn away from “such an unmerciful God” in disgust, not realizing the true nature of God, who in reality, loathes to see humans suffer.
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And the truth concerning, “What and Where is Hell”, happens to be one of those difficult truths, that is easily misunderstood. God purposely made this one of those truths that must be carefully balanced by comparing together many related verses. And maybe God has purposely allowed this false doctrine to continue, so as to allow those who truly desire truth, to search out these false ideas, and ultimately discover just how much greater and merciful God actually is.
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Holy bible – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.
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THE BIBLE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
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“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
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The problem is, that if a person tries to interpret such scriptures by themselves, without searching out EVERYTHING in Scripture which has similar language, they are bound to get into trouble. Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. We must approach the Bible under those terms. We cannot come to the Bible with carnal hearts…
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“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Corinthians 2:14.
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This above verse reveals that those who are carnally-minded will not, and cannot discern the spiritual truths which lay below the surface. And let’s face it, the house of God is filled with many, who faithfully attend church, and yet have never become Born Again, and are still unconverted: they are what Scripture refers to as, “the natural man.”
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Just listen to Scripture… “Therefore speak I to them in parables…Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” Matthew 13:13 & John 12:39, 40. Christ has written His Bible in such a way that those who are not consecrated to God cannot fully understand the Bible.
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But anyway, We will explore these four commonly misunderstood passages a little bit down this page.
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La Bible, Notre-Dame – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE…
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“For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 66:15, 16
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Now, it must be noted, that one great reason why this doctrine of,“eternal torment of the lost” has survived over the centuries, is the fact that God speaks so often of His fiery judgment. Listen again to this above passage from Isaiah…
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“For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 66:15, 16
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Does anyone take this above passage literally? The Old Testament Jews did! And then when Jesus showed up on the scene, they were confused by His mild manners and quiet voice. They were expecting chariots and fire and swords. They thought that Christ was some Divine Jehu, furiously riding through the heavens in His chariot, raining down fiery lightning-bolts upon all His enemies. The above passage has probably been the source of much misunderstanding through the ages. When the unlearned, or the carnally-minded attempt to interpret such passages as this, then the result is wrong doctrine and even heretical teachings.
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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia
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“RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD…”
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But if one will prayerfully search the Scriptures with a consecrated heart, this passage is very simple to interpret. By comparing similar passages in Scripture, we find such verses as this one… “And take the helmet of salvation, and THE SWORD of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:” Ephesians.
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So by searching the Bible we begin to understand the God’s sword is the Bible.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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FLAMES = GOD’S MINISTERS
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But what about those flames of fire? Just listen to Hebrews… “(God), who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7. OK, so now we see that God’s ministers are spoken of here as, “flames of fire”.
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Now we have unlocked the true meaning this passage… “For by fire (God’s ministers) and by His sword (The Bible) will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 66:15, 16. And isn’t it true that for 2,000 years now, God has been pleading with all humanity, via His ministers (us), and with His great sword, the Bible?
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So one question remains: Who are the many who are slain by God’s ministers and by God’s Bible? Just listen to Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me:” Galatians 2:20.
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Listen to this next passage… “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” Romans 7:9-11
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So it is by God’s Word, preached by God’s people, that will ultimately result in many people hearing the Word, and at last, becoming “crucified with Christ”. And so His ministers are those “flames of fire”, which slay the wicked (in a spiritual sense).
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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama
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BIBLE A TWO-EDGED SWORD
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But though there are those, as just mentioned, who die-to-self, like Paul. Yet there are others who just die. The Word of God is a two-edged sword.
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Listen… “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:11-13.
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So the Word of God pierces the heart of those who, like Paul, are being saved by grace. Yet for those who turn from His grace, this double edged sword is quick to destroy. And perhaps this is how we must understand Isaiah 66, that one way or another, all must die, and God’s glittering sword, the Bible will judge all, one way or another… “For by fire (God’s ministers) and by His sword (The Bible) will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 66:15, 16.
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STRONG DELUSION
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The great problem is, that it is impossible to fully discover the deeper truths of the Bible, until one has fully surrendered to the Lord.
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Scripture proclaims… “And ye shall seek me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.
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Those who desire to seek after the cares and pleasures of this world will not truly find the Lord. God accepts no divided service.
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Jesus plainly told His disciples… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.
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And so there are many church-goers who continue to attend church each week, year after year, but who are locked out from ever truly finding God! Because of their divided heart, they are unable to understand the hidden Manna, which is locked up in parables and metaphors.
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On the contrary, they will, quite often scoff at those who see the deeper, more spiritual truths of the various Bible testimonies! They will say things like, “Oh you’re just trying to spiritualize away the Bible!” And in a sense, they are correct! Yes, we must spiritualize away the shadows and types and symbols in Scripture, in order to understand the true reality!
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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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“THEY FORSOOK ALL & FOLLOWED HIM”
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When Jesus called His Disciples, Scripture declares… “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11. These Disciples represent all Christians, as we likewise forsake all to follow Jesus.
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But for those who come into the church, only to withhold from giving all: to this class, the Bible plainly declares… “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, 12.
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The Bible declares our love for this selfish world is the basis of Man’s sin. Listen… “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.
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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy wikigallery.com – public domain
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CHRISTIANITY: A FULL SURRENDER
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When God calls a person into His service, that person has been called to fully commit his or her life to the Lord. And though we are commanded to work and to provide for ourselves and our families, this doesn’t interfere with our total engagement in pursuit of Jesus. Quite the contrary! The Christian can apply the principles of the Bible to everyday situations, thus receiving practical application of the Bible while on the job in the workplace.
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It is only when the Christian goes beyond and begins to devote his or her self to the pride, and the self-seeking, that the purity of the Gospel has been compromised with the glitter and pomp and opulence of this present world.
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New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL AND ITS RESULTS?
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Many skeptics like to point the accusing finger at God and say He’s a tyrant, because He allows all this evil and suffering in the world, when if He wanted, He could stop it all.
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As God looks down upon this renegade planet, He sees the Earth’s inhabitants walking in all our rebellious ways. But God allows us to carry out our devices. He ultimately wishes for this “Planet In Rebellion” to be a lesson-book for all God’s host of Heaven… “Slay them not, lest my people forget:” Isaiah 59:11.
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So God allows Mankind to carry out our sins and schemes to their ultimate retribution, so that His people will not forget the folly of sin and rebellion. “for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the i
nhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:9.
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As the sinner experiences the, “vanity and vexation of spirit” which results from our seeking after the things of the world, that sinner will hopefully turn from his folly, and return to the Lord.
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So God is doing what any loving parent might do if a rebellious child will not repent; God has, for a time, placed us in a world full of selfishness, so that we might see the results of selfishness, and finally realize that God’s way was the best way after all.
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“And they that escape of you shall remember Me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from Me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.” Ezekiel 6:9.
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So here God tells us what the expected end will be, when at last, we finally learn that sin and selfishness is not the way to true peace and joy.
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Listen… “For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth, Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. ” Lamentations 3:31-34, 40, 41
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This above passage reveals God’s true motives for allowing evil and the suffering which results! So that we will turn again, back to the Lord!
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The_Course_of_Empire_Destruction_1836 Cole_Thomas_- Wikimedia – public domain
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4 PASSAGES WHICH CAUSE CONFUSION…
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This next section deals with those commonly mis-understood passages, which cause confusion concerning the true nature of Hell.
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There are perhaps four passages in Scripture, that if taken out of context, would give a person the idea that God is a ruthless tyrant, who will eternally torture, by fire, all those who refuse to follow Jesus. This next section will discuss these four passages.
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#1 Passage: “And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11
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#2 Passage: The parable of the “Rich Man & Lazarus” found in Luke 16:19
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#3 Passage: The passages from Isaiah 66 & Mark 9, which states… “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
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#4 Passage: Peter’s Epistle refers to Jesus preaching to the “spirits in prison”. Listen… “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 1st Peter 3:18-20
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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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SMOKE RISING UP FOR EVER AND EVER…
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“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.”
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Now it is time to fully address this passage from Revelation 14, which speaks of smoke rising for ever and ever. The above verse from Revelation 14 sounds as if it is the last word on the subject of “eternal torment”. Every 
unbeliever will be tormented forever and ever. And the smoke of their eternal torment will rise for ever. But is this the last word on this subject? Of course not! The Bible was written by God to be one whole doctrine. It must ALL be studied. One or two or even a dozen verses does not end the discussion on these more difficult questions. God always has more to say on these confusing issues. And the subject of what happens to unbelievers is of great concern to God.
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magnifying glass – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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ANOTHER ‘SMOKE-RISING-FOREVER’ PASSAGE
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So let’s explore this idea of smoke ascending up for ever and ever. Just listen to this passage, and how it ends up… “Come near, ye nations, to hear…For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He has utterly destroyed them, He has delivered them to the slaughter…And all the
host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll…For My sword shall be bathed in heaven… For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance…And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; THE SMOKE THEREOF SHALL GO UP FOR EVER:” Isaiah 34:1-5, 9, 10.
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Ah-ha! So here we have another “smoke rising forever” passage! And so this above passage gives us further insight into the meaning of Revelation 14, which says… “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.”
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Church Burning – Burning Man – 2013 – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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READ ON A LITTLE FARTHER…
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OK, so if we stopped right here, we would have a picture of a fiery planet, after God’s final judgment, in which fire would endlessly burn, and the smoke would rise up forever and ever. Correct? But if we keep reading, a completely different outcome is presented. So let’s keep reading this passage from Isaiah as it continues to describe this Post-Judgment Earth…
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” It shall not be quenched night nor day; THE SMOKE THEREOF SHALL GO UP FOR EVER…from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever…and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls…There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded, and His spirit it hath gathered them…they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.” Isaiah 34:9, 10, 15, 16 (shortened for brevity)
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What happened? Where are all the screaming multitudes? Where’s the fire?
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Now the above verse speaks of the day of God’s vengeance. It speaks of desolation and destruction of the Earth. It speaks of the smoke ascending up for ever and ever. It speaks of the land laying desolate…for ever and ever.
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Athene cunicularia -Colorado Desert, California, USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic. 2.0
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WHERE ARE THE SCREAMING MULTITUDES?
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So, the obvious question is: how does this passage fit into the entire scenario of God’s ultimate judgment upon earth? Where are all the screaming people?
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Well, it says here, that they were all utterly destroyed! Just listen again to this same passage from Isaiah 34… “For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter”. Does this passage say the people of the world will be endlessly tormented? No, it says they are “utterly destroyed”. Death. And it says here that the fire goes out as well, and becomes re-populated by the beasts of the field.
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But it also says, “THE SMOKE THEREOF SHALL GO UP FOR EVER:” God has purposely hidden the answer to Revelation 14 here in Isaiah 34. The smoke of their torment may ascend for ever and ever, but the inhabitants have already been “utterly destroyed”. So the smoke here on Judgment Day rises for ever, in spite of the fact that the wicked have previously been utterly destroyed, and the fire has previously been extinguished.
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Granted this passage has some difficult language. But the point is, you just cannot take for granted that Revelation 14 is speaking of endless torment. Endless smoke rising? Yes! But not endless torment. God has expanded on Revelation 14, here in Isaiah 34. And now it becomes clear that this verse from Revelation 14 has nothing to do with this unbiblical idea known as “Eternal Torment”!
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Boreal pine forest 5 years after fire, 2011-07 – Wikimedia – public domain
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DON’T IGNORE ISAIAH, CH. 34
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And this is t
he point of this above passage from Isaiah 34: that even though there is smoke rising for ever and ever, there is nobody being tortured here. Is there? Were there people tormented? Oh yes. Revelation 14 makes that abundantly clear! But they were finally destroyed. Isaiah makes that clear. Then the fire goes out. And then it talks of the various beasts and owls, like the one in this photo, which will live there…
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“There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate:”
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And so this passage ends with a happy ending, saying that all these creatures will populate the Earth after God’s judgment… “And none shall lack her mate”!
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So we begin to understand that when smoke “ascends for ever and ever”, it doesn’t mean that those enemies of God will be tormented for ever and ever. Tormented? Yes! But not tormented endlessly!
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Notice that the land is now desolate. And notice that “none shall pass through it for ever and ever”. And yet this land will be a home for various unclean beasts and owls. But where is all this so-called “Eternal Torment”? Where are all those humans being tormented for ever and ever? They are nowhere to be found! And yet the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever!
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ABOVE PICTURES:
Picture: Living_desert by Dsyrengelas at Wikipedia – share-alike license
Picture-Spotted Eagle Owl Yawning – Wikipedia – public domain
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ANOTHER “FOREVER AND EVER” BIBLE PASSAGE
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But back to the subject of smoke rising forever.
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Listen to this next passage, speaking of that Mystery City, Babylon… “And he (the angel)…saying, Babylon the great is fallen…Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, 
and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her. And the kings of the earth…shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying…in one hour is thy judgment come…And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!…for in one hour is she made desolate…And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all…AND HER SMOKE ROSE UP FOR EVER AND EVER.” Revelation Ch. 18 & 19:3 (condensed)
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From this passage, we see that Mystery Babylon, a spiritual city, comprised of all the apostate Christian organizations which have persecuted God’s true Church through the ages (see the article, “The woman Of Revelation 18” ).
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1 HOUR JUDGMENT
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Finally comes her Judgment Day. But notice that her punishment comes in one hour. But the smoke of her torment rises up “for ever and ever”. So where’s the eternal torment? This city is cast into the sea. This is spiritual language to indicate that these apostate Christian organizations were to be cast into the sea; the sea representing the world (see Revelation 17:15). It is found “no more at all”. In other words, the apostate church was cast out of God’s kingdom, causing the apostate church to be totally separated from God; totally amalgamated with the world and its secular ideologies and worldly philosophies.
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DEEPER TRUTHS LOCKED UP IN PARABLES
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And yet the smoke of her burning, “ascends up for ever and ever”. Now we begin to see this phrase, “smoke ascends up for ever and ever”, now taking on an entirely different connotation. As already stated, so many try to interpret these spiritual concepts as though they are to be 
understood literally.
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But they are spiritual… “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Cor. 2:14.
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Those who are of the apostate Church, the “Jerusalem which is now, and is in bondage with her children” just cannot understand the deeper, allegorical truths, which God has locked up from their understanding.
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To these, Jesus says… “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand…Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear My Word.” Matthew 13:13 & John 8:43
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ABOVE PICTURE:
Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia
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SMOKE & FIRE: LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE
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“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth. There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.” Psalm 18:7-10
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Now this above passage presents a picture which is very seldom discussed to any great degree. And no wonder! How can we deal with such a scenario as this? Just listen to the concepts described here! Are the foundations of the hills going to literally be shaken because of God’s wrath? Or literal smoke coming out of God’s nostrils, and actual devouring fire coming out of His mouth? Or literal coals kindled by that fire? And what about God literally riding on a cherub? or does He literally fly on the literal wings of the wind?
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The question to be asked is this: “Is this language to be understood literally or figuratively?” Is the fire coming out of God’s mouth literally going to kindle coals? Is God going to literally ride on a cherub, and on the wings of the wind?
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Well, one thing is for certain. This passage is a difficult one, to say the least!
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Michelangelo – Wikipedia – public domain
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DISAGREEMENT AMONG THEOLOGIANS
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The fact is, there are many theologians who disbelieve in the notion that the lost will be eternally roasting in literal flames. As a matter of fact, perhaps as much as 50% of Christians believe that Hell is merely an eternal separation from God! And so, the number of Christians who actually believe in a literal hell-fire torment is not as great as one might believe.
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And it must remembered, that only a small percentage of Christians actually study our Bibles to any great extent.
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For instance, one survey found that 75% of Christians believed that the old wive’s fable, “God helps those who help themselves”, is actually a verse from the Bible!
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And so, with such a prevailing ignorance of the Bible, it is no small wonder that such doctrines as “Eternal Torment” have survived so long! And it can only be concluded that most Christians are confused on this issue, and must merely accept what their favorite Bible teachers tell them to believe! Oh yes, we may know the stock verses which are taught in support of these church doctrines! But most of us have never studied the whole matter thoroughly out, considering all related passages.
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And so, there are two passages which are very applicable today concerning the present situation in the church-world… “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6
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And the next passage as well… “O My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” Isaiah 3:12
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Yes, both of these above verses can very well apply to the condition of God’s people today! There is a great lack of knowledge of God’s Word within the church-world. And as a result, we are easy prey for Satan to come through false shepherds who mingle truth with error!
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ABOVE PICTURE – Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible
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FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN
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Well to find the answer to this puzzling question, let’s go down a few verses from this above 
passage and continue reading… “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.” Psalm 18:16.
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Now do we suppose that David here was speaking of being pulled out of literal waters? Or was he speaking metaphorically? Well this was obviously metaphorical. And why?
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Because David had previously, in the very same Psalm, made the statement… “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the FLOODS of ungodly men made me afraid.” Psalm 18:4.
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OK, so now this begins to make sense. David is speaking about the “floods of ungodly men.” He is not speaking of literal waters nor of literal floods.
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THE BIBLE IS A SPIRITUAL BOOK
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And so, this is why this passage has been presented. It is just one of many passages which could be offered to illustrate the fact that the Bible is a spiritual book. When God speaks in terms of nature, He is usually speaking metaphorically. When God speaks of trees, or mountains, or rocks, etc., He is making a metaphorical statement.
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David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US public domain
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“THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH,
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WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE”
John 14:17
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And so, to understand much of the Bible, requires the presence of the Holy Spirit to interpret these things. And spiritual things must be compared with spiritual things, in order to get a proper understanding as to the true meaning of what is being presented. And these more difficult passages require much prayer and much searching and comparing scripture with similar scripture.
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It is just as Peter warned us… “As also in all his (Paul’s) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” 2nd Peter 3;16.
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Peter here is warning us that many passages in the Bible are hard to understand. It takes hard work, great discernment and a humble, teachable spirit, to rightly discern the word of truth.
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And good theologians have sometimes searched many hours, just trying to unlock the true meaning of such passages as the one presented in this little section… (“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth. There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.” Psalm 18:7-10).
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And not one of us is beyond the danger of misunderstanding any of these difficult passages. So we must never look down our long noses at anyone else. After all, this erroneous doctrine has been embedded in Christendom for many long centuries!
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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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JUDE SPEAKS OF ETERNAL FIRE
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But as a further proof that eternal punishment does not mean “eternal torment”, just listen “And he looked toward (this site cannot name this city because of Internet censorship), and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, a
nd, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” Genesis 19:28.
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Sodom received the vengeance of God. The smoke of Sodom went up as a furnace.
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But listen to what Jude 1:7 says…“Sodom, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:7.
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So, was the fire that fell on Sodom “eternal” in nature? Well this passage from Jude says it was. But did the fire go out? Yes, indeed! The fire went out! As a matter of fact, if you go over there to the Dead Sea, today, and look around, you will find no fire burning! But it says plainly in Jude that “eternal fire” fell on them. This is why a total understanding of truth cannot be arrived at from just one verse.
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No, Bible truth is found by a prayerful adding of “line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, here a little there a little”.
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Picture–Lot Escapes – Genesis3-www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart-public domain.
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“THEY HAVE NO REST (UNTO THEIR SOULS)
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DAY NOR NIGHT”
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“And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11
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Now let’s confront this concept of having “no rest, day nor night”.
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This word for “rest” in the above passage is the same word found in the following passage… “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.” Matt. 11:28-30.
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In Greek this word “rest” means to “rejuvenate” or “recreate”. Or simply put, it means “to rest”. But the important thing is, it is exactly the same Greek word found in the Mark of the Beast warning in Revelation Ch. 14, (“and they have no rest, day nor night”).
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Christ says in the above passage from Matthew 11:28-30 (“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.”)
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Here is a plea to the whole Human Family! God knows how weary and heavy laden we can get. He sees our struggles, and secret sorrows and private fears. And Jesus bids us come and enter into His “Rest unto your souls”. Yes, Rest is something that only God can give. And only those who have taken the yoke of Jesus, will experience this Rest unto the soul.
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ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd (Orion Constellation and rod made of Gemini stars) – www.signsofheaven.org
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“WICKED LIKE THE TROUBLED SEA”
Isaiah 57:20
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Look at a similar passage from Isaiah… “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot 
REST, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is NO PEACE, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20, 21.
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This verse is not speaking about some Hellish afterlife-existence! It’s talking about now! It’s speaking of you and me, and every one of us who has sin in our lives. It speaks to everyone who has not fully entered into God’s Spiritual Rest.
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Jesus bids each and every one of us to… “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30 (condensed).
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Sin brings unrest. Sin steals away our peace. It makes us weary. Sin causes illness, misery and ultimately, Death. Yes, we must agree with Isaiah’s confession… “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20, 21.
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When it says “There is no peace…to the wicked”, this word “peace” is also translated as “rest”. You could scripturally say here… “There is no REST…to the wicked.” But either word, “peace” or “rest”, works very well.
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De Windstoot A ship in need in a raging storm (Willem van de Velde II, 1707)
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“…VEXATION OF SPIRIT…”
Ecclesiastes 2:17, 26
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The point is, all this unsaved world cannot enjoy the peace and rest which the abiding child of God enjoys. Oh yes, Mankind sleeps at night. Oh yes, they enjoy recreation, and get their “R & R’s”. But there is an inner-turmoil and vexation of spirit, which underlies Mankind’s existence. This inner torment will remain with each member of Humanity until at last, they cease from troubling in the grave.
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But should one turn away from this world of sin and confusion, and turn to Jesus, then the following verse may be said concerning them… “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
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What an incredible promise! Peace that surpasses all understanding!
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To fully understand this concept of rest and torment, just read Mark of the Beast–”They Have No Rest, Day Nor Night”
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Girl with a Bible – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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WHAT IS “OUTER DARKNESS”?
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“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13
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So this above verse from the Parable of the Wedding Supper, speaks of an uninvited guest. And this parable comes to a climax in which judgment is executed against one of the guests who had no wedding garment (symbolizing Christ’s “Robe of Righteousness”).
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parable of the wedding guest wikigallery US public domain
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WEDDING FEAST NOW!
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Most people assume that wedding supper takes place after this world is ended, and we are up in Heaven. But the wedding supper happens to be going on right now, even as we speak! When a person answers the call to become a Follower of Jesus, that wedding feast already begins.
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Listen… “Wisdom hath builded her house…She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table…She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city…Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.” Proverbs 9:1-3, 5.
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So this passage reveals that the feast to which we are called, is to partake of God’s Word, every day, yea, every hour of the day! So in essence, when a person has been called to come follow Jesus, they have likewise have been called to the wedding supper of the Lamb. And what do little lambs do all day? They nibble on grass. And as God’s lambs, that exactly what we are to do all day too! Right?
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Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain