Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 3: The Abomination in My Heart
By admin On May 19th, 2012.
Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size
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FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS
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“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” Mark 13:14
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So, it says when we see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place, those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains.
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This photo is of the mountains of Judea.
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But is this where we should flee?
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Or is there a deeper meaning to this passage of Mark 13:14?
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Judean Hills Panorama from beth meir – wikipedia – share-alike license.
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“THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD…ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED”
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“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolish
ness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Corinthians 2:14
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This above verse let’s us know that the Bible cannot be understood by those who are still carnally-minded. The fact is, the Bible is a spiritual Book, and it says, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1st Corinthians 2:13.
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There are many today who teach the Bible, yet who cannot see the spiritual truths which lie below the surface of the Bible.
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Holy bible – cropped image – wikimedia creative commons lic.
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“EYES THAT SEE NOT…EARS THAT HEAR NOT”
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God has purposely hidden many truths in the Bible by simply speaking in allegories. Listen… “Therefore speak I to them in parables (or allegories)…lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (see Matthew 13:10-15).
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Both the Old and New Testaments are literally teeming with stories containing parabolic symbolism. And many of these stories still remain mysterious as to just what is the deeper spiritual meaning.
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But now, God is giving us a message written in the heavens. But that message only directs us back into the Bible, the infallible Word of truth. And this article will explore the heavens, that it may be shown what the Bible has to say about this very important subject. So come along, and see if these things are in harmony with the Bible.
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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 in the fall months)
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REVELATION 12 WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon…And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels…And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness…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 12:1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 15
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Here is a sketch of this Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12. This is the Winter Constellations of Signs Of Heaven. Besides Orion and his Horse, we also see pictured in this sketch, the Dragon of Revelation 12.
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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation is fleeing. As you can see, the Dragon Constellation is spewing a flood of water in her direction, as is written… “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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This wave of water represents Satan’s lies, and his false teachers who tell those lies.
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Beholding the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation in winter, it seems that God is trying to get a very important message across to His people: that His Church is to flee, as this woman is doing! But what are they to flee from? Well, you can go to the article titled “The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation”
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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS-SEEN IN FALL: This sketch above is how this constellation group appears in the eastern sky in fall. This is the four primary constellations of the Winter Constellations. They can be seen in this position, in the late fall above the eastern horizon. The Woman of Revelation 12 is commonly called Ursa Major or The Big Dipper and appears in the north. Orion the Soldier is the at the bottom is to the south of the Woman. The The Dragon of Revelation Constellation’s mouth isThe Hyades Cluster, and the tip of his tail is Pleiades, and his Wave of Water is primarily the Auriga constellation. The Glorious Horse Constellation head is of Perseus Constellation and his rear end is Cassiopeia Constellation.
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A WARNING SIGN: TO FLEE THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION!
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OK, so this woman is fleeing from the Dragon? But is she fleeing from anything else?
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The opening verse in this article, is a passage which is found in three of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
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Here is that passage again… “But when ye shall see the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” Mark 13:14.
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OK, so God’s people are to flee from the Abomination of Desolation. But what is the Abomination of Desolation? And how does this wave of water coming out of the Dragon’s mouth tie in with the Abomination of Desolation?
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ABOVE SKETCH: “Flee To The Mountains”: A concept picture, and not a true star-chart.
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MIRROR OF THE SOUL
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A Christian may look into the bathroom mirror, and may or may not be too happy about what they see. Anyone may feel inferior to others, because of one’s looks.
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But while it’s true to a great degree, that Mankind looks upon the outward things, yet God looks upon the matters of the heart.
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Listen… “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1st Samuel 16:7.
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He sees us according to our heart. He looks upon the inner-person.
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And though a person may not be highly esteemed in the eyes of the world, yet God can very well see that trusting, faithful child of God as the most beautiful of persons on the face of the Earth, because He looks on the inner person, and not on mere outward beauty!
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Mirror globe by Arpingstone for Wikipedia – Public Domain
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THE BEAST WITHIN…
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“Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?” Job 18:3
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The first part of this discussion, The Abomination in the Churches (click here to read), dealt with the Abomination of Desolation and how it has entered into today’s churches via false brethren who bring their worldly ways into the Church, thus causing a detrimental influence to permeate like yeast throughout the churches.
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And this is a very important truth concerning the apostasy of the churches.
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But let’s really bring this concept home! Just how does this all relate to you and to me as individual Christians?
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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY…AND IT IS US!
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Here’s a concept: Bible prophecy is not fully understood until it is revealed in the bathroom mirror. 
That is, the true meaning of any Bible passage must reveal to the individual Christian, his or her heart condition.
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Otherwise, we are merely dealing in cold, abstract ideas, having little practical relevance.
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In other words, if all that is learned from a Bible prophecy seminar, is that the bad guys are, “those people over there”, then the Bible student needs to dig deeper…much deeper!
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And upon a deeper exploration, comparing Scripture with Scripture only, it will be eventually discovered that the bad guys are “me”!
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mirror – wikipedia public domain
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DESPERATELY WICKED
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Just listen… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10.
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What an indictment! And knowing that the “heart is desperately wicked, and deceitful above all things”, makes a person just shake their head in amazement at all those books and TV shows dedicated to understanding what’s in a person’s heart!
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BIBLE: A SUPERNATURAL BOOK
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“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” 2nd Thessalonians 2:11.
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“Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets…” 2nd Chronicles 18:22
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These two above verses go hand-in-hand to reveal a great truth concerning the great deception within the Church!
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Yes, God has written the Bible in such a way, that it reveals to each person whatever is the ruling force within each particular individual.
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Listen to David… “With the merciful Thou (God) wilt show Thyself merciful; with an upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright; With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure; and with the froward Thou wilt show Thyself froward.” Psalm 18:25, 26.
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For those who wish to prove the Bible is not the Word of God, they will have no trouble finding error within its pages. For those who wish the “bad guys” to be someone else, the Bible will point the accusing finger at “the other guy”. For those who wish to find an excuse to sin, the Bible will supply excuses. For those who don’t want to be bothered with Bible study, the Bible will give the necessary permission to be excused from Bible study. For those who want to go after worldly enterprises, earthly riches, or amusements and pleasures, the Bible contains the necessary encouragements to do so. And on and on and on it goes. The Bible is a supernatural Book, revealing the motives of the heart of each and every reader!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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BIBLE REVEALS MY OWN HEART
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In other words, for those who wish to find the Jesus of their own making, there are enough relevant passages in which to do so (for there are many “Jesus’s”, howbeit false ones). No, it’s not that the Bible has lies in it. Oh yes, every Word of God is true and pure! But God has written it in such a way, to judge each and every person, as to show just exactly what is in a person’s own heart.
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Listen… “For the Word of God is (living), 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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But for those who seek to become a true Follower of Jesus, the Bible begins to open up to that Believer. At first, it may only be a few passages. But it is enough for that individual to begin that upward journey on the pathway of truth. And more and more, as time goes by, does that truth-seeker begin to comprehend further Bible passages.
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And that pathway begins to shine brighter and brighter on the road to the Celestial City of God… “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Proverbs 4:18, 19
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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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“FLEE AS A BIRD TO YOUR MOUNTAIN”
Psalm 11:1
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And here is how all this is brought home “into our bathroom mirror”, so to speak. As discussed in Part 1, the concept of “Abomination” is spoken of repeatedly in Scripture. But this Part 2 deals with the abomination in our own heart.
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If you or I have worldliness within our own heart: if the qualities found in Proverbs 6:16-18, (“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and he that sows discord amongst brethren!” Proverbs 6:16-19);
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If these qualities exist within us, then it could be said that the Abomination of Desolation exists in my own heart…in your own heart. Then we can say that the Abomination of Desolation is standing in the temple of God…my soul-temple…your soul-temple.
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“LET HIM THAT READS, RUN”
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And if this is the condition of our heart, then you and I really need to flee. And so, this is what this Revelation 12 Woman (above sketch) is fleeing from: the sin which exists, not only in the world, and not only in God’s House, the Church. But she is also fleeing from the sin which exists within her own heart! And this Revelation 12 Woman not only represents the Church as a whole; but she represents every True Worshipper of God, as individuals.
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Revelation 12 Woman Fleeing To Mountains (This is a concept picture: not a star-chart. Do not try to locate these constellations together, since they are actually located in different regions of the heavens)
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“WHERE IS ‘OUGHT NOT’!?!”
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“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” Mark 13:14
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Now to natural man this above passage appears to concern only those who live in literal Judea, as it says… “…let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains”. But to those with the spiritual eyes of discernment, this passage concerns God’s people wherever God’s people happen to be.
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After all, it says in the above verse, “When ye shall see the Abomination of Desolation standing where it ‘ought not'”.
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So where is the “ought not” that Satan could possibly be?
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Now we know that Satan is called “the god of this world” (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4). So where should Satan and his people “ought not” to be?
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After all, if Satan is the god of this world, and also, if 1st John is correct when it says… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19, then these two verses declare that wickedness is literally everywhere in this, the Devil’s world! So if this is true, then where should wickedness “ought not” to be?
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ARE ‘YE’ THE TEMPLE OF GOD?
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“The kingd
om 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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And so we must answer this question: “Where should Satan and his people ‘ought not’ to be?”
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After all, if Satan is the god of this world, and if 1st John is correct when it says… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19.
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Well, the only place then, you could possibly say that Satan and his angels should not be, is amongst God’s Elect. His Church. His Temple.
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But does Scripture give us support for this idea? Oh yes. Just listen… “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:” Mat_24:15, 16. So here it speaks of the Holy Place. And where is the Holy Place? It is in the temple. But what temple?
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(The Fleeing Woman sketch above can be seen in winter in the northern sky. It is Ursa Major, and her left leg and torso is commonly known as the Big Dipper. She is running westward.)
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NO BRICK-N-MORTAR TEMPLE
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Just listen… “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1st Corinthians 6:19.
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Notice that this verse says “Ye” are the “temple”. “Ye” is the plural form of “you”. But “temple” is singular in this passage. So this verse is actually saying “You all are the temple”. In other words, God now considers His people to be His temple. God no longer considers that any brick and mortar structure could be considered the temple of God. In these New Testament times, God now considers His Chosen and Elect to be the “Temple of God”.
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Oh yes, there are temples in the world. But if God’s Spirit is not dwelling in that temple, then it is certainly not the temple of God. It’s just a temple. It’s just a building: completely insignificant and irrelevant, as far as God is concerned.
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And when the Old Testament sacrificial system came to an end, God no longer had anything to do with that temple, or any other temple on Earth…except the temple of His body, the Church. This is God’s spiritual temple. And if anyone tells you that God is going to bring back the sacrificial system once more, then that person needs more understanding of Salvation, and of the New Covenant.
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Tissot_Solomon_Dedicates_the_Temple_at_Jerusalem – wikipedia – US public domain
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THIS RAISES SOME QUESTIONS
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So looking back to this passage… “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand). Then let them which be in
Judaea flee into the mountains:” Matthew 24:15, 16. Now there begins to be an understanding that when God speaks of the Holy Place, He may be speaking of His very own people: Us!
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But as this is all brought down to a personal level, the following questions must be asked:
1. “Could this above verse be speaking to the individual Christian?”
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2. “Can the Abomination of Desolation be in the temple of God as it relates to the individual Christian?”
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3. “And if I am the temple of God, then does this verse apply to me individually?”
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4. “Is it possible for the Abomination of Desolation to inhabit my soul temple?”
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IS THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN
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THE TEMPLE OF GOD?
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“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1Co 3:16, 17
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The above verse tells us plainly that the Christian is the temple of God. Right? Well, not exactly. In the King James, it says “Ye” which is the plural form of “you”. So God is telling us that collectively, we the Church, are the temple of God. So it is no wonder that 1st Peter makes this following statement… “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 2:5 . So we see here that we are living stones in God’s Spiritual Temple.
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But does this mean that the individual Christian is not the temple of God?
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Listen to Peter’s testimony… “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.” 2nd Peter 1:14. It appears here that Peter spoke of his own body as a tent or tabernacle.
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Jesus spoke also of His body as a temple. Listen… “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up….But He spake of the temple of His body.” John 2:19, 21. So we might conclude from these two passages that the individual Christian’s body is also the temple of God?
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HEAVENLY DNA?
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Scientists tell us that the genetic code of the entire person is written within each and every cell of the body. So each and every cell has the code for the entire body encoded within it.
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And in a very real sense, the individual Christian has been re-created in the likeness of God (and God is the true Temple). Listen… “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” Genesis 1:26. So like the tiny cell with its DNA code, so too, the Christian has a sort of heavenly DNA code written in his or her body.
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That is to say, God plants a tiny Gospel seed into the heart of every true Believer. And that little seed has the heavenly genetics of Christ written within. And as a Christian matures, that seed grows and grows until finally Christ is formed within. At least that is what is supposed to happen.
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God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light that we might…well, just listen to Paul… “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Philippians 1:20.
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So Paul desired that in nothing would he be ashamed. He wanted the world to see Christ in him!
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ADN_animation – wikipedia – public domain
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GOD’S PEOPLE PARALYZED
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BY MATERIALISM & HEDONISM
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Unfortunately, for the most part, God’s people have not risen to this high and holy calling. Sadly, 
we have been bombarded, by the Devil, with so much materialism and excess, that the Church of God has become, to a great extent, ineffective. Oh yes, we tell the world about Jesus. But does my life preach the Gospel? Do people see that Jesus is living out His life through me?
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Listen to Paul… “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” 2nd Corinthians 3:2.
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Paul here is telling us that we are to be a living book, which is to be read, by family, and friends, and by all those we come into contact with, day-by-day.
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LET US CUT AWAY
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EVERY UNCHRISTLIKE FEATURE
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Tragically, many of us have some bad DNA mingled within our heavenly genetic code, so to speak. That is to say, we have been so consumed by our earthly pursuits, that we have neglected to, “…put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14.
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What we need, is to do some honest self-evaluation and soul-searching. Just listen to Paul again… “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2nd Corinthians 13:5. While many Bib
le teachers warn us never to doubt our Salvation, yet the Bible tells us here, to examine ourselves, in order that we may correctly evaluate our standing with God.
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We as a people, have been deceived into thinking that we can remain earthly and common, and still please God. But God does not accept such low-grade service.
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Just listen to Paul… “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;” Titus 1:1.
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When God saves us, His Holy Spirit begins to inspire us to godliness: to purify our souls, and to conform our lives into the image of Christ. We begin to cut away every thing that doesn’t look Christ-like, just as a sculptor cuts away everything from an image which doesn’t look like the image he or she is trying to create.
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Mrs__WA_Chandler_Sculptor – wikipedia – public domain
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THE BATTLE FOR THE HEART
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Here is a concept which has not been fully understood. The heart is a battlefield. Satan and his angels are the rulers of the hearts of lost Humanity. And when a person decides to become a Follower of 
Jesus, the Lord plants a seed within that person’s heart, as already stated in the previous section. So prior to one’s Salvation, that person was in harmony with the spirit of Antichrist (which is the spirit of worldliness-see 1st John 4:5). That person was floating down stream so to speak, in the same direction as the rest of the world, prior to Salvation.
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But when God planted His flag on the soil of that person’s heart, God now claimed that new territory as His own. So that is when the trouble begins. Satan, being a relentless, and tireless foe, immediately begins an attempt to regain that soul for himself. Trials come. False gospels will be seen TV. Temptations will assail. The new Christian becomes confused as to why his or her life has become so filled with agitation and turmoil.
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Christian and Apollyon – Wikipedia – Public-Domain
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LIKE A MILITARY BATTLE
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Now begins the battle for the heart. Satan will do all he can to recapture that heart for himself. He just won’t let go!
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The Apostle Paul spoke of this battle in military terms. Listen…”(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6.
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So from this passage, it is clear that the ultimate goal of the Christian should be to bring into captivity, every thought, to the obedience of Christ. And God will only allow what that Christian can endure. God gives that Christian ample rest and joy and peace, between battles. But make no mistake! There exists a battle for control of the heart and mind in every True Worshipper of God! And things can get really rough at times, for the Christian.
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GUARD YOUR HEART
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So, in light of this battle, the Christian must carefully guard his or her own heart. Just listen… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:23-27.
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These above two verses are so important to remember, that every Christian should emblazon these two verses into the memory!
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7 SONS SWEPT AWAY
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“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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Now most of us feel pretty secure with our relationship with God… “Satan could never sweep me away by his flood of evil and deception.” Well just look at this sketch of that wave of water, of the Revelation 12 Dragon. Do you notice 7 little stars being carried away in the cradle of that wave (each of those little stars are lettered, a,b,c,d,e,f,g)? That represents all those who this Dragon overwhelms by delusion, deception, and besetting sin. It represents all those who become entangled in earthly cares and pleasures. It sadly represents worldly Christians, who take their eyes off the prize, and begin to make a life for themselves in this world.
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Jesus says… “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39.
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For more on this subject, please read… “Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction”
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MORE LIKE MARY
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But let’s not think that this warning against the Christian, “who finds his
life”, is all about going back into the secular world.
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For instance, there are many who enter into time-consuming ministries, in which life becomes a whirl of excitement.
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They attend one meeting after another. And they become so busy, busy, busy, that their relationship with Jesus begins to wane; prayer and personal Bible study becomes a mere formality; meditating upon God’s Word changes into an obsession for other things: worldly things!
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THE SIN OF “OVER-COMMITMENT”
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All such, who find ourselves in these kinds of traps, must work a work of thorough repentance, and get back to the place where we once enjoyed rich communion with God!
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We need to find a quiet place, even if it means walking away from our religious endeavors.
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We need to become more like Mary Magdalene, and less like busy, busy, Martha (see the article, “Martha & Mary: The “Doer” and the”Hearer” ).
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Jesus said to Martha, “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful 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.” John 10:41. 42.
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WAITING DAILY AT WISDOM’S GATES
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What a gentle scolding, by the Lord! Of course, Jesus not only loved Mary, but He loved Martha too, with a godly, fatherly love. But He was letting us know that we each must set our priorities correctly.
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Mary spent her time sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word. And to daily wait at the gates of wisdom and knowledge of God’s Word is the most important Christian duty we too, must perform.
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Listen… “Blessed is the man that heareth me (wisdom), watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” Proverbs 8:34, 35
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Johannes Vermeer Christ in the House of Martha and Mary Google Art Project public domain
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JEREMIAH CALLED TO PURITY
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AND SO ARE WE!
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“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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God admonished Jeremiah… “…if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.” Jeremiah 15:19.
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Someone might answer to this verse… “OK, but Jeremiah was a prophet. He had to be holy!” But this admonishment is given to each and every one of us, as well!
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Listen again to 1st John…“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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And so, if we want to be God’s mouthpiece, we must also take forth the “precious from the vile” out of our own hearts and lives, just as Jeremiah did!
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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain
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OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS IN AGREEMENT
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Listen to the New Testament Epistle of James… “Draw nigh to God, and He will 
draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8.
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There are those who mistakenly believe that the New Testament is all “hugs and kisses”. But such verses as this one dispel any such notions!
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Oh yes, there is much discourse about God’s mercy in the New Testament. But there’s also much discourse in the New Testament about departing from evil, and humbling hearts before a holy and sin-hating God!
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God’s people today must fully engage in the purification of the heart, just as surely as Jeremiah did, 2,500 years ago! “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” 1st Thessalonians 4:7
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And so, when we are called into the truth, the Spirit of Holiness begins a work of purification, within us!
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Listen again… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He (Jesus) is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain.
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“A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”
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“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….Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:4, 8-10
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So, now it becomes apparent that those fiery Old Testament threats were also for our admonition as well as for them.
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Listen… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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So it says here that ALL Scripture will help us to become “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well.
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Holy bible – cropped image – wikimedia – creative commons lic.
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A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
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Just look at this painting of Moses and Joshua. It should be an exhortation for any Christian to have a much higher reverence for our holy God. And in a spiritual sense, each and every Christian is called to be part of God’s royal priesthood. And the Christian is to be with Christ in the Heavenly Most Holy, as he or she silently cries out daily, even hourly, for the spiritual and physical needs for self, and for others, as well.
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Just listen to 1st Peter… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” 1st Peter 2:9.
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Here God plainly reveals our high and holy calling: to become priests for the Almighty and Holy One: as we take time to pray in our special place, and as we go about our daily duties.
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the Holy of Holies – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain
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CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY
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It should give us an exalted view of ourselves and a higher sense of responsibility, to realize that we are the Temple of God. And just as the Ark, containing the two tables of the Law, was the centerpiece of that Temple, so should God’s Word be the centerpiece of our own heart.
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Listen… “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, 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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GOD’S KINGDOM WITHIN YOU
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So here we learn that the kingdom of God is within us. So not only are we the Temple of God, but the kingdom of God is within us. And yes, just as the Mercy Seat above the Ark in Heaven’s Most Holy Place is God’s eternal throne, so also, our heart is an extension of that heavenly Throne-Room.
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Just listen… “But God, who is rich in mercy…has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:4-6.
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So then, this passage makes clear that we are to be spiritually together with Christ in the Heavenlies.
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OUR HIGH & HOLY CALLING
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So having this knowledge, we begin to realize the solemn responsibility that we now have to make our heart a fit dwelling place for our Holy God.
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We are the sanctuary of God. And as such, we now see just how important it is to cleanse the sanctuary within. We are to be a royal priesthood.
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And just as the sanctuary back in the days of Moses, was to be pure and free of defilement, so too, we are to jealously guard our Temple of God… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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“LET A MAN EXAMINE HIMSELF”
1st Corinthians 11:28
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“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that 
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2nd Cor. 13:5
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As the above verse says, we need to examine ourselves from time to time. Am I really a Believer? Or am I just a make-believer?
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Do I get upset with those who treat me badly? Do I raise a stink if some product goes bad, and the store won’t take it back? Do I allow “self” to rise up at times, in the form of rage, or lust or greed or silliness? Do I tell silly jokes, thus exalting self instead of Jesus? Do I love to hear gossip? Do I pinch out my 10% into the offering plate, when I could easily give 20% or perhaps even more, by simply exercising a little more self-denial? Do I spend hours listening to the secular radio or watching secular TV programs, instead of doing what Jesus would do… praying, studying and meditating on the Word? Do I live according to societal behavior, more than Biblical behavior? When problems arise, do I react as the “moral” people of the world, or as a faithful trusting child of God? Are my plans and dreams so much about this world? Am I gathering to myself the things of the world, or am I gathering heavenly treasure?
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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PAUL FORSOOK ALL
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Don’t I realize that I am to say along with Paul… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”? Philippians 3:8.
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If Paul needed to suffer the loss of all things in order to win Christ, why do we think we do not? We need to honestly evaluate ourselves, and discern that the standard by which we must compare ourselves is Jesus; and His Word. He is our Standard. He is to be the Pattern for our lives!
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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What’s In Your House?
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“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3, 4
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Have you ever been in an elegant house? Oh, maybe not a mansion. But a house that has been furnished with beautiful furniture? And wasn’t it a joy to sit there in such a clean and well-cared-for home?
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Well, the Bible says that the people of this world are wiser in their generation than are the children of light. And so, as a child of light, we need to pay close attention to what the children of the world are doing and translate those things into a spiritual counterpart.
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And so it is, in the furnishing of our home. No not our physical home. But it is our spiritual house that we need to furnish with elegant furnishings. Listen again to our opening Bible passage…
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“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3, 4.
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Heast Castle library – wikipedia – share-alike license
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PURIFYING THE HEART
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“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8
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And one of the first things we must do is to get rid of the graffiti which is on the walls of our heart. Yes, by voluntarily exposing ourselves to the unwholesome words and images all around us, our hearts have become covered with all sorts of vile graffiti and vile images. So this must be cleaned up first. Yes, here is a work which no Christian is excused from participating in. The Bible makes it perfectly clear that every man (and woman) must be fully engaged in the purifying of the heart.
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Just listen to the Apostle, John... “And every man that hath this hope in Him (of Christ’s Return) purifies himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.
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Notice it say here “and every man”. It doesn’t say… “and SOME men”. No, it says… “And EVERY MAN that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
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Bodeguita del Medio, Havana, cropped image – WIKIMEDIA share-alike license
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ALL PRECIOUS & PLEASANT FURNISHINGS
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Next comes the nice and elegant furnishings. Beautiful pictures of heavenly images hanging on the walls of our heart. Elegant furnishings which family and friends and guests may all enjoy. These come from fixing our minds on heavenly thoughts. Yes, by meditating day and night on God’s Word, we begin to fill our homes with all the elegance of Heaven. And before long, our spiritual house becomes a showcase of heavenly splendor, more than enough to, “keep up with the Jones'”, in any neighborhood!
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And the real wonderful aspect to all this is, that though time and elements of nature will eventually pull down, not only our physical homes, but our physical bodies as well! Yet our spiritual homes will endure throughout eternity! Listen…
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“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1st John 2:15-17.
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Yes, this passage very much implies that whatever we devote ourselves to in this life will either be burned up on the last Day, or will endure throughout eternity future! So why should we waste our precious moments remaining, on things which will ultimately be burned up? Why not rather spend our time on things which endure forever?
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FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS…
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If we find that we have un-Christ-like qualities within, then we must flee! Listen once again to Paul… “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1st Cor 6:18-20.
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This passage makes reference, not only to fleeing, but also to us as being the temple of God. So here God is really giving us a proof-text that we are on the right track concerning the Abomination of Desolation in the Holy Place being about the Church as God’s temple.
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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 in the fall months)
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FLEE EARTHLY LUSTS
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Paul, when talking to young Timothy, makes another reference to the concept of “Fleeing”. 
Just listen… “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. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1st Timothy 6:8-11.
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So this passage clarifies that when God exhorts us to flee to the mountains, He is speaking of much more than merely trying to hide in the hills. He wants us to flee from the spiritual fornication in our own pathway, and to flee into the way of righteousness, and godliness, and faith, and love, and patience and meekness. These are what God’s mountains are made of.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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THE NARROW WAY STARS
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This constellation of the Revelations 12 Woman continues to tell her story through the seasons. But at the last of winter, her story concludes with her finally appearing to swerve into those two stars, Castor and Pollux, which symbolize the “Narrow Way”. The two twin stars which symbolize the Wide Gate, are the two brightest stars found in the Dragon’s wave of water.
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THE NARROW GATE STARS
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The reason for bringing this up is that this heavenly scenario only confirms where this article is leading us: namely, that the place where God wants us to flee to, is the “Strait Gate”, or in modern vernacular, the “Narrow Gate”. And of course, this concept concerns a total devotion to God, and a total forsaking of the world in one’s heart.
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CHANGE OF HEART IS NEEDED
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Now this does not necessarily demand that one goes out and literally sells all his or her goods. But this is a change of heart. The things of the world begin to slowly and imperceptibly lose their importance; and at the same time the things of Heaven grow increasingly more paramount to every earthly desire. This is where God’s people are to flee to in the last days.
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And those who have truly fled to this Narrow Gate will find that they are continually increasing in their desire to be God’s full-time servant.
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They will begin to look at the various duties of life as witnessing opportunities. They will no longer look at life as their oyster, so to speak. That is, they will no longer try to dig as much as they can for selfish purposes. They will now consider themselves as Priests/Evangelists/Servants/Ambassadors for Christ.
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If you would like to explore these concepts, just click here… “Woman of Revelation 12 & The Narrow Way Stars”
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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE
Jeremiah 30:7
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“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 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 30:6, 7
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What in the world could this above verse be speaking of? And how does this verse apply to me as an individual Christian?
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So by examining that story of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, there can be seen a great picture of just what we must endure in the coming trial before us.
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Listen… “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day…And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me. And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Genesis 32:24, 26-28
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Jacob represents all Christians. Esau represents “the man of flesh” within us. And just as Jacob and Esau were born as twins, so too, the Christian has a dual personality, so to speak. There still exists in every Christian a struggle between the spirit and the flesh. The Christian constantly battles against the flesh.
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Listen to Scripture… “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. So it now is evident that there exists a struggle in the life of each and every Christian.
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Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel – wikipedia – public domain
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THE JACOB & ESAU WITHIN
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But as for Jacob and Esau representing the “Man of Flesh” and the “Man of Spirit”, just listen to this next verse… “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:” Colossians 3:9, 10
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And just as Jacob was trying to escape Esau, so the Christian is trying to flee from his or her own fleshy desires. Oh the Christian wants very much to have a consistent walk in the Spirit. But it seems that too many of us sincere Christians are too often falling into our fleshly lusts: pride, anger, judging, lusting, gluttony, worldliness, and a host of other sins are constantly rising up, making us to doubt our Salvation.
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We need to escape from our Esau within. The “Old Man” still wants to “run the show” so to speak. What we need is to wrestle with God, just as sure as Jacob wrestled with the angel.
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For a deeper insight into this concept, please read… “The Cross of Orion, Part 2: What Is ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’?”
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James Tissot – Jacob & Esau – The Mess of Pottage – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“THE DAWNING OF THE DAY”
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“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that 
shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:” 2nd Peter 1:19
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This is why Jeremiah says concerning the Day of the Lord, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble” Jeremiah 30:7.
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The coming conflict will be a time in which each Christian will wrestle for the victory. And though like Jacob, the Christian will think he or she is wrestling with the enemy. But when the “dawning of the day” arrives, it will be discovered that our struggle was really with the Lord. And at that time, we will, like Jacob, lose our old name, “Jacob, the Deceiver”. And we will be forever pronounced with our new name, Israel. Just like Jacob, we will have prevailed with God. And like Jacob, we will be able to say, “for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:30.
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At that time we will have completely overcome the “Old Man with his deeds” Colossians 3:9
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Jacobs Ladder to Heaven – wikipedia – pub.dom.
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“A GREAT WONDER IN HEAVEN…
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“A WOMAN…TRAVAILING IN BIRTH”
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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:1, 2
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And so, it now becomes more apparent why God has placed this headless woman-with-child in the heavens. She is to present that glorious concept: that God’s people are to strive with God, as God has planted the Gospel seed within His people. And striving, as did Jacob, there will finally come that glorious dawning of the day, in which we will be finally victorious. And in our victory, Christ will be fully formed within the hearts of each Believer. And then we will shine as the Sun to a world still held captive in sin and darkness.
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Just listen to Scripture… “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19. OK, so now this verse from Galatians is a big help in understanding this spiritual concept about men (and women too!) giving birth…to Christ. This is all about overcoming the world.
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And if I am truly a child of God, then eventually I will indeed overcome this world… “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” 1st John 5:4.
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And what about this verse… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11. This passage is for all those who have “an ear to hear”.
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Star-charts – Ursa Major – woman drawn in by this website- Wikipedia
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THE WOMAN IN TRAVAIL & THE FLEEING WOMAN
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So this concept of the Church giving birth to Christ is spoken of many times in both the Old and New Testaments… “Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand…pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames…For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” Isaiah 13:6, 8, 10
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And so this Summer Constellation of a woman in travail goes together with the Winter Constellation of a fleeing woman. Now it becomes more clear why God put these two concepts together into one constellation. And having this knowledge makes us painfully aware that it is high time to be wrestling (with God) for deliverance from the flesh which so greatly controls us. And we need to be fleeing to the mountains (Zion in particular). And we must flee from those ungodly influences, represented by the Wave of Water coming forth from the Dragon.
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This sketch is a concept drawing and not a chart. These constellations are in a completely different locale than they are in the skies. You may go to any other sketches on this site for an accurate chart.
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THE TIME IS SHORT!
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The time is short! We all must redeem the time, because the days are definitely getting more evil with each passing week!
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We must overcome the world and flesh and Devil! We must completely close the door to the Devil! We must bring into captivity, every thought and every imagination of the heart!
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This is no small task! It requires nothing less than 100% devotion to the purification of our heart!
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We have a Heaven to win, and a Hell to depart from. And if we have truly become a child of God, then this will be the desire of our heart!
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Let us put on the armor of God, and stand ready for the battle ahead!
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SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS, ARMOR UP! THE HOUR IS AT HAND!
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THE END
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NEXT ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS:
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#2 FLOOD WATERS, PART 3-TELEVISION: THE IMAGE THAT SPEAKS… 
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This article explains how television is being used by Satan to destroy the souls of millions, perhaps billions! It explains many insidious ways in which the Christian is corrupted by this mind-control device.
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“CHRISTIAN RACE” PART 2: EFFECTS OF SENSUAL MUSIC…
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This article discusses how we might win that Christian Race which is set before us. It uses sensual music as its theme. But the principles presented herein can be applied to just about any other area of Christian concern.
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these 
things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and 
worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His 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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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
Discovering Bible Constellations: Part 2: 2008 & Forward
By admin On May 13th, 2012
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You may also click here to read Part 1, Part 3, or Part 4
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Discovering Bible Constellations: Part 2: 2008 & Forward
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Over twenty years had now passed since first locating Orion, in about 1988.
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It was now 2008. And along with Orion, there was this Cross Constellation.
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Then there were those two birds and the crown constellations.
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But what did it all mean?
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And oh yes, the Big Dipper too, with its 7 stars.
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“WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH”
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As I said, I had fallen back into the world.
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For some reason, my Christianity had become anemic and thin.
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My prayer life…my Bible study had all but evaporated.
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I had become worldly and vain.
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I wanted to be spiritual…but I just couldn’t.
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I was like the “man in the iron cage”, from Bunyan’s, Pilgrim’s Progress!
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I was helpless to free myself!
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I began to hang out with unbelievers.
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I was now cast out…into outer darkness…with 
the hypocrites (see Matthew 8:30, 22:13 & 25:30).
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I became critical of people.
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I joked…I mocked…I became as vulgar as any heathen!
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At times, I found just barely enough strength to pray for help.
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And this went on for years.
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I was caught in Satan’s web of sin!
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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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As a shepherd…so will I seek out My sheep…out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Ezekiel 34:12
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Then, after about 7 years of this apostasy, the Lord had brought me back into the fold.
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And though I had to climb back up to the place from where I fell years earlier, nevertheless, God had graciously given me another chance.
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I was freed from my spiritual darkness.
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I could truly say… “out of the belly of Hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice.” Jonah 2:2.
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But it’s been a slow and very painful climb back up Heavenly Zion.
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And it’s now been many years of trying to get back to where I was, before my apostasy.
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My health has greatly suffered now, drawing me close to the grave.
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My wife has passed on, and I lost valuable time from Bible study.
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I wouldn’t recommend apostasy to anyone.
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The cost is way too high, and it’s a miserable existence!
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But as I said, the Lord brought me back.
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And after 7 years of apostasy and maybe 13 years of clawing my way back to my former status, the Lord, once again, began revealing more Signs In Heaven.
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All of a sudden, in 2008, more constellations began to appear…
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THE REVELATION 12 DRAGON (2008)…
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While walking one night, it became apparent that the Pleiades was actually the tip of the Dragon’s tail.
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It now appeared that the body and tail of the Dragon wrapped around in an oval shape, as this drawing shows.
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It then became noticeable that the Dragon had a body and legs much like a crocodile or alligator.
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‘The Dragon Spewing Water’ (Sketch of Dragon: this constellation is directly to Orion’s left side. Seen in colder months, traveling westward through the night-sky)
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NOT LIKE DRACO!
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This Revelation Dragon was not at all like the dragon commonly known as Draco.
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No, this God-created dragon was not merely a string of stars.
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This dragon had a three-dimensional body!
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It had teeth! It had legs! It had a tail-tassel like a lion! There were aspects about it which I began to understand: aspects that revealed Bible truths!
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Oh yes, you can find many imaginative three-dimensional drawings of Draco.
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But with this Revelation 12 Dragon, you could merely “connect the dots”, so to speak, and behold: a three-dimensional dragon!
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And as I began to see how this constellation connected with the other God-created constellations, I began to understand just what a truly amazing creation of God it was!
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Above Photo to right: Draco: This above Dragon sketch can be seen beginning in the pre-dawn hours in August when in the east.
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GOODLY HORSE IN BATTLE (2008)…
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(This constellation can only be easily seen when in the western sky, as seen above, and only in winter through early spring)
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One night, in winter (2008), a very amazing constellation appeared. A Horse Constellation.
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I remember seeing it for the first time. I was walking southward down Summers Lane, and I looked up into the west and there it was!
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It only took an instant to recognize it. It was high above the western horizon in the night sky!
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This great horse has one front leg stepping on the tail of the Dragon.
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He also has a star 
for his left eye.
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His head is very big, compared to the rest of his body (however, this sketch does not show this aspect).
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The horse seems to be intently focusing his gaze on the tip of the Dragon’s tail (the Pleiades Constellation).
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Because this horse was very focused on the Pleiades, along with what the Bible states about Pleiades, it seems that the Pleiades is a picture of God’s host, who have been taken captive by the Dragon, Satan. Listen to Revelation…
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“And his (the dragon’s) tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:” Revelation 12:4.
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The Horse appears to be a picture of God’s army.
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The Bible refers to a horse as symbolizing an army.
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So, it was immediately recognizable that this constellation symbolizes God’s host (army)…
“for the LORD of hosts hath visited His flock the house of Judah,
and has made them as HIS GOODLY (GLORIOUS) 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:
and they shall fight,
because the LORD is with them…”
Zechariah 10:3,5.
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Notice that this Zechariah passage speaks of “treading down the enemies as mire in the streets”.
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This seems to be what the Goodly Horse is doing, as seen in the above sketch.
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And the Book of Revelation also frequently mentions Christ as having a “white horse” (Revelation Ch. 19:11,19,21).
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Pleiades – Robert Gendler – NASA
Above right sketch is of Orion, the Revelation 12 Dragon, and the Goodly Horse, in winter, when in the west.
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LOOSING THE BANDS OF ORION
probably about 2008
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Orion in bad position (early winter in the east)
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At some point in time, the significance of the position of Orion with this Dragon became clear.
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At the beginning of winter, Orion appeared below the Dragon, as if the Dragon was victorious over Orion.
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But through the night (and progressively through the winter), Orion begins to appear more and more to be on top of the Dragon.
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This would seem to indicate that Orion is finally victorious over the Dragon at the end.
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Revelation 12 woman (AKA Ursa Major), Orion the Soldier, The Revelation 12 Dragon, and The Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation. These are mostly seen in the colder months, although in September they can all be seen in the pre-dawn hours.
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ORION IN VICTORIOUS POSITION IN WEST IN LATE WINTER
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And so, Orion the Soldier became a symbol of what every Christian is commanded to do…to put on the ‘Armor of God’.
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“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…
having your loins girt about with truth, and…
the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the…gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith…
And take the helmet of Salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:”
Ephesians 6:13-17.
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If one studies this constellation carefully in the light of this passage from Ephesians, there can be seen the various similarities…
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…similarities such as Orion’s belt which coincides with the words… “having your loins girt about with truth”.
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And of course, Orion obviously is holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left.
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Just a coincidence? Hardly!
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Both Orion Pictures in victorious position in late winter, above the western horizon.
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THE SEVEN STARS (2008)…
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The 7 Stars (or ‘Big Dipper’) began to tell a much bigger story.
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As stated earlier on this page, they seemed to go
together with the verses relating to the 7 angels with 7 bowls of God’s wrath found in Revelation 15 & 16.
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And, as already stated earlier, when the Big Dipper progresses through the year, it looks like a bowl being turned upside down upon the earth.
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So too, the 7 angels pour the contents of their bowls upon the earth, symbolizing God’s wrath being poured out upon the inhabitants of earth on Judgment Day…
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Listen… “And I saw another sign in heaven,
great and marvellous,
seven angels having the seven last plagues;
for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
Revelation 15:1
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But now all of a sudden, a much bigger picture appeared.
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When this Big Dipper Constellation is 
just beginning to pour out its contents upon the Earth, it begins to look like a giant spectacular Cross!
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Could this be the essence of God’s wrath upon the inhabitants of the Earth?
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That is, when the Church (God’s faithful few) really exalts the Cross of Christ, the world will truly see Jesus in us.
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This seems to be the 7th bowl of God’s wrath.
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The Cross exalted in the lives of the Believers.
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And unlike the constellations which the ancients saw, God’s Cross is three-dimensional, as this sketch shows.
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In the warmer months the bowl is upright. In the winter, the bowl appears to be pouring out and also appears as a three-dimensional cross on a hill.
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MORE TO THIS STORY
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But there is more to this story.
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This marvelous 7 Star Constellation also seemed to align with Revelation, Chapter 1-3, the 7 churches of Asia (the 7 churches, which represent the entire New Testament Church).
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And likewise, if this were true, then it would make sense that these 7 stars would also represent the 7 angels with seven trumpets found also in Revelation.
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So then, we could say that this 7 star constellation represents the 7 Stars in Jesus right hand, which represent the 7 Churches of Asia.
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But also represents the 7 Angels, with 7 Trumpets, and the 7 Angels, with 7 Bowls of God’s Wrath.
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And last, but not least, this represents “the Sons” who Arcturus guides in the Book of Job… “canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32
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If you wish, you can read more about this amazing phenomenon by clicking the following link, The 7 Stars imitate The Cross of Orion
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SKETCH TO THE RIGHT: ‘ 7 Stars’ finally uplift the Cross’ (This constellation can be seen all year in northern sky, but only looks like a Cross when the Big Dipper appears to be pouring down upon the earth in mid-winter.
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WAVE OF WATER FROM DRAGON’S MOUTH (2008)…
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One night as I was, no doubt, taking my usual walk along Summers Lane with my faithful mutt, ‘Sir Bentley’ (that was his name given by his first owner), there appeared what looked like a wave of water coming out of the Dragon’s mouth.
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Well, this only reminded me of Revelation 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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Of course, in Scripture this wave of water represents all the false doctrines that Satan causes Mankind to be deluged with.
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Now this wave of water was really amazing!
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After all, this Dragon Constellation which I now knew had a body, was amazing enough.
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But this wave of water really looked like a wave of water.
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It almost looked like you could ride a surfboard on its curl!
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This Dragon Constellation can be seen beginning in August in the east in the pre-dawn hours.
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WHEN I FIRST SAW THE REVELATION 12 WOMAN…
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Now I figured that because the book of Revelation Chapter 12 speaks about Orion and also about this Dragon, then there has to be a Woman Constellation also.
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But I’d never seen such a constellation…yet!
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After all, Revelation 12:1 says…
…”And there appeared a great wonder (or, “sign”) in heaven;
a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars”
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So one night, some weeks later, as I was walking “Ol’ Bent” (Sir Bentley) down Summers Lane, I stopped at a certain corner with an empty field and few houses, and no streetlight.
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It was the same corner I usually stopped at, because of the absence of house lights, etc..
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And over time, I discovered, that if I stood behind a certain large shrub, I could shield myself from the few bright house lights, which otherwise would somewhat obscure the starry sky.
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Now on this dark and starry night, I just gazed up in amazement at this wave of water spewing from the Dragon’s mouth.
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Then the thought came into my mind, that if this is the Dragon from Revelation 12, then perhaps this wave of water is going to the pathway of some woman-like constellation.
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After all, it plainly states in Revelation 12…
Listen… “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.”
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So, I followed the direction of this wave of water northward.
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And lo and behold, I instantly saw a constellation which looked like a running woman…with her arms raised above her head.
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And her legs appeared to be furiously running.
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This was the The Big Dipper Constellation, plus the other stars which comprise Ursa Major.
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It first appeared that she was waving her arms in the air like one might see a lot of people do today.
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You know… people lifting up ‘holy hands’, as it says in the Bible.
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But after some days of viewing it, it became apparent that her arms were actually eagle wings, like it says in Revelation Ch. 12…
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Now you can’t readily see her arms as wings. But Revelation 12 speaks of her as having wings.
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So, her arms must be wings since this entire constellation group is from Revelation Chapter 12.
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But if you look on a very dark night, or perhaps on a good star-chart, these very faint stars around the outer-edges of her wings will be seen.
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All three pictures can be seen in winter.
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WOMAN IN LABOR PAINS…
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But as I began to follow this amazing constellation, I found out that she was much more complex than I originally thought.
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This is because she goes in a cyclical pattern through the year.
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This constellation is actually an optical illusion, having two very different women in the very same constellation.
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Let me explain…
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In the summertime, this woman constellation appears as a headless woman in labor pains.
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Her left arm is stretched out as if she is suffering intensely.
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And in her womb area, is a small single star.
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She never was noticeable before, probably because she was made partly of the The Big Dipper.
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But now it appeared like a headless woman giving birth to a single star, which single star seemed to symbolize Christ.
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And this seemed to go along with Revelation Chapter 12… “And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:2.
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Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license
SKETCH: ‘Woman With Child’ (Same as sketch to left as seen in summer)
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WOMAN FLEES TO THE WILDERNESS
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But as I said, in the winter months, this constellation flips entirely around and she appears as a running (fleeing) woman.
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And what were her arms in summer, now becomes her legs in winter.
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And what were her legs in summer, now become her arms in winter.
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And that single star in her womb area, now becomes her head in winter, which fulfills the Bible concept which states that…
…”And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;”
Colossians 1:18.
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And so this single star, which in summer represented the Christ-child in her womb are, now represents Christ, as the head of the woman, who represents the Church.
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Very remarkable!
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Now if you find this Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness) (And with a little faith, desire, and imagination supplied by God’s Spirit) you will notice that she is running very fast.
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It’s almost comical to see her legs flying furiously.
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But it’s not so funny when you consider that she is fleeing from the Dragon Constellation, who is spewing water out of his mouth to swallow her up 
in a flood.
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And the message from the Lord here is that the Church really needs to flee, and do it quickly!
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“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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But there were other verses in the Bible that spoke of eagle wings…
…”But they that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
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This constellation is the same constellation as woman in childbirth. She circles in oval pattern in northern sky throughout the year.
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Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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WOMAN CASTING PRECIOUS GOSPEL SEED…
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(WALKING AND PRAYING…)
As I said, I began to go for regular walks each night and morning.
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For one thing, my dog needed the exercise.
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But it was also a great time to pray.
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And since I’m not much of a sleeper, this was something beneficial I could do when not sleeping.
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Walk and pray!
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Physical and spiritual exercise!
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Definitely a “win-win” situation!
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And quite often, my prayers were very fervent and heart-felt.
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And I have a problem with getting down on my knees for long periods.
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So, to simply walk and pray for 30 to 60 minutes is a lot easier for me.
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Not to mention, I could look at the stars…sometimes when they were visible.
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It began to appear, about December and onward through winter, that the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation seemed to be casting seed as she fled to the wilderness.
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It appeared like seed coming from her left hand (stars).
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And this made sense. Are not Christians supposed to be spreading the precious seed of the Gospel, wherever we go?…
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“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5,6
(Note: the head of this woman is made of a single star, symbolizing Christ who is the head of His body, the Church).
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ABOVE SKETCH: ‘Woman Spreading Precious Seed’ can be seen in winter in the north.
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THE ALTAR & SMOKE RISING…
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But then, later in winter, appeared what looked like an altar behind the woman.
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And what first looked like precious Gospel seed, now appeared like smoke rising up to the woman from the altar (This altar and the smoking rising, is actually made of Leo Minor and Leo Major).
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In other words, the woman began to look as though she was an offering rising up from the altar of God.
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This made sense too.
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After all the Bible says a number of times, that we are to offer ourselves as an offering to God…
“…present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1
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ABOVE SKETCH: Woman of Revelation 12, (“The Woman on the Altar”) . This ‘Altar Constellation’ can best be seen as winter progresses, onward till spring. It is commonly known as Leo Major.
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“THE WHORE OF REVELATION”
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Having brought up the subject of this Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation, seems to necessitate mentioning “The Great Whore of Revelation”.
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There doesn’t appear to be any constellations along this line. But you can click on the above link for a page devoted to this topic.
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Together with the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation, these two ideas make up a huge portion of the Bible.
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ATTENTION: AS OF JANUARY, 2013. IT ACTUALLY DOES APPEAR THAT THE PLEIADES CLUSTER IS ACTUALLY A CONSTELLATION OF THE HARLOT OF REVELATION.
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In the above sketch is a rough sketch of this constellation.
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Notice that the cup of wine is a single red star, which would speak of the red color of grape wine.
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And notice she is riding the 7 headed Beast.
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You can read all about her at this link… “The Pleiades: The Captive Angel & Mystery Harlot Constellation”
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Above sketch to right is the Pleiades Cluster is the Revelation 17 Harlot pictured holding wine glass, represented by single red star.
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Pleiades – Robert Gendler – NASA
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THE CROSS OF ORION
(about 2008 or 2009)
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Now several years ago, it began to appear that Orion had an optical illusion with it.
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That is, it could be seen as a picture of the cross on Mt. Calvary.
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As Orion reaches mid-point in the sky, it is not very difficult to visualize a cross instead of a soldier.
(The three stars which make the top of this cross are rather faint, and necessitate viewing them on a darker, starry night.)
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(Orion Constellation seen in mid-winter, best seen when in mid-sky)
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ORION THE REAPER
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This last winter (2009-2010), something very marvelous appeared concerning the Orion Constellation.
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You have read earlier in this article that Orion not only appears to have a sword and shield.
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But he also looks as if he is shooting a bow at the dragon.
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This technique is known as a “double-entendre” (or, “double-intent”).
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But actually, there is a triple-entendre in the Orion Constellation (or quadruple if you count the Cross of Orion).
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It is very easy to see Orion holding a sickle in his right hand.
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This reminds us Revelation 14…
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“And I looked, and behold a white cloud,
and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man,
having on his head a golden crown,
and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple,
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud,
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap:
for the time is come for thee to reap;
for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth;
and the earth was reaped.”
Revelation 14:14,15
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A few weeks ago (November, 2010), there appeared to be a fulfillment about the white cloud spoken of in the above verse of Revelation 14:14.
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If you look at Orion on a very dark night (hopefully out in the country, you might be able to see a cloud on Orion’s back-side. That cloud is what we call the ‘Milky Way’).
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So, here’s the picture: Orion now has a sickle.
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The white cloud above the back of his head is actually clouds of stars!
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Just like it says in the above verse from Revelation 14:14,15.
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Go out in the country and see this for yourself!
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Above sketch, Orion the Reaper, constellation seen in late fall through mid-winter in eastern sky.
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The bottom-left sketch is the same constellation in mid-winter in mid-sky.
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ORION THE ARCHER…
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A friend suggested that Orion also appears to be shooting a bow and arrow.
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This seems to have Biblical support…
…”God judges the righteous,
and God is angry with the wicked every day…
“If He turn not, He will whet His sword;
He has bent his bow, and made it ready…
“He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death…
“He ordains His arrows against the persecutors.”
Psalms 7:10-13
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Orion the archer shooting at the Revelation 12 Dragon can be seen in this upright position in mid-winter, mid-sky.
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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD
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Here is a brand new Orion. This was first seen in December, 2012.
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With the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini), Orion the Reaper becomes the 5th personality of Orion: Orion the Good Shepherd.
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Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either Castor or Pollux.
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This is the little star at the very tip of the hook of Orion, the Good Shepherd’s rod & staff.
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But faint as it may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, which is a very prominent Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
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It becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s Rod, as is written…
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want (lack).
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters…
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me…”
Psalm 23:1, 2, 4
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You can read more on this particular personage of Orion, by clicking here… “Orion, The Good Shepherd”
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This above sketch can be seen in this position, mid-sky in mid-winter.
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STAR-CROSSES
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As the below picture shows, even the stars, when photographed, look like crosses. And so too, the Church will…
…”shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars for ever and ever.”
Daniel 12:3 …
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…And also…“Praise ye Him, sun and moon:
praise Him, all ye stars of light.”
Psalm 138:3
(photo courtesy of NASA)
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NASA Explanation: Unusual appendages around bright stars are commonplace, but never seem to be mentioned.
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What are they?
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First, a telescope brings starlight falling over a large area to a small area.
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To get at this small area, however, one must go inside a reflecting telescope, and this can only be done with support rods, which are right in the view of the telescope.
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The wave nature of light causes it to deflect when passing near these rods.
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Light scatters away from the original destination point ending up elsewhere and appearing as “diffraction spikes.”
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These annoying spikes steal precious light from the central image and hide light from fainter, more interesting stars.
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Above, astronomers are more interested in the half-circled point near the image center, than the cool-looking diffraction spikes from the bright star at the bottom.
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Bible Explanation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
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Star-cross – NASA
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YOU CAN GO TO PART 3 BY CLICKING HERE…Discovering Bible Constellations Pt. 3: Happily Ever After
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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The 7 Stars & The 7 Bowls of Wrath
By admin On April 24th, 2012
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The 7 Stars & The 7 Bowls of Wrath
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“The mystery of the seven stars
which you saw in My right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which you saw
are the seven churches.”
Revelation 1:20.
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The above verse is from the opening chapter of Revelation and makes mention of this constellation.
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But notice that this above verse relates this constellation to God’s people.
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And though this passage seems to have been from a vision which John saw concerning God’s HEAVENLY sanctuary…
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…nevertheless, the EARTHLY sanctuary was a type and symbol of the heavenly, in which this 7-Flame Candlestick enlightened the earthly sanctuary
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the Holy of Holies – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain
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CANDLESTICKS = CHURCHES
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But as Jesus spoke this prophecy, He revealed the true meaning of the Old Testament earthly sanctuary, and how it actually pointed to the New Testament Church of God.
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Listen once again…
“…and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest
are the seven churches.”
Revelation 1:20.
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Incredible!
So, God here is revealing an amazing revelation: that the 7-flame candlestick in the Old Testament Sanctuary Service was actually symbolizing the New Testament Church!
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Candlesticks of the Holy Place – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public-Domain
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IN SUMMER
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This sketch is of the Summer Constellations, when they are in the western skies.
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Sagittarius is in the south, and the 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is in the north.
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COULD THERE BE A GREATER SIGN?”
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In Revelation 15:1, it states…“And I saw another sign in heaven…”
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This verse is a direct reference to the “signs in the sun…the moon, and…stars”, which God is just now graciously revealing.
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Notice that this above verse says… “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous“.
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If ever there was a great and marvelous sign in Heaven, this 7 Star Constellation seems to be just that!
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And it is the easiest of all constellations to locate (excepting for those in the southernmost latitudes of the Earth who cannot see it, except via computer, printed works, etc…).
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It seems to stand alone in the northern sky, outshining any other constellation in the night heavens!
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As for its significance, it is easy to see the message for which it was created to bring.
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It looks like a bowl.
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A giant bowl…with a handle!
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And in the winter, it begins to slowly tip through the night, as if it is finally spilling out its contents upon the earth, as stated in Revelation…
…”And the first (angel) went,
and poured out his vial upon the earth”
Revelation 16:2.
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And so it is not hard to see the message which this constellation presents.
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In the summer it begins to slowly tip.
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But in winter it does fully appear to pour out its contents upon the Earth.
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Listen again… “And I saw another sign in heaven,
great and marvellous,
seven angels having the seven last plagues;
for in them is filled up the wrath of God…
And the first (angel) went,
and poured out his vial upon the earth;”
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So, this great constellation which humanity has always taken for granted was actually created by God to teach humanity a great and marvelous spiritual lesson!
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And this was called “another sign in heaven”, meaning that there were other signs too.
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And of course, back in Revelation 12, there also are other signs spoken of, which this website also deals with, such as this sketch of the Revelation 12 Woman (aka, Ursa Major) shows.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Woman Constellation as seen in desert in warmer months
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THE CHURCH VICTORIOUS UPLIFTS THE CROSS
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Now this ‘pouring out’ phenomenon is very amazing, indeed.
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But the Lord does not stop here.
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He has more to say to us about these 7 angels with the 7 vials of God’s wrath.
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You see, when this heavenly bowl is fully tipped (in winter), it appears also like a giant colossal three-dimensional uplifted Cross, on a hill, with its shadow before it, towering high above the earth!
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(This shadow before it represents the Old Testament which were types and shadows pointing forward to the first Coming of Jesus and to His Cross. See Colossians 2:17, plus other places)
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So now we begin to see what God is trying to tell us about His wrath.
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God is not just a “Big Bully in the Sky”, as many claim.
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God is not merely waiting to crush out all sinners from off the face of the Earth!
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No! God’s great wrath is seen in the Cross of Christ!
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It was Jesus Christ who came to this earth to take upon Himself, the wrath and punishment that we deserve.
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And as God’s people begin to give themselves wholly to God, they then will begin to uplift the Cross in their own individual lives.
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And once this is accomplished church-wide, then and only then will this great and marvelous Constellation be a fitting symbol of God’s people!
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Then God’s Church will truly uplift the Cross of Christ for all the world to see!
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But why would God give such a sign in Heaven?
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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SIGNS IN HEAVEN PROMISED LONG AGO
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QUESTION: “So why is God just now revealing this ‘great and marvelous’ sign in Heaven?”
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This is because God promised long ago that just before the end…
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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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The long-ago, afore-promised Signs In Heaven have turned out quite different from our preconceived notions.
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These signs are literal signs in heaven.
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But while they are literally written in the Sun, Moon, and Stars, they nevertheless reveal great and marvelous spiritual Bible truths.
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“…and great signs shall there be from heaven.”
Luke 21:11
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And if one thinks about it, whenever God gave a sign in the Bible, that sign always pointed to some higher spiritual truth.
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Take Baptism, for example.
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Baptism was with literal water, but it pointed to the “water of the washing by the Word” which we must be immersed in, in order to have spiritual life. Ephesians 5:26
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So here is just one example of how Bible signs pointed to higher spiritual truths.
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Isn’t God wonderful? That God is willing to give a message to humanity, just prior to the great day of God’s wrath.
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Isn’t it so marvelous that God is still in the “Saving Business”, in giving us this timely message written in Nature?
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THE 7 BOWLS OF WRATH
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“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth;
and there fell a noisome and grievous sore
upon the men which had the Mark of the Beast,
and upon them which worshipped his image.”
Revelation 16:2
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These plagues are not merely to cause suffering.
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Just like the plagues which fell upon the Egyptians, so also, these plagues are designed to separate God’s people from the wickedness and unbelief which holds us captive in Egypt…Spiritual Egypt!
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”THESE THINGS IN THE CHURCHES”
Revelation 22:16
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“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” Revelation 22:16
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The above verse is a very much neglected verse, but is far more important to a correct understanding of Revelation, than most everyone realizes.
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Bible prophecy is of little value, unless it has a direct bearing upon the Believer’s life and heart.
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Listen…
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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So, this verse lets us know that even Bible prophecy has been given for, “doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness.”
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WE ARE THE SPIRITUAL TRIBE OF LEVI
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Everything in Scripture concerns, “doctrine, correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness”.
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Not only this, but this little book at the end of the Bible is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”.
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If we would only carefully study this first chapter of Revelation, we would begin to see that this little Book is all about the Church.
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We are the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16). Each and every Believer, whether formerly a national Jew, or just a gentile, is now a “Jew inwardly” (Romans 2:29).
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We are now a “royal priesthood”, which now makes us of the tribe of Levi, the Levitical priesthood, spiritually speaking (1st Peter 2:9).
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the holy of holies- www.thebiblerevival.com -public domain. 2ND Picture: Menorah_0307-Wikipedia. Public domain
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THE BOTTOM LINE
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To explore all these things would take up an entire book.
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So, instead of giving a detailed study of this very complicated passage concerning these angels with 7 bowls of God’s wrath, let’s just get to the bottom line of all this.
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These 7 angels represent God’s people. “Angel” in Scripture, means “messenger”.
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And it is God’s people who are to pour out these 7 bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth.
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These 7 bowls of God’s wrath are designed to purify those in the Church who, like Peter must be “sifted as wheat”.
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And when God’s Church becomes purified from our worldliness, we will then be able to lift up the Cross for all the world to see.
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This is the great meaning of these bowls of God’s wrath.
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Just listen to this incredible prophecy from Isaiah…
…”Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun,
and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,
as the light of seven days,
in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of His people,
and healeth the stroke of their wound.”
Isaiah 30:26.
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This is speaking of the near future!
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God’s Church…His elect, His true and faithful Church will shine forth as the Sun.
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But first we must be purified.
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This is speaking of you and me, and every Believer who is willing to let God purify our hearts… by fire…by the fires of this great tribulation.
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Just listen to Malachi…
“And He (God) shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:
and He shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the LORD
an offering in righteousness.”
Malachi 3:3
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Who are the “sons of Levi”?
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They were the royal priesthood in Israel.
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But today, God has chosen you and me to be His royal priesthood.
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Listen… “But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should show forth the praises
of Him who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvellous light”
1st Peter 2:9.
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So God is just now sitting as a Refiner and Purifier of silver.
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And God wishes to remove every trace of dross from you and me.
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But as we have already discussed, we must be purified by fire, just as silver and gold is purified by fire.
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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
Gold key_logo_removed wiki public domain.
Theholyofholies- www.thebiblerevival.com -public domain.
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THE 7TH BOWL OF WRATH
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“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air;
and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven,
from the throne, saying, It is done.”
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So, if we look at this wonderful constellation, we see that at the same time it is pouring itself out upon the world, it begins to look like a colossal Cross, lifted high above the earth.
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Just listen to prophecy…
“And the LORD their God shall save them
in that day as the flock of His people:
for they shall be as the stones of a crown,
lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
For how great is His goodness,
and how great is His beauty!”
Zechariah 9: 16, 17.
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So here we see that God’s people will be “in that day” as, “the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign”.
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In that day, we will be purified from every trace of dross.
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We will, “shine as the stars, for ever and ever” Daniel 12:3.
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In that day, we will shine as the Sun.
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The world will not be able to gaze upon God’s people for brightness.
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They will be destroyed by Christ’s brightness which shines out from within His faithful ones.
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And the world will acknowledge that God is true, and every man a liar.
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Every knee shall bow at that moment.
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And “every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11
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And now we are starting to see that all these prophecies from the New and Old Testaments are beginning to all come together into one, big, beautiful truth.
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Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – US 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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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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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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Running The Christian Race (Part 1: Paul & John: Our Role Models)
By admin On April 23rd, 2012.
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THIS IS PART 1 OF “THE CHRISTIAN RACE”. TO READ, JUST CLICK HERE ON PART 2,
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WHY IS THIS WOMAN RUNNING SO FAST?
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ABOVE PICTURE: Winter – Revelation 12 Woman with Eagle Wings (aka Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper)
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THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS
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This Woman of Revelation 12 is definitely fleeing to the mountains (see Matthew 24:15-21). The Dragon of Revelation 12 is spewing out his water of falsehoods: false gospels, false ideologies, various temptations, and…false brethren who will embrace her with all this poisonous doctrine. These are what comprise this wave of water coming forth from the Dragon’s mouth. (see “Flood Waters of Satan”)
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But if we look at Scripture a little more, we see another concept concerning this Woman whose legs are flying furiously.
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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS-SEEN IN FALL: REVELATION CH. 12: This sketch to the right is how this constellation group appears in the eastern sky in fall. This is the four primary constellations of the Winter Constellations. They can be seen in this position, in the late fall above the eastern horizon. The Woman of Revelation 12 is commonly called Ursa Major or The Big Dipper and appears in the north. Orion the Soldier is the at the bottom is to the south of the Woman. The The Dragon of Revelation Constellation’s mouth isThe Hyades Cluster, and the tip of his tail is Pleiades, and his Wave of Water is primarily the Auriga constellation. The Glorious Horse Constellation head is of Perseus Constellation and his rear end is Cassiopeia Constellation.
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So what other reason could there be for such a dramatic exercise?
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Why else would our Virtuous Woman be running so fast?
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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SO WHY DID GOD GIVE US THIS CONSTELLATION?
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Let’s see what Scripture says about running…. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 1st Corinthians 9:24. So Scripture not only speaks of fleeing to the mountains, but also of running the Christian Race!
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This above verse really says it all! She’s in a race! Well, if she’s running in a race, then it would seem logical that there is a prize to win. So what could possibly be the prize that she is running to win?
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Listen to Scripture…“…every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” 1st Corinthians 9:25
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SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS
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OK, she’s running for that Crown, that Crown of 12 stars in the sketch below. (13th star in the middle is symbolic of Christ). This sketch of the Summer Constellations, shows this same Woman of Revelation 12 of the Winter Constellations. But now, in the Summer Constellations she flips upside down, and now appears as a woman with child, reaching out to grasp this Glorious Crown Constellation. Well a crown is nice. But there has to be just a bit more information about what this crown is all about.
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SKETCH WITH JOSHUA TREES…The above sketch are the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky. The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius Constellation) is in the south. To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation and above the flower is The Cross/Scepter Constellation. Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis ) and the star, Arcturus . Farthest to the north is the Woman of Revelation 12 part one (Woman in Travail) (AKA Ursa Major). Of course, in this sketch is the desert with several Joshua Tress and some mesas, and a few other plants.
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APOSTLE PAUL: THE MARATHON MAN
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Well a cro
wn is nice. But there has to be just a bit more information about what this crown is all about.
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Listen again to Scripture…“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” Philippians 3:14 & 4
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So this above verse let’s us know that the crown also represents all those who the Christian is praying for….“Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown”. So Paul considered those at the church at Philippi (and the other churches as well) as part of his crown. Part of his prize.
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PLEASURES OF THE WORLD
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But what about all the fun stuff in the world? After all, a Christian has to have a little fun sometimes, right? Maybe that Virtuous Woman in the above picture, needs to “let down her hair” every once in a while. Get out. “Do up the town”, so to speak.
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So what does Paul say?…
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“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:7, 8
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So, is Paul being a little extreme and severe? After all, society tells us not to take religion too seriously! You might say that Paul was what society now refers to as, ‘a religious fanatic’! Well, shouldn’t we live a life more like the people of this world, with worldly aspirations and pleasures?
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The fact is, a Christian will never be satisfied with just a little worldly fun. There will always be a clamoring within, for more and more of this world!
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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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THE APOSTLE PAUL: GOD’S CHOSEN ROLE MODEL
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The Apostle Paul was God’s example of just what every Christian can become. And while we may not be called to travel by foot over tens of thousands of miles, as did Paul, we nevertheless are called to have Paul’s intensity of devotion to whatever our own particular calling might happen to be.
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We may never be shipwrecked like Paul, but there will be times of trials and despair in our own life, which will call for our unwavering faith and courage. So we, like Paul, can encourage others in the midst of life’s storms.
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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain
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PAUL: THE CHIEF OF SINNERS
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If we only wish to venerate Paul, and put him on a pedestal, like in this photo…well…what good is that?
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God took a very corrupt man, and turned him into perhaps, the greatest role-model for the Christian, aside from the Lord Jesus. Oh it wasn’t that Paul was some sort of super-human.
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No, Paul boldly admits… “but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1st Corinthians 15:10.
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So there’s no reason to venerate Paul. It was God’s grace alone that made Paul into what he became. Without God, Paul was only a proud Pharisee. But through God, Paul became God’s chosen role model for every Christian.
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Paul exhorts every Believer to, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” 1st Corinthians 4:17.
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Statue_of_Saint_Paul_-_London_-_20090804-wikipedia public domain
Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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“I LABOR…ACCORDING TO [GOD’S] WORKING…
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WHICH WORKS IN ME MIGHTILY”
Colossians 1: 29
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So, when Paul speaks of running the Christian Race, then we can know for a certainty, that God is trying to help us to see our Salvation as something that deserves our greatest time, effort, and devotion.
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Most of us have heard a little bit about what many athletes do in order to prepare themselves to compete in the Olympics. Those athletes spend every moment of their lives in training, from the very day they decide to enter that most coveted competition. For years, those athletes have one thing, and one thing only on their mind: To win the prize! It doesn’t matter what other mundane duty they must perform, the “athlete in training” has a one-track-mind: to win the prize!
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The marathon runner knows that his personal diet is critically important. So he eats only the very best diet that will give him optimal performance. The marathon runner knows that proper rest is important, so he’s careful to get that required rest. This runner must train for hours, each and every day. He must push himself to greater endurance, and greater performance. He even keeps a journal to record his improvement.
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By this time, most of his friends have given up on the marathon runner, because they think he’s become a “terrific bore”, as of late. But that doesn’t bother him. This athlete has one thing, and one thing only on his mind: To run in a way, so as to win the prize!
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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
London_1990-wikipedia-public domain
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So why should the Christian be required by God to pursue his or her Christianity in such a way as this?
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Let’s go to the Word of God to find the answer to these things…
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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JOHN & PETER & THE VERY FIRST CHRISTIAN RACE
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Was there ever a race involving the Apostles? Well, in a sense there was. It was a race between the two Apostles, Peter and John.
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Listen… “Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.” John 20: 3, 4
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So there was indeed a race…between Peter and John! And that was a race to get to the tomb of Jesus.
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And this little scenario just happens to present a wonderful concept regarding the goal of each and every Believer: to get to Jesus’ tomb as soon as possible!
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BurnandJeanPierre – 1898 – wikipedia commons – US public domain
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DEATH TO SELF IS OUR GOAL
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Oh you don’t believe it, that we Christians are to race to get to Jesus’ tomb?
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Well, just listen to Paul… “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 3:10, 11, 14.
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So we begin to see that Paul was extremely intent on becoming Christ-like! He wanted to experience all those sufferings which Jesus suffered. Paul wanted to be made conformable to the death of Christ, that he might, by any means, attain to the resurrection of the dead. Paul wanted a deeper and deeper experience in the fellowship with Christ and His sufferings!
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And Paul understood that it is through sufferings that the Christian dies a deeper death to self.
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So in essence, Paul, like Peter and John, was also in that race to get to Jesus’ tomb.
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Painting left: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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“THAT DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED”
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And so this little race between John and Peter was really just a picture of that race which each and every Believer is exhorted to run. And it was no accident that John won. It was John who seemed to stick the closest to Jesus during those 42 months of Jesus’ ministry. It was John who leaned upon Jesus’ breast, symbolizing his great love for Jesus. It was John who was entrusted by Jesus, to care for His earthly mother, after He ascended. It was John who seemed to be there when the others seemed to disappear.
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Just look at this old painting of John to the right. Finally, an artist who got it right, concerning John! Most of those artists who painted John, did not realize that John wanted to be Christ-like in every way! That was the sole purpose of John’s existence.
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Now this painting to the right, shows that this artist understood John! This painting makes John appear in similitude to our modern-day conception of what Jesus looked like! And this is the same concept which Scripture paints concerning John. John had become totally Christ-like! And though no one knows what Jesus actually looked like, it is only important that John’s painting here was a definite attempt by the artist to paint John in the similitude of the popular conception of Jesus.
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John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637-wikipedia-public domain
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OUR EXTREMELY HIGH CALLING BY THE
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EXAMPLE OF JOHN’S TOTAL TRANSFORMATION
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But back to the subject of running the Christian Race: what was the prize that John won for winning this Christian Race to the tomb of Christ, thus winning the Prize (symbolized by that little race between Peter and John)?
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Well, for one thing, John became the writer of more books than Peter. Perhaps this was one of the blessings that came upon John. And John received the privilege of receiving the Revelation. And from reading John’s Epistles, we get the sense that John had become so much like Christ, that it was no longer John speaking in his letters…it was Jesus! John, it seems, had completely died to self, by the time of the writing of his last three epistles. And this seemingly complete and utter merging with his Lord Jesus is what makes John such an encouragement to all who are familiar with John’s writings.
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No, John never said, as did Paul, “Be ye followers of me”. But the obvious completeness of John’s merging with Christ is an unspoken call to each and every Believer to, “come up higher”. As we read John’s letters, we realize that we too, like John, can reach a much much higher level of Christ-like perfection than we ever before thought possible.
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Painting above: John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637-wikipedia-public domain
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CHRISTLIKE LOVE IS THE PRIZE
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And so, the Christian Race is God’s challenge to every Believer. Like that Crown which the Woman in Heaven is trying to grasp, so also, there is a Crown which is likewise held out for us too! And this is the prize which God holds out to us, today. The same prize that John won. The same prize which Paul won. The love of Jesus! Love that is willing to endure all sufferings for Christ’s sake. Love that is willing to agonize in behalf of, not only our loved ones…but for our enemies too!
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Oh what little love this world has! How much do Christians miss out on the wonderful gift of God’s Great Love for even those who hate Him! If only we Christians could realize just how much Heavenly Treasure we throw away, in order to cling to our little earthly trinkets!
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Listen to what Paul exclaims… “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” Ephesians 3:20.
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So from this verse it begins to be seen that, no matter what one believes that God can do within him, God can do more…exceeding more abundantly!
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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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WE WIN THE SAME PRIZE THAT PAUL & JOHN WON
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And so God has given us Paul and John as the two role models for Christians. Both of these men could say… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
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Both these men had died to self. And being dead, then Jesus could freely live out His life of Agape Love through these two men.
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This is the death we also must die! And this is the race we also must run, if we are to attain unto such a death! And being dead, then Jesus will be able to live out His life of Agape Love through you, and through me!
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Painting left: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
Painting right: John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637-wikipedia-public domain
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BUT I’M NOT EVEN IN THE RACE! WHAT’S WRONG?
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“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1
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There are many, many, Christians who know nothing of running the Christian race. In so much of Christendom, this concept is rarely discussed in-depth. Many have only a dim awareness of what is 
means to, “forsake all and follow Him”.
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And even when this concept is mentioned, it is extremely rare to find someone who actually is casting aside the things of Earth, in order to run, in such a way, so to win the Prize.
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We read these words “forsake all”, but we have been so conditioned by society to pursue the things of the world, that we remain in stark unbelief that the Bible really means what it says!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org
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SPIRITUALLY PARALYZED
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But even for those of us who are aware of our high calling, we may even feel spiritually paralyzed. The reason why so many of us are seemingly not even running, is found in the above passage…. “let us lay aside every weight…and let us run…”.
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Most of us are trying to bring many of the things of the world along with us in our upward journey.
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Listen to Paul’s testimony… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” Philippians 3:8.
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This passage reveals the secret to winning the Christian Race. Paul was more than willing to let go of any and every thing. Paul realized that Jesus had totally renounced this world and owned nothing but the clothes on His back. Paul was overjoyed to do the same. He had no family. He had nothing preventing him from forsaking all things, that he might, “win Christ”.
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“ENLARGE MY HEART”
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And even if we are intertwined with earthly commitments, we can still turn our focus heavenward; praying continually for God to change our circumstances, so that our family 
might be willing to likewise forsake this present world in exchange for that world Everlasting!
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The verse below is a wonderful promise which should become the daily prayer for all those who long to get into the Christian Race…
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Listen… “I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Psalm 119:32
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And as God enlarges my heart, that I can run that race, I will begin to see God’s blessing being sprinkled upon my family
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Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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UNNECESSARY COMMITMENTS TO BE FORSAKEN
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But even if one’s circumstances happens to be like a modern-day “Lot”, he or she can still rearrange their life, so that they can devote as much time as possible with the Word. For instance, they can carry a little Gideon’s Testament, and stop at times to commit some verse to memory.
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And they can keep a prayer always under the breath, while going about the daily duties.
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Listening to Scripture on MP3 while on the go…or while lying down.
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God knows each heart. If the Christian has truly forsaken this world in his or her heart, He will put ideas in our minds, just how we might run that Race and win that Prize, even amidst the many duties of the day.
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Family – Children’s Playground – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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GOD WILL EVENTUALLY FREE US
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And as time passes, God just might allow us to be freed up from some earthly commitment, allowing even more time for meditating on His Word.
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And so, step by step, God will bring us closer to the life of Paul…to the life of John…to the life of Jesus!
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More and more, we will ever so imperceptibly become, “changed into His image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”. (see 2nd Corinthians Ch. 3).
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Then this painting of John will likewise be our portrait (a portrait of our heart).
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“HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O LORD, FOR I AM WEAK”
Psalm 6:2
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“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
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Never be overwhelmed by the “Christian Race”. Never be overwhelmed by
amount of miles that Paul trod. God is probably not calling most to do that, at this point. The “Good Fight” can be won as a Christian walks, perhaps under the canopy of the starry night sky… praying for his or her self as well as others.
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The “Christian Race” can be run as the Christian lay in bed, making a complete surrender to Jesus in heart. To simply hide under the shelter of God’s wings, trusting in His grace, and feeling totally helpless, is perhaps the greatest victory that a person can win!
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Listen… “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD….I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:4, 5, 8.
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God has not given every one the same energy level. Some Christians may be, “busy Marthas”, always abounding in the work of the Lord. But there are also others, like Mary Magdalene, who can only sit at the feet of Jesus, and hear his Word.
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To hear God’s Word is the best work. So that Christian who perhaps, can only lay in bed and pray, or listen to an audio Bible, may win the Christian race, before those who are veritable-dynamo-Apostle-Paul’s!
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Munch – Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain
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ARE WE LIKE THE PALSIED MAN?
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Remember that story in Mark, Chapter 2, in which a palsied man who had to be let down by his four friends into the house, to receive healing from Jesus?
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That man couldn’t even walk! And yet Jesus gave him victory right then and there, prior to him receiving healing.
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And if I am spiritually palsied; not able to do the slightest Christian duties. I too, may feel like the weakest of all saints. But like that palsied man, we too may get the victory, though we cannot seem to walk or fight, or run, spiritually.
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Because, the real victory is won when a person truly forsakes all in his heart, to follow Jesus, as one of His Disciples!
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Nevertheless, unceasing prayer for great grace and healing should be offered, that we may be strengthened, just as that palsied man, who got up and began to walk.
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Thus may be said to us… “I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Psalm 119:32
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Palsied Man Let Down through the Roof -James Tissot Brooklyn_Museum wikipedia pub.dom.
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THE END
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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE.
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Below is another Signs Of Heaven article…
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CHRISTIAN RACE PART 3: “EFFECTS OF MODERN MUSIC”…
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How does music affect my spirituality? How does today’s music affect my running in the Christian Race?
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Can the things we read and the things we see, or even the things we listen to have an impact on our spirituality? So this article explores just what does music have to do with this fleeing woman? Lots! Just read and find out!
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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE.
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RebeccaStJamesApril2007 wikipedia share-alike license
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
Running The Christian Race (Part 2, Sensual Music)
By admin On April 16th, 2012.
Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size
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To go to Part 1 of “The Christian Race”, just click here.
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“All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hubbub.”
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― Johann Sebastian Bach (courtesy-www.goodreads.com)
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bach – hausmann – Wikipedia – US public domain
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MUSIC IN THE MODERN WORLD
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In centuries past, music was not so accessible as it is today. In the 1800’s, many houses had a piano, or some other instruments. And such households were limited to whoever had enough musical ability to entertain family and guests. And yes, there was also the option of going to hear concerts of sorts.
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But today, the access to music is seemingly infinitely greater, it seems. People now have the ability to listen to the best-of-the-best music, 24/7/365. And the choices of the kinds of music available are also widely varied.
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And it seems, as goes the world, so goes the Church-world, howbeit to a lesser degree. The Christian world has likewise been flooded by music. And the kinds of music a Christian can choose, is almost as varied as the music enjoyed by the secular world.
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The question to be discussed herein is this: How does today’s music influence Christians? And how does music relate to running the Christian Race? And what does the Bible say is the best kind of music to listen to, as Christians? And do Christians have the responsibility to be careful about what kinds of things they listen to?
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These are the questions which will be discussed in this article.
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photo-Ganzfeld-Wikipedia-public domain
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This article is divided into two parts:
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1. Short discussion about running the Christian Race & winning the prize, and the constellations concerning these things.
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2. Discussion about sensual music, and how it affects the listener.
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WHY IS THIS WOMAN RUNNING SO FAST?
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(THE FLEEING WOMAN OF REVELATION 12: (The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 sketch above can be seen in winter in the northern sky. It is Ursa Major, AKA The Great Bear, and her right leg and her torso is commonly known as the The Big Dipper . She appears like this in the early fall in the pre-dawn hours, and is running westward (The pathway with Bible books of course, are the artist’s embellishment).
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THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS
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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman….and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon….And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon….And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness….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 21:1-3, 14, 15
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This Woman of Revelation 12 is definitely fleeing to the mountains . As you can see in this sketch below, The Dragon of Revelation 12 is spewing out his water of falsehoods: false gospels, false ideologies, various temptations, false brethren who will embrace her with the poisonous wine of the The Great Harlot of Babylon. These are what comprise this wave of water coming forth from the Dragon’s mouth. (see “Flood Waters of Satan”)
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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS-SEEN IN FALL: This sketch to the right is how this constellation group appears in the eastern sky in fall. This is the four primary constellations of the Winter Constellations. They can be seen in this position, in the late fall above the eastern horizon. The Woman of Revelation 12 is commonly called Ursa Major or The Big Dipper and appears in the north. Orion the Soldier is the at the bottom is to the south of the Woman. The The Dragon of Revelation Constellation’s mouth isThe Hyades Cluster, and the tip of his tail is Pleiades, and his Wave of Water is primarily the Auriga constellation. The Glorious Horse Constellation head is of Perseus Constellation and his rear end is Cassiopeia Constellation.
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THIS WOMAN IS FLEEING…
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BUT SHE’S ALSO RUNNING A RACE
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“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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But this Woman is also fleeing TO something. She’s fleeing to the mountains, especially to Mount Zion (see “Woman of Revelation 12-Fleeing to the Mountains-Part 1”). She’s fleeing to a close walk with Jesus.
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But this Woman is also running the race to win the Prize, Jesus: Jesus as her Prize, but also her answered prayers for others, as the prize; these are the jewels in that glorious Victor’s Crown. This is made clear by the Summer Constellations, in which this same constellation appears as a woman with child trying to grasp this Revelation 12 Crown Constellation.
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(This concept sketch above right of The Revelation 12 Woman fleeing to mountains is not a star-chart. These particular constellation are NOT in these positions.)
The constellations on the lower left are two constellations from the Summer Constellations.
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APOSTLE PAUL: THE MARATHON MAN
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Well a crown is nice. But there has to be just a bit more information about what this crown is all about. Listen again to Scripture… “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” Philippians 3:14 & 4
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So this above verse lets us know that the crown also represents all those who the Christian is praying for…. “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown”. So Paul considered those at the church at Philippi (and the other churches as well) as part of his crown; part of his prize.
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PAUL GAVE ALL
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But what about all the fun stuff in the world? After all, a Christian has to have a little fun sometimes, right? Maybe this Virtuous Woman needs to “let down her hair” every once in a while. Get out. “Do up the town”, so to speak. What does Scripture say about all this?…
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:7, 8
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So, is Paul being a little extreme and severe? After all, society tells us not to take our religion too seriously! You might say that Paul is what society calls ‘a religious fanatic’!
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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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A FIRE NEVER SATISFIED
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Well, shouldn’t we live a life more like the people of this world, with worldly aspirations and pleasures (see Jeremiah 45:5)? The fact is, a Christian will never be satisfied with just a little worldly fun (see Ecclesiastes 1:8). There will always be a clamoring and a fire burning within, for more and more of this world! (“There are…things that are never satisfied…a fire that will never say, ‘It is enough’.” Proverbs 30:15, 16 (condensed)).
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Yes, the desires of the things of the world are like a raging fire, that burns to the depths of the human soul. This is why the Bible says that the human heart is “desperately wicked“. The desires of the selfish heart cannot be extinguished. The more a man fuels that fire within, the more it cries out for more!
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Campfire Pinecone – Wikipedia – Share-alike license
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PAUL’S FUN & RECREATION
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But how did Paul enjoy himself? How did Paul unwind? Did Paul ever just go do secular things to get some “R & R”? After all, Paul was not under the letter of the law.
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But Paul had a whole different attitude about what brought him fun. Just listen… “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20, 21.
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Here was Paul’s “fun”. To become Christ-like was Paul’s great joy: to walk along the dusty roads, and sing, pray and meditate on God’s Word; to go into a synagogue or forum, and begin to preach the Gospel; to go into this or that city, and work day and night in behalf of the church in that city; and yes, even to suffer for the Name of Jesus! Thes
e kinds of activities were Paul’s joy and recreation.
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Listen to Paul’s own words… “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:10.
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And that same joy can be to every Christian; but only if that Christian wants it. Of course, most of us will not be called to travel over land and sea as was Paul. But whatever our calling, God offers the same joy and zeal, as Paul enjoyed.
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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) wikipedia US public domain
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THE JOYS OF HEAVEN
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To those who are the Elect of God, there’s no need for the amusements of the world, in order to be fulfilled… “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, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Psalm 61:10.
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Does this verse 
sound like the Christian life is a total bore? On the contrary, God gives the Christian more joy in prayer, Bible study, and witnessing than from all the hobbies and entertainments of the world (see Luke 14:33).
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And Paul made a very dramatic exhortation to Timothy… “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars, entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5.
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So here Paul is exhorting us too, to keep from getting entangled with all the many things that the world is entangled with. We’re in a war! We’re in a race! There’s an enemy to overcome! There’s a crown to be won! (Nevertheless, the Christian may have to lovingly and joyfully do many necessary things for his or her family’s needs and happiness.)
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Nevertheless, the Christian can have spiritual hobbies. And the Holy Spirit in-dwelling the Believer can give great joy to that Christian in ways that the world just cannot understand…
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Picture- Devoted Young Lady- wikipedia public domain
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GOD DOESN’T ALWAYS SPELL THINGS OUT IN DETAIL
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Now God doesn’t always address every issue in Scripture. Some indulgences are not specifically dealt with in the Bible. Gambling, for instance, is not directly dealt with. Also, many people question whether or not it’s permissible to smoke certain herbs. It’s natural they say. God created them to be used by Man.
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Now God leaves many questions up to the individual Christian to search out for his or her own self. And of course, the Bible says that Man is constantly being, “tried every moment” by God.
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Listen… “What is man, that Thou should magnify him? and that Thou should set Your heart upon him? And that You should visit him
every morning, and try him every moment?” Job 7:17, 18.
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There have no doubt been many Christians who have fallen into habitual drunkenness, and all because of the seeming ambiguity of Scripture concerning this subject.
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But none need stumble on any question concerning the Christian life. Because God does lay down basic principles in Scripture. And one need only examine these principles and concepts to find the answer to these seemingly puzzling questions.
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And that is what this article will attempt to do.
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magnifying glass wikimedia share-alike license
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JEREMIAH CALLED TO PURITY
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“And every man that hath this hope in Him (in Jesus) purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3
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Now in order to rightly understand how music plays a role in our Christian life. let’s spend a moment discussing the concept of the importance of guarding our heart and soul.
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God admonished Jeremiah… “Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.” Jeremiah 15:19.
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Someone might answer to this verse… “OK, so Jeremiah was a prophet. He had to be holy!” But this admonishment is given to each and every one of us, as well! And so, if we also want to be God’s mouthpiece, we must likewise take forth the, “precious from the vile”, out of our own hearts and lives, just as did Jeremiah!
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NEW TESTAMENT AGREES WITH OLD
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Listen to the New Testament Epistle of James… “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8.
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There are those who mistakenly believe that the New Testament is all “hugs and kisses”. But verses as this above verse, should dispel any su
ch notions! Oh yes, there is much discourse about God’s mercy in the New Testament. But there’s also much discourse about departing from evil, and humbling one’s heart before an Almighty God. God’s people must purify the heart, just as surely as did Jeremiah, 2,500 years ago.
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And such passages as this one from James (“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8.)
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Yes, this above passage is every bit as scathing as any Old Testament passage.
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Just listen to this entire admonishment… “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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…Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble…Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:2-10 [condensed for brevity’s sake].
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What a fiery passage from the New Testament! So, now it becomes apparent, by such fiery New Testament passages, that those fiery Old Testament threats were also for our admonition as well as for those in Old Testament times.
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The_Prophet_Jeremiah by G. Dore Wikipedia US public domain
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HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO WIN THE PRIZE?
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“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
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Which of us really wants to win the prize? Do I want to win the prize? Do I want to win Jesus? Do I likewise want to win for Christ, all those for whom I have been praying?
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Well, I do want to win Jesus! And I do want to win all those for whom I’ve been praying! And I do pray for strength to let go of any and every thing that gets in my way from winning that prize!
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Whether it’s hobbies, or career, or worldly endeavors, or whatever affects my heart and mind. Whatever steals time away from my personal preparation. Like a marathon athlete, we need every possible advantage in our favor…
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“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
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THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC & ITS EFFECTS…
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“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1
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Let’s take music, for instance. Can music have a positive or negative impact on my Christianity? Well, many in the Christian community say that music is neutral. It’s only the words that count, they say.
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Is that true? Is that really true?
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What does your heart tell you? Never mind consulting your heart.
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Listen… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
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And so, our heart cannot be trusted! Let’s instead, just ask any professional musician. A good guess is, that any musician who really knows how to affect an audience, will tell you that music is definitely not neutral. There is music that can make us excited. There is music that can make us feel erotic; Some music can make us feel noble; other music can make us sad; make us happy; some music makes us want to dance; and some music can even make us feel holy!
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RebeccaStJamesApril2007 – wikipedia – share-alike license
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JUST ASK A MOVIE MAKER…
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Just tell a music coordinator in the movie industry that you think music is neutral. He might just double over and roll on the floor with laughter! That man or woman makes a living by tugging at people’s emotions…through music. They can take a scene that would otherwise be rather dull, add just the right touch of music, and make you laugh, cry, worry or rejoice, or however else they wish to make you feel. They can turn that otherwise drab scene into a heart-wrenching, tearful experience…with just the right type of music!
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Burt_Bacharach_(cropped) by Wonker Wonker – wikipedia – share-alike
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“HOW ART THOU FALLEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING”
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Now any biblical discussion about the music of this world and even in the Church would not be complete without at least a mention of Lucifer and his musicianship. So the first biblical mention of Lucifer’s musical abilities is found in Isaiah. Listen…
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“Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and THE NOISE OF THY VIOLS: the worm is spread under thee, and the 
worms cover thee. 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 14:11, 12.
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So in these above words of Isaiah, it is mentioned here that Lucifer had music abilities, where it says… “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and THE NOISE OF THY VIOLS…O Lucifer, son of the morning!”
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Here it is revealed that Lucifer was somehow intimately connected with viols. These viols would, no doubt, be stringed instruments.
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Now many theologians also attribute this following passage to Lucifer as well… “the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created…Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee…Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” Ezekiel 28:14, 15, 17 [condensed].
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So if both these passages apply to Lucifer, then it is a dramatic testimony to Lucifer’s musical abilities! Tabrets are percussion instruments. Pipes would be wind instruments or organ pipes. Viols of course, would be stringed instruments, as already mentioned.
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Lucifer Fallen Gustave Dore Wikipedia US public domain
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LUCIFER’S EARTHLY OFFICE
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Now it could be conjectured about Lucifer’s position in Heaven, or perhaps about him being the chief choir director in Heaven. But instead of mere conjecture, let’s just stick to the facts. Lucifer was cast out of Heaven and 
now is known as “the god of this world” (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4).
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And we also know that he is called, “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2
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And given these three facts (his in-built musical instruments, his being, “god of this world”, and his being, “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience”), then it is not too difficult to deduce that this fallen angel has the ability and opportunity to continue his musical abilities right here in this fallen world, Planet Earth.
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We’ll just leave it at that for now.
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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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MUSIC AND THE GOLDEN IMAGE
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“That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:” Daniel 3:7
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Old King Nebuchadnezzar was pretty clever. Daniel, Chapter 3 gives the account of that giant golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar set up (representing himself). When he set up his golden image on the Plain of Dura, he also put together an orchestra and singers, to add to the moment. After do-doing he commanded, when the music began to be played, that the whole world fall down to worship this image (of himself). He seemed to understand the power of music.
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Academy Awards Ceremony – Wikipedia – Share Alike Lic.
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ALL NATIONS BOW DOWN
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But this little scenario was much more than just a local situation! Just listen to these words… “Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:7.
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Notice that it says… “all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image”. This is a prophecy. This concerns the whole world!
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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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DANIEL 3, FOR LAST DAYS
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The Lord had set up this story from Daniel, so that He could warn us of what we can expect in these last days. 
Even now, does television and motion pictures combine the pride and sinfulness of Mankind with swelling strains of music, to cause the world to revere the attributes of Satan.
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Just look and listen to the various blockbuster productions which come to the theaters, and even into our living rooms, these days. Do you think these incredibly powerful high-tech productions have an influence upon the hearts and minds of men, women, and children? Only a liar or a blind fool would dare deny the powerful influence of today’s dramatic productions. Even the music today is so incredibly power, as we listen to the radio. And the words on much of this music is selling a lifestyle of licentiousness and debauchery, which has ruined the lives of millions of young people (and even some old people who should know better!)
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For a more in-depth look at the subject television, just click here… “Television and The Image That Speaks”
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TV – highquality – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
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JUST PLAY ROMANTIC MUSIC TO A MARCHING ARMY…
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So if we think that music is neutral, let’s just ask the question…
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Question: “Would an army march to war, with, say, dinner music?
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2nd Question: “On the other hand, would you have a candlelight dinner with your spouse to the sounds of a marching band?”
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The answer to both questions is: “Of course you wouldn’t!” We instinctively know that music is a language. Music conveys a message.
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Jersey Town Criterium_2011-wikipedia Public domain
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AS IN THE DAYS OF THE CITY OF “SODOM”…
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“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2nd Timothy 3:13
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We live in a very sensualized society, today, to put it mildly. Much of the world around us has been influenced by sensuality. Just look at the news-stands at the check-out isles of stores. Just look at the various programs on television. TV is literally teeming with sensuality. We are 
practically bombarded with sensuality from morning till night. And if you have Internet, that stuff actually comes looking for you…doesn’t it? Even the shows for little children are quite often filled with sensualized music and cartoon characters. And anyone who dares to criticize these things is mocked and derided by advocates of sensual music. It has become a sensual society. And everyone is affected by it.
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“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:22
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Could this be what this verse is speaking of? Is today’s high-tech sensuality getting so powerful, that God will actually need to cut short this sinful world and bring it to a speedy end? for the sake of his Elect?
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Betty_Boop-WIKIPEDIA-Public domain
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SENSUALITY: TODAY’S GOLIATH…
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“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:3-5
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So, Christians in earlier centuries, did not have nearly the battle that we today must fight in the area of sensuality! Sensuality is a great evil giant for many of today’s Christians to overcome. It is truly a “Goliath” of our times!
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So the question is, “Are we going to face this giant called sexuality, and conquer this arch-enemy?” Young people today have a terrific battle to win in this area of their lives. And if they are running a race to obtain the prize, doesn’t it make complete and perfect sense that listening to sensual music is going to have a negative impact on our self-purification?
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Even if the words of a song have a somewhat Christian theme, is not that song sending out a dual message, if the music makes a person want to dance the sensual dances of today? Music is a language. And music can preach its own sermon, if it doesn’t rise to the same holiness of its lyrics.
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Here’s a true story. One Christian musician was singing songs for his very young daughter. That musician noticed that some of the “Christian” songs he sang to her made him a little embarrassed. He confessed that while some songs were just fine, there were others that had an air of sensuality to them. This made him extremely uncomfortable to sing those songs in his innocent young daughter’s presence!
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Osmar_Schindler – David und Goliath – wikipedia US public domain
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STANDING BEFORE GOD
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In today’s High Technology world, people are being conformed and compelled by society’s dictatorial standards, like never before in history. People are led to believe that they must conform to the “acceptable” ideas which society (and the Church) puts upon them.
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But young persons and older alike have only to answer to God for their own choices in life. None of those who try to tell people just what right or wrong is, will ever be called to stand in their place on Judgment Day.
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Each man, woman, and child must stand and answer for his or her own self, before a holy God on that Day.
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So why should we let any other person be our guide or conscience?
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“NO SOLDIER GETS ENTANGLED IN THIS LIFE”
2nd Timothy 2:4
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Listen… “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.
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The Bible is to be the guide-book in all matters of the heart. We have been called to be Disciples of Jesus. We are 
chosen to be soldiers in the Lord’s army.
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The Apostle Paul put it this way… “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2nd Timothy 2:4.
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The world situation is more dangerous than ever before. We are nearer to that “battle of that great day” than ever before. The pitfalls in our pathway are multiplied, today. If ever there was a time to be vigilant and watchful, it is now!…
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“Watch ye therefore: for ye know 
not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch!” Mark 13:35-37
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Soldier – Air Force Sergeant on guard duty – Public-Domain.
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WHO IS TO PLEASE WHO?
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It seems we have things turned around backwards in today’s Christian World. We have gotten the notion that it is God who needs to bend and conform Himself to our tastes, when just the opposite is true. We are called to become a new creation. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are called out of this very changeable and fickle world, in order that we might be changed into the never-changing image of Christ. Heaven is not a place of changing fashions and whims. It is a timeless realm of Christ-like love, majesty, and holiness.
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Just look at this painting of the Apostle John. Finally, we see here an image by an artist who understood what John was all about! John’s only desire in life was to become fully dead-to-self, so that Christ could freely live out His life through John. And by reading John’s later epistles, it becomes evident that John achieved that goal. John’s own personality doesn’t show up at all in those three epistles. It seems that Christ is the one who was writing those epistles.
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But John wasn’t the only Follower who desired to be Christlike.
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Listen to Paul’s own confession… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
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Paul also was seeking to fully die to self, so that Jesus might fully live through him.
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John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637-wikipedia-public domain
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GOD, A LOVER OF VARIETY
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Nature itself, testifies that God loves variety. Just behold the many varieties o
f animals and birds and creeping things. Just look at all the many kinds of trees and shrubs and plants and flowers. Look at the varied landscapes, and oceans and lakes and streams. Enjoy the many kinds of foods which God has ordained for Man. Lift up the eyes to behold the ever-changing sky, and clouds and stars and planets. Yes, nature is a testament of God’s love of variety.
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And because Man was created in the image of God, he too has a love for variety. And God has placed us in a world which has seemingly endless varieties of creations to enjoy: the beautiful, 
and the not so beautiful. And in spite of the beauty, or the lack thereof, all these many things in nature have been ordained to be our teachers… “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ” 1st Corinthians 4:15.
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And also this… “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? ” Job 12:7-9.
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Ramphastos sulfuratus Panama wikimedia share-alike license
Cuttlefish.ogv – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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FREEDOM BRINGS RESPONSIBILITY
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And along this same line of thought, it is evident that music can likewise be varied. The various notes and chords and timing, etc., can be arranged and rearranged in many different ways, to make music diverse and interesting.
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But it must be remembered, that along with such liberty in choosing what we listen to, there also comes responsibility. With choice comes responsibility. God has given Mankind the freedom to choose.
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Listen… “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,” Galatians 5:13.
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There are things which are good. But there are also things which are not good for us. But God has not laid down exactly what we must choose. And yet God, in His glorious Word has laid down certain principles, which are to be applied when making choices in life. One great principle is that of the life of Jesus Christ, is to be our great Role-Model in all matters of the heart.
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Vegie_buffet cropped image – wikimedia GNU Free Documentation License
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WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
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Charles Sheldon wrote that novel, “In His Steps”, in which a fictional congregation decided that they were tired of being so worldly and un-Christ-like. And so the minister of that little church 
challenged the church members: for one year, each parishioner would ask his or her self before doing anything, “What would Jesus do?”
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Well needless to say, the lives of every church member changed dramatically. All of a sudden, these church members began doing their everyday tasks much, much, differently. Because before each situation, they had to ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?”.
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This novel has sold over 30,000,000 copies. And though it was not a very theologically sound book, it nevertheless presented that one wonderful concept which is worthy of emulation. After all, isn’t this what the Christian life is all about: becoming like Jesus?
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Charles M Sheldon – US public domain – wikipedia
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CHRIST IN ME
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And really, if we think about it, we need to let Christ live out His life through us. And so, to put it in the most blunt terms, we should endeavor to live out our lives, seeking to do what Jesus would do. In 
other words, the Christian should want to do everything, exactly as Christ would do: to speak the words that Jesus would speak: to go to the places that Jesus would go: to pray the words that Jesus would pray: to eat the food that Jesus would eat: to give the offerings that Jesus would give: to sing the songs that Jesus would sing: to listen to the music that Jesus would enjoy, etc., etc……
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OK, so this would be a very good starting point for every Christian to walk as Jesus walked. Yes, it’s the starting point and the finishing point as well!
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Listen… “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4.
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Yes, Christ came to show just how the Law should be lived out in our lives.
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“BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD”
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“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
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This above passage from Romans is one of the most dramatic statements in Scripture, regarding the Christian’s duty to God.
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The first statement… “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”, about laying our entire life on the altar is absolutely awesome!
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But then in verse 2 (“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”), Paul reveals the Christian duty of becoming transformed by the renewing of his or her mind. And the fact is, the Devil is most likely working 24/7 trying to prevent this from happening in your life and in my life!
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Nevertheless, it is one of the most basic of Christian duties to become transformed into the image of Christ. The Bible says this in a number of different ways. But the bottom line is this: the Christian goal is to grow into the likeness of Jesus. In every area of life, the Christian is to transform himself.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“EARTHLY, SENSUAL, DEVILISH”
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Yes, in every area of life, the Christian is to transform himself.
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And music is no exception. The Christian is not to conform his or her musical tastes to the tastes of the world. The Christian is not to please his or her self. The Christian is to conform musical tastes to Heaven. The Christian is to please God. Not the other way around!
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Unfortunately, there are a great amount of Christian music today which are conformed to the popular music of the world. And it is very easy to find a radio station which selects music which appeals to Man’s earthly & sensual nature.
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Rock Music Christian CHURCH Pomona – Wikimedia – Public Domain.
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BRIDGE-BUILDING BACK TO THE WORLD
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Thus, by allowing one’s tastes to align so closely to worldly tastes, he or she is unknowingly building a bridge back into the world. And this bridge will be there, for not only myself, but my friends and church-members, and even my children: because the example I set for others has a powerful influence on others!
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And though I think I’m strong enough to resist going back into the world; yet what about my family, and friends, and children, and church? Will they be strong enough to resist too?
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Listen… “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Romans 14;21
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Bridge – New York Skylines – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
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WHAT WOULD PAUL DO?
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But the supreme rule to use in any questionable situation, is this: “What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say? 
What would Jesus listen to? Where would Jesus go? What would Jesus eat? Who would Jesus have fellowship with? What would Jesus watch? How would Jesus react?”
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The greatest witness that one can proclaim to the world, is a Christ-like character. And as far as possible, the Christian should endeavor to keep his or her life as free as possible from that which will taint the purity of Christ.
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Of course, there are times when it is difficult to imagine what Jesus would do in a particular situation, since Jesus would probably not even be in certain situations which the Christian finds himself in at times. At such times, it might be easier to ask, “What would Paul do?”
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After all, Paul was perhaps the greatest role-model in Scripture, next to Jesus.
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In Paul’s own words, he said… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 11:1.
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And so, God has given these two examples to the world, so to make the Christian life more simple. And by using these two role-models to decide what to do in complicated situations, can make our pathway clear.
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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“STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON EARTH”
Hebrews 11:13
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For those who choose to be in the Lord’s army, they must believe that God will supply their needs on the run (2nd Timothy 2:3). God knows the needs of His people. The Christian’s duty is to engage in the purification process, so that he or she may become a Christ-like witness to the world.
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Listen… “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:2, 3.
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This passage tells us that the heart-purification process is not optional for any Christian. It is mandatory according to this passage… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
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It doesn’t say, “some people” here. It says, “And EVERY MAN…”.
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And God gives His people reminders and warnings, to “Remember Lot’s wife“ when they begin to get complacent and start to make a nice comfortable life in this world. Paul says, “Our conversation (lifestyle) is in Heaven” Philippians 3:20.
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For those who wish to run that Christian Race, there must be an earnest endeavor to shut out every unnecessary earthly diversion, that they may be faithful soldiers and that they may engage in the perfecting of their spiritual warfare skills.
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Listen… “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” 1st Peter 2:11
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I Saw A Man Clothed With Rags – Pilgrims Progress – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET
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“A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 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….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….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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As this parable says, there will be many who begin as Christians, but by and by they become enamored by the things of the world: romance, career, travel, amusements, etc., are the temptations which paralyze the Christian life today.
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Banquet Table Nobel-Hansbaer-wikipedia- share-alike lic.
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“BUT HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK”
Genesis 19:26
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The above parable of The Wedding Banquet, is quite often the sad fate for all 
who get too busy with worldly endeavors. And looking for romance is just another one of those worldly endeavors that robs a Christian of his or her time and energy that would otherwise be devoted to drawing closer to God. It is now the last moments of earth’s history. The Bible warns to, “Remember Lot’s wife!” If God’s people want to begin to nestle down in this world, when the Bible commands to flee, then are we not being like Lot’s wife?
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The Lord is trying to get a message across to His people. That message is FLEE! Flee from temptation! Flee from corrupting influences! Flee from the wrath to come! Flee from earthly entanglements which will surely ensnare!
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God knows our needs. If God sees that we need companionship, then He can bring that to us in whatever way He desires. We just need to keep focused on our great commission of getting out the Gospel, and of purifying our hearts.
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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.
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“KEEP THYSELF PURE”
1ST Timothy 5:22
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“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8, 10
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The above verse warns against adding “other things” to the pure religion of Christ. We are complete in Christ. Nothing needs to be added to Christ in order to make Him “an easier pill to swallow”. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (see Romans 8:19). It is impossible for the world to see Christ in God’s people if there is an insistence on bringing in worldly elements and mingling them with the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Just listen… “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:15, 16.
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A significant part of being holy is being pure. There should not be a mingling of the sacred with the common.
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Listen to Scripture… “Ye shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” Leviticus 19:19.
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God is using these mundane objects (cattle & seed) in this verse to make a spiritual statement. The point that God is making is that there should not be a mingling of the common with the sacred in our worship.
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Goldkey_logo_removed wiki public domain
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“YE ARE…A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”
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“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” 1st Peter 2:9
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We have been chosen to be, as Peter, in the above verse put it, a, “Royal Priesthood”. Even the Book of Revelation testifies to this heavenly calling… “And (God) hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10.
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Now as New Testament priests, there is no more brick-n-mortar temple. No, today’s New Testament priestly action takes place in our heart. We are now the Temple of the Lord.
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Listen…“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1st Corinthians 6:19, 20.
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“PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”
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God has called us to be priests together with Christ. We are to be co-laborers with Christ, pleading for the people. Scripture commands us to… “Pray without ceasing.” 1st Thessalonians 5:17.
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As a Christian goes about his or her day, they are constantly praying and thanking the Lord, and interceding for others.
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Listen again to this great encouragement… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” 1st Peter 2:9.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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PRIESTHOOD: HIGH AND HOLY CALLING
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In Scripture, the priesthood was a very high and holy calling. It wasn’t to be taken lightly. It was a life and death matter. An unconsecrated priest could actually be struck dead, should he enter into the Holy Place with unrepentant sin. And so the thought of today’s Christian should be exactly like the faithful priest of long ago. He must have a trembling heart at God’s holiness. All presumptuousness and flippancy and worldliness must be banished out of the Christian’s heart.
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No, the True-Worshipper will not literally be struck dead, like these two in this drawing. But those who enter into the life of a Christian, will never know the deep spiritual and holy things of God, until they enter into this most solemn priestly office, by faith.
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Listen… “And they (God’s priests) shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23.
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Here is a dramatic admonishment by Ezekiel for God’s people to never mix “the holy” with “the common”.
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Tissot_The_Two_Priests_Are_Destroyed wiki public dom.
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TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
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As God’s royal priesthood, we are to be an example to the Church. And by example, we are to, “teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to
discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23.
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As priests, we have the high and holy calling to proclaim Jesus to the world, by our every thought, word, and action. Now being an example to the flock doesn’t give us the right to exercise a censuring lordship over the flock. But by our godly example and chaste conversation, we are to lovingly exercise that quiet patience which Christ would exhibit to them, if He were standing in our place.
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Father & Son – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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POWER OF PRAYER
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And so, this is where priestly prayers come into play. As a royal priesthood, we are to cry out to God for His erring people (and for our own sins too!). We are to enter our chambers and secretly cry out for our families! For our friends! For the entire Christian community! This is how change is to be effected among God’s people. Never by lording our views in harsh words!
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Listen again to Peter… “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1st Peter 5:2, 3
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morning prayers Ebenezer_Newman_Downard_Morning_prayer_1860 wikipedia public domain
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“BE YE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY”
1st Peter 1:16
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“And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
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The whole point to this is…there should be no mingling of the common with the sacred in worship, or in everyday life, as far as possible. Of course, the Christian must use the things of the world. But in our worship and in our behavior, we must strive for purity.
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But never should anything be voluntarily mingled with the purity of Christ: Things that are fashionable. Things that are “cool”. Things that are comical, or theatrical, or political, or ethnic, or satirical, or folksy, sensual, extravagant, etc., etc… None of these things have any place in worship.
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This is what God is telling us when He says to not mingle the sacred with the common!
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Listen again… “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
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Church music – Singers & Dancers – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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JESUS WAS HOLY IN ALL HIS BEHAVIOR
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Jesus Christ, when on Earth, was very serious-minded, and very holy. Oh yes, He possessed inner peace and joy. Yes, He no doubt had a warm sympathetic smile. But He was not flippant or comical or any such thing. The music He preferred was along the lines of the Psalms, or something quite similar, such as hymns and spiritual songs… “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16.
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“WITHOUT HOLINESS, NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD”
Hebrews 12:14
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Christ was eternal and unchangeable. Christ was holy, through and through. And so should His people be! At all times! At home or at work. In the grocery store or out camping. Wherever we are, the holiness of Christ should emanate from within.
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No, we don’t need to talk King James English! But with sincerity and truth, the Christian is to be pure in thought and this will manifest itself in the life of that Christian.
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God can not bless the efforts of His people if there is an attempt to engage in such mingling of the common with the holy. The Devil may use such efforts for his own brand of evangelism. But Christ never will! And never should His people, either!
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! – Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain
Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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THE POWER OF SENSUALITY
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Any really good solo musician can testify about the power of giving a musical performance. There can be an almost drug-like high from the performance of earthly and sensual music. It is similar to the narcotic effect of, say for instance, a new romance. But this “high” is borne of pride and sensuality. It is the same pride which caused Lucifer’s fall from grace. Lucifer fell because of his beauty and pride.
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Listen… “…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created….O covering cherub…Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:13, 16, 17, 19.
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Lucifer Fallen – Gustave Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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WE CAN SHARE SATAN’S PRIDE
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Most theologians attribute this next passage to Lucifer, who became known as Satan and the Devil. Notice that 
this passage speaks of his musical talent… “…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created….O covering cherub“.
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And those very talented musicians, when honest, must admit the overwhelming narcotic-like pride which comes over them during and after a well-done performance.
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This narcotic-like pride is not confined to secular musicians who perform sensually-charged music. Christian musicians who perform this type of music are likewise susceptible to this Satanic rapturous-narcotica.
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Elvis Presley – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS!
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When the Lord plants His Gospel seed within the Believer’s heart, there is a transformation which takes 
place. Now God’s Spirit begins to gently nudge that child of promise in the heavenward direction! Now the desires begin to ever-so-gently change (sometimes quickly and dramatically), so that this new Believer starts to long for new and different things.
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And musical tastes should also begin to change! Now that Believer begins to desire the same music that Heaven loves! And in the process of time, that Believer is transformed into the likeness of Christ! More and more, Christ begins to live out His holy life through that Believer!
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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama
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“LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT…AND RUN THE RACE”
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The point to all these things is just this: If those who want to win this race are going to have to cut loose of any and every thing that’s slowing them down. The goal is to become Christ-like. It is imperative to let go any influence that will have a counterproductive effect upon the spiritual life.
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For those who wish to win Heaven, then why not listen to the same music that heaven listens to? Do the Heavenly Host listen to sensual music in Heaven? All who believe that angels in Heaven listen to earthly, sensual music, desperately need to study, study, study the Bible very prayerfully!
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At this point someone might say… “Well are you trying to earn your way to Heaven by good works?”
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Jesus & Heavenly Throng – G. Dore – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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KEEP BACK THY SERVANT FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS”
Psalms 19:13
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Oh yes, Salvation is by grace. It cannot be earned. It’s a gift. But those who are truly saved will not be presumptuous about their Salvation. If I am presumptuous and “taking it easy” with my Christianity, then am I really a Believer… or am I simply, as one old preacher put it, “merely a make-believer”?
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If I refuse to get in the race, especially now, when time is almost done, am I just kidding myself? And while we should never judge others, let’s not let any other person drag us down, either by their bad example, or by coaxing us back into vain and time-consuming ventures. Satan is going to throw every possible obstacle in our way, to keep us from running that race.
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Listen… “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,” 2nd Corinthians 6:17
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“PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS”
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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
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As a boy, David sat with his ancient version of a folk guitar (a harp), and strummed and either sang or spoke
his spiritual poetry. Through the hills and valleys could be heard these beautiful strains of soft music, as his words of praise and truth ascended. Likewise, Christ and His Disciples probably gathered around a fire at night and at the night’s end, they joined together to sing spiritual songs and hymns. And as they walked from place to place, Christ quite possibly led out in some spiritual song or psalm, as they joyfully went toward the next adventure.
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While it’s impossible to dictate to others, what kind of music is or isn’t appropriate, there is a cardinal rule which each Believer, who is striving for the mastery should always follow: in every questionable situation, a child of God should inquire, “What would Jesus do?” Or perhaps, what would Paul do, (as Paul was a God-given role-model for Christians-see 1st Corinthians 11:1).
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To ask these questions will quite often make simple, the questions of life which seem very confusing.
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David Playing Harp www.thebiblerevival.com US public domain
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WE’VE TARRIED TOO LONG ALREADY!
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Time is short. We’ve tarried too long at the wine which the world offers. We’ve been sleeping at our post. There is no more time to be found dilly-dallying at the broken cisterns of the world. Instead of being watchful and 
vigilant, we have frittered precious moments enjoying the many cares and pleasures of the world. Our hobbies, our careers, our sports, our excursions, and yes, even our much music listening have greatly eclipsed the time we should have spent hiding God’s Word within our hearts: that is, putting on the armor of God.
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And now the call goes out to enter into the wedding feast. And we have just barely enough oil in our vessels to keep our lamps burning bright enough to see our way to the doors. We have not a moment to lose! We need to hurry the rest of the way!
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One of these days, when we finally cross the Jordan, and reach the other shores, there will be plenty enough time to enjoy all the many incredible things which God has in store for those who refuse to give up. But right now we are entering the last great climactic finale of this Earth’s final battle. We need to remind ourselves that we will have all eternity to enjoy what God has in store for us!
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five wise virgins matt25 www.thebiblerevival.com public domain
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WHAT DO I DO?
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So many Christians are perplexed about these seemingly gray areas of Christianity.
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Too many of us are confused as to exactly what should I do in this area. Or what should I do in that area of life?
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Is this good?
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Or is that bad?
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And in every case which is not clearly defined in Scripture, the Enemy of Souls will use all such biblical ambiguity to present a counterfeit.
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And music is no exception!
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE!
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Actually the solution is quite simple. Instead of worrying about the little peripheral aspects of the Christian life, the Christian should instead concentrate on the big issue: the purification of the heart.
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This is the important issue… “Have I chosen to forsake all of this self-seeking world, in order to follow Jesus? Am I studying my Bible each day? Am I meditating on God’s Word throughout my day. Am I praying as I go about my everyday duties of life? Am I trying to imitate what Jesus would do in every situation of the day? Am I pleading with God to chastise me in the areas where I need help?”
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These are the really important questions that we should be asking ourselves.
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And so, if this is the caliber of Christianity I am pursuing, then all the other peripheral issues and questions will eventually work themselves out. Because as I grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the things that I love today, may just be the things that no longer love, say, six months from now, as I ascend higher and higher up that Heavenly Highway of Holiness: as I more and more become transformed into the image of Christ.
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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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CONCLUSION…
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So in conclusion, is this asking too much of Christians to give up these things for the sake of winning the race to Heaven? What does Paul say?…
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1st Corinthians 16:13
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One more question for Paul… “How much of this heavenly music should I listen to?”
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“…every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in ALL things.” 1st Corinthians 9:25
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Painting: Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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“THINGS TOO HIGH FOR ME”
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“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or 
an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” Romans 14:13-15
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There are many seemingly beautiful and touching songs written. There are many sentiments penned which touch the human heart. It is impossible to know just how the Lord works in the hearts of others. And it is likewise 
impossible to know how God is working with the “lost sheep” whom He is calling back. It even becomes more difficult, because that crafty old counterfeit “Jesus”, Satan, likewise works, when it benefits him, in ways that are extremely similar to God’s ways. So, it’s very confusing, to say the least, to try to figure things out in the world.
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Listen… “…neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” Psalm 131:1.
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Sometimes we just need to realize that God’s workings are higher than we can know. There are many things going on in the world which we cannot understand. To try to dictate to others, exactly what kind of music they should be listening to is an impossible task for a human mind, no matter how wise we might think we are.
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And anyway, we’re not to be mere Pharisees, only concerned with outward behavior. Just because we might convince another to turn off some TV show or radio song, doesn’t necessarily indicate that person’s heart and desires have been changed. And so any such repentance is worthless, until there is a change in the heart. And only God can change the heart.
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Bernhard Plockhorst 1825-1907 The Good Shephard wikipedia public domain
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BE AN ARISTAPHAGIST (Choose the very best)
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It was Herbert Shelton who coined the word, “aristaphagist”. It is composed of two Latin words which mean to “choose what is best”. Of course, Herbert Shelton was perhaps the greatest health reformer in the twentieth century, and possibly of all time. So he applied the term in regards to diet and health.
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But for those who are striving to run the Race, and fight the good fight, the only desire should be to win Christ. It was Wesley who once said, “I value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.”
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A Christian just needs to do what will bring the highest benefit for himself, and not so much dictate to others what is good for them. And if those around us have different opinions on these or other matters, then silence is usually the best course to pursue, on such quest
ions which the Bible does not directly address.
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But the point to this little section, concerning being an aristaphagist is just this: The life of Jesus was all about choosing what was best. And so, the Christian should try to imitate Jesus in this regard as well. Whether it’s the type of music we choose; or it’s choosing a healthy diet; or it’s deciding what is to be the very next duty of the day. That’s all that needs to be said about this word and about the concept behind this word, aristaphagist.
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Herbert M. Shelton – Wikipedia – Non-Free-media-rationale
Fruit_Stall_in_Barcelona_Market-by-Daderot-Wikipedia-share-alike-license.jpg
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ONE MORE WORD OF CAUTION
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“And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.” Genesis 33:13, 14
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We are living in a less than perfect world, to put it mildly. Things are not the way they will be, when we reach those heavenly shores. We just cannot expect the things around us to be perfect. Much patience and silence is required when we are surrounded by the world. If a hymnal has a less than holy song, or if others around us have different ideas about music, silence and longsuffering are required. And such situations will inspire to prayer.
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Signs Of Heaven website is to be an encouragement to those who wish to run that Christian Race and to fight that Good Fight of Faith. The Christian greatly desires to share his or her truths with others. But the Christian must not try to compel others to begin making changes in their life in order to appease. Whether it be music, or diet, or dress or television, etc.. It is not the Christian’s commission from God to bend the consciences of others who are less inclined to walk as Jesus walked. God’s army is a volunteer army. No one should force others to join.
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“I WILL LEAD ON SOFTLY”
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Rather, we should be inclined to be more like a silent gentle breeze among our family. Not a gale force wind! After all, we appreciate how God has been tender with us. As we look at this painting of Jacob, we recall his gracious words about his family and flocks. He said, “I will lead on softly”. Jacob saw how God had patiently worked with him through the years. And now Jacob was likewise determined to be gentle with his family.
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By prayer, watchfulness, and daily consecration, we can cry out for our loved ones, and have confidence that God hears our prayers. We can cling to God’s precious promises, too. As we focus on our own Salvation, we can rest assured that God will work in the lives of others. And if God will peradventure bring a loved one into the fold, then they will also desire to run that Race and fight that Good Fight.
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meeting-of-jacob-and-esau-1844_ wikipaintings public domain
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You may also wish to read… (Lucifer’s Music Solo: Pleasing God or Man?)
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
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Mark of the Beast–“They Have No Rest, Day Nor Night”
By admin On April 12th, 2012.
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THIS ARTICLE IS QUITE LENGTHY (ABOUT 12 PAGES, MORE OR LESS). PLEASE ALLOW A THOUGHTFUL HOUR OR TWO, TO READ AND CONTEMPLATE THESE BIBLE CONCEPTS.
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Mark of the Beast–
“They Have No Rest,
Day Nor Night”
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“And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night,
who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:11
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NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT
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This above verse is pretty frightening, wouldn’t you agree?
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Listen again…
“And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night.”
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It’s frightening, at least, for those of us who reverence God’s Word!
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But does this picture to the above right, really give an accurate portrayal of this above verse (“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever…”)?
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Many people think so.
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Does God have a netherworld cavern in which He endlessly torments human beings in the Lake of Fire?
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After all, it says… “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15.
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And also, scientists do tell us that the center of the Earth is intensely hot.
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Well, if these two verses are true, then the only conclusion one could arrive at is…this picture to the right is indeed an accurate portrayal of Hell.
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However, by taking a closer look at this subject, one might be surprised to discover that this doctrine must be understood much differently than what it looks like at first blush.
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Jesus The Good Shepherd – Bernhard Plockhorst – 1825-1907 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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PAST LESSON REVEALS FUTURE…
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An entire book could be penned on this subject of The Mark of the Beast, as many already have done.
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But for the sake of brevity, let the focus be on just one aspect of this solemn warning from Revelation Ch. 14.
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Look at this following passage…
“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night,
who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:11.
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There indeed is coming a day, in which these words will receive a dramatic fulfillment. The Hour of Judgment is at hand (see Luke 21:25-28).
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However, God has written His Word in such a way, so as to apply to His Church throughout time.
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So, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to just explore how this prophecy has applied to God’s people throughout time.
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And afterwards, perhaps a better understanding may emerge of just how they will apply to those living in the coming days, just before us.
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As a matter of fact, just focus for now on the phrase… “and they have no rest, day nor night”.
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Mark of the Beast – wikipedia – public domain
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“THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT”
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This word for “rest” in the above passage is the same Greek word (“anapausis”) found i
n the following passage…
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you REST (“anapausis”).
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find REST (“anapausis”) unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
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In Greek, this word “rest” (“anapausis”) means to “rejuvenate” or “recreate”. Or simply put, it means “to rest”.
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But the important thing is, it is exactly the same Greek word (“anapausis”) found in the Mark of the Beast warning in Revelation Ch. 14, (“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest (“anapausis”), day nor night”).
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Bernhard Plockhorst – 1825-1907 – The Good Shephard – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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WHO ARE THE WEARY?
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Christ in the above passage from Matthew 11:28-30 (“Come unto Me, etc…”)
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Jesus here, is making a plea to the whole Human Family.
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God knows how weary and heavy laden we can get.
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He sees our struggles, and secret sorrows and private fears.
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And Jesus bids us come and enter into His “Rest (“anapausis”) unto your souls”.
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Yes, Rest is something that only God can give.
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And only those who have taken upon themselves, the yoke of Jesus, will experience this Rest unto the soul.
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Aurlandsveien sheep – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License & GNU free license
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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.
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It’s talking about now!
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It’s speaking of you and me, and every one of us who has sin in our lives.
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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… “…and I will give you rest (“anapausis”) unto your souls…”
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A ship in need in a raging storm (Willem van de Velde II – 1707) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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SIN ROBS PEACE
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Sin brings unrest. Sin steals away our peace. It makes us weary. Sin causes illness, misery and ultimately, Death.
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Yes, we must agree with Isaiah’s confession… “…There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20, 21(Condensed)
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When it says, “There is no peace…to the wicked”, this word “peace” is also translated as, “rest”.
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You could scripturally say here… “There is no REST…to the wicked (unsaved).”
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But either word, “peace” or “rest”, works very well.
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Girl – Depression by Danielzanetti for Wikimedia – cropped image – C.C. Share-alike License 3.0
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WORLD CANNOT FIND THAT “PEACE…WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING”
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The point is, all this unsaved world cannot enjoy the peace and rest which the abiding child of God enjoys.
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Oh 
yes, Mankind sleeps at night.
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And yes, they enjoy recreation, and get their “R & R’s”, as they say.
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But there is an inner-turmoil and vexation of spirit, which underlies Mankind’s existence.
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This inner torment will remain with each member of Humanity until at last, they cease from troubling in the grave (see Job 3:11-26).
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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 passeth 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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Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING”
Philippians 4:7
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“The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:8
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Now, for a proper perspective on this subject, look at those who do have rest.
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Listen to this verse…
…”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee.”
Isaiah 26:3.
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Here is the ingredient necessary for the achievement of “Perfect Peace” in one’s life.
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To keep every thought upon Christ is the remedy for sin and unrest.
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Is such a state of mind possible?
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Listen to Paul, “…and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2nd Corinthians 10:5.
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Would God command us to do something impossible?
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Listen…“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3;20.
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So now it begins to appear that we’ve been deceived by those who have taught us in the past that we must remain in our semi-diseased spiritual condition.
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This passage plainly tells us that God is able to do more than we ask or think.
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No, it actually says that God is able to do, “EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY MORE THAN WE ASK OR THINK, according to His Power which works in us!”
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Girl with a Bible (Faith of Our Fathers) – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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“IF GOD PERADVENTURE, WILL GIVE THEM REPENTANCE”
2nd Timothy 2:25
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Now such a Perfect Peace may not come all at once.
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Many have found it a struggle to fix their thoughts on Christ.
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There are so many distractions in the world…so many temptations…so many duties!
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On the other hand, Perfect Peace is a gift of God, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
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Listen to Scripture…
…”For we which have believed do enter into rest,
as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath,
if they shall enter into My rest” Hebrews 4:3.
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So, it is only God who can allow someone to enter into His Spiritual Rest.
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“THEY COULDN’T ENTER BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF”
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“So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.” Hebrews 3:11
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This particular passage is from Hebrews in which God speaks about those of the Old Testament Jews; some who entered God’s Rest, and some who didn’t.
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God says in this passage, that this Spiritual Rest was offered to the Old Testament Jews, just the same as it is offered to those who are now living at the end of time.
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But because of their rebellion and murmuring against God, He eventually swore in His wrath… “But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:17-19.
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exodus32- www.thebiblerevival.com -public domain
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DANGER OF NOT ENTERING
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God warns us in Hebrews that it is a fearful thing, to fall short of entering into this Spiritual Rest.
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Just listen to Hebrews Ch. 4 again… “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Hebrews 4:1.
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This is a life and death issue. This Spiritual Rest is the essence of Salvation. And it is the true evidence of one’s Salvation. It is the true evidence of the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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Do I live by faith? Do I trust in God’s precious promises during times of trial? Or do I simply handle troubles the same way the world handles them? Do I meditate on God’s Word through my day? Or are my daily thoughts and pursuits only concerned with the world (see Psalm 1:1-3).
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Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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MOUNT OF CURSINGS
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“And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were evening! and at evening thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fe
ar, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see…” Deuteronomy 28:65-67.
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Here in Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, God pronounces the curses which come upon those who rebel against God’s Commandments. And if one reads this entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28, it becomes clear that these curses are for the “here and now”, and not for eternity future. These curses make this life unpleasant, and hopefully will cause the rebels to return back to God.
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And notice that God also picks up on this theme of, “no rest, day nor night”, here in Deuteronomy Ch. 28 (“thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest…and thou shalt fear day and night”), as well as in Revelation Ch. 14. Remember what Revelation 14 said?
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Listen again to Revelation 14… “and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,” Revelation 14:11.
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Now compare again this to Deuteronomy 28… “And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest…and thou shalt fear day and night“.
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Hell – Gustave Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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WORLDLINESS BRINGS DEUTERONOMY’S CURSES!
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When a person’s heart is yet longing for this present world, with all its cares and pleasures, 
then that person’s life will be filled with troubles. And that litany of curses found in Deuteronomy 28 is a spiritual allegory of the troubles which come upon all who have not the Rest which only Jesus can give.
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But listen again to how these curses from Deuteronomy 28, seem to expand on having no rest, day or night… “and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were evening! and at evening thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!” Deuteronomy 28:68.
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Do you see how this completely changes what Revelation 14 is saying?
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Listen again… “and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,” Revelation 14:11.
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This is definitely a companion passage with Deuteronomy 28. They both speak of the same concept: that unrest and torment which follows every child of God, who leaves the pathway of truth, to go after the things of this selfish world.
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To read all of the curses in Deuteronomy 28, just click here… “Deuteronomy 28:15-68”
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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 MOUNT OF CURSING & REVELATION 14:11
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“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out, etc., etc…” (see Deuteronomy 28 for all curses)
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This above passage from Deuteronomy is just a sampling of the many curses which come upon all who turn from the holy commandment to seek after the vanity of this present world. And notice that the Editor has added an “etc., etc.,” at the end of this litany of curses. This is because the curses continue on in Deuteronomy, Chapter 28. (Click link to read ALL the curses).
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DEUTERONOMY: EXPANSION ON REVELATION 14:11
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So this is speaking of the same torment that is spoken of in Revelation, Chapter 14. Remember what Revelation 14 said?
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Listen again… “and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image” Revelation 14:11.
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Ecclesiastical authorities of the past centuries have interpreted this punishment warning in this verse from Revelation 14, as though it occurs for all “eternity future”: a perpetual torment in Hell.
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But Deuteronomy says virtually the same thing, and yet, only in regard to the “here and now”! And in their attempt to hold fast to Church tradition, today’s so-called “orthodoxy” holds on to this very un-biblical doctrine of “eternal torment”, which is based on faulty and incomplete Bible interpretation.
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For one thing, where do we get the idea that this so-called nether-world-torture-chamber even has “day and night”? And where do we get the idea that Jesus and His angels will be watching people being tormented for all eternity”
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After all, it says here in Revelation 14, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God… and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY ANGELS AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB:” Revelation 14:10.
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So Deuteronomy Ch. 28 really begins to chip away at this archaic and un-biblical church tradition of a literal fiery, netherworld, chamber of horrors, which goes on for all eternity!
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“DECEIVING AND BEING DECEIVED”
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“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2nd Timothy 3:13
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God has purposely given strong delusion, concerning this false doctrine of “eternal torment”, to some, 
who love church-tradition more than they love the Bible truth.
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Just listen… “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.” Thessalonians 2:11, 12.
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Those who would enjoy the world, with all its selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits, rather than to allow God to change us into a “new creation”, i.e., into the image of Christ, will ultimately fall into delusion in the form of false doctrines.
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ABOVE PICTURE: The False Prophet – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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“SEARCH WITH ALL YOUR HEART”
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Granted, this doctrine of “eternal torment” has long been accepted by the majority in the
Church. And to be fair, there are many other sincere Believers, who have been truly deceived on this issue. So the following verse from Isaiah applies to these deceived ones… “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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These are the kinds of deceptions which come upon all those who allow themselves to be taught what to believe, instead of diligently searching out, with an open mind, the Word of God for their own selves.
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Listen to Scripture… “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2nd Timothy 2:15.
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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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DIVIDED HEARTS WON’T FIND HIM
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Yes, Christianity will only prove truly successful to those who set aside their worldly dreams and pleasures to seriously search out God’s Word for their own selves.
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Listen to Jeremiah… “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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A superficial reading of the Old Testament, presents God as being a quick-tempered, angry and unmerciful God. But for those who dig much deeper, they will begin to see a vastly different Savior.
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But God will only reveal Himself to those who seek Him without reservation and without regard for the things of the world.
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Listen again to the words of Jesus… “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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Yes, one cannot even be considered a disciple (a student) of Jesus until one forsakes all! This is the “new heart”, which God gives to the hungering soul. When one truly receives the new heart, he or she begins to long for the knowledge of the Savior more than for daily meat and drink!
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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“AM I A NOBLE BEREAN?
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At this point, the subject of those noble Bereans should be introduced.
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Listen to this next Bible passage concerning those open-minded Bereans… “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10, 11
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St Paul Preaching (Raphael, 1515) Wikipedia US public domain
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AN OPEN-MINDED SPIRIT IN BEREA
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Okay, so those in Berea were more noble, because they:
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1. “Received the Word with all readiness of mind.”
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2. “And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
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And so, the Bereans were ready to receive new teachings, which no doubt, conflicted with the supposed, “orthodox” teachings of that day.
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Thus there was an open-mindedness which permeated their hearts, and a willingness to search the Scriptures daily, in hopes that these seemingly new teachings were indeed true!
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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2nd Thessalonians 2:10
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And so, each and every one of us who calls his or her self a Christian must ask the question…“Am I an open-minded searcher of truth? Or am I just another close-minded individual clinging to my preconceived ideas about what the Bible says? Do I love my favorite Bible teachers more than I love truth?”
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Yes, there are many faithful church-attendees (like old Mr. Obstinate here, from Pilgrim’s Progress) who truly believe that they are “Noble Bereans”, but in reality, are not willing to continue daily searching out truths which go against their own church’s doctrines.
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Pilgrim’s Progress – 09, p29 – Obstinate – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“THE SMOKE OF HER BURNING”
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Let’s look again at this passage…
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“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
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This verse does not say, “their torment goes on for ever and ever”. No, but rather, it says, “THE SMOKE of their torment ascends up, for ever and ever.”
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There is a big difference between these two statements, isn’t there? If you put water on a fire, the fire may go out, but the smoke keeps ascending a long time after. Correct? Well it seems that God here is trying to make the point, that His punishment of Mankind has been so severe, that it will not be forgotten. The memory of it shall ascend up as an everlasting memorial to the horrible results which the peoples of this world have suffered as a result of our rebellion against God. Listen to this veiled reference to our eternal mission…
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“God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest My people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the Earth. Selah.” Psalm 59:10-13.
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So this passage presents the reason why God has allowed all this evil to continue. God too, does not want us to forget this lesson we have been learning.
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Hence the words… “Slay them not, lest My people forget:”
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So God’s people will be an everlasting witness to the justice and mercy of God, as is written… “I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise Thee for ever and ever.” Psalm 45:17.
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Also take note that this passage says… “Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be…” Now the words, “consume them, that they may not be…”, certainly does not harmonize with the doctrine of, “eternal torment”, does it?
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Forty stripes – Wikipedia – US Public Domain.
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“THE CREATURE SHALL BE DELIVERED
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And though Jesus paid it all…on Calvary, nevertheless, all of Mankind, “groans and travails in 
pain together until now.” Romans 8:22.
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Sin has its recompense of reward. And the results of sin have been so severe, and the, “whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.” The suffering which both man and beast alike have suffered throughout history, will not be forgotten. But God has given us a promise, as we continue reading Romans, Chapter 8.
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Just listen… “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope…Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:19, 21.
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So this passage seems to hold a great promise that God’s creatures shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. It would seem, from the above passage, that the entire creation will be delivered into the world to come, doesn’t it? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see on that one, won’t we?
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California wildfires – deer – Wikipedia
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WHOLE CREATION DELIVERED…
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But this passage does say that the creation will be, “delivered from the bondage of corruption.”
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And this passage does also say that, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Roman 8:22, 23.
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THE WHOLE CREATION SHALL BE DELIVERED
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Now why would the whole creation, groaning and travailing until now, be waiting for God’s people to receive the adoption, if they are only going to continue suffering for eternity?
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But it says that the whole creation will be delivered from their bondage of corruption, “into the glorious liberty of the children of God”.
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This too, is the Word of God, and is just as important as any other passage on this subject. And though we don’t fully understand how the whole Creation of God will be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God, as it states, but that’s what it says! So let’s not be so dogmatic and insistent about our understanding of these things, and simply wait until the Day of Judgment in the spirit of meekness and humility…and hopefulness.
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California wildfires deer wikipedia
Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.
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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 Sodomm and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” Genesis 19:28.
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Sodom and Gomorrah received the vengeance of God. The smoke of Sodom and Gomorrah went up as a furnace.
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But listen to what Jude 1:7 says… “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, 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 the wicked city of 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.
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Oh yes, you’ll find ashes and balls of brimstone. But no fire is burning there!
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And yet it says plainly in Jude that “eternal fire” fell on them.
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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.
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“LINE UPON LINE, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT”
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This is why a total understanding of truth cannot be arrived at from just one or two, or even three verses. The deeper truths of the Bible must be discovered by the following method… “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9, 10.
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God has purposely hidden many deep truths within Scripture, so that only they who search deeply will find them.
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Just listen… “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2.
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God has made us a royal priesthood. We are, “kings and priests”.
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And so, as, “kings and priests”, it is our honor and privilege to search out what God has concealed in His Word. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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MYSTERY BABYLON’S SMOKE
Revelation 19:3
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“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH…And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:5, 18
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Listen to what Scripture says about the smoke from Spiritual Babylon’s punishment… “And again they (the Redeemed) said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.” Revelation 19:3.
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OK, here it says that the City of Babylon will be punished, and her smoke will ascend up for ever and ever. Does this mean that God is going to torment an empty city?
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Just listen… “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;” Revelation 18:21, 22.
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Well, here God is describing an empty city! God here is describing an empty city (actually an apostate church) which shall never be found again, at all!
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James Tissot – The Flight of the Prisoners – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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FLEE OUT THE MIDST OF BABYLON
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Now listen to this next passage from Jeremiah… “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad…My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD….And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.” Jeremiah 51:6, 7, 45, 61, 62
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Now just how does this passage from Jeremiah harmonize with Revelation which states…“And again they (the Redeemed) said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever?” Revelation 19:3.
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The spiritual city of Babylon is totally “desolate for ever”, and yet “her smoke rose up for ever and ever”!
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The big problem is, theologians from ages past read Revelation 14 about the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever, and assumed that it meant that their torment goes on for ever and ever! But as we compare Scripture with Scripture, we see that this is not the case at all…“When thou comest to Babylon…Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place (Babylon), to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.”
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James Tissot – The Flight of the Prisoners – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED
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So how does this passage harmonize with the idea of literal eternal torment? Again, God is using metaphors. For one thing, there is no literal great city called Babylon which exists today. And this Book of Revelation is speaking of this city concerning Judgment Day. So from the very start, there is a real problem trying to interpret these things literally. By so-doing, you end up like a kitten chasing its own tail! There’s simply no peace nor closure to those who try to interpret these things literally! There will always be loose ends which cannot be tied together!
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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BABYLON NOT A LITERAL CITY
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And next, it is speaking of this city as a “her”. And obviously, this city is not a literal woman. The fact is, God speaks so often in metaphors in the Book of Revelation, and through the Bible.
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We have to go back to the fundamental rule of Bible interpretation… “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with 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 Corinthians 2:13, 14.
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As this passage states, it is the carnal heart of “Natural Man” which tries to interpret the Bible literally. And such will quite often call down curses on those who do interpret Scripture spiritually. And while it’s true that the stories in Scripture really happened and were actual and literal historical events, they nevertheless were given and orchestrated by God to present spiritual concepts. And those who ignore the spiritual nature of Scripture, unwittingly manifest themselves to the on-looking world as carnal men.
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Listen again… “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with 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 Corinthians 2:13, 14.
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Yes, as this passage reveals, those who are yet carnal, cannot and will not see the deep, hidden, spiritual meanings which is interwoven into so much of the Bible! They are foolishness to those who are yet carnal!
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William Blake – Wicked woman – Babylon – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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REVELATION HAS MANY METAPHORS
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And speaking of metaphors, there’s no literal beast with literal 7 heads, 10 horns, etc.. This beast is a metaphorical beast representing Satan’s kingdom on earth.
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Just listen… “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads (of the Beast) are seven mountains, on which the Woman (Mystery Babylon) sits. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the Beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” Revelation 17:9-12.
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So those who are looking for a single man just might be sadly deceived. This Beast is a composite Beast, representing Satan, and his kingdom: this antichrist world-system!
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And while on this subject of metaphors, there is no literal harlot either. She is a picture 
of the apostate portion of the Church. And she doesn’t sit on literal waters. Scripture points out that the waters are “peoples and nations, etc.”. And she will not literally be tormented so that literal smoke ascends up for ever and ever. This Book is a metaphorical book. It must be spiritually discerned as does all Scripture. To study this concept concerning Mystery Babylon, please click here… “The Harlot Of Revelation”
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(Notice that these two ancient drawings depict the harlot riding this Antichrist Beast. The people of that era understood who Antichrist was. But today’s theologians have lost sight of the true meaning of the Beast, and are now looking for a mere single human.)
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Papessa_tiara Harlot rides Beast wikipedia US public domain
Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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GOD OFTEN USES ALLEGORIES
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“Which things are an allegory:” Galatians 4:24
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The fire that the disobedient must suffer are the fires of tribulation.
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Listen… “For by fire and by His sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 6:16.
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The apostate churches during the dark ages likewise mangled this verse, not realizing that spiri
tual things must be compared with spiritual. If they had only kept studying the Bible prayerfully, they might have found that “God’s sword” is His Word.
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Listen… “take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…Stand therefore, having…THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD:” Ephesians 6:13, 14, 17.
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And with further study they might likewise have discovered that, “flames of fire”, speak of God’s people.
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Listen… “Who maketh His angels spirits, and HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” Hebrews 1:7.
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So this passage in Isaiah is to be understood spiritually… “For by fire (God’s ministers), and by his sword (The Bible), will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain (spiritually) of the LORD shall be many.” Isaiah 6:16.
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The “fire” and the “sword” spoken of here is a metaphorical picture of God’s people, as we send forth the Gospel: God’s sword of His Word. And the following passage should not be overlooked either… “let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.” Hebrews 12:28, 29.
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This concept of our God being a consuming fire is repeated many times in Scripture, and should be carefully studied by all who claim to love truth.
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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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PUNISHMENT WITH PURPOSE
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“And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.” Ezekiel 20:43.
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This world is a place of punishment. God has allowed this world to continue, but He has allowed evil, so that God might help Mankind to understand the torment which accompanies sin and rebellion.
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Listen… “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Isaiah 13:11.
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There is no purpose for punishment, if it is to merely inflict pain. There must be some good that will result.
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Listen to Scripture… “If I shut up Heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; 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 7:13, 14.
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So it is seen here that God’s ultimate goal in bringing punishment upon His people is that they might turn from their wicked ways.
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Just listen to this… “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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God doesn’t merely inflict pain for the sake of pain. Listen to the Book of Daniel… “all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth.” Daniel 9:13. These three passages are a compelling testament of God’s love for His erring children.
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Tissot – The Plague of Locusts – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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40 STRIPES & NO MORE!
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Punishment without purpose is merely tyrannical cruelty. To endlessly torment unbelievers as punishment would only inspire fear and dread and sadness in the on-looking host of Heaven.
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“If men…come
unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother (or thy God) should seem vile unto thee.” Deuteronomy 1-3 (condensed).
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Here God is limiting the punishment of a man to 40 stripes. The reason given is because anyone who endlessly tortures someone will become hated by those who witness such merciless torment. And if your or my unbelieving grandmother, spouse, or children were to be endlessly tortured by God, we would eventually begin to hate God, as we see such heartless torture being inflicted on our loved-ones, throughout the ions of eternity.
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40 LASHES: A TESTAMENT OF GOD’S MERCY
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“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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Does this above passage sound like a God that endlessly tortures people in some fiery subterranean Chamber of Horrors? God does punish at times. But He does not simply endlessly torment the Lost. Even the Law of Moses testified to this.
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Listen… “if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause…to be beaten…according to his fault…Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.” Deuteronomy 25:2, 3.
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Now if Jesus will torment lost souls, then why does He caution us not to endlessly punish? Why didn’t He command us to try to just keep a man alive as long as we can, so we can keep torturing him as long as possible? But God says here, that a man that punishes another man beyond 40 stripes, will be esteemed as a cruel man! This idea that God endlessly torments persons like my atheist grandmother or your wayward son or daughter, is totally against the nature of a just and merciful God.
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whipping – forty-stripes – Wikipedia – US-public-domain. (2)
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“EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW”
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When this world, with all its woe and sorrow and suffering is finally done, there will never again need to be such a place of torment and suffering. God will have accomplished His purpose in showing us the results of sin and selfishness.
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Just listen… “What do ye imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9.
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This world is a lesson book for all the host of Heaven. This world will forever settle the question of sin and selfishness.
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This world is just part of God’s master plan… “And, having made peace through the blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven.” Colossians 1:20
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So now we see that the plan of Salvation extends far beyond this little world.
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Listen… “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9.
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It is not God’s eternal hatred of unbelievers that will cause Humanity to bow before Jesus on the last day. It is not Jesus endlessly tormenting unbelievers which will inspire love in the on-looking Followers of Jesus on that last day.
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It is by mercy that every knee shall bow on that day.
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Listen… “Mercy and truth preserve the King: and His throne is upholden by mercy.” Proverbs 20:8.
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“JESUS WEPT”
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“And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, “Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Luke 19:41-44
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Jesus here is weeping and lamenting for His people. He’s weeping concerning the days in which Jerusalem will be surrounded and destroyed by the Romans.
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But what He isn’t doing is weeping for their eternal torment. That concept is not even mentioned once! Why? Because eternal torment is never ever spoken of, in Scripture. Nor is there any passage in which Jesus ever weeps for anybody’s eternal torment. How strange! You’d think that Jesus would be crying all the time, if eternal torment was the punishment of Mankind. But He never does! That’s because eternal torment was never the punishment for Lost Mankind…
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Listen… “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
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It says here that the wages of sin is death. So why doesn’t it say here that the wages of sin is eternal torment? Because eternal torment is not the wages of sin.
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SCRIPTURES IGNORED, EVEN DENIED
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Unfortunately, those who hold to this church doctrine of “Eternal Torment” have
not rightly divided God’s Word concerning the nature of Hell. Instead they have insisted that the, “Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus”, and, Revelation 14:11, must be the last word on the subject. So now they refuse to modify their man-made doctrine.
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And whenever they are confronted by such passages as this… “(Man’s) breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4, they must either diminish the importance of this verse or dismiss or merely skip over it altogether. And by so-doing, they can hang on to their traditional beliefs and hold fast to their man-conceived doctrines.
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Just look at this next verse… “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them…and desire shall fail…Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:1, 6, 7.
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Here is another passage completely ignored by those who advocate that God eternally torments unbelievers. It plainly states here that when a person dies, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God, who gave it”.
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Yes, man’s spirit returns to God who gave it. But many incorrectly assume that the soul returns to Heaven.
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But listen again… “If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there.” Psalm 139:8
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But here it says that David’s soul was in Hell, and yet God was there in Hell as well! Read this passage again… “if I make my bed in Hell (the grave), behold, Thou art there.” Psalm 139:8
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David Playing Harp www.thebiblerevival.com US public domain
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“NO REST, DAY NOR NIGHT”
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“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11.
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Notice it says that they, “have no rest, day nor night”. This must be speaking of the here and now, since day and night will be done away with at the coming of Christ…
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Listen…“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5
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This above verse says there will be no night there. And they need no light of the Sun.
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Oh yes, the unsaved will be tormented. But it will happen on the days of God’s wrath here on earth, while there is still night and day. In other words, this above passage is speaking of God’s wrath on Judgment Day, and not of eternity future.
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The Great Day of His Wrath – John Martin – 1853 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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MANY DISMISS OLD TESTAMENT
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Proponents of “God’s eternal torment of unbelievers” will attempt to diminish such passages as this by saying such things as, “well this is from the Old Testament so it is no longer truth”, or they will say, “Ecclesiastes is Man’s wisdom and not God’s wisdom”.
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But to these erring ones, we would offer the following passage from the writings of the Apostle Paul… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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So here it says that, “ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”.
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So those who wish to say that God eternally torments people are willing to demolish parts of the Bible, in attempt to retain their church dogmas. And Ecclesiastes and Psalms are a very important part of what Paul calls, “All Scripture”. So from Paul’s own writings, God warns us that, “all Scripture is profitable for doctrine”, and not just SOME Scripture.
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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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GOD’S THRONE UPHELD BY MERCY
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“Mercy and truth preserve the King: and His throne is upholden by mercy.” Proverbs 20:28
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This above passage presents a wonderful truth. While it is mercy and truth which preserves the King, yet it is mercy which upholds the King’s throne.
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So how can anyone possibly imagine that God would be loved and adored throughout eternity, if He had a torture chamber in which billions of lost souls were being tortured throughout the ceaseless ages? God would be perceived as the cruelest of all tyrants!
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But God reveals eternity for the wicked in a much different judgment.
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THE WICKED ALL REST TOGETHER IN THEIR GRAVES
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And there are many many other places in Scripture which speak of unsaved Man’s eternal punishment as death. Just listen to this passage from Job… “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?…For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. There the wicked cease from troubling; 
and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?” Job 3:11-22.
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In this passage, Job wishes to be released from his earthly torment. But theologians ignore this passage or simply shrug it off as not to be regarded. But Scripture demands that this passage be regarded as just as important as any other verse.
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THE BOOK OF JOB IS ALSO GOD’S WORD
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Listen… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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And so Job’s confession here on the nature of death is likewise profitable for doctrine, just like the rest of Scripture (“There (in the grave),the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together.”)
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This verse must be also included when rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Those who advocate eternal torment, must face this passage squarely. Because this passage plainly lays out the nature of death. If Job’s soul was to be tormented eternally, then the last thing Job would have longed for was death! No, Sheol, or Hell, is “the grave” in the Old Testament.
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This passage finds little acceptance in today’s Christianity. This passage has been greatly ignored and even rejected by today’s theologians, and one excuse after another is used to diminish or completely dismiss such similar passages as this.
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Job-wikipedia-US-public-domain.jpg
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“ALL IS VANITY “
Ecclesiastes 1:14
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“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11
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The words in the above verse, “vanity and vexation of spirit”, was a poetic thread which ran through the little Book of Ecclesiastes. But, “vanity and vexation of spirit”, is nevertheless the curse which comes to every person who decides to “put Jesus on the back burner” so to speak, and pursue the things of the world. In other words, this is the torment of Mankind. They have no rest in their sins… “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22
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King Solomon lived without question, the most extravagant and luxurious life ever lived. He possessed far more riches than the world’s richest man today. He had servants. He had a thousand wives. He had it all!
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But at the end of his life, he confessed… “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 1:14.
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Solomon found out by experience, that all his riches and all his many pleasures brought a meaningless and troubling life. Oh yes, he, no doubt, had times of thrills and pleasures. But these were far outweighed by wantonness and even misery which comes from having too much.
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Listen to what Solomon says in another place… “…the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12. And Solomon had it all! But he didn’t have rest! And neither does Mankind!
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WE ALL HAVE TO SUFFER
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“For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:22, 23
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This above verse reveals much about why Creation suffers until now. It says that they will keep suffering till God has purified His chosen and Elect.
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But back to Solomon. The point to this little paragraph above (“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” Ecclesiastes 1:14), about Solomon is just this: God has put us in a world…a very selfish world. And He has done so in love, and in hopes that Mankind might learn by experience that selfishness does not lead to real true peace and joy.
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On the contrary, it leads to the very same thing that Solomon finally realized; vanity and vexation of spirit. In modern terms, selfishness ultimately leads to futility and anxiety… unhappiness. This is the true torment which Mankind suffers…right here and right now! Just look again at the above Bible verse from Romans…
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It says that the entire Creation is suffering. “For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also…” Romans 8:22, 23
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We’re all suffering the effects of selfishness. This is the lesson God wants us to learn. Not for us to be tortured throughout the ceaseless ages! That would only prove that God is without mercy.
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But listen to the rest of this passage… “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:20:21.
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But it says here that, “the creature itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God”!
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This sounds as if even all of Mankind will be delivered from bondage into the glorious liberty of the children of God, doesn’t it? Well, it would be difficult to prove this, in light of all the scriptures which speak about death and Hell. So we’ll just have to leave this puzzling passage alone till Judgment Day.
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California wildfires deer wikipedia
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SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT…
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To understand this idea of torment, consider the following verse… “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1st John 4:18.
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So it is seen here that one does not need to descend into some fiery cavern or abyss in order to suffer torment. Christians may suffer the torment of being double-minded in their service to God. Sin brings torment upon the life of a Christian.
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Listen to Scripture… “For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8.
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And the previous verse again… “…because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” So those who are divided between worldly desires, and the desire to serve Christ will not find that, “perfect peace”, nor that, “Rest unto your souls”.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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“BEATEN WITH MANY STRIPES”
Luke 12:47
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In Deuteronomy 28, God pronounces blessings upon the obedient, and curses upon the disobedient. Just listen to a few of those curses… “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shall you be when thou comest in, and cursed shall you be when You goest out…The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof you canst not be healed. The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: And you shall grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you shalt not prosper in thy ways: and you shall be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. You shall betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: you shalt build an house, and you shalt not dwell therein: you shalt plant a vineyard, and shall not gather the grapes thereof. ” Deuteronomy 28:16-19 & 27-30 
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Just think about all these curses which come upon the disobedient! And this is just the short-list! There actually were more of these curses in that particular passage! Just too many to mention! And remember, these curses are not upon the dead. They are those curses which come upon the living…in this life!
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Notice it talks in terms of a man’s life on earth. It talks about his wife. It talks about the city and the country. It speaks about a man’s flock of sheep. It speaks houses and vineyards, and evening and morning. Do we really imagine that there’s going to be all these things in Hell? No, this is the torment which SPIRITUALLY falls upon the disobedient in this life.
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IS GOD A MERCILESS TYRANT?…
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But these curses are not literal. They must be understood in the light of the entirety of the Bible. Take for instance, the curse of blindness pronounced in verse 29. Do people literally become blind who live in disobedience? Just listen to Revelation Chapter 3, where God is denouncing the Laodicean Church… “Because you sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and BLIND, and naked:” Revelation 3:17.
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This is speaking of SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS. The Bible is a spiritual book. It must be discerned spiritually. Just listen to Scripture… “The natural man receives not the things of the S
pirit 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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The trouble is, the un-spiritual ecclesiastical authorities from centuries past have more or less misconstrued the Bible, trying to interpret the parables and metaphors literally. And so out of the past traditional misunderstandings of the Holy Canon have emerged these incredibly horrific notions that God is a merciless tyrant. Of course, history tells us that it was this same group of people who began to set up torture chambers, to torture anyone who didn’t accept their church and their false church-dogmas. And as a result, Christians were tortured and hunted down like animals. This went on, more or less, for over a thousand years. And today, the same ecclesiastical authorities will threaten you, saying you too will suffer eternal torment if you don’t accept this horrible false doctrine of Eternal Torture of the Lost.
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Hans_Thoma_Jupiter-wikipedia public domain
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WHAT DID HENRY HAVE TO SAY?
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On the other hand, there were good theologians as well. There were such men as Matthew Henry who, though he was by no means a perfect theologian, nevertheless, he saw the Bible as a spiritual book.
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Listen to Henry… “‘The Lord shall smite thee with madness and blindness’… and th
ose that are willfully blind to their duty deserve to be made blind to their interest, and, seeing they loved darkness rather than light, let them grope at noon-day as in the dark.“ Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 28
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So Matthew Henry saw the spiritual nature of this passage from Deuteronomy. And likewise, Matthew Henry saw so much of the Bible as a spiritual book. Even though the stories of the Bible were real events, Henry quite often saw that these stories were presenting allegorical spiritual lessons. He compared Scripture with Scripture, and by so doing, he usually arrived at a spiritual interpretation of the Bible.
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Matthew Henry Wikipedia Public Domain
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THE DAY OF THE LORD
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In a very real sense, it has always been the Day Of The Lord. Listen to Scripture… “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.” Revelation 1:3.
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This opening solemn warning at the start of the Book of Revelation is repeated a number of times in this prophecy… “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must SHORTLY come to pass” Revelation 1:1.
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Both at the beginning and at the ending of this book is this same warning repeated… “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for THE TIME IS AT HAND.” Revelation 22:10.
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This passage is found at the end of the Book of Revelation. So there are confirmations at the beginning of Relation, and at the end of Revelation, as that “the time is at hand!”
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But the Apostle John also made clear in his 1st letter, that the events of Revelation were already beginning to come to pass, even back in the first century, AD. just listen to this telling statement… “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1st John 2:18
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The great theologians, such as Luther, Wycliffe, etc., throughout the Dark Ages and the Protestant Reformation looked at the Book of Revelation as an ever unfolding prophecy. Christians have been fighting the battle against Antichrist forces since the days of the Roman Circus. The history of the Church has been a bloody history indeed.
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The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“AND HE…BY PEACE SHALL DESTROY MANY”
Daniel 8:25
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But for the last several hundred years now, Satan has somewhat changed his tactics. While genuine persecution is still going on in some third world nations, Satan has flooded the more prosperous nations with a different type of persecution. He has flooded us with money, and amusements, and careers, and all sorts of all-consuming cares and pleasures. Very little persecution goes on in this society, compared to centuries past.
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We’ve all heard that old adage… “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.” And those who live in today’s society well know and understand just how true is this proverb!
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Just look around at all the decadence and hedonistic crime and mischief which has arisen today! We’re totally amazed, aren’t we? When we look at all the unthinkable crimes which daily appear in the press; atrocities we never dreamed possible, becoming common as grass!
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And isn’t it true today, because of the absence of bloody persecution, the Church in the west has become lethargic and preoccupied with all the many worldly diversions afforded us now?
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APOCALYPSE HISTORICAL
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But here’s the point: because the historical knowledge of the persecution of God’s people in past centuries has mostly been buried beneath the sands of time, theologians have now begun to view Revelation as a book concerning the future…a 7 year period. Have you ever noticed that our school children are kept ignorant of this history of the church? This is no accident! We seem to have all but forgotten the past. The god of this world has all but blinded the eyes of society to this great history of the Church.
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And at the same time, we have adopted the idea that Revelation is only for the future, and not for the past. Oh yes, we are told that the first four chapters of Revelation were about the past. But they assign the last eighteen chapters to the last 7 years of time.
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Now, having said all this, it must be stated that modern theologians are partly correct. And while they must ride roughshod over these repeated warnings not to seal this Revelation, “for the time is at hand”. In a very real sense they are somewhat correct about a grand dramatic fulfillment of Revelation in the last few years of time.
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FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS!
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“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17.
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So it says here that… “that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark”.
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In a very real sense, the Mark of the Beast has always been given. Satan has always been hard at work to prevent the true Gospel from being bought and sold… “Buy the truth, and se
ll it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23.
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The buying and selling has to do with the true unadulterated Gospel. It is the object of the Enemy of Souls to prevent the hearing of and the performance of the true Gospel. Either by fiery persecution or by counterfeit “worldly prosperity” gospels, the Dragon has been spewing his deadly flood-waters after the Woman, i.e., the Church (see Revelation 12) in hopes of sweeping her away.
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And what does Satan care how he accomplishes his goal? Whether by violence or by the, “deceitfulness of riches” Matthew 13:22, this Dragon carries out his diabolical master-plan.
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Avvakum (burned 1682)_by_artist, Myasoyedov 1897 Wiki. Pub Dom.
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NOT JUST FOR LAST 7 YEARS
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But there comes a time to end all things. And God will cut His work short in righteousness. And so, even though the Bible has been applicable to all Christians in all ages, it nevertheless will have a special fulfillment in this solemn hour ahead of us.
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Listen to Scripture… “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” Revelation 1:19. This verse seems to have the sense of universality, doesn’t it?
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It says, “the things which you have seen…”; this is speaking of “the past”.
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Then it says, “the things which are”; this is speaking of “the present”.
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And lastly, it says, “the things which shall be hereafter”; this is speaking of “the future”.
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After all, this little book was written in the first century AD. The Greek word for, “hereafter”, literally means… “From this point onward”.
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Revelation – www.pri.org/stories/2011-08-10/revelations-book-revelation – courtesy www.pre.org
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APOCALYPSE ALWAYS
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The elderly and the sick persons of this world quite often suffer immensely from various illnesses. We have no idea just how many, even in our own neighborhoods, are going through the most excruciating sufferings on a daily basis. And Christians are not exempt from such suffering. All of humanity, to a lessor or greater extent, suffer the effects of sin.
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But those who have entered God’s Rest can still have peace and perhaps even joy amid our trials and tribulations. We can have that peace that, “surpasses all understanding” Philippians 4:7. And we can go to this lost and hopelessly dying planet and tell them that they don’t have to suffer so hopelessly.
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Christ pleads with humanity… “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
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Notice that Jesus offers a REST unto our souls, to all of us who carry the heavy burden upon our shoulders; the burden that comes from the absence of God’s Spirit in our hearts and souls.
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Munch – Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“GOD IS LOVE” & “HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER”
1st John 4:8 & 1st Chronicles 16:34 (and 40 other places)
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Now at this point, the following verse must be offered as a testimony to the fact that God Himself is the One who will punish the earth’s inhabitants.
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Listen… “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” Isaiah 30:33.
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This is one of those verses that the apostate church of the Dark Ages took and misinterpreted. They figured that there must be some netherworld cavern somewhere, in which sinners were unmercifully tortured. They took this verse literally, that there must be some pile of wood, that God breathes on and ignites.
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Again, the Bible in the hands of carnal Man, is soon mangled and twisted into something that it is not. As a result, perhaps millions of persons over the centuries became so fearful of this tyrant God named Jesus, that some even literally went insane, spending their lives in asylums, in stark dread of this God of wrath and vengeance.
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Of course, most evangelists today stay as far away as possible from this doctrine of Eternal Torment, because it’s difficult to tell people that “Oh, Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life; but all the unsaved will be roasting in eternal Hell-fire!”
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And there are many who are screaming in agony and pleading for mercy, through the countless ages (so they say). And with deaf ears, you will be blissfully fluttering through the heavens with nary a care. But if you dare question this insane dogma, you will often be pointed to some cult who doesn’t believe in Eternal Torment either.
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Then the obvious unspoken threat is….“Unless you recant on your audacity of even questioning this much-beloved traditional dogma of Eternal Torment, you too will be going down the same road as those misguided cults!”
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Buddhist hell – wikipedia – public domain.
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WHERE IS JESUS NOW?
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QUESTION: “If Jesus paid the price of eternal torment for mankind’s sins, then why is Jesus no longer being tormented?”
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ANSWER: Jesus is not being eternally tormented because eternal torment was never the wages of sin… “The wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23.
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QUESTION: “Well then, why is Jesus no longer dead?”
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ANSWER: This verse says it as well as any verse in Scripture concerning death… “So also Christ…Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from DEATH, and was heard in that He feared;” Hebrews 5:5, 7.
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Jesus paid the penalty of death, but death could not hold Him. And He suffered the condemnation of sin, just prior to His physical death.
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DAY OF THE LORD
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“For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:” Isaiah 2:12
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So now that we’ve explored the historical application of this passage… “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever“, we now need to see how it applies to the coming time of trouble.
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The above passage reveals a very great principle concerning the Day of the Lord: it will be upon all the, “proud and lofty“.
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But what else does this passage reveal about the Day of the Lord? Listen, as this passage continues… “For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols He shall utterly abolish.” Isaiah 2:12-18.
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So here is spiritual language that the Day of the Lord will be upon the world, as well as the worldly Church. And it also is allegorical language that it is God’s intent, not only to destroy our pride, but also to destroy the idols of the world: all the selfish pursuits, and beloved institutions and the material things we love so dearly.
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GOD’S JUDGMENTS ALREADY HERE
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So how will God accomplish all this? Well, don’t we see it already beginning to happen? Don’t we see our beloved institutions beginning to fail? Don’t we see immorality and decadence all around us? Don’t we see the lawlessness and injustice?
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Listen… “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah 59:14.
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Doesn’t this passage describe the death of the rule of law in our own land? And just look at how sexual perversion has become “the new normal”, as the saying goes.
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Yes, God’s judgments are already falling. But it’s not that God is bringing them upon us. All God has to do is to simply withdraw His protective hand, and let us destroy our own selves (with the help of Satan and his countless minions).
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Lightmatter burningman by Aaron Logan for = cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license
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“TO THE MOLES AND TO THE BATS…”
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And as never before, Mankind is tormented by our own doings.
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Listen… “The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.” Proverbs 11:6.
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The rebellion of Mankind, and our own ways will ultimately be our undoing. And as these calamities increase, there will be those who finally give up their rebellion, and turn to the Lord.
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Listen, as this passage from Isaiah continues… “And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:19.
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Here again is veiled allegorical language which speaks of those who run and hide in the shelter of the Rock of Ages, Jesus.
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Listen as this passage continues… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the Earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21.
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Yes, those who finally realize that this world is a lose-lose proposition, will ultimately cast our beloved idols to the moles and bats (to the unsaved), and run to the shelter of that mighty Rock, Jesus, in that Day when God arises to shake terribly the Earth.
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So here in Isaiah is a brief description of how the inhabitants of the world will be tormented in these last moments of time.
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And of course we know, that… “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:17.
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Big-eared-townsend-fledermaus Wikipedia public domain
“Cast Idols to Moles”_mole by Michael David Hill, wikipedia share-alike license
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 in the fall months)
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REVELATION TO HAVE A DRAMATIC FINALE
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Though Revelation has been a book for Christians at any and every time, the Book of Revelation will have a dramatic fulfillment in these last days. It does appear that there will be a Grand Finale to this great conflict of the ages between Michael and the Dragon.
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And though we must not forget the glorious but bloody history of the Church through the Dark Ages, we must also remember that the day is approaching, in which there will be a trial by fire for all those living on the earth: “Judgment Day”. “Armageddon”. “The time of Jacob’s trouble”. “The Day of the Lord”.
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Sketch to right not a star-chart. It is a concept picture. Constellations not correctly positioned here in attempt to make a spiritual point.
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THE TORMENT TO COME
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Now, we must not get the idea that the days ahead will be business as usual. Oh yes, for the people of the world, it may be business as usual. But for those Christians who have not yet overcome the world, the Day of Judgment will be intense and fiery! God will allow Satan to torment us with such fierce cruelty, that we will eventually cry out, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”
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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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A LIVING NIGHTMARE!
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Yes, the days ahead will intensify beyond anything that you can now imagine, or words can describe! At times it will seem like a living nightmare! Satan and his evil angels will come at Christians with every possible weapon in their vast arsenal! Family and friends and strangers alike will assail the Christian to the point that it will seem that they are merely devils in human bodies!
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And when they lie down, Satan will attack them with terrifying dreams…“When I say, My bed shall comfort me…Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.” Job 7:13-15
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DEMONS -wikipedia-US-public-domain
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THE TERRORS OF JUDGMENT DAY! 
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The entire world will turn against God’s faithful remnant until they realize that their only hope is to cast all their trust upon God alone! They will have no earthly support!
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This infamous painting by Munch is a very appropriate depiction of Judgment Day, because it portrays a man in stark terror, while the people all around him have no cognizance of his torment! For them it is business as usual. For him it is being, “tormented by fire and brimstone and no rest, day nor night!”
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The Scream – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD”
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But we must not forget that God never punishes for the mere sake of inflicting pain! No, it is God’s will that His people become purified as gold which is tried in the fire! And so, the fiery trials before us are orchestrated to purify a people for God, who will learn to walk by faith, and by faith alone!
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No more will God’s people lean on the arm of flesh. No more will they halt between two opinions. No longer will they be a poor reflection of Christ.
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Because during the fiery trials just ahead, they will become so highly-polished vessels of gold and silver, that the world will begin to see Christ’s image shining out from them!
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At last they will finally lift up the Cross for all the onlooking world to behold!
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THE LAST DAY!
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No longer will it be the Church-defeated! Finally, it will be the Church-victorious!
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They will be as one Man! They will walk even as Christ walks! God’s Salvation plan will be complete!
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And at long last, they finally will see their long-awaited and long-hoped-for Savior, Jesus, “coming in the clouds, with great power and glory!”, to redeem them forever from this sin-cursed earth!
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“THE APPROACHING STORM“
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We need to be pleading for God to hide us in that Day which is coming. We need to go into our chambers and close that doors about, and, “hide ourselves, as it were, but for a moment, until the indignation be overpast. For the Lord is coming out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the world.” Isaiah 26: & 27:1.
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No, this isn’t speaking of some fallout shelter. This is speaking of hiding ourselves under God’s protective shelter. This kind of a shelter can only come through making an entire surrender and a complete devotion to God.
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Listen… “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3.
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So here it is seen that God has not promised that we Christians are exempt from Judgment Day. After all, He is not speaking to unbelievers in the above verse, but to the MEEK (i.e., Believers). Notice God says “it MAY BE” ye shall be hid. So anyone who thinks he or she is a shoe-in to escape all these things, needs to re-examine Scripture.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Hide Thyself in thy Chambers – inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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HOW DO I HIDE?
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“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him…And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 2:28, 28 & 3:3.
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The above passage from 1st John pretty much nails it down as to just who will not be ashamed at the Coming of Jesus: those who are purifying themselves, even as Christ is pure.
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And couple this passage from 1st John with this next passage from Luke… “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36.
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So with these verses in mind, what else is there to do, but to do the following… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Hide Thyself in thy Chambers – inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
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“I WILL STAND UPON MY WATCH”
Habakkuk 2:1
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So let’s not be found sleeping at our posts when that day arrives…. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Luke 21:34, 35
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This American soldier is definitely not asleep at his post. And neither should we Christians be asleep at our posts… “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1st Thessalonians 5:2, 3
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Air Force Sergeant on guard duty at Baghdad International Airport wikimedia public domain
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BE LIKE THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS
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But for those who think that the Church will only experience “peace and safety”, just listen to the next verse… “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should 
overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1st Thessalonians 5:4-6.
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This picture is of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This picture is of the five wise virgins. Yes they too went to sleep, as did the foolish virgins. But unlike the foolish virgins, these wise carried oil in the vessels. So the obvious lesson here is that God’s people must have that vital connection with the Spirit of Holiness.
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five wise virgins matt25 www.thebiblerevival.com public domain
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CONCLUSION: “I WILL GIVE YOU REST”
Matthew 11:28-30
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“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
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If one studies nature carefully, it will soon be evident that natural beauty brings a certain peace and rest to the beholder. God loves peace and rest. When He placed our first parents in that beautiful garden, he gave them everything needful for health and happiness.
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Does anyone suppose that when this present Earth will be created anew, that the New Earth will be any less beautiful than this present world. Oh there probably won’t be any dry deserts, or dead grass. But the Lord will place us in every bit as much beauty and restfulness as enjoyed in the original garden.
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And no doubt, this beautiful garden which this fine painter painted only just begins to give us a hint of what’s in store for those who will continue on that upward pathway, which is now before us.
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Monet painting Pathway in Monets Garden at Giverny wikigallery 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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
Television & The Image That Speaks
By admin On March 14th, 2012
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TO READ THE LONG, UNEDITED VERSION (15,000 WORDS) CLICK HERE
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Television & The Image That Speaks
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“And he (2nd Beast) had power to give life
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unto the image of the (1st) Beast,
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that the image of the (1st) Beast
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should both speak, and cause
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that as many as would not worship
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the image of the Beast should be killed.”
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Revelation 13:15
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TO READ MUCH SHORTER “TELEVISION, IMAGE OF THE BEAST” ARTICLES, CLICK HERE
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TELEVISION: GREATEST INVENTION EVER!
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Is the above title true? Is television indeed, the greatest invention ever?
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Well, probably many people have many different ideas about that question. But one thing is for sure: television has had an enormous impact upon the world!
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And it has found its way into more and more homes around the world, in ever-increasing numbers.
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Truly in many households, it has become the centerpiece of life!
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And it makes a wonderful babysitter for the young, and a faithful friend to the old and to the infirm and to the confined.
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Family watching television, c. 1958 – Wikipedia – public domain
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FROM “LEAVE IT TO BEAVER” TO “BEVIS & BUTTHEAD”
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But television has not remained constant.
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Television has devolved from a somewhat quasi-moral beginning, and has gradually devolved down, down, down, into deeper and deeper decadence and immorality.
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Since its first appearance in the mid 20th Century, it has morphed from a “Leave It To Beaver” mentality to a…well…let it suffice to say: it’s less than it once was, to put it mildly.
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Cleaver family from the television program Leave it to Beaver. – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Beavis And Butthead – cropped picture – Wikipedia – Fair-Use RationaleClick here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality
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A FORM OF GODLINESS
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But be not deceived, O Pilgrim of the Cross!
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Just because there are still some seemingly nice shows on TV, don’t be fooled by such “innocence”.
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Television has about it an insidious evil, which is as subtle as that double-tongued old Serpent in the Garden who deceived our first parents.
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And its chief target is the unsuspecting Christian family!
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And this article will lightly explore some of these subtle deceptions, which are spoiling God’s vineyard: deceptions so insidious, that most Christians are not even aware of!
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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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DEAF & DUMB IDOLS OF OLD…
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Never before in the history of mankind, has there been an image which could speak!
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Through the ages, people around the world have created their idols: Idols of wood! Idols of stone!
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Idols of silver or gold! Idols that couldn’t walk, talk, or do anything good…or anything evil!
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The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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BIBLE SPEAKS OF DUMB IDOLS…
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Concerning the idols of the world, Scripture says…
…”For the customs of the people are vain:
for one cuts a tree out of the forest…
They deck it with silver and with gold;
they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
They are upright as the palm tree, BUT SPEAK NOT:
they must needs be carried, because they cannot go.
Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil,
neither also is it in them to do good.”
Jeremiah 10:3-5 [condensed]
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Notice that Scripture says these idols “speak not”, and also ” for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good”.
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But also notice that it says here, “BE NOT AFRAID OF THEM; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”
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So then, if we shouldn’t be afraid of mere lifeless images, then what about an image that CAN talk…and CAN do evil?
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Well, the obvious inference here is, yes, those kinds of images we should be very afraid of!
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Picture-Gold Calf – Wikipedia – public domain
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A TALKING IMAGE FORETOLD…
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Almost 2,000 years ago, the Apostle John, was given the Revelation, in which God 
prophesied that Satan would, in the last days, create an image which would be given life!
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This image WOULD be able to speak…
…”And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak…“.
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And this image would, “cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed”.`
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So, this passage foretells of a day in which Satan will create a TALKING IMAGE.
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And this talking image will have the power to cause Christians to be killed!
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John on Patmos – wikigallery – public-domain
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TALKING IMAGE NOW HERE…
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So, 2,000 years later, we have arrived at a day in which this particular Bible prophecy is now possible!
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Never before in history was such a thing devised!
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Never before was such a subtle and sinister image imagined as a reality!
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But we now have an image that can speak to almost the entire world!
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We now have an image that can teach…almost the entire world!
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We have an image that can talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year…right in the very midst of our own living room!
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It is the centerpiece of the American home, and fast becoming the centerpiece of homes around the world! A talking image! Incredible!
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Academy Awards Ceremony – cropped image – Wikipedia – share alike lic.
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WHY NO FEAR?
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IMAGINE! The Bible prophesied about this, 2,000 years ago!
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You would think that knowing this, the people would be very alarmed. But we’re not!
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We all too often have a ho-hum, laissez-faire attitude toward this most revered (and yet malignant) member of our family!
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Yes, you could say that television is the proverbial, “Soma”, for the great masses of humanity!
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Just as that drug, Soma, kept the masses self-satisfied in that infamous novel, so too, television keeps us and our children in a semi-hypnotic-like state!
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It is even the designated babysitter in many homes!
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Academy Awards Ceremony – Wikipedia – share alike lic.
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LUCIFER NOW, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”
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And so, God, for His own eternal purpose, allowed, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan”, to tempt Mankind into sin and rebellion.
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At that point, Mankind had traded God away for a new Master…“the god of this world“, the Devil.
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Now at that moment
the Earth and all its inhabitants had been taken captive by this master deceiver.
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But in spite of Man’s rebellion, God had left open the door of mercy. Mankind still had the ability to return back to God.
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But Lucifer, in his jealous hatred, was not content to allow Mankind such an easy access back to God.
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And so, Lucifer went to work to create his new kingdom, turning it into a place which fallen Mankind could not and would not find their way back into God’s sheepfold.
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And through his own “Workers of Iniquity”, Lucifer worked tirelessly to create his kingdom, the mighty Babylon.
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The kingdom of sin and selfishness.
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And it is Satan’s purpose to invent new ways to keep the human race from turning back to God.
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And of course, television (and Internet, radio, etc.) is one of his crowning achievements in his warfare against Heaven!
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Gustave Dore – Paradise Lost illustration – Lucifer becomes Satan – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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“TELE-VISION” = “TALKING VISION”
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(OR “TALKING IMAGE”)
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Tele-vision is composed of two root words: “Tele” and “Vision”, which obviously mean a, “talking vision” (or “talking image”).
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Of course, Scripture points out…
…”And he (the False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak,
and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”
Revelation 13:15.
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And so, television, even by its very own name, seems to fulfill this 2,000 year old prophecy!
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The Prince of the Power of the Air (waves?) appears to have achieved his ultimate weapon against God and against God’s people! (see Ephesians 2:2).
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“AND MY PEOPLE LOVE TO HAVE IT SO”
Jeremiah 5:31
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And so often, God’s people plop our children right down in front of this electronic Pied-Piper, perhaps every day.
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And our children are being more and more conformed to this serpent-like talking-image every single day, right under our noses!
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And the Bible foretold that this would happen!
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Is this not amazing!? Of course, you would expect the people of the world to do these things.
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But we who claim to love God and follow the Bible should be deathly afraid of this talking-image-maker, known as television!
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TV – highquality – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
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A CASE HEREIN PRESENTED…
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“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:”
Psalm 101:2, 3
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Now the Bible never says the name, “television”.
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And we need to be careful, not to add anything to God’s Word (see Revelation 22:18).
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And we need to keep an open mind, that there may be much more to this “image that speaks”, than just television.
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Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – cropped image – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License
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TO LOVE THIS SELFISH WORLD
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IS TO LOVE THE gOD OF THIS SELFISH WORLD!
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And so, Satan works undercover, so as to make the world believe that he doesn’t exist.
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And thus, having erased himself out of existence, he then creates a world, filled with idols…which are tokens of his attributes.
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By so-doing, he accomplishes his grand scheme…to gain the homage he desires, by causing Earth’s inhabitants to love this present sinful and selfish world.
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Listen… “And they (the people of the world)
worshipped the dragon (Satan)
which gave power unto the beast:
and they worshipped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast?
who is able to make war with him?”
Revelation 13:4.
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And so, this passage is fulfilled, simply by the people of the world, loving this world-system, with all its selfish wares and ways.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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BEFORE GOING INTO THE SPECIFIC SUBJECT OF TELEVISION, IT MIGHT BE WELL TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES DISCUSSING THE WORKINGS OF SATAN, AND HOW THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD RELATE TO HIM. SO, THIS NEXT LITTLE SECTION WILL BE DEVOTED TO JUST THAT.
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ANTICHRIST IS THE WORLD-SYSTEM
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There are many who mistakenly believe that the Antichrist Beast is going to be one single individual: perhaps a businessman or religious leader.
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And because they are so locked into this notion, they tend to ride rough-shod over this passage from Revelation Chapter 17, which explains what this Beast actually is.
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Listen… “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not;
and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit…
And here is the mind which hath wisdom.
The seven heads are seven mountains,
on which the woman (the apostate Church) sitteth.
And there are seven kings…
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, ”
Revelation 17:8-13
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So, this Antichrist Beast, which, by the way, is in the image of the Dragon of Revelation 12, is a composite of various kingdoms and various kings.
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And if we’re going to let the Bible be its own interpreter, then we cannot conclude that this Beast is one single individual.
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This Beast is, in actuality, this present antichrist-world-system, headed up by that serpent of old, the Devil, and Satan, as he has controlled various kings and kingdoms over the past millenniums of time.
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This above old picture is one of many which came out of the Great Reformation, and shows that the Christians of that day believed that the apostate church, riding this multi-faceted beast, was a picture of the Mystery Harlot and the Antichrist Beast of Revelation!
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(These two above pictures of the Mystery Harlot are hundreds of years old, but allegorically depict Satan’s government.)
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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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ANTICHRIST NOT GROTESQUE MONSTER
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And this is what the Mark of the Beast is actually all about, when you really think about
it.
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This present World-System, and all its loyal citizens comprise Satan’s Antichrist Beast.
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Listen to Scripture…
…”Little children, it is the last time:
and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,
even now ARE THERE MANY ANTICHRISTS;
whereby we know that it is the last time.”
1st John 2:18.
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From this verse it becomes evident that an Antichrist is not some hideous monster. It is not some diabolical Dr. Evil (as this picture portrays.)
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No, there are many Antichrists. And they are merely the people of this fallen world ruled over by, “the god of this world”… Satan!
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Just listen… “and this is that [spirit] of antichrist…They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:3, 5.
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Okay, so antichrists are of the world, speak of the world, and the world listens to them.
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Lucifer – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
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“THEY (the peoples of the world)
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SHOULD MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST”…
Revelation 13:14
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Television is Satan’s Ultimate Mind-Control Device! It is a very powerful medium.
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The music, the lighting, the drama, the false goodness.
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Television, Internet, radio, etc., possess a powerful persuasion that is often more than Human-kind can resist.
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As one famous Nazi commander once put it, “If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough, eventually people will begin to believe it!”
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And television, not only tells such lies 24/7/365, but also dresses up those lies, making them look and sound very appealing, mingling them with truth and beauty.
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But what does this have to do with “Me” making an image to the Beast? After all, I’ve never even carved one single statue in my lifetime!
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But wait! If my character becomes conformed to the qualities which our modern-media society compels us to conform to…then I become an image…and image to the beast…and ultimately, into an image of Satan, though to a lesser degree!
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In a very real sense, I have carved an idol in my heart!
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IMAGE IS IN MY HEART
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So now it begins to be seen that this image is much more than just television.
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It really has to do with just who is sitting upon the throne of my heart.
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What or who a person worships, is really about whoever a man, or woman, or child gives homage to; and the modern media is all about character. Satan’s character!
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Just listen… “And (the False Prophet) deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…
saying to them that dwell on the earth,
that they should make an image to the beast…”
Revelation 13:14.
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Now obviously, not every person is making a television, are they?
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But those in the world who are being conformed to the image of the Beast are making an image, right in their very own heart!
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HABAKKUK’S WARNING
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Listen to Habakkuk…
“Therefore the law is slacked,
and judgment doth never go forth:
for the wicked doth compass about the righteous;
therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”
Habakkuk 1:4.
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This verse is from Habakkuk and is the essence of what the Book of Habakkuk is all about: that God’s people are surrounded by unbelievers, causing wrong judgment to come forth from God’s camp.
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Brooklyn Museum: The Second Denial of Saint Peter (Deuxième reniement de Saint Pierre)
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HABAKKUK ALL ABOUT FLEEING
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The Book of Habakkuk is about fleeing from the overwhelming influence of Chaldeans (Antichrists).
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Chaldeans merely represented the people of the world who would eventually surround God’s people to the point that God’s people were commanded to flee.
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Listen… “For the vision is yet for an appointed time,
but at the end it shall speak,
and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it;
because it will surely come,
it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 1:4 & 2:2, 3.(Condensed)
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(You may wish to read the article…The Fleeing Revelation 12 Woman Constellation: What is the Message of Habakkuk?)
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Habakkuk by James Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain
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WORLDLY ASSOCIATIONS
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Yes, God has allowed the people of the world to surround His people.
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God has allowed His people to be corrupted by worldly associations, just as He allowed the Jews the same.
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But at the end, God will call His people out from among them.
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And this is what the Book of Habakkuk is all about.
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! – Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“(UNBELIEVERS SHALL BE)…THORNS IN YOUR SIDE”
Numbers: 33:55.
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This is perhaps one of the most important concepts in Scripture…
…”Wherefore I also said,
I will not drive them out from before you;
but they shall be as thorns in your sides,
and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”
Judges 2:3.
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All those OT stories about the children of Israel rooting out the enemies were merely metaphorical pictures of what Christians must do in our own heart and mind.
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Just listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3.
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Notice this verse says, “EVERY MAN that has this hope in Him (Jesus), purifies himself…”.
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The purification of the heart as Christ is pure, is not an option, but, a must! Everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity!
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judges 7-Gideon & The 300-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE & FALSE
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So here we see the difference between a true child of God, and “false brethren”.
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The false brethren love this world and have no desire to be fully purified into Christ’s image.
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Oh yes, they are very happy to put Jesus on a pedestal and to venerate Him. But never to become like Him within!
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To be Christ-like requires death-to-self. And death-to-self would be far too great of a sacrifice for any worldly-minded “Christian”.
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To let Jesus “live out His holy life through me”, is far more than most church-goers are willing to accept! “Let’s just put Him on a pedestal, and honor Him!”
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MARK OF THE BEAST = IDEALS OF THE HEART
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If you or I have the attributes of this Antichrist-World-System guiding our lives, then, in essence, we have the Mark of the Beast.
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On the other hand, if we have the virtues and attributes of Jesus guiding our lives, we then have God’s seal in our foreheads (“in our forehead” actually means, in our heart and mind—see Deuteronomy Ch. 6:6-8).
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To put it concisely, it’s all about, “just who is
ruling my heart?”.
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Our hearts and minds must be totally purified, and filled with godly thoughts.
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Listen to Paul’s confession… “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4;13.
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If a Christian is willing to stay in the battle and fight that “Good Fight”, he or she will eventually overcome in every area of life!
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BATTLEFIELD OF THE HEART
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God has spoken this very same concept, in more peaceful terms… “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee!” Isaiah 26:3.
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Here is a more pleasant way of saying the very same thing Paul just spoke of…
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ABOVE PICTURE: Battle for the heart – www.signsofheaven.org
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AN ELEGY TO TELEVISION…
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Up until about the mid-twentieth century, probably very few people would ever have imagined that some electronic device emitting sights and sounds was soon to become the centerpiece of our society, of our homes and of our lives.
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Yes, television (& Internet & radio) is truly a remarkable invention!
It is a powerful tool…
It can change minds…
It can marshal armies…
It can shift the paradigm of societies…
It can win elections…
It can ruthlessly mock its enemies, even to the point of suicide, if necessary…
It can frighten us! It can pacify us…
And it can tell us what to wear, how to talk, what to do, what to think, what to love, and even who to hate!
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Television can be our best friend (and our worst enemy!). But it’s always willing to be our comforter.
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Because with just the click of a button, this “Electronic Prince of the Power of the Airwaves” will ride to our rescue; to save us from our loneliness…from our boredom!
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When nobody else wants to be with us, it never turns us away.
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Yes, this modern-day marvel has become the perfect “friend”!
It lives to entertain us…
It loves to make us smile! Make us laugh…
To satisfy us with gossip…
Make us cry…
To sooth us with beautiful music…
And this master storyteller will enchant us throughout the day with just about any type of tale we desire!
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Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License
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Television is the proverbial “Needy Clown”, yearning to be adored, and willing to do or say anything to get such adoration…
It is often seductive, sensual…
It’s original…
Or campy…
Or stupid…
Or even intellectual, at times…
It can be beautiful…
Charming…
Witty…
Wise…
Foolish…
Humanitarian…
Revengeful…
Loving…
Hateful…
Right…
Wrong…
Greedy…
Generous…
Good…
Evil…
It is the ultimate, “be-all, end-all”, of our needs and desires!
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Television is the Magnificent Sorcerer! It will bewitch us, performing its magic before our very eyes! It will seduce us as it sexualizes us (and sexualizes our children, too!)
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TV icon novela svg. – Wikimedia –
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It is the Great Deceiver and False Prophet, with all its so-called humanitarian concerns, making us think it cares…really, really cares!
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And with all such so-called, and pretentious compassion and virtues, it will indoctrinate us into a conformity to this fallen world. (“And be not conformed to this world:” Romans 12:2.)
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TV – highquality – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
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Television is the Ultimate Pied Piper of Hamlin!
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It is as wily and subtle as that serpent in the garden, as it utters its vague innuendos against the Bible and those who love the Bible.
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It can make good appear as evil, and make evil appear as good!
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And it will lead us down that proverbial “primrose pathway”.
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And television will take us and our children down, down, down…to the place we would not want to go, if we really understood the situation…as God sees it.
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And if it can rule the world, it can certainly rule my heart!
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In other words, my dear darling soul, television/Internet/radio are exactly like Lucifer (Satan), and exactly like his World of Sin; with just the same attributes of “the prince of this world”. (John 12:31, etc…)
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And as the “the god of this world”, this Pied Piper of Sheol has all the supernatural powers to do all these things!
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Yes, television is the ultimate “Charming Gigolo”.
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And he’s right there in the midst of our living room, seducing us and our children!
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And ultimately, this Hell-sent gigolo will rob us of everything we might possess, that has any eternal value, only to leave us desolate & very bankrupt on that Great & Fearful Day of God Almighty!
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Beware, O My Soul, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (character).” 1st Corinthians 15:33
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THE 7 OBJECTIVES OF SATAN’S TELEVISION…
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1. To be a time-waster, so we don’t spend our time searching the Scriptures. ( “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
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2. To indoctrinate the masses to follow the, “acceptable standards” of this world…Satan’s World”! (“And (the False Prophet) deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast.” Revelation 13:4)
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3. To create a false standard of righteousness; a counterfeit of the true standard of righteousness, revealed in the Bible. To yoke us together with those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. (“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, etc…. HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ” 2nd Timothy 3:2, 5)
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4. To create prejudice and even hatred against sincere, dedicated Christians. (“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1st John 3:13)
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5. To ultimately lead the world to worship the god of this world, Satan. (“and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:” Revelation 13:3, 4)
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6. To excite and titillate our senses so much, that Bible study seems boring. (“…having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1st Timothy 4:2). When we rely on television to entertain us, it often becomes more and more difficult to open our Bibles and just read or study.
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7. To blunt the conscience by exposing us to sinful behavior, over and over each day. (“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1st Corinthians 15:33″) When we behold sin, over and over again on TV, sin begins to lose its fearfulness and horror.
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Just look at this unwatchful Christian in this above drawing. He’s filled up his life with so much Mammon, he’s not aware that his Judgment Day is here!
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ARGUMENTS AGAINST TV NEWS…
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Well, what’s wrong with watching a little nightly news? A number of things.
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1. NEWS DEADENS THE CONSCIENCE. Listen to Scripture…
“Who among us shall dwell with the Devouring Fire?
who among us shall dwell with Everlasting Burnings?
He that walks righteously…
that stops his ears from hearing of blood,
and shuts his eyes from seeing evil”
Isaiah 33:14, 15.
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This above verse tells us just who will stand in the Day of Judgment: those who shut their eyes from seeing evil, and their ears from hearing violence.
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As children of God, we don’t want to dwell on crime and violence…
…”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…
honest…just…pure…lovely…
of good report…virtue…praise,
think on these things!”
Philippians 4:8.
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Does television fulfill this Bible verse? Of course not!
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TV – ABC-Good Morning America – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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2. NEWS IS HABIT-FORMING.
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This fallible pen can personally testify that TV news is habit-forming. It can be a real time-thief!
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Paul warns Believers... “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16.
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Christians should be hiding God’s Word in our hearts, during our leisure hours.
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Obviously this cannot be accomplished when we are preoccupied with TV…or Internet…or radio.
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Internet addiction prisoner – wikipedia – creative commons lic.
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3. THE SPIRIT OF GOSSIP. Have you ever noticed that when you are with friends, and they begin to share some new gossip, how your ears perk up?
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TV or radio news can be, quite often, a form of gossip, and only strengthens that desire within us.
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4. “EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS GOOD MANNERS”… Many of us Christians think that we can just watch news and not be affected by TV or radio news. But in this we deceive ourselves!
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Listen to 1st Corinthians 15:33… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
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We who are running the Christian race quite often are deceived into thinking that we can dabble a little bit in the world.
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But in order to gain a Christ-like character, even a, “little foolishness will destroy much wisdom”(Ecclesiastes 10:1).
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Oh yes, we can’t help but mingle with unbelievers in the workplace, etc….
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But to voluntarily expose ourselves to the ungodly chatter of unbelievers for the sake of enjoyment…is not a wise course at all for a Christian!
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But does this mean we must lock ourselves up in our houses and never go out?
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No, it just means that we should take heed to what we do and who we expose ourselves to.
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Listen to Scripture…
…”Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion has light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14
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ABOVE PICTURE – fall & winter Constellations – Woman of Revelation 12 (Ursa Major, a winter constellation) flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 – Dragon comprised of Hyades, Pleiades, etc…Valley of Decision mountain comprised of Cassiopeia, etc… (This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture since this mountain is not in this position, but is actually seen in the fall months)
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5. PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT… Have you noticed how Christians today mingle the purity of the Gospel with politics and conspiracy theories of various types? I
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t is so important for us to not mingle our belief with the various ideologies of the world.
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Colossians is largely based on this idea, and warns against mingling worldly philosophies into the purity of Christ (see Colossians 2:8).
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1st Timothy also warns… “…keep thyself pure.” 1st Timothy 5:23.
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If we needlessly expose ourselves to these corrupting influences, for social enjoyment, our purity will soon evaporate, and the result will be a “mingling of the holy with the common.” (see Ezekiel 22:26). When a Christian freely mingles with such common things, the following verse stands as a warning…“Quench not the Spirit.” 1st Thessalonians 5:19
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CNBC NJ HQ – Wikipedia – share alike license
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6. OVER-STIMULATION… Isn’t it true that the exciting amusements of the world tend to make our Bible studies rather boring?
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Well, news can accomplish such an over-stimulation of our senses. It’s much easier and more pleasurable to just sit back and watch gossip and conspiracies and wars and controversies on the news, than it is to sit down with Bible and concordance, isn’t it?
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Again, this same verse applies… “Quench not the Spirit.” 1st Thessalonians 5:19
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Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License
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7. BAD WITNESS TO OTHERS… And just think about the example I am setting for others! My kids…my grandkids… fellow Christians, neighbors, etc.. Even if they aren’t with me, they can guess what Mom and Dad, or Grandma and Grandpa are doing! My neighbors will see that certain glow from my window. And they know that glow is not an angel visitation (But actually it is…angels from HELL!) It’s the glow from my TV! And the next day, I certainly WON’T have Heaven’s glow on my face which tells the world I’ve, “been with Jesus” Acts 4:13.
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But also, setting in front of our TV, is setting a bad example for others to follow. And we just don’t realize what a powerful influence for good or evil, that our example is (see Mark 9:42).
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ABC-Good Morning America – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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MOVIES
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Quite often in the movies, Christians are portrayed as weak and defenseless, like a flock of nervous little birds.
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On the other hand, the hero of the story is often portrayed as strong, and handsome, and brash, and fearless, usually saving the Christians from the bad guys.
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Of course, this kind of astigmatism against Christians is right out of Satan’s playbook!
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But another lesson learned from such a movie situation is to be more like the hero of the movie, relying on his own bravery and strength to solve his dilemma.
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Five Fingers Face – High and Mighty Trailer Screenshot- 1954 – Wikipedia – public domain
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SATAN OFTEN MISREPRESENTS MANLINESS IN MOVIES
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Along these same lines, Satan sets up a standard of conduct for his kingdom (this world).
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And in so-doing he has used the television and movie industry to promote the idea that men are less-than-men if they display tenderness and compassion toward others.
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And so, Christ, who is the very embodiment of tenderness and pity does not measure up to Satan’s standards for men.
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This also is right out of Satan’s playbook, in how this Master-Deceiver makes men fearful of appearing less than “manly”, if they display any softness and tenderness.
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But listen to Scripture…
…”Finally, be ye all of one mind,
having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil,
or railing for railing:
but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called,
that ye should inherit a blessing.”
1st Peter 3:8, 9.
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Martin,_John_-_Satan_presiding_at_the_Infernal_Council_-_1824wikipedia public domain
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CHRIST, THE TRUE EXAMPLE OF MANLINESS
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Just who would you rather have ruling the universe?
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Perhaps, one of the Greek gods? Zeus maybe? Or perhaps Jupiter? (picture to right).
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Well, they were both given very hard attributes, weren’t they?
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Just imagine if one of those gods were ruling this world? (Well actually, as we look around, we have to admit that Satan is doing a fine job of giving us a picture of how those pagan gods would behave!)
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We are extremely fortunate to have a tender, understanding, and compassionate God, Jehovah, who runs this universe!
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On the other hand, we can see how things would be run, if Lucifer was the god of this universe.
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All we have to do is just look at this present world around us, and we can see the results of what a lack of compassion can accomplish.
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Hans Thoma – Jupiter – Wikipedia – public domain
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SPORTS TELEVISION
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1. UNCHRISTLIKE CHATTER. Like most shows on television, sports shows are presented
with ungodly chatter.
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Unmerciful mocking, sang-froid nonchalance, joking and jesting which work in us like yeast, until we become like the unbelieving world, in oneness and purpose…
…”Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness?”
2nd Corinthians 6:14
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2. COMPETITIVE VIOLENT SPIRIT. The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, kindness, generosity…
…Obviously, these are not the qualities which are exemplified during sports contests…
…”Be not deceived:
evil communications corrupt good manners.”
1st Corinthians 15:33
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Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover Feb 1 2009 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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COMEDY TELEVISION
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1. THE SPIRIT OF JESTING. Please observe Scripture…
“And walk in love, as Christ…
But…uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you,
as becometh saints;
NEITHER FILTHINESS,
NOR FOOLISH TALKING, NOR JESTING,
which are not proper:
but rather giving of thanks.”
Ephesians 5:2-5.
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Jesus came to Earth to present himself as an example to the world. Jesus is the role-model for all the host of Heaven and Earth.
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It’s only this rebellious planet which doesn’t feel the need to imitate our loving Savior. Christ is joyful, but not frivolous.
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He is loving, but is not a “court-jester”
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(To read more on this subject, please read the 4-part article…(How a Joke Killed! Part 1)
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Puck Cover – Wikipedia – public domain
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CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
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1. SPIRIT OF SENSUALITY. Quite often the programs for little children are fraught with sexuality.
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This comes in the form of either the music…or the actors, who are dressed in a provocative manner.
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Or perhaps the theme of the program.
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2. VIOLENCE. Children’s programs often have violence mingled within.
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3. GROOMING CHILDREN FOR FURTHER WICKEDNESS.
Even those programs which seem “harmless” are only grooming children to eventually watch other shows, even more degrading, which lead children further into sin.
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4. ANTICHRIST PHILOSOPHIES TAUGHT.
The television makes a very convenient babysitter.
The problem is, it is Lucifer, the, “Prince of the Power of the Air”, who becomes your babysitter!
And his qualities of pride, anger, greed, unbelief in God’s Word, atheism, violence, etc., are instilled into the children’s minds!
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EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
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1. ATHEISM. Many educational programs are produced by atheists, and mingled with atheist philosophies.
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Atheism is the spirit of “unbelief”.
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Such Antichrist ideologies are like yeast, working themselves imperceptibly through the hearts and minds of viewers.
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And no matter whether or not the adult or child becomes an atheist as a result, there is nevertheless a spirit of unbelief transferred to the participant, which begins to doubt the power of God to fulfill His promises.
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2. UNGODLY CONVERSATION. When we choose to become a companion with the world, we begin to reflect the image of those with whom we associate.
For a detailed explanation of this, click the following link… “Mercury & The Image Of The Beast”
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RELIGIOUS TV
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1. COUNTERFEIT JESUS’. As earlier stated, “Satan by any other name, is still Satan”. Just because 
religious television shows are constantly invoking and evoking the name, “Jesus”, does not necessarily mean the, “Jesus of Scripture”.
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Paul complained that there were false teachers who proclaimed “Another Jesus, who we have not preached” 2nd Corinthians 11:4.
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So when such religious stations misrepresent the true Gospel with a gospel mingled with worldly desires, they are proclaiming, “another Jesus”. Let no man deceive you, O Pilgrim!
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2. COMMERCIALISM. It is very expensive to produce TV programs, compared to, say, radio or Internet.
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Television requires a large audience, in order to financially support the stations.
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So then, they often compromise with the world in order to increase ratings.
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Popular music, excitement, celebrities, theatrical displays, etc., are now the order of the day in the Christian community, because of television.
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3. “PROPHESY SMOOTH THINGS TO US” Isaiah 30:10. Furthermore, television must be careful to not offend its faithful audience.
So religious stations must be careful what they say, and what they do. What is the result?
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The following verse seems to state our present crisis in the Christian culture…
…”For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables.”
2nd Timothy 4:3, 4
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4. MILK, BUT VERY LITTLE MEAT. Religious shows usually present the most basic, entry-level Bible concepts.
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And it’s so easy and convenient for Christians to just leave the religious channel on all day.
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And as a result, the Christian begins to rely more and more upon the religious channel for his or her spiritual food and drink.
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The problem is, because it’s mostly “milk” and not “meat”, the TV-watching Christian’s spiritual growth is stunted.
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Infant_with_baby_bottle-© Michael Jastremski for wikipedia-sharealike license
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5. ” And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” 2nd Peter 2:2
… Because television is such an expensive medium, there is a constant pressure upon these well-meaning religious channels to constantly talk about money.
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In other words, these “prosperity gospels” will quite often repulse the general public, who understand that the lowly Jesus was nothing like what they are seeing on such shows.
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And so, these religious shows serve a dual purpose. They deceive their followers into a “Gimme! Gimme!” gospel.
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But at the same time, they repulse the more savvy general public, causing “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
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And if there’s one thing the Devil knows how to do, it’s to cast dirt on the Bible!
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Rolls Royce5316 – Wikipedia – public domain
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6. MINGLING WORLDLY IDEAS WITH TRUTH…
There are so many religious talk shows, mostly o
n the radio, which mingle politics with the Bible truth.
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These religious/political shows become hyper-critical of this group or that group, or of the government.
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The focus of these shows becomes just how to make this world a better place, and how people can change the world.
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But this is not what the Bible is concerned about. Our focus as Christians should be about “how I can become changed into the image of Christ”, and, “how I can spread the love of Jesus to those around me.”
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Sony Walkman radio – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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7. CHRISTIAN MOVIES PRESENT WRONG IMAGE…
TV can be very subtle. There are even a few shows about Christians on TV.
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And so often on these so-called “Christian” shows, compromising and worldly Christians are presented as good and rational and very acceptable, while the serious and dedicated Christians quite often are portrayed as being fanatical, slightly off-balanced mentally…
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“…UPON ALL PLEASANT PICTURES”
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“For the day of the LORD of hosts
shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty…
and upon all pleasant pictures…
Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:
for wherein is he to be accounted of?”
Isaiah 2:12, 16-18, 20-22.(Condensed)
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This above passage really nails down just what the Day of the Lord is all about!
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We live in a world today, in which the False Prophet, Satan, the Dragon, is using the high-tech devices to present lying images to draw disciples after him.
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The Internet, the television, radio, magazines, books, movies, etc., are all churning out pleasant pictures, which portray this evil world in a very appealing manner.
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These pictures often incorporate the beauty of nature together with the glory and beauty of Mankind.
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Notice that Satan combines the three great sins in these pictures… “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” 1st John 2:16.
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Woman in Mediterranian – Wikigallery – US Public Domain
Tissot – HMS Calcutta – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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AN IMAGE JUST FOR YOU
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And so, in hopes of keeping Mankind from returning to God, Satan has given this world a “make-over”, in attempt to keep us seeking after some earthly dream.
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Whatever the career…
…whatever the hobby…
…whatever the romance…
…whatever the city…
…whatever the country…
…whatever the lake…
…whatever the river or mountain stream…
…or mansion…
…or cottage…
…or car…
…or boat…
…or motorcycle…
…or plane…
…or vacation resort…
…Satan now has an image, a pleasant picture just perfect for you to fit into!
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And he is the master at presenting this world in the most romantic light with his, “pleasant pictures”, as Isaiah 2:12, 16-18, 20-22 says (see two sections above for entire quote). And television is the perfect medium to accomplish this!
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HOLY PLACE OF THE HEART
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Now it should be touched upon, that we humans were created to be, “the temple of the Lord”.
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Just listen to this following passage… “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1st Corinthians 3:16, 17
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So then it is also true that the individual Christian is likewise the Temple of God.
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And God warns us that we are to keep our Temple holy.
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Now just imagine for a moment if you or I were a priest in the Old Testament Tabernacle.
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And how long do you think you or I would last if you or I engaged in the frivolous and giddy behavior which is so common among Christians today?
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If we were to walk into the Holy Place or even the Most Holy Place, and spoke the way we Christians speak today, they would have had to drag us out…feet first!
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Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom.
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GRAFFITI IN THE HEART
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Well, our mind and heart are an extension of the Holy and Most Holy Place. The mind and heart are where our treasured possessions are stored.
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So then, how could we possibly think to defile our Soul-Temple by allowing the immoral filth and worldly dribble to enter into our Most Holy Place, via the TV or radio, or magazines, Internet, etc.?
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It’s really unthinkable, when we consider that our heart and mind is to be a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit!
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Listen… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee, etc….” Proverbs 4:23, 24.
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No, God 
will not strike us instantly dead, as He did to the two priests in this picture.
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But eventually, we will drive that Holy Dove from our heart, if we persist in defiling ourselves with unholy communications.
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It will be a spiritual death. And we won’t even be aware that He’s gone!
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How in the world do Christians ever imagine that we can overcome the world, when we defile our Most Holy Place with such worldly graffiti? Rather, the world is overcoming us!
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And how can we ever expect that we can continue to consume the common-ness and un-Christ-like behavior we see almost every moment on TV and not grieve away the Spirit Of Holiness out of our Soul-Temple?
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If you would like to explore this concept of the Holy Place of the heart, just click here… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”
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theholyofholies- www.thebiblerevival.com -public-domain.jpg
Tissot_The_Two_Priests_Are_Destroyed-wiki-public-dom..jpg
Bodeguita del Medio, Havana, WIKIMEDIA share-alike license
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THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST: THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD…
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“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time…They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 2:18 & 4:5
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The spirit of Antichrist is just the spirit of worldliness in a person… “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:5
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Does this sound outrageous?
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Well, just listen to James, talking to Christians…
…”Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4, 5.
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Notice that this passage not only says that a friend of the world is the enemy of god, but it also refers to such worldly love as a “spirit” within us.
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But then, someone will answer, “but I’m not a friend of the world.”
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Well, if I make the unbelievers and worldly Christians who appear on television my daily companions, then I indeed am, “A FRIEND OF THE WORLD”.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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MUSIC AND THE GOLDEN IMAGE
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“…the king of Babylon…Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols (violins)…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:4, 11, 12
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The above passage reveals that Satan possesses great musical abilities. And do we suppose that he won’t use music to deceive the world?
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Old King Nebuchadnezzar was pretty clever. He seemed to understand the power of music. When he set up his golden image on the plain of Dura, he put together an orchestra, to add to the moment. The story in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 3, in which the evil king of Babylon set up a golden image, whose height was 60 cubits, and whose breadth was 6 cubits makes a fearful analogy to television.
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“That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:” Dan 3:7
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Remember when the music began, the people of all nations fell down and worshipped the golden image? Obviously Satan was behind all this.
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But this little scenario was much more than just a local situation! Just listen to these words… “Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Daniel 3:7.
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Notice it says in this passage that this scenario concerned the whole world. Listen… “all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image”.
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This golden image in the shape of King Nebuchadnezzar was a picture of the image of the beast from Revelation 13. And just as this golden image was a reflection of Nebuchadnezzar (who, by the way, was a picture of Satan, as the above verse points out), so too, television is a reflection of Satan, as has already been discussed in this article.
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Just listen… “take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Isaiah 14:4, 12.
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Academy Awards Ceremony – Wikipedia – Share Alike Lic.
Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image and The fiery furnace – Daniel 3-12 – www.thebiblerevival.com
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SATAN: “I’LL SETTLE FOR 5 PERCENT”
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One thing that too many Christians do not realize, is that Satan is content with just a small portion of a certain movie or television show, to sow his evil seed.
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Christian parents make a great error in thinking that their children are safe by watching a “pretty good” show. Satan laughs at all who buy into such nonsense. The Bible warns Christians… “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” 1st Corinthians 5:6, 7.
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Satan may produce a cute little show for kids, and parents don’t realize that just one or two “bump & grind” tunes in that show, is all that Satan needs to sow his evil seed within the heart of that child.
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Betty Boop – WIKIPEDIA – Public domain
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DANGER FOR ADULTS TOO!
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Adult Christians are in no less danger. While a Christian may have to work and live in a worldly environment: yet to needlessly expose one’s self to common and low-grade conversation, defiles the Soul-Temple. Listen… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.
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The only safe thing is to realize just whose territory is the television, and pray that God will take it out of one’s home. For Christians with an unbelieving spouse, this will be very difficult, and the Believer may have to separate his or her self, during those hours that the family watches those shows.
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This next passage from Solomon really clarifies how careful a Christian must be… “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. ” Ecclesiastes 10:1.
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In other words, this pearl of wisdom can be applied to many different areas of life, including the things we absorb into our minds.
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And the last passage to be offered on this topic, was spoken by our Lord Jesus. And every one who takes the name of Jesus on their lips should really consider the great implications which result from this Bible truth… “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10
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Bread India – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST”
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“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself…and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,” 2nd Corinthians 5:19, 20
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This above passage presents a great purpose for why we have been called: to be ambassadors for Christ, to reconcile a world, steeped in sin and rebellion against the government of God. But it is not merely telling them about Jesus, that reconciles lost souls. No, God has ordained that we should be transformed by the power of the Spirit of Holiness into the image of Christ. The world needs to see Jesus too…in us! And so, we are to be pure and holy, just like Jesus was pure and holy.
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Listen to Peter… “Seeing then that all these things (the heavens and Earth) shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (words & behavior) and godliness…Wherefore, beloved…be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2nd Peter 3:11, 13, 14.
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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama
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IMPERCEPTIBLY CHANGED
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By watching television, we imperceptibly become like those we watch… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.
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This verse confirms that what we behold and what we hear have an effect on our personality. So if we desire to become totally and purely Christ-like, then we must separate as far as possible from all ungodly influences.
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“FOOLISH TALK & JESTING”
Ephesians 5:2
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The world has its own idea of acceptable behavior. By and large, the world has rejected the holiness and reverence of Christ, and has established its own standard. Irreverence, joking and jesting, loud laughter and other common and even cheap talk often have replaced Christ-like holiness and reverence.
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The sad part of all this, is that Christians too, have bought into this counterfeit goodness, to a great degree. Christians have rejected such admonitions as this… “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.” 1st Timothy 2:8-11. Can you imagine what kind of reception such passages as this might have been received in the 20th Century churches?
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But for those who wish to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it will be their joy and delight to forsake any and every impure behavior and conform themselves entirely into the image of Christ. And they will be likewise willing to accept all the mocking and ridicule that such behavior will result in!
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – public domain
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WAS THAT GOLDEN IMAGE A PROPHECY OF TELEVISION?
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The Lord had set up this story from Daniel, so that He could warn us of what we can look forward to in these last days. Even now, does television and motion pictures combine the proud and sinfulness of Mankind with swelling strains of music, to cause the world to revere the attributes of Satan. For instance TV can take a person who is otherwise greedy, and selfish, and lustful, and conniving, and vulgar, and simply add some beautiful violin strains and make that person appear absolutely wonderful…or brave…or suave, or sophisticated!
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Music is a very powerful medium, and Satan uses music to his advantage. Just look and listen to the various blockbuster productions which come to the theaters, and even into our living rooms, these days. Do you think these incredibly powerful high-tech productions have an influence upon the hearts and minds of men, women, and children? Only a fool would dare deny the powerful influence of today’s dramatic productions. Even the music today is so incredibly power, as we listen to the radio. And the words on much of this music is selling a lifestyle of licentiousness and debauchery, which has ruined the lives of millions of young people (and even many old people who should know better!)
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For more on the subject of music, You may wish to read the article, “Running The Christian Race (Part 1 Sensual Music)”.
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Nicolo_Paganini_by_Richard_James_Lane – Wikipedia – public domain
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ONE MORE WORD OF CAUTION
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“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1st Peter 5:2, 3
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We are living in a less than perfect world, to put it mildly. Things are not the way they will be, when we reach those heavenly shores. We just cannot expect the things around us to be perfect. Much patience and silence is required when we are surrounded by others who are not of the same mind as us. And there are family situations which require much wisdom and prayer. This above passage from Peter’s Epistle, concerning the Church, can also apply to the family of an individual Christian. Salvation is by grace. We cannot force Salvation on others! Nor should we try to force them to be good! (of course, when children are very young, a good swat on the behind may be necessary. But even this should be applied as sparingly as possible!)
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Signs Of Heaven website is to be an encouragement to those who wish to run that Christian Race and to fight that Good Fight of Faith. The Christian greatly desires to share his or her truths with others. But the Christian must not try to compel others to begin making changes in their life in order to appease. Whether it be music, or diet, or dress or television, etc.. It is not the Christian’s commission from God to bend the consciences of others who are less inclined to walk as Jesus walked. God’s army is a volunteer army. No one should force others to join.
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Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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JACOB LEADS ON SOFTLY
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“And he said unto him (his brother), My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.” Genesis 33:13, 14
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The above verse is the testimony by Jacob about his family as they traveled back to their long-lost home. This story is likewise a testimony to how we need to lead our family. We should be inclined to be more like a silent gentle breeze among our family. Not a gale force wind! After all, we appreciate how God has been tender with us. As we look at this painting of Jacob, we recall his gracious words about his family and flocks. He said “I will lead on softly”. Jacob saw how God had patiently worked with him through the years. And now Jacob was likewise determined to be gentle with his family.
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By prayer, watchfulness, and daily consecration, we can cry out for our loved ones, and have confidence that God hears our prayers. We can cling to God’s precious promises about our family, too. As we focus on our own Salvation, we can rest assured that God will work in the lives of others. And if God will peradventure bring a loved one into the fold, then they will also desire to run that Race and fight that Good Fight.
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meeting of Jacob and Esau-1844_- wikipaintings – public domain
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THE END
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NEXT ARTICLE
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“CHRISTIAN RACE” PART 2: EFFECTS OF SENSUAL MUSIC…
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This article discusses how we might win that Christian Race which is set before us. It uses sensual music as its theme. But the principles presented herein can be applied to just about any other area of Christian concern.
Just click the following article, “Running The Christian Race (Part 2 Sensual Music)”
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26
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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
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Planet Of “Rest”-Finding “Rest Unto Your Soul” (Part 2, Precious Promises)
By admin On March 11th, 2012
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Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size
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Planet Of “Rest”
Finding “Rest Unto Your Soul”
(Part 2, Precious Promises)
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“Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust.”
2nd Peter 1:4
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So here in the above passage we have the admonition from Peter to have ready the, “precious promises”, which by these we may be partakers of the Divine nature.
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There is a popular song which goes… “How can you stand on God’s promises if you don’t know what they are?”
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This would be a funny song if it weren’t so true! Satan has kept most Christians so busy, that we have neglected our Bible study. And for those who do engage in Bible study, Satan endeavors to engross our minds, so that we don’t meditate day and night upon those Bible verses which we do study. And Satan doesn’t care what we think about, just as long as it’s not on our morning Bible study.
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There is a popular saying… “He’s so heavenly minded, he’s no earthly good!”
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But for every “Christian” who fits that description, there are 99 others who are better described as follows… “He’s so EARTHLY MINDED, he’s no heavenly good!”
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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license.
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
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“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:3-5
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This above passage from the wise man, Solomon presents one of the greatest concepts in the Bible: namely, that the strength of the Christian increases, the more that his or her knowledge of the Bible increases!
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THE DESIRE FOR SANCTIFICATION
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When a person begins the Christian sojourn, that person becomes aware of areas in life which are less than Christlike. And since every Christian has been given the desire to become Christ-like, there is an unrest which develops… “How can I become Christ-like? How can I overcome this sin? How can I have that ‘peace which surpasses all understanding’?”
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And so the Christian begins searching for the solution to his or her sin-problem. The Christian knows that while sin has the mastery, there will be no deep, abiding peace in life.
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It isn’t long before the Christian finds certain Bible passages which speak to that particular sin.
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Usually, it is some verse, such as this one… “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee,” Psalm 119:11.
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And so the Christian begins to realize that God’s Word has power to help the Christian overcome sin. And so begins the upward journey in which he or she must walk, to become in harmony with the Lord.
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God gives us a “mountain to conquer” in hopes that we will seek with all our heart to climb and conquer that mountain.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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FAITH THAT GOD WON’T GIVE UP ON ME
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Here is another verse which the Christian soon finds very helpful…
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“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.
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So the Christian begins to realize that God is closely working within every Christian to help them overcome those peace-robbing sins which plague us.
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And it is not long until the Christian finds the following verse… “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6.
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And so these verses begin to give the Christian comfort and confidence that God is not just going to abandon the trembling child of God. He is going to keep working with each of His children. And it is such verses that begin to give the Christian a deeper abiding relationship with the Lord.
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Bernhard_Plockhorst 1825-1907 The Good_Shephard – wikipedia – public domain
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BIBLE STORIES GIVE US CONFIDENCE
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And the various stories in the Gospels and also in the Old Testament are designed to show us how God works in the lives of men. These stories more and more help us to recognize God’s workings in the lives of men, and even among the nations.
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Just like the story of Daniel, for instance. God faithfully delivered Daniel, because Daniel was faithful to God.
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Stories such as this, are given to us to strengthen our trust in God’s protection for us in times of need.
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G. Dore_Daniel In The Den Of Lions www.creationism.org public domain
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PROPHECIES GIVE CONFIDENCE ABOUT FUTURE
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“I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:” Isaiah 46:9, 10
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As the Christian begins to study Bible prophecy, it becomes evident that God is knowledgeable of future events. This too becomes a great help. Such passages as the one above from Isaiah help us realize that the events of history are all working together in God’s plan, and eternal mission. And just to know that God is ultimately in charge of history causes our confidence in Him to grow and grow.
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Just listen to this passage… “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” Daniel 4:35.
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Such verses as this establish that God is in control of this seemingly “out-of-control world”, and gives the child of God confidence in God’s authority, even over this rebellious planet.
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Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Victor Vasnetsov – Wikipedia – Public Domain.
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TRUST THAT GOD WILL BE OUR MEMORY
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And when the Christian finds this verse… “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26.
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The Christian realizes that he or she does not have to depend on their own faulty human memory, because God promises to bring all things back to the Christian’s memory, in the time of need.
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Our task is to fight to keep our minds stayed upon God’s Word through our day.
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THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
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One very big secret to overcoming is to have confidence that God will help us in every situation of life. And the best way to understand this, is to be busily hiding more and more of those special passages in our heart, which tell us the many ways that God is in control of the world. For instance, this passage….
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“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 
10:23.
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Now this passage tells that Man is not so much in control of his life as he would like to think. But if Man does not control his own steps, then who does?
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“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.
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Here is another verse which greatly helps Christian to see that God is even in control over individuals. Though a man’s rebellious heart may go after his lusts, yet God ultimately leads that sinner’s steps in such a way, that God’s ultimate plan and purposes shall be accomplished.
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Listen to this next verse… “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” Ephesians 1:11.
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Such verses as this help Christians realize that God ultimately rules from Heaven. Though humans often take credit for our good choices, yet it is God who providentially leads a Christian.
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Jesus Walks on Water – Wikipedia – US public domain
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Dear Christian:
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In order to get through the trial before us, we need to keep hiding God’s promises in our heart, while there’s still time.
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We need to cancel every unnecessary activity so that we can spend much time reading and thinking upon God’s Word. Our job is to read and think on these things. God’s job is to bring them back to our memory, during the trial before us.
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There’s so many more things to learn about God’s providence in our lives. And with each new revelation of God’s omnipotence, our trust will grow stronger and our rest will grow deeper.
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OUR DAILY BATTLE
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Perhaps at the end of each day, maybe while lying down in bed, we need to spend much time thinking back on how we might have overcome that big or little attack by the Devil. Just what “exceeding great and precious promises” could have been employed, which would have given us the victory over the temptations which assailed us in our daily warfare?
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Listen…Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2nd Peter 1:4)
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Constant learning and hiding of the many Bible promises into our hearts is a critically important part of our daily walk in the Lord!
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The armor of God – theheavensdeclare.net -use by permission only
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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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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 – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
.
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 the person 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 – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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.
.
FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
.
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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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
.
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 – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
.
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
Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture
By admin On December 25th, 2011.
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“And after three months we departed
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in a ship of Alexandria,
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which had wintered in the isle,
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whose sign was Castor and Pollux.”
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Acts 28:11
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PAUL’S JOURNEY ON TWO SHIPS…
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Acts Chapters 27 & 28 are the account of Paul’s journey to his own Judgment Day…in Rome.
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Acts 27 is greatly concerned with the first ship and with that terrible storm, the storm, “Euroclydon”.
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Paul warned all those on board, that if they all should abide in the ship, then not one soul would be lost.
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And so they all abode in the ship, just as Paul commanded.
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paul in a storm acts 27-21 www.breadsite.org public domain
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THEY LEFT THE BROKEN SHIP
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But finally, upon reaching just offshore from land, the ship broke up by the impact of the crashing waves, and all had to abandon the ship and swim to shore.
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And so, they all jumped into the water, and some swam, and those who couldn’t swim, clung to pieces of the ship and floated to shore…
…”they which could swim
should cast themselves first into the sea,
and get to land:
And the rest, some on boards,
and some on broken pieces of the ship.
And so it came to pass,
that they escaped all safe to land:”
Acts 27:43, 44
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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WHAT DOES HENRY SAY?
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And sure enough, not one soul was lost!
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Listen to that great theologian, Matthew Henry…
“When the church of God, like this ship,
is tossed with tempests,
and not comforted,
when there is none to guide her of all her sons,
yet God can bring her safely to shore,
and will do it.”
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Notice that Henry compares this ship to the Church of God.
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Matthew Henry speaks of this entire Acts Ch. 27 in spiritual terms, relating Paul’s journey to the many pitfalls and tribulations that God’s people must go through on our journey through this world.
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As a matter of fact, there are many who see Paul’s judgment in Rome to represent the great Judgment Day which may soon burst forth upon the world.
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Matthew Henry – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”
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It seems as if every church-going parishioner knows the following Bible verse…
“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.”
Hebrews 10:25
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Now of course, this verse (Hebrews 10:25) has been the glue which has blessedly and graciously held local congregations together for the past 2,000 years!
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people praying – by Sergei Frolov – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING”
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But if you would ask most any congregation the question, “As you see WHAT DAY approaching?”, you would most likely hear this response, “The Day of the Lord, of course!”
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Well, that’s correct! God’s people are to congregate together until the Day of the Lord.
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“GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL”
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“And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
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Now, at this point, many will undoubtedly object, crying (as this above verse points out), “the gates of Hell will not prevail against God’s Church!”
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Now, while the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church-Faithful (pictured in the next little section below)…
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…this statement cannot be made concerning the Church-Apostate (pictured here with women playing musical instruments).
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And so, the local congregations were to be vacated by God’s Elect, as is written…
…”And I heard another voice from heaven,
saying, Come out of her, My people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins,
and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Revelation 18:4.
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NO ETERNAL SECURITY FOR CHURCHES
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And don’t forget! There’s a big difference between the “Church” and the “churches”.
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Remember that Revelation, Chapters 2 & 3, gave very little security to those 7 churches.
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Listen to the Ephesus letter…
…”Nevertheless…thou hast left thy first love…
…repent…or else I will…remove thy candlestick…”
(Condensed for brevity)
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And what about the Church at Sardis?
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Listen… “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”
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Or this letter to Laodicea…“I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
Revelation 2:4, 5 & Revelation 3:1, 16.
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So, individual congregations totally depended on their remaining obedient to the Bible.
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THE CHURCH BROKEN UP…
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But the ship finally broke up, just prior to striking land.
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But what does this story have to do with Salvation?
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And how does all this relate to the Church of God?
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Listen to what Paul says about the Church in the last days…
…”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts
shall they…turn away their ears from the truth…“
2nd Timothy 4:3, 4. (Condensed)
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There were so many ministries: on radio, on TV, on Internet…
…filled with joking, sensual music…
…popular & stylish church services…
…energy-exhausting careers…
…exotic theories on Bible prophecy…
…”get rich” gospels…
…picking-n-choosing pet Bible verses, etc…
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THE CHURCHES = THE 1ST SHIP
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And this situation in the churches really aligned itself with the following passage from the story from Acts Chapters 27 & 28, which is the centerpiece of this discussion.
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Just listen…“And…the ship…was broken
with the violence of the waves.”
(Condensed)
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It did appear that we had arrived at that day when the Church became broken up.
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Backhuysen_Storm wikipedia public dom.
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CHURCHES FATALLY FRACTURED
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“they which could swim…cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:” Acts 27:43.
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The Bible compares the “sea” to the nations of the world. (Revelation 17:1 & Isaiah 17:13)
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So, when the ship broke, “they which could swim…cast themselves first into the sea”.
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So also, the Church seemed to have become broken into two parts.
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And with such a great apostasy in the God’s House, the stronger Christians could nevertheless still maintain a good relationship with the Lord.
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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MANY JUST TRYING TO BE FAITHFUL
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Most Christians, however, put up with some less-than-biblical gathering, out of a sincere desire to “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (see Hebrews 10:25) each week.
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Others were perhaps, a little insecure in their relationship with God, to just worship at home.
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Still others stayed at home, but followed somewhat faithful radio or Internet ministries.
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This seemed to correspond with the verse…
“And the rest, some on boards,
and some on broken pieces of the ship.
And so it came to pass,
that they escaped all safe to land…”
Acts 27:44.
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These boards and broken pieces of the ship quite possibly represented the small groups of Christians, and/or the somewhat compromising ministries on radio and Internet.
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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain.
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CASTOR AND POLLUX: THE MYSTERY SHIP…
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While they all were saved, they had not yet reached their ultimate destination: Paul’s Judgment.
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And so after three months on a secular island, they all boarded another ship.
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This particular ship was of Alexandria.
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This ship’s sign was Castor & Pollux.
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And this ship smoothly took all to their destination… Judgment Day.
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Now just what is this new ship all about?
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After all, the first ship seemed to represent the church-world.
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So what was this next ship all about?
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And what in the world is Castor and Pollux?
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CASTOR AND POLLUX = THE NARROW WAY…
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“And after three months 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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Most theologians interpret this verse to be speaking of two pagan gods known as Castor and Pollux.
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Beyond that, they are puzzled as to what significance do these twin gods have.
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Some believe these gods to be the patrons of safe ocean travel.
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Certainly, God would never want His people to board such a pagan ship!
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But there is much significance to Castor and Pollux.
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No, not to those twin-gods.
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But there are two stars named Castor and Pollux.
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They are twin stars.
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They are the two bright stars of the constellation commonly known as Gemini.
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But as “Signs Of Heaven” points out, these two stars also happen to be the two brightest stars on Orion’s sickle.
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And these two stars are also known as The Narrow Gate Stars.
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And if you will explore this concept, you will see that Castor and Pollux possess great significance…
…”Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction…”
Matthew 7:13-14. (Condensed)
Castor and Pollux represent this Biblical concept of the Narrow Way.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) & wide (Auriga) and narrow gates (Gemini) – NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USES
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LOCATING THIS GROUP…
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SKETCH: EASTERN SKY
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Here in this sketch is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter.
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Satan spews out his false worldly ideologies, which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness.
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On the other hand, the Strait Gate (Narrow Gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle.
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God’s Word, the Bible is that sickle. The true Strait Gate is God’s Word, the Bible.
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As a sickle harvests the wheat, so God’s Word will gather precious souls to Him.
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IN THE WEST
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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter, and even into June at the beginning of night.
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It is seen best when it is the western part of the sky
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And at this point it is apparent that the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the Narrow Gate Stars as you can see just to the left of the mountain.
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A dark night is best for seeing this.
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It begins with the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation going towards these two doors.
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The doors are each composed of two bright stars.
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The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle, Castor and Pollux.
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The stars that make up the Narrow Gate are about one-third less the width of the Wide Gate.
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The two bright stars which symbolize the Wide Gate are Capella and Menkalinan.
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These are the brightest two stars of the Auriga Constellation.
(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”. )
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ABOVE CHART : Revelation 12 Woman swerving toward Narrow Gate – late winter – signsofheaven.org
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2ND SHIP = CASTOR AND POLLUX
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And so, to recap their exodus off that island, Paul and the others, having been saved off the first ship which broke up and destroyed by the storm…
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…they boarded a second ship whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
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This second ship with the sign of those bright twin stars, Castor and Pollux, appears to be speaking about these Narrow Gate Stars.
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In short, this ship that Paul and the others boarded seems to be referring to God’s ship (God’s true worshippers).
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God’s ship is His Gospel Ship and the sign of this Gospel Ship is this constellation now revealed to us as the Narrow Gate Stars, which are made of simply…two stars… Castor and Pollux.
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Of course, the Wide Gate Stars are made of the two bright stars of the wave of water coming out of the Dragon’s mouth.
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And so we have a choice: follow lowly Jesus (represented by the Narrow Gate)…
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…or follow the false ideologies of the “Gain = Godliness” gospels which Satan offers us (see 1st Timothy 6:5).
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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation seems to be deciding… ,
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…Will she enter the Narrow Gate…or will she enter the Wide Gate?
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Early Winter in the east – Orion, – Revelation 12 Dragon (AKA Hyades, Pleiades, etc.) – Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) – Goodly Horse in Battle with Rider (Camelopardelis, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc…) – www.signsofheaven.org – Not for commercial use!
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“THEY FORSOOK ALL AND FOLLOWED HIM”
LUKE 5:11
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The following verse seems to be a prophecy about this very time in history, when God’s people are ready to forsake all, in order to follow Jesus perfectly.
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Listen to Luke’s gospel…
“And when they had brought their ships to land,
they forsook all, and followed Him.”
Luke 5:11.
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Even though this was a verse regarding Jesus’ Disciples, it seems to apply to the time we are now in…the time of the “Narrow Gate”.
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The time when God’s Elect will “shine as the stars, for ever and ever”! Daniel 12:3
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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage 1869 courtesy wikigallery.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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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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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 having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
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and in the moon,
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and in the stars;
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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
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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
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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Babylon…O Destroying Mountain
By admin On October 10th, 2011.
Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size
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This is a continuation of the “Valley of Decision” Constellation Group. If you wish, you may click here for that article.
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BABYLON IS FALLEN…
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“And after these things I saw another angel…And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying…
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‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…
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For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.’
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And I heard another voice from heaven, saying…
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‘Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
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Engraving of Babylon by G. Dore, www.creationism.org, U.S. Public Domain.
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BABYLON, THIS FALLEN WORLD & ITS FALLEN RELIGIOUS-SYSTEM…
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Dear Reader: Does this present world-system seem a bit confusing? After all, Scripture tells us that “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19. And yet there seems to be many good things…many good people.
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And if the Bible tells us that those “unbelieving” people of this world are children of Satan’s kingdom…why then are they so well-behaved, at times?
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And why is there so much in the world for the Christian to do…places to go…people to see? Why is the world so friendly to us? It’s not like the “Dark Ages” when Christians were persecuted, or tortured, or banished, or imprisoned, or killed.
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Wilde’s Great Globe courtesy Wikipedia U.S. public domain…link here.
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SATAN’S NEW STRATEGY
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Well, the Enemy of Our Souls has developed a somewhat new strategy in these modern times. “The god of this world” has developed a world-system designed to be a counterfeit of God’s kingdom. (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4)
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Satan would love for us to remain corrupted by his counterfeit lifestyles and worldly philosophies that seem to captivate the people of this entire world. And the god of this world would love nothing more than to keep God’s people so busy, busy with the many, many cares and pleasures of this world… “and so that day come upon you unawares.” (Luke 21:34, 35)
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So please read this article! It’s so important to understand the concepts which Scripture presents, as to the necessity of becoming changed into the image of Christ and purified in heart. So please study, and see if these ideas harmonize with Christ, and His Word.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION:
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These three mountains, can be seen coming up as early as mid-summer, in the eastern horizon, in the pre-dawn hours. But actually, the three mountains, minus the Dragon, can be seen in the pre-dawn hours in the May, in the east. The mountain to the left (north) is commonly called Cassiopeia. The middle mountain is made of some stars from the Pegasus Constellation. The slope from this mountain is part of the Pisces Constellation. The third mountain to the right (south) is made of stars from both the Pegasus and Aquarius Constellations. The Highway to Hell Constellation, which goes from the third mountain (The Destroying Mountain) straight down to the Dragon in this sketch, is made of stars from the Pisces Constellation. The dragon will begin to be seen about July, coming up in the eastern horizon, in the pre-dawn hours.
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But please read this page and the Valley of Decision page in order to really appreciate this constellation group.
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THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP.
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They appear in early-summer in the eastern skies in pre-dawn hours. These are made of Cassiopeia (mount on left), and various stars from the Andromeda Constellation (valley) Pegasus (Mount of Cursing (middle mount) & Destroying Mount (right)), and Pisces (Broad Way to Hell). The galaxy which appears to be climbing the Mountain of Blessing is the Andromeda Galaxy.
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THE THIRD MOUNTAIN…CHOICE ‘C’…
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“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out Mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.” Jeremiah 51:25
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In Jeremiah 51:25, Babylon is referred to as the Destroying Mountain. It is the name of this counterfeit mountain. It is Satan’s kingdom, made up of all Satan’s followers, both humans as well as evil angels. Satan’s kingdom also includes this fallen world, with all its governments and ideologies. It is that great city… Mighty Babylon! The world! Satan’s prison-house.
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Listen to Revelation… “and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:3, 4.
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So this passage reveals that not just the Satan-worshippers, or the New-Age, but the entire world worships the Dragon, which is actually Satan.
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PART 1: FIRST TWO MOUNTAINS
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Part 1, “The Valley of Decision Constellation” article established the basic concept of the Valley of Decision. But now it is time to explore this counterfeit mountain; a third mountain constellation. Scripture tells us that Satan offers us an alternative lifestyle, if you will.
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Oh yes, such a simple choice that God offers (“Life” or “Death”) is just far too easy for the Dragon (Satan) to accept. Satan’s main deception in this world is to create counterfeit look-alike alternatives; attractive choices; interesting pursuits. Satan really knows how to complicate and confuse the simplicity of the Gospel!
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“HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME”…
Matthew 11:23 & Luke 12:30
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“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.” Jeremiah 3:6
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And so, just south (to the right) of these two mountains, there is a third mountain. But it is a counterfeit to the real Mount Zion. He makes the world believe that there’s an alternative to the Gospel; a choice ‘C’, so to speak. In other words, Satan has cleverly designed society to make it seem that it’s not necessary to choose between Christ or Satan. One needs only to choose this alternative mountain. That is, this present world offers so many lifestyles which seem rather harmless…even good! The Great Deceiver would like us to believe that we can be an independent agent…the captain of our own ship, the master of our own destiny!
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But this is just Satan’s deception! Jesus says…“He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:30.
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There won’t be any fence sitters on Judgment Day. There will be only two camps. The Lord’s Camp, and the Devil’s camp.
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Just as it is written… “And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day…Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.” Malachi 3:17, 18
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“WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?”…
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“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36, 37
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The above passage presents, not only a a huge concept, but also a strong warning!
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But the question to be answered is this: “Just why would a person even want to trade his or her soul?” Simple. The things of the world can appear very attractive! Especially when there’s a Devil to entice and magnify the pleasures of sin! And in every person’s life, it seems like there’s some alternative which the Devil supplies.
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For some people, Satan entices with perhaps a look-alike gospel-of-Mammon”, as an alternative to following the lowly self-sacrificing Jesus of the Bible. This is a prosperity-driven religion mingled with earthly things or fleshy inducements…and maybe even some Bible and good works thrown in too, just to make that false-gospel look real! Many have coined this as a “Prosperity Gospel”. Some call it an “Itching Ears Gospel”.
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New-york-times-square-terabass – cropped image – wikipedia – share-alike-license.jpg
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OTHER LIFE-CHOICES
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For others, Satan supplies an atheistic life of humanitarian-good-works as an alternative. Or maybe a life of pleasure-seeking…or career choices…or hobbies & sports…or travel…or a good health gospel…or music…or TV…or whatever lifestyle the Devil knows will entice a man, woman, or child to trade his or her soul for…
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Listen again… “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26.
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Yes, this third mountain has many different alternative lifestyles, which seem attractive and appear as common sense choices in place of such a self-denying Christ-like life that the Bible offers.
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“STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN”…
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OR JUST THE “HIGHWAY TO HELL” ?…
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“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:” Isaiah 5:18
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Look at the slope of this third mountain, and notice that it goes straight down to the Dragon Constellation. This slope belongs to the constellation commonly called Pisces. Doesn’t it almost look like the Dragon is towing this Mountain? It almost looks like the Dragon is transporting this false mountain from the south…from Hell. And he has pulled it northward…next to these other two mountains. This would almost seem like a comical idea…if it weren’t for the destruction and death and woe caused by Satan for many-a-millennium.
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Just listen to this verse… “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:” Isaiah 5:18.
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So God, it seems, has created this constellation group to present this fearful concept!
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THE BROAD WAY
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But there is a second meaning to this long line of stars from this Destroying Mountain down to the Dragon Constellation? A “double-entendre” of sorts.
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It would remind one of a highway. But what kind of highway? Need there be any further explanation? They say that a picture paints a thousand words. Well this picture that God has placed in the night sky paints a very poignant portrait indeed!
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This represents that, “broad way which leads to destruction”.
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“A MILLSTONE AROUND THEIR NECKS”…
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Do you notice the round wheel-like configuration on the “Broad Highway To Hell” Constellation. What’s that all about?!
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Listen to what Jesus says about a millstone… “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones (new Christians) which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6.
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So why did Jesus use a millstone in this condemnation?
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Listen to this next verse… “But the Philistines took him (Samson), and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and HE DID GRIND in the prison-house.” Judges 16:21.
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It seems that Samson was to put to grind grain on a millstone in the enemy’s prison, as part of his punishment.
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Grindstone – dalgarven – wikipedia – public dom.
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MILLSTONE: BONDAGE TO WORLD
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Of course, the Bible uses a millstone to symbolize labor: either laboring for the Gospel, the bread of Life. But also laboring for the world. And of course, Samson was laboring for the Philistines, who symbolized the world.
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In the Bible, the sea was symbolic of the world … the unconverted world. And just as Samson was put to grinding a millstone as his punishment, so too, those who continually leave the safety of the Lord, to dabble in pet sins are eventually (if they continue on in sin) put into Satan’s prison-house…the world.
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Listen again…“it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6.
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If the sea represents this fallen, hellish world, it becomes evident that Jesus was speaking metaphorically, saying that that person, who causes others to stumble, would be better to be cast out of the Church, and back into the world (i.e., the sea).
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There they must be used by Satan in the world, as his captives. They become secular. They become worldly-minded. Satan puts them to hard labor, seeking after the cares and the useless lusts and attractions of the world, just like the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-32). They lose their spirituality, just as surely as Samson lost his hair.
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Painting of The “Ten Virgins” courtesy Wikipedia U.S. Public Domain.
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THE WORLD: SATAN’S PRISON
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“Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:4, 5
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The Jews became angry with Jesus, when He told them that they were prisoners.
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Listen… “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man…Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:33, 34.
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The same misunderstanding exists today! People today do not understand that they are likewise prisoners of sin and Satan. And even though there are no literal bars of steel holding them in a prison-cell, they are every bit captives, held fast in “chains of darkness”.
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Listen… “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” 2nd Timothy 2:24-26.
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Just as this passage points out, the whole world is being held captive in Satan’s prison-house.
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SERVING “NICE” GODS
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And no, it’s not just those that are slaves to drug or alcohol addiction who are Satan’s prisoners. There are many who are addicted to things which society doesn’t even consider addiction.
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For instance, there are those, both in the world and in the Church, who are slaves to divers lusts, such as habitual TV watching. There are many who are servants of such lusts as habitual game-playing, or habitual sports-watching. But there are many who are addicted to their careers, or their hobbies, or sensual lusts, or music, or novel reading. There are many who are held fast in bondage to fits of anger, or pride, or blaspheming God’s name, or food addictions, or gossiping or money-making, or worshipping their children, or even habitual shopping or gardening or any countless other habitual addictions.
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Anything, just anything, can become an idol in our heart!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org
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SALVATION A PRIVILEGE TO IMPROVE ON: NOT TO SLIGHT!
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Now of course, there may be nothing wrong with having a hobby, gardening, or listening to music, or many other diversions. Certainly shopping is necessary, and gardening can even be a Christian witness. But the problem comes in, when any one thing begins to absorb the thoughts of the Christian, they then are quite possibly becoming idol-lusts.
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In other words, when a career or a hobby or any combination of things begins to eclipse one’s spiritual life: Bible study, prayer or Bible meditation.
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And as a result, Jesus has been pushed aside, for those worldly pursuits, whatever they may happen to be. A new god is now being worshipped and served in that person’s heart. Christians must not forget that we have a race to run and a battle to win! And we are on enchanted ground, as Pilgrim’s Progress states so aptly!
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So what is the big point to be made here? That the people of the world are captives of sin and Satan. And this world has been, and still is Satan’s prison-house.
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But God has given Christians the great privilege of Salvation. And in gratitude, the Christian should use his or her time to good account, in improving on the talents which God has given us. No, not worldly talents, like musical ability! No, but the talents of wisdom and knowledge and prayer, and Bible study, and any and every thing, which will aid us in transforming ourselves into the image of Christ.
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Yes, the Christian has been chosen to devote the remainder of his or her life to glorify Him, by our changed life and purified heart!
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Mall_Market culture_jakarta75-wikimedia-share-alike-lic..jpg
Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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“WE WALK IN DARKNESS”
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The Bible reveals another means which Satan employs to hold people in bondage. Listen… “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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Satan has put out our eyes, in a manner of speaking, just like he did to Samson. Even those who are caught up in false, world-loving gospels, are every bit walking in darkness, as are total unbelievers.
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“THEY SHALL BE THORNS IN YOUR SIDES”
Judges 2:3
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Many readers of the Old Testament are perplexed as to why there was so much killing…by God’s people! All the wars in the Old Testament were a metaphorical picture of conquering sin, self, and Satan. It wasn’t that God enjoyed killing all those heathens! If only God’s people would have gotten the message that God was trying to get across to them. But they didn’t.
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WILL WE LEARN THAT SAME LESSON?
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The Old Testament wars in the Promised Land were metaphors about the human heart. The Promised Land was a picture of the human heart, and how we must drive out all the evil influences out of our heart, if we are to purify our hearts. Listen to this… “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.” Deuteronomy 18:9.
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So here’s a reference to how God feels about the heathen nations which surround His people. And this was the reason why the children of Israel were to drive out those nations from the Promised Land: so that God’s people would not learn the ways of the unbelievers.
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judges7-Gideon & The 300- www.thebiblerevival.com -public domain
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HOLY WAR, by John Bunyan
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Just read John Bunyan’s Holy War. It picks up on this metaphorical idea that the Promised Land was actually a picture of the 
human heart. And this concept of the Promised Land being a picture of our heart did not escape the notice of that great theologian, Matthew Henry either. Just listen to Henry’s comments on Revelation Ch. 6… “He conquers His enemies in His people; their sins are their enemies and His enemies; when Christ comes with power into their soul He begins to conquer these enemies, and He goes on conquering, in the progressive work of sanctification, till He has gained us a complete victory.” (Matthew Henry on Revelation Ch. 6)
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MatthewHenry Wikipedia Public Domain.
John_Bunyan wikipedia public domain
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“COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE”
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“I saw another Angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with His glory….And He cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:1, 2, 4
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To use a worldly saying, God’s people today seem to be “every bit as clueless” as were those Old Testament Jews. To use another, “we still don’t get it!” God wants us to separate from every unnecessary evil influence. And He also wants us to pray for deliverance from the kinds of evil influences which that we must daily put up with, as well. But we simply must begin wherever we are, to improve on each of our opportunities. Yes, we have to make a living. Yes, we have family obligations. But there are perhaps a thousand ways in which we can shun needless exposure to sin and sinners. No, we can’t come out of the world; but we CAN come a good way out, if we so-choose!
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Yes, God’s Old Testament people finally began to shun exposure to heathens, but for the entirely wrong reason. They did it out of pride. But we are to separate because we don’t trust our weak consciences, nor our easily deceived hearts.
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Listen… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Etc., etc…..Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. ” 2nd Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18.
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This passage is very well-known, but very seldom followed. And notice that this passage is a pre-requisite to having God being a Father to us! And there are perhaps many Christians who are constantly floundering in the flesh, who need look no further as to just why their spirituality is so thin and anemic: simply because they have never heeded this passage!
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888 wikimedia public domain
Braet_von_Überfeldt_woman_with_bible_1866 wikipedia US public domain
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ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD
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In Psalm 73, the Psalmist complains to God how nicely the unbelievers are doing. Listen… “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.” Psalm 73:3-5.
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This Psalm has spoken to every generation since its writing. Satan has always found great success in turning people’s hearts away from God, by making them jealous at how well unbelievers do in the world. God’s people go through many tribulations, as God chastens them in hopes of purifying them into the likeness of Christ.
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FIVE WISE VIRGINS
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This painting shows the “Five Wise Virgins” waiting patiently in prayer, in Bible study and in tribulation. These Five Wise Virgins know very well just what is tribulation and what is God’s chastening process. Listen as this Psalm 73 continues… “For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:14.
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So Satan makes sure that unbelievers, to a certain extent, are his best advertisements. And then Satan comes to God’s chastened people, and points them to his secular people, showing Believers how well they might be doing, if only they would leave the family of God, and join his secular ranks.
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Just look at this photo! Don’t these people look like they’re having a great time, chating, drinking coffee in a Paris France cafe?
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And so Satan has created the innumerable pleasures and delights, in this fallen world (his 3rd mountain of Babylon) to be exciting, and fresh, and intriguing, and even enlightening!
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Painting of The “Ten Virgins” courtesy Wikipedia U.S. Public Domain.
Café de Flore coffee house – wikipedia – public domain
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PITY-PARTY LEADS TO APOSTASY
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And so, the church-goer sometimes becomes more and more discouraged with Christianity. They might begin to notice all the hypocrisy within the church. He or she might even get discouraged with God: “Why is God such a big meany in the sky? Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” And so, that discouraged
church-goer begins to withdraw from the fellowship of Christ. Perhaps that discouraged one winds up in a liberal church which allows just about any behavior. Or maybe just becomes secular.
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NO TRUE 3rd ALTERNATIVE
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The problem is, there is no real 3rd alternative lifestyle. It does not exist. We are either in Christ’s sheepfold, or we are the Devil’s son or daughter. But the Devil has deceived many into believing that they are somehow neutral, neither for nor against Christ.
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But Jesus plainly states… “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30.
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To live a secular life is merely becoming a servant of sin and Satan. Even going to church on the weekend is of no value, unless it is accompanied by a “new heart” experience: a total devotion to the Lord. And tragically, there are not very many church-attendees who have found that “total devotion”.
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Girl – Depression by Danielzanetti for Wikimedia – cropped image – C.C. Share-alike License 3.0
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FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS…
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This is the picture that this “Broad Highway to Hell” Constellation presents. Notice that it is made of five stars. This no doubt speaks of those “five foolish virgins” in that infamous parable of the “Ten Virgins”…
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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. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish…” Matthew 25:1, 2.
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So this “Broad Highway To Hell” Constellation combines this parable of the millstone concept with the Five Foolish Virgins. That is because the millstone in this constellation has five stars, representing the Five Foolish Virgins. The sketch to the below right presents the concept of these verses and how they relate to each other. These are the Five Foolish Virgins (The 5th is behind the globe in this sketch. The mountain outside the arched-door represents this Destroying Mountain of Babylon, with various lost souls sliding down into Satan’s prison-house).
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Because they dabbled in sin, they had made their refuge in the Destroying Mountain (Spiritual Babylon), instead of hiding themselves in Christ. And so, by leaving God’s refuge they were eventually taken captive in Babylon (The world, as represented by the globe in the picture, in which Satan is sitting atop of).
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Now like Samson, they were put to hard labor, grinding at the millstone of the world. As you can see, there are others who are trying to climb up the Destroying Mountain. But the Destroying Mountain is too steep, and they are also falling into the dungeon of Hell.
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No, not the Hell that’s beyond the grave. This is the portion of Hell that the angels who sinned were cast into… Tartaroo as the Greek puts it…spiritual darkness, right here in this world. Listen to what Jesus says in the Wedding Supper Parable…
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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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To read more on the nature of Hell, please go to… “Planet Of “Rest”- (Part 4-The Doctrine Of “Eternal Torment”)”
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“WEEPING & GNASHING OF TEETH”…
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Why were the guests to the supper cast into outer darkness? Because they were so busy in the world, that they had no time to come to the supper! They were just too busy!
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So it is today. Christians are so busy in the world: careers, amusements, TV, sports, sight-seeing, social events, committees, banqueting, etc… And then something happens…ever so imperceptibly! Jesus is crowded out of our lives. Like a thi
ef in the night, all of our true spiritual riches are taken…without our notice. And we are left with a formalistic religiosity. Oh yes, we may still attend church. But something’s missing. The sweetness of Christ is missing. We begin to become critical of others. We gnash on our teeth at others.
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We gossip. We slander. We tell naughty jokes. We maybe start having a little wine with dinner. We begin to attend secular events. Our prayer time and Bible studies get short, weak, and formal. We realize that something’s wrong. But we’re just too busy in the world, to stop and really take account of the situation. The fact is, we’ve been cast into spiritual outer darkness where we engage in, “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13.
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Samson in the Treadmill – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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WEEPING…
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“Also when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer. He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone, He has made my paths crooked.” Lamentations 3:8, 9
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But when we lie in bed at night, we sometimes softly cry within ourselves because of our hollow, empty religion. We long for those joy-filled times of peace we once enjoyed! We wish we had our fervent love for Jesus back again! We miss those sweet hours of prayer! We miss those incredible Bible studies! We realize that we no longer meditate day and night on the Scriptures!
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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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GNASHING OF TEETH…
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But morning returns, and it’s back to grinding at Satan’s millstone. Our careers, our TV shows, our countless diversions! And it’s back to gnashing on our teeth! “That rude grocery clerk!” “Those stupid Congressmen!” “You don’t love me like you use to!”, etc.. And so it goes. Nights of longing for the Lord! Days of gnashing about life’s injustices, big and little. A seemingly endless round of, “weeping and gnashing on our teeth”! Day after day. Year after year. Satan becomes our ruthless Task-Master. He chastises us, “with scorpions”, so to speak. The Bible speaks of the, “sting of death”. 1st Corinthians 15:56.
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“And the fifth angel sounded…and there came locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded…that they (Men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads) should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion …” Revelation (9:1-4 condensed).
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Notice the number “five” is used twice in this passage. This use of “five” fits right in with this ‘Broad Highway To Hell’ Constellation.
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As far as scorpions goes, listen to the next verse… ” my father (King Solomon) also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” 1st Kings 12:14.
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These words were spoken by Solomon’s son! And he was now king of Judah, and was speaking to the citizens of Judah! The people of God! If we put the above two verses together (Revelation 9:1-4 & 1st Kings 12:14) we begin to understand what God is trying to tell us! Revelation is written for God’s people! It’s about us!
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MAN IN THE IRON CAGE…
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John Bunyan, in his allegorical tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, tells of the Man In The Iron Cage. This man ignored the great mercy which God graciously bestowed upon him. Now he was left destitute of God’s Spirit! Now he was unable to repent! He was just too busy enjoying the World! He knew not that Judgment happens in this life, too! Now he sat in a cage of spiritual darkness.
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His world-loving life is a living warning to all who behold him!
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U.S. Public Domain of Man In Iron Cage, Wikipedia. Click for link.
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Well, why not just listen to this YouTube excerpt from Bunyan’s audio book…
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CONCLUSION TO 5 VIRGINS…
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So to be cast into outer darkness is not speaking of the grave or beyond. It really has to do with spiritual darkness, and becoming in bondage to sin, selfishness, and Satan. Babylon is really just a “state of mind”. It is nothing more than just being worldly-minded. Where much of the punishment comes in, is when a child of God becomes a captive in spiritual Babylon, he or she becomes a slave to pet sins. The pet sins become the means whereby Satan torments Christians who long to die in Christ…but that particular death is beyond their reach. They are unchristlike in so many ways. They agonize with God…but the heavens seem like brass above them! They are in the same predicament as was Job. Job looked for God…but God just didn’t seem to be anywhere to be found!
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NO “DEATH TO SELF”…
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Listen to Revelation…“but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” Revelation 9:5, 6.
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This passage is not for some future time. It is for now! It speaks of all of us who love our sins. It is speaking of a composite beast which torments God’s people for five months. This composite beast of Revelation 9 is merely a picture of the different ways in which God allows the Devil to chastise us for our own good. Oh yes, Satan hopes to discourage us, just like he tried to discourage Job. But God holds us securely, just as He held Job. Samson’s time in the Philistine prison-house was likewise a picture of God’s people…and how we are punished for our love of sin. We long to die to self as Scripture commands…but we just can’t! Satan fills us with our sins… “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:” Proverbs 14:14. And so we cry out to God for deliverance. But deliverance doesn’t come.
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RUBBING OUR NOSES IN SIN
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Now, each person’s punishment may be different. Some are slaves to food and fleshly passions. Others may be slaves of pride, position, and anger. Still others to the lusts of the eyes and those material goods that are so abundant today. Many church-goers have a combination of all three of these sins. So God in His infinite mercy attempts to “rub our noses” so to speak, in our own dung; in our own sin. He gives us an abundance of this world’s goods…of this world’s proud ways…of this world’s fleshy lusts.
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Listen to Malachi… “And now, O ye priests (Believers are called “priests” in the New Testament)… If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My Name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings… because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces…” Malachi 2:1-3 (Condensed)
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If you wish to explore deeper into this subject you are invited to click here for the “Moon into Blood Trilogy”
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Mall_culture_jakarta75-wikimedia-share-alike-lic..jpg
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TORMENTED FIVE MONTHS
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“And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” Revelation 9:5, 6
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Notice that it says here… “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.“
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Now for that period of five symbolic months, we yet-to-be-sealed saints are suffering under the cruel hand of Satan, for the destruction of our flesh! And we are truly miserable! And we would love to die! But the death that we really prefer, is to die-to-self with Jesus! But in order for that to happen, God must allow the Devil to destroy our love of this sinful world! And so, like Samson, we must continue to grind at the millstone of this dark world! Stewing in our own sin! Grinding at the world’s mill!
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And so, we all must go through this excruciatingly painful process of purification for five long spiritual months! But like the man at the Pool of Bethesda, our suffering may last for years!
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JUDGMENT DAY…
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There is coming a day, in which God will say “Enough”! There is an hour in which God will take away our filthy garments, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zechariah 3:4.
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This story is concerning this present hour. For those who have been diligently seeking deliverance…deliverance will come! But for those who are indifferent and self-satisfied…such will remain in spiritual darkness!
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But the day is coming which, “shall burn as an oven.” Malachi 4:1. In that day, “…shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Malachi 3:18
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ARMAGEDDON…
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And then, when the last message of mercy closes, the people of this world will take their respective sides.
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FIRST SIDE: Those who have chosen to follow the lowly Jesus, will go forth on the side of their heavenly Commander…Prince Emmanuel.
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SECOND SIDE: But those who have chosen the things of the world will fight along the side of evil angels in the army of their lord…Lucifer…the evil “god” of this present fallen world.
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THE BATTLE BEGINS…
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Then the people of this world will fight against the people of God. This is the spiritual battle of which Revelation titles Armageddon. It will be a battle greatly within the heart. The verses of the Bible will be the Sword of Truth in the hand of each child of God. Each Christian soldier will be wearing his or her Armor of God.
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The armies of the world will likewise have their own brand of weaponry. Cutting jokes and sarcastic mockery, stinging accusations, will make their tongues as sharp as razors (Psalm 57:4). Economic and friendship sanctions will be their heavy artillery in which to annihilate God’s faithful ones (Revelation 13:17, Luke 6:22). Satan will transform wicked men into “Ministers of Righteousness” who will sound like the “voice of reason” to the unsanctified masses (2nd Corinthians 11:14, 15) .
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These false teachers will loudly condemn God’s people as “fanatics” (Matthew 5:11 & John 8:48). Families will separate from the believing father, or mother, or child (Luke 12:51-53). Accusations will be cast down upon these trembling Believers (Matthew 5:11). And even Satan will work with “signs and lying wonders to deceive if possible even the very elect of God” (Matthew 24:24).
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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE…
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As the battles intensifies, God’s Elect will almost feel that their Lord has all but abandoned them (Psalm 22:1). The Christian will then put forth super-human effort to hide his or her self in the safety of the “everlasting rocks and spiritual mountains” of God’s Word (1st Corinthians 10:4 & Psalm 31 & 61). Prayer will be made without ceasing by the fa
ithful Remnant of God (1st Thessalonians 5:17, Psalms 141). The fires of tribulation will be heated seven times hotter, which will purify the saints, removing every spot and wrinkle from their hearts (Daniel 3:19 & Ephesians 5:27).
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Jacob – Wikimedia-US – Public-Domain
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CHURCH FINALLY PURIFIED
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Finally every last trace of “self” will fall away from the True Worshipers, just as the dross is
removed from gold ore (Ephesians 5:27). And this is just what God has all along intended for this great battle to accomplish within His faithful Followers…the destruction of “self” (Galatians. 2:19, 20)!
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The Believers will finally realize that, just as Jacob finally knew that it was the Angel of the Lord whom he wrestled all night with, so too it will be discovered by the weary Believers…that it was God with whom we wrestled, during this time of trouble… “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 But by this time, the likeness of Christ will now be shining forth from each and every Believer (Matthew 13:43).
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Then and only then will the world really see the Church in all its glory…imitating their Lord (Ephesians 4:13). Then will the vomited-out, Lukewarm Church become the Church Victorious (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Then will the Cross of Christ be lifted up, by the Church for all the world to behold (Psalm 50:15). Then will the unbelieving world fall down and acknowledge that God loves His Church (Malachi 3:12).
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Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH NOW AVAILABLE…
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COME DRINK FREELY…
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Oh Dear Reader: If you or I haven’t already surrendered to Christ, do it now. This poor miserable world is such a lose-lose
proposition! Just a few years of frolicking in the Sun in this sinful, selfish world, eventually will give way to sickness, sorrow, hopelessness and finally …death. Why be as a fading flower, which withers and dies? Why not come drink at the fountain of the Water of Life?
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Come live forever!
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Be filled with the love which only God can give! That same love which Jesus Christ had for a fallen, and stubborn, and rebellious world…an unthankful world, which only returned His love by spitting in His face and nailing Him to the Cross. We have only to lose our slavish bands which bind us to a life of desperate, selfish pleasure!
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COME DRINK!
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COME LIVE FOREVER!
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Elakala Waterfalls Swirling Pool Mossy Rocks – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation
By admin On September 28th, 2011.
Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, tags, etc.. Most Images cropped/reduced in size.
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“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…
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for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.”
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“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining…
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“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem…
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“And the heavens and the earth shall shake…
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“But the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
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Joel 3:14-16
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AT THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE…
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As we all know, life is made up of one decision after another. Some are of seemingly little consequence. Others are apparently more important.
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And then there are those times which require life-changing decisions.
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The Bible speaks of the Valley of Decision…“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.” Joel 3:14.
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Of course, this valley is a spiritual concept and not a literal place.
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But God has inscribed this very truth in the heavens. It is called “The Valley of Decision” Constellation. It speaks of that valley which each living soul must walk through at some point in his or her lifetime. It is, “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9
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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…
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“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:1, 2
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Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing. In this sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northernmost of these three mountains when facing eastward. It somewhat resembles a pyramid, as do the other two.
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Then find the second pyramid to its right (south).
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Then go a little further south to the next third pyramid. The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation.
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These three pyramids are the snow-capped portion of these three mountains in this sketch. (of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky. They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR).
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THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP.
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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 the Andromeda Constellation (valley) and Pegasus (Mount of Cursing (middle mount) and the “Destroying Mountain” (right)), and Pisces (“The Broad Way to Hell”). The galaxy which appears to be climbing the Mountain of Blessing is the Andromeda Galaxy.
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The above Wikipedia star-chart shows this amazing constellation group as it appears from June to fall, just prior to the winter constellation group. Actually, these Valley of Decision Constellations appear in early summer in the pre-dawn hours. (Editor of this website has sketched in this constellation group onto this above Wikipedia star-chart.)
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VALLEY OF DECISION, PRIOR TO JUDGMENT DAY…
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“And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” Zechariah 14:4, 5
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Now to be sure, the above passage is a very complicated one. But as one reads the description of this Valley of the Mountains, it seems to be speaking of this constellation, known as the Valley of Decision Constellation (sketch to right). This above passage almost seems to be speaking of this constellation group, instead of a literal mountain/valley.
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DUAL FULFILLMENT
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Now of course, there is a spiritual meaning to this above passage from Zechariah 14, which concerns our Salvation. But nevertheless, there seems to be a double fulfillment to this passage: a double fulfillment, which is discovered in the signs which God promised in Luke…
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Listen… “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 PICTURE: latter winter constellation in the west – Orion – Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Auriga, Pleiades, etc.) – Goodly Horse (Persius, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc.) – Holy Ghost Rider (Camelopardalis)
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THE FALL CONSTELLATIONS
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Just prior to the great battle drama appearing in the form of the Winter Constellations, a most fearful and foreboding constellation group (the Valley of Decision) begins to make its appearance in the eastern sky. But don’t wait too long to locate this constellation! Because once it crosses over to the western half of the night sky, it turns in such a way that it can no longer be seen. So these constellations can only readily be seen when they are in the east.
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The sketch here shows Cassiopeia Constellation, which is the snow-cap to the left in this sketch. The snow-cap to the right is part of the Pegasus Constellation.
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And just as this constellation group appears for only a short time, so it is with the Valley of Decision’ that comes to each person! This constellation is called the Valley of Decision Constellation. And this constellation group points to the real Valley of Decision, in which each and every human chooses just who will be his or her master.
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THE ZODIAC CONSTELLATION NAMES
It is not the purpose, nor the desire of www.theheavensdeclare.net to give any validity or recognition to the Zodiac or any pagan deities. But unfortunately, the common names of many constellations (such as Scorpio or Sagittarius, etc.), must be given, solely for the purpose of locating them on star-charts.
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THIS VALLEY IS IN ONE’S HEART…
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None need travel a long distance to get there. The Valley of Decision comes to us…in our heart. And now that we are at the time of the final conflict, this phenomenon called the Valley of Decision will come to each and
every human. Every person has a choice to make.
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Listen to Scripture… “[Jesus] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9.
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Yes, every person has an encounter with that light which lightens every person who comes into the world. And every person must make a decision: a decision about just whom they will serve!
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And when all have made up their minds who they will serve, then comes Armageddon. That battle of the great and terrible day…Judgment Day!
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But what does the Valley of Decision have to do with “The Day of the lord” & “Armageddon”?
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Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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MATTHEW HENRY ON “THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDO”…
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Listen to Matthew Henry, that most notable Bible commentator concerning that great battle of Armageddon…
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“The field of battle—a place called Armageddon; that is, say some, the Mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with him, Judges 5:19.
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And in the Valley of Megiddo, Josiah was slain. This place had been famous for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be the field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged, and she shall be victorious.
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This battle required time to prepare for it…”
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Matthew Henry Complete Commentary, Revelation Ch. 16
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Picture: Matthew Henry – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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ARMAGEDDON = “MOUNTAIN” & “VALLEY”…
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OK, so what does the Armageddon have to do with the Valley of Decision? Notice that Henry refers to Armageddon as a Mount. Strong’s Concordance refers to Megiddo as coming from a Hebrew root (#1413) meaning, “to assemble by troop, to gather, to cut or split, to crowd (together)”.
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So literally the name Armageddon may be defined as Mountain-gathering, or Mount of split (valley?) of gathering.
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So this word, Megiddo, may possibly be interpreted as Valley of gathering. So Armageddon may possibly be defined as Mountain & Valley of Gathering. All this information may or may not even be of much importance. Certainly not worth a debate.
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Picture: Matthew Henry – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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“THE STARS IN THEIR COURSES…”
(Judges 5:19, 20)…
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Well, listen to Judges, concerning Megiddo… “The kings came and fought… by the waters of Megiddo… They fought from heaven; THE STARS IN THEIR COURSES fought against Sisera.” Judges 5:19, 20.
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This passage makes a reference to Megiddo, but also to the, “stars in their courses”, fighting against Sisera. Could this be a somewhat veiled reference to this constellation group? Could the, “stars in their courses”, be referring to Signs of Heaven?
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So God is making reference to this story in connection to the, “stars in their courses”. Amazing? Yes!
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But ultimately the, “stars in their courses”, seems to be a reference to God’s people. God’s people are the ones who will defeat Sisera (Satan & his minions). Of course, Christ is the One who actually defeats Satan. But He does it through His Chosen and Elect.
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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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“HAR-MEGIDDO” TRANSLATES “MOUNTAIN-VALLEY”
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There are many who believe that Armageddon translates Valley-Mountain. This constellation group certainly agrees with that.
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Listen to this passage from Joel…
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“Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe…Multitudes, multitudes in the VALLEY OF DECISION: for the day of the LORD is near in the VALLEY OF DECISION.” Joel 3:13-14.
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This verse begins with… “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe…” Just think of it! The Orion the Reaper Constellation comes up just after the Valley of Decision Constellation.
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This puts a tremendous exclamation mark on Joel’s announcement… “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe…Multitudes, multitudes in the VALLEY OF DECISION: for the day of the LORD is near in the VALLEY OF DECISION.” Joel 3:13-14.
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This line is found also in Revelation Chapter 14… “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man… and in his hand a sharp sickle…And another angel came… crying with a loud voice…’Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe’.” Revelation 14:14-16.
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These two passages remind us of the Orion The Reaper Constellation.
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(The above sketch of Orion the Reaper is best seen in winter, although it can be seen in the wee hours before dawn, in mid summer. It is the Orion Constellation. When rising above the eastern horizon, Orion appears to be laying down. But as winter progresses, He becomes more and more upright. Orion is mostly located in mid sky in the northern hemisphere. But in lower latitudes of the world, he appears in the north. )
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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS = ARMAGEDDON…
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OK, so the Valley of Decision Constellation is visible just prior to the appearing of the Winter Constellations. Of course this makes sense.
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Scripture states… ” the ‘Day of the LORD’ IS NEAR in the valley of decision…” Joel 3:14.
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So from this verse we begin to see that this Valley of Decision Constellation represents the Valley in which God will bring into the heart and mind of each and every human being; a spiritual valley, in which both God and the Devil will each lay out their respective arguments.
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Of course, God speaks to man through the conscience. And obviously the Devil certainly won’t announce himself. The Devil does much better when people don’t believe he even exists. And so, all this will happen in the mind, as the human race goes about the duties of everyday life.
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And then when each human has listened to the arguments from both sides, they then will seal their own personal eternal destiny as they choose either Christ or choose the world to devote themselves to. And we must choose one or the other. No man can choose both Jesus and the world.
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Listen… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple. ” Luke 14:33. So this is the choice which each man, woman, and child must make.
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Then begins the battle of that great day of God Almighty. This battle (Armageddon) is represented by the Winter Constellations.
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And then will the people of this world take their respective sides. Those who have chosen to follow the lowly Jesus, will go forth on the side of their Heavenly Commander.
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But those who have chosen the things of the world will fight along the side of evil angels in the army of their lord…Lucifer… “the god of this world” 2nd Corinthians 4:4. Then the evil forces of this world will fight against the people of God. This is the spiritual battle of which Revelation has given the title, Armageddon.
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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!
ABOVE PICTURE: latter winter constellation in the west – Orion – Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Auriga, Pleiades, etc.) – Revelation 12 Woman (Ursa Major) – Goodly Horse (Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc.) – Holy Ghost Rider (Camelopardalis)
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WORD OF CAUTION:
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There are many who fall into the Devil’s trap unknowingly. That is, they think that all they need do is to keep believing in Jesus, and keep going to church and keep paying their tithes and offerings. But there are many who keep doing such good works as these, but fall into a life of worldly pursuits.
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The Lord speaks of such in the following passage… “for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Ezekiel 33:31.
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And so, there are many who sit in the church pews each week, but have lost the vital connection with the Lord, and become “Christians In Name Only”.
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The Bible speaks of these as being Antichrists. “…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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They have moved unwittingly into the ranks of Satan, and now become tools in the hands of the Devil. Such only become a malignant cancer within the Church, because they now influence others in the Church to follow after their worldly ways. They are now false prophets, preaching a religion mingled with the world with all its enticements, attainments, and aspirations.
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For more on this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 3: The Abomination in My Heart”
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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel
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“CHOOSE…THIS DAY, WHO YOU WILL SERVE”
Joshua 24:15
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“From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66
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There is a big false teaching in Christendom these days. It is this: “Once you have decided to follow Jesus, 
you cannot ever change your mind.”
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But the above verse shows that, “many disciples of Jesus turned back and walked with Him no more.”
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This is a difficult part of Bible truth. There has been ongoing debate about this issue for hundreds of years. It requires much study. But above all, Christians must never become presumptuous about our Salvation.
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“But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys… when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land… that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.” Deuteronomy 11:11, 29.
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From this and other passages, we begin to see what this constellation group is all about. One mountain is full of blessings…blessings that come from obedience. But the other mountain is full of curses…curses that result from disobedience and turning away from the true Gospel according to Godliness, “…the truth which is after godliness…” Titus 1:1
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“…choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the… gods, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15.
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This verse seems to capture the essence of the Valley of Decision. “Choose you this day whom you will serve”. This is what this constellation is portraying: The place where each and every man, woman, and child will have to decide whom they shall serve. Even a songster of the world once wrote a song, titled, “Ya Gotta Serve Someone”. And it’s so true…we must serve either the Devil…or the Lord Jesus Christ.
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SO WHERE ARE THE “MULTITUDES”?…
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“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,” Isaiah 2:2, 3
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So where are the multitudes in this constellation? Well if you look at this sketch to the lower right, carefully, you will see an ENTIRE GALAXY making a slow trek up the steep slope toward the summit of one of the mountains. It is the mountain which is to the north in this sketch. This is the galaxy commonly called Andromeda. It is estimated to have possibly a trillion stars! Is a trillion stars a big enough multitude? Oh yes! Listen to God talking to Abraham…
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“And He (God) brought him (Abraham) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Genesis 15:5
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But this mountain in which this multitude of stars is climbing represents a very awesome and wonderful Bible concept. This mountain in Scripture is known as Mount Zion. And it is also known as the Mount of Blessing. It represents that spiritual mountain which Believers must climb, in order to reach the City of God.
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Listen to Scripture… “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living 
God, the heavenly Jerusalem…To the…church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven…” Hebrews 12:22, 23.
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Well it sure seems that this verse is correct when it says the words… “which are written in heaven”! Because this galaxy in this constellation group is a wonderful picture of the Church as it makes its trek to the summit of this starry mountain; a picture of God’s Church…His faithful people…written in the heavens. These are the Signs of Heaven, promised long ago to be revealed before that “great and terrible Day of the Lord”…
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“And I will show WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” Joel
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Andromeda Galaxy – Adam Evans & Wikipedia – Share-Alike License
ABOVE STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation (Cassiopeia Constellation) – signsofheaven – Not for commercial profit use!
(Joel 2:30, 31 Drawing of Abraham counting stars – Wikipedia – public domain. Click here for full size. Andromeda Galaxy by Adam & Wikipedia share-alike license)
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SECOND MOUNTAIN…CHOICE “B”…
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“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9
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Now there are two mountains in this constellation group. One mountain is symbolic of Zion, but also of the Mount of Blessing. So what is the second mountain?
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It is the mount of cursing…the law.
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Scripture refers to the law as the, “ministration of death and condemnation” 2nd Corinthians 3:7, 9. The law is that which shows the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
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Listen to Romans… “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified…for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20. This reminds us of those two mountains: Gerzim and Ebal…the Mount of Blessing and the Mount of Cursing.
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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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MOUNT OF CURSING: AN IMPOSSIBLE CLIMB…
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“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts 15:24, 10, 11
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Notice that the Mount of Blessing begins rather steep…but then begins to become less steep as you ascend.
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But the Mount of Cursing begins a rather gentle slope but gets impossibly steep the higher you ascend.
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This is exactly like the law. At first it looks like just ten little rules to follow. But just try to keep those ten little rules!
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For instance, just try to keep the first commandment. At first it seems simple. But before long, one begins to realize that his or her life is literally teeming with idols: perhaps a car, or a TV show, or a certain foods, or money, or shopping, recreation, career, sports, or… whatever! We all have idols that we don’t even realize are idols! These are what Scripture calls “Mammon”. And this law against idolatry, is just the first commandment!
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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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YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE…
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“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:3, 4
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Of course, most have been educated to claim Salvation by grace. Nevertheless there are many who try to get by only trying to be good…while still clinging to the world and its pleasures and pursuits.
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Such will ultimately become slaves of the Dragon (Satan) , and slaves to “self”.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Fall Constellations – Valley of Decision Constellation & Revelation 12 Dragon
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THE THIRD MOUNTAIN…CHOICE ‘C’…
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“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.” Jeremiah 51:25
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In Jeremiah 51:25, we find Babylon referred to as the Destroying Mountain. It is the name of this counterfeit mountain. It is Satan’s kingdom, made up of all Satan’s followers, both humans and evil angels. Satan’s kingdom also includes this fallen world, with all its governments and ideologies. It is that great city…Mystery Babylon! The world! Satan’s prison-house of sin and selfishness!
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Now that this basic concept of the first two mountains has been presented, it is time to take note of this third mountain; a counterfeit mountain.
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Oh yes, such a simple choice is just far too easy for the Dragon (Satan) to accept. No, Satan’s main deception in this world is to create counterfeit “look-alike” alternatives; attractive choices. Satan really knows how to complicate and confuse the simplicity of the Gospel.
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Hence the name, Babylon, which means City of Confusion (Isaiah 24:10). A perfect and fitting name for Satan’s kingdom!
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Café de Flore coffee house – Wikipedia – public domain
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THE END
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PART 2, BABYLON, O DESTROYING MOUNTAIN
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To continue this section on the 3rd mountain Constellation, just click here… “Mystery Babylon…The Destroying Mountain”.
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Babylon – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 4.0
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
Moon Into Blood: Addendum to 2nd Face: The Swine Eater
By admin On September 23rd, 2011.
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This is a continuation of “Moon Into Blood” Pt. 1 (click here) & “Moon Into Blood” Pt. 2 (click here), or you may go to “Moon Into Blood Part 3” (click here)
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“For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father,
but is of the world.”
1st John 2:16
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THE THREE GREAT SINS
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When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, there were just three temptations by the Devil.
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When Eve considered eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, there were just three considerations, presented by the serpent.
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When John wrote his first epistle, he enumerated three basic sins of the world. And John summed it up so nicely:
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1. The lust of the flesh.
2. The lust of the eyes.
3. The pride of life.
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These were the three basic sins which John laid out, that Satan tempted Jesus with, and Eve doted over in her own mind, prior to eating the forbidden fruit!
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Hebrews 4- www.thebiblerevival.com -Public Domain
Eve – Tizian – Wikipedia – pub-dom
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SIGNS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
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The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are the three basic sins of Mankind, according to Scripture.
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And God has miraculously inscribed these sins upon the face of the Moon.
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Oh yes, this sounds too incredible to be true! But it is very true!
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And this article will finish the Moon Into Blood Trilogy, with this 4th article, which is a surprise ending, to a very intricate and stunning message.
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So come along, and open up both your Bible and your mind!
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You will not be disappointed, once you truly witness these signs in the heavens.
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Eve – Tizian – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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THE SWINE: “LUST OF THE FLESH”
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“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1st John 2:16
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This article will introduce this third beast-like face, inscribed in the Moon: a swine.
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And it will be shown that the three beast-like faces in the Moon, represent the concept taught in the above verse concerning “the lust of the flesh…the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”.
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It has become apparent that the second face in the Moon, besides appearing as a wolf-like beast, also appears as a Swine.
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So, let’s explore this concept, for a moment.
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First of all, when a person sees the second face up in the sky, it’s arguable whether or not it looks like a swine.
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But it must be conceded that the photos do indeed make it appear as if this character has a “sawed-off” snout like a swine (and its rotund face like a swine).
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And of course, a swine is spoken of quite frequently in Scripture.
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“GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS”
by J. Bunyan
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John Bunyan, the author of the earth-shaking allegorical tale, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, seems to have caught the essence of the meaning behind clean and unclean beasts.
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He saw why God made a distinction based on the feet as well as the diet of these beasts, as stated in the following Bible verse…
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“Speak unto the children of Israel,
saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat
among all the beasts that are on the earth…
Nevertheless… the swine,
though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted,
yet he cheweth not the cud;
he is unclean to you.”
Leviticus 11:2,4,7
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Why did God make the feet and the diet of the beasts of the earth the criterion for this distinction between clean and unclean beasts? How odd!
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Engraving of Pilgrim: “Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress” – Wikipedia – U.S. public domain.
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BUNYAN SPEAKS ABOUT CLEAN & UNCLEAN!
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Well, just listen to what Bunyan states in his other classic, “Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners”…
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JOHN BUNYAN: “I was almost made, about this time,
to ‘see something concerning the beasts that Moses ‘counted clean and unclean.
I thought those ‘beasts were types of men;
the clean, types of ‘them that were the people of God;
but the un’clean, types of such as were the children of the ‘wicked one.
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Now, I read that the clean beasts ‘chewed the cud;
that is, thought I, they show ‘us we must feed upon the Word of God.
They ‘also parted the hoof;
I thought that signified we ‘must part,
if we would be saved, with the ways ‘of ungodly men.
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And also, in further reading ‘about them I found,
that though we did chew the ‘cud as the hare,
yet if we walked with claws like ‘a dog,
or if we did part the hoof like the swine,
‘yet if we did not chew the cud as the sheep,
we ‘were still, for all that, but unclean ;
for I thought ‘the hare to be a type of those that talk of the ‘Word’…
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” Excerpt from “Grace Abounding To The Chief of Sinners” by John Bunyan.
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John Bunyan – Wikipedia – public domain
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CLEAN = THE SAVED
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UNCLEAN = THE UNSAVED
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So Bunyan saw that swine were “a type” of those who have parted with the ways of the world symbolized by the “split hoofs”.
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This would symbolize churchgoers.
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but still eat of the sin and pollution of the world.
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Listen to the prophet Isaiah…
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…”Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?…
eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto me:
hear, and your soul shall live.”
Isaiah 55:2, 3.
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This passage is a plea by God for us to stop eating from the polluted troughs of this world.
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And this passage is likewise a plea to begin eating the Heavenly Manna, i.e., the Word of God.
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swine feeding – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“KEEP THYSELF PURE”
1st Timothy 5:22
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“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8
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Like never before in history, the Christian must fight the battle against ungodly influences.
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In this high-tech world in which we now live, it is possible with just the touch of a button to bring all the filth and moral pollutions this world has to offer, right into one’s own living room!
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This seems to be the “present truth” for this day.
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And like never before in history, the Christian must maintain a vigilance against letting in these modern-day influences into the heart!
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And Scripture leaves no question as to the devastating results that come from evil communications…
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…”Be not deceived:
evil communications corrupt good manners.”
1st Corinthians 15:33.
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This is what this swine inscribed in the Moon’s surface is all about: the lusts of the flesh, which are so readily available in today’s world.
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Photo: Sow with piglet – WIKIPEDIA – PUBLIC DOMAIN
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THINK ON HEAVENLY THINGS
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Yes the “True Worshipper” will desire to be purified. He or she will pray earnestly for deliverance from the pollutions of this corrupt world.
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Paul exhorts each and every Christian to fill his or her heart with good things.
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Just listen… “Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8.
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This verse is one of the most well-known, and yet, least heeded of all Bible verses!
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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain
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CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE…
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“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet,
and turn again and rend you.”
Matthew:7:6.
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Obviously, God is not concerned here with mere animals. This is about people.
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God is warning Believers to use discretion regarding offering too many Bible “pearls of wisdom” to those who are still involved with the pollutions of this present evil world.
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They don’t wish to hear it, and may just retaliate in some way.
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LEGION OF DEVILS ENTER INTO SWINE…
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“So the devils besought him,
saying, If thou cast us out,
suffer us to go away into the herd of swine…
…and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place
into the sea, and perished in the waters.”
Matthew 8:31,32.
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This is a picture of a spiritual concept.
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The sea is a picture of this fallen world.
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The swine are those who profess to serve God but still love this present evil world, and have no intention of becoming self-denying like Jesus was.
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And so, Christ allowed the evil angels to enter into the swine and drive them into the sea, representing how false-brethren in the Church will ultimately be destroyed in the Lake of Fire, by their own worldliness.
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Public Domain photo of two ferrel swine, by NASA.
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PRODIGAL SON EATS CORN HUSKS WITH SWINE…
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“And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.” Luke.15:16.
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This story of the “Prodigal Son” tells how those who stray back into the world and away from God, often find that the glitter and glory of worldliness eventually turns sour, represented by the son eating corn husks with the swine.
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Prodigal Son – www.wikigallery.com – public domain
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UNSANCTIFIED: UNCLEAN BEASTS…
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“…They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 66:17.
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Here Isaiah is painting a portrait of those within the Church who feed off the false teachings and irreligious lifestyle of false brethren, represented by swine and mice (2nd & 3rd faces in the Moon,
respectively)
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And of course, the eating of swine’s flesh and the abomination is code language for eating of the sin and pollutions of this present, evil and selfish world!
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2nd face in moon “The Swine”
Photo of swine courtesy Messybeast & Wikipedia – share-alike license.
3rd Face in Moon-scavenger-www.signsofheaven.org
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HIGHER PASSIONS VS. LOWER PASSIONS
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The three major sins, 1. The lusts of the flesh, 2. The lusts of the eyes, and 3. The pride of life, are represented by these Moon-Beasts.
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Of course, this 3rd Beast, The Swine, represents “The lusts of the flesh”.
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Now the lusts of the flesh are predominantly those lower passions, such as adultery, and drunkenness, perversions, gluttony, and other like-passions.
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ADULTEROUS WOMAN COMPARED TO
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SWINE WITH GOLD RING…
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Well, getting back to our Swine/Eater Moon/Beast, here is another interesting concept which the wise man, Solomon observed.
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Listen… “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” Proverbs 11:22.
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This verse is almost comical, until one realizes that God is speaking of more than a mere woman.
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While this proverb has an application to everyday situations, it is really about the apostate portion of God’s Church, represented by the fair woman (see Ezekiel Ch. 23).
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God here is warning not only to stay away from strange women, but also to stay away from the Apostate Church.
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For a further exploration into this subject of an adulterous woman representing God’s apostate people, just click here… “The Harlot of Revelation”
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Drawing of “Whore of Babylon” courtesy Wikipedia Public Domain.
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UNCLEAN BEASTS & GENTILE UNBELIEVERS…
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“And [Peter] saw heaven opened,
and…were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth,
and wild beasts,
and creeping things,
and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him,
Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
But Peter said, Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean…
but God hath showed me that I SHOULD NOT CALL ANY MAN common or unclean.”
Acts 10:11-14, 28.
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Here Peter is plainly showing us that “unclean” animals were actually a picture of people of the world. The “worldly”.
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CONCLUSION:
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SHIP IS SOON DEPARTING
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Well, there are many other Bible passages concerning swine.
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And the Reader should spend time exploring those other passages concerning swine (The Lusts of the Flesh) as well as the other two sins (The Pride of Life, and The Lusts of the Eyes).
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And above all, we all must be aware that Satan would have us to believe that life without these three sins would be unbearably dull and depleted.
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But Christ came to this Earth to set an example of love incomprehensible!
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And He promises us “joy unspeakable”, if we will only renounce this sin-laden world, and begin upon a spiritual journey up that pathway that leads to the Narrow Gate.
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It is the gate to Heaven itself! And all are invited to join this vast throng.
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And anyway, what do we have to lose?
A dying planet?
A hopeless future?
The sorrow and confusion that permeates society?
Sickness?
and ultimately a hopeless death?
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That’s not much to look forward to, down here, now, is it?
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ABOVE PICTURE: The Gospel Ark (ship) of Salvation
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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Discovering Bible Constellations (Part 1…A personal timeline story) 1988
By admin On September 8th, 2011
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You may also click here to read Part 2, Part 3, or Part 4
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STORY…
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“FINDING BIBLE CONSTELLATIONS”
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Part 1
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“The love of God is greater far
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Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
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It goes beyond the highest star,
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And reaches to the lowest hell…
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Could we with ink the ocean fill,
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And were the skies of parchment made,
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Were every stalk on earth a quill,
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And every man a scribe by trade;
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To write the love of God above
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Would drain the ocean dry;
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Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
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Though stretched from sky to sky.”
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The last 8 lines of this well-known song were penciled on the wall of a narrow room in an insane asylum by a man said to have been demented.
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The profound lines were discovered when they laid him in his coffin.
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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!
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3am, August, of 1988 (or thereabouts)
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My eyes were opened!
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I looked up!
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It was scary…kind of!
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Things looked different up there! Only several hours had passed, but things were definitely not the same!
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For one thing, the moon was gone!
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Now, sleeping for several hours this time, the heavens had changed since a few hours earlier.
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The stars were different! It was truly awesome!
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Just laying there in a flimsy sleeping bag on this late August night, looking up at the vast expanse of the heavens.
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The stars were bright. The night black.
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And there I was…all alone…and looking up!
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Staring in amazement at the massive size of the constellation which was now directly overhead.
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Probably Orion, or the Big Dipper or something!
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The open night sky of Eagle Ridge provided the perfect backdrop for this heavenly scenario!
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Never really paying a whole lot of attention to the stars before this.
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I always just…well…took them for granted.
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And not previously realizing they moved so quickly through the sky during the night…
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…Moving westward.
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I fell back asleep.
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A few hours later, waking again, the constellations had moved again.
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“WOW! These constellations are so enormous. It’s almost scary!”
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Makes the heart beat a little faster; to look up at such a vast universe.
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The bigness of the heavens is truly overwhelming.
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This campground was pretty much empty of campers, which made things even more dramatic.
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And the silence, except for the little night-sounds of summertime…
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Things up here in the foothills of the Cascades were really beautiful! Much more so, since becoming a Christian!
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And just being released, I was now enjoying my new-found freedom!
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DEEPER MEANING… This was the beginning connection with the starry hosts of the heavens.
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Since becoming a Christian, I had a heightened awareness and appreciation for nature in general.
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Knowing now, that this world had a Creator; and ever since someone stated that Christ would be coming back through ‘the open space in Orion’ (whatever that meant!)
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There sure was something very wonderful and really awesome about the heavens!
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Since becoming a Christian, I guess it could be said, that all of nature…and…all of life had taken on a much more profound meaning!
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Sketch: “Two of the five Winter Constellations”
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JOSEPH’S DREAM & THE GLORIOUS CROWN
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ON THE ROAD… That summer of 1988, I decided to go hitchhiking.
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I spent some weeks on the road.
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And so as long as there was nothing stopping me.
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No leather straps around my hands and feet.
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No bars on the windows anymore. So, why not go?
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On the long trek over the Cascades to get to Ashland, I began to notice two constellations.
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One looked like a cross, and the other looked like a circle with a star in the middle.
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Obviously, the Cross I understood.
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But this circle of stars…what did it mean?
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Now I had been in Christianity long enough to know the story of Joseph’s dream.
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And these stars, which looked like a crown seemed reminiscent of the story of Joseph’s dream, in which he saw 11 stars bowing down to him.
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This constellation, however, had 12 stars, plus 1 star in the middle.
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But this made complete sense, because this could be a picture of Jesus as the star in the middle, plus 12 stars around, representing the 12 apostles, or perhaps, the 12 tribes of Israel.
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What I didn’t realize is, that this Crown would show up again, years later.
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And when it did, it would be in conjunction with other Bible constellations which, together and in order, told the wonderful Gospel story!
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A SOLA SCRIPTURA RAINSTORM!
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During this time I only had my sleeping bag and my backpack which was filled with religious and health books, plus a nice King James study Bible.
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I had made it across the Cascade Mountains.
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And as I was walking toward Ashland, it began to downpour.
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From early that morning till late at night it rained hard…really hard!
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I was totally soaked!
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After a number of hours, the rain began to feel like I was being stabbed by thousands of little needles!
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So, for hours, I could only just barely endure this very painful downpour!
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After half a day walking through Ashland in the rain, my backpack became heavier and heavier.
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All my books were getting water-logged.
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Finally, I couldn’t stand the weight of those books any longer!
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Seeing a large dumpster, I sadly threw out all those water-logged health and religious books!
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Miraculously, the only book still completely dry…was my Bible!
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I began to suspect that my Bible being dry when all the rest of my books were soaked might just be Divine Providence.
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This is because about a month or two earlier, a more well-seasoned Christian advised me that I was depending too much on other religious books.
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I was getting too confused by all these books. I was still somewhat of a novice Christian, and the Devil was taking advantage of my lack of Christian maturity, causing me to do extreme things.
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As I said, that mature Christian lady advised me to put all my other books away for a while, and just start reading the Bible only.
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So, I began to wonder if me getting caught in this rainstorm was God’s way of confirming the advice of that Christian lady.
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But still the rain kept pouring down.
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Still, it felt that I was being stabbed by thousands of little needles!
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Finally, about 9 PM, after 17 or so hours in this rain, I couldn’t take it any longer!
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I remembered running into a Christian at a church service I went to the previous day, who gave me his nu
mber in case I ever needed help.
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I found the business card he gave me.
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When I came to a phone booth I called him.
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He was very happy to drive me to a local mission in Medford, a few miles away, where I was issued dry clothes and a very nice bed.
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The place was filled with other vagabonds!
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I looked around at all the other people who had just come out of the rain, men, women, and even children.
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We all looked like a bunch of water-soaked birds who just found our way to a dry shelter!
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Shaking off all our water!
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Everyone looked as happy as me, to be dry and warm and out of the rain.
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A week or two was spent in that little Shakespearian community of Ashland Oregon.
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Nights were spent outside of town, on National Forest land, if memory serves c
orrectly.
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Days were spent in Lithia Park, next to the Shakespearean Amphitheater.
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I read my Bible during the days.
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It was late summer, and the ripe apples and Bosc pears from old orchards in the area, was all I had to eat.
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This was my first encounter with Bosc pears.
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Normally I wouldn’t even touch those ugly-looking brown pears.
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But now they tasted mighty good!
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And also, there was one particular apple tree in an old orchard that yielded very sweet apples!
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So, it was Bosc pears and Jonathon apples! (Just giving you this information to kind-of personalize and hopefully make this somewhat interesting to read).
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sunny rain storm – public domain
Lithia-Park-Ashland-Creek-by Demi for Wikipedia-share-alike license
453px-Hedrick_(1921)_-_Beurre_Bosc wikipedia public domain
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ORION AND THE DRAGON (c. 1988)
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As time went by, and winter approached, the constellation Orion was much more easily 
recognizable (I had first learned about Orion a few years earlier.)
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“Yep. There’s Orion! Yep. He does look like a soldier!”
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A soldier with a shield in his left hand, and a sword in his right hand.
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But who was he fighting against, up there in the night sky?
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I was going through terrific battles in my own life, so seeing this soldier in the night sky was a real encouragement for me…
…”Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13.
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And because of all the troubles I had with satanic forces, as far as I was concerned, it was the evil day right this very moment!
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Thinking about this question, it became noticeable that to Orion’s left, there was another constellation.
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It simply looked like a large, sideways ‘V’.
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It kind-of looked like a crocodile’s mouth, wide open. “Could that mouth represent Satan’s mouth?”
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At some point in time, the Book of Revelation, Chapter Twelve began to become part of this story.
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This Bible chapter told the story of Michael the Archangel, fighting against the dragon.
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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven…
there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon;
and the dragon fought and his angels.”
Revelation 12:1,7
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And so, it made sense.
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If the constellation Orion’ was a picture of Revelation Chapter 12, then there would have to be a dragon up there also, just like Revelation 12 speaks about.
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But only the mouth of the dragon was visible.
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His body was not apparent, at least not to me!
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However, there was a cluster of stars that could possibly be the dragon’s eye, but I later found out this cluster of stars was known as the Pleiades.
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The Bible spoke of the Pleiades, in the book of Job…
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“Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades,
or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31.
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But what did that mean!?! “Can you bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion!?!”
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I DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE!!!
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The Pleiades Constellation can be seen in colder months in mid sky, traveling east to west through the night. NASA photo by Robert Gendler (click on picture for link)
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But even though it was a just a mouth, it was definitely a dragon’s mouth.
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And I knew Satan has a body, even though we can’t see that body (or so I thought).
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But what I didn’t realize is, that years later, I would be shown some more stars that together appear in the shape of a wave of water coming forth out of his mouth. And this wave of water was going in the direction of a constellation that looked like a woman with eagle wings. This all is found in Revelation 12. You can read all about these things in DISCOVERING SIGNS OF HEAVEN-(PART 2) and also in DISCOVERING SIGNS OF HEAVEN (PART 3) .
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SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD’S WRATH (1988)
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About this same time, the Big Dipper began to be seen as the 7 Angels of Revelation which had the 7 bowls of wrath.
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They seemed to relate to the book of Revelation Chapter 15, 16.
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The handle being composed of 3 stars (or 3 angels).
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And the bowl itself composed of 4 stars (or 4 angels).
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This was validated by the fact that as summer turns to winter, this bowl held by 3 stars (angels) slowly turns up as if it begins to pour out its contents (God’s wrath) upon the Earth.
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Listen to Scripture…
…”And I heard a great voice out of the temple
saying to the seven angels, Go your ways,
and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”
Revelation 16:1
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Having said all this, I didn’t realize that this same constellation also appears as a giant cross on a hill in mid-winter.
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And makes a great statement concerning just what these bowls of wrath are all about!
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But you will have to wait for DISCOVERING SIGNS OF HEAVEN-(PART 2) to read about this aspect.
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BOOK OF REVELATION OFTEN USES NUMBER “7”
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This same constellation also began to appear as representing the 7 stars of Revelation chapters 1, 2, 3 in which Jesus is holding 7 stars, which represent the 7 churches of Asia (representing all churches through the entire New Testament era)…
…”The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20.
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After all… these seven stars were so big and bright and prominent in the night sky, that it was obvious that God is trying to make a statement with this beautiful constellation.
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A big statement!
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“What statement?”, you ask?
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Well, for one thing, Orion seemed to represent Christ and The Seven Stars (the Big Dipper), The Church. (and Orion is made primarily of 7 very bright stars as well).
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And of course, Christ and His Church is the foundation of God’s Kingdom in Heaven.
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And so, these brightest two constellations of all constellations, seemed to be the two foundational constellations in the night sky.
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1 FLOWER & 2 BIRDS
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Needless to say, it’s a lot nicer to walk on a nice warm summer night, than in a frozen Klamath Basin winter evening.
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And walking is an excellent time to pray.
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To just walk down the street, and pray makes much more sense, in combination with the much-needed exercise.
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So, daily (nightly, actually) walks were just what the Doctor ordered.
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But winter finally let go its grip on the Basin, and summer returned. Now being summer once again, the Summer Constellations again returned.
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One appeared that looked somewhat like a cross.
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Another that looked like two twin seagulls flying westward, one in front of the other.
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But later on, I would realize that these were not seagulls, but another, very special type of bird that was used in the Old Testament temple service!
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FLOWER … And there was another constellation that looked like a flower.
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Did this 7 star flower represent the 7 churches of Asia?
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Or not? These constellations were visible in the summer months.
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But recently, it’s looking as if there may be an 8th star in this constellation.
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And when the earth’s axis shifts, there are two more stars which could easily be considered part of the stem of that flower.
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So that would make a total of 10 stars.
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So, it’s not so clear as to just how many stars are in this constellation.
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But what I didn’t realize at this point, that this flower has great significance in the Signs Of Heaven story.
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This flower presents one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture.
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And you can read about this in DISCOVERING SIGNS OF HEAVEN (PART 3)
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THE GOOD SAMARITAN…MEXICAN STYLE
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From Ashland, I decided to hitch-hike down to Mexico.
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The weather was warmer down there, and it was already close to fall.
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So, I did.
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I got a ride as far as Yreka California.
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I attended a church service there.
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The next morning, I began walking southward.
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I walked to the next town, Weed California.
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I spent my walking time memorizing Bible verses.
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After dark, I looked at the night sky again, with all its stars, as I walked along.
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The next morning, I could barely walk.
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After all, I had just walked 30 or 40 miles the previous day!
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So, I hobbled to a freeway entrance.
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I held out my thumb, and the first or second car stopped, and gave me a ride.
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This ride took me several hundred miles!
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I was kind of nervous however, because my driver drove about 80 MPH or more.
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But I kept quiet.
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And in no time at all, I was let out in Bakersfield, perhaps.
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From there, I can’t remember so much.
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But it wasn’t too long until I was in Los Angeles.
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From there, I found a special bus for $10.00, that took me to Tijuana, Mexico!
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I’m kind of a “play-it-by-ear” type of person.
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So I really didn’t have much of a plan.
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I figured that God would provide.
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And up to this point, He did.
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Anyway, I was there at a bus station, but I had no idea where I was going.
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I was trying to ask someone for help with the little Spanish that I knew.
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A Spanish lady, somehow perceived that I needed help, so she came over and told me to follow her.
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So, I did.
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Before long, we were on a bus.
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I had no idea where I was going.
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But several hours later, I found myself in Ensenada.
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Ensenada was a tourist town on the western Pacific coast.
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I followed the lady off the bus, and she said goodbye, and went her way.
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Weed_CA wikipedia share-alike license
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OK….so now what? I had about 5 dollars or so.
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So, I went into a little market and bought some Mexican pastries, which I stuffed myself with.
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That night I went down to the tourist area, and walked the streets, and looked at all the tourists on this Friday night.
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Finally, I found my way down to a public beach.
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There were a lot of people on the beach, drinking and making noise.
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I decided to lay low, so I went to a dark quiet place on the sand and got into my sleeping bag.
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The next morning, I sat on the beach.
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I had been having great success lately memorizing Bible verses.
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So, I spent the entire day there on the beach.
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By nightfall I had memorized the entire Book of James.
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Oh, it’s just a short book.
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But I was really happy about my newly acquired ability to memorize Scripture.
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It was truly a red-letter day, spiritually speaking!
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ENSENADA
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That night, however, was not exactly a red-letter night.
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Just the opposite!
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As I was walking down to the beach to go to sleep, two teens were following me.
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They came up behind me and tripped me, with some fancy little foot-maneuver, which they no doubt had been practicing.
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They wanted to know what was in my backpack.
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I had no money, and so they had really picked the wrong guy to rob.
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And in my backpack, there was only my Bible.
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I decided to try to shame them, by offering my study Bible.
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I began waving my Bible and saying over and over, “Mi Biblia! Mi Biblia”
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I really didn’t expect them to take it.
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I just wanted to shame them.
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But to my surprise, they shrugged their shoulders and took it.
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They walked away, and no doubt happy to have successfully robbed this American tourist.
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But I’m sure when they got home, they most likely disposed of my study-Bible.
(I think they were mostly in this little caper for the sport of it.)
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So there I was! No Bibles anymore! But at least I still had my sleeping bag! “That’s good!”
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ABOVE PHOTO: Ensenada-at-night wikipedia-public domain
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The next day, I really can’t remember what I did.
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Well, I do remember going into town.
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It was Sunday, and I decided to find a church in service, in hopes of acquiring another Bible.
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After some time, I saw a little church.
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There was a whole lotta singing going on inside.
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I went in towards the end of their service.
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Everyone was singing and clapping hands.
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I was from a very traditional and “proper” denomination, so I was a little uncomfortable by this happy and noisy service.
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After the service, I went to the pastor, and asked if he had an English Bible.
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He finally came back with a New Testament in Spanish on half the page and English on the other half.
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I thanked him so much.
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I was hungry, so I wandered around till I found a Mexican restaurant.
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I had no money, however. But a restaurant employee came out and threw into the dumpster, about four or six unopened packages of flour tortillas.
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Of course, I waited till he went back inside to get them.
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And were they ever good!!
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They weren’t corn tortillas, but were those soft flour tortillas.
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Much better than corn tortillas, when eating uncooked!
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WELCOME WAGON RETURNS!
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That night however was not so good!
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As I was walking down to the beach again, I was confronted by four men.
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Three were walking, and the fourth was riding a horse.
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One of them came up to me and decided to entertain his friends.
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He put his arm around me, like he was my buddy.
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He said something in Spanish, and then he hit me in the face.
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He then repeated this little scenario several times.
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Finally, the man on horseback told him to stop it.
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He hit me one more time and then they all left.
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I quickly got out of there.
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But I had dropped my sleeping bag in the commotion.
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So now, I had no religious books.
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No study Bible.
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And now…no sleeping bag!
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And it was night.
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But there was no way I was gonna go back down to the beach!
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So, I went back to the restaurant where I found those tortillas, I spent the night standing in front of the restaurant.
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It was a nice night, so I wasn’t cold.
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Miraculously, after cleaning off a little blood, I was surprised to find that I had almost no physical damage.
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Some guy came up while standing in front of that restaurant, who spoke English, and we talked for several hours.
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I no doubt spoke to him about the Bible and Christianity.
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And I must admit, it was a nice warm evening.
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But more than this, my mind was totally at peace!
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All through the long night, standing there in front of that restaurant.
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THE LONG WALK HOME…
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The next morning, I decided that I wasn’t going to spend another night in that town.
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I just couldn’t take any more of their “welcoming committee”.
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So, I began walking.
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I kept looking for a sign to tell me how far it was back to the U.S..
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I finally passed a sign.
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It was 100 kilometers to the border.
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I tried to recall how many miles that was.
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I decided it was about 67 miles or so.
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I walked about 20 miles.
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No water and no food.
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It was still about 45 miles to the border.
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Just then I saw something waving at me, in the wind, on the side of the road.
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I walked closer to see if it was what I thought it was.
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It looked like money.
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Paper money…just waving at me.
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I picked it up and squinted to see how much I had found.
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It looked like 20,000 Pesos.
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But how much was 20,000 Pesos?
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Maybe $100.00 American!
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I just didn’t know.
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Maybe much less.
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My first thought was find a bus going to San Diego.
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But I had already come twenty miles…on an empty stomach!
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And no water!
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But it was still 45 miles to the border.
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So, I decided to go for the sure thing.
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I turned around and walked back toward Ensenada.
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I knew there was a bus depot there.
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But the thought of walking back 20 miles was…uh…less than a pleasant idea.
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But what else could I do?
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After about 2 miles, I looked down on the side of the road and saw a white sack.
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The kind of sack you might get from a restaurant, with food to go.
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So, I picked it up, and slowly opened it up.
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It was a sack full of burritos.
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And at this point I didn’t care if they were poison burritos!
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I was willing to take that chance!
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So in a few minutes, I had a full belly, and eighteen or so miles to walk…back to the town of Ensenada. Ensenada… where I was robbed one night, and beaten, on another!
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Just about then, an old pickup truck pulled up.
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An old man waved for me to get in.
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So, I did.
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He didn’t speak a lick of English, and I only spoke a lick of Spanish, but managed to get through to him to take me to Ensenada.
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We drove without talking, and this Good Samaritan dropped me off at the Ensenada bus depot.
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I thanked him profusely and he said goodbye and drove away.
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I walked into the depot, still not knowing how rich I was, with my newly acquired wealth.
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Inside, I found out quickly just how wealthy I now was.
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My 20,000 Pesos bill was enough to get me on a bus to San Diego, with about $5.00 American, left over.
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The bus trip was $2.25 American, so the total of this 20,000 Pesos bill was $7.25 American, at that time.
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Oh well.
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It wasn’t too much, but it sure was enough!
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And as I looked out the bus window at the places I had just walked, I was thankful to God for providing enough for me to get back to San Diego.
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So with a full stomach from those burritos (I didn’t even get diarrhea from them!) to the old man and his old pickup truck, to the divine 20,000 pesos bill on the side of the road, I knew that the Lord was the true Good Samaritan here, who took care of me.
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Burrito Papa – chevos – wikipedia – share-alike license
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BEATEN AND ROBBED…AND LEFT FOR DEAD…BY THE DEVIL
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And one main reason for telling this story is because it pretty much tells what the next twenty years held in store for me…as far as my spiritual life was concerned.
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Little did I know, that very soon I was to find myself spiritually bankrupt.
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Very soon, I was about to lose my ability to study the Bible as I had been so blessed with, prior to all this.
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I was just about to enter a new chapter in my life.
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And getting robbed of my study Bible and beaten in this little Mexican resort was a fitting portrait of my future.
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So, it was about 1989. I had been a Christian for about 8 years or so.
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But now, the Devil was waiting to ambush me (spiritually speaking).
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I was about to be robbed of my spirituality.
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I was about to go through a spiritual dementia that would last for the next 7 years.
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And the Devil would make the next 7 years…uh…not so pleasant.
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And then after 7 years, I would find myself climbing back up that spiritual mountain from which I fell a long way down.
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And receiving the Signs in the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, would be put on hold…for the next twenty years.
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If you want to read the detailed account of just how the Devil manifested himself in my life, you may click here… “Judgment Day, RX-7”
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Good Samaritan – (Watts) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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Please go to the “Discovering Bible Constellations Part 2”
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart…
…”Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others.
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And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
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Comments, Suggestions, Questions…
By admin On August 11th, 2011If you would care to write, this page is devoted to you and your comments.
Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner (Continued)
By admin On July 22nd, 2011.
Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, tags, etc.. Most Images cropped/reduced in size.
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THIS ARTICLE WILL PROBABLY ONLY MAKE SENSE IF THE READER HAS ALREADY FINISHED PART 1.
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TO READ PART 1 OF THIS ARTICLE, CLICK HERE… Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner
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OFT-TIMES, BAD GUYS WEAR WHITE!
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“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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The above passage from 2nd Corinthians reveals an incredible truth, namely this: Satan transforms many unconverted people of the world (and worldly Christians) into upstanding and moral individuals! And though this passage speaks specifically of ministers, it must be remembered that we all are ministers: we all are walking advertisements, so to speak, for good or for evil: for Heaven or for this world! Nobody is neutral!
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But listen to this next verse… “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 5:2.
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So from this passage, it becomes evident, that the people of the world (and worldly-minded Christians) are subject to “the prince of the power of the air” who is a spirit which works in them. And this Moon-Beast Pharisee doesn’t realize that his so-called “good work-ethics” and meticulous ways, are actually empowered by the spirit of Antichrist, “which now worketh in the children of disobedience”, of which he is one.
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! – Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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HEART OF A BEAST
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And just like King Nebuchadnezzar, this Pharisee Moon-Beast, in his foolish pride, has been given the heart of a beast: the Antichrist Beast!
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Listen… “Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him:” Daniel 4:16. Here is a veiled portrait of the Mark of the Beast.
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Listen… “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Proverbs 21:4. Doesn’t this verse describe our Pharisee Moon-Beast friend “to a T”? A high look, and a proud heart and good work-ethics: but sadly, it’s all sin, sin, sin!
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William Blake – Nebuchadnezzar – Wikipedia – public domain
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PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE-MINDED
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The true great commission of Christianity, is that every Christian goes to work to purify his or her own heart.
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Listen…“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3.
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Unfortunately, Satan, working behind the unsanctified pulpit, assures this unregenerate Moon-Pharisee that because he’s said the “sinner’s prayer” and because he attends church regularly, and because he gives financial support to the church, that he doesn’t need to worry about his standing with God. “You have peace and safety in Jesus”, his pastor promises him. Each week, his minister addresses the congregation as though they are saved. Thus many lost souls sit in the pews each week, constantly assured that they are heaven-bound, when just the opposite is true: they are on the road to eternal destruction, because they have never truly been “born again” in Jesus.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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MANY SURPRISES ON JUDGMENT DAY!
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Jesus spoke of this class of church goers… “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.
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As this passage points out, there will be a large number, within the Church who have looked upon our morality and good works as evidence of our Salvation. But on Judgment Day, we will find out that we were living a lie. And we will hear these words of Jesus: words we often recited to others, now only to realize that this well-known verse was for us… “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”
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ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
Judgment-of-Sheep-Goats-Fra-Angelico-Wikipedia-Public-Domain.jpg
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1 EVIL SPIRIT VS. 7 EVIL SPIRITS
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This next parable explains the inward workings of Phariseeism. Jesus spoke this parable to the Pharisees… “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry 
places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Matt. 12:43-45.
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As already mentioned, this parable was spoken by Jesus to the Pharisees. And while this is a great prophecy concerning the future of the world, it is also a revelation into the inner-heart of this Pharisee Moon-Beast. This parable explains what happens when this non-Christian decides to begin attending church, and yet there is no change of heart. This parable makes the point that the “before-condition” of that individual, symbolized by one evil spirit, becomes far worse in the “after-condition”, after cleaning up, symbolized by seven more evil spirits. And as Jesus spoke to these Pharisees, they did not understand that Jesus was speaking of them.
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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia
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DRUNKARD ONLY HAS 1 EVIL SPIRIT
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For example, a mere drunkard, lying in the gutter, is like a man with an unclean spirit. But when
that drunkard decides to clean up his life and begins to attend church, but has no true inward conversion, that same unclean spirit returns and finds that man’s heart void of the Holy Spirit.
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And so he gets seven more evil spirits (symbolizing the counterfeit holy spirit). The number “seven” represents Jesus and His Church. So now this drunkard has cleaned up his life. Now he has been transformed into a respected member of the church. Now he has become a productive contributor to the community. But inwardly, he is motivated by the seven “religious devils”,and is void of the Holy Spirit. But these Pharisees, in all their pride and arrogance, were symbolized by seven religious spirits, more evil than the first unclean spirit.
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Highbrow_drunkard – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike-license.jpg
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DRUNKARD BETTER OFF
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THAN UNSAVED CHURCH-GOER
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So what is Jesus saying?
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He is saying that it would be better to be a wretched drunkard laying in a gutter, than to be a proud moralistic church-goer. As Jesus said… “the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
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Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reveals the inner-workings of Satan.
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Just 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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Here God plainly declares that Satan’s ministers are within the Church, behaving as moral leaders, but actually deceiving the flock.
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Highbrow_drunkard – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike-license.jpg
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A FORM OF GODLINESS
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“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, etc….Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:2, 5
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Now this Moon-Beast Pharisee can be a friendly fellow when he wishes. He has many friends and admirers. He applauds and even supports some charitable organizations. He’s patriotic and presents the appearance of favoring justice. He constantly speaks of “doing the right thing”.
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But as the above passage from 2nd Timothy declares, the people of this world have what the Bible refers to as “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.
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And so it becomes very difficult to ascribe demonic forces as the motivating force behind this Pharisee Moon-Beast. He blends in, very well in both, societal-circles, and Christian-circles alike.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
ABOVE PICTURE: 1st Face in moon at eagle ridge
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“THAT SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST”
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“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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This story of 7+1 evil spirits, which Jesus told the Pharisees is one of the greatest (and saddest) truths of the Bible.
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And this above passage from Ephesians only further substantiates what Jesus explained about the Pharisees having 7+1 evil spirits. This above passage declares that the people of the world are not merely empty vessels. No, by no means are they empty vessels!
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You are either filled with God’s Spirit or you are filled with the spirit of Antichrist.
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Just listen to John’s Epistles which further confirms this truth… “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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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public dom
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WORLDLINESS IS ANTICHRIST
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Here is a declaration by John, that it is worldly people who are filled with the spirit of Antichrist.
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Antichrist is not merely some evil-genius-sinister-businessman, as is so often portrayed. Antichrist is merely the spirit within every human who has not been “born again” into the image of Christ. No matter whether this Moon-Beast was a fireman, school teacher, doctor, banker, bus-boy, construction worker, store clerk, or whatever other profession you can think of.
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It matters not what walk of life he is in: this Moon-Beast has the spirit of “The World” within: “and this that spirit of Antichrist”.
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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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SATAN’S FOLLOWERS OFTEN CONSIDERED “THE GOOD GUYS”
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The big problem with this Pharisee Moon-Beast is that he just doesn’t understand that Satan can be a very moral Devil when he wishes to be. But Satan has greatly deceived society into believing that only drunkards or witches or druggies or murderers are possessed by Satan.
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This proud Pharisee cannot understand that it is the moral people of the world who are most often filled the spirit of Antichrist… “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 11:14, 15.
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So most people have an incorrect understanding of Satan. Satan can make a person very correct and moral in behavior. He can make someone very prosperous and hard-working. He can make a person very talented and inspired. He can even make someone appear very holy, as this above passage reveals. Satan is the “god of this world”. He is the “Prince of the Power of the Air”. Satan is the “Prince of this world”. He is the master & commander of this lost world! He is that “spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience”.
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And this Pharisee Moon-Beast unknowingly worships Satan’s attributes. He even confuses him with Jesus quite often. And so this Pharisee-Scorner Moon-Beast goes through life, scorning all those who don’t measure up to his standard, not realizing that he is not just filled with one evil spirit, but with seven+one evil spirits.
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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia
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DIVIDED MOON SHOWS
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THE 3 DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH…
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“Benjamin shall ravine as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Genesis 49:47
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This above verse from Genesis seems to dovetail nicely with this next passage from 1st Corinthians… “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” 1st Corinthians 11:18, 19
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Those “ravening wolves” within the Church are busy gathering to themselves, those who are willing to follow heresy. But the true sheep need not fear. For just as this next states, the sheep of God will not follow those wolves in sheep’s clothing… “And a stranger will they (God’s sheep) not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:5 .
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Yes, the tribe of Benjamin describes this Wolf-Beast…
“Benjamin shall ravine as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Genesis 49:47
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Every time he spreads malicious gossip; whenever he rejects new light from the Bible, just because it’s an unpleasant truth; whenever he begins to look down his nose on others, in his own self-righteousness; or when he takes credit for his supposed righteousness.
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Listen to Scripture from Paul’s epistle… “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Galatians 5:15 This verse gives the sense of ravenous wolves within the Galatian Church. Obviously there was no literal biting and devouring.
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Gray Wolf. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service by Scott Flaherty
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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FALSE PROPHETS
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“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they 
are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Matthew 7:15-17
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Jesus warned that false prophets would enter the Church, comparing them to wolves in sheep’s clothing, as the above verse states. Paul also warned in much the same way, that false prophets would waste no time, creeping into the Church… “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29, 30. So Paul says that grievous wolves would begin to enter directly after Paul’s departure.
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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FALSE DOCTRINES INTRODUCED BY GRIEVOUS WOLVES
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And so the Night-Watchmen (the 1st Moon-Face) must always be on guard against false doctrines in the Church, brought in by these Wolf-Beasts. And such false doctrines may not just be new doctrines. You see, this wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing has been around for a very long time. This proud Pharisee, in centuries past has been guilty of bringing in doctrines some of which have been accepted by the entire Church-world.
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Dehodencq, Alfred 1822-1882. Ernst, Rudolph
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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ETERNAL TORMENT
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One such doctrine is that “lost sinners will be tormented in flames of fire for all eternity”. Such unbiblical doctrines come about when these unconsecrated wolves neglect to study prayerfully, everything on a subject, and instead, cling to one or two parables, such as the Rich Man & Lazarus, and make that parable the sum and entirety of what Hell is. And then they bend every other related Scripture so that they agree with the Rich Man & Lazarus. But God warns Christians that “Scripture cannot be broken”. Spiritual things must be compared with spiritual (see 1st Corinthians 2:13). And a Believer can’t let those wolves in sheep’s clothing turn God into some ruthless tyrant, by insisting that truth can be arrived at based on just SOME verses, and not ALL verses of the Bible.
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If the reader wishes to explore this false doctrine, just click here… “The Doctrine of Eternal Torment”
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Hell’s Torment and Tormentor – Wikipedia – Public Domain (2)
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“THE LITTLE FOXES”
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“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15
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Exploring this Lunar Beast, as he also has a fox-like appearance, the Bible touches on this subject of foxes. Even Jesus spoke of a fox, comparing King Herod to one… “The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Luke 13:31.
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Since Christians are to live by EVERY word of God, it must be assumed that Jesus calling Rome-appointed King Herod a fox, has something to do with doctrine and with Salvation. But what could this possibly mean?
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Here is a very revealing verse… “O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the desert. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them” Ezekiel 13:4-6. So now it is seen that foxes are symbolic of false prophets amongst God’s people.
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FOXES, THAT SPOIL THE VINES
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The opening verse of this paragraph on foxes says… “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender 
grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15. This idea of foxes representing small beasts is also mentioned in Nehemiah 4:3
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So this theme of foxes seems to lead in the direction of the “little foxes”, which could mean the little false prophets among god’s people. This would no doubt be the false teachers within the various local congregations. Of course, this doesn’t explain why Jesus called Herod a fox. But Herod probably represents all false prophets in leadership roles in the Church.
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Well, whatever the precise meaning to this is, two things are for sure: God has inscribed this fox-like image as one of the faces of the Moon; and a fox in Scripture represents false prophets among God’s people.
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ABOVE PICTURES:
Fox reading – Wikimedia Commons – public domain
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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3 DIVISIONS IN TODAY’S CHURCH
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“And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell:” Revelation 16:19
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Many of the cities of the great nations of the world are beginning to crumble morally, financially, and 
structurally. And in this great decline, there is emerging a division between Conservatives and Liberals. And likewise, the onlooking world is just now witnessing this same split within Christendom. In the day of Jesus’ time on Earth, these two groups were called the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Today they are called Conservatives and Liberals. And just as the Pharisees and Sadducees were constantly at odds with each other, so too, these current two groups are at odds with each other today. Now a Pharisee can be either a liberal or a conservative. And likewise, a Sadducee can be a conservative or liberal. As a matter of fact, both Phariseeism and Sadduceeism exists within each of our hearts. So this issue is a very complex issue, indeed.
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But this verse speaks of 3 divisions. So what is the 3rd division? God’s people were the 3rd group in Israel, at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. And so it is today. There are many today, who have genuine faith. And even within these first two groups (Sadducees & Pharisees), there may be God’s people within one of those groups. The drawing to the left is of the 1st Moon-Face (The Night-Watchman). And if you have read Moon Into Blood Part 1, then you are familiar with how the Moon shows the 1st face which reflects God’s True Worshippers. And if you will continue on to read, “Moon Into Blood Part 3”, you will learn how the 3rd Face corresponds to the Sadducees.
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
3rd Face in Moon – Sadducee Seeker – www.signsofheaven.org
ABOVE PICTURE: 1st Face in moon at eagle ridge
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GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THESE THREE DIVISIONS
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But listen to God’s Judgment concerning the three divisions within the Church-world… “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah 13:8, 9.
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So this above verse now begins to make sense, once this concept is understood concerning the three divisions in the Church. It says here that two parts of God’s people will be “cut off”. But the third part will God refine and purify, and call them His people.
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3rd Face in Moon – Sadducee Seeker – www.signsofheaven.org
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“A NEW HEART”
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“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: Jesus…said unto him…Ye must be born again…The wind bloweth where it li
steth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:1, 3, 8
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Now what is the remedy for all this? A new heart.
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This Pharisee Moon-Beast needs a new heart. He must begin pleading with God to take away his stony heart and give him a new heart of flesh.
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The above passage tells of Nicodemus, one of the chief Pharisees. You see, Nicodemus was also like this Moon-Beast Pharisee at one time. And as a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus was no doubt a very moral person. But Nicodemus had not yet become Born into the Spirit of God. His morality was a product of the pseudo-religious spirits, which inhabit those who attempt to live the Christian life, and yet are void of God’s Spirit.
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Now in midst of their discourse, Jesus told him, in a very loving manner… “Ye must be born again”. Nicodemus had risen to the position of a ruler of his people, and yet, he had never truly become a child of God.
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Listen to Ezekiel 36:26… “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.”
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And though Nicodemus was an unsaved individual, yet in the end, God gave Nicodemus a new heart, and he became Born Again.
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And so this little account of Nicodemus, and how God took away his Phariseeism should give us hope too, that God can likewise, take away every trace of Phariseeism out of your heart, and out of my heart too!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Nicodemus – Wikimedia – Public Domain
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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THE HOLY PLACE OF THE HEART
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The Pharisee Moon-Beast has been attending church for years, and yet he still possesses a stony heart. He may even be the pastor or elder. But he has never fully 
surrendered his entire life to Jesus. He loved the things of this life too much! And his cleanliness and orderliness have been sufficient to get by and fool most people.
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But God knows the wretchedness of this Moon-Beast’s soul. This Pharisee-Beast has spent countless hours cleaning the outward things of his life, but the inward things of his heart are still left filthy! He needs to be like the man in this drawing. This Believer has a heart which has become the Holy Place of his soul-temple.
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This True Worshipper has spent his Christian life purifying his heart, just as it says in 1st John… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (the hope of His return), purifieth himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
ABOVE PICTURE: Most Holy Place in the Heart – Signs Of Heaven
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THE TRUE GREAT COMMISSION
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The purification of the heart is the greatest commission which God has devolved upon the Believer.
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Listen to Paul… “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 Cor. 10:5. Incredible! We are to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ!
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But how is such a high and holy calling as this, possible? Well listen again to Paul… “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20. This wonderful promise gives us full assurance that God is fully capable to cleanse us “from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.” Philippians 4:7
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For a deeper look into this subject of the Most Holy Place in the heart, just read… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”
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ABOVE PICTURE: Most Holy Place in the Heart – Signs Of Heaven
the holy of holies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain
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BACKING OUT OF GOD’S REST…
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“For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest…There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:4, 5, 9, 10
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After God had created man and beast on the 6th day God rested on the 7th day. Mankind and beast were both created on the same day…the 6th day. But on the 7th day, Mankind was invited to enter into spiritual rest with God on the 7th day. But when Adam and Eve fell, they gave up that close communion with God. In a sense, they left that 7th Day Rest, and reverted back to the beasts of the Earth, who were also created on the 6th day, along with Man.
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Benjamin West The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise – Wikipedia – public domain
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NO REST FOR THE SONS OF ADAM!
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So too, Mankind has lost what Jesus offers… “There is no peace (or “rest”), says my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21. Mankind no longer enjoys that “peace which passes all understanding“, because that ‘rest’ and that ‘peace’ was given up in the ‘Garden of Eden’. Could this be what the MARK OF THE BEAST is all about?…
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“…and THEY HAVE NO REST, day nor night who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark or the number of his name…” Revelation 14.
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Here in this passage we have the “Mark of the Beast” announcement. The word “rest” here is the very same Greek word found in the next 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.” Matthew 11:28-30
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Shoppers in Toronto – Wikimedia – share-alike license
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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GOD INVITES US BACK INTO THAT REST
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“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
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So it is seen here in the above verse, that God offers “rest unto your souls”. But what do the unsaved have as far as “rest”? Nothing actually. At least, not in the spiritual sense. And there begins to be an understanding that the “Mark of the Beast” is speaking of those who have never entered God’s spiritual “Rest”. Listen to Isaiah…
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“There is no peace (or “rest”), says my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21. This verse shows the difference between the true worshippers and the unsaved. Those who claim to be saved but are not true worshippers will have no true spiritual rest, as the previous two verses point out.
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While the unsaved may be having a good time in this world of sin, they nevertheless do not enjoy the deep joy and peace which only comes through an abiding rest that goes down deep into our souls. “…and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30
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To explore this concept of spiritual rest, just click here… “PART 2–FINDING ‘REST UNTO YOUR SOUL’ (FINDING PERFECT PEACE)…”
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ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org
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PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING…
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“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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God offers joy and peace to anyone willing to keep the mind on His Word and on His ways. This next verse is much like the previous verse…“Thou (God) will keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3.
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These two passages point out the PERFECT PEACE that is available for any and every one who calls on the name of the Lord in these last moments of Earth’s history.
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Elakala Waterfalls Swirling Pool Mossy Rocks – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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GOD CURSED MANKIND
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“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” Genesis 3:17-19.
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Here, God pronounced a curse upon Mankind after the fall. Man lost that peace and rest of God, once man rebelled. Ever since that day, Mankind has been in a turmoil. Wars and fightings, and robberies and selfishness abound. Crime increasing, and cities becoming a hotbed of vice and corruption. Man has been pressed down under the burden of his vanities and vexation of spirit, trying under his own strength, to live without God.
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But this Moon-Beast believes that his “morality” places him in good standing with God, and doesn’t realize that his pride and selfishness are the deep-seated undercurrent of his entire life pursuits. But the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, this Beast does not know. His mind is absorbed with all those things that he loves to pursue of the world. “There is no peace (or “rest”), says my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21. Try as he will, this Pharisee-Scorner has yet to enter into this Rest. His heart is filled with turmoil.
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ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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AFTER MAN’S FALL, A NEW REST WAS OFFERED
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“Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, ‘To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts’. For if Jesus had given them REST, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest (or Sabbath keeping) to the people of God. For he that is entered into his REST, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that REST, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:7-11.
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This is “the REST unto your souls” that Jesus bids Mankind to find. If this Moon-Beast will only return to God, he may not immediately find that REST. But here God, through Paul, says here to “labor” to enter into that REST. The Moon-Beast’s sins and unbelief are keeping him from that perfect “Rest”. He must “labor” to enter into that spiritual “rest unto your soul”, that Jesus offers, if he is to escape the “Mark of the Beast”. He must get rid of the “Pharisee” within! Within the heart, does this Beast exist. But he must become pure and holy… “not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27.
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This is the work which every true worshipper of God desires in his or her life. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3. Oh yes, Salvation is a gift. But those who have truly been given that gift will begin the purification process, spoken of in 1st John 3:3. Yes, every man woman and child who has the hope of Christ’s appearing and “our gathering unto Him”, will engage in the self-purification process…. “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest” Isaiah 28:12
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Harvest moon – Wikipedia & Roadcrusher – share-alike license
ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner
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“WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG”
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“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:10
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Those of us who are low-energy type individuals, or are in a bed-fast condition, or in confinement, often look with envy at those who are industrious. But as that popular saying goes, “Careful what you wish for!” Quite often, those who are considered high-energy people, have little time nor inclination for sitting at the feet of Jesus, and hearing His Word. They are frequently, so busy with the affairs of life, that it is all but impossible for them to spend quiet-time with Jesus. Listen to God’s assessment…
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“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.” Psalm 147:10, 11.
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So such verses as this reveal to us, that God is not all that impressed by good works.
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Just listen to this next passage… “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not…done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you…” Matt. 7:22, 23
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Munch Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“BE STILL…”
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On the other hand, we who have little strength, may use such a “handicap” to our advantage. In the quiet hours of our infirmity we can fulfill God’s desire for us…
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“Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalm 46:10.
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We can sit at Jesus feet, and spend quiet time in His Word, using our disability or confinement to good account. And so, in that sense, our low-energy and our disability can actually become our greatest advantage to our spiritual pilgrimage, as we fill up our heart with the words of life.
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Listen… “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” Psalm 4:4
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THE END
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NEXT ARTICLE:
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“THIRD BEAST… ‘SADDUCEE’…’SEEKER'” – click here
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But there is another beast, which God has in the Moon. And this little varmint exists within Man’s heart also. It is known as the “Seeker”. It is the spirit of “Sadducee-ism”. It is the spirit of “unbelief”. And it exists in this Seeker. And if he is to escape the “Mark of the Beast”, He must get rid of his unbelief and his continual seeking out of his heart and life. And “The Moon Into Blood” Part 3 deals with this.
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26
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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike 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 – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use
ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – 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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Moon into Blood Trilogy: 3rd Face: The Sadducee Seeker
By admin On July 21st, 2011
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.
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This is a continuation of “Moon Into Blood” Pt. 1 (click here) & “Moon Into Blood” Pt. 2 (click here)
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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
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in heaven. Selah.”
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Psalm 89:37.
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PART 3: THE SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)
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LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE
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The 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down.
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But this photo and this sketch (below right) are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the full Moon actually appears.)
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The 3rd face is the most difficult to see in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy.
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This face is like a furry creature of the field.
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Maybe a rabbit.
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Maybe a squirrel.
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Perhaps a chipmunk.
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Probably a mouse.
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All “seekers”; all foragers and scavengers.
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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.
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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate.
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This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily.
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LOCATING 3rd FACE AT BEGINNING OF NIGHT
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But this sketch here to the right is how this 3rd face actually appears when the Full Moon is in the east, at the beginning of night, in the northern hemisphere.
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But all you can easily see is this 1st face.
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What you must do to see the 3rd face is to tilt your head hard to the right, 90 degrees.
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Do you see it? (You may find it easier if you just turn your screen on its left side, if you are using a laptop. But please don’t do anything to put your computer in jeopardy!)
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The easiest time of the month to actually see this face is when the Full Moon is in the east, just after dark.
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It then can be seen by tilting your head 90 degrees to the right.
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But as night progresses, the Moon rotates clockwise, until this face is completely upside down, as the Moon works its way to the west.
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SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
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For those living in the Southern Hemisphere, while they have all three faces of the Moon, the 3rd face, the Seeker Face is the upright face when the Moon is Full.
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This somewhat changes the story for those southerners.
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But the basic concept is still the same: one face of the Night Watchman, another of the Predator-Pharisee, and the third of the Seeker-Sadducee.
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But this is how the full Moon appears to all those living “down under”.
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BUT WHY A FORAGER?
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“So I went in (into God’s temple), and saw;
and behold every form of creeping things,
and abominable beasts,
and all the idols of the house of Israel,
portrayed upon the wall round about.”
Ezekiel 8:10
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The above verse is speaking of all sorts of unclean creatures, big and small, sinfully portrayed on the sacred temple wall.
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And these creatures were being worshipped by God’s people, as this verse indicates.
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The photo below is a replica of the Ishtar Gate to ancient Babylon, which also had unclean beasts portrayed upon its wall.
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So, was God, in the above passage actually saying to us, that His Temple had become like Babylon?
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Photo of Squirrel – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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WHY A BEAST OF THE FIELD?
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And of all the ferocious beasts that exist in this world, why would God choose such a furry little critter to represent the Mark of the Beast?
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And why would the Lord inscribe this face in the Moon’s surface?
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Obviously, He does nothing indiscriminately!
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So, what then can be the purpose for this 3rd face?
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Well, one thing is for sure! Unbelief is a quality that exists in the hearts of Men.
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And, well, maybe this little beast of the field can give some biblical information about the subject of faithlessness.
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And maybe after an exploration of this furry forest creature, it will be discovered that this little varmint was exactly the correct beast for God to inscribe on the Moon’s surface!
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And by reading onward, this all may begin to make much more sense!
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And it may even start to gnaw away at our own self-righteousness, as we begin to realize that Sadducee-ism exists in our very own heart!
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Ishtar Gate at Berlin Museum by Rictor Norton & Wikipedia share-alike lic. 3.0
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FAITHLESSNESS OF SADDUCEES
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“The same day came the Sadducees to Him (Jesus), which say that there is no resurrection” Matthew 22:23
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Yes, the above verse really says it all! The “Sadducees…say there is no resurrection”.
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And obviously, the Sadducees didn’t believe in living the Resurrected Life either.
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They still maintained a worldly outlook on life.
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“BUT THE EYES OF A FOOL ARE IN THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!”
Proverbs 17:24
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You see, the Sadducees were those in the Jewish culture who were the “Deists” of that day.
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Perhaps many of them believed that God existed, but merely thought of God as though He just sits somewhere way out in space, looking down at this Earth through some gigantic telescope!
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They didn’t believe that God has much to do with this world, but to simply monitor the comings-and-goings of Mankind.
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Perhaps that is why this 3rd face is always upside down as if he’s staring up into space.
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He’s probably looking for God; looking for some other god, one who lives far out there in space…a god who has very little to do with this world.
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THE SADDUCEE’S FAVORITE “BIBLE” VERSE
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The Seeker-Sadducee’s very favorite Bible verse is, no doubt, this one, “God helps those who help themselves”…
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…and his very favorite Bible prayer is probably, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.”
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Of course, neither one of these statements actually comes from the Bible!
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And furthermore, just the opposite is true!
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This little creature does not grasp the Bible concept that Paul presented to the Philippians… “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
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Sadly, he doesn’t believe this verse. And so he goes on through life, feeling rather helpless.
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What he needs is faith: saving faith in God’s Word!
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ALWAYS MINDING EARTHLY THINGS
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“For many walk…whose God is their belly,
and whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things.”
Philippians 3:18, 19 (Condensed)
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This picture shows this face more correctly.
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It would require turning one’s computer screen upside down to see this 3rd face.
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When looking at the Moon, the 3rd face is mostly upside-down, appearing as if he is looking up into space.
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But he’s not! He’s actually always looking down at the earth. He’s a forager!
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Always seeking! Always nibbling!
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His total focus in life is obtaining the things of earth!
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He has very little concern for heavenly things.
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Oh, he “talks a good game”, as the saying goes.
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Oh yes, you can engage this forager in a heavenly conversation, for a short while.
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But he’ll soon be scurrying off to engage in more seeking.
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This little furry creature is mostly concerned about the world, and his wants and needs.
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Oh yes, he believes that he’s saved. And he’s very confident of his Salvation!
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His friendliness, or his morality, or his wealth, or his church attendance, or tithe-paying…
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…or his many other nice qualities gives this little Sadducee scamper a great assurance of his rightful place in Heaven!
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He’s just far too good a person, for God to ever think of rejecting him!
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888 – Wikimedia – public domain
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THE THINGS OF THE WORLD
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Unlike the 2nd-face Beast (Man/Dog/Wolf/fox) who was driven by pride and a judgmental eye, this 3rd-face Beast is motivated by an eye for the things of the world.
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Oh yes, he talks of faith.
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He has a collection of stock Bible verses, enough to get him through most situations.
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And he does usually appear to be looking up into Heaven or staring off into space.
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But he’s just pretending to be looking for Jesus to come!
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But in reality, his heart is 100% on the things of this present world!
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Eastern Grey Squirrel – black – GNU Free Documentation License, – Wikipedia
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“THEY COULD NOT ENTER (GOD’S REST)…
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“BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF”
Hebrews 3:19…
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You see, this little unclean beast is steeped in “unbelief”!
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He doesn’t believe that God’s Rest is good enough!
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He 
thinks he needs more.
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He thinks he needs the things of the world to be fulfilled.
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You might recognize this creature in the Old Testament.
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He was the one who was always complaining and murmuring against Moses in the wilderness.
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He was the one who longed for the “fleshpots of Egypt”.
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He wanted to turn back to Egypt because he didn’t believe God could supply the water and food he desired.
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NO HEART FOR HEAVENLY THINGS
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“He giveth to the beast His food.” Psalms 147:9
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Oh yes, he goes to church once a week.
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But as soon as his “Sabbath Rest” is over…it’s back to his foraging!
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And once he shuts his Bible, that’s the last time of the day he thinks about it!
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And of course, such good works are somewhat tedious to this earthly-minded critter.
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It’s because this furry little beast does not understand such Bible verses as…
…”But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law (Word) does he meditate DAY AND NIGHT.”
Psalm 1:2, 3.
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If you told this varmint that God wants him to meditate DAY AND NIGHT on God’s Word…
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….he would pause for a moment…look at you…
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…and tilt his head at you sideways, as if puzzled at your curious statement…
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…and then turn and quickly scurry off…to resume his seeking after more earthly nourishment.
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He had absolutely no idea what you just tried to tell him!
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Marmot – Wikipedia – GNU License
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“ESAU…A MAN (BEAST) OF THE FIELD”
Genesis 25:27
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“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law (Word) does he meditate DAY AND NIGHT.” Psalm 1:2, 3
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Such verses as this one above, about meditating night & day on God’s Word, are foolishness to this beast of the field.
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He only wants to get back into the field to resume his hunting.
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He would gladly trade his birthright for a bowl of food, as did Esau… “who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16.
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You see, Genesis Ch. 25 tells the story of two twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. And though they were twins, they were very, very, different in character.
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“Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” Genesis 25:27.
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While Jacob was interested in spiritual things, Esau only sought after the things of the world.
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Esau had no heart for spiritual things!
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Well, to make a long story short, Esau traded his spiritual inheritance to his brother Jacob…
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…trading away the blessing from his God-fearing father, Isaac, for a bowl of Jacob’s stew!
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So this story is a picture of this Sadducee, who, like Esau, cares little for spiritual things!
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But there are those like Jacob who highly value those spiritual riches!
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Esau & Jacob – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US public domain
Marmot – Wikipedia – GNU License
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SPIRITUAL THINGS, FOOLISHNESS!
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This furry little Esau has no heart for spiritual things.
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Listen… “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 Corinthians 2:14
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As this above verse reveals, this natural (carnal) hearted beast cannot see the “hidden manna” in Scripture, because it is locked up in allegories and proverbs.
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But those who have been given eyes to see, receive the Holy Ghost’s interpretation of all the many allegorical types and symbols which are so often found in the various stories of the Bible!
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Listen… “Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
1st Corinthians 2:13
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Marmot – Wikipedia – GNU License
Holy Bible – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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ONE LOOKS UP WHILE THE OTHER LOOKS DOWN
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As already discussed, this verse from Ecclesiastes really applies to these last two beast-like faces in the Moon…
…”Who knows the spirit of man that goeth upward,
and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Ecclesiastes 3:21
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The first face in the Moon (The Night-Watchman, sketch to the right), of course, has his eyes fixed on the Sun of Righteousness which rises in the east.
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This was discussed in Part 1 of “Moon into Blood Trilogy”.
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Of this first face, it may be said that his spirit “goeth upward”.
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But the other two faces in the Moon (beast-like faces) have a spirit that goes downward… Paul once again, says it correctly, with this next verse…
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Eastern Grey Squirrel in St James’s Park, London_-_Nov_2006_- Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM”
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One problem is, this Moon-Beast attends a church in which the pastor encourages his flock to make secular friendships, in order to win souls.
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But what his pastor does not understand, is when we unnecessarily form 
relationships with unbelievers, we violate God’s commandment…
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Listen… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness?…
Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean [thing];
and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.”
2nd Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18.
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And so, this Sadducee Moon-Beast follows his pastor’s unbiblical advice, and breezes right past this warning from God, found in 2nd Corinthians…
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…and he rejoins his old buddies down at the coffee shop.
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And guess what? Instead of converting them to Christ, he’s back to cussing, engrossed with worldly issues, politics; and all this mingled with jokes!
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Lunch Break – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike
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THROUGH THE SPIRIT of HOLINESS
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And really, you can’t blame this little earth-clinger for returning back to the things of the Earth, which his heart secretly longed for!
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After all, self-denial is probably the worst thing a person can do, without God’s abiding Spirit!
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On the other hand, to become like self-denying Jesus only becomes a joy when one is filled with the Spirit of Holiness!
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This faithless one could never comprehend the following statement by Paul…
…”Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and do count them but dung,
that I may win Christ,”
Philippians 3:8.
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Paul’s greatest desire was to become Christ-like in every way!
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And Paul wanted nothing from this world to drag him back down.
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But to this earth-hugging forager, Paul’s statement would be the kiss-of-death!
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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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“5 BLIND MICE”: PICTURE OF THE APOSTATE CHURCH
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In 1st Samuel, Ch. 6, there is a very odd story about a time when the Ark of God came into the possession of the wicked Philistines. And as a result, there broke out a plague in that land of the Philistines.
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Scripture says in this story that this plague was an outbreak of hemorrhoids on the people, plus a pestilence of mice which devastated the land.
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And of course, the mice were eating the grain in both fields and probably the grain stores also (as mice often do).
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FIVE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES… The five lords over the Philistines were counseled to make five golden images of hemorrhoids and five golden mice images…
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Lightmatter lab mice By Aaron Logan – Wikipedia – share-alike license.
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Now there is a definite parallel to this story of the “Five Lords of the Philistines” and the story of Cain’s unacceptable offering to God.
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CAIN’S UNACCEPTABLE OFFERING =
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THE APOSTATE CHURCH OFFERING
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So the five lords of the Philistines sent back the Ark along with the unacceptable offering of five golden mice images and five golden hemorrhoid images.
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The five-plus-five gold UNCLEAN images given by the Philistine lords represented an unclean offering.
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Mice are unclean beasts.
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And hemorrhoids is a diseased condition.
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This would seem to represent False Brethren only wishing to offer God their unconverted lives.
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Totally unacceptable to a holy God!
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Just as the offering of Cain, spoken of in Genesis, Chapter 4, was unacceptable to God, so also are the offerings of all those who will not submit to God’s purification process…
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The plague of mice & hemorrhoids of Ashdod – 1630 – Wikipedia – public domain
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UNTRANSFORMED CHRISTIANS
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So, the five golden mice and the five golden hemorrhoids represent the unclean offerings of this furry 
scavenger who remains unconverted, and yet professes to serve god.
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On the other hand, God’s True Worshippers will accept trials and tribulation with the great hope of being eventually transformed into the image of Christ!
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But this furry little Esau in the Church, is in reality, still in the image of the beasts of the Earth!
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And just like those five golden mice representing those five uncircumcised Philistine lords…
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…so too, this unconverted churchgoer today is hoping that God will accept him as he is; still just a scampering-little-faithless-earth-clinging-Seeker!
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rodent – Sinaistachelmaus – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license
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5 LORDS OF PHILISTINES = 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS = APOSTATE CHURCH…
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Yes, this story seems to be an all-too-familiar picture of the Apostate portion of God’s Church!
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The five lords of the Philistines also being a picture of the “Five Foolish Virgins” in Matthew Ch.25.
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The Five Foolish Virgins likewise represented those in the Church who have no oil in their vessels, meaning they have not the Holy Spirit in their lives.
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Oh, they have enough oil (grace) to attend church each weekend.
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But when it comes to the rest of the week, they quickly forget any lesson learned and resume their worldly lifestyle during the weekdays!
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Lightmatter lab mice – By Aaron Logan – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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And these signs in the sun, moon, and stars make an excellent hobby which pays eternal rewards!
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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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Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner
By admin On July 21st, 2011This is a continuation of the “Moon Into Blood Part 1″ or you may go to “Moon Into Blood Part 3”
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“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:18-23
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“It (God’s Covenant) shall be established…
for ever as the Moon…
and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.”
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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There will 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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Lunar_Eclipse_by_Jiyang_Chen & Wikipedia share-alike license. Click for link.
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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”
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Listen to the following revelation concerning the evil which exists within the hearts of men…“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:18-23
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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.
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He is very moral, you see!
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THIS BEAST WITHIN
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Well, the Bible has much to say about Pharisees. And the Bible has much to say about wolves, and foxes, and dogs. And this wolf-face inscribed in the Moon has much to tell us about ourselves!
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So if you are a truth-seeker, then this article will be an eye-opener, as we explore just what the Bible has to say about these things. And the fact is, this Pharisee Moon-Beast is in the heart of each and every human.
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And so, if you (or I) find that this wolf-man has some things in common, please don’t despair! For God is giving us these signs, while there still is time. While there still is hope!
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THE PHARISEES…
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Now listen to this verse concerning proud scorners…“Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.” Proverbs 21:24
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Yes this wolf-like beast-face in the Moon, is what the Bible calls a proud Pharisee. They were the morality crowd! They were the finger pointers! They were the scorners! They had an evil eye against others! They didn’t realize that their own pride was even more reprehensible to God than the drunkenness, immorality, or sexual perversions of the unsaved world!
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PHARISEES & SADDUCEES
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There were two major groups spoken of during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry: The Pharisees and the Sadducees. While the Pharisees were very big on law and justice, the Sadducees were steeped in unbelief.
But that discussion of the Sadducees should be saved for the next section, “Moon Into Blood Part 3”.
But for now, this examination of this 2nd face in the Moon should continue.
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Robert Salmon – Moonlight Coastal Scene – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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WHICH WAY THE FINGER IS POINTING
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It is true religion that says, “I am chief of sinners.” 1st Timothy 1:15. These are the words of Paul. Paul saw himself for what he really was: a dirty rotten sinner in need of a Savior!
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It is false religion that says, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Luke 18:11.
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These are the words of this proud Pharisee in the parable of the Publican & the Pharisee (see Luke 18:9-14).
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It is true religion that points the accusing finger at ‘myself’. It is false religion that points at the other guy. True religion understands that Satan is the “god of this world” (2nd Corinthians 4:4). But this Pharisee has lost sight of that fact. True Christianity desires to lead others to forsake this world and begin to live for Heaven. False religion wants to clean this world up, not realizing that sin is literally everywhere: because it’s the Devil’s world.
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This scorner forgets what 1st John proclaims… “…and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19
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Tissot The Pharisee and publican Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia US public domain
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PHARISEE SITS ON JUDGMENT-THRONE
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But this Pharisee-Scorner enjoys sitting on his judgment throne and pointing the accusing finger down at others. But what this pseudo-Christian does not realize is, that it is impossible to be Christian, while at the same time, judging others.
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Just listen… “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11, 12.
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So this passage proclaims that whoever judges others, is trying to be God! Because only God is capable of judging a man’s heart. Of course, this Pharisee excuses himself, by saying that he’s only doing a public service by exposing the sins of others.
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Tissot The Pharisee and publican Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia US public domain
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“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL…WHO CAN KNOW IT?”
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Just listen to the following passage…“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10.
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So as this passage proclaims, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?” But then it goes on to tell us, that God Himself searches the hearts of men (and women). God is the righteous Judge. And God will render back to us, according to our ways.
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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888 wikimedia public domain
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THE PHARISEE & THE PUBLICAN
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Listen to this story of the proud Pharisee and the humble Publican…“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:11-13
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That well-known story of the Pharisee and the Publican presents a basic concept between a correct spirit and an incorrect one. In this story, God presents these two characters, which seem to be polar opposites: the proud Pharisee and the self-abasing Publican. The first, the Pharisee, saw himself as self-righteous, while the Publican realized just what a great sinner he was! Pride is quite often hard to detect. But the Publicans were a scorned class of persons. They knew they were sinners!
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Tissot The Pharisee and publican Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia US public domain
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PRIDE ESPECIALLY DISGUSTING TO GOD
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The point to this story is that God abhors human pride. But God contrariwise, presents the proper attitude, by showing us the humility and shame-facedness of the Publican.
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And this little parable ends with the following summation… “I tell you, this man (the publican) went down to his house justified rather than the other (the Pharisee): for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14.
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Here is a great big, giant concept, which Jesus presented. God loves a humble and contrite heart; but God hates human pride. And because our hearts are so easily deceived, we must exercise constant vigilance against such sins as pride.
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Tissot The Pharisee and publican Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia US public domain
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“DOGS HAVE COMPASSED ME”
Psalm 22:16
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Now listen to this rebuke by God against His professed people…“Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet My mind could not be toward this people…And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.” Jeremiah 15:1, 3.
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So in this passage, God is using various metaphors to describe His punishment for a disobedient and world-loving people. And one of those metaphors is “dogs to tear”.
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Not only could this Moon-beast be a wolf, but could very well could be a dog. This would harmonize with Scripture… “For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet…Deliver My soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog. ” Psalm 22:16, 20.
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From this above passage, it looks like Jesus had to encounter those “dogs” when on the Cross, as He took our place!
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Panhandler wikipedia public domain
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PROUD MOCKERS
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Every time this Moon-Beast mocks and scorns the drunkard, begging for a drink on the side of the road, imprisoned by his own addiction, this Moon-beast doesn’t realize how the Savior died for that drunken person too! In a very real sense, this scorner is mocking Jesus as He hung on the Cross for that drunkard!
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When this proud Pharisee mocks and scorns those fat people he sees at the shopping center, he doesn’t consider that Jesus died for them too! Is he not really mocking and scorning the very One who bled and died on behalf of those drunkards and those fat people who are sadly addicted to the over-abundant supplies of debilitating substances in this opulent and decadent society?
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Photo above – Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.)
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MOCKING PEOPLE = MOCKING GOD
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This Pharisee has forgotten the warning that says… “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:9, 10.
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This Pharisee doesn’t understand that when he scorns people, he is also scorning God at the same time, the very One who created that man!
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“EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS GOOD BEHAVIOR”
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Perhaps this Moon-Beast listens to too many hyper-critical shows on TV or radio, instead of engaging his mind in prayer and Bible meditation. Listen to this verse…
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“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33
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This Moon-Beast voluntarily exposes himself to evil communications. However, the Bible says those evil communications have a corrupting influence on people; in an ever-so-imperceptible manner, that one may not be aware of. Without realizing it, as he listens to these hyper-critical talk shows, this Moon-Beast has become critical and scornful at all the injustice in the world.
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He has deceived himself, as this verse warns… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33.
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Yes, with all the common talk and jesting that he listens to, this Moon-Beast takes no heed from this above verse that warns against the corrupting influence of such communications!
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And what about this next passage?…“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee an evil mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” Proverbs: 4:23,24.
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Incredible! This verse warns him that the heart, above all things, must be protected.
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Wolf by Alfred_Wierusz-Kowalski 1849-1915 Wikimedia US public domain
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EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPT
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When this Moon-Beast, seeks after the companionship of television or radio, he slowly and imperceptibly becomes like the programs watched, or listened to, to a certain degree.
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If the program is constantly pointing the accusing finger at others, this will rub off on the listener.
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If the program displays murders being committed…the viewer becomes desensitized to violence and even murder.
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If the show has joking and jesting, then the viewer tends to become a jester.
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If it is sensual, his or her heart tends toward sensuality. If it is about atheistic and other faithless ideologies…it tends to inspire faithlessness within the viewer.
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If it is filled with common and worldly chatter, the listener will speak as the world, instead of as Jesus. And on and on it goes!
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“THEY HAVE NO CHANGES”
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This Moon-Beast is a living fulfillment of that verse… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33. In the simplest terms, this Moon-Beast becomes changed into the image of what he fills up his heart and mind with. This, by the way, is the essence of what the Mark of the Beast is all about: whose image have I been filling up my heart with?
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And on Judgment Day, it says… “As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image.” Psalm 73:20.
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Yes, we’ve all wondered if God has been asleep on the job. But that Day is coming! And God will not be slumbering on that Day!
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But this Moon-Beast neglected the change of heart, which God has commissioned all Believers to pursue.
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Listen… “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” Psalm 55:19.
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This Moon-Beast saw no great need to renew himself into the image of Christ. He has no true fear and trembling at God’s Word. His morality was good enough for him! Unfortunately, morality isn’t good enough for the Lord. And Judgment Day will separate the “morality crowd” from those who have devoted their lives to becoming changed into Christ’s glorious image.
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For more on the subject of television, please read… “Television & The Image That Speaks”.
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“GREEDY DOGS…LOVING TO SLUMBER”
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“All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all DUMB DOGS, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are GREEDY DOGS which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” Isaiah 56:9-12.
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God here, is not speaking of the people of the world. He is speaking of His own people! This Moon-Beast claims to be a child of God! He claims to be a shepherd, but he cannot understand! He is living in luxury and hoards up money, in a world where billions in other places would be happy if they could just eat the scraps that fall from his table! And this was one of the sins of the Pharisees. They loved money and the things it would buy.
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Listen… “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous…” Luke 16:14.
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Sleeping Dog, oil on panel painting by Gerrit Dou, wikipedia US public domain
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RICH MAN COULD LEARN FROM DOGS…
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Just listen to this passage from the parable of “The Rich Man & Lazarus”… “There was a certain rich man,
which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and 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 16:19-21.
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This Pharisee-Scorner could learn a lesson from these dogs in this passage! At least the dogs licked the sores of Lazarus. But the Pharisee does not. In his own greed, he’s more interested in scorning others, than helping others, or praying for them!
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Rich Man & Lazarus Wikigallery Public Domain
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“DELIVER MY DARLING…”
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“Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” Psalm 22:20
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In this above verse, God uses such strange language… “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” Two questions need to be answered, and possibly three. First, it must be established that this most infamous Psalm is not only a Messianic Psalm, but actually the very Psalm 22, which revealed the inner thoughts of Christ as He hung on the Cross! So whatever conclusion we reach concerning this verse, it must be in context of Christ suffering on the Cross.
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The first statement, “Deliver My soul from the sword” What sword would Christ be worried about, while hanging on the Cross? Is He worried about the sword of Satan and his followers? It cannot be speaking of the sword, the Bible, can it?
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tissot As seen from the cross wikipedia US public-domain
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WHAT DOES HENRY HAVE TO SAY?
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But leaving that question aside, the next statement, “My darling from the power of the dog”. Such strange language! What is Christ calling “My darling?” Matthew Henry has a wonderful commentary on this verse, and so allow him to speak… “
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“The Psalmist here calls his soul his darling, his only one (so the word is): “My soul is my only one. I have but one soul to take care of, and therefore the greater is my shame if I neglect it and the greater will the loss be if I let it perish. Being my only one, it ought to be my darling, for the eternal welfare of which I ought to be deeply concerned. I do not use my soul as my darling, unless I take care to preserve it from every thing that would hurt it and to provide all necessaries for it, and be entirely tender of its welfare.” (2.) Observe what the danger is from which he prays to be delivered, from the sword, the flaming sword of divine wrath, which turns every way.”
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This commentary by that highly regarded theologian from the past, Matthew Henry, makes a beautiful analogy concerning how precious is the soul of Man! And since it is the only soul a man, woman, or child will ever have, it must be cared for and treated as the most precious possession one will ever have! And so, once again, the King James version got it right, when most of the modern translations missed it.
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Matthew Henry Wikipedia Public Domain
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“BEWARE OF DOGS”
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But this Pharisee Moon-Beast cares little for his soul. On the contrary, when the Psalmist says “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.”, The Psalmist is referring to this Moon-Beast, who is in the image of a dog. Oh not really. But God has created this Moon-Beast to symbolize what the Psalmist was speaking of.
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Oh yes, it was the Pharisees who were greatly responsible for putting Christ on the Cross.
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Listen… “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. ” Philippians 3:2.
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Oh yes, “the dogs”, that is, “the Circumcision” were the Pharisees. The Pharisees hated Christ with a passion. Like dogs, they wanted to tear Jesus to pieces. His total rejection of, not only them, but also His rejection of this world of sin, was more than they could bear! And this Pharisee Moon-Beast etched in the night-sky represents all Pharisees throughout time, including those who lived in Jesus’ day.
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GOD’S SWORD
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And as to just what sword Christ prayed to be delivered from, Henry believed it to be “the sword
, the flaming sword of divine wrath, which turns every way.” And as we all know, Christ was suffering the Divine wrath of God as He hung on the Cross. So Matthew Henry makes good sense in his conclusion that the sword is speaking of the Divine wrath of God. And as we all know, God indeed eventually delivered Jesus from that sword, and also delivered Him from “the power of the dog”, that is, the Pharisees.
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Coyote killing sheep wikipedia public domain
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“I AM RICH…INCREASED WITH GOODS”
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When God (or the Devil) brings riches and accomplishment and success, the tendency is for pride to set in. And pride begets judging. But pride, accomplishment, and success, also tend to give a false sense of security. These were the common-denominators of the Pharisee crowd. And this holds true for this Pharisee Moon-Beast as well! The Pharisees believed they had earned Heaven. It was impossible to convince them otherwise. Jesus had a number of confrontations with the Pharisees. And it was this group that Jesus spoke most harshly to. Well, as we know, it was chiefly the scribes, Pharisees and rulers who eventually had Him arrested and put to death.
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Rich Man & Lazarus Wikigallery Public Domain
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GOD’S WATCHMEN ASLEEP?…
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Here again, we see that God compares even His watchmen of being like, “dumb dogs”…”His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all DUMB DOGS, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
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The above verse is an indictment against this Moon-Beast. He is just far too complacent and sluggish in the priestly duties of prayer and watchfulness.
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Listen… “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If you say, Behold, we knew it not; does not He that ponders the heart consider it? and He that keeps your soul, does not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24;11, 12.
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This passage lets it be known, that God is not going to excuse this second Moon-Face Beast for his ignorance about the things going on in other places, in this country and around the world. He has chosen His Elect to be watchmen. And if he doesn’t watch…well…as this passage below says…
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“All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all DUMB DOGS, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are GREEDY DOGS which can never have enough.” Isaiah 56:9-11.
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This verse should make anyone tremble to think how he or she has not been watchful, as God has commanded Believers to be. And this should make this Beast tremble, too! But it doesn’t. He simply goes on in his complacency and disregard of the fearful judgment hour he lives in.
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And here is another very important verse about watching… “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37.
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This Pharisee would do well to really take heed to the warning from Jesus in this passage! “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” This warning by Jesus should make any Christian tremble!
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Sleeping Dog, oil on panel painting by Gerrit Dou, wikipedia US public domain
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THE MARK OF CAIN…
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See that big black mark on his forehead? Doesn’t it remind you of the mark that God put on Cain’s forehead?
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“…We should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother… Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:11, 12, 15
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This Moon-Beast does not literally kill people. But he lacks the love of God. And just as the above verse points out, we are judged by God as a “murderer”, by simply hating our brother or sister…our neighbor… (“Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer”)
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PRIDE BIGGER SIN THAN DRUNKENESS
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Oh yes, just like the first face, this second face is also appalled at the sin and degradation that is so prevalent in the world. But this Pharisee-Scorner doesn’t consider his own sins. And he doesn’t usually pray for those who are caught in the jaws of sin. He mostly just scorns them! He doesn’t normally weep before God’s throne on their behalf. He’s just disgusted that there are so many drunkards! So many immoral! So many beggars! So many…well… just plain ol’ bad people in the world! He doesn’t realize that his own sin of “Pharisee-Pride” is a far greater “stench” in God’s nostrils than any of those fleshly addictions of others!
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Cain and Abel Titian – 1542-1544 AD – wikipedia – public dom.
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THE PROUD ARE IN DANGER OF HELL-FIRE
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“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:21-22.
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So this passage should forever dispel any notion in our minds that the sin of judging others is just a minor sin! Listen again to the last words from this passage… “but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
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This Pharisee Moon-Beast doesn’t realize that by scorning others, he is merely proving to his own self, that he’s standing on the brink of Heaven’s judgment and Hell’s fire!
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GOSSIP AND SLANDER
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“…speak evil of no man…” Titus 3:2
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Contrast this second face in the Moon with the first Moon-man. The first face (sketch to right) is sad and shocked at the condition of this planet. Tears seem to be running down his cheek. This 1st Moon-face sees a sad, sad, world down here. But he also sees that his own sins are just as great as everyone else’s sins!
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But the second face (man/fox/wolf/dog) is just scornful. An evil eye is raised (notice his right eye-brow). He’s not weeping. He’s not praying for those who dwell on the Earth. He’s not mourning for his own sins, like the 1st Moon-face is mourning. He’s just criticizing. Listen to this next verse…
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“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. HE THAT BACKBITES NOT with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, NOR TAKES UP A REPROACH against his neighbour.” Psalm 15:1-3
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This verse tells us that this Pharisee-Scorner who mocks and slanders others behind their backs, will not be among the redeemed in God’s heavenly city. This 2nd Moon-Beast should be more like the 1st Moon-Face. For the 1st Moon-Face looks at this above passage and mourns, because he see that he falls far short of this lofty admonition, given by God Himself!
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SLANDER & GOSSIP = CANNIBALISM
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Just look at the beasts of the Earth! How often do you see a video of animals tearing one another apart. This Wolf-Beast does the same thing! Verbally! He might look in disgust at the cannibals in the heathen jungles. But so often, he too “cannibalizes” his own fellow church members around the dinner table as he “undresses” his victims with vicious gossip and exposing slanders. And just like the hungry wolf or coyote, many, many tear in pieces the prey, and swallow him down as they revel in their gossip.
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Listen to Scripture… “There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” Prov. 30:14.
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Notice that this Bible verse speaks of the wicked unbelievers in terms of devouring the poor and needy. Yes, this Moon-Beast is a cannibal!
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Coyote killing sheep wikipedia public domain
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THE “BLAME GAME”
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“If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the (accusing) finger, and speaking vanity; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day…” Isaiah 58:9, 10
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This above passage, from Isaiah Chapter 58, is part of a chapter-long recipe for how to cure a poor relationship with God. But one very prominent ingredient is found in the above verse which says… “If thou take away from the midst of thee…the putting forth of the (accusing) finger”.
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Until this Moon-Beast stops playing this game of blaming others, he will not enjoy the rich relationship that a Believer has with the Lord. And he will constantly be suffering the sins of the flesh.
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LABORING IN THE VERY FIRE
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“Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?” Habakkuk 2:13
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This second face, the Wolf Moon-Beast, gives ample evidence that his heart is not right with the Lord. He’s constantly pointing the accusing finger at others. This Beast is a master at playing “The Blame Game”. He does not realize that he is doing his finger-pointing, while standing in the very fires of Judgment Day! He does not perceive that the Lord’s fiery eyes of judgment are upon him only, judging him “every moment” (Job 7:18). And the Lord only sees his sins, and sees not the sins of any other! No, there won’t be any blame-games being played on that “great and terrible Day”. The only one doing any finger-pointing on that day, will be Almighty God!
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“IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM…”
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“A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not:” Proverbs 14:6
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This Pharisee-Scorner knows a lot of Bible verses. He can “hold his own” in most discussions of the Bible. You see, the Pharisees in the New Testament knew their Bible. They were the religious leaders of the people.
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But the Pharisees lacked the wisdom required for saving faith. The above verse applies to our Moon-Beast… “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not:” Proverbs 14:6.
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And why can’t this Haughty Scorner find wisdom? Perhaps the Book of James says it best… “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6
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When this 2nd face Moon-Pharisee reads his Bible, he doesn’t see that it points the accusing finger at his own self. On the other hand, the 1st-face Night-Watchman applies the rebukes and warnings and remedies found in Scripture to himself. Now this is a most important concept, and bears repeating: while this 2nd-face Pharisee applies the rebukes and warnings and remedies found in Scripture to others, the 1st-face the Night-Watchman applies them to himself.
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Brooklyn_Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus (Les_pharisiens_questionnent_Jésus) – James_Tissot
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I AM CHIEF OF SINNERS
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In contrast to the 2nd-Face, Pharisee-Scorner, this 1st-Moon-Face, the Night-Watchman (sketch to the right) is very much aware of his own sins. Yes, this 1st-Moon-Face is painfully aware of his own sins.
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He can truly say along with Paul… “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I AM CHIEF.” 1st Timothy 1:15.
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Yes, an ongoing work is being accomplished in the Night-Watchman. A work of being purified in the fires of tribulation. You see, the Devil had long ago been granted permission by God to sift this Man in the Moon as wheat. And because of these trials, this 1st Moon-Face Night Watchman’s heart has become soft and meek, in the hands of his Heavenly Father, who ultimately has been in charge of the purification of this Watchman’s heart (see Malachi 3:2-4).
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WE HAVE MET THIS MOON-BEAST,
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AND IT IS ME!
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And so, this 1st-face Night-Watchman is losing his own Phariseeism. The more that God chastens the Watchma
n, the less this Man-in-the-Moon desires to scorn others. He now sees the Phariseeism in his own heart. He now sees the lust in his own heart. He now realizes how faithless he is. And his Heavenly Father has allowed him to read all about Jesus in the Bible: so he understands the true standard of righteousness. And so this Night-Watchman (the 1st face) is fully aware of his own dirty rotten sins! He knows who the chief of sinners is…HIM!
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2nd MOON-BEAST: TYPE-A PERSONALITY
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This 2nd Moon-Beast prides himself as being a “Type-A personality”. And he is an admired member of the community. He is very prompt, and somewhat aggressive. He prides himself on his good work-ethics. He works hard and plays hard. He likewise runs a very tight ship, as they say. Very neat and clean and moral!
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But let’s analyze this 2nd-face Moon-Beast for a moment.
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GOOD WORK ETHICS, BUT WITH PRIDE, IS JUST ANOTHER SIN
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While it is very commendable to be neat and clean and moral and hard-working, these virtues must be accompanied by the other Christ-like virtues, as well! Otherwise, all we end up with is Phariseeism.
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Just listen… “An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Prov. 21:4.
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This verse not only declares that a high look and a proud heart are sin. But also it declares that even “the plowing of the wicked is sin“. And why not? Well even the Devil is a very hard worker! And so are his followers! And this Moon-Beast is one of them!
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PHARISEE REGARDS HIS LIFE
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AS THE STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
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“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts… AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:18-23
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Just look at this judgmental 2nd-face Moon-Beast with his raised right eye-brow. He’s judging! He’s judging everyone else who does not measure up to his own standards, in those areas where he excels.
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You see, this 2nd Moon-Beast has set himself up as the standard of excellence, instead of Christ. He never judges others who have his own particular weaknesses. Oh no, no! But in the areas where he’s strong, these are the traits he judges the world by. After all, it’s no fun to scorn people who share “my” sins! It’s only fun to scorn the sins which are not so noticeable in “my” life!
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THE BIBLE IS THE TRUE STANDARD
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But if only this Pharisee would take his eye off others, and begin to look at his own self, in the mirror of the Bible, he might start to see that, in spite of his good qualities, he doesn’t measure up to the true standard, which is Jesus Christ.
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This is because, along with that good work ethic, and so on, he has some other qualities which are not so Christ-like. Besides being a hard worker, and neat and moral, Jesus was also patient, non-aggressive, kind, slow-to-wrath, gentle, humble, sympathetic to the needs and even the desires of others; qualities which this 2nd-face Moon-Beast does not possess.
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Quite the contrary, this Moon-Pharisee is subject to foolish-pride, fits of anger, judgmental-finger-pointing, impatience, selfish-opportunism, greed, sarcasm, lacking-in-sympathy, rudeness, and a host of other qualities which are normally associated with Satan’s character, and never with Christ’s. Yes, these are the sins associated with pride! Pride is the root, and these sins are the branches!
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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SOME SINS EASY TO SPOT
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Drunkenness, gluttony, laziness, and other of the lower passions are quite often, easy to spot in others. Cigarette smoke, or alcohol on the breath are a dead giveaway in discovering such addicts, who are given to those lower passions. A big belly speaks for itself, doesn’t it? An unmown lawn, or an unkempt house are the tell-tale signs, which this Pharisee Moon-Beast loves to shake his head at, as he looks down in scorn upon this less-than-moral world.
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But the sins of pride and greed are often applauded by society, and even looked upon as admirable traits. And so, the sins of foolish human pride, are quite often obscured to the general public because the Pharisees were usually, financially and socially successful people. Quite often, the Pharisees were the leaders of the community, and because of their success in society, they were often admired, and their impatience, judging, etc., were overlooked.
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ABOVE PICTURES:
Highbrow_drunkard- cropped image – wikimedia-share-alike-license.jpg
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CLEANLINESS IS QUITE OFTEN NEXT TO PHARISEEISM
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John Wesley is purported to have coined the phrase, “Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness”, which was earlier found in various writings, howbeit in a somewhat different form.
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Well, John Wesley was a great man of God, to be sure. But he really should have used the phrase, “Cleanliness is quite often next to Phariseeism”.
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While outward cleanliness is very nice, unfortunately, this Pharisee Moon-Beast is more concerned about outward cleanliness than with his own inward filthiness! Instead of reading the Bible for the cleansing of his own soul-temple, he merely studies his Bible for the purposes of debate and strife and doctrines which have little practical everyday relevance.
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Listen to the words of Jesus, from Matt. 23:25-27, concerning the Pharisees… “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
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The Pharisees were great at washing, very often! Just listen to Mark Chapter 7… “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.” Mark 7:3, 4.
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Hamilton Portrait of John Wesley-1703-1791
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FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE
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No doubt, if you have a chance to visit this Pharisee Moon-Beast, you will find his house swept and clean and in good order. And he will scorn all those whose houses are not clean and neat like his! If you see him walking through the mall, he looks great! But God looketh upon the heart of Man. And Jesus proclaims what is in the heart of Pharisees…
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“And He (Jesus) saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:18-23
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This Pharisee Moon-Beast has cleaned up himself outwardly. And yet, inwardly he remains in his sins. Unlike the 1st Moon-Face, this 2nd Moon-Face has little time or inclination to plead for God’s cleansing of his wretched heart. He’s satisfied to be outwardly correct.
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“GET OFF MY LAWN!”
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Well, time passes quickly, and this Evil-Eyed Scorner Pharisee Moon-Beast finally grows old! But not gracefully! No, this scorner becomes what is commonly referred to as a “Grumpy Old Man”! Yes, all his self-righteous pride, only becomes even more pronounced, as he reaches his twilight years! And he becomes more outspoken, more judgmental, and more difficult to deal with! Most people who know this scorner, walk on eggshells around him, so as to not get “both barrels” pointed at them! And if someone even accidentally steps on his lawn, he’s out there yelling at them.
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Solomon somewhat described this old Pharisee, by saying… “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them…when…the grasshopper shall be a burden,” Ecclesiastes 12:1, 5.
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Yes, this ungracefully aging Evil-Eyed Scorner finds even a tiny grasshopper jumping on his lawn to become a big problem!
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AMAZING (LACK OF) GRACE
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“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:22, 23
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This Pharisee-Scorner Moon-Beast knows very well that Salvation is by grace. And yet he secretly looks to his good works as if they will bring him glory, laud, and honor in the courts of Heaven. After all, they bring him glory, laud, and honor down here in the courts of Man!
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And you can never convince him that his Pharisee pride will forever banish him from Heaven. He knows that Salvation is by grace. But what he doesn’t understand is, that he has never become “born again”. The great sin of this Pharisee is that he has never received a “new heart”. And so, it is not this sin or that sin which will send him to judgment. But it is because his outward morality has greatly disguised the fact that he has never become truly saved. You could say, that the orderly and successful life of this Pharisee-Scorner is his own worst enemy! Because it is this outward goodness which deceives him into thinking that he’s Heaven-bound, when in fact, this Pharisee Moon-Beast is on the Broad Way to destruction!
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If you wish to read more on this subject of the Broad Way, just click this link… “Woman of Revelation 12 & The Narrow Way Stars”
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ABOVE PICTURE:
Flickr…trials and errors The Roads to Heaven and Hell, religious tract, ca. 1896 share-alike lic.
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FIRST THINGS FIRST
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“Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matt. 23:26
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As this above verse declares, fallen Mankind is more concerned with outward appearance than with the condition of the heart. And so often the Christian tries to clean up his or her outward appearance. But Heaven is totally concerned with the condition of the heart. And in the above verse, Jesus laid out the first duty of the Christian: to “first cleanse the inside of the cup.” 
And Jesus was speaking this commandment to the Pharisees, who were very clean and organized…outwardly. But Jesus is declaring what is truly the important work. Without Jesus, being neat and orderly is less than worthless!
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The church-goer needs to, as Paul put it… “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2nd Cor. 13:5.
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The church-goer needs to look into the mirror of the Bible, and do some honest self-evaluation of his or her life. And like Peter says, we must,“give diligence to make your calling and election sure:” 2nd Peter 1:10.
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mirror wikipedia public domain
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“DECEITFUL WORKERS”
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This Pharisee Moon-Beast prides himself for his good work-ethics. Just like King Nebuchadnezzar, this Moon-Beast pats himself on the back, so to speak, for all his own accomplishments.
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Listen to this… “The king [Nebuchadnezzar] spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30.
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Yes, this Moon-Beast, just like ol’ Nebuchadnezzar, takes full credit, and quite frankly, is quick to let others know that he is “no slacker!” Yes, he always seems to work this fact into his various conversations with others.
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But what he doesn’t realize is this: quite often, it is “the god of this world” who works within the unconverted of the world, giving them many counterfeit virtues! For one thing, being “the god of this world”, Satan, wants a well-run kingdom. He knows that his loyal citizenry must eat and live and even be happy, or he would soon have a rebellion on his hands!
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TO CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE, CLICK HERE… “MOON INTO BLOOD TRILOGY: 2ND BEAST (THE PHARISEE SCORNER)” CONTINUED
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‘7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion’
By admin On June 24th, 2011
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“I am crucified with Christ:
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nevertheless I live; yet not I,
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but Christ lives in me:
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and the life which I now live in the flesh
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I live by the faith of the Son of God,
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who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
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Galatians 2:20
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7 STARS IMITATE THE CROSS OF ORION
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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS
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This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours.
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It then begins a little earlier each night, and lasts for several months, until they both appear to lie down once again.
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This Wikipedia star-chart has this Orion Constellation sketched in.
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You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west.
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You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south.
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Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill.
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The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill.
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The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.
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These 3 stars require a dark night to see clearly.
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Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward.
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It stands upright a little later in the night.
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Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross!
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Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.
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When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!
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ABOVE PICTURE: The Cross of Orion – www.theheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial use
ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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7 STARS = 7 ANGELS of the CHURCHES
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7 CANDLESTICKS = 7 CHURCHES
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But notice that this following verse relates this constellation to God’s people…
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“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:
and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.”
Revelation 1:20.
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And though this passage seems to have been from a vision which John saw concerning God’s HEAVENLY sanctuary…
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…nevertheless, the EARTHLY sanctuary was a type and symbol of the heavenly, in which this 7-Flame Candlestick enlightened the earthly sanctuary (shown in this picture).
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theholyofholies- www.thebiblerevival.com -public domain
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CANDLESTICKS = CHURCHES
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But as Jesus spoke this prophecy, He revealed the true meaning of the earthly sanctuary, and how it actually pointed to the Church of God.
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Listen once again… “…and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20.
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Incredible! So God here is revealing an amazing revelation: that the 7-flame candlestick in the Old Testament Sanctuary Service was actually symbolizing the New Testament Church!
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Candlesticks of the Holy Place – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public-Domain
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IN SUMMER
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This sketch is of the Summer Constellations, when they are in the western skies.
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Sagittarius is in the south, and the 7 Stars (Big Dipper) is in the north.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Flower of the Field (aka: Scorpio) & Cross-Scepter (stars from both Serpens & Ophiochus) & The Glorious Crown (aka: Corona Borealis plus other stars) & The star: Arcturus & The 7 Stars (aka: The Big Dipper) – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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“COME, TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME”
Mark 10:21
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Jesus came to this Earth to give His life a ransom for many.
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But He also came to take up His Cross as the example of how we should also love one another.
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He was (and is) the living breathing Word of God, for all the heavens and earth to behold!
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And when His ministry was finished, He returned to Heaven.
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But He left instructions for the human family.
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And He says to us all… “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15.
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This concept is written in the heavens. God has placed the stars in such a way that tells this marvelous concept of lifting up the Cross of Christ: self-sacrificing love for Mankind.
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First, Orion, representing Christ, lifts up the Cross.
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Then, just a little later, the 7 Stars Constellation, representing God’s Church finally lifts up the Cross, seemingly in response to Orion’s prior example.
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These two constellations are the two brightest and most prominent constellations in the winter-night sky.
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And they represent the two greatest concepts of life: Christ and His Church.
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No, Christ’s true Church is not a particular denomination.
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But God’s True Church, is found wherever His individual true worshippers may be interspersed among the inhabitants of the world.
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST…
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“…how can we know the way (said Thomas)?
Jesus saith… I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
John 14:5, 6
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Jesus, in the above verse, is telling the world that the law found in the Bible, is fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and third Eternal One of the Godhead.
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Jesus came, not only to give His life in payment for Mankind, but also to present His spotless life as an example of how we are to live.
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Jesus Teaching His Disciples – Luke 4:31-32
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OUR DIVINE ROLE-MODEL
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But aside from the Way of the Salvation, His life was also an example of the Way for all to follow…
…”Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world:
he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the Light of Life.”
John 8:12
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LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES… Okay, so the above verse says we must follow Jesus.
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But how does a person follow Jesus?
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Listen… “Then said Jesus unto His disciples,
If any man will come after Me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross,
and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”
John 16:24, 25.
So, Jesus here tells us the way to follow Him: lifting up the Cross in our own life.
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Jesus Discourses with His Disciples James Tissot by Brooklyn Museum by – Wikipedia – public domain
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THE LIFE of CHRIST, THE PATTERN FOR OUR LIVES
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Jesus says… “I am…the life”.
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The life that we are to live has been shown to us, when Jesus came down to this lost world and walked among us.
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Not only did He give us a chance for new life, when He atoned for our sins, by His sacrifice on the Cross…
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…but He also gave Himself an example, that we should walk even as He walked.
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Listen… “I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ lives in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20.
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Paul is telling us that he is crucified from his old, selfish ways.
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And now, Paul tells us that Jesus is living out His life through Paul.
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Jesus became Paul’s life… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.
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These are the words of Paul, and these should likewise be the words of each of our own hearts as well.
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photo Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s Wikipedia US Public Domain.
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THE DAY OF THE LORD…
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So, the question to be answered is…“When is the Church going to imitate Christ?”
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God knows that His Church is not imitating Christ at this present hour.
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Satan has so loaded this society up with materialism (“Mammon”-see Matthew 6:24) and earthly cares and pleasures, that His Church has likewise become worldly-minded and distracted. 
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His people have become “double-minded”…
…”For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:7,8.
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As this verse states, many are double minded: stuck somewhere between materialism and the desire to become Christ-like.
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Photo: Goldkey logo removed. Wikipedia – US Public Domain.
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GLORIOUS SIGN!
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A HEAVENLY PARABLE… If you go out on a dark night and find the 7 Stars in this upright position, it looks very colossal.
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Just imagine this incredible Cross, towering high in the heavens.
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When you see this constellation as the uplifted Cross, it’s almost scary to behold!
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This heavenly parable should be an inspiration to God’s people.
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This God-given ensign should sober us up to the solemn responsibility that lies before us.
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It’s time to glorify the Lord.
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It’s time for Christ’s Bride to pour that costly spikenard upon her Savior.
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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses
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THE 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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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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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Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)
By admin On May 10th, 2011.
If you wish you may click here to read the long, unedited version of this article (12,000 words)
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THE NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY
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That world-shaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, picked up the theme of the Narrow Gate.
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And on his journey, this pilgrim entered into the Narrow Gate (The Strait Gate).
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But God has also given this same Narrow Way parable in the night heavens!
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Incredible? Yes, incredible…and amazing too!
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And though these two stars can hardly be considered a constellation…
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…but when sitting next to the two stars which comprise the Broad Gate, well, it makes a powerful statement, for the people of God.
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John Bunyan – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Pilgrim’s Progress Enters The Wicket Gate-Wikipedia public domain
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LOCATION
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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter.
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Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this entire heavenly Gospel story).
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Orion, the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).
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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch below).
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The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.
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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark).
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While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions.
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It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.
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The two doors are each composed of two bright stars.
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The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle.
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The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here).
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The Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan.
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The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about two-third the width of the Wide Gate.
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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS
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As the opening verse says…
…”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:
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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So. what are these two gates all about?
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And how can I choose the right door?
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Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.
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But before we explore these questions, let’s take a look at why these two sets of stars represent these two biblical gates.
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This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.
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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON
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This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours).
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In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter.
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The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation.
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Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness…
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…but these ideologies, in various ways, are not in harmony with, or add to the Bible, which is, of course, strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).
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On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle.
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The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God.
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Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
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THE TWO PATHWAYS
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“Thus saith the LORD; Behold,
I set before you the way of life,
and the way of death.”
Jeremiah 21:8.
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As this above verse declares, God has set these two pathways before each human.
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And each human must decide which door he or she will enter.
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Nobody born into this world has been overlooked.
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NOBODY!
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Listen… “[Jesus] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9.
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Now if this verse is correct (and it is), then Christ is the light that enlightens, “every man that comes into the world”.
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Even those who have lived in remote places, throughout history.
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Every person has a conscience. And every human must choose whom he or she will serve (though he may not specifically know various Bible names for God).
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This choice is what the Bible calls, “the way of life, and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21:8.
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JESUS IS THE DOOR TO SALVATION
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The Strait Gate (or The Narrow Gate) ultimately represents Salvation. Salvation is the free gift of God.
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It is only by God’s grace that a man, woman, or child can enter in to Everlasting Life.
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And that free gift of Everlasting Life was provided by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, some 2,000 years ago.
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But the Devil has tried his best to mislead the church-world down into the wrong path, via many false shepherds, who are merely, “wolves-in-sheep’s-clothing”.
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Listen to Paul’s warning to the Church… “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29
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And so, by such “grievous wolves” taking a set of verses out of context, false doctrines are formed, of which some have been accepted by the Church over the centuries.
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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JUST HOW NARROW IS THE NARROW GATE?
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There are many ministries which proudly proclaim the mantra, “The Narrow Way”.
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Now some of these may truly teach the Narrow Way!
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But, no doubt, many of these do not fully understand, just how narrow is the Narrow Way.
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Jesus told His Disciples, “I am the Way…” John 14:6.
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When His Disciples began to follow Jesus, Scripture states, “and they forsook all and followed Him” Luke 5:11.
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Now God is not necessarily calling for every Christian to sell all their belongings.
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But when the True Worshiper receives the Spirit of Christ, at that point, he or she begins to lose interest in the self-seeking amusements, attainments, and attractions of the world.
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The Believer slowly begins to desire the things of Heaven: agape love, purity, patience, Bible meditation, self-denial, gentleness, graciousness, etc..
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Like that popular song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…And the things of the world, will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.
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New york times square terabass – cropped image – wikipedia share-alike license
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BUT HOW NARROW IS NARROW GATE?
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But back to the Narrow Gate. We still haven’t answered this question.
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Just how narrow is it?
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Simply put, the Narrow Gate is only as wide as Jesus.
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In other words, we must ultimately die to self.
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Self will not fit through that Door.
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Only selfless Jesus fits through that Door.
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And as the Christian fully dies to self, he or she will be able to say with Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” Galatians 2:20
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THE PURITY OF JESUS
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The world is waiting to see Jesus in us.
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Anything that confuses or obscures Jesus, must be considered for the trash-heap.
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If ever there was a time for even the best of these diversions to be mingled into Christianity, that time is all but gone.
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And only those willing to cast away such things, for the sake of becoming perfected in Christ, before the onlooking world, will be used by God.
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Those who do, will be the New Testament fulfillment of Gideon’s 300 (see Judges Chapter 7).
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NARROW GATE STARS JUST TOO NARROW!
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One thing you will notice, upon locating this heavenly phenomenon, is that the Revelation 12 Woman is too large to fit through the Narrow Gate.
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So,” the question to be answered is this…
…How can she possibly fit through those Narrow Gate Stars, which appear much too narrow?”
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One great answer to this perplexing problem is this:
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When Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”…
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…His Disciples exclaimed, “Who then can be saved?”
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To this question, Jesus answered, “With men it is impossible. But not so for God: for with God, all things are possible”.
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This is the answer also to just how this Revelation 12 Woman will finally fit through that very Narrow Gate.
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“GO AND SELL WHAT YOU HAVE…”
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And so this concept of “forsaking all to follow Jesus”, is one of the most basic concepts found in the New Testament.
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This is what the children of Israel refused to do, for the most part, and fell in the wilderness as a result.
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“And when they had brought their ships to land,
they forsook all, and followed Him.”
Luke 5:11.
Here the Disciples of Jesus forsook all so that they could be Followers of Jesus.
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Peter reiterates this idea when talking with Jesus…
…”Then Peter began to say unto him,
Lo, we have left all,
and have followed thee.”
Mark 10:28
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Those who are deceived into thinking that Christianity is just something to merely complement their worldly existence and their earthly dreams, show that they do not understand the Bible.
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Jesus 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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This verse declares that Jesus is not looking for double-minded followers.
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He only wants those who are willing to live the rest of their lives in total service for Him.
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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage 1869 courtesy wikigallery.com public domain
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CHRIST’S LOVE: GREATEST ATTAINMENT
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God must think very highly of “Love”.
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Because He came into this world and laid down His life in order to share that love with a world held captive by selfishness.
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And He offers that love to anyone willing to strive for that love.
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But the kind of love which Jesus offers is so much greater than anything Mankind has ever yet known.
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And so this Revelation 12 Woman is heading straight for the Narrow Door which leads to love…and life…and to joy everlasting.
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And so, we are now able to see where we are heading…to the Narrow Gate…and into the Promised Land which lies just beyond that Narrow Gate.
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THE END
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
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“Lift up your eyes on high,
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and behold Who hath created these things;
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that brings out their host by number:
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He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might,
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for that He is strong in power;
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not one faileth.”
Isaiah 40:26
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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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 having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
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and in the moon,
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and in the stars;
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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
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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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The Dragon, The Beast & His Image & His Mark
By admin On April 11th, 2011Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size
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The Dragon, The Beast & His Image & His Mark
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“And he (The False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:”
Revelation 13:15, 16
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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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THIS ARTICLE DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS:
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1. THE CORRECT ATTITUDE TOWARD BIBLE PROPHECY
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2. SHORT DISCUSSION OF THE DRAGON, BEAST, AND HIS IMAGE & MARK
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REVELATION OF THE HEART…
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Do Bible prophecy seminars ever get discouraging?
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Does it seem like a lot of “confusing charts and numbers” and “this beast” and “that bug”, and this “newspaper clipping” and “Black Helicopters”, and “Secret Societies” and “dusty old history books”?
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Well, maybe some of these things are relevant, and probably most are not relevant. And even a few of these may be helpful in understanding Revelation.
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But if one simply lets Scripture define Scripture, and cling to that old mantra… “Sola Scriptura” (“Scripture Only”), biblical truth can be arrived at, which might not be as interesting or exotic as some interpretations. But to simply compare Scripture with Scripture, a correct interpretation can be arrived that points to “MY” own heart, as “the chief of sinners”.
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BIBLE POINTS TO JESUS & ME
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Correct Bible study, without the aid of other books (except a concordance, perhaps) will direct the student right back into more Bible study, instead of into other books, or newspapers, etc.. Because, daily Bible study, properly done, will ultimately lead to “My heart” as the real problem, and at “The Bible” as the only real solution to my problems.
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In other words, I know I’m on the right track if my Bible studies point the accusing finger at “My own sins”. True religion concerns “my” relationship with God.
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And while it might be very helpful to know a little of the history of the Church, just where does a person look to find the right history book? Satan has greatly confused the issue by writing conflicting histories. Depending on which history book one reads, determines what the reader will find.
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NO OTHER BOOK NEEDED
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Even though it may be a good thing to read history books, Bible prophecy is not dependent upon other books to correctly interpret those Bible prophecies.
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By use of a good Bible and a concordance, one can find all the truth necessary to properly understand Bible prophecy.
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Remember, the Apostles, such as Peter and John, were merely unlearned fishermen. And yet, because of their diligent seeking after the knowledge of Jesus, they became everything they needed to become.
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And is this not our purpose as well? To become totally Christ-like? But these two men had no science or history books; nor did they have newspapers, television or any such things!
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“THE BIBLE IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY”
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“…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
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Now to be sure, from the above verse it becomes evident that most all of the Bible is prophetic in nature. And it is virtually impossible to not read something prophetic, “…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
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From the account of Creation in Genesis, to the stories of the Judges and Kings, to Psalms and Proverbs, to the Gospels, we are either knowingly or unknowingly reading prophecies. So it’s virtually impossible to escape Bible prophecy, when studying the Bible!
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The story of Samson, for instance, is a prophecy about the Church in the last days.
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The story of Esther is prophetic, and is likewise about the Church in the last days.
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These stories and many more are the, “testimony of Jesus”, and are, “the spirit of prophecy”.
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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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ALL SCRIPTURE FOR MY HEART PURIFICATION
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But these also have a special application for the individual Christian as well.
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Listen to Paul, as he exhorts Timothy… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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So God is giving here, the very reason for any and every verse and story in the Bible: to build up His people! And though these various books and stories and testimonies are for the spiritual building up of the body of Christ, they are also filled with life lessons and moral guidance.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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MANY TURN PROPHECY INTO CURIOUS SCIENCE
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The problem with prophecy is, perhaps, this: all too often, many try to study prophecy for merely the intrigue of 
discovering future events. Such is the appeal to many who have only “itching ears”. They try to divorce Bible prophecy from the very purpose for which it was given: to spiritually strengthen the Church as well as strengthen the individual Christian.
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But true prophecy interpretation will always have this waymark…it is always, “profitable for… for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
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God is not trying to merely tickle our ears with exotic and intriguing conspiracy theories. The whole Bible is totally dedicated to transforming the Christian and the Church into the image of Christ. And Bible prophecy, if rightly interpreted, always accomplishes this same purpose.
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Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS DIVERT
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The great problem with trying to interpret prophecy by newspapers or history books is this: you will undoubtedly only end up with some nation or battle or historical figure or literal animal or mechanical device as the ultimate
interpretation.
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But on the other hand, when one uses only the Bible, then the student will hopefully end up with a spiritual interpretation, which will reveal sin righteousness and judgment, which will spiritually build up that Christian.
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Then, by studying the Bible only, the Student will interpret “locusts”, for instance, as God’s means of destroying the Christian’s love of earthy Mammon, instead of only seeing locusts as helicopters, etc..
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black helicopters – Wikimedia – US Army – Public Domain
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ALL PERSONS, PLACES, THINGS IN SCRIPTURE
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HAVE SPIRITUAL MEANING
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Now the point is, if the student wishes to understand what locusts represent, he doesn’t need to consult history books or newspapers. All he (or she) needs to do, is to look at how locusts are used in every other instance in the Bible.
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Locusts, scorpions, trees, mountains, lions, or nation, or any other biblical object or person or nation, each represent a spiritual concept, when used in the Bible.
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And so the student needs to explore just how any one of these are used in Scripture to rightly interpret that spiritual concept. And this is done by finding every Bible passage where that particular thing is mentioned.
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Tissot – The Plague of Locusts – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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ALL PROPHECY POINTS TO THE GOSPEL
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The one very important thing to remember, when trying to interpret Bible prophecy, is that there are basically four different aspects of the gospel, to which Bible metaphors are pointing: to Christ, to the Devil, to the Church, or to the individual Christian.
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In other words, all Bible prophecy is ultimately pointing to some aspect of the Gospel. So if a Bible prophecy student arrives at an interpretation concerning some non-biblical object, or historical event not related to the Church, then that student has probably used a newspaper or history book in addition to the Bible, and needs to get back to using the Bible only.
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black helicopters Wikimedia US Army public domain
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DON’T BE LED DOWN RABBIT TRAILS!
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“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16
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Now concerning this matter of, “which way the accusing finger should be pointing”: even though true religion says, “I am chief of sinners”, this is not to say that there is never a time to point out the sins and errors which Satan is bringing into the Church and into the world.
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Listen… “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1.
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The house of Jacob not only refers to the Old Testament Jews, but also to us. The Church of God also needs to hear that, “voice like a trumpet”, declaring to God’s people our sins.
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John the Baptist by Harold Copping www.wikigallery.com US public domain
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SELF-PURIFICATION PARAMOUNT
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But we don’t want to let Satan get us sidetracked. We don’t want to make a career out of finger-pointing, nor of side issues. And more often than not, Satan is usually trying to get us off and onto some “rabbit trail” in our Christian walk, such as looking at the sins of others, instead of “my own sins”.
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And Satan doesn’t mind if the Christian gets sidetracked by endless prophecy seminars, politics, conspiracy theories, Creation/Evolution studies, or perhaps endless music listening.
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Anything to keep the Christian from engaging in his or her own personal heart-purification (“And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3).
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SATAN PROVIDES MANY “RABBIT TRAILS”
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It’s not that it is bad to study prophecy. Bible prophecy is good if one does it correctly, applying it to his own
life. And a Creation/Evolution seminar, or listening to Christian music is OK. Just as long as the Christian keeps his or her Bible meditation and prayer-life in the forefront of each day.
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Everything else is optional… “I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” Psalm 119:162.
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This verse reveals what is to be our correct attitude toward God’s Word… “I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” The Word of God should be so precious to us, like a cool glass of water in a dry desert.
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Alice rabbit art brown Wikipedia US public domain
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“THE SADDEST WORDS…‘WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?'”
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In the previously quoted verse from Ephesians, Paul warns Christians to be careful how they use their time… “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15, 16.
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We need to be wise and not fools, concerning how we use our time. There are all sorts of Christian duties we can be doing. But are they what we really need?
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As the saying goes, “Keep the main thing the main thing”. The days are definitely evil! The purification of the soul, through hiding God’s precious promises in one’s heart is the work before us.
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Don’t be like Alice here in this above picture, going down a rabbit hole, where she should not have gone. Like Alice, many of us have wasted years going down such rabbit trails: politics, history books, science books, newspapers, endless prophecy seminars, etc., etc….A little bit here, and a little bit there, and before long, we’ve strayed far away from our personal devotions and prayer-life. Years may be lost, going down some rabbit trail!
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Juvenile-Alice-in-Wonderland-White-rabbit1-believed to be public domain
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PAUL’S CHIEF DESIRE
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Many people mistakenly believe that Paul’s chief desire was to evangelize others. Well that certainly was a great desire for Paul. But Paul had a much greater desire than merely evangelizing others. You see, it was Paul’s greatest desire to fully evangelize his own self!
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Listen to Paul’s own words… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of 
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8.
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Paul did not presumptuously imagine that, “he had already arrived”. Paul did not regard himself as, “home-free”. No, Paul took the opposite attitude toward his own Salvation.
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Listen again to his own words… “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12, 14.
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Now, chances are, you will seldom, if ever, hear this concept uttered from today’s pulpits. And small wonder! This kind of Christianity is perhaps, the greatest fear for Satan and his evil angels. And so, he has relentlessly tried to keep the lid on this Bible concept. And he will divert you in every other direction, in hopes of keeping you from searching the Bible to get to know who God is, and from keeping you from the work of heart-purification.
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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain
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“THY FIRST LOVE”
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Now this is not to say that we shouldn’t study prophecy, or do prison ministries, or hand out food baskets. But we must keep our focus on the main thing: to become thoroughly converted, into the likeness of Jesus.
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Listen again Paul’s confession… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
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Oh yes, Paul loved to evangelize. Yes, Paul loved to work for the churches. But Paul knew that his very own self-evangelism and Salvation was his first duty in life, and his utmost priority.
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Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain
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PURIFICATION OF THE HEART
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There is one duty which each and every Christian must engage in: the purification of the heart.
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Listen to the Apostle, John… “And every man that hath this hope (Christ’s Return) in him, will purify himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.
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Notice that John says, “every man”. He doesn’t say, “many men”, or even, “some men”. So this is the solemn duty of each and every Christian: to be purified, even as Christ is pure! And of course, to become totally Christ-like is what John is saying we must strive to become.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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But how do we engage in such a purification process?
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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License
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Listen to Jesus Himself explain… “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true G
od, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. So here is the secret of eternal life: to get to know and understand just who God and Jesus are.
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And listen as Jesus continues… “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.” John 17:17. So here Jesus reiterates the secret of sanctification: the Word of God, the Bible is the truth which sanctifies us.
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And just one more verse found in Psalm 119:11… “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” OK, so here are four passages which all agree with each other, presenting the same concept, howbeit in slightly different language.
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But enough said on this subject. If you wish to explore this subject, just click here… “How To Be Hidden in the Day of Wrath”
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Girl with a Bible – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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PROPHECY & HOW IT RELATES TO MY OWN LIFE
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This article concerning the “Dragon”, the “Beast”, the “Image of the Beast”, and his “Mark”, will not endeavor to explain all the heads and tails and various beasts involved. But this article will concentrate on just how do all these things relate to “Me”….to “My heart”. And just how can “I” escape all these things.
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Hopefully this brief study will point the reader in the right direction for further personal study. So please read on. (And this website has other articles, such as “Floodwaters of Psychology and Atheism of the False Prophet” which give further insight into these things.)
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A TIME TO LOOK OUT AT THE WORLD
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Now having said all this, there is a time to look out at the world, to see how and where prophecy is fulfilled.
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Yes, after the Bible student has done all his homework, and has discovered the true spiritual meaning of all the symbols of any particular prophecy: one can then look out and see how it is manifested in the world.
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For instance, when the Bible student studies the Bible to find the true meaning of the image of the Beast, then, and only then, can that student look out into the world, to see how it is manifested in the world. Yes, it is possible to look out at the world see how Satan is causing the world’s inhabitants to conform to his image.
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And now, because the spiritual meaning of the image has been rightly divided (correctly dissected), the true fulfillment seen in the world will be of great relevance and importance to the Believer. And as the reader continues in this article, this image will be discussed, a little later, as it is manifested in the world.
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THE DRAGON OF REVELATION 12
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“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Revelation 12:3, 4
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It is well established that this dragon is Satan… “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9
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This dragon is described as having, “seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” v. 3
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And so here in Chapter 12 is a brief description of Satan, and his rebellion against God and his war against Michael and against Heaven. And from reading the rest of the Bible, this arch-enemy of God is somewhat well established, as to his workings on Earth.
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THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST BEAST…
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“And I… saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten 
crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power… Revelation 13:1-3
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So who is this beast?
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Revelation Chapter 17 defines the various components of the beast. Listen… “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman (the apostate church) sits. And there are seven kings… And the beast that was… he is the eighth, and is of the seven (kings)…. And the ten horns…are ten kings…” Revelation 17:9-12 (condensed)
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OK, so from the above verse, it can be seen that this Antichrist Beast of Revelation 13 is much more than a mere person. This is a composite beast, composed of kings and kingdoms. And what are his kingdoms? Well, let’s get a further picture of who this Antichrist Beast is…
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ANTICHRIST IS THE WORLD
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“Wherefore come out from among them (unbelievers), and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:17, 18
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The above verse is pretty strong advice for Christians. And most probably don’t pay much attention to this advice, which explains why Christianity is in such trouble today. We are, as 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 warns against being “yoked together” with people of a different spirit.
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Just listen… “And every spirit that confesseth not…Jesus Christ… 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.
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At this point, someone would jump up and say, “You mean to tell me, that just because I’m not a Christian, that makes me an Antichrist?” OK, OK, so let’s explore this a little more, to find out why this is true.
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And furthermore, just why does 1st John call the Antichrist, “a spirit”? Listen again… “…that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world…” 1st John 4:3
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Amish Family Niagara Falls – cropped image – wikipedia – share-alike license
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THE BEAST WITHIN
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So what does the Bible have to say about the average citizen of this world? Listen to Ephesians… “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, THE SPIRIT that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle) in times past in the lusts of our flesh…” Ephesians 2:2, 3.
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So from these two verses it is now understood that the “antichrist” spirit dwells within the disobedient people of the world, as it has for thousands of years.
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Listen…“already is it in the world” Revelation 4:3.
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This was written in the 1st Century A.D. So it might be concluded from what has been discussed so far that the Antichrist Beast is merely comprised of the peoples of the world and their kingdoms and rulers. Unconverted Mankind! With the spirit and attributes of Satan! And so, that is why this Beast seems to be a duplicate of the Revelation 12 Dragon. Because the Beast is very similar to the Dragon.
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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public dom
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MY WICKED, WICKED HEART!
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“Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?” Job 18;3
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And what are the attributes of Satan as he manifests himself through Mankind? Here is a very interesting verse from Proverbs… “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 1. A proud look, 2. a lying tongue, and 3. hands that shed innocent blood, 4. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, 5. feet that be swift in running to mischief, 6. A false witness that speaketh lies, and 7. he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19.
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This above description almost sounds like your typical Hollywood movie, doesn’t it?
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But this is a picture of Satan. It is also a picture of Mankind! This is a picture of an Antichrist. These qualities exist in all of us, even though we aren’t necessarily aware that we possess these qualities within. This above passage declares the seven qualities which make up the kingdom of Antichrist: 1. Pride. 2. False ideologies. 3. violence against the innocent. 4. Evil thoughts and ungodly aspirations. 5. lust and greed. 6. deceitfulness. 7. War against the brethren of God.
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These qualities exist in the heart of each and every human being. Oh yes, they may lay dormant to a certain extent. But they are there in the human heart.
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File name: Academy Awards Ceremony- cropped image – Wikipedia-share-alike-license.jpg
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THE HEART IS TOTALLY EVIL!
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Just look at this next well-known verse found in Jeremiah, which describes the condition of the 
human heart…
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“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
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As we may already know, this verse is speaking about my heart, and about your heart. And it is even speaking about the hearts of the great men of the Bible!
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Listen to Paul… “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” Romans 7:18.
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Paul understood that it was only the grace of God and the in-dwelling of God’s Spirit of Holiness, which made him different from the world.
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Repin – Cry of prophet Jeremiah – www.wikigallery.org – US Public Domain
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PAUL, THE “CHIEF OF SINNERS”…
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The Apostle Paul knew what existed in his own heart. Just listen again to Paul’s testimony about himself… “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” Romans 7:18.
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Now this does not mean that Paul lacked the Spirit of Christ within. Oh yes, Paul was filled with God’s Holy Spirit! But he realized that should God withdraw His Holy Spirit from Paul…well…Paul would be just about as wicked as the most wicked person on Earth! Paul would be back to his old wicked ways, persecuting Christians. Paul knew that God and God alone is righteous.
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Hence, Paul could humbly proclaim… “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.” 1st Timothy 1:15
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Paul the Apostle-Artist-Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier- circa 1500s
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“BEASTS IN EPHESUS”
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Though Paul was no longer an Antichrist after his conversion, he was constantly in conflict with 
antichrists, as he proclaimed the Gospel… “If after the manner of men I have fought with BEASTS at Ephesus…” 1st Corinthians 15:32.
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Here Paul is speaking of those men who were opposing the Gospel in Ephesus. They were, “Antichrist Beasts”. As we know, “Anti” simply means “against” or “in place of”. These opposers of Paul were against the Gospel. Hence, Paul referred to them as beasts. But this verse also is very revealing as to why the Antichrist Beast is called a “beast”, instead of some other name. Because Paul was speaking of their behavior, and how they became like raging beasts.
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And of course, we sinful humans often behave like animals, don’t we? Maybe it could be said that we all have some of Antichrist within our own hearts. For more exploration into this subject, just click here… “Woman of Revelation 12, Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 2”
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St Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) Wikipedia US public domain
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NO FENCE-SITTERS!
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Now someone might say, “I’m neither for Christ or against Him. I’m neutral”.
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But to those, Christ says… “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad.” Matthew 12:30.
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There is no neutral ground. Either I’m working for Christ, or I’m working against Christ and for the enemy of Christ…Satan!
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THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST…
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“And he (the False Prophet) does great wonders…And deceives them that dwell on the earth… saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast… 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 13:13-15 (condensed)
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So from the above passage, it is seen that there will be some image that Mankind makes that will be able to speak. Could this passage be speaking of television? Of Internet? Of movies?
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If you think about it, the name “Television” is made of two Latin words…”tele” and “vision” which literally means “talking vision” or perhaps, “talking image”. Never before in Man’s history, was there ever such a thing as a “talking image.” Jeremiah 10: 5 speaks of idols (images) in this way…“They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not” (Jeremiah 10:5). The images (idols) of olden times were made of brass or wood or stone. The Bible refers to them as “dumb idols”. They couldn’t walk. They couldn’t talk.
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But the Bible speaks about the day when an image will have the ability to speak. That day has come. Television. Internet. Movies. These are all present-day “talking images”. Now because television is more or less mentioned in Chapter 13 of Revelation (i.e., “talking image”), makes it possible to pin-point this fulfillment of the image which is given power to speak.
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Above picture courtesy “The Bible Revival”. Download hundreds of free Bible Art at www.thebiblerevival.com public domain
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TALKING IMAGES NOW POSSIBLE
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“They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” Jeremiah 10:5.
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Here, Jeremiah is speaking of images. They can’t talk… they can’t walk… they can’t do good or evil. So back in Jeremiah’s day, the idols of wood and stone were rather harmless, in themselves. They couldn’t walk, talk, do good or evil. And because they cannot walk or talk or do good or evil, the Bible says… “Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” Jeremiah 10:5.
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But what if an image can talk…and walk…and do good and do evil. What is the inference? Then yes, we should be afraid of those images. Be very afraid!
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Worshiping idol – calf – Exodus 32 – thebiblerevival.org
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“AS MANY AS WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE IMAGE,
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SHOULD BE KILLED”…
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But in Revelation, the Lord presents to us a brand new concept. A talking image! An image that calls for the death of anyone who does not conform to the world. Well, of course, these medias are not calling for the death of Christians…yet. But don’t you see a growing animosity in society towards Christians?
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But even though there is not literal killing being encouraged by this talking image, there nevertheless is a fulfillment of this prophecy concerning “the killing” of those who don’t conform to the image. Because reading the KJV Bible carefully, notice that it says that Christians should be killed (see Revelation 13:15). It does not say they would be killed.
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So the crisis before us may start out with just the opinion that Christians are not worthy to live. At that point this passage will have been fulfilled, even though no blood will have yet been spilled. As a matter of fact, there is a growing number of citizens, living in the so-called “Christian nations” of America and Europe who believe that Christians are not worthy to live.
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“I DIE DAILY”
1st Corinthians 15:31
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But there is an aspect to this that should not be missed. When the three Hebrew boys refused to bow down to that image in Daniel Chapter 4, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Now history proves that Christians will die if they are thrown into a literal furnace. Just look at all the thousands of Christians who were burned at the stake during the reign of the apostate churches of Europe. Oh there may have been an exception or two. But for the most part, a Christian will be killed if he is thrown into a furnace.
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But these three Hebrews refusing to bow to the golden image were not killed. Why? because God was giving a picture of how God purifies His people in the furnaces of affliction.
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Burned at the stake – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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PURIFIED BY FIRE
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“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10. Scripture tells that God will sit as a purifier of the sons of Levi (His priests). And in the New Testament, God has made Christians to be a holy nation of priests… “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,” 1st Peter 2:9.
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So it is through fiery trials that Christians are to be purified, just as Malachi 3:3 says… “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3.
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Just as gold and silver are purified by fire, so also it is with Christians…“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10.
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Goldkey – logo removed – wikimedia – public domain
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CHRISTIANS TO DIE DAILY (TO SELF-WILL)
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But what does this have to do with being killed, as it states in Revelation 13? Listen to Paul… “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus…” 1st Corinthians 15:31.
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OK, so this passage not only addresses that Christians
die spiritually speaking, but right there in the same passage he refers to those “beasts” in Ephesus. It was through tribulation, that Paul died in the spiritual sense.
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Listen… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
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Paul invited the furnace of affliction. He knew that it was necessary to suffer for Christ, in order to become like Christ.
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Listen… “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:10, 11.
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So Paul here not only speaks of being made conformable to Christ’s death, but Paul also speaks of the, “fellowship of His sufferings”. Fellowship of His sufferings?!? We sure don’t hear much of that kind of talk in church these days, do we? On the contrary, we try everything we can to avoid any kind of suffering.
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So in conclusion, when it says in Revelation 13, that anyone who refuses to bow down to the image of the beast “should be killed”, it just may be speaking in the spiritual sense.
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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Furnace by G, Dore wikipedia US public domain.
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GOLDEN IMAGE A PICTURE OF SATAN’S RULE
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ON EARTH THROUGHOUT HISTORY
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Without making this study too complicated, it may suffice to merely say, that it is Satan’s attempt to control how Mankind thinks. Whether by totalitarian governments, or by false ideologies, or by temptation and vice, or by brainwashing and indoctrination.
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But as far as this image goes, today’s world is the perfect medium for Satan’s image of the Beast to reign and rule. More than merely a literal image, television, radio, Internet, and motion pictures, along with all the beautiful music orchestrated on these mediums, present the attributes of Satan in the most glorious and appealing manner. The music helps greatly to enhance and beautify sin. Listen to what this Bible passage has to say about an image that the whole world is commanded to worship…
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“…the king (of Babylon) made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the… province of Babylon…Then an Herald cried aloud… O people, nations, and languages…That at what time you hear the sound of… ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, you fall down…And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:1,4,5,6 (condensed for brevity & context).
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Notice that the golden image here has the dimensions of 60 cubits and 6 cubits? The only thing missing is the 600, and it would then be 666. There are many who believe the “600” is hidden within that very passage from Daniel. But that discussion will have to be for another day.
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For a more in-depth examination into the subject of music, just click here… “Running The Christian Race-Modern Music”
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Academy Awards Ceremony – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share Alike Lic.
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THE WHOLE WORLD WORSHIPS THE IMAGE
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This passage from Daniel in the Bible tells about a golden image in the likeness of the King of Babylon, (King Nebuchadnezzar, who by the way, was referred to as “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14.) Notice in this passage, the herald announces the warning to the entire world regarding the consequences of not falling down and worshipping the golden image…
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“Then an Herald cried aloud… O people, nations, and languages…That at what time you hear the sound of… ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, you fall down…And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
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This passage ties together very nicely with Revelation 13…
“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. Do you see the similarity between these two passages? Both images are to be worshipped…by all of humanity!
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TV, THE REAL PIED PIPER…
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The Bible says…“Be not deceived. Evil communications corrupts good character.” The world repeats this Biblical concept somewhat the same…“You are what you eat.” Either way, it comes out the same… “Garbage in…garbage out”, as the saying goes.
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Listen to Scripture… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.
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Don’t be deceived, dear Christian! If we think we’re too strong to be influenced by television, Internet, radio, etc… Don’t be deceived! It will change you and me ever so imperceptibly!… “Be not deceived. Evil communications corrupts good character.”
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IMAGE THAT SPEAKS IS MORE THAN JUST TELEVISION
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Now this concept about television being the fulfillment of Revelation, Chapter 13, which speaks of an image which speaks, is much more complex than merely television, or radio, or newspapers or Internet.
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The true image which is given power to speak is ultimately Satan and his evil angels, which have now been given power to speak in people’s minds, pretending to be the Holy Spirit.
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Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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TV, THE 24/7/365 TEACHER
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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 image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15
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And it doesn’t take much research to discover that television is constantly teaching, teaching, teaching! As the above verse speaks of an image to the beast, it should be remembered that an image is a reflection of something. This particular image is a reflection of the Antichrist Beast. And whatever a person focuses his attention on, is what that person will eventually become a reflection of. And that is why TV teaches; in hopes of changing us. It’s constantly teaching us how we should dress, what we should eat, how we should speak. It’s a 24/7/365 teacher!
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TV tells us how we should behave.
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What kind of cars we should drive.
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What kinds of houses we should live in.
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What kinds of people we should hang out with.
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What music is acceptable, and not acceptable. What kinds of ideologies we should believe. It even tells us why we should dislike serious-minded Christians. Television teaches us just what is fashionable, and what is no longer fashionable, what is politically correct, and what is politically incorrect!
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SATAN RAISES FANATICS
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“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” 2nd Peter 2:2
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And though television has a form of godliness, it nevertheless has engaged in a very subtle war against the Holy Spirit, since its conception. In other words, television doesn’t mind a Worldly Christian. Satan is not 
concerned about destroying a worldly-minded Christian. They are his greatest weapon against true Christians!
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But Satan has used television (and modern media) to engage in a very low-profile campaign against those who want to serve God with all their heart. By subtle mockery, and innuendos, Satan has carried on his attacks against the Faithful Followers of the Lord Jesus. And Satan has always raised up fanatics in order to stigmatize dedicated Christians. And TV faithfully does the Devils’ dirty-work of constantly exposing these fanatics, in order to turn off any public sympathy for wholehearted Christians. TV is Satan’s ultimate mind-control weapon.
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The above photo is David Koresh, whom Satan deceived and used to make a mockery of true Christianity. Satan uses such counterfeits to cast dirt upon sincere, dedicated followers of Jesus.
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David Koresh – wikipedia – US public domain
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“THEY (the peoples of the world)
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SHOULD MAKE AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST”…
Revelation 13:14
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Television is Satan’s Ultimate Mind-Control Device! It is a very powerful medium. The music, the lighting, the drama, the false goodness. Television, radio, etc., possess a powerful that is more than Mankind can resist. As one famous person once put it, “If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough, eventually people will begin to believe it!”
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And television, not only tells such lies 24/7/365, but also dresses up those lies, making them very appealing.
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THE IMAGE WITHIN MY HEART
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But what does this have to do with “Me” making an image to the Beast? After all, I’ve never even carved one single statue in my lifetime! But wait! If my character becomes conformed to the qualities which our modern-media society compels us to conform to…then I become an image…and image to the beast…and ultimately, into an image of Satan, though to a lesser degree! In a very real sense, I have carved an idol in my heart!
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So now it begins to be seen that this image is much more than just television. It has to do with just who is sitting upon the throne of my heart. Whoever a man, or woman, or child gives homage to; and the modern media is all about character. Satan’s character!
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Just listen… “And (the False Prophet) deceiveth them that dwell on the earth…saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast…” Revelation 13:14.
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Notice that it says here that the people of the world are commanded to, “make an image to the beast”. Now obviously, not every person is making a television, are they? But those in the world who are being conformed to the image of the Beast are making an image, right in their very own heart!
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For more detailed information on the this topic, click here… “Television and The Image That Speaks”
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“VALLEY OF DECISION” IN YOUR HEART…
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The battle between good and evil is the battle for control of the mind. And whatever a person gives over his mind over to, becomes the ruler of his or her heart. The Bible says…
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“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (earthly), but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds…casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”2nd Corinthians 10:4, 5.
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VALLEY OF DECISION
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As this verse says, the spiritual battlefield is the mind. The goal of God is to regain complete control of the hearts and minds of humans. Satan’s goal is to pollute the mind, thereby retaining his control over the human race. We think of Armageddon as a time when all the world will be at war: black helicopters, and war machines, etc.. But the Bible says it will be something vastly different. Listen… “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14
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Here we see that the valley of that great battle that involves the entire world will take place in the, “Valley of Decision” ! It’s not a physical valley. It’s in a person’s heart.
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Listen to this next verse… “(Jesus said) 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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Christ will indeed literally appear on the last day. But when a person comes to the Lord, there begins a battle between the two opposing kingdoms. Satan strives to retain his control over that person. God strives to prepare that person heart, so as to overcome. The true worshipper will definitely overcome Satan and the mesmerizing allurements of this world.
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The above picture is of the Valley of Decision Constellation group. If you would like to read more on this subject, you may go to “The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation”
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“HOLY WAR”…
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John Bunyan the writer of that incredible allegory, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, which shook much of the world back in the 1600’s, also wrote a very popular allegory, “Holy War”. This allegory capitalizes on this idea that the war between Christ and Satan is engaged within the mind of humans. Should you care to listen to this audio book online, just click this following link… “Holy War” by John Bunyan
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John_Bunyan – wikipedia – public domain
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SATAN AN ANGEL OF LIGHT?!?…
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But let’s get back to the question of, “just what are the attributes of Satan?” As we read Scripture, we find that Satan’s qualities are Pride, Violence, False Science, Dishonesty, Lust, Greed, Hatred, and a Form of Godliness.
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Now, you might be wondering how, “a form of godliness”, could be one of Satan’s qualities. Satan knows that if he only had evil qualities, he would blow his cover, so to speak. So in order to deceive the world, Satan must work under a cloak of false humanitarianism.
“…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 11:14, 15.
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You have probably heard that old saying… “Mice will never eat poison unless it’s mingled with 99% oatmeal”. So also, Satan could never deceive the whole world unless he mingles lots and lots of “good things” in with his poisonous ideologies.
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TV MAKES SIN LOOK ATTRACTIVE
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Television and motion pictures are a perfect illustration of how Satan cloaks his evil with a thin coating of “goodness”. For instance, just look at a typical show. You might see many s
cenes filled with violence, revenge, lust, greed, etc.. But all he has to do is to give the heroes some good qualities, good looks, and add some violin music, make the “bad guy” really, really bad…and we all, “buy it…hook, line and sinker”. Don’t we? Sure we do! Listen to the Book of Revelation…
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“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, WHICH DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD…” Revelation 12:9. Notice in this verse that the Dragon deceives the whole world? This entire “World System” in which we live, is the “Kingdom of Satan”.
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This entire world, the Bible refers to as Babylon… “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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Not only does this passage speak of Satan as the god of this world; but it speaks of his purpose of keeping the image of Christ from shining in Mankind’s hearts. And images are what we’re discussing here at the moment, isn’t it?
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Poster – Gone With the Wind – US Public Dom – Wikipedia
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THE MARK OF THE BEAST…
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“And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16,17
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This is perhaps the most widely discussed topic of the Bible. And perhaps the most misunderstood. And though we don’t fully understand all the ramifications of this fearful concept; we do have some Scriptures which shed some light on the subject.
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For instance, this following verse in Exodus helps see that the Mark is to distinguish between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. This comes from the section in Exodus when God was pouring out His plagues on the Egyptians…
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Listen… “Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle… there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.” Exodus 9:3, 4 (condensed)
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Mark of the beast pub. dom. Wikipedia
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THE GRIEVOUS SORE OF SIN…
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Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle… there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children’s of Israel.” Exodus 9:3, 4 (condensed)
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Even though this above verse speaks of cattle during God’s pouring out of plagues upon Egypt, it is a metaphor concerning the plagues to be poured out in these last moments of time.
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Listen… “And the first angel went, and poured out his vial (of God’s wrath) upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Revelation 16:2.
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Notice the similar language in these two passages. And by comparing them, one begins to get a more complete understanding of just what is the Mark of the Beast all about.
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THE MARK OF CAIN
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So is there any other passage which helps us understand just what is this Mark all about? Yes, the passage in Genesis regarding Cain. God placed a “mark” upon him after he murdered his brother… “And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” Genesis 4:15.
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Cain of course, murdered his righteous brother Abel. And so God put a mark on Cain’s forehead to set him apart, and keep him safe, lest anyone should kill Cain. So too, the people of the world are under the same condemnation as Cain. We have been guilty of the murder of God’s Son. And we are now the enemies of God, and of God’s people.
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LEPROSY
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Is there any other passage which might shed more light on this Mark? Yes! The following verse from Leviticus presents a concept that most theologians agree, represents sin…“When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy;” Leviticus 13:2.
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Let’s combine this with the following verse… “For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease…For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 37:18, 38: 18. So the Psalmist is speaking of the, “disease of sin”.
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Leprosy was a cancerous growth on a human which spread on his or her body, and was very contagious. Leprosy was a picture of the malignancy of sin. And so these seemingly unrelated subjects in Scripture were in reality, all about the Gospel… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17.
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Here is seen that all Scripture is profitable for the heart-purification of the Christian. And Jesus proclaimed that the Scriptures testified of Jesus. And so does this passage, as well.
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Leprosy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“MARK THEM”…
Romans 16:17
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Now, how does all this relate to the Church of God? Listen..“Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17, 18
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And so here we have the crux of the problem, within God’s house. There are, “pretenders”, within the Church, who still seek after selfish pleasures. They, “serve their own belly”. But even more than this, they deceive, “the hearts of the simple” (they deceive those who are not mature in Bible knowledge).
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Listen to this next verse…
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“Brethren, be followers together of me, and MARK THEM which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often…that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly… who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in Heaven;” Philippians 3:17-20 (condensed)
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So not only are we to mark them that, “serve their own belly, causing divisions and offenses”; but we are to also, “mark them”, who walk as Paul and the other godly disciples walked. This last verse also speaks of the false brethren, “who mind earthly things”. Let’s explore that with this next verse…
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“…and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.” 1st John 4:4, 5.
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Did you notice that this verse about antichrists says here that, “they are of the world…and the world hears them”?
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“EVERY MAN THAT HAS THIS HOPE…PURIFIES HIMSELF…
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So an antichrist is merely someone who is of the world; just your average worldly-minded individual. He might be a mechanic…or a teacher…or…a bus-boy at a restaurant. But what is the difference between this, “worldly person”, and a, “True Worshipper”?
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Listen again…“I beseech you therefore, brethren…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2
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So this above verse tells us that we must be, “transformed by the renewing of your mind”. But how can such a thing be accomplished in such a wicked heart as mine?
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The next passage offers help… “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;” Colossians 3:16.
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“A NEW HEART ALSO, WILL I GIVE YOU”
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So it is by placing the Word of God in our hearts, and becoming transformed by that Word into a new creation. Listen to this next passage… “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 it is seen here that God gives a new Believer a brand new heart. Now that Christian begins to develop new desires and new aspirations. Heaven now becomes the focus of the new Christian. Earthly desires fall away. Spiritual things become all-important.
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So we see that it is God, “who works in us, to give us a new desire, and the ability to do of His good pleasure”. Philippians 2:13
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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IMITATE THE SAINTS, NOT VENERATE THEM!
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“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” Job 32: 22
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The commandment from God to separate one’s self from ungodly influences (as far as possible) must not be underestimated, as to its importance in overcoming the world. And never before in history has there been such an array of evil influences to corrupt the Christian’s purity. Modern technology has brought the worst of the worst into our very own living rooms. and even into ours and our children’s bedrooms. Sodom and Gomorrah has now been brought into our homes, via TV, radio, Internet, etc.. And so it seems that this matter of separation has become the defining issue of our times. It appears to be the great test for Christians in this hour of testing, which is coming upon the entire world.
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“Am I willing to give up all those secular, and atheistic programs and music, which are on television, radio, Internet, etc..? Am I willing to instead, surround myself with things which are sacred and holy? Am I willing to be like Jeremiah, the prophet? Am I willing to immerse myself in God’s Word, and in prayer?”
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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM”
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Just listen to the testimony of Jeremiah… “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy hand: for Thou hast filled me with indignation.” Jeremiah 15:16, 17,
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Jeremiah had to separate to a certain degree from the company of the apostate Jews, even though they claimed to be Believers. Jeremiah loved God’s Word. It was the joy and rejoicing of his heart. The Jews did not. They were too enamored with the world, and its pleasures and pursuits. Jeremiah knew the importance of coming, “out from among them and be ye separate”. 2 Corinthians 6:17
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There are those who would like to venerate the Bible saints, such as Jeremiah or Paul, placing them on pedestals. But the fact is, these men were raised up by God to be role-models for the Christian world. We are not to venerate them. We are to follow their godly example in our own lives. And by so-doing, the Christian will not ‘win any popularity contests’ in the world. But he or she will definitely ‘win a popularity contest’ with Heaven, and all its host.
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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain
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THE FALSE PROPHET
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“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” Revelation 13:11
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So many of us are still trying to hang on to this world, while attempting to serve Christ. That rich young ruler represents us! Remember him? He asked Jesus what was still lacking in his life.
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And Jesus answered… “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come and follow Me.” (see Matthew 19:16-30).
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We are heavily invested in this world, aren’t we? We would like to be able to pursue Heaven, and yet still seek after the things of the world. But it just won’t work!
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Just listen to what Jesus has to say about this… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.
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Even though we Christians all profess to have forsaken the world…Christ knows. He searches the heart and mind of each, “professing Christian”.
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MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
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We have all been deluded by the, “False Prophet”, of Revelation 13. He comes to us through those in the Church who, by word or example have urged us on to a worldly life-style. Perhaps even you or I have been guilty of presenting a false idea to others, of just what it means to be a Christian. Perhaps we have misled others into believing that we can be both Christ’s… and be worldly-minded at the same time. Even by our ungodly behaviour…our foolish talk and jesting.
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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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“ALL THINGS ARE NOW READY”
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“Then said he 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.” Luke 14:16, 17
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If we have, then we need to repent before it’s too late! There is an end to all this, you know. The day is coming in which the doors to that wedding supper will be closed…
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“And Jesus…said…The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son…But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise… ‘The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye’…So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” Matthew 22:1-10 (condensed).
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So this parable tells just what the problem is: many will not enter in because they are just too busy in the world. This picture to the right from Matthew Chapter 25 of the 5 Wise & 5 Foolish Virgins, should be a great encouragement to get ready. If we think that time is far off, we will be deceived.
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“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…Ye that put far away the evil day,” Amos 6:1, 3.
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The Lord has warned His people many, many times in Scripture, to be ready… “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37
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five wise virgins Matthew Ch. 25. www.thebiblerevival.com public domain
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“NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT”…
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There remains one great big point to all this. The Bible speaks of those who receive the, “Ma
rk of the Beast”. It states… “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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In the above verse, the word “rest” is the very same Greek word as is translated “rest” in this next verse… “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
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So here we begin to understand just what type of “rest” is missing in the lives of those who receive the Mark of the Beast. They have no rest unto their souls. And those of us who have suffered the torment that Satan can bring upon unbelievers can well testify of heavy burden that a life without Christ can bring.
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NO UNDERGROUND TORTURE CHAMBERS
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Here is another companion verse… “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22. Contrary to popular belief, God is not this ruthless tyrant that endlessly tortures the world’s inhabitants for time and eternity, as most Christians believe. You can rest easy about your unsaved grandparents. They won’t be tortured and tortured endlessly.
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These heresies are the product of bad Bible study and the vain traditions of misguided men (and women). This lack of “rest” is what the unsaved must endure on this present Earth, because they refuse to, “come follow Jesus”.
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“The smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever”, simply because this present earth will be a lesson-book for all eternity, for all the host of the heavens. Only in that sense does, “the smoke of their torment ascends for ever and ever.”
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So this never-ending ascending smoke speaks of the glory that will follow this unhappy experience called Planet Earth, as we become eternal witnesses to the woe and misery which sin brings.
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For more on this subject please link here… “The Mark of the Beast–They Have No Rest Day Nor Night”
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“A MARK IN THEIR RIGHT HAND OR IN THEIR FOREHEAD”…
Revelation 13:14
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“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be, as frontlets between thine eyes.” Deuternomy 6:6-8
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So we have a command from God… “Bind the Scriptures in your heart. Bind them as a sign on your every transaction of daily life. Love God’s Word. Live God’s Word. Eat them. Sleep them. Let God’s Word so fill up your mind, that they emanate from every pore of your being, as a fragrant incense that rises heavenward.” Let Jesus shine forth in your every thought, word, and deed!
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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia
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THE “HEART”; “TREASURE CHEST OF THE MIND”…
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But the problem is, that most people don’t wish to make the Scriptures the all-consuming desire of their life. And so by refusing to fill their “treasure chest” of their heart with, “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”; and contrariwise, filling up this “treasure chest” with the false wisdom and the folly of this world. And there is no third alternative. It’s one or the other. It’s either the Word of the Son of God, or the words of, “the god of this world”, Satan.
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And so this verse about God’s Word being bound upon the hand, and as frontlets between the eyes, is merely a metaphor that God is trying to convey. This metaphor is urging us to have our hands dedicated to the work of the Gospel.
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And as for those frontlets…they remind us that our mind should be filled with God’s Word, which will radically change the way we view the world.
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THE ARK = THE HEART OF GOD…
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This sketch is of the Lord’s Summer Constellations. It portrays the Ark of the Covenant as a treasure chest, as it spills out its magnificent treasure: a diamond-studded scepter. A bright and beautiful star. A precious jeweled crown. And inside this Ark-Treasure-Chest is a mysterious star. These are the treasures sought by the True Worshippers of God, (represented by this woman with outstretched arm).
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This Summer Group is a picture of what’s in the heart of God. And it’s also a picture of what should be in the heart of every “True Worshipper” of God: the precious treasure of God’s Word as it translates into a life of self-sacrificing Love; Love for God. Love for God’s Bride, the Church. And loving sympathy for a fallen planet in rebellion against the government of Heaven.
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GOD’S PEOPLE ARE AS PRECIOUS JEWELS
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And since we’re speaking of precious jewels, it may be well to leave off this brief discussion with the following verse…
“And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Malachi 3:17, 18.
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This verse nicely dovetails this ‘precious jewel’ concept with this Mark of the Beast concept. This passage seems to indicate that the day is coming when the Believers, and the “Make-Believers” will be distinguishable from one another. And God’s people will be as, “the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.” Zechariah 9:16
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Necklace of the Stars Wikipedia share-alike license
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
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Flower of the Field Constellation
By admin On April 3rd, 2011
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“THE GLORY OF MAN,
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AS THE FLOWER…
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FALLS AWAY”…
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1st Peter 1:25
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Wilted Rose – Wikimedia – public domain
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION
You may also read a series of shorter articles. Just click here… “March 19th (As the Flower of the Field!)”
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“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS”
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“All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof
is as the flower of the field…
surely the people is grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades:
but the Word of our God shall stand for ever.'”
Isaiah 40:3, 6-8 (Condensed).
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This is the voice of “one crying in the wilderness“, proclaiming to us of the “vanity (meaninglessness and futility) and vexation of spirit” of this fallen world…
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…that is, he proclaims to the world of the worthlessness and destruction which results from a life void of the love and simplicity of Christ.
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Photo – Flowers in a field – Wikipedia – share-alike license. Click for link.
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION…
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(LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION…)
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This constellation can best be seen in spring through summer in the southern sky just above the horizon.
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Like all constellations, it slowly moves westward through the months, appearing a little earlier each night.
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It also appears to move through the sky westward each night.
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It can be easily seen under most any degree of darkness. In other words, you don’t need a very dark night.
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In this sketch, the ‘Flower of the Field’ Constellation `is in the lower part of this chart, directly under the Cross/Scepter Constellation.
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This constellation presents one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture (of which there are many!).
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And yet that Scripture presents one of the most repugnant concepts (which unsaved Mankind has tried to elude for millenniums).
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And that concept is, that Mankind is like the grass that withers, and his glory as the wildflower that fades away.
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But God’s Word and those that love it will go on for ever and ever!
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Revelation 12 Woman (aka: Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) – Flower of the Field (aka Scorpio, etc…) – Cross-Scepter ( stars from Ophiuchus and Serpens) – 12-Star Crown (Corona Borealis plus several other stars) Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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“THE FLOWER FADES…BECAUSE…THE LORD BLOWS UPON IT…”
Isaiah 40:7
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If you go out in the s
pringtime, your lawn may be full of those pesky little yellow flowers commonly known as Dandelions.
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The Dandelion does well for a short time.
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But in a short time, that little flower of the field dies.
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This reminds us of the Bible verse at the top of the page where it says…
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“The grass withers, the flower fades:
because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it:
surely the people is grass.”
Isaiah 40:7
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The Bible compares the Spirit of God to wind.
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If you notice in the sketch of the Summer Constellations, the Flower of the Field Constellation appears as a flower bent, as if the wind is blowing on it; a wind from the east…
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But of course, the flower of the field is rooted in the earth.
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It cannot go with the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit!
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It forever clings to the earth and eventually passes away, returning to the dust of the earth!
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And so, it is with lost Mankind!
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Photos of yellow dandelion courtesy share-alike lic. Click here for link.
Dandelion_sun – Wikipedia & avmaier – Share-alike license
Child & Dandylion – Wikimedia – public domain
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“IN THE DAY OF THE EAST WIND”
Isaiah 27:8
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In the sketches below, the flower is bending westward.
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It’s as if an East Wind is blowing this Flower of the Field westward.
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Scripture speaks a number of times about the East Wind…
…”Should a wise man utter vain knowledge,
and fill his belly with the east wind?”
Job 15:2
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So here is seen a concept of which this Flower Constellation presents.
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God purposely allows hard times to fall upon those whom He wishes to save…
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LISTEN…“Because My people hath forgotten Me,
they have burned incense to vanity…
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy;
I will show them the back, and not the face,
in the day of their calamity.”
Jeremiah 18:15, 17.
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This passage is not concerning some other people.
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No, this passage concerns both you and myself!
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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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ARCTURUS LEADS HIS HEAVENLY ENTOURAGE…
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“The win
d blows where it desires,
and you hear the sound thereof,
but can not tell from where it comes,
and where it goes:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8
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It can’t help but be noticed that the two birds are flying toward the west: the same direction the flower is bending.
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The above verse from John 3:8 says that those who are ‘born again’ will move in the same direction as the Spirit blows.
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MAN’S FADING GLORY
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“As for man, his days are as grass:
as a flower of the field,
so he flourisheth.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone;
and the place thereof shall know it no more.”
Psalm 103: 15, 16
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The above verses are basically giving the same concept as the verse from Isaiah at the top of this page.
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Mankind is like the grass that withers.
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Man’s glory is like the flower of the field that withers.
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The “Two Turtle-Doves” Constellation is following “Arcturus”.
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This “Flower of the Field Constellation” on the other hand is being blown by the wind of this heavenly entourage, which entourage is spoken of in Job…
…”Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?”
Job 38:32.
But the flower represents the glory of Mankind. It is a fading flower. It withers and dies.
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Listen to Isaiah, as God speaks of the world…
“But we all are like an unclean thing
and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags
and we do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities,
like the wind have taken us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
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Here again in Isaiah, this same concept is repeated.
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But this time it is referring to God’s people… “we do fade as a leaf”, because of our sins.
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Below are more verses about sinful Mankind fading…
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Lawn_daisy Tony Wllis & Wikipedia – share-alike license
Jean_François_Millet_(French,_1814-1875),_Dandelions,_1867-68 – Wikimedia – US public domain
MARTIN_John – The Great Day of His Wrath – Wikipedia – US public domain
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MANKIND POINTS HEAVENWARD
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As this Wikipedia star-chart shows, the flower appears to be pointing to Arcturus and the Revelation 12 Woman.
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As this flower represents the glory of Mankind, then the obvious message is this: even Mankind ultimately points to Jesus, because all Mankind eventually withers and falls away.
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And as humanity considers how fragile life is, then by their own sinfulness, and sadness and hopelessness, they unwittingly praise the Lord…
…”Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”
Psalm 76:10.
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So the sinfulness of Mankind praises the Lord.
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Thus, the following Psalm then begins to make sense…
…”Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 150:6.
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So then, we could possibly say, that it’s virtually impossible for any creature not to praise the Lord.
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Romans makes this concept clear… “…our unrighteousness commend(s) the righteousness of God” Romans 3:5
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So now it begins to make sense why this flower (which represents Mankind) is pointing to Arcturus (which represents Christ) as He leads this procession of constellations Heavenward (which represent His followers).
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Revelation 12 Woman (aka: Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) – Flower of the Field (aka Scorpio, etc…) – Cross-Scepter ( stars from Ophiuchus and Serpens) – 12-Star Crown (Corona Borealis plus several other stars) Arcturus Star – www.theheavensdeclare.net
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WHY IS THIS MAN POINTING DOWNWARD?
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So then, it’s virtually impossible for any creature not to praise the Lord.
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Romans makes this concept clear… “…our unrighteousness commend(s) the righteousness of God” Romans 3:5
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For instance, the atheist, as he grows old and sad and hopeless, only makes Christianity look that much more appealing to those who are questioning and searching which direction to go in life!
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Those who are deluded by atheism are often tormented by nightmares of eternal blackness and nothingness, and hopelessness!
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But so often, the atheist will put on his or her best face, when out in public, so as to hide the fear inside.
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It really shows how atheism can eventually immerse a man (or woman) in hopelessness and despair, and all the more as they (and their loved-ones) grow nearer and nearer to the grave.
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Listen… “(Humanity), through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:15
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And of course, atheism only makes Christianity that much more appealing, as we see what that hopeless alternative called atheism really looks like!
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So please come and explore how this constellation relates to Mankind…even to you and to me!
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First let’s go to Isaiah, to hear the Word of the Lord…
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Charles Darwin – by John Collier (artist) – www.wikimedia.com – Public Domain
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FLOWER CONSTELLATION BOWS DOWN…
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AUGUST 28TH, 2011
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It has become apparent, on this date, that as summer draws to a close, this “Flower of the Field” “Constellation appears to bend almost completely down.
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This occurs as it travels into the western skies.
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It somehow rotates in order to produce this effect.
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This is a very wonderful phenomenon…and biblical too!
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After all, the Bible says “the grass withers and the flower falls away”.
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And that’s exactly what this flower constellation seems to do.
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It almost seems to be bowing itself…in the direction of that bright and beautiful star, “Arcturus” (which represents Jesus).
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This would make sense. After all, Scripture states…
“…unto Me (the Lord),
every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear…”
Isaiah 46:1-4 (condensed)
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EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW
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Here, God is saying that the gods of this world will eventually fail.
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They will eventually bow 
under the heavy burden of sin and its destructive results.
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But the world will eventually suffer to the point, that every man, woman, and child will bow the knee to God.
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Confessing that Jesus is truly Lord.
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And we will bow and confess that we were wrong to have ever rebelled against God’s government.
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“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.
So it says here that “EVERY knee shall bow”.
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HOPE FOR MANKIND…
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We are born into this world and we grow until we are about 21 years old.
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But by 35 we have noticeably deteriorated.
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We’re like that flower of the field that begins to lose its petals.
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Another 10 years pass, and we have lost more petals.
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By the time we reach 60 years, we’ve lost most.
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And so goes the dying process in a human.
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Then we die. And someone else is born, and we are like the grass that is mown down…
…”He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass…
They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him;”
Psalms 72:6,9
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Is that all there is to life?
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We became like the grass that is soon cut down.
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Our glory is like that fading flower.
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But it doesn’t need to be that way. God has given us the “fountain of youth” so to speak.
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That fountain is found in the Bible…
“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17
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For more on this subject, you can go to Part 2 by clicking this link… “Flower of the Field, part 2: All is Vanity”
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Picture on Christian Bible Devotion – Wikipedia – US public domain
Maes – Old_Woman_Dozing – Wikipedia – public domain
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“SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (SHALL) ARISE”
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“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
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And so it is high time that we turn our faces to the Sun of Righteousness; to Jesus, the Giver of Eternal Life.
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Let’s drink in those rays of golden Son-light.
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Let’s be like these sunflowers as they drink in the life-giving properties of the Sun.
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Sunflowers – Wikipedia – 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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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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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 having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
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and in the moon,
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and in the stars;
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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
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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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Orion the Soldier (Armor of God)
By admin On March 12th, 2011.
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ORION THE SOLDIER
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The pagan cultures saw this incredible constellation as a hunter, with a club.
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Well, they weren’t too far off. Actually, God created it to appear like a soldier. This is because all nature presents aspects of the Gospel.
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Listen… “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1.
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And so now we are amazed to discover that beyond the awesome grandeur of the starry night-heavens, God has actually written the Love of God upon the heavenly scroll!
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Orionurania wikipedia public domain
Orion Constellation at Eagle Ridge
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7 MAJOR STARS OF ORION…
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Orion Constellation can best be seen all winter (but even in August in the pre-
dawn hours of morning in eastern skies) traveling east to west through the night, in mid-sky.
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To find the seven major stars of Orion (one star on each shoulder and one star on each foot, plus the three stars which make his belt), you can locate on just about any clear night regardless of the blackness of the night.
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To find Orion’s other stars, you need more star-visibility…a darker, moonless night, and possibly away from city lights.
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Orion wikimedia share-alike license
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THREE VERSES CONCERNING THE ORION CONSTELLATION…
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“God…Which makes Arcturus, ORION, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.” Job 9:9
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“Can you … loose the bands of ORION?” Job:38:31
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“Seek Him that makes the Seven Stars and ORION…The Lord is His name.” Amos 5:8
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A SHORT “ARMOR OF GOD” STORY
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“OH SINNER MAN, WHERE YA GONNA RUN TO?”
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About 40 years ago (being a brand new convert from atheism), I was going through terrible 
satanic attacks.
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I was…uh…a Christian, but only because Satan had burst my ‘atheism-bubble’, by revealing himself to me.
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But I wouldn’t really call myself a ‘true worshipper’ yet.
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Maybe I could just be labeled as… an ‘atheist-who-just-met-the-Devil’.
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And it seemed that my Judgment Day was now at hand.
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The Devil was sending me through terrors beyond belief.
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Oh yeah, I was praying for help.
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But it was like, God was not listening.
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Heaven was like brass (see Deuteronomy 28:23).
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During these months my theme song could easily have been that old tune…”Oh Sinner Man”.
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You know the song… “Oh sinner man where ya gonna run to …all on that day.” (Click this link to hear)
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This following Bible verse seems to fit what I was going through…
…”Then shall they call upon Me (God),
but I will not answer;
they shall seek Me early,
but they shall not find Me:
For that they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of the LORD”
Proverbs 1:28,29
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But the Devil was laying some “pretty heavy stuff” on me, during those years. I didn’t know the Bible hardly at all.
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I was trying to be a Christian, but it just wasn’t working.
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And because I didn’t know the Bible, the Devil could tell me just about any crazy story he wanted to.
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I was no match for him. So, the thought came to me that I was infected with Satan. And not doubt Satan is contagious!
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Okay, okay, I know this was a stupid thing to think.
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But I didn’t know anything about the Bible.
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But really, when you think about it, a person who has no protection from Satan…without God’s protection.
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He or she is liable to do anything the Devil wishes, if God permits.
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As I was driving up to Portland on Interstate 5 something caught my attention.
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An old barn…sitting off to the west of the freeway…in a field…just south of Salem…standing there as a monument to days-gone-by.
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And as I drove by, I was surprised to see a Bible concept inscribed on its old weathered wooden walls.
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Someone had painted the following sentence on the side of that old relic… “SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS…ARMOR UP…THE TIME IS AT HAND!”
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These words made a strong impact on me, at that moment. “Profound statement!”, I thought to myself…“Whoever painted those words must also be aware that Judgment Day is at hand.”
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But now, I had a little hope. “That writing on that old barn just might be the answer to my problems.” I might have thought… “put on the armor of God. Very interesting concept. Hmmm.”
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“FIERY ARROWS FROM THE WICKED ONE”
Ephesians 6 …
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Sometime later, my new wife, Becky, and I were visiting relatives in the Bay area. (The satanic attacks had subsided for a year or so).
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But now, Satan had once again renewed his warfare against me.
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And I was going through a lot of personal spiritual attacks.
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I was so new to Christianity, and didn’t know how to combat all the fierce attacks. All the doubts. All the condemnation…
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The fears Satan put in my mind! Desperate!
“The king of Babylon (Satan) has devoured me,
he has crushed me,
he has made me an empty vessel,
he has swallowed me up like a dragon,
he has filled his belly with my delicates, he has cast me out.” Jeremiah 51:34
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“You’re not praying enough!” (said the Devil)
“You’re a glutton!”
“You’re not like Jesus!”
“You’re gonna lose your salvation!
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“You’re this!” “You didn’t do that!” Like flaming arrows or dropping missiles, the Devil was hailing accusations down on me.
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And what made it so effective, was that his accusations were valid criticisms.
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I mean, the Devil doesn’t have to make these things up.
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I really wasn’t Christ-like. I didn’t pray like Jesus, etc…
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This was overwhelming. I had no shelter from this barrage of mental attacks. No relief!
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B-29s dropping bombs – wikipedia public domain
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“A WALK IN THE PARK (but no picnic!)”
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Anyway, I remember, that when down there (the Bay Area) visiting, I decided to go for a walk, one day, to a nearby park to pray and read my Bible.
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And it was a nice sunny California day. (But not for me, because of all these satanic attacks).
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Anyway, while reading, I came across Ephesians Chapter 6, where it commands Believers to put on the ‘whole armor of God’.
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But the part that really made sense, was where the next words continued… “that you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the Devil.”
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“Dear Lord! That’s my problem!” (I must have thought). “Fiery darts! That’s exactly how Satan’s attacks feel! Like someone’s shooting fiery darts into my soul!”
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And so, this concept of ‘putting on the armor of God’ came back to me, from that experience I had a few years earlier, while passing that old barn.
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“How do I put on this armor, Lord?”
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I didn’t know...“I want to put it on right away?…
…Do I put it on by just believing by faith?…
…Does it take time?…
…Or do I put it on at once?”
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These were the kind of thoughts running through my mind, as I sat on a picnic bench.
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wikipedia common use license weston park australia
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COOL WATER IN A DRY THIRSTY LAND…
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Looking back on this experience, it’s hard to imagine all this confusion.
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But going through this kind of satanic assault, I felt crushed by the weight of the heavy persecution.
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So, reading passages as Ephesians 6, you just drink it in!
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Imagine yourself walking through, say, Death Valley, in 117 degree heat.
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And just before you collapse, you look down and see an ice-cold glass of water.
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Imagine how wonderful that would be to drink that ice-cold water!
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Well, that’s how the Word of God was to me during these days.
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During these days of persecution…
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The reality of the spiritual battle I was going through, in captured in the following verse which really says it all…
…”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
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And believe me, there is nothing like satanic persecution to get a person reading their Bible!
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Especially when he was talking directly to me (in my mind)!
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“My soul thirsts for Thee (God), my flesh longs for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” Psalm 63:1
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“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news (the Gospel) from a far country (Heaven).” Proverbs 25:25
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“PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD”…
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I didn’t understand all that Ephesians 6 was talking about…
“What does it mean to put on ‘the breast plate of righteousness'”?
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This was very puzzling to me… “How does a person just put something like that on?”
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This was a concept above my comprehension.
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“And how does a person ‘put on the helmet of salvation'”, I thought to myself… “especially while Satan is condemning and accusing every moment?”
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And how do you put on the shoes, ‘with the gospel of peace’?
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I couldn’t understand these concepts. I was just too new in the faith!
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ONE CONCEPT THAT DID MAKE SENSE…
But there was one thing I could understand.
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I knew what it meant to take the “sword of the spirit, which is the word of God”.
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Now that I got! Read the Bible! That’s a simple concept! Yeah!
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Well, this was possibly the event that began my Bible sojourn.
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Reading God’s Word! I determined that I would saturate my mind with Scriptures.
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That’s what I would do! After all, I loved to read it anyway.
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So maybe by reading it and knowing it, I could know the Bible well enough to overcome all these attacks by Satan.
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Maybe that’s the key to finding personal victory….“Study, study, study!”
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Just completely fill my mind with knowledge…of His words!
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Well, this began a long love affair with the Word of God!
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And by studying the Bible for myself, I came to understand what it meant to ‘put on the breastplate of righteousness’.
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And by hiding the ‘Word in my heart’ (Psalm 119:11), I began to comprehend what it meant to ‘put on the helmet of salvation’.
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To put on the ‘preparation of the gospel of peace’ … ‘the shield of faith’.
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I already knew well what the fiery darts of the devil meant.
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But these other truths didn’t come all at once.
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“THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART”
(Ps. 119:11)…
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So, it became my mission to know everything about the Bible.
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I read the Bible and every spiritual book related, that I felt was reliable.
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I found little Gideon pocket Bibles at the thrift shop, that I could carry in my back pocket.
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Then whenever I had a spare moment, I could commit a verse to memory.
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I also carried a notebook in which to write a passage from a spiritual book.
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Then at work, whenever I had a moment to spare, I would look at the notebook, and try to memorize the passage.
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The Lord seemed to have blessed my memory skills, because prior to this, I couldn’t memorize well at all.
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Through these times, it seemed that looking at the Bible was like cool refreshing water in a dry and thirsty land.
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Every time I opened my Bible or related books, it was like cool refreshing water.
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The Devil was attacking me on a daily basis.
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The Bible was my “safe harbor”. It was my “hiding place”…
…”Thou art my hiding place and my shield:
I hope in Thy Word.”
Psalm 119:114
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic..
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40 YEARS LATER…
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By the grace of God, the love for the Bible remains.
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Oh yeah, it’s been a ‘long and winding road’ (as the old song goes).
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There’s been some valleys, and a deep ditch or two, along the way.
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The Bible commands us to meditate ‘day and night’ on God’s word (Psalm 1 & Psalm 119:97).
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And whether or not a person is bombarded with Satan’s ‘fiery bullets’, or merely being drowned in an ocean of worldliness, he must ‘continue in My Word’ John 8:28.
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That’s our protection from the Devil….that’s our armor…that’s our shield…It is our helmet too!
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And it’s our Gospel shoes!
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It’s the lifeblood every true worshipper of God.
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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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For the entire story of how I went through Judgment Day, just click the following link… “Judgment Day…RX7”
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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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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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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 having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
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and in the moon,
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and in the stars;
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and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
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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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Psalm 19
By admin On February 19th, 2011.
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PSALM 19…”THE HEAVENS DECLARE”…
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19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
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19:2 “Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
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19:3 “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
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19:4 “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
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19:5 “Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
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19:6 “His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
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19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
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19:8 “The statu
tes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
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19:9 “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
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19:10 “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
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19:11 “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
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19:12 “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
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19:13 “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
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19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
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Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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To write a comment, question, or suggestion, just click here…”Comments, Questions, Suggestions”
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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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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 very interesting world, there are many, many, 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.
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“WHEN YE SEE ALL THESE THINGS…LOOK UP & LIFT UP YOUR HEADS!”
(see Luke 21:25-28)
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But having said this, there is one h
obby which the ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize. Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich heavenly rewards.
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And unlike these people 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. Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many aspects and hidden meanings to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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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 O
f Heaven endorses. Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk! What a great way to draw closer to God! (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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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.
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Astronomy Amateur Wikipedia share-alike license
Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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What Is The Meaning of the Two Turtledoves Constellation?
By admin On February 14th, 2011.
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THE TWO TURTLEDOVES CONSTELLATION
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“But they that escape of them shall escape,
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and shall be on the mountains
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like doves of the valleys,
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all of them mourning,
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every one for his iniquity.”
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Ezekiel 7:16
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LOCATION
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The Two Turtledoves Constellation appears in early spring in the south.
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It moves from east to west during the night and slowly moves to the western horizon by fall.
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It is commonly known as Sagittarius. (The three stars at the top of the 2nd Turtledove are not shown in some Sagittarius Star-charts, but are in others.)
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GOD’S LAST CALL
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So, these Two Turtledoves are a sign of witnessing to a lost and dying world.
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And it may just be that these Two Turtledoves are a sign of God’s last message to the world!
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Yes, the Bible says…
“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars…”
Luke 21:25
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And so, if these signs are indeed a fulfillment of Luke’s prophecy, then these Two Turtle-Doves are definitely a symbol of God’s last message of mercy to this world!
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ABOVE PICTURE: summer constellations with Two Turtledoves
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TURTLEDOVES SYMBOLIZE BIRTH OF JESUS
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“And…they (Joseph and Mary)
brought Him (Jesus) to Jerusalem,
to present Him to the Lord…
And to offer a sacrifice…
A pair of turtledoves…”
Luke 2:22, 24 (Condensed)
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This above passage makes this constellation group a symbol that Christ has come into the world.
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The sacrifice of two turtledoves was required for the birth of Jesus.
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TWO DOVES SYMBOLIZE WITNESSING
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“And He called unto Him the twelve,
and began to send them forth by two and two…”
Mark 6:7
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The painting below shows Jesus sending out His Disciples, two-by-two, to proclaim the Gospel to anyone willing to listen.
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And capitalizing on the number “two”, God has created this Two Turtledoves Constellation, symbolizing God’s people, who are freed from death…
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…so that they can carry the message of God’s love to fallen humanity.
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Since the number “two” is the number of “witness” in Scripture, then this constellation speaks of the “witness” of these “Two Turtledoves”.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Brooklyn Museum: Jesus Sent them out Two by Two (Il les envoya deux à deux)
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LIVING EPISTLES
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As the Disciples followed Jesus, they preached the Good News in every city.
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And it seems that God has given us this constellation group to remind us to do the same…
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…to preach the Gospel to a world covered in “gross darkness”. (see Isaiah 60:1, 2).
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD AND TWO TURTLEDOVES CONSTELLATIONS: These two constellations in the above sketch are the Two Turtledoves Constellation and the Flower of the Field Constellation. They appear in the southern skies, moving from east to west. They are best seen from spring through fall. This sketch is how they appear in the spring in the northern latitudes. In the southern latitudes they are more tilted. As they move through the night sky, the flower appears to bend down.
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION
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“The voice said, Cry.
And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof
is as the flower of the field…
The grass withereth,
the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God
shall stand for ever.”
Isaiah 40:6, 8
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Let’s explore this companion constellation for a moment.
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This is the Flower of the Field Constellation.
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And God has purposefully placed this constellation right next to these Two Turtledoves.
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This above passage from Isaiah, presents a very poetic concept that Mankind’s beauty and glory is like that little soon-fading wildflower, growing in a field of grass.
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Because, when the hot summer sun begins to bear down on them, they begin to wither and finally die.
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And this is the recompense of wanting to do things our way, instead of doing it God’s way.
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Star-chart by Wikipedia (sketched flower by webhost)
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TWO TURTLEDOVES IS ALSO THE ARK CONSTELLATION
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This is the constellation commonly known as the Sagittarius Constellation or the Teapot.
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But if you look at it in the southern sky in springtime or summertime, you can easily see it as two twin birds flying westward.
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This Two Turtledoves Constellation (left) is the same as, The Ark Constellation.
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This is an optical illusion.
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It can be seen in southern sky in early spring through fall, travelling from east to west throughout the night.
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DOVES A SYMBOL OF EARTHLY POVERTY
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“And if he be not able to bring a lamb,
then he shall bring for his trespass,
which he hath committed, two turtledoves…
one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.”
Leviticus 5:7 (Condensed for brevity)
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The above passage really makes a concise statement, concerning this Two Turtledoves Constellation.
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Because in Scripture, they symbolized earthly poverty, yet spiritual richness.
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The fact is, those who were too poor to offer a lamb, had the option to offer two turtledoves in stead.
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Listen to the Psalmist plead with God for deliverance…
…”O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove
unto the multitude of the wicked:
forget not the congregation of thy poor forever.”
The Psalmist is referring to himself as a turtledove, but also as a poor person in the eyes of the world.
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This situation seems to have applied to Joseph and Mary at the time of Jesus’ birth.
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Listen… “They (Joseph & Mary)
brought Him (Jesus) to Jerusalem,
to present Him to the Lord…
And to offer a sacrifice…
A pair of turtledoves…”
Luke 2:22, 24 (Condensed).
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Obviously, by this very revealing passage, Mary and Joseph were too poor to offer a lamb. So, they offered two turtledoves instead.
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Homing Carrier pigeon – cropped image – wikipedia share-alike lic.
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THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN
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“This shall be the law of the leper
in the day of his cleansing…
And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed…
and shall dip them and the living bird
in the blood of the bird that was killed…
let the living bird loose into the open field.”
Leviticus 14:2, 4-7 (condensed for brevity)
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Okay, so this above passage points out, in “leprosy cleansing ceremonies”, there was one bird killed, and one let loose.
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This is most definitely an allusion to the concept of the cleansing which we receive, when we are washed in the life-giving blood of crucified Jesus.
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The one bird was sacrificed, while the other bird which was let loose, represented us, who were set free from sin.
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Photo courtesy Wikipedia. US Public domain.
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TWO TURTLEDOVES CONSTELLATION: WAKE-UP CALL
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QUESTION: “Any other indirect comparisons to Believers and birds?”
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Now here is a wake-up call to all of us! God has placed these Two Turtledoves in the night heavens for such a time as this!
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This passage from Jeremiah says… “the turtledove… observe(s) the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the LORD.”
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So as we look up and lift up our eyes to this constellation in the night Heaven, we are reminded that Judgment Day is at the very doors!
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Photo courtesy Wikipedia share-alike license. Click here for link.
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SIGNS OF HEAVEN WEBSITE
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QUESTION : “I notice that these two birds are flying in the same direction as the other constellations you call “Arcturus with His Sons”. Is there something to this?”
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ANSWER: Yes, this seems to be more proof-positive that Signs Of Heaven is on the right track…
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…correctly proclaiming that this Summer Constellation group represents Job 38:32… “Can you guide Arcturus with his sons?”...
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These two birds are flying in the same direction as is Arcturus.
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And Arcturus appears as the Host which leads an entourage of constellations.
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TWO TURTLEDOVES SYMBOLIZE BEING SET FREE
QUESTION : “But if one of the birds was to be sacrificed, then why are both birds of this constellation, flying, alive and well?”
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Let’s remember that animal sacrifices are not needed, because Jesus paid it all, on the Cross.
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Hence these two birds are set free.
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TURTLEDOVES SYMBOLIZE SPIRITUAL REST
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“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalms 55:6
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QUESTION: “Do you have any other verses that support this concept of ‘escaping’?”
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ANSWER: “Our soul is escaped
as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:
the snare is broken,
and we are escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 124:7, 8.
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This concept goes very well with the turtledove.
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Just listen to the Psalmist…
…”I did mourn as a dove:
mine eyes fail with looking upward:
O LORD, I am oppressed;
undertake for me.”
Psalms 38:15.
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Does this describe us?
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Don’t we often feel like a Mourning Dove as she coos and coos?
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So often in the life of a Believer, he or she goes in and out of one tribulation after another.
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As we constantly plead for deliverance, we mourn as we tearfully cry out to our Heavenly Father for deliverance.
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Old engraving of fowler with light-trap by wikipedia US Public Domain.
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“…CHASTENED EVERY MORNING”
Psalms 73:14
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QUESTION: “Your last answer mentioned “mourning” (“I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward:” Psalms 38:15). Are Christians supposed to mourn?”
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ANSWER: Yes. And listen to this similar passage…
…”But they that escape of them shall escape,
and shall be on the mountains
like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning,
every one for his iniquity.”
Ezekiel 7:16.
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This passage and hundreds more in Scripture encourage Believer’s to take hold of the “Spirit of mourning”.
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It truly is a gift of the Holy Spirit (AKA, “a Dove”, see Matthew 3:16).
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Have you ever heard a dove coo? Well, the Believer is constantly crying out to God for deliverance from sin.
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Listen to this passage from that wisest of mortal men…
…”The heart of the wise
is in the house of mourning;
but the heart of fools
is in the house of mirth.”
Ecclesiastes 7:4.
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This is an impossible idea for most people to accept. And most Christians don’t really accept this concept either.
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But just listen to the New Testament…
…”whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God…
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:
let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and He shall lift you up.”
James 4:4, 9, 10.
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But though this is speaking to churchgoers who still have worldliness in our heart, there will be a day coming in which God will wipe away every tear.
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Listen… “He that goeth forth and weepeth,
bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalms 126:6
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Sophie Anderson – The Turtle Dove and Small Girl – Wikipedia public domain
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BIRDS CAN SYMBOLIZE GOD’S PROTECTION
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Here is a very interesting verse from Isaiah…
“As birds flying,
so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem;
defending also He will deliver it;
and passing over He will preserve it.”
Isaiah 31:5.
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Of course, God will be our Protector and Deliverer in the time of trouble!
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TWO TURTLEDOVES: ICON OF ISAIAH, CH. 60
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“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?” Isaiah 60:8
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The 60th chapter of Isaiah is one of the most encouraging chapters in the Old Testament.
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And this above verse 8 is a mysterious imagery, asking the question…
…”Who are these that fly as a cloud,
and as the doves to their windows?”
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Now of course, this verse has spiritual meaning, concerning the Gospel of Christ.
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But as you behold the Two Turtledoves Constellation (AKA Sagittarius), you will notice that they appear to be flying through the cloud-like Milky Way…
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…which appears to be a Heavenly fulfillment of this above verse from Isaiah 60:8.
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But even though this verse 8 has been written by God in difficult language, it almost seems to carry on its wings, the entire 60th chapter of Isaiah!
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DEAR CHRISTIAN: LET US “BE ON THE MOUNTAINS LIKE DOVES”
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“But they that escape
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of them shall escape,
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and shall be on the mountains
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like doves of the valleys,
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Ezekiel 7:16
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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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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
.
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 the person 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 – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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Discovering Signs In Our Solar System (Part 4)
By admin On February 11th, 2011.
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You may also click here to read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3,
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“DISCOVERING BIBLE CONSTELLATIONS”
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PART 4…SIGNS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
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About the same time (mid-80’s) that I was first seeing these heavenly signs in the stars, there also began to appear signs in the solar system.
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At this point in time, I did not see this as fulfillment of what God says in Luke…“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;” Luke 21:25
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On the other hand, I had no problem believing that God had purposely created the solar system to teach us spiritual truth.
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But there were still a lot of signs in the stars, which I had not yet been shown.
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So, I really didn’t think too much about all this.
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Nevertheless, “the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork”. (see Psalm 19:1). The starry host is God’s handiwork.
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And the signs in the Sun, Moon, and stars were placed by God long ago, to present a message in these last days just prior to the end. This message is very Biblical.
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And it is a very pertinent message, in these confusing times: confusion both in the world, and also in God’s house.
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13 CLUES TO PROVE
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM SYMBOLIZES
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
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At about this same time period (mid-80’s), it became noticeable of a correlation between the solar system and the Law of God, as presented in what the Bible calls the Ten Commandments.
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Now this relationship between our solar system and the 10 Commandments has not yet been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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But there is overwhelming evidence that suggests such a relationship exists.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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CLUE #1–10 HEAVENLY BODIES = 10 COMMANDMENTS?
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The first great clue is that there are 10 members of our solar system, the Sun being the 1st heavenly member.
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The 9 revolving orbs around the Sun seem to give us a picture of the 10 Commandments.
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Now there are many lately, who say there are only eight major planets revolving around the Sun.
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They say that Pluto is too small, and should not be considered as one of the major planets.
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But Pluto is only somewhat less in size than Mercury, and there’s no discussion about Mercury being taken off the list.
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And Pluto has moons, too: five moons, we are told.
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It’s just that Pluto is not so close to the Sun, as is Mercury; otherwise, there would be no debate about Pluto’s inclusion.
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So also, the 10th Commandment is the farthest Commandment away from the 1st Commandment.
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But later in this article, it will be shown that the 10th Commandment may just be one of the closest Commandments to the 1st Commandment. But how is that possible?
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Well, you’ll just have to read on to find out.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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1st ORB: THE SUN = 1ST COMMANDMENT
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“Thou shall have no other gods before Me”
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CLUE #2– Pagan gods assigned to planets by Mankind
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One great clue was, that if the Sun would correspond to the First Commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me”, I began to wonder at the names which Mankind has given to the planets, all named after pagan gods: Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, etc… are all names of ancient pagan deities.
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I then began to relate the Sun corresponding to the first Commandment… “You shall have no other gods before Me”, which just so happens to be surrounded by planets named after pagan gods.
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It would seem that God has allowed Mankind (under the influence of “the god of this world“, of course) to name these planets after pagan gods, in order to make a very poignant statement…
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…that statement being that we citizens of this planet are in rebellion against God, therefore, we have other gods.
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And just as those planets (named after pagan gods) encircle the Sun (The Sun representing God many times in the Bible), so too this human race has placed our affections on other things: our time, energy, and affections, which should have been only given to our Creator/Savior.
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So God has set up this solar system to present this concept of the Sun (Christ) being surrounded by our many other gods (i.e., the 9 planets, named after pagan gods).
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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CLUE #3–BIBLE COMPARES CHRIST TO SUN
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“For the LORD God is a sun and shield:” Psalm 84:11
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The Bible compares the Sun to God…
…”For, behold, the day comes,
that shall burn as an oven…
But unto you that fear My name
shall the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS arise with healing in His wings…
Remember ye the law of Moses My servant,
which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
with the statutes and judgments.”
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Notice that this passage not only compares the Sun to Christ, but, also brings up the Ten Commandments as well!
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So here God is making a reference, not only to Christ as the Sun, but to the Law of Moses.
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Here in this above passage, is a veiled reference to, not only the Sun, but also to the Ten Commandments.
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Actual Sunset – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License
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CHRIST IS THE DAYSTAR WHICH WILL ARISE IN OUR HEART
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On this same subject of Christ being represented by the Sun, is another similar passage…
…“We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shines in a dark place,
until the day dawn,
and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts…”
2nd Peter 1:19
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This verse refers to Christ as the “Day Star”.
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There is one star that shines in daytime: the Sun.
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But God makes the reference here to the day-star in our hearts: Christ in our hearts.
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If you take this passage and the previous passage, you begin to comprehend just what God is saying regarding the “Sun of Righteousness” rising.
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He is speaking of the “Day-Star” arising in our hearts, as 2nd Peter tells us here!
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And why should it be such a surprise that the Day Star will arise in our hearts?
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Just listen to Jesus…
…”He (Jesus) answered them and said,
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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So now it begins to be seen that when God compares Himself to the Sun, He is speaking in relation to that Day-Star which shall arise in our hearts.
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And with Christ, that Day-Star, dwelling in our hearts, we would then have the Kingdom of God within, thus fulfilling the passage…
…”for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you…”
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For more on this subject of the Day-Star, go to… “Castor and Pollux (Part 2: The Return of Christ & The Dawning of the Day)”
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sunrise on Biwa_Lake – wikipedia – share-alike license
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CLUE #4–SUN’S BRIGHTNESS = GOD’S BRIGHTNESS
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When God spoke with Moses, He told Moses that His brightness, no man could look upon and live.
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The Sun, which people cannot look directly at, fitly represents God in this respect, too…
…”And He said, Thou canst not see My face:
for there shall no man see Me, and live.”
Exodus 33:20.
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So now it begins to come to light, that the Sun’s brightness is a picture of God’s brightness.
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Here is another verse, which compares the Lord to the Sun…
…”Arise, shine; for THY LIGHT IS COME,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
and gross darkness the people:
but the LORD shall arise upon thee,
and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to THY LIGHT,
and kings to the BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING.”
Isaiah 60:1-3.
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In this verse, God is over and over again comparing Himself in various ways to the very bright rising Sun.
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And the darkness spoken of here is that spiritual darkness which pervades this sin-darkened world, as well as the sin-darkened hearts of unconverted men.
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Jamaica_sunrise-Adam-L.-Clevenger-wikipedia.jpg
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CLUE #5–SUN’S SIZE COMPARES TO OUR GREAT GOD
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Another comparison to God and the Sun is how great in size is the Sun to the other planets.
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For instance, you could fit a million Planet Earths inside the Sun!
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Of course, God is infinite in size.
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Nevertheless, the Sun gives perspective about God’s vastness!
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Listen to Scripture…
…”But will God indeed dwell on the earth?
behold, the heaven and Heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee;
how much less this house that I have builded?”
1st kings 8:27
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This verse only confirms what is already known…that God is measureless and colossal beyond anything that can be comprehended.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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SUN: A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR THIS THEORY…
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So God, who is the essence of the Law is fitly represented in Scripture, by the Sun of our solar system.
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This makes a very firm foundation in which to build a case for the other planets representing the other 9 commandments.
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For a closer look at the question, “Does the Sun represent Christ?”, just click the following link, “Signs In The Sun”
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Sunrise_over_the_sea by Bogdan for wikipedia share-alike license
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2ND ORB: MERCURY = 2ND COMMANDMENT
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“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:”
Exodus 20:5
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CLUE #6–MERCURY…THE SUN’S LITTLE BUDDY
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As discussed elsewhere in this website, the Sun seems to correspond to the First Commandment.
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Likewise, Mercury, which is the second heavenly sphere in our solar system, seems to correspond very nicely to the Second Commandment.
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Both the second heavenly sphere (Mercury) and the Second Commandment (no images) are closest to the ‘Sun’.
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That is to say, just as planet Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so is the Second Commandment right next to the First Commandment (as already stated, God compares himself to the Sun many times in Scripture).
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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WHY THE NUMBER, “2”?
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And God put the commandment about images as the second Commandment for a very important reason.
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Jesus says to us today, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12.
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And as Jesus speaks of following Him, it is seen that this number “two’ relates to “me and Jesus”.
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This is the great lesson to be learned by the number “two”.
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As the Christian meditates upon the Bible, through his or her day, there is an imperceptible merging of two hearts…
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…the heart of God with the heart of the Believer.
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This is the essence of the 2nd Commandment.
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And though that commandment is written in the negative tense (“Thou shalt not…”), this merging of God and the Believer would be the implied positive sense of that commandment.
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In other words, if the 2nd Commandment states “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”, then the implied positive message of this command is, “You shall have Me (Christ) as your closest companion”, which Mercury, the closest companion to the Sun seems to agree.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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MERCURY: “EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS”
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THE DANGER OF EVIL ASSOCIATIONS
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“Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.”
2nd Corinthians 6:17, 18
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But this concept of the number “two” has a negative side to it as well.
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After all, the second Commandment (not making & bowing to graven images) is written in the negative sense, i.e., “Thou shalt not…”.
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The above passage by Paul warns Christians that bad associations have a corrupting influence.
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Whoever we keep company with, has an influence on our own behavior.
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We begin to grow into the image of those with whom we constantly associate.
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Just listen… “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20.
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So, the number “2” speaks of this very concept.
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We can either be the companion of the wise, or we can be the companions of fools.
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And because the commandment regarding “images” is the 2nd Commandment, there is a need to explore this concept much more thoroughly.
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“EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS…”
1st Corinthians 15:33
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Listen… “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3.
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Here we see that God is really bringing out this concept of the number “2”.
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Christians need to be really careful about our associations.
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As the old saying goes, “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are”.
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What attributes rule the heart of a man.
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(For a more in-depth look at this argument about Mercury being compared to the 2nd Commandment, just click the following link…”Mercury & the 2nd Commandment”)
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3RD ORB: VENUS = 3RD COMMANDMENT
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“Thou shalt not take the name
of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless
that taketh His name in vain.”
Exodus 20:7
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CLUE #7–Jesus, The Bright and Morning Star
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“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am…the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16.
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It is Venus, the 3rd sphere in our solar system, which is commonly known as the Morning Star.
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Like a big beautiful diamond, it graces the pre-dawn sky (And the evening sky too!)
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A case could be made for the above verse, Jesus calling Himself, “The bright and Morning Star” to be referring to either Venus, or even perhaps the Sun.
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But since this article has already established that the Sun represents Christ, it should be explored for a moment the possibility that this verse refers to Venus, as “the bright and Morning Star”.
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Venus pacific levelled by Brocken Inaglory Wikipedia share-alike license
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3RD ORB: VENUS = 3RD COMMANDMENT
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GOD’S NAME DEFINED BY HIS QUALITIES
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“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”
Exodus 20:7.
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So, what does this third Commandment have to do with Jesus?
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And why would Jesus single out this planet to represent Himself?
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God’s name means so much more than just a word.
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God’s name is truly defined by His attributes.
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Just listen to Scripture…
…”For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given…
and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6.
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So we see here that God is defining His name by His qualities.
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Terrestrial_planet_size_comparisons Earth & Venus-NASA wikipedia public domain
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3RD ORB: VENUS = 3RD COMMANDMENT & JESUS ON THE SHORE IN THE MORNING
John 21
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In the letters to the 7 Churches of Asia, Jesus promises to anyone of Thyatira who remains faithful… “And I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:28.
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Just as the Morning Star appears after the long dark night, so too, Jesus will shine on the morning after the long night of woe and tribulation which Believers must endure.
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JESUS, THE MORNING STAR, APPEARS TO DISCIPLES
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This concept seems to be illustrated in the Book of John when the disciples saw Jesus waiting alone for them on the shore after His resurrection.
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The disciples had just been through the horrible experience of Jesus’ trial, scourging, and crucifixion.
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All of them had abandoned Jesus.
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Peter had even denied knowing Him.
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But now they needed healing.
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Now they needed the loving, healing touch of Jesus…
…”But when the morning was now come,
Jesus stood on the shore:
but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”
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There were 7 disciples including Peter, James, and John. Judas of course, was not there.
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The dark night had passed.
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It was now morning.
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Jesus was waiting on the other shore for these 7 faithful ones.
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Jesus was preparing food for them.
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He was about to restore Peter, who had played the fool before the angry and accusing mob.
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tissot-meal-of-our-lord-and-the-apostles-public domain
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WE TOO ARE LIKE PETER
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And these 7 faithful disciples are perhaps, a picture of all of us who endure our own long night of woe and doubt.
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Many of us will have likewise denied Jesus, as did Peter, as we mingle with unbelievers, as did Peter.
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But like Peter, we will have thoroughly repented and become converted.
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Jesus, the bright and Morning Star, will likewise be waiting on the other shore for us, too.
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He will have a wonderful supper prepared for us as well. (So maybe that 8th disciple in this picture, which you can’t see his or her face, represents you!)
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Tissot – The Sorrow of Peter – Joyful Heart.com
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3RD ORB: VENUS = 3RD COMMANDMENT
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JUDAS TOOK THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN
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So what does all this have to do with the 3rd Commandment?
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Simple. Judas had taken God’s name in vain. No, Judas didn’t use God’s name as a curse word.
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But the old English word, vain, or vanity, simply means “meaningless”.
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And Judas professed to be a follower of Jesus.
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But Judas loved this present world.
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He didn’t really want to follow Jesus with all his heart and soul.
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And so, his pretense of being a Christian was a false profession, making Judas guilty of taking the name of the Lord in vain.
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Just listen…“Remove far from me vanity and lies:
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with food convenient for me:
Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say,
Who is the LORD?
or lest I be poor, and steal,
and take the name of my God in vain.”
Proverbs 30:8, 9.
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So here is seen that taking the Lord’s name in vain is much more than merely cursing. And Judas was a thief.
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And all those who rob God by seeking after the things of this world are in the same camp with Judas; thieves who are taking the name of the Lord in vain.
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The-Last-Supper-large WIKIPEDIA US public domain.
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WORLDLY-MINDED WILL NOT BE THERE
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So just as Judas was absent from that encounter with Jesus on the other shore, so too, all who love this present world will not taste of the Lord’s supper, which is prepared for all those who love God supremely.
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The faithful ones will have overcome this world, and will receive the “Morning Star” …
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Just listen… “And he that overcometh,
and keepeth My works unto the end,
to him will I give power over the nations…
And I will give him the Morning Star.”
Revelation 2:26.
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All who receive the Morning Star will NOT have taken the Lord’s name in vain.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – company’s-coming
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4TH ORB: EARTH = 4TH COMMANDMENT
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“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Exodus 20:8
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CLUE #8–4th planet=4th Commandment…
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As I was contemplating this seeming correspondence (and it’s only a theory) between the solar system and the Ten Commandments, I was amazed to realize that our planet…planet Earth corresponds to the 4th commandment, regarding the 7th Day Rest.
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This realization seemed to further the weight of evidence in favor of this theory that God purposely created the solar system to make this beautiful analogy, written in the heavens.
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After all, Earth is the planet that God has created to correspond to the commandment which is all about peace and rest (rest unto your soul. see Matthew 11:28-30).
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And the fact is, nothing could be further from the truth, when one considers the horrific crimes that occur on a daily basis here on planet Earth.
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Nevertheless, Earth stands as a monument to the Fourth Commandment of “rest”.
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And no doubt, God, who knows all things, made it that way as a standing rebuke (actually an ORBITING rebuke) to Mankind’s rebellion and lawlessness.
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Photo courtesy NASA & Wikipedia, Public Domain image.
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SIGNS IN HEAVEN: A HEAVENLY HOBBY!
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As I have already mentioned in Part 2, I was taking regular walks each day.
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And as I said, walking and praying really go well together.
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And couple this with stargazing, and it really makes a great combination.
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The point to all this is: these Signs In Heaven, given to us by God, have real meaning.
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Oh yes, in order to locate some of them takes a lot of effort.
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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A MEANINGFUL HOBBY
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But why not make these Signs Of Heaven into a heavenly hobby?
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It costs absolutely nothing!
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It only requires two good legs (or a wheelchair), and two good eyes (or glasses).
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There are no licenses to buy, and no expenses, except perhaps gasoline, if you have to get away from city lights.
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It can make a great addition to any camping trip.
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It’s a great witnessing tool!
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And it pays off in spiritual rewards, once you do begin to find them!
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And it is a real faith-builder when you realize that this entire universe was strategically placed in the exact order to give us these signs!
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And once you do discover what an awesome message from the Lord, this really is, you will know for a certainty, that your time invested was more than well-spent.
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Just something to think about.
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5TH ORB: MARS = 5TH COMMANDMENT
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“Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
Exodus 20:12
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CLUE #9–THE RED PLANET & ONE BLOOD OF GOD’S FAMILY
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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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This above verse reveals that God has made “of one blood all nations of men.”
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This commandment is all about family. Mentioned here is “thy father and mother”. Being the 5th Commandment, the number “5” represents family.
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So often in Scripture, the number five is used in connection with either God’s children, or…the Devil’s children.
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Remember the parable of the Five Wise & The Five Foolish Virgins?
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This is what the number “5” is all about in Scripture.
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Mars atmosphere – NASA – Wikipedia – public domain
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WE ARE ALL OF ONE BLOOD
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The reddish color of Mars reminds us of blood.
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And blood likewise reminds us of “family”.
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Listen to Scripture… “And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men.” Acts 17:26.
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So, it would appear that God has created this 5th sphere to be a picture of family.
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And of course, the 5th Commandment is all about family.
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Listen to Jesus speaking of the number “five”…
…”For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided,
three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son,
and the son against the father;
the mother against the daughter,
and the daughter against the mother;
the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:52, 53.
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Here Jesus provides further confirmation of this number “five” being the chosen number to represent “family”.
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And there are further confirmations, as well.
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Bible Study Group – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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6TH & 7TH ORB: JUPITER & SATURN
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AND THE 6TH & 7TH COMMANDMENTS
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6th Commandment–
“Thou shalt not kill.”
Exodus 20:13
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7TH Commandment–
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Exodus 20:14
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CLUE #10–ENORMOUS SIZE OF THESE TWO PLANETS
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Here is another clue.
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Aside from the enormous size of the Sun, the other two enormous planets are the 6th and 7th planets.
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This too would seem fitting.
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Just think how heinous those two commandments are… “You shall not kill”, and “You shall not commit adultery.”
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The enormous size of these two planets compared to the other 7 planets, tells how much God hates those crimes.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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CLUE #11–RINGS OF SATURN…
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…As far as the Sun and planets compared to the 10 commandments, there is one more big clue.
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The 7th commandment is, “You shall not commit adultery.”
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If you will look at Saturn, (which would correspond to the 7th commandment), you will notice the ring around that planet.
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Here are Bible verses concerned with rings…
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RING=GOD’S HANDS… “His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl…This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” Songs 5:14
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RING=COUPLING… “And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring.” Exodus 26:2
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RING=KINGLY COVENANT… “…and sealed with the king’s ring.” Esther 3:12
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RING=KINGLY FAVOR… “And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai.” Esther 8:
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RING=UNBRAKEABLE LAW… “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse. ” Esther 8:8
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RING=FAVOR… “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ” Luke 15:22
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rings Anillos wikipedia public domain –
Wax_seal_with_impression_of_uppercase_letter_A wikipedia share-alike license
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RINGS OF SATURN: CONCLUSION:
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RING = UNBREAKABLE COVENANT
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Rings were used in the temple service to couple things together.
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Rings were also used by kings to be the seal of unbreakable laws.
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By putting these verses together, it would seem that a ring would symbolize a coupling together, in a favorable relationship, such as a covenant…an irreversible covenant…one blessed by the King.
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Does this sound like a marriage covenant?
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And so, it would appear that the ring is a fitting symbol of marital fidelity.
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And so the 7th commandment (You shall not commit adultery) seems to align with the 7th member of our solar system.
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The ring speaks of the marriage covenant.
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It speaks of marital fidelity.
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It also speaks of fidelity to the King.
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rings Anillos wikipedia public domain –
Wedding ring-JH – cropped image – wikipedia share-alike license
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8TH & 9TH ORB: URANUS & NEPTUNE
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AND THE 8TH & 9TH COMMANDMENTS
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8TH Commandment–
“Thou shalt not steal.”
Exodus 20:15
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9TH Commandment–
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Exodus 20:16
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CLUE #12– Enormous size of these twin planets and the enormous sins of lying and stealing
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Here again, these two planets are enormous compared to the other planets, making Planet Earth look like a dwarf planet.
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And again, the sins of lying and stealing are enormous sins.
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Howbeit, not as enormous as the 6th & 7th planets.
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Lying and Stealing are not quite as enormous as Murder and Adultery.
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So here again, the size of these two planets is only further proof that indeed the solar system seems to correspond to the 10 Commandments.
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In other words, the great size of these four mega-planets, the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, seems to correspond to the enormity of each of those sins.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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10TH ORB: PLUTO = 10th COMMANDMENT
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“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife,
nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
Exodus 20:17
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PLUTO–WALLFLOWER OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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There is a contention among astronomers concerning whether Pluto, the 10th member of our solar system, should be grouped with the other 8 planets, or if it’s too small to be considered among the other major planets.
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But Pluto is only somewhat smaller than Mercury, and Pluto does have 5 moons.
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In other words, it’s not just some irregular-shaped chunk of rock.
(The photo is a painting of Pluto, seen from the surface of one of it’s moons. From NASA)
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THE MINOR PLANETS
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There are a few minor orbs which have been discovered.
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One of these, Eris, is slightly smaller than Pluto, and has been considered by many astronomers, as reason enough to reconsider Pluto being numbered with the other major planets.
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Well, there is a disagreement between astronomers as to whether there are 8 or 9 major planets.
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The answer to this can possibly be found in the 10th Commandment…
…”Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife,
nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
Exodus 20:17.
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This commandment is about coveting objects that do not belong to you. Lucifer coveted God’s house.
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Lucifer coveted God’s Heaven, and those who dwelt in God’s universe.
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Lucifer wanted to be like God.
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He ultimately wanted to rule the universe.
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And so, maybe these dwarf planets together symbolize the many objects which this 10th Commandment is warning against coveting.
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Maybe these dwarf planets, together represent God’s house, which Lucifer coveted.
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Just a theory.
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Well, these dwarf planets are a puzzlement to this theory concerning our solar system being compared to the 10 Commandments.
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But that is why this is only a theory.
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Pluto 1 – 516 NASA
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CANNOT SEE ALL THE PLANETS
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One great problem with our solar-system, is that we cannot see all the evidence with our eyes.
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And so, we must take the word of astronomers, which may or may not be reliable.
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In contrast, the signs in the stars (and Moon and Sun) can be seen with our eyes.
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And so, for instance, the Constellation Orion plainly appears as a soldier.
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And so, we can be confident about Orion appearing as a soldier.
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So here is the problem with much of the solar-system, because we simply have to take the word of others on these matters.
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Starry Night at La Silla – altered image – cropped and Wikimedia – Share-Alike license
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CLUE #13–10 COMMANDMENTS SEEM TO BE SPHERICAL
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As I stood back and gazed at the 10 Commandments, I saw something very interesting.
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This 10th planet corresponds to the commandment which forbids coveting.
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Coveting is idolatry.
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Just listen to this… “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication…covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5.
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Here God says that covetousness is idolatry.
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And as we all know, idols are gods. Idols can be anything a person places an inordinate amount of affection upon.
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Gods can be anything: cars, houses, sports, careers, children, spouses, money, amusements, exotic places, respectability, music, leisure, work, orthodoxy, etc., etc…
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You name it, whatever it is, it can become our god, if we let it be.
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But the point to this is just this: The 10th Commandment and the 1st Commandment (“Thou shall have no other gods before ME.”) are so similar that they are essentially connected. They both forbid having other gods.
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And being connected as these two commandments are, it begins to appear as if the 10 Commandments are circular, or perhaps spherical.
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So here is a clue that has been overlooked.
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Perhaps the greatest clue in this theory about the solar system and the 10 Commandments.
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Because like our solar system is a system of spheres making spherical orbits, so too, the 10 Commandments now appear to likewise be spherical in nature.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
Ten Commandments Monument wikipedia-public domain
Eternity_ring wikipedia share-alike license
Ten_Commandments_Monument-wikipedia-public domain
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SIGNS IN THE MOON c.1988…
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At some point in time (around 1988), it began to appear that there was a human face etched the moon, via the craters. (This can only be seen when the moon is full).
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There was no trouble accepting this, since God is God.
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He’s infinite.
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If God wishes to bombard the Moon with meteors, in order to make a statement, why is that such an impossible idea?
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As I would walk down the streets at night, I would often stop…and turn my head sideways, so to get a look at these other faces.
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I didn’t know exactly what this all meant.
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But it was noticeable also, if you tilt your head left or right, you can see two other faces. And while the first face is that of a man, these two other faces were each a 
combination of a man/beast.
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TWO/THIRDS = .666
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So it began to appear that the moon is a picture of the three divisions of God’s house. Two-thirds (or .666) are that of a man/beast combination, and one-third is that of a man.
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This goes along with the Beast of Revelation 13 as well as the “Mark of the Beast” announcement of Revelation 14.
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Now this is a very complicated subject, and by clicking on the following link, you can get a more complete study on this subject.
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(Click here for a more comprehensive explanation… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy”)
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“MOON SHALL NOT GIVE HER LIGHT”…Matthew 24…
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At som
e point in time, the Moon, Earth, and Sun began to appear as a “heavenly parable”.
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That is to say, if the Moon is a picture of God’s house, and the Sun is a picture of Christ.
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Then the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, giving a picture of how a Christian is to reflect the light of Jesus (the ‘Sun of Righteousness’ Malachi 4) to a sin-darkened world.
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But it also became apparent that when the world comes between the Sun and Moon, there occurs an eclipse.
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The Moon stops reflecting the light from the Sun.
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So, this connection began to become evident.
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The Christian must not let the world eclipse our view of Christ, the “sun of righteousness”.
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You can explore this concept by reading the following article… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”.
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Moon – Lunar Eclipse by Jiyang Chen – Wikipedia – share-alike-license
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CONCLUSION…
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So this concludes Part 4, a thumbnail account of the timeline and story of how and when God revealed these heavenly signs.
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New information seems to be continuing to be revealed. The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the constellations herein give a wonderful picture of the Gospel, and a poetic narrative of the infinite love of God for a planet in rebellion.
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May God grant you grace and peace and confirmation as you explore further into this heavenly story, of the Signs In Heaven.
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Space photos on this page courtesy NASA, and are public domain.
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SHOULD THEORIES BE TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM?
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Just imagine if these things were taught to school children today.
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The heavens would be an object lesson to our young ones.
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Little Johnny would look up at the Sun and think…
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“What an awesome, holy God we have!
Like the bright Sun, our God is too brilliant to fully comprehend!
And just look how enormous the Sun is,
compared to the Earth.
God is a big God!”
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Just imagine our school children beholding the enormous size of the 6th and 7th heavenly bodies (Jupiter & Saturn), and thinking…
…”If those two planets equal the 6th and 7th Commandments,
then it must be really serious to violate them.
Real serious.”
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And just imagine if they were taught to relate our planet to the 4th Commandment.
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By looking at this selfish, troubled world, they could realize the turmoil and unhappiness that results from leaving the rest that we were supposed to enjoy with our Creator.
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Little Johnny would think…
…”What did we (the world) give up,
in order to please our own selves?
Now we have wars, famines, sickness, death, etc, etc.”
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If we can teach the theory of evolution to our kids “without batting an eye”, why would this theory be such a bad thing to teach our kids?
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After all, to realize that there is a big, big, God up there, just might solve some big, big, problems down here!
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Picture above right: Little Johnny recites 10 Commandments…in order…(we wish)
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Children In a Classroom-wikipedia-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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others.
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And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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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 starwatching with prayer, as you walk?
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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!
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There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“.
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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.
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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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“Sun Shall Be Darkened…”
By admin On February 4th, 2011
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“SUN SHALL BE DARKENED”
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The Bible speaks of the Sun being darkened in various passages, such as this…
…”Immediately after the tribulation of those days
shall THE SUN BE DARKENED,
and the Moon shall not give her light,
and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven:
Matthew 24:29-30.
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Here is seen a prophetic scenario to be fulfilled in these times…
…”the Sun shall be darkened,
and the Moon shall not give her light.”
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And there are other similar passages, such as this…
…”And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth,
blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS,
and the Moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” Joel 2:30-32.
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But how are we to understand this? Will the Moon be turned to literal blood?
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Or are these things to be understood figuratively?
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And why is the Moon spoken of as “her”?
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Picture to right courtesy of Luc Viatour for wikipedia. GNU Free Documentation License.
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NON-BIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC
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“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 Corinthians 2:14
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There is a false idea circulating in Christendom today that says that Scripture must be literally interpreted as far as possible.
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In other words, the Bible must be understood literally unless the context demands an allegorical interpretation.
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But the Bible encourages spiritual interpretation, as long as it is done so according to Scripture, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
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And so, there are many sincere Christians who are shut out from much Biblical light, by this baseless and un-scriptural hermeneutic.
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And this non-biblical hermeneutic has caused many Christians to stumble, not understanding these prophecies concerning the last days, in which “the Sun shall be darkened”.
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Many just cannot understand that the Bible must be spiritually discerned.
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And so, they look at these prophecies and insist that they must be fulfilled literally.
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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A SPIRITUAL EVENT
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But by comparing, “spiritual things with spiritual” (see 1st Corinthians 2:13), this article will attempt to show…
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…to show that the Sun being darkened, in the coming time of trouble, will be a spiritual event, and not necessarily a literal one.
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So please take a few moments to consider these things, and see if the Bible reveals precious light concerning these things. And in so-doing, we might just find that our own pathway of truth becomes a little brighter.
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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PATH OF THE JUST & WAY OF THE WICKED
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“But the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is as darkness:
they know not at what they stumble.”
Proverbs 4:18, 19
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The above passage from Proverbs speaks of the two classes of people living upon the Earth…
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…those who walk the ever-brightening pathway of truth…
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…and those who walk in spiritual darkness.
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This is perhaps one of the greatest metaphors of Scripture: that Jesus is that Light.
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But Jesus can only truly be revealed through a humble, prayerful searching of the Scriptures.
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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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But sadly, those who choose rather to direct their time and energies toward the pleasures and adventures and the cares and aspirations of this present world, may be left to walk through this life in darkness.
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But those who walk toward the Light of Life will find it.
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All such will joyfully discover that…
“…the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:18
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Pilgrim in a Rocky Valley by Carl Gustav Carus wikimedia US public domain
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“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES”
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So just how do we find the ever-brightening pathway of the Just?
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Well, listen again to Jeremiah…
…”And ye shall seek Me,
and find Me,
when ye shall search for Me
with all your heart.”
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Notice that this verse promotes the idea of finding the Lord.
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But how does the Christian search for Christ?
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The Bible says… “Search the scriptures…
they are they which testify of Me.”
John 5:39.
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Jesus is revealed all through the Bible: both in the Old, as well as in the New Testaments.
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The Old Testament however, was the Gospel of Jesus, found in types and shadows.
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In it, Christ was hidden, to a great extent, within the symbolic ceremonies and various object lessons found within the Law.
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But all these pointed forward to the coming Messiah.
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Listen… “Then He (Jesus) said unto them, O fools,
and slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have spoken:
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,
and to enter into His glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
He expounded unto them in all the scriptures
the things concerning Himself.”
Luke 24:25-27.
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As this passage reveals, Christ is found all through the Old Testament.
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But He must be found through a spiritual understanding of the various ceremonies, holy days, and laws found in the Old Testament, which are like signs, or like shadows, pointing us to Christ.
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theholyofholies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain
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“SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES”
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So, if we are ever going to understand these spiritual things, we must study the comparable Bible passages, and by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual”.
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And by so-doing, we might gain and understanding of what the Bible actually means, concerning the Sun being darkened.
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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BIBLE SPEAKS REPEATEDLY OF THE SUN
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“For the LORD God is a sun and shield:” Psalm 84:11
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The Bible repeats this concept from start to finish.
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Such passages as this one, speak of spiritual light and darkness…
…”We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shines in a dark place,
until the day dawn,
and the day-star arise in your hearts.”
2nd Peter 1:19
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Christ here compares Himself to the “day star” (the Sun).
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Here is a remarkable revelation concerning the last days.
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That Christ will be “the day-star” which arises in our hearts at the great “Dawning of the Day”.
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And this concept should be researched and understood, in order to gain a greater understanding of just how shall the Sun be darkened.
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Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license
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JESUS WARNS TO WALK IN THE LIGHT
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“Where else does the Sun being darkened speak of spiritual darkness?”
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Well, just listen to this next passage…
…”Then Jesus said unto them,
Yet a little while is the light with you.
Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you:
for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goeth.
While ye have light, believe in the light,
that ye may be the children of light.
These things spoke Jesus, and departed,
and did hide Himself from them.”
John 12:35, 36.
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Notice here that after Jesus warned of darkness falling on those who refuse to “walk in the light” that Jesus, “hid Himself from them”.
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Jesus, the, “Sun of Righteousness”, hid Himself.
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Do you see the spiritual truth presented here?
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Now here is beginning to be seen this concept of a spiritual eclipse.
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In other words, when, “Jesus hid Himself”, these opponents of Jesus were left in spiritual darkness.
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At least, that is the picture being painted here in this little story.
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Listen… “Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth Me
shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12.
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So, here is the key to being in the light: following Jesus.
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Picture to right courtesy of Luc Viatour for wikipedia. GNU Free Documentation License.
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SUN GOES DOWN ON FALSE PROPHETS
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But there are other verses about the Sun being darkened in a spiritual sense. Just listen to this passage…
…”He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth,
and causes them to wander in a wilderness
where there is no way.
THEY GROPE IN THE DARK WITHOUT LIGHT,
and He makes them to stagger like a drunken man.”
Job 12:24, 25.
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Obviously, this judgment against, “the chief of the people of the Earth”, is speaking of spiritual darkness.
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Now for further substantiation of this spiritual concept, is this next passage…
…”Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD!
to what end is it for you?
the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
As if a man did flee from a lion,
and a bear met him; or went into the house,
and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
SHALL NOT THE DAY OF THE LORD BE DARKNESS,
AND NOT LIGHT, AND NO BRIGHTNESS IN IT.”
Amos 5: 18, 19
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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SOME IN DARKNESS WHILE OTHERS IN LIGHT
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QUESTION:
“So is there some Old Testament story
which can be applied to the Book of Revelation
regarding these last days that points to God’s people not being in darkness?”
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ANSWER:
“And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven;
and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
They saw not one another,
neither rose any from his place for three days:
BUT ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
HAD LIGHT IN THEIR DWELLINGS.”
Exodus 10:22, 23.
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This plague over all Egypt brought gross darkness over all the land.
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But the Children of Israel had, “light in their dwellings”.
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This is an object lesson pointing forward to our day.
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God’s people will have the, “Light of Life”, to light our pathway.
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But those who are of, “Spiritual Sodom & Egypt, where our Lord was crucified”, will be left in total “Spiritual Darkness”, as God is now to pour out His plagues.
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Engraving by Gustave Dore’ “The Plague Of Darkness” www.creationism.org Public Domain
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DARKNESS OVER MANY PROPHETS TODAY
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“And when I shall put thee out,
I will cover the heaven,
and make the stars thereof dark;
I WILL COVER THE SUN WITH A CLOUD,
and the moon shall not give her light.
All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee,
and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
I will also vex the hearts of many people,
when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations,
into the countries …
when I shall brandish My sword before them…”
Ezekiel 32:7-10 (condensed).
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So God is going to darken the Sun with a cloud.
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So what is that all about?
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And what is that sword that God will brandish?
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Well, as to this second question, that sword of the Lord, is spoken of in Ephesians…
…”the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God:”
Ephesians 6:17.
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These verses confirm the idea of a spiritual darkening.
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The wicked have their eyes darkened.
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That is, their understanding is darkened.
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There is a spiritual famine of hearing God’s Word.
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And conversely, the righteous will not be darkened.
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But rather, the Sun shall be even brighter for the righteous.
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That is, their understanding of the truth will be enlightened, especially in the last days.
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Just listen… “The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spake to me,
He that rules over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God.
And He shall be as the light of the morning,
when the Sun rises, even a morning without clouds;
as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”
2nd Samuel 23:3, 4
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THE END
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NEXT ARTICLE:
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LUNAR ECLIPSE & SPIRITUAL ECLIPSE
click on above title for link
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If you haven’t read this next article about a lunar eclipse, and how it relates to the Church and to the Christian, it would be very beneficial to read.
The Lord has created this world and this universe, not merely to be beautiful, but also to teach spiritual truth. And the Moon is no exception! As a matter of fact, the Moon has such incredible significance, it is almost too much for a human to endure!
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But prayerfully read and comprehend this next article…click here… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”
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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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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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There is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others.
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And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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Discovering Bible Constellations Pt. 3: Happily Ever After
By admin On January 13th, 2011
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You may also click here to read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 4
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“AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER”…
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This Part 3 is perhaps the most amazing part of all, in this personal story of these heavenly constellations.
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This 3rd section shows how this Gospel in the heavens concludes.
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Up till now, I didn’t realize just how well constructed was this heavenly love story, written in the night sky.
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But now it was time to see this amazing saga, and how it ends.
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And unlike the make-believe children tales written by mortal men, this story is the only story ever told that speaks the truth when it ends with…“And they lived happily ever after” (see Revelation 21:4).
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Because, in reality, every earthly story ultimately ends with the death of all its participants. But in this heavenly story, the villains die, but the heroes end up living forever!
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So, this story not only ends with “happily ever after”, but is a true story as well, and not just a fairy-tale!
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So read on…and behold what an amazing Creator we have!
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And discover what an awesome universe He has designed, in which He has signed His very own signature upon the Sun, Moon, and Stars…
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P.S. And may your own personal story likewise end with… “And they lived happily ever after.”
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ARK OF THE COVENANT CONSTELLATION
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By now it was spring (2009), as those Winter Constellations began to disappear below the western horizon, and those Summer Constellations once again appeared.
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WALKING, PRAYING & STAR-GAZING… Being not much of a sleeper, can require one to take walks in the middle of the night, if possible.
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But in those dark hours, I could easily just stop and look up, to study the stars and constellations.
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And also, I could pray my nightly prayers, while walking, without anybody noticing (and needless to say, the exercise I got from walking was likewise beneficial! A real “win-win situation”.)
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And thankfully, the Summer Constellations were back again, so it was warmer!
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Once again, appeared that Two Birds Constellation…but now they didn’t look like birds anymore (see above drawing).
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Amazing enough, it now looked like a box or chest with a star on each side (actually the left side has 2 stars).
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So, this constellation seemed to be the heavenly picture of the ancient Ark of the Testament, used in the temple service.
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This constellation is spoken of in the little Book of Revelation.
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Just listen…“And the nations were angry,
and Thy wrath is come…
And the temple of God was opened in heaven,
and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament.”
Revelation 11:18,19.
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WOW! So now this little verse from Revelation was taking on a much greater significance!
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Heaven seemed to be opening up!
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At least they were opening up to me!
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And I could see the Ark of God’s Testament was now appearing in Heaven!
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This was thrilling to witness these things!
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THE WINTER CONSTELLATIONS (EASTERN HORIZON)
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TWO-PART STORY… And this time, an awareness also came, that they were telling a story: the wonderful Gospel Story.
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As writing an addition to this story this morning, about this timeline (January 9, 2011), it just now becomes apparent that the Summer Constellations and the Winter Constellations are presenting the two primary aspects of God’s Salvation Plan.
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The Summer Constellations typify the “Follow Me” portion of the Gospel (discipleship).
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The Winter Constellations typify the “Fighting the Good Fight” portion (persecution, consecration, fleeing from sin, victory over sin and Satan).
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Up till this point in time, I had no idea that God had written the entire Gospel Story in the night skies!
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And this was a new concept to me as well: that the Christian life is divided into two parts: the peaceful portion, symbolized by the Summer Constellations, and the warfare portion of the Winter Constellations.
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NATURE…OUR TEACHER
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There is possibly nothing else in nature with this kind of actual pictorial depiction of the Gospel!
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And what made this even more awesome was that these constellation-pictures were three-dimensional in appearance.
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They weren’t just “caveman” quality artwork.
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And even more amazing was that they unfolded the Gospel story as they rotated through the night.
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For instance, Orion appears to be losing the battle at the beginning of his appearance in the east.
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But by the time he reaches the western skies, he is now atop the Dragon, in a victorious position.
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And so, as I began to see these things, it was truly a spine-tingling experience!
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Each time I saw a new Gospel-Constellation, my jaw dropped, and my eyes blinked in astonishment!
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THE REVELATION 12 CROWN
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“Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job_38:32
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The summer of 2010, as I was walking down Summers Lane, I happened to spot a constellation I had altogether forgotten about.
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I once again saw that 12-star crown which I had seen years earlier.
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And astonishingly, it was in alignment with these other Summer Constellations (The Ark, The Cross/Scepter, The Woman).
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It was now apparent that this crown aligned with the other constellations in this beautiful heavenly processional!
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And all these constellations looked like a royal entourage, all following that glorious star, Arcturus.
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And all this made perfect logic.
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After all, here was Arcturus (which obviously symbolizes Christ)…
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…leading this Royal Ambassage, with the Crown of 12 Stars (symbolizing the people of God)…
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…as well as the Big Dipper (which seems to represent the 7 stars, or the 7 angels of the 7 churches)…
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…and the Woman of Revelation 12 (who seems also, to symbolize God’s people).
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And along with all these, the Ark (representing the heart of God), and the Cross/Scepter Constellation. Too incredible!
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Just listen to this… “Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32.
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So here in the night sky, is an incredible fulfillment of this verse.
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Here is seen this Heavenly Entourage in the night sky, in which Arcturus leads this obvious symbol of God’s people…this Glorious Crown!
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Magnificent procession! (Note: Some astrologers conclude that there were only 7+1 stars in this constellation. But if one views this Crown Constellation carefully out in the country on a dark and clear night, there appears to be 12 stars plus 1 in middle.)
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But the 7 prominent stars plus the 8th in the middle has much Biblical significance, as well.
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So, if a person can only find those 7 stars, plus the 8th in the middle…that’s okay too!
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This is because it appears as a laurel wreath, which only reminds us of the ancient marathon runners.
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Just listen to this…
“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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So it appears that God is once again presenting a double-entendre as this Glorious Crown appears not only as a laurel wreath, but also as a crown of 12 stars (+1 more star in middle).
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Sketches: ‘Crown of 12 Stars’ plus the Summer Constellations. (the Crown has 13 stars counting star in middle. Actually, five of these stars are very difficult to see. You must be away from city lights, and then they’re still difficult. But with perseverance you may see them.)
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Photo of Laurel Wreath Lorbeerkranz_Zypern – Wikipedia – pub. dom.
Photo of Corona Constellation by Perseus astronomy software.
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THE CROWN OF REVELATION 12
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Now about last week (Nov. 2010), a very amazing picture found in Revelation 12 became apparent.
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The Crown of 12 Stars Constellation was directly over the head of the Revelation 12 Woman!
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This really puts an exclamation mark on Revelation 12…
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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven;
a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and upon (or, “over”) her head a crown of twelve stars”
Revelation 12:1
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So, it became clear that there was a tie-in between this Crown, and this heavenly Woman.
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Do you see the significance of this?
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Here we have Arcturus (Christ), leading this marvelous procession, composed of this virgin woman (in labor), trying her best to take hold of this Cross/Scepter (which is bending itself, trying its best to come to her).
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And this Cross/Scepter is coming out of this Ark of the Covenant.
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And to top it all off, here is a Crown of 12 stars, hovering above the head of the woman (not yet on her head, but close).
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To use an expression, this is a ‘mind-blower’!
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And this is one major reason for this time-line account.
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD BOWS DOWN…
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Tonight (summer 2011) was the first time I’ve taken a walk in about six months, due to a torn ligament…or something similar.
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On this short walk, I noticed that as these constellations move westward, this flower constellation appears to bend more and more, until it almost bends completely down.
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This occurs as it travels into the western skies. It’s because, somehow the Earth rotates in order to produce this effect.
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This is a very wonderful phenomenon…and Biblical too!
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After all, the Bible says, “the grass withers and the flower falls away”.
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And that’s exactly what this flower seems to do.
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It almost seems to be bowing itself…in the direction of the bright and beautiful star, Arcturus (which symbolizes Jesus).
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This would make sense.
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And really, Scripture states…
“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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And the flower of the field represents the glories of Mankind, in Scripture.
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And the obvious inference is that all of Mankind will ultimately bow the knee to Jesus, on the Last Day.
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“TWO TURTLE-DOVES“…
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“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem;
defending also he will deliver it;
and passing over he will preserve it…
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver,
and his idols of gold,
which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.”
Psalm 31:5, 7
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This morning, it’s beginning to seem that these two birds are not seagulls.
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It would make much more biblical sense that this constellation is to be, not two seagulls…but two doves.
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After all, Turtle-Doves were accepted by God in the temple service as an offering, if the person was too poor to offer a lamb.
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And since this constellation also appears as the Ark of the Covenant, turtledoves only make sense.
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And really, turtledoves were a recommended offering in the temple service…
…”And if he be not able to bring a lamb,
then he shall bring for his trespass,
which he hath committed, two turtledoves,
or two young pigeons, unto the LORD;
one for a sin offering,
and the other for a burnt offering.”
Leviticus 5:7
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Above sketch: Two Turtle-doves ( This Two Turtle-doves Constellation is the same constellation as The Ark Constellation. This double entendre of both the Ark and Two Turtle-doves is an optical illusion (It is commonly called the Sagittarius Constellation.) Can be seen in south in warmer months, traveling from east to west throughout the night.) NOTE: The farther south you live, the more tilted are these constellations!
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THE ARK TIPS
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Just the other day (about August 15th, 2011) I noticed as this Ark Constellation moves westward, it appears to tip forward as though it is spilling out its contents.
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Now this is an amazing thing. Because if you’re familiar with the history of the Ark in the Old Testament, you know that nobody was supposed to touch or look into the Ark.
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But in the heavens is this amazing Ark Constellation going through the night AS IF IT’S TIPPING FORWARD AND SPILLING OUT ITS CONTENTS!
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But as summer approaches fall, the axis of earth shifts in such a way that this Ark appears to tilt more and more, as if it is tipping over!
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So, what spiritual lesson can we learn from this?
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Well, for one thing, it seems to further fulfill that passage we looked at earlier…
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“And the nations were angry,
and Thy wrath is come…
And the temple of God was opened in heaven,
and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament.”
Revelation 11:18,19.
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But another aspect to this “spilling out” phenomenon is: to answer this question, we must learn just what is spilling out of this Ark.
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THE ‘CROSS-SCEPTER CONSTELLATION’
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“there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel….”
Numbers 24:17
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Okay. So, the Ark Constellation appears to be tipping forward and spilling out its contents.
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But this constellation was revealed only several years ago (2008).
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Before this it only appeared as two birds flying northwestward.
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But it was about 20 years earlier that I first noticed the Cross/Scepter Constellation.
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Well, you can imagine how surprising it was 20 years later, to now see that this Cross/Scepter appeared to be coming out of this newly discovered Ark Constellation!
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But there it was… that Cross/Scepter Constellation rising up out of the Ark Constellation.
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So now it begins to make sense that God is willing to spill the contents of the Ark for the whole world to see.
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The Cross changed all that Old Testament harsh penalty concerning the Ark.
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Now it’s known that Aaron’s rod, which was in the original Ark, was really a picture of the Cross!
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But listen to the following prophecy… “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel….” Numbers 24:17.
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So, to see this Scepter rising out of this Ark, seems to fulfill this prophecy in a very literal sense.
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Of course, this prophecy ultimately concerns the coming of Christ to this world.
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But God has written this concept in the night sky.
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And it is up there for all who are of Christ’s faith to behold.
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THE CROSS/SCEPTER IS FLYING TOWARDS THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND OF THE WOMAN CONSTELLATION…
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But where was the ‘Cross/Scepter’ going?
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Then, looking to the north it was now apparent that it was going straight toward the outstretched hand of the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation.
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Well actually, it appears to be heading toward Arcturus, representing Jesus.
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But as you can see, this Cross/Scepter appears to be bending away from Arcturus, and instead, bending itself toward the Woman!
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This made perfect sense, picking up the theme of the book of Esther in which she went into the king’s chamber and reached out to grasp the king’s scepter.
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Do you see how absolutely amazing this heavenly picture is? This Woman Constellation which represents the Church, is grasping for God’s scepter which also resembles a cross!
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And you can go to the page which deals with this concept just by clicking here… “The Revelation 12 Woman in Travail Constellation”.
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Now as I walked down the street each night, and gradually saw these things, it was totally overwhelming and awesome beyond belief!
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Certainly, all the torment and persecution I had suffered under Satan’s cruel hand, in past years, now seemed to pale, in comparison with these awesome constellations.
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THE FALL CONSTELLATIONS REVEALED
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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION…
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It was back in about 2008 when I first noticed a constellation that appeared like two mountains and a very deep valley between them.
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This constellation appeared when the Glorious White Horse Constellation was in the eastern sky and tipped as if this horse was falling backwards.
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This is because the rear-end and tail of the horse was also another very dramatic constellation.
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OK, so these two mountains and valley immediately reminded of the Bible verse which states…
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:
for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
Joel 3:14.
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So this passage from Joel’s fiery prophecy definitely spoke of a time just prior to Judgment Day.
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It spoke of a time in which the entire world will hear enough of the Gospel so as to make an intelligent choice as to who they wish to serve…Christ (Heaven) or Satan (this world).
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But this constellation, while dramatic for me to look at, seemed a little “thin” to be sharing with others.
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This all happened three years ago in 2008.
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Well just a few days ago (2011), my daughter was mentioning the Valley of Decision in the Bible.
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And it triggered a desire to take a closer look at this constellation group once more, several years later.
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And out in the night sky, one of the first things I noticed, was that this constellation was smack-dab in between the Summer Constellations, and the Winter Constellations.
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This added force to my being on the right track about this constellation being the “Valley of Decision”, since it was right before the Winter Constellations, which are all about the “warfare portion” of our Salvation Pilgrimage.
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FALL CONSTELLATIONS MAKE PLAIN JUST WHO
REALLY SERVES GOD, & WHO SERVES HIM NOT
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Now why would this be significant, that the Valley of Decision Constellation is right between the Summer and Winter constellations?
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Well this Fall Constellation group follows behind the “Come follow me” Summer Constellations, which are all about discipleship. So the Summer Constellations are all about beginning to follow Jesus.
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But after a while, these Fall Constellations show up to ask the question…
…”Are you willing to follow Me whithersoever I lead you?
Are you willing to lay down your life for Me?
Are you willing to forsake all of this present world,
for the sake of gaining the world to come?
Are you willing to fight the Good Fight,
to gain the victory over sin, selfishness, and Satan?”
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These are the questions which Jesus asks each and every professed follower.
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Just listen to Scripture…
“From that time many of His disciples went back,
and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve,
Will ye also go away?”
John 6:66, 67.
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This is the very same question which the Fall Constellations asks us… “Will ye also go away?”
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And just because there are many persons WHO CLAIM to be followers of Jesus, doesn’t mean that they are willing to give up the world for Jesus.
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There are many of us, like Judas, who love the things of the world, and when called to “forsake all”, are willing to sell Jesus out for “a few pieces of silver”.
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Oh, such persons may continue to attend church each week.
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But such will choose in heart, to reject the call to forsake all, and fight the fight.
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And though such may continue to attend church, we will lose whatever light that may have previously shined for them.
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It’s so sad, isn’t it?
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The Valley of Decision is where the Believers and the “make-believers” are separated. Just listen to Malachi…
…”Then shall ye return,
and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serves God
and him that serves Him not.”
Malachi 3:18.
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And just prior to the winter battle-scene comes these Valley of Decision Constellations.
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And this Signs Of Heaven message is a very well-ordered message.
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The Last Supper – WIKIPEDIA – US public domain
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BUT WHERE ARE THE “MULTITUDES”?
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But there was another discovery that further added to the confirmation that this truly was the “Valley of Decision” Constellation.
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While looking at various star-charts online, I noticed that there was a galaxy which appeared to be making its way up the hill from the valley.
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It appeared to be climbing up the hill that led to the Mountain of Blessing (the other mountain was the “Mount of Cursing”. (See Deuteronomy 28).
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Can you imagine?!
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A galaxy called Andromeda, with perhaps a trillion stars appears like it’s climbing the Mount of Blessing (the mountain to the left in the below sketch).
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So this pretty much “cinched it”, as being indeed the Valley of Decision Constellation…
…“that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim,
and the curse upon mount Ebal.”
Deuteronomy 11:29.
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But the point to this galaxy climbing up this Mount of Blessing is this: the prophecy of Joel says…
…”Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:
for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
Joel 3:14.
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So what is the significance of this? Simple!
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When it says, “Multitudes in the Valley of Decision”, we can certainly say that any galaxy such as this Andromeda Galaxy with an estimated trillion or more stars fulfills the requirement of a “multitude”.
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In other words, this Andromeda Galaxy with its trillion+ stars is a picture of all those who are in the Valley of Decision.
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And of course, it’s common knowledge that God speaks of stars as representing His people… “And they that be wise shall shine… as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3
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Andromeda_Galaxy_ Adam Evans & Wikipedia share-alike license
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“O DESTROYING MOUNTAIN”
Jeremiah 51:25
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Now I have a little old 4-cylinder truck…without any insurance.
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So, without insurance, I have to ride a bicycle.
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You see, I have type-2 diabetes.
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And in order to force myself to get exercise, I have cancelled my insurance, forcing me to ride my bike all the time.
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And this forced exercise has helped my diabetes tremendously.
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So, the other night (on a warm summer’s evening) at about midnight, I rode my bike out about 4 miles or so…past our local airport bright lights.
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And once past those bright lights I looked up in order to fix this mountain/valley constellation in my mind.
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But I noticed a third mountain! And it bothered me.
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It just kind of took the force out of this constellation of the Valley of Decision Constellation…it complicated things…two mountains and one valley I could understand…Blessings or Cursing!
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A very simple concept! But now there were three mountains! Hmmm.
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This third mountain was further south.
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This became very confusing.
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But the next day I began to wonder if this third mountain might be a “counterfeit” of Satan.
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In other words, this third mountain was placed in the heavens by God to give us a heavenly portrait of how Satan tries to confuse the issue of Salvation…
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…by creating “look-alike” gospels and counterfeit lifestyles and ideologies…deceiving the world’s inhabitants into believing that there’s a third alternative.
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In other words, Satan makes us think that it’s not just a choice between Christ and Satan…between life and death.
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But maybe we can have a choice “C”, so to speak…which is neither for nor against Jesus.
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Maybe there’s an alternative lifestyle, allowing us to bypass this “narrow” choice of just Jesus or Satan.
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Maybe we don’t have to be a servant of God, nor of Satan.
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Maybe we can just “be our own boss”, as they say.
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So, this is how most of the world (and sadly, the Church too, to a great extent) is deceived…thinking that we can be an “independent agent”.
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So when I got home, I looked in the Bible to see if there was such a thing as a counterfeit mountain?
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I have studied the Bible much over the years, and though I’m by no means a Bible scholar, I did remember that there was a mountain of Satan.
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So, using a concordance, it just took a moment. And here’s what I found…
…”Behold, I am against thee,
O destroying mountain, saith the LORD,
which destroyest all the earth:”
Jeremiah 51:25.
This “destroying mountain” is speaking of Mystery Babylon.
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It is Satan’s counterfeit of God’s truth! Whoa! This was really exciting!
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This was the answer! God has faithfully given us a picture, in very simple terms, just what this world is all about: making the inhabitants of the world believe they can live a life without God.
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And making churchgoers believe they can have Jesus and yet, still pursue the cares and pleasures of the world too.
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ABOVE PICTURE: Mazda-B2200 – Wikipedia – public domain
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“O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.”
Psalm 83:13
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Well, it wasn’t too long, that this idea of a third mountain made me wonder if there might be a line of stars which led over to the Dragon Constellation, which was below and to the north of this third mountain.
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And studying some star-charts, sure enough, there was indeed a line of stars, which leads right into the Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation.
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It is a portion of what is commonly known as the Pisces Constellation.
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And it looked like a Highway to Hell, with little stars appearing to descend the slope of this counterfeit mountain.
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And it pretty much leads downward in a straight line to the Dragon!
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And so these little stars (can you see the circle of stars in this sketch to the left?) appear as if they are those “Five Foolish Virgins” who being deceived by Satan, take the “Broad Way” that leads to destruction…
“…broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat…”
Matthew 7:13
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This sketch picks up on this concept of the Five Foolish Virgins.
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Here we see these five Foolish Virgins grinding at the mill (the 5th virgin is behind the giant globe which Satan is sitting on).
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But it is Satan’s mill, and not the Lord’s mill (His Word).
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These foolish ones are grinding at Satan’s mill (the world)!
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In the background is a tall cathedral-style door in which various people are sliding down from the Destroying Mountain along that hellish highway, smack-dab into this Hell.
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But this portion of Hell is not the grave.
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This portion of Hell is in this world.
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It is the Hell of spiritual darkness, when the light of the Gospel finally goes out in a church-goers heart.
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“THE NARROW WAY & BROAD WAY”…
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Just recently (Winter 2010-2011), there began to appear a very wonderful finale to this whole heavenly Gospel Story.
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There appeared two exceptionally bright stars on the sickle of the Orion/Reaper Constellation.
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And there also appeared two bright stars on the wave of water coming from the mouth of the Dragon Constellation.
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The distance between the two stars on the sickle were about half the distance as the two stars on the wave of water.
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Also, the Revelation 12 Woman Constellation appears to be going toward these two sets of stars.
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She seems to be in a quandary as to which door to enter (i.e., which set of stars to enter). But as spring approaches, the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation definitely appears to be veering toward the Narrow Gate Stars (narrow set of stars in Orion’s sickle).
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All this Wide Gate & Narrow Gate concept is from the Bible parable about the Narrow Way and the Broad Way in which Jesus warns us to enter the strait gate…
…”For wide is the gate
and broad is the way
that leads to destruction.”
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But Jesus also adds that…
…”Strait is the gate
and narrow is the way
that leads to [eternal] life.
And few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:13,14
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And so, this makes the perfect and happy ending to this heavenly Gospel Story!
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The Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (God’s people) finally realizes that the only way that makes sense is the Narrow Way.
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And now that we are at the end of time, we see that the faithful portion of the Church is going to come to the realization that we must enter life through the Strait Gate.
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We are now realizing that the so-called Christianity which promotes a broad interpretation of the Bible is actually the Broad Way and will only lead to destruction.
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Any way, if you wish to study more into this question, just click the following link… The Narrow Way & The Broad Way
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CASTOR AND POLLUX…
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Today (9-6-2011) it has just come to my attention while looking at a star-chart, that the Narrow Gate Stars are made of two stars… Castor and Pollux.
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This presents an incredible fulfillment of a passage in the Book of Acts, which reads…
…“And after three months 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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I have known for a number of years that this story in Acts concerns the Church through the New Testament era.
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In other words, this story in Acts about Paul and the two ships he sailed on is a prophecy.
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The first ship finally broke into two halves (Can we see a split down the middle of Christianity today, between the conservative and liberal gospels? Go to “Blood Moon Trilogy” to read about this).
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Paul and everyone else had to finally abandon ship.
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But to make a long story short, they boarded a second ship whose sign was Castor and Pollux, which appears to be speaking about these Narrow Gate Stars.
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In short, this second ship that Paul and the others boarded seems to be referring to God’s ship (God’s true worshippers).
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God’s ship is His Gospel Ship and the sign of this Gospel Ship is this constellation now revealed to us as the Narrow Way or the Narrow Gate Stars, which are made of simply…two stars...Castor and Pollux.
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD
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As of summer, 2012, after being down south, near the Mexican border, I noticed that the Scorpio Constellation (AKA The Flower of the Field) was fully in view.
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While looking at the lower portion, I noticed that the rounded bottom appeared as a leaf.
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Needless to say, I was overjoyed, since this made that entire Scorpio Constellation appear as a flower, instead of just the upper portion.
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The old sketch to the above shows only the upper portion, but the new sketch to the right shows the entire Scorpio Constellation.
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So here is further proof that God intended this constellation to be a flower and not a scorpion.
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WHY IS THIS FLOWER POINTING UPWARD?
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Do you see the long blade of Grass growing from the base of the Flower of the Field?
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This is made of the two highest stars of the Lupus Constellation, and the two lowest stars of the Libra Constellation.
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As this sketch shows, the flower appears to be pointing to Arcturus (not shown in this sketch).
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Arcturus represents Jesus, as He leads His sons on a spiritual journey up a heavenward pathway, as is written…
…”Canst you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?
or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?”
Job 38:32.
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As this flower represents the glory of Mankind, then the obvious message is this: even Mankind ultimately points to Jesus, because it withers and falls away.
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And as humanity considers how fragile life is, then by their sadness and hopelessness and sinfulness, they unwittingly praise the Lord…
…”Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.”
Psalm 76:10.
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So the sinfulness of Mankind praises the Lord. So the following Psalm then begins to make sense…
…”Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 150:6.
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So then, it’s virtually impossible for any creature not to praise the Lord. Romans makes this concept clear…
“…our unrighteousness commend(s) the righteousness of God”
Romans 3:5
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For instance, the atheist, as he grows old and sad and hopeless only makes Christianity look that much more appealing to those who are questioning and searching which direction to go in life.
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And so, just like that Flower of the Field Constellation, we too need to be pointing the way to Arcturus (i.e., Jesus).
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THE GLITTERING SWORD CONSTELLATION
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One January night in 2011, I was riding with my brother-in-law back to Klamath Falls, from Redding.
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It was a good dark night, so I urged him to stop, so I could show him the Wave of Water Constellation.
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And as we were looking up at the stars, I began to wonder if these Winter Constellations were aligned with the Summer Constellations.
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Now, the Summer Constellations were no longer visible, since it was January.
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So, in the next few days, I began to research this idea.
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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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And if you look below the tip of this sword, you will notice that the tip is pointing right down upon the Ark Constellation.
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This appears to be a great sacrifice, especially when you consider that the Ark also appears like two Turtle-Doves, which were often used as an Old Testament sacrifice.
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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.
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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
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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
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Well, this entire story began with the Flower of the Field Constellation.
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And it looks like it will end with this Flower of Heaven Constellation.
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The first flower came up out of the Earth.
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But this second flower is suspended from Heaven.
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This constellation was revealed to the web host around the beginning of 2013.
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THE HOLY-GHOST-RIDER CONSTELLATION
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Here is the newest revealed constellation (Fall, 2013).
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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.
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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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Okay, so to understand this constellation is a very complex concept.
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But also, to find this Constellation will take some work, too.
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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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FIVE WISE VIRGINS
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A few weeks ago (May, 2014), as I was walking, one night, along a nearby Canal, I noticed a group of stars in a slight oval position right next to the Beautiful 12-star Crown.
Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis
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And these stars were maybe even a little brighter than the Crown.
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Now because they were even distanced from each other and in such a definite oval pattern, I became somewhat bothered.
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After all, in my human thinking, I didn’t like that crown to have such tough competition, from this unrecognized group of stars.
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But a few days later, it came to me that those stars represented the Five Wise Virgins from Matthew 25.
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And that slight oval pattern represented their gathering around the Glorious Crown, giving the Crown the attention it deserved.
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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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Then as I kept considering this new phenomenon, I began to realize that these Five Wise Virgins were 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!
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And so, this realization gave further credence to these stars representing the Five Wise Virgins.
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But after a few more nights of watching this, I then realized that these five stars might even be the five toes of Sign of the Son of Man Constellation!
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And so, this meant 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
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Now as I related this to a friend, he suggested that there might be more to this than I now realized.
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Well, he said this about several hours prior to me driving a borrowed car out to the country to examine these things.
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And sure enough, as I parked in the driveway of the county dump (a very great place to star-watch, with few nearby house lights to obstruct), I saw that there were a group of stars which were on the opposite side of the crown also in a slight oval pattern.
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But unlike the wise virgins, these stars were curved away from the crown as if to say that they were ignoring the crown.
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And likewise, they were ignoring the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus, as the Five Wise Virgins were!
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So all this made sense. And as I considered this, I began to notice that these stars, along with more stars appeared like a snake, winding away from the crown.
Draco, Ursa Minor
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And then, to my utter amazement, I realized that this snake was winding its way around the heel of the Son of Man Constellation!
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And of course, this reminded me 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).
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 was not enough, I began to look up on the star charts regarding what stars and constellations these stars happened to be.
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And to my amazement, the wide-open jaws of this serpent are the very same four stars which the Babylonians saw as Draco, the Dragon (photo right).
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But the body of Draco are completely different stars, than this Serpent Constellation!
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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 these phenomena weren’t finished!
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There was yet another aspect to this!
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I then began to suspect that these four stars which represented the jaws of this serpent were pointing in two separate directions.
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And so, I began to draw a line across the night sky, only to discover that one jaw pointed to the Valley of Decision Constellation.
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And the other jaw pointed to the “O Destroying Mountain Constellation”, in which there was also a group of five stars, likewise representing the Five Foolish Virgins.
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And so, to further substantiate this, I got a 4 foot long straight-edge, holding it up to the night-sky, and made sure they were pointing in those directions.
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Because on the star-charts, you cannot see this.
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But out in the night sky, they definitely point in those two directions!
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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Serpent with Wise Virgins Attached – seen late summer into fall only – Serpent Constellation – comprised of the head of Draco, plus stars from the Bootes Constellation – www.signsofheaven.org – not for profit use
Son Of Man Constellation
ABOVE STAR-CHART – Serpent Constellation – www.signsofheaven.org – not for profit use – Serpent Points To Valley & Destroying Mtn.
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To go to Part 4, just click here…
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“Part 4…Signs in Our Solar System”
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THE END
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A HEAVENLY HOBBY
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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There is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;”
Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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Mystery Babylon: Who Is This Harlot Of Revelation?
By admin On January 8th, 2011.
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MYSTERY BABYLON:
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THE HARLOT OF
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REVELATION 17
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“I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast…
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour,
and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
and upon her forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”
Revelation 17:3-5
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THE TWO WOMEN OF SCRIPTURE
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Throughout Scripture there is a common thread found, beginning in Genesis, and running all
the way through to Revelation.
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It is the story of two women: one good and one evil.
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And many people are perplexed as to just who or what these two women represent.
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Perhaps the best way to explore this subject, is merely to look at some of the various places these two women are found.
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And in so-doing, we might better understand just what these two women are all about.
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Jezebel – John Liston Byam Shaw – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Esther by Léon Benouville Odaliske 1844 wikipedia US public domain
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“GREAT SIGN IN HEAVEN…A WOMAN”
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“And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven;
a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”
Revelation 12:1
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The Apostle John was shown a, “great wonder in heaven, a woman…”.
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This sign which John saw was a picture of the Church, which, by the way, God often referred to as a woman. Galatians speaks about the…
…“Jerusalem which is above is free,
which is the mother of us all.”
Galatians 4:26.
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Paul also made this statement to the Church at Corinth… “for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 1st Corinthians 11:2.
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So this concept of a woman representing the Church (that is, the true-worshippers from both the Old & New Testaments) is a very well established Biblical concept.
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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
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REVELATION 12 WOMAN CONSTELLATION
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But God has likewise written this very same concept in the heavens. God said…
…”Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God;
ask it either in the depth, or in the height above…
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:11-14 (condensed).
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Now why did God say to ask for a sign in the depth OR in the height above?
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One very good reason is that this sign of a virgin with child was fulfilled down here on Earth, with Mary and Jesus.
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This would be that sign, “in the depth”.
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But what sign is given in the height above?
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ABOVE PICTURE: Winter – Revelation 12 Woman with Eagle Wings
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“A SIGN OF THE LORD…IN THE HEIGHT ABOVE”
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Well, God has created a constellation sign, of a woman with child in the height above.
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You see, in the summer this Revelation 12 Woman Constellation (also known as Ursa Major ) appears as a woman with child.
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But this same constellation in the winter flips upside down and now appears as a fleeing woman with wings as an eagle.
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This woman represents the Church-Faithful.
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She symbolizes the five wise virgins in that famous Matthew 25 parable.
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This concept of the Church-Faithful also is picked up in Revelation Chapter 12…
…”And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven;
a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”
Revelation 12:1.
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Here God speaks of a virtuous woman in Heaven, again symbolizing the Church-Faithful.
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Now if you would like to explore more about this Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation, just click here… “Woman of Revelation 12 (Woman in Travail)”
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And so with this basic understanding, it is time to discuss the other woman of Revelation. The adulterous woman…
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PLEIADES: CONSTELLATION OF THE REVELATION 12 HARLOT
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As of January, 2013, it appears that the tail of the Revelation 12 Dragon represents the Harlot of Revelation.
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This is the star-cluster known as the Pleiades.
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Now this cluster is actually a constellation which is roughly in the shape of this woman.
The red star in her mid-section is the cup of wine spoken of in Revelation.
Here is a picture of the Pleiades Constellation.
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EVE, THE 1ST ADULTEROUS WOMAN
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Even in the garden of Eden, did this theme of an adulteress begin, when Eve decided to commit spiritual adultery by eating the forbidden fruit.
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Eve no longer was the virtuous woman she was created to be.
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And so began Mankind’s woes upon Earth…
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Eve Tizian_eve-wikipedia-pub-dom
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ABRAHAM, SARAH, AND HAGAR
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The ‘two woman’ theme shows up with Sarah and Hagar in the Book of 
Genesis. Sarah, the legitimate wife of Abraham, and Hagar, the Egyptian hand-maid, who was thrust into a cursed relationship with Abraham.
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While Hagar may have been an innocent ‘pawn’ in this faithless scheme to produce a child for Abraham, Hagar was nevertheless an Egyptian.
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And Revelation 11:8 exposes Egypt as a spiritual representation of apostate Jerusalem.
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So, Hagar is the symbol of the apostate portion of God’s people.
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This will be further discussed a little down the page.
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So, in this story of Sarah and Hagar, the Lord is establishing this concept of the two women of Scripture.
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Hagar – Wikipedia – public domain
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SAMSON & DELILAH
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What about Delilah, who betrayed Samson?
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Was she a picture of the Harlot Woman of Revelation?
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Very much so.
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Sadly, the story of Samson has a striking parallel to the God’s people.
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Just as Samson loved strange women, so too, God’s people have united with the world many times and in many ways.
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Dore Samson And Delilah from creationism.org public domain
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RUTH AND ORPHAH
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RUTH AND ORPAH…Likewise, the story of Ruth and Orpah is a picture of a ‘virtuous woman’ and a ‘not-so-virtuous woman’.
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Ruth, the heroine of this story, decides to stay with Naomi (her widowed Israelite mother-in-law), and Orpah returns to her pagan people.
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Of course, this story has everything to do with those who choose to serve God and those who turn back from following God, to return to the idolatry of the world.
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WHAT IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADULTERESS & THE FAITHFUL WOMAN?
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We all sin, don’t we? Well then, why is this Adulteress any different from any Believer?
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Is there any one quality of this “adulterous woman” that makes her different from the true worshippers of God?
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Here is the attitude of a child of God.
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Listen to Ezra here...
…”And [Ezra] said, O my God,
I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God:
for our iniquities are increased over our head,
and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.”
Ezra 9:6.
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Now listen to God’s assessment of His defiant people…
…”and thou [God’s disobedient people] hadst a whore’s forehead,
thou refusedst to be ashamed.”
Jeremiah 3:3.
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Compare the two attitudes found here in these previous two verses.
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Here is the difference between the Believer and those known as “false brethren”.
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A true Christian may sin, but will be filled with sorrow and repentance.
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There will be seen a genuine consternation over the matter of failing to be Christ-like in every way.
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On the other hand, the false brethren cannot, and will not know such a sorrow for sin.
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Tissot – The Harlot of Jericho and the Two Spies – Wikipedia – public domain
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THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
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Who is the virtuous woman?
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Proverbs deals heavily on the subject of the adulteress as well as the virtuous woman.
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Just listen… “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband…” Proverbs 12:4.
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T
JEREMIAH
Jeremiah also speaks of her… “How is the faithful city become an harlot” Jeremiah 1:21.
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Jeremiah speaks of Jerusalem as a harlot.
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And Paul revealed that the apostate Church is, “Jerusalem which is now, and is in bondage with her children” (This is explained farther down the page).
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So, we must never get the idea these Old Testament prophecies have no relevance to the Church.
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Otherwise, Paul would have no reason to warn us with this concept.
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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EZEKIEL
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Ezekiel speaks of two adulterous women…
…”Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister…
Thus were their names;
Samaria is Aholah,
and Jerusalem is Aholibah.”
Ezekiel 23:5.
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Here again, God compares His people to two adulterous sisters.
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HOSEA
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Hosea was told by the Lord to, “Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms…for the land hath committed great whoredom, [departing] from the LORD.” Hosea 1:3.
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This little book of Hosea, is based on God comparing His people to the harlot Hosea is commanded to marry.
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So, the Lord is comparing this new harlot wife of Hosea to Israel.
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Jeremiah at the Potter’s House Wikigallery US public domain
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PAUL FINALLY REVEALS WHAT
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THESE TWO WOMEN REPRESENT
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So now we come to the New Testament.
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And Paul makes the most incredible and bold comparison of Abraham’s wife Sarah and her handmaid, Hagar to the Old and New Covenants!
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Just listen carefully to the below passage…
…”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.
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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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JEZEBEL IS BACK AGAIN!
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“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,
because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,
which calleth herself a prophetess,
to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
And I will kill her children with death;
and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts:
and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”
Revelation 2:20, 23
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In the 2nd Chapter of Revelation, no longer is Jezebel a literal person, but now is an allegorical figure.
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Now she represents “Apostasy”.
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THE REVELATION 18 HARLOT
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THAT SITS ON MANY WATERS
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In Revelation 14 the Second Angel declares, “Babylon is fallen”. Listen…
…”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.”
Revelation 14:8
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Babylon is a picture of God’s apostate people.
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There was no actual Babylon during the writing of the New Testament.
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But the New Testament Babylon was a symbolic city.
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MYSTERY BABYLON IS THE CHURCHES
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Now many would like to think that Revelation 18 is only referring to literal Jerusalem and Judah
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But the fact is, literal Jerusalem was vacated by Christ, 2,000 years ago.
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This seems then, that it must be speaking of Jerusalem, “which is now, and is in bondage with her children”, that is, the apostate churches.
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The reason it seems this can only be speaking of the churches, is because Salvation only has to do with the Church, in these New Testament times.
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Literal Jerusalem has been void of all these things for 2,000 years, now.
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So, it only further gives weight to the theory that it is actually speaking of the apostate churches.
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Ninth Av Stones Western Wall wikipedia public domain
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GOD’S PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE
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“And I heard another voice from heaven,
saying, Come out of her (Babylon), My people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins,
and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Revelation 18:4
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Let’s return back to the Constellation Pleiades for a moment.
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As we discussed at the beginning of this article, the Pleiades is symbolic of the Mystery Harlot of Revelation, Babylon The Great.
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But the Constellation Pleiades is a double-entendre.
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It has a dual fulfillment, it seems.
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That is, it can also be seen as a captive angel.
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This Captive Angel represents God’s people who have been taken captive in spiritual Babylon.
You see, God has a people in Babylon.
Yes, Mystery Babylon is the Mother of Harlots.
And of course, many times in Scripture, God compares His people to a harlot.
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The sketch below shows her riding this beast with 7 heads and 10 horns.
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But in that spiritual “City of Confusion”, there are those who still love God to a certain degree.
And before the final plagues are poured out upon her, God will call His people out of her…
“And I heard another voice from heaven,
saying, Come out of her (Babylon), My people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins,
and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Revelation 18:4
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And so in addition to The Pleiades appearing as the Harlot Mother, we also see this second depiction of The Pleiades as an angel, which symbolizes God’s people, walking the downward pathway to destruction.
These must be called out of Babylon before it’s too late!
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ABOVE PHOTO: The Pleiades (Above constellation can be seen in colder months in mid sky, traveling east to west through the night. With the eyes alone, it would appear much smaller than this. But with binoculars, it would appear more like this photo). NASA photo by Robert Gendler
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ONE WORD
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Obviously a rather thick book could be written on this subject, and probably there are many already written.
And though we could just barely touch on these Bible villainesses and heroines, yet time still doesn’t permit to speak of Deborah, or Lydia, or Athaliah, or Bathsheba, etc..
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But the comparison has been made between these two women of Scripture.
And not only does this (hopefully) clarify just who is this Harlot Woman of Revelation, but hopefully, it also clarifies just who is this Virtuous Woman of Revelation as well.
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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, but made up of real constellations (Ursa Major & Auriga, Hyades, etc…, howbeit not in their actual positions in the night-sky)
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THE END
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ETERNITY NOT SPENT SITTING ON CLOUD
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“Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18
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In the beginning, God placed our first parents in a beautiful garden. But as a result of sin, this world lost much of its beauty. The curse has marred, to a great extent, the pristine condition of nature.
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There are perhaps many, who are under the impression, that God’s redeemed will spend all eternity sitting on a puffy little cloud, strumming a harp. Nothing could be further from the truth! “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:” Revelation 21:1
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Do we really imagine that the same God who created that incredible garden for our first parents, would then put us through all this sorrow and hardships, only to now stick us in some boring situation, for eternity? Such people don’t know God nearly well enough.
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The beauty and innocent joys of this present world, are just a faint reflection of what awaits all those who persevere on the upward pathway to that Celestial City of God.
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LET’S CATCH A VISION OF THAT PROMISED LAND
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So Signs Of Heaven encourages the reader to begin to get a vision of the New Heaven and New Earth, and begin to get excited about it. When we hear the cry of a new-born baby, or the innocent laughter of little children. When we see a little forest creature having fun, or we enjoy a walk along the sand at the ocean, and hear the majestic roar of the crashing waves. These, and the many other joys of life were created by the One who has also gone to prepare an even more beautiful place for us to live. He knows our needs, and will provide a place far more wonderful home than this sin-cursed Earth.
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And when we finally cross that river, and we stand together on the shores of that world to come, we will look in amazement at what He has in store for us there. And then we will know for certain, that, “His mercy endures forever”, because “God is love”!
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Wildpferde Tripsdrill wikimedia commons share-alike license
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and latered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain
Mercury & The Image Of The Beast
By admin On January 8th, 2011.
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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“As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the 
heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 2nd Corinthians 15:48, 49
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Mercury – NASA – Public Domain
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“IS THIS A PAINTING OF JESUS?”
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Is this a painting of Jesus? No, this i
s not a painting of Jesus (see painting below to the right). Actually, this is a painting of the Apostle, John. But it looks like our conception of Jesus, doesn’t it? Is there some sort of mistake? Did the artist get confused? Did he get John mixed up with Jesus? Probably not. Actually, the artist of this painting probably understood a really really important truth about John. Something most other artists through the ages had completely missed, whenever they painted John.
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Mercury – NASA – Public Domain
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THIS ARTIST UNDERSTOOD JOHN
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You see, the artist who painted this painting, understood that John like no other disciple, was so taken by the amazing character of Jesus, that he wanted nothing else in this world than to be like Jesus! Most every other artist did not recognize this fact.
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And as one reads the four gospels, there can be seen a very revealing fact: that John stuck closer to Jesus than did any of the other disciples!
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If we also want to be like Jesus, then we too must do what John did: to stick as close to Jesus, as we possibly can! And this concept is the essence of the Second Commandment, regarding image-making. And this is the great concept to be discussed in this article.
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John The Apostle by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637-wikipedia-public domain
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THE APOSTLE PAUL LOST ALL THINGS
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John was not the only disciple to discover this great secret. Paul too, wanted to become like Jesus, more than any other consideration in his life!
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Listen to Paul’s testimony… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:9-11
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Paul suffered the loss of all things, but couldn’t have cared less! All Paul wanted, was to become like Christ! And he knew his Lord also had nothing of this world. So Paul knew the importance of letting no worldly aspiration or earthly entanglement slow him down in his race to become totally merged with the Holy One of Israel. Thus, Paul joyfully let God take away all his earthly accolades.
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Mercury – NASA – Public Domain
Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain
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OUR SOLAR SYSTEM & THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
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If you have read the article, “Discovering Bible Signs In Our Solar System”, then you have a good understanding of just why this website proclaims the concept that our Solar System has been created by God, as a metaphorical picture of the Ten Commandments.
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Now, the relationship of the sphere, or orb, commonly known as Planet Mercury to the Second Commandment, is a powerful concept.
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And the Reader is highly encouraged to read this important article. It may greatly enhance one’s understanding of the Bible. And it might vastly change, not only one’s world-view, but also provide a greater appreciation of our amazing Universe, and its awesome Creator.
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Truly the love of God has been written upon the heavenly scroll, and even stretched from sky to sky!
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Solar System – NASA – public domain
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“CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY AGREE?”
Amos 3:3
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#2 HEAVENLY SPHERE & #2 COMMANDMENT… As discussed elsewhere in this website, the Sun seems to correspond to the First Commandment. Likewise, Mercury, which is the second heavenly sphere in our solar system, seems to correspond very nicely to the Second Commandment. Both the second heavenly sphere (Mercury) and the Second Commandment (no images) are closest to the ‘Sun’. That is to say, just as planet Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so is the Second Commandment right next to the First Commandment (God compares himself to the Sun many times in Scripture).
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Jesus says to us today…
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“I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
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For a more in-depth look at this argument about the Sun comparing to God, just click this link… “Discovering Bible Signs In Our Solar System”, or this link… Signs in the Sun .
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Mercury – NASA – Public Domain
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2ND COMMANDMENT MORE THAN JUST CARVING STATUES
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And exactly what does this Second Commandment say to the human race?…
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“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them. Exodus 20:4,5
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This Commandment is about worshipping engraven images. God does not want us to place inordinate affection upon things or people. And at face value, this commandment has to do with objects like statues or pictures that are used in worshipping objects. And we’re definitely not to worship objects. That’s the starting point of this Second Commandment!
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MORE THAN WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT… But this particular Commandment goes much deeper in meaning, just as Psalm 119 states.
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Just listen… “…but Thy Commandment is exceeding broad.” Psalm 119:96.
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God’s Commandments go far deeper in meaning than just the letter of the Law. When Jesus gave His “Sermon on the Mount”, He used the Old Testament Law as the centerpiece for this beautiful sermon, and showed how the Commandments are pictures of deeper spiritual principles; principles which define the thoughts and intents of the human heart. Jesus showed in that most notable sermon, just where the real sin-problem exists (in the heart), and what direction we need to go to solve this age-old dilemma, of how to cure the disease of sin.
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Idol photo courtesy Ellgaard Holger for Wikipedia GNU license. Click on photo as link to Ellgaard Holger on Wikipedia.
ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses
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Section 1: “THE NUMBER ‘TWO'”
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IMAGES, WITNESSES, AND REFLECTIONS, AND THE NUMBER “TWO”…
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It seems there is a very good reason for God choosing this “image” Commandment to be the 2nd Commandment, and not making it the 3rd or 4th Commandment. The number “two” has a great biblical significance. The number “two” is the number of ‘witness’ in the Bible…
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Listen…“And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:13
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Jesus sent out the twelve Apostles to proclaim the Gospel, “two and two”… “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them TWO and TWO before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” Luke 10:1
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Or what about this verse? Just listen… “In the mouth of TWO or three witnesses shall every matter be established.” Matthew 18:16
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Solomon speaks of the number “two”. He speaks of the strength and comfort and agreement of the number “two”. Listen to what he says… “TWO are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if TWO lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, TWO shall withstand him.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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Brooklyn Museum – Jesus sends disciples out two by two – by James Tissot – US Public Domain
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MIRROR IMAGES…
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The number ‘two’ seems to be the number that speaks of “reflection”. (Just like this giant globe photo to the right.) As thi
s mirror globe reflects the images of the people around it, so too, we each reflect an image to the world around us (whether we like it or not). When you look in the mirror, there becomes two images; 1. You, and 2. The reflection of you… in the mirror…
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“Can two walk together except they be in agreement.? Amos 3:3.
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To “be in agreement”, as this verse says, with another person, seems to speak of one person reflecting the opinions of another. Th
ey are an “image’, one of another, as far as their viewpoints. As the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, the Moon shines just like the Sun (not as brightly though). And as Mercury (the second solar-system body) reflects the light of the Sun, it too becomes a light as well
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But as this mirror globe in the above photo presents an image of these people, we humans reflect an image to the world. And our image is a product of our life-experiences; we are a ‘mirror’ so to speak of the people and things which have influenced us.
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Picture of twin sisters courtesy of Wikipedia.
Mirror globe picture courtesy of Wikipedia & Arpingstone.
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Section 2: “INFLUENCE OF ASSOCIATIONS”
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Mercury is the Sun’s ‘little companion’, so to speak. Oh yes, it’s a “little” companion. (Mercury is just a little larger than Pluto; Pluto being the 10th and smallest member of the major planets. There is a current debate about Pluto, however). But small as Mercury is, it’s the closest planet to the Sun. This presents an object lesson. As Mercury is a constant companion to the Sun, so we need to be a constant companion to the “Sun of Righteousness”.
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But Scripture makes it clear that we can’t “hang around” with someone without being influenced by that person; especially if we admire that person who we’re associating with. The Bible says that “companionship” says a lot about who we are. Have you ever heard the expression, “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are”?
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The Bible asks the very same question, but in a somewhat different way… “Can two walk together, except they are in agreement?” Amos 3:3.
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God asks us this question. And the obvious answer is, “yes”. They must be in agreement. But this next verse seems to be an answer to the previous verse.
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Just listen… “…we…beholding…the Lord…are changed into the same image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
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This above verse confirms that associating with Jesus has a positive influence on a person. Thus by walking with Jesus, we become in agreement with Jesus.
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But this principal of “who we walk with”, also works in the negative sense… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33.
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By associating with bad influences, we begin to take on those evil attributes.
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“Be not deceived”, this last verse states. Every time Scripture issues the warning, we need to realize that Satan will try to deceive us on that very point. So don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that you can associate with evil behavior and not be affected by that behavior.
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AM I THE MIRROR IMAGE OF JESUS?…
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“(Jesus) Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person…” Hebrews 1:3
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And speaking of images, the above verse states that Jesus, being the eternal Son of God, was the express image of God. Of course, these things concerning the Godhead are far higher than any human can understand. But one thing is for sure: Jesus was and is in constant communion with the Godhead, of whom He is an integral part. Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit are One.
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Now this concept brings home to each and every Believer the very same concept: “whose companion am I? Who do I admire? Who do I look up to?” Here is the first object lesson. Just as Jesus is one with the Godhead, so must we be one with Jesus!
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And back to Planet Mercury, and the Sun: just like the Sun is closest to planet Mercury, so too, the Christian must stick close to Jesus, the, ‘Sun of Righteousness’. And so how does this relate to the Second Commandment?
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Just listen to this next passage… “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
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Like the 2nd Commandment, this incredible verse likewise speaks of image-making. But this verse speaks of the wonderful image that God has in mind for His children to attain to: to be changed into the image of Jesus! Isn’t this what it’s all about? And this most amazing passage about being changed into Jesus’ image, lays it all out as to the secret to success, in being a “Christ-like” Christian.
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Listen once again… “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2nd Corinthians 3:18.
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This is one of the most powerful and joyful verses in all of Scripture!
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Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain
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Section 3: “A BOOK…READ OF ALL MANKIND”
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“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). God has called us out of this world, in order that we show and tell of Christ to this fallen world. In places where the Gospel hasn’t yet been preached, we go out as missionaries.
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Here in the Christian nations where the Gospel has been heavily preached, we now need to show a Christ-like example to those around us. The people here in the Christian nations have heard about Jesus. Now they need to see Jesus.
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And so, Christians in this modern society must forsake all covetousness, pride, anger, impatience, commonness, etc., and allow the majesty of Christ to dwell in us richly, so that the world can see Jesus…not just hear about Him!
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Virtuous Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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SATAN’S WEB OF DECEIT…
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But the Devil is working overtime to prevent us from effectively preaching Christ and showing Christ to the world. Satan has built up a system in today’s world, which greatly interferes with our effectiveness in getting the Gospel out. It is probably not necessary to list the various forms of distractions that exist in this busy society. If Satan can get our affections off our first Love (Jesus), then he has succeeded. If he can get us to worship the modern idols of this present world, then those idols take control of our hearts and lives. As a result, the ‘spreading of the Gospel’ suffers.
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Whether my idol is TV, radio, music, sports, games, people, hobbies, careers, money, vacations, cars, buying, selling, houses, lands, leisure, ethnicity, traditions, social events, work, etc, etc.; anything that eclipses my affections for Bible study, prayer and meditation. If I am devoting serious time to these diversions, it takes away serious time and energy from the Gospel. One person the other day made the true statement… “The Devil doesn’t care if you go to Hell, as a prostitute or as a school teacher!”
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Of course, each person must work and eat and live, and perhaps, even raise a family. And the Bible commands each Christian to… “…study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” 1st Thessalonians 4:11, 12. As this passage points out, living the quiet life of a responsible “bread-winner” is an integral part of witnessing for Christ.
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Spider Web – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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IDOLS ARE TIME-SAPPING & SPIRIT-SAPPING
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But the Bible also warns against making idols out of things which tend to dominate the heart and captivate our attention. And in this super-affluent, extremely busy high-tech world, there are very many diversions, which any one of them, can sap the Christian of his or her love and devotion to God and His Word.
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It doesn’t matter what the occupation is, or what the diversion is; the result is nevertheless the same. The Gospel is hindered by such worldly devotion; it hinders my own prayer-life, my study-life, and my work of personal regeneration. And it has hindered my witness to others. Whatever my idol is, it becomes a type of graven image. This graven image may not be visible to others. But it nonetheless is en-graven on the tables of my heart. And God knows. And that false image en-graven upon the tablets of my heart will become manifest to all around me!
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New york times square – cropped image – terabass – wikipedia – share-alike license
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TAKEN CAPTIVE IN THE DEVIL’S SNARE
(2nd Timothy 2:26)
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“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2nd Timothy 2:26
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And as you probably have already found out, these so-called “harmless” worldly interests have a way of becoming our slave-masters. Just like the picture here, we become like a little fly, that gets caught in Satan’s web. We can’t get loose no matter how hard we try. God has given nature to be enjoyed. But He has also given lessons in nature, that teach us and warn us. We need to heed these lessons!
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God has told us in His Word, that our lives are like a book that everyone can read. We don’t need to even speak about Christ. People can sense something different about us. When we’ve made the Scriptures our constant meditation, our words and phrases imperceptibly change.
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“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us (Paul, etc…), written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:2, 3
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This amazing verse above, confirms that the world can see the Gospel, as the world looks upon a child of God. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
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“THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART”…
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“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son…” Romans 8:28, 29.
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Here is a powerful passage, which really states concisely, just what is the duty of the Christian: “to be conformed to the image of His Son”.
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And the next verse below is the end-result of all those who obey this passage…
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“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Revelation 4:1
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What does it mean to have our heavenly Father’s name written in our foreheads? And what is God’s name, spoken of in this passage?
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“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11
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John, Chapter 1 says, “…and the Word was God.”
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And so, by hiding the Word in our hearts, we are in essence, hiding God in our hearts. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart…” 1 Peter 3:4.
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God’s name is “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6).
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And God’s Word is that ‘wonderful counsel’ that we must hide in our hearts (by much study and constant meditation).
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This next verse really lays it out plainly… “And He (Jesus) was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:13.
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If a Christian is immersing his or her self in Christ, then that Christian will, more and more, reflect the lovely image of Jesus…
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“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.
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They will become the ‘mirror image’ of Jesus (howbeit, to a lesser degree). People will know. And conversely, if I have been immersing myself in “self”, then “self” will be seen. And people will know who I’ve been spending time with.
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Section 4: “THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE”
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“So foolish was I, and ignorant:
I was as a beast before Thee.”
Psalm 73:22
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Originally, God created mankind in the image of God… “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27.
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Among the other aspects to being created in God’s likeness, Man was created with godly virtue. But when Man rebelled, Mankind became depraved and UN-godly. Our natures became more conformed to the likeness of the beasts of the Earth, than to God. The next verse below confirms this concept of how our ungodliness is a beast-like nature. Just listen…
“So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as A BEAST before Thee.” Psalms 73:22.
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This above passage compares man’s sinfulness to the common animals. If you examine the qualities of Christ’s character, and compare Him to we citizens of this planet, you will probably conclude that much of mankind’s fallen nature is closer in many ways to common beasts than to the character of Jesus.
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The Bible lays out plainly many of fallen Man’s character…
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“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
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Does Man have any good qualities too? Yes, Man also has some virtuous qualities. And so do animals. For instance, they once thought crocodiles ate their babies, until they found out that they were simply transporting them via their mouth. As a matter of fact, as you well know, most animals care for their young.
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wolf – Canis_lupus_arabic – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Siamese_Crocodile-wikipedia-Public-Domain
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FLOODWATERS OF ATHEISM & PSYCHOLOGY
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(Editor’s comment: There is much more to the Antichrist Beast and His image than what is presented in this article. This article only presents the reason why the Antichrist is referred to as a “beast”) Such articles, as “Flood-waters of Atheism And Psychology” should also be read, to gain a further understanding of the Antichrist Beast.
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Charles Darwin – by John Collier (artist) – www.wikimedia.com – Public Domain
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MAN CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
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And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him…” Colossians 3:10. This verse speaks of the Believer being conformed into the IMAGE…of God.
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But God requires more from mankind than He requires from animals. We were created in the image of God. We have the reasoning powers far above animals. God desires (and commands) that we “put on” the image of Christ. God requires faithful obedience to His Law. But in order to keep His law, we must be changed from the inside. There is a purification process that must be achieved. We need to have Christ’s virtuous Spirit (Holy Spirit) within us…
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“But the fruit of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
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It is seen from this passage, that it requires the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to enable us to become Christ-like. We humans don’t have the natural ability within us, to make ourselves righteous. God’s virtuous Spirit must indwell us, to accompl
ish such obedience. Oh yes, we can attain to the righteousness of common animals. We can protect our children. Or feed them. Or be nice to others, just like many animals can be. But to become Christ-like is out of our reach. This next verse seems to confirm that Man is not capable of attaining to godliness on our own…
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“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10.
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To become Christ-like requires the in-dwelling of the Spirit of Holiness. But this passage goes even further, declaring that if Christ is truly dwelling in me, then my body will be dead (in a spiritual sense).
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(photo of lions courtesy of David Dennis for Wikipedia. Click on photo for link to site)
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Section 5: IMAGE OF BEAST SPOKEN OF IN DANIEL
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“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in…the province of Babylon.: Daniel 3:1
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This statue of a man made of gold, was made in the likeness of the king of Babylon. This image, spoken of in Daniel was almost 100 feet tall (60 cubits). The king of Babylon commanded that anyone who would not bow down to that golden image (when the music and singing began), would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Daniel’s three companions refused to bow down, and as a result, the angry king had these three Hebrew boys thrown into a fiery furnace. But God miraculously intervened, and the astonished king saw these three boys walking in the midst of this hot fiery furnace along with a fourth person, the “Son of the Gods”.
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Fiery Furnace by Gustave Dore’ courtesy of – www.adelaide edu.au (photo under limited license use)
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IMAGE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR REAPPEARS TODAY
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“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon… Then an herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up” Daniel 3:1-5
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This story in Daniel has a lot to do with the subject of this article. That is, the king of Babylon commanding the citizens of his kingdom to worship his image, seems to be a picture of right now. It seems to be a picture of how Satan tries to get us to worship his image, in our world today. The golden image was an image of the king of Babylon.
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The Bible compares the king of Babylon to Satan… “That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say…How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:4 & 14:12 margin provided for clarity).
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In other words, we don’t have to bow down knowingly to Satan, to be worshiping Satan. Rather, all Satan needs to do is to get us to love his sinful attributes. Thus, by loving to watch ‘murder’ or ‘revenge’ on television, for instance…we are loving, in reality, the one who is the father of murder and revenge: Satan.
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So… how does this story about ancient Babylonian people worshipping a golden statue possibly relate to us in today? As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. And the picture here to the right is no exception.
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Academy Awards Ceremony – cropped image – wikipedia share alike lic.
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INTO THE IMAGE OF SATAN
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“and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:11, 12
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And what is Satan’s image? His character. His qualities. His personality. To be in Satan’s image means to be like-minded with Satan… “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John 8:44.
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Jesus was speaking here to God’s professed followers. And yet Jesus told them that Satan was their father. Jesus told these professed followers of God that they had the same lusts as the Devil. This next verse (from Proverbs) seems to state concisely, just what is Satan’s personality…
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“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
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Maybe this passage could be further reduced to the following qualities: 1. Pride 2. hypocrisy and deceit 3. hate and violence 4. evil thoughts 5. impatience and lust 6. false witness speaking lies 7. false ideologies. These are the qualities of Satan. And these are the qualities of fallen Mankind. And this is how Man becomes conformed to the image of Satan. By possessing the same attributes as Satan.
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Does Jesus have self-pride? No. Does He have hypocrisy? Or lust? Or evil thoughts? No, Jesus has none of these traits. These traits are found in the Devil, and in the rebellious human race, i.e., the followers of the Devil.
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“TWO DOG” THEORY
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There has been a popular little proverb floating around Christendom for many years. It is the idea of “two dogs”. One dog represents the sin nature and the other dog represents the spiritual nature. The idea is that you feed one dog more than the other, and the well-fed dog thrives, and the lesser-fed dog shrivels up and dies. This proverb is saying that the Christian should, for instance, read the Bible more than he or she watches TV. Or the Christian should “hang out” more with Christians than he or she hangs out with non-Christians.
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The problem with this theory is that it cannot be supported by the Bible. Scripture plainly states that...“Know ye not that a LITTLE leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” 1st Corinthians 5:6, 7.
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In Ecclesiastes, the Lord puts it this way… “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so does a LITTLE folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Eccl. 10:1
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The above two verses say each in slightly different terms, namely this: A little bit of worldliness destroys a whole lot of heavenly-ness. No, the only way the Bible knows of how a Christian is to thrive spiritually is this… “I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…” Philippians 3:8.
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Paul knew that there’s no compromising with sin. You can’t have the world and Jesus too! You must choose one or the other. 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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You’re going to have to completely stop feeding the one dog, so to speak. And this is the great secret to having a fruitful relationship with Christ.
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And this is how John lived his life. And this is how Paul lived his life. And if any Christian wants what John had, and what Paul had, he or she must be willing to let go all those things which leaven the heart with tares. The Christian must cleanse the Soul-Temple of any and every thing which defiles the temple of God. And just as Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, so also, any Christian who is serious about overcoming the world must stay close to Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness.
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John The Apostle – by Alonzo Cano – 1635-1637 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
John Sell Cotman-A Starved Greyhound – Google Art Project wikimedia US public domain
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THE END
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NEXT ARTICLE SUGGESTION:
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TELEVISION: THE IMAGE THAT SPEAKS
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FLOOD WATERS, PART 3-TELEVISION: THE IMAGE THAT SPEAKS… This article explains how television is being used by Satan to destroy the souls of millions, perhaps billions! It also explains how Satan has been able to conform the world’s inhabitants into the same image of himself. This article is a continuation of this “Image of the Beast” series.
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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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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.
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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.
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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.
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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license
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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…
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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”
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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.
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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!
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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.
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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.
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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.
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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25
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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)
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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS
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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).
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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).
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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.
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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.
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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS
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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…
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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!
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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!
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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.
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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.
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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)
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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license
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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS
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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.
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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.
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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.
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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.
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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain