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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JULY 9

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Jesus, Between The Lines?

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“Search the scriptures;

for in them ye think ye have eternal life:

and they are they which testify of Me.

And ye will not come to Me,

that ye might have life.”

John 5:39, 40

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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The above words are the very words of Jesus as He was confronted by the leaders of the Jews.

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They were challenging His authority, to which He responded…

“Search the scriptures;

for in them ye think ye have eternal life:

and they are they which testify of Me.

And ye will not come to Me,

that ye might have life.”

John 5:39, 40.

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And so, this little statement presents a giant concept which, when fully understood, dramatically changes our understanding of the Scriptures!  

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To put it very concisely, the entire Bible is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

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Tissot – the Pharisees and the Herodians conspire against Jesus – www.joyfulheart.com

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BIBLE A PROPHETIC BOOK

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Listen…“worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10

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Here again is a giant concept written in just a few words. But in somewhat veiled language it says that the Bible is “the spirit of prophecy”. And as such, it can only be truly understood prophetically! In other words, the Bible being the testimony of Jesus, is a prophetic book about the Gospel.

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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AN EXAMPLE OF ALLEGORIES

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For example, let’s examine the writings of Paul, as he spiritually interprets the story of Abraham in a way never before understood…“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” Galatians 4:21

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Now right here, Paul is asking the Galatians if they truly hear the Law. You see, the Galatians may have read the Law (the Old Testament).

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But Paul wanted to know if they really understood the true spiritual meaning of the Law (the Old Testament).

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE TWO COVENANTS

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And Paul continues by saying…

“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons,

the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh;

but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Which things are an allegory:

for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai,”

Galatians 4:22-24

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Now Paul is establishing that this true historical account of Abraham and his folly with Hagar is actually an allegory, orchestrated by God to present a picture of the Old and New Covenants: Sarah being a picture of the New Covenant of faith, and Hagar, the Old Covenant of fleshly bondage.

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Bible Pictures – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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JERUSALEM LOST & JERUSALEM SAVED

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But Paul doesn’t stop here! No, he goes on further by saying… 

“For this Agar 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 4:25, 26

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Now here Paul is dividing Jerusalem into two portions: “Jerusalem now”, which is a picture of those who are yet in bondage to their sins, and “Jerusalem above and free”, representing those who are truly born from above.

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The point to this revelation by Paul is that there is nothing which actually demands an allegorical interpretation of the account of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, and their sons. And yet Paul completely allegorizes the entire account, revealing that it is a picture of the Gospel of Jesus!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Foolish Virgins – James Tissot – US Public Domain

Five Wise Virgins – Matt 25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He (Jesus) expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself”

Luke 24:27 

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Now this story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, is not the only place in the Old Testament in which we can spiritually interpret as a picture of the Gospel. Truth-be-told, the entire Old Testament is the Gospel of Jesus, howbeit veiled in types and shadows and proverbs and allegories!

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And this above verse from Luke 24 confirms that Jesus and His Gospel are interwoven throughout the Old Testament.

Listen again…“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,

He (Jesus) expounded unto them (two discouraged disciples)

in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Luke 24:27

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And those who attempt to understand the Old Testament will never truly comprehend it until they see the Gospel written behind every line and precept of the Old Testament!

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Yes, the Gospel of Jesus is hidden between every line and historical account in the Old Testament!

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The Brazen Serpent – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Jesus on road to Emmaus – Zünd_Gang – 1877 – Wikipedia – US public domain

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THE NATURAL MAN

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But the problem is, that those in the Church who are still in bondage to the flesh cannot spiritually discern all these Old Testament stories, because they are not of the Spirit, but of the flesh…

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Listen… “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.”

1st Corinthians 2:14

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Yes, as this above verse reveals, those who are yet “natural” (carnal) cannot rightly discern God’s Word. That is why there are so many Bible teachers who scorn anyone who spiritually interprets the Bible. These carnally-minded teachers cannot spiritually interpret much of the Bible, and mock and scorn anyone who does!

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

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“ye need not that any man teach you:”

1st John 2:27

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The very Good News is, that God is willing to open up the Bible to anyone who forsakes this present world and begins to follow Jesus as a true disciple! And indwelt by the Spirit of Truth, we can claim God’s promise…

“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abides in you,

and ye need not that any man teach you:

but as the same anointing teaches you of all things,

and is truth, and is no lie,

and even as it has taught you,

ye shall abide in him.”

1st John 2:27

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me discernment as to my spiritual condition! Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Word…

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…November 25th (Gog and Magog: Proper Bible Interpretation!), or you can also read this other article…“October 10th (God’s Two-Edged Sword!)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS 

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“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins,

which took their lamps,

and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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And five of them were wise,

and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps,

and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

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Matthew 25:1-4

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WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART

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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses! – Wikipedia Star chart with constellations drawn in by this website.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… The Five Wise Virgins Stars

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TOMORROW…

JULY 10th (Flee To The Mountain! Part 3: “Remember Lot’s Wife!”)

Mrs. Lot looks back at Sodom by Raphael for www.wikigallery.com public domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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

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THIS IS STUDY #555 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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

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