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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – NOVEMBER 19

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Flee To The Mountain,

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Part 9:

“Stay Thou Not On The Plain!”

To read Part 1, click here…May 30th (Flee To The Mountain!)

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There are a few stories in the Bible which just seem to frighten us out of our wits!

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Well, the true historical account from 1st Kings 13, of the “Man of God and The Old Prophet” just happens to be one of those terrorizing stories. 

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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GOD’S WORD TO THE MAN OF GOD

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You see, there was a man of God who was told by God to prophesy against the apostate priests of Bethel (Bethel = “house of God”). But in addition to making that prophecy, God warned him not to stay in that country, nor to eat bread nor drink water there! But he must return back by a different way.

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Now after his prophecy against the apostate priests in Bethel, this man of God returned back by a different way, just as he was commanded.

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The Prophet (Bible Card from 1904) – Wikipedia – public domain

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THE OLD PROPHET LIED

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However, a certain, “old prophet”, searched for and found this man of God, while he rested along the way.

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And the man of God refused to come back with the old prophet, to eat and drink at the prophet’s home. But the old prophet lied by telling the man of God that the Lord gave the old prophet instructions for the man of God to return back to Bethel and eat and drink.

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bread & wine. – by Claesz – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE MAN OF GOD KILLED

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Well, in the midst of eating and drinking, the old prophet prophesied against the man of God, saying…“Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee…thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” 1st Kings 13:21, 22 

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And so, when the man of God left to return home, a lion met him by the way, and killed the disobedient man of God.

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Dore – The Disobedient Prophet Slain By A Lion www.creationism.org – US public domain

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So why is this story so frightening?

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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PARTAKING OF THIS SELFISH WORLD

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Well, the reason why this story is so frightening is because it has terrifying implications for us today! Yes, this story is a prophecy for we Christians who have been eating and drinking with apostate churches, symbolized by the old prophet.

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Yes, together, we have all been guilty of partaking of this selfish world, when God has given us clear instructions to warn the world of the wrath to come, but then to get ourselves back by a different way.

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And just what is that different way? It is, of course, the upward pathway that leads us out of this doomed world, and onward and upward to the Celestial City of God!

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New york times-square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike-license

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THE FALSE PROPHET

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But Satan, the true False Prophet has enticed us Christians to relax and enjoy this present world. And like that foolish man of God, we have listened to the False Prophet, and have eaten the leavened bread and have drunk from the broken cisterns of this selfish world! 

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Listen to Luke’s warning…“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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Here is another frightful warning! 

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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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MANY ENTICEMENTS

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Yes, this present world is filled with so many seemingly innocent cares and pleasures:

social clubs, sports, amusements, ambitious-and-time-consuming-energy-sapping-proud-careers, hobbies, gratuitous-shopping, expensive vehicles, lavish houses, gardens, and lands, expensive resorts, sensual music, endless TV and radio programs, newspapers, magazines, novels, curious sciences, and a host of other similar earthly pursuits.

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And just what is the result of all these attractions?

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By indulging ourselves in the many cares and pleasures of this life, our Salvation has been placed on the proverbial “back-burner”, all to the poverty of our souls!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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AS A ROARING LION!

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Yes, Satan has come as a roaring lion, seeking to devour us, just as that lion killed the man of God, in that 1st Kings 13 account!

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Listen…“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1st Peter 5:8

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Satan is a vigilant foe. And unless we maintain our own vigilance, we can eventually fall victim to this roaring lion, the Devil!

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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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A GLIMMER OF GOOD NEWS!

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Now, amidst all this negativity, there is a glimmer of Good News!

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Yes, if there is any Reader who still has an ear to hear, God has given us a chance to turn away from this our apostasy!

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This is the wonderful mercy of God, that such a horrible story as the one showcased today, could ever have a happy ending!

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But listen to God’s instruction to Lot, on the morning of Sodom’s destruction…“Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Genesis 19:17

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In this Sodom & Gomorrah world which we live, God is now warning us to flee to the mountain. And we too are warned to, “look not behind (us), neither stay thou in all the plain!”

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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DON’T LOOK BACK!

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O man of God (or woman of God)! We have received our marching orders. Yes, God has given us our “fleeing” orders!

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Get out of Sodom! Don’t look back! Don’t look back at all the time-consuming and energy-sapping cares and pleasures which have consumed our spirituality!

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And don’t look back at all the fun-loving church picnics, bazaars, bridal showers, peace-n-safety sermons, prosperity-driven doctrines, sensual & enchanting “praise” music, sensual, attractive & charismatic church-leaders, and “at-ease-in-Zion” church services! Don’t look back!

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Flee, O man of God! Get you up that heavenward pathway, which leads us up and out of this deceptively evil world! Let us awaken from our drunken stupor, and blow the trumpet of alarm! Let us lie all night in spiritual sackcloth, and… “weep between the porch and the altar, and let them (us) say, Spare Thy people, O LORD” Joel 2:17

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“Stay thou not on the plain! But get you up to the Mountain (the City of God)!”

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

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TO READ PART 10, CLICK HERE…

January 26 (Flee To The Mountains, Part 10: Dwelling With The Devouring Fire! Continued)

The Great Day of His Wrath – John Martin – 1853 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Awaken me from my spiritual drunkenness! Help me to flee from the wrath to come! Give me strength to get up into the mountain of God…

Prayer at Day’s End – Angelus by Jean-François Millet – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…“April 4th (Apostle Paul’s Fun & Recreation)”, or you can also read this shorter article…“October 19th (How Do I Become Holy?”

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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THE HOLY GHOST RIDER CONSTELLATION

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This newest Signs Of Heaven Constellation (Fall, 2013) is by far the faintest of constellations, but is a very incredible and awesome one in a number of ways (which this article will explain).

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It is primarily comprised of the Camelopardalis Constellation (head and upper back), plus about 5 stars from the Cassiopeia Constellation (his leg), plus some random stars. It appears as an outline of a rider. Only the back of his head is detailed. And his back and the back of his legs are also detailed. Both sides of his arm are visible, and his hand is gripping the horses mane, and that is detailed by three stars (which are also part of the horse’s mane). The rider is in a position vaguely similar to a race-horse jockey. The two brightest stars in this constellation, are from the Cassiopeia Constellation, and are part of his leg. All the rest of the stars are very faint, and must be viewed on a very starry night.

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Since this constellation has just been revealed, there may be more to this constellation in the coming months. But if you can locate the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation, then you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating this Rider Constellation, provided you have excellent star-watching conditions. 

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READ MORE…

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

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TOMORROW…

NOVEMBER 20 (When My Body Becomes My Torture Chamber, Part 2: The Garden of Eden Remedy)“

Averrhoa carambola Fruit – Wikipedia – Averrhoa carambola Fruit – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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OPEN FORUM RADIO PROGRAM

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING 25 MINUTE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER TALK SHOW BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING.

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Holy bible – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.