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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – SEPTEMBER 16 

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Cuttlefish & The False Prophet,

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Part 3-b:

“All Power, Signs & Lying Wonders” (continued)

To read Part 1, click here…April 1 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet)

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CUTTLEFISH: THE GREAT IMPOSTOR!

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One of the most amazing creatures ever created is the Cuttlefish! Actually, it is not a fish, but a type of mollusk, like a squid, or octopus.

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The reason why this creature is so incredible, is that it can just glance at its environment and instantly change its body to imitate that environment! As a matter of fact, whatever the Cuttlefish passes over, it instantly begins to change into the same color and shape, of that undersea object!

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Cuttlefish.ogv – Wikipedia – cropped image – Creative Commons License

 

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CUTTLEFISH: SYMBOL OF SATAN

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Well, God has created this little predator to give us further insight into the inner working of the kingdom of Satan.

(As this little 26 second video below shows, the Cuttlefish has the ability to paralyze his potential victims, by using his hypnotizing strobe-light effect! Amazing!)

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Certainly, Satan and his unseen minions love to make themselves invisible! And isn’t it also true that Satan and his unseen armies, like the cuttlefish, can mesmerize their victims, us, with all the world’s glittering tinsel-like treasures and earthy pleasures? Of course, they do! That way, they can work their misery and woe upon this unsuspecting world, without its inhabitants becoming alarmed causing us to rebel against Satan’s kingdom, as we flee to God!

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BUT MY CHURCH IS FAITHFUL!

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In September 13th’s devotional, it was observed that there are many who swear that their church is still under the blessing of God.

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They look around and see new baptisms, and hear enthusiastic testimonies from new converts. They listen each week to their pastor preaching from the Bible, and everyone looks so well-behaved.

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They may even have a Wednesday night Bible study… “How can my church possibly be considered Babylon, the harlot church? How can my church possibly be under the power of the Devil?”

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What they do not realize is that Satan, like the cuttlefish, can imitate the Holy Spirit so close that this great impostor will deceive, if possible, even the very Elect, chosen people of God!

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATIONS MOST DECEPTIVE

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Now, in September 13th’s devotional, there was given several tell-tale signs of church-apostasy: the prosperity-driven gospel, the sensual dress-code, the sensual and earthy music, and the sensual and earthy preaching heard in today’s churches, are not just in the “far out” congregations.

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No, even in the so-called conservative churches there are these same warning signs, howbeit in a far more subtle version.

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A CLOSE COUNTERFEIT!

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One of the difficulties in trying to discern the spirits is, that when sitting in church, most parishioners look very well-behaved and even holy! And as they bow their heads together and sing songs, and even close their eyes and wave their hands, such a sight is very convincing evidence that the Holy Spirit is still there!

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The problem is, as our signature Bible passage explains, Satan now has the ability to come with “all power, signs and lying wonders, to deceive if [it were] possible, even the Elect!” And so, Satan has moved in and carried on church services that can appear almost as authentic as when the Holy Spirit was operating there!

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Church choir singing – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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SO HOW CAN I TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

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So how can I know for sure that my little congregation has been vacated by the Spirit of God, and that the false holy spirit (the Abomination of Desolation) has replaced Him?

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Well, as September 13th’s devotional explained, there are certain tell-tale signs which will be evidenced, that should send up red flags that something isn’t right.

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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THE ABOMINATION of DESOLATION

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Now the Bible warns us, “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

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Here is veiled allegorical language, which is really speaking of today’s churches. Here is the true New Testament Holy Place. And this passage is warning us that when we can observe that Satan and his false shepherds are ruling in the Holy Place, the local congregations, we are to flee to the holy mountains of God!

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We must remember that the Bible is an allegorical and spiritual book. God has purposely written it in such a way that it must be spiritually discerned, to properly understand the Bible! And this warning in Matthew 24 is certainly no exception!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel 

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UNCONVERTED PARISHIONERS

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Now perhaps, one of the greatest evidences that the churches have become apostate is, that the parishioners are still unconverted.

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But when everyone is sitting so well behaved in church, it is impossible to discern such an apostasy in a conservative church.

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But as the true worshipper continues to attend church, it will become more and more evident that the parishioners are not yet converted. Such things as gossiping and slandering will become evident. Perhaps the Believer will begin to perceive that the fellow church-members are inordinately focused on earthly pursuits, such as career-seeking, and amusement-addictions.

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In other words, the church-members seem absorbed in worldly pursuits more than in engaging in the purification of the heart and the transformation of the life into the image of Christ. Just listen to the conversations going on prior to the weekly potluck! You will most likely hear about jobs, vacations, family, friends, holidays, etc., when the discussions should be about the Bible and how we might become more Christlike.

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHEN ‘MY CHURCH’ BECOMES AN IDOL

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If this is the case, then the Believer will begin to perceive that churchgoing has probably become an idol to those worldly-minded parishioners.

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In other words, because there is a genuine lack of true conversion, the parishioners idolize their church-attendance as a “good work” which supposedly secures their Salvation. And their weekly church attendance becomes a substitute for a true 24/7/365 communion with God. A social/fraternal club, with a thin outer veneer of religiosity.

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To this class, God says…“Some trust in chariots (church-doctrines), and some in horses (congregations): but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” Psalm 20:7, 8

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Each true Christian must learn to stand on his (or her) own two feet. Churchgoing can never substitute for unceasing prayer and 24/7/365 communion with God. And as this Psalm 20:7, 8 allegorizes, those who trust in churches and church-doctrines will ultimately fall down and be destroyed.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE HOLINESS OF THE EARLY CHURCH

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As the true worshiper of God becomes more and more familiar with the Bible, he or she will become increasingly aware of the holiness and singleness-of-heart that those early churches were all about! And more and more will the Believer become painfully aware of the vast difference between the early Church and today’s end-time church-world.

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And then, at some point, the true Believer will realize that he (or she) must also join the end-time Exodus out of Babylon, the apostate churches, and flee to the holy mountain of God. 

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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BREAD of LIFE  & LIVING WATERS

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But the Good News is that the Believer will find, “there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of [living] waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers (churches) fall.” Isaiah 30:25

(parenthetical comments by this website editor)

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Yes, though God’s faithful remnant must flee from the destruction of this Sodom-like world, nevertheless, God promises to each faithful refugee from this Babylonian/Sodomite world, that, “He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of Rocks[of God’s Word]; (the) bread [of life] shall be given him; his {living] waters shall be sure!” Isaiah 33:16

(parenthetical comments by this website editor) 

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Just as Elijah was fed by ravens in the wilderness, so too, God’s remnant people in these last moments will be abundantly supplied with the heavenly bread of life and the waters of grace!

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Elijah finds cake of bread Artist Daniele da Volterra 1509–1566 Wikipedia Public Domain

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NO MORE EARTHLY SUPPORT!

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Yes, in the coming days, God’s people will be pushed out of our worldly security. And as this occurs, we must more and more place our trust in Divine Providence.

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And as our earthly support is fully removed, we will begin to walk totally by faith. 

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Only then will the Church finally shine as the Sun for all the onlooking Universe to behold! 

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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WATCH THIS AMAZING VIDEO…

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

SEPTEMBER 18 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 4: All Power, Signs & Lying Wonders (continued))

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who now in these last days destroys the churches via a world-loving prosperity-driven false gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give wisdom and insight that I may be discerning about the condition of the church-world. And Lord, if I have not yet attained to the status and ability to be a teacher, then help me to devote the rest of my life to this goal…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 3: The Abomination in My Heart”, or you can also read… “February 17th (Examine Yourself!)”

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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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. Beyond that, they are puzzled as to what significance do these twin gods have. Some believe these gods to be the patrons of safe ocean travel. 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. No, not to those twin-gods. But there are two stars named Castor and Pollux. They are twin-stars, and not twin-gods. They are the two bright stars of the constellation commonly known as Gemini. 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. And if you will explore this concept, you will see that Castor and Pollux possess great significance… 

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“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 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. Castor and Pollux represent this Biblical concept of the Narrow Way. 

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LOCATING THIS GROUP…

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These two sketches below are the same picture, one with stars only, the other with embellishments. These stars appear more or less like this when they are in the western sky, just before they sink below the western horizon (please excuse the less-than 100% accurate sketch). At the top of the sketches in the center is the Big Dipper. But with other surrounding stars, the Big Dipper is known as Ursa Major or the Great Bear. But as this website points out, Ursa Major is actually the Revelation 12 Woman. (Ursa Major appears much larger in the sky than this sketch shows. But in order to fit her into this drawing, the artist had to depict her much smaller) 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”

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TOMORROW…

SEPTEMBER 17 (Flee To The Mountain! Part 6: Jeremiah’s Cup of Fury!

The Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 #624 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.