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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 7

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Apocalypse NOW!

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Part 16:

“Perfect Peace In The Fire!” (CONTINUED)

To read Part 1, click here…AUGUST 3 (Apocalypse Now! Part 1: Silencing the Gospel!)

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“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:

and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,

and over his image, and over his mark,

and over the number of his name,

stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

Revelation 15:2

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In yesterday’s devotional (click here), it was established that the Book of Revelation has been an unfolding Book since the day it was written.

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The problem is, that the majority of the church-world has been misled into believing that Scripture must not be interpreted spiritually and allegorically, except when context demands such a spiritual, allegorical interpretation.

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REVELATION IS NOW!

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And so, today’s Bible teachers cannot understand that Revelation is written in allegorical language.

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For them, it is a closed book, to a great extent.

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Oh yes, they may try to look out into society and see if there is some new locust-like war machine that resembles Revelation Chapter 9 composite beast.

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But they imagine that all these things will have their fulfillment AFTER the Church has been “Raptured” out of the world.

(This “two separate returns of Christ” is a relatively new idea, first proposed by one John Darby, leader of the Plymouth Brethren Church, back in the 1830’s.)

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black helicopters – Wikimedia – US Army – Public Domain

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“THE TIME IS AT HAND”

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But, despite today’s church-world insisting that the Book of Revelation was not written for the Church, since they will have been raptured away from the earth, the Bible plainly refutes this lie. 

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Five times, God makes plain that the Church will be present through all 22 chapters of Revelation…

“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:10 (See also: Rev. 1:1 Rev. 1:3 Rev. 1:19 and Rev. 22:6).

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Each of these five verses reveal that Revelation was written for the Church all through the Church age. And this was the position and understanding of the persecuted Church all through the last two-thousand years of its existence!

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But for some reason, theologians and Bible teachers cannot discern what these verses are saying, or they merely ignore them, or even twist them until they say something completely different!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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But still, the main topic of this two-part devotional series has not yet been addressed…“Perfect Peace in the Fire!”

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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REVELATION NOW!

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Yes, it’s true that the Book of Revelation prophesied a grand finale showdown at the end of time, but Revelation also concerns “the things which are” now. (see Revelation 1:19)

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Oh yes, a Christian may just look around and say, “I don’t see any great tribulation happening right now!”

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Well, one reason that so many faithful churchgoers do not see the Book of Revelation unfolding, is because Satan has successfully cut off the greater part of the church-world from the battle which is now raging all around them!

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Barbecue – Dutch family – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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LOVE FOR THIS SELFISH WORLD!

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That’s right! Satan has deceived and diverted the majority of the church-world away from their wholehearted devotion to the Gospel, and instead has led them into the enthusiastic pursuit of the cares and pleasures of this selfish world!

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Listen to the 7th and last church written to in Revelation… 

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,

I will spew thee out of My mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:”

Revelation 3:16, 17

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Yes, this terrible judgment was pronounced against the Church at Laodicea (Laodicea = “people of Judgment”).

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And isn’t it true that the Church in the industrialized nations is steeped in earthly prosperity, to a great extent?

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE

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But to the Laodicean church, Jesus recommends the prescription for spiritual life…

“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see…

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:”

Revelation 3:18, 20

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So here Jesus counsels us to purchase from Him, this three-fold remedy.

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Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

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“I HAVE CHOSEN THEE IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION”

Isaiah 48:10

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You see, “Gold tried in the fire”, refers to the trials and tribulation which all Believers must endure that they may, “come forth as (purified) gold” Job 23:10

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And this is the theme and main point to this two-part devotional.

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In other words, those who are willing to forsake this present world will soon discover that they have been cast into the fiery furnace of afflictions.

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

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LIKE SHADRACH, MESHECH, AND ABEDNEGO

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Yes, just as the three friends of Daniel were cast into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow to the King of Babylon’s image, so too, those who refuse to indulge themselves in the cares and pleasures of this life for Jesus’ sake, will begin to suffer various soul-purifying trials.

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And God only allows just the necessary afflictions that He will use to strengthen our faith, and crucify that “Old Man” of the flesh that seeks to rule and reign within our soul.

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The fiery furnace – Daniel 3-12 – www.thebiblerevival.com

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THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED ONE

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And so, all of a sudden, various afflictions will ensue the faithful Christian: fiery trials which begin to chip away our love for this world.

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And these trials will begin to require the Christian to put on his or her heavenly armor: Bible study, hourly contemplation of precious promises, and unceasing prayer will become the fortification necessary to defend against the fiery darts of the Wicked One! 

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“LIKE…BURNISHED BRASS”

Ezekiel 1:7

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And so, these fiery trials may continue all the way until Christ returns in the clouds of glory.

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But the Christian will find himself getting stronger and stronger.

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And the more precious promises that the Christian hides in the heart, the greater will be his (or her) perfect peace!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“PERFECT PEACE”

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And speaking of precious promises, just listen to this granddaddy of all promises found in Isaiah 26:3, 4…

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:

because he trusteth in Thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever:

for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”

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Every Christian soldier must hide this precious promise in his or her heart, since it is one of the greatest over-arching truths of the Christian life!

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Because, through trusting in God’s Word, and keeping focused upon Jesus and His sufferings for us, the Christian will gain the necessary strength to maintain that perfect peace, even in the midst of the fiery trials ahead!

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“ON A SEA OF GLASS”

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Yes, “after ye have suffered for a while” you will find yourself standing, “on a sea of glass, mingled with fire.”

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In other words, you will be able to walk through your fiery trials with perfect peace! (see 1st Peter 5:10 & Revelation 15:2)

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Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS, ARMOR UP!

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And so, O Christian soldier, put on your heavenly armor, and fearlessly step into the spiritual battle before you! And be, “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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Yes, be assured that it is Christ who goes before you to fight for you and win the battle for you!

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Your part is to simply NOT give up, as you faithfully endure those fiery purifying trials!

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TO READ PART 17, GO HERE…

June 29 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 17: “Love…Shall Wax Cold!”)

George Floyd protests – Portland Oregon – cropped image – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to learn to walk by faith, in a moment-by-moment trust in Thy precious promises…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…JANUARY 7 (TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE!), or you can also read this shorter article…August 11th (Habakkuk Says “Run!”)

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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LOOSING THE BANDS OF ORION 

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God spoke several times of Orion, in Scripture. His question to Job was a very mystifying question, to say the least… “Canst thou…loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31. Such a strange question, indeed! How could a constellation have its bands loosed, much less, even have bands? Puzzling, puzzling!

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But now, He is revealing this bright and beautiful constellation in a way that has never before been seen. God Himself is loosing Orion’s bands, as He is just now unraveling this age-old mystery. And we are beginning to understand that this most infamous of all constellations is nothing less than a remarkable metaphor concerning Jesus.   

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MICHAEL, THE SOLDIER

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Last is Michael the Soldier, who battles against the Dragon: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Revelation 12:7, 8.

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Contrary to popular opinion, Michael here represents Christ as He battles this dragon. This will be adequately proven in this article and in various other sections of this website. No, Christ is not merely an angel. Christ is very eternal God. But Christ is often represented as various entities, such as a rose, or a burning bush, as well as many others things in the Bible.

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ABOVE STAR CHART (with constellations drawn in by this website): Wikipedia star-charts latter winter constellation in West with Orion – Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Auriga, Pleiades, etc.) – Goodly Horse (Persius, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc.) – Holy Ghost Rider (Camelopadelis)

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

April 8 (Finding Perfect Peace, Pt. 8, “Protecting Our Kids”)

Kids fighting – Sibling Conflict – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

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THE DESIRE OF AGES, BY ELLEN G. WHITE

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this chapter of the audio book about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in His life and ministry.

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Chapter 53 – The Last Journey From Galilee

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this recording #147, a small 30 minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s 90 minute nightly talk shows. This particular program aired in the last few years of his 50 year radio ministry, and includes caller’s questions regarding his teachings on “the end of the church age”…

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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 

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