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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 1

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 29:

“What & Where is Hell?”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“For Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell;

neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.”

Psalm 16:10

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The name, “Hell” has long been associated with a fiery netherworld in which multitudes of lost souls are being mercilessly tormented throughout the ceaseless ages. Ancient Babylon was, perhaps, the originator of this notion, as their culture believed in a conscious existence in that netherworld.

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Nevertheless, the Devil well understands the concept that a lie repeated often enough, and loud enough, is finally accepted as truth.

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And the Christian community has been frightened by this concept of hellish torment for hundreds of years.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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HELL IS A JOKE TO THE WORLD

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On the other hand, today’s science-oriented secular world quite often hears about the caverns of Hell, usually in the framework of some newspaper comic strip or stand-up comedian, who makes fun and ridicules such an absurd idea.

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And so, this duplicitous way in which Eternal Torment in Hell is being presented to those two classes of persons in the world, is the maniacal work of none other than “the god of this world”, Satan! And he is masterfully using “Eternal Torment” as a means of presenting God as a “Monstrous Tyrant”, invented by the age-old ignorance and ecclesiastical superstition within the Christian community.

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GOD, A MERCILESS MONSTER?

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And of course, if it were true that God actually threw all the billions of unbelievers, throughout history, into such a cruel chamber of horrors to be mercilessly tormented for all time and eternity, then it would be understandable that there are so many unbelieving atheists who reject altogether, the existence of such a “divine monster”!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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DAVID’S SOUL IN HELL

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But listen to what Peter said in the Book of Acts, regarding a Psalm concerning David… “Because Thou (God) wilt not leave my (David’s) soul in Hell, neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption (see Psalm 16:10)…Men and brethren, let me (Peter) freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his (Christ’s) soul was not left in Hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:27, 29-31

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Now Peter was revealing to his hearers that David was speaking of Christ’s future death and resurrection. And even though David seemed to be speaking of himself, Peter was reminding them that David’s tomb was still there among them to that very day in which Peter was speaking.

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David the Shepherd Boy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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NO TORMENT FOR DAVID

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And the big point that should not escape our notice, is that Peter was reminding these men that David’s soul was still in Hell (“Hades” being the Greek counterpart for the Hebrew name for the grave, “Sheol”).

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But even though David’s soul was in Hell, we should not imagine for a moment that David was in some netherworld chamber of horrors. No, David was in the grave! As a matter of fact, the name “Hell” in the Old Testament is usually the Hebrew word, “Sheol”. And Sheol is often translated, “grave” in the King James Version of the Old Testament. And so, Sheol was often translated “Hell”, but in other places as, “the grave”.

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And so, was David’s soul in Hell? Yes, David’s soul was yet in Hell (the grave). But David was not being tormented in some hellish chamber of horrors!

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David the Shepherd Boy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“MANY THAT SLEEP IN THE DUST”

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No, David had fallen asleep, and is awaiting the return of the Lord, even as it is written…“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life…and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:2, 3

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And so, here is just another biblical confirmation that Hell is merely the grave, and not some netherworld chamber of horrors.

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And isn’t it wonderful news that our great God and Savior does not endlessly torment those who go down to a Christless grave?

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Truly it can be said, “For His mercy endureth forever!”

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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TO READ PART 30, CLICK HERE…

November 30 (Eternal Torment? Part 30: “He…Preached To The Spirits In Prison”)

Brooklyn Museum The Bad Rich Man in Hell James Tissot overall wikipedia public-domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be given to a close-minded spirit. But help me to love truth, no matter if it means I will be hated by my own brethren…

USMC prayer before study Wikimedia Public-Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment, or you can also read this shorter article…AUGUST 19 (Apocalypse Now! Part 6: Fire & Brimstone!)

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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“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 here 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 tohelp 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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Moon – Public Domain – 2nd face Pharisee Scorner – by Cezar Popescu for Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain – cropped, highlighted & rotated photo

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner“

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TOMORROW…

August 2 (Noble Bereans, Part 16: “The Signs Of Heaven?”)

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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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 STUDY #211 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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

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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. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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