Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 15 (Cease Ye From Man! Part 14: “Whose Image Am I Beholding Today?” CONTINUED)

By admin On February 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 15

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Cease Ye From Man! Part 14: “Whose Image Am I Beholding Today?” CONTINUED

To read Part 1, click here… “August 21st (Cease Ye From Man!)”

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“And the smoke of their torment

ascendeth up for ever and ever:

and they have no rest day nor night,

who worship the beast and his image,

and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Revelation 14:11

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This above verse from the Book of Revelation foretells of the day that men will suffer God’s wrath because of their sin of worshiping the Beast and his image.

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Now there are many various theories about just who this beast is, and exactly what is this image which is worshipped by the human race.

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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AN ENTIRE BOOK COULD BE WRITTEN

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Now an entire book could be written on this subject; perhaps even several volumes.

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And so for this tiny devotional, only a just a short treatise on one aspect of this subject is possible.

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And so, today’s question is this: “What does the Bible have to say about ‘images’?”

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

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MAN CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE

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In the very first chapter of the Bible, God speaks of images…“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27

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Here is the wonderful image of the Lord God, which our first parents were created in.

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Unfortunately, they lost that image.

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Gustave Dore – Adam And Eve Driven Out Of Eden – wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE IMAGE OF EVIL

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But not all images are so wonderful, according to Scripture.

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No, all through the Bible, the Lord speaks of images, both good and bad…“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” Exodus 20:4

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Now from this above verse concerning the 2nd Commandment, one might conclude that graven images have only to do with man-made idols which people bow down to and worship.

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

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THE BIBLE IS AN UNFOLDING REVELATION

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But what must be remembered is that the Bible is an unfolding revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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And contrariwise, while Satan is introduced in Genesis as only being a serpent, little-by-little the Bible gradually unfolds more-and-more information regarding Satan, giving us greater-and-greater understanding about just what is the true nature of evil.

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And so it is with “images”. The Bible begins with only a basic concept regarding “images”, but gradually gives us more-and-more understanding throughout the rest of the Bible.

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Eve & The Whispering Serpent – wwwsignsofheaven – Share-Alike License

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BY BEHOLDING, WE BECOME CHANGED

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One very prominent instance in which images are more fully revealed is found in such passages as this…“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2nd Corinthians 3:18

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Here above the Lord gives us a giant revelation of what images are all about! To become changed into the image of Christ is not just some physical transformation. It is to become transformed into the likeness of Christ’s character.

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Yes, Christ’s character is His image.

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE

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And so with the knowledge of this above verse from 2nd Corinthians 3:18 it begins to become manifest just what Genesis is speaking of when God says…“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Genesis 1:27

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Now it becomes clear that when God created man and woman in His image, He originally created men (and women) with a Godlike character.

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But when our first parents chose to partake of that forbidden fruit, they lost that likeness to a great degree.

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Now the world fell under the control of Lucifer, who gained control over mankind, now given the title, “the god of this world”. (2nd Corinthians 4:4)

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“AND HE (GOD) SHALL SIT AS A REFINER…AND PURGE THEM (HIS PRIESTS) AS GOLD AND SILVER”

Malachi 3:3

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And so, the Bible reveals that from that tragic day when mankind fell away from God’s image, it became the mission of God to restore fallen mankind back into the image of God…“I beseech you therefore, brethren…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2

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This and other similar passages reveal God’s great purpose for this His people.

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Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

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THE BEAST IS IN THE LIKENESS OF THE DRAGON

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Now today’s devotional will offer one more piece of the puzzle in gaining a greater understanding of images.

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Notice this verse concerning Satan, spoken of as a dragon…“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” Revelation 12:3

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Now compare this dragon to the Antichrist Beast of Revelation 13…“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” Revelation 13:1

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Here is revealed that this Antichrist Beast is mostly made in the same image as the Revelation 12 Dragon, Satan.

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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“THE SEVEN HEADS (OF THE ANTICHRIST BEAST) ARE SEVEN MOUNTAINS (KINGDOMS)…”

Revelation 17:9, 10

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Now as one continues to study Revelation, Chapter 17, this Antichrist Beast is revealed to actually be a composite picture of various kings and kingdoms of this earth.

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And so, one may conclude that this Revelation 13 Antichrist Beast is Satan’s representative kings and kingdoms on this earth. In other words, just as this beast is made in Satan’s image, so too, these various kings and kingdoms together comprise the image and likeness of Satan, symbolized by 7 heads,

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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image”

Psalm 73:20

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This above verse from Psalms reveals that unsaved mankind will be judged concerning which image they possess. God despises the image of selfishness. And the unsaved (including false brethren within the Church), have unknowingly allowed Satan to inscribe his unholy image upon the tables of their hearts!

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And they have never made the effort to undo that ungodly image of selfishness, and instead, spend their lives transforming themselves into the image of Jesus.

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Therefore, when God arises to judge the inhabitants of earth, it is written…“O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image” Psalm 73:20

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ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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“THE GLORY OF GOD TO CONCEAL A THING”

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Now the reason why God didn’t just come out and plainly explain these things is revealed in the following verse…“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2

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Yes, many of the deeper concepts of the Bible have been somewhat concealed and veiled within various allegories, types, and shadows.

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And yet, because God has chosen His Elect people to become a “royal priesthood” (1st Peter 2:9), it is their royal and kingly honor to search out those deeper truths in Scripture.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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To read Part 15, click here…Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 16 (Cease Ye From Man! Part 15: “Whose Image Am I Beholding Today?” FURTHER CONTINUED)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Help me to keep the image of Jesus before my eyes today. Give me discernment between the image of Jesus and the image of Man. Cause me to strive to put away the image of Man, as far as possible, replacing it with the image of Jesus…

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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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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS

This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night, and lasts for several months, until they both appear to lie down once again.

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This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west. You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south. Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill. The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill. The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.

Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward. It stands upright a little later in the night. Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross! Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.

**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!**

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ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – not for commercial use

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TOMORROW:

August 16 (Cease Ye From Man! Part 14: “Whose Image Am I Beholding Today?” FURTHER CONTINUED)

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