Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 6 (Eternal Torment? Part 23: “Doctrine of the Pharisees”)

By admin On February 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 6

 

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 23:

“Doctrine of the Pharisees”

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

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“There was a certain rich man,

which was clothed in purple and fine linen,

and fared sumptuously every day:

http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_274698/Jacopo-Bassano-(Jacopo-da-Ponte)/Dives-and-LazarusAnd there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,…

And it came to pass, that the beggar died,

and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom:

the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,

and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham,

have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,

that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,

and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou

in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,

and likewise Lazarus evil things:

but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented…”

Luke 16:19-25 (abbreviated for brevity)

Rich Man & Lazarus Wikigallery Public Domain

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This above parable is merely a parable, in spite of popular opinion to the contrary.

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The reason we know it’s a parable is because it’s an obvious exaggeration on just about every point.

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For instance, where did the rich man get eyes in Hell?

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So, are we to suppose that lost souls in Hell have literal, physical bodies?

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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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“ABRAHAM’S BOSOM”: A NETHERWORLD PARADISE!?!

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_des_Codex_Aureus_Epternacensis_001.jpg

But there are more absurdities in this parable!

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For instance, why was Lazarus sitting in Father Abraham’s bosom? Ridiculous?

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(Now there are those who try to skirt around this obvious nonsensical exaggeration, by saying Lazarus wasn’t actually sitting in Abraham’s bosom, but merely in a giant cavern called, “Abraham’s Bosom”. Oh really!?).

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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpgONE TINY DROP!?!

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Next, are we to believe that God withholds water from those who are suffering in flames of fire?

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And are we to suppose that the rich man actually begged for one tiny drop of water!?

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This must be a parabolic picture of someone begging for a tiny drop of MERCY.

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

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IS ABRAHAM GOD!?!

.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg

And when the rich man begged “Father” Abraham for mercy, Abraham would, in reality, have torn his clothes and swore to the rich man that he, Abraham, was not the rich man’s father, nor was he the Giver of mercy, a gift that only our true heavenly Father can give to someone!

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In other words, this Pharisee was speaking to Abraham as if he, Abraham, was Almighty God. And so, Abraham would never have answered back in the way he did to the rich man, allowing that rich man to remain under such a false, blasphemous notion.

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But God put this obvious flaw into that parable to demonstrate the misguided thinking of the Pharisees of that day.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL!?!

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And it is a complete stretch of reality, to imagine that people in Hell can actually talk with people in Heaven!https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg

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The Bible says…“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6

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This above passage reveals the true state of those who lie in their grave.

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Yes, this passage too, “is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2nd Timothy 3:16

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

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THIS PARABLE MUST BE AN ALLEGORY

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Well, if one spends time going through this parable, it might be soon concluded that it makes no literal sense for many other reasons.

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_bible.jpg 

You see, Jesus was purposely making the various components in that parable so ridiculous, that nobody but an unlearned teacher could make this parable out to be anything more than just a mere parable which should only be understood allegorically. 

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And this parable must be interpreted spiritually and allegorically to make any real sense.

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And one can read the Eternal Torment articles on this website, for a more complete explanation of this parable.

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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But these obvious flaws in the Parable of the Rich Man & http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Magnifying_glass_on_book_iconsLazarus are not the focus of today’s devotional. No, there is another fact that gives this parable more contextual integrity.

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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SPOKEN TO PHARISEES

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You see, Jesus was telling this parable to the sect of the “Pharisees”. And by using biblical logic and spiritual discernment, it is easy to understand that Jesus was, “turning the tables” on the Pharisees, as the saying goes.

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The fact is, it was the Pharisees who decided that poor people and sick people must be under the curse of God (see John, Chapter 9). And because the Pharisees were affluent, they assumed that their morality and affluence was sufficient to gain entrance into Heaven!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Bad_Rich_Man_in_Hell_(Le_mauvais_riche_dans_l%27Enfer)_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpgPHARISEES CONCOCTED HELL!?!

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And the Pharisees were most likely the first ones to ever concoct some fiery netherworld torture chamber in hopes of frightening the unlearned general populace into submission.

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

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MISINTERPRETING ALLEGORIES

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And truth-be-told, the Pharisees had founded their unbiblical doctrine on a misunderstanding of how to properly interpret various Old Testament references to God’s fiery judgments, supposing them to be speaking of literal fire in some giant netherworld cavern.

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WLA_jewishmuseum_Greek_Torah_Scroll_from_Ionnina.jpg

Like Pharisees in the Church today, those Old Testament Pharisees could not discern the spiritual nature of the Bible.

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Listen…“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1st Corinthians 2:13, 14

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This above passage reveals that those who are yet in the flesh, and not in the Spirit cannot and will not see the spiritual nature of Scripture, whether they are in the world or in the Church.

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WLA jewishmuseum Greek Torah Scroll from Ionnina _ Wikimedia – Share-alike

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TABLES WERE TURNED ON THE PHARISEES

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But one of the great reasons for telling them this parable, was because Jesus was turning the tables on those Pharisees, by having the rich man in Hell, while the poor, sick, Lazarus in the blissfulness in Heaven! This was just the opposite of what those misguided Pharisees believed.

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Yes, the Bible reveals that, “…the Pharisees…were covetous,” Luke 16:15. And so, the prosperity-driven gospel was alive and well, all the way back in Jesus’ days on Earth.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Pharisees_Question_Jesus_(Les_pharisiens_questionnent_J%C3%A9sus)_-_James_Tissot.jpg.

TO READ PART 23 CONTINUED, GO HERE…

July 7 (Eternal Torment? Part 23: “Doctrine of the Pharisees” CONTINUED

Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees Question Jesus – James Tissot – US Public Domain – Wikimedia

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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…

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

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.

.Write-adam-Total-Lunar-Eclipse-December-21-2010-wikimedia-commons-share-alike-license-e1375327509135

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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Moon – Lunar Eclipse by Jiyang Chen – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike-license

 

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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, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Once_in_a_Blue_Moon_(40034339832).jpgmurders, 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 to help 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

ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

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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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Pharisees_Question_Jesus_(Les_pharisiens_questionnent_J%C3%A9sus)_-_James_Tissot.jpgTOMORROW…

July 7 (Eternal Torment? Part 24: “Doctrine of the Pharisees” CONTINUED

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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 #185 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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