Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 7 (Eternal Torment? Part 24: “Doctrine of the Pharisees” CONTINUED
By admin On February 16th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 7
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Eternal Torment?
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Part 24:
“Doctrine of the Pharisees”
CONTINUED
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:
And 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)
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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF YESTERDAY’S DEVOTIONAL (click here)
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TABLES WERE TURNED ON THE PHARISEES
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[CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY]…But one of the great reasons for telling them this parable, was because Jesus was turning the tables on those self-righteous Pharisees, by having the rich man in Hell, while the poor, sick, Lazarus in the blissfulness in Heaven!
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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, amongst the Pharisees, 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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PAUL, ON TODAY’S PROSPERITY GOSPELS
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Now listen to Paul’s commentary on the current prosperity-driven gospels of this very day in which we now live, “…Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,
and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content…” 1st Timothy 6:5-8
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Paul makes a clear and concise declaration in this above passage. And this is perhaps, the most ignored passage by many, or most New Testament Christians today!
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PROSPERITY-DRIVEN GOSPELS!
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Yes, Paul was speaking to us today, when he prophesied that there will be those among us too, who will likewise, “suppose that gain is godliness.” 1st Timothy 6:5
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In other words, the spirit of phariseeism is alive and well in today’s church-world.
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And not only in those, “whacky and crazy prosperity-driven gospels over there.”
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But even in the so-called, “conservative” churches, a prosperity-driven gospel now thrives under the banner of “The Entrepreneurial Spirit”, or perhaps, even, “The American Dream”.
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Either way, “conservative” or “liberal”, most every congregation currently teaches, either by word or by example, that “gain is godliness”.
(Oh yes, these prosperity ideologies may be fine for the people of the world to pursue, but the Christian’s great focus and chief desire is now to be Heavenward, seeking to be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ.)
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Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.
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COLD, HEARTLESS PHARISEEISM
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And so, it is no wonder that this pharisean doctrine of “Eternal Torment” is still thriving in today’s church-world!
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Because the very progenitor of that false doctrine, phariseeism, is thriving in today’s church-world.
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And just like those Pharisees of old, today’s Pharisees look down on the poor and unfortunate ones in society: any soul who is a modern-day Lazarus!
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James Tissot – The Pharisee and Publican – Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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BEGGARS NOW DESPISED
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For example, when an unfortunate street-person is begging for a dollar, we often pass them by and scornfully excuse ourselves by figuring, “They’ll only spend my meager offering on alcohol or drugs!”
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Oh yes, we might even decide to toss them “a few crumbs”, like that rich man did with Lazarus!
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We might toss them a dollar or two.
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Drunk Panhandler – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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SUFFERING MAY COME
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The fact is, many of those who insist on the unbiblical church-doctrine of “Eternal Torment”, are mostly in good health themselves, and have never experienced prolonged years of suffering.
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If they did, perhaps they wouldn’t be so quick to enthusiastically endorse this archaic old catholic church-doctrine (which even the Catholics may no longer believe, by the way)!
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SUFFERING CAUSES COMPASSION!
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But sadly, many church-goers may begin to suffer intensely for one reason or
another. Perhaps they will begin to suffer from some physical illness. Or maybe from some spiritual malady.
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But whether physical or spiritual, we have this promise from God…“if so be that we suffer with Him (Christ), 
that we may be also glorified together. ” Romans 8:17
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And these suffering ones will then learn by personal experience, that God is not the kind of God who would force lost souls to suffer day and night for all eternity! (This whole unthinkable Eternal Torment doctrine is so ridiculous that it’s an amazing wonder that any reasonably-thinking person could believe that God could actually be such a cruel, unmerciful monster who makes lost souls suffer throughout the ceaseless ages, with no hope of mercy!)
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Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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GOOD NEWS! NO NEED TO WAIT!
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The Good News is that we don’t have to wait to get sick and suffer, in order to throw off our judgmental phariseeism!
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Right now, the Lord is calling us to cast away our covetous idols of gold and silver, “to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21
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Yes, the hour is come when God’s people are to flee from the cold, heartless and judgmental phariseeism which pervades today’s church-world and even pervades our own heart, too!
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And peradventure, should the Lord finally deliver us from that Antichrist spirit of cold and indifferent phariseeism, we may then begin to wake up to finally realize that this whole business of Eternal Torment is utter nonsense, devilishly-designed to repel and repulse inquiring candidates for Salvation!
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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TO READ PART 25, GO HERE…
July 15 (Eternal Torment? Part 25: “Is Jesus Watching Souls Tormented in Hell!?!”)
Hell’s Viewing Gallery- Signsofheaven.org – copyrighted – not for public use
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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…
The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US 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!)
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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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 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 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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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…
July 8 (Watchmen On Zion’s Walls, Part 3: “The Devil’s Delay!”)
Detour Sign – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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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 #186 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain
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