Daily Devotional, Year 4 – August 17 (Revelation 16:17-21: “The Seventh Plague: ‘Cry Uncle’?” CONTINUED)
By admin On April 30th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 4 – August 17
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Revelation 16:17-21:
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“The Seventh Plague: ‘Cry Uncle’?” CONTINUED
TO READ PART 1, CLICK HERE…November 5 (Revelation 16:17-21: “The Seventh Plague: Cry ‘Uncle’?”)
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“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air;
and there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven,
from the throne, saying, It is done…
and there was a great earthquake,
such as was not since men were upon the earth,
so mighty an earthquake, and so great…
and great Babylon came in remembrance before God,
to give unto her the cup of the wine
of the fierceness of His wrath…
And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven,
every stone about the weight of a talent:
and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail;
for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”
Revelation 16:17-21
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When you were a child, did you ever hear the expression, “Are you ready to cry, ‘Uncle’?” Of course, this was a common saying among children to let their opponent know, “I’ve had enough! I can’t take it anymore!”
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Yes, whether engaging in a wrestling match, or some other means of inflicting pain on another kid, the universal ‘white flag’ was to cry, “Uncle!”.
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One of the more believable speculations of the origin of this saying is from “American Speech” in 1980: that “Uncle in this expression is surely a folk etymology, and the Irish original of the word is ‘anacol’ … ‘act of protecting; deliverance; mercy, quarter, safety’”.
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THE PLAGUES ON EGYPT
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Now just what does this have to do with Bible prophecy?
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Well, let’s just take a moment to recall what happened in Egypt as God was pouring out His plagues upon Pharaoh and his Egyptian citizenry, just prior to the great Exodus out of that country by God’s people.
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Plague of Hail – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 4.0 License
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GOD’S PEOPLE FINALLY LET GO
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Remember how Pharaoh reacted after each new plague? At first, he was ready to cry out, “Uncle! I’ve had enough!” But before long Pharaoh’s heart hardened and he relented on his promise to let God’s people go.
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But finally, upon receiving the last and final plague, he actually let God’s people go.
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Now, as we read of this Exodus account, we are reminded of another set of plagues to be poured out in the Book of Revelation.
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Israel’s Escape From Egypt Through Red Sea – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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THE PLAGUES ON EGYPT WERE A TYPE & FORE-SHADOW OF THE PLAGUES OF REVELATION 16
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There are distinct similarities between those plagues poured out on ancient Egypt, and the plagues to be poured out in these last days.
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And just listen to the reaction by those who receive of these apocalyptic plagues, soon to be poured out… “And the fifth angel poured out his vial…and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.” Revelation 16:10, 11
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Well, this particular plague caused a lot of pain, but obviously, it was not enough for the recipients to cry “Uncle! I’ve had enough!” And of course, this is just one of seven plagues to be poured out.
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The Great Day of His Wrath – John Martin – 1853 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“And I saw…seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
Revelation 15:1
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In the first installment of “The 7th plague: Cry Uncle!”, the focus was on some of the ways in which God’s judgments are currently being poured out upon the world and upon society.
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And yet, there is so much more that is being poured out, that even many secularists have just about had enough!
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HYPOCRISY, CHEATING & LIES IN POLITICS
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Another judgment upon the land is seen in the world of politics! For those of us who have been held in bondage, to watch the daily political soap operas, it almost takes our breath away to witness all the vitriolic cheating, lies, and hypocrisy!
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And to behold irresponsible politicians borrowing and squandering trillions of dollars, much of it for wasteful and frivolous projects, knowing it will eventually destroy this nation’s economy is enough to give a stroke to many responsible citizens!
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Many politicians, when caught in their lies, don’t even seem to blush, but merely continue forward in their lies!
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A psychoanalyst might diagnose such individuals as being, “Sociopathic”.
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But the Bible explains it as…“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1st Timothy 4:2
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“JUDGMENT IS TURNED AWAY BACKWARD”
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As we watch the justice system becoming increasingly corrupt, it’s disheartening to see the vast number of inequities in the obvious double-standard hypocrisy being meted out in the courts.
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Those who do not qualify as “Politically Correct”, or who are “not on the correct side of the political isle”, often do not get treated with fair justice by today’s highly partisan justice departments and court systems!
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It reminds us of the verse from Isaiah which prophesied of this very day…
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“And judgment is turned away backward,
and justice standeth afar off:
for truth is fallen in the street,
and equity cannot enter.“
Isaiah 59:14
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TELEVISION PROGRAMS
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Back in the beginning of “the age of television”, programming was a lot more innocent compared to today! “Father Knows Best”, “Roy Rogers”, and many other similar shows fulfilled the daily line-up of TV programming back in those days.
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But Satan wasted no time in taking society down the Highway to Hell, until many or most of today’s television programs are morally depraved.
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Well, this has always been a world of sin and selfishness. There was sin on television even from its very inception!
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But things are now getting so depraved, that for many elderly folk (and many younger ones too), it’s sad and even repulsive to watch much of the debased and often even lewd programming aired today!
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Roy Rogers in Billy the Kid Returns – Wikipedia – Public Domain
Father Knows Best – 1962 – Public Domain (2)
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TODAY’S YELLOW-JOURNALISM MEDIA GOLIATHS
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For those of us who are held in bondage to watching the daily soap-opera of this world’s political/social issues, it has become an unbearable situation, to endure all the lies, and double-tongued hypocrisy coming out of the media giants.
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The blatant double-standard being trumpeted throughout the day by the major media is so “in-your-face”, that it infuriates all those would like to see some sort of honesty, equity, and fairness in the reporting and commentaries of the daily social/political occurrences.
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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain
The Yellow Press by L.M. Glackens
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“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”
2nd Corinthians 2:11
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Now, those who are not privy to the spiritual battle going on all around us each day, these inequities can be really confounding and confusing. But for those who “are not ignorant of his (Satan’s) devices“, it is very easy to discern that he constantly stokes the flames of hatred and division in society. (2nd Corinthians 2:11)
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As a popular phrase puts it, “He’s poking his finger in the eye of his opponents!”
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And so, Satan is pleased to work through unsaved individuals both in politics and the media. And they are his mouthpiece to say things which are so obviously hypocritical, untrue, and racially inflammatory, that those citizens of the minority political party fume in hot anger until finally they oftentimes jump up in disgust and angrily slam off that TV program being aired!
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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”
Matthew 24:12
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And if that’s not bad enough, even the daily news reports are filled with ridiculous decisions and absurd laws enacted by the majority political power!
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And it’s getting harder and harder each day, to sit and listen to all the insanity coming out of Washington DC and even from many state capitols these days. To see images of rioters burning down buildings and cars, and beating up people, while politicians stand by and casually say, “Oh, it’s for a just cause”, is far too much for any rational person to endure!
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Of course, God is allowing Satan to speak through the media, “as a dragon”, as foretold in Revelation 13:11. And so, Satan is using this permitted power to bring society to the boiling point of self-destruction!
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Minneapolis Riots – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license
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“And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth
Acts 17:26
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And what about the current racial madness going on throughout the media?! Many of those who suffer through programming on television/Internet, etc., are so sick of hearing the wagging heads constantly finger-pointing, blaming everyone and everything on “racism”!
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This racial madness has risen to the degree, that even common language, certain mathematics, people’s names, etc., are accused as being inherently “racist”! Even a few viruses are now being charged as being “Racist”!
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And many people, of all skin-colors, have had quite enough of all this racial insanity!
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Bible Study Group – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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HAVE WE HAD ENOUGH YET?
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Well, things just keep getting worse and worse! And it indeed appears that if the current plagues, which Earth’s inhabitants are now suffering, continue to intensify, we just might see the suffering ones finally cry out, “Uncle! We’ve had enough!”
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Yes, we must admit, Mankind is suffering more and more because of these various plagues which are just now falling upon us! And many, even in the Christian community, are shaking their fists at God (not literally but deep in their hearts), wondering why God is allowing all these awful things to takes place!
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Listen to Revelation 16:17-21…“And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”
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It appears that the hailstones now falling are spiritual hailstones, showing us how much God disapproves of us, as we flaunt His Holy Law, casting it aside as we worship our modern-day idols of gold and silver and the works of men’s hands! Yes, it seems as if we are being pelted daily by what we see and hear and endure all around us!
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When will our society (or at the very least, the Church) repent and beg for deliverance from this dystopian world: a world in moral/economic/social freefall?
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When will we at last cry, “‘Uncle!’ We’ve had enough!”
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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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REPENTANCE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS
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But the Good News is, that you and I do not have to wait for some mass public-wide repentance to occur! No, there is no better time for an individual, be it man, woman, or child, to begin to cry out for God’s mercy, grace, and deliverance.
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Oh no, this may not stem the swelling tide of evil around the world. But by perseveringly pleading with God, His grace, mercy, and peace may just come down from above, to stem the tide of evil in the life of the spiritually needy soul!
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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, I’ve had my fill of this sick and horrible world-system of Satan! I want out! Give me strength to begin my spiritual sojourn out of this world, and onward to that blessed Celestial City of God…
Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…July 30 (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Part 9: “Rapture-Ready, or Earthly-Entangled?”), or you can also read…July 13th (Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Part 1: Alone With God)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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The 7 Stars & The 7 Bowls of Wrath
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“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Revelation 15:1
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COULD THERE BE A GREATER SIGN?”
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In the opening verse, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Revelation 15:1, is a direct reference to the Signs In Heaven, which God is just now graciously revealing.
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Notice that this above verse says… “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous“.
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If ever there was a great and marvelous sign in Heaven, this 7 Star Constellation seems to be just that! And it is the easiest of all constellations to locate (excepting for those in the southernmost latitudes of the Earth who cannot see it). It seems to stand alone in the northern sky, outshining any other constellation in the night heavens!
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As for its significance, it is easy to see the message for which it was created to bring. It looks like a bowl. A giant bowl! And in the winter, it begins to slowly tip through the night, as if it is finally spilling out its contents upon the earth, as stated in Revelation… “And the first (angel) went, and poured out his vial upon the earth” Revelation 16:2.
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And so it is not hard to see the message which this constellation presents. In the summer it begins to slowly tip. But in winter it does fully appear to pour out its contents upon the Earth.
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… The 7 Stars & The 7 Bowls of Wrath
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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TOMORROW…
August 18 (Mark Now Given? Part 12: “The Internet Mob’s ‘Cancel-Culture’”)
Antifa @ Protest Trump in Phoenix – 8-22-17 – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
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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 25 – The Call by the Sea
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Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website
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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 # 119, 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..
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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons
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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.