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Today’s Devotional, Year 4, February 17

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Buying & Selling The Gospel

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In this incredible age of manufacturing, the earth and what it produces has become the great power behind the affluence and abundance of the present-day world.

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This is why Revelation speaks of a second Beast, which comes “up out of the earth.” (see Revelation 13:11).

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And as a result, our industrialized societies have become a giant culture of buying and selling!

Yes, shopping has become perhaps, the great pastime of people today.

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And so, the robust world economy is the result of our love of buying and selling what the earth produces.

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Photo: Shoppers_on_Dundas_near_Yonge – CROPPED IMAGE – by Ian Muttoo for Wikipedia – share-alike-license

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REVELATION 13 ALLUDES TO PRESENT-DAY

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Now isn’t it interesting that the book of Revelation speaks of “buying and selling”, in the 13th chapter?

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Yes, this phrase is mentioned in connection with the 2nd Beast, the False Prophet.

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Listen… “And he (the False Prophet) causes all…

to receive a mark in their right hand,

or in their foreheads:

And that no man might buy or sell,

save he that had the mark…“

Revelation 13:17, 18 (Condensed)

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Now, of course, when most people read the above prophecy, they immediately conclude that the “buying & selling” spoken of, is referring to the literal ability to make purchases, and the literal selling of goods.

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And that, indeed, just might be just one correct interpretation.

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia.

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LAWS NOW BEING ENACTED!

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Yes, it seems as though we have arrived at the time when it is becoming increasingly more difficult for Christians to buy and sell.

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We are now seeing the very beginnings of newly enacted laws, which are forcing Christians to choose between their Christian principles, or the ability to conduct business…to “buy or sell”.

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US 666 – svg – Mark of Beast – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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BUYING & SELLING THE TRUTH

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But there is another meaning to the concept of “buying & selling”.

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Yes, if one simply allows the Bible to define its own self, then there is discovered a much greater, spiritual interpretation.

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

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BUYING & SELLING

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And so, the first comparable verse is found in Proverbs…

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“Buy the truth,

and sell it not;

also wisdom,

and instruction,

and understanding.”

Proverbs 23:23.

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This very little verse from the Proverbs really presents a giant concept!

Yes, the Gospel is spoken of as a commodity which is bought and sold. 

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Just listen to this next verse… 

“Ho, every one that thirsts,

come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Isaiah 55:1 (Condensed)

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So here again, the Gospel is spoken of in terms of “buying & selling”.

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Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.

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THE WISE & FOOLISH VIRGINS

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Now the Parable of the Wise & Foolish Virgins is a perfect illustration of this concept of buying and selling…

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“Then (at the end) shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins…

And the foolish said unto the wise,

Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, go ye rather to them that sell,

and buy for yourselves.”

Matthew 25:1, 2, 4, 8, 9. (condensed for brevity)

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Now this story of the Wise & Foolish Virgins is a perfect illustration of this concept of buying the truth.

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Five Wise Virgins – Matt25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – public domain

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NO OIL, NO BIBLE

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But the foolish neglected to hide God’s Word, empowered by God’s Spirit, into their hearts (symbolized by the vessels with oil).

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So, when the call came to enter the marriage, the foolish, having no oil, pleaded for the wise to sell them oil, to which the wise replied, “…but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.” Matthew 25:9.

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So here is the concept of buying and selling the truth, all wrapped up in this wonderful, but fearful parable.

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

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THE BIBLE

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And so, by comparing the many other similar Bible passages, these together will doubtless give an even broader perspective on just what the trial ahead is all about.

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And so, let’s get busy studying and praying for knowledge, wisdom, and grace to get the victory over the Beast, and his image.

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Dear Lord, Help me to hide Thy Word in my heart with all Thy Great and precious promises, and let me not become complacent in these last hours… 

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer 2

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… January 22 (Mark Now Given, Part 5: “Freedom of Speech, An Endangered Right!”),

or you can also read this next devotional…AUGUST 3 (Apocalypse Now! Part 1: Silencing the Gospel!)

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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1st FACE…THE NIGHT WATCHMAN

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“MOON IS CONFOUNDED”… The first face, a man’s face, is easy to see.

It is that proverbial ‘Man in the Moon’.

Most have seen it. Even as little children.

(The other two faces are not so easy to see.

But let’s concentrate on the first face.)

Notice that the ‘Man in the Moon’ appears as though he is looking down at the Earth. ‘Shock and Awe’.

That’s the look on his face. Sadness too!

You might even see the tears running down his cheeks. (“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” Psalm 119:136)

The Moon is spoken of as a “faithful witness”.

God’s covenanted law is spoken of as a faithful witness as well.

Listen to the Psalmist…

“It (God’s covenant with David [i.e., Christ]) shall be established for ever as the Moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Psalm 89:37.

Notice here that God is comparing His Covenant to the Moon as a “faithful witness”.

The Moon reflects the light of the Sun, just as Christians should reflect the light of the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus, who should be in their daily lives.

And so the Moon fulfills the verse from Psalms which proclaims…

“Praise ye Him, Sun and Moon:

praise Him, all ye stars of light.”

Psalm 148:3

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Full moon (“blue moon”) as seen on 31.08.2012 as seen from Slobozia, Romania – by Cezar Popescu – Wikimedia – Public Domain – photo cropped and highlighted

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

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February 18 (A Form of Godliness, Part 5: “3-dollar-bill Love!” CONTINUED)

THREE DOLLAR BILL – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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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 3 – The Fullness of the Time

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ABOVE STAR-CHART: Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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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 small 30 minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50 year long series of 90 minute nightly talk shows…

This is Open Forum Show #97

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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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