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Today’s Devotional – July 13th

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Time of Jacob’s Trouble,

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Part 1:

“Alone With God!”

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If you want to teach a bird to sing a special song, you would not want to put that bird in a place with many distractions. With others present, the bird will learn a little snatch from this one or a trill from that one.

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But when the Master desires to teach that bird one very special song, He places a covering over the cage. And in the darkness and aloneness, the bird can learn the Master’s song without distraction.

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And then, day after day, the bird tries and tries to learn that song. But the day finally arrives in which the bird, at long last, learns that song! And once the bird learns the Master’s song, it will never be forgotten! but will joyfully sing that song forevermore, for all the world to hear!

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Rose ringed Parakeet – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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WORK NOT FINISHED!

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God’s people have been congregating together for nearly 2,000 years. But if one studies the history of the Church, it is discovered that the Church has not fulfilled her divine commission, as of yet.

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But there is a day soon coming, which is spoken of as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.

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Listen… “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:6, 7

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Now the language used in the above passage speaks of a man who is in travail as a woman! But then it goes on to say that this day will be like no other day! And then it goes on further to call that day, “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”. And finally, it concludes regarding Jacob, “he shall be saved out of it”!

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Jacob Wrestling with the Angel – Wikipedia – public domain

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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE

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“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:6, 7

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So, what in the world could this passage be speaking of? Such strange language! Such an impossible idea! Men in travail!?! Jacob being saved out of it!?!

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After all, at the time that Jeremiah wrote this, Jacob had been dead for centuries! And of course, men don’t suffer labor pains!

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And so, the whole verse just seems ridiculous!

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Jacob Wrestling with the Angel – Wikipedia – public domain

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GIVING BIRTH TO CHRIST!

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Well, of course, this passage (Jeremiah 30:6, 7) must be understood allegorically! To say it concisely, this passage is speaking of God’s people during the time of great affliction just before us. At this time, God is going to bring His people through a fiery trial, in which His Church will finally give birth to Christ.

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Listen to the words of the Apostle, Paul… “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19

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And so, Paul is comparing, not only his own experience as travailing in birth, but also to the Church of Galatia as Paul was waiting for that church to form Christ within them!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Woman of Revelation 12 In Travail – www.signsofheaven.org

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WE’VE GIVEN BIRTH TO WIND!

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But the sad fact is, the Church of God, instead of giving birth to Christ, has had a spiritual “mis-carriage”!

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Listen to this passage from Isaiah… “Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in Thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:17, 18

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So, Isaiah is giving us a very bad report here! He is telling us that we have failed to bring forth Christ within us. But He is also telling us that we have failed to have “wrought any deliverance in the earth, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen”. In other words, we have failed to show Christ to the world, which would have caused the world to fall down and confess that Christ was indeed a powerful God, and the Church was indeed filled with that awesome power of Christ within!

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The Prophet Isaiah (Bible Card from 1904) – Wikipedia – public domain

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HIDE THYSELF IN THY CHAMBERS!

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Fortunately, God is a God of happy endings! And while the Church has been preoccupied with many worldly endeavors, God is going to have victory yet!

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Listen to Isaiah, as he continues on… “…We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind…Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:18, 20, 21

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This passage from Isaiah, Chapter 26, reveals the answer to our great dilemma! You see, just after condemning us for not fulfilling our great commission, God continues in this above passage, to command us to go hide for a moment, until God finishes punishing the world during the Day of Judgment.

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And so, what in the world is God prophesying to us to hide for? Well listen again… “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3.

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So, this last verse from Zephaniah explains how we are to be hidden: by seeking meekness and righteousness. Yes, only those who are willing to receive the fullness of Christ’s death & resurrection will be hidden in that Day!

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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry

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“ALONE WITH GOD” TO BE CONTINUED IN TOMORROW’S DEVOTIONAL

Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER… 

“Dear Lord, Let me not put my trust in Man. But help my faith in Thee to grow and flourish…

Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – Public-Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?” or you can also read… “January 2 (Cease Ye From Man!)“

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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LOCATING THIS CROWN…

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This constellation begins to appear in late December (just before dawn), but is best seen, mid-sky when this group of constellations can be seen when facing west. In March-April, very late in the pre-dawn hours, this Summer Constellation group begins to be seen when facing west, and continues to be seen in the west until fall. The Crown follows almost directly behind that great star, Arcturus, as you can see in the sketch to the left. Repeat: it is somewhat easier to study the 12 stars of this constellation when it is in western half of night-sky (when you have to see it as you face westward). So when these Summer Constellations are in the western half of the sky, simply follow the handle of the Big Dipper till you locate Arcturus. Then the Crown is following Arcturus. You will only see the wreath-like 7 stars plus 1 star (in middle) until you get away from all city lights. Then you can make out the other 5 stars, which makes it appear like a full crown.

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COMBINATION OF BOTH

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CORONA BOREALIS & BOOTES

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This constellation is a combination of both Corona Borealis plus several stars from the Bootes Constellation. The stars, Alkalyroos-Bootis and the Delta-Bootis Star are both combined with the other stars from the Corona Borealis community, to make this 12-star (plus 13th star in middle).

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Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The 12-Star Crown Constellation of Revelation 12” 

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TOMORROW:

” July 14th (Jacob’s Trouble: Alone With God, Part 2)”

Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. 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 #192 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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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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Today’s Devotional – July 11th

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Marching Against the Flow!

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There is a saying in Christendom which goes like this… “If Satan isn’t coming against you, then perhaps you’re both traveling in the same direction!”

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But what’s wrong with doing things like the world? After all, there’s a lot to be said for this world, is there not?

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Well, OK, there’s a lot of really bad stuff happening out there.

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But isn’t it also true that your everyday people are pretty nice and polite!

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And isn’t it a fact that we Christians fit in pretty nicely in this world? We shop in the mall, and nobody bothers us. We go to a restaurant, and are treated nicely. We go to work, and we get along with fellow employees, for the most part. We drive home, and our neighbors smile and wave hello. And on the weekends, they might even invite us over for a barbecue. And in church, we all sit together and listen to a nice sermon. Afterwards, we go home to a nice big after-church dinner!

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

Super Bowl XLIII Thunderbirds Flyover Feb 1 2009 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE BAD OL’ DAYS!

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So this world is not too bad for us Christians. Certainly not like the old days, when Christians were thrown into arenas, only to be torn apart by wild beasts, or burned at the stake!

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No, today is not like those bad old days!

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So what’s going on? Why are Christians having such peace and safety? Why are we not getting thrown into those Roman arenas, or being burned at the stake?

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Well, as our opening statement to today’s devotional says…  “If Satan isn’t coming against you, then perhaps you’re both traveling in the same direction!”

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Avvakum (burned 1682)_by_artist, Myasoyedov 1897 Wiki. Pub Dom.

Barbecue – Dutch family – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG

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Yes, we are living in a very deceitful world today! Satan, long ago, changed his modus-operandi. He has now implemented a new strategy, far more effective than his ruthless attacks during the Dark Ages.

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Oh yes, Satan is still coming against Christians in other parts of the world. But those nations of Europe and America, in which the Great Reformation once flourished, Satan has given those societies a complete makeover!

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That’s right! In the very nations which suffered under Satan’s cruel hand, during the Dark Ages, he has totally shifted gears. Yes, now, instead of torturing, burning and banishing Christians, our western societies are now embracing and prospering the Christian community.

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It’s a total 180 degree turnabout from the way things used to be!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The False Prophet – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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SATAN NOW STAYS UNDER THE RADAR!

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But under the surface of all this peace and prosperity, the Evil One is still lurking in the shadows, waiting to trounce on any Christian who might decide to fully lay down his or her life on the altar of devotion and heart-purification for Christ.

 

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Yes, Satan keeps up his facade of this kinder and gentler society, and yet will set up a barrage of fiery missiles against anyone who dares to stand alone for Christ!

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And so, while world-loving church-goers seem to have things nice and prosperous, the true worshippers are being attacked by that invisible Prince of the Power of the Air.

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And those false brethren in the church do not realize that the battle is raging on, right under their noses! Because they are apparently traveling in the same direction with the Devil and his Antichrist armies. And while they may be living “a charmed life”, God’s true followers are suffering in many hidden ways.

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – wikipedia – US public domain

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“THEY CRY PEACE, PEACE, WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE!”

Jeremiah 6:14

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Now, it seems as if the vast majority of congregations have climbed on board this phenomenon, which has been tagged as “Prosperity Gospels”.

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And even the so-called conservative churches have a milder form of this look-alike gospel. And even those who may preach against earthly Mammon, by their own affluent lifestyle, actually preach by example, the very same prosperity message!

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And so, today’s churches are playing right into the Devil’s hand! They are preaching that God is blessing us with peace and prosperity, when just the opposite is true! In truth, God has now vomited us out, because we say… “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

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church service by Matt Malone for Wikimedia copyrighted

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PEACE AND SAFETY!

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No, the battle didn’t just go away after the Dark Ages. It just changed its form!

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At least in the eastern nations, it’s easy to see who the enemy is! But in the western societies, Satan has created a facade of niceness and peace and prosperity. But make no mistake! He is on the attack against God’s people in the West, every bit as much as he is working in those violently persecuted nations in the East!

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And so, O precious soul, if you find that your life is far too quiet and much too peaceful and even too prosperous, you might just be traveling in the wrong direction through life! And it might just be high time that you do an about-face, and begin marching against the flow!

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, let me not be deceived into believing that my charmed life is God’s favor upon me! But help me to begin to renounce this opulent society and begin to walk as Jesus walked, laying my entire life on the altar…

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains: The Abomination in the Church, Part 1” or you can also read… “November 25 – (How Narrow is the Narrow Gate?)“

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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LOCATING THE DRAGON

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REVELATION 12 DRAGON IS NOT DRACO!

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First, let it be stated, that this Dragon Constellation is not the same constellation commonly referred to as “Draco” (photo to right is Draco, AKA Ursa Minor).

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This Revelation 12 Dragon from Signs Of Heaven, has not been previously recognized. But you will discover that it is a very intricate and complex constellation, once you are comfortable locating it (picture below, left).

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Draco, (Picture right) Ursa Minor – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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The star-charts below are from Wikipedia and are combined into one chart to show these three constellations, which the editor has sketched over with these three constellations, as they appear when in the west. Hopefully, this will be an assist in locating these constellations in the night-sky.

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LOCATION…

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The Revelation 12 Dragon Constellation can be located by finding Orion in winter months. The Dragon is to Orion’s left, and the Dragon’s mouth is right next to Orion’s shield. This Dragon’s mouth is the V-like constellation The Hyades Cluster, which is also known as the head of Taurus the Bull. The Dragon’s tail-tip is Pleiades and the lower shaft of his tail is partly of Aries  and Pisces. Then with aid of a dark and starry night, you may begin to connect the mouth and the tail with a very long body in an oval shape. The front and back legs are made of a few stars: the front legs partially of stars from Taurus . The back legs and rear fin are made of 6 stars from the Cetus Constellation.

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BODY HARD TO SEE

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The long oval-shaped body has relatively few stars, but can been seen, howbeit with a dark, starry night. The four stars of the front fins are made partially of Taurus .

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ABOVE STAR CHART (with constellations drawn in by this website): Wikipedia star-charts latter winter constellation in West with Orion – Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Auriga, Pleiades, etc.) – Goodly Horse (Persius, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, etc.) – Holy Ghost Rider (Camelopadelis).

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation” 

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TOMORROW:

July 12th (Jeremiah & The Two Jerusalems, Part 2: “Jesus Wept”)

Brooklyn Museum – Jesus Wept – James Tissot – Wikimedia – Public Domain – cropped image

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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 #190 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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Today’s Devotional – July 12th

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Jeremiah & The Two Jerusalems,

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Part 2:

“Jesus Wept”

To read Part 1, click here…May 20th (Jeremiah & The Two Jerusalems)

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“Mine eye runneth down

with rivers of water

for the destruction of

the daughter of My people.”

Lamentations 3:48

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The prophet, Jeremiah, is commonly referred to as, the “Weeping Prophet”.

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Well, of course, the Bible doesn’t call him that. But the fact is, Jeremiah actually did do a lot of weeping and mourning for his people.

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And that is because Jerusalem, the chosen city of God, had given herself over to idolatry, to the point that God was going to allow them to go into Babylonian captivity.

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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“Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of My people.”

Lamentations 3:48

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This above verse from Lamentations refers to Old Testament House of Israel as “the daughter of My people”.

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And the Lord, through Jeremiah, reveals His (God’s) sorrow over His apostate congregation, who valued the things of this life more than the eternal things of Heaven…“Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;” Jeremiah 7:9

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine”

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But today’s church-world is by no means impervious to this same condemnation which the Old Testament people of God were guilty of!

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No, just listen to Paul’s forecast of the end-time church-world…“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

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This above passage speaks of a church-world steeped in worldly pursuits, earthly riches, and filled many unbiblical additions to the purity of the Gospel.

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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Well, this little article does not have time to enumerate all the many pollutions which have entered God’s house.

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But there is no shortage of articles on this website which do define exactly why God is unhappy with His professed people. And the Bible is extensively used to verify these matters.

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“Now all these things…are written for our admonition”

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But the focus of today’s devotional is to stress the sorrow which God has over this apostate condition. Yes, God established the congregations to be His faithful army, throughout the New Testament era. The era of the churches was no small matter. It was a very important part of God’s Salvation plan!

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Listen to how we, the New Testament Church, are to relate to the Old Testament…“Now all these things happened unto them (the Old Testament people of God) for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1st Corinthians 10:11

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Yes, many or perhaps most Bible teachers today are unable to relate all those Old Testament stories and prophecies to today’s church-world, even though we are commanded to do so.

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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“Jerusalem which is now…is in bondage with her children…But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all”

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The Apostle, Paul, upbraided the churches of Galatia for not being able to discern the spiritual meaning behind the various stories in the Old Testament (see Galatians 4:21). And then he went on to reveal to them that there were actually two spiritual Jerusalems…“For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:25, 26

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And so, because New Testament believers, both Jew and Gentile, are children of their mother, the Jerusalem which is above. But the apostate portion of God’s professed people are of the “Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” Galatians 4:25

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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AS WITH THE OLD, SO WITH THE NEW

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And so, when reading such prophecies as Lamentations, the New Testament Bible student needs to understand that God is not only weeping for His apostate Old Testament assembly, but also for His apostate New Testament assembly, equally as much.

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Even the true worshipers of God have been so corrupted by all the antichrist deceivers within the walls of Sion, that we too have fallen from God’s approval. And He weeps for us too!

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Cry of prophet Jeremiah on the Ruins of Jerusalem – Wikiart – US Public Domain

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“As a shepherd…will I seek out My sheep”

Ezekiel 34:12

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But God will still seek out His sheep… “…and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12

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But make no mistake! The time which is just before us will be a difficult experience, to put it mildly!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Good Shepherd – James Tissot – Wikpedia – US Public Domain

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“Come out of her (Babylon) My people!”

Revelation 18:4

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But God must remove His sheep from the fallen and apostate conditions which have greatly corrupted His people, rendering them greatly ineffective in their service to Him.

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And our apostasy has caused the following prophecy to be fulfilled in those of us who are living today…“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:18

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Yes, God weeps over His people today. We have not brought forth Christ, neither have we caused the inhabitants of the world to fall to their knees and confess, “that God is in you of a truth.” 1st Corinthians 14:25
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James Tissot – The Flight of the Prisoners – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“hide thyself…until the indignation be overpast.”

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But the hour has come when it may be said… “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” Isaiah 26:20

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Yes, the hour is come that we must hide ourselves from the approaching storm!

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And even though God has been weeping for His apostate people, He is certainly not going to give up on His faithful ones, in spite of our sleepy-eyed lukewarm service of the past!

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No, “the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:21

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Yes, the Lord is just now beginning to punish the world for its wickedness!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Hide Thyself in thy Chambers – inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry

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A HAPPY ENDING FOR GOD’S FAITHFUL ONES!

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And though the days ahead may be difficult, we can rejoice along with the Psalmist…“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

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Yes, we may weep many tears in the coming days. And even though we will be… “As sorrowful, yet (we will be) alway rejoicing”, knowing that our Lord will, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” 2nd Corinthians 6:10 & Romans 12:15 (parenthetical comment by this website editor)

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Yes, every tear that we shed through the coming purifying trials will be met with manifold more tears by our Lord, who will be with us all the way up that Narrow Pathway…

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“and, lo, I am with you alway,

even unto the end of the world.

Amen.”

Matthew 28:20

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Thomas Cole – Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to see the spiritual nature of the Bible. Open Thou mine eyes, that i may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “November 22 – (The Greatest Jig-saw Puzzle Ever!)“ or you can also read… December 30 (A Supernatural Book!)

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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THE HOLY-GHOST-RIDER CONSTELLATION

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“Gavest thou…wings and feathers unto the ostrich?….What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.” Job 39:17, 18

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Here in the above condensed passage is revealed a tremendous Bible prophecy! Here the ostrich (being a symbol of the Church-Apostate) is going to lift up herself and scorn the horse and his rider.

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Well, if we look in the winter-night skies, we might possibly have our eyes opened to see a most incredible constellation group, known as the “Horse and His Rider” Constellation Group.

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And so, this above passage speaks of the time of the end (which we are just now in). And sadly to say, there will be many in the Church who will scorn this last message, just as the wisdom-deprived ostrich scorns the Horse and His Rider, who symbolize God’s Church in battle, being ridden by the Spirit of Christ! Such a sad ending for the Church-Apostate, to scorn the Holy Spirit: the same Spirit that they so often exulted in praise, with their lips!

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This constellation group is made up of a number of smaller constellations: the horse’s head, made from the Perseus Constellation. The tail and rear end is partly of the Cassiopeia Constellation. The hind-leg is made partly of stars from the Andromeda Constellation. The Rider is made primarily from the Camelopardalis Constellation.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation” or you can also read… “Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation”

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TOMORROW:

“July 13th (Jacob’s Trouble: Alone With God)”

However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – 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 #191 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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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.

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Today’s Devotional – July 10th

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Satan Never Takes Vacations!

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In this work-a-day world, it’s always nice to get away from the humdrum routine.

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And so, in this affluent society, many will hop in the car and go somewhere: to the beach, to the mountains, to some nice resort. Yes, there are countless things to do in this very interesting world! .

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Jesus also liked to get away, during His earthly ministry. Every night, He would retire to some quiet get-away, and spend hours in prayer to His Heavenly Father. And this deep communion would give Him the refreshment and renewal of Spirit, to get Him through another day.

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Café de Flore coffee house – cropped image – wikipedia – public domain

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SATAN NEVER TAKES TIME OFF!

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But have you ever noticed that when on a vacation, it seems that some incident happens on the last day? Maybe some squabble. Maybe some little injustice. Maybe some injury. Or maybe just some really rude comment. But whatever it happens to be, that incident usually results in hurt feelings or high tensions, or sadness.

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But why does it usually happen on the last day or so? Is it merely because everyone is tired? Or is there a spiritual reason?

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Well, there are a few of us who firmly believe that God keeps Satan at bay, but sometimes releases him on the last day or so, as an act of mercy. In other words, God doesn’t wish to spoil the whole vacation, so He holds Satan back from spoiling our long-anticipated time of rest and fun! But then may finally release him on the last day, to lay his trap for us. 

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Devil-goat – wikipedia – public domain

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THIS WORLD IS OUR TRAINING GROUND!

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But we have to keep in mind that this very short life is a training and testing ground for the Christian. God didn’t put us here merely to have a nice peaceful life. But God has put us in this selfish world, as an arena in which He can mold and hew us into the image of Christ. And so, while God loves to give us times of peace and rest, He also must give us trials and temptations.

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Listen… “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah 13:9.

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Yes, God has chosen a remnant from among His professed people, with whom He will refine as gold is refined in the fire, for the ultimate purpose of purifying them into His likeness.

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Gold bars – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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GOD TRIES OUR HEARTS EVERY MOMENT!

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After all, the Bible reveals that…“What is man…that Thou (God) should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” Job 7:17, 18. 

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Yes, the more that a Christian matures in the faith, the more he or she realizes that every moment of the day is an opportunity to learn and progress in the Christian faith.

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Oh yes, quite often it is Satan who lays some sort of trap for us.

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But God only allows those trials which will ultimately be for our further benefit. Listen… “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

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And the more we improve on these little opportunities, the faster we will rise to new heights in our spiritual walk.

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ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – www.signsofheaven.org

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SATAN DOESN’T TAKE VACATIONS!

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And so, as a word of caution and encouragement, the Christian is advised to not let our guard down, just because we are on vacation, remembering that Satan never takes a day off!

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We need to be ever watchful and vigilant against the attacks and pitfalls which the enemy will use against us.

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And not just on the last day of our vacation, but every day of our vacation, and even every day of the year!

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Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – wikipedia – US public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to understand that this world is a battlefield, and let me not become complacent and spiritually drowsy! But let me be ever watchful and alert to his devices…

Pray for Our Nation sign – Wikimedia – Share-alike-lic.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Fleeing Woman: “I Say Unto All…Watch!”” or you can also read… ” June 24th (The War Nobody Prepared For!)”

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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ORION THE SOLDIER

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The pagan cultures saw this incredible constellation as a hunter, with a club. Well, they weren’t too far off. Actually, God created it to appear like a soldier. This is because all nature presents aspects of the Gospel.

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Listen… “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1. And so now we are amazed to discover that beyond the awesome grandeur of the starry night-heavens, God has actually written the Love of God in the heavenly scroll.   

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Orionurania – wikipedia – public domain

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7 MAJOR STARS OF ORION…

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Orion Constellation can best be seen all winter (but even in August in the pre-dawn hours of morning in eastern skies) traveling east to west through the night, in mid-sky. To find the seven major stars of Orion (one star on each shoulder and one star on each foot, plus the three stars which make his belt), you can locate on just about any clear night regardless of the blackness of the night. To find Orion’s other stars, you need more star-visibility…a darker, moonless night, and possibly away from city lights.

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ABOVE PICTURE – winter constellations – Orion & Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades, Pleiades, etc…) seen at Eagle Ridge – Signs Of Heaven.org – Not for profit use!

Orion wikimedia share-alike license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Orion the Soldier (Armor of God)” 

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TOMORROW:

“July 11th (Marching Against the Flow!)”

sheep – Lambs to the slaughter – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

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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 #189 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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Today’s Devotional – July 9th

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EXAMINE YOURSELVES!

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There are many false doctrines blowing in the wind these days, in and out of the Christian community.

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And one such false teaching is the popular idea that it is a denial of faith to ever question one’s own Salvation. But this is complete and utter avoidance of Bible truth!

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“EXAMINE YOURSELVES…”

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As a matter of fact, even if you are the most highly respected leader in the Church, you are not exempt from the admonition to, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2nd Corinthians 13:5.

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That’s right. It is the very leaders of God’s house who are the prime targets for satanic deceptions and even devilish delusions!

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“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL”

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The Bible warns us that… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. 

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And so it is a very healthy practice to take regular inventory of one’s spiritual health, since it is so easy to be deceived by the “deceitfulness of sin”.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23, 24 

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David was not one bit presumptuous about his salvation, Quite the contrary, he repeatedly prayed for God to protect him from falling into condemnation…“Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” Psalm 19:13 

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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STILL THE DAY OF SALVATION!

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But there is some very Good News! It is still the Day of Salvation! There is still time to turn to the Lord! 

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“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10.

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The life of a Christian is the Spirit of repentance! Throughout a Christian’s life, there is an ongoing contriteness and sorrow for sin. It grieves the Christian to be un-Christ-like in any way! And the Christian is constantly pleading for grace to reflect the likeness of Christ to the world!

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This is a work which the indwelling Holy Spirit transforms into a joyful work!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to take inventory of my life! Let me not be deceived by my own deceitful heart, or by those around me. Give me grace to live wholly for Thee…

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 3: The Abomination in My Heart” or you can also read… “March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)“

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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THE WAVE CONSTELLATION LOCATION…

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The Wave Constellation is primarily comprised of the Auriga Constellation plus one star from Taurus, plus one more star. The Winter Constellations are depicted in this below sketch to the right, and shows this constellation group as they are seen in early winter, as they rise in the eastern skies. The Woman is in the north. The Dragon and Orion are farther south from the Woman.

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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS-SEEN IN FALL: This sketch to the right is how this constellation group appears in the eastern sky in fall. This is the four primary constellations of the Winter Constellations. They can be seen in this position, in the late fall above the eastern horizon. The Woman of Revelation 12 is commonly called Ursa Major or The Big Dipper and appears in the north. Orion the Soldier is the at the bottom is to the south of the Woman. The The Dragon of Revelation Constellation’s mouth isThe Hyades Cluster, and the tip of his tail isPleiades, and his Wave of Water is primarily the Auriga constellation. The Glorious Horse Constellation  head is of Perseus Constellation and his rear end is Cassiopeia Constellation.

(Editor’s note: It is impossible to make this chart accurate, and visually correct, because the dome effect of the sky makes these constellations look different than they appear when placed on flat paper.)

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 FLOOD-WATERS OF SATAN CONSTELLATION

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No matter where this constellation is in the night sky, this wave of water is always going towards the path of the Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness). This wave of water is made of the Auriga Constellation plus two fainter stars closer to the Dragon’s mouth. Let’s see what Scripture has to say about flood waters.  

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“And the serpent cast out of his mouth WATER AS A FLOOD after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood..” Revelation 12:12. 

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So what do these flood waters represent?  Does the Bible have anything to say about Satan’s flood-waters?         

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction” or you can also read… “The Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

“July 10th (Satan Never Takes a Vacation!)”

Gone Fishing – old shack – Seligman Arizona – 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 #188 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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Today’s Devotional – July 8th

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Go Ye Into All Your Heart!

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Part 2

To read Part 1, go here…February 19 (Go Ye Into All Your Heart!)

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“Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?

and in Thy name have cast out devils?

and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:

depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 7:22, 23 

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There are many enthusiastic Christians who really have a heart for evangelism, but will come up to that Great Day of Judgment to sadly and tragically hear the words…“I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22, 23 

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And these earnest evangelists will then ask the question…“Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?”

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But instead of waiting until Judgment Day, why not ponder these questions right now?

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

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“GO YE…”

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So, let’s take a moment to explore just why such zealous evangelists could ever be excluded from Heaven, even though they did many seemingly wonderful works!

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After all, by a simple reading of the Bible, it would seem as though God is very much wanting His people to go out and evangelize the world.

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Yes, the Bible clearly tells us…“And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

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Here is seen a very plain command from God to go and preach the Gospel.

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Global Warning – Judgment – Christ Coming by Julian Osley – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share Alike License

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KEEP ON STUDYING!

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And as we look around, we see that the Christian community is filled with various ministries dedicated to that very purpose: to preach Jesus to the world.

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But there are other verses which present a much wider and much fuller concept.

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And every good ‘Berean’ Bible student wants to get the whole picture, not just a partial understanding about God’s will for our lives.

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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FIRST REMOVE MY OWN BEAM

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Listen to the following passage…“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?…Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5

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Here is a different point of view. Before we correct others, God is wanting us to correct our own behavior.

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Of course, this above passage isn’t exactly forbidding evangelism, but merely counseling us to quit criticizing another individual, while we have not yet conquered our own problems.

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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CHRISTIAN TELEVISION

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And yet, we see many television ministries dedicated to evangelism in which the evangelists clearly have salvational issues in their own lives.

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And as one beholds some of the crazy stuff presently going on in the name of the Lord, it should give the Christian pause…“How is my own Christianity? Do people see Jesus in me? Or must I tell them about Jesus?”

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

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“I WILL SHOW THEE A MORE EXCELLENT WAY”

1st Corinthians 12:31

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Oh yes, we might be able to fool people that don’t personally know us, because they don’t actually witness our day-to-day folly as our immediate family members may.

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But the fact is, there is a much greater way to evangelize the world, and to save other souls!

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Yes, the very first person I need to evangelize is my own self!

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And the very first soul I must save is my own soul!

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“STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED”

2nd Timothy 2:15

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If the Christian would only use the hours spent trying to save others, and instead devote that time to copious Bible study and meditation, that Christian might just discover that he or she doesn’t even need to verbally preach to others.

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Their own Christlike life and chaste behavior would eventually begin to speak eloquently on behalf of the Savior, much more so than mere audible rhetoric does!

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The very fragrance of Christ would emanate out to all!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS”

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Listen to Peter…“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1st Peter 3:15

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Here is a wonderful encouragement by Peter, who by the way, learned a very hard lesson about ‘much talking’ and about ‘much boasting’!

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Tissot – The Sorrow of Peter – Joyful Heart.com

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“IF ANY MAN SPEAK”

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And again, Peter also says…“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” 1st Peter 4:11

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Notice that Peter says here, “‘IF’ any man speak”. Peter doesn’t say, “‘WHEN’ any man speaks.”

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In other words, Peter is not encouraging any man to speak.

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He is merely saying, “If” you do speak, let your words be, “as the oracles of God”.

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St Peter – Brandl – 1724 – National Gallery Prague – Wikimedia Commons

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“BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK!”

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Yes, no doubt, Peter learned from his hard lesson to be very hesitant to speak out.

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Peter learned what James warns Christians…“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” James 1:19

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Again, the Bible warns Christians against being quick to speak.

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Crucifixion of Peter – Caravaggio Martirio di San Pietro – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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KEEPING SILENT

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And last, this proverb from the wisest of all mortals, Solomon…“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Proverbs 17:28

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Here again is wise counsel concerning the tongue.

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The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon – by Edward Poynter – 1890 – Art Gallery of New South Wales – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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GOOD NEWS!

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But there is some really wonderful Good News for all of us who have been somewhat too vocal about our religion.

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You see, God is still allowing us some time to purify our hearts and conform our lives, so that we might, “walk, even as He walked!” 1st John 2:6

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And so, let’s use our remaining moments to good account by spending much time studying to show ourselves “approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth!” 2nd Timothy 2:15

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Mold me and remake me into Thy image, so that I might be a good and godly witness to the world…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Orion The Reaper” 

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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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FINDING ORION ‘THE REAPER’…

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This constellation is the 3rd member of the ‘Orion Constellation’ Phenomena.

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This particular version of Orion is easily seen (if you know what to look for). First you must locate Orion. And then try to find the stars which comprise his sickle. The two brightest stars of his sickle are at the blade. These two stars are Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux are known commonly as being in the Gemini Constellation.

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Of course, Orion is seen in the colder months, but can even be seen starting in late summer, in the eastern skies in the wee hours of morning. At first he is lying down. But gradually through the night and through the winter, he more and more stands upright. The sketches on this page are rough and do not show every star exactly. However they are close enough to be able to locate this 3rd office that Orion holds (Orion the: 1. Archer   2. Soldier  3. Reaper 4. Cross ).

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Orion The Reaper” 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

July 9th (Examine Yourselves!)

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – 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.

.

THIS STUDY #187 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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Today’s Devotional – July 7th

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Power of Positive Thinking Gospels,

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Part 6:

Conservative Gospels 

(continued from yesterday)

To read part 1, click here…June 9th (The Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels! Part 1)

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In yesterday’s Part 1 (click here to read), it was revealed that those “crazy liberal gospels” aren’t the only ones who are immersed in pursuit of Mammon. No, even the “conservative gospels” promote the same idea of attaining earthy prosperity, far above and beyond simply “having food and covering”. 

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Listen… “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1st Timothy 6:8, 9

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Now it seems that we are in a hopeless position today! Because both the liberal and conservative elements have fallen into a false, Mammon-loving religion! And Sodom and Gomorrah are now springing up all around us! And even our children’s schools are just now beginning to indoctrinate our kids to accept the idea that the sins of Sodom are OK, even good!

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And isn’t it also true that today’s high-tech devices are quite often grooming our children better than the proverbial “dirty-old-man down the street” of yesteryear, ever could!

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Girl Texting – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

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So what are we to do? Where are we to go? Just where can we flee to?

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Is there no hope? Has God left us in a hopeless position?

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

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SIGNS OF HEAVEN TO OUR RESCUE!

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Well, God has not left us all alone! As a matter of fact, God is now revealing the answer to our great dilemma. Yes, God is opening up His reserve arsenal, which He has kept in store “for such a time as this!” (Esther 4:14)

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Yes, God is now revealing the heavenly signs which He foretold in the prophecy of Luke 21:25… “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

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Now the Reader of this devotional is highly encouraged to study this website, in hopes of gleaning as much hidden manna as one can possibly glean!

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But as far as this question of where we can flee to, there is one heavenly sign in particular, which deals with this question…

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Holy-Ghost-Rider in the Western night-sky

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URSA MAJOR IN SUMMER

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Yes, there is one particular heavenly sign which speaks directly to this question regarding just where we can flee to. And this sign is spoken of in Revelation 12… “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon (over) her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:1, 2

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And this great sign in Heaven is now revealed to those who are just beginning to see it. It is the constellation which the pagan cultures named The Great Bear (Ursa Major).

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But the pagans didn’t see things the way God intended! You see, in Summer, this constellation appears as a headless woman-in-labor. And in her womb area is a single star, which represents the soon-to-be-born Christ-child, as spoken of in Revelation 12… “And there appeared a great wonder (or “sign”) in heaven…A woman…and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:2

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Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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URSA MAJOR IN WINTER

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But there is more to this constellation! Because, as summer turns to fall, and fall turns to winter, this constellation of a laboring woman gradually flips upside down, and by Winter appears as a fleeing woman.

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And this fulfills the following continuation of Revelation 12… “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Revelation 12:14. 

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And now, this fleeing woman has a head made from that single star which represented the Christ-child. In other words, she gave birth to Christ. And Christ is now become the head of the Church, and the Church is the body of Christ.

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Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THE WIDE AND NARROW GATES

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Now if this weren’t amazing enough, God is not finished with this scenario. No, if you find the stars, Castor and Pollux, you will discover that they represent the Narrow Gate, spoken of in the Gospel according to Matthew… “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14.

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So, as we see this fleeing woman and realize that she is veering away from the Broad Gate stars, and heading into the Narrow Gate stars, we are confronted with a tremendous concept, which solves our great dilemma.

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You see, just as this Revelation 12 Fleeing Woman Constellation is fleeing into the Narrow Gate, this is actually where we too must flee, if we ever expect to escape Sodom and Gomorrah, which is just now springing up all around us!

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And what is this Narrow Gate all about? Well, to put it in the most concise language, it represents a total forsaking of this selfish world, and a total devotion to becoming like Jesus, in every way!

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Revelation 12 Woman swerving toward Narrow Gate – late winter – signsofheaven.org

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WE MUST FLEE TO SAVE OUR FAMILY

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Yes, if we ever expect our children to not become consumed and swallowed up by this Sodom & Gomorrah, we are going to have to flee into the Narrow Gate! We must make that total sacrificial surrender! There’s no other way! Because there’s no place on earth to flee to. There’s no earthly mountain high enough, to protect our family from the Wicked One!

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Listen… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, 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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The clefts of these ragged rocks can only be entered through the pages of the Bible! Because these clefts are the very words of God. And we must so wholly immerse ourselves in His Word, which cuts so deeply into our heart, that all the glory of the tinsel-like treasures of the world will begin to fade away like a dying flower!

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We have a promise from God, concerning our families… “Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in His ways….Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Psalm 128:1, 3

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ABOVE PICTURE – The Narrow Gate & Wide Gate – Late winter – Ursa Major – www.signsofheaven.org- you may use with credit

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to fully understand these things. Give me a love for studying Thy Word. Help me to enter the Narrow gate, which leads to life everlasting…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)” or you can also read… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”

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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REVELATION 12 WOMAN LOCATION

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation  is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…  “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)” 

 

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TOMORROW:

“July 8th (Go Ye Into All Your Heart!)”

ABOVE PICTURE: Most Holy Place within the heart – Signs Of Heaven

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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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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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Today’s Devotional – July 6th

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Power of Positive Thinking Gospels,

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Part 5:  

“Conservatives”

To read part 1, click here…June 9th (The Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels! Part 1)

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“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,

but war was in his heart:

his words were softer than oil,

yet were they drawn swords.”

Psalm 55:21

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Several nights ago, a very popular Christian speaker held a large convocation with a vast throng of tens of thousands of listeners.

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And this evangelist gave a very high-energy presentation, with a very positive message. 

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Well, the gist of what he said is, that we need to think positive, speak positive, and believe positively, that God has good things in store for us here on earth!

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Yes, this popular speaker continued to present a message about achieving our earthly dreams: earthly dreams for ourselves and for our families.

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Above picture not connected with this story – church service by Matt Malone for Wikimedia cropped photo – copyrighted

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This extravaganza was filled with short, but uplifting testimonies, a high-energy, upbeat rock band, attractive women, well-timed jokes, and smoother-than-butter preaching!

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Well, needless to say, this presentation was received with no lack of enthusiasm!

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The vast audience, 50,000 strong, seemed mesmerized, yet ecstatic about this uplifting and upbeat message! The night was a huge success!

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

 

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But while these very liberal-minded gospels are easy targets for us conservatives to point our finger at, we need to first examine our own gospel! We must inspect our own house!

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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A DECADENT SOCIETY

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Yes, those gospels out there which we call, “Name It and Claim It” gospels, or “Prosperity” gospels, are the extreme version of false gospels which seek for earthly prosperity.

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And they are relatively easy to spot by those who are familiar with what the Bible says about earthly Mammon. After all, the Bible makes it clear…

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“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1st Timothy 6:8, 9 (For entire quote click here)

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So, this and other similar passages make perfectly clear that the Christian is to shun much of the opulence and excesses which the people of the world seek after!

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People on Times Square – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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CONSERVATIVE PROSPERITY GOSPELS

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Now, it wouldn’t be so bad to point out the gross avarice of these so-called liberal gospels which believe that “gain is godliness”, if we weren’t every bit as guilty!

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But the fact is, the greater part of so-called “conservative” gospels have our own version of a, “gain is godliness” type of thinking!

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Yes, that’s right, while we are busy looking down our noses at those “crazy gospels”, the accusing finger from Heaven is likewise pointing down at us!

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PEACE AND PROSPERITY!

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For instance, most Christians bring up their children to believe that they must grow up to have a career which pays as much as possible! And they pray that God will protect them and provide an abundant life for them and for their children (our grand-children)!

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So how does this mind-set compare to the Bible’s admonition… “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”? 1st Timothy 6:8 

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After all, we are not content for our children to merely have food and covering, are we? Of course not! We want our children to have a nice blissful and abundant lifestyle! Lots of things, nice vacations, entertainment, and all the same accouterments which this secular society enjoys! And such erroneous thinking as this comes from our own carnal hearts and from listening to what this decadent/opulent/hedonistic society tells us!

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Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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A LIFE DEVOTED TO THE GOSPEL

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Instead, we ought to be bringing up our children to become self-supporting evangelists. Oh yes, they should be taught a trade. They need a very good work ethic!

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But this idea that they must seek after a complicated career which affords an affluent lifestyle, is not in harmony with the Bible.

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No, but rather, they should be taught that their time and money are the gift from God and are to be used for the furtherance of the Gospel. Sacrificial giving of both time and money should become their greatest delight, as they follow the Great Sacrificial Lamb of God!

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Jesus the Carpenters Son-by-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org US public-domain.jpg

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WHICH WORLD WILL YOU CHOOSE?

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“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24, 25

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This above passage was spoken by Jesus, as He taught the multitudes on the Mount. But for the most part, this is not what is being taught our children in today’s church-world, neither liberal nor conservative!

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It seems that more emphasis is placed on earthly prosperity than on heavenly riches! At least, the greater part of Christian parents may be guilty of this!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The False Prophet – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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SODOM & GOMORRAH ALL OVER AGAIN!

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It’s no wonder that we’re being enveloped in by Sodom & Gomorrah! After all, wasn’t the original sins of Sodom the same opulence which attracted Abraham’s nephew, Lot? And after some years of prosperity, Lot and his family found themselves living smack-dab in the middle of Sodom!

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Well, it seems as though we conservative Christians have much in common with Lot. It appears as if Sodom is springing up all around us and our children, as it also did to Lot!

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Picture–Lot Escapes Sodom-Genesis3-www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart-public domain.

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WHERE ARE WE TO FLEE?

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So, what’s the solution to all this? How can we and our family escape today’s Sodom, even as Lot escaped Sodom of olden times? Where can we go?

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Listen… “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Genesis 19:17. 

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Yes, Lot was commanded to flee away from Sodom to “the mountain”.

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But what mountain are we to flee to? After all, it is nowadays against the law to simply become “squatters” and live in the mountains!

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But notice that God told Lot, “Escape to the mountain!” God didn’t say “mountains” plural! But God said, “mountain” singular. It seems as if God had a particular mountain in mind for Lot to flee too!

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So, what are we to do? Has God let us down? Has God forsaken us, leaving us in a hopeless position, with no way of escape?

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PICTURE – Constellation- Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains Mark 13:14 This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture, but made up of real constellations (Ursa Major & Auriga, Hyades, etc…, howbeit not in their actual positions in the night-sky)

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Well, the solution to this great dilemma will be addressed in tomorrow’s devotional

Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Teach me the correct way to live in this very affluent society. Give me the grace which lays down one’s life on the altar of Christ-like service. Hide me in this apparent day of wrath…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

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As the opening verse says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 

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So what are these two gates all about? And how can I choose the right door? Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.

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But before we explore these questions, let’s take a look at why these two sets of stars represent these two biblical gates.

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This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.

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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

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This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours). In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation.

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Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2). 

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On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God.  Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)” 

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TOMORROW:

” July 7th (Power of Positive Thinking Gospels & Conservative Gospels, Part 2)”

Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal 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 #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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Today’s Devotional – July 5th

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Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads!

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Part 2

TO READ PART 1, CLICK HERE…July 4th (Look Up & Lift Up Your Heads! Part 1)” 

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There was a song written called “Starry, Starry Night”, in which the composer lauded too much praise on that infamous artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

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Well, perhaps “too much praise” is even a bit of an understatement. Nevertheless, Van Gogh had a unique style, which has influenced many artists since.

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But the point of the song was that Van Gogh tried to share the beauty of life and nature with the world through his art, and the world just didn’t appreciate Van Gogh’s plea to humanity.

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Well, Van Gogh’s paintings are now selling for millions, so somebody’s appreciating him!

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Van Gogh – Starry Night Ballance – courtesy – Wikipedia – US Public domain

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LOOK UP AT NATURE

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But the reason for bringing this up is, that so many of us have our heads buried under the mountain of earthly commitments, that we just don’t think too much about the gift of life which God has graciously given us to enjoy.

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Oh well, that’s not entirely true. Many do enjoy nature. Gardeners love the beauty of nature. Campers and hikers love to be out in nature. Star-gazers love to explore the vast black sea of the heavens.

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So maybe the composer of the song, “Starry, Starry Night”, underestimated Mankind’s appreciation for the beauty of Nature.

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Van Gogh – Country Road in Provence By Night. – courtesy Wikipedia – public domain

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IT’S TIME TO LOOK UP!

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But the Bible speaks of a day, in which we are counseled to “Look up, and lift up your heads!” 

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But why should we look up and lift up our heads?

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Well, the verse continues… “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28  

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So, this verse is counseling us to look up and lift up our heads, for our redemption is drawing nigh. And these Signs Of Heaven are a special sign mentioned as one of those things to look for, just prior to the Return of Christ!

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Listen… “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars…And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25, 28

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license 

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LOOK UP AND BEHOLD THE WONDERS OF CREATION!

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But God, in His great mercy, is giving us this message to “look up”, while there is still a little time to prepare to meet our God.

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And so, just exactly what are we to look up, and lift up our heads for? Oh yes, the Signs Of Heaven are one very good reason to “look up, and lift up your heads”. It is true that God is wanting humanity to look up and see this wonderful message written in the Sun, Moon, and stars!

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Of course, the major part of getting ready, is to purify our heart, “even as Christ is pure” (see 1st John 3:3). 

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But maybe it’s also time to look up and see the messages that God is trying to share with us in nature! And nature has been created by God to give us a message: the message of the Good News of Salvation is written throughout all of Nature!

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Yes, the Bible is very closely intertwined with Nature. And many aspects of nature are already spoken of in the Bible. And the Bible brings out the poetic messages found in the various objects of Nature, and just what they mean.

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Schnorr von Carolsfeld – 1860 – Abram counts stars – Wikipedia – Public Dom. (2)

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CONSIDER THE ANT AND BE WISE!

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For instance, the Bible speaks of the lowly ant, and how it is wise, diligently working to store up its winter food during the summer. Listen… “Go to the ant…consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8

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Now this is a wonderful revelation about ants! But by careful observation, it has been discovered that ants also have other wise characteristics!

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For example, they harvest a sweet milky nectar from certain aphids, whom they have watched over all day, just like little cowboys, only to bring them with them, down in their stronghold at night, to share their milky substance with one-another during the night!

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And also, when that ant discovers something sweet, she will return to her home and take another ant and slowly begin to retrace her steps, so that the other ant can learn just how to get to where that sweet substance is located!

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And so too, the Christian is to share the sweet nectar of God’s Word, one with another. Likewise, the Christian is to lead others to the sweet words of the Bible. Listen… “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalms 19:7, 10.

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Ant Receives Honeydew from Aphid – cropped image – by Dawidi & Wikipedia – share-alike license

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NATURE, AN ONGOING SYMPHONY!

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Well, the point is, that if the Christian will begin to apply his or her heart to the wisdom all around us, then all of Nature might become a beautiful symphony of heavenly strains, proclaiming the wonderful Gospel story!

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Listen… “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?” Job 12:7-9

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Yes, God’s Word reveals that Nature is just waiting to teach us about the wonderful gift of Heaven!

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South American butterfly – cropped image – wikipedia – share-alike license

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STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN!

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And so, when God, in Luke 21:28, beckons us to “Look up, and lift up yours heads”, He is quite possibly encouraging us to start paying attention, not only to the “signs, in the Sun…Moon…and… stars”. But He is likewise encouraging us to behold the heavenly signs which He has written upon everything in Nature!

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“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 150:6

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Sloth DWA – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

January 1st (Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads! Part 3)

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to begin to see the beauty and poetry of nature. Help me to learn the spiritual lessons found in every aspect of Nature…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… January 15th (Emperor Penguins & Us!) or you can also read… “January 7th (The Chrysalis Christian!)“

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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FIVE WISE VIRGINS

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A few weeks ago (May, 2014), as I was walking, one night, along a nearby Canal, I noticed a group of stars in a slight oval position right next to the Beautiful 12-star Crown.

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And these stars were maybe even a little brighter than the Crown. Now because they were even distanced from each other and in such a definite oval pattern, I became somewhat bothered. After all, in my human thinking, I didn’t like that crown to have such tough competition, from this unrecognized group of stars.

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But a few days later, it came to me that those stars represented the Five Wise Virgins from Matthew 25. And that slight oval pattern represented their gathering around the Glorious Crown, giving the Crown the attention it deserved. In other words, it is only true worshippers of God who highly esteem the crown of victory which awaits those who persevere with Jesus to the very end!

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Then as I kept considering this new phenomenon, I began to realize that these Five Wise Virgins were gathered at the feet of the Sign of the Son of Man Constellation, just as Mary Magdalene sat at Jesus feet to hear His Word! And so this realization gave further credence to these stars representing the Five Wise Virgins.

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But after a few more nights of watching this, I then realized that these five stars might even be the five toes of Sign of the Son of Man Constellation! And so, this meant that the crown represented the heel of that Son of Man, as He hung on the Cross.

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Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven Constellation

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Discovering Bible Constellations Pt. 3: Happily Ever After” 

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TOMORROW: 

“July 6th (Power of Positive Thinking Gospels & Conservative Gospels)”

Restoring America’s Honor Prayer Rally Protest March on Washington – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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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 #184 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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Today’s Devotional – July 4th

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Look Up & Lift Up Your Heads!

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Part 1

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There is one day of the year when many people in this nation look up, and lift up their heads.

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It’s called “The 4th of July”, or “Independence Day”, in which we celebrate our independence, from foreign rulership.

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4th of July fireworks on the Charles river – Boston MA – cropped image – Creative Commons license 3.0

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ANOTHER “INDEPENDENCE DAY” COMING!

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Well, there is soon coming the Day in which we will become independent of our servitude under a foreign dictator.

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And just who could that be?

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Simple! The “the god of this world”, Satan. We will be loosed from this, his prison-house of sin!

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

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“…look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Luke 21:28

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And just like Independence Day on the 4th of July, so too we are told to look up…“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring…And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28

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Yes, we are living in the Day when all these signs will be fulfilled. And it is at this time that Jesus commands us to, look up, and lift up our heads, for our “redemption draweth nigh!”

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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RE-FOCUS OUR EYES UPWARD

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One very important reason to begin looking up, is that God’s people have been looking down too much, at the things of the earth!

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We have been immersed in many cares and pleasures of the world. Our hearts have been entangled in the things of the earth for much too long.

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And God is wanting us to begin to re-focus our attention on heavenly things, as is written…“let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;” Hebrews 12:1, 2

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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ABANDON OUR EARTHLY DUTIES?

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Now does fixing our eyes heavenward, upon Jesus, necessitate abandoning our daily earthly duties? Of course not! But it does require us to no longer make the things of earth our great focus!

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It’s like that old little song…“Turn you eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!”

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Yes, when we fix our eyes upon Jesus, all the things of this selfish world will lose their tight grip on us!

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And even though our great focus will be heavenward, we will still work and live, and strive to provide for our family’s needs and comfort and happiness! And yet, our great motive for doing these things will now be because “it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me!” Christ will now be living out His life through that Believer!

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Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – Public-Domain

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PERFECT PEACE!

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And so, the next question is: “Is this kind of selfless life a joyless, austere existence?”

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Certainly not! Listen…“Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee!” Isaiah 26:3

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Now what could be better than, “perfect peace”?

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And so, let’s look up and behold the signs which God has written in the Sun, Moon, and stars! Because these signs will proclaim the very same message which today’s devotional is proclaiming!

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Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

July 5th (Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads! Part 2)

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to take my eyes from off of this sad old planet, and fix them firmly upward, into the heavenlies…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “MARCH 6 (How To Have Heaven Now!)”, or you can also read… JANUARY 9 (The Time of Trouble! Part 1: Armageddon In The Sky!)

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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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these things.

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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and worries, and habits, to name just a few.

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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.

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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!

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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.

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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.

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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.

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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

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The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Church (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…

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Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!

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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!

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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.

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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.

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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.

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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.

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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.

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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Arcturus (the star that wise-men follow!)” 

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TOMORROW:

July 5th (Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads! Part 2)

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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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 #183 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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