Today’s Devotional – November 2nd (What’s In Your House?)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – November 2nd

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What’s In Your House?

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“Through wisdom is an house builded;

and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Proverbs 24:3, 4

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Have you ever been in an elegant house? Oh, maybe not the mansion in this picture. But a house which has been furnished with beautiful furniture? And wasn’t it a joy to sit there in such a clean and well-cared-for home?

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**Well, the Bible says that the people of this world “are wiser in their generation than are the children of light (Luke 16:8)”.**

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And so, as children of light, we need to pay close attention to what the children of the world are doing, and translate those things into a spiritual counterpart.

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And likewise is it in the furnishing of our home. No not our physical home. And yet, it is our spiritual house that we need to furnish with elegant furnishings.

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**Listen again to our opening Bible passage…*“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3, 4***

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Heast Castle library – wikipedia – share-alike license

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A SPIRITUAL HOUSE

1st Peter 2:5

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Yes, while the people of the world are spending so much time, money, and effort in beautifying and enriching their houses and lands, the children of light must rather be spending our time, money, and effort, beautifying and enriching our spiritual house: our heart.

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Listen…“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 2:5

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Yes, we are a spiritual house!

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Now this does not mean that we are to allow our literal homes to be neglected. But the main focus of our lives should be on furnishing our spiritual house with the elegance of Heaven.

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MARTHA & MARY SET THE PRIORITY

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Remember the little account of Mary and her sister Martha? Remember how Martha was so concerned about the worldly duties of life, while sister Mary sat instead, and spent her time filling her heart with the precious words of life?

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Now what did Jesus say to Martha?

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Listen… “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41:42.

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Yes, Jesus ever-so-gently scolded Martha, but commended Mary, because Mary made her priority in life, to hear God’s Word, rather than expending her time, money, and energy seeking after the cares and pleasures of the world.

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Jesus – Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain

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ALL GRAFFITI MUST GO!

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“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

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And one of the first things we must do is to get rid of the graffiti which is on the walls of our heart. Yes, by exposing ourselves to the unwholesome words and images all around us, our hearts have become covered with all sorts of degrading graffiti and vile images! And this must first be cleaned up.

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And here is a work which no Christian is excused from participating in! The Bible makes it perfectly clear that every man (and woman) must become fully engaged in the purifying of the heart!

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Just listen to the Apostle, John… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (of Christ’s Return) purifies himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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Bodeguita del Medio, Havana, – cropped image – WIKIMEDIA – share-alike license

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ALL MUST PURIFY!

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Yes, listen once again to the Apostle, John… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (of Christ’s Return) purifies himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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Notice it says here, “and every man”. It doesn’t say… “and SOME men”.

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No, it says… “And EVERY MAN that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”

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Yes, as the Christian begins to shun all unnecessary evil communications, such as TV, secular radio, world-loving associations, etc., then just watch all that unsightly graffiti begin to disappear!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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PRECIOUS & PLEASANT FURNISHINGS

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Now that the walls are cleansed from graffiti, then comes the nice and elegant furnishings. Beautiful pictures of heavenly images hanging on the walls of our heart! All those precious Bible promises, hanging as apples of gold, in picture-frames of silver, decorating the heavenly halls of our heart! Elegant furnishings which family and friends and guests may all enjoy! These come from fixing our minds on heavenly things!

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Yes, by meditating day and night on God’s Word, we begin to fill our homes with all the elegance of Heaven! And before long, our spiritual house becomes a showcase of heavenly splendor, more than enough to “keep up with the Jones'”, in any spiritual neighborhood!

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INTO ETERNITY FUTURE!

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And the real wonderful aspect to all this is, that even though time and elements of nature will eventually pull down, not only our physical dwellings, but our bodies of clay, as well! Yet our spiritual home will endure throughout all the ceaseless ages!

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Listen…“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1st John 2:15-17.

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Yes, this passage very much implies that whatever we devote ourselves to in this life will either be burned up on the last Day, or will endure throughout eternity future!

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

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PURSUE ETERNAL RICHES

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So why should we waste our precious remaining moments on things which will ultimately be burned up?

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Why not rather spend our time on things which endure forever?

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Grant me the desire to spend my time here on earth, engaging in the spiritual enrichment of my heart and soul. Let me not be drawn away by the vain pursuits of this life….

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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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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HOW THE NARROW & WIDE 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. 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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TOMORROW:

“November 3rd (The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner!)”

2nd face of the moon- Scorner

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #304 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

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Today’s Devotional – November 1st (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Part 3)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – November 1st

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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE,

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Part 3

To read Part 1, click here…July 13th (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 1: Alone With God)

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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?

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“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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Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel – wikipedia – public domain

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What in the world could this above verse be speaking of?!

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And how does this verse apply to me as an individual Christian? It seems to be speaking of the Day of the Lord, but it speaks of a man in travail with child!

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**But it also refers to it as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.**

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Very, very confusing, to say the least!

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Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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BIBLE IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

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Okay, so by examining that story of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, then perhaps we can see what lies ahead. Quite possibly this passage from Genesis gives us a hint of what we must endure in the coming trial before us.

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Listen… “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day…And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (see Genesis 32:24, 26-28)

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

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“For we wrestle…against principalities and powers…”

Ephesians 6:12

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**Upon studying the story of Jacob, and applying the principle, that the Word of God is prophetic in nature, it can begin to be seen what this story is all about: Jacob represents all Christians.**

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Esau, Jacob’s brother, a hunter, represents “the man of flesh” within us. And just as Jacob and Esau were born as twins, so too, the Christian has a dual personality, so to speak.

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The Bible tells us, that there still exists in every Christian, a struggle between the spirit and the flesh. Like Jacob, the Christian desires to gain the spiritual blessing of a fully sanctified life.

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But like his brother, Esau, the Christian still longs for the earthy and sensual cares and pleasures of the world. And so, the Christian constantly battles against the flesh.

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Listen to Scripture… “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. So it now is evident that there exists a struggle in the life of each and every Christian.

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James Tissot – Jacob & Esau – The Mess of Pottage – Wikipedia – US Public Domain.

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THE OLD MAN & THE NEW MAN

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But as for Esau and Jacob representing the “Man of Flesh” and the “Man of Spirit”, respectively, just listen to this next verse… “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:” Colossians 3:9,10

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And just as Jacob was trying to escape Esau, so the follower of Jesus is trying to flee from his or her own fleshy desires.

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Oh well yes, the Christian wants very much to have a consistent walk in the Spirit. But it seems that so many sincere Christians are too often falling into our fleshly lusts: pride, anger, judging, lusting, gluttony, worldly pleasures, unchristlike behavior, and a host of other sins are constantly rising up, making us to doubt our salvation!

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Jacob deceives his father, Isaac – James Tissot – wikiart – US Public Domain

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THE WISDOM OF KNOWLEDGE

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“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:”

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Notice that it says in the above passage, that the New Man is “renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him”. So the New Man is renewed in knowledge after the image of Jesus. This answers just how this New Man begins to thrive within us: knowledge: knowledge of Jesus.

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Listen to Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

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So Paul totally overcame the world. And he overcame his fleshly nature. And so, the New Man, Christ, could freely live out His life through Paul.

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org –public domain

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NIGHT OF WRESTLING BEFORE US

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Now the reason why God says,“…*seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds**…”,* as if this is already accomplished, is because, if I am a true Believer, then by faith, I am assured of future victory, even though I am still struggling and fighting this battle over “self”!

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And so, just like Paul, I too, need to do the very same work in my own life. I need to crucify the “old man” so that the “New Man” can freely live out His life through me. I need to escape from the Esau within. The “old man” still wants to “run the show”, so to speak. But through the ever increasing knowledge of the Word of Christ, the “New Man” within me, can become increasingly visible to the onlooking world!

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What I need, is to wrestle with God, just as surely as Jacob wrestled with the angel. And I need to wrestle until the Day Dawns, and the Sun of Righteousness arises in our hearts. I have my own work cut out for me, and the time is growing short!

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Nevertheless, though it often seems as if we are alone in this struggle, the Bible reveals otherwise… “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.

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Yes, it is God who is working in us, and it is God who allows those fiery trials, both big and little, which will ultimately purify us, as gold and silver are purified!

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Jacob Wrestlingwith the Angel – wikipedia – public domain

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

December 10th (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 4: Apocalypse Now!)

Jacob – Wikimedia-US – Public-Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to crucify the “Old man” with its affections and lusts. Help me to put on the “New man”, which is renewed in wisdom and knowledge…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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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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GLORIOUS CROWN CONSTELLATION…

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& THE REVELATION 12 WOMAN

(Click here to read more!)

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This Glorious Crown Constellation looks like a wreath at first glance. It has 7 stars, plus another star in the middle. This Glorious Crown Constellation is commonly referred to as the Corona Borealis Constellation. This wreath reminds us of the victory wreath given to athletes who won races in the ancient cultures. This was spoken of by Paul as he compared those ancient races to the race that Christians must run… “Know you all not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you all may obtain.” 1st Corinthians 9:24 (see also Hebrews 12:1)

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“A CROWN OF 12 STARS UPON HER HEAD” …

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But upon a closer examination if you have access to a very dark sky out in the country; if you watch this wreath, you will eventually see 5 more very faint stars, making a total of 12 stars, plus that single star in the middle. This wreath now becomes a crown of 12 stars. This goes along with Revelation 12, which tells of a crown of 12 stars upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12.

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… “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Rev. 12:1.

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But this crown is not yet upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (also known as Ursa Major). It is just above her head, as if she has yet to attain it. Of course, the 13th star in the middle would represent Christ (Who is our true Crown of our rejoicing). Ok, so we have a picture of Christ and His twelve tribes of Israel. But also we have a picture of Christ and His twelve apostles, which is a picture of His Church. So this heavenly crown is a multi-faceted concept.

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Photo: Corona Borealis – seen in warmer months – cropped photo with crown drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – Taken from software called Perseus – All rights by Roberto Mura

Laurel Wreath – Lorbeerkranz_Zypern – cropped photo – Wikipedia – public domain

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TOMORROW:

“November 2nd (What’s In Your House?)”

Hearst-castle-Foto-Anke-Meskens-Wikipedia-Share-alike-License-e1434776124405

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #303 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

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Today’s Devotional – October 31st (Laodicea Now! Part 2)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 31st

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Laodicea Now! Part 2

To read part 1… “October 30th (Laodicea Now!)”

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In yesterday’s devotional (click here), only a certain portion of the message to Laodicea, found in Revelation, Chapter 3, was discussed. And so, today’s devotional will attempt to fill in the gaps.

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Listen to Revelation…. “Because thou sayest, 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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Yes, this above verse speaks of the people of God as being content. Now whether this is speaking of contentment with earthly riches or being content with spiritual riches is not defined. But probably Christ is speaking of both here.

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PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“This people honoureth Me (Jesus) with their lips” Mark 7:6

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Yes, those whose hearts are knit together with earthly riches are not so interested in forsaking all to follow Jesus!

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Perhaps we think we already have Jesus. After all, we may even attend church! We might even do a Bible study each morning! We might even give tithes! And many possibly serve on a committee down at church! And so, we are fully immersed in a Christian culture!

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So what more could a Christian ask for?

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

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ENJOYING THE WORLD

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The big problem comes when a church-goer no longer strives with all their heart, to become Christ-like! After all, doesn’t God compare the Christian life to a race to be run? And doesn’t He compare the Christian life to a battle to be fought? And a war to be won?

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But when we feel like we can merely “walk” that race, we cease from keeping ourselves in fitness, so as TO WIN that Prize! And when we no longer watch, and wait, and battle against the unseen forces which come against us, then eventually we will lay down our armor, and join in with the unbelieving world, as they live for this selfish life!

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Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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AN UNSAVED CHURCH

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And so, Christ pronounces the following critique upon His professed followers… “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

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Incredible! This above language is the very language spoken about lost souls! This is not the description of saved persons! No, the Laodiceans are naked of Christ’s robe of righteousness. We are spiritually blind! We are poor and destitute of heavenly riches! Yes, the church of Laodicea is full of unsaved persons!

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Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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DEEP REPENTANCE NEEDED

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And so, just what is the remedy? What prescription does Christ commend to this wretched church?

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Listen… “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18

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So here we see the remedy! Gold tried in the fire speaks of the purification process that God brings His people through, to purify our hearts! It speaks of the fiery trials we must patiently endure, so that we may say along with Job, “…when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold!” Job 23:10

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Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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GARMENTS OF SALVATION!

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And along with those fiery trials, God also begins to clothe us with the clean and washed robes of Christ’s righteousness!

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Listen… “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,” Isaiah 61:10

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Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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EYES NOW OPEN!

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And then, as we endure those heavy trials, our eyes become opened to finally begin to see the truth of the Bible. Oh yes, we already saw many truths in Scripture!

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But now we begin to see the totality of what it means to be a follower of Jesus!

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With eyes wide open, we now see the battle raging all around us!

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And yet, in the midst of the battle, there now miraculously appears (in our mind’s eye), a spiritual pathway which ascends onward and upward out of the din and mire of this dark, sinful, and confusing world!

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Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Christ and the blind Pauper – Mironov – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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DOOR IS STILL OPEN!

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Yes, here is the Good News of Salvation! This is the door of escape which now stands wide open for any man, woman, or child who is tired of living in the midst of this selfish, angry, and hateful world, which seems to be growing more selfish, more totalitarian, more angry and more hateful with each and every passing day!

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Listen… “Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:” Philippians 1:12, 13

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This above verse tells of the high, holy, and heavenly habitation which God translates all true worshippers into!

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And yet, the Gospel ship doors will soon close! And so there should be no delay to get on-board this spiritual Ark, which is Heaven-bound! And the place of embarkment is within your very own soul! Yes, this Gospel ship is coming by to get you! But please do not refuse! Just come aboard. Our ticket required is the Gospel of Salvation! Our guide-map is the Bible. And our passport is a mustard-seed of grace & faith!

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ODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Bring me out of my Laodicean lukewarmness! Show me the Way of true Salvation! Take away all the vain pursuits out of my life, and make me into a single-minded follower of Jesus…

ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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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 FOOLISH VIRGINS

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Now as learned in the article, The Five Wise Virgins Stars, The Five Wise are in a semi-circle, as if gathered around the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars. This symbolizes, the importance of the Christian Race, and the Glorious Crown of Victory, which will be given to each and every one who finally overcomes the world.

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Now just as the Five Wise are gathered around this Crown of Victory, the Five Foolish are turned away from the Crown, as if to say, “I’m not interested!” And isn’t so often that the vast majority of so-called Christians, have little interest in this crown! Quite often, they can be heard saying… “Oh, I got my crown when I got baptized. Jesus won the race for me!”

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This kind of lie is easily believed, since it a lie, made partly of truth! Yes, Jesus did get the victory for us. But nevertheless, the evidence that I am a true-worshipper of God, is that I will ultimately gain the victory over my sinful flesh, with all its affections and lusts.

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Listen… “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

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ABOVE STAR-CHART (constellations found on Wikipedia and Bible constellations drawn in by this website) – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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TOMORROW:

“November 1st (Jacob’s Trouble)”

Jacob – Wikimedia-US – Public-Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #302 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – October 30th (Laodicea Now!)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 30th

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Laodicea Now!

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“To the Church of the Laodiceans…

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I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:

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I would thou wert cold or hot.

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So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth.”

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Revelation 3:15, 16

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John on Patmos – Wikigallery – public domain

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The very last church of the seven churches of Asia is the Church of the Laodiceans. This is the Lukewarm church, which God says He will spew out of His mouth!

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Listen… “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15, 16

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Francken Hieronymus the Younger – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins – c 1616 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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NO DIVIDED HEARTS NEEDED!

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Now from the above two verses, it would seem that this church is in deep trouble with God!

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And this trouble stems from the fact that God considers them to be lukewarm, neither cold nor hot!

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God desires no half-hearted service! No, God is not looking for divided servants.

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Listen… “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

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(As you can see in this old painting, these five foolish virgins are spending their waiting time, enjoying the pleasures of this world, instead of working for the purification of their own hearts! They are asleep. spiritually speaking.)

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Francken Hieronymus the Younger – Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins – c 1616 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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A BANKRUPT CHURCH

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And God continues His judgment on Laodicea… “Because thou sayest, 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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Now here, God pronounces them… “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Five qualities are here mentioned, which this wealthy and proud church doesn’t realize she possesses!

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Well, doesn’t it seem like this 7th church represents those of us who have been trying to hang on to Jesus, while at the same time, going after the vain earthly pleasures and proud, ambitious pursuits of this proud and opulent society?

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Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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PETER, JAMES AND JOHN

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**And isn’t it true that we Christians today pride ourselves as being “Rapture-Ready”, when the truth is, we are lukewarm and divided in our service to God?**

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Oh that we were truly ready for the Lord’s Return! But if we were truly ready, we would be like Paul, and Peter and John! This is what God has been desiring His Church to become!

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But instead of conforming ourselves to become like those godly men, we have become divided in our service to God!

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

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LIVING IN A HEDONISTIC WORLD

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Instead of becoming as dedicated and holy as those three role-models, we have been pursuing much of the same hedonistic pleasures and prestigious careers which the world seeks after!

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We love our pleasures and careers! We love our fat bank accounts!

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Listen… “Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:3

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

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JESUS, PAUL, PETER & JOHN

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Yes, in a world starving to hear the Gospel which might have saved their souls, we have stored up our riches, or have lavished them upon our own personal pleasures!

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We have frivolously spent money which could have sent the Gospel into both domestic and foreign lands, via faithful ministries: and instead, have spent that money on our richly appointed homes and grounds, while millions live in utter poverty, sometimes even eating animal feces just to survive another day, and while at the same time, they are starving for the Word of God!

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Just like Paul, and Peter and John and all the others who strove to empty themselves of everything, that Christ might fill them with all His fullness!

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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TIME TO SEPARATE WHEAT FROM CHAFF!

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**But though God has spewed us out (collectively), there is still some very Good News!**

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God is still willing to take us back (individually)!

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Oh no, He’s not going to resurrect the fallen churches! Their time has come and gone! But God is willing to take us back on a case-by-case basis!

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Listen… “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

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Here is a call for “any man”. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, hoping that “if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him!”

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Just as this lady is winnowing the grain from the chaff, so too, the Lord has His winnowing fork in His hand, ready to separate the wheat from the chaff!

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Wheat Winnowing – Vannage du riz, Uttarakhand, – India – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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TIME TO FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS!

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And if we go to Isaiah, we find that there will be a response by God’s people to Christ’s call to the Laodicean Church…

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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 ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20-22

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Yes, God reveals here that we will cast away all our meaningless earthly riches, to go into the clefts of that mighty Rock, Jesus!

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THE DAY WHEN THE CHURCH SHINES!
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And we are now come to that day when it is written… “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Ephesians 4:13

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As this above verse reveals, there is soon coming a day in which God’s people will fully reflect Christ!

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This picture of the Five Wise Virgins represents all those who want nothing else, but to win that heavenly Prize!

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And they are willing to cast away any and every earthly trinket or treasure, if only they can win that Prize!

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Five Wise Virgins – Matt 25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, We have done wickedly, by seeking a divided service between Thee and this selfish world! Deliver us from this horrible judgment and purify us, beginning today…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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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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***CASTOR AND POLLUX AND* *THE NARROW WAY…***

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“And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.” Acts 28:11

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**But there is much significance to Castor and Pollux.**

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**And these two stars are also known as The Narrow Gate Stars. And if you will explore this concept, you will see that Castor and Pollux possess great significance…**

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TOMORROW:

“October 31st (Laodicea Now! Part 2)”

ABOVE PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – a party tonight – signsofheaven.org

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #301 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

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Today’s Devotional – October 29th (Thou Art Weighed in the Balances…)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 29th

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Thou Art Weighed in the Balances!

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“Judge not,

and ye shall not be judged:

condemn not,

and ye shall not be condemned:

forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”

Luke 6:37

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In the Book of Daniel, is that infamous story of the fateful judgment night when King Belshazzar saw, “the hand-writing on the wall”.

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And right in the middle of his drunken party, a hand wrote on the wall, “Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting (lacking).”

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And this story stands as a frightful warning to all Christians, that our Judgment Day is not slumbering!

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

Belshazzar’s Feast – Rembrandt – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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FINGER-POINTING!

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Now, there are many issues that the Christian must deal with, concerning sin. But there is one particular sin, which is so common, that most of us are guilty on a regular basis!

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**And just what is that sin, you ask? Well, it is the noxious little weed in our hearts, known as “judging others”!**

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You see, Satan loves for us to commit this sin of judging others! Because he knows how grievous this sin is to God!

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And so, the Devil loves to have his kingdom filled with all sorts of inequities, which cause us to judge one another! Isn’t it true?

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

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MANY FINGER-POINTING PROGRAMS!

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Just think how many radio and television shows are dedicated to criticizing others! Yes, in this high-tech world, a person can literally choose to watch or listen to any one of hundreds of critical television, radio, or Internet programs designed to criticize, mock or listen to malicious gossip about people, both small and great!

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“NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN”

Ecclesiastes 1:9

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But of course, this is nothing new! Judging and criticizing has been going on, since the day that Eve listened to Satan’s accusations against God!

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But the Bible clearly warns us… “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11, 12.

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Yes, the Devil knows how much God hates our proud judging! And so, Satan purposely creates a society conducive to doing just that!

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

First woman jury – Wikimedia – Public domain

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THE TONGUE: EXTENSION OF THE HEART

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And even in my own heart lies a world of evil! And my tongue is merely an extension of that evil!

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Listen again… “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of Hell.” James 3:6.

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WOW! What an indictment! My tongue is a world of iniquity, set on fire of Hell!

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Listen as James continues to reveal the evil of the tongue… “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:8-10

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Don’t our ears just burn with delight as we eagerly absorb the juicy gossip which others delight to share with us?

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

Gossips in the Altstadt in Sindelfingen, Germany – Sally Kennison – cropped image – share-alike license – wikimedia commons

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MOCKING & SCORNING OTHERS!

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Well, there are so many Bible passages which reveal the wickedness involved in judging and condemning and gossiping about others.

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But sufficed to say, the Devil has purposely created this evil world-system, in hopes of catching Christians in one way or another. And it is no accident that there are so many persons who are “lightning rods”, so to speak, for criticism!

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

Fat People – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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TURN THE EAR FROM THE HEARING OF EVIL

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And so, the Christian needs to constantly be studying, contemplating, and praying for Bible-wisdom to escape this great sin called “judging others”!

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Oh yes, there is a time to warn people of a false teacher. And yes, we need to reveal the sins that the Church seems to be ignorantly committing!

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But even here we really need to be careful to not judge the heart of that erring person, that minister, or that ministry.

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But we certainly need to avoid listening to all those critical TV, radio, and Internet programs that make a career out of finger-pointing. That would be the very first step in overcoming this very captivating sin!

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

ABC-Good Morning America wikipedia share-alike license

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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And the really Good News is this: if I overcome this great sin of proud finger-pointing, God has a wonderful promise… “If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger (finger-pointing), and speaking vanity…And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isaiah 58:9, 11.

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As this passage promises, if we put away all of our finger-pointing, and return to the Lord, in sorrow and repentance, God will lift us up and restore us to His favor!

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Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

David’s sorrow wikigallery public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I don’t want to be weighed in the balances and found wanting! Steer me away from all the critical programs, lest I catch that same critical spirit…

Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – Public Domain

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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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SATAN’S WAVE OF WATER CONSTELLATION

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“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” Psalm 32:6

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The majestic waves of the sea. One of the most beautiful creations in nature! The sounds of the crashing surf! The moist wind and spray upon one’s face! Truly, standing upon the sand, and facing the ocean surf overwhelms all the human senses! It’s quite an exhilarating experience to say the least!

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But the ocean and the surf, and the sand were created by God, not merely for beauty’s sake; but also to teach. And the Bible has interwoven many aspects of nature into the Gospel story. And these various things in nature were created by God to instruct Mankind in Bible truths, both good and bad.

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Waves are used in Scripture to represent both good as well as bad things. And in the black sea of the heavens, is seen a constellation of a dragon. And this dragon is spewing a wave of water out of his mouth. And this article will explore just what all this means. And the Reader is invited to come and behold secrets in the Stars, which have been hidden since Creation; but now are being revealed by God, for such a time as this. So come along and behold these grand heavenly pictures which our great God has inscribed, in the heavenly scroll, and stretched, even from sky to sky.

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Mavericks Surf Contest 2010 – wikipedia – share-alike license

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TOMORROW:

“October 30th (Laodicea Now!”

Tissot – The Two Priests Are Destroyed – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #300 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

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Today’s Devotional – October 28th (But I Just Watch The Good Programs!)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 28th

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“But I Just Watch The Good Programs!”

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“Be not deceived:

evil communications corrupt good manners.”

1st Corinthians 15:33

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Whenever the topic of the harmful effects of TV watching comes up in a group discussion, the following proclamation will undoubtedly be made… “But I only watch the good programs!”

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TV – highquality – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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CHRISTIANS VERY NAIVE!

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Unfortunately, this argument seems perfectly logical within Christian circles as well!

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And most of us have made this very same comment, haven’t we? “But I only watch the good programs!” And that’s very sad! And one reason that it’s so sad, is because it makes a very disturbing commentary on the naivety of we Christians in today’s world!

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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM!”

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That we Christians could ever think that listening to, and watching the secular world, can be harmless, even good, is sad, very sad!

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After all, God asks us the question, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for…what communion hath light with darkness?” 2nd Corinthians 6:14.

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Are we not the “children of light”, and the people of the world are “of the darkness”? (1st Thessalonians 5:5)

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HEY, I NEED TO UNWIND!

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Now at this point in this discussion, someone might say, “Well, what’s wrong with a nightly news show, or what’s so bad about a wholesome family movie? I’ve had a hard day! I need to unwind!”

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Well, that’s a very good question! What is wrong with the most innocuous and benign television shows?

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To present a proper perspective, it is necessary to put on our “Son-glasses”, and look at this situation from a heavenly vantage-point.

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ABC-Good Morning America – wikipedia – share-alike license

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THE TRUE “GREAT COMMISSION”

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The great question to be answered by the Christian is this: “Just what great commission has God given to the individual Christian?”

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Well, the first response is probably going to be, “To go ye out into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature”. And yes, this is one of the great commissions given by God to His people.

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PURIFICATION OF THE HEART

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But there is a much more important commission, which God has given His people.

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What is that, you ask?

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The greatest commission given to each and every Christian is found in just one tiny verse.

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Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ’s return), purifies himself, even as He is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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Yes, to purify our hearts is the greatest commission given to the individual Christian. And a purified heart must be filled with heavenly things.

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

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*WORDS DON’T JUST GO IN ONE EAR…AND OUT THE OTHER!***

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So having laid out this basic concept of the Christian’s great focus in life, let’s get back to the question regarding watching only the good shows.

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Whatever a person absorbs in his or her thoughts, becomes part of that person’s intellectual makeup. In other words, thoughts just don’t go in one ear and out the other ear, as some suppose.

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Now, because we live in this world, we cannot help hearing the words of secular people, to a certain extent. But when we choose to sit for hours, immersing ourselves in the words of lost souls, beholding and dwelling on their faithless words and actions, then God won’t simply take away those ungodly words and images. He will allow them to remain within our hearts.

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This is why God warns… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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***COMMON TALK IS* *CONTAGIOUS***

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“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27

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So, as disciples of Christ, why would we want to spend hours each day, polluting our hearts with the common and worldly-minded conversation of even the best of shows?

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Take for instance, a G-rated movie. Now what could possibly be wrong with watching a G-rated movie!? Well, perhaps nothing! But unless the conversations in that G-rated movie are in harmony with Scripture, then that G-rated movie must also be considered unwholesome.

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In other words, are the various conversations and ideologies espoused, in harmony with Scripture? Or is there an abundance of foolish talk and jesting?

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“Are ‘little white lies’ portrayed as acceptable in that movie?”

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“Are the characters in this movie promoting the idea of going after the dreams and aspirations and attractions of this, the Devil’s world?”

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“Is pride one of the common underlying threads in the story-line?”

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“Would I be comfortable watching this movie, if Christ were literally sitting next to me?”

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“Is this movie going to inspire my children to draw nearer to Jesus, or is it merely whetting their appetite to watch more and more movies?”

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And even if there were a movie which was totally Christ-like, then what’s the next movie going to be like? Because let’s face it! The Devil is only allowing just a mere handful of truly wholesome movies to slip through the cracks. He only allows enough, so to get Christians and children into the TV-watching habit.

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Betty Boop – WIKIPEDIA – Public domain.

The Shirley Temple Show 1961 wikimedia public domain

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AN UNBELIEVING FAMILY

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Now if the Christian has a spouse who has a somewhat different world-view, then the Christian may not be able to lead his or her family away from these things. In such cases, unceasing prayer and consecration to God may be all that can be done on behalf of that family. But God hears and answers the prayers of a true worshiper of God! And so, there’s much hope for them!

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

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HOW DID JESUS UNWIND? OR PAUL?

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So every true-hearted Christian must ask his or her self the question: “How would Jesus unwind and relax, if He was walking the earth today?”

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Or what about Paul? How would Paul entertain himself, if he were here today? Would these two men unwind with a good movie, or a computer game? Or would they rather go for a walk and pray and give thanks and cry out for a renewed strength and beseech God for a fresh and deeper baptism of the Spirit?

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Well, Disciple and Follower of the Master, go and do thou likewise! And if we are ensnared, and cannot do as Jesus did, then we must not cease praying for freedom from these very addictive pastimes and amusements, until we finally get total victory over every besetting addiction; until we stand totally free, even as Christ.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me freedom from every besetting addiction in my life, whether they be lusts of the flesh or lusts of the eyes, or the proud ways of Man. Give me total victory over the “old man”, so that the “new Man” can live out His life through me…

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

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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 VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…

for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.”

Joel 3:14

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AT THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE…

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As we all know, life is made up of one decision after another. Some are of little consequence. Others are more important. And then there are those times which require life-changing decisions.

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The Bible speaks of the Valley of Decision…“Multitudes, multitudes in the ‘Valley of Decision’…for the day of the Lord is near in the ‘Valley of Decision’.” Joel 3:14. Of course, this valley is a spiritual concept and not a literal place.

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**But God has inscribed this very truth in the heavens. It is called “The Valley of Decision” Constellation. It speaks of that valley that each person must walk through.**

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…

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Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing. In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward. It resembles a pyramid. Then find the next pyramid to its right (south). Then go a little further south to the next third pyramid. The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation. These three pyramids are the snow-capped portion of these three mountains in this sketch. (of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky. They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR).

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Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:1, 2

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TOMORROW:

“October 29th (Thou Art Weighed in the Balances…)”

Belshazzar’s fateful night – Rembrandt -Belshazzar’s Feast – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

.

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 IS STUDY #299 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – October 27th (Television and the Image that Speaks)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 27th

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Television and the Image that Speaks

THIS DEVOTIONAL IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE SIGNS OF HEAVEN ARTICLE…Television & The Image That Speaks

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The Bible speaks of lifeless and “dumb idols” in many passages.

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But all through the Bible, God criticized those lifeless images, saying… “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.” Psalm 115:4-7

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And so, it has been this way throughout time: lifeless, dumb, useless idols!

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And God makes a further statement regarding these dumb idols… “Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” Jeremiah 10:5.

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Academy_Awards_Ceremony – cropped image – wikipedia – share alike lic.

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BEAST & HIS IMAGE!

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But what if there should come a day when an idol, can not just speak, but also has power to cause God’s people to be killed?

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Then we should be afraid!

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Very afraid!

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You see, the prophetic book of Revelation foretells of a day when Satan is given the power to create an image, which can not only speak, but has power to cause God’s people to be killed! Maybe physically killed. Maybe spiritually killed. Maybe both!

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Listen… “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth…And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:11, 15

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And so, Revelation 13 speaks of an image which can both speak and cause as many as do not worship the Beast and his image, should be killed.

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TALKING IMAGE NOW HERE!

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We have now come to a day in which this is all possible! For the very first time in the history of Man, we finally have an image which can speak! And it has been with us for 7 decades, growing more and more serpent-like: television!

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Oh yes, television began with a seemingly “innocent” beginning. “Nice” shows! Funny shows! “Moral” shows!

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But almost as soon as it gained a footing in our homes, it began to get just a little bit naughty. Just a few little titillating innuendos sprinkled here and there! But slowly and oh so subtly, it became changed, over the decades, into the very same image as its evil creator!

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Yes, television has all the same markings as that subtle serpent-of-old, the “god of this world”!

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TV – Family watching television – c. 1958 – Wikipedia – public domain

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24/7/365 MIND CONTROL

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And this talking idol is called tele-vision, which actually means, a “talking vision”.

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And it has gained its entrance into homes, quickly becoming the centerpiece of the American home. And it’s always teaching. 24/7/365, it teaches us and it teaches our children! It is even the designated baby-sitter in many or most homes. This is because it keeps kids quiet! Doesn’t it?

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**Well that’s because this Pied Piper from Hell en-trances both children and adults alike! It is so powerful, that one can literally be mesmerized by it for hours!**

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ENGRAVES SATAN’S CHARACTER

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And ever-so-imperceptibly, the television places the stamp of Satan’s character in the hearts (our minds) of unsuspecting humans: pride, greed, lust, anger, violence, intemperance, impatience, rudeness, commonness, indifference, selfishness, etc.. These are among the attributes of Satan’s character.

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Yes, it is Satan’s ultimate purpose, to engrave his selfish character upon the human heart! This is the essence of what the image and Mark of the Beast are really all about! And this Mark (or image) is in the forehead (the mind) and it is in the right hand (symbolizing human works).

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Thus, by the television’s constant barrage of un-Christ-like chatter, Satan makes such a deep engraving of his character upon the walls of the human mind!

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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MARK IN OUR FOREHEADS

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And while Christians swear ever-so-adamantly, that they will never ever allow anyone to put a mark on their forehead or right hand, all the while, the Devil is placing his image and mark, right now, IN the foreheads of millions! And IN children’s foreheads too! And by thus engraving his character upon human minds, he seals individuals with his branding-iron of ownership, so to speak! This is the mark of his authority over an unsuspecting person!

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And the Devil has, of late, expanded his image-making capabilities! Now we have so many high-tech devices which accomplish the very same result! Not only Americans, but more and more of the entire world are in danger of becoming changed into the image of Satan, via, these high-tech talking-images!

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EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER

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Listen to God’s warning… “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33.

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Yes, O Stranger & Pilgrim in the earth, this verse warns us not to be deceived! Evil communications can indeed corrupt the Christ-like character!

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And just think about such a great percentage of people within the many societies, walking streets, riding buses, sitting in restaurants with eyes and ears completely absorbed with the hand-held high-tech talking-images!

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Texting in traffic – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Girl Texting – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

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“COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM”

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But here is the Good News! God has a promise for you and for me! Listen to this… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 (condensed)

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Yes, God promises in this above passage, to begin to deal with us as sons and daughters if we will only separate ourselves from all these evil influences! And once this is accomplished, God will continue a good work in our lives to clean up our defiled soul-temple, and fill our hearts with all precious and pleasant treasures of His goodness and love.

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Oh yes, there will be many fiery trials ahead for God’s people! But God promises to bring us through each and every fire of great tribulation! And slowly and imperceptibly, we will more and more be transformed into the purified likeness of holy and gentle Jesus!

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five wise virgins – matt25 – www.thebiblerevival.com – public domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

April 17 (Television and The Image That Speaks, Part 2: “The Iron Furnace of Hate Television”)

Fiery Furnace by Gustave Dore’ courtesy of adelaide.edu.au

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to not allow myself to become programmed into Satan’s worldly philosophies, via these high-tech devices…

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

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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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SATAN’S WAVE OF WATER CONSTELLATION

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“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” Psalm 32:6

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The majestic waves of the sea. One of the most beautiful creations in nature! The sounds of the crashing surf! The moist wind and spray upon one’s face! Truly, standing upon the sand, and facing the ocean surf overwhelms all the human senses! It’s quite an exhilarating experience to say the least!

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But the ocean and the surf, and the sand were created by God, not merely for beauty’s sake; but also to teach. And the Bible has interwoven many aspects of nature into the Gospel story. And these various things in nature were created by God to instruct Mankind in Bible truths, both good and bad.

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Waves are used in Scripture to represent both good as well as bad things. And in the black sea of the heavens, is seen a constellation of a dragon. And this dragon is spewing a wave of water out of his mouth. And this article will explore just what all this means. And the Reader is invited to come and behold secrets in the Stars, which have been hidden since Creation; but now are being revealed by God, for such a time as this. So come along and behold these grand heavenly pictures which our great God has inscribed, in the heavenly scroll, and stretched, even from sky to sky.

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Mavericks Surf Contest – 2010 – wikipedia – share-alike license

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TOMORROW:

“October 28th (But I Just Watch The Good Programs!)”

TV – The Image of the Beast – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #298 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

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Today’s Devotional – October 26th (It’s a throw-away world!)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL, Year 1 – October 26th

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As The Flower of the Field,

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Part 23:

“It’s a Throw-Away World!”

To read Part 1, click here… “March 19th (As the Flower of the Field!)”

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Have you ever been enticed by those Internet “teaser-ads”, when they say such things like, “Look at this beautiful movie-star today! She’s still turning heads at 85!”

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Well, sadly, most of us have “taken the bait”, and clicked on those teaser-ads.

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And so, we go through page after page on these teaser-ads, just so we can finally see how that aging Hollywood star looks now.

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But finally, after 12 or so pages of ads, at last we get to see how she looks today.

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And… well… to put it mildly, she doesn’t look so good anymore.

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The passing years have regretfully stolen away her beauty.

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The New Movie, August 1930 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Old Woman – by Wada Eisaku (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo) – cropped image – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A THROW-AWAY WORLD!

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IT’S A THROW-AWAY WORLD! Oh you don’t believe it?

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Well just go to the thrift shops and see the bins piled high with all our discards of toys, utensils, and almost new clothes, being sold by the pound.

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Or look at the cars, that only just a few years ago, sold for a year’s wages, but now are sold for a week-or-two’s wages.

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The garbage dumps are filled with mountains of debris, which just a short time ago were purchased at the mall.

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Yes, it’s certainly a throw-away world!

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NATIONAL METALS JUNKYARD – NARA wikimedia US public domain

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THROW-AWAY STARS

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Well, we’ll say it again! It’s a throw-away world! Just ask that aging beauty queen, who just a few years back, was sought-after by every camera, but now hides away for fear that her wrinkles might get caught on camera, only to become an Internet joke!

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Or just ask that recording artist who sang to adoring fans last year, but now has been passed by, while fickle fans turn to that new sensation: for that younger and fresher songster! Yes, the new kids on the block have now become the old folks on the block! And even the block itself is looking pretty run-down!

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Yes, it’s definitely a throw-away world!

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Oh yes, the beautiful young fresh faces on TV are always present. But that’s only because, each day, one of the not-so-fresh faces gets a pink-slip notification that he or she is being quietly replaced by a younger and fresher face!

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Car Showroom Siam Paragon – wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 Generic license.

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“SEE, THIS IS NEW!”

Ecclesiastes 1:10

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“Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” Ecclesiastes 1:10

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The young and proud mock the old for their quirky ticks and funny old ways. But soon, those who once mocked others, are now the ones being mocked by a younger and newer generation! And all the while, the old and infirm hide their hopeless tears, and constant aches and pains, behind weathered doors, away from the unsympathetic eyes of the on-the-go public.

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And then…one day…an ambulance drives up, and after a few minutes, quietly leaves again. And the world goes on, everyone driving newer and sleeker cars, not seeing nor caring that a generation has just passed away, with hardly a notice: hundreds of thousands each day!

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But the world goes on! The newer generation can’t let those old and infirm things get in the way of their pleasures and aspirations…

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“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes…” Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

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Gordon H Burt Ltd Chevrolet car advertisement – Google Art Project – wikimedia – public domain

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” the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

James 5:11

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But there is One who sees behind those weathered doors, and is touched by those silent cries, and those hopeless moans of pain and rejection and loneliness!

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And that One has come from an everlasting Kingdom, in which nothing grows old! And He has presented Himself to this fickle and changeable world, showing us the everlasting ways of eternal life!

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And He came to seek out those whom the world has discarded and calls them to leave this throw-away world!

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And He beckons us to sojourn up the upward, Heavenward pathway which leads to that everlasting Kingdom: a Kingdom in which they will find never-ending peace and joy!

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A land where every new day brings fresh renewal of life!

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Jesus Teaching Luke 4:31-32 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org -public-domain

The true upward pathway www.signsofheaven.org

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WANTED: THROW-AWAY PEOPLE

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Yes, it may be a throw-away world in which we now live. But there is a Redeemer who paid the price for all those thrown-away people who are tired of living in a throw-away world! And that same Redeemer wants to redeem both you and me!

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And will we foolishly ignore His invitation?

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Let’s come and walk that upward pathway which leads to eternal youth and everlasting joy!

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Forget about this lose-lose dying old world!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The True Upward Pathway property of www.signsofheaven.org

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“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you,

and learn of Me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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ABOVE PICTURE – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd – www.signsofheaven.org

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TO READ PART 24, CLICK HERE…

October 13 (Flower of the Field Part 24 “Mojo-Magic or Devilish Design…or Both?”)

Devil Exorcism – Goya Painting – Public Domaion

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, Thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth; and mine age is as nothing before Thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” Psalm 39:4, 5

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic 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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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION

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This is perhaps one of the most amazing constellations that God has created! It truly looks like a flower, and appears to be blowing in the direction of westward. But as autumn draws near, this constellation appears to bow itself down, just like the flowers of Earth bow down, at the summer’s end.

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And these are not merely obscure stars. These are among the biggest and brightest stars in the night heavens!

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**The Two Turtle-Doves Constellation is also known as Sagittarius .**

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The Flower of the Field is commonly known as Scorpio .

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But there is another obvious aspect to this constellation group. Notice that the birds are flying in the same direction as the flower is bending; it is as if the east wind is blowing these heavenly messengers…

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“The wind blows where it desires, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.

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So here is another incredible Bible concept, written in the heavens! And God has spoken of these signs! Listen… “For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89

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THE ZODIAC CONSTELLATION NAMES

By the way, it is not the purpose of www.theheavensdeclare.net to give any validity to the Zodiac or any pagan deities. But the common names of many constellations must be given, solely for the purpose of locating them on star-charts.

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FLOWER CONSTELLATION BOWS DOWN…

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AUGUST 28TH, 2011

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It has become apparent, on this date, that as summer draws to a close, this “Flower of the Field Constellation” appears to bend almost completely down. This occurs as it travels into the western skies. It somehow rotates in order to produce this effect. This is a very wonderful phenomenon…and biblical too! After all, the Bible says “the grass withers and the flower falls away”. And that’s exactly what this flower constellation seems to do. It almost seems to be bowing itself…in the direction of that bright and beautiful star, “Arcturus” (which represents Jesus). This would make sense. After all, Scripture states…

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“…unto Me (the Lord), every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear… Bel bows down, Nebo stoops… They stoop, they bow down together… Listen to Me… all you remnant of the house of Israel (God’s people)… which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he… even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46″1-4 (condensed)

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TOMORROW:

“October 27th (Television & the Image That Speaks)”

TV – The Image of the Beast – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #297 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.

Those using photos here, may click on the image credit link below each photo, for Wikimedia’s licensing names, details, and tags, etc….

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – October 25th (2 0r 3-toed Sloths)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 25th

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TWO OR THREE-TOED SLOTHS

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“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth,

and been wanton;

ye have nourished your hearts,

as in a day of slaughter.”

James 5:5

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God has created many wonderful creatures, and the varieties are seemingly endless.

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For instance, He not only created a Two-Toed Sloth (pictured below), also, for His own reasons, He created a Three-Toed Sloth (pictured here). And some say, there are even Four-Toed Sloths (no picture).

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And these benign little creatures are absolutely adorable!

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If you wish to click on this little Youtube video (click here to watch), you can see these marvelous little metaphors for yourself.

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three-toed sloth Bradypus – wikipedia – public domain

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“THEY SHALL TEACH THEE”

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But nature, besides being beautiful, and even causing us to smile, or recoil, at the various creatures, it was also designed by God to teach us lessons: lessons about our own selves.

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**Now the Bible tells us that “The heavens declare the glory of God” (And earth is certainly an integral part of the heavens).**

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For instance, these very slow-moving little sloths often remind us of some area of our lives, in which we are slothful.

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Yes, the KJV actually admonishes us to… “be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.” Judges 18:9.

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Two-toed sloth – Costa Rica – wikimedia – share-alike license

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IT’S A HARD-WORKIN’ WORLD!

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Well, of course, the obvious lesson to be learned, is that we need to be industrious in our everyday work habits (“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11).

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But nobody needs to go to the Bible to learn that lesson! After all, society today is praising those who are hard workers on just about every talk show.

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And contrariwise, people on TV and radio constantly condemn those who are physically “lazy” on just about an equal number of shows. (see Daily Devotion, November 5 (Rosie/Riveter World (click here to read))

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We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter – wikipedia – public domain

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A VERY HARD-WORKIN’ DEVIL

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Yes, to a great degree, it’s a very hard-working world. After all, Satan, in 2nd Corinthians 4:4, given the title, “the god of this world”, is a very hard-working Devil! And of course, he wants his kingdom to be his glorious kingdom of sin.

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**And so, just as Pharaoh made his workers work hard to glorify his kingdom, so too, Lucifer desires his “workers of iniquity” to work hard to build a kingdom which glorifies Satan.**

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Martin, John – Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – 1824 – wikipedia – public domain

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“WHAT AM I, ANYWAY!?!”

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“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” Romans 2:1

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But this above verse warns us against judging anything. It actually says that we who judge others are guilty of the same things!

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Now, the point to this discussion is just this: If a person really examines his or her own life, in the light of God’s Word, it will soon be discovered that there are areas in which we have all been slothful. Yes, that’s right! The Bible reveals that none of us can hold our head up high. Oh yes, there are some who have been real dynamos when it comes to their jobs, or whatever other area they excel in.

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“EXAMINE YOURSELVES, PROVE YOURSELVES”

2 Cor. 13:5

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But if we look closely, we might be surprised to find that there are areas in which those industrious ones have really failed.

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Some may have been slothful concerning our spiritual life. In others, it may be slothfulness in raising their children to obey Jesus.

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Children’s Street basketball during a church fair – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“FIRST CAST OUT THE BEAM OUT OF THINE OWN EYE…”

(see Matthew 7:1-5)

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In other words, it’s so easy to point the finger at others, and call them names. But if only we would take account of our own selves, we would realize that while, I may not be a two-toed sloth, but perhaps I am derelict in some area of life, which only makes me a three-toed sloth.

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Or maybe I don’t have the sins of those two or three-toed sloths, but my sins just might even make me a four-toed sloth!

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You get the point, don’t you? We tend to judge others in areas in which we excel. But we generally don’t judge others in areas where we are also weak. From a human standpoint, it would be stupid to point at others with our own weaknesses, thus condemning our own selves, wouldn’t it?

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Sloth DWA – wikimedia – share-alike license

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JUDGMENT DAY

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There is a huge concept which God reveals in 1st Corinthians. And just listen to what God proclaims through the Apostle, Paul… “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” 1st Corinthians 4:5. And so it says here that we must judge nothing before the time of the Lord’s Coming. Then will be revealed the counsels of the heart.

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But one thing is for sure. Those of us who are very good at finger-pointing at the sins of others, will be hanging our heads in shame on that Great and Terrible Day of the Lord!

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“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” Luke 6:37

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HIDE THYSELF IN THY CHAMBERS

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Yes, this Judgment Day is now reserved for all us finger-pointers! After all, it is revealed in Isaiah… “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:” Isaiah 2:10-12.

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Yes, Judgment Day is especially designed for all the proud finger-pointers. And so, dear soul, it’s high time we turned that bony-little-pointing-finger back at our own self.

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Because that’s where the real problem is: “Me!”

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Hide Thyself in thy Chambers – Inspired by sin Tornado-Over-Kansas by John Curry

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Dear Lord, 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

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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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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ARK OF THE COVENANT CONSTELLATION

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This sketch is this same Summer Constellation group, when they are in the west. As you look to the south (to the left in this sketch), you can see this constellation known as Sagittarius. But if you look at it carefully, it begins to appear as a giant box with stars on either side of it. Just to the north, there appears this Cross/Scepter rising out of the Ark Constellation. Now, the Cross coming out of the Ark Constellation represents the essence of the law (self-sacrificing charity towards this fallen world). As this Cross/Scepter heads directly towards the Revelation 12 Woman, it shows that the Scepter represents the direction of God’s self-sacrificing love: His redeemed people, represented by the Revelation 12 Woman Constellation. This scenario of that Woman grasping for it, has great Biblical implications….concerning us!

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But now, in these last days, the Lord is revealing these symbols in heaven, which proclaim the everlasting Gospel, and lighten the world with God’s glory, as is written… “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Revelation 18:1. These Signs of Heaven are a fulfillment of this prophecy, as well as this next prophecy… “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. These signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars do literally enlighten the world with God’s glory, fulfilling Revelation 18:1. The angel coming down from heaven represents this message found in this website, which proclaims the everlasting Gospel, and that Babylon is fallen.

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The above sketch to the right of the Summer Constellations of Signs Of heaven, is not a star chart. But hopefully is close enough to locate these three constellations.

Editor’s Note: The sketch to the left is a star-chart from Wikipedia, in the the editor of this site has sketched in this Ark constellation.

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TOMORROW:

“October 26th (It’s a throw-away world!)”

NATIONAL METALS JUNKYARD – NARA wikimedia US public domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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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 IS STUDY #296 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Today’s Devotional – October 24th (And The Nations Were Angry! Part 1)

By admin On September 17th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – October 24th

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And The Nations Were Angry!

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“And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come,

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and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,

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and that thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets,

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and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
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And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the Ark of his testament”

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Revelation 11:18, 19

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Ark Constellation in Heaven – (aka Sagittarius) – Summer – Wikipedia Star-chart with ark drawn in by this website – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license

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Well, if ever there was a time when this above prophecy was fulfilled, it is now! Yes, the nations, indeed, are angry!

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No matter which direction we turn, we see turmoil and war and anger and hatred and racial strife, and confusion, and mob violence!

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Millions of protestors in Tahrir Square Wikimedia Commons share-alike license

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RUTHLESS KILLERS!

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It seems like any injustice, great or small, and the crowds rise up in anger and protest. Ruthless, cold-blooded killers take their victims, with little or no regard for human life. Humans who have reverted back into nothing more than heartless wild animals, are terrorizing anyone who crosses their path!

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Greedy drug czars willing to kill anyone, without the slightest twinge of conscience!

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But the Bible says… “And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets…“

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Well the nations aren’t the only angry ones! This above passage reveals that this is also the time of God’s wrath!

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Nathan Road Police force protesters – Wikipedia – C.C. 3.0 License

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SEA & WAVES ROARING = NATIONS ANGRY

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Listen to this next passage… “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; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:” Luke 21:25, 26

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This above passage says about the same thing as Revelation 11:18, 19, howbeit in spiritual allegorical language. In other words, the “sea and the waves roaring” is an allegory concerning the sea of nations (see Revelation 17:15) And so, the sea and waves roaring is akin to saying “And the nations were angry”.

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Hong Kong protest near Tamar – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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TEMPLE IN HEAVEN OPENED = SIGNS OF HEAVEN

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But there is another similarity between these two passages. And this is found in the words… “And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His Temple the Ark of His Testament“, and the verse… “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;”

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And why are these statements akin to each other? Because God is just now revealing the Signs Of Heaven, which includes the Ark of the Covenant Constellation, and other heavenly signs which have everything to do with the Temple in Heaven!

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And combined with all the strife and turmoil that we are now seeing here on earth, these two passages are having a very definite and dramatic fulfillment at this present hour!

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – summer constellations – Two Turtledoves (Sagittarius) -Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – Cross/Scepter Constellations (stars from Ophiuchus & Serpens cut) – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial profit uses!

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PREPARE YE FOR WAR!

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And so, the reader is encouraged to begin studying this website, so that he or she may become acquainted with these signs, and with the message which accompanies these signs!

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If the Reader will begin to read perhaps, just one article per day, then eventually will follow an understanding about just what all this means to us.

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And then, if God is willing, He just might open the eyes of the Reader, to behold this glorious message, written in the Sun, Moon, and stars!

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TO READ PART 2, GO HERE…“Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 24 (And The Nations Were Angry, Part 2: “One Blood of All Nations”)“

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Open my eyes to rightly understand this very personal message which is found in the many allegories that revealed in all 22 chapters of Revelation. Help me to search the Scriptures for all related passages which give spiritual insight into that unsealed book…

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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 ARK IN THE HEAVENS

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So what importance to us is all this information? Well, if a person goes out at night, beginning in April (earlier in southern-most latitudes, and later in northern-most), in the pre-dawn hour, they just might locate the constellation commonly referred to as the Sagittarius Constellation . It is located in the southern sky. (Each night it appears a little earlier, slowly inching westward, through the summer, until it finally disappears below the western horizon in November.)

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At first, it simply appears as two twin birds flying westward. But if you look once again, it just might appear as a long box-like figure, with one star on the right, as you face it, and two stars on the left. The box, of course would be the Ark, and the stars on either side would represent angels, which are sometimes referred to as stars in the Bible (for instance, “the seven stars are the angels…” Revelation 1:20). To the right is a star-chart from Wikipedia, in which the editor of this site has sketched in this Sagittarius Constellation, to show how God created it to appear.

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Star-chart to right is from Wikipedia. Editor has sketched over Sagittarius to show this Ark Constellation.

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TOMORROW:

“October 25th (2 0r 3-toed Sloths)”

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Devouring Fire.com

Today’s Devotional – November 2nd (What’s In Your House?)

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Today’s Devotional – November 2nd

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What’s In Your House?

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“Through wisdom is an house builded;

and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.”

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Have you ever been in an elegant house? Oh, maybe not the mansion in this picture. But a house which has been furnished with beautiful furniture? And wasn’t it a joy to sit there in such a clean and well-cared-for home?

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Well, the Bible says that the people of this world “are wiser in their generation than are the children of light (Luke 16:8)”.

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And so, as children of light, we need to pay close attention to what the children of the world are doing, and translate those things into a spiritual counterpart.

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And likewise is it in the furnishing of our home. No not our physical home. And yet, it is our spiritual house that we need to furnish with elegant furnishings.

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Listen again to our opening Bible passage…“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3, 4

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A SPIRITUAL HOUSE

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Yes, while the people of the world are spending so much time, money, and effort in beautifying and enriching their houses and lands, the children of light must rather be spending our time, money, and effort, beautifying and enriching our spiritual house: our heart.

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Listen…“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 2:5

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Yes, we are a spiritual house!

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Now this does not mean that we are to allow our literal homes to be neglected. But the main focus of our lives should be on furnishing our spiritual house with the elegance of Heaven.

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MARTHA & MARY SET THE PRIORITY

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Remember the little account of Mary and her sister Martha? Remember how Martha was so concerned about the worldly duties of life, while sister Mary sat instead, and spent her time filling her heart with the precious words of life?

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Now what did Jesus say to Martha?

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Listen… “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41:42.

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Yes, Jesus ever-so-gently scolded Martha, but commended Mary, because Mary made her priority in life, to hear God’s Word, rather than expending her time, money, and energy seeking after the cares and pleasures of the world.

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ALL GRAFFITI MUST GO!

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“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

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And here is a work which no Christian is excused from participating in! The Bible makes it perfectly clear that every man (and woman) must become fully engaged in the purifying of the heart!

Just listen to the Apostle, John… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (of Christ’s Return) purifies himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3.

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**Well, the Bible says that the people of this world “are wiser in their generation than are the children of light (Luke 16:8)”.**

**Listen again to our opening Bible passage…*“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3, 4***