Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 9 (The Straw-Man, Part 5: Stigmatizing Christianity, CONTINUED: “Foolish Talk & Jesting”)

By admin On January 30th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 9

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The Straw-Man,

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Part 5:

*“Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting, Continued***“

To read Part 1, click here… “June 14th (Satan’s Straw-Man Ploy!)”

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“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

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A TIME TO WEEP

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While unbelievers are free to joke and jest and enjoy their comedies, the Christian has been given a special commission to warn the world to, “flee from the wrath to come!”

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This world, to a great extent, is a tragic place of greed, hatred, war, misery and death; but also a place of great indifference toward the sufferings going on elsewhere, around the world!

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And just as Lot’s sons-in-law thought he was merely joking about the wrath to come upon Sodom, so too, we are in danger of compromising our solemn message to the world by all our giddiness and frivolity and pleasure-seeking!

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain..

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“FOOLISH TALK AND JESTING”

Ephesians 5:2

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**Maybe a few moments should be devoted to understanding just what is the problem with “foolish talk and jesting”?**

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And so, just what is the problem with worldly humor?

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Listen… “Fools make a mock at sin:” Proverbs 14:9

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One great problem with worldly humor, is that it often makes a joke about sinful behavior.

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And thus, the world makes light of sin: sexual references, silly behavior, people’s looks or personality, all in attempt to get a laugh.

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Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE WHISPERER

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As a matter of fact, if analyzed, jesting can be a great source of pride, as the jester makes his audience laugh, and thinking to himself, “I’m so clever!”

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But what he doesn’t realize is, that the source of his inspiration is actually, “The Prince of the Power of the Air, that spirit which now works in the children of disobedience”! Ephesians 2:2

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Yes, the same spirit that whispered malicious gossip into Eve’s ear, is that very same unseen spirit, whose voice whispers clever quips into the mocker’s ears!

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And so, many types of worldly humor only indicates a presence of “another spirit!” 2nd Corinthians 11:4

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Eve & the Whispering Serpent – www.signsofheaven.org – Share-Alike License

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FINDING A CORRECT BALANCE

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We need to seriously warn the world of its soon-coming destruction, and the eternal grave awaiting all rejectors of God’s grace!

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And yet, we need to walk a fine line between falling into one extreme or the other!

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“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2

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This above passage lets us know that we can be joyful and content, without joining in with the pagan mirth which the world engages in. Dedicated Christians love to sing joyful songs that praise the Lord!

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And yet, if we are truly filled with God’s Spirit, our daily behavior will be coupled together with fear and trembling, combined with sympathy, love, and rejoicing!

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And such a delicate balance requires the indwelling of the Spirit of Holiness!

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Sailors and Marines sing Christmas carols – Wikimedia – Public-domain

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JESUS, OUR ROLE-MODEL

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The fact is, Jesus, our Divine Role-Model, while never joking or jesting, was a very warm and empathetic individual!

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Oh yes, He was serious-minded, as He warned the world to repent. And yet, His warm love and pure goodness could even melt the hearts of many cold-hearted Pharisees, such as Nicodemus, seen in this painting.

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And Jesus was patient and gentle.

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**And though He was a “man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53), nevertheless, He possessed a continual inner joy, which shone out from Him for all the world to see!**

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And so, Jesus didn’t need to engage in the foolish talk and jesting which the world loves!

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Heavenly joy, peace and love was sufficient for the Savior’s needs!

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William Brassey Hole – Jesus speaks to Nicodemus – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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JESUS NOT A COMIC!

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No, Jesus was, and is not like this ungodly world!

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And we’re glad that He was not a joker in the least little bit!

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**And though, Jesus, “is love”, we should not think that true, godly love, requires us to be jokers and jesters!**

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And even though Christians may (or may not) decide to laugh a sympathetic laugh for a joke-teller’s benefit (or smile, etc.), when an unbeliever tries to be comical, they need to conduct themselves even as Jesus conducted Himself!

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**And He is to be our Divine Example in all situations of everyday life, big or small.**

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Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF”

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Satan always attempts to cast dirt upon the Gospel, often raising up some look-alike group or counterfeit practice which he designs and orchestrates to disgust and drive away unbelievers.

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And even in the area of humor, Satan has currently raised up a political cult which attempts to punish comedians regarding any comedy which these political activists deem to be offensive in some way.

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Thus, most comedians today are increasingly fearful of saying anything which offends those politically-correct authoritarians.

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And, of course, this only further gives true Christianity a “black eye”, as the general populace lumps together, true Christians with those humorless, angry political cultists.

Antifa @ Protest Trump in Phoenix – 8-22-17 – Wikipedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

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REQUIRES A STRUGGLE

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And yes, to quit any bad habit, requires a struggle.

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And those who are addicted to this fleshly pleasure may have to prayerfully resist the urge to jest, for weeks, even months, before getting the final victory over this bad habit.

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And whatever loss Christians might feel from laying one of their cherished worldly idols on the altar of self-sacrifice, they have faith that God will replace that discarded idol with something far more precious and wonderful!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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FORCING OTHERS

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And Christians who have a family should not try to force the family to come along with these things.

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Oh yes, those who have a spouse who agrees in these matters, the family can gently be brought along the upward pathway.

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But the Christian cannot expect an unsaved spouse and children to give up many of these fleshly pleasures of the mind.

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In such cases, the Christian pilgrim will probably have to keep silent, and merely try to keep the family together, praying for God’s Salvation for the family.

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Family – Children’s Playground – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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GREAT TRIBULATION AHEAD!

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And so, let’s not be ignorant of Satan’s many devices!

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And we will ultimately overcome the intimidation which Satan cruelly imposes upon God’s people. And great persecution is guaranteed to come down upon us, concerning these matters, as we walk through the fires of tribulation which the coming Time of Trouble will bring upon us!

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And, Christians can expect to be the butt of jokes, as the battle begins to heat up in the coming days!

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But when we are fully cleansed, we will finally be able to say, along with old Job… “…when HE hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

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Goldkey (logo removed) – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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EVERLASTING JOY TO COME!

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For those who suffer the scorn and ridicule from this mocking world, there is a promise of joy to come… “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5, 6

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Yes, one day soon, when we finally cross that dark river, we will hear the distant sounds of the innocent laughter of little children, and the joyful songs of the Redeemed, as we enter into that Everlasting Promised Land; that Land spiritually flowing with streams of milk & honey…where we will be forever happy, and forever young!

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Study for The Cross and the World…… Brooklyn Museum Thomas Cole – US public domain

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TO READ PART 6, GO HERE…

January 25 (The Straw-Man! Part 6: Kingdom of the So-Called “Cults”)

Straw man (or lady) – Wikipedia – Share-alike or GNU Free Documentation License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me wisdom and insight into the wiles of the Devil, that I be, “not ignorant of his devices”…

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – 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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CROSS/SCEPTER CONSTELLATION

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NOT THE NORTHERN OR SOUTHERN CROSS

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Cross-Scepter Constellation

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This is not the Northern Cross, nor is it the Southern Cross. This cross is made of stars from both the Serpens Constellation and the Ophiuchus Constellation. Here is a star-chart from Wikipedia, in which the editor of this site has sketched in this Cross/Scepter Constellation. The stars in this star-chart are accurately placed, and this Cross/Scepter Constellation stands out in brilliance, among the other stars in the night sky.

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The sketch below is the Summer Constellations, as seen when looking west. Well, if you look just to the south (south is to the left in this sketch) of Arcturus, you will see what appears to be a scepter. But this scepter also appears as a Cross. And this constellation has been named, the Cross/Scepter constellation. It can be seen in January, in the pre-dawn hours. Each night, it appears a little earlier, as it slowly inches its way westward. Finally this constellation dips below the western horizon, in the fall, not appearing again till January, back in the eastern sky.

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Now, as earlier stated, this wonderful prophecy (“there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”) has its greatest fulfillment in the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus is represented by that glorious Star. And His death on the Cross is truly His scepter of authority. Jesus died to save a world of rebellious sinners.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Cross-Scepter Constellation – Also known as the Ophiuchus and the Serpens Constellations Website has taken liberty of drawing in this Cross-Scepter Constellation upon a star-chart found on Wikipedia

ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Revelation 12 Woman (aka: Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) – www.theheavensdeclare.net

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TOMORROW…

“April 10 (“Ask For The Old Paths!”)”

Flickr – Pathway – trials and errors – Wikimedia – The Roads to Heaven and Hell, religious tract, ca. 1896 share-alike lic.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #463 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 8 (The Straw-Man, Part 4: “Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting”)

By admin On January 30th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 8

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The Straw-Man,

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Part 4:

“Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting”

To read Part 1, click here… “June 14th (Satan’s Straw-Man Ploy!)”

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“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

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On that fateful day, Satan came in the form of a serpent (snake) to stigmatize God… “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?…Ye shall not surely die: ” Genesis 3:1, 4

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Satan successfully convinced Mankind that God was unfair, and as we all know, the rest is history!

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And it was so easy for Satan to deceive us!

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After all, if he could convince those heavenly angelic super-intelligent beings that God was unfair, then Adam and his wife would be no problem for him!

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SATAN: “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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And so, as a result of his deception, this world was given over to rulership by this very artful Deceiver!

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And the Bible now calls him, “the god of this world”! 2nd Corinthians 4:4

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**But one great problem is, that the people of the world do not realize that this world-of-selfish-pleasures is ruled over by Satan!**

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Even many church-goers do not believe that this world is Satan’s, “prison-house of sin!”

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

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THE HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION!

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TV indoctrination

And speaking of Satan’s subtlety, this master of deception is no less active today, in his attempt to fool Mankind!

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And now, Satan has an even more effective weapon against Christianity: Hollywood!

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Yes, Satan can present this hopelessly evil and selfish world of decay and death, as though it is a wonderful place!

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THE STRAW-MAN PLOY!

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But Satan also uses Hollywood to stigmatize Christianity negatively!

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Yes, that master of lies is even more cunning than he was back in Heaven!

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**And he has been practicing his deceptive arts for many-a-millennium!**

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And just now, he is springing his last great deception upon this unsuspecting world!

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Straw Man -attributed to Larch – Wikimedia

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STIGMATIZING SINCERE CHRISTIANS

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**For instance, Satan has used Hollywood to create a, “Straw-Man”, so to speak, concerning Christianity.**

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**In his usual subtlety, Satan makes many Hollywood productions which covertly set up a, “Straw-Man”, as a counterfeit of the truly dedicated Christian.**

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In other words, he loves to portray earnest and reverent Christians as being sour-faced, cold, stern, and judgmental.

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And conversely, he then portrays worldly-minded Christians as being attractive, personable, fun-loving, and reasonable!

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Charles Finney – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS

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**And herein lies the dividing-line between those who serve God, and those who merely serve, “the god of this world”!**

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No, Satan is not worried about worldly Christians! He already has worldly-minded Christians securely in his camp!

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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.” 1st John 2:15

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World-loving Christians praise Jesus with their lips, but their heart goes after the pleasures and pursuits of this proud and selfish world!

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Listen to God’s assessment of His own people…“My people…they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Ezekiel 33:31

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

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OBJECTS OF SATAN’S WRATH

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And so, knowing that earnest and sincere Christians have that proverbial target on their backs, since they do not love this evil world, Satan’s world!

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They are Satan’s chief objects of hatred! He already has everyone else in his pocket!

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And so, in his jealous rage, Satan primarily focuses his attacks against all faithful, self-denying Christians who are truly, “strangers and pilgrims on the earth”! (see Hebrews 11:13)

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Christian and Apollyon – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD “HIT-PIECE”!

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For instance, one particular movie portrayed the secular hero of the story as a handsome, **intelligent, worldly-minded, “voice of reason”, individual!**

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**And this, “worldly wise-man” hero found himself in a monastery filled with weird, monkish characters who were fanatical, pathetic, grotesque-looking, and just plain down-right evil!**

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**This typical Hollywood hit-piece movie was set in the backdrop of the Dark Ages, when Europe was controlled by the evil apostate churches.**

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And so, the producer of this movie did not need to exaggerate too much, in his portrayal of this reclusive set of monks! Christianity was truly in an apostate condition, back in those times!

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Joseph Haier – Monks in a cellar – 1873 – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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SAD CHURCH-SYSTEM

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But what we must keep in mind is, that back in those days, Satan could not take advantage of modern-day technology!

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And so he had to prejudice the people of Europe by literally raising up that hideous religious system!

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And in this manner, he prejudiced the great naive and un-schooled masses of Europe against Christianity, simply by creating that, “Straw-Man” deception: the apostate Christianity of those by-gone days!

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That was Satan’s straw-man, designed to cast dirt on the truth.

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In other words, for the most part, the corrupt and wicked church of those days, was all that the commoners ever knew about Christianity.

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Torture devices – The Wheel – Calas Chapbook – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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SATAN’S “STRAW-MAN PLOY” TODAY

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But today, Satan has already completed most of his homework, so to speak.

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Yes, Satan has long ago engaged in centuries of smear-tactics against true Christianity by this counterfeit religious power of Europe!

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And so today, all he needs to do is to make a movie about those evil times, resurrecting that old Straw-Man of the Middle Ages: the apostate religious system of those earlier centuries.

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And by this means, Satan can now duplicate that old medieval deception on the silver screen, thereby stigmatizing those truly dedicated Christians living today, as the world beholds the church atrocities of yesteryear, via those movies!

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Burning at the Stake – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE ART OF JESTING

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Now one area in which Satan desires to draw his battle-lines against Christians, is in the area of joking and jesting…

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Listen… “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, NOR FOOLISH TALKING, NOR JESTING, which are not convenient (proper): but rather giving of thanks….Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:3, 4, 6

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As this above passage reveals, “jesting” (joking) is condemned by God. Yes, as this above passage commands, we are to be thankful, but we are not to be “sarcastic cut-ups”! We are instead, to imitate our Divine Role-Model, Jesus in every way!

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Laughing – (cropped and color added) – Fotothek df roe neg – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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A TIME TO LAUGH

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But Satan is not content to merely re-create this exaggerated and grotesque Straw-Man. And so, to strengthen his case against the Bible, he has gone far beyond, “foolish talk and jesting”, and made it seem as if even mere, “laughing” is condemned by sincere Christians!

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But this is a lie straight from Hell! The Bible says… “there is…A time to weep, and a time to laugh;” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

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Yes, there is a time for laughing in this otherwise sad world. For instance, when the exciting announcement that a new baby is on the way, there is laughing and rejoicing by both family and friends!

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Or there is laughing when we hear Good News like this… “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. THEN WAS OUR MOUTH FILLED WITH LAUGHTER, AND OUR TONGUE WITH SINGING: then said they among the heathen…The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126:1-3

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Yes, on the soon-coming day of our final deliverance from this selfish and dying world, our mouths will be filled with laughter and singing!

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Innocent baby laughing – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic. 2.0

Children’s Playground, – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW –

April 9 (The Straw-Man, Part 5, Continued: Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting)

Straw man (or lady) – Wikipedia – Share-alike or GNU Free Documentation License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me wisdom and insight into the wiles of the Devil, that I be, “not ignorant of his devices”…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – 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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CROSS/SCEPTER CONSTELLATION

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NOT THE NORTHERN OR SOUTHERN CROSS

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This is not the Northern Cross, nor is it the Southern Cross. This cross is made of stars from both the Serpens Constellation and the Ophiuchus Constellation. Here is a star-chart from Wikipedia, in which the editor of this site has sketched in this Cross/Scepter Constellation. The stars in this star-chart are accurately placed, and this Cross/Scepter Constellation stands out in brilliance, among the other stars in the night sky.

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The sketch below is the Summer Constellations, as seen when looking west. Well, if you look just to the south (south is to the left in this sketch) of Arcturus, you will see what appears to be a scepter. But this scepter also appears as a Cross. And this constellation has been named, the Cross/Scepter constellation. It can be seen in January, in the pre-dawn hours. Each night, it appears a little earlier, as it slowly inches its way westward. Finally this constellation dips below the western horizon, in the fall, not appearing again till January, back in the eastern sky.

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Now, as earlier stated, this wonderful prophecy (“there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel”) has its greatest fulfillment in the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus is represented by that glorious Star. And His death on the Cross is truly His scepter of authority. Jesus died to save a world of rebellious sinners.

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Cross-Scepter Constellation – Also known as the Ophiuchus and the Serpens Constellations Website has taken liberty of drawing in this Cross-Scepter Constellation upon a star-chart found on Wikipedia

ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer Constellations w/ark (aka: Sagittarius) & Revelation 12 Woman (aka: Ursa Major, including The Big Dipper) – www.theheavensdeclare.net

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TOMORROW…

“April 9 (The Straw-Man, Part 5, Continued: Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting)”

Straw man (or lady) – Wikipedia – Share-alike or GNU Free Documentation License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #462 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 5 (Image of the Beast, Part 1: Schools)

By admin On January 26th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 5

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Image of the Beast,

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Part 1:

“Schools

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“How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!

they are utterly consumed with terrors.

As a dream when one awaketh;

so, O Lord, when Thou awakest,

Thou shalt despise their image.”

Psalm 73:19, 20

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The Cuttlefish is perhaps the most amazing creature in all the earth! This little sea creature has been given the ability to instantly change shape, color, and spots, to imitate it’s surroundings! It takes on the image of whatever environment it happens to be in!

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Not only this, but in addition to camouflaging itself, to creep up on its victim, it begins to flash like a neon strobe-light, right before it sends out its long lightning-fast tongue to snatch up its hypnotized prey!

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Cuttlefish.ogv – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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Well, today’s devotional is all about changing into an image. And there is no better symbol for image-changing than the Cuttlefish…

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Cuttlefish komodo – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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IMAGE OF THE BEAST

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So let’s look into what the bible has to say about images…

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Listen… “And he (the False Prophet) 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 13:15

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And so, this above verse from Revelation foretells of a day in which the False Prophet will cause all the inhabitants of the world to bow down to the image of the 1st Beast of Revelation 13.

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

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RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES!

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Now of course, all of us Christians vow to never bow down or worship the Beast or his image! Right? Don’t we hear Christians say… “Well, I would never take the Mark, or bow down to his image!”

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Well, the fact is, Satan is right now causing a great portion of the world to do that very thing, even as we speak!

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Right now, many reading this are probably saying… “What in the world are you talking about!?! What Beast and what image!?!”

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

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THE BIG LIE!

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Yes, we have all been duped by our church leaders who tell us that we don’t need to worry about the Beast and his image!

man on cloud strumming harp

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They confidently tell us… “Oh no, the Church will be long gone by the time that the Antichrist Beast finally appears! We’ll all be in Heaven when that happens!”

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Well, what most Christians do not realize is, that this present antichrist world-system is Satan’s kingdom, and is the very Antichrist Beast spoken of in Revelation!

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**Yes, the Bible sometimes uses various beasts to symbolize kingdoms! (For example, listen to Daniel 7:23…“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth…”)**

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THIS WORLD: SATAN’S KINGDOM

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Yes, this sin-loving world-system is Satan’s kingdom, and is the Antichrist Beast…

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Listen… “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not…And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains (kingdoms), on which the woman (the Harlot Church) sits. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.” Revelation 17:8-11 (condensed for brevity)

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You see, from reading this above passage, it begins to become clear that it is a beast, made up of all the kingdoms of this, the Devils world!

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**2nd Corinthians 4:4 tells us that Satan is, “the god of this world”!**

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And he has designed this world to reflect his image of selfishness and sin!

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(As you can see in this 500 year old engraving, the people back in those days understood just who this Antichrist Beast is. We today, have lost sight of that wisdom!)

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Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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WORLD-WIDE INDOCTRINATION

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Now if we observe this Antichrist world all around us, we are beginning to notice that Satan is becoming very proactive of late, in his attempt to indoctrinate Christians and their children.

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**This invisible deceiver is conforming us into the Image of the Beast right under our noses!**

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But someone will say… “How in the world is the Devil indoctrinating Christians and their children?”

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Well, today’s devotional is dealing with just one aspect of this indoctrination: our school systems.

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

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INDOCTRINATION CENTERS

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Yes, our public schools have, to a certain degree, become Satan’s indoctrination centers for our children!

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And recent polling studies indicate that most Christian children are attending public schooling! That’s right! Most!

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Now, perhaps there are many fine and dedicated public school teachers. But these devoted teachers no doubt will be the first to admit how proactive public schools are becoming in secularizing our children.

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The Bible is now banned! And children must now accept the secular curriculum prescribed for them.

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Amish On the way to school by Gadjoboy2 – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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RACISM NOW BEING TAUGHT AND ENCOURAGED

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Tragically, Satan in his role as The False Prophet, has been permitted to speak, “as a dragon”. (Revelation 13:11).

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And so, this unseen spirit of antichrist works through the various media Goliaths to force the world to bow down to his unchristlike qualities.

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And he even is speaking as a dragon in today’s schools, not only pushing various antichrist ideologies, such as socialism, etc..

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But not content with these ideologies, Satan has begun to rewrite history to make it seem that the US was founded on racism. And school children are now being taught that skin color determines their worth or their inferiority. Such a great lie is not only teaching dishonesty but will undoubtedly create hatred in the hearts of school-children.

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CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

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Even Christian schools have so many state-enforced secular requirements to teach each day, that there is very little time for Bible training! There is little time to teach Church history, and very little time for any extensive Bible study.

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**Beyond a 60 minute (and probably much less) Bible class, there is little time for anything else!**

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Now of course, there may be exceptions to this, but this is the general condition of Christian schooling.

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And furthermore, most Christian schools voluntarily embrace worldly-minded endeavors, such as various sports, secular dramas, worldly music, and other secular societal activities.

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Oh yes, they are, perhaps, a much better environment for Christian children than the public schools.

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FEMA High School Student assists teacher with STEP program – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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SECULARISTS NOW IN CONTROL

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The American education system, to a certain extent, once relied on the Bible for teaching young children (To view the first New England Primer, click here.)

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But even though, prior to the mid-twentieth century, many public schools taught Bible stories as part of their standard curriculum, that was all done away with as secularists were placed in charge of public-school systems. Bibles are no more allowed, much less taught!

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But today, public schools are increasingly indoctrinating young children into secularism. Evolution, socialism, psychology, psychiatry, and other atheistic sciences are taught, while history is being diminished, or at least, “cherry-picked”, leaving out much of the history of the Church and the plight of Christians through the centuries of New Testament times.

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And so, our children are growing up with almost total ignorance of the Christian persecution and the Christian Reformation and all the rest of Church history, and instead, being indoctrinated into atheism and its various satellite ideologies, already mentioned. (not to mention the sexual gender confusion which is currently beginning to be pushed on our children in many schools!)

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Charles Darwin – by John Collier (artist) – www.wikimedia.com – Public Domain

Sigmund Freud LIFE – Wikipedia – US public domain

Karl Marx – Wikipedia – public

John Dewey in 1902 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME!

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This Narrow Gate Daily Devotional, while presenting many unhappy truths, has always tried to end on a happy note. And so, about the only encouragement that can be offered is concerning the time we still have remaining, to correct our lives.

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Yes, God is giving us a powerful message, written in the Sun, Moon, and stars! The Christian truth-seeker can have all the affirmation he or she needs, to embrace this message.

Fleeing Woman Constellation

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And even though it may be too late for parents to raise their children in the Way, the Life, and the Truth, we can indeed chasten our own selves before the Lord. We can begin to pray for our wayward children and grandchildren.

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And if, through 100% devotion, we will conform our lives to our Heavenly Role-Model, the Bible has promises about blessing our children… “Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in His ways…Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that fears the LORD.” Psalm 128:1, 3

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TV indoctrination

But now, right under our noses, Satan has been busy perfecting his engines of indoctrination.

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**And tomorrow’s devotional will take a glance at Satan’s other indoctrinating mechanisms.**

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me wisdom to know what I can do to save myself and my family by this overspreading of wickedness, which desires to control the minds of Christians…

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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FLOOD-WATERS OF SATAN CONSTELLATION

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“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:1, 3, 15

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LOCATION…

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winter four constellations

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

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TOMORROW…

“April 6 (Image of the Beast, Part 2: High-Tech!)”

Computer hacking – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #459 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 4 (Highway To Heaven! Part 2: Clearing Away Debris!)

By admin On January 26th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 4

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Highway To Heaven!

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Part 2:

Clearing Away Debris!

To read Part 1, click here… “MARCH 28 (Highway To Heaven!)”

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Highway To Heaven!

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**There once was a TV show, called, “Highway To Heaven”.**

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And this weekly series starred the late, Michael Landon, posing as an angel-come-down-to-earth, to perform good deeds, and bring some form of redemption (not salvational redemption) to a misguided or problem-plagued person.

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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The Way of Holiness

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Now, this devotional is not endorsing television in any way, especially those which blaspheme God’s Word of Truth!

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No, this daily devotional merely glances at the things of the earth, and attempts to use them as object lessons of heavenly truths.

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And the concept of a highway to Heaven does carry some biblical authenticity.

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Listen to the Prophet, Isaiah… “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called ‘The Way Of Holiness'” Isaiah 35:8

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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

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THIS COMMISSION FOR US TODAY

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Well, God’s people, in these last days have a work before us!

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Our King is soon to come!

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And it is our commission to prepare that Highway of Holiness for our King!

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Unfortunately, the Highway of Holiness is not so holy anymore.

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And it has become a twisted and winding road, filled with lots of debris and obstructions and pot-holes!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Finland road sign – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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LITTER-STREWN HIGHWAY

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We need to clear away the rubbish and debris which has been strewn along that highway!

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No king would want to travel on a litter-strewn highway! That would be an embarrassment!

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And so, we must do a litter-patrol, and remove all the unbiblical theological jargon, and non-biblical Church-doctrines which have, “crept in unawares”, into the Church over the years and centuries!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Council of Nicea – San Nicolas Myra – Wikimedia – public domain

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LITTER ALL OVER OUR HIGHWAY

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**Well, all of the above testimony has been discussed in Part 1 (click here to read).**

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**But today’s devotional, Part 2 will focus on the analogy of litter patrol.**

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Because some special attention must be given to all the litter of false doctrines and other foreign objects which have so greatly cluttered the Highway of Holiness, that it is almost impossible to travel that pathway without stumbling!

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Yes, the Enemy of Souls has been working around the clock, casting stumbling blocks along the King’s Highway, in attempt to cause God’s people to fall!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Litter – Rubbish sign, Fitzroy, Victoria – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ADDING TO GOD’S WORD

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Listen… “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5, 6

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Unfortunately, this above passage reveals exactly what Satan has accomplished, via unwary Bible teachers and theologians, through centuries past.

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Satan has brought in many unbiblical doctrines and non-biblical jargon onto that Highway of Holiness! And the Church has been groomed by false shepherds to accept these non-biblical debris as though they are of equal authority with the Bible!

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Yes, we have all been guilty of adding things to God’s Word, which have no place in the pure Word of Truth!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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NON-BIBLICAL JARGON

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So, exactly what kind of litter and debris are we speaking of?

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For instance, just think about all the non-biblical jargon which we now accept as being biblical: such theological names as, “The Rapture”, “The Trinity”, “Christmas”, “Easter”, “Pre-Tribulation”, “The Millennium”, “Soul-Sleep”, “Post-Tribulation”, “Calvinist”, “Armenian”, “Futurist”, “Replacement Theology”, “Eternal Torment”, etc….

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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THE CITY OF CONFUSION!

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Now just why is this such an important problem?

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What difference does it make whether I use these names?

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The great problem is, that all these names (plus many more, not mentioned), are causing great confusion in God’s house! And because the Word of God does not specifically teach these doctrines, there is a great division over these doctrines and over the jargon used to describe them.

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Yes, this is greatly the reason why God refers to the Great Harlot, Babylon, The Mother of Harlots.

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We have become a spiritual Babylon… “The City of Confusion” Isaiah 24:10

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Whore – Babylon – Burgkmair – 1523 AD – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!

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And before the King can return for His people, His highway must be made smooth and straight, and litter-free!

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The message which comes to us from down the corridor of time is… “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:” Isaiah 40:3, 4

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Desert Road Highway – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!

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This is the message which all of us must heed in this fearful hour!

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But unfortunately, we cannot expect the churches to come along with us in this reformation!

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But we must realize that God is calling us out of Babylon… “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE!

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The Lord is no longer working with us collectively.

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We now must seek Him, even as did Jacob when he wrestled with the Angel through the night!

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Listen… “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:” Jeremiah 30:6-8

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Yes, as this above passage alludes to the concept, that this is the time when God’s people will engage in a wrestling match with God: a one-on-one wrestling in prayer and consecration!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel – Wikipedia – public domain

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AWAKE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!

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And so, now we must seek the purity of the uncluttered truth.

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Now we must no longer be deluded by false doctrines designed to keep us in an undone, and drunken condition. Yes, we have been drinking the wine of Babylonish confusion. And we must fully wake up, and sober up, and enter into the time which is now upon us!

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And if we do so, God has a promise for us… “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – Orion & The Revelation 12 Dragon constellation (comprised of Hyades & Pleiades and other constellations) – www.signsofheaven.org

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TIME FOR REPAIRS

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And so, God’s people must now begin to joyfully engage ourselves in the reconstruction of that Highway Of Holiness, as we prepare for our soon-coming King!

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That highway must become holy, once again!

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Highway To Heaven – Wikipedia – Fair Use Rationale – Click here for Fair-Use Rationale Guidelines – Image germane to this story – Could not find suitable free replacement on Internet – reduced size & quality

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me clear away all the rubbish out of my heart! Take away the high places and pitfalls along my pathway! Keep me on the straight and narrow highway that leads to the Celestial City of God…

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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TALE OF TWO WOMEN

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You see, this constellation tells the tale of two women! But how can it be, that nobody has ever seen the Pleiades as a constellation of a woman? (There is one other person on the Internet who has his own rendition of this constellation. Click here to see)

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This article will discuss this great paradox of these two women, found in the Pleiades, and what it means scripturally to us: we who comprise the global community of Christians.

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**Because this constellation (or should we say Constellations, plural), has very much to do with us: those of us who are living right now on the threshold of eternity.**

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And as you might expect, if you are at all familiar with this website, the Bible holds the key to understanding all this!

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THE PLEIADES: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?…

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What is this mysterious “little” cluster of stars in the night-sky all about?

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Notice in the sketch to the right, that the Pleiades is shaped like the furry tassel at the tip of a lion’s tail. Here is further proof that the Pleiades is the tip of the tail of this Dragon Constellation!

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And why, in the sketch to the right, does the Goodly Horse Constellation appear to be gazing intently at this Pleiades-cluster, as if mesmerized…or perhaps as if it’s something to be feared…or even with jealousy, as if perhaps, it’s something to be retrieved?

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TOMORROW…

“April 5 (Image of the Beast, Part 1: Schools)”

Headsets – France in XXI Century School – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #458 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 3 (The City of Morality, Part 4: Satan’s Detours)

By admin On January 26th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 3

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The City of Morality,

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Part 4:

“Satan’s Detours”

To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality)”

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In John Bunyan’s earth-shaking tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, was on his way to the Celestial City, to get that great Burden off his back (the burden of sin).

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But on that way, he met up with a fellow named Worldly Wiseman, who informed Christian that such an arduous journey was not necessary.

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He told Christian that all he needed was to go to the Village of Morality!

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Christian in Pilgrim’s_Progress wiki pub dom.

Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress, p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE VILLAGE IS NOW A HUGE CITY!

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And so it is today! Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!

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Yes, a great portion of today’s Christendom has become just that, the City of Morality! Yes, there are many Christians who, like Bunyan’s pilgrim, have been duped by that old deceiver, Worldly Wiseman!

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Oh yes, wouldn’t you know it! Worldly Wiseman is still around!

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And still, he’s busily misdirecting simple-minded Christians into going to the City of Morality instead of continuing onward and upward to Zion, the City of God!

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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TRAVELING THE SAME DIRECTION

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Now having said all this, there is a concept which has been well-stated in the following saying… “If Satan isn’t coming against you, then perhaps you both are traveling in the same direction!”

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Now this is not a Bible verse, but still presents a very biblical truth!

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Yes, there are many church-goers, who have been deceived by today’s wildly popular prosperity-driven gospel, which teaches that the evidence of your Salvation is when your life is all, “peace and safety”!

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In other words, you know you’re on the right road to Heaven, because you are not currently experiencing troubles and trials.

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

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“BAG OF TRICKS”

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But the fact is, when a Christian begins to travel that gently sloping upward pathway to the Celestial City, the Devil becomes enraged.

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And so he must try to derail that Christian, any way he can!

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**Now, Satan has his, “bags of tricks”. This bag consists of all the various ways of bringing back the Christian into the world: into his prison-house of sin and selfishness!**

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Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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PROSPERITY-DRIVEN GOSPELS

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Now the current prosperity-driven gospels, and seeking after earthly riches, is one great subdivision in the City of Morality.

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Yes, the Devil convinces many in the Christian world that God wants us to be financially affluent, through a life of hard work and devotion to the attainment of earthly prosperity!

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And so, he can thereby keep Christians so busy that they place their heart-purification on that proverbial, “back burner”!

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But God has counseled Christians… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

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Christian Race In Todays World – courtesy www.signsofheaven.org – share-alike lcense

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THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

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Another weapon in Satan’s arsenal concerns another great subdivision in the City of Morality, is that ideology commonly known as socialism, or humanitarianism.

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Now, for the people of the world, these things are just fine! They’re great!

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But Christians need to accomplish the will of God in a much different manner than the world tries to do good!

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**This is a very effective weapon in Satan’s, “bag of tricks”! Because, being a humanitarian has a, “form of godliness” attached to it.**

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**And so, there have many church-goers who have been effectively derailed from, “that good part” of Christianity: to sit at the feet of Jesus, and hear His Word!**

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And humanitarianism is one of the most deceptive ideologies, because of its “form of godliness”.

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Now, there is nothing wrong with helping someone in need, or engaging in a humanitarian effort!

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But when we turn our focus away from heart-purification for any reason, even seemingly good reasons, the devil wins again!

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Oil Spill cleanup – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – cropped image – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License

Litter patrol – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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PROPHECY & HEALTH SEMINARS

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Satan is not so bothered to see Christians get derailed from the true path, via Revelation seminars which make little mention of Jesus and little mention of heart-purification.

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**Yes, these seminars are greatly focused on history books and newspapers, instead of, “Sola Scriptura”, that is, “the Bible only”.**

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And if Satan can get the Christian to turn his (or her) attention away from studying the Bible’s, “precious promises”, and instead focus on these other things, such as politics, health seminars, or Creation Science, the Devil has won! After all, Satan doesn’t mind seeing healthy people going to Hell!

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Now, to study the Book of Revelation, in the light of “the Bible only”, is not a bad thing. It’s a very necessary thing! And to know about the Creation/Evolution debate can be helpful. And to know what kinds of foods are healthy to eat, and how to care for our bodies, is a very good thing.

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But when we allow even good things to get in the way of hiding the precious words of Jesus in our heart, then the Devil wins!

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Bible prophecy chart – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Health Seminar – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE DAY OF THE LORD

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O Pilgrim, the Devil knows just how close we are to Armageddon!

Listen… “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on…the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things…” Luke 21:34-36 (condensed for brevity)

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This above passage stands as a warning to all of us who are now standing on the brink of that, “Great and the terrible Day of the Lord”! (Joel 2:31)

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Painting-Great Day of His Wrath by J. Martin-Wikipedia-Public Domain-Click her for link.

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THE RIGHT PATHWAY

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But those who are wise, will always endeavor to, “keep the main thing, the main thing!”

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No matter what fiery dart that the Wicked One shoots at the Believer, that Christian pilgrim will tenaciously cling to the right and true pathway: the purification of the heart!

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

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Yes, to hide God’s Word and His precious promises in our heart, and to separate from all forms of selfish-worldly influences must be the primary focus of each and every Christian!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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BEWARE OF THIS FELLOW!

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And so, dear Pilgrim, don’t let that old rascal, Worldly Wiseman, detour you into the City of Morality, away from the true focus of your relationship with Jesus!

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**And truth-be-told, that old deceiver may come to you in the form of a pastor, or a parishioner, or a close friend, or even a family member!**

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Whoever attempts to get you or me derailed from the true Pilgrim’s Pathway of overcoming the world! BEWARE!

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Worldly Wiseman – Pilgrim’s Progress p34 – Mr Worldly Wiseman – Wikimedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be deceived, discouraged, or detoured into the wrong direction, onto a counterfeit, look-alike pathway. Keep me on the true Heavenward Pathway…

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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THE FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS

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“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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Five Wise, Five Foolish Virgins Stars

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And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

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Matthew 25:1-4

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WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART

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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses! – Wikipedia Star chart with constellations drawn in by this website.

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TOMORROW…

“APRIL 4 (Highway To Heaven! Part 2: Clearing Away Debris!)”

Desert Road Highway – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #457 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 2 (Honeybees & The Law)

By admin On January 25th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 2

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Honeybees & The Law

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“More to be desired are they (the Words of God) than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:10

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

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The honey bee is just another remarkable creation of God!

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Not only does this busy little worker provide mankind with the wonderful gift of honey.

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But the honey bee is a marvelous teacher of wisdom, as it collects the nectar of every correct flower.

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

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LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

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The Bible speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven as, “a land flowing with milk and honey;” Exodus 3:8

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But when God speaks of honey, He has much more in mind than merely literal honey…

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Listen again… “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:13, 14

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**So God here is connecting “the knowledge of wisdom” to “honey…and the honeycomb.”.**

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

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…AND THE HONEYCOMB

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A number of times, God compares His Word to honey and the honeycomb… “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103

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Now isn’t it interesting that the honeycomb is made of a cluster of little six-sided pockets called, “cells”.

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What spiritual significance could there be in that?

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Bee Honeycomb – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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NATURE OUR TEACHER

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Now, the honeybee and its honeycomb present a very basic Bible principle, concerning Christians and God’s written Word.

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Oh yes, there is much wisdom in all of nature…

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Listen… “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

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Yes, as this above passage alludes, the whole earth and all its living creatures are to be our teachers. They all have been created to be allegories of spiritual truths concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ… “The heavens declare the glory of God” Psalm 19:1.

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All of nature has been especially created to tell of the wisdom, the beauty, the poetry and the laws of God.

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

Bee with Cross-Pollination on Dandelion – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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SIX: THE NUMBER OF MAN

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Now back to the honeycomb. Just as the little bee stores the sweet honey in this six-sided storehouse, called “the cell”, so too, the Christian is to gather sweet nectar from God’s Word, and store it up in our hearts.

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**And it is no accident that most honeycomb cells are six-sided. In the Bible, the number, “six”, represents, “man”…**

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Listen… “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them….And the evening and the morning were the SIXTH day.” Genesis 1:27, 31

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And so, each little six-sided cell represents a human.

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

Honeycombs – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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BIBLE IN MY HEART

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And so, the bee storing its honey in this six-sided cell, is a marvelous picture of storing God’s Word in our human mind…

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“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee (God).” Psalm 119:11

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From this above verse, we might begin to see the comparison between the bee, hiding its honey in the little cell, and the Christian hiding the honey of God’s Word in our heart!

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What a wonderful metaphor God has given us!

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

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ALL SCRIPTURE IS HONEY!

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Now the Bible has been compared to honey.

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And the entire Bible can be converted into honey for the heart! Yes, the Christian can feel confident that any and all of the Bible is honey for the soul…

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Listen… “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

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So God, through the hand of Paul, is reassuring the Christian that all the Bible is profitable for doctrine, confirmation, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that we may become perfected and fully equipped for every good work!

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Bee pollinating peach flower – fir0002 – flagstaffotos.com.au – for Wikimedia –

Honey – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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OLD TESTAMENT: THE GOSPEL IN SYMBOLS

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Now there are many who are confused about all the different laws, precepts, sabbaths, and holydays found in the Old Testament.

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Well, as one person so well said, the Old Testament is merely the Gospel veiled in types, shadows, and symbols.

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Oh yes, all those laws and precepts and temple fixtures of the Old Testament are like nectar, which when rightly interpreted, become the sweetest of all honey!

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the Holy of Holies – www.thebiblerevival.com – Public Domain

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BUSY AS BEES!

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And so, as workers together, God doth beseech each of us to be busy as bees, collecting the sweet nectar of His Word, converting it into honey, to share with the world via our Christlike example!

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Bee – Western honey bee – Wikimedia – Share-alike LicenseRicks at the German language Wikipedia

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THE READER IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 25 MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH, CONCERNING THE COVENANT AND LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JESUS.

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THIS STUDY # 215 IS CONDUCTED BY HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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ABOVE STAR-CHART: The Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a heart to search out the Bible, as one who seeks after hidden treasure! Fill my heart with the honey of Thy Word…

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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REVELATION 12 WOMAN

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“And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven; a woman…And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon…And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…And the woman fled into the wilderness…And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon…And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood…” Revelation 12: 1-4, 6, 7, 14, 15 (condensed)

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Star-chart – Ursa Major – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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WITNESSING IN TRIALS

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The Woman With Eagle Wings appears to be casting seed as she goes. This would be the precious seed of the Gospel. Can you see the seed coming from both her hands and feet?

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“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:6. She is casting the seed both from her left hand and from her left foot. The left hand and left foot being the passive hand and foot, seems to symbolize that our most effective witness is when we’re not even aware that we are witnessing. This reminds us of the following verse from Matthew… “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth…” Matt. 6:3. See how this verse applies to this left hand-left foot concept? In the book of Daniel, the point is repeatedly made concerning the captive Hebrews (Daniel and friends), that their Christian witness came not from handing out Bible tracks, or speaking to people about the Lord. But their greatest witness came during their severe trials in which they remained faithful!

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TOMORROW…

” April 3 (The City of Morality, Part 3: Satan’s Detours)”

Detour Sign – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #456 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 1 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet)

By admin On January 23rd, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- APRIL 1

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Cuttlefish & The False Prophet

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“And then shall that Wicked be revealed…

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan

with all power and signs and lying wonders,”

2nd Thessalonians 2:8, 9 (condensed)

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God originally created this world to be a beautiful home for Mankind.

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Yet when we fell from grace, this world began to change in many ways.

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But in addition to giving nature the ability to become dangerous after the Fall of Man, God also designed nature to teach lessons about good and evil!

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Cuttlefish komodo – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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CUTTLEFISH: THE ULTIMATE IMPOSTORS!

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One of the most amazing creatures ever created is the Cuttlefish!

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The reason why this creature is so incredible, is that whatever the Cuttlefish passes over, it instantly begins to change into the same color and shape, of that undersea object!

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And so, its enemies cannot detect the Cuttlefish!

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Cuttlefish.ogv – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons License

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CUTTLEFISH: SYMBOL OF SATAN

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Well, God has created this little predator to give us further insight into the inner working of the kingdom of Satan.

(As this little 26 second video below shows, the Cuttlefish has the ability to paralyze his potential victims, by using his hypnotizing strobe-light effect! Amazing!)

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Certainly, Satan and his unseen minions love to make themselves invisible! And then with strobe-like flashes, satanic forces mesmerize us with the glittering tinsel-like treasures and earthy pleasures of this deceptive world!

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This is the manner in which they can deceptively work their misery and woe upon this unsuspecting world!

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Yes, without Satan’s invisibility, deceptions, and mesmerizing allurements, the world’s inhabitants would become alarmed, which would cause us to rebel against Satan’s kingdom, as we flee to God for refuge and safety!

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SATAN’S WORKS UNDERCOVER

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Now, God has created this amazing creature’s camouflaging abilities, to illustrate how Satan works undercover within the Church!

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Listen… “And then shall that Wicked be revealed…Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 2nd Thessalonians 2:8, 9 (condensed)

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As this above passage reveals, Satan will counterfeit the workings of God, to deceive God’s people, until the day he is revealed to God’s Elect!

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

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THE APOSTATE CHURCH-WORLD

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Now as we stand back and observe the current state of Christianity, we see the prosperity-driven gospels have taken over both the liberal churches as well as the conservative churches!

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Listen… “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

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Yes, the days of a self-denying, Christlike Church, laying down their lives for the furtherance of the Gospel, are long gone!

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Church Burning – Burning Man – 2013 – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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AN EXCITEMENT IN TODAY’S CHURCHES!

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And yet, we see a great excitement in the churches, in the form of signs and wonders! Indeed, in almost every congregation, many people are receiving visions and voices and dreams, and tongues (unintelligible babbling) and falling backwards (being, “slain in the spirit”).

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By observing all this, you would think that God is extremely happy with His people!

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It is as if God is placing His seal of approval on His people, via all these signs and wonders!

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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FALSE PROPHETS SHALL ARISE

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**So, just what is the source of all this “electricity” in the church-world?**

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Listen again… “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24

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As this above verse reveals, the deceptions will be so close to the true, that they will be hardly detectable, even to God’s Elect!

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

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“Examine yourselves, whether …Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates…”

2nd Corinthians 13:5

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And so, just how can I be assured that my relationship with God is real?

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Because, with Satan’s Cuttlefish-abilities to counterfeit the signs and wonders so closely, both you and I must examine ourselves, and prove to ourselves whether we are truly in the faith, or perhaps, have just plain been deceived by this satanic Cuttlefish-counterfeiter!

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

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CRUCIFYING THE “OLD MAN”

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“This I say…that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk…That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in…true holiness.” Ephesians 4:17, 22-24

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This above passage presents a giant concept about being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

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(This not-so-funny cartoon above, certainly speaks a 1,000 words, as it depicts a carnal Christian immersed in so many worldly pleasures, while the Apocalyptic storm-cloud has arrived!)

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THE DOUBLE-MINDED RECEIVE NOTHING!

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In other words, is God going to place His seal of approval upon those who are not even living the Christian life? Will a world-loving Christian receive signs and wonders while he or she is still, more or less, living in the flesh?

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Listen… “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:7, 8

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**If a so-called Christian is still seeking after the things of the world, and yet wanting to receive the gift of tongues, this above passage puts the “Kibosh” on such a notion!**

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

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AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT

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As Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and Mammon! (see Matthew 6:24)

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And yet there are countless double-minded church-goers who think that God is working marvelously in their lives, via so-called, “signs and wonders”!

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Rock Music Christian CHURCH Pomona – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE BIBLE TO BE OUR GUIDE

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The fact is, when a Christian knows the Bible, really knows the Bible, there won’t be any need to depend upon voices or visions for guidance! The precious promises found in God’s Word are all we need for guidance, in any, and every situation of life!

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Listen… “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

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Yes, God’s Word, the Bible is to be our, “meditation (contemplation) day and night”! (see Psalm 1:2)

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

APRIL 11 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 2: Hypnotism)

Giant Cuttlefish – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution

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WATCH THIS SHORT BUT AMAZING VIDEO…

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me examine myself. Give me insight into my relationship with Thee! Show me the motives of my heart, as to whether I am a true Believer, or merely a “make-believer”…

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike 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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CASTOR AND POLLUX

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& 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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Most theologians interpret this verse to be speaking of two pagan gods known as Castor and Pollux. Beyond that, they are puzzled as to what significance do these twin gods have. Some believe these gods to be the patrons of safe ocean travel. Certainly God would never want His people to board such a pagan ship!

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But there is much significance to Castor and Pollux. No, not to those twin-gods. But there are two stars named Castor and Pollux. They are twin-stars, and not twin-gods. They are the two bright stars of the constellation commonly known as Gemini. But as “Signs Of Heaven” points out, these two stars also happen to be the two brightest stars on Orion’s sickle.

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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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“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14. Castor and Pollux represent this Biblical concept of the Narrow Way.

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LOCATING THIS GROUP…

Ursa Major and the Narrow & wide Gates

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These two sketches below are the same picture, one with stars only, the other with embellishments. These stars appear more or less like this when they are in the western sky, just before they sink below the western horizon (please excuse the less-than 100% accurate sketch). At the top of the sketches in the center is the Big Dipper. But with other surrounding stars, the Big Dipper is known as Ursa Major or the Great Bear. But as this website points out, Ursa Major is actually the Revelation 12 Woman. (Ursa Major appears much larger in the sky than this sketch shows. But in order to fit her into this drawing, the artist had to depict her much smaller)

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TOMORROW…

“April 2 (Honeybees & The Law)”

Bee on calyx – Wikipedia – Share-alike license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #455 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 31 (How To Put Time In A Bottle!)

By admin On January 22nd, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2- MARCH 31

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How To Put Time In A Bottle!

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“For what is your life? It is even a vapor,

that appears for a little time,

and then vanishes away.”

James 4:14

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For those who lived in the 1970’s, the name Jim Croce might ring a familiar bell.

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Yes, Jim Croce was a shooting star, whose 15 minutes of fame ended almost as soon as it began!

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Empty bottle with mail – Wikimedia – Creative Commons – Share-alike License

Jim Croce – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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AN EERINESS

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And yet, he wrote and recorded more hit songs, to merely be referred to as a,

“one-hit-wonder”!

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But there was a certain eeriness which surrounded his momentary flash upon the pop-music scene. You see, Croce suddenly died in a plane crash, while that plane was just taking to the sky!

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This crash seemed to be a fitting symbol of Jim Croce’s career, which also came to a sudden crash, after that career just began taking to the sky!

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Empty bottle with mail – Wikimedia – Creative Commons – Share-alike License

Jim Croce – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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LIFE WON’T PASS ME BY

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But to add to the eeriness, one of Croce’s songs was published posthumously…

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“Like the pine trees linin’ the windin’ road
I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name
Like the singin’ bird and the croakin’ toad
I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name

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“And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I’m livin’ the dream that he kept hid

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“Movin’ me down the highway
Rollin’ me down the highway
Movin’ ahead so life won’t pass me by”

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BIRD – Erithacus rubecula Norway – singing – Wikipedia – share-alike-license

Toad – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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HARD TO SING TO

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This song, like most of Croce’s songs, was very memorable and easy to sing to.

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But this zest-for-life song/poem, was a bit difficult for the world to sing along with, knowing that its composer had just been laid to rest in his early grave at the very young age of 30.

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But even though Jim Croce didn’t want life to pass him by, it nevertheless did!

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Listen again… “Movin’ me down the highway
Rollin’ me down the highway
Movin’ ahead so life won’t pass me by”

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Yes, Jim Croce’s life was passed by, due to his untimely death.

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Jim Croce – Wide World Concert – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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LIFE IS SHORT

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But let’s get honest for a moment. When you really think about it, life passes us all by, doesn’t it? We live for about 7 or 8 decades, and there we go, right down into our grave!

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But even if we live another decade or two beyond most others, we probably will only be existing, and not really living!

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And even those few who actually do enjoy this selfish world well into their 90’s, will finally go down to their graves, never to be heard from again…

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Listen… “His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4

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Calvary Cemetery Queens – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TIME IN A BOTTLE

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**Jim Croce wrote another hauntingly beautiful ballad… “If I Could Put Time In A Bottle”, which also was released posthumously.**

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But this was also a bit difficult to sing to, knowing that Croce was already in the grave, and his bottle was already broken! And many people even thought that perhaps Croce wrote this song as a precognition of his soon-coming date with death…

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Listen… “If I could save time in a bottle,
The first thing that I’d like to do,
***Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away,* *Just to spend them with you”***

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These above lyrics have a macabre aura to them, considering that they were sung to the world just days and weeks after he was put in the grave!

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Still Life With A Skull & Hour-glass – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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DEAD PEOPLE SINGING

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But when you think about it, there are so many songs we hear each day, sung by deceased people.

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Well, we could probably just conclude that we humans are so familiar with death and dying, that we become numb to these morbid things!

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As the Preacher says… “Meaningless, meaningless! All is meaningless!…One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:” Ecclesiastes 1:2, 4

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Persistence of Memory – Salvador Dali – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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OTHER BOTTLES

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The point is, that there are many people throughout the world who live their hopeless lives, knowing that time is passing them by.

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And as they grow older, they eventually realize that they cannot put time in a bottle! They understand that life will soon pass them by!

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And so, they try to cover this death-sentence up, by trying not to think about their inevitable doom!

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Some resort to another bottle (alcohol) to try to forget about the past (or the present): ah yes, the Bottle of Forgetfulness!

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And others will try to keep so busy, as to not be alone with fearful thoughts about their hopeless future!

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Listen… “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:15

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Yes, the people of the world live in fear of death, though many try to hide this fact!

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Alcohol bottles – photographed while drunk by Kotivalo for Wikimedia – Share-alike License 3.0

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HIDING FROM REALITY

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Yes, we try to imagine that the next few decades will drag out, and so “why should I worry about my future date with death?”

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And with the aid of that infamous happy-faced false prophet, the television (which constantly assures us just how important and relevant we are), we try to escape that Grim Reaper, who always seems to be waiting just around the next corner, lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting!

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Jack-the-Ripper – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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A GENERATION PASSES AWAY

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“…vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes…” Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

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But we see a new generation springing up, with all the brash exuberance which we once had!

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We see the younger generation having their so-called “storybook romances”, that we once experienced! We see our hair turning grey, while theirs are full of youthful color and sheen! We hear our favorite Jim Croce song while riding the down-escalator in a department store, as we try to find something to buy, which might brighten up our day!

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Oh yes, God gives us many happy, fleeting moments with friends and family. But the longer we live, the more that life passes us by! We no longer feel a part of the, “now generation”! We hear the TV tell us how relevant we seniors are, all the while focusing its attention on the young and beautiful!

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Jim Croce died over 40 years ago. He would be over 70 years old today! But with each passing day, his memory keeps fading more and more into the past! Soon his name will be forgotten altogether!

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Sunset over San Diego Graveyard – Wikipedia – Share-alike License for Andy Eick

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BOTTLE THAT WILL NEVER BREAK!

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Now, is there any Good News in this hopelessly dying world?

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Oh yes! The Bible speaks of a bottle that will never ever be broken!

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Listen… “Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in Thy Book?…For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” Psalm 56:8, 13

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Here is a wonderful poetic promise, which hopefully, Jim Croce took hold of, prior to his sudden death!

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And this wonderful promise of everlasting life is still available for you and I to take hold of, if we wish to!

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

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AS THE STARS FOREVER!

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Yes, there exists an unbreakable bottle, which will forever hold all my tears and all my wanderings through this dark Valley of the Shadow of Death, called planet Earth.

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So yes, you CAN put time in a bottle after all!

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You DON’T have to let life pass you by!

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You CAN actually shine, “as the stars for ever and ever!” Daniel 12:3

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

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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 handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before Thee…” Psalm 39:4, 5

Praying Hands – Otto Greiner – Wikimedia – .bassenge.com – Cropped image – 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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FLOWER OF THE FIELD IN HEAVEN

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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.

Two Turtledoves-Flower of the Field- Cross/Scepter Constellations

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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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WHY IS THIS FLOWER POINTING UPWARD?

flower of the field constellation (fixed)

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To the right is a star-chart from Wikipedia. The editor of this site has sketched in the Flower of the Field Constellation on this constellation commonly referred to as the Scorpio Constellation (plus a few other close-by bright stars).

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Do you see the long blade of grass growing from the base of the Flower of the Field? This is made of the two highest stars of the Lupus Constellation, and the two lowest stars of the Libra Constellation.

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As this Wikipedia star-chart shows, the flower appears to be pointing to Arcturus and the Revelation 12 Woman (shown in sketch below). Arcturus represents Jesus, as He leads His sons (and daughters) on a spiritual journey up a heavenward pathway, as is written… “Canst you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:32.

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TOMORROW…

“April 1 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet)”

Giant Cuttlefish – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #454 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 30 (In Every Thing Give Thanks!?! Part 4: The Armor of God!)

By admin On January 22nd, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 30

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In Every Thing Give Thanks!?!

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Part 4:

“The Armor of God!”

To read Part 1, click here… February 1st (In Every Thing Give Thanks!?!)

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“In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1st Thessalonians 5:18

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For the most part, Christians have been taught that the Book of Revelation is all about God’s wrath on the people of the world!

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“Revelation, Chapter 4, through Chapter 22 has nothing to do with Christians, because Christians are not appointed to wrath”, say the advocates of this theory.

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The popular theory today is that true Christians will be removed from the earth, prior to all this happening, via the Rapture!

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**And so, this, “day of wrath” will be for Jews, or so they say…**

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

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REVELATION FOR CLEANSING

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But listen to Revelation… “I beheld…a great multitude…of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood…before the Lamb, clothed with white robes…These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9, 13, 14

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Now does this above passage sound as if it is speaking only of 144,000 Jews? No, it is speaking of, “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” Revelation 7:9

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And furthermore, this great multitude of all nations kindreds, people and tongues have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!”

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And so, let’s get rid of this notion that the coming Great Tribulation is only for the purpose of God’s wrath!

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It is for the spiritual purification of God’s people!

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Burning at the Stake – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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KEPT FROM THAT HOUR

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Now the Bible does say that, “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10

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OK, so it says in this above verse that those faithful ones will be kept from that hour.

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But it says nothing here about RAPTURING them out of the world, prior to this great time of trouble!

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Girl with a Bible (Faith of Our Fathers) – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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HIDDEN IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE!

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Quite the opposite!

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For those who wish to escape the great trials which are now beginning to come upon the whole earth, the following passage is of great instruction… “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3

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Here is where God’s faithfully dedicated people will be during the coming tempest: hidden!

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Here is how God’s people will be kept from that hour of temptation: HIDDEN!

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

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HOW ARE WE TO HIDE?

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But just how are we to be hidden?

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Well, the Bible answers this question!

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The Believer must, “seek righteousness, seek meekness”!

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And this above passage from Zephaniah 2:3 says, that by so-doing, “it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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LIKE A COMPUTER GAME!

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But one very important concept that we must keep in mind is found in the following passage… “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

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This above passage is so critically important to remember as we go about our day!

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Because, so many of us forget that all things which we encounter, are allowed by God for our Christian perfection!

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Yes, even the bad stuff!

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Just think of a children’s computer game, in which the main character must walk up a pathway filled with various dangers and pitfalls.

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Computer game – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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HAVING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD

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And just like that computer game, each and every daily situation which arises requires us to have our Christian armor on!

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And with God’s, “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”, we can battle against every, “every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2nd Corinthians 10:5

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**And with, “the shield of faith,” (Ephesians 6:16), we can put to rest all fears, and overcome all assaults which Satan brings upon Christians in everyday life!**

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And by having on our feet, the shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of peace, we can be instantly ready to give an answer to every person who might be ready to hear about the joys of Salvation!

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Christian and Apollyon – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“BY WISE COUNSEL, THOU SHALL MAKE THY WAR!”

Proverbs 24:6

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Yes, the Lord brings (or allows) many situations to come upon us daily!

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**And these many trials require us to bring to remembrance God’s, “precious promises“, which come to our aid, in times of trouble, both great and small!**

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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ALL THINGS…FOR OUR GOOD!

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Now this is an abbreviated study into this concept of giving thanks for all things!

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Yes, an entire Book could be written on this subject!

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And so, I must put on the armor of God, and begin to walk that faith-walk which is right now coming daily upon all God’s people!

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And if I don’t delay, but become fully engaged right now, then this coming Time of Trouble will actually become a time of joy, as God’s people walk by faith, having previously done all our homework!

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TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

August 14th (In Every Thing, Give Thanks!?! Part 5: God’s Foreknowledge)

Jesus – Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to fully grasp this concept of giving thanks in both the good as well as the bad things that happen. Help me to understand that nothing can happen to me, either good or bad, unless you allow it to happen…for my benefit…

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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THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE… “THE ARMOR OF GOD”

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“PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD”…

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I didn’t understand all that Ephesians 6 was talking about. *“What does it mean to put o**n ‘the breast plate of righteousness'”?* This was very puzzling to me… “How does a person just put something like that on?” This was a concept above my comprehension.

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***“And how does a person ‘put on the helmet of salvation'”,* I thought to myself… *“especially while Satan is condemning and accusing every moment?”***

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**And how do you put on the shoes, ‘with the gospel of peace’? I couldn’t understand these concepts. I was too new in the faith.**

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ONE CONCEPT THAT DID MAKE SENSE… But there was one thing I could understand. I knew what it meant to take the “sword of the spirit, which is the word of God”. Now that I got! Read the Bible! That’s a simple concept! Yeah!

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Well, this began a long love affair with the word of God. And by studying the Bible for myself, I came to understand what it meant to ‘put on the breastplate of righteousness’. And by hiding the, ‘Word in my heart’ (Psalm 119:11), I began to comprehend what it meant to ‘put on the helmet of salvation’. To put on the, ‘preparation of the gospel of peace’ … ‘the shield of faith’.

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I already knew well what the fiery darts of the devil meant. But these other truths didn’t come all at once.

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The sketch above is Orion the Soldier and the Dragon of Revelation 12. They begin to rise in the east in the fall and gradually move westward, finally sinking in the west in the spring. Find Orion first. Look for his 3-star belt. Then find the 4 bright stars of his shoulders and feet. Then locate the Dragon’s mouth (AKA Hyades).

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TOMORROW…

“MARCH 31 (How To Put Time In A Bottle!)”

Jim Croce – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #453 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 29 (The Social Justice Gospel & Christ!)

By admin On January 20th, 2015

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – MARCH 29

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The Social Justice Gospel & Christ!

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“Get thee behind Me, Satan:

for thou savourest not the things that be of God,

but the things that be of men.”

Mark 8:33

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Socialists and secularists began moving into this society many decades ago.

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And they began to infiltrate the western nations: the very societies which once lovingly embraced the Reformation and the Gospel in earlier centuries.

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Karl Marx – Wikipedia – public domain

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Now what does all this have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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

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THE SOCIALISTIC GOSPEL

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**The answer is, that there has emerged a counterfeit gospel, tagged by its detractors as, “The Social Justice Gospel”.**

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And this ideology has also been rising in power through the last decades, along with its progenitor, “socialism”.

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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CLOSE COUNTERFEIT!

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**Now just like secular socialism, the Social-Justice Gospel demonizes capitalism as being the enemy of the “common man”.**

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And so, this Social Justice Gospel renounces capitalism, and sometimes even renounces owning earthly possessions, and even owning one’s own home!

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And this gospel comes very close to true Christianity. After all, Jesus and His disciples lived a life of poverty as they preached the Gospel to the Bible lands of the Middle East.

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The big difference between these two gospels is that Jesus and His disciples were 100% focused on the Salvation of lost souls!

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On the other hand, this Social Justice Gospel is primarily focused on the earthly needs of the poor and downtrodden.

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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FEEDING THE HUNGRY, ETC…

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Now of course, this socialistic gospel clings to such Bible passages as … “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;” Isaiah 58:6,7

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And so, when reading this above passage, the socialistic enthusiast can only see the literal context. He cannot see the true spiritual meaning.

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Free Food Distribution – Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp – Kolkataw – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Free Documentation License

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THE BIBLE A SUPERNATURAL BOOK

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But the great problem is that God has written the Bible in such a way, that it reveals the motives of the heart.

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In other words, the Bible will lead different people in different directions.

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For those who wish to seek after earthly riches, the Bible has plenty of verses about being rich. For those who wish to drink alcohol, the Bible gives the necessary permission. For those, who wish to pursue physical health above all else, the Bible seems to validate that too! For those who like the idea of bigamy, or adultery, there are stories about good men with multiple wives.

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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BIBLE REVEALS TRUE MOTIVES OF THE HEART!

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And so, these and other seemingly good pathways are all “validated” by the Bible… “With the merciful Thou (God) wilt show Thyself merciful, and with the upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright. With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure; and with the froward Thou wilt show Thyself unsavoury.” 2nd Samuel 22:26, 27

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**In other words, the Bible is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Hebrews 4:12! It sends each person down whatever pathway that each heart desires to go!**

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But for those who wish to follow the true Jesus of the Bible, the holy Scriptures will unscramble itself, and present the truth of God.

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Holy Bible – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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ONLY ONE TRUE JESUS!

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Listen to Paul, as he complains about the Corinthians being seduced by false gospels… “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2nd Corinthians 11:4

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And the fact is, while the Bible presents Jesus as the Divine Role-Model for all Heaven and Earth, Jesus was not focused on earthly needs!

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Oh yes, He healed the sick. But His heart desired the Salvation of souls above all else!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped photo – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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***ANOTHER JESUS,* *ANOTHER SPIRIT!***

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But those who are desirous of a socialistic gospel, can only read the Bible through, “socialism glasses”.

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In other words, their heart goes after those verses which speak of feeding, or clothing, or healing those in need. But these Social Justice Gospel warriors cannot enjoy reading such books as Psalms, or Romans, or Revelation, etc….

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They have not the true Holy Spirit! But they merely have the “god of this world”, a counterfeit spirit who only allows them to focus on earthly things. Satan instills his antichrist spirit within, causing them to possess, “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2nd Timothy 3:5

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EVEN PETER BECAME A SOCIAL-JUSTICE WARRIOR

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Even the Apostle, Peter, at one moment, became a social-justice warrior, when Jesus foretold of His soon-coming crucifixion. You see, Peter was more concerned about Jesus’ physical well-being rather than the lost souls which Jesus came to die for…“And…Peter took Him (Jesus), and began to rebuke Him.” Mark 8:32

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But listen to how Jesus responded to Peter’s “humanitarianism”…“But…He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.” Mark 8:33

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No, Jesus was not necessarily calling Peter “Satan”, although “Satan” actually translates, “enemy”. But even though Peter was behaving like the enemy, Jesus was most likely speaking to the antichrist spirit of Satan, who was compelling Peter to say what he said to Jesus. Fortunately, Peter ultimately repented of his numerous words and deeds of so-called humanitarianism.

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Jesus and Peter – Get Thee Behind Me, Satan by j tissot brooklyn museum & Wikipedia – US public domain

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WHAT DID JESUS DO? OR PAUL?

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But God wrote the Bible, so that any truth-seeker may rise above the fog of confusion, and find the true meaning of the Bible!

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You see, God not only gave Jesus to be our Divine Role-Model, but He also gave Paul to be our earthly role-model.

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Listen to Paul… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 11:1

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Paul’s life was dedicated to preaching the Gospel of Salvation! We do not see him devoted to socialism in the slightest. He did not hand out clothing, or food baskets. He was totally fixated on preaching the Gospel.

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As a matter of fact, neither did Jesus ever hand out clothing, or visited anyone in prison during His 42-month ministry. And only on two occasions did he feed people. And on one of those occasions, it was only because the multitudes had been listening to His preaching for three days without food!

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It was a three-day Bible study followed by a great feast!

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St Paul Preaching in Athens (Raphael, 1515) Wikipedia US public domain

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THE SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY, ETC…

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And so, the lives of Jesus and Paul do not give credence to this socialistic gospel.

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Oh yes, Jesus feeds those who hunger for the Gospel of Salvation!

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And yes, Jesus clothes the spiritually naked with the clean and white garments of righteousness!

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And Jesus visits those who are in Satan’s prison-house of sin!

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And He heals the sin-sick soul!

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(And of course, if we occasionally encounter someone truly in need of financial or physical help, we would provide whatever immediate assistance necessary! And there are many dedicated Christians who visit those incarcerated in jails and prisons of one type or another.}

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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The fact is, there there are many “jesus’s” out there! But there is only one true, biblical Jesus! And every truth-seeker will ultimately find that one true Jesus!

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And the Good News is, that there is still some time left to find that one true Jesus! And though true Salvation is a gift of grace, we nevertheless have the privilege of calling out to God for mercy! And we have the joy of following this true Jesus, as He leads His disciples today, much in the same way as He led them 2,000 years ago.

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Oh yes, this is a spiritual journey of the heart! But it is a journey that will ultimately lead the true Believer onward and upward to that Celestial City of God!

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Upward Pathway – by böhringer friedrich for – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Make me into a truth-seeker! Fill me with the true Holy Spirit! Keep me from every wrong path, no matter how close it seems to the true…

Starry Night at La Silla – Wikimedia – Share-Alike 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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WHAT DOES THE WATER REPRESENT?

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***“When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN* made me afraid. *The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.***

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Winter Bible Constellations (darker)www.signsofheaven.org share-alike license

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So this passage (and many others too) equates flood waters with the sorrows of Hell, with ungodly men, and with waves of death. And so then, by comparing Scriptures dealing with flood waters, we begin to see just what this Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from. Listen to Revelation, Chapter 12… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:15. As you can see in this sketch to the left, this woman is fleeing from the water which the Dragon is spewing, exactly as it says in Revelation 12. And so, by looking at various related Scriptures, we begin to understand just what this wave of water represents. This Woman of Revelation 12 is fleeing from ‘waves of death’, from ‘sorrows of Hell’, and from ‘floods of ungodly men’, as stated in Psalm 18:4.

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DRAGON CONSTELLATION’S WAVE OF WATER

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Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation

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In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon of Revelation 12 Constellation up in the night sky does not. But God has faithfully created this wave of water, in such a way, as to illustrate this same concept of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Because this wave of water is basically comprised of ten stars. The main body of the wave has seven stars (#’s 1 thru 7, in the sketch), and the tip of the crest of the wave has the other three stars, (#’s 8, 9, 10). So in this wave, we see the same 7/10 numbering found in the Revelation description of the heads/horns/crowns of the Dragon. And this gives us a great clue, as to where in the Bible we should look, to find out the riddle as to just what or who do these 7 heads, 10 crowns, and 7 horns represent. Because, the Bible speaks very much about floods and waters as being associated with Satan (the Dragon).

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Listen again… “When the waves of death compassed me…THE FLOODS OF UNGODLY MEN made me afraid. The sorrows of Hell compassed me about;” 2nd Samuel 22:5.

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TOMORROW…

“MARCH 30 (In Every Thing Give Thanks!?! Part 4: The Armor of God!) “

ABOVE PICTURE: The armor of God – theheavensdeclare.net -use by permission only

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #452 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Devouring Fire.com

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – April 9 (The Straw-Man, Part 5: Stigmatizing Christianity, CONTINUED: “Foolish Talk & Jesting”)

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – APRIL 9

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The Straw-Man,

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Part 5:

“Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting, Continued“

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“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”

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A TIME TO WEEP

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While unbelievers are free to joke and jest and enjoy their comedies, the Christian has been given a special commission to warn the world to, “flee from the wrath to come!”

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This world, to a great extent, is a tragic place of greed, hatred, war, misery and death; but also a place of great indifference toward the sufferings going on elsewhere, around the world!

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And just as Lot’s sons-in-law thought he was merely joking about the wrath to come upon Sodom, so too, we are in danger of compromising our solemn message to the world by all our giddiness and frivolity and pleasure-seeking!

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“FOOLISH TALK AND JESTING”

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Maybe a few moments should be devoted to understanding just what is the problem with “foolish talk and jesting”?

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And so, just what is the problem with worldly humor?

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Listen… “Fools make a mock at sin:” Proverbs 14:9

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One great problem with worldly humor, is that it often makes a joke about sinful behavior.

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And thus, the world makes light of sin: sexual references, silly behavior, people’s looks or personality, all in attempt to get a laugh.

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THE WHISPERER

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As a matter of fact, if analyzed, jesting can be a great source of pride, as the jester makes his audience laugh, and thinking to himself, “I’m so clever!”

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But what he doesn’t realize is, that the source of his inspiration is actually, “The Prince of the Power of the Air, that spirit which now works in the children of disobedience”! Ephesians 2:2

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Yes, the same spirit that whispered malicious gossip into Eve’s ear, is that very same unseen spirit, whose voice whispers clever quips into the mocker’s ears!

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And so, many types of worldly humor only indicates a presence of “another spirit!” 2nd Corinthians 11:4

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FINDING A CORRECT BALANCE

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We need to seriously warn the world of its soon-coming destruction, and the eternal grave awaiting all rejectors of God’s grace!

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And yet, we need to walk a fine line between falling into one extreme or the other!

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“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2

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This above passage lets us know that we can be joyful and content, without joining in with the pagan mirth which the world engages in. Dedicated Christians love to sing joyful songs that praise the Lord!

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And yet, if we are truly filled with God’s Spirit, our daily behavior will be coupled together with fear and trembling, combined with sympathy, love, and rejoicing!

*“Stigmatizing Christianity! Foolish Talk & Jesting, Continued***“

**Maybe a few moments should be devoted to understanding just what is the problem with “foolish talk and jesting”?**

**And though He was a “man of sorrows, acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53), nevertheless, He possessed a continual inner joy, which shone out from Him for all the world to see!**

**And though, Jesus, “is love”, we should not think that true, godly love, requires us to be jokers and jesters!**

**And He is to be our Divine Example in all situations of everyday life, big or small.**