Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 1 (The City of Morality, Part 8: “Living The Dream!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 1

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The City of Morality,

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Part 8:

“Living The Dream!”

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

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“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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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 and its wages).

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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!

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**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!

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And 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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“GO SELL THAT THOU HAST…AND COME FOLLOW ME!”

Matthew 19:21

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When Jesus called His disciples, there was no half-hearted commitment on their part. It is written of them… “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11

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Here we behold the whole-hearted nature of the Gospel. Jesus has no interest in preserving some portion of this selfish world. He is not interested in compromising with selfishness. And let’s be honest, “Self” is what this world is all about! And it must be completely vanquished out of the heart (the heart being the treasure-chest of the mind)!

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Jesus Calls Disciples – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS”

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Listen… “Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

1st John 2:15-17

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Here above is seen the total depravity of this world of selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19

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Yes, the entire world system “lieth in wickedness”, as John, the Apostle puts it in the above verse. We just don’t realize how much selfishness permeates these seemingly “harmless and “innocent” pleasures and pursuits of the world!

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

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“TURN IN HITHER…STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET!”

Proverbs 9:16, 17

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**Nevertheless, that “serpent of old”, the great deceiver carries on his masterful artifice against the people of God.**

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And that old “worldly wiseman” is busily calling out to all those simple ones in the church-world to come and enjoy the so-called “innocent” pleasures and ambitious pursuits which are so abundant in today’s state-of-the-art, cornucopian super-society.

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Yes, that master-deceiver has given this evil world a complete make-over, almost making it seem at times, like a theme-park Wonderland, complete with adventures, worldly dreams, and new frontiers to conquer….

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And in his role as the modern-day, “The False Prophet”, Satan has enjoyed great success in drawing away church-goers from the true and pure Gospel, back into the world, as they attempt to have Heaven while still clinging to the earth.

(For “False Prophet” reference, see Revelation 16:13, 19:20, etc…)

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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Dom

Shopping Mall – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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“SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS”

1st Timothy 6:5

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And perhaps one of Satan’s greatest deceptions is to sell to us the false notion that a Christian can achieve some type of earthly dreamlife and still remain on the upward, Heavenward sojourn out of this “City of Destruction” world.

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But that is not possible! Just the opposite! Satan (whose title in 2nd Corinthians 4:4 is, “the god of this world”) has made sure that only those who are willing to trade away their souls for a piece of this world will find peace and prosperity here…“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” Psalm 73:12

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Yes, this modern-day Worldly Wiseman is promising a life of affluence, advantage, and earthly pleasure, if only the faithful church-goer will simply pinch off a little piece of this world and offer it on the altar of his or her selfish desires! That’s all that it takes to worship his Satanic Majesty!

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“BUT IF ANY PROVIDE NOT FOR HIS OWN…HOUSEHOLD…IS WORSE THAN AN INFIDEL!”

1st Timothy 5:8

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Now of course, those with families must live and work and provide for the needs and contentment and even the happiness of their household!

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And as long as the current world-condition still permits Believers to do this, the true worshiper of God must not neglect his or her family duties. And if that Christian has a spouse and children who love this present world, he or she will probably be required to devote much time and energy in providing the things of this world to make them happy.

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But make no mistake! All those genuine and faithful Christians with wayward family members will be crying out, day and night that God will bless them and deliver them all out of this Babylonish captivity, so that the entire family can come along up that gently ascending pathway to the Celestial City of God, forever leaving this doomed planet, as Bunyan called it, “The City of Destruction”.

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James Tissot – The Flight of the Prisoners – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TO READ PART 9, CLICK HERE…

November 3 (The City of Morality, Part 9: “Living The Dream!” CONTINUED)

Woman in Mediterranian – Wikigallery – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Drive out all my foolish earthly desires! Purify my heart. Give me the mind of Christ, so that I too can become a 100% seeker of Christ…

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 SEEKER (THE SADDUCEE)

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LOCATING THIS 3RD FACE

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The 3rd face of the Moon is a bit more difficult to locate, because it is mostly upside down. But this photo and this sketch (below right) are how this face would appear if it was turned right side up. (In the southern hemisphere, however, this is how the full Moon actually appears.)

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The 3rd face is the most difficult to see in the northern hemisphere, but once you do, it then becomes easy. This face is like a furry creature of the field. Maybe a rabbit. Maybe a squirrel. Perhaps a chipmunk. Probably a mouse. All “seekers”; all foragers and scavengers.

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And while this picture shows this little “beast of the field” right side up, this 3rd face is always pretty much in an upside-down position.

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The other two faces appear right-side-up, and are easier to locate. This photo and this sketch are both turned around to help you see this 3rd face easily. This enhanced sketch to the above right is merely to help you to see this face more easily. (As already stated, this 3rd face appears right side up in the southern hemisphere.)

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Moon – by James Bowe – 3rd Face – cropped & highlighted photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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LOCATING 3rd FACE AT BEGINNING OF NIGHT

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But this sketch here to the right is how this 3rd face actually appears when the Full Moon is in the east, at the beginning of night, in the northern hemisphere. But all you can readily see is this 1st face.

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What you must do to see the 3rd face is to tilt your head to the right, 90 degrees.

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Do you see it? (You may find it easier if you just turn your screen on its left side, if you are using a laptop. But please don’t do anything to put your computer in jeopardy!)

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The easiest time of the month to actually see this face is when the Full Moon is in the east, just after dark. It then can be seen by tilting your head 90 degrees to the right. But as night progresses, the Moon rotates clockwise, until this face is completely upside down, as the Moon works its way to the west.

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TOMORROW:

November 2 (Planet Earth, Devil’s Island, Part 9: “Planet Earth: Bizzaro World!”)

Bizarro World – Wikipedia – Non-Free media rationale

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping January 22, 2003

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 28 (Noble Bereans, Part 24: “The Message of the First Angel of Revelation 14”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 28

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Noble Bereans,

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Part 24:

“The Message of the First Angel of Revelation 14″

To read part 1, click here…“September 2nd (Noble Bereans?)”

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So, in this little series, the subject of those noble Bereans has been introduced. And today, it is still worthy of a little more exploration into another area of concern.

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Let’s look at the key Bible passage… “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10, 11

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

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AN OPEN-MINDED SPIRIT IN BEREA

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OK, so those in Berea were more noble, because they:

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1. “Received the Word with all readiness of mind.”

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2. “And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

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And thus were those noble Bereans ready to receive new teachings, which no doubt, conflicted with the supposed, “orthodox” teachings of that day.

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Therefore existed an open-mindedness which permeated their hearts, and a willingness to search the Scriptures daily, in hopes that these seemingly new teachings were indeed true!

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

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1ST ANGEL’S MESSAGE

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In yesterday’s devotional (click here to read) the basic principle of proper Bible interpretation has been set forth. And so, the focus of today will be on Revelation 14:6-12 in which three messages are given to the inhabitants of the earth.

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Actually, only the 1st message will be our focus today. And again, since this is only a little devotional with limited space, this subject can only be lightly touched upon, but hopefully enough to whet the appetite of any truth-seeking “noble Berean” who desires to continue their own personal on-going study on this subject.

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And this website has many other articles which may further direct the Reader into these truths.

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3 Angels Message – cropped image – Wikipedia via www.pri.org – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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1ST ANGEL’S MESSAGE

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Listen to the 1st angel’s message… “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6, 7

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Here we have the first message preached to Earth’s dwellers, which includes the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, but also the warning that the fearful hour of God’s Judgment is come. In addition to this, the message contains an exhortation to worship the one and true God who created heaven and earth and the sea and fountains of waters.

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3 Angels Message – cropped image – Wikipedia via www.pri.org – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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ELLEN G. WHITE

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**Now, for brevity’s sake, let’s just “cut to the chase”, as the old saying goes.**

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Has there been any significant candidate who has proclaimed to be a fulfillment of this message?

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Yes, there was a lady back in the 1800’s and early 1900’s named Ellen G. White who made the claim of giving this 1st angel’s message (along with the other two messages).

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No, she never claimed to be an angel, only that the message she gave was symbolized as being given by an angel flying in the midst of heaven.

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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL NEEDED TO CORRECT GROSS ERROR

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You see, the western world had gone through centuries of wrong teachings during the Dark Ages, and God’s desire was to correct many of those errors which the apostate churches of Europe and the America had been teaching. Thus the true everlasting Gospel needed to be proclaimed in hopes of correcting those errors.

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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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

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JUDGMENT HOUR BACK IN 1800’s!?

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Now while it could be somewhat conceded that her writings contained the everlasting Gospel, yet many will instead argue that no possibility exists for the Judgment Hour to have begun all the way back in the mid-nineteenth century. After all, that’s well over 150 years ago!

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Nevertheless, upon reading such writings as her book, “Great Controversy”, she clearly stated that God’s Judgment must first begin at the house of God, but will progress until it eventually extends to the entire world, finally culminating with the long-awaited return of Christ in the clouds of glory!

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Now does the Bible support such an extension of prophetic time?

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Oh yes, in a number of places, the Bible says such things as…”For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1st Peter 4:17

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So even back in Peter’s day, the Judgment of God was already beginning to fall on God’s Church, as the first three chapters of Revelation likewise reveal. So, how much more in Ellen White’s day (and even more so in our day), when the churches were becoming complacent and world-loving because of the lack of outside persecution from the secular world, as well as a lack of persecution from the apostate religious community.

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And right now, this 1st Angel’s Message is being given in a fresh new manner, via this 3rd Angel’s Message, which definitely is being proclaimed in the final hour of God’s Judgment upon the churches and upon the world!

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Right now is the 1st Angel’s Message being given!

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1858 version The Great Controversy by E.G. White – Public Domain

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

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HER WRITINGS WERE A PARAPHRASE OF THE BIBLE

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Now as far as preaching the everlasting Gospel, those who are thoroughly familiar with the Bible can begin as “Noble Bereans” to examine her many writings (on a daily basis) and be delighted to discover that much or perhaps most of her writings were merely paraphrasing some portion of the New and Old Testaments, either literally or allegorically.

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For example, her counsels concerning a healthy diet have a relation to biblical references to food in the Bible. Such things as milk, bread, fruit. etc., can be found in the many Bible allegories concerning “the milk of the Word”, or “the fruit of the Spirit”, or “the bread from Heaven”.

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

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THE SABBATH REST UNTO OUR SOULS

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But this isn’t the only example one could offer. No, even her references to the Sabbath, while seemingly Old Testament, can easily be spiritualized by such passages as this…”Come unto Me (Jesus), all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:28, 29

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Here are the very words of Jesus, in which is plainly spiritualized the 4th Commandment.

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And so, Ellen White’s seemingly Old Testament teachings can easily be spiritualized in such a way that aligns perfectly with Scripture! In other words, the New Testament spiritualizes away the Old Testament types and shadows and allegories. And just like the Old Testament presented the Law in precepts, so did Ellen White’s writing, howbeit to a much lessor extent. After all, the everlasting Gospel includes both the New, but also the Old Testament. And so do her writings!

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Tissot – Moses and the Ten Commandments – Wikipedia – US Public Dom.

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AN EXAMPLE OF PARAPHRASING

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But Ellen White was by no means stuck in the Old Testament, but often paraphrased many New Testament passages…”Every faculty, every attribute, with which the Creator has endowed the children of men, is to be employed for His glory; and in this employment is found its purest, noblest, happiest exercise. The principles of heaven should be made paramount in the life, and every advance step taken in the acquirement of knowledge or in the culture of the intellect should be a step toward the assimilation of the human to the divine. {FE 544.2}”

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Here is just one quote and yet is literally dripping with Old and New Testament references such as Luke 10:27…”And He (Jesus) answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (And this Luke reference is also found in the Old Testament)

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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NOBLE BEREANS WILL STUDY WITH OPEN MINDS

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Now, of course, those who are not “Noble Bereans” will be content to merely study Ellen White’s writings in a superficial manner, just long enough to find some supposed flaw in her writings. And truth-be-told, Ellen White warned her readers not to get the notion that her writings were infallible…”In regard to infallibility, I never claimed it; God alone is infallible. His word is true, and in Him is no variableness, or shadow of turning.—Letter 10, 1895. {1SM 37.4}”

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And so, Ellen White’s writings were the fulfillment of the 1st angel of Revelation 14. And perhaps, more will be later offered on this website in support of this idea.

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**And in tomorrow’s devotional, the message of the 2nd angel, “Babylon is fallen is fallen” will be our theme of exploration.**

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Ellen G. White – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ THE NEXT PART 25, CLICK HERE…

October 29 (Noble Bereans, Part 25: ″The Message of the Second Angel of Revelation 14″

Angel with trumpet – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be an open-minded seeker of truth, even if it means giving up a very highly regarded Church opinion! Let me be willing to investigate any seemingly new teaching if it appears to have some biblical validity…

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

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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***FINALLY WALKING UPWARD* INTO THE HIGHWAYS *OF ETERNITY***

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Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Spirit leads.

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Taking the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken. Walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice that of a truth, Jesus is present within you. Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love.

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Day by day, you will become more and more closed in with God. Moment by moment, your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually two hearts beating as one heart.

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And just like Enoch, when the appointed time of sojourning on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity. (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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ThomasCole – Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey – wikimedia – US public domain

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TOMORROW…

October 29 (Noble Bereans, Part 25: ″The Message of the Second Angel of Revelation 14″

Angel with trumpet – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #299 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 26 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 23: “Tormented With Fire!” CONTINUED)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 26

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Apocalypse NOW!

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Part 23:

“Tormented With Fire!” CONTINUED

To read Part 1, click here…AUGUST 3 (Apocalypse Now! Part 1: “Silencing The True Gospel”)

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***“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud* *voice,***

If any man worship the beast and his image,

and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,

which is poured out without mixture

into the cup of His indignation;

and he (who has the mark) shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

in the presence of the holy angels,

and in the presence of the Lamb:”

Revelation 14:9, 10

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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The so-called “orthodoxy” in the church-world has been hammering the notion into the minds of Christians and church-attendees for the many decades, even centuries, the notion that the punishment of the wicked is only for the unsaved of the world.

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And of course, there are many Bible references which seem to support this idea.

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Unfortunately, the Christian community has been content to accept this notion far too readily, while ignoring other passages which tell us that true worshippers of God will be likewise afflicted.

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“THOU IN FAITHFULNESS HAST AFFLICTED ME”

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Listen to Psalm 119:67, 71, 75…

“Before I was afflicted I went astray:

but now have I kept Thy Word…

It is good for me that I have been afflicted;

that I might learn Thy statutes…

I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right,

and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”

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There is no purpose for God to afflict those who are eternally lost. Listen to this next verse from Psalm 73:3-5…

“For I was envious at the foolish,

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death:

but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men;

neither are they plagued like other men.”

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In this above passage is revealed that affliction is not for those who are of the world.

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But this same Psalmist saw that the wicked seem to have such a nice peaceful existence, while this Psalmist complained about his own self…“For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” Psalm 73:14

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Yes, the Psalmist was envious at those who prospered in the world, while he himself was afflicted seemingly every morning!

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

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

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GOD’S AFFLICTIONS FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE AND NOT FOR THE WORLD!

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**And so, with this truth in mind, (that God’s people, and not the world, are the ones to be afflicted) the 14th Chapter of Revelation begins to take on a completely different application…**

“…and he (that has the Mark)

shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

in the presence of the holy angels,

and in the presence of the Lamb:”

Revelation 14:10

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No, God has no desire to needlessly punish those who will have no part in Christ’s eternal inheritance, even as it is written…

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

But though He cause grief,

yet will He have compassion

according to the multitude of His mercies.

For He doth not afflict willingly

nor grieve the children of men…

Let us search and try our ways,

and turn again to the LORD.”

Lamentations 3:31-33, 40

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Here is revealed that God’s punishments are not merely for the sake of inflicting pain, but are expressly given for the purpose of bringing that afflicted one to repentance and restoration back to Heaven’s ways.

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

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JOB’S SUFFERINGS

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Nearly everyone is familiar with all the sore afflictions which the man, Job, suffered (Job is commonly pronounced with a long, “o”).

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But listen to Job’s assessment of those afflictions…

“Then Job…said…Even to day is my complaint bitter:

my stroke is heavier than my groaning…

But He knoweth the way that I take:

when He hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.”

Job 23:1, 2, 10

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Yes, Job looked forward to the day when he would come forth as purified gold!

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“THE OLD MAN” AND “THE NEW MAN

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What most Christians and churchgoers do not take into account is that the Bible reveals a spiritual truth that there exists two men in the lives of true Christians: “The Old Man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” (Ephesians 4:22), but also, “The New Man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him:” Colossians 3:10.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Battle for the heart – www.signsofheaven.org

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“THY WRATH LIETH HARD UPON ME!”

Psalm 88:7

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Now, today’s devotional is by no means saying that our afflictions are something to enjoy…

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:

nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness

unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Hebrews 12:11

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Yes, our afflictions are grievous, to say the least! But by faith we endure them, knowing that they will yield a wonderful harvest of spiritual fruit, as long as we faint not because of those afflictions!

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Munch – Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT & THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH…”

Galatians 5:17

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And so, there exists a struggle within the heart and soul of every true worshipper of God! And though the true Christian hates his or her old nature of sin, which “The Old Man” creates, nevertheless, that Christian just seems to continue to fall into sin.

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This is where the Lord begins to work in that Believer’s life, even as it is written…

“But who may abide the day of His coming?

and who shall stand when He appeareth?

for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi,

and purge them as gold and silver,

that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

Malachi 3:2, 3

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Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

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OUR “OLD MAN” IS MARKED WITH BEAST’S IMAGE!

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Yes, God has chosen His New Testament people to become, “a royal priesthood” (1st Peter 2:9). And yet, that chosen group of kingly priests must be purified, even as gold and silver are purged and purified in the “refiner’s fire”, so that, “they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

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And so, even though God’s people have been implanted with the seed of “The New Man”, they nevertheless must be purged and purified from that “Old Man with his deeds” who still has the Mark of Satan’s character, i.e., the Mark of the Beast’s image and likeness.

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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VERY GOOD NEWS!

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But the very Good News is found in the following words…

“and he (with the Mark) shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

in the presence of the holy angels,

and in the presence of the Lamb:

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:”

Revelation 14:10, 11

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**Here is revealed that those who are still indwelt by the cursed “Old Man with his deeds” are by no means left alone in their afflictions!**

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No, the Lamb of God, the very One who suffered intensely on our behalf is right there, living out His life as, “The New Man”, dwelling within them and through them, suffering right alongside of them, partaking with them in their many fiery afflictions, so that they may eventually, “come forth as (purified) gold”, even as Job eventually came forth as purified gold at the culmination of his long months of suffering! (see Job 23:10)

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**And the smoke of all this affliction ultimately “ascends up for ever and ever” in praise and gratitude to our merciful God!**

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES”

2nd Peter 1:4

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And so, with all these truths in mind, we may rejoice in our sufferings, all the while clinging to the following great and precious promise…“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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Sign of the Son of Man Constellation – made of the various constellations on this website

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“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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TO READ PART 24, CLICK HERE…

“February 11 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 24: “Ellen White On God’s People Being Delivered”)”

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Strengthen my faith that I may endure the fiery trials which are just now coming upon the horizon for God’s people…

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 WOMAN ON THE ALTAR CONSTELLATION

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“Let my prayer

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be set forth

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before Thee as incense;

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and the lifting up

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of my hands

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as the evening sacrifice.”

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Psalm 142:2

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION…

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This “Golden Altar” Constellation is only seen in winter through spring, in mid-sky. It is to the south of the “Fleeing Woman Constellation” (AKA Ursa Major or The Big Dipper).

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The “Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12” Constellation is in the northeastern sky in this sketch. You would be facing east and looking very high up almost to mid-sky to see this constellation group this way. The altar is farther south but still in the eastern sky. This altar itself is commonly known as “Leo Major“, with the smoke rising being “Leo Minor“.

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TOMORROW…

October 27 (Noble Bereans, Part 23: “The Messages of the Three Angels of Revelation 14″)

3 Angels Message – Wikipedia via www.pri.org – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping January 14, 2003

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 25 (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 5: “Not How Much, But, ‘Why Do I Study?'”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 25

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Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?

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Part 3:

“Not How Much, But It’s ‘Why Do I Study?'”

This is a continuation of the February 4th devotional… Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 1

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“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against Thee.

Psalm 119:11

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There are a great many faithful churchgoers who would love to study their Bible. But they can’t! Their heart is just not into that sort of thing.

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All such unfortunate ones should NOT CEASE to beg and plead to God for the ability to do so!

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Because, Bible study is so vitally important in the life and spiritual health of every true Christian!

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

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VARIOUS REASONS FOR STUDY

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On the other hand, just because a Bible student spends many hours studying his or her Bible doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s quality time spent.

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No, there are various reasons why people study their Bible, some of which are not such good reasons.

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

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THEIR HEART JUST ISN’T INTO IT!

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For instance, many persons faithfully study their Bible each and every morning, merely out of a sense of obligation.

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And while there may be a benefit derived from this type of Bible study, it’s not the best reason.

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Especially if that open Bible study time is not followed up by contemplating God’s Word as the student goes about his or her daily duties.

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

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“Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness:”

Isaiah 58:4

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Other Bible students primarily study for the purpose of debating with others over questionable Church doctrines.

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Also, not a very good reason for studying!

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

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BIBLE PROPHECY

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And then, there are many who primarily study Bible prophecy, and this for the purpose of knowing future events.

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One of the great errors which many of these prophecy buffs make, is to believe that only the Book of Revelation and other certain limited parts of the Bible are beneficial for prophecy.

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Nor do they understand that Revelation’s prophecies are spiritually-discerned illustrations of the Gospel of Christ’s character.

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

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ENTIRE BIBLE IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY!

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But Revelation 19:10 informs us that, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

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**In other words, the entire Bible, being “the testimony of Jesus” is also “the spirit of prophecy”.**

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For instance, this one little seemingly obscure verse from Hosea 11:1 was a tremendously important prophecy concerning the early childhood of Christ…

“When he arose, he (Joseph) took the young Child (Jesus) and His mother by night,

and departed into Egypt…

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,

saying, ‘Out of Egypt have I called My son.'”

Matthew 2:14, 15

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Probably nobody would have known that Hosea 11:1 was prophetic, concerning the early childhood of Jesus, if Matthew 2:14, 15 had not brought it out so plainly.

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And so, Bible prophecy is very important if done correctly.

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

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Unfortunately, there is another great error which most prophecy teachers commit.

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And just what is that great mistake?

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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“YE SHALL NOT ADD UNTO THE WORD…”

Deuteronomy 4:2

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Far too many bible prophecy enthusiasts make the fatal error of trying to decipher prophecies by means of history books and newspapers. And this is often done out of a morbid desire to merely prognosticate future events.

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And Bible study which relies on other books and on newspapers makes that Bible student or teacher guilty of adding man’s corrupt words to God’s infallible Word.

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Newspaper reader – Santa Cruz Argentina – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike Lic.

Old book asking Ridge Historica Society_- cropped image – wikimedia – share-alike license

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SOLA SCRIPTURA

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But if only these erring prophecy students would cling to that old Reformation mantra, “Sola Scriptura”, which means, “The Bible Only”, and merely, prayerfully and carefully, compare scripture with other comparable scriptures, they would begin to discover the true interpretation of Bible prophecy!

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And they might be surprised to find that Bible prophecy reveals more and more about Jesus Christ and His Salvation plan! In other words, to merely seek to know future events is not what good and beneficial Bible prophecy is about. And let’s face it! Prophecy teachers who have been guilty of relying on history books and newspapers to discover and predict future events, will most likely have to eventually apologize for their mistaken predictions.

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But these are just some examples of improper Bible study.

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

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So, just what is good and proper Bible study?

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

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“HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS”

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Listen to the words of Jesus in His sermon on the mount…“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

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This above verse clearly defines the deep and primary purpose of every true Christian: to become changed into the image of Jesus!.

And as this above passage reveals, the true Christian hungers and thirsts after Christ’s character! To become changed into His image is the overwhelming longing and pining of the true child of God!

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And all those hungering and thirsting Believers will…

“seek her (wisdom) as silver,

and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,

and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 2:4, 5

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

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“GIVE EAR UNTO MY VOICE, WHEN I CRY UNTO THEE!”

Psalm 141:1

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The Good News is that today is still the day of Salvation!

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And all those who desire such a relationship with Jesus can begin to cry out for such soul-saving treasures of Christ’s knowledge and wisdom found hidden within the pages of the Bible.

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

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“Whereby (in the Scriptures)

are given unto us

exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”

2nd Peter 1:4

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me such a burning desire to engage in a daily search of Thy Word so that I may gain a greater love for Thee and a closer walk with Thee…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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TOMORROW:

October 26 (Apocalypse NOW! Part 23: “Tormented With Fire!”

Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – wikimedia – public domain

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping January 11, 2003

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 27 (Noble Bereans, Part 23: “The Messages of the Three Angels of Revelation 14”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 27

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Noble Bereans,

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Part 23:

“The Messages of the Three Angels of Revelation 14”

To read part 1, click here…“September 2nd (Noble Bereans?)”

.

So, in this little series, the subject of those noble Bereans has been introduced. And today, it is still worthy of a little more exploration into another area of concern.

.

Let’s look at the key Bible passage…

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:

who coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

and searched the scriptures daily,

whether those things were so.”

Acts 17:10, 11

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

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AN OPEN-MINDED SPIRIT IN BEREA

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Okay, so those in Berea were more noble, because they:

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1. “Received the Word with all readiness of mind.”

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2. “And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

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And so, the Bereans were ready to receive new teachings, which no doubt, conflicted with the supposed, “orthodox” teachings of that day.

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Thus there was an open-mindedness which permeated their hearts, and a willingness to search the Scriptures daily, in hopes that these seemingly new teachings were indeed true!

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And their open-mindedness was in contrast to vast close-minded majority of that day, who merely listened just long enough until heard some supposed error in Paul’s teachings, giving themselves an excuse to reject him altogether!

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

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REVELATION WAS WRITTEN FOR ENTIRE CHURCH-AGE

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The Book of Revelation was given for the Church in every age, even as it is written… ”Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.” Revelation 22:10.

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Yes, the Book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is just as its title reveals: it is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and His marvelous workings in a world steeped in sin and woe.

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Revelation – Wikimedia – courtesy www.pre.org

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CHURCH-WORLD IN DENIAL

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But since about the mid-twentieth century, the apostate portion of the Church has been misleading the Christian community into the notion that the last 19 chapters of Revelation concern only the literal Jews and are greatly irrelevant for the Church.

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And to further bolster this notion, the man-made name, “The Rapture” was invented and added to the teachings of theologians and Bible teachers, to bring about the deception that there will be two separate returns of Christ, presenting the fallacy that the Church would be snatched away prior to the last 7 years of earth’s great end-of-days tribulation.

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This is a fatal error, and is easily disproved by such passages as this above verse, plus many other similar passages such as this…

”Blessed is he that readeth,

and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written therein:

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.”

Revelation 1:3

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“THE TIME IS AT HAND”

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Now why does God pronounce those to be blessed, who read and hear and keep the words of this prophecy?

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Simple! Because “the time is at hand.”

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In other words, the entire Book of Revelation was given to be a comfort for God’s people at any point in time in the New Testament era, as it reveals how Jesus works with and works through His Church-elect.

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Yes, persecution against Christians by Satan’s armies began soon after Christ’s ascension!

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Burned at the stake – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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MAN-MADE UNBIBLICAL HERMENEUTIC

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However, the problem came in when apostate church theologians decided that Scripture must be interpreted as literal as possible, to avoid all the indiscriminate mis-interpreting of Scripture by many unsanctified minds.

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But as the saying goes, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!” Just because some theologians came up with wrong ideas, did not necessitate the forbidding of all spiritualizing away the many types, shadows, allegories, etc…

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Yes, by judiciously comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual, one may find the true spiritual meaning veiled behind the various allegories, parables, types, and shadows found throughout both testaments.

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And doesn’t Jesus Himself tell us…

”And He said, Unto you (His true disciples)

it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:

but to others in parables;

that seeing they might not see,

and hearing they might not understand.”?

Luke 8:10

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The fact is, the Bible is a spiritual Book. God has filled it with many truths which are often veiled within types and shadows and parables and allegories.

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And this very spiritual Book can only be revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit combined with a thorough searching out and comparing of scripture with scripture.

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

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“SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED”

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And concerning the allegorical nature of the Bible, even Paul asks the question… ”Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?…Which things are an allegory.” Galatians 4:21, 24

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Paul here was gently scolding the Galatians for not discerning the allegorical nature of the Law which would have revealed to them the deeper truths which these Galatians could not see by reason of their spiritual blindness.

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But likewise, today’s apostate portion of the Church cannot properly discern spiritual things even as it is written…

“not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;

comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know [them],

because they are spiritually discerned.”

1st Corinthians 2:13, 14

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Yes, the Bible is a spiritual book. But the carnal heart cannot properly discern that spiritual nature, nor does it even desire to do so.

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And to further lock them out of truth, Satan stealthily brought in this false non-biblical hermeneutic which demands that scripture must only be interpreted literally, as far as possible.

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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FALSE HERMENEUTIC HAS CLOSED UP REVELATION

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Now in today’s devotional, the fundamental principle of proper Bible interpretation concerning the parabolic nature of the Bible has been laid down.

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And yet, even a superficial study is enough to refute this aforementioned false hermeneutic, howbeit not exhaustively.

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Yes, it requires a number of devotionals to do a proper job of disproving this false hermeneutic.

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And the Reader is encouraged to keep reading the various articles on this website to gain a fuller understanding of these matters.

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TO READ PART 24, CLICK HERE…

October 28 (Noble Bereans, . Part 24: “The Message of the First Angel of Revelation 14”)

Angel with trumpet – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be an open-minded seeker of truth, even if it means giving up a very highly regarded Church opinion! Let me be willing to investigate any seemingly new teaching if it appears to have some biblical validity…

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

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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***FINALLY WALKING UPWARD* INTO THE HIGHWAYS *OF ETERNITY***

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Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Spirit leads.

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Taking the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken. Walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice that of a truth, Jesus is present within you. Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love.

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Day by day, you will become more and more closed in with God. Moment by moment, your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually two hearts beating as one heart.

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And just like Enoch, when the appointed time of sojourning on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity. (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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ThomasCole-Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey wikimedia US public domain

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TOMORROW…

October 28 (The Two Spirits In The World, Part 7: “The Gospel of Secularism”)

Sigmund Freud – LIFE – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping January 15, 2003

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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“Complete List of Daily Devotionals”

.

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 25

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Cuttlefish & The False Prophet, Part 7: “A World of Cuttlefish Compassion!” CONTINUED

To read Part 1, go here…April 1 (Cuttlefish & The False Prophet)

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“Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Proverbs 27:6

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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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Nature, to a great extent, began to take on some changes. Many creatures and plants, etc., gradually took on different aspects, eventually becoming dangerous to other animals, and some even dangerous to people.

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Cuttlefish komodo – 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 it can just glance at its environment and instantly change its body to imitate that environment!

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As a matter of fact, whatever the Cuttlefish passes over, it instantly begins to change into the same color and shape, of that undersea object!

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Cuttlefish.ogv – 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! That way, they can work their misery and woe upon this unsuspecting world, without its inhabitants becoming alarmed causing us to rebel against Satan’s kingdom, as we flee to God!

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“THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY ARE DECEITFUL!”

Proverbs 27:6

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Truly it can be said, we live in a “Cuttlefish World”.

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Yes, like that incredible impostor, this world has been changed into a seemingly benign and benificent society to a great degree. Oh yes, there are undenyingly many dangerous and evil things out there!

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But just look around at all the humanitarianism going on today! Why, it just seems as if this is such a caring and compassionate world!

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And it’s just about impossible to watch television without some social justice advertisement coming on, promoting some aspect of human kindness!

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Giant Cuttlefish – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution

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There’s a whole lot of secular people (and church-goers too) who seem to be blessed with a degree of human comapassion. There is no shortage of parents who seem to be extremely tender-hearted toward their children.

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We live in a society in which politeness and even courteousness is a common response between members of the community in the course of daily interaction. A whole lot of comradery and back-slapping, jovial sociability is the order of the day, or so it seems.

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So what is all this about?

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After all, Paul warns us in Romans 3:10-16…”As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways:”

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Now this is a pretty bleak commentary on the human heart!

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And speaking of the heart, listen to this next verse from Jeremiah 17:9… “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

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This description says about the same thing, howbeit with much more concise wordage.

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So where does all today’s compassion come from? Is God’s Spirit working in the hearts of the unsaved?

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After all, the Bible has a number of accounts

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Help me to not be fooled by this very deceptive world…

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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***CASTOR AND POLLUX & 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…

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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…

September 23 (Habakkuk Says “Run!”, Part 16: “Nothing Left To Cling To!”)

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #263 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 23 (Noble Bereans, Part 22: “Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding The Spirituality of the Bible”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3: October 23

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Noble Bereans,

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Part 22:

“Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding The Spirituality of the Bible”

To read part 1, click here…“September 2nd (Noble Bereans?)”

.

So, in this little series, the subject of those noble Bereans has been introduced. And today, it is still worthy of a little more exploration into another area of concern.

.

Let’s look at the key Bible passage…

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:

who coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

and searched the scriptures daily,

whether those things were so.”

Acts 17:10, 11

.

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

.

AN OPEN-MINDED SPIRIT IN BEREA

.

Okay, so those in Berea were more noble, because they:

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1. “Received the Word with all readiness of mind.”

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2. “And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

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And so, the Bereans were ready to receive new teachings, which no doubt, conflicted with the supposed, “orthodox” teachings of that day.

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Thus, there was an open-mindedness which permeated their hearts, and a willingness to search the Scriptures daily, in hopes that these seemingly new teachings were indeed true!

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

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A FAILED PREDICTION?

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A few years ago, a certain radio Bible teacher made the seemingly failed prediction that May 21st, 2011, would be the last day of earth’s existence, because of the long-promised return of Christ in the clouds of glory.

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And of course, when that 24-hour day came and went, the world began throwing verbal stones at Harold Camping.

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But in reality, nothing failed!

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No, nothing in Camping’s prediction failed! But God purposely allowed this tarrying-time to awaken His sleeping saints, to prepare them to stand in the Day of the Lord!

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Judgment Bus New Orleans 2011 – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Harold Camping – Wikipedia – copyrighted, not for free use

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CAMPING OPPOSED HISTORICAL-GRAMMATICAL HERMENEUTIC

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One very great doctrinal difference between Camping’s teachings as opposed to the standard teachings of the evangelical community is the disagreement over the supposed hermeneutic (rule of interpretation) which demands that scripture be interpreted as literal as possible unless context DEMANDS a spiritual interpretation.

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This hermeneutic is sometimes referred to as the “Historical-Grammatical Method of Interpretation”.

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

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NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT

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Now, Harold Camping often pointed out that nowhere in the Bible is there found any scriptural justification for such a hermeneutic.

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Rather, this hermeneutic is totally a man-made doctrine, which was originally fabricated many long centuries ago to guard against some really bad spiritualizing going on in that day.

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

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LOCKED OUT OF MUCH OF THE BIBLE

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But Camping also pointed out that by following that non-biblical, human-contrived hermeneutic, Bible students lock themselves out of so much of the Bible.

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For instance, adherents of this hermeneutic of literal interpretation do not believe that much of the Book of Revelation concerns the Church, but is mainly for literal Jews.

Nor can they see the many spiritual truths found in the Laws of Moses.

Nor can they see that the Old Testament prophets have a spiritual application for today’s Church.

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

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OLD TESTAMENT FILLED WITH TYPES, SHADOWS, ALLEGORIES AND PARABLES

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Now, Camping, on the other hand, believed just the opposite. He saw the Old Testament as a spiritual book, filled with allegories, types and shadows which have a spiritual application for today’s Church.

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And so, Camping constantly pointed out the many spiritual metaphors which were actually more for today’s Church, than they were for the Old Testament children of Israel.

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

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“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1st Corinthians 2:13

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And thus, Camping taught his listeners, that by comparing scripture with scripture and “spiritual things with spiritual”, the true allegorical meaning of all those Old Testament precepts and testimonies can be properly unlocked to reveal their true application to today’s Church.

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ANY “NOBLE BEREANS” OUT THERE?

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And prayerfully, for any “Noble Bereans” out there, the invitation goes out to follow along with these daily devotionals and the accompanying audio Bible studies on each day’s devotional.

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And with an open mind and a prayerful heart, the Bible student can study day-by-day, and even month-by-month to eventually gain confidence that he or she is on the right track that Harold Camping was truly a man of God, and a faithful expositor of Bible truth.

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

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TO READ PART 23, CLICK HERE…

October 27 (Noble Bereans, Part 23: “The Messages of the Three Angels of Revelation 14″)

3 Angels Messages – Wikipedia via www.pri.org – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be an open-minded seeker of truth, even if it means giving up a very highly regarded Church opinion! Let me be willing to investigate any seemingly new teaching if it appears to have some biblical validity…

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

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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***FINALLY WALKING UPWARD* INTO THE HIGHWAYS *OF ETERNITY***

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Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Spirit leads.

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Taking the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken. Walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice that of a truth, Jesus is present within you. Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love.

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Day by day, you will become more and more closed in with God. Moment by moment, your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually two hearts beating as one heart.

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And just like Enoch, when the appointed time of sojourning on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity. (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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ThomasCole – Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey – wikimedia – US public domain

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TOMORROW…

September 8 (Noble Bereans, Part 31: “Re-Thinking Harold Camping Concerning ‘Cults’”)

Judgment Bus New Orleans 2011 – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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The Spirituality of the Law – Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing (1896) Ellen G. White

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 70-MINUTE CHAPTER FROM ELLEN WHITE – – The Open Forum Harold Camping September 16, 2002 – YouTube

Ten Commandments – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 4.0

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Harold Camping The First Principles of Bible Study

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 48-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY – – Harold Camping The First Principles of Bible Study (youtube.com)

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 22 (Who Is The Rich Young Ruler?)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 22

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Who Is The Rich Young Ruler?

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There is a song playing at this moment, in which are the words repeated, “…that I may be like Jesus!”

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Perhaps there are many other songs with that same sentiment.

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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THE RICH YOUNG MAN

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The problem is, while those words are easy to sing, they convey a truth that many would hate, if they actually understood the enormity of that sentiment.

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One very poignant example of this hypocrisy is found in the true historical account of the Rich Young Ruler, who came running to Jesus, and exclaimed…“Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16

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When Jesus finally said…

“If thou wilt be perfect,

go and sell that thou hast,

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:

and come and follow Me.

But when the young man heard that saying,

he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

Matthew 19:21, 22

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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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MANY LOST SOULS IN CHURCH

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Unfortunately, this same condition is widespread in today’s church-world.

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Yes, there are many who are willing to attend church, pay their tithes, and do many other good works. And this was the same condition of that rich young ruler. But if those who attend church, pay their tithes, and do other good works realized that Jesus requires them to go and sell all, and give to the poor, and come follow Him as a disciple, they too, would sadly walk away from their vain religion.

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You see, we too possess riches, just like that rich young ruler. Oh no, we may not be considered rich in the eyes of the world. But we all have things which are valuable to us, and do not want to give up.

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WHAT ARE MY RICHES?

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Perhaps, we love our TV programs. Or we love our favorite sports. Or we love our social clubs, or our gardens, or our lavish lifestyle, or our little cups of selfish moments, or our favorite foods, or our amusements and games, or our political talk shows, or we idolize our children, or our houses, cars and lands, or our hobbies, or our wanderlust, or our sensual music, or our expensive or even our sensual-looking apparel…

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Well you get the picture! This list could go on and on!

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A JESUS WE HATE

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The bottom line is, there are many things in this selfish world that we highly value.

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And if it actually came to the point that God asked us to give these up, in order to become just like Jesus, no doubt we would want to re-hang that kind of Jesus up on the Cross!

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Yes, the vast majority in the church-world are as Jesus says…

“Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites,

as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips,

but their heart is far from Me.”

Mark 7:6

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March – Protest – Thank God For Satan – cropped image – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or later version

Protests – Anti Christian sign in Federal Plaza Chicago – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons

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PRETENDING TO BE CHRISTIANS

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Yes, the rich young man who went away sorrowful represents all of us! We all have earthly valuables which we aren’t willing to give up!

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And that is why there are so many in today’s churches who merely go through the motions of being a Christian, and yet, lack the true holy fire.

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We only want so much of Jesus, and no more!

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

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ITCHING-EARS GOSPELS

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Now in these last days, Satan has been permitted to move in and create a counterfeit religious system which accommodates such double-mindedness.

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And as a result, multitudes attend church each week. They may speak in tongues. They may have dreams and visions! They sing praises! They talk about Jesus to others!

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But deep down, they realize they are still slaves to their fleshly passions and willing servants to their earthly desires! They still secretly love this present world!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel

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“THEY FORSOOK ALL AND FOLLOWED HIM”

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Now in contrast, let’s consider the disciples who truly followed Jesus…“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11

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These disciples forsook all, in order to follow Jesus. And Jesus asks no less of us!

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Oh yes, we must work and live and provide for our family’s needs and happiness. But there are many who use this as a cloak to hide under, as they continue to pursue their own personal worldly lusts.

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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy Wikigallery.com – Public Domain

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TRUE DISCIPLES NOT DOUBLE-MINDED

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But the Day is coming in which the secrets of our hearts will be exposed, and our hypocrisy will be manifest to all!

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Jesus said…“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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Here, Jesus spells it out in unmistakable language.

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Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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AN UPWARD PATHWAY

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But how do we forsake all? Do we quit our job and trash all our belongings?

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No, but what God wants is for His children to begin the journey out of this world and upward on the gently ascending pathway which leads to the heavenly City of God!

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**And as we study and learn more and more about the Father and His Son, the less will we love the things of this selfish, fallen world-in-rebellion…**

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It is like the old song…

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus!

Look full in His wonderful face!

And the things of the world will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace!”

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The more we grow to love Jesus, the less will we regard the things of this present, antichrist world-system!

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

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COME FOLLOW JESUS!

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And so, the call goes out to both you and myself, to turn our back on all the little treasures and selfish pleasures of the world, and begin to walk that upward pathway!

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And let’s face it! This world will soon pass away! So why not invest in Heaven’s real estate! Why not trade away this world for the world to come? Because that soon-coming kingdom will never pass away! And there we will be forever happy and forever young!

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Not too bad of a trade, wouldn’t you agree?

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Jesus Teaching Luke 4:31-32 – Jesus talks about Heaven – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

June 2 (Who is the Rich Young Ruler? Part 2: “Going Through a Needle’s Eye”)

Old movie poster from 1936 of a camel through the eye of a needle – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, By Thy great mercy and grace, make me one of Thy disciples! Take away my love for this present world! Let me forsake all in my heart, and give me an undivided heart that follows Thee onward and upward out of this present world…

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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THE NARROW GATE STARS

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

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

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

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

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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

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As the opening verse says,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

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

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

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

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TOMORROW…

October 23 (Mark Now Given? Part 8: “Pandemic Madness…or…Devil-Designed-Deception?”)

Home quarantine stamp – cropped and altered Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – The Open Forum Harold Camping January 8, 2003

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 21 (“Who Are The Daughters of Sara?”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 21

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Who Are The Daughters of Sara?

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“…Even as Sara obeyed Abraham,

calling him lord:

whose daughters ye are,

as long as ye do well….”

1st Peter 3:6

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Wives, have you ever gone into marriage counselling in hopes of resolving differences between you and your husband?

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Well, you’re not alone!

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The divorce rate here in this society is still at about 50%.

And that statistic doesn’t even include all those who are living together out-of-wedlock!

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Mocking Bird Argument – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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RECIPE FOR SUCCESS!

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Well, what if someone told you that many marital problems could be solved in 18 words?

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That’s right, many difficulties in today’s marriages might be forever solved in just 18 little words!

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And here are those 18 words… “…Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well….” 1st Peter 3:6

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Yes, this above advice, if obeyed, could perhaps solve so many marital problems!

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And God has made humble and obedient Sara the matriarch for Christian wives everywhere throughout time.

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She actually called her husband, “Lord”, and submitted to him.

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James Tissot – Abram’s Counsel to Sarai – Google Art Project – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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A PROUD AND STUBBORN WORLD!

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The problem is, Satan’s very proud and stubborn society has waged a very successful campaign to marshal the female gender into becoming proud and stubborn, insisting on becoming leaders in the home, all under the banner of “Women’s Lib”.

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From grade-school up, girls are conditioned to, “fight for your rights!”

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Yes, this Bible-hating society has wholly rejected the Gospel of Salvation, and instead, has established their own set of rules!

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But as we look and observe how all this is working out, we see a world literally crumbling into pieces, and a marriage institution which is greatly in shambles!

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We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN: CREATOR OF “WOMEN’S LIB”

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But when you think about it, Women’s Lib is nothing new!

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After all, Women’s Lib began way back in the Garden, when the serpent (Satan) whispered into the ear of the woman, promising that she could be like God!

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And Satan convinced her that she could rise above her current station, to an exalted position!

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LISTEN TO 1ST PETER 3:1-6

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Listen to this entire passage from 1st Peter…

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;

that, if any obey not the word,

they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear…

Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:

whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well,

and are not afraid with any amazement.”

(to read entire passage, click here… 1st Peter 3:1-6)

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Okay, so here is an expanded explanation of those, “18 little words from 1st Peter.”

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And if you will notice, the over-arching principle of this above passage is, submission: submission to Christ and submission to the husband!

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Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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MY HUSBAND’S SALVATION!

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Listen again to the promise found in 1st Peter 3:1-6…

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;

that, if any obey not the Word,

they also may without the word be won

by the conversation (behavior) of the wives…”

1st Peter 3:1

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Now, most women reading this would say, “This sounds much too simple! My husband and I have some really complicated issues!”

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Well, even though this above advice might not solve every issue in every marriage, it nevertheless would probably go a long way in solving the majority of marital issues!

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A Prayer for those at Sea – by Frederick Daniel Hardy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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MOST MEN WOULD LOVE…

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But let’s face it! Most women are not willing to sacrifice their dominance and pride, to follow such self-sacrificing and humbling advice.

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**But the fact is, most men would love to have a woman who is willing to let go of the reins, and allow the man to, “wear the pants in the family”, as the saying goes!**

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Most men would love to have an affectionate and submissive wife, who listens to and obeys her husband!

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Most men would love to have a wife who hangs on his arm, and lets him rule!

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And the woman who does these things might just find that the husband will eventually rise to the occasion, taking hold of the reins, and become the leader she is longing for him to be!

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James Tissot – Abram’s Counsel to Sarai – Google Art Project – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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A CHRISTLIKE SPIRIT NEEDED

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But sadly, most Christian wives insist that the man does his equal part! “I’m not going to be his doormat! He has to do his part, too!”

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But do we read anything in 1st Peter 3:1-6 that insists that such wifely obedience is dependent on the husband first fulfilling his duties according to the Bible?

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No we don’t!

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Prayer at Day’s End – Angelus by Jean-François Millet – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

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Many times and many ways, the Bible says…

“Not rendering evil for evil…

But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled…

For it is better, if the will of God be so,

that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

1st Peter 3:9, 14, 17

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We must always keep in mind that we are ambassadors for Christ.

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Our commission from God is to let the world see Christ in us, “the hidden man of the heart!” 1st Peter 3:4

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And so, we need to pray for the grace to joyfully accept even the ill-treatment from the world, all in hope of bringing lost souls to the foot of the Cross!

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Protest – Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – cropped image – Wikimedia

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PUTTING ON CHRIST NOT OPTIONAL!

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But if you, dear lady, are a true woman of God, you must accept this kind of Christlike Spirit.

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This is the only way to truly become the daughter of Sara (and the daughter of God)!

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And a true woman of God would never insist that her husband must first obey God, as the prior condition to her own obedience to God’s admonition revealed in 1st Peter 3:1-6

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Women Walking at Sunset – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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A PRECIOUS PROMISE!

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But don’t forget the promise found in that passage!

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Don’t forget that 1st Peter 3:1-6 is the recipe for winning over her husband to Christ!

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And isn’t that your greatest desire?

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Isn’t that what you long for each and every day?

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Of course it is!

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Prayer – Anna Blunden – For Only One Short Hour – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

December 18 (Who Are The Daughters of Sara? Part 2: “Who Was The First ‘Women’s Liber’?”

Sarah & Hagar – Foster Bible Pictures – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to put on the adornment of a meek and quiet Spirit. Give me the Spirit of submission to my husband and to my heavenly husband, Christ…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – 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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FIVE WISE VIRGINS STARS

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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.

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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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GATHERED AROUND GLORIOUS CROWN!

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The position of these stars is significant in a number of ways. The first, being that these Five Wise Virgins are gathered around the 12-star Crown of Revelation 12. And the obvious message here is, that these wise virgins represent the faithful portion of God’s Church. And as wise virgins, they understand the importance of winning the glorious crown of victory, which Jesus promised.

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Listen… “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” 1st Corinthians 9:24, 25.

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And so, God is showing us the difference between the wise and the foolish in His Church. While the wise are gathered around this crown of victory, the foolish are nowhere to be found.

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Corona Borealis/Bootes & Five Wise Virgins

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TOMORROW:

October 22 (Who Is The Rich Young Ruler?)

Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler – Hoffman – complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #350 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 20 (The Valley of Dry Bones, Part 2: “Mourning For The Fig Tree”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – October 20

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***The Valley* *of Dry Bones!***

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Part 2:

“Mourning For the Fig Tree”

To read Part 1, click here…February 24th (The Valley of Dry Bones!)

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Today the new US Embassy building was dedicated with much fanfare and ceremony.

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And many Christians and Jews alike rejoiced!

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But just what is the proper stance that Christians should take toward these once-chosen people of God? Certainly, the mainstream Christian community believe that “Israel after the flesh” will once again become the chosen nation of God. And many or perhaps most Bible teachers in today’s Christianity teach that there will be a literal rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, in which the sacrificial system will once again be restored.

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US Embassy – Jerusalem – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES FULFILLED FOREVER

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But this website teaches that the Old Testament sacrificial system will never again be under the blessing of God, since it was fulfilled 2,000 years ago in Christ’s self-sacrifice on the Cross.

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The problem is that in today’s apostate church-world, the still-carnal leaders cannot properly interpret those Old Testament prophecies which speak of the rebuilding of a temple that will remain forever. Nor do they fully comprehend what Jesus prophesied…

“Jesus answered and said unto them,

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building,

and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?

But He spake of the temple of his body.”

John 2:19-21

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Jesus was speaking of His body, the Church, as the fulfillment; not some brick-n-mortar building! Here is the true fulfillment of the eternal temple which will go on forever.

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Jesus – Tissot – courtesy of Brooklyn Museum – Wikimedia

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GOD WILL BE THE ETERNAL TEMPLE

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Yes, the true temple which will last forever is defined in several places…“And I saw no temple therein (in the New Jerusalem): for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22

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Here is revealed just what is the eternal temple, made up of God and His people, even as it is written…“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,” 1st Peter 2:5

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Here is the true fulfillment to those Old Testament prophecies: a spiritual house comprised of God and His people, His “holy priesthood”.

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Jesus & Heavenly Throng – G. Dore – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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PAUL’S GREAT LOVE FOR HIS FLESH AND BLOOD

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Now having said all this, Christians should not take a loveless attitude towards these people. Certainly God does not listlessly regard them, even though they will never become A BLESSED national organization once again.

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Listen to Paul’s love for his people…

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“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not,

my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,

my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption,

and the glory, and the covenants,

and the giving of the law,

and the service of God, and the promises;”

Romans 9:1-4

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Paul had a deep and burning love for his countrymen, Israel “according to the flesh”. He actually was willing to lay down his own soul on their behalf! Incredible love! And this willingness to become accursed for his fellow countrymen was actuated in him, via the Spirit of Christ, Who likewise became a curse for His chosen people, Israel!

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But so should our love be, too! Of course, this kind of love should be our great passion for all mankind, not merely for “Israel-after-the-flesh”: a burning desire within us for the Salvation for all lost souls…everywhere!

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, passion for give me this same passionate brotherly love for, not only “Israel-after-the-flesh”, but for all lost souls…

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the 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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LOCATING ARCTURUS…

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An easy way to find Arcturus is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, in the spring through fall (these are the months in which Arcturus is visible).

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**SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: (Sketch to right: constellations span the heavens (Ark in south, 7 Stars in north), and travel from east to west through the night.**

This sketch is of the Summer Constellations as they appear when in the western half of the night sky. The box-like constellation is the The Ark of the Covenant (AKA Sagittarius) is in the south. To the right is both the Flower of the Field Constellation (AKA Scorpius) and the The Cross/Scepter Constellations. Further to the north is the Crown of Revelation Twelve (AKA Corona Borealis Constellation) and the star, Arcturus. Farthest to the north is the 7 Stars Constellation (AKA The Big Dipper )

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TOMORROW

October 21 (“Who Are The Daughters of Sara?”)

Women Walking at Sunset – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – Harold Camping 2005 0104

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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

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Devouring Fire.com

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 1 (The City of Morality, Part 8: “Living The Dream!”)

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – November 1

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The City of Morality,

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Part 8:

“Living The Dream!”

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“So likewise, whosoever he be of you

that forsaketh not all that he hath,

he cannot be My disciple.”

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.<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-41468" src="https://i0.wp.com/theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/pilgrim-leaves.jpg?resize=80%2C144&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="80" height="144" />

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 and its wages).

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

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THE VILLAGE IS NOW A HUGE CITY!

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Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!

Yes, a great portion of today’s Christendom has become just that! The City of Morality!

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And 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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“GO SELL THAT THOU HAST…AND COME FOLLOW ME!”

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“THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS”

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neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

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Here above is seen the total depravity of this world of selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits: “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19

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Yes, the entire world system “lieth in wickedness”, as John, the Apostle puts it in the above verse. We just don’t realize how much selfishness permeates these seemingly “harmless and “innocent” pleasures and pursuits of the world!

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**Only this Village called Morality is now a full-grown city!**

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TO READ PART 9, CLICK HERE…