Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 26 (God’s Royal Priesthood Today! Part 3: “Priest of the Home”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 26

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God’s Royal Priesthood Today!

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Part 3:

“Priest of the Home”

To read Part 1, go here…June 16th (God’s Royal Priesthood Today!)

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In the wilderness wanderings, God set up the sanctuary service to be an illustration of the priesthood and atonement concerning Christ and His Church.

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After all, let’s not forget what those seven candlesticks represent…“The mystery of the seven stars which thou saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest ARE THE SEVEN CHURCHES.” Revelation 1:20

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Yes, the seven golden candlesticks in the Old Testament temple of God actually represent the Church of God through the ages, as enlightened by the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence!

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Holman – The Tabernacle in the Wilderness – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

And so, the sanctuary service was symbolic of Christ and His Church.

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Now, God has confirmed this fact in various ways.

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For instance, listen to 1st Peter 2:9…“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:”

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Now it is becoming evident that the Old Testament priesthood was symbolic of Christ and His Church, symbolized by the 7 candlesticks of the sanctuary service!

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the holy of holies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public domain

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A HIGH AND HOLY CALLING

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But the reason for even bringing this up is so that in every Christian home, the father needs to rise up to this, his God-ordained high and holy calling.

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That’s right, the father is to take up the mantle of the office of priest for his home: his wife and his children.

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And it would be very advisable for each father to study the Books of Moses to get a clearer picture and insight into just what a solemn and holy office that he has been given by God!

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

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ELI, THE UNFAITHFUL PRIEST

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A priest was a very important and sacred duty.

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And there was to be no flippancy or irreverence in the life of the priest.

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He was commanded to conduct himself in a very solemn and holy manner.

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Such accounts as the story of Eli, were given to us to show just how important it is to bring up our children in the “nurture and admonition” of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

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God eventually struck down Eli and his two sons, because neither Eli nor his sons took their office seriously!

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Eli and Samuel – John Copley – 1780 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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A SHAME TO NEGLECT THIS DUTY

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It is the solemn duty of the father to raise his family to love the Lord.

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And for any father to neglect this sacred commission by God is a great shame on that man, which will not easily be erased!

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And if he has a Christian wife, it should be her delight to see the father take the reins in the household and conduct the daily routine in such a way that the Lord God is the exalted Member of that family!

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

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“WINE IS A MOCKER”

Proverbs 20:1

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And let’s not forget that the priesthood was NOT to take wine nor strong drink into the temple of God.

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And so, neither should the father, the priest of the home (nor the mother) put alcohol into their own body temple, which is (or at least, should be) the holy temple of the Lord!

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Offering a toast with sparkling wine flutes – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

1st Corinthians 15:56

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It is all too often in society to treat sin with cavalier lightness. For example, the parent might say with a chuckle, “Now Johnny, we don’t want to be telling fibs”. Such flippant and apathetic responses to a child’s sins, only deaden their little consciences to the horrific nature of sin, thus unfitting them for Heaven.

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Listen to Paul…“…that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” Romans 7:13

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Of course, the root of the problem is, the parents, themselves, have blunted consciences, and so they naturally treat sin with slightness, not only in their own lives, but also in their children’s lives!

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Such a modern-day tragedy!

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kids – children – Mohawk haircut – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

Ephesians 6:4

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Last, but certainly not least, fathers, we must make sure to live with our family in such a way as to show them that Heaven is a place to enjoy. And the parents need to show much heavenly love for their children. Whether engaging them in their little games and sports, or hugging them often, or just making life in the home nice and breezy.

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This is an integral part of what it means to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

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The Christian parents must, kindly, patiently, and gently, guide your children through their childhood in such a way which will cause them to desire, yes, even yearn, to walk side-by-side with you along the joy-filled highways and byways of eternity!

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Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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

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STRENGTH FOR THE DAYS AHEAD

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In the coming days, as the condition of the world continues to grow increasingly and hopelessly evil, the more should children be firmly and decidedly on the Lord’s side!

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Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – cropped image – Wikimedia

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GOOD NEWS: DOOR OF MERCY STILL AJAR

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The Good News is, that God has allowed just a little time for His professed people to show that they really mean business with God.

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And every father who claims a connection with God must begin to put away his own selfish amusements and self-aggrandizing pursuits which have had pre-eminence for much too long; and begin to turn the family back to a Heaven-ward direction.

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And if the children are still willing, the father should begin to conduct both morning and evening sacrifices (family worships).

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And the father should begin to conduct himself in a Christlike manner, whether at work, or at rest, or even at recreation with his family.

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

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WIVES MAY HAVE TO FILL IN

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Now, for those wives whose husband still is in darkness, they may be able to commandeer the children to have family worships each day even without the father’s presence.

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**And as she does this, day-and-night prayers should be ascending for that “missing-in-action” father to return to the Lord, to take up his great commission as priest of the home!**

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And by God’s grace, those of us who have slighted our heavenly priestly duties, may finally come to repentance and once again return to our office, even though we may now be “absent (from our family) in body, but present (with them) in spirit”, 1st Corinthians 5:3

(Parenthetical remarks by web-editor)

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Pilgrims Progress – Christiana – We Are All Undone – Wikimedia – Publi Domain

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

May 28 (God’s Royal Priesthood Today! Part 4: “Priest of the Home (CONTINUED)” )

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the grace to rise to the responsibilities of being a royal priest. Give me the grace to pray without ceasing, no matter where I am…

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 HOLY AND MOST HOLY PLACE

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“And thou shalt put the Mercy Seat upon the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.” Exodus 26:34

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The Tabernacle in the wilderness was a picture of God. Just listen to Revelation… “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22.

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So, instead of dwelling upon all the fine points of the earthly tabernacle, let it suffice to be said, this earthly tabernacle is merely a metaphor of God Himself. And the Most Holy Place is the heart of that temple, and upon the Ark, represents God’s throne, as is written…

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“And David arose…to bring up from thence, the ark of God…the LORD of hosts that dwells between the cherubims.” 2nd Samuel 6:2.

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So, if, as it states here, that God dwells “between the cherubims”, then this is speaking of the Mercy Seat over the Ark. But even though it speaks thus, we need to keep in mind that the temple itself, represents God Himself, as is written… “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22.

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Holy Place & Most Holy Place – Wikipedia – public domain

ABOVE PICTURE – SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS: Ark (Sagittarius) – Cross-scepter (Ophiuchus & Serpens Caput) – Flower of the Field (Scorpio) – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses!

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ARK SEEN IN HEAVEN

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“And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the Ark of His Testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Revelation 11:19

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The above verse from Revelation, speaks of God’s Temple in Heaven being opened. But this great constellation, the Sagittarius Constellation is actually the constellation of the Ark of the Covenant. So these two events go hand in hand simultaneously. The Ark Constellation, as sketched into this Wikipedia star-chart, is a representation of the heavenly Ark, as God begins to open up the spiritual concepts of that true Ark to our minds.

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ABOVE PICTURE – Ark of the Covenant Constellation (aka Sagittarius) – seen in warmer months.

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TOMORROW:

April 27 (Planet Earth, Devil’s Island, Part 5: “Name Your Prison!”)

Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #116 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 25 (The False Prophet, Part 14: “The Great Cosmic Coverup!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 25

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The False Prophet,

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Part 14:

“The Great Cosmic Coverup!”

To read Part 1, click here…JANUARY 26 (The False Prophet: Lying Eyes!)

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God originally created this world to be a place of beauty and joy.

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The curse had not yet fallen upon the cosmos (the world).

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Everything was good and wholesome!

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Paradise – Wikipedia – Public domain

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PARADISE LOST!

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But then, as we all know, Lucifer, the great rebel from Heaven moved into this world, bringing his long train of woe and misery along, turning this planet into a world of destruction and death.

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Gustave Dore – Paradise Lost illustration – Lucifer becomes Satan – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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A COMPLETE MAKE-OVER!

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**Now, Satan (Lucifer) has always attempted to put a happy face on this world to a certain extent.**

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But in these last days, in his role as the 2nd Beast of Revelation 13 (The False Prophet), this master deceiver has been granted the ability to really dress up this decrepit world to the point that many people, especially the young, are totally deceived into thinking this world is a pretty nice place for the most part.

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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Dom

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A STATE-OF-THE-ART WORLD

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Yes, “the god of this world”, Lucifer, now given the office of “Satan” (the “Enemy-Accuser”), is giving this world a make-over of all make-overs!

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And he uses the “children of men” (the unsaved peoples of this fallen world) to construct glamorous cities with grand cathedrals, concert halls and stadiums, stately homes and tall skyscrapers, lovely parks and shopping malls, restaurants, opulent pleasure resorts, captivating-mesmerizing-high-tech-devices, sleek cars and boats, and planes, and every conceivable luxury and convenience to make life as pleasurable and self-exalting as possible!

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Yes, it’s a theme-park world to a great extent!

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Hong Kong Skyline Restitch Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License CC-BY-SA 3.0

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SATAN’S ADVERTISER-IN-CHIEF!

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And to complete his deception, Satan has created this world to be a high-tech society.

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Utilizing television, radio, Internet, and even books and magazines, etc., Satan now employs these media to be his “advertiser-in-chief”, so to speak. Thus, these various media are constantly promoting this world to be a nice and happy place.

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And anything evil and wrong, “We’re gonna fix it!”

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But the fact is, behind this thin veneer of goodness, lies a world still suffering as greatly as it always has!

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LOOK BEYOND THE GLOSSY VENEER

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There is so much woe and misery and tragedy going on all around us, it is impossible to enumerate everything wrong.

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Just look around! Just look beyond the thin glossy veneer, and behold all the death and destruction! Even young people witness their friends getting hooked on drugs and alcohol and tobacco!

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Read the daily papers and count the senseless murders and horrific rapes!

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Behold the death, murder, and misery even committed by the various religions!

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**Witness the corrupt major media, now “speaking as a dragon” (see Revelation 13:11), whipping up the unsuspecting populace into insane levels of racial hate and division!**

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Watch the nightly news and behold all the thefts and kidnappings and injustices going on around the world!

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Listen to the radio talk shows and hear about the corruption in government!

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Read the horrible statistics about disease and illness which comes on the multitudes as a thief, stealing away all joy from a person’s life!

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Boston Marathon Bombing – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

ISIL – Execution of man – September 2014 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

TV – ABC-Good Morning America – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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“THE DAY OF THE LORD…UPON ALL PLEASANT PICTURES!”

Isaiah 2:12, 16

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And yet, in his role as The False Prophet, Satan attempts to paint his, “pleasant pictures” of “a pretty nice world!” (See Isaiah 2:16 for “pleasant pictures” reference)

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And as we watch various television programs, so many of them attempt to convince us that it won’t be long until humanity will soon be holding hands and singing “Kumbaya” all together in perfect harmony!

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This is the great cosmic cover-up perpetrated by Lucifer, who comes through lost humanity, as “The False Prophet”!

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Handshake icon – GREEN-BLUE – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“HEARTS OVERCHARGED WITH EATING, DRINKING, AND CARES OF THIS LIFE!”

Luke 21:34

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Now in addition to painting this false, glossy portrayal of this tragic world, Satan makes sure that everyone stays as busy as possible, going after every pleasure and ambitious pursuit this opulent society offers.

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And in our busy-ness, we don’t have time to stop and consider that we are like naïve lambs going to our day of slaughter in this, Satan’s slaughter-house world!

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Yes, Satan is working tirelessly to keep us so immersed, busily pursuing the cares and pleasures and his devilish delusions of this “wonderful theme-park world”.

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He does this so that we will finally arrive at our appointed day of death, just as surely as those sheep who unknowingly walk into that meat-grinder which awaits them just around the corner!

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Sheep – Lambs to the slaughter – Cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

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A FLICKER OF LIGHT!

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Well, is there even a flicker of light in all this dark report?

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Yes, for any person who has ears to hear, there is a way of escape from the death-sentence which is all but guaranteed in this hopeless world of death, disease, and destruction!

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Jesus says to us…“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:25, 26

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Yes, Jesus offers everlasting life in the New Heaven & New Earth in which all sorrow and mourning and crying and death shall be forever vanquished!

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The River Of The Water Of Life by H. Melville – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 15, CLICK HERE…

May 6 (The False Prophet, Part 15: Deceiving The Elect With Loud Mics! (TWO ARTICLES!)

Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to see this world for what it really is. Give me a watchfulness and vigilance as I sojourn through this deceitful world…

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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REVELATION 12 WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

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“And there appeared a great wonder (or sign) in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:1, 3, 6, 15

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Here is a sketch of this Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12. This is the Winter Constellations of Signs Of Heaven. Besides Orion and his Horse, we also see pictured in this sketch, the Dragon of Revelation 12.

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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation is fleeing. As you can see, the Dragon Constellation is spewing a flood of water in her direction, as is written… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:15. This wave of water represents Satan’s lies, and his false teachers who tell those lies.

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GOD’S MESSAGE: FLEE!!

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Beholding the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation in winter, it seems that God is trying to get a very important message across to His people: that His Church is to flee! But what are they to flee from? Well, you can go to the article titled “The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation”

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

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TOMORROW…

April 26 (God’s Royal Priesthood Today! Part 3: “Priest of the Home”)

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

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #115 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 24 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 8: “Loving The Devil’s World”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 24

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The Devil Made Me Do It!

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Part 8:

“Loving The Devil’s World”

To read part 1, click here… October 13th (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 1)

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Back in the 1970’s, a certain saying was popularized…“The Devil made me do it! The Devil made me do it!”

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And this was merely mocking Christians, who were seemingly obsessed with pointing the finger at the Devil.

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Then this unbelieving world could all mock “the silly and absurd notion”, that Satan is a very active and powerful force controlling the world, by laughingly saying…“The Devil made me do it! The Devil made me do it!”

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Flip Wilson – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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But the horrifying fact is, the Devil does indeed cause the vast percentage of the world’s inhabitants to do a great number of things!

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After all, the above signature verse reveals a truth that practically nobody realizes nor accepts! It is perhaps the most egregious truth in all of the Bible!

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And this above verse from Ephesians reveals that Satan is indeed… “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

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And let’s face it! To admit that the entire world’s inhabitants are filled with this evil spirit is more than anybody is willing to accept, much less even admit!

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

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“LOVE NOT THE WORLD…”

1st John 2:15

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**Now this little series, “The Devil Made Me Do It!”, highlights the various aspects of how, “the god of this world”, works within mankind.**

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And today’s devotional will put forth the stark reality of why nearly everyone loves this selfish world so much.

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

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A THEME-PARK WORLD!

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**And let’s face it! “The god of this world”, Satan, has given this world-of-sin, a complete make-over in these last decades, turning much of the sin-filled planet into a veritable theme-park!**

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There are so many things to do, as far as the earthy pleasures and proud, ambitious pursuits now available and possible!

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Just look around! There are so many more places we can go, via modern transportation! And there are so many new amusements to enjoy!

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Theme-parks, vacation resorts, movie theaters, bowling alleys, shopping malls, museums, operas, clubs, distant-and-exotic places, political parties, racetracks, sporting events, television, radio, Internet, health centers, hobbies, homes and gardens and lands and livestock, bars, dance halls, video games, amusement halls, gambling casinos, and so much more to absorb our time, energy, and means…

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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Dom

Mall – Fashion Centre at Pentagon City – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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A FUN CHURCH ENVIRONMENT!

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Even the churches of the world are much more fun to attend, now featuring exciting music, charismatic speakers, comedians, singing idols, sports heroes, various social events and excursions, campouts, movie nights, banquets, luncheons, sporting events, carwashes, holidays, picnics & potlucks, parties, dances, weddings, baby showers, concerts, and yes, even Christian theme parks!

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Yes, today’s churches have a great worldly appeal!

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They have pretty much become a social/fraternal club, howbeit with an outer veneer of religiosity.

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Church music – Singers & Dancers – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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“NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN”

Ecclesiastes 1:9

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But all these pleasures and pursuits are nothing new!

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Why, even back in the days of Jesus’ earthly sojourn, the world was filled with tantalizing possibilities!

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Delicious foods, and beverages, places of social comradery, etc…

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

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NOT LIKE TODAY!

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Oh no, things back 2,000 years ago were not like today’s world!

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Nothing has even come close to the possibilities available in today’s world!

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Times Square – New York City – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

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“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish his work!”

John 4:34

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But when Jesus arrived on the world stage, He didn’t seem to be the slightest bit interested in those pleasures and ambitious pursuits of the world!

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Oh yes, He faithfully performed His daily duties.

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And He no doubt enjoyed working with Joseph in their profession of carpentry.

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Listen…“But He (Jesus) said unto them (His disciples), I have meat to eat that ye know not of…My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:32, 34

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Here is a revelation of what gave Jesus pleasure: it was the things of Heaven: prayer, praise, Bible contemplation, saving souls, ministering to those in need, and even dying for the lost souls of this fallen world!

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

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

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TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS “THE SAVOR OF DEATH!” TO THE WORLD

2nd Corinthians 2:16

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**Now, to the average worldly-minded person, all these spiritual pursuits which Jesus enjoyed, seem like the “kiss of death”, as the saying goes!**

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And someone might say…“Well, perhaps if Jesus was on earth today, He would enjoy snow-boarding, or house-flipping, or pizza parties, or fine-dining, or going to the opera, or listening to some good jazz, etc…”

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No, the Bible tells us the following…“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

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Jesus is the unchangeable One!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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PAUL’S TOTAL DEVOTION

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Now, let’s turn our eyes upon a mere mortal such as the Apostle, Paul.

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Listen to Paul…“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

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Yes, Paul had the exact same devotion that Jesus had!

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

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WHY AREN’T WE LIKE PAUL TODAY?

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And so, why are we professed Christians still so enamored by so many things of the world?

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Why don’t we have the very same spirit which Paul had? Why don’t we enjoy the things of Heaven as Paul, and the others enjoyed them?

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Well, perhaps it’s because we still are not truly baptized into Christ!

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PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – company’s-coming – revised

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A WORLD-LOVING CHURCH IS A DEAD CHURCH

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And sadly, this is the undone condition so prevalent in today’s church-world!

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Listen to John…“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1st John 2:15

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The Church is literally teeming with those who profess to love Jesus, and yet are still vigorously and enthusiastically pursuing the things of the world!

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Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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FILLED WITH, “THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD”

1st Corinthians 2:12

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The sad fact is, these deceived ones are still under the delusion of the “prince of the power of the world, that spirit which now works in the children of disobedience!”

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And the pleasure we derive from the things of the world are perhaps derived from that Antichrist spirit of the world!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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ANY GOOD NEWS?

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So, with these things in mind, is there any Good News?

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Yes, much!

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The wonderful news is that Jesus is still calling out new disciples to, “Come and follow Me”

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But to truly become a disciple and follower of Jesus requires us to forsake ALL and follow Him!

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Listen…“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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Yes, as this above verse reveals, to truly become a disciple and follower of Jesus requires a total forsaking of this present world.

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

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“THE WORLD GROWS STRANGELY DIM”

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And this kind of total commitment is only possible through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

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But once this is accomplished, the new disciple will no longer be enamored and mesmerized by the pleasures and proud, ambitious pursuits of the world.

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Instead, he or she will begin to love the very same things that Paul loved, that John and Peter and James loved, that Jesus loved!

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And every true disciple will be able to wholeheartedly sing that 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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Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 9, GO HERE…

(The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 9: “When Beautiful Is Devilish!”)

End of Guitar – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be wise as a serpent regarding this very deceptive world. Let me not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, nor of his power over this 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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7 HEADS, 10 HORNS, & 7 CROWNS OF THE DRAGON

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” Revelation 12:3

**In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon Constellation up in the night sky does not.**

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But God has faithfully created the wave of water, in such a way, as to illustrate this same concept of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Because this wave of water is basically composed of ten stars.

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The main body of the wave has seven stars (#‘s, 1 thru 7). And the tip of the crest of the wave has the other three stars (#’s, 8, 9 & 10). So we have this 7 and 10 numbering. And this gives us a great clue, as to where in the Bible we should look, to find out the riddle as to just what or who do these 7 heads, 10 crowns, and 7 horns represent. Because, the Bible speaks very much about floods and waters as being associated with Satan (the Dragon).

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TOMORROW…

April 25 (The False Prophet, Part 14: “The Great Cosmic Coverup!”)

TV – Television, the Image that Speaks – TV – www.theheavensdeclare.net – for non-profit use only – commercial use by permission only- copyrighted by signsofheaven.org

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

.

THIS STUDY #114 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

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

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 23 (Television and The Image That Speaks, Part 3: “The Iron Furnace of Foolish Television”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 23

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Television and The Image That Speaks,

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Part 3:

“The Iron Furnace of Foolish TV”

To read Part 1, click here…October 27th (Television and the Image that Speaks)

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“Thus saith the LORD God of Israel;

Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

Which I commanded your fathers in the day

that I brought them forth

out of the land of Egypt,

from the iron furnace,“

Jeremiah 11:3, 4

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When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He gave Egypt a peculiar name, “The Iron Furnace”.

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Now why in the world would God call Egypt, “The Iron Furnace”?

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

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FIERY FURNACE OF BABYLON

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Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that fiery furnace which God’s three Hebrews were cast into, as recorded in the Book of Daniel… “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth (the golden image) shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:5, 6

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Here is seen that great golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar, and the punishment for refusing to worship that image: the fiery furnace.

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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Furnace by G, Dore – Wikipedia – US public domain.

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IMAGE OF THE BEAST OF REVELATION 13

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And this reminds us of Revelation 13 in which the whole world will soon be subject to the punishment of death for refusing to worship The Image of the Beast…“And he (the 2nd Beast) had power to give life unto the image of the (1st) beast, that the image of the (1st) beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the (1st) beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15

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So now is seen that all these things have an end-time relevance!

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Yes, the “Iron Furnace” of Egypt, and the “Fiery Furnace” of Daniel, and the worshiping of the “Image of the Beast” in Revelation 13 all have a great significance in these last days.

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THE IRON FURNACE OF TELEVISION

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From infancy and throughout life, the television, radio, and now Internet, have become the centerpiece of western societies.

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**But what most people are not aware of, is that Lucifer, the greatest of all angels, became “the god of this world”.**

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**And as such, it is his great purpose to cause all the world to worship him. (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4 for reference to Lucifer being “the god of this world”)**

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WHAT’S IN A NAME? CHARACTER!

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And Lucifer, now called Satan, realizes that it is not necessary to specifically acknowledge allegiance to him by name.

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No, just as long as the people of this fallen sinful selfish world, love his qualities of character, then they are, in essence, worshiping him, Satan!

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“having their conscience seared with a hot iron”

1st Timothy 4:2

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“The god of this world”, Satan, has used the television, Internet, radio, and the printed page, in such a way, as to normalize sin in the hearts and minds of the public as well as those Christians who allow ourselves to watch and listen to these various media.

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Yes, as we watch various sins being committed over and over again, day-after-day, week-after-week, etc…, sin loses its sting, and our consciences (and our children’s consciences) become defiled and blunted, so that sin no longer appears so evil.

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Listen…“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1st Corinthians 15:33

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This above verse is extremely important to our spiritual well-being!

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And these inventions and their ability to bombard us with sin, sin, sin, is the essence of the “Image of the Beast”, and how it becomes transplanted into our hearts and minds: it is the image and character of Satan, which becomes indelibly inscribed upon the tables of our hearts!

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TOKENS OF SATAN’S CHARACTER

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And so, in these last days, Satan has created a society in which his characteristics are now being deeply engraved upon the hearts of humans, via the various forms of the media.

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And qualities such as pride, revenge, anger, manipulation of others, lust, sensuality, greed, force, impatience, harshness, cold-heartedness, silly-foolishness, etc., are the qualities which this world, to a great extent, lives by.

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A MERE “FORM OF GODLINESS!”

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Oh yes, the world has its own version of, “a form of godliness”. There is a great deal of moral behavior here.

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And yet, this moralistic behavior denies the true source of godliness, the Holy Spirit of God. (see 2nd Timothy 3:5).

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Therefore, the moralistic behavior of the world is just another branch of Satan’s government.

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After all, Satan realizes that he would quickly lose control of the world’s inhabitants if the world appeared totally evil.

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And so, there is a great amount of moralistic behavior.

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

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FOOLISHNESS BOUND UP IN A CHILD’S HEART

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Now, today’s devotional will focus on just one quality of Satan’s character: foolishness.

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Yes, so much of the media capitalizes on foolishness. Even from infancy, toddlers are being groomed to behave foolishly.

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Cartoon character – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution

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“CORRECTION SHALL DRIVE IT FAR FROM HIM”

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And it’s not that children need help to behave foolishly.

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The Bible says, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:15

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Yes, children are naturally silly and playful. And parents need to allow children to be children: to engage in their childish games, sometimes even playing with them, as this photo shows. That would seem perfectly okay!

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

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TELEVISION: A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF FOOLISHNESS!

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But television takes foolishness to a whole new level, reinforcing childishness in the hearts of its audience.

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And one of the problems with all this is, that as the child begins to grow, television programs for teens often continue to reinforce foolish, childish behavior.

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AN IMMATURE GENERATION

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And it just takes a brief look at today’s teens, to see that a great percentage of young people are still behaving foolishly and immaturely, well into their teens and even into their twenties and sometimes even into their thirties.

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kids – children – Mohawk haircut – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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A WAKE-UP CALL FOR CHRISTIANS

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Now for most secular people of the world, this message will probably fall on deaf ears.

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The world, to a great extent sees nothing wrong with having their children spending time with television, radio, and Internet.

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But for Christian parents, this message should be a wake-up call to provide an acceptable alternative to the modern, secular media.

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

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“CHRISTIAN” CARTOONS

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Even shows which have a form of Christianity are designed to inspire unbelief in the child.

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Maybe they show Jonah sitting at a table with chair, in the belly of the whale.

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Or Noah’s Ark is so small that it could only hold several animals.

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Or God sitting on a cloud with a telescope, looking down at the world.

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And children are not as naïve as parents might imagine, and see such nonsense, and eventually become unbelievers!

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NOAHS ARK – Public Domain – Wikimedia

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LISTEN TO THE WISE MAN

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Listen once again to the Wise Man of Proverbs…“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:15

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This above verse is not necessarily speaking of a literal rod.

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Our patient but firm, yet loving words of correction and our godly example is the best “rod of correction”.

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

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GENTLY BRING CHILDREN INTO REAL LIFE

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There is a time to allow children to run and jump and laugh, and play their childish games (This of course, does not include television, etc..)

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And little-by-little, the wise parent will begin to bring their children into their housework routine, patiently guiding the child to take on little responsibilities, making these tiny duties fun and pleasant for the child to perform.

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

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GOOD NEWS!

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The Good News is that God is a very merciful and forgiving God!

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And even those parents who are now “empty-nesters”, can still make a great impact in their wayward grown children’s lives, simply by their own repentance and turning away from these electronic teachers (TV, radio, Internet, books, magazines, etc…).

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And yet, those Christian parents who do finally and ultimately overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil, will win the crown of life: a crown which each will be perfectly happy to receive and wear throughout eternity!

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Woman praying – Heinrich Seufferheld – 1893 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

May 17 (Television and The Image That Speaks, Part 4: “Television, The Irresistible Image-Maker”)

Pied Piper of Television – TV – www.theheavensdeclare.net – for non-profit use only – commercial use by permission only – – copyrighted by signsofheaven.org

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THE READER IS ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 22 MINUTE, VERSE-BY-VERSE AUDIO BIBLE STUDY IN THE JEREMIAH ON THE SUBJECT OF THE NEW COVENANT AND THE IRON FURNACE. THIS STUDY (#217) IS PART OF A 600+ STUDY SERIES CONDUCTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the understanding, conviction, and strength to eliminate television and secular radio, etc., out of my life…

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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WINTER CONSTELLATIONS

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”. )

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:

April 24 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 8: “Loving The Devil’s World!”)

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

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #113 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 April 22 (Eternal Torment? Part 19: “Our God Is Fire & Brimstone!?!”

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 22

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 20:

“Our God Is Fire & Brimstone!?!”

To read Part 1, click here… “September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“And the sight of the glory of the LORD

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was like devouring fire

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on the top of the mount

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in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

Exodus 24:17

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Gérôme, Jean-Léon – Moses on Mount Sinai – Jean-Léon Gérôme – 1895-1900 – Wikimedia – Pub. Dom.

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The Book of Revelation describes a frightful picture in store for those who receive the Mark of the Beast…”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…he 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 14:9-11

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So, from a quick reading of this, one might get the idea such a torment continues on forever.

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But this statement says that “THE SMOKE of their torment ascends up forever.”

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It doesn’t say that their torment goes on forever.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS”

1st Corinthians 2:13

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Well, regardless of how long this torment goes on, the careful Bible student will desire to fully understand just what all this means.

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And so, realizing that the Bible is one doctrine, a careful and prayerful search will begin.

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And with the aid of a good concordance, the Bible student will begin to sort out the various aspects of this frightful passage from Revelation 14.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT DOES BRIMSTONE REPRESENT?

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Now one of the first words to be searched out is “brimstone”. Because it clearly says that “he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone” Revelation 14:10

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So, with concordance in hand, the word “brimstone” produces the following verse…“For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the King it is prepared; He hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” Isaiah 33:30

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Well, this is interesting! The breath of the Lord is like a stream of brimstone! And that breath is what kindles the fire of Tophet, the place of judgment!

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Campfire Pinecone – Wikipedia – Share-alike license

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WHAT DOES FIRE REPRESENT?

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Next we need to understand just what kind of fire God will use to torment those who receive the mark, the name or the number of the name of the Beast…“And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” Exodus 24:17

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So here again, it is revealed that God’s glory is like “devouring fire”!

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Now is there any New Testament passage which further supports this truth? Listen…“For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29

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Gérôme, Jean-Léon – Moses on Mount Sinai – Jean-Léon Gérôme – 1895-1900 – Wikimedia – Pub. Dom.

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REVELATION 14 AND FIRE & BRIMSTONE

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And so, how does all this affect our understanding of the torment spoken of in Revelation 14:10, 11?

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Listen again to that passage…“and he 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: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

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**So here we now have a much greater understanding of just what is this “fire and brimstone”, which torments all those who worship this evil, selfish world, instead of Christ.**

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It is God who causes this suffering! But how could that be? God is supposed to be tender and merciful. He wouldn’t even harm a fly, would He?

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Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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“THE LORD SHALL SMITE THEE”

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Well, listen to Deuteronomy…“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments…that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee… The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke…The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee…The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning…The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed…The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed…” Deuteronomy 28:15, 20-22, 24, 27

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Well, this is just a partial list of the various plagues God will bring upon all those who turn from God’s commandments to engage in wickedness and selfishness.

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And these must be understood spiritually, and not necessarily literally.

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And let’s face it! God allows Satan to carry out much of these plagues. And Satan is a very willing tormentor!

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Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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EVERYDAY TRIALS & TROUBLES

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Yes, there are many persons who experience various troubles in their lives: financial troubles, health issues, marital troubles, family problems, work-related troubles, as well as personal problems, and issues with personal sins.

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And many of these problems are the result of that person’s own wrong choices, while other troubles are brought on by Satan. And in spite of these causes, the Lord takes full responsibility for bringing on these troubles.

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

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THE LORD SMITES TO SAVE

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Well, the very Good News is that God doesn’t cause all these troubles into a person’s life for nothing.

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Listen to Lamentations…“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. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:31-34, 39-41

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So here is seen just why the Lord sends torment and sorrow into the earth, and even upon selected individuals. It is so that they might turn again, to worship the Lord!

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And then, after our afflictions, we can say…“Thou (God) in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Psalm 119:75

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 21, GO HERE…

(Eternal Torment? Part 20: “The Impossibility of Eternal Torment!”)

Buddhist Hell – Wikipedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be given to a close-minded spirit. But help me to love truth, no matter if it means I will be hated by my own brethren…

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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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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“The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want (lack).

He maketh me to lie

down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside

the still waters…

I will fear no evil:

for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me….”

Psalm 23:1, 2, 4

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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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This star-chart from Wikipedia, has Orion sketched in by the editor of this website. With the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini), the sickle in Orion, the Reaper’s hand (sketch to left), now extends the blade, thus transforming that sickle into the hook of a shepherd’s rod and staff. And so now this little Gemini star becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s rod & staff. Thus with this additional star, Orion the Reaper Constellation now becomes the 5th personality of Orion: The Good Shepherd (sketch below right). Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either of the stars, Castor or Pollux. But faint as This little star may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, turning Orion’s sickle into a shepherd’s rod. And this is a very wonderful and beautiful Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as is written…

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“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12

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And so God has placed this Starry Shepherd in the winter-night heavens to remind us of His great love for a planet which has wandered away: just like sheep that wandered to where the grass looked greener.

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ABOVE STAR CHART: Orion – with drawing by this website – courtesy IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine & Wikipedia share-alike license

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TOMORROW…

April 23 (Television and The Image That Speaks, Part 3: “The Iron Furnace of Foolish Television”)

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

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

.

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

.

THIS STUDY #112 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

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

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 21 (Noble Bereans, Part 13: Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding Jeremiah (continued))

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 21

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Noble Bereans,

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Part 13:

“Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding Jeremiah” (continued)

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

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“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

1st Thessalonians 5:21

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To read Part 1 of this particular devotional, go here…NOVEMBER 2 (Noble Bereans, Part 5: “Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding Jeremiah”)

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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 review 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 (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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Yes, those 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 day came and went, the world began throwing verbal stones at Harold Camping.

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Harold Camping – Wikipedia – copyrighted, not for free use

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WORLD ONLY KNOWS CAMPING BY HIS ERROR

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It’s too bad that the world was introduced to Harold Camping only on the back of his seemingly erroneous teaching that the Last Day was merely a 24-hour event.

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It’s too bad that the world could not have heard the many wonderful Bible studies that Camping conducted over a 50-year span.

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

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SO WHERE’S THE NOBLE BEREANS?

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Yes, where’s all the Noble Bereans out there?

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Where are all the truth-seekers who don’t merely follow the crowd, but are willing to re-examine these teachings with an open mind?

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After all, Camping didn’t base his end-of-the-world teachings on a dream, or a vision, or a voice.

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No, but rather, he spent 5 or 6 hours per day, for years, searching the Bible, to hopefully and prayerfully gain a correct understanding!

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

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NOT FROM VOICES OR VISIONS!

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Yes, for many years, Camping carefully studied the Bible, in hopes of uncovering the deeper, hidden truths of God’s Word.

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And so, he wasn’t coming as some wild-eyed prophet, who received a dream or vision or voice. But rather, he was merely declaring what he believed the Bible teaches.

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Therefore, Harold Camping DOES NOT fall into the category of a false prophet; just a Bible teacher who had things almost figured out, but maybe not completely.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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LISTENING TO CAMPING STUDIES

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Now, if there are any “Noble Bereans” who decide that these things are worth spending some serious time, searching out why Camping taught what he taught concerning the Last Day, there is an easy way in which to accomplish this…

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You may simply go to the bottom of each day’s devotional and click on the link and listen to some audio Bible study or talk show by Camping.

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

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“O HOW I LOVE THY LAW!”

Psalm 119:11

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But today’s devotional would like to highlight a similarity between Harold Camping, in regard to Jeremiah’s love for the Bible.

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Listen to Jeremiah’s testimony regarding God’s Word, the Bible…“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

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Here is revealed the love affair between Jeremiah and the Bible!

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Yes, God’s Word was the joy and rejoicing of Jeremiah’s heart!

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And if there was no other similarity between Harold Camping and Jeremiah, this one common virtue existed between them both!

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They both loved the Bible more than life itself!

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Prophet Jeremiah Dictates to Baruch – Wikiart.com – US Public Domain

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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HUMAN TEACHERS MAKE ERRORS

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Oh no, Harold Camping was not infallible.

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Of course, there are errors in his 50-year teaching ministry, as with any other Bible teacher throughout time (with the exception of the Bible writers).

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But Harold Camping freely acknowledged that he too had “feet of clay”!

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And so, he constantly reminded his listeners to not trust him, but to search the Bible for themselves, the only infallible source of truth in this sinful world.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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CALLING ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS”!

Nevertheless, there are many wonderful truths which Camping taught over the decades.

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And many of these Bible studies are still available, not only on this site, but also on the Internet, specifically, YouTube.

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TO READ PART 14, GO HERE…

June 26 (Noble Bereans, Part 14: “Where Were All The ‘Noble Bereans’?”)

USMC prayer before study Wikimedia Public-Domain

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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…

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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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BIBLE VERSES PICTURED IN THE HEAVENS

“With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.” Ezekiel 26:12

THIS STAR-CHART: This is a Wikipedia star-chart, in which this site’s editor has sketched in these three constellation (without the Holy-Ghost-Rider Constellation). Notice how the right front hoof is trampling on the tail of the Dragon. Also notice his eye is a star.It’s best seen when in the western half of the sky. It is found in mid-sky traveling from east to west. In January, it is in the west after midnight. As winter progresses, it can be seen earlier and earlier in the evening. a dark sky with good star-visibility is best, but not absolutely necessary to see this constellation. It is found on the opposite side of the Dragon Constellation from Orion. And as already stated, this Goodly Horse Constellation can be seen best in mid-winter when it is in the western side of the sky, and you are looking at it while you are facing west. The nose and head of this horse is partly made from the Perseus Constellation. The tail and rear end is partly of the Cassiopeia Constellation. The hind-leg is made partly of stars from the Andromeda Constellation.

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THIS HOLY-GHOST-RIDER

winter Constellations in the east

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Now one thing that is noticeable and makes this constellation even more dramatic, is the fact that the Milky Way runs right through it. And the question that must be asked is, “What biblical implications does this constellation/Milky Way connection have?” Well, very simply put, if stars represent Believers, then this rider works in the world through His True-Worshippers, to a great extent.

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WHY IS THIS CONSTELLATION SO INCOMPLETE IN APPEARANCE

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So why is this constellation merely an outline? Well it does show his back, rear end and leg…and arm. But unlike, say, Orion, this constellation is very vague, even mysterious in appearance. Almost vacant in appearance. Yes this horseman represents Christ.

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But even more than this, it represents the Holy Spirit of Christ. And as we all know, the Holy Spirit is very, very, un-intrusive, almost impossible to detect His presence. Hence, this constellation is perhaps the most faint of all the constellations of Signs Of Heaven!

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TOMORROW:

April 22 (Eternal Torment? Part 20: “Our God Is Fire & Brimstone!?!”

Gérôme, Jean-Léon – Moses on Mount Sinai – Jean-Léon Gérôme – 1895-1900 – Wikimedia – Pub. Dom.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #111 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 20 (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Part 6: “Let The Old Man Live?!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 20

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The Time of Jacob’s Trouble,

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Part 6:

“Let The Old Man Live?!”

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

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“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,

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which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

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And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

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And that ye put on the new man,

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which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”

Ephesians 4:22-24

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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A certain radio preacher gave a shocking sermon regarding our “earthen vessels” in which he presented the idea that we must not attempt to be holy in our bodies. “We have a body of clay, and must preserve that body. We must let the world see Jesus within, but not attempt to behave holy without”, the preacher surmised.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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Now this was certainly a new concept, to say the least!

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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OUR MORTAL BODIES

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This radio preacher seemed to be saying that in order to preserve our earthen vessels, we simply need to go on with our worldly behavior, according to the following verse…“But we have this treasure (Christ in us) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2nd Corinthians 4:7

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And because this verse speaks of God getting the glory, because His glorious presence shines through our corrupt, mortal bodies, this preacher therefore thinks it wrong to try to behave in a holy, Christlike manner. And the world will take note that Christ is living within us, even though our outward behavior is still pretty worldly.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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Well, this was a really new twist on sanctification!

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Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE NAIVE MIGHT BE DECEIVED

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And it was evident that this Bible teacher practiced what he preached, filling his sermon with plenty of humor, keeping his audience “in stitches”.

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Nevertheless, listening to him present his case, was certainly convincing. And those who do not have a thorough knowledge of Scripture, might easily be persuaded to accept such an idea.

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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PRESERVE OUR WORLDLY BEHAVIOR!?

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But by prayerfully and carefully studying everything on this subject, one may come away with a much different conclusion.

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**The big question which this preacher raised is this: because we are an “earthen vessel”, a “jar of clay”, so to speak, does this necessitate preserving our earthy, worldly behavior?**

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Well, by listening to this preacher one can get easily confused. It is a very difficult issue!

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“BE YE HOLY!”

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So, in attempt to strike a proper balance to our understanding, does the Bible ever warn us to NOT attempt to behave in a holy, reverent, Christlike manner?

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Listen to God’s Word…“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (lifestyle); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1st Peter 1:15, 16

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Now it’s hard to imagine that this preacher could somehow skirt around this above verse. But no doubt he does!

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“HOLY CONVERSATION”

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Or what about this next passage by Peter…“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (lifestyle) and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2nd Peter 3:11, 12

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Now here again, this above exhortation by God seems to give a clear and concise revelation of how a Christian must behave: godly and holy in all behavior and lifestyle!

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So how could someone get confused when the Bible seems to clear-cut on the issue?

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Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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COME OUT OF SPIRITUAL BABYLON!

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Yes, how in the world could someone get so confused about an issue which is so thoroughly and clearly addressed in Scripture?

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Well, this is why God is now calling His people out of Babylon, the “City of Confusion”! Isaiah 24:10

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This devotion is showcasing just one more confusing doctrine from out of the belly of Babylon which only further maintains the atmosphere of confusion within that apostate city!

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The Good News is, that God has given us a little more time to crucify the “Old Man” of the flesh. Yes, that Old Man must die! And we must not allow any contrary wind of doctrine to deter or discourage us from completing the task before us!

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

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“…to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!”

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Now, having said all this, it must be made clear that none of us can hold our head up high, if we truly have our eyes fixed upon Jesus! No, try as we will to conform our lives into the likeness of Jesus, we still have to humbly bow before Him and confess our wretchedness, compared to His absolute perfectness, to this very day.

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And yet, we do not get discouraged, but cling to such promises as this…“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20

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Yes, God is capable of doing vastly more in our Christian walk than we can even imagine!

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Now that’s quite an “exceeding great and precious promise” if there ever was one! 2nd Peter 1:4

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Wouldn’t you agree?

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TO READ PART 7, GO HERE…

May 18 (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 7: “7 Bowls of Wrath on The Church!?!”)

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to awaken to this frightful situation! Help me to cry out daily! Chasten me Lord, that I may be cleansed of my Laodicean apathy…

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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ORION, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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This star-chart from Wikipedia, has Orion sketched in by the editor of this website. With the addition of a single star, Theta Geminorum (the left hand of the Castor twin of Gemini), the sickle in Orion, the Reaper’s hand (sketch to left), now extends the blade, thus transforming that sickle into the hook of a shepherd’s rod and staff. And so now this little Gemini star becomes the tip of Orion’s Shepherd’s rod & staff. Thus with this additional star, Orion the Reaper Constellation now becomes the 5th personality of Orion: The Good Shepherd (sketch below right). Theta Geminorum is a class A3, 4th magnitude star, which means it is much fainter than either of the stars, Castor or Pollux. But faint as This little star may be, it nevertheless presents a giant concept, turning Orion’s sickle into a shepherd’s rod. And this is a very wonderful and beautiful Bible truth: namely, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, as is written…

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“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:12

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And so God has placed this Starry Shepherd in the winter-night heavens to remind us of His great love for a planet which has wandered away: just like sheep that wandered to where the grass looked greener.

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ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART: Orion the reaper – Wikipedia star-chart (with the Reaper drawn over by this website)

ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART – winter – Orion the Good Shepherd (Orion Constellation and rod made of Gemini stars – with the Shepherd drawn over by this website) – www.signsofheaven.org

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TOMORROW:

April 21 (Noble Bereans, Part 13: Re-thinking Harold Camping Regarding Jeremiah (continued))

cry-of-prophet-jeremiah-on-the-ruins-of-jerusalem-on-a-bible-subject-1870.jpg!Large

Harold-Camping-2

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #110 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 19 (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer! Part 2: “Begging & Pleading! Pleading & Begging!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 19

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David’s Secret Strength: Prayer!

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Part 2:

“Begging & Pleading! Pleading & Begging!”

To read Part 1, go here…June 15th (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer!)

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A certain caller to a Bible Question & Answer call-in talk show was indignant at the thought that God would require a New Covenant Christian to beg and plead for God’s mercy…“That’s Old Testament!”, protested the caller.

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announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain (2)

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“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!”

Luke 11:1

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The fact is, there are many sincere persons who wonder, “Just how should I pray?

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Should I always kneel?

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Or should I be standing?

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Should I recite, ‘The Lord’s Prayer’?

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Should I pray out loud?

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Or should I pray silently?

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Should I lift my hands up in the air?

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Or should I fold my hands together?

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And should I beg and plead?

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Or should I ask confidently?”

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Well, obviously, the Bible has the answer to every such question.

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

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“WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE?”

Romans 4:3

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So let’s go to the Bible, to find out what it says about begging & pleading for God’s mercy and deliverance.

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Listen…“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

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Well right here we see that we are to come boldly to the throne of grace.

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So there we have it! Why even search any further? This is the New Testament attitude that every Believer should have!

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No begging and pleading called for!

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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OLD TESTAMENT BEGGING & PLEADING

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But why then does the Old Testament have so many verses which call for crying out and pleading for mercy?

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Listen to the Old Testament…“Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.” Psalm 6:4-6

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From this passage we get the very opposite counsel. So what’s going on here!?

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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ALL SCRIPTURE! NOT JUST SOME!

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Maybe, just maybe the Old Testament was written for the Jews and NOT for Christians. Do you suppose?

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But listen to Paul…“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17

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So Paul is revealing that ALL scripture, not just SOME scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness.

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So then, why does the Bible seem to contradict itself?

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

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NEW TESTAMENT AGREES WITH OLD

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Is there anything from the New Testament that agrees and confirms these Old Testament admonitions regarding begging and pleading for God’s mercy?

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Well, actually there is!

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Listen…“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God….Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:4, 5, 8-10

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So here we have the answer to our dilemma. In the case of worldliness, James counsels us to “be afflicted, mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness”.

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“A TIME TO WEEP & A TIME TO LAUGH”

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And so, there are different situations in this life for those who are seeking after God.

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As the Wise Man said in Ecclesiastes, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”…

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So here is seen that the Christian goes through varied circumstances which changes his or her stance toward God.

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**For the truly “Born Again” Christian, there will be many times when that Christian can speak joyfully to the Father as a loving child.**

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David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US public domain

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“I GO MOURNING ALL THE DAY LONG”

Psalm 38:6

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But then, there may be other times when pain or grief is so great that all one can do is utter the words, “Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy!…”

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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“RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH”

2nd Timothy 2:15

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Therefore, this little devotional hopefully gives a better understanding of how the Bible student must carefully and prayerfully strike a balance when studying God’s Word.

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Different situations call for different approaches to God.

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We must not make one passage the sum total of our understanding on any issue.

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**The entire Bible must be searched and “rightly divided”…**

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Listen…“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2nd Timothy 2:15

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…

July 21 (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer! Part 3: “Soaking In The Psalms!”)

David the Shepherd Boy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“BEING HUMBLE BEFORE GOD”

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THE READER IS ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS 20+ MINUTE AUDIO BIBLE STUDY FROM JEREMIAH & JONAH CONCERNING OUR HUMBLE ATTITUDE BEFORE GOD. THIS STUDY (#221) IS CONDUCTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a fervent Spirit, that my Christian experience can have the same fervor that Christ had during His earthly sojourn…

David Playing Harp – www.thebiblerevival.com – US 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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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

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

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

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

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

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TOMORROW:

April 20 (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 6: “Let The Old Man Live!?”)

Old Man – Max Handrick – Alter Lastenträger – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #109 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 18 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 7: “Loving This World!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 18

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The Devil Made Me Do It!

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Part 7:

“Loving This World!”

to read part 1, click here…October 13th (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 1)

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“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Ephesians 2:2

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Back in the 1970’s, a certain saying was popularized…“The Devil made me do it! The Devil made me do it!”

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And this was merely mocking Christians, who were seemingly obsessed with pointing the finger at the Devil.

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Then this unbelieving world could all joke and mock ***“the silly and absurd notion” that Satan is a very active and powerful force controlling the peoples of this world, by laughingly saying…“The Devil made me do it!* *The Devil made me do it!***“

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Flip Wilson – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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But the horrifying fact is, the Devil does indeed cause the vast percentage of the world’s inhabitants to do a great number of things!

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After all, the above signature verse reveals a truth that practically nobody realizes nor accepts! It is perhaps the most egregious truth in all of the Bible!

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And this above verse from Ephesians reveals that Satan is indeed… “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

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And let’s face it! To admit that the entire world’s inhabitants are filled with this evil spirit is more than anybody is willing to accept, much less even admit!

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

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WHY DO WE ENJOY SO MUCH OF THIS SELFISH WORLD?

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**Now, in this little series, “The Devil Made Me Do It!”, various aspects of how “the god of this world” works within the children of disobedience have been touched upon.**

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And today’s devotional will put forth the stark reality of why the people of the world love this world so much.

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After all, the people of the world are so entranced and mesmerized by the cares and pleasures of this world, aren’t we?

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Yes, this world holds an overwhelming fascination for most of us!

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

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A DISNEYLAND WORLD!

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**And let’s face it! “The god of this world” has given this world a complete make-over in these last decades, turning much of the world into a veritable theme-park!**

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There are so many things to do, as far as the pleasures and proud, ambitious pursuits now available and possible!

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Just look around! There are so many more places we can go, via modern transportation! And there are so many new amusements to enjoy!

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**Theme-parks, vacation resorts, movie theaters, bowling alleys, shopping malls, museums, operas, clubs, politics, high-tech devices, etc., etc….**

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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Dom

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A FUN CHURCH ENVIRONMENT!

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Even the churches of the world are much more fun to attend, now featuring exciting music, charismatic speakers, comedians, singing idols, sports heroes, movies, various social events and excursions, sports events, picnics & potlucks, parties, and yes, even theme parks!

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And so, even today’s churches have a great worldly appeal!

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Church music – Singers & Dancers – creopped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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“NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN”

Ecclesiastes 1:9

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But all these pleasures and pursuits are nothing new!

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Why, even back in the days of Jesus’ earthly sojourn, the world was filled with tantalizing possibilities!

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**Delicious foods, and beverages, places of social comradery, etc., were around even back in the days of His earthly ministry…**

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

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NOT LIKE TODAY!

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Oh no, things back 2,000 years ago were not like today’s world!

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Nothing has even come close to the possibilities available in today’s world!

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Times Square – New York City – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0

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JESUS CARED NOTHING FOR THE WORLD’S PLEASURES!

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But when Jesus arrived on the world stage, He didn’t seem to be the slightest bit interested in those pleasures and ambitious pursuits of the world!

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Oh yes, He faithfully performed His daily duties. And He no doubt enjoyed His profession of carpentry.

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But Jesus was not the least bit mesmerized by all the pleasures and pursuits of this selfish world.

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No, instead, Jesus was devoted to the things of Heaven.

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

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HEAVEN: “THE SAVOR OF DEATH!”

2nd Corinthians 2:16

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**Now to the average person, all the heavenly things which Jesus enjoyed, seem like the “kiss of death”, as the saying goes!**

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And someone might say…“Well, perhaps if Jesus was on earth today, He would enjoy skateboarding, or house-flipping, or pizza parties, or fine dining, or going to the opera, or listening to some good jazz, etc…”

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No, no, no, the Bible tells us the following…“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

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Jesus is the unchangeable One!

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Jesus in Jeans by Peter Royle – cropped image – WIKIMEDIA – SHARE-ALIKE LICENSE

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PAUL’S TOTAL DEVOTION

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Now, let’s look at a mere mortal, such as the Apostle, Paul.

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Listen to Paul’s testimony…“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

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Yes, Paul had the exact same devotion as Jesus had!

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Paul made the following proclamation…“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

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

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WHY AREN’T WE LIKE PAUL TODAY?

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And so, why are we professed Christians still so enamored by many things of the world?

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Why don’t we have the very same spirit which Paul had?

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Well, perhaps it is because we still are not fully baptized into Christ! Perhaps it is because so many of us are still allowing the spirit of the world into our lives!

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After all, listen to what Jesus said to His very own disciples… “But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” Luke 9:55

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Yes, Jesus knew His disciples were not as yet fully baptized into the Holy Spirit.

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PICTURE: Unfunny Judgment Day Cartoon – company’s-coming – revised

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A WORLD-LOVING CHURCH IS A DEAD CHURCH

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And sadly, this is the undone condition so prevalent in today’s church-world!

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Listen to John…“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1st John 2:15

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Yes, those who still love this present, selfish and proud world just might be bereft of the Spirit of Christ within!

Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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FILLED WITH, “THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD”

1st Corinthians 2:12

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The sad fact is, these deceived ones might be still under the power of the “prince of the power of the world, that spirit which now works in the children of disobedience!”

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And the love they have for the things of the world may be derived from that Antichrist spirit of the world which possibly still dwells within them!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who offers a world-loving gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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ANY GOOD NEWS?

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Well, with these things in mind, is there any Good News?

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Yes, much!

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The wonderful News is that Jesus is still calling out new disciples to, “Come and follow Me”

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But to truly become a disciple and follower of Jesus requires us to forsake ALL and follow Him!

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Listen…“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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Yes, as this above verse reveals, to truly become a disciple and follower of Jesus requires a total forsaking of this present world.

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

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“THE WORLD GROWS STRANGELY DIM”

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And this kind of total commitment is only possible through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

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But once this is accomplished, the new disciple will no longer be enamored and mesmerized by the pleasures and proud, ambitious pursuits of the world.

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Instead, he or she will begin to love the very same things that Paul loved, that John and Peter and James loved, that Jesus loved!

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And every true disciple will be able to wholeheartedly sing that 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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However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 8, GO HERE…

(The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 8: “Loving The Devil’s World”)

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to be wise as a serpent regarding this very deceptive world. Let me not be ignorant of Satan’s devices, nor of his power over this world…

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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7 HEADS, 10 HORNS, & 7 CROWNS OF THE DRAGON

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” Revelation 12:3

**In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon Constellation up in the night sky does not.**

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But God has faithfully created the wave of water, in such a way, as to illustrate this same concept of the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Because this wave of water is basically composed of ten stars.

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The main body of the wave has seven stars (#‘s, 1 thru 7). And the tip of the crest of the wave has the other three stars (#’s, 8, 9 & 10). So we have this 7 and 10 numbering. And this gives us a great clue, as to where in the Bible we should look, to find out the riddle as to just what or who do these 7 heads, 10 crowns, and 7 horns represent. Because, the Bible speaks very much about floods and waters as being associated with Satan (the Dragon).

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TOMORROW…

April 19 (David’s Secret Strength: Prayer! Part 2: “Begging & Pleading! Pleading & Begging!”)

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #108 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 16 (The False Prophet, Part 13: “How To Start Your Own Gospel”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 16

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The False Prophet,

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Part 13:

“How To Start Your Own Gospel”

To read Part 1, click here…JANUARY 26 (The False Prophet: Lying Eyes!)

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“…but to this man will I look,

even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,

and trembleth at My Word (saith the Lord).”

Isaiah 66:2

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There have been few men who have had a greater effect on our present-day Christianity than Cyrus I. Scofield.

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Having the no-fear audacity to publish his own Bible, even changing some of the King James wordage, also adding his own commentary along side of God’s Holy Word, Scofield set a precedent for other Bible teachers, who picked up his mantle and carried on his heresies to later generations.

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Cyrus Scofield – 1920 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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PRIOR CREATION!?

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One of Scofield’s heresies was to insist that there were dinosaurs roaming the earth, PRIOR to the 7-day Creation account of Genesis.

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Now of course, the fossil record shows that dinosaurs existed. But Scofield insisted that they existed PRIOR to the 7-day Creation! A totally different creation!

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This heresy was later picked up by such men as J. Vernon McGee who was a follower of Scofield’s teachings. (McGee later somewhat recanted this belief a few years prior to his death.)

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And why did Scofield teach such a heresy? Most likely because of the strong influence of “the theory of evolution” which took the world by storm in the 1800’s. Scofield believed evolutionists, and combined their “science, falsely so-called” into the Bible.

(See 1st Timothy 6:20 for “science, falsely so-called” reference)

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Dinosaurs – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. Gerhard Boeggemann. Gallery

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SCOFIELD WENT BEYOND SCRIPTURE

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**Now the problem with Scofield was that he did not always allow the Bible to get into his way, as he carved out his own peculiar gospel: “the gospel according to Scofield”, so to speak.**

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1917 Scofield Bible – Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

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THE RAPTURE

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But this heresy concerning evolution was not Scofield’s only heresy.

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No, Scofield, having read the writings of John Darby, latched on to yet another heresy: two second-Comings of Christ, instead of one. This false teaching was named, “The Pre-Tribulation Rapture”, a totally unbiblical name.

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Now few Bible teachers and theologians are willing to admit the origin of the name, “The Rapture”, and often go into “double-speak”, whenever questioned about this!

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In both cases (a prior Creation & The Rapture), Scofield added to the Bible his own doctrine using the totally non-biblical name, “The Rapture”, to replace the God-given name, “The Coming of the Lord”.

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Cyrus Scofield – 1920 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

John Nelson Darby – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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ADDING TO AND DIMINISHING OUGHT

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So, what was Scofield’s great error? Simple! He added to God’s Word. In both cases, Scofield went beyond the infallible Word of God, adding things never mentioned in Scripture.

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But the Bible pronounces a curse on all those who add to or diminish from God’s infallible Word.

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A CURSE UPON ALL WHO PRESUME TO ADD OR DIMINISH!

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Listen to this fearful warning…“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18, 19

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It is a fearful thing to presume to add non-biblical terminology to God’s infallible Word.

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And yet, there doesn’t seem to be much of that healthy fear among God’s professed people today.

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And this above passage pronounces the most fearful curse upon those who carelessly add to or diminish ought from God’s infallible Word.

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Well, just what is the remedy for this lack of fear?

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

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THE REMEDY FOR WORLDLINESS

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The remedy is found in James, Chapter 4, verses 4, 8-10…“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God…Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

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Here we have the cure for worldliness.

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And worldliness is the underlying cause for spiritual apostasy.

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Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WE MUST TREMBLE AT GOD’S WORD

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Listen again to our signature Bible verse for today…“…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word (saith the Lord).” Isaiah 66:2

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But Scofield did not seem to have such a healthy “fear and trembling” at God’s Word. And neither do so many Bible teachers today. There should never be the attempt to replace God’s appointed name with a man-derived name, such as the unbiblical name, “The Rapture”. This name has been responsible for the notion of two separate Returns of Christ. Without it, that idea could have never been accepted.

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There should be enough biblical evidence to support any new idea, such as Scofield’s idea of a prior creation before Adam & Eve. A plain, “Thus saith the Lord”, was lacking in Scofield’s theology regarding these ideas.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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The Good News is that God has held back the four winds just long enough for all those who desire to repent of their unwatchful condition to begin to cry out for a “right Spirit” and a “new heart”.

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Woman in Prayer – Wikigallery.org – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to begin to study the bible for myself! Give me such a love for truth, that I begin to re-examine those doctrines which I once merely took for granted…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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REVELATION 12 WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

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“And there appeared a great wonder (or sign) in heaven; a woman…And there appeared another wonder (sign) in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:1, 3, 6, 15

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Here is a sketch of this Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12. This is the Winter Constellations of Signs Of Heaven. Besides Orion and his Horse, we also see pictured in this sketch, the Dragon of Revelation 12.

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This Revelation 12 Woman Constellation is fleeing. As you can see, the Dragon Constellation is spewing a flood of water in her direction, as is written… “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:15. This wave of water represents Satan’s lies, and his false teachers who tell those lies.

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GOD’S MESSAGE: FLEE!!

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Beholding the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation in winter, it seems that God is trying to get a very important message across to His people: that His Church is to flee! But what are they to flee from? Well, you can go to the article titled “The Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation”

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

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TOMORROW…

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

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #106 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Devouring Fire.com

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 26 (God’s Royal Priesthood Today! Part 3: “Priest of the Home”)

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – April 26

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God’s Royal Priesthood Today!

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Part 3:

“Priest of the Home”

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In the wilderness wanderings, God set up the sanctuary service to be an illustration of the priesthood and atonement concerning Christ and His Church.

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Yes, the seven golden candlesticks in the Old Testament temple of God actually represent the Church of God through the ages, as enlightened by the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence!

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A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

And so, the sanctuary service was symbolic of Christ and His Church.

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Now, God has confirmed this fact in various ways.

<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="wp-image-39865 alignleft" src="https://i0.wp.com/theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/theholyofholies-www.thebiblerevival.com-public-domain-e1360567625203-1.jpg?resize=89%2C172&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="89" height="172" />.

For instance, listen to 1st Peter 2:9…“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:”

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Now it is becoming evident that the Old Testament priesthood was symbolic of Christ and His Church, symbolized by the 7 candlesticks of the sanctuary service!

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A HIGH AND HOLY CALLING

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That’s right, the father is to take up the mantle of the office of priest for his home: his wife and his children.

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And it would be very advisable for each father to study the Books of Moses to get a clearer picture and insight into just what a solemn and holy office that he has been given by God!

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ELI, THE UNFAITHFUL PRIEST

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A priest was a very important and sacred duty.

<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-41348 alignleft" src="https://i0.wp.com/theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Eli-and-Samuel-Copely-1780-Wikipedia-US-Public-Domain-e1471308805439.jpg?resize=102%2C188&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="102" height="188" />.

And there was to be no flippancy or irreverence in the life of the priest.

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He was commanded to conduct himself in a very solemn and holy manner.

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Such accounts as the story of Eli, were given to us to show just how important it is to bring up our children in the “nurture and admonition” of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

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God eventually struck down Eli and his two sons, because neither Eli nor his sons took their office seriously!

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A SHAME TO NEGLECT THIS DUTY

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<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-41349" src="https://i0.wp.com/theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/prayer-at.jpg?resize=102%2C174&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="102" height="174" />It is the solemn duty of the father to raise his family to love the Lord.

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And for any father to neglect this sacred commission by God is a great shame on that man, which will not easily be erased!

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And if he has a Christian wife, it should be her delight to see the father take the reins in the household and conduct the daily routine in such a way that the Lord God is the exalted Member of that family!

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It is the solemn duty of the father to raise his family to love the Lord.

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