Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 26 (Crucified With Christ, Part 1: “I Die Daily!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 26

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Crucified With Christ,

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Part 1:

“I Die Daily!”

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“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;

yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,

and gave Himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

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Of all the heroes of the Bible, who do you admire the most?

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Is it Elijah?

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Or perhaps faithful Daniel?

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Or godly Enoch?

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Or Christlike Apostle, John?

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Or the fiery prophet, John The Baptist?

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Or how about the Psalmist, David?

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Or the wise Solomon?

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Or the talkative, yet lovable Peter?

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Elijah and Elisha by G. Dore – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

Daniel – Dore – Daniel In The Den Of Lions – www.creationism.org – Public – Domain

Enoch – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees – James Tissot – Wikipedia – Public-Domain

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THE APOSTLE, PAUL

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Well many or even most people would answer that Paul is their most admired Bible hero of all (not counting Jesus, of course).

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And why is he so admired?

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

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PAUL’S REMARKABLE LIFE!

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Well, for one thing, Paul traveled thousands of miles on foot, working day and night on behalf of God’s people. And he fearlessly confronted those who opposed the Gospel. And when put in bonds, and no longer able to travel from one community to another, he took advantage of his confinement to write the various epistles. He never complained, but joyfully endured all types of hardships and afflictions!

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Paul was the very essence of what it means to be a Christian!

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

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TWO TYPES OF ADMIRATION

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Now, while it’s true that virtually all the Christian community admires Paul, there are two classes of admirers: one class that places Paul on a pedestal, so to speak, and another class that looks upon Paul as a blueprint for their own life.

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Statue of Saint Paul London – Wikipedia – Public-Domain

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CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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But what does all this have to do with today’s devotional concerning being crucified with Christ and dying daily?

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After all, Paul testified, not only that he was, “crucified with Christ”, but also that, “I die daily!” (see 1st Corinthians 15:31)

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But how do those two statements relate to my Christian experience? After all, I don’t journey for thousands of miles. Nor do I suffer beatings, imprisonments and other persecutions.

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Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain

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FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

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Oh yes, there are many imitators of Paul who have fearlessly ventured into foreign lands to preach the Gospel to the unsaved multitudes.

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And maybe they experience the same crucifying circumstances that require them to also “die daily”.

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Yes, no doubt, there are many dangerous and discouraging circumstances in the lives of those missionaries, which require them to throw their entire trust upon the Lord’s mercy, guidance, and providence.

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Acts 28 – 5 and Paul shook off the beast into the fire

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WHAT ABOUT ME?

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But what about us? What about all those Christians who have families and jobs? And what about elderly Christians, and those who are sick? And what about those who are in prison? Or those who are prisoners to alcohol or drugs, or those endowed with little physical strength, merely existing on government subsistence?

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**How can those of us in these un-Paul-like circumstances possibly become crucified with Christ, just as was Paul? How can we die daily, as Paul died daily?**

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

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GOD WORKS THROUGH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BIG OR SMALL

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The fact is, God can work through our circumstances, whatever they are, to cause us to become crucified with Christ.

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We do not necessarily have to trek our way through the jungles of Africa, to be crucified with Christ. Nor do we need to be flogged as Paul was, to die daily.

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

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OUR DAILY CIRCUMSTANCES

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Listen to Paul, as he speaks of infirmities…“And He (God) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9, 10

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Now in this amazing testimony, Paul is actually saying that he took pleasure in sicknesses, in condemnations by others, in the injustices against him, and in the fearful distresses which came upon him.

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Yes, Paul understood that those were the very experiences which God could work through to crucify Paul, so that Christ could freely live out His life through Paul!

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Acts 28 – 5 and Paul shook off the beast into the fire

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THE DEVIL BRINGS PERSECUTION

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Whether they know it or not, most genuine Christians are battling against demonic forces on a daily basis at various times in their earthly pilgrimage.

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Sometimes, these attacks come in the form of so-called “mental illness”.

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Others battle with depression and discouragement.

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Still others over various temptations and lusts.

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But whatever the area of attack, Satan often amplifies the smallest issues of everyday life until they overwhelm that person, even to the point of death!

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

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“EXAMINE YOURSELVES”

2nd Corinthians 13:5

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So, the questions each of us must ask ourselves are these: “Do I likewise take pleasure in these unpleasant circumstances, when they befall me? Or do I react by murmuring against God, whenever these uncomfortable or unhappy situations fall upon me? Do my infirmities drive me to the Bible and to continual prayer? Or do I instead lose my faith saying, ‘Where is God’? When a family member or even merely a cashier insults me, do I take it patiently, or do I merely return their rudeness with my own rudeness?”

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Well, these are some of the questions that we each must ask ourselves nightly, as we take inventory of the past day.

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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

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ASK GOD FOR TRIALS & TRIBULATION?

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The Good News is, that God is a very patient and forgiving Lord! And if I am willing to allow Him to bring upon me more of these distressing and perplexing and yes, even sad experiences, then God will begin to purify my heart so that I can become more-and-more like Paul, saying along with him, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, As much as I don’t like trials and tribulation, I realize that I must suffer with Christ, if I am to be crucified with Christ. So please bring these things upon me. But also give me times of rest…

USMC prayer before 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 FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS STARS

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A new constellation has been revealed, as of about May 29th, 2014. This constellation appears as a serpent (snake). Its body is comprised of stars from the Bootes Constellation, and its jaws are made of the four stars which Babylonians saw as the head of Draco, the Dragon. It also has a small single star for an eye.

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Now in this constellation is a group of five stars, which will be called “The Five Foolish Virgins Stars”. These are located on the opposite side of the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars (AKA Corona Borealis), from the Five Wise Virgins Stars. But one big difference between the two is, that The Five Wise are curved around the Glorious Crown, while the Five Foolish are curved away from it!

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ABOVE STAR-CHART (with constellation drawn in by this website)- Serpent with Wise Virgins Attached – seen late summer into fall only – Serpent Constellation – comprised of the head of Draco, plus stars from the Bootes Constellation – www.signsofheaven.org – not for profit use

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TOMORROW…

March 27 (Come Out of Her, My People! Part 42: “Babylon Outa My Heart!”)

by G. Dore’ – The Confusion Of Tongues in Babylon – from www.creationism.org-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 #85 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 – March 24 (The Straw-Man Ploy, Part 7: “Sleep In Death”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 24

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The Straw-Man Ploy,

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Part 7:

“Sleep In Death”

To read Part 1, go here…June 14th (The Straw-Man, Part 1)

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The Bible says concerning Satan… “we are not ignorant of his devices” 2nd Corinthians 2:11.

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And it is not hard to see that Satan works through his so-called, “ministers of righteousness”, to employ this strategy which is commonly named, “The Straw Man Ploy”.

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Simply put, a Bible teacher creates an obviously false standard, a “straw-man”, which then gives credence to whatever wrong doctrine he is wanting to thrust into Christianity.

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Straw Man -attributed to Larch – Wikimedia

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WRESTLING WITH SCRIPTURE

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So just what kind of false standards are being used as a straw-man, to make another false doctrine appear to be real?

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For instance, there has been a long-held church doctrine which dictates that whenever a Christian dies, he or she immediately is transferred to a conscious existence in Heaven.

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One of the problems with this idea is that in order to harmonize with the whole Bible, there must be somewhat of a wrestling match with many other passages which seemingly contradict this traditional belief.

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THE “SOUL-SLEEP” STRAW-MAN

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Well, one talk show host always defends this traditional belief by setting up a straw-man to refute those who believe otherwise.

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In other words, this talk-show host always mercilessly ridicules those who believe in “soul-sleep”. And this is the straw-man ploy, since the Bible never uses the exact expression, “soul-sleep”.

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And while it is true that people should not invent their own non-biblical terminology, such as “soul-sleep”, nor any other non-biblical name, we should not “throw the baby out with the bath-water” as the saying goes.

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In other words, the Bible does indeed refer to God’s people as those who “sleep in the dust of the earth”. (See Daniel 12:1, 2)

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announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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“MANY…SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH”

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But many times, the Bible makes statements such as Daniel 12:1, 2…“And at that time (the time of the end)…many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

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Now it says here that the dead are sleeping in the dust of the earth. And at the time of the end, they will awake, some to Salvation, and the rest to damnation.

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Straw-Man-attributed-to-Larch – Wikimedia

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BODY SLEEP?!

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Now one ridiculous explanation which is popular in the apostate church-community is to say that those that “sleep in the dust” refers to the dead body that “sleeps” in the dust, and not to the soul. But as we all know, just a few years of being in the grave and the physical body turns back into dust. So this makes such an argument seem foolish!

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Potting soil – Wikimedia – CC Share-alike License

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“THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN TO GOD”

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Now such show hosts will discount these kinds of statements about the dead sleeping in the dust, as not actually being true.

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And one of their major arguments against the dead sleeping in their graves is because of the following Bible statement…“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

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But while this above verse clearly teaches that the spirit returns to God when a person dies, this does not necessarily say that it leaves the place of the grave.

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Orphan on Mother’s Grave – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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HOW CAN THE SPIRIT RETURN TO GOD, BUT STILL REMAIN IN THE GRAVE?

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So how could it be true, that the spirit remains in the place of the grave, but also returns to God?

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Well, the obvious answer to this question can be found in Isaiah 66:1, and also in Psalm 139:7-9…

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First, listen to Isaiah 66:1…“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?”

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Here is seen that God is telling His people not to put Him (God) in a little box! His people erroneously thought that God was a little person like they were. But God is infinite in size. His Spirit fills the entire universe and beyond!

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Argentine graves east falkland by Chris Pearson – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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GOD IS IN HELL!?!

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Now listen to Psalm 139:7-10…“Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.”

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Now this passage even expands God’s presence even to the grave (“Hell”, or “Sheol”). Here, David is revealing that God is literally everywhere, even in “Hell”, or “Sheol”, which is also translated “grave” in many Old Testament passages.

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Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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GOD IS IN HELL (SHEOL, THE GRAVE)

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And so, when Ecclesiastes 12:7 reveals that death causes the human’s spirit to return to God who gave it, it does not necessarily leave the grave where that human was laid to rest.

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Because as Psalm 139:8 reveals, God is present in Hell (“Sheol” or “the grave”).

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Old Jewish Cemetery – Prague Czech Republic – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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THE POWER OF TRADITION

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So, the question to be asked is, “Why can’t these modern-day Bible teachers and theologians see this truth?”

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**As one Nazi leader always used to say to the effect, “If you constantly affirm a lie to a person, he will begin to believe it”. And Satan knows very well that that Nazi leader was correct!**

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And Satan now uses the pulpits and TV and radio to hammer such lies into the consciousness of Christians, on a 24/7/365 basis!

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Nazi Youth – cropped image – Wikimedia – Commons – Share-alike License

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COMPARING SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

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And thus it is with the nature of death and Hell.

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But God has purposely made this doctrine difficult because it requires doing a lot of homework, by searching out everything concerned with this particular subject. We cannot just use the passages we like and ignore the rest. And that is exactly what so many Bible teachers do, quite often.

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And to be honest, we are probably all guilty of doing this kind of poor Bible interpretation at times!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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SLEEPING IN THEIR GRAVES

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So, the bottom line is, the spirit of a man absolutely returns to God who gave it. But this does not necessitate for that spirit to leave the place of its sleep in the grave (“Hell”, or “Sheol”, or “The Grave”).

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And as for this idea that the dead are sleeping, as they wait for Judgment Day, to stand before God, our tiny little brains cannot comprehend what God does or does not do. If God causes the dead to sleep in their graves, who are we to try to limit what God can do?

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He’s infinite!

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Calvary Cemetery Queens – cropped image – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE

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But one thing we do know for sure…“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1st Corinthians 4:16-18

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This passage only further confirms that the dead (in Christ) are indeed sleeping in their graves, but will one day soon, rise up, “to meet the Lord in the air!”

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Yes, Jesus is coming back for His sleeping saints. Think of it as a harvest at the end of the world.

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Second Coming – Resurrection Morning – Jan Luyken – Bible – Wikipedia – US Public Domain (2)

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TO READ PART 8, CLICK HERE…

May 9 (The Straw-Man! Part 8: “Aleister Crowley: Satan’s Wing-man or Just His Straw-man?”)

Aleister Crowley, Golden Dawn – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to search out these somewhat confusing doctrines for my own self, and not depend on others to tell me what I should and should not believe…

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

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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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).

But before we explore the floods, let’s look at one more number from that same passage in Revelation…

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TOMORROW:

March 25 (Shouting Good Words! Part 3: “Forceful Bible Teachers!”)

Sunday preaching – 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 #83 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 – March 23 (Habakkuk Says “Run!”, Part 9: “Satan Now On The March!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, year 3 – March 23

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Habakkuk Says “Run!”,

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Part 9:

“Satan Now On The March!”

TO READ PART 1, CLICK HERE…August 11th (Habakkuk Says “Run!”)

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Up until a few years ago, there has been a steady downhill decline of morality and Christianity in the 1st world nations: the very nations which once enthusiastically embraced the Christian Reformation.

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But several years ago, it seems as if all the stops have been pulled out, and Satan is now on the march! Beside the aggressive anti-Zionists who would love to kill all Jews and Christians, the immorality of Sodom & Gomorrah is now being pushed on our society and upon our school-age children!

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And while all the craziness around the world is very upsetting, to say the least, Christians must realize that God is allowing these things for His own divine purpose!

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Burning Man – 2013 -Chapel – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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JEREMIAH’S CUP FOR ALL NATIONS !

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One reason is that those nations which once enthusiastically embraced the Christian Reformation are being given over to the sin that they prized more than the righteousness they rejected, when they rejected Christianity…

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Listen…“For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me (Jeremiah); Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.” Jeremiah 25:15, 16

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Here is a prophecy which is just now finding its fulfillment as we see the nations of the world being filled with madness and insanity! They are now drinking the cup of God’s fury which causes madness! And that’s why so many world events make no apparent sense or reason!

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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A WAKE-UP CALL?

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But could there be another purpose in allowing all this insanity to occur? Does God have another reason for allowing these abominations?

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Could it be that God is allowing these disturbing events as a wake-up call to His sleepy-eyed Church?

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Listen to this prophecy concerning the days we are now in…“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30

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9/11 World Trade Center attack – New York – by UpsateNYer & Wikipedia – Share-Alike Lic.

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TO GET OUR ATTENTION?

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The Church, by-and-large, has been much too friendly with the world, with all its hedonistic pleasures and ambitious pursuits! And so, what else can God do to get the attention of a Church which is busy buying and selling, planting and building, marrying and embracing this dark world?

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Yes, it seems that Satan is now on the march, no longer working behind the scenes to bring us into the final trial! And his faithful citizens are joining with their master, to help bring about these final events with such rapidity that it is frightening beyond measure!

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(As this above, not-so-funny Judgment Day cartoon pictures, this Christian has stopped watching and instead, is enjoying the selfish pleasures of this world. But Judgment Day is not waiting around for him to wake up!)

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ANY GOOD NEWS?

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Well, if there is any Good News at this present hour it can be found in the following passage from Habakkuk 2:2, 3…“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

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So when the vision begins to speak, God warns His faithful remnant to, “RUN!”

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But exactly what vision is it that will speak in these last days?

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

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“THE WICKED SURROUND THE RIGHTEOUS”

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Listen again to Habakkuk, now in Chapter 1:4…“Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”

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This is the vision which Habakkuk complains about to the Lord! And Habakkuk goes on to describe the rapidity with which these unbelievers spread their abominations through the land!

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And isn’t it true that we are witnessing these world-wide paradigm shifts occurring so swiftly, far quicker than any of us ever thought possible?

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(To get a more in-depth insight into the Book of Habakkuk, please read the following article…THE FEARFUL MESSAGE OF HABAKKUK!)

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FLEE TO THE RAGGED ROCKS

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And so, the prophet says “RUN!” And this end-time wake-up call is designed to strike fear in the hearts of God’s people!

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And this next passage from Isaiah really puts an exclamation mark on what Habakkuk says…“In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21

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While it’s needless to have to explain just what are the many idols that God’s people must cast away, it is a joy to explain about the “ragged rocks” which God’s people are to flee to!

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PICTURE – Constellation – Woman of Revelation 12 flees to the mountains – Mark 13:14 – This is not a star-chart, but merely a concept picture

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HIDDEN MANNA

Revelation 2:17

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These ragged rocks are the Hidden Manna found veiled in types and symbols in God’s Word. In other words, there are many overt and easily understood passages in Scripture. But God has also hidden many deeper truths, by wrapping them up in allegories and parables! And He is now revealing these deeper, allegorical truths to those who are humble and meek enough to receive them!

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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 10, GO HERE…

April 2 (Habakkuk Says “Run!”, Part 10: “Television, Swifter Than Leopards!”)

Berlin neukoelln – TV satellite dishes – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to flee to the mountain of God. Give me the desire to save my family from the destruction rising up all around us…

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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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

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

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

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

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

HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours). In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation. Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).

**On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God.**

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Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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TOMORROW:

March 24 (The Straw-Man Ploy, Part 7: “Sleep In Death”)

Argentine graves east falkland by Chris Pearson wikimedia share-alike license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #82 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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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 – March 21 (It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan World! Part 2: “It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan Church-World!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 21

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It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan World!

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Part 2:

“It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan Church-World!”

To read Part 1, click here…March 14 (“It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan World!”)

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During the late 1930’s, there came a charming young rascal named Douglas Corrigan, who loved aviation, preparing his plane to make a trans-Atlantic crossing.

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But when he flew that plane from Long Beach California to New York, he was refused permission to make that trans-Atlantic flight to Ireland, his ancestral heritage.

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“ACCIDENTALLY” FLEW TO IRELAND INSTEAD OF LONG BEACH!

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Well, this gifted mechanic and aviator “accidentally” got mixed up during his flight back to Long Beach and miraculously ended up in, of all places, Ireland, the very place he desired to go, but was previously refused permission!

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**And in spite of all the world-wide attention he received and his pretentious denial, he was tagged with the name, “Wrong-way Corrigan”.**

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**He wrote a one-chapter book, called, “That’s My Story!”. And overall, Corrigan made quite a bit of money during the next few years.**

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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A “WRONG-WAY CORRIGAN” WORLD?

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So just how does this little story connect with the Gospel of our Salvation?

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Well, maybe a better question would be, “Just how does this story of “Wrong-way Corrigan” apply to today’s church-world?”

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE WAY OF TRUTH

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After all, God has given His Church its marching orders.

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The Bible was graciously placed in the hands of the Church. And so, we have our flight plan, so-to-speak… “Keep My commandments, and live; and My law as the apple of thine eye.” Proverbs 7:2

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE BIBLE: BLUEPRINT FOR THE CHURCH

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The Bible is a blue-print for the conduct of the Church, as well as for individual Christians.

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**But just like ol’ Wrong-Way Corrigan, the church-world, to a great degree, has decided to, “do its own thing”, as the saying goes!**

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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‘WRONG-WAY’ JONAH

The story of the prophet, Jonah, is the story of a man who wasn’t content with the marching-orders he received from God.

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And so, Jonah did what Wrong-way Corrigan did.

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Instead of going to Nineveh, he “flew” in the opposite direction, to Tarshish, a wealthy commercial trading city.

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But God didn’t allow Jonah to get away with his rebellious deed!

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Jonah The Prophet – www.christianimagesource.com

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TODAY’S CHURCH HAS SAILED TO TARSHISH

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Today, the church-world has likewise been taking off in its own direction.

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Like “wrong-way” Jonah, we too, have sailed to Tarshish, so-to-speak!

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We have been deceived into thinking that we can “kick back” and enjoy the pleasures and pursuits of this cornucopia world, instead of warning the world to flee from the wrath to come!

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Oh yes, we tell people about Jesus, to a certain extent. But our words and our lifestyle preach two vastly different sermons!

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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MANY WORLDLY PURSUITS!

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Instead of modeling itself after the early church, written about extensively in the Book of Acts, the churches have patterned themselves largely after the world: clubs, plays, comedians, dramas, sensual and pop music, rock bands, sensual dress-codes, sports, pep-rallies, movies, pleasure excursions, lavish church-buildings, emulating worldly behavior, prosperity-driven gospels, joking preachers, women pastors/elders, many unbiblical church-doctrines, allowing abortions, getting involved in politics, mingling with the secular society, encouraging ambitious careers, encouraging lavish homes and grounds, and needless pleasure-vehicles, various parties and celebrations, bridal/baby showers, television, games & amusements, banquets, joining up with unbelievers in secular social and community events, and similar non-biblical pursuits, together have turned today’s churches into little more than social/fraternal clubs covered with a thin veneer of religiosity.

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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WORLDLY PLEASURES NOT ALL FORSAKEN!

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Oh, it’s not that an occasional camp-out, or a potluck, or baby shower, etc., is wrong.

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But when churches pile up all these worldly pleasures/endeavors together, they begin to become overwhelmed by worldliness, forgetting their true purpose, to a great extent, thus becoming a fraternal/social club with, perhaps, a somewhat thin veneer of religiosity.

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Listen to James…“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” James 5:5

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Instead of modeling themselves after the early Church, today’s church-world has mingled the sacred with the common, bringing in many worldly elements!

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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THE WORLD IS WATCHING

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The world closely watches the Church, and Satan points out to them the vast inconsistencies between the early Church and today’s hedonistic, opulent Church!

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But while Wrong-Way Corrigan apparently got away with his shenanigan, the Church will not be so lucky! (Actually, Corrigan’s son later died in a private plane crash, causing Douglas to become a life-long recluse.)

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Even now, the churches and their private school academies have become so compromised with worldly behavior, that there is no more true Salvation there. And like Corrigan, many ardent church-attendees may likewise be heartbroken to lose their own children to this world, all because we have pursued the things of this world, to the detriment of our family!

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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CHURCH GIVES BIRTH TO WIND

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Listen to this amazing verse concerning the day we are now in…“We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” Isaiah 26:18

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Here above is a prophecy concerning the Church. Today’s church-world has not brought forth Jesus Christ. We have instead brought forth wind. Neither has the world fallen. Nor has the world confessed that of a truth Jesus is in her, the Church.

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Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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BABYLON, THE HARLOT CHURCH

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God has pronounced the church-world to now be part of this Babylonian world. And He has vacated the churches, leaving the “man of sin”, Satan to fill the void!

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Listen…“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” 2nd Timothy 4:3

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Here is a prophecy which foretells of the day when the churches become fully apostate.

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

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“COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE!”

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And so, just what are we to do about this unacceptable situation in our church-world?

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Well, God is now giving us our new marching orders…“And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

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Yes, there is hope, but only in one direction! God is now calling His people to come out of the Church-world which He has named Babylon, Mother of Harlots!

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And so, God’s people are to obey our flight instructions. But those who refuse to come out will be in danger of partaking of her sins, and receiving of her plagues which are already beginning to fall upon the apostate church-world!

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

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…May 31 (It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan World! Part 3: It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan Church-World (CONTINUED)!)

Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open my eyes to the true condition of the churches. Help me to come out of Babylon, and flee to the refuge of the mountains which surround, “Jerusalem which is now, and is in bondage with her children.” (Galatians 4:25)…

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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A new constellation has been revealed, as of about May 29th, 2014. This constellation appears as a serpent (snake). Its body is comprised of stars from the Bootes Constellation, and its jaws are made of the four stars which Babylonians saw as the head of Draco, the Dragon. It also has a small single star for an eye.

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Now in this constellation is a group of five stars, which will be called “The ‘Five Foolish Virgins’ Stars”. These are located on the opposite side of the Glorious Crown of 12 Stars (AKA Corona Borealis), from the ‘Five Wise Virgins’ Stars. But one big difference between the two is, that The Five Wise are curved around the Glorious Crown, while the Five Foolish are curved away from it!

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ABOVE STAR-CHART (with constellation drawn in by this website)- Serpent with Wise Virgins not Attached – seen late summer into fall only – Serpent Constellation – comprised of the head of Draco, plus stars from the Bootes Constellation – www.signsofheaven.org – not for profit use

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TOMORROW…

March 22 (The Armor Of God, Part 2: “Mental Illness & The Spirit Of Fear!”)

Human worry & stress & depression – by Becky Wetherington for Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #80 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 – March 20 (That Serpent-of-Old, Part 1: “Surely The Serpent Will Bite!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 20

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That Serpent-of-Old:

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Part 1:

“Surely The Serpent Will Bite!”

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“Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment;

and a babbler is no better.”

Ecclesiastes 10:11

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Have you ever seen one of those snake charmers from India?

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Well, most of us have never been to India.

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But via television, most of us have seen those flute players who wave their flute back and forth, up and down, causing that snake to follow along, seemingly mesmerized by that flute.

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Charmeur de serpents à Jaipur – Snake Charmer – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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A PROVERB OF SOLOMON

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Well, that seems to be the object lesson in our signature verse…“Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.” Ecclesiastes 10:11

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Here is a rather intriguing proverb by that wisest of all mortals, King Solomon (actually this proverb came from God, the true Author of the Bible)!

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And one reason why it’s so intriguing is because it seems to have a multiple application to various aspects of life.

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Brown tree snake – Boiga – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

For instance, on a personal level, quite often, when we have a falling out with a friend, that “friend” can turn on us, and begin to make life unpleasant for us.

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Perhaps that ex-friend will retaliate by merely casting verbal stones at us in the form of angry words or accusations. Or maybe that ex-friend will begin spreading malicious gossip, and even circulate embellished tales about us, hoping to turn others against us.

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Now for the Christian, any so-called “friend” who retaliates using cruelty against you only proves that they are nothing more than Christian-pretenders, not having the Spirit! That person has the heart of a serpent!

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A true Christian will respond to cruelty with humility and meekness and love.

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And so, in essence, this proverb about a serpent can apply to personal relationships.

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Judas Betrays Jesus – courtesy Wikipedia – Public Domain

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But how can this proverb can apply to other aspects of life?

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

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“SATAN, THAT OLD SERPENT”

Revelation 12:9

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For instance, if we apply this proverb to the entire world, it also presents a very appropriate life-lesson.

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In other words, this world-system is headed up by that serpent-of-old, Lucifer, Satan, the Devil.

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Yes, Satan, that Dragon of Revelation 12 is also called a serpent in verse 14.

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**And just think about it! We live in a world that has rebelled against Heaven, and now under the control of that “serpent-of-old”.**

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So why in the world do Christians live in peace here? Why, for the last several centuries have Christians been at peace here?

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

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PERSECUTION DURING DARK AGES

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Oh yes, during the Dark Ages, the world and the worldly churches made life very difficult for true Christians!

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Banishment, persecution, prison, torture and cruel deaths were the order of the day during those prophetic 42 months of years back in Europe. (See Revelation 13)

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

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THE CHURCH-ASLEEP

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But after those centuries of persecution finally ceased, it almost seemed like Satan just went away, or maybe even went to sleep! And life became very peaceful for Christians for the last several centuries.

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Yes, after the persecution ended, the world became the friend of Christians. Instead of burning Christians at the stake, the world was now inviting Christians over for a steak barbecue!

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So maybe that serpent, Satan, was being charmed by Christians!

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Yes, maybe like those snake charmers, Satan, “that old serpent” was being charmed! (see Revelation 12:9)

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Avvakum burned 1682 by artist Myasoyedov 1897-Wiki Pub-Dom

Barbecue – Dutch family – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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AN ERA OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY

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After all, the Church seemed to respond to those peaceful decades by turning back to earthly pleasures and pursuits.

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And with the great affluence brought about by the industrial revolution, everyone, including Christians, began to enjoy the many new opportunities now available.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Dream Maker of Babylon – Signs Of Heaven.org

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And so, Satan was being charmed, in a manner of speaking, because he had deceived Christians to the point that we took off our spiritual armor, and no longer watched for our Lord!

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The Church went to sleep!

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Brooklyn Museum – The Wise Virgins – James Tissot – Wikimedia – public domain

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HIGH-TECH HYPNOTISM

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And if all this wasn’t bad enough, the world was brought into the high-tech revolution!

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Yes, first it was radio and records.

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And this was followed up by television!

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And now the world became entranced by these two mediums of communication!

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**And if this wasn’t bad enough, “the god of this world” introduced Internet!**

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And now, even little children can dial up just about anything conceivable on their little tablets and phones!

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Girl listening to radio – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Family watching television, c. 1958 wikipedia public domain

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

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ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY!

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And so, the great serpent, Satan, was satisfied! He had Christians where he wanted them!

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And everybody else was happy too!

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The world was happy with all these new luxuries, and amusements and ambitious pursuits!

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But Christians were likewise happy, because physical violence, and persecution had ceased, allowing us to pursue many of the same pleasures and careers, and materialism which the world was now pursuing!

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Everyone was now happy…except for God.

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

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SATAN VICTORIOUS!

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And so, the serpent, Satan, was victorious, because the whole world was now worshiping him by reason of our love for this, his world-of-selfish-desires-and-pursuits!

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Yes, even though Christians were professing to love Jesus, yet in heart we actually loved “the god of this world”, since our hearts were going after the riches and pleasures and careers of this self-seeking world!

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Brown tree snake – Boiga – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SO WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?

But recently, it seems as if the serpent has begun to bite, once again!

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Yes, there appears to be a growing hostility around the world against God’s people!

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So, what’s happening? Why are things beginning to heat up for those who profess to love God. Even Jews around the world are beginning to feel the heat once again!

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

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DRINKING BABYLON’S WINE!

Something, whatever it is, has caused that serpent-of-old, Satan, to once again begin to make life difficult for Christians!

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And, no doubt, Satan has his deadly trap already set in place to spring on us!

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Well, that will have to be a question to be answered in another devotional.

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But one thing is for sure! Christians need to wake up from our death-like slumber, and forever swear-off drinking even one more drop of the highly intoxicating wine of this Babylonian world!

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William Blake – Whore – Babylon – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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GET YOUR ARMOR ON!

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Yes, we Christians must sober up, spiritually speaking!

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And we must cut away the tendrils of selfishness and worldliness which have wrapped themselves tightly around us!

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And then, we need to scramble to locate our misplaced spiritual armor!

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And then, we must sharpen our sword by hiding God’s precious promises in our heart!

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And considering the lateness of the hour, we need to hasten to do all these necessary things!

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The Day of the Lord is at hand!

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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…

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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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…

March 21 (It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan World! Part 2: It’s A Wrong-Way Corrigan Church-World!)

Douglas Wrong-Way Corrigan – Wikipedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #79 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 19 (Taking Back This Nation For God! Part 5: “The Futility of Political Change!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 19

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Taking Back This Nation For God!

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Part 5:

“The Futility of Political Change!”

To read Part 1, click here…“March 28th (Taking Back This Nation For God!)”

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“The wicked shall be turned into Hell,

and all the nations that forget God”

Psalm 9:17

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There are many Christians who naively and vainly imagine that if only some certain politician can get elected, then that politician will begin to pull this society back from the brink of ruin.

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Well, as other similar devotionals have revealed, the only true way for any society to pull out of its decadent free-fall, is for God to shed His grace on that society.

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Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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GOD CHOOSES OUR LEADERS

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Furthermore, it was also revealed that it is not mere humans who elect this or that leader.

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Actually, it is God who chooses the leaders in this world. It is merely wishful thinking that humans elect their leaders…

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Listen… “…the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Daniel 4:17

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Here is seen that it is God who chooses the leaders of this world. And God often chooses the basest (vilest) of men to rule over a nation or kingdom (as a means of bringing back His wayward people to repentance from their worldly lusts).

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Voting in Hackney – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License

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HUMANS INCAPABLE OF DOING GOOD!

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But today’s devotional will reveal another Bible truth which only further demolishes this false notion that electing certain humans will bring a nation back to God!

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Listen to this next revealing verse…“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” Daniel 4:35

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As this verse reveals it is God who decides what will be accomplished.

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Mere humans do not control the direction of any community or nation.

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Millions of protestors in Tahrir Square – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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And so, it is sheer presumption and ignorance of God’s Word that leads Christians to imagine that this or that elected ruler will be able to bring about the much-needed changes in the land!

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politics – Wikipedia – Public-domain

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BALAAM’S FUTILE EFFORTS

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For instance, take Balaam the prophet.

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It is recorded in Numbers Chapters 22-24, that Balak, king of Moab, hired him to bring a curse upon God’s people.

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Because, in his ignorance, King Balak thought that Balaam had the power to bring a curse upon Israel. But whenever Balaam opened his mouth to curse, all he could do was to pronounce a blessing upon God’s people!

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Well, the bottom line is, this infamous prophet, Balaam, had no power to curse! With all his supposed powers, he could only do what the higher powers ordained.

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James Tissot – The seven altars of Balaam – www.jesuswalk.com – US Public-Domain

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SATAN IS “THE gOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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Now of course, Satan also plays an integral role in the affairs of mankind. Yes, God has allowed Satan a certain rulership over the nations.

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And so, Bible prophecy lays out the order of future events, as the Revelation 12 Dragon wages his war against Heaven.

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The Bible refers to Satan as, “the god of this world”. 2nd Corinthians 4:4

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

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JUDGMENT DAY NOW BEING PREPARED

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Now in these last moments of Earth’s existence, the world will be plunged into the final events which will try the hearts of every Christian. And eventually, the judgments of God will even fall upon the entire world.

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And so, it is pure futility for our religious leaders to encourage Christians to try to make a difference by getting involved in changing the government and fighting against the floods of evil now sweeping over the world.

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There is absolutely no good work that a Christian or even a hundred million Christians can do to change the course of events now unfolding!

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

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PUPPETS OF THE TRUE UNSEEN RULERS

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No, any politician who gets elected will only be able to do what the higher unseen rulers of this world determine should be done!

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And even if we were a thousand years away from the Day of Judgment, it would be absolutely futile to try to effect needful changes in the land.

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Only God can effect change.

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But the Day of the Lord is not a thousand years away! No, even now, the gears are being set in motion for this final showdown called Armageddon!

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It is useless to attempt to bring about change.

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The Puppetmaster of Politics – Property of www.theheavensdeclare.net – exclusive copyrighted

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GOOD NEWS! TIME TO CHANGE!

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But the Good News in all this hopeless report is that it is still the Day of Salvation!

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And every man, woman, and child is highly encouraged to turn to the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.

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And while we cannot change the world, we can become changed into the image of Jesus Christ.

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And being changed, we then can shine our light out upon this dark and hopeless world.

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And by the grace of God, our light may just enlighten the pathway for others, that they might begin their journey out of this doomed planet, and onward and upward into the Celestial City of God!

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TO READ PART 6, GO HERE…

“April 14 – Taking Back This Nation For God, Part 6: “How To Solve The World’s Problems In 5 Minutes Or Less!”“

Moon over Watchtower – signsofheaven.org – Not for commercial use

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to effect change in my own heart, that I may walk unhurt through the fiery deluge which is even now beginning to be ignited…

Girl Praying – 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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MICHAEL, THE SOLDIER

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Michael the Soldier, battles against the Dragon: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Revelation 12:7, 8.

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Contrary to popular opinion, Michael here represents Christ as He battles this dragon. This will be adequately proven in this article and in various other sections of this website. No, Christ is not merely an angel. Christ is very eternal God. But Christ is often represented as various entities, such as a rose, or a burning bush, as well as many others things in the Bible.

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

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TOMORROW…

March 20 (That Serpent-of-Old, Part 1: “Surely The Serpent Will Bite!”)

Snake wine – cropped image – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

.

THIS STUDY #78 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

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

.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 18 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 5: “Satan’s Army of Mockers!” )

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 18

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The Devil Made Me Do It!

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Part 5:

“Satan’s Army of Mockers!”

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

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Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me:

fight against them that fight against me…

With hypocritical mockers in feasts,

they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?

rescue my soul from their destructions,

my darling (my soul) from the lions.”

Psalm 35:1, 16, 17

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WAR IN HEAVEN

As Revelation 12 reveals, “there was (and is) war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,” Revelation 12:7 (Parenthetical comment by Editor)

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Yes, we live in a world which has become a spiritual battlefield between the invisible armies of Heaven and the unseen armies of Hell (“Tartaroo”, the Greek name translated as “Hell” in modern versions).

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But the weapons of this spiritual war are quite often merely the words of men, as Satan uses them to destroy the efficacy of the Gospel and weaken the Church of God.

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MOCKERS AGAINST JESUS

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Yes, the war between Heaven and Hell is largely a war of words!

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For instance, when Jesus hung there on the Cross, He was assaulted by many onlookers, as today’s signature passage reveals, from Psalm 35…“fight against them that fight against me…With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.”

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Even the people of the world understand just what a powerful weapon that mockery can be.

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Yes, if you want to decimate your enemies, there is nothing like mockery to do the job!

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Mocking of Jesus Christ – 1617 – Gerrit van Honthorst – cropped image – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SOLDIERS FOR SATAN!

And today, Satan has a large company of mockers who make fun of Heaven and the Church.

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Just look at some of the shows on television and Internet which are dedicated to mockery. Of course, these mockers are now called comedians. And they direct their mockery at many various subjects, including Christianity.

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But make no mistake! These professional jesters are merely soldiers in Satan’s army, indwelt and inspired by the, “Prince of the Power of the Air”! (see Ephesians 2:2)

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Laughing Fool – possibly Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen – circa 1500 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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EMPOWERED BY SATAN

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And if one could pull back the spiritual curtains, it would be discovered that evil angels are the true unseen power and inspiration of these comedians, supplying them with a daily barrage of verbal bullets.

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Now this special company of mockers and jesters is nothing new!

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No, they have been a special force in Satan’s army for a very long time!

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

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NOAH MOCKED

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Yes, Satan has used mockery for many long centuries!

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For instance, just imagine how many of these mockers must have been around, back in the days before the Great Flood, laughing and mocking Noah as he constructed the ark! And like today’s professional mockers, Satan, no doubt worked within them to spew out their sarcastic jests like the proverbial “Gatling Gun”!

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And no doubt, those critical mockers must have been successful, since only eight souls boarded that Ark and were saved from destruction from the flood, even though the invitation went out to any and every human in that day!

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The Great Flood – G. Dore – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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Now amidst these continuing bad reports of this world’s terminal condition, there still exists some very Good News!

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Yes, God is still calling all those who are ready and willing to make an Exodus out of this Babylon world!

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And the door of mercy is still ajar, waiting for the last group of ex-patriots from this condemned planet to come aboard the Ark of Salvation, which is about to leave this planet en-route to the Celestial City of God!

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SAME MOCKERY TODAY!

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But as Christians construct their own spiritual Ark, preparing their hearts to become pure and holy vessels for the service of Heaven, Satan has his army of mockers, and critics, and counterfeit Christian fanatics, to cast dirt upon Christianity, to nullify whatever good that Christians might accomplish!

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

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NOT TO GET DISCOURAGED!

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But God is encouraging His faithful remnant to keep going in spite of the continual barrage of verbal assaults designed to make fun of, thus discouraging them from finishing the work!

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Yes, Satan has his mockers and scorners both in the world and also in the worldly churches.

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And he supplies this vast army with an arsenal of stinging rebukes and jests, all designed to turn away any curious onlooker from joining the ranks of these modern-day-Noahs who are getting ready to depart from this doomed planet!

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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

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YOU MAY ALSO CLICK HERE TO READ,

“SATAN’S ARMY OF MOCKERS, PART 2″

Mockers gather in front of Family Radio

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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…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer

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THE END

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..

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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…

March 19 (Taking Back This Nation For God! Part 6: “The Futility of Political Change!”)

The Puppetmaster of Politics – Property of www.theheavensdeclare.net – exclusive copyrighted

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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 #77 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 – March 17 (The Two Spirits In The World, Part 2: “You’ve Got To Serve Somebody!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 17

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The Two Spirits In The World,

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Part 2:

“You’ve Got To Serve Somebody!”

To read Part 1 of this series, click here…November 23 (The Two Spirits In The World)

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A few decades ago, a poet/songster of the world wrote the following lines…

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“You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls…”

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[Chorus:]

“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
Indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody…”

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“You might be a rock ‘n’ roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a business man or
Some high degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief”

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[Chorus:]
“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
Indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody…”

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(Song continues on with more verses)

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Songwriters: BOB DYLAN

Gotta Serve Somebody lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO

Lyrics courtesy, http://www.lyricsfreak.com

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

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EITHER THE DEVIL OR THE LORD!

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Now these are pretty good lines for somebody from the world! And these words go very well with today’s devotional about the two spirits in the world!

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**Yes, indeed, each one of us must choose just who it is we will serve. And as this song says, “Well, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord!” But we each must serve somebody!**

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And it doesn’t matter who we are, either. We can be the lowest of the low! Or we might be the highest of the high! But each of us must serve somebody, either the Devil or the Lord!

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Yes, indeed, “you’re gonna have to serve somebody!”

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Chess-game – checkmate – by Friedriech Moritz August Retzsch – Wikigallery.org – Public domain

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SPIRIT OF TRUTH, SPIRIT OF ERROR

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Now if these above lyrics don’t strike fear into each of our hearts, perhaps the next following truth will do so.

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You see, as Part 1 of this little series, “The Two Spirits In The World”, the truth was focused on that the Bible tells us that we will be indwelt by one of two spirits: either we will be indwelt by the Spirit of Holiness, or we will be indwelt by the spirit of the world. One or the other. No third alternative!

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And so, not only must we serve one or the other master, but we are actually indwelt by one or the other spirit!

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

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“THAT SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE”

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Listen to this startling verse which reveals that Satan’s spirit is within unsaved mankind…“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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And so, this verse reveals that Satan is the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.

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But this isn’t the only Bible passage that reveals this truth…

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

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“THEY ARE OF THE WORLD”

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Just listen to this next passage concerning the two spirits…“They (Antichrists) are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the ‘Spirit of Truth’, and the ‘Spirit of Error’.” 1st John 4:5, 6

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Here is seen that the spirit of this world is the spirit of Antichrist! And this Antichrist spirit is “the spirit of error”. But those who are of the “Spirit of Truth” can speak to those who are of the spirit of error, but they will not hear! They cannot hear, because they are of a different spirit!

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

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MANY DECEIVED ONES IN THE CHURCH!

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Now there are many faithful church-going parishioners who believe that they are indwelt by the Spirit of Truth.

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As a matter of fact, nearly the entire Christian nation around the world believes that they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Truth.

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But the Bible makes no such statement. But rather, the Bible says just the opposite…

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Listen…“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity!” Matthew 7:21-23

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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MANY DECEIVED ONES!

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In this above passage from Matthew, Jesus presents a very sad and terrifying, but very real truth: that on the great Day of Judgment, there will be many deceived ones, former church-goers, who thought they were signed-sealed-and-delivered-saints when back on earth.

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But as they finally stand before God on that fearful Day, they will be shocked to discover that their religion was altogether worthless!

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HOW CAN I HAVE THE BLESSED ASSURANCE?

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So just how can we know that we are truly indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Truth? How can a Christian have the blessed assurance that he or she is truly on the highway to Heaven?

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

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TRIALS, TEARS, PRAYERS, AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

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Listen to Jesus as He addresses the worldly-minded Church at Laodicea…“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire (fiery trials which removes the dross of worldliness), that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment (Garments of Salvation), that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (the knowledge of God’s Word), that thou mayest see.”

Revelation 3:18 (Parenthetical statements by the Editor of this website).

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But this spiritual remedy which was originally given to the Church of the Laodiceans is just as needful today by double-minded Laodicean Christians!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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PURIFIED BY FIRE, NOURISHED BY HIS WORD, SAVED BY GRACE

Yes, we must beg and plead for God to send us through fiery tribulations, that we may one day come forth as purified gold!

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And we must continually beg for God to save us and deliver us from our own apathy!

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And finally, we must beg and plead for God to give us a love and burning desire for daily Bible study and constant meditation of His Word!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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AS PURIFIED GOLD

And so, once God mercifully begins to bring us through fiery trials, and gives us a genuine love for the countless precious promises found throughout the Old and New Testaments…

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And once we begin to love to spend many hours searching the Scriptures, and contemplating them, day and night…

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Then and only then will we begin to have the assurance that God is truly working in us, “to will, and to do of His good pleasure!” Philippians 2:13

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Gold smelting – Public Domain – wn.com

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…

July 13 (The Two Spirits In The World, Part 3: “The Two Fountains of Pleasures!”)

Water Fountain of Eternal Life – Cleveland, Ohio – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 1.0 Universal Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to choose my master each and every day, as I choose to learn about Thee through the study of Thy Word and unceasing prayer…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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

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

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“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining…

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“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem…

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“And the heavens and the earth shall shake…

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“But the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

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Joel 3:14-16

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…

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

Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing. In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward. It resembles a pyramid.

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Then find the second pyramid to its right (south).

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Then go a little further south to the next third pyramid. The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation.

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These three pyramids are the snow-capped portion of these three mountains in this sketch. (of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky. They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR).

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THE VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP. They appear in mid-summer in the eastern skies in pre-dawn hours. These are made of Cassiopeia (mount on left), and various stars from the Andromeda Constellation (valley) Pegasus (Mount of Cursing (middle mount) & Destroying Mount (right)), and Pisces (Broad Way to Hell). The galaxy which appears to be climbing the Mountain of Blessing is the Andromeda Galaxy.

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The above Wikipedia star-chart shows this amazing constellation group as it appears from June to fall, just prior to the winter constellation group. Actually, these Valley of Decision Constellations appear in early summer in the pre-dawn hours. (Editor of this website has sketched in this constellation group onto this above Wikipedia star-chart.)

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ABOVE WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Valley of Decision & O Destroying Mtn. Constellations – Wikipedia Star-Chart with constellation drawn in by this website – Not for commercial profit use!

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TOMORROW…

March 18 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 5: “Satan’s Army of Mockers!”)

Comedian – Laughing Fool – possibly Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen – circa 1500 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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

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THIS STUDY #76 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 – March 16 (Our Favorite Babysitter: Satan! Part 4: “How To Raise Up Little Hybrid ‘Shiglets!'”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 16

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Our Favorite Babysitter: Satan!

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Part 4:

“How To Raise Up Little Hybrid ‘Shiglets!'”

To read Part 1, click here… FEBRUARY 3 (Our Favorite Babysitter: Satan!)

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Have you ever seen a “Shiglet”?

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Oh, you don’t even know what a Shiglet is?

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Well, simply put, a Shiglet is a hybrid creature, which is half baby sheep and half baby pig.

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Oh, you say that you don’t believe that any such hybrid creature even exists?

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Well, of course, you are partly correct! In the physical world, there is no such thing as a hybrid Shiglet.

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**And yet, a Shiglet does indeed exist in “the world of metaphors”. In other words, a Shiglet is merely a parabolic concept, which is based on truths found in God’s Word.**

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So, let’s just take a moment to explore this metaphorical concept according to what God’s Word says…

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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SHEEP, DOGS, AND SWINE

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**And as we all know, God often refers to His people as, “the sheep of His pasture”, Psalm 100:3. And so, this is a well-established Bible concept.**

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But the concept of swine representing people is not so easily discerned in Scripture. And yet, God gives plenty of clues concerning just what swine represent… “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Proverbs 7:6

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So here above is seen that both dogs and swine are used as an analogy concerning church attendees who are yet in their unclean spiritual condition. For instance, in Psalm 22, a Messianic Psalm, the Lord Jesus complains…“For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet.” Psalm 22:16

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So here is seen that God compares those who pierced the hands and feet of Jesus to dogs.

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Swine swimming in Bahamas – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – public domain

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SWINE: EATING OF THIS WORLD

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In his book, Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners, John Bunyan interpreted swine as referring to those in the Church who profess to have parted ways from the world, symbolized by the pig’s split hooves.

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But just as a swine eats whatever garbage it pleases, so too, many professing Christians likewise consume the filthiness, pollutions, and garbage of this world with little or no trouble!

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Yes, many professing Christians have no problem watching secular television shows which promote sex, violence, adultery, vulgarities, and atheism!

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These same professing Christians have no problem maintaining secular friendships. Nor do they have trouble expending their time and energies seeking after the many pleasures and pursuits of the world!

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These are what the Bible compares to swine.

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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MIXED MARRIAGES AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE

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In the two little companion books of Ezra and Nehemiah, some of the Jews who were just about to come out of Babylonian captivity, were found to have taken wives from the surrounding nations.

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And because of these mixed marriages, it was discovered that their children only spoke the languages of those surrounding pagan nations. And sad to say, their children could not speak the language of the Jews.

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Well, this was a great sin against God and against His Word!

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Because, God had spent so much time and effort through the centuries to warn His people against mingling themselves with the surrounding pagan cultures.

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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

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COMING OUT OF THE WORLD, A MUST!

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**Now we have a similar situation today. God’s people have been taken captive in spiritual Babylon (the world and the worldly churches).**

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And just like those Old Testament Jews who were called to come out of literal Babylon, so too, God is just now calling His people today, to “Come out of her (Harlot Babylon), My people, lest ye partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues!” Revelation 18:4

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**Now of course, we cannot come completely out of the world. But, as one Bible teacher put it, “We can come a good way out”, if we so-choose!**

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But while we cannot come completely out of the world, we can come completely out of the fallen churches, which have been all but gobbled up and assimilated by Babylon, the world!

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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

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TRYING TO HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

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You see, the reason why the churches are fallen is because they have attempted to have Heaven, while still hanging on to the world!

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And the Bible condemns all such presumption…

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

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So here is seen that this present world-order is Antichrist in nature.

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And those church-goers who spend their time and energies seeking after the pleasures and ambitious pursuits of this, the Devil’s world, only prove to others that they have NOT the love of the Father in them, but are merely world-loving professors of Christianity. And they thus become fatally-flawed deceivers to others in the churches, setting a deadly snare for their fellow parishioners!

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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

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CANNOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF HEAVEN

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And the current situation in Christian homes is extremely similar to the situation in Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s day!

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Just as the children of those mixed marriages during Babylonian captivity could not speak the language of the Jews, so too, children in today’s churches, by and large, do not speak the language of Heaven! (see Nehemiah 13:23, 24).

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In other words, they do not speak the language of Salvation. Their lives are dedicated to earthly pleasures and worldly pursuits!

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So why does this problem exist?

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Simple! Far too many Christian parents have allowed their children to watch television, to form secular and quasi-Christian friendships, to freely mingle with the secular society, to attend public schools, and quasi-Christian academies.

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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CAUSE OF CHILD’S APOSTASY: PARENTS LOVE THE WORLD

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But the reason for this sad, terribly sad condition of young people, goes right back to the parents, in most instances.

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Yes, the root cause of this problem is, that far too many Christian parents have, themselves, become so involved in seeking after the pleasures and ambitious pursuits of the world, that they have allowed all this worldliness to rub off on their children, thus resulting in “Shiglets”: half worldly and half Christian. And a “50% Christian” is no Christian at all!

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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.” James 4:4

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As this above verse reveals, there are many faithful church-going individuals who think they are signed-sealed-and-delivered-saints, but are actually God-hating pretenders! By their very own world-loving lifestyle, they reveal that their true love is for, “the god of this world”, Lucifer, the Devil, and Satan! And these deceived church-goers will pass along their world-loving ways to their children, turning them into little “Shiglets”: hybrid Christians, which are no Christians at all! (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4 for “god of this world” reference)

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – 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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One very great means of raising our children to wholeheartedly love Jesus, is for the parents to reflect the loving ways of Jesus to our children. In simpler terms, we must make sure to live with our family in such a way as to show them that Heaven is a place of joy!

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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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RAISING LITTLE BABYLONIANS

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Now, this article is a companion article to another Daily Devotional, “Raising Up Good Little Babylonians!” (click here to read).

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And as today’s little devotional cannot go into detail about the influences which will result in hybrid Shiglet children, the Reader is encouraged to read that very important article, “Raising Up Good Little Babylonians!” (click here).

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MY RE-COMMITMENT TODAY

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Well, this is a really sad and tragic situation. But as the old saying goes, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!”

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If the Christian’s children are still young, and he or she has a Christian spouse, then there may still be time to repent and try to undo the damage done!

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But for those of who have failed with their children or grand-children, they still have time to repent of their worldliness and turn to the Lord with all their hearts!

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And by whole-heartedly consecrating their lives to God, and by unceasing prayer for their children, who knows if God might save their children in the end?

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It’s worth a try, isn’t it? (Not to mention that you will most likely be saving your own soul in the process!)

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A Shig or a Peep – geograph org – UK – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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

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TO READ PART 5, GO HERE…

May 4 (Our Favorite Babysitter: Satan! Part 5: “Secularism: From Such, Withdraw!”)

Lunch Break – Wikimedia Commons – Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, Help me to raise my children the best way possible! And help my spouse to also concerned with the eternal welfare of our children…

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

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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THE SWINE: “LUST OF THE FLESH”

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1st John 2:16

This article will introduce this third beast-like face, inscribed in the Moon: a swine. And it will be shown that the three beast-like faces in the Moon, represent the concept taught in the above verse concerning “the lust of the flesh…the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”.

It has become apparent that the second face in the Moon, besides appearing as a wolf-like beast, also appears as a Swine. Let’s explore this concept, for a moment. First of all, when a person sees the second face up in the sky, it’s arguable whether or not it looks like a swine. But it must be conceded that the photos do indeed make it appear as if this character has a “sawed-off” snout like a swine. And of course, a swine is spoken of quite frequently in Scripture.

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Moon – 2nd face Scorner – highlighted photo – Blue moon of 31.08.2012 – by Cezar Popescu – Wikimedia – Creative-Commons – CC0-1.0-Universal-Public-Domain-Dedication

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“GRACE ABOUNDING TO THE CHIEF OF SINNERS”

by J. Bunyan

John Bunyan, the author of the earth-shaking allegorical tale, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, seems to have caught the essence of the meaning behind clean and unclean beasts. He saw why God made a distinction based on the feet as well as the diet of these beasts, as stated in the following Bible verse…

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“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth… Nevertheless… the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.” Leviticus 11:2,4,7

Why did God makes the feet and the diet of the beasts of the earth the criterion for this distinction between clean and unclean beasts? How odd!

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Engraving of Pilgrim: “Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress” – Wikipedia – U.S. public domain.

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TOMORROW…

March 17 (The Two Spirits In The World, Part 2: “You’ve Got To Serve Somebody!”)

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.

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THIS STUDY #75 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 – March 6 (Paul’s Godly Example, Part 2: “Like Paul In A Materialistic World!”)

By admin On May 30th, 2024

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 6

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Paul’s Godly Example,

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Part 2:

“Like Paul In A Materialistic World!”

To read Part 1, go here…June 29th (Paul’s Godly Example!)

“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

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

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When the inhabitants of Heaven rebelled, there became, not one, but two very different and opposing approaches to what is the best way to live.

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Of course, the everlasting Ways of Heaven, with its government of unselfish love was the established and eternal Way.

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But now, this universe became divided, with a brand-new emerging philosophy of self-will, and self-aggrandizement, and materialism.

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In simpler terms, “selfishness” was the new order of things in the universe!

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Paradise Lost – G Dore – Wikipedia – public-domain

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ISOLATING THE DEADLY VIRUS OF SIN

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Now, God could have merely sent out a single fire-bolt and destroyed that rebellion, if He chose to.

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But He didn’t. No, in His infinite wisdom, God decided to allow this rebellion to play itself out.

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And so, He gave those rebels their very own planet to govern, allowing them to create their own world-system, based on this new philosophy of “selfishness.”

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But God did not take away the devastating results of sin.

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No, sickness, suffering, persecution, lawlessness and death were left intact, as the inevitable results of sin and selfishness.

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

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“LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS”

John 1:5

But in His infinite love, God gave us a divine Book, which we have named the Bible, which is merely Greek, for “The Book”.

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**And in that Book, God speaks of this new philosophy of selfishness, calling it the government of “Babylon” (translated: “City of Confusion”), as well as other similar names.**

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And this Babylonish world has had various philosophies that reigned supreme during designated ages.

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

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AGE OF MATERIALISM

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But now we have reached the end.

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And the predominant age we are now in is, the age of materialism.

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Oh yes, it’s also the age of atheism. And yes, it’s also the age of, “The False Prophet” in which false miracles are now occurring. (See ”March 24th, 2nd Beast of Revelation 13″)

ABOVE PICTURE: Satan, The False Prophet who now in these last days destroys the churches via a world-loving prosperity-driven false gospel – www.signsofheaven.org

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AGE OF MATERIALISM

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But basically, the western nations have become immersed in materialism. And the industrial revolution combined with the high-tech revolution has resulted in a society of vast material wealth.

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And Satan (the name given for Lucifer and his fellow rebel angels) has worked around the clock to create this decadent, cornucopian super-society in which every conceivable pleasure and selfish pursuit is now possible.

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**And so, it has become a world of Mammon (earthly riches). And of course, the various industrial/technological societies have become immersed in self-seeking.**

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

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THE GOSPEL SEED

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But even though God has allowed all this state-of-the-art selfishness to be created, He nevertheless, has injected His own government in the midst of this world of sin and selfishness.

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And God has chosen a people out of the midst of all this selfishness, to be His goodwill ambassadors to this lost planet steeped in its selfish ways. Yes, God has elected His nation of kingly priests to pray for, and to present themselves as examples of God’s government of selfless agape love.

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**And He has given us the ability to walk, even as He (Christ) walked when living down here in His human body.**

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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AS A DOG RETURNS TO HIS VOMIT”

Proverbs 26:11

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**Unfortunately, Lucifer (now called Satan), has made it his mission to bring down this heavenly Gospel into utter ruin and apostasy!**

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And to a great extent, he has been successful, turning the various religious organizations away from Heaven’s Ways, detouring us back down to the wares and ways of this material world.

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Thus, the Church-called has been derailed, to a great extent, by joining in with the world in pursuit of all its materialism and its self-aggrandizing careers.

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“GO…TO THE HIGHWAYS & HEDGES”

Luke 14:24

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But now that we have reached the final chapter of Earth’s history, God is reaching out to anyone who is willing to cast away all our idols of silver and gold, to return to the Ways of Heaven.

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And even though the Bible reveals that the vast majority of so-called Christians will not respond to this call to, “Come out of Her (Babylon) My people”, God will nevertheless go out to “the highways and hedges” to bring people into His great Wedding Feast.

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Whether the beggar, or the incarcerated, or perhaps those who are physically or mentally impaired, God can and will use each willing vessel, turning them into a highly polished, “vessel unto honor” in these last hours of history! (See Romans 9:21)

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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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PAUL LOST ALL!

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Listen to Paul…“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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Here is seen that Paul allowed God to take away all his earthly belongings and worldly accolades, so that he could be our human role-model. That’s right, to put it in his own words…“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 11:1

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Paul was not raised up as some kind of hybrid divine/human idol to be merely adored and revered! No, Paul was raised up to be an example of what we too can become, if we so desire.

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Paul Tentmaking – cropped image – La Vista Church of Christ – Creative Commons License

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PRISONERS OF BABYLON

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Now it must be stated that those who have married worldly-minded spouses are somewhat locked up in bondage to this world.

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In other words, that Christian must continue to provide the comforts of this world, in order to please the spouse and world-loving children.

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Nevertheless, that Christian can indeed deny his or her own self as much as possible, praying for the Salvation of their world-loving family.

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And by self-denyingly providing for the worldly needs and comforts of the family, that selfless Christian can also be included in the number of Christ-glorifying Christians to be manifested before the world!

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

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“WHO WILL GO FOR US?”

Isaiah 6:8

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And so, that call is now going out to God’s people to no longer partake of all the materialistic pursuits which the apostate churches are advocating.

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And we have that god-glorifying Apostle Paul as our earthly role-model, as he also was a follower of our Divine Role-Model, Jesus, as He leads us all up that Heaven-ward pathway out of this selfish and materialistic world.

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And as we ascend, the entire world will stop and take notice that the Church-Elect has finally become changed into the image of Christ, as we shine out the blinding light of Heaven’s Jesus upon this materialistic and sin-darkened world!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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To read this entire article, just click here…

“‘7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion'”

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 catch that same fiery Spirit which caused Paul to joyfully suffer the loss of all things in his relentless pursuit of Christlikeness…

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

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)

7 STARS IMITATE THE CROSS OF ORION

This phenomenon begins in late October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.

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This Wikipedia star-chart, has this constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west. You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south. Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill. The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill. The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.

Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward. It stands upright a little later in the night. Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross! Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.

**When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!**

ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – wikipedia star-chart with orion drawn in by this website – not for commercial use

TOMORROW:

March 7 (Thou Art Weighed in the Balances! Part 3: “Judge Nothing!”)

Scale of justice – by Wikimedia & user-DTR – 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 #65 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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Devouring Fire.com

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 26 (Crucified With Christ, Part 1: “I Die Daily!”)

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – March 26

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Crucified With Christ,

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Part 1:

“I Die Daily!”

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“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;

yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,

and gave Himself for me.”

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<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-39944" src="https://i0.wp.com/theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/elijah_and_the_chariot__image_6_sjpg2165-241x300.jpg?resize=102%2C193&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="102" height="193" />.

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Of all the heroes of the Bible, who do you admire the most?

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Is it Elijah?

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Or perhaps faithful Daniel?

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Or godly Enoch?

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Or Christlike Apostle, John?

Or the fiery prophet, John The Baptist?

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Or how about the Psalmist, David?

Or the wise Solomon?

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Or the talkative, yet lovable Peter?

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THE APOSTLE, PAUL<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-39731 alignleft" src="https://theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Paul.jpe" alt="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpg" width="78" height="165" />

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Well many or even most people would answer that Paul is their most admired Bible hero of all (not counting Jesus, of course).

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And why is he so admired?

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PAUL’S REMARKABLE LIFE!

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Paul was the very essence of what it means to be a Christian!

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TWO TYPES OF ADMIRATION

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Now, while it’s true that virtually all the Christian community admires Paul, there are two classes of admirers: one class that places Paul on a pedestal, so to speak, and another class that looks upon Paul as a blueprint for their own life.

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CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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But what does all this have to do with today’s devotional concerning being crucified with Christ and dying daily?

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THE APOSTLE, PAUL

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**How can those of us in these un-Paul-like circumstances possibly become crucified with Christ, just as was Paul? How can we die daily, as Paul died daily?**