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Today’s Devotional – January 2

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“Harvesters of Light”

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“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son

cleanseth us from all sin.”

1st John 1:7

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NAME-CALLING

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“I know you are, but what am I?! I know you are, but what am I?!”

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Have you ever said these words? “I know you are, but what am I?! I know you are, but what am I?!”

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This was the best we could come up with, back in the 50’s, when somebody was calling us a derogatory name. Perhaps, here in the 21st Century, children now use some other, more effective (and vindictive) retorts, when answering bullies.

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Bully Free Zone – Creative-Commons Generic License – cropped image – Wikimedia

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DEROGATORY NAMES

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Well, the fact is, most of us have been called many derogatory names over the span of our lifetime. Back in our early schooling, some of our less-than-admiring companions may have teased us about some perceived flaw in our looks, personality, or life-circumstances.

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Not too much fun, was it?

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

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GOD CALLS PEOPLE NAMES TOO!

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But God also has a name for His followers. Yes, God is into ‘name-calling’ too! Actually, He calls us many different names.

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But today’s devotional is focusing on one name in particular. That name is the name, “Children of Light”.

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Listen… “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1st Thessalonians 5:4, 5 (see also Luke 16:8, John 12:36, Ephesians 5:8) 

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

 

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A GOOD NAME IS WORTH PROTECTING!

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“These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the Seven Stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Revelation 3:1

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What a wonderful name! “Children of Light”! It kind-of makes us feel a responsibility to protect that light within us, doesn’t it? Well, it should! After all, there are many ways in this dark old world, in which we might drink in that darkness, isn’t there?

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And this above verse from Revelation warns that a good name must be protected (“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”)

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DRINKING IN THE DARKNESS

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Just think of all the things of the world which exude darkness: the various newscasts on TV and radio, for instance, which report one heinous crime after another. Do you think that has any effect on our Heavenly glow? 

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Well, God thinks it does!

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Just listen…“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire (God)? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings (God’s judgments)? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly…that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil…” Isaiah 33:14, 15.

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Well, isn’t that what so much of nightly news is all about: the “hearing of blood” (violence)? And on TV news, you not only hear about violence, but you get to see it, too! So, this little passage from Isaiah presents a big concept! (“He…that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil…”). And anyway, the best place to find out what’s really going on in the world, is by reading the Bible, isn’t it?

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

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REPROVERS OF THE DARKNESS

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Dear Stranger & Pilgrim in this world (two more God-given names), instead of watching evil communications, it is our responsibility to reprove all such evil.

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Listen… “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:11-14.

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Just think, the Bible tells us that it’s a shame to even speak of such hideous crimes we so casually and carelessly watch on TV! And we wonder why we’re having so much trouble in our flesh each day! This is why God tells us in this very same passage…“Wherefore He (God) saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14.

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Yes, the sad fact is, that God is calling us “dead” if we’re still continually fellowshipping with the dead deeds of this dark world!

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LIGHT MANIFESTS THE DARKNESS

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But the good news is, God is also calling us to awaken from our death-like slumber, and He will give us light! “Wherefore He (God) saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14

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And so, instead of verbally scolding the evil deeds of others, we simply need to let our light shine. Yes, as children of light we don’t need to call the world all sorts of derogatory names. We simply need to let our light, “…so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

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Yes, as this passage, and also the one before it from Ephesians tells us, it is light which makes :manifest the darkness of this world (“for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Ephesians 5:13).

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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GATHER UP THE LIGHT!

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Therefore, instead of gathering darkness, let us each be light-gatherers! And there is no better way of gathering light, than to behold Jesus, “in the light of His Word”! (a line from the hymnal song, “When We Walk with the Lord”)

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“The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:30.

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So here it plainly declares that when God’s Word enters the heart of man, it brings light into the soul.

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And consequently, the greater one’s understanding of God’s Word, the brighter will be that light!

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I have lived in the flesh much too long! And I have loved the things of the flesh too. Let me become a gatherer of light, instead of a gatherer of darkness. Let me walk in the light, while there’s still time…

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

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Television & The Image That Speaks” or you can also read… “Running The Christian Race (Part 3, Sensual Music)”, or you can also read… “Mercury & The Image Of The Beast”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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 ARK, CROSS/SCEPTER & FLOWER OF THE FIELD

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“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Revelation 11:19

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The below sketch is of the southernmost constellations: The Ark of the Covenant, the Flower of the Field, and the Cross/Scepter Constellations. As you can see in the sketch, the two stars in this Ark of the Covenant Constellation, (on either side of the Ark) do not look like these two angels. This sketch is just an overly generous rendering of this constellation. This sketch does however, present a view of the Ark, as it might have appeared (somewhat) in Solomon’s temple. This constellation is commonly known as “Sagittarius”. Why the ancients saw this as a centaur (man/horse figure) is a mystery. Maybe someone knows.

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TEMPLE IN HEAVEN OPENED

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But the really big important fact is that this constellation is spoken of in Revelation… “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the Ark of His Testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Revelation 11:19. This constellation begins to fulfill this prophecy in this above verse. But as you read more and more of Signs Of Heaven, you will see a greater fulfillment of this prophecy. Because not only will the temple be opened in Heaven, but you will receive instructions as to how you may enter by faith into the true temple in Heaven and into the true Most Holy Place where the actual Ark is (the heart of God).

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(To read more on this subject, go to… “Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: these are sketches, and are not charts. They are not 100% accurate. But hopefully, they are close enough, so that the reader may locate them in the night sky.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Ark of the Covenant Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

Daily Devotional, Year 4 – JANUARY 3 (A World of Lies, Part 2: “Every Vote Counts! Or Not!”)

Voting in Hackney – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 License

 

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 4 – January 1st

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O Taste and See That The Lord Is Good!

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Part 2

“Closing Time”

To read Part 1, click here….April 17 (O Taste and See That The Lord Is Good! Part 1: “To Know Thee More!”)

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“O taste and see that the LORD is good…

He left not Himself without witness,

in that He did good,

and gave us rain from heaven,

and fruitful seasons,

filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Psalm 34:8 & Acts 14:17

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There is no excuse for anyone who disbelieves in God!

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Nature has its witnesses, who stand up and speak eloquently on the Creator’s behalf!

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South American Butterfly – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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“AND GOD SAW EVERY THING THAT HE MADE, AND BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD!”

Genesis 1:31

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Just look at the beauty of nature!

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Behold nature’s awesome grandeur!

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And seek after its wisdom! Its poetry! Its law & order! Its love!

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Look up, and behold the inscribed, “signs in the sun….moon and…stars”! (see Luke 21:25)

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These are of the faithful witnesses found in all of nature, which proclaim their glorious Divine Maker!

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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THE TRUE NATURE OF SELFISHNESS IS SEEN BY ALL

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But nature also speaks of evil.

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Take, for example, the spider and its web, which teaches about the enslavement and even the death which results from sin.

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Spider Web – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“O LORD, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches”

Psalm 104:24 

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This world is full of the countless beautiful things!

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From the lovely flowers that grow to the majestic snow-capped peaks.

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From the little butterflies collecting their daily store of sweet nectar, to the great whales frolicking in their ocean playgrounds!

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From the tiniest atomic particle to the greatest galaxy and even beyond!

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This entire universe is God’s Book of Love, mysteriously proclaiming His Beauty and goodness and wisdom and poetry, and Law and Order!

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

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*”And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.”

Psalm 104:15

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And all through history, and especially in the last few centuries, mankind has been given the privilege to explore and behold the goodness of God.

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From the enjoyable meals together with family and friends, to the joys of a newborn baby!

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From intriguing hobbies, to building a new home!

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There are countless joys to experience in this world! And all these many joys and wonders all give mankind a greater appreciation of the Creator’s love for His creatures!

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(*THIS ABOVE VERSE MIGHT BEST BE INTERPRETED…“And wine (of Christ’s blood-bought Salvation), that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil (of His Holy Spirit), to make his face to shine, and bread (of His infallible Word), which strengtheneth man’s heart.” Psalm 104:15) 

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Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Barbecue – Dutch family – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

Fly fishing on the South Santiam – Wikipedia – Creative Commons – CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

Mother Child face-to-face – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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“An enemy hath done this.”

Matthew 13:28

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Oh yes, this world has much evil! But Scripture reveals…“An enemy hath done this.” Matthew 13:28

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Yes, there is also a power of evil in this world. And the tokens of Satan’s presence are likewise seen as well. And God has allowed these unseen spirit-beings, evil-angels, to work their woe through the long centuries.

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And so, those who are wise can compare these two governments and realize the vast difference between the two.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc. – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

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“…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time”

Daniel 12:1

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Nevertheless, everything in this world has an ending. And we have reached that time in which God says,

“And at that time shall Michael stand up,

the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:

and there shall be a time of trouble,

such as never was since there was a nation

even to that same time:

and at that time thy people shall be delivered,

every one that shall be found written in the book.”

Daniel 12:1

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Yes, Michael our great Prince, “shall stand up and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:” Daniel 12:1

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And so, even though the time before us will be extremely difficult, yet God has allowed it for the deliverance of His people…all those whose names are written “in the Book Of Life Of The Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 & Daniel 12:1

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.Judgment Day – by sweet media – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

ABOVE PICTURE: Mark of the beast – pub. dom. – Wikipedia

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“For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies”

Lamentations 3:32 

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Now don’t imagine for a moment that God enjoys seeing His creatures suffer!

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Such a time as that which is now coming upon the world grieves God deeply! But He knows that He must allow evil to come to the full, so that there will never ever be another rebellion against His Kingdom of Unselfish Love.

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And so, He will allow Satan’s Kingdom of Selfishness to fully manifest itself before the onlooking world.

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.Judgment Day – by sweet media – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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GOOD NEWS! A TIME OF DELIVERANCE!

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The Good News is, that God has allowed the day of Salvation to continue. And every man, woman, and child who decides to abandon this selfish world, can begin to cry out for deliverance to the One who died on the Cross for their sins!

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And that incredible sacrifice on the Cross

to save us is the ultimate way in which you and I can

“…taste and see that the Lord is good!” Psalm 23:8

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Cross of Jesus Christ – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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“The heaven for height (of goodness),

and the earth for depth (OF WICKEDNESS):

and the heart of kings is unsearchable.”

Proverbs 25:3

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

Daily Devotional, Year 4, September 6 (O Taste & See That The Lord Is Good! Part 3: “Is a Dog, Man’s Best Friend?”)

Dogs nose – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the joy of knowing more about the wonders of nature. Help me to see, not only the beauty and poetry of nature, and the wisdom and law of nature, but also the many pictures of Love: God’s love in nature…and the joy of nature…

Beagle and sleeping kitty – cropped – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…January 21st (Emperor Penguins & Us!) or you may also read…February 16th (Joys of Parenthood!) or you may also read…January 25th (Nature’s Witnesses, Part 1)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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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HEAVENLY OBJECT LESSON

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“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” Isaiah 24:23

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When God created the Moon and the stars, He ordained them to “rule the night” (Gen. 1:16). The Moon, especially when it is full, can light your pathway through the night, as it reflects the light of the Sun.

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So too, the Christian is to be a light to the world: to this sin-darkened world. But as the Moon must reflect the light of the Sun, in order to be a light to the world, so also must the Christian reflect the light of Jesus, to be a spiritual light to this planet in rebellion. Listen…

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“Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

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However, during an eclipse, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, preventing that sunlight from shining on the Moon’s face. This is an incredible object-lesson about when the child of God allows the world to come between him and his Lord. Like the eclipse, that person no longer reflects the light of Jesus, because his or her love of this dark world of sin has eclipsed the light from the “Sun of Righteousness” (see Malachi 4:2).

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And so, this is just one of the many poetic truths seen in the Moon. (For more on this subject of an eclipse, you may link to the article… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”)

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Dutch Painting: Um_moinho_dominando_a_baía_à_luz_lunar – wikimedia – US public domain

This is a drawing of a winter-time total lunar eclipse, first published in Bilder- (Picture Atlas of the Stemenwelt) in 1888

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

Daily Devotional, Year 4: January 2 . . . . Noble Bereans, . Part 34: “Killing The Messenger” CONTINUED

Jack-the-Ripper – Wikipedia – Public Domain

 

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THE GREAT CONTROVERSY BY ELLEN G. WHITE

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Dear Noble Berean…This 44 chapter audio book is a brief history of the Church, from the Cross of Christ forward to the Return of Christ. This is a 20 minute introduction…

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Martin Luther – 95 Theses – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this small 30 minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50 year series of 90 minute nightly talk shows…This is Open Forum Show #50

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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 30

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The Devil Made Me Do It!

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Part 19:

“Lulled by Lucifer’s Lullabies!”

To read the first part of this little series, click here…October 13th (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 1)

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

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

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Then they could all laugh and mock “the silly and absurd notion” that Satan is a very active and powerful force controlling the peoples of this world, by merely chortling…“The Devil made me do it! The Devil made me do it!“

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Flip Wilson – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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

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After all, Ephesians 2:2 presents a truth which practically nobody realizes or accepts! It is perhaps the most egregious truth in all of the Bible!

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

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

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

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“SPEAK UNTO US SMOOTH THINGS, PROPHESY DECEITS!”

Isaiah 30:10

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Oh yes, it would be much more pleasant to only read nice, innocuous, and euphemistic devotionals, like so many other devotionals out there today.

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Unfortunately, with all the many devotionals being published today, the great apostasy in the church-world has not been the least bit abated, but only continues to worsen!

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Woman with Book – Brooklyn Museum – La Roche Guyon by Theodore Robinson – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“ANOINT YOUR EYES WITH EYE-SALVE, THAT YOU MAY SEE!”

Revelation 3:18

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The fact is, it is only by applying the unvarnished and often unpleasant truth about this very dangerously deceptive world, that Christians might become so alarmed as to cause us (yes, including the editor of this website) to fall to our knees (spiritually, maybe not literally) in deep repentance and contrition over our sleepy-eyed and apathetic Laodicean condition.

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Oh, that we lukewarm Christians would only apply the Bible’s spiritual eye-salve, that we might begin to see the terrible reality, that we are surrounded by evil angels on every hand!

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

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“…SAYING PEACE, PEACE, WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE!”

Jeremiah 6:14 & 8:11 

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During the Dark Ages, Christians knew that they were surrounded by evil angels, working in and through the people of the world.

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Yes, the animosity and even the persecution of God’s people was so great and so prevalent, it was hard to deny that they were surrounded by Satan’s visible and invisible armies!

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But in these last moments of time, this society has traded in their pitchforks for meat-forks, and their spears for spatulas.

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And nowadays, instead of burning Christians at the stake, they merely invite them over for burning steaks hot off the barbecue-grill!

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Burned at the stake – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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

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“TAKE HEED…LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH…THE CARES OF THIS LIFE, AND SO THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES!”

Luke 21:34

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And as a result of this new-found “friendship” with the world, Christians have pretty much laid aside our spiritual armor, and have joined in with the world in their seeking after the seemingly endless earthly pleasures and ambitious worldly pursuits currently possible!

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Now for the world, to pursue all the things that this decadent, cornucopian super-society has to offer is perhaps just fine!

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After all, this life is very short, and this earth will be their final resting place…unless, of course, they turn and become converted to Christ.

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

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ENTANGLED ‘WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE’

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But those who have been called out of this world, have been specially chosen to become soldiers in the Lord’s Army!

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And as Paul so aptly puts it…“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2nd Timothy 2:3, 4

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Here is revealed just what is the high and holy calling of every Christian: to be a precisely disciplined soldier in the Lord’s Army.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“…HASTING UNTO…THE DAY OF GOD…”

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And though this discipleship is an ongoing process, we need to follow Peter’s admonition…“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, LOOKING FOR AND HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2nd Peter 3:11, 12

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Now if this above passage doesn’t send chills up our spine, nothing will!

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And with such warnings as this, every good soldier in the Lord’s service will hopefully awaken to the peril which secretly looms on every side!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“AND THOUGH THIS WORLD WITH DEVILS FILLED…”

(a line from Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress)

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Oh, that our eyes might be opened, so we could see ourselves actually surrounded by invisible evil-angels, as they work in and through unbelievers: to speak to us, to sing to us, to entertain us, to encourage us to continue on in our world-loving ways!

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If only we could realize that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against…the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:19

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Yes, our battle is not with humans, but with unseen forces, even as Martin Luther’s song sings, “And though this world, with Devils filled, should threaten to undo us…”

(lyric from, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”)   

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That’s right! This world is indeed filled with devils, unseen evil-angels who indwell the peoples of this, his kingdom, surrounding Christians on every side! And in our naivety, we are mostly ignorant that these invisible spirit-rulers are speaking, singing, encouraging, and entertaining us on a daily basis, all in hopes of derailing us from the great and urgent commission to purify our hearts and conform our lives to the life, love, and image of Jesus Christ our great Commander! 

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

Announcer with microphone – svg – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

TV – highquality – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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“WRITE THE VISION…THAT HE MAY RUN, THAT READETH IT!”

Proverbs 25:25

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Yes, this is the very day of which Habakkuk prophesied, that we must “RUN!”: we must flee to the spiritual mountains of refuge!

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But O Follower of Jesus, fear not! For of those mountainous strongholds it is written…“And there shall be upon every high (spiritual) mountain, and upon every high hill (of God), rivers and streams of (life-giving) waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers (churches) fall.”

Isaiah 30:25 (parenthetical comments by Editor)

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Yes, the Bible assures every fleeing Christian, that “He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks (the Bible): bread (of life) shall be given him; his waters (of grace) shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the (Promised) Land that is very far off.”

Isaiah 33:16, 17 (parenthetical comments by Editor)

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With such great and precious promises as these, how can we possibly fail!?  

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

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TO READ PART 20, CLICK HERE…

January 31 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 20: “O Lucifer, Son of the Morning!”)

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council- Wikpedia – US Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to prepare for the crisis which is now coming upon this world. Graciously allow me to hide Thy great and precious promises in my heart, that I might stand in this evil day which is already beginning… 

Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…January 26th (Buying & Selling The Gospel), or you can also read this shorter article… August 19 (Image of the Beast, Part 6: “Framing Mischief By A Law!”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

 

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

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“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 

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In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon 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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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction

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TOMORROW…

December 31 (TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE! Part 3: “Time To Jump Ship?”)

Scalped Morrison – 1868 – Fort Dodge – Wikipedia – US Public Domain.

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #362 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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THIS IS STUDY #363 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 31

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TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE!

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Part 3:

“Time To Jump Ship?”

To read Part 1, go here… January 7th (TIME TO GET OUT OF DODGE!)

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“But the day of the Lord

will come as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,

the earth also and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation and godliness…

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,

and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

2nd Peter 3:10-12

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The crude expression… “Time to get out of Dodge!”, was coined back in the 1970’s from a television show based on that infamous town, Dodge City, back in the days when fearless and foolhardy Old West gunfighters were made legends by lean, ambitious, and imaginative storywriters.

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Scalped Morrison – 1868 – Fort Dodge – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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TIME TO GET OUT OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH!

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Well, this concept of getting out of Dodge is nothing new!

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Even back in the days of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, God warned him to “get out of Dodge!”

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But of course, back in those days, “Dodge” was actually called “Sodom and Gomorrah”.

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

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“FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS”

Mark 13:14 & Luke 21:21

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Yes, the day finally came in which things had devolved into such sad and horrible decadence, that God’s wrath was finally ready to be poured upon the four cities of Sodom!

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And God was warning His people to “look not behind thee…escape to the mountain…lest thou be consumed!” Genesis 19:17

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Mrs. Lot looks back at Sodom by Raphael for www.wikigallery.com public domain

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“IT (THE WORLD) HATES (ME, JESUS), BECAUSE I TESTIFY…THAT THE WORKS THEREOF ARE EVIL”

John 7:7

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This website has been accused of being too negative. And let’s face it! Most people, (primarily the unsaved), cannot stomach too much negativity, especially when it directly concerns them, personally!

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Well, that’s very understandable. We all fall into that camp, to a certain degree.

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But perhaps this website goes far beyond most other ministries in its negativity. Or maybe not. But it’s probably right up there on the short-list of negative ministries.

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

 

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And why is it? Why is this website so negative?

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

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DOOMED PLANET

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Why in the world do we have to be so negative?

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The answer to this very reasonable question is because we have reached the end.

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Yes, this Titanic world has finally struck its proverbial iceberg, and is now filling up with icy-cold water! 

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Yes, whatever analogy one wishes to use, whether to “Get Out Of Dodge!”, or to “Flee Out Of Sodom To The Mountain”, or to simply “Jump Ship!”, the bottom line comes out the same: this world is about to end!

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And so, this website has dedicated itself to literally give its readers the warning from Heaven, “Let him that readeth, RUN!” (paraphrase of Habakkuk 2:2)

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The very Iceberg that possibly struck Titanic – US Govt. photo – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“THE WORLD PASSES AWAY”

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And so, this website feels the necessity, yea, even the urgency to sound and resound the clarion trumpet-call in stark warning!

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In other words, we feel that God is now wanting to remove from all of us, any future hope of enjoying a peaceful and abundant life on this doomed planet!

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And so, that is why all the negativity exists on this website. It is imperative that all hope must be removed, so that we might finally get into the lifeboat which God has provided for our rescue!

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And unlike the lifeboat shortage back on April 15th, 1915, in that doomed Titanic ship, God’s lifeboat is now big enough for every last man, woman, and child who desires to escape the certain doom which is soon to come!

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Titanic – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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“THE EARTH (IS)…RESERVED UNTO FIRE”

2nd Peter 3:7

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So please don’t wait until it’s too late…“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee (God) in a time when Thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto Him.” Psalm 32:6

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This invitation goes out to all! The good, the bad, the rich, the poor, the free, the incarcerated, the healthy as well as the weak and infirm!

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We’re all invited to come aboard Heaven’s Lifeboat that will soon depart from the late great Planet Earth!

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ABOVE PICTURE: The Gospel Ship of Salvation

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“BLOW THE TRUMPET, AND WARN THE PEOPLE!”

Ezekiel 33:3

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After all, it’s just like the old saying, “If you see someone driving toward a steep cliff, what kind of a warning should you give them? Do you remark to them  “Have a nice day”? Do you wish them a pleasant journey? Do you urge them to stop and smell the roses? No, instead you frantically wave your arms, and jump and scream and shout as loudly as you possibly can, that they are headed for certain doom!” 

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So please understand that it should not be a very pleasant task to be so negative in these devotionals.

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But this website will be gladly shouting out this message, if by any means, all might be saved!

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“A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY!”

Exodus 3:8

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Oh yes, it’s time to GET OUT OF DODGE! Make no mistake!

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And yet, so as to not end on such a sour note, let’s not forget where we are fleeing to!

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To a wonderful Land in which all sorrow, suffering, and tears, and death, will be forever removed. To a Promised Land of milk and honey! To a beautiful paradise in which we will never grow old! To a brand new life in a brand new place in which bells of deliverance will ring through the ever-winding green meadows, and the sounds of carefree laughter and joy-filled singing will echo against the majestic mountains and everlasting hills!

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to flee from the great heat which is beginning to scorch this world. Give me understanding to know what I can do to get out of this world, and yet still live and function in this world…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… August 11th (Habakkuk Says “Run!”), or you can also read… August 22nd (Sodom Rising! Part 1)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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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FLEEING WOMAN OF REVELATION 12…

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“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Revelation 12:14, 15. So this Revelation 12 Woman Constellation gives a heavenly portrait of a woman fleeing from the Dragon, who is spewing water in her pathway.

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The sketch to the right is “Valley of Decision” Constellation, the Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation, and the Dragon Constellation. This is a concept sketch. These three constellations are not in this position in the night sky. So please don’t try to find them together like this. All of the other sketches have the constellation in the correct position, unless otherwise noted. For locations of each of these Constellations, please go to the article for that particular constellation.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness)” 

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TOMORROW…

January 1: (O Taste & See That The Lord Is Good: Closing Time) 

.Judgment Day – by sweet media – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #364 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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THIS IS STUDY #365 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 17

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The Devil Made Me Do It!

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Part 18:

“Satan’s War Against Sincere Christians”

To read the first part of this topic, go here…March 18 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 5: “Satan’s Army of Mockers!”)

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

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

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

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Flip Wilson – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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SATAN, “THE GOD OF THIS WORLD”

2nd Corinthians 4:4

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

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After all, Ephesians, Chapter 2 reveals a truth that practically nobody realizes or accepts! It is perhaps the most egregious truth in all of the Bible!

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And this verse is, “…the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

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

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

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FANATICAL COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS

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In the news today, a so-called “Christian” couple were discovered to have chained their children into the basement for a number of years!

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Unbelievable?

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Of course!

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But the most unbelievable part of the story is to believe that these two parents could actually be considered genuine Christians by some!

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Internet addiction prisoner – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons lic.

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“THE WAY OF TRUTH SHALL BE EVIL SPOKEN OF”

2nd Peter 2:2

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Well, obviously, the whole unthinkable situation could only be the evil work of that arch-deceiver, Satan! And these two parents are no more Christian than even abject atheists are Christians! But rather, these poor people have been raised up by Satan to become religious fanatics for the express purpose of giving Christianity just another “black eye”!

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But why would Satan commit such a heinous act in the name of Jesus?

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Again, the obvious answer is that Satan has scored a huge victory here! Oh yes, Satan has always exulted whenever he could give Christianity a bad reputation in some way.

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Internet addiction prisoner – cropped image – Wikipedia – Creative Commons lic.

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HOME-SCHOOLING IN DANGER

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But this incredible story becomes an even more damaging situation because the children were considered to be homeschoolers!

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Yes, in a society in which homeschooling is already looked down upon with a suspicious eye by the government, this horrific incident only makes matters worse for sincere Christians who wish to educate their children at home!

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Nazi Stabs Bible – Wikimedia commons – US Public Domain (2)

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FORCED TO WORSHIP THE BEAST’S IMAGE

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It appears that Satan is now “on the march”, as the saying goes!

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Yes, it would seem as if God is now permitting Satan to fulfill the prophecy found in Revelation 13:15-17…“And he (the False Prophet) had power to give life unto the image of the (first) beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

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Here is rather veiled, and difficult language concerning Antichrist Beast and his image which speaks. 

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But to put all this in the simplest terms, it merely speaks of the day when Satan has been allowed to make life nearly impossible for Christians!

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CHRISTIAN LIBERTY SOON REMOVED

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And this incident (along with many similar occurrences), is just one more nail in the coffin of Christian freedom!

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Yes, the walls seem to be rapidly closing in on the Christian community; at least, it is for dedicated Christians who care enough and have the ability to homeschool their children.

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But for the vast majority of Christians, this sad story shouldn’t affect them very much, since most Christians already have their children enrolled in public, secular schooling.

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But those few dedicated Christians who now homeschool their children, in the near future it might just become increasingly difficult to continue to educate their children at home. And the rulers of that particular location are already somewhat hostile to many rights of the Christian community, they might be the very ones who lead the charge against homeschooling.

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Homeschoolers playing Dutch Blitz at picnic gathering – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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SATAN’S IMAGE FORCED ON WORLD (AND CHRISTIANS)

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But stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, we understand that Satan is so very jealous for his kingdom of darkness, he cannot stand to see Christians living “off the grid”, as far as having their children educated outside of public, secular schooling.

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Even most private Christian schools have become so mired down with government regulations, that they are just a little better than public schooling.

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And they have become so worldly-minded, that they even voluntarily bow down to the image of Satan, i.e., this antichrist world-system, in so many ways! Yes, there has developed a world-loving spirit in today’s church-world, which manifests itself in many or perhaps most church-operated schools.

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TOTALITARIANISM ALREADY IN PLACE

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And as we survey our current society, it would seem that we are now entering a whole new level of mind-control!

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As if things are not already bad enough, Satan, “the god of this world” is obviously not content with the current level of totalitarian control already in place!

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Yes, with television, public schooling, Internet, hand-held devices, radio, magazines, newspapers, novels, billboards, etc., Satan has already achieved a level of mind-control never before seen in history-past!

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“EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES”

2nd Peter 1:4

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And yet, God is faithful! Yes, we can cling to the many “exceeding great and precious promises” from God, such as this one…“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” 2nd Peter 1:4 & Romans 5:20

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Here is a real blessed promise for concerned Christian parents! God vows to help all those who truly love Him!

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And such promises as this one will become even more vitally important in the coming months as Satan continues to “tighten the noose” around Christians!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 19, CLICK HERE…

December 30 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 19: “Sleeping To Satan’s Lullabies!”)

Violin Lullaby – Satan – Tartini’s Dream – Louis-Léopold Boilly 1761-1845 – Devil’s Trill Sonata – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to prepare for the crisis which is now coming upon this world. Graciously allow me to hide Thy great and precious promises in my heart, that I might stand in this evil day which is already beginning…

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…February 17th (Buying & Selling The Gospel), or you can also read this shorter article… August 30 (Image of the Beast, Part 6: “Framing Mischief By A Law!”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

 

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

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“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 

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In Revelation, the Dragon of Revelation 12 is described as having seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. However, the Dragon 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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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction

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TOMORROW…

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

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

 

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #349 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 16

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 31:

“Babylonian Hell”

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

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The ancient Babylonians and pagans had some traditional beliefs and celebrations which have found their way into the Christian churches: Christmas, Easter, the Trinity, and many other traditions and false teachings which the world, and the worldly church still embrace.

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Alexander Hislop’s much-maligned book, “The Two Babylons”, gives an in-depth account of many of the various similarities between Babylon and the Christian Church.

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The Two Babylons – Alexander Hislop – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF HELL

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One similarity, which many, today, overlook, is that Hell is an endless underworld in which all rejecters of God’s grace will spend eternity suffering for their sins.

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And to this day, almost the entire Christian community embraces and teaches this ancient Babylonian version of Hell, to the extent that they believe it to be a place of conscious existence.

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

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“GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE!”

2nd Thessalonians 2:11

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And truth-be-told, God gave the Church “enough rope to hang themselves” , as the old saying goes. Yes, God has written the Bible so that if anyone takes certain verses out of context, wrong interpretations will inevitably occur.

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In other words, the apostate churches over the centuries, took a number of verses out of context to prop up this Babylonian view of Hell (and other ancient pagan cultures) as being a place of everlasting torment and suffering.

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“IN THAT VERY DAY, HIS THOUGHTS PERISH!”

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Yes, God wrote the Bible in such a way that unsanctified minds could be used by their Master (Lucifer, the fallen rebel angel), to come up with many false doctrines.

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And Eternal Torment is just another example of taking certain verses out of the context of the Bible in its entirety, and making those certain verses the sum total of their church-doctrine.

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And then, they ignore those many other passages which reveal death to be an unconscious state of nothingness, such as this passage…“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4. Yes, this and other similar passages present a completely opposite version of Hell than ancient pagan cultures embraced! (see also Job, Chapter 3, click here)

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Wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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STUDY, CHRISTIAN, STUDY!

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Now there are too many articles already devoted to the various verses which prove this to be just another false doctrine by the fallen churches and denominations.

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And the Reader is encouraged to read through these various articles on this website, to gain a greater understanding of why this doctrine is nothing more than heresy of the first degree.

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Hell – Jan van Eyck Diptych – _Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“FLEE OUT OF THE MIDST OF BABYLON, AND DELIVER EVERY MAN HIS SOUL!”

Jeremiah 51:6

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But the point of this article is to highlight that the current viewpoint of Hell is straight out of ancient Babylon, and is just one more reason that God’s people must realize that spiritual Babylon is the apostate churches and denominations.

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And sad to say, God’s Spirit has now at last vacated the apostate church-world, and He is calling His people to likewise “Come out of her (Babylon), My people, lest you partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

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Yes, the end-time exodus is now. And God has graciously provided an abundant provision of living waters and heavenly bread on the Mount Sion, the holy mountain of God in which we are to flee!

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

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TO READ PART 32, CLICK HERE…

January 9 (Eternal Torment? Part 32: “And Their Smoke Rose Up Forever?)

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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

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

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Planet of Rest: Doctrine of Eternal Torment, or you can also read this shorter article…AUGUST 19 (Apocalypse Now! Part 6: Fire & Brimstone!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

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TODAY’S FEATURED SIGN

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

 

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LOCATION of THE WAVE OF WATER CONSTELLATION…

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

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

(Editor’s note: It is impossible to make this chart accurate, and visually correct, because the dome effect of the sky makes these constellations look different than they appear when placed on flat paper.)

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 FLOOD WATERS…

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No matter where this constellation is in the night sky, this wave of water is always going towards the path of the Woman of Revelation 12 (Flees to the Wilderness). This wave of water is made of the Auriga Constellation plus two fainter stars closer to the Dragon’s mouth. Let’s see what Scripture has to say about flood waters.  

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“And the serpent cast out of his mouth WATER AS A FLOOD after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood..” Revelation 12:12.

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So what do these flood waters represent?  Does the Bible have anything to say about Satan’s flood-waters?         

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LOCATING THE DRAGON

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THE DRAGON of REVELATION 12 CONSTELLATION . The Dragon Constellation can be located by finding Orion in winter months. The Dragon is to Orion’s left, and the Dragon’s mouth is right next to Orion’s shield. This Dragon’s mouth is the V-like constellation The Hyades Cluster, which is the very same constellation that comprises the head of Taurus the Bull. In other words, Hyades is also known as the head of Taurus the Bull. And Hyades is the mouth of this Dragon.

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The tip of the Dragon’s tail is composed of that star-cluster known as The Pleiades. The Pleiades is actually in the shape of a lion’s furry tassel tip of his tail. The sketch below shows this Pleiades as the tail tip.

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Now with aid of a dark starry night, you may begin to connect this mouth and the tail with a very long body in an oval shape. The front and back legs are very well-defined with stars. The front legs are made partially of Taurus. The back legs and rear fin are made of the Cetus Constellation. But the long oval-shaped body has relatively few stars, but can been seen, howbeit with a dark starry night. The four stars of the front fins are made partially of Taurus. This Dragon constellation appears in the eastern horizon about mid-summer in the pre-dawn hours, spewing his flood-waters northward toward the Woman of Revelation 12 (Woman in Travail). The Wave of Water is primarily composed of the Constellation Auriga. The are two more less bright stars which are closest to the Dragon’s mouth. These two dimmer stars are also part of this Wave of Water.

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Flood Waters of Satan-Introduction

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TOMORROW…

December 17 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 15: “Satan’s War Against Sincere Christians”)

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

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #348 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 14

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Nature’s Witnesses,

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Part 13:

“An Open Letter To An Atheist Talk Show Host”

To read Part 1, click here…January 25th (Nature’s Witnesses)

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“Verily I say unto you,

Whosoever shall not receive

the kingdom of God as a little child,

he shall not enter therein.”

Mark 10:15

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Dear Talk Show Host

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People in your particular profession make a living in advocating supposed truth and exposing perceived falsehoods.

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And so, on a daily basis, political/social/religious teachers must differentiate between what is truth and what is error.

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At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen.

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

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From listening to your show’s on-going debates with Christians and church-doctrine enthusiasts, it seems as if you might not be too far away from the Kingdom of God.

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Because when people put up such a strong defense against those with an opposing opinion, it almost seems as if they are secretly fearful that they might actually begin to agree with that “adversary’s” point of view.

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And so, instead of dispassionately examining both sides of any issue, these nervous ones might begin to defensively mock, insult, curse, and do whatever else they can to decimate their “adversary’s” opposing point of view, as quickly as possible.

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Yes, as people fortify their arguments with anger, cutting jokes, or even curse words, it almost appears as if they are attempting to strengthen their own shell of resistance against the Truth that just won’t let them go: Truth that so often keeps tugging at their heartstrings.

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

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Of course, nobody but God knows your heart, so all this is mere conjecture as far as you personally are concerned.

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Nevertheless, you mentioned on one show that the word, “faith” was some sort of sacrosanct name, which, whenever mentioned in a conversation, people just seem to always bow down and “roll over”, as if in reverent acceptance. Well, these weren’t your exact words, but this was the gist of your comment regarding “faith”.

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Perhaps that word, “faith” often frightens many people.

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I remember in my early twenties (my atheist years), that such spiritual terms as “faith” scared me too, because I was afraid of being swept away into some sort of weird spiritual, almost trance-like existence (which I believed serious-minded Christian people to be caught up into).

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I saw that very same phenomenon happen to several high school buddies, and I really didn’t want it happening to me! It almost seemed to me like they were on some bad LSD trip or something!

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And that just might be the problem with many unsaved people. They’re fearful of being sucked into some spiritual “Bizarro-World”, because deeply devoted Christians often seem somewhat weird and so all-consumed by their religion. This makes unbelievers afraid that they’ll never be the same as they once were, should they be converted: afraid they’ll never be “normal” again!

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

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But the fact is, faith, true faith, is exactly how we are to come to Jesus!

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Listen to this exchange by Jesus with an unsaved, “religious” leader of that day…“Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews), Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

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Yes, becoming “Born Again” is an act of child-like Faith! In other words, God is not looking for those who deem themselves to be wise. God is wanting us to come to Him as little children! Not by grand arguments, nor by philosophical reasoning, nor by higher education, but by the simple preaching of the Gospel!

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

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This is why God wrote the Bible, with so many seemingly ridiculous tales! Yes, the Bible has been purposely written to keep out all those who attempt to come by their own strength and by their own intellect.

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But when a person does finally cross over (by faith) into that spiritual realm, their spiritual eyes become opened and they begin to see the Truth for the very first time! Then all those seemingly impossible stories and “ridiculously absurd” laws now begin to shine with great truth and with wonderful parabolic significance.

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Oh yes, all those stories in the Bible were true and historical events. But God miraculously orchestrated them to teach us more about Jesus. But like yourself, I too once thought those stories were all “just a bunch of mindless nonsense”.

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But once a Believer’s eyes are enlightened (via the power of the Holy Spirit), they now realize that all those Bible stories were actually true, literal and historical events! And they now understand the allegorical nature of those stories, that God miraculously orchestrated them to teach spiritual truths.

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

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And so, people can spend time cursing, and mocking, and ridiculing the Bible. But it must be remembered that God wrote the Bible to be a miraculous Book. It only reveals what’s in every person’s heart.

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And there are, no doubt, many who pray for you daily that your eyes too, will be opened!

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And if their prayers for you are answered, then you too will become one of the happiest people on earth, knowing that all this supposed nonsense called “the Bible”, is actually the most wonderful Good News ever given to the lost souls of this hopeless and dying world!

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

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“For the invisible things of Him

from the creation of the world are clearly seen,

being understood by the things that are made,

even His eternal power and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse”

Romans 1:20

Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 

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TO READ PART 14, CLICK HERE…

May 5 (Nature’s Witnesses, Part 14: “God’s Little Witnesses In Nature”)

South American Butterfly – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Open the eyes of this atheistic world, that they might see the wonderful truth of the Gospel…

Prayer for USA – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…January 8th (Was Blind, But Now I See!) or you may also read…December 20th (Arcturus, The Star That Wise Men Follow)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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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HEAVENLY OBJECT LESSON

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“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” Isaiah 24:23

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When God created the Moon and the stars, He ordained them to “rule the night” (Gen. 1:16). The Moon, especially when it is full, can light your pathway through the night, as it reflects the light of the Sun.

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So too, the Christian is to be a light to the world: to this sin-darkened world. But as the Moon must reflect the light of the Sun, in order to be a light to the world, so also must the Christian reflect the light of Jesus, to be a spiritual light to this planet in rebellion. Listen…

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“Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

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However, during an eclipse, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, preventing that sunlight from shining on the Moon’s face. This is an incredible object-lesson about when the child of God allows the world to come between him and his Lord. Like the eclipse, that person no longer reflects the light of Jesus, because his or her love of this dark world of sin has eclipsed the light from the “Sun of Righteousness” (see Malachi 4:2).

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And so, this is just one of the many poetic truths seen in the Moon. (For more on this subject of an eclipse, you may link to the article… “Lunar Eclipse & Spiritual Eclipse”)

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Dutch Painting: Um_moinho_dominando_a_baía_à_luz_lunar wikimedia US public domain

This is a drawing of a winter-time total lunar eclipse, first published in Bilder- (Picture Atlas of the Stemenwelt) in 1888

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

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TOMORROW:

December 15 (A 3-Fingered Judgment-Day, Part 5: “Every Man…His Labor…(Is) The Gift of God”)

Palmer – Carpenter – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #346 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 13

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The Gospel According To Pollyanna,

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Part 6:

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy? Or Don’t Be Happy, Worry?” 

To read Part 1, click here…December 2nd (The gospel according to Pollyanna)

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“Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Psalms 2:11 

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THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO POLLYANNA

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That charming 1960 Disneyland movie, Pollyanna, was about a recently orphaned young girl who came to live with her very harsh and judgmental aunt.

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And yet, this happy, lovable, and precocious little girl in that movie, had followed her father’s gospel (a gospel of his own making which eliminated the thousands of seemingly harsher verses found in the Bible).

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And so, the movie tension was somewhat centered on Pollyanna’s happy, “800-verse-judgment-free-religion”, against the sour-faced fire-n-brimstone preaching that her aunt was pushing.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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AN EVEN MORE UPBEAT POLLYANNA

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Now, in the 1973, BBC version, Pollyanna was even more bubbly, more energetic, more positive-minded than Disneyland’s version of Pollyanna.

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Yes, the BBC Pollyanna saw every circumstance in life, good or bad, from a happy and optimistic vantage-point, to the degree of becoming somewhat unrealistic.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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“THEY THAT BE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY THAT ARE SICK”

Matthew 9:12

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And yesterday’s devotional (click here to read) attempted to present how Christians should deal with unbelievers in regard to their happiness.

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That is, should happiness be the highest goal to be achieved by the people of the world?

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And if the entire world was filled with “happy-go-lucky” people, would anyone ever turn to Jesus for Salvation? Just as Scripture teaches…“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.” Luke5:31 

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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“That spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience”

Ephesians 2:2

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Well, to a certain degree, many people of the world do appear to be pretty happy: lots of joking and jesting and laughing, etc….

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But what we must consider, is that “the god of this world”, Lucifer (currently given the office and title, Satan), “now works in the children of disobedience”. And his chief goal is to make this world as appealing as possible. (2nd Corinthians 4:4 & Ephesians 2:2)

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So, why should it surprise us to see all the gaiety and laughter and fun and happy-go-lucky, carefree behavior so often happening around us?

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After all, the people of this world (and the worldly people in the churches) are indwelt by “the prince of the power of the air, that spirit which now works in the children of disobedience”. Ephesians 2:2

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And so, to sprinkle a little more glitter upon his already deceptive kingdom, his Antichrist spirit working within unsuspecting souls, causes them to appear happy when out in public. And maybe even in private, too!

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

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

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WHAT DEMEANOR SHOULD CHRISTIANS STRIVE FOR?

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But today’s devotional attempts to answer another question: “What kind of emotional outlook should the Christian attempt to maintain? Should Christians be sad and dour and depressed, as we suffer through this ugly and hopeless world? Or rather, should we have the same bright, all-positive outlook on life as did Pollyanna?”

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Well, don’t jump to conclusions! Actually, this is a very perplexing question.

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Yes, yes, psychology teaches us that happiness and peace should be our chief goal!

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And yes, the world naturally embraces those who tend to be like Pollyanna, always cheerful and happy-go-lucky.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

Sigmund Freud – LIFE – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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But to truly answer this question, God has given us the Bible, which addresses this question extensively.

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So, let’s examine just a few of those relevant verses to see what kind of demeanor we should strive to maintain as Christians…

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Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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“REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAY!”

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The first and most popular passage which a Bible teacher might quote is this…“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

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Now from this above verse, one might conclude that Pollyanna could be an excellent role-model for Christians!

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And even the Apostle Paul gave this admonition…“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 (Paul) 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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This above statement by Paul only further confirms that Pollyanna was on the right track in her attempt to maintain her all-positive, happy-faced approach to life’s daily circumstances, both good and bad. 

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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“REJOICE WITH TREMBLING!”

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But the Bible has more to say about our joy…“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11

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Here above is an additional element which the Christian should embrace, realizing that we serve an awesome and fearful God!

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In other words, we are not to be presumptuous in any way in our relationship with God. We are to be ever watchful, knowing that the Enemy of Souls is never far away, always looking for an opportunity to rip us apart!

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And, as Isaiah admonishes us…“but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.” 

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This pretty much says the same thing as Psalms 2:11. God’s Word is powerful and should be held in highest regard and reverence!

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“SORROWFUL, YET ALWAY REJOICING!”

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But the Bible has more to say regarding our demeanor…“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing;” 2nd Corinthians 6:10

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Here is another deviation from the way that the world operates. Yes, as we go through life in this world, there are many things to be sad about: unsaved family and friends; sickness and pain; trials and temptations; the misery which sin brings, both personally as well as in all the world.

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Yes, these and many other woes will only make life bitter. And yet, the Christian is to live by faith, knowing that our great God will make, “every thing beautiful in His time!” Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

 

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WE SERVE A COMPLICATED GOD!

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And so, while we are not to go through life wearing a lobotomized happy-face. Nor are we to be jokers and jesters, like the world so often is.

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But the Good News is, that God has given us the Bible.

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And as long as we still have time to study that wonderful Book, we can sit daily at the feet of Jesus and learn more and more about Him.

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And by so-doing, we will be, day-by-day, changed, imperceptibly, into His glorious image, even as by the Spirit of the Lord! And then, as Paul says, we will be like a book, “known and read by all!” 2nd Corinthians 3:2.

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And as the world reads our “book”, they may behold Jesus in us. And then, instead of merely wanting to be, “happy-go-lucky”, they will realize (by our example), that true inner joy and peace is to be found only in Jesus!

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, help me to become more and more like Jesus, as I sit at His feet daily and learn of His Ways…

 

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… JANUARY 10th (How a Joke Killed!), or you may also read…February 1st (In Every Thing Give Thanks!?!

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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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Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation

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“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.

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Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

Psalm 48:1, 2

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Valley of Decision & O Destroying Mtn. Constellations – signsofheaven.org – Not for commercial profit use!

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This above passage sings of Mount Zion, in the sides of the North!

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But if one looks to the Northeast in late Summer and into Fall, there is a constellation which God created to be a heavenly picture of the Heavenly Mount Zion. And it is commonly known as Cassiopeia. But God has created it to symbolize the true Zion, which is in Heaven.

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Listen…  “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” Hebrews 12:22

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation

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TOMORROW…

December 14 (Nature’s Witnesses, Part 13: “An Open Letter To An Atheist Talk Show Host”)

Hand-written letter – Wikimedia – Public Domain

 

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

.

THIS IS STUDY #345 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 12

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The Gospel According To Pollyanna,

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Part 5:

“Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter!?!”

To read Part 1, click here…December 2nd (The gospel according to Pollyanna)

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“It is better to go to the house of mourning,

than to go to the house of feasting:

for that is the end of all men;

and the living will lay it to his heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter:

for by the sadness of the countenance

the heart is made better.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

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Is Solomon correct?

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Does this above passage from Solomon’s Ecclesiastes make any sense whatsoever to the world?

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And does it even make sense to the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians?

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Well, let’s examine what the Bible says about all this happiness/sorrow business, using the movie, Pollyanna as the backdrop for these concepts…

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Dore – Solomon – Proverbs – Wikipedia – Public domain (2)

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THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO POLLYANNA

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Yes, in that charming little Disneyland movie, Pollyanna, was a recently orphaned young girl who came to live with her very harsh and judgmental aunt.

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And yet, this happy, lovable and precocious little girl in that movie, had followed her father’s gospel of his own making (which eliminated the thousands of seemingly harsher verses found in the Bible).

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And so, the movie tension was somewhat centered on Pollyanna’s happy, 800 verse no-judgment religion, against the sour-faced fire-n-brimstone preaching that her Aunt Polly was pushing.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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THEY FOUND PEACE WITH THE WORLD

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Now, in this movie, Pollyanna’s infectious, bubbly, and upbeat personality began to have a positive yeast-like affect on the unhappy lives of all those in a little village, which had long-suffered under the harsh and judgmental “Christian” religion of town’s matriarch, Aunt Polly.

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And by young Pollyanna’s cheery and hopeful influence, eventually these troubled townspeople regained their happiness, becoming at peace with the world once again!

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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And so, the question to be asked is this: “So what’s wrong with bringing sunshine into the lives of those who suffer under a dark shroud of depression and despair?”

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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PSYCHOLOGY: HAPPINESS FIRST!

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Well, most people (including most Christians) would probably applaud what Pollyanna did in her newly adopted community.

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After all, Pollyanna’s glad outlook on life made a lot of sad people feel happy once again!

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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“THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT UNTO A MAN”

Proverbs 14:12

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 But is happiness and being at peace with the world what our Heavenly Father wants above all else?

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Is that His chief goal for the human race?

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Well, that was the message which this feel-good movie trumpeted: “God just wants all of you to be happy!” This was the inference made in the movie.

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But is this proclamation in harmony with the Bible?

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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“SORROW IS BETTER THAN LAUGHTER!?!”

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Yes, is mere earthly happiness and peace with the world God’s chief desire for Mankind?

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Let’s examine once again, just what the Wise Man has to say about all this…“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

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Well, this above passage from Solomon seems to be saying just the opposite of what Disneyland’s movie was proclaiming! Yes, contrary to the general consensus, the Bible says it’s better to mourn, better to be sorrowful, and the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning.

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But the above passage even goes one step further by finishing up with these words…“but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth!”

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But why does God take such a diametrically opposed stance from the general consensus of the world’s psychologists who teach us that happiness should be the most important goal of each and every person?

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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“EVEN IN LAUGHTER THE HEART IS SORROWFUL; AND THE END OF THAT MIRTH IS HEAVINESS”

Ecclesiastes 14:13 

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Well, the fact is, God does indeed want people to be happy! But He wants us to find true happiness! And this world can never bring true and lasting happiness! Because true and lasting love, joy, peace and contentment are not attainable in this world!

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Yes, let’s be honest! Any joy, any peace, and any contentment will only be short-lived in this world!

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Because of sickness, death, loss, loneliness, rejection, mistrust, selfishness, dishonesty, lust, and all the other results of sin, humans can only attain to a limited and temporary degree of love, joy, and a peace.

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Because, soon, those wonderful attributes will evaporate and return back into sorrow, mourning, pain, grief, despair, loneliness, and other similar woes, commonly experienced by Mankind.

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

Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND ONLY IN SALVATION

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But God’s chief desire is for lost souls to find true and lasting love, joy, and peace! But these qualities can only be truly gained through the atoning blood of this world’s Savior, the Lord Jesus.

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And yet, for most of us, the only time our hearts are willing to follow Jesus, is when we are sad. That is why God allows “the god of this world”, Satan, to cause so much suffering, grief, sadness, etc., and other such evils to overshadow the lives of unsaved humans at some point in time…

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Listen…“But though He (God) cause grief, yet will He Have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.” Lamentations 32-34, 40

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And so, now it is revealed here, that God is allowing the “god of this world” to bring woe and misery upon the world’s inhabitants in hopes that they will return from their rebellion against Heaven!

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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“BE AFFLICTED, AND MOURN, AND WEEP!”

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Unfortunately, there are many (like the story’s little heroine, Pollyanna) who simply want people to be happy regardless of their relationship with their Redeemer: even before they have had a chance to return to the Lord in genuine contrition and true sorrow of heart for their sins.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR LIFE EVERLASTING

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

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Here we see the correct order of how happiness is to be truly achieved. Sorrow which causes men (and woman and children) to turn back to the Lord! And this above passage encourages all world-loving sinners to turn their laughter into mourning, etc..

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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“SHOULD WE THEN BE DOUR AND DEPRESSED?”

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Now does this mean that we Christians should not be joyful, upbeat, and cheerful, etc.?

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Should we instead go through life all dour and depressed?

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After all, Aunt Polly’s harsh and judgmental gospel was certainly not the true Gospel, but rather, was just another false, counterfeit gospel, much like the judgmental and self-righteous of the Pharisees of old!

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Well, tomorrow’s devotional (click here) will hopefully answer these questions.

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Pollyanna statue – cropped photo – Wikipedia – Creative Commons 2.0 license

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

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TO READ PART 6, CLICK HERE…

December 13 (The Gospel According To Pollyanna, Part 6: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy? Or Don’t Be Happy, Worry?”)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, help me to be wise as a serpent in regard to Satan’s deceptive tactics in his ongoing war against God’s people…

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

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains: The Abomination in the Church, Part 1”, or you may also read…March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU 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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“And there appeared a great wonder (“sign”) in Heaven;

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a woman clothed with the sun,

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and the moon under her feet,

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and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”

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Revelation 12:1

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

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If you were to go out on a dark and starry night in the summer months, and lift up your head, you might just see this constellation group.

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Looking at this sketch, do you see this woman as she tries to take hold of that crown?

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Well, this is a heavenly fulfillment of the above Bible verse (“And there appeared a great wonder (or “sign”) in Heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Revelation 12:1).

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And this woman is known as the Revelation 12 Woman, and that crown is known as the Revelation 12 Crown. You can see this constellation group in the summer months by looking in the western skies.

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

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HEAVENLY SIGNS

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These constellations are the Summer Constellations, and they are the beginning constellations of this wonderful message which God has inscribed in the heavens, which He promised in Luke’s Gospel.

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Listen… “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…The 12-Star Crown Constellation of Revelation 12

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TOMORROW…

December 13 (The Gospel According To Pollyanna, Part 6: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy? Or Don’t Be Happy, Worry?”)

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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

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THIS IS STUDY #344 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.