Daily Devotional, Year 2 – FEBRUARY 28 (The False Prophet, Part 6: Wandering Through Hell)

By admin On December 26th, 2014

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – FEBRUARY 28

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The False Prophet,

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Part 6:

“Wandering Through Hell”

To read Part 1 of this series, click here… “JANUARY 26 (The False Prophet, Part 1: Lying Eyes!)”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caf%C3%A9_de_Flore.jpgIn John Bunyan’s infamous book, Pilgrim’s Progress, he mentioned that the town of Vanity Fair had different sections: as Bunyan depicts it, “there are the several rows and streets under their proper names . . . Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row.”

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Satan, “the god of this world” does not desire to have his loyal subjects to get bored. And so, he has designed his kingdom to provide points of interest, places of intrigue, things of mystery! (2nd Corinthians 4:4)

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Therefore, he has provided a wide variety of different places to visit, each with their own distinct and exotic flavor. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rialto_Gondoliers.jpg.

And as it was in Bunyan’s day, so it is manifold more in this high-tech age! Yes, in addition to Britain Row, and French Row, and Italian Row, and Spanish Row, and German Row, we now have so many more ‘rows’! it is impossible to even list all of them!

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Sufficed to say, there are so many places to visit; and so many lands of mystery and intrigue to search, that those with the time and means to indulge their wanderlust, can spend a veritable lifetime wandering the highways and byways of the world…or as John Bunyan might exclaim, “Wandering the highways and byways of this Vanity Fair world!”

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Yes, Satan wants his loyal citizens to be happy. The last thing Satan, “the god of this world” wants, is a rebellion! (2nd Corinthians 4:4)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swiss_chalet.jpg

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And so, this arch-deceiver has provided very many amusements and distractions and hobbies and sports and games; enough to keep us busy, till we finally wake up, only to discover that we and our family are eternally lost!

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And among these many fun and interesting things, is the lust to wander.

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Hence the name, “Wanderlust”.

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Café_de_Flore-coffee-house-wikipedia-public-domain.jpg

Rialto_Gondoliers-by-Saffron-Blaze – cropped pic – wikipedia-share-alike-license-3.0.jpg

Swiss_chalet – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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“O taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Psalm 34:8

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Listen to God’s admonition to Believers, regarding keeping ourselves free from unnecessary encumberments…“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 2:4 As this verse reveals, we are to be dedicated soldiers in the Lord’s Army!

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But for the unsaved, that is, for those who are the loyal citizens of this ‘Vanity Fair’ world, such amusements as ‘wanderlust’ might be just fine!

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After all, the Bible says to all those who are contemplating Christianity…“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” Psalm 34:8. The people of the world often enjoy many things in this world which God has created. In this way, they might get a glimpse of the Lord’s goodness even on a daily basis.

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“EAT, DRINK, & BE MERRY!”

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But for those who are seeking “a better country, that is, an heavenly”, and have become “strangers and pilgrims” on their upward journey to that celestial city, the above words of Paul are an admonishment and warning for every pilgrim to not get encumbered with the cares and pleasures of this life. (See Hebrews 11:16 for “a better country” reference)

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Listen again to Jesus… “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that Day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Luke 21:34, 35.

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This passage warns us to not get too far into the world, lest “that Day” overtakes us by surprise.

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Even the “cares of this life” can become a snare to our soul, if we allow them to!

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SATAN’S KINGDOM

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When Satan deceived Mankind, God allowed him to become the ruler of this lost world. 2nd Corinthians 4:4 calls him, “the god of this world”!

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Three times in the Gospel of John, Satan is referred to as, “The prince of this world”. (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, & Ephesians 2:2)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Martin,_John_-_Satan_presiding_at_the_Infernal_Council_-_1824.JPG.

But in these last days, Satan is coming as “the False Prophet”, that 2nd beast-power spoken of in Revelation 13:11-18. (See also Revelation 13:6, 16:13, 19:20, 20:10 for “False Prophet” reference).

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And in the past few centuries, Satan (coming as this False Prophet Beast), has put a “happy face” on this wicked world, thus deceiving the naive and blinded multitudes into thinking that the world is a pretty nice place, to a great extent.

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Of course, this is a big lie!

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The Bible says… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19.

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Behind most every door, in most every house, in every city in every nation all over this hopelessly suffering and dying world, are lost souls, living in sin, starving for the Bread of Life, which only Christ can give them!

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

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THE MAN OF GOD & THE OLD PROPHET

.Dore_TheDisobedientProphetSlainByA_Lion www.creationism.org US public domain

There is a story in the 1st Kings, Chapter 13, of a “man of God” who was given specific instructions to not eat nor tarry in the country he had prophesied against, until he was fully back home in his own country.

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Well, this story has everything to do with us today! We too are commanded to warn the world of the wrath to come! We are to be like the Apostle Paul in our zeal and dedication to our mission!

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But the False Prophet (Satan, working through the unsaved) has deceived so many of us, by friends and family and television, etc., to relax, “don’t worry, be happy!”

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Enjoy the world!

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Have a good time!

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Dore – The Disobedient Prophet Slain By A Lion- www.creationism.org -US-public-domain.jpg

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OLD PROPHET IS THE FALSE PROPHET

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And just like that man of God in 1st Kings, Chapter 13, we listen to “the old Prophet” who tells us to “eat drink and be merry”.

Welcome to Hell

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Well God isn’t going to send a physical lion to kill us, as He did to that “man of God”.

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But Satan, that “roaring lion” (1st Peter 5:8) will certainly devour us, in a spiritual sense, should we think that we can simply relax and enjoy this Vanity Fair world, while its inhabitants slip down into their eternal graves, unsaved!

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In this above terrifying cartoon, is a typical worldly-minded Christian, deceived into thinking that this world was just his playground for the pursuit of earthly pleasures, dreams and self-aggrandizement!

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THE HEAVENWARD PATH

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It makes Christians want to cry to see loved ones who have become deceived by the False Prophet, Satan, who tells us to, “eat, drink and be merry, and enjoy this world!”

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But God’s pilgrims must continue on that upward pathway out of this City of Destruction, on their journey to the Celestial City of God, even if their family (as did that Pilgrim’s family, in Bunyan’s tale) refuses to come along. 

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We have a mission to fulfill. Preach the Gospel! Purify our hearts and minds! Fight the Good Fight! Run the Race! We have been chosen to be God’s ambassadors to this planet of rebels.

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But it’s nevertheless extremely sad to have to see our families, when they also become part of that rebellion!

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Christian in Pilgrims Progress – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE

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But for those with families, there are many wonderful alternatives to Wanderlust.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Family_Portrait.jpg

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A weekend camp-out. A picnic. A trip to the park, playground, or zoo. A walk on a nature trail, or even working together on some household project! And many other similar types of family retreats/projects.

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In other words, part of being moderate, is to know where to draw the line between rest & recreation and an all-out pursuit of the “lust of the eyes”. It is a very personal matter of prayer and consecration and must be decided differently and individually in each household.

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But in this vanity-fair world of so many glittering tinsel-like attractions, we must remember that Scripture warns us…“but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” Proverbs 17:24

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And, well, these matters require much Bible knowledge and prayer for wisdom. Because, every family situation is different, with varying needs of each family-member.   

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

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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Fortunately, we have a merciful God, who is, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2nd Peter 3:9

David's sorrow - Wikigallery - Public Domain

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And in His great mercy, He has graciously provided enough time for both you and I to repent from our worldliness and from our mistaken worldview!

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Like this picture of David’s sorrow, we too need to cry out for God to cleanse us and restore us.

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And we should not cease from crying out, until we have been fully restored!

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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TIME TO LEAVE

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Yes, by fully immersing ourselves in holy things, our corrupt and deceived hearts might be cleansed and purified from this notion that Satan’s kingdom of selfishness has many good things!

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Listen… “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19

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And by a constant contemplation of God’s Word, this above verse from 1st John (and many similar verses) will begin to permeate through our worldly hearts, and root out all those false notions which the False Prophet has filled our hearts with!

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And so, let’s gather up that which is yet remaining, and once again resume our journey out of this City of Destruction, praying that the Lord will open the eyes of those who are yet deceived by the Vanity Fair world!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spiritualhealingjf6155_19.JPGTo read Part 7, click here…

May 23 (The False Prophet, Part 7, Continued: “Signs & Wonders”)

Falling Backwards – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Share-alike License

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Dear Lord, Give me an understanding of just what a deceptive world this really is! Help me to be IN the world, but not OF the world…

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”, or you can also read… February 17th (Examine Yourself!)” 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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

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REVELATION 12, FLEEING WOMAN

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WHO IS SHE FLEEING FROM?

.star-chart ursa major

“…and the dragon stood before the woman…for to devour her child as soon as it was born…And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God…” Revelation 12:5, 6

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Now by winter, this woman has changed into a “fleeing” woman. And if you will go out into the country away from the city lights, you might just see that her upraised arms begin to appear as wings. And she appears to be running, and eventually flying. In this heavenly scenario, this woman is fleeing from the ‘Dragon’ Constellation. However, “fleeing” is mentioned many times in Scripture. It may refer to fleeing from apostate shepherds (John 10:5), brethren or apostate congregations (Psalm 26:5). Or fleeing from sin and (1st Cor. 6:18). Or from enemies. It is likewise speaking of fleeing to the mountains.

Revelation 12 Dragon w/text

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And as you can see, the Dragon is spewing water out of his mouth. And it is amazing that this water is always going in the direction of the woman. The water stands for false doctrines. False brethren. Persecutions and temptations. See the article on the Dragon for further insight. Click here…”The Dragon”.

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top star-chart: Ursa Major Star-Chart with woman drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – share-alike license

ABOVE PICTURE: Revelation 12 Dragon – Winter – Hyades, Pleiades, etc. – not for commercial uses

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

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

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

.https://theheavensdeclare.net/the-valley-of-decision/

February 29 (“The Day of the Lord Is Near In The Valley of Decision!”)

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Fall Constellations – Heavenly Mount Zion Constellation (Cassiopeia Constellation) – signsofheaven – Not for commercial profit use!

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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

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THIS STUDY #424 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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

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