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Today’s Devotional – February 18th

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John Bunyan & Signs Of Heaven!

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It seems that Mr. John Bunyan had some inside information concerning the Signs Of Heaven: the signs revealed on this website.

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You see, Bunyan fairly accurately described the Valley of Decision Constellation, or at least the middle mountain of that constellation group.

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Yes, Bunyan wrote of the Mount of Cursing, Mount Sinai, in his discussion between Christian and Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain

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THE VILLAGE OF MORALITY ON MOUNT SINAI

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In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the pilgrim, Christian met up with Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who directed the Pilgrim to the Village of Morality.

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Yes, Worldly Wiseman convinced Christian that he didn’t need to go to all the trouble of going all the way to the Celestial City. He could just live a nice moral life in this world, without needlessly going through all the trials and sorrows that Christians must endure, as they continue their Heaven-ward sojourn.

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And so, concerning this we read in Pilgrim’s Progress… “So CHRISTIAN turned out of his way to go to Mr. LEGALITY’S house for help. But, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still, and knew not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made CHRISTIAN afraid that he should be burned”

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Now the Pilgrim described this great high mountain as Mount Sinai, which biblically represents the condemnation of the Law.

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And this mountain was hanging dangerously over the pathway to the Village of Morality (which symbolized those who attempt to live a moral life, vainly attempting to keep the Law by good works.)

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I Saw A Man Clothed With Rags pilgrims progress wikimedia public domain

Pilgrim’s Progress p34 Mr Worldly Wiseman wikimedia public domain

El Greco – Mount Sinai wikimedia commons – US Public Domain

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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Notice what it says concerning this high hill, “But, behold, when he (Christian) was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head;”

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So if I go to Signs Of Heaven and view the three mountains which comprise the Valley of Decision Constellation Group, I notice that the middle mountain, which symbolizes the Mount of Cursing (Mount Sinai & the Law), seems to lean heavily to one side, the side which is toward the Valley of Decision.

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So it seems that John Bunyan fairly accurately described this middle mountain-constellation, made largely of the Pegasus Constellation.

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Can you see what an impossible climb this middle mountain would be?

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THE MOUNT OF BLESSING

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Now it’s even more interesting that the Pilgrim was ultimately destined for the Celestial City, the heavenly Mount Zion.

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And once again, this Valley of Decision Constellation shows the mountain on the farthest left as the Mount of Blessing, Mount Zion (comprised mostly of the Cassiopeia Constellation). And notice in this drawing, the Galaxy, Andromeda (which is in the Valley of Decision), appears as if it is making its way up to the top of the Mount of Blessing (Cassiopeia).

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This Andromeda Galaxy represents all those pilgrims through the ages, who decide to make the Pilgrim’s Sojourn out of the City of Destruction, (i.e., the World), to their ultimate destiny, the Celestial City, the heavenly Zion!

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IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION

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“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

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Now of course, Bunyan’s character, Christian, ultimately decided to turn away from that foreboding-looking mountain, and from the Town of Morality which sat there right next to that Mount Sinai.

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Yes, this Pilgrim decided to seek “a better country, that is, an heavenly:” Hebrews 11:16. 

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This pilgrim decided to continue on his pilgrimage to the Celestial City.

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Pilgrim in a Rocky Valley by Carl Gustav Carus – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?

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But that Valley of Decision is still awaiting my decision.

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Will I accept a compromised gospel? Am I willing to merely live a moral life, so that I can still seek after all the self-indulgent pleasures and proud pursuits of this present world?

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Or am I willing to leave this City of Morality, i.e., this present world, and seek for that “better country”, that is, the heavenly Mount Zion, the Celestial City of God?

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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A COMPLEX SUBJECT

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Now there is much, much more to Bunyan’s account of the Village of Morality, and the high mountain which sat next to it.

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And all are encouraged to get a faithful copy of that book and read it (or listen to an audio version, via the Internet.)

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And there is much, much more to this Valley of Decision Constellation Group, as well! And all are likewise encouraged to read the articles concerning them.

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But of course, the Bible is the best book of all!

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And though it can be very difficult at times, all are encouraged to study it and contemplate it!

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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WALKING THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

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No, that wonderful allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress is certainly no replacement for the Bible.

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Nor is it infallible, like the Bible. But it does bring to light the sojourn which the Christian Pilgrim walks, in such a way, that clarifies just what true Christianity really is all about!

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And like no other man-written book, Pilgrim’s Progress really clarifies just what are the many dangers and deceptions which assail Christians every day, as we journey through this dark and evil world, on our way to that Celestial City, the heavenly Mount Zion!

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Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to desire to make that Pilgrimage to the Celestial Mount Zion. Let me not be afraid to leave this world behind…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation”

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 & Internation Astronomical Union (click here)

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VALLEY OF DECISION CONSTELLATION GROUP

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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION GROUP…

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Look eastward in the early summer through fall. Find the Cassiopeia Constellation. Cassiopeia is the Mount of Blessing. In the sketch, it is the farthest mountain to the left. In the sky, it is the northern-most of these three mountains when facing eastward. It resembles a pyramid. Then find the next pyramid to its right (south). Then go a little further south to the next third pyramid. The third snow-cap is the Destroying Mountain Constellation. These three pyramids are the snow-capped portion of these three mountains in this sketch. (of course, you won’t see the snow-caps in the sky. They are just an embellishment in this sketch to present a concept-EDITOR).

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

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

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

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The ‘Valley of Decision’ Constellation”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

February 19th (“Man Shall…Live…By Every Word”)

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart – wwwtheheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial purposes

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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 #49 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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