Today’s Devotional – June 20th (I Go To Prepare A Place!)

By admin On June 20th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – June 20th

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I Go To Prepare A Place!

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When Jesus was with His disciples, just prior to going to the Cross, He comforted them with these words…

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“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

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Now perhaps the words “many mansions” has given people the wrong idea, concerning eternal life.

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That Greek word, “mone”, perhaps is better translated as “room”. In other words, it might be better said, “In My Father’s house are many rooms”, or perhaps even better is, “much room”.

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Bellamy Mansion Wilmington NC – cropped – Wikipedia – CC License 3.0

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MANSION ROW

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But those who “stumble at the Word” have erroneously concluded that Heaven will be some sort of “Mansion Row” in which the redeemed will have their very own servant-laden southern-style mansion, complete with butlers and maids and cooks, swimming pools, limousines, and perhaps even a horse stable on a large green tree-lined acreage.

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But there is nothing about Jesus which would give us this idea. Such a self-serving life would not only be time-consuming, but contrary to the very purpose for which we have been called. 

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And there are many prosperity gospels which capitalize on such nonsense, and deceive the self-seeking hearts of many who have “itching ears”!

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Hearst castle – Foto Anke Meskens – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

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NO PLACE FOR SINNERS

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Now just why did Jesus go to prepare a place for His people?

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Well, let’s take a moment to consider this question. Maybe this next passage explains that…

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“And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them…” Revelation 20:10, 11, 15

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And so, prior to the Cross, it seems that there was no place in this universe for any of us lost souls! No place!

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Triumph of Christianity – cropped – by G. Dore www.christimages.org Limited use license – see their website for restrictions

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THE CROSS PROVIDED A PLACE

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And so, when Jesus comforted His disciples, He knew that in a few hours, He was going to the Cross. And by so-doing, He was preparing a place for them in Heaven. Yes, it was His Atonement for the sins of Mankind, that Jesus was now providing a place in https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christianity-Jesus_Christ_Died_for_your_Sin.jpgHeaven for all those who, “make His soul an offering for sin” Isaiah 53:10

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And this concept is substantiated by the fact that Jesus did not go back to Heaven with a great carpentry project. No, it says that He, “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:3.

 

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

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A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

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

We don’t yet know exactly what eternity future will be like. Many suppose that God’s redeemed will, as that old song, Rock of Ages says… “As I soar to worlds unknown, and behold Thee on Thy throne”.

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Many suppose that we will be proclaiming the Love of God throughout the ceaseless ages.

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Well one thing is for sure. We won’t be living selfish and opulent lives, like so many now do, here on earth! Jesus came to condemn such self-obsessed materialism.

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image –  – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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HEAVENLY ZION

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Notice this passage again from John’s Gospel. Notice it says, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tissot_Moses_and_the_Ten_Commandments.jpg“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

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So it says here that we will be where Jesus is. So where is Jesus?

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Listen… “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and Holy Place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15. 

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Yes, Jesus’ eternal dwelling place is in the Most Holy Place as High Priest. And He has chosen us to be co-priests with Him.

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Transfiguration – Bloch – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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EVERLASTING JOY AND GLADNESS!

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But this little devotional cannot end without adding this… “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10.

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Yes, the Bible makes clear that everlasting life will be filled with everlasting “joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!”

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And while some may be disappointed to realize that God’s redeemed won’t spend eternity sipping lemonade on the front porch colonnade of their southern-styled mansion, yet the good news is, that everlasting life will be filled with joy and gladness! And though nobody knows exactly what is awaiting us, one thing is for sure…

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…God has infinite power and ability to make eternal life very enjoyable and fresh and brand-new every morning!

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

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me take comfort that Heaven is not a place of selfishness, like this present world. And let me take comfort that Heaven will be a place of gladness and joy…for evermore…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… December 31 (What’s In Your House?) , or you can also read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

.Orion Constellation at Eagle Ridge

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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 NARROW WAY: THE PILGRIM’S PATHWAY

 

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LOCATION

Winter Constellations in West

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation  is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

Revelation 12 Woman & Orion's Gate & Wide Gate.

This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

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Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

 

 

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

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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TOMORROW: 

June 21st (How To Spend My Retirement Years)

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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 #169 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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

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

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