Today’s Devotional – September 10th (Eternal Torment? Part 3: Meekness)
By admin On August 16th, 2014.
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Today’s Devotional – September 10th
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Eternal Torment?
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Part 3:
“Meekness”
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In the last two devotionals (click here), was presented the first two components necessary for properly understanding any of the deeper, more hidden truths of the Bible, specifically this notion that God eternally torments all unbelievers!
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And why is this question considered to be “deeper and more hidden”? After all, those who believe in the so-called “Eternal Torment” theory do not call this deep, nor hidden, nor even a theory! No rather, they say that it’s a plain and obvious doctrine!
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And this is the big problem! For some reason, proponents of this doctrine cannot see beyond the verses which seem to confirm the idea that God eternally torments all those who go to their grave unsaved! And they ignore the verses which speak of Hell as being the grave.
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Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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TWO SIDES OF THE SAME STORY
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But, as was discussed yesterday, there are some Bible doctrines which God, for His own purposes, has made cloudy, by writing seemingly opposing verses in the Bible. And so, if a person only looks at the verses which seem to confirm this doctrine of “Eternal Torment”, then it would seem to be a clear-cut case for this long-held traditional church-doctrine.
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But just like any court case, both sides of the argument must be properly presented, so that the true balance can be weighed. And this argument about the true nature of Hell just happens to be one of those issues which requires much prayer and study and consecration to God, so that we might get to the bottom of this perplexing issue!
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First woman jury – Wikimedia – Public domain
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ADDING/DIMINISHING FROM GOD’S WORD
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The Bible warns against adding or diminishing from God’s Word, And those who refuse to examine any doctrine in the light of ALL that Scripture has to offer concerning that doctrine just might be guilty of diminishing from God’s Word. And by coming up with a new (false) doctrine, they may also be guilty of adding to God’s Word.
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But Scripture warns against doing such a fearful deed…
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For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18
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ABOVE PICTURE: Adding to or taking from God’s Word, the Bible
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BIBLE, A HOTLY-DEBATED BOOK!
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And this brings us to the third component necessary to rightly dividing the Word of Truth!
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And just what is the third ingredient in achieving true understanding of the more cloudy issues of the Bible?
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Meekness! Yes, it requires meekness to properly understand much of the Bible!
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Oh yes, there are truths which are made as clear as the noonday sun! Such doctrines as Christ’s divinity and crucifixion, just to name two! But even these are oft-times confused by some Christian groups!
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH!
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And so, the Christian must be filled with the Spirit of meekness. All human pride must be purged from the heart of the Christian, before that soul can be easily led by the Good Shepherd!
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Listen… “…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.” Isaiah 66:2
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David’s sorrow – cropped image – Wikigallery – Public Domain
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LET’S NOT BE SO DOGMATIC!
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And so, as the last ingredient to proper Bible study, meekness is a very important one! And of course, we know and understand that meekness, just like any other virtue, is a gift of God, via His Holy Spirit indwelling our heart!
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Oh yes, it’s quite okay to say, “I believe ‘this or that’ particular church doctrine to be true”. But when it comes to such seemingly ambiguous portions of Scripture, such as “predestination” or “The True Nature of Hell”, it might be best to not get so dogmatic!
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And maybe we might just be forthright and say… “You know, there are differing positions on that heavily debated issue, and each Bible student must carefully and prayerfully study for his or her own self, and come to their own conclusion on that particular subject!”
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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain
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MANY REJECTED GOD OVER THIS DOCTRINE
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And let’s face it! There have been many souls through history, who have turned away in disgust from following Jesus, because of the church doctrine of “Eternal Torment”.
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So, that fact alone makes it much more critical to “make full proof” of whatever we teach, so that we do not suffer the “greater damnation” on the Day of Judgment!
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MEEKNESS REQUIRED IN THE LAST TEST
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The Book of Zephaniah reveals that meekness will be required for one to be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.
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Listen…“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” Zephaniah 2:3
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There is much too much hard-headedness in today’s church-world. Too much forceful, dogmatic preaching by radio/television ministries!
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And as a result, God’s people must seek to become as little children in their seeking after the present-day Bible truths now being revealed.
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And truth-be-told, this website is an excellent exercise in meekness, since so much written herein requires the meekness of a “Noble Berean” to study daily with a prayerful and meek, open mind, to see if these things are really true!
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USMC prayer before study Wikimedia Public-Domain
Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…
January 4 (Eternal Torment? Part 4: Impossible Idea!)
Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Man In Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Give me the Spirit of meekness, and keep me from getting proud and dogmatic…
Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – 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… February 19th (“Man Shall…Live…By Every Word”)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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7 STARS IMITATE THE CROSS OF ORION
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LOCATING THESE TWO CONSTELLATIONS
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This phenomenon begins in October, in the pre-dawn hours. It then begins a little earlier each night.
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This Wikipedia star-chart to the left, has this Orion Constellation sketched in. You must locate Orion, when it is mid-sky, between east and west. You’ll be facing southward most likely, unless you are far south. Try to imagine it as a Cross on a steep hill. The 3-star belt of Orion becomes the crest of the hill. The 3 very faint stars that make up Orion’s head become the very top of the Cross.
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Next, locate the 7 Stars Constellation. This 7 Stars Constellation is seen by facing northward. It stands upright a little later in the night. Eventually, Orion will lay down and no longer be seen as an uplifted Cross! Beginning in November, the 7 Stars (AKA Big Dipper) can be seen as a Cross a little bit later in evening.
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When you are comfortable in locating Orion & The 7 Stars Constellations, then show a friend. This can be a great witnessing tool!
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ABOVE CHART: The Cross of Orion Constellation star-chart – not for commercial use
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “’7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion’”
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TOMORROW:
“September 11th (Narrow Gate Stars, Part 1)”
ABOVE PICTURE: Castor and Pollux – The Narrow Gate Which leads To Life EverlastingABOVE PICTURE: The two doors- Narrow Gate Stars (Castor and Pollux of the Gemini Constellation) – www.signsofheaven.org
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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 #251 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on the provided image credit link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing names, details, and tags, and all other necessary info on any particular photo.
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