Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
(2 Cor 2:14-17)
A corner FOR Uli
Articles:
Bible Passages:
End Times Passages:
Psalms:
Sermons And Discourses:
I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that [there is] none beside me. I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]. 8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto [his] father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? 11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 45:5-13)
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The Parable of the Sower
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The Big Picture
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This is an agriculture parable.
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Part of the Sermon on the Sea Side.
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The sower is doing a work in hopes of bringing a harvest in due time. He sows broadly across all parts of the field and even sows past the field in the case of the wayside. He knows that all of the seed is good, but he also knows that it won't all grow due to the reasons laid out in the parable. Why does he spread seed so broadly? Because of hope on his part for the growth of the seed, and free will on the seed's part -- the seed has a life which springs forth once it is put into the earth by the sower. The harvest is varied, some seed brings forth a lot of increase; some a small increase -- this speaks of the seed collected from harvest and how far it spreads from the plant.​
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The Wayside
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Bible passages; Mat 13:3-4; Mar 4:3-4; Luk 8:4-5; Mat 13:19; Mar 4:15; Luk 8:12​
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The wayside is the side of the road. The seed gets trampled by the traffic and is eaten by the fowls of the air. The seed never germinates, it never takes root, there is no plant, there is no fruit, there is no increase (seeds) brought forth from the fruit.​
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Those that trample are the men of the earth.
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The fowls are Satan and his angels, they consume the seed immediately, before it can even take root (faith never takes hold in the heart). Terms used: devoured, taketh away, catcheth away.
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The Stony Ground
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Bible passages; Mat 13:5-6; Mar 4:5-6; Luk 8:6; Mat 13:20-21; Mar 4:16-17; Luk 8:13
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The stony places (the rock; the stony ground) are places where instead of soft soil, stones and a solid rock greet the seed. There is little to no soil and little to no moisture to feed the roots. The roots lack depth and protection and wither away due to the hostile environment.
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The lack of depth leads to rapid sprouting. Perhaps attempting to compensate for the lack of root growth, the seed accelerates it's upward growth toward the sun. This shrivels the sprout, because it cannot handle the sun's intensity without the protection and nourishment provided by roots seeping deep into good soil.
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The sprouts can not handle the intense sun.
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The sprouts do not have sufficient moisture.
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This group has varying degrees; stony ground to solid rock. Remember, the soil represents the heart; the rocks are mingled throughout the soil and there is almost no soil on the rock.
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The rock is temptation and the stones are tribulation, affliction, and persecution.
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The rock is Jesus Christ and represents the largest offence. (Isa 8:14; Luk 7:23; Rom 9:33; 1Pe 2:8)​
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The plant shrivels and there is no fruit.
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Choked by Thorns​​​​
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Bible passages; Mat 13:7; Mar 4:7; Luk 8:7; Mat 13:22; Mar 4:18-19; Luk 8:14
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The good seed fell on soil which already hid another species of seed, thorns.
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The soil was fine, the seed was good, the seed was nourished; but the nourishment went to the competing seed.
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The plant lives, but no fruit grew, because the plant's nourishment lacked.
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The lack of fruit means this Christian is never perfected.
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The thorns and the good seed spring up together, but the good seed can not resist the thorns, which quickly choke out the good seed.
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The thorns represent cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, the lust of other things, and pleasures of this life.
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The Good Soil​
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Bible passages; Mat 13:8-9; Mar 4:8; Luk 8:8; Mat 13:23; Mar 4:20; Luk 8:15
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Good ground means quality soil; no birds, no traffic, no stones, no competing seed, plenty of sun, plenty of moisture.
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This is the target for the sower; he hopes all seed will land on these ideal conditions.
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The ideal condition for the plant is revealed to us: an honest and good heart.
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One more key condition is mentioned for development of fruit: patience.
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This heart hears the word, receives (understands) the word, keeps the word, and with patience, brings forth fruit.
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Even with the good ground, each plant's performance varies from one another; they are all fruitful, but yield three varying harvests -- thirty fold, sixty fold and one-hundred fold.
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I think this has to do with the spread of the word; the plants bring forth more good seed, the seed multiplies the plants, and the harvest increases by multiples.​
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The Symbolism​
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The Sower (an individual)​
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He is Jesus Christ.
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He only sows good seed.​
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He sows seed broadly, across all terrain and among other types of seed.
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The Seed (a group)
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This represents the children of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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The roots​ represent faith​
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The plant represents the word.​
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The sprouting represents accepting the word.
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The fruit represents perfecting of the Christian. This is taken away by the sower, it is called "fruit to perfection".
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Fruit is revealed in Gal 5:22-23.​
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The increase​ is the seed from the plant.​ This represents the spread of the Gospel.
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Earth/Soil (medium)
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Represents the hearts of men.
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Gives space for growth of the seed.​
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Allows the root to grow.
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Stones (environmental variable)​​
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Mixed in with the soil.
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Stifles the growth of the root.
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Lacks moisture.
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Changes the behavior of the sprout.
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The Sun (catalyst)​
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Causes the plant to flourish.​
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Brings forth maturity and fruit.
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Scorches the plant that has shallow roots.
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Growth toward the sun seems to represent hope.
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Growth seems to be the soil accepting the seed with joy and gladness.
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Moisture (sustenance)​
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Without water, the seed dies.​
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Jesus is the living water.
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Traffic (a group)
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Represents the men of the Earth.​
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The Fowls (a group)​
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The fowls are always bad
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This represents Satan and his fallen angels.
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They are a reoccurring group throughout other parables.
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The fowls also represent us, how we are from Heaven. (Jonathan Kleck)
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The Road (location)
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No soil​
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Seed is trampled and destroyed.
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The Wayside (location)
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No soil​
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Seed is consumed by birds.
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The Stony Places (location)
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No traffic.
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No birds.
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Not much soil​.
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Soil is mingled with stones.
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Very little water.​
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Too much sun.
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The Rock (location)​
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No traffic.
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No birds.
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Very little soil.​
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Soil hides a solid rock.
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Very little water.
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Too much sun.
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The Ground Containing Thorn Seeds (location)
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No traffic.
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No birds.
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Has soil​.
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Soil is not exclusive to good seed, contains another seed.
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Water is consumed by rival seed.
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Sun is blocked by the rival plant.
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Plant is strangled by the stronger rival plant.
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The Good Ground (location)
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Pure soil​.
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Location is exclusive to good seed.
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Plenty of water.
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Same amount of sun, but stronger plants.
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Plenty of room for increase.​
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Revelation 12: The Sign in Heaven (WIP)
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Rev 12:1-17 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 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. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12 Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child].14 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.15 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.16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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John sees this vision from earth looking toward heaven?​​
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Is this wonder symbolic?
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Represents the story of the Bible.
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The Symbolism​
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The Woman (an individual)​
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Represents God's people.
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Brings to remembrance the prophesy given to Eve in Genesis 3:15.
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She fled into the wilderness (after the man child was caught up to heaven).
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She stays in the wilderness for a time, and times, and half a time.
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The Child (an individual)
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Jesus Christ; the Son of Man
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Came forth from the woman.
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He was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.
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He was caught up to God and his throne.
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The Great Red Dragon (an individual)​
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Represents Satan.
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He has seven heads.
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He has ten horns.
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These heads have seven crowns.
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His tail draws the third part of the stars.
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Stars​
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Stars are angels.​
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Heaven (location)​
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Is it the night sky?
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Is it the after heaven is rolled up as a scroll?
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The Earth​
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The earth helps the woman.
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The earth is called "her".
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The earth swallows up the flood caused by the dragon to protect the woman.
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The Wilderness (location)​​
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There is a place prepared by God here for the woman.
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The Flood:​
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Sent by the Red Dragon​
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Sent to carry away the Woman.
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Swallowed up by the Earth.
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Represents multitudes of people.
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Revelation 13: The Beast rises from the sea....​
To answer a question
Here are some chapters that should guide you toward the answer: Romans 5; John 8; Ephesians 2.
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Romans 5 talks on how Jesus came and died for his enemies.
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John 8 talks about how the works of man show if he is a child of God or a child of Satan, and that a child of God would recognize Jesus.
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Ephesians 2 talks about how man is controlled by Satan's spirit (the spirit of the world) until the Holy Spirit (Jesus' spirit) comes in and overthrows Satan's spirit. Remember how John 3 speaks on being "born again? This is what is going on behind the scenes, it is a spiritual battle going on inside your body for the ownership of your soul, the old you (controlled by Satan) needs to die, so the renewed you can live. The Holy Spirit renews you and the forgiveness from sin (by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross) restores relations with God in Heaven. Before these relations are restored, you are counted among the enemies of God, and if he were to judge the world at that time, you would be judged and condemned as an enemy of God. So Satan rules the world through man because man gave up his communion with God.