Yom Kippur 5787/5951/2026

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 20, 2026 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 16 provides complete details for Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

Numbers 29:7-11 focuses on the sacrificial aspects of Yom Kippur.

Numbers 29:7-11 On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work. Present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram, and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs. Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

Leviticus 23:26-32 addresses the concept of Sabbatical rest.

Leviticus 23:26-32 Again the LORD said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD. On this day you are not to do any work, for it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. If anyone does not humble himself on this day, he must be cut off from his people. I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on this day. You are not to do any work at all. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live. It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath.”

Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew.

This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down.

This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. Sacrifices of a bull, ram, and a goat occur.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest was kept awake during the dark of the night. The high priest was dressed in a white robe. The priest makes a sacrifice for himself and for the nation of Israel. Yom Kippur is the day the high priest came into the inner sanctuary of the temple to make sacrifices on behalf of the nation of Israel. He is the only person allowed into the inner sanctuary. This day is the only day the high priest is allowed in the inner sanctuary. He entered the highest holy place with incense and coals. The incense was burned. Next, the recovered blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat, the top of the Ark of the Covenant.

The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2026 is calculated at sundown Sunday, September 20th and ends the next day, Monday evening, September 21st. This date could be determined by the confirmation of the new moon 10 days earlier. The Essenes mark the date as Friday, September 25th through the next day.

A serene figure in a white robe stands in an ornate temple setting, holding a incense burner with smoke rising. The temple features tall golden pillars and intricate decorations, with a backdrop of a cityscape visible through large windows.
Image: Grok

As of today, who is our High Priest? The book of Hebrews connects the dots.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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This Week in Prophecy: Global Energy Report

Posted in #PaulthePoke, China, Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy, Revelation, Saudi Arabia/Sheba/Dedan, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 16, 2026 by paulthepoke

Revelation 6:6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

The Bible indicates there will be hyperinflation at the onset of the 7 year tribulation. Economically, these are the conditions described in Revelation.

Context: At the time John was writing Revelation from the island of Patmos, a denarius was roughly a day’s wage for the common laborer.

Take a look at the commodities in the verse: wheat, barley, oil and wine.

A quart of wheat and oil would make a loaf of bread for one person. Wheat was a more expensive grain as compared to barley. Three quarts of barley and oil would make bread for a family. In other words, it would take a day’s wage to feed a person or a family depending on the grain.

Some scholars think the oil alludes to believers in Christ who are sealed with the Holy Spirit. A symbol for the Holy Spirit is olive oil. So, initially do not harm Believers in Christ.

It is this author’s opinion that those who are believers on Earth at this time in Revelation 6 are those who changed their mind at the time of the Resurrection/Rapture. The church or the bride of Christ is in heaven because of the resurrection/rapture event. I have no doubt when this event occurs, there will be many on planet Earth who will realize they missed the event and turn to Jesus and believe in Him.

Bread and Wine are also the elements for communion. Initially, do not harm the Believers in Jesus. The antichrist will have his time and conquer Believers in Jesus in the back half of the tribulation.

Others think that oil and wine are products of the wealthy and they are unaffected initially at the cost of these items. The wealthy have resources to pay for their needs and luxuries. It would appear there is a gap between the “haves” and “have nots”.

Some might even describe these conditions as the K shaped economy which emerged after the Covid19 global pandemic.

A K-Shaped Economy is one where the rich and powerful get richer, certain high-tech/high-skill sectors soar, and everyone else continues to struggle—creating a stark, two-tier recovery. -Grok

Today in the 21st century, inflation is spreading across the globe. These are not regional circumstances. Energy prices are exacerbating the inflation. There are already parts of the world who are paying exorbitant prices to feed their families. We are all feeling it in the pocketbook when it comes to the cost of goods and food. Even the critic has to admit, we are trending toward hyperinflation and the scale is global.

Illustration labeled Russia, China, Ukraine, Japan, Australia, Yemen, hyperinflation, inflation, oil tanker, LNG natural gas, East West Pipeline, and Yanbu

For those new to the blog, we are of the opinion the tribulation has yet to begin. For example, there has been no red heifer sacrifice so there cannot be a 3rd Temple built. There is no 3rd Temple for the antichrist to defile. There is not a 10 member nation or ruling committee for the antichrist to subdue 3 members and take control. There are not 2 witnesses pronouncing judgment from Jerusalem.

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Ancient Sheba and Dedan or modern day Saudi Arabia

Houthi forces targeted multiple Saudi energy sites, including the 400,000-barrel-per-day YASREF refinery in Yanbu, Aramco’s Abha bulk plant, and areas near Dammam and Jazan, causing large fires, evacuations, and temporary shutdowns. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Houthi control near Bab al-Mandab is worsening energy markets and threatening Red Sea shipping, with effects felt in Germany. Saudi officials called the strikes a dangerous escalation that wounded dozens, while oil prices face upward pressure amid concerns over export disruptions. -Grok

A Yemeni military source told Germany’s DPA news agency that the Iran-backed Houthis laid mines in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow chokepoint carrying 5.4 million barrels of oil daily before disruptions. The claim follows the group’s mid-September capture of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and strategic islands, heightening maritime security fears amid rerouted shipping and oil market jitters. Skeptics question the unverified report, noting normal commercial traffic, no incidents, and Houthi statements allowing passage for most vessels except Saudi-linked ones. -Grok

What happened to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement? Attack one, attack all? Where is the response? What happened to the billions of dollars of military equipment from the United States?

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Keep an eye on natural gas inventories in Europe.

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Oil Reserves in the United States

Line graph depicting U.S. ending stocks of crude oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) from 1980 to 2023, showing fluctuations in thousands of barrels.
Line graph depicting regular gasoline prices in the U.S. from November 2025 to September 2026, showing prices per gallon for different regions including East Coast, Gulf Coast, and California.
Line graph showing on-highway diesel fuel prices in the U.S. from November 2025 to September 2026, highlighting prices per gallon across different regions including East Coast, Gulf Coast, California, and others.

https://www.eia.gov/petroleum

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Ezekiel 38 Magog, Rosh or modern day Russia…

US Senate majority leader John Thune has said he is “open to considering” an export ban on diesel, per Bloomberg.

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Isaiah 49:12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim. 

https://paulthepoke.com/?s=sons+of+sinim

Sinim, believed to be China.

Down Under in Australia

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https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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The Imminent Rapture Should Change How We Live – Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 9, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

A dramatic cityscape under a cloudy sky, with beams of light shining down on a crowd of people on a reflective surface. The text overlay includes religious references about the imminent rapture and instructions to be ready.

Prophecy was never given merely to satisfy our curiosity about what happens next.

It was given to make us ready.

Jesus promised: “I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world…” Revelation 3:10

And Paul described the glorious gathering:

“We who are still alive…will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

If the Rapture is truly imminent, the Church should live with expectancy.
But expectancy without accountability is incomplete.

Because after the gathering comes the Bema Seat.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:10

This is not judgment for salvation. Christ already bore our condemnation.

But grace does not erase accountability.
Our works will be examined.

Our motives will be exposed.

Our stewardship will matter.

Scripture does not give us a transcript of the questions Jesus will ask, but it tells us clearly what will matter.

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💡 HOW WERE YOU LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS?

“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14

Did your life point people toward Christ? Did you shine when darkness increased? Or did you hide the lamp because shining became uncomfortable?

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🧂 HOW WERE YOU SALT IN A DECAYING CULTURE?

“You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13

When truth became unpopular, did you preserve it, speak it, and live it? Or did you slowly become indistinguishable from the world?

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📣 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE GOSPEL?

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” Mark 16:15

Who heard about Jesus because you were here? Who did you pray for? Who did you tell? Who might be in eternity because you refused to remain silent?

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📖 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE TRUTH I GAVE YOU?

“Correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Did you contend for truth when compromise was easier? Did you handle Scripture faithfully? Or reshape it to fit the culture?

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⏳ WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE TIME I GAVE YOU?

“Making the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:16

Your days were numbered. Your conversations were numbered. Your opportunities were numbered. Did you redeem them?

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❤️ WHY DID YOU SERVE ME?

The Lord: “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:5

Did you serve Christ for His glory? Or for recognition, applause, influence, and reputation? Was it really about Him?

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🔥 WHAT DID YOU BUILD THAT WILL SURVIVE?

Paul says every believer’s work will be tested. Gold. Silver. Precious stones. Wood. Hay. Straw.

“The fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” 1 Corinthians 3:13

Some things that look enormous on earth may disappear at the Bema. Some quiet acts of obedience nobody noticed may shine forever.

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🛡️ WHEN FOLLOWING ME COST YOU SOMETHING, WERE YOU FAITHFUL?

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial…” James 1:12

Did you stand when standing became costly? Did you love Christ more than comfort?

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🌿 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH ISRAEL?

Paul says salvation came to the Gentiles: “to make Israel envious.” Romans 11:11

So ask it plainly: Did my life provoke the Jewish people to jealousy for their own Messiah? Did I show them love? Did I pray for their salvation? Did I honor the people through whom came the covenants, the Scriptures, the patriarchs, and Messiah according to the flesh?

Or did I boast against the branches?

“Do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches.” Romans 11:18

Gentile believers were called to gratitude, humility, mercy, prayer, and Gospel witness.

Did Israel see something in us that made them long for their Messiah?

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👀 DID KNOWING PROPHECY ACTUALLY CHANGE YOU?

Did prophecy make us more holy? More urgent? More compassionate? More evangelistic? More focused on eternity? Or merely more informed?

“All who have this hope in him purify themselves…” 1 John 3:3

If prophetic knowledge never changes how we live, something is wrong.

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👑 DID YOU OCCUPY UNTIL I CAME?

Jesus said: “Put this money to work… until I come back.” Luke 19:13

Then the nobleman returned and called his servants to account for what they had done with what he entrusted to them. That is the force of the Parable of the Minas.

The issue was not merely: “Did you know I was coming back?”

It was: “What did you do while I was gone?”

And for us: “What did you do because you believed I was coming?”

Not speculate until I come. Not retreat until I come. Occupy. Serve. Witness. Pray. Stand. Love. Work. Watch.

Because the Jesus who promised: “I will come back and take you to be with me…” John 14:3

also said: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me…” Revelation 22:12

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IMMINENCE → EXPECTANCY → HOLINESS → SERVICE → ACCOUNTABILITY → REWARD

One day the trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. We who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

Then every earthly opportunity will be over. No more darkness in which to shine. No more culture in which to be salt. No more person to evangelize. No more Jewish friend to love and provoke to jealousy for Messiah. No more assignment to finish.

And the question will no longer be: “When was the Rapture going to happen?”

It will be: “What did you do while you were waiting for Me?”

“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12

And even the crowns we receive will ultimately return to Him.

The elders cast their crowns before the throne: “You are worthy, our Lord and God…” Revelation 4:10–11

That is the destination. Not merely receiving a crown. Having something to lay at His feet.

Prophecy should not produce spectators. It should produce servants.

The imminent Rapture is not permission to abandon the world. It is a reason to spend ourselves for Christ while there is still time.

He is coming.

Be watching.

Be working.

Be witnessing.

Be faithful.

Be ready.

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

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God’s Fall Appointments, 5787/5951/2026

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Trend Update, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 7, 2026 by paulthepoke
God’s Fall Appointments: Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles

God’s Fall Appointments are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It’s that time of the year and the Feasts are approaching later this week.

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Numbers 29:1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

The beginning of the Jewish civil new year is upon us within the next week. This is the Hebrew month of Tishri. It will be the Hebrew year 5787 on a traditional, secular calendar. The date for Yom Teruah is calculated to be near sunset Friday, September 11th. Some will confirm the new year with the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. The traditional Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar.

As the Essenes mark time, the month of Tishri begins on Wednesday, September 16th. The Essenes celebrate their New Year in the spring with the beginning of Nisan or Abib per Exodus 12:2. This calendar is a solar calendar.

Check out Ken Johnson’s Essene, Dead Sea Scroll calendar work at https://dsscalendar.org/

Yom Teruah ends two days later.

The first fall holiday has many names. It is called the Feast of Trumpets by Christians. It is recognized as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Some refer to it as the “Hidden Day” or the “Wedding of the Messiah”. In Judaism, it is called Yom Teruah which means the “Day of Blowing”.

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 1

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 2

Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets, Part 3

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The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah or repent in the Hebrew. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices.

The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2026 is calculated at sundown Sunday, September 20th and ends the next day, Monday evening, September 21th. This date could be determined by the confirmation of the new moon 10 days earlier. The Essenes mark the date as Friday, September 25th through the next day.

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

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Leviticus 23:33-36 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.’”

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the Feast” or “the Festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar.

On our western Gregorian calendar in 2026, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from about Friday, September 25th to Friday, October 2th. Or, pending the new moon confirmed at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri.

This year, the Essenes mark the beginning of Tabernacles on Wednesday, September 30th and runs through Tuesday, October 6th. The last and Great Day occurs on Wednesday, October 7th.

Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Booths/The Feast

Isaiah 12: Jesus and the Water of Life

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There are seven God appointed holidays communicated through the Mosaic Law. The first four in the Spring were fulfilled to the day by Jesus Himself with His death, burial, resurrection, and the giving of the Holy Spirit. If the first four Spring holidays were fulfilled by Jesus on the God appointed holidays, why would the Fall holidays be any different?

Mark 13:32-33 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come…”

It is easy to see why the verse above is true with all the calendar confusion. The post has covered 4 different time keeping systems for marking God’s Appointments. Ultimately, the question is how does God mark time?

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Below is a brief 10 minute video that provides a framework for God’s Fall Appointments The video is compliments of T.W. Tramm. Check out his writings and his work in the links below. Facebook continues to remove his articles. T.W. is always thought provoking and backs his writing with Scriptural evidence. Tramm does his homework.

http://www.theseasonofreturn.com

https://www.facebook.com/twtramm

Jesus is coming again…

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https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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This Week in Prophecy: Garden Tomb; Noah’s Ark; Treaty of Hudaybiyyah; Nepal Flood; Syria; Saudis; Quake in Peru

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Burden of Damascus, Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Persia/Elam/Iran, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 30, 2026 by paulthepoke

John 19:41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

Archaeologists under Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre found an abandoned quarry outside the ancient walls that was later filled and divided into small plots for vines, olive trees and grazing, plus multiple rock-cut tombs.

This landscape matches the Gospel of John’s description of a garden containing a new tomb near the crucifixion site. Lead researcher Francesca Romana Stasolla noted the funerary and cultivated features from around the 1st century. It supports the traditional location but does not prove the tomb’s occupant. -Summary by Grok

By the way, the tomb was still empty.

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Genesis 8:4 Then in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.

In 2026, a full geological and archaeological research project was initiated at the Noah’s Ark formation in the Doğubayazıt District of Ağrı Province, Türkiye. The project is directed by Prof. Dr. Cenker Atila of the Department of Archaeology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, and is carried out in cooperation with Noah’s Ark Scans.The project has received official approval from the Republic of Türkiye. Under this authorization, a series of geological and archaeological investigations will be conducted at the site in accordance with the approved research plan — a milestone after decades of patient, non-invasive study.

Drogue Stones: Scattered through the villages northwest of the Durupınar site — especially at Arzap — stand a series of enormous carved stones, some more than ten feet tall and weighing several tons. Each has a hole deliberately cut through its upper end. Researchers including Ron Wyatt identified these as drogue stones: heavy drag anchors that, in the ancient world, were trailed behind a vessel on long ropes to steady it in heavy seas and keep its bow turned into the waves. If that interpretation is correct, these would be the drogue stones once tethered to the Ark, cut loose and left near the landing site as the waters receded. Many of the stones are carved with crosses, believed to have been added centuries later by Armenian Christians who venerated them as relics of the Flood. Skeptics offer alternative explanations — that the stones are Armenian memorial markers (khachkars) or repurposed pagan stelae — and their precise age and original purpose remain debated. Either way, the drogue stones are among the most striking features connected to the Durupınar site, and several can be visited today on our guided tours.

https://www.noahsarkscans.com

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Ancient Persia and Elam or modern day Iran.

And on the same day there was a massive energy discovery…

In the spirit of Mohammed and his 10 year peace treaty with infidels…

The prophet Daniel tells us there is a seven year peace treaty coming.

Daniel 9:27 And he will make strong a covenant with the many for one seven; and in the middle of the seven the sacrifice and offering he will make cease, and on a wing of abominations he shall make it desolate, until the consummation that is decreed is poured out on the one bringing desolation.

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Daniel 9:26b… And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

Nepal Flood

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Isaiah 17:1 This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.

Current President of Syria, Al-Jolani. Here is what the United States thought of him in 2017 during the first Trump Presidency.

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Ancient Sheba and Dedan or modern day Saudi Arabia

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Quakes in various places… -Jesus

Southern Peru: A magnitude 6.7 (USGS) / 7.2 (IGP) earthquake struck on August 20, 2026, near Coracora in the Ayacucho region’s Parinacochas province. This was the strongest quake in Peru so far in 2026. Smaller earthquakes have continued throughout the month, including several on August 29–30.

There were no deaths and 3 injuries with relatively minimal damage affecting homes, power, and roads. -Grok

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Baptists in higher education in the culture…

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https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Church Vocab in Heaven

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Replacement Theology, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 11 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

As we continue from Revelation Chapter 3 and the physical 7 churches on earth in ancient Asia Minor or what is modern day western Turkey, the setting changes.

Revelation chapters 4 and 5 have a change in location. The scene has changed to the throne room in Heaven. John now finds himself in Heaven.

Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven…

The first thing he notices is God the Father’s appearance on His throne.

Revelation 4:2b-3 and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

John’s next observation appears to be the church. Language and symbols presented are consistent with a description of the body of Christ.

Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

“Elders” were sitting on thrones. The Greek word for “elders” is πρεσβυτεροσ/presbuteros. These are among the Christians who presided over the assemblies or churches (Strong’s Concordance). This is the same term used throughout the New Testament for leaders in the local church.

Leadership is being shared by the One. The reality of ruling with the Son and Father is being observed by John. From this point forward in Revelation, members of the body of Christ are referred to in a leadership capacity, an elder.

Angels and crowned figures worship before a radiant throne beneath a rainbow
Credit: Grok

The elders are wearing white garments. Members of the church wear white garments. This is the fulfillment of the promise given by Jesus in Revelation 3:5 to those who have victory in Him. In Revelation 3, the believers were on Earth. In Revelation 4, it appears they are in Heaven.

Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Jesus is introduced in Revelation 5 as a lion and a lamb. He keeps the company of elders in the chapter. They are all in Heaven. Remember, judgment or God’s wrath has yet to start on Earth.

Revelation 5:5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

Notice the language of the church leadership and elders. They are in Heaven. Prayers have ascended from Earth from the “saints”. These are two different groups in two different locations. People who are left behind (saints) after the church ascended to Heaven have already come to believe in Jesus Christ.

The resurrection and rapture of the church will have a spiritual impact on people who did not believe at the time of the event. This group of people is called “saints” not the church. The Greek word for “saints” is ηαγιοσ/hagios. The saints are the most holy and sacred thing left on Earth (Strong’s Concordance).

Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

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This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. 

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Zechariah Begins With Ruins & Ends With A King -Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , on August 20, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

If you want to know where the story of Jerusalem is going, read Zechariah.

The book begins with a battered people returning from exile.

Jerusalem is wounded.

The Temple is being rebuilt.

The nation looks small.

But the prophet begins to see things far greater than anything happening in his own generation.

YHVH declares:

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee.” Zechariah 2:10

And then:

“YHVH shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” Zechariah 2:12

That is where Zechariah is going.

He sees the Branch.

He sees the King.

He sees the Shepherd.

He sees the Pierced One.

And finally, he sees YHVH reigning over all the earth.

Zechariah starts among ruins.

It ends with glory.

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First comes the Branch.

“Behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch.” Zechariah 3:8

Then Zechariah reveals something extraordinary: “He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne.” Zechariah 6:13

A ruler.

A priest.

One throne.

One mysterious figure bearing glory.

Who is He?

Zechariah is not finished.

~

Then the King appears.

“Behold, thy King cometh unto thee… lowly, and riding upon an ass.” Zechariah 9:9

The King comes humbly.

But the very next verse looks beyond His humility: “His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:10

The One who arrives gently will ultimately rule universally.

But Zechariah is not finished.

~

The Shepherd is rejected.

And the price placed upon Him? Thirty pieces of silver. “So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12

Then comes an astonishing statement from YHVH: “Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them.” Zechariah 11:13

Read that carefully.

The Shepherd is rejected.

Yet YHVH speaks of the price as the value placed upon Himself.

Why?

Zechariah is not finished.

~

Now Jerusalem becomes the center of an international crisis.

“I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people.” Zechariah 12:3

The nations gather.

YHVH intervenes.

“I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Zechariah 12:9

Then suddenly: “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son.” Zechariah 12:10

Stop there.

Who is speaking? YHVH.

Who was pierced? The text says: Me.

Yet the people mourn for: Him.

And not casually. They mourn as for an only son.

Who is this Pierced One whose rejection is somehow described as the piercing of YHVH?

What happens when Israel finally recognizes Him? Cleansing.

“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1

Mourning becomes cleansing.

Rejection becomes restoration.

But Zechariah is still not finished.

~

Then comes chapter 14.

Jerusalem is surrounded. The nations have gathered. Humanly speaking, the situation is impossible.

Then: “YHVH shall go forth, and fight against those nations.” Zechariah 14:3

And suddenly the prophecy becomes breathtakingly physical: “His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” Zechariah 14:4

His feet.

The Mount of Olives.

Jerusalem.

The mountain splits.

Living waters flow from Jerusalem.

And then comes the climax: “YHVH shall be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9

But even that is not the end.

Zechariah had already declared: “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.” Zechariah 8:3

And ultimately: “Many people and strong nations shall come to seek YHVH of hosts in Jerusalem.” Zechariah 8:22

The nations do not replace Jerusalem.

They come to Jerusalem.

~

Now look at the progression.

In chapter 9: The King rides on a donkey.

In chapter 11: The Shepherd is valued at thirty pieces of silver.

In chapter 12: The Pierced One is recognized.

In chapter 13: Israel is cleansed.

In chapter 14: His feet stand on the Mount of Olives.

And then: YHVH reigns over all the earth.

First humility. Then glory.

First rejection. Then recognition.

First piercing. Then cleansing.

First Jerusalem surrounded. Then Jerusalem exalted.

First the Shepherd is rejected. Then the King is worshiped.

~

So Zechariah leaves us with questions that refuse to disappear. Who is the Branch?

Who is the King?

Who is the rejected Shepherd?

Who is the One YHVH calls “Me” who was pierced?

Whose feet stand upon the Mount of Olives?

And who ultimately reigns as King over all the earth?

Zechariah does not merely predict events.

Zechariah unveils the coming King.

~

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

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Red Heifer Update; Quakes Indonesia; Itching Ears

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 16, 2026 by paulthepoke
Reddish-brown cow standing on rocky hillside near an ancient settlement

Numbers 19:1-2 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

The genetic breeding program for a red heifer is showing some promise.

The latest red heifer calf was born on Elul 1, the beginning of Teshuvah.

A calf was born in a dairy barn in the Jordan Valley last week, and on Rosh Chodesh Elul, a delegation of rabbis stood over her, running their hands through her coat. She was the third heifer of her kind to be born in Israel this season, joining two others already under watch in the Galilee and the Golan Heights. Together, the three calves represent the most concrete progress yet toward a goal Jewish tradition has pursued since the destruction of the Second Temple: raising a red heifer whose ashes can restore ritual purity to the Jewish people.

The article summarizes the three locations of each red heifer and the current status of each heifer.

Beit Rimon: Temimah’s Ear Begins to Heal

Yehudiya: A Question the Sages Never Had to Answer

The Jordan Valley: A Calf Born Without a Single Flaw

“There is still a long road ahead of us. Nevertheless, as we approach the year 5787, we can announce that the people of Israel are indeed moving toward raising a herd of red heifers and advancing the process of restoring ritual purity to Israel after 2,000 years of exile. With God’s help, in the near future we hope to announce where the heifers will be displayed and raised until they grow from calves into two-year-old cows.” Rabbi Azaria Ariel

https://israel365news.com/420480/a-third-red-heifer-is-born-rabbis-race-between-three-barns-to-examine-the-herd-israel-has-waited-2000-years-to-raise

First of all, as many Christians are acutely aware, animal sacrifices for sin are no longer required. However, these things are still prophesied. And, the antichrist needs a Temple to defile.

Hebrews 13:11-12 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 

See also Hebrews 10.

To be clear, the red heifer is the symbol or type. Jesus Christ is the real deal, the fulfillment.

A red heifer will be sacrificed before the third temple will be built. This story line is a piece of the puzzle.

https://paulthepoke.com/?s=red+heifer

~

Quakes in various places… -Jesus

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Flores Island (East Nusa Tenggara province, eastern Indonesia) on August 15, 2026 (local time; ~21:58 UTC on August 14). earthquake.usgs.gov

Casualties: Reports as of later on August 15 put the death toll at least 38–47 (mostly in East Manggarai, Manggarai, and Sikka districts), with dozens injured (at least 2 seriously and 11 mildly in some tallies; higher figures of ~50 hospitalized in others). The toll was expected to rise as search efforts continued, with some people trapped and access issues in areas like Nagekeo due to landslides and disrupted communications. efe.com

Damage and disruption: Buildings and homes collapsed; dozens to hundreds of structures (homes, schools, health facilities, government offices, places of worship) were damaged. Landslides blocked roads (including parts of the Trans-Flores highway). Power outages and communication problems occurred. Around 2,000 people evacuated. Komodo Airport was affected but remained operational. pbs.org

Tsunami: A warning was issued and later lifted (within ~3 hours). Minor waves were recorded (up to ~0.94 m / ~3 ft at some sites like Maurole-Ende; under 1 m in most places), with limited coastal impact reported. watchers.news

A 6.9 quake occurred on August 15, 2026 in Indonesia on the island of Sumatera.

~

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

People are having an internal issue. They have been confronted with the truth of Scripture and they don’t like it. So, they seek something that aligns with their personal beliefs. The individual has an itch. They seek someone who will tickle the itch. (Compliments and credit to my wife.)

This is classic confirmation bias. Facts be damned.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

~

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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This Week in Prophecy: Mecca Agreement; Syria; Quake in Colombia; Mass Abort; Dead Sea

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Burden of Damascus, Culture, Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Ezekiel 38-39, Fake News???, Prophecy, Saudi Arabia/Sheba/Dedan, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 13, 2026 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38-39 Ancient Sheba and Dedan or modern day Saudi Arabia.

Ancient Beth Togarmah, Gomer, Meshech or modern day Turkey.

Image created by Grok.

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (also called the Mecca/Makkah Pact or Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement) is a trilateral collective-defense pact signed on August 7, 2026, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The three countries bring complementary strengths: Saudi Arabia’s financial resources and strategic position, Turkey’s conventional military capabilities and defense industry (as a NATO member), and Pakistan’s large armed forces and status as the sole nuclear-armed Muslim-majority state. The pact has been described as a strategic hedge and framework for deeper cooperation rather than a fully integrated military alliance with standing forces or detailed automatic response mechanisms. It has been noted as potentially open to future expansion.

https://twitter.com/i/grok?conversation=2087689513732567446

The 3 countries surround ancient Persia or modern day Iran.

Will Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords with Israel?

Prophecy tells us where this is going. The plot thickens…

~

Isaiah 17:1 This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.

Recent history lesson, President Trump lifted economic sanctions earlier in 2025 against Syria and newly appointed leader and President Abu Mohammed al Jolani (formerly of ISIS), he is aka Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa. He also has ties to Al Qaeda. He is former commander of Al-Qaeda al-Jolani. He also has ties to the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Al Sharaa founded the al-Nusra Front in Syria. This is the same person. He has ties to multiple terrorist organizations.

Gog of Magog or modern day Russia

~

Quakes in various places… -Jesus

On August 10, 2026, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, the strongest recorded in the country in the 21st century.

Key Details

  • Time and location: It occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 UTC), with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department (about 400 km / 250 miles west of Bogotá). Depth estimates ranged from roughly 96–110 km (intermediate depth). It was a strike-slip event related to the subduction of the Nazca Plate. en.wikipedia.org
  • Intensity and reach: Shaking lasted up to about 2 minutes and was felt widely across western and central Colombia (including Bogotá, Cali, Pereira, Medellín, Manizales, and Quibdó), as well as in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and parts of Venezuela. Maximum intensity reached MMI VIII (Severe) in some areas. en.wikipedia.org

Casualties and Damage

As of reports around August 11–12, 2026:

  • Deaths: At least 239–254 confirmed. Hardest-hit areas included Pereira (coffee-growing region) and Cali. reuters.com
  • Injuries: More than 2,500–3,700.
  • Missing: Hundreds officially, with crowdsourced figures exceeding 4,000 in some reports.
  • Infrastructure: Hundreds of buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged (including homes, schools, health centers, and parts of hospitals); thousands more structures were affected. Airports (e.g., Pereira) faced closures or suspensions; roads, bridges, and utilities were disrupted. Landslides were a concern in the mountainous terrain. miamiherald.com

Summary provided by Grok.

~

Genesis 5:2 Male and female He created them, and He blessed them and called their name “Man,” in the day they were created.

The WNBA held a meeting on the definition of a woman. They were unable to reach a conclusion.

What does the “W” stand for in the name of your league?


Meeting over with definition. Here to help!

~

Amos 1:13 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.

By the way, judgment was pronounced by the LORD in verse 14.

Look at the joy as signed bill becomes law in Massachusetts.

We will close with life…

Future River emerges from the Temple in Jerusalem

Ezekiel 47:7-12 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

https://allisraelnews.com/life-found-in-sinkholes-beside-israels-dead-sea-stir-excitement-about-biblical-prophecy

~

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Teshuvah 5786/5951/2026

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2026 by paulthepoke

The season of Teshuvah begins on the first day of the Hebrew month Elul.

Teshuvah is a 40 day period that runs through the holiday of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Teshuvah is the Hebrew word for repent.

The call of Teshuvah is to turn back towards God and repent. As Christians, we should return to Jesus.

The point of the season for Judaism is to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of the religious calendar.

Jewish tradition points to the name of the month to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” a quote from Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine… 

The month is mentioned one time in the Bible. 

In Aramaic, the vernacular of the Jewish people at the time that the month names were adopted, the word Elul means “search”.

Per Strong’s Concordance, Elul means “nothingness” in the Hebrew.

Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 

Cultural customs per http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.myjewishlearning.com

~

On our western Gregorian calendar in the year 2026, Elul begins at sunset on Wednesday, August 12 as calculated by 21st century time keeping.

The traditional, secular Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar. These folks are waiting on the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the month.

The Essenes followed a solar calendar. A solar calendar has a leap week as compared to a leap month with a lunar calendar.

On the Essene calendar, Elul 1st will take place on Sunday, August 16th, 2026. It is the year 5951 AM. In other words, 5,951 years since creation.

https://dsscalendar.org/DSS-Greg.php?Y=2026

Jewish time keepers cannot agree.

~

It is Jewish custom to blow a shofar (ram’s horn) one time every day during the season of Teshuvah. The trumpet is blown every day except Shabbat or the Sabbath (Saturday for us in western culture) and the last day of month of Elul. The trumpet is blown after the morning service. The shofar is blown frequently…

~

Genesis 1:14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years…”

The Hebrew word for “signs” is ‘owth. It means: sign, signal, a distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning; token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof.

From the beginning, God stated the sun, moon, and stars are points of communication.

Ancient myth? Or is God trying to get our attention. He knows the end from the beginning.

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.

This year, during Teshuvah, the world will be treated to solar and lunar eclipses.

Ancient Jewish rabbis have taught the moon represents Israel. The sun represents the gentile nations. The location of the celestial event is a warning to the geography impacted. Pay Heed!

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will occur over eastern Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a very small corner of northeast Portugal.

The link below from NASA provides animations of the solar eclipse.

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5656

Of curiosity and note, news has broken over the weekend regarding Greenland.

The graphic above was made in December 2018.

Image: https://geoexpro.com/hydrocarbon-potential-of-the-jameson-land-basin/

Greenland issues ‘strong warning’ as Trump-linked oil firm prepares to drill

Island’s government says no approval given after Greenland Energy brings kit ashore for exploratory drilling

Greenland’s government issued a “strong warning” that no approval had been granted to land the kit. “All future logistical matters must be advised and approved by the mineral resources authority – before they are carried out,” the government said in a statement.

Two days later…

The picture was provided by a post on Truth Social by President Trump himself.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/08/greenland-iwarning-trump-linked-oil-firm-prepares-drill

~

On Friday, August 28, 2026, UTC time, a 96.2% partial lunar eclipse will occur over North and South America, parts of Europe, and Africa.

Timing for the event in North America will occur on Thursday night, August 27, 2026.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28

~

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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