June | 2014 | Paul the Poke

Archive for June, 2014

Rapture Part 3, Elijah

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture with tags 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Kings 2, chariot of fire, Elijah, Elisha, Enoch, Hebrews 9, Malachi 4, Rapture, Revelation 11 on June 29, 2014 by paulthepoke

2 Kings 2:11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

Elisha was not the only witness to this event. 2 Kings 2:7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. The text says there were at least 51 others at the event site.

Elijah and Elisha knew God was coming to get Elijah. This is documented and noted frequently in 2 Kings 2:1-11. Members of the prophetic guild or school in Bethel (2 Kings 2:3) and Jericho (2 Kings 2:5) were aware that God was coming to take Elijah. Hundreds of people knew Elijah was going to be taken into Heaven.

Things are no different today in 2014. There has been notification for over 1,900 years. People are aware there is a time coming when those who believe in Christ will be taken into the clouds to meet the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

So whatever became of Enoch and Elijah? God took them both into Heaven. They did not die. Scripture says we all die once. Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment…

Two witnesses show up on the scene in Revelation 11:3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” Scholars debate the identity of these two witnesses. Elijah is promised to come again before the tribulation. Malachi 4:5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. Many agree one of these witnesses is Elijah. Others debate the identity of the second as either Enoch or Moses. Enoch was taken alive by God in Genesis 5:24. Moses died and was personally buried by God in Deuteronomy 34:6. Draw your own conclusions as to who the second witness is. These two witnesses die at the hand of the beast in Revelation 11:7. Three and a half days later, the witnesses are resurrected back to life for people to see. Then, they are called from and ascend into Heaven (Revelation 11:11-12).

Elijah’s resume: Rapture, return, death, resurrection, and ascension…That is quite an experience through time.

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Trend Update: Assyrian Empire/Euphrates River, June 2014

Posted in Euphrates River, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Assyrian Empire, Genesis 10, Iraq, ISIS, Kirkuk Oil, Lake Assad, Mosul, Mosul Dam, Nimrod, Nineveh, Revelation 16, Syria on June 26, 2014 by paulthepoke

The Assyrian Empire of history originates from the city of Ninevah, modern day Mosul, Iraq. Genesis 10:11 From that land he (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah… The modern day region maintains it ties to the past. Mosul is located in the province of Ninevah (ABC News). This region of real estate has been in the news with the Civil War taking place in Syria (September 2013). Major oil and gas pipelines run from the Kirkuk Oil Fields to the border of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Once in Turkey, the pipeline runs to the west before stopping in the Mediterranean Sea where oil and gas are exported primarily to Europe. The security of these pipelines is constantly being challenged by multiple groups. At this time (June 2014), the violence and regional instability has spread and now includes northern Iraq.

The movement is spear headed by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This group is a splinter off of Al-Qaeda. CNN completed a story which stated that ISIS is considered too violent for even Al-Qaeda. The video shown on TV validates their commitment to violence.

The leader of ISIS is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was detained by the United States in a terrorist camp in Iraq, Camp Bucca. Al-Baghdadi was captured in 2005. In 2009, we released him. Military officials at the camp state Al-Baghdadi was not the worst of the worst. For more details click on the following link. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/14/isis-leader-see-you-in-new-york.html

With the capture of Mosul, ISIS now manages the Mosul Dam. This dam manages the control of the Tigris River in Iraq. Keep in mind, Turkey cut off flow of the Euphrates earlier in the month of June 2014. Lake Assad (another damming of the Euphrates River in Syria) has already been impacted in Syria. Lake Assad and surrounding territory in Syria is under the control of ISIS. People are already suffering the effects with no electricity and fresh water. Now, this organization effectively controls the water supplies of the nations of Syria and Iraq.

Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

Look at the maps below and draw your own conclusions.

June 14, 2014 per http://i.dailymail.co.uk/

Assyrian Empire per http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/images/mesopot_assyr_map_lg.jpg

Goal of ISIS

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Rapture Part 2, Enoch

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture with tags Bride of Christ, Enoch, flood, Genesis 5, God, harpazo, Hebrews 11, Jesus, lacaqh, Methuselah, Noah, Rapture on June 22, 2014 by paulthepoke

To the critic who says, “There is no such thing as a ‘rapture’.” Sorry, that is incorrect. For the very first ‘rapture’, go all the way back to the Book of Genesis. This event takes place before the flood of Noah. Genesis 5:21- 24 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Becoming a father clearly resulted in a changed attitude for Enoch. At that point, the Hebrew grammar suggests Enoch responded to God and “walked with Him”. The name Enoch means “dedicate” per Strong’s Concordance. Enoch dedicated himself to God. Jewish tradition states Enoch was a preacher.

The meaning of the name of Methuselah is a bit of a mystery. Here are a couple of possibilities. One is “man of the dart” per Strong’s Concordance. A second is “when he is dead it shall be sent” per Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names. The issue is the root of the name. Is it “mut” (death) or “mat” (man) in the original Hebrew?

Did Enoch know judgment was coming from God? Something caused Enoch to rethink his attitude. The ages of the people documented in Genesis as time points would suggest the flood began when Methuselah died. Methuselah lived the longest of any man, 969 years (Genesis 5:27). God allowed the greatest amount of time for humanity to repent of their actions before judgment came. But, when the time came He acted swiftly and decisively with a global flood.

Note, Enoch was not around during the course of the flood. He was taken off of the earth before the world wide judgment of God came. He was spared and did not have to go through the tribulation of that time.

… for God took him. The meaning of “took” in Hebrew is “laqach”. Strong’s Concordance defines the word as: to take, take in the hand, carry along, carry away, take away, or to fetch.

Another definition is to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, or accept. The concept of taking in marriage is noted in the Hebrew Old Testament word “laqach” and the Greek New Testament word “harpazo”. Language of a marriage is noted with Christ and His bride the Church throughout the New Testament. Terms for rapture in the Old Testament and the New Testament center around marriage and a groom taking or snatching his bride.

Enoch was not a Jew or citizen of the country Israel. Nations were not in existence before the flood. Is Enoch a type or foreshadowing of the rapture of the bride of Christ, the church? Is there a group of people who will be taken away before a worldwide judgment of God?

Some may say Enoch is just an Old Testament story and fable. The story of Genesis is confirmed in Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

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With prophetic implications, the Kurds, known as the Medes in the Bible, seize oil-rich region of Iraq. What does it mean?

Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Assyrian Empire, Babylonians, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Islam, Joel Rosenberg, Kirkuk Oil Field, Kurds, Medes, Muslims, Persians, Prophecy, Shiites, Sunnis, Turkey on June 18, 2014 by paulthepoke

Kurds, Known as the Medes in the Bible. Is the Old Testament gang; Assyrians (ISIS), Medes (Kurds), Persians (Iran), and Babylonians (Iraq) getting back together again? These are Israel’s ancient enemies. Look at the lands these groups currently occupy. Interesting to say the least and merits monitoring.

Rapture, Part 1

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Rapture with tags 1 Thessalonians 4, clouds, Ephesians 1, harpazo, Jesus, John 10, Latin, Rapture, St. Jerome, Vulgate on June 15, 2014 by paulthepoke

To the critic who says the word “rapture” is not in the Bible. Critic, you are correct. So where does the word “rapture” come? For the answer, we have to go back to the fourth century. The word comes from the Latin translation of the Bible. The Latin translation is called the Vulgate. St. Jerome was commissioned to translate the Bible into the Latin language (Faith Christian Academy, Fourth Grade History). The word is “rapiemur” per http://www.Vulgate.org, The Latin Vulgate New Testament Bible in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. St. Jerome translated the New Testament from the original Greek.

The original Greek word is “harpazo”. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to seize, carry off by force, claim for one’s self eagerly, to snatch out or away.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. The Greek word for caught up is “harpazo”. Jesus will seize and claim for Himself eagerly those who believe in Him. Once we are claimed, we are forever with Him. If the security of that verse is not enough…

John 10:28-29 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. This is Jesus talking in these two verses. The word snatch or harpazo is used twice. Once we are taken, we have double coverage. Jesus Himself will securely protect a believer. By the Son’s admission, the Father is greater and He has hold of those who believe as well. We are not going anywhere but with God. Talk about eternal security.

The Father and the Son know to “snatch” the believer because they are sealed with the Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

We have eternal security in the triune God. We are “harpazoed” and property of God.

Can we realistically propel and sustain ourselves into the clouds? Talk about hang time… Are we capable of locating Jesus in the clouds? Over what city? How high is He suspended over the Earth? What time is the meeting?

…Just believe…

Trend Update, Euphrates River/Egyptian Dictator, June 2014

Posted in Euphrates River, Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Ataturk Dam, Dictator, Egypt, El-Sisi, Euphrates River, God, Iraq, Revelation 16, Syria, Turkey on June 11, 2014 by paulthepoke

Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

In the first week of June, the Turkish government decided to stop the flow of the Euphrates River. Turkey can accomplish this by holding water behind the Ataturk Dam. Downstream from Turkey is Syria and Iraq. This is the kind of stuff that starts wars.

The level of Lake Assad in Syria has already dropped six meters. Citizens of Syria are now left without electrical power and drinking water because of the move. If Turkey would resume pumping water, it would take about a month for the levels in the lake to resume to normal.

Let’s not put all the blame on Turkey. Due to drought in Syria and abuse of the river in Iraq, the Euphrates went dry in July 2009. Resources include the New York Times, Al-Akhbar.com, Prophecy News Watch.

Recent history has shown the Euphrates River going dry is not some wishful myth. We have already seen it happen. The Euphrates will go dry again later in the seven year tribulation, to make way for a 200,000,000 man military (Revelation 9:16). Who has a military that large coming from east of Israel???

Isaiah 19:4 Egyptian Dictator?

Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master, and a mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

God will intentionally give (piel stem verb form in Hebrew) the Egyptian people this leader. There are two adjectives that describe this leader in the verse. You can bet this leader will use force on the population.

Qasheh: (translated cruel) This word can be defined as hard, cruel, severe, obstinate, difficult, fierce, intense, vehement, stubborn, stiff-necked, rigorous (of battle).

`Az: (translated mighty) This word can be defined as strong, mighty, fierce.

These first four verses of Isaiah 19 make one point over and over and over. God is controlling the action. It is observed in the language and grammar. This is a direct quote from God.

Egypt has transferred power to the new President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He is a former Army Chief. El-Sisi claims the Egyptian military belongs to the people. He also helped overthrow President Morsi in 2013. Is El-Sisi the “cruel master”?

Time will tell…

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Isaiah 12: Jesus and the Water of Life

Posted in Fall Feasts, Gospel, Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Eternal Life, Feast of Tabernacles, Holy Spirit, Isaiah 12, Jesus, John 4, John 7, Sukkot, water on June 9, 2014 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 12: Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O LORD; for although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things; let this be known throughout the earth. Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel

Jews sing Isaiah 12:3 Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation, during the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. The Jewish holiday is a reminder to the Jewish people they lived in tents after the Exodus from Egypt. In addition, the Feast of Tabernacles requires sacrifices of sin offerings and burnt offerings. At the time of preparation for the morning sacrifice, a priest descends to the Pool of Siloam amidst great music, celebration, and singing of Isaiah 12:3, and fills a golden pitcher with water. After dipping his pitcher in Siloam’s water, the priest returns to the Temple and pours the water into one of the silver basins by the altar (Wayne Stiles, Insight for Living).

Jesus connects the dots for us in the Book of John. He is promising those who believe in Him the Holy Spirit. Jesus is making this proclamation on the last day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

John 7:37-39 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This chapter of Isaiah is a universal promise to the entire world. The Holy One, Jesus is our salvation. Isaiah 12 refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit and the reign of Jesus. And He is going to live and dwell with us.

John 4:14 “…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”-Jesus

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Drought: The Red Sea, The Nile and Euphrates Rivers

Posted in Euphrates River, Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Egypt, Euphrates, God, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 19, Israel, Nile, Red Sea, Revelation, Sea of Egypt, Suez Canal on June 1, 2014 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 11:15 And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; and He will wave His hand over the River with His scorching wind; and He will strike it into seven streams and make men walk over dry-shod.

The Sea of Egypt is what we know today as the Red Sea. There are two tongues of the Red Sea. The northeast tongue is the Gulf of Aqaba. Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia share the tongue and have ports here.

The northwest tongue is the Gulf of Suez. This gulf solely belongs to Egypt. At the end of the gulf is the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fastest path from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The canal’s history dates back to 1,874 BC. It has a depth of 66 feet. Without the canal, freight would have to go around the southern tip of Africa. 8% of the world’s cargo went through the Suez Canal in 2009 (Information provided by Suez Canal Authority).

There is some debate about the river in this verse. Some interpret this to be the Euphrates River. Some take it to be the Nile River. Take your pick. The Bible says both of these rivers are going dry during the Tribulation.

Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

Isaiah 19:5-7 The waters from the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. The canals will emit a stench, the streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up; the reeds and rushes will rot away.The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile and all the sown fields by the Nile will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.

The context of this verse is the Sea of Egypt. The Nile River delta branches into seven smaller tributaries before it empties in the Mediterranean Sea. I would lean towards this verse being about the Nile River going dry.

The grammar in Hebrew is direct. God will cause this to happen. There will be no doubt. It will be so dry, people will be able to walk across the River on dry land. His method will be a hot scorching wind. Keep in mind, the level of the Nile River is currently dropping due to weather and a dam being built on the Nile in the center of Africa.

Imagine what will happen to the price of oil when the Suez Canal goes dry. Combine that with all the money governments around the world are printing. Can you say massive inflation!