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Archive for June, 2015

Trend Update: Star of Bethlehem, June 30, 2015

Posted in Christmas, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Alpha and Omega, Bright Morning Star, Jesus Christ, Jupiter, King of Kings, Leo, lion, Mazzaroth, Regulus, Revelation, Star of Bethlehem, venus, Walid Shoebat on June 30, 2015 by paulthepoke

In the sky on June 30, 2015, there will be an event comparable to the Star of Bethlehem. The planets of Jupiter and Venus will be in conjunction. Regulus, the brightest star of the constellation of Leo will be in close proximity. This will occur in the western sky about 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the United States.

Take all of this for what it is worth. Please do your own homework. At the very least, it is curious and thought provoking.

Let’s look at the heavenly structures involved. The first is the planet Jupiter. It has long been known as the King Planet. Who is known as the King of Kings? Revelation 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The second actor is the planet Venus. It is known as the bright morning star in ancient cultures. It is seen before the sun sets in the evening. And Venus rises before the sun in the morning. Who is known as the bright morning star? Jesus Himself answers the question. Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

In the Hebrew Mazzaroth or constellations, Leo is a constellation. Leo is a lion and the last in order of 12 constellations. Leo is the culmination of the story of the Hebrew Messiah. The story starts with the constellation Virgo or a virgin. Who is known as a lion? 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.”

The brightest star in the constellation Leo is Regulus. It is the alpha star. We get our English word “regal” from the Latin word. It means “king”. Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

http://www.truthseekersministries.org/files/rolleston-mazzaroth.pdf

Even CBS News and other secular news sources are making the connection between the celestial events on June 30, 2015 and the Star of Bethlehem. These folks are hardly supportive and friendly to the contents of the Bible. Even environmentalists and Communists are noting the event.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jupiter-venus-to-converge-in-star-of-bethlehem-moment/

http://planetsave.com/2015/06/27/star-of-bethlehem-closest-highly-visible-conjunction-of-venus-jupiter-in-2000-years-on-june-30-2015/

http://rt.com/news/270613-jupiter-venus-merge-conjunction/

See the patch below from Walid Shoebat. He is a former Palestinian terrorist who converted to Christianity. He is from the Middle East. Shoebat has unique cultural perspectives we cannot relate to. He believes this celestial event is a sign. He thinks this signifies the Second Coming of Christ is close. He gives support of his prophetic opinion with references from the Bible.

http://shoebat.com/2015/06/29/tomorrow-you-will-see-the-star-of-bethlehem-a-sign-that-christs-second-coming-is-around-the-corner/

For information regarding the Star of Bethlehem, see the patches below.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUlWa2r-bk

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Trend Update: Gay Marriage, June 26, 2015

Posted in Culture, Gospel, Trend Update with tags 50 shades of grey, agape, Bible, bisexual, Ephesians 5, Galatians 5, gay, gay marriage, God, James, Jesus Christ, lesbian, Leviticus 20, Leviticus 22, LGBT, love, Romans 1, SCOTUS, sin, Supreme Court, transgender on June 28, 2015 by paulthepoke

On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. All states are mandated to perform same sex marriages. All states must recognize same sex marriages that occur in other states.

The point of this post is not to lecture the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) population. Here, this topic is being approached with humility, respect, and grace. Condemning and hateful attitudes solve nothing. Harsh, ill feelings are barriers and obstacles to the good news of mercy and forgiveness that is Jesus Christ.

Here in the United States, we live in a culture and society that has elevated its civil law above God’s law. In regards to the gay lifestyle, our civil laws are different than how God views the topic. Our courts have spoken on the matter.

Next are God’s words. It is acknowledged, His words are offensive to segments of society. Eventually, His words are offensive to all of us if we are honest with ourselves. Please take your complaints and comments directly to Him. He will listen. He is a big boy. He can handle it.

Here is what God says.

God says in Leviticus 20:13 ‘If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

The Hebrew word for “lies” is shakab. It means to have sexual intercourse. Men having sex with men and women having sex with women is “detestable” or tow`ebah. God views this act as a disgusting thing or an abomination (Strong’s Concordance).

God is consistent in thought in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The above Leviticus verse is not a one off. See also: Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:26-28.

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Likewise, God sees crossdressing as tow`ebah or detestable or disgusting.

God states that marriage should be between a man and woman from the beginning in Genesis. See also 1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

As a friend of mine stated, gay marriage is a legal, civil right granted by the Supreme Court of the United States. Gay marriage is not a covenant relationship ordained or sanctioned by God. See Ephesians 5.

We are called to love one another. Galatians 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” The Greek word for “love” is agape. Per Strong’s Concordance agape means: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly. This love is the nature of God.

It does not matter if one steals, lies, commits murder, covets, or whatever. There are no “shades of grey” when it comes to sin. There is not a sliding scale for sin. One sin is not more condemning than another. If you break one, you break them all. James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

As individuals, it is not our place to judge others regardless of their actions. Every person on the planet has a lifestyle issue that can be taken to task. Judgment belongs to God. James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

We are all in need of sin remission. Every single one of us is a sinner. We all have sin in our lives. Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

And this is where the grace of Jesus enters the scene. Christ loves us ALL in spite of our actions whatever they may be. He paid the penalty for sin. For those who believe, He has paid the fine for sin.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…

Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Hebrews 9:28a so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many…

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What the Hell…Sheol/Hades, Part 2

Posted in Gospel, Hell with tags 1 Samuel, Abaddon, death, Deuteronomy, fire, grave, Habbakuk, Hades, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, Job, Luke, pit, Proverbs, Psalms, Revelation, sheol, sin on June 23, 2015 by paulthepoke

There is fire in Sheol. Deuteronomy 32:22a For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol…The rich man confirms this as fact in Luke 16:24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

Sheol is not the Lake of Fire. They are different. Sheol/Hades is not permanent. It is a temporary holding place. Revelation 20:13-14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Hades follows Death closely. One dies, then they go to the Pit/Sheol/Hades. Revelation 6:8a I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him…

We all have a set time and date with the grave. It does not matter what our bodies look like. One cannot diet, vitamin, or exercise their way from the Pit. It does not matter if you are rich or poor. One cannot buy their way out of Sheol.

Psalm 89:48 What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

Psalm 49:14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form shall be for Sheol to consume so that they have no habitation.

Death always wants more and more. It is never satisfied. Proverbs 30:16 Sheol, and the barren womb, earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.

Habakkuk 2:5 Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, so that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples.
There are consciousness and awareness of the inhabitants and Sheol itself. There are examples of this in Scripture in the Old Testament and the New Testament. While in the grave, King Samuel was contacted by a medium from Endor on behalf of King Saul 1 Samuel 28:11-15. The rich man Lazarus is clearly in misery, agony, and torment in Luke 16:19-31. Sheol itself was stimulated with the arrival of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:9 Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.

Job 26:6 Naked is Sheol before Him, and Abaddon has no covering. The meaning of Abaddon is “destruction”. Sin is naked before God. In the final analysis, there is no covering of sin apart from the cross work of Christ. God has always made provision for the sin of humanity. Apart from God, sin will be exposed, bare, and raw. Its path leads to destruction. Proverbs 15:11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, How much more the hearts of men!

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What the Hell…Sheol/Hades, Part 1

Posted in Hell with tags 1 Samuel, David, Ecclesiastes, God, grave, Hades, hell, Isaiah, Jesus, Job, Matthew 24, outer darkness, Proverbs, Psalms, sheol on June 14, 2015 by paulthepoke

1 Samuel 2:6 The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Per Strong’s Concordance, Sheol is the Old Testament designation for the abode of the dead. It means: underworld (place to which people descend at death); place of no return; grave; or the pit.

It is the unseen world. Sheol is the equivalent of the Greek Hades (word translated in the Septuagint, Greek Old Testament). Hades is a synonymous term used in the New Testament.

Per Strong’s Concordance, Hades means: Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead; later use of this word: the grave, death, hell.

Sheol is synonymous with the Pit. Proverbs 1:12: Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the Pit.

God is present in Sheol as noted by the Psalmist. Psalm 139:8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

Even though God is present in Sheol, there is no discussion of Him there. Psalm 6:5 For there is no mention of You in death; in Sheol who will give You thanks?

Despite His presence, God’s reliability and stability are absent in the grave. God’s truth and sureness are nowhere to be found. Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

Per David, God apparently does not respond or speak to those in the Pit. Psalm 28:1 To You, O LORD, I call; my rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.

The grave is a very quiet place. Psalm 115:17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence…

Sheol is a place of darkness, physically and mentally. One cannot clearly remember or think in the grave. There is an absence of sensory stimulation. There is no kindness or goodness, only shame and reproach.

Job 17:13 If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness…

Psalm 88:10-12 Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah. Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Jesus spoke of the outer darkness. Sounds like angst and despair. Matthew 25:30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When you are dead there is nothing to do. There is no work. There is no thinking. There is no pondering. There is no way to put information to work. To those of you who want to sit on your butt and do nothing, you will get your wish. Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

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Trend Update: Pestilence/Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), June 2015

Posted in Prophecy, Trend Update with tags camel urine, Halal, Jesus, Kosher, Luke 21, MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Pestilence, plague, Proverbs 12, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, trend update on June 10, 2015 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. –Jesus

The Greek word for plague is loimos. Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: pestilence, a pestilent fellow, pest, or plague. In the Greek, the word in the verse is plural. Jesus talks of a time when diseases will be in multiple places.

A disease that is getting a lot of attention in the news is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Per the Centers for Disease Control, MERS affects the respiratory system (lungs and breathing tubes). Most MERS patients developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. About 3-4 out of every 10 patients reported with MERS have died.

Health officials first reported the disease in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. Through retrospective investigations, health officials later identified that the first known cases of MERS occurred in Jordan in April 2012. So far, all cases of MERS have been linked to countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula.

http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/about/index.html

Currently (June 10, 2015), MERS has spread to South Korea and has killed 9. There are 108 confirmed cases and over 2,800 have been quarantined. Travel restrictions are being noted throughout eastern Asia.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/08/world/south-korea-mers-outbreak/

The virus has been traced back to the Middle East. As a public service healthcare announcement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended to humanity to stop drinking camel urine or raw camel milk. Food hygiene practices should be observed. Cook your camel meat. There are many elements of the human race throughout the world who swill camel urine.

Camel meat or camel urine are not kosher. But, eating camel meat and drinking camel urine are halal per Islam. Camel urine is believed to have medicinal purposes. The urine is also used as shampoo. And that is how this practice started.

Irony: the medicine (as some would see it) appears to be the cause or source of the disease.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3118178/WHO-health-officials-tell-people-don-t-drink-potentially-fatal-camel-urine-advice-avoid-deadly-MERS-virus.html

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

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Trend Update: Euphrates River, June 2015

Posted in Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Euphrates River, Iraq, ISIS, Ramadi, Revelation 16, Syria, Tigris River, Tribulation, Turkey on June 7, 2015 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.

The Euphrates River is in the news again. This time, ISIS is cutting off water to a town for military purposes. Water has been shut down north of Ramadi, Iraq.

Here is a direct quote from a CNN story. “They added that the level of water in the Euphrates was now low enough that the river could be walked across, making it easier for ISIS militants to cross and attack the pro-government towns of Husaybah and Khalidiyah as well as the large security forces base at Habbaniya.”

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/04/middleeast/iraq-isis-ramadi/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3110690/IS-reduces-water-supply-government-areas-Iraqs-Anbar.html

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/06/03/isis-shuts-gates-ramadi-dam-cuts-water-supply

Recent history of the Euphrates River indicates there are many possibilities that can lead to the river going dry. 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. In the first week of June 2014, the Turkish government decided to stop the flow of the Euphrates River. Turkey accomplished this by holding water behind the Ataturk Dam. Downstream from Turkey is Syria and Iraq.

In June 2014 with the capture of Mosul, Iraq, ISIS now manages the Mosul Dam. This dam manages the control of the Tigris River in Iraq.

ISIS effectively controls the water supplies of the nations of Syria and Iraq.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/06/11/trend-update-euphrates-riveregyptian-dictator-june-2014/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/06/26/trend-update-assyrian-empireeuphrates-river-june-2014/

The context of this verse in Revelation 16 is during the Tribulation. It is the sixth of seven bowl judgments. Many think the kings of the east are the Chinese and their military. When this occurs, the Tribulation will be near the end and Christ’s return will be imminent.

We are not in the Tribulation as of June 2015. There is no Temple. There is no antichrist. There is no peace treaty…

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