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Archive for August, 2015

God’s Handiwork, The Heavens

Posted in Creation, Prophecy with tags blood red moon, creation, Feast of Trumpets, Genesis 10, God, Heaven, Israel, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, moon, Psalm 19, signs, solar eclipse, stars, sun, Tabernacles, Yom Teruah on August 30, 2015 by paulthepoke

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world.

There is all kinds of talk in today’s world. “Blood moons, tetrads, solar eclipses, signs in the stars, Second Coming of Christ, Armageddon, economic chaos, rapture, resurrection…sigh…”

Does God really give us signs in 2015? If so, are the celestial events we are witnessing in today’s time really of God? Is there even a god(s)? Come on now, we live in a scientific and technological age. The Bible is just a book of little stories and fables…

God uses the heavens to communicate. We are reminded throughout the Bible. But, He made this crystal clear “In the beginning”…

Day Four of Creation Week

Genesis 1:14-16 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; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.

http://paulthepoke.com/2011/07/27/genesis-114-15-plan-and-purpose-prophetic-implications/

…let them be for signs and for seasons…

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 (definition provided by Strong’s Concordance).

…let them be for signs and for seasons…

The Hebrew word for “seasons” is mow`ed (singular); mow`edim (plural). It means: appointed place, appointed time, meeting; appointed time; sacred season, set feast, appointed season; appointed meeting; appointed sign or signal; tent of meeting (definition provided by Strong’s Concordance).

In western culture we think of seasons: spring, summer, winter, and fall. The Bible is a book of Hebrew culture. Their word for “season” has a different connotation.

The second reason given by God for the sun, moon, and stars is to signal an appointment in regards to place and time. This is God’s calendar and day planner.

God says He does not change. He stated He will use the heavens to communicate during creation (Genesis 1:14). He has stated He is unchanging in the Old Testament. Malachi 3:6a “For I, the LORD, do not change…” There is no change in the expression of His Son. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. God says He is immutable in the New Testament. James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

As a reminder, a solar eclipse will usher in the Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah on September 13, 2015. This is the beginning of the civil new year in Israel.

A Blood Red Super Moon is scheduled for Tabernacles, September 28, 2015. The best viewing in the world of the lunar event will be in Jerusalem, Israel.

These celestial events take place on God’s appointed holidays. So does God use the sun, moon, and stars to communicate in 2015? If so, what is He telling us?

…fade the Twilight music…

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Trend Update: Sanhedrin, September 2015

Posted in Gospel, Sanhedrin, Trend Update with tags Council, European Union, God, Hebrews, High Priest, Israel, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, King, Messiah, Obama, Pope Francis, Right Hand of Father, Sanhedrin, Secretary Kerry, Temple, United Nations on August 26, 2015 by paulthepoke

Matthew 26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

The Sanhedrin of Israel is back in the news, August 2015. The Sanhedrin reconvened in 2005 after a 1,600 year absence. They oversee legal matters and future construction of the pending third temple.

http://www.heisnear.com/Sanhedrin.html

The Greek word for Sanhedrin is sunedrion. It is frequently translated as “Council” in the New Testament (Strong’s Concordance).

Who is/was the Sanhedrin? They are/were a group of 71 members. The group was made up of members from the Pharisees and Sadducees back in the day. The Sanhedrin was lead by the High Priest in the past (Holman Bible Dictionary).

This is the same Sanhedrin who illegally arrested, tried, and convicted Jesus (Luke 22:66, Mark 14:55-56). They pressured Pilate for Jesus’ death on a cross (Mark 15:1-15).

In another sense, they are not the same Sanhedrin of Jesus’s time. They now have their own website.

http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php?title=The_Re-established_Jewish_Sanhedrin

On September 9, 2015, Pope Francis, President Obama and others are ordered by Israeli’s Sanhedrin to come before the Council. They are being charged with a poor policy toward Jerusalem. Below is a statement of the official charge.

The People Israel VS. 1. Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, the Vatican 2. President of the United States, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama 3. Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry, The White House, Washington, D.C. United States of America 4. The signatory nations to the Iran Nuclear Agreement; “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action”, (the US, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France and China) 5. The United Nations Security Council 6. UNESCO 7. The Supreme Court of the United States of America 8. The Human Rights Court in The Hague, Netherlands 9. The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands 10. The European Union Collectively and each individually stand accused of:

Conspiracy to conduct theft of the Land of Israel from the People of Israel

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/17443#.Vd6IKflVhBc

As of August 2015, there is no current High Priest in Jerusalem, Israel. There is no Temple. There is much debate. Who will appoint the High Priest? Will the High Priest be appointed by the Sanhedrin, the Messiah, or the King?

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/994923/jewish/How-Is-a-High-Priest-Selected.htm

But…there is a High Priest. His name is Jesus. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Hebrews 8:1-2 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

Jesus is the King. 1 Timothy 6:14b-15 …until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…

Jesus is the Messiah. John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

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Trend Update: Shemitah Years Ends, September 2015

Posted in Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Debt, Deuteronomy 15, Elul 29, Genesis 1:14, God, Hebrew calendar, Jonathan Cahn, Mystery of the Shemitah, Sabbatical year, Shemitah on August 23, 2015 by paulthepoke

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

Full disclosure: This post was written one week before recent stock market sell off for week ending 8/21/15.

“remission of debts…” In the original Hebrew text “of debts” is not present. “of debts” was added by the translators. Shemitah is the Hebrew word for remission. Shemitah as defined by Strong’s Concordance means: cancellation of debts, letting drop of exactions, (temporary) remitting, release (from debt).

Shemitah comes from the root word shamat.

We are approaching the end of a civil year per God’s calendar. This past year has been unique. It has been a Shemitah or Sabbatical year. It is the seventh year of a set of seven years. God sets a seventh year aside for the land to rest. He also has economic provisions for the remission, cancellation, and release of debt.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/10/26/sabbatical-yearshemitah-part-3/

The Hebrew civic new year started on Rosh Hashanah, Tishri 1, in the fall of 2014, specifically, at sundown on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 on our Gregorian calendar.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/08/20/trend-update-sabbaticalshemitah-year-august-2014/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/10/01/trend-update-sabbaticalshemitah-yearrecord-harvest-october-2014/

Elul, the last month of the Hebrew civic year, has begun as of the weekend of August 15, 2015 (Gregorian calendar).

The last day of the Hebrew civic year ends sunset Sunday, September 13, 2015. Elul 29 marks the end of the month and civic year for Israel. This will conclude a Shemitah year.

Incidentally, the end of the year is marked with a partial solar eclipse. 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 “sign” is owth. Per Strong’s Concordance owth means: a distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, or warning.

Jewish rabbis teach when the sun is in eclipse on God’s appointed holidays, it is a bad omen for the world (no Biblical support for this teaching).

…because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

So does God still take this seriously? Does recent history validate this seven year pattern of debt forgiveness and economic release? Let’s subtract by seven years at a time.

The greatest crash in stock market history took place on September 29, 2008. This event took place on the last day of a Shemitah year, Elul 29 on a Hebrew calendar.

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 took place during a Shemitah year. On September 17, 2001, the Dow Jones Index lost 684 points. This date was the last day of the Hebrew civic year, Elul 29, a Shemitah year.

The bond market crash of 1994 took place during a Shemitah year.

The Black Monday stock market crash of 1987 took place immediately after the Shemitah year of rest.

The Mystery of the Shemitah, Jonathan Cahn.

Let me be clear. I am not saying something is going to happen from sunset September 13 through sunset September 14, 2015. God is not obligated to do anything. God is in control and has His time table. The pattern of recent history has become more precise and focal to Elul 29 on a Shemitah year.

The point of the Shemitah is to turn and trust in God. He will provide.

Make what you want of recent economic history in Shemitah years. Make your own informed decision. Maybe it is coincidence or chance…but it does follow God’s law and economic pattern.

The world is swimming in trillions (1,000,000,000,000) of dollars of debt. Some estimates are upwards of $223,000,000,000,000.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/05/11/number-of-the-week-total-world-debt-load-at-313-of-gdp/

Lookout below IF God has His release of debt. The timing is right for mid-September, 2015.

…because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

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Trend Update: God’s Fall Appointments, September 2015

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Appointments, Bible, blood red moon, Day of Atonement, Day of Blowing, Fall Feasts, Feast, Feast of Booths, Feast of Trumpets, Festival, God, Hidden Day, Jesus Christ, Law, Leviticus 23, Moedim, new moon, Rosh Hashanah, shofar, solar eclipse, Sukkot, Tabernacles, Tishri, Wedding of Messiah, Yom Kippur, Yom Teruah on August 19, 2015 by paulthepoke

The God appointed fall holidays are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Below is a brief 10 minute video that provides a framework for God’s fall appointed holidays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_sHxtUklR4

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.

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Teshuvah 2015

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags 40 days 40 nights, Blood Moon, Deuteronomy 15, Elul, Feast of Trumpets, God's Fall Appointed Holidays, repent, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbatical year, Shemitah, shofar, solar eclipse, succot, Tabernacles, Teshuvah, Yom Kippur, Yom Teruah on August 16, 2015 by paulthepoke

The month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. The point of the season is to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. It is a time to turn toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. It is a time of inward reflection and sincere self-assessment. The goal is a change in lifestyle away from sin to obedience in God’s word. The 40 day period of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

Elul 1 marks the beginning of Teshuvah. In a Gregorian calendar in the year 2015, this would be August 15 or 16 depending on when the new moon is confirmed. 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 after the morning service except Shabbat or the Sabbath (Saturday for us in western culture) and the last day of month of Elul.

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… 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. The month is mentioned one time in the Bible. 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 .

This year, 2015, the season of Teshuvah is unique and exceptional.

The end of the month of Elul marks the end of a sabbatical or shemitah year. On a western Gregorian calendar, that is Sunday, September 13, 2015. Historically, God releases debt on the last year of a seven year cycle. Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed. Historically, this is not a good omen for economic markets.

A solar eclipse is also scheduled on Sunday, September 13, 2015. As God sees it, the solar eclipse is a time marker (Genesis 1:14, day four of the creation week). The Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah (take your pick of names) takes place when the new moon is observed. This begins a new civic year.

A lunar eclipse or a blood red moon is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2015 on “The Feast” or Tabernacles (aka as Succot). The lunar eclipse will be a Super Moon and appear larger because it is closer to the Earth. The best view of the eclipse will take place in Jerusalem, Israel.

Per Jewish tradition, these celestial events take on additional significance when they occur on God’s Appointed Holidays.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/01/elul-blow-the-horn/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/08/24/elul-40-days-and-40-nights-teshuva/

If history is any indicator, fasten your seat belts. The land completes its rest on September 13, 2015. God is going back into action. Planet Earth is likely to get interesting.

Time will tell…

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Trend Update: Russia (Magog)/Israel, Ezekiel 38-39, August 2015

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Persia/Elam/Iran, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Abrahamic Covenant, Elam, Ezekiel 38-39, General Soleimani, Genesis 10, Genesis 12, Iran, Iran Nuclear Weapons Deal, Israel, Magog, Persia, Russia, UN Sanctions, United Nations, Vladimir Putin on August 12, 2015 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him…”

Magog was a son of Japheth. Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. Japheth was the son of Noah. The sons of Japheth were born after the flood (Genesis 10:1).

The Bible and ancient historians point to the fact the land of Magog is modern day Russia. See attached post.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/01/07/trend-update-russia-magogisrael-ezekiel-38-39-january-2015/

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet…

Russia will be joined by several countries with their future invasion of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). Chief among those countries is Persia. This is modern day Iran. The country was known as Persia until the name change in the 20^th century.

The Hebrew name for Persia is Parac. Per Strong’s Concordance, it is defined as the following: pure or splendid.

The empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south.

Persia proper was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media, on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania.

Biblical Persia and Elam make up modern day (August 2015) Iran.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/01/28/trend-update-iran-elam-and-israel-january-2015/

This ancient prophecy from 2,500 years ago appears to be trending into shape. With the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the United Nations, things are happening quickly.

Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani recently (August 2015) took a trip to Moscow to visit with senior Russian leaders including Vladimir Putin. General Soleimani was in violation of UN sanctions prohibiting him from leaving Iran. It appears military arms shipments from Russia to Iran were discussed.

http://nypost.com/2015/08/06/irans-terrorist-general-violated-un-travel-ban-with-visit-to-russia/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/08/iran-confirms-trip-by-quds-force-commander-to-moscow-to-discuss-arms-shipments/

Also in August 2015, two Russian war ships docked in an Iranian port to prepare for war training. Russia and Iran have begun construction on multiple nuclear power plants. Iran has also purchased advanced missile defense systems.

“The Russian warship visit combined with North Korea scoping out war game sites in Russia suggest a new Axis of Evil is taking shape with Russia the lynchpin between Iran and North Korea,” Michael Rubin, former Pentagon adviser.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russian-warships-dock-in-iran-for-war-training/

Genesis 12:3a And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse…

This still applies.

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Pride…I Know Best

Posted in Uncategorized with tags Bible, Ezekiel 28, God, Isaiah 14, Pride, Proverbs 14, Proverbs 16, Ron Burgundy, satan on August 9, 2015 by paulthepoke

Pride is the intention of the heart that is in contrast to the will of God.

As men, we like to put things together. We like to build, assemble, fix stuff, do it yourself projects, and in general tinker. The challenge lies in that can we complete the task correctly without reading the directions! Do we have the skill and problem solving ability to do it on our own? Who needs directions, we are men! This is the attitude of self-reliance, individualism. We jump in, we separate the parts. We analyze what goes where. One hour later, the project is not completed. We are frustrated, irritated, and crabby. We might say and do things we will later regret. Then we remember. If all else fails, read the directions. If we would have set aside our pride and arrogance from the beginning, we might not have needlessly suffered the personal frustration. And we may have spared someone else from our short comings. It is this same pride that prevents us from turning to God’s word and His will for us. Man often thinks that his way is better than God’s way. He is the creator of the universe. He gave us the handbook for life’s trials in the Bible. He programmed us and He knows what is best for us. The issue is, will we set aside our pride and submit to God’s will?

In Scripture, there are many words that are synonymous with pride. Some of these include arrogance, haughtiness, grandeur, loftiness, pomp, strut, and swelling. This attitude is not one that God cares for.

Proverbs 16:5, Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Satan’s pride and mental attitude cost him his appointed position by God in Ezekiel 28:17. He was proud because of his beauty. God knew Satan’s attitude in Isaiah 14:13-14, Satan’s five “I will” statements. Satan wanted to be like God. He wanted to do it his way and not God’s way. Satan believed he could accomplish great things outside of the will of God. This attitude, ultimately, does not work out well for Satan. He had it all, a position of power, perfection, wealth, and wisdom. Yet, his pride caused him to fall.

It is our nature to turn away from God and try to do it ourselves. In general, we do not want any help.

Isaiah 53:6, All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. Without God’s direction, we are without hope. Doing things our way, is not effective.

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/07/29/ezekiel-2812-19-pride-original-sin/

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/08/05/results-of-pride/

Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

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Trend Update: Temple Red Heifer, August 2015

Posted in Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags ashes, Chaim Richman, God, Halachic Law, Israel, jerusalem, Leviticus 22, Moses, Numbers 19, Red Heifer, Temple, Temple Institute, Yoke on August 2, 2015 by paulthepoke

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHnjOiagh-g

The Temple Institute is committed to raising a red heifer. Not just one, but raise a herd of red heifers. I guess it is time to throw numbers at the issue instead of waiting for one to be born and finding it. The Temple Institute has joined forces with a cattle rancher in Israel. They are going to apply the best of breeding techniques, genetics, and embryology. They are pursuing a red heifer.

The Temple Institute will keep with Halachic Law (laws in accordance with Biblical Scripture). Where the Muslims have Sharia Law, the Jews have Halachic Law.

The ashes from the sacrifice of the red heifer are necessary for purification prior to the building of the Temple.

Let’s look at the qualifications of the red heifer per the Bible in Numbers 19:1-2.

Interpretation of verses provided by the Temple Institute. This is the criteria used for the identification of the red heifer.

…and take a heifer… Since the verse instructs us to take a heifer, we do not purchase a calf and wait for it to grow older while in our custody; “and take a heifer” means that the act of acquisition has to take place while the animal is a heifer. However, if a red calf is available, a price can be set with its owner, and the transaction can be concluded, but we do not take possession until it reaches the proper age as mandated by the Bible.

A heifer by definition is a female cow.

…an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect…This means that the presence of as few as two hairs of any other color will render it invalid. Even its hooves must be red. It must also be totally free from any physical blemish or defect, whether internal or external. A list of blemishes that would disqualify the animal for sacrifice are noted in Leviticus 22.

…on which a yoke has never been placed. The red heifer must have never been used to perform any physical labor. This would include riding, or even leaning on her. But if a yoke were placed upon her even once, even if she were not used to plow – this would be enough to render the heifer unfit for use.

Three to four years of age is an oral tradition that has been passed down through the generations.

https://www.templeinstitute.org/red_heifer/red_heifer_requirements.htm

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/07/02/trend-update-temple-red-heifer-july-2014/

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