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Trend Update: Temple of Bel, March 2016

Posted in Trend Update with tags 1 Kings 18, Baal, Beelzebub, Bel, Elijah, london, Mount Carmel, New York City, Palmyra Syria, Time Square, Trafalgar Square, World Heritage Week, Yahweh on March 30, 2016 by paulthepoke

1 Kings 18:40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

The verse above is the result of the showdown between Yahweh and Baal on Mount Carmel. All of the drama of the Baal worshipers did not matter. 1 Kings 18:28 So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. Elijah the prophet verses 450 prophets of Baal…no match.

The ancient god of Bel is back in the news. This is the same Bel of the Bible.

Bel, a serpent dragon, was the chief god of the Babylonians. This the same Bel Daniel refused to worship in Babylon.

Bel is also known as Baal. Baal means “lord” or “master”.

Israel came under judgment for sacrificing their sons to Baal in Jeremiah 19:5 and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, a thing which I never commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter My mind…

Another name for Bel is Beelzebub. This is the name given to Satan in Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons.” Beelzebub is also known as the lord of the flies or the dung god.

www.biblehub.com

The Temple of Bel was bulldozed by ISIS in Palmyra, Syria in 2015. Palmyra, the city of Palms, is 130 miles northeast of Damascus, Syria. The temple was founded in 32 AD. It was the center of religious life in Palmyra.

Photo: Saundra Auger/Reuters

Copies of the 50 foot arch are to be rebuilt in Trafalgar Square in London and Times Square in New York City. It is a “gesture of defiance” to ISIS.

This is all set to take place in April 2016 during World Heritage Week.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/28/palmyra-temple-bel-arch-survived-isis-syria-london-new-york?CMP=twt_b-gdnnews

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/opinion/sunday/life-among-the-ruins.html?_r=5

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NrXlCSttXZtZ6QYICUkFA

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Resurrection…What’s the Point?

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags 1 corinthians 15, apologetics, blood, cross, death, Easter, faith, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Romans 6, sin on March 27, 2016 by paulthepoke

1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

The Greek word for “resurrection” is anastasis. It means: raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat); a rising from the dead; that of Christ; that of all men at the end of this present age. –Strong’s Concordance

The resurrection of Jesus is the power of God. The resurrection validates and authenticates Christ’s death on the cross which is the payment for sin.

So what if Jesus was not raised from the dead? What’s the big deal about the resurrection? Who cares? Scripture states twice in the below verses, we are wasting our time with Christianity and the Bible if the resurrection is not true. Without the resurrection, we physically die and our bodies are eternally buried. We are dirt and worm food. Job 21:26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them. Our bodies become the byproduct of worm digestion…

1 Corinthians 15:14b …your faith is also in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Without Jesus’ resurrection, our faith is described as “vain” and “worthless”.

The Greek word for “vain” is kenos. It means: empty, devoid of truth; contains nothing; empty handed; without a gift; fruitless; no purpose.

The Greek word for “worthless” is mataios. It means: devoid of force, truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose.

This is our faith without the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus’ resurrection, there is no hope for our bodies. We are dead and buried, a corrupt, sinful mess.

If we are not resurrected in the future, then Christ’s resurrection did not occur. That’s the security and truth of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Adam introduced sin to humanity. The result of sin was bodily death. Genesis 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.

As believers in Christ, our soul and spirit are separated from the body at the point of physical death.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

1 Corinthians 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 25:8.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? –Hosea 13:14

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for “victory” is nikos. This is the word for the brand name Nike. Jesus’ resurrection is the power over death and sin. Christ is without sin (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5). He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17, Romans 10:4). He is the victory.

The promise of the resurrection is glorification, the reconnection of our body, soul, and spirit.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/05/11/resurrection-witnesses/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/04/26/resurrection-for-all-part-2/

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/04/05/resurrection/

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Trend Update: Sanhedrin, March 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Sanhedrin, Trend Update with tags Exodus 12, grain offering, jerusalem, no one knows the day or hour, Rosh Chodesh, Sanhedrin, Temple, two witnesses on March 23, 2016 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.

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

Photo: Sanhedrin

The Biblical or Religious New Year begins at the moment of sunset at Jerusalem, on the evening of the first potentially visible crescent moon (Rosh Chodesh) beginning Day 1 of Month 1. The spring equinox is the demarcation point governing the solar cycle. A Biblical New Year can begin before or after the spring equinox.

http://paulthepoke.com/2016/03/06/creation-of-time-the-calendar/

The Sanhedrin of Israel is back in the news, March 2016. 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

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

On March 10, 2016, a Biblical commandment that hasn’t been seen in 2,000 years was fulfilled. In the Cardo neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem, two witnesses stood before the Sanhedrin and gave testimony that established the beginning of the new month.

The point of the event is to correct the Hebrew calendar. There are contradictions between Hillel II’s calculations and calendar verses the astronomical reality of the sun, moon, and stars. The Sanhedrin is aware of the differences and is working to correct the issue.

Prior to declaring the new moon and new month, a Temple service was completed. Animal sacrifice was not included. But, the priests were in garments. A grain offering was burnt on the altar. Instruments and vessels were provided by the Temple Institute.
Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/63610/sanhedrin-performs-rare-biblical-commandment-not-seen-2000-years-jewish-world/#PmsydWvh71BqQ9AJ.99

The Sanhedrin is slow to the party. There are people in Israel who have been identifying the new moon or Rosh Chodesh. How is a new moon or a new month determined? Jews have utilized the following procedure every month for thousands of years. It is called Rosh Chodesh which means “head of the month”. At the end of a lunar cycle, the moon is dark and is not seen for 2-3 days. So, the new moon could be identified during this 2-3 day period …of that day or hour no one knows…By definition, a new moon is proclaimed when the first little sliver emerges from a darkened moon. It is a tiny crescent that is noted briefly at sunset on the western horizon. The month begins at the sighting of the new moon. Two witnesses have to confirm the sighting. Upon agreement, the two witnesses report to the high priest. When the new moon is confirmed, the trumpet (shofar/ram’s horn) is blown.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/28/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-3/

There are people who are trained witnesses to identify the new moon. They are outside of Jerusalem when the moon goes dark and they are looking for the tiny sliver to emerge. If you are interested, see this website.

http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

Humanity has no idea what time it is…of that day or hour no one knows…

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Jesus Christ, the Mercy Seat

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags Ark of the Covenant, atonement, blood, Exodus 25, God, Hebrews 9, High Priest, Israel, Jesus Christ, John 20, Leviticus 16, Mercy Seat, propitiation, Romans 3, sin, substitution on March 20, 2016 by paulthepoke

Exodus 25:17 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

ark (2)

The mercy seat is the cover or lid for the Ark of the Covenant.

The Hebrew word for “mercy seat” is kapporeth. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: mercy seat, place of atonement; the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people; on the lid were two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together.

The Hebrew word kapporeth comes from kopher (means propitiatory or substitution).

The mercy seat or the lid of the Ark is a substitution for the covering of sin.

Leviticus 16:15b-16 and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities.

For God, the shedding of innocent blood on the mercy seat is a satisfactory substitution for sin. Only the High Priest can make the sacrifice in the presence of God.

Jesus is our High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Christ’s blood is the fulfillment of the substitution. His shed blood satisfies the just nature of God. This is the only appeasement. There has to be a payment for all sin. 1 John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Jesus Christ is the mercy seat. This gift is received only by faith. Nothing you can do.

Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Leviticus 16:17 When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel.

These directions were given to Moses approximately 1,500 years before Christ. They were carried out annually by the earthly high priest of Israel as directed in an earthly tabernacle. Jesus alone is the One who makes atonement in the heavenly Tabernacle before God.

Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

John 20:11-12 But Mary (Magdelene) was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

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Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…

Posted in Gospel with tags blood, cross, David Cameron, Easter, First Fruits, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Romans 1:16 on March 16, 2016 by paulthepoke

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

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Preview: God’s Spring Appointed Holidays

Posted in Prophecy, Spring Feasts with tags Appointments, Chag haMatazt, Exodus 12, First Fruits, God, Israel, Jesus Christ, Leviticus 23, Nisan, Passover, Pesach, Reshit Katzir, Resurrection, Unleavened Bread on March 13, 2016 by paulthepoke

There are seven God appointed holidays communicated through the Old Testament Law. The first three spring holidays were fulfilled to the appointed holiday by Jesus Himself. The names of the feasts are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits.

The first of God’s holidays is Passover or Pesach in the Hebrew. The holiday begins on the 14^th day of the Hebrew month Nisan (March or April on a Gregorian calendar). There is a play on words in the original Hebrew. A “pesach” is an unblemished lamb which was required for the sacrifice. After the “pesach” was sacrificed, the blood was to be smeared on the wooden posts of the house. When God saw the blood on the door posts, He passed over or “pasach” and the house was spared judgment.

The original directions for the Passover were given to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. The statute and happenings are noted in Exodus 12. God defines the purpose of the holiday to Israel. Exodus 12:26-27a “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’”

The second of God’s holidays is Unleavened Bread or Chag haMatazt in the Hebrew. The holiday begins on the 15^th of Nisan and runs for seven days.

The directions of Unleavened Bread are noted in Exodus 12:15-20. The focus of the week is to live a life without leaven, the symbol for sin. Leaven is not to be in the house. Leaven products are not to be consumed. Bread without yeast, matzah, is to be eaten.

The third of God’s holidays is First Fruits or Reshit Katzir in the Hebrew. The one day holiday begins on the day after the Sabbath or Sunday on our calendar.

The directions for First Fruits are noted in Leviticus 23:9-14. The priest is to make a barley offering of the first portion of the harvest to the Lord. The priest intervenes of behalf of the people. The reality of the holiday for the people of Israel is this. The people bring their grain sheaf to the priest. They are to sacrifice a lamb without blemish. The offering is also to be presented with bread and wine.

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Trend Update: Nineveh/Mosul Dam, March 2016

Posted in Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Assyrian Empire, Genesis 8, Iraq, ISIS, jonah, Mosul Dam, Nimrod, Nineveh, Tigris River on March 10, 2016 by paulthepoke

Genesis 10:8-12 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.” The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

This is the city planning resume of Nimrod. He built cities along the Tigris River over 4,000 years ago. The city furthest south was Babylon (30 miles south of Baghdad). The city furthest north was Nineveh or modern day Mosul, Iraq (220 miles north of Baghdad). All of this could be destroyed in less than a week if the Mosul Dam breaks.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/03/11/trend-update-assyrian-empirenimrod-march-2015/

Nineveh is the city and people in focus in the Book of Jonah. Nineveh was once the largest city in the known world. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn them of pending judgment. The Assyrian people ultimately listened to Jonah and changed their attitude and actions towards God and others.

The modern day region maintains it ties to the past. Mosul is located in the province of Ninevah (ABC News). Nineveh is located in modern day Mosul, Iraq. ISIS destroyed the tomb of Jonah the prophet in Mosul.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/07/16/trend-update-assyrian-empireninevehjonah-july-2014/

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/01/14/trend-update-assyrian-empireninevehjonah-january-2015/

The Mosul Dam was built by Saddam Hussein in 1986 on soluble gypsum. Translation, the dam is built on a shifting, poor foundation. The Mosul dam is located 35 miles north of Mosul, Iraq. ISIS previously managed to take control of the Mosul Dam in June 2014. Currently, the Mosul Dam is managed by the Kurdish peshmerga. The issue is ISIS took the maintenance equipment and supplies. And the Kurds are busy fighting back ISIS to maintain control of the dam. As of March 2016, the dam is in serious trouble.

This dam manages the Tigris River in Iraq. An estimated 45-70 foot wall of water could flood the river valley if the dam breaks. This could potentially kill up to 150 million people and displace millions more per estimates.

The city of Mosul could be underwater within four hours of a dam break. Within 77 hours, Baghdad could be targeted.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2016/mar/10/the-mosul-dam-is-crumbling-if-it-bursts-it-would-be-a-disaster-on-a-biblical-scale

Archaeological and cultural sites along the Tigris River could be flushed and destroyed.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/02/29/mosul-dam-breach-karadsheh-lklv.cnn

Fear not, the Iraqi government has a plan…

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Creation of Time: The Calendar

Posted in Creation with tags calendar, creation, Feasts of the Lord, Genesis 1, God, Gregorian calendar, Julian calendar, Moedim, moon, Rosh Chodesh, seasons, stars, sun, Unleavened Bread on March 6, 2016 by paulthepoke

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…

There are multiple purposes for these lights and they are stated clearly. One, the lights are to separate day and night. Two, they are signs. Three, they are time markers (seasons, holidays, appointments, days, and years).

…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).

The Jewish calendar is based on three astronomical phenomena. These three are independent of each other.

1) Rotation of the Earth about its axis (a day):

2) Revolution of the moon about the Earth (a month): The average time for the moon to revolve around the Earth is 29.5 days. A pure lunar calendar has a minimum of 354 days in a year.

3) Revolution of the Earth about the sun (a year): The Earth revolves around the sun in about 365¼ days. A pure solar calendar has 12.4 lunar months.

The Jewish calendar coordinates all three of these astronomical phenomena. It is based on moon cycles instead of sun cycles. “Leap months” are added to sync up with sun cycles. Prior to the 4^th century, the calendar was determined by observation. The calendar has been calculated mathematically since 4th century. Years are numbered from creation.

A Hebrew Year always contains 12 Hebrew months in a regular year or 13 Hebrew months in a leap year.

http://www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Calendar/calendar.html

The context of Exodus 12:2 is God giving Moses and Aaron directions prior to the first Passover and eventual exodus from Egypt. This is how and when God determined His New Year.

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

The Biblical or Religious New Year begins at the moment of sunset at Jerusalem, on the evening of the first potentially visible crescent moon (Rosh Chodesh) beginning Day 1 of Month 1. The spring equinox is the demarcation point governing the solar cycle. A Biblical New Year can begin before or after the spring equinox.

Exodus 13:10 Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance (Unleavened Bread) at its appointed time from year to year. The first day of Unleavened Bread never occurs before the spring equinox. The rule of the equinox always places Day 15 (Feast of Unleavened Bread) of Month 1 on or after the spring equinox.

The first day of Unleavened Bread on Day 15 of Month 1 is the critical day for calculating a Hebrew Year. This ensures all three festivals take place within a single year as The LORD (Yahweh) specified.

Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

http://www.torahcalendar.com/ORBITS.asp?HebrewDay=20&HebrewMonth=12&Year=2015

So when is the Biblical New Year? This year of 2016, there is disagreement.

Traditional Hebcal and secular thought has Nisan 1 occurring on sunset, Friday, April 8, 2016 (Gregorian).

The Hebrew Creation calendar has Nisan 1 occurring on sunset, Friday, March 10, 2016 (Gregorian).

Man cannot follow God’s directions when it comes to marking time. Our western Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar. Discrepancy and confusion reigns.

What time is it?

Sun, moon, stars, heavenlies…God’s time piece.

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Trend Update: Russia (Magog)/ Armenia (Meshech)/Israel, Ezekiel 38-39, March 2016

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Armenia, Ezekiel 38-39, Huffington Post, Israel, Magog, Meshech, Russia, Washington Post on March 2, 2016 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:1-3 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

armenia

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/

Meshech means “drawing out, drawn out by force”; a people on the borders of Colchis (the land area east of the Black Sea). Armenia is effectively modern day eastern Turkey. Today (March 2016), the region of Meshech is modern day Turkey, Armenia, Russia, and Georgia.

Modern day Armenia and Russia continue to build their political and military alliance. The two countries have signed an air force defense agreement. Russia is using Armenia as a potential staging area. One base is an army base. A second base is an air base. Both bases are stationed close to the Turkey border.

Armenia has purchased over $1 billion in arms from Russia. A list of weapons includes: multiple-launch rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, handheld antiaircraft missiles, radar-jamming systems, armored personnel carriers, sniper rifles, tank upgrades, fighter planes, helicopters, and drones.

The information above comes from the two sources noted below. The two sources are hardly considered to be hawkish. They are the left leaning, liberal-biased Washington Post and Huffington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-russia-armenia-alliance-is-threatening-turkey-a-critical-us-ally/2016/02/26/18289900-da5f-11e5-8210-f0bd8de915f6_story.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/armine-sahakyan/russias-staging-bases-in_b_9339046.html

At some point in the future, Russia and its coalition are prophesied to invade Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). If this is the time leading up to Russian invasion of Israel, I trust Russia and Turkey will kiss and make up. Maybe Russia invades Turkey and takes possession of part or all of their land. At any rate, the Bible says the invasion will come from these geographic areas.

Make no mistake. This is another domino in place. And the trend is intact and gaining strength.