Archive for March, 2017

Trend Update: Chemical Weapons in Syria; Battle for Euphrates Dam Intensifies, March 2017

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 30, 2017 by paulthepoke

Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, it cannot be calmed.

Hamath: The name means “fortress”. In the times of Jeremiah, Hamath was a city in valley of the Orontes River. Hamath was the capital of the northern kingdom of ancient Syria. Today, this is the city known as Hama, Syria.

Hama, Syria is prophetically significant. Roughly 2,600 years ago the prophet Jeremiah wrote about the eventual destruction of Damascus in Jeremiah 49. Before Damascus, trouble would start in northern Syria from Arpad. Arpad is essentially modern day Aleppo, Syria. The destruction would move south to Hamath or Hama, Syria. Finally, Damascus would see bloodshed and war before its destruction. In March 2017, all three of these cities in modern day Syria are hot spots of military conflict.

See Isaiah 17 as well for the Burden of Damascus.

March 30, 2017: The Anadolu Agency out of Turkey is reporting of chlorine gas used as a chemical weapon in Hama, Syria. The Assad regime of Syria is being accused of using chlorine on civilians. Approximately 100 civilians have been affected.

“Local residents are showing symptoms of chlorine gas exposure, including vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision and shortness of breath,” Mohamed Elwan, Hama doctor.

The Assad regime is suspected of using chlorine gas in Al-Qaboun district northeast of Damascus.

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syrian-regime-strikes-targets-in-hama-with-chlorine-gas/784284

“The bombardment had a substance that caused intense irritation, heavy foaming from the mouth, and constricting pupils. A chemical attack hit the same area on Saturday, killing an orthopedic doctor,” Abdallah Darwish, Health Authority Hama Province.

The Assad regime in Syria has continually denied the use of chemical weapons and chlorine gas.

“The army has not, will not, and does not need to use these weapons,” unnamed Syrian spokesman.

Military airstrikes in the region are increasing. Russian bombing runs are nonstop per witnesses on the ground.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-hama-idUSKBN1711O9

 

Escalation in violence is noted across the country including the Euphrates or Tabqa Dam. Fighting continues on the Tabqa Dam between ISIS and US backed Kurds. ISIS controls the southern part of the dam and the Kurds along with embedded US Marines holds the northern part of the dam.

Russia and ISIS are accusing the United States of trying to destroy the Euphrates Dam. The United States backed Kurds claim ISIS is bombing the dam. One thing is clear. The Tabqa Dam has taken some bombing. The control room of the dam has been destroyed. Maintenance work on the dam is required to repair failing flood gates.

“Because the dam has been out of service for three straight days, the technical equipment in the lower levels of the dam is under water. This rise in the level of the reservoir means that one of the spillways must be opened to drain the water so it doesn’t build up, which would pose a growing threat to the dam.” A nameless technician.

The United States says the dam has not been structurally damaged…

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/31694/19/

http://pulse.ng/world/in-syria-engineers-set-to-to-enter-is-held-parts-of-tabqa-dam-id6445175.html

The United Nations estimates one half of Syria’s 22 million people have been displaced. The UN estimates 5 million refugees have left the country. The situation is not getting better in Syria.

Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags , , on March 30, 2017 by paulthepoke

pb bread

Do not brag or boast, but let light shine upon the good in yourself. For the good in everyone is a gift of God. Shine so bright that no darkness is seen in you. Let others see the good works of God in you.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

Have a bright day my friends!!!

Trend Update: Sanhedrin Recognizes Calendar Error, Happy New Year???

Posted in Sanhedrin, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , on March 29, 2017 by paulthepoke

Exodus 12:1-2 Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you…”

Nisan 1, 5777 or March 29, 2017: The Sanhedrin has recognized the Hebrew calendar system is inaccurate.  The Sanhedrin reconvened in 2005 after a 1,600 year absence. They oversee legal matters and future construction of the pending third temple.

The Sanhedrin is headed to the Mount of Olives to determine if the New Moon is visible. If so, a new month and a new year can be declared. There is recognition the calendar could be off by a couple of days. Practically, the holiday celebrations could be observed on the wrong day as ordained by God’s Law.

“Even though the calendar needs to be adjusted, unity is of the utmost importance. Jews are required to adhere to the calendar accepted by the entire nation. Until a formal Sanhedrin is accepted by the nation, Jews must use the established calendar and observe the holidays on the days mandated by rabbinic authorities,” Rabbi Hillel Weiss, Sanhedrin Spokesman.

https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/85817/passover-celebrated-wrong-night-sanhedrins-new-moon-witness-fix/#uSvuvbWiSBrOuYWp.99

 

The spring month of Nisan is the beginning of the religious or spiritual year in a Hebrew calendar. The beginning of the civil year is the seventh month of Tishri in the fall. These are the two calendars at work in the Hebrew culture.

The Lord God says the New Year begins in the spring in Nisan.

How is a new moon or a new month determined? In this particular case, we are talking about the New Year. God operates on a lunar calendar. 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.

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 4th 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.

https://paulthepoke.com/?s=rosh+chodesh

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

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Calendar/calen

 

The Hebraic Roots movement in Israel also identified the new moon north of Jerusalem. There is agreement on the identification of the new moon. I doubt the Sanhedrin will recognize their efforts. After all, they believe in Yeshua or Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

http://whenisthenewmoon.com/

Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags , , on March 28, 2017 by paulthepoke

pb bread

Control is an ugly weapon. A person will use it to make you believe that nobody will love you & care about you like they do. Then they will use it to break you down to make you believe you can’t exist without them. They need you to depend on them. Truth is, they are weak & do not know how to love. Do not allow anyone to control you. Stop thinking you can change them, you can’t. Know your worth…

Have a worthy Wednesday my friends!!!

Titus 3:10-11 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

Trend Update: Tabqa/Euphrates Dam Near Collapse??? March 2017

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 27, 2017 by paulthepoke

The Tabqa Dam is also known as the Euphrates Dam. It is an earthen dam 25 miles west of Raqqa, Syria. Raqqa is the proclaimed capital of ISIS. Lake Assad was created when the Euphrates Dam was constructed. The dam provides electricity and water resources to the region. -Wikipedia

March 26, 2017: There are conflicting reports about the status of the Tabqa or Euphrates Dam. ISIS is stating the dam is on the verge of collapse. Water is reportedly rising in Lake Assad due to dam malfunction. ISIS is stating the United States is bombing near the dam. Bombing raids have weakened the Euphrates Dam per ISIS. The United States is denying the claim. News sources have been unable to validate the ISIS claims.

People in Tabqa and Raqqa, Syria are heeding the warning. Thousands of people are fleeing the cities down river of the Tabqa Dam.

At this time, it is not clear who is in control of the Euphrates Dam.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39399803

 

This is clear. The Tabqa Military Base and Airport are under the control of Kurdish forces. This has occurred within the last day (March 26, 2017). The Tabqa Military Base is located 3-5 miles south of the Euphrates Dam. The Kurdish forces have been supported by the United States. The United States has provided air support and special forces.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-kurdish-forces-liberate-tabqa-airbase-raqqa-province/

Please enjoy the celebration dance provided by Kurdish forces.

https://twitter.com/TheDaneChris/status/846078232986312705

 

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.

Scripture tells us towards the end of the great tribulation the Euphrates River will go dry. This is the last series of bowl judgments. It does not specifically say where on the Euphrates. It would stand to reason it would be south of this location.

Presumably the kings of the east would be China but that is speculation based on Revelation 9:16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

Currently, there is only one country on earth that fits this army size…China.

The context of Revelation 9 and Revelation 16 have these two items in common, the Euphrates River and a massive army.

As for now, we are not in the tribulation. But the Euphrates River is in the world’s news and trending…

Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags , on March 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

pb bread

Jealousy, envy, & selfishness are of the same family that poison your relationships & steal your joy. Don’t allow these to consume you. Don’t allow those that show these to control your life. Always be happy for others & keep your circle full of those that are genuinely happy for you. This life isn’t a competition, want good for everyone.

James 3:16 For where jealousy & selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder & every vile practice.

Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Have a selfless week my friends!!!

Revelation: Thyatira’s Jezebel

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel…

Jezebel…Her name means chaste or unexalted.

This may have been a woman locally with the name Jezebel or it is a symbolic reference to the wife of King Ahab.

Jezebel the queen and wife of King Ahab of Israel was not a nice lady. King Ahab was not a good king and she was not a good influence.

1 Kings 21:25 Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.

Jezebel was from Sidon. She was a Phoenician. This would be modern day Lebanon north of Israel. She worshipped Baal and was an idolatrous woman.

1 Kings 16:31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.

Jezebel surrounded herself with prophets of false gods.

1 Kings 18:19 Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.

While she loved the false prophets, she was hostile to God’s prophets. She promised to kill Elijah.

1 Kings 18:13 Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid a hundred prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 

1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

Jezebel had Naboth falsely accused and stoned. Naboth was the owner of a winery that King Ahab wanted. King Ahab offered to buy the winery and Naboth refused to sell. So Jezebel forged a letter in the name of king. She had two men bear false witness Naboth. As a result, Naboth was executed. Ahab got his winery. See 1 Kings 21.

Evil was allowed to run its course and eventually Jezebel got hers. Jezebel’s death was prophecy fulfilled. Where Jezebel colluded with two men to lie about a decent man, Scripture bears witness to her promised death two times.

1 Kings 21:23 Of Jezebel also has the Lord spoken, saying, “The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.”

2 Kings 9:10 “The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.”  Then he opened the door and fled.

Jezebel could not manipulate her way out of death.

2 Kings 9:30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out the window.

Her end was a violent death without burial as prophesied.

2 Kings 9:33  He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot.

But there would be no burial for Jezebel…

2 Kings 9:35 They went to bury her, but they found nothing more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 

And as a reminder…

2 Kings 9:36-37 Therefore they returned and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field in the property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.” ‘ ”

Trend Update: Fighting in Damascus & Hama Continues/Struggle Over Euphrates River, March 2017

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2017 by paulthepoke

Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, it cannot be calmed.

Hamath: The name means “fortress”. In the times of Jeremiah, Hamath was a city in valley of the Orontes River. Hamath was considered the capital of the northern kingdom of Syria. In the early 21st century, this is the city known as Hama, Syria. It has a population of roughly 854,000 per 2009 census. It is the fourth largest city in Syria (Wikipedia).

March 24, 2017: Fighting between the Syrian Army of President Assad and the rebels continues. The majority of the hostilities are taking place north of the city of Hama. It appears the opposition rebels are gaining near Hama. The United Nations is holding peace talks in Geneva in an attempt to stop the clashes.

The Syrian rebels consist of the Free Syrian Army, the Fateh al-Sham front, the jihadists formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda in Syria. These groups are constantly changing names and alliances. This group is primarily Sunni Muslims.

The Syrian Army is supported by Russian forces as well as Iran and Hezbollah out of Lebanon. This group is primarily Shia Muslims.

 

Euphrates River

March 24, 2017: Fighting for control of the Tabqa Dam on the Euphrates River is currently taking place. The Tabqa Dam is located approximately 20 miles west of Raqqa, Syria the defacto capital for ISIS. The United States, France, and the Kurds are claiming to have taken control of the Tabqa Dam away from ISIS. This is critical. ISIS has previously threatened to blow the dam and flood the Euphrates River valley. ISIS claims the offensive to take the Tabqa Dam is failing…

 

Jeremiah 49:27 “I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, and it will devour the fortified towers of Ben-hadad.” –The Lord.

The conflict in Damascus has stopped the supply of food to 300,000 residents per the United Nations.

“They are totally dependent on our supplies. Starvation will be just around the corner unless we get there in the coming weeks,” Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian adviser on Syria.

Currently the old wall of Damascus is still standing. Fighting and warfare are taking place in the Jobar neighborhood. Jobar borders old Damascus on the east where the wall is located.

2,600 years ago the Lord God told Jeremiah the wall of Damascus would come down by fire. Currently, the wall is still standing. The prophecy has not happened, not yet…

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/geneva-talks-resume-fighting-rages-hama-damascus-170324070102119.html

Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags , , on March 22, 2017 by paulthepoke

pb bread

In any relationship, you get out of it what you put into it. You can’t keep making withdrawals without making deposits at the bank. So why would you expect a relationship to work any different? Make sure you are building your relationship up with deposits.

Luke 6:38. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Have a giving day my friends!!!

Trend Update: Russian Special Forces in Libya??? March 2017

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 20, 2017 by paulthepoke

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

Genesis 10:6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.

These are Noah’s grandchildren. The sons of Ham by and large settled in Africa. Historical Put is a country that will join Russian and others in their future invasion of Israel.

Put or Phut means “a bow”; a nation and people of northern Africa; probably Libyans. –Strong’s Concordance. Consensus among researchers and scholars is noted that Put is modern day Libya.

In the last year, Russia has strengthened ties with Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Significant military and economic relationships with African countries have not been observed related to the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy.

March 14, 2017: Russia is reported to have sent special troops and forces to western Egypt. The military operatives are near the Libyan border. Egyptian sources confirmed a 22 member unit of Russian special forces.

Fighting is reported internally in Libya near oil resources. Russia is suspected to support General Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army. According to Reuters, General Haftar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, on November 29, 2016.

Previously, the former Soviet Union had a friend in Libya’s Moammar Qaddafi. Looks like Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Putin wants to reconnect with an oil rich country.

United States and western officials have concerns this could follow like the course of events in Syria.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/14/russian-special-forces-deployed-in-egypt-near-libyan-border-report

Russian officials have denied the report and called it “fake news”…

The Anadolu Agency, a news source out of Turkey, has denied the report in their publication.

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/no-russian-troops-in-egypt-military-source/770934

RT out of Russia is denying as well. RT is reporting that both Russia and Egypt indicate there are no Russian troops in Egypt.

“There are no Russian special forces in Sidi Barrani,” Russian Defense Ministry’s official spokesman, Igor Konashenkov.

“There is no foreign soldier from any foreign country on Egyptian soil. This is a matter of sovereignty,” Egyptian Army Spokesman Tamer al-Rifai.

https://www.rt.com/news/380662-russia-libya-egypt-troops/

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