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Archive for April, 2018

Trend Update: “Iran Lied…Big Time!” April 2018

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Persia/Elam/Iran, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags intelligence, Iran Nuclear Deal, Israel, Mossad, nuclear program, President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, United States on April 30, 2018 by paulthepoke

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). A significant player 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.

Persia proper was bordered 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 Iran.

See the video link below for additional analysis.

April 30, 2018: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has made a major international speech regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Israel considers Iran the greatest threat to global peace.

“Iran lied…Big time!”

Israel has captured over 100,000 pieces and of intelligence regarding the Iranian nuclear program. The intel includes…

“incriminating documents, incriminating charts, incriminating presentations, incriminating blueprints, incriminating photos, incriminating videos and more. We’ve shared this material with the United States, and the United States can vouch for its authenticity,” Prime Minister Netanyahu.

See the video link below for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s comments regarding the Iranian Nuclear Program.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-iran-lied-about-nuclear-plans-continued-to-expand-program-after-deal/

Iran responded to Netanyahu’s speech via Twitter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, “The boy who can’t stop crying wolf is at it again… You can only fool some of the people so many times.”

BREAKING: The boy who can't stop crying wolf is at it again. Undeterred by cartoon fiasco at UNGA. You can only fool some of the people so many times. pic.twitter.com/W7saODfZDK

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 30, 2018

President Donald Trump made some comments after Netanyahu’s presentation.

“What’s happening today and what’s happened over the last little while and what we’ve learned has really shown that I’ve been 100 percent right,” United States President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump’s decision on the Iranian Nuclear Deal looms on May 12, 2018.

Jeremiah 49:34-39 That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, the finest of their might. ‘I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four ends of heaven, and will scatter them to all these winds; and there will be no nation to which the outcasts of Elam will not go. ‘So I will shatter Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their lives; and I will bring calamity upon them, even My fierce anger,’ declares the LORD, ‘And I will send out the sword after them until I have consumed them. ‘Then I will set My throne in Elam and destroy out of it king and princes,’ declares the LORD. ‘But it will come about in the last days that I will restore the fortunes of Elam,’” declares the LORD.

Current events appear to be pushing the Iranian issue towards a date with prophecy…

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

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Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags 2 Corinthians 9, cheerful giver, giving, helping, Oklahoma wild fires, Proverbs on April 29, 2018 by paulthepoke

In times like this, when our area has seen so much destruction from the wildfires, it warms my heart to see neighbors & strangers stepping up to help. Met a young couple in their 20’s yesterday from Texas, that had brought hay from Texas to donate at a drop off spot. That was very generous, but they didn’t stop with that, they had gotten a hotel room & stuck around to reload hay & deliver directly to farmers in need. God bless people like them.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Have a giving week my friends!!!

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Revelation: Laodicea, Please…Please Listen

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags God, Jesus Christ, listen, Seven Churches of Revelation on April 29, 2018 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

All seven churches in the book of Revelation are told… “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This is the last time Jesus addresses the churches. It is an open invitation to whoever wants to listen. We all have ears. Please use them.

Please… “Hear” or ακουο/akouo… This is where we get the English word “acoustics”. The word can mean the following: attend; consider what is or has been said; to understand or perceive the sense of what is said; to find out, learn; to give ear to a teaching or a teacher; to comprehend. Definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance.

Seven times, the body of Christ is addressed. Each individual church (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea) is told. Each single, local church is encouraged to proclaim to the whole body. Please listen.

Revelation 2:7a He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Revelation 2:11a He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Revelation 2:17a He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Please…respond to what the Lord God is saying. There is time now. At some point, conditions are going to deteriorate. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit do not want to crush mankind like a bug. An out into a glorious eternity will be offered. Jesus is not going to give up on people when the going gets tough. He will continue to plea and reach out, even when things turn ugly. The call will be to all of humanity on Earth at this future time.

Revelation 13:9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

The next time Christ will make His plea, it will be during the context of the beast or the antichrist. The beast will be physically present on Earth during his reign. In this time, the beast will be in absolute authority, tyranny. The antichrist will demand to be worshipped or one will pay with their earthly, flesh and blood life.

Revelation 13:7-8 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

The choice for the believer in Jesus will be scary and grim for their present life. The focus will need to be on eternity with God in spite of their earthly circumstances.

Revelation 13:10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Treacherous times are coming. Get over yourself. Don’t think you are immune to deception.

Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:25 See, I have told you in advance. -Jesus

Please listen…

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Freedom & Apostasy…Thoughts from an American Soldier

Posted in American soldier with tags 2 Corinthians 3, 2 Peter 3, apostasy, free will, Freedom, Galatians 5, infidels, Islam, John 8, Joshua 24, Muslim, Religion of Peace, Shia, Sunni on April 26, 2018 by paulthepoke

Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

The Bible states that humanity has free will to choose the object of their worship.

Apostasy? I’ve been asked, does Islam allow freedom of religion or does it threaten the death penalty for apostasy? Well the truth is… they believe and practice this everyday…

From what I’ve seen in the Middle East and speaking with the locals over here, they believe that “Anyone” and mainly “Westerners” are INFIDELS in their belief. Those who turn their back on Islam are to be executed. This is confirmed by the words and deeds of Muhammad. The only freedom of belief in Islam is the freedom to become Muslim.

Islamic Law: There is also a consensus by all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafii), as well as classical Shiite jurists, that apostates from Islam must be put to death. The process of declaring a person to be an apostate is known as takfir and the disbeliever is called a murtad.

The “Religion of Peace” expanded across the globe by conquering people of other religions and then making life miserable for those who did not embrace Islam. Once spoken, a person was locked into the faith. Any sign of false witness, such as raising their children in another faith, was punished with death. Thus, Islam gradually supplanted other religions.

Some apologists bend the truth in order to distance Islam from one of its most draconian rules. The world’s most popular Muslim apologist recently affirmed that the death penalty should be applied to those who leave Islam and share their faith with others.

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

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Trend Update: Russia’s S300 Missiles to Syria??? April 2018

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Bashar al-Assad, Gog, Isaiah 17, Jeremiah 49, Magog, Russia, S300 Missile Defense System, Sergey Lavrov, Syria on April 25, 2018 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.

The context of the verse God is talking to Gog of Magog. Gog is the leader of what many scholars and historians believe to be modern day Russia. See the link below for detailed analysis.

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

Click on the video link below for additional analysis.

The focus of the verse is the size of the army arrayed by Gog.

…and all your army…The Hebrew word for “all” is kol. Simply put, it means the whole or all of the army.

It is stated a second time, all of them clothed in full armor…Again it is the term kol in the Hebrew. This group is well dressed and has provision to fight. Their gear is “splendid” or miklol. This word could be translated as perfection or gorgeous. The army looks impressive.

A third time, the army is described as a great host. They are rab in the Hebrew which can be stated as much, many, or great.

And finally a fourth time, all of them. Yes, it is the word kol. This is emphasized four times. This is a massive army that is well armed and prepared to attack and defend. Definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance.

photo: Sputnik International

April 24, 2018: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia has challenged reports Moscow will deliver to Syria the S-300 missile defense system “soon”.

“We know what President Vladimir Putin said. He has discussed such matters with an official of our Defense Ministry from the standpoint of preventing a situation where Syria might turn out insufficiently prepared for aggressive attacks, like the one that occurred on April 14. It remains to be seen what decisions will be made by the Russian leadership and Syrian officials.” – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russia claims they have not made a decision on delivery to Syria…yet.

If Russia were to send the S-300 missile system to Syria, the defense system would be FREE to President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian Government. Hypothetically, the missiles would be to defend Damascus and Syrian air bases. The Russians are thinking out loud if anyone is listening.

Isaiah 17:1 The oracle concerning Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin.

Jeremiah 49:27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.

Russia has outfitted Syria with old Soviet equipment.

Russian Main Operational Directorate Sergei Rudskoy said, “In the past year and a half Russia has fully restored Syria’s air-defense system and continues to further upgrade it.”

The Russians also had these comments for Israel.

“Experts believe that the reaction of the Israeli military to such a move will be predictably negative and do not exclude attacks on their locations. If Israel decides to carry out rocket strikes on the deployment locations of the S-300, the consequences will be catastrophic for all sides.” -Russian Defense Spokesman

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Russia-to-move-defenses-to-Syria-soon-warns-Israel-against-attack-552503

Gog’s army continues the build…

Damascus has a date with destiny…

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

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https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

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Straight Talk…Face to Face Relationships, Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags couples, Face to face, God the Father, Holy Spirit, James 3, Psalm 42, relationship on April 24, 2018 by paulthepoke

Hi saints! I just wanted to share something with you that God laid on my heart yesterday morning. The Lord gave me a dream where God’s people were assembled together as in church and the Holy Spirit was the only Teacher. The Holy Spirit gave instructions for all His people to stand to their feet to participate in an exercise. All couples were to stand facing each other, looking into each other’s eyes. All singles were to stand facing our heavenly Father (in Spirit) looking into His eyes (using our faith to see Him) as He looked into ours. Being single, I stood too and faced my Father who was in the empty space before me. The Holy Spirit then had every person, married and single look into their spouse’s eyes and say the following: “Father, I don’t do relationships right and I need Your help please.” He had every single person stand up and every soul spoke this out loud while looking into their spouse’s eyes, calling to their “Father” from deep within the other person.

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me.

Now I’m not a relationship expert so God didn’t give me a full breakdown on how to do them “right” from His perspective, but He did reveal to me a few things from this dream “exercise”:

All of us are doing relationships “wrong” according to the Father. He didn’t say to what extent things were “right” in each relationship.
Acknowledgement of a spouse’s value as a son or daughter of our Father in heaven is very important to God.
Recognizing the presence of the Father in a spouse’s eyes is the beginning of having a “right” relationship with them. Seeing them and treating them as a precious son or daughter of our Father and treating them as if He is the One looking back at us through their eyes, is a perspective the Father wants us all to have. He wants us to see Him in our spouse (if we have one) and in our other relationships as well (which is what I was thinking of when I did the exercise). And If we love Him as we say we do, then we have to love Him in other believers even if we don’t understand them.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

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Revelation: Laodicea, Conquering through Christ

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags 1 corinthians 15, 1 John 5, 1 Timothy 2, God the Father, Heaven, Jesus Christ, nike, Psalm 8, Romans 8, throne on April 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

The point bears repeating. Christ repeats Himself multiple times in addressing believers. We overcome through Jesus Christ. He is victorious and by Him we are conquerors. Seventeen (17) times in the book of Revelation the word “overcome” or the Greek νικάω/nikaó is used. Eight (8) times He uses the word with regard to addressing the churches in Revelation. Every time νικάω/nikaó is written to the seven churches in Revelation, we are reminded that our victory is perpetual into eternity. This is not a one-time victory. Believers are forever conquering because of Jesus Christ. We are victorious and prevail through Him. We have ridiculous assurance. Jesus Christ is the answer.

1 John 5:4-5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. The Apostle Paul states believers are “hyper” conquerors through Jesus!

I will grant him to sit with me on my throne… As believers and overcomers, we will rule and reign with Jesus Christ. Believers will be appointed to authority. Believers will be political rulers in the future Millennial Kingdom. This is not an honorary position. He says so. This concept is stated repeatedly in Scripture. Even in the Old Testament, David made this statement 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus. The author of Hebrews quoted the Psalmist in Hebrews 2.

Psalm 8:4-6 …what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet…

1 Timothy 2:12 …if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

…as I also conquered… This is the last time Jesus uses the word νικάω/nikaó within the context of the seven churches in Revelation. It is a reminder; He is the conqueror. Christ prevailed and that is an established fact of history.

…and sat down with my Father on his throne. Notice the chain of command and structure with rulership. It starts with God the Father. The Father hands authority to the Son. And the Son shares it with believers who are in Him. Believers will rule and reign with Jesus Christ in the Millennial Kingdom and into eternity.

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Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

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Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags John 16, Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Psalm 34 on April 22, 2018 by paulthepoke

23 years ago, 2 days before my son Chase’s first Birthday, the unthinkable happened. 168 lives were lost, many of those being children, because someone had hate for their own country. As a new father, I couldn’t imagine innocent children dying because of a selfish coward. 168 will never be forgotten.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Have a peace filled week my friends!!!

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The Yield Spread, a Sign of Economic Turmoil?…Featuring Michael Douville

Posted in Michael Douville with tags Deuteronomy 23, interest rates, yield spread on April 20, 2018 by paulthepoke

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

Interest free lending would promote national unity and good will toward your fellow countryman. It is a matter of looking after your neighbor and brother. Financial collaboration would be an outcome. People would be more interested in the success of others.

God does not want us to take financial advantage of our fellow man. These loaning practices were built into society by God. He understands the capacity of greed demonstrated by humanity. Don’t shaft your neighbor.

These financial concepts are nowhere to be seen in today’s economic world. Most people are not aware these statutes exist. Would our lives be economically easier if this were in place today? What a concept, it is a universal blessing from God if one loans interest free to their countryman.

April 2018: The Yield Spread is down to .43, is this a sign of economic turmoil to come? Watch this short video to learn about the Yield Spread, lowest level since 2007. See the video link for Michael’s analysis.

Do you have all your money in stocks and bonds? What happens if we see a sharp reduction in the markets. Have you prepared your life boat? Michael talks about alternate ways to make income without worrying about the markets. Check us out at https://michaeldouville.com. The first consultation is always free. Michael’s Book, How to Create a Real Estate Money Machine and Retire with Income, is available on line. Email Michael at michael@michaeldouville.com

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Straight Talk…God’s Glory & Suffering, Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags 1 Peter 4, 2 Chronicles 3, 2 Corinthians 4, affliction, God's glory, Jesus Christ, joy, Romans 8, suffering on April 18, 2018 by paulthepoke

We go from suffering to glory, suffering to glory. That’s the process of putting to death the old nature and rising to the new life in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 …always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

It’s a process that goes from “glory to glory” until we are completely glorified in mind (and I would say body too). We can rest in the knowledge and power of His glory. He is transforming the minds of all who belong to Him. And submit to the process.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We should expect suffering to come. But when it comes we should also expect God’s glory. His glory has an eternal weight to far exceed the pain we suffered whenever He glorifies Himself in our situation. It’s like a baby that is born. Labor was intense and we thought we might die. But once we have the baby in our arms, we forget the pain we just went through for the joy we now hold.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be (is about to be) revealed in us.