I guess a sledgehammer did not do enough damage. Jonah’s tomb was blown up.
Archive for Assyrian Empire
Trend Update: Assyrian Empire/Nineveh/Jonah, July 2014
Posted in Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Assyrian Empire, ISIS, jonah, Nineveh on July 25, 2014 by paulthepokeTrend Update: Assyrian Empire/Nineveh/Jonah, July 2014
Posted in Gospel, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags 2 Peter 3, Assyria, Assyrian Empire, fish, Gospel, ISIS, Jesus, jonah, Matthew 12, Nineveh, Prophecy, repent, Resurrection, salvation, whale on July 16, 2014 by paulthepokeTo the critic who says Jonah was not a real person, ISIS and Muslims disagree with you. Jonah was a prophet and a real human being in the Old Testament who died. This is what ISIS thinks of Jonah. They are destroying his remains. They want to remove and delete as though he never happened or existed. ISIS militants believe giving special veneration to tombs and relics is against the teachings of Islam. The Book of Jonah is about a prophet who was called to warn a foreign country, an enemy of Israel, of God’s coming judgment. The people of Nineveh responded to the prophet’s call during their day and changed their minds and ways as a nation. God’s judgment was spared on that generation in Nineveh. The Book of Jonah demonstrates God’s mercy and grace to a nation who was behaving in a destructive and brutal nature.
Jesus Himself points to Jonah as a sign or a shadow of His death, burial, and resurrection. Matthew 12:39-41 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREENIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
That “any” includes terrorists. Even terrorists can avoid eternal judgment in Christ. We are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26).
What does it mean to repent? It is the Greek word “metanoia”. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to change one’s mind, compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal of decision.
Things do not have to continue on their current path. We have the capacity to change our minds as individuals and corporately as humanity.
Trend Update: Assyrian Empire/Euphrates River, June 2014
Posted in Euphrates River, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Assyrian Empire, Genesis 10, Iraq, ISIS, Kirkuk Oil, Lake Assad, Mosul, Mosul Dam, Nimrod, Nineveh, Revelation 16, Syria on June 26, 2014 by paulthepokeThe Assyrian Empire of history originates from the city of Ninevah, modern day Mosul, Iraq. Genesis 10:11 From that land he (Nimrod) went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah… The modern day region maintains it ties to the past. Mosul is located in the province of Ninevah (ABC News). This region of real estate has been in the news with the Civil War taking place in Syria (September 2013). Major oil and gas pipelines run from the Kirkuk Oil Fields to the border of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Once in Turkey, the pipeline runs to the west before stopping in the Mediterranean Sea where oil and gas are exported primarily to Europe. The security of these pipelines is constantly being challenged by multiple groups. At this time (June 2014), the violence and regional instability has spread and now includes northern Iraq.
The movement is spear headed by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This group is a splinter off of Al-Qaeda. CNN completed a story which stated that ISIS is considered too violent for even Al-Qaeda. The video shown on TV validates their commitment to violence.
The leader of ISIS is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was detained by the United States in a terrorist camp in Iraq, Camp Bucca. Al-Baghdadi was captured in 2005. In 2009, we released him. Military officials at the camp state Al-Baghdadi was not the worst of the worst. For more details click on the following link. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/14/isis-leader-see-you-in-new-york.html
With the capture of Mosul, ISIS now manages the Mosul Dam. This dam manages the control of the Tigris River in Iraq. Keep in mind, Turkey cut off flow of the Euphrates earlier in the month of June 2014. Lake Assad (another damming of the Euphrates River in Syria) has already been impacted in Syria. Lake Assad and surrounding territory in Syria is under the control of ISIS. People are already suffering the effects with no electricity and fresh water. Now, this organization effectively controls the water supplies of the nations of Syria and Iraq.
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.
Look at the maps below and draw your own conclusions.
June 14, 2014 per http://i.dailymail.co.uk/
Assyrian Empire per http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/images/mesopot_assyr_map_lg.jpg
Goal of ISIS
With prophetic implications, the Kurds, known as the Medes in the Bible, seize oil-rich region of Iraq. What does it mean?
Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Assyrian Empire, Babylonians, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Islam, Joel Rosenberg, Kirkuk Oil Field, Kurds, Medes, Muslims, Persians, Prophecy, Shiites, Sunnis, Turkey on June 18, 2014 by paulthepokeKurds, Known as the Medes in the Bible. Is the Old Testament gang; Assyrians (ISIS), Medes (Kurds), Persians (Iran), and Babylonians (Iraq) getting back together again? These are Israel’s ancient enemies. Look at the lands these groups currently occupy. Interesting to say the least and merits monitoring.
Isaiah 10:24-25 The Assyrian Antichrist?
Posted in Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Antichrist, Asshur, Assyrian Empire, Genesis 10, Isaiah 10, Israel, jerusalem, Noah, Prophecy, Revelation 19, Shem, The Assyrian, zion on November 24, 2013 by paulthepokeIsaiah 10:24-25 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction.”
God is calling out to the citizens of Zion or Jerusalem. Assyria’s treatment of the Jews is similar to the bondage Israel experienced in Egypt. Israel do not sweat it, God is going to take care of this guy and his people. God informs the people of Israel their judgment is almost over. When that has run its course, Assyria will be destroyed.
Another name for the Assyrian is Asshur. The genealogy traces back to Noah and his son Shem. Asshur is the second son of Shem (son of Noah). Genesis 10:22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. After the flood, Asshur settled in what is modern day Iraq on the Tigris River. His city was located between modern day Baghdad and Mosul. Asshur was the first capital of Assyria (Holman Quicksource Bible Dictionary).
This geographical area has been home to conquering empires throughout history. It was home to the Assyrian Empire. It was home to the Seleucid Empire after the four way split of Alexander the Great’s Grecian Empire. This area was a part of the Eastern leg of the Roman Empire. The eastern leg eventually became the Byzantine Empire. The last empire in this region was the Ottoman until the 19th Century. (An Alternative View: The Return of Nimrod? Chuck Missler)
Who is the Assyrian? Some would argue he is the Antichrist. The Antichrist is destined to be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire in Revelation 19:20. I would argue the Assyrian is not the Antichrist. His fate is to be discussed in the next post. His destination is not the Lake of Fire. He will not be alive; he is going to die.
Isaiah 10:5-11 Assyrian Arrogance, Part 1
Posted in Isaiah with tags Arpad, arrogance, Assyrian Empire, Calno, Carchemish, Damascus, Hamath, Israel, jerusalem, Pride, Samaria on October 6, 2013 by paulthepokeIsaiah 10:5-7 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations.
Assyria is described as a “shebet”. That is the Hebrew word for rod, staff, branch, shaft (of spear, dart), club (of shepherd’s implement), or a scepter (mark of authority) per Strong’s Concordance. In today’s vernacular, a whoopin’ stick!
Assyria is the beating stick in God’s hand. He is in control of Assyria. God is going to use Assyria as a stick to punish His godless people. Their job is to pack them down like mud in the street.
Notice, it is the mental attitude that leads to its conquest for power and expansion. See the words “intend”, “plan…in its heart”, and “purpose”. These are mental words of thought. Assyria is calculating and devising from the inner part of their soul, mind, and conscience according to the language and Hebrew vocabulary.
The “stick” has other ideas. Israel is not enough. The “rod” wants more and history shows us how Assyria expanded. The Assyrians built an empire that stretched from Egypt on the southwest to Persia (modern day Iran) on the east and from the Persian Gulf on the southeast to Anatolia (modern day Turkey) on the north.
Isaiah 10:8-11 For it says, “Are not my princes all kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish, or Hamath like Arpad, or Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?”
At this point, God reminds Assyrian leadership of his boastful and arrogant attitude. Calno, Carchemish, Hamath, Arpad, Samaria, and Damascus are city states that were conquered by the Assyrian Empire (NET Bible). Assyrian leadership is reminding God of their resume. They have handled these places in the past and they can handle Jerusalem.
“We have conquered powers greater than Israel and little Jerusalem,” Assyria. They are effectively telling God that He cannot stop Assyria. This is a shot at God’s sovereignty and power. Assyria has handled other countries and their “gods”. We can handle Jerusalem and their “god”. We, Assyria are in control. This is the mindset.
This also speaks to how Assyria saw Israel. They saw Israel as a nation who worshipped idols. They did not see Israel as a country who was worshipping God of the Bible.
Assyria did not ultimately realize they were going up against the Creator. God is in charge and Assyria is in the palm of God’s hand.
Isaiah 10:5-7 Assyrian Empire and Modern Day Geography
Posted in Isaiah, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy with tags Assyrian Empire, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kirkuk Oil Field, Nimrod, Nineveh, Persian Gulf, Syria, Tigris River, Turkey, Zab River on September 29, 2013 by paulthepokeIsaiah 10:5-7 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations.
Nimrod founded Nineveh as noted in Genesis 8:10-12. Assyria lay along the middle Tigris between the Kurdish Taurus Mountains and Jebel Hamrin and formed an area about the size of the state of Connecticut (modern day northern Iraq; Iraq, Turkey, and Iran mountainous borders). On the west bank of the Tigris lay a single plain, while on the east bank the country was divided into three sections: the area between the mountains and the Great Zab River, the sector between the Great and Lesser Zab rivers, and the region between the Lesser Zab and the mountain Jebel Hamrin (modern day Kirkuk Oil Field in Iraq).
The land is fertile and undulating and has enough rainfall to support dry farming. Assyria had abundant supplies of limestone and alabaster and some marble. This region of real estate was recently in the news with the Civil War taking place in Syria (September 2013). A major oil and gas pipeline runs from the Kirkuk Oil Field north to the border of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Once in Turkey, the pipeline runs to the west before stopping in the Mediterranean Sea where oil and gas are exported primarily to Europe. The security of this pipeline is constantly being challenged by multiple groups.
The major cities were Asshur (son of Shem and Hebrew people, Genesis 10:22, modern day between Mosul and Bagdhad, Iraq) on the west bank of the Tigris and Lesser Zab River; and Nineveh (modern day Mosul, Iraq), and Calah to the southeast on the Tigris a few miles from Nineveh.
The height of power of the Assyrian Empire was during the seventh century BC. The Assyrians built an empire that stretched from Egypt on the southwest to Persia (modern day Iran) on the east and from the Persian Gulf on the southeast to Anatolia (modern day Turkey) on the north.
Resources: New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Holman QuickSource Bible Atlas, Holman QuickSource Bible Dictionary, MapsofWorld.com
Assyria had specific directions from God. Go get Israel. But that was not enough. Assyria wanted more. Their attitude and plans were the conquest of multiple nations. Assyria’s punishment crossed the line and exceeded the expectation God had set. If Assyria would have followed directions and stuck to Israel, Assyria would have avoided judgment themselves. With their actions, Assyria is as good as dead.
