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Trend Update: UNESCO Rejects Jewish Ties to Temple Mount, October 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , on October 14, 2016 by paulthepoke

October 13, 2016: The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to deny recognition of religious sites on the Temple Mount to the Jewish people. The UN stated the Temple Mount belongs to the Muslims.

The Scripture reference is the Bible, never mind over 3,000 years of history and archeological evidence that ties the Hebrew people to the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, and Israel.

Never mind Islam did not start until 610 AD…

The following countries voted for the ban: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, and Vietnam.

Next are the countries with the attitude of the Laodicea church in Revelation. These countries chose to abstain. Get off the fence and make a stand one way or the other. Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. -Jesus

The following countries refused to vote on the ban: Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and Nevis, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Ukraine.

The following countries supported Israel: United States, Great Britain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, and Estonia.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-backs-resolution-ignoring-jewish-link-to-temple-mount/

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/UNESCO-No-connection-between-Temple-Mount-and-Judaism-470050

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

History says this is a bad foreign policy move for countries voting against Israel.

Oh by the way, the Bible says there is going to be a third Jewish Temple.

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Trend Update: Temple, City of David, November 2015

Posted in Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2015 by paulthepoke

2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.

At stake is the past and future location of the Jewish Temple. Zion equals the city of David. This is a critical statement.

There are many scholars, critics, and experts who suggest Jerusalem, Zion, and the city of David are synonymous. The Bible says something different.

The city of David is a specific location within greater Jerusalem. The city of David is located south of what is known as the Temple Mount in modern day Jerusalem. The city of David is down the hill, below, and south of the modern day Temple Mount. The distance between the two locations is approximately 600-1000 feet.

2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

The verse in 2 Chronicles gives a specific location for the Temple. Where did the Jebusites live? Where is the floor of Ornan the Jebusite? The verse states it is in Jerusalem. The Bible has answers.

2 Samuel 5:6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.”

The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.

The following terms are synonymous per Scripture, Zion and city of David.

2 Samuel 5:8b Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.

A water source is noted to be within the area of the Jebusites. There is only one source of water in the area, the Gihon Spring. The spring is located down the hill and south of the modern day Temple Mount. The Gihon Spring is approximately 600-1000 feet south and below the Temple Mount complex as we know it.

2 Samuel 5:9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

Once conquered, David named the fortress area the city of David. The area was walled. David built up the area within. David commissioned his son Solomon to build the Temple.

Solomon’s temple was built within a few years of 970 BC. Herod improved upon the second Temple which was built in 350 BC. Herod’s Temple was rebuilt and refurbished in roughly 20 BC. Both Temples were built on the same site.

Fast forward roughly 3,000 years from King David to today’s world, November 2015. This real estate is back in the news in a major way.

Archeologists have unearthed a fort to the south of the modern day Temple Mount in the city of David. The site has been covered by a parking lot.

“The new archeological finds indicate the establishment of a well-fortified stronghold that was constructed on the high bedrock cliff overlooking the steep slopes of the City of David hill,” the archeologists said in a joint statement.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Archaeological-find-in-Jerusalems-City-of-David-may-answer-100-year-old-mystery-431895

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/11/03/ancient-fortress-discovery-may-solve-one-jerusalems-great-archaeological-mysteries.html

First century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus noted a fortress, “…he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, for the place was high, and overlooked the Temple; on which account he fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians.” The first century book of Maccabees also confirms the location of the citadel in the city of David.

Multiple sources from across time all note the city of David as the location south of the modern day Temple Mount. Yet the conclusion drawn by experts??? The Temple was built north of the location unearthed. “This stronghold controlled all means of approach to the Temple atop the Temple Mount, and cut the Temple off from the southern parts of the city.”

Historians and books written in the first century say the Temple site was south in the city of David. This is below the modern day Temple Mount area.

The Bible says the Temple site was south in the city of David.

fort

photo credit:Israel Antiquities Authority

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Trend Update: God’s Fall Appointments, September 2015

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 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

grapes

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.

See also Leviticus 23:23-25.

The first fall holiday has many names. It is called the Feast of Trumpets by Christians. It is recognized as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Some refer to it as the “Hidden Day” or the “Wedding of the Messiah”. In Judaism, it is called Yom Teruah which means the “Day of Blowing”.

It is the beginning of the civil new year. The date for the Yom Teruah is near Sunday, September 14, 2015 depending on the sighting of the new moon. The new year begins when the new moon is confirmed by two witnesses. There is a partial solar eclipse scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2015. This solar event time marker ends the year. 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 claim).

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/07/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-1/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/14/yom-teruahrosh-hashanahfeast-of-trumpets-part-2/

The second fall holiday is the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah. This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest with multiple animal sacrifices. The beginning for the Day of Atonement in 2015 is Tuesday, September 22 at sun down.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/21/yom-kippurday-of-atonement/

Leviticus 23:33-36 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.’”

The third and last fall holiday on God’s calendar is Tabernacles. It is also called Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar. On our western Gregorian calendar, in 2015, the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed from September 28 through October 4. In 2015, the start of the holiday will coincide with a Super Blood Moon (lunar eclipse) that is most visible over Jerusalem. Jewish rabbis teach when the moon is in eclipse on God’s appointed holidays it is a bad omen for Israel (no Biblical support for this claim).

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/10/05/feast-of-tabernaclessukkotboothsthe-feast/

There are seven God appointed holidays communicated through the Old Testament Law. The first four were fulfilled to the day by Jesus Himself with His death, burial, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. If the first four spring holidays were fulfilled on the God appointed holiday, why would the fall holidays be any different?

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Pride…I Know Best

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , on August 9, 2015 by paulthepoke

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

big-deal-ron-burgundy

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.

Ezekiel 28:12-19 Pride, Original Sin?

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: Abortion/Planned Parenthood, July 2015

Posted in Culture, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 22, 2015 by paulthepoke

In the news (July 2015), Planned Parenthood has recently come under scrutiny for their practices with aborted human tissue from the womb. Dr. Mary Gatter, the previous president of Planned Parenthood Medical Directors’ Council discussed compensation for aborted tissue. Dr. Gatter currently serves in leadership and advisory at the local and national level of Planned Parenthood. In the interest of fairness to Dr. Gatter’s comments, see the link below. She articulates her position clearly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=82&v=MjCs_gvImyw

Yes, abortion is a highly controversial topic. The culture has communicated its position on the subject. Elements of the culture and critics state the Bible has nothing to say on the subject. This is incorrect. God has plenty to say in His word.

Next are God’s words. It is acknowledged, His words are offensive to segments of society. Eventually, His words are offensive to all of us if we are honest with ourselves. Please take your complaints and comments directly to Him. He will listen. He is a big boy. He can handle it.

baby

The focus of the post is in regards to the definition of abortion and legal considerations as God states in His word. Here is what God says.

Amos 1:13 Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four
I will not revoke its punishment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to enlarge their borders.   

The sons of Ammon are modern day Jordan. Back in the day, Ammon wanted to expand their territory at the expense of unborn children. God states judgment is coming because they “ripped”. The Hebrew word for “ripped” is baqa`. Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: to cleave, cleave open; to break through or break into.

A modern day abortion chemically and mechanically breaks through and into the womb invasively.

Abortion is premeditated and not accidental. God makes provision for the unborn child in His Law. Even if the child is harmed in utero and lives to see birth, there are consequences to the offending party. God’s Law accounts for the involuntary manslaughter of an infant in the womb of a mother. He recognizes the baby in the womb as a person and an individual life.

Exodus 21:22-25 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

The Hebrew word for “child” is yeled. It is defined as: child, son, boy, offspring, youth, or descendants. God states the life inside the mother is a child.

Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder. Obviously, pre meditated murder is not acceptable.

Hands that shed innocent blood are one of the seven things God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19.

Planned Parenthood and doctors are getting paid and profiting to murder innocent lives. Others profit from the removed tissue. They are not even taking a bribe. It is a series of business transactions. Our tax dollars fund this process.

Deuteronomy 27:25 Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

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Trend Update: Gay Marriage, June 26, 2015

Posted in Culture, Gospel, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 28, 2015 by paulthepoke

On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. All states are mandated to perform same sex marriages. All states must recognize same sex marriages that occur in other states.

Gay rights activists raise a huge rainbow flag during a Gay Pride parade in Athens, June 13, 2015. REUTERS/Kostas Tsironis

The point of this post is not to lecture the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) population. Here, this topic is being approached with humility, respect, and grace. Condemning and hateful attitudes solve nothing. Harsh, ill feelings are barriers and obstacles to the good news of mercy and forgiveness that is Jesus Christ.

Here in the United States, we live in a culture and society that has elevated its civil law above God’s law. In regards to the gay lifestyle, our civil laws are different than how God views the topic. Our courts have spoken on the matter.

Next are God’s words. It is acknowledged, His words are offensive to segments of society. Eventually, His words are offensive to all of us if we are honest with ourselves. Please take your complaints and comments directly to Him. He will listen. He is a big boy. He can handle it.

Here is what God says.

God says in Leviticus 20:13 ‘If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.

The Hebrew word for “lies” is shakab. It means to have sexual intercourse. Men having sex with men and women having sex with women is “detestable” or tow`ebah. God views this act as a disgusting thing or an abomination (Strong’s Concordance).

God is consistent in thought in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The above Leviticus verse is not a one off. See also: Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:26-28.

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Likewise, God sees crossdressing as tow`ebah or detestable or disgusting.

God states that marriage should be between a man and woman from the beginning in Genesis. See also 1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

As a friend of mine stated, gay marriage is a legal, civil right granted by the Supreme Court of the United States. Gay marriage is not a covenant relationship ordained or sanctioned by God. See Ephesians 5.

We are called to love one another. Galatians 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” The Greek word for “love” is agape. Per Strong’s Concordance agape means: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly. This love is the nature of God.

It does not matter if one steals, lies, commits murder, covets, or whatever. There are no “shades of grey” when it comes to sin. There is not a sliding scale for sin. One sin is not more condemning than another. If you break one, you break them all. James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

As individuals, it is not our place to judge others regardless of their actions. Every person on the planet has a lifestyle issue that can be taken to task. Judgment belongs to God. James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

We are all in need of sin remission. Every single one of us is a sinner. We all have sin in our lives. Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

And this is where the grace of Jesus enters the scene. Christ loves us ALL in spite of our actions whatever they may be. He paid the penalty for sin. For those who believe, He has paid the fine for sin.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…

Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Hebrews 9:28a so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many…

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Isaiah 5:24-25 Israel Rejects God’s Word

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , on September 15, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 5:24-25 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

On this account the anger of the LORD has burned against His people, and He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down. And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this His anger is not spent, but His hand is still stretched out. 

The imagery of a consuming fire is not that hard to imagine considering the summer of 2012. There were stories of sparks starting massive fires across the country side. Flowers were literally drying and shriveling away to nothing due to the heat. This is the comparison to the reality of Israel. They are the burning grass and withering flower.

Why is Israel in such peril? They rejected God’s word. The grammar in the Hebrew indicates that Israel has intensively rejected and spurned God’s word. They have not casually dismissed His commands. They have actively shunned.

God will have an emphatic response to this rejection. The people of Israel will be subjected to fire, death, and earthquakes for starters. The figurative language describing the death is vivid. The bodies will lie in the street like a pile of dung. Growing up in Oklahoma, I can visualize the splat of a cow patty on Main Street after the rodeo parade in the middle of summer.

This will not be the end. God’s wrath is not complete. He is poised to continue. Moving forward from verse 26 through the end of the chapter, there will be an invasion from a swift and hostile country.

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