Isaiah | Paul the Poke

Archive for Isaiah

Feast of Trumpets 2022, The Appointed Time of the Rapture??? T.W. Tramm

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Rapture, Trend Update with tags apples, birth pains, blasts, bride, church, daniel, Feast of Trumpets, Gentiles, grapes, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, judgment, Jupiter, King, marriage, new moon, no one knows the day or hour, peace and security, redemption, resurrection of the dead, Rosh Hashanah, Sabbatical year, seven weeks, Shemitah, shout, Star of Bethlehem, T.W. Tramm, wedding, wheat, wrath, Year of Jubilee, Yom Teruah on September 23, 2022 by paulthepoke

SCRIPTURE teaches that there is an appointed date for the Rapture. Acts 17:31 …because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.

While only God knows the exact date, many prophecy watchers believe it could be the Feast of Trumpets.

Here are 10 reasons why:

1. TRUMPET THEMES

The fundamental theme of the Feast of Trumpets is the sounding of trumpets (Lev. 23:24). In the Bible, trumpet blasts are associated with . . .

• Resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13–18).

• The opening of a door to heaven (Rev. 4:1).

• A gathering of the people (Isa. 27:13).

• The coronation of a king (1 Kings 1:39; Ps. 47:5; 98:6) .

• Approaching danger (Ez. 33:4; Jer. 4:19–21).

• A battle cry (Jer. 4:19–21).

• A time of wrath and judgment (Joel 2; Zeph. 1:14–16).

All of these themes are denotive of the Rapture and arrival of Judgment Day.

Furthermore, the Hebrew word translated “trumpet blasts” in Leviticus 23, teruah, may also refer to a “shout” (Strong’s 8643). The Rapture is when the Lord descends with a “shout” and a trumpet blast (1 Thess. 4:16).

2. JEWISH TRADITION

According to Jewish belief, the Feast of Trumpets is when . . .

• The resurrection of the dead occurs.

• The wedding of Messiah occurs.

• The time of Judgment begins.

These themes are denotive of the Rapture and arrival of Judgment Day.

3. INVISIBLE MOON

The Feast of Trumpets begins on the first day of the biblical month, when the moon is in its ‘New,’ or invisible, phase (Lev. 23:24). The Rapture is when the Church—symbolized by the moon—disappears, or is hidden from sight (Mic. 7:1, 2 NLT; Isa. 26:20).

4. DAY AND HOUR UNKNOWN

The Feast of Trumpets begins at the first sighting of the New-Moon crescent. Since no one knows exactly when the crescent will be sighted, “no one knows the day or hour” that the festival begins (Matt. 24:36).

5. HEAVEN’S GATE OPENED

The Feast of Trumpets, or New Moon, is when the eastern gate of Jerusalem is opened: “The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the … day of the New Moon it is to be opened” (Ezek. 46:1). The Rapture is when, after “six (thousand-year) days,” God’s people enter through the gate into heavenly Jerusalem: “Behold, I am coming quickly …. Blessed are those who … enter through the gates into the [holy] city (Rev. 22:12, 14).

6. SIGN OF THE WOMAN

The Feast of Trumpets coincides with an annual astronomical alignment in which the constellation Virgo is “clothed with the Sun with the Moon under her feet.” This alignment, called the “Sign of the Woman” in Revelation 12, marks the beginning of Israel’s Tribulation period and, some believe, the Rapture that precedes it.

7. PEACE AND SAFETY

The Feast of Trumpets coincides with the annual assembly of the UN, the organization established 77 years ago with the mission of “maintaining international peace and security.” This is significant because Scripture says the Rapture will occur while people are saying “peace and security” (1 Thess. 5:3).

Coincidentally, the UN’s 77th assembly this year ends on September 27—the Feast of Trumpets.

8. WHEAT GATHERING

The Feast of Trumpets occurs around summer’s end, when the wheat harvest is gathered into barns or granaries (Deut. 16:13). The gathering of wheat into a barn is a picture of the gathering of believers into the Father’s house at the Rapture (2 Thess. 2:1; Matt. 3:12).

9. APPLES AND GRAPES

The Feast of Trumpets is traditionally associated with apples and grapes, fruits that are harvested around this time. Some Jews even deny themselves apples and grapes until the Feast of Trumpets, so that they may eat them with increased enjoyment at the festival. This is significant because apples and grapes are the fruits mentioned in Song of Solomon’s rapture-allegory where the Gentile maid is in the presence of her beloved shepherd, a picture of the Church in the presence of the Good Shepherd, Jesus (Song 2:3, 5, 13, 15).

10. WEDDING REMINDER

The Feast of Trumpets is called a “memorial” blowing of trumpets (Lev. 23:24). While Leviticus does not specify what the trumpet blasts memorialize, the context suggests it is the trumpet blast at Sinai when God gave Israel the Law as a ‘wedding contract’ on the Day of Pentecost (Ex. 19).

Thus, the Feast of Trumpets is a day to remember Israel’s wedding and, by association, the Church’s betrothal that occurred on the same day, centuries later (Acts 2).

Since the Feast of Trumpets is a day to remember past weddings and betrothals, it is a fitting time for the ultimate wedding, the Rapture.

With the above 10 reasons in view, the Feast of Trumpets is a plausible time for the Rapture.

But there is more. Five major factors make this year’s Trumpets festival particularly auspicious:

1. STAGE SETTING

The current year, 2022, has seen an escalation of end-times “birth pains” like no other: wars and threats of war, new and resurgent viruses, extreme weather, earthquakes, famine and shortages (Matt. 24:6, 7). Yet, for most people, life carries on more or less as normal.

That a façade of normalcy exists, even as the world teeters on the brink, is significant as this is how Jesus said it would be at His return:

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:26–30).

2. SABBATICAL SIGNS

The God of the Bible is known for giving a seven-day or seven-year warning before bringing judgment (Gen. 7:1–4; Josh. 6:1–5; Gen. 41). Moreover, the Lord orchestrates prophetic events according to His seven-year Sabbatical cycle (Dan. 9:24–27).

With these two facts in mind, it appears God has been issuing ‘trumpet’ warnings for the last three Sabbatical cycles:

In 2001, we saw the 9/11 attacks, followed by a record stock market crash on the Feast of Trumpets.

In 2008, we saw the Global Financial Crisis and another record market crash—a 777-point drop when Congress failed to pass a $700 billion bailout plan—on the Feast of Trumpets.

In 2015, we saw no financial crash but, instead, an extraordinary display of “signs in the sun, moon, and stars”—the signs that portend the Day of the Lord (Luke 21:25; Joel 2:31). Significantly, the final sign, a blood moon eclipse visible above Jerusalem, occurred on September 28, exactly seven years prior to the Feast of Trumpets in 2022.

3. WEDDING SIGN

On June 24 this year, all seven planets in the Solar System lined up in their correct order on the same side of the Sun, to form an ultra-rare “planetary procession.”

Seven days later, the Sun and Moon, which symbolize the Bridegroom and Bride in Scripture, came together in the constellation Gemini, the sign depicting the marriage union between a man and woman.

Notably, this ‘celestial wedding’ occurred on the biblical date Tammuz 1, exactly three months prior to the Feast of Trumpets on Tishrei 1. This is significant because a rabbinic law called Havchana requires a three-month waiting period before a Gentile bride can marry a Jew. (The purpose of the law is to ensure that the bride is not already pregnant before marrying, thereby avoiding any confusion concerning the lineage of the child.)

With the traditional three-month waiting period in view, it is possible that the wedding sign on Tammuz 1 was pointing to the ultimate Gentile–Jewish wedding, the wedding of the Church to Messiah, three months later at the Feast of Trumpets.

4. JUPITER NEAR APPROACH

On the Feast of Trumpets this year, Jupiter will make its closest approach to Earth in 70 years. This is noteworthy for a few reasons.

First, Jupiter, the planet with the red spot on its side, is a symbol of Messiah, wounded for our transgressions (Isa. 53).

Second, because it is the largest planet, Jupiter is called the King Planet. This is significant as Jewish tradition holds that the biblical month of Elul, which ends at the Feast of Trumpets, is when the “King is in the field,” i.e., nearest his subjects. It is thus striking that the King Planet is at its nearest point to Earth in 70 years as Elul ends and the Feast of Trumpets begins.

Third, in Scripture, the number 70 denotes a generation-timespan, a period of judgment, and/or liberation for God’s people (Ps. 90:10; Jer. 29:10).

With the above in view, Jupiter’s near approach on Feast of Trumpets signifies . . .

• A visit by Messiah–King.

• The end of a generation.

• A time of liberation.

5. TIMELINE CONVERGENCE

The number one reason Feast of Trumpets 2022 is particularly auspicious is a convergence of prophetic timelines. For details on this convergence, please see the article, video, or chart linked below.

Article: https://storage.googleapis.com/…/Ten%20Reasons%20Nisan…

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgDenJ3a7NE&t=141s

Chart: https://storage.googleapis.com/…/BIBLICAL%20TIMELINE…

The most important timeline pointing to 2022 relates to the Year of Jubilee. While numerous attempts have been made to pinpoint the Jubilee based on historical events or patterns, I believe that Daniel’s Weeks Prophecy provides the simple formula needed to calculate the year of redemption:

“From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the prince comes, there will be seven weeks” (Dan. 9:25).

Daniel says Messiah will appear “seven weeks,” or one jubilee period, after a restoration of Jerusalem.

The only modern restoration of Jerusalem occurred in June 1967, when the Jews took possession of the Holy City for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.

Counting seven weeks from the start of the first Sabbatical week following the restoration of Jerusalem, which is 1973, the Jubilee begins in 2022.

It is awe-inspiring to consider that 2,000 years ago, Jesus stood up at the synagogue to declare His role as Messiah and fulfiller of the Jubilee:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18, 19).

Today, if our reading of Daniel’s prophecy and the Sabbatical cycle are correct, “the Year of the Lord’s favor” is upon us.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Scripture teaches that there is an appointed date for the Rapture (Acts 17:31). We are told to watch for this day, and that we will see it approaching (Mark 13:37; Heb. 10:25).

The themes of the Feast of Trumpets are denotive of the Rapture. Furthermore, a convergence of signs and timelines suggests that 2022 may be a climactic year.

Will the trumpet blast that changes the world be heard at the impending Feast of Trumpets? Only God knows. But the prospect is utterly thrilling.

. . .

NOTES:

1. Feast of Trumpets timing:

The modern (precalculated) Jewish calendar has Feast of Trumpets beginning the evening of September 25. https://www.hebcal.com/converter?gd=25&gm=9&gy=2022&gs=on…

Torah Calendar, which bases festival timing on the projected sighting of the New-Moon crescent, has the Feast of Trumpets beginning the evening of September 27: https://torahcalendar.com/Calendar.asp?YM=Y2022M6

2. In the Bible, the Sun symbolizes Jesus the Bridegroom (Ps. 19:5; 84:11). The Moon, the Sun’s heavenly counterpart, represents the Bride, or Church. The Moon is emblematic of the Church as it has no light of its own, relying entirely upon the Sun for its light (Ps. 19:4, 5; 84:11). Likewise, man has no light of his own. We were created in the image of God to reflect His brilliance and glory (Gen. 1:27). When we turn to face the majesty of God, when we surrender to Him and seek Him with all our hearts, we reflect His glory, just like the Moon reflects the glory of the Sun (Matt. 5:14)

3. The UN was established 11 Sabbatical cycles ago on October 24, 1945, corresponding to the Jewish calendar date of the biblical Flood: Cheshvan 17.

4. More on why the Feast of Trumpets in late summer or early fall could be the time of the Rapture:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/Seven%20Reasons%20Late…

5. An indication that the Feast of Trumpets is a remembrance of the giving of the Law (Sinai) is the fact that Ezra read the Law to the Israelites, newly returned from exile in Babylon, on the Feast of Trumpets in Nehemiah chapter 8.

6. More on how the Feast of Trumpets relates to Pentecost:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/From%20Pentecost%20to…

7. More on how the world stage is presently set for the Rapture:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/The%20Prophetic…

8. Signs of 2015 as a seven-year warning:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/DAY%20OF%20THE%20LORD…

9. Planetary parade and wedding sign of 2022:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/June%20Planetary…

10. Jupiter near approach on Feast of Trumpets:

Article: https://www.business-standard.com/…/don-t-miss-jupiter…

Miscellaneous:

*Jupiter, the planet with the red spot on its side, has 53 named moons. Coincidentally, Isaiah chapter 53 talks about the sin-bearing Messiah who was wounded for our transgressions.

*It was a Jupiter–Venus conjunction that produced the Bethlehem-Star sign at Jesus’ birth. Significantly the Bethlehem Star conjunction recently reoccurred on June 30, 2015, exactly seven years before the ‘wedding sign’ on June 30 (Tammuz 1), 2022.

11. Jubilee calculation:

The jubilee count begins at 1973 because Daniel says to count “weeks,” which are fixed periods on God’s calendar. Since the modern restoration of Jerusalem occurred in June 1967, after a portion of the current Sabbatical week had already passed, a count of seven full weeks could not begin until the start of the next Sabbatical week, which is 1973.

Jubilee Q and A: Is the Year of Redemption Upon Us?

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/Jubilee%20Q%20and%20A…

Calculating Daniel’s Jubilee:

https://storage.googleapis.com/…/Calculating%20Daniels…

. . .

*Visit the author’s website: www.theseasonofreturn.com

*YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVxcqsgEKvYtscqyYJpTxbQ

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: No one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:36). However, a convergence of biblical signs and timelines suggests it is near. To escape the judgment reserved for a God-rejecting world, one must be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have not yet done so, call on His name and believe that He is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead (Romans 10:13).

Do it today. Time is running out.

3 Comments »

Between Two Kings… Joshua of Ghana

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Joshua Ghana with tags Ahaz, Assyria, Ghana, God, Hezekiah, Immanuel, Isaiah, Judah, Lord on June 23, 2022 by paulthepoke

ISAIAH 7:10-25

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Ahaz was a weak-minded and idolatrous king of Judah. He reigned in the days of Isaiah the prophet. As a confederacy of the forces of the northern kingdom of Israel and the heathen nation of Syria made plans to attack Judah, the Lord showed up for deliverance. He asked Ahaz to ask for a sign concerning any troubling matter. But the king presented a façade of meekness, saying he would not ask for a sign nor “tempt the LORD.”

But the all-seeing Lord would not be fooled. God’s grand purpose to defeat the devil and save mankind will be done, regardless of some men’s shiftiness, tardiness or refusal to cooperate. So, He proceeded to give the sign. Ahaz lost the golden opportunity to be the vessel through whom the prophecy about the coming Savior of the world would have been made.

A contrast came some decades later when another king of Judah, Hezekiah, was given the chance to ask for a sign following a sickness that was about to take his life. He called for a sign from the Lord who not only healed him, but also prolonged his life by fifteen years. Hezekiah was a righteous monarch, who was not afraid to present his supplication before the Lord; unlike Ahaz who was scheming to forsake the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for an alliance with Assyria. Ahaz trusted in the Assyrian army, not the Lord of hosts.

Man is the loser when he turns down His Maker’s open invitation for a resolution of the conflicts in his life. The ‘Immanuel’ the Lord promised would establish heavenly peace in the hearts of those who believe in Him through His presence.

But wicked men and women, regardless of their status in society, will not enjoy His presence until they acknowledge Him and His signs, wonders and miracles; the greatest being the salvation He brought to the fallen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Rejecting the sign of Immanuel leads to eternal regrets.

The Bible IN ONE YEAR: NUMBERS 16 – 18

Leave a comment »

Hebrew Altar in Egypt

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Egypt/Nile River, Isaiah, Prophecy with tags Altar, Egypt, Isaiah, Israel, Lord of Hosts, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt on May 4, 2019 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 19:21 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near its border.

At some point in the future there will be a structure of worship, an altar to the God of Israel in the middle of Egypt. This is an incredible statement.

Imagine what would happen if one would go over to Egypt at this time in history (May 2019) and try to build an altar to some god other than Allah. I don’t think that would be well received or tolerated. Note the location of the altar, it will be in the middle of Egypt. The Hebrew word for midst is tavek. It means among or middle.

It would appear the pillar is a second and different structure than the altar based on grammar. It is placed on the border, which border?

Ancient Egypt was divided into Upper (area in southern Egypt) and Lower (area in the north) Egypt. The terminology upper and lower is based on the flow of the Nile. The Nile flows from upper elevations in the south to lower elevations in the north. The border between the two areas is roughly modern day Cairo or near Giza and the Great Pyramid. Generally, the pharaoh of Egypt was leader of both Upper and Lower regions.

The other possible border would be the one Israel and Egypt share.

There needs to be a point of comparison between the two nouns altar and pillar. Note that altar (mizbeach) is a masculine noun and pillar (matstsebah) is a feminine noun. The gender of the two nouns is an issue because of the pronoun that begins the next verse, “It”. In the Hebrew, “It” is a masculine pronoun. It would stand to reason that ties it to the masculine noun altar (mizbeach).

The altar is in the middle of Egypt. The pillar could be on the border of Israel/Egypt or the border of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Isaiah 19:22 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.

The altar will be a signal to the LORD. So there is no confusion, the altar is in the middle of Egypt. Believing Egyptians will cry out to the God of Israel at that time. The idea of oppression is “being squeezed” in the Hebrew. God hears them and sends them One who will deliver and save. One who is exceedingly and abundantly great and strong. Guess who?

He is coming again…

Leave a comment »

Straight Talk, The Holy Spirit Has a Word… Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags anxiety, depression, glory, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, light, Romans on December 19, 2018 by paulthepoke

Anyone experiencing depression, fear, anxiety, or condemnation right now? If so, the Holy Spirit has a Word for you.

“Fear not, for I (am) with you; Be not dismayed, for I (am) your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” – Isaiah 41:10

Now read it again and emphasize the pronoun “I” in the command, “Be not dismayed, for I…am your God”. Depression broke off of me after I read it that way because it separated light from dark. It separated in my mind who God is from who the enemy is and caused me to know that God is not the one making me afraid.

Here is the Scripture again with all the meaning The Holy Spirit gave to me after I did more research in the Hebrew behind the words. This is my version with revelation intact…

Do not be afraid, for I am right beside you and in you; Do not look away from me or steadily gaze at that thing in front of you to receive anxiety or fear or condemnation or depression from it, because I…am your God, not that thing in front of you, and I don’t give you those things. I give you opposite things. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Our Father in Heaven didn’t create us for depression and fear, etc. He created us for glory and honor. He formed us and He made us in His image. God loves us and He isn’t the one condemning or accusing us. Not at all. God isn’t punishing us. He punished Jesus instead of us. So any time we feel condemned, judged, accused or that God has abandoned us, we can be 100% certain the devil is the one telling us that. God is teaching His children how to separate light from darkness, and how to say “no” to the enemy, and “yes” to God’s promises.

“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” – Isaiah 43:7

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions…”- Titus 2:11-12

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”- Romans 8:1

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” – Isaiah 61:1-3

Blessings to everyone who has struggled with fear, depression, anxiety, condemnation, and feeling abandoned by God (you are not abandoned by Him at all and never will be; feelings are deceiving). I am praying for you. ❤️

“I will never leave you, nor abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” No!

“…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (and still loves us and will always love us). For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

Leave a comment »

Revelation: Smyrna Under Pressure

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags Alpha and Omega, church, ekklesia, first and last, Isaiah, Revelation 2, satan, Smyrna, Tribulation, wrath on December 18, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

The first and the last…The idea of the Messiah being the first and the last goes back to the Old Testament prophets. The phrase is the calling card to identify the Messiah. Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last in Revelation 1:17.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me”.

Isaiah 48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

At the last of the book of Revelation and the Bible closes with this reminder.

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. -Jesus

…who was dead, and has come to life… The gospel message is simply stated in the first sentence to the church at Smyrna. We know Jesus died on a cross. We know He was buried. We know He resurrected. Jesus is the person talking. Christ proclaims His good news.

Revelation 2:9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The English word “tribulation” is the Greek word τηλιπσισ/thlipsis. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as: pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaphorically it means oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.

In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are going to come under pressure from the world. This life promises stress and oppression. What we believe will come under affliction.

“Tribulation” or τηλιπσισ/thlipsis is not the same word used for God’s “wrath”. The Greek word for “wrath” is οργε/orge. The word is defined as: wrath, indignation; anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself; of punishments inflicted by magistrates.

A couple of example of God’s wrath are noted below.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

The church does not come under God’s wrath. But the body of Christ was, is, and will be pressured during our earthly lives.

…(but you are rich)…The church at Smryna was materially poor of wealth and worldly possessions. The reality, they were wealthy in an eternal sense. The Greek vocabulary says these folks were people of virtue and character. And they believed in Jesus Christ, their Heavenly possession.

…but are a synagogue of Satan. This is the first of four references to Satan in the book of Revelation.

The Greek word for “synagogue” is not the same Greek word used for “church”.

The word for “synagogue” is the transliterated word συναγογε/sunagoge. Two points about this word. One, it is a physical structure or building. Two, it is an assembly of men.

The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: a called out group of Christians; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth. The church is not a building.

Satan’s synagogue is different than Jesus Christ’s church.

Satan’s crew, the so called Jewish congregation had some character issues. They used the Lord’s name in vain and they were liars.

Leave a comment »

Trend Update: Turkey, Pro Kurd Politicians Arrested, November 2016

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Ezekiel 38-39, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Beth Togarmah, Euphrates Shield, Gomer, Iraq, Isaiah, Jeremiah 49, Kurds, Meshech, Mosul, Nahum, Recep Erdogan, Tubal, Turkey on November 6, 2016 by paulthepoke

November 4, 2016: President Recep Erdogan of Turkey has shut down social media. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp are examples. WhatsApp was instrumental in the coup attempt this past summer.

Pro-Kurdish political figures have been arrested and detained. Violence in Pro-Kurd areas is increasing as result.

Economic conditions are deteriorating in Turkey. President Erdogan has reportedly sold U.S. Treasuries. The Turkish Lira is dropping in value and is at its lowest level historically. The stock market continues to decline. The ten year bond is yielding 10.37% and rising.

Remember, the United States has nuclear weapons at the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.

Erdogan’s actions and posturing continue to be aggressive.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-04/erdogan-s-crackdown-has-turkey-on-edge-as-kurdish-leaders-jailed

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/greece/turkey-seizes-pro-turkish-members-of-parliament-cuts-social-media/

For Scripture linking Meshech, Tubal, Beth Togarmah, and Gomer to modern day Turkey.

https://paulthepoke.com/2015/12/09/trend-update-russia-magogisrael-ezekiel-38-39-december-9-2015/

Leave a comment »

Trend Update: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, May 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Trend Update with tags American Meteor Society, Ezekiel 32, falling star, fireball, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, meteor, NASA, Olivet Discourse, Revelation 12, Revelation 6, Revelation 8 on May 24, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 6:13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

The verse in Revelation 6 is not an isolated reference to stars falling out of the sky. The concept is noted throughout Scripture. Falling stars are a piece of the puzzle indicating the Tribulation. Revelation 6:13 is the beginning of a progression. Eventually, all stars will be covered and not give off their light. There are other significant happenings with the sky, sun, and moon during this time. The focus of this post, the stars.

Jesus refers to falling stars in the Olivet Discourse. Christ is quoting the prophet Isaiah 34:4 in Mark 13:25 and Matthew 24:29. Note the consistency of the events in the verses. Isaiah, Jesus, and John are in complete agreement. The events: 1) sky rolled up like a scroll; 2) stars fall to earth.

Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; all their hosts will also wither away as a leaf withers from the vine, or as one withers from the fig tree.

Joel 3:15 The sun and moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness.

Conditions deteriorate in Revelation 8:12 when a third of the heavenly bodies are affected. This is the fourth of the seven trumpets, the middle third of the Tribulation. Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

In Revelation 12:4a another third of the stars are removed from the sky. Revelation 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth…His tail is in reference to the dragon or Satan.

Look into the night time sky. Eventually, there will be literal darkness upon the earth.

Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light.

Ezekiel 32:7-8 “And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you and will set darkness on your land,” Declares the Lord GOD.

There have been recorded incidents of meteors and falling star over the past few years. Recently in May 2016, we have seen events in Mexico and the northeast part of the United States. Are these events increasing? Or are we more aware because of people who have video recorded such events?

The chart from NASA and the American Meteor Society will speak for itself.

The trend is increasing. What we are seeing now is nothing.

Planet earth is going to get stoned in a major way from its Creator.

Leave a comment »

Millennial Kingdom: Joy, Part 2

Posted in Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags Isaiah, Israel, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, kinsman redeemer, Millennial Kingdom, Saudi Arabia on May 8, 2016 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, the settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

The wilderness is the desert or the uninhabited land. To the towns of the desert…belt it out, a joyful cry!

Kedar is the second son of Ishmael. Genesis 25:13 and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam.

His name means “dark” per Strong’s Concordance. Kedar settled in the region consistent with modern day northern Saudi Arabia.

Sela is first mentioned in Judges 1:36 And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward. Akrabbim is also known as Scorpion Pass. This would be the southern border of the Amorites. It is also the southern border of the tribe of Judah. This is the modern day region that extends up from the Dead Sea to the southwest in Israel.

Even those in the desert will have something to shout about.

Isaiah 52:9 Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.

This verse implies that Jerusalem will be a city of destruction. Jerusalem is described as chorbah in the Hebrew. At the end of the tribulation Jerusalem is described as a place laid waste, a ruin, and a desolation.

Jesus will intensively console the people of the city.

He has redeemed Jerusalem. The word for redeemed is go‘el. This is the same word that is used for the kinsman redeemer (see the book of Ruth). The role of the go’el is to avenge. He will seek revenge on behalf of the people. His blood has paid the ransom for sin. The people of Jerusalem will be redeemed from bondage and slavery. Jesus is a kinsman from the tribe of Judah.

Jerusalem, give an ear splitting yell!
Isaiah 60:15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, A joy from generation to generation.

The verse above is the history of Israel for roughly 2000 years after the death of Christ. The Jewish people were dispersed from the land in 70 AD. This is how the land of Israel was viewed: left behind, departed, left alone, abandoned, and neglected. Just let it go. Neighbors surrounding Israel hated the Jewish people even when they were not there. The land laid effectively dormant until the early 20^th century. Then, there was the Balfour Declaration in 1917. Fast forward to 2016, Israel is a nation and Jerusalem is its capital.

Things are going to change under the direction of Christ. The nation will become ga’own in the Hebrew, a place of majesty, pride, and excellence for generations and eternity.

Leave a comment »

Millennial Kingdom: Joy, Part 1

Posted in Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags Colossians 1, Holy One of Israel, Isaiah, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Millennial Kingdom, rock, Romans 9, Temple, zion on April 17, 2016 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 12:6 Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

One of the characteristics of the Millennial Kingdom is joy. The expression of joy is not a warm fuzzy passive feeling. Fun haters and negative attitudes are not welcome. The Scripture references are consistent and clear…cry and shout with passion!

The Hebrew word for “cry aloud” is tsahal. Per Strong’s Concordance it means to cry shrilly intensively and intentionally.

The Hebrew word for “shout” is ranan. It means: to give a ringing cry in joy, exaltation, or distress; to cry aloud in summons, exhortation of wisdom.

Zion is Jerusalem. They are to emphatically know with passion there is to be joy in Zion.

The Holy One of Israel is a term that is used scores of times in the Old Testament. The Holy One of Israel is equated with the Lord. The Holy One is the creator God. He is in control and has a plan. Isaiah 45:11 Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

The New Testament confirms the identity of the Holy One of Israel. It is Jesus. Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Isaiah 9:3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

The grammar in the Hebrew says, God will magnify and make great their gladness. The concept with gladness is joy, mirth, gaiety, and pleasure. He (Jesus) will be in their presence. The pleasure will be like the ultimate bumper crop of fresh home grown tomatoes. The original grammar indicates the mirth will be like winning the greatest all time lottery, resources galore.

Isaiah 30:29 You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, and gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

The Millennial Kingdom is described as a concert type atmosphere. There will be singing at night and gatherings with lots of food.

The Hebrew word for “heart” is lebab. Culturally, the lebab is viewed as the inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding. The lebab will be giddy with joy. The people will have an extra hop in their step when they go to the mountain of the Lord or the Temple in Jerusalem. The place is going to be rocking.

Who is the Rock of Israel? The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans quotes Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 to identify the Rock. Romans 9:33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

If you believe in the Rock, you will be saved.

Leave a comment »

Millennial Kingdom: Prince of Peace

Posted in Isaiah, Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags Defense budget, Hosea 2, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, Micah 4, Millennial Kingdom, Peace, Prince of Peace, United Nations, war, Zechariah 9 on February 7, 2016 by paulthepoke

Micah 4:3 And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. See also Isaiah 2:4.

The statue above was given to the United Nations from the defunct Soviet Union. The statue is to symbolize the ideals of the verse above. The UN does not have the first clue about achieving peace. Violence and war have exploded across the planet on their watch.

Family and friends lost to death or permanently injured. Dreams never realized. Mourning, pain, and tears left as a consequence. Lives changed forever…

Look at the instruments of war in the three verses below: chariots, horses, bow, swords, boots, cloaks. These were the weapons of war in Biblical times.

Think of all the money that is spent on war and casualties today. Per Nationalpriorities.org, the United States spent roughly $600 billion on the military budget and $160 billion on veteran’s benefits in 2015. This includes military schools and war colleges. Funds are required to run the Department of Defense and the Pentagon. Dollars are spent on hardware (tanks, planes, missiles, ships, etc.), supplies (gas, food, water, etc.), and clothing.

Zechariah 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Hosea 2:18b …I will remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, so you can live unafraid in peace and safety.

Isaiah 9:5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

In the Millennial Kingdom, peace will have no boundaries and will be extended throughout the world. Moneys and resources designated for war will be redeployed to economic growth, technology, and advancement. There will be no more military surplus stores.

There will be no need for border patrols and walls. Isaiah 60:18 Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

Security systems and guard dogs will be a thing of the past. Isaiah 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.

Isaiah 66:12a For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream.”

Humanity has never known a time without bloodshed or war. It started immediately in Genesis 4 when Cain killed Abel. It has only escalated till now in 21^st century culture: murder, stabbings, terrorism, missiles, invasions, wars, rumors of wars… You know the drill. We watch, read, and hear about it every day. For now (February 2016), we will keep fighting.

But, human hostility will come to an end. Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.