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Trend Update: ISIS, End of Days in Mosul, May 2017

Posted in Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , on May 14, 2017 by paulthepoke

Nahum 3:1 Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage; her prey never departs.

Nahum 3:3 Horsemen charging, swords flashing, spears gleaming, many slain, a mass of corpses, and countless dead bodies. They stumble over the dead bodies!

May 14, 2017: ISIS appears to be on the brink of defeat in Mosul, Iraq or what is ancient Nineveh. The circle surrounding ISIS is getting smaller and smaller with each passing day. Roads leading into Mosul from the west have been blocked and controlled by Iraqi forces. The east side of Mosul is controlled by Iraqi forces. Bridges over the Tigris River are controlled by Iraqi forces. ISIS has nowhere to go.

The liberation of ancient Nineveh from ISIS has been taking place for seven months. Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul estimates ISIS controls only 9% of western Mosul. ISIS forces are concentrated in the old city of Mosul where the population is the densest and the streets are the narrowest.

ISIS continues with suicide car bombs, snipers, and the use of innocent human shields.

“Daesh (ISIS) is drawing its last dying breath. Daesh fighters are broken and quickly retreating from fronts,” Lieutenant General Qasim Nazzal.

Conditions in western Mosul continue to decline. It is estimated that 10,000 people a day are leaving the city. Those leaving the war torn area face sniper fire and road side bombs.

Summer is around the corner and temperatures are starting to rise. Last year in 2016, temperatures reached the upper 120’s F. Temperatures have already climbed into the upper 90’s F.

Food is scarce. People are resorting to eating weeds.

Water is at a premium. ISIS has damaged all 25 water plants west of Mosul. Repairs may take up to 3 months. Air strikes by both sides in the conflict have affected water supplies. Dead bodies floating in the Tigris River are health and safety considerations with the water supply.

People need to drink 2.5 gallons of water per day to stay hydrated in these conditions. Water wells provide water for the displaced. The water is treated and trucked into tent camps and Mosul. The well water needs to be treated because of Sulphur content and sanitation.

Tent cities have been set up for stranded civilians. The respite tents have been set up 15-20 miles of Mosul.

“I’m glad it is safe here, but it’s so boring, and it’s so hot. We don’t even have a fan in our tent. Sleeping is hard and it’s going to get hotter,” 12-year-old Yusof.

The United Nations estimates over 434,000 people have been displaced by the conflict in western Mosul since February 2017. The UN estimates over 615,000 people have been moved since the beginning of the intervention in October 2016.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/iraqi-forces-push-isil-pocket-mosul-170514102411518.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mosul-battle-iraq-latest-refugees-idps-water-camps-unicef-displaced-fighting-a7734451.html

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Trend Update: ISIS Out at Tabqa/Euphrates Dam, May 2017

Posted in Euphrates River, Kurds/Medes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 10, 2017 by paulthepoke

ISIS has been booted out at the Tabqa/Euphrates Dam. The Kurds backed by U.S. forces are now in control of the dam. All eyes are now shifting to the east at Raqqa, Syria.

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Trend Update: ISIS Exits from Tabqa/Euphrates Dam??? May 2017

Posted in Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 4, 2017 by paulthepoke

May 4, 2017: Conflicting reports are surfacing regarding ISIS defeat at the Tabqa/Euphrates Dam.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isil-fully-withdraws-tabqa-euphrates-dam-following-deal-kurdish-forces/

http://isis.liveuamap.com/

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Trend Update: ISIS & Al-Qaeda To Join Forces??? April 2017

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

April 26, 2017: While the rest of the world is watching heightened political and military tension on the Korean Peninsula, this story is flying under the radar. ISIS and Al-Qaeda are considering joining forces, a terrorism dream team.

In the beginning, ISIS spun off from Al-Qaeda over philosophical differences. Al-Qaeda wanted to focus on the west and the United States. ISIS wanted to focus on the Middle East region. ISIS also believed Al-Qaeda was not violent enough for their taste. The two groups separated in 2014. Three years later, the two groups are discussing a reunion. Both groups are of the Sunni brand of Islam.

http://www.inquisitr.com/4155988/isis-and-al-qaeda-to-join-forces/

The country that appears to lose the most would be Syria. President Assad and his supporters (Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah) are Shia Muslims. Look at a current map of Syria.

Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame…

In the northern part of Syria is Aleppo. Ancient Arpad of Jerermiah 49 is located approximately 10 miles north of modern day Aleppo. Syrian government forces (Shia) are encountering Al-Qaeda in Syria or Al-Nusra (Sunni) in the north. Sunni Kurds are also battling Sunni Turks in the area as well.

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan has recently gained more power via election. Erdogan is on the move with military intervention against the Kurds across southern Turkey.

Moving south in Syria, the next hot spot of conflict is modern day Hama. This is ancient Hamath from Jeremiah 49. Again, Syrian government forces (Shia) are encountering Al-Qaeda in Syria or Al-Nusra (Sunni). But, ISIS forces and territory are located east of Hama about 25-30 miles.

Furthest south in Syria is the capital of Damascus. Syrian government forces (Shia) are primarily encountering Al-Qaeda in Syria or Al-Nusra (Sunni). Israel and the Golan Heights are located approximately 30 miles to the south of Damascus.

Also consider an alliance of Sunni Arabs from the south consisting of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. President Trump has recently met with leaders from these three countries. Their concern is the growing threat of Iran and nuclear weapons.

The end result…

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

 

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Trend Update: ISIS Surrounded on Euphrates Dam, April 2017

Posted in Euphrates River, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 25, 2017 by paulthepoke

Joshua 1:3-4 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.

At some point in the future, the Euphrates River will be the eastern border of Israel.

For now, the Euphrates River is a point of contention in the country of Syria. The issue is the Euphrates Dam or also known as the Tabqa Dam. It is located in northern Syria. The dam forms Lake Assad. The dam is a primary source of electricity and water in Syria.

ISIS has been surrounded on the southern part of the dam and in the town of al-Tabqah, Syria.

Leaflets from US and Kurdish have been dropped in Raqqa, Syria telling ISIS to surrender. ISIS is taking the leaflets seriously. They have moved their capital from Raqqa to Deir ez-Zur, Syria. Deir ez-Zur is about 90 miles southeast from Raqqa.

ISIS is getting squeezed across the Middle East.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/21/isis-moves-its-capital-in-syria.html

For those who are new to the site…it is the author’s position that we are not in the great tribulation. We are trending toward the events described by the prophets in the Great Day of the Lord, the end of days, or Revelation.

There is no Temple. There is no peace treaty in the Middle East with Israel. There is no 10 nation federation. And there is no antichrist. But, we are trending…

Luke 21:28 “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” -Jesus

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Trend Update: ISIS Surrounded in Mosul, April 2017

Posted in Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , on April 3, 2017 by paulthepoke

Nahum 3:1 Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage; her prey never departs.

Nahum 3:3 Horsemen charging, swords flashing, spears gleaming, many slain, a mass of corpses, and countless dead bodies. They stumble over the dead bodies!

The prophet Nahum describes the future destruction of the Nineveh area in the short book.

April 3, 2017: The death toll is mounting in modern day Mosul, Iraq or what is ancient Nineveh. ISIS has been surrounded in western Mosul, Iraq. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

On March 17, 2017, air raids involving F16’s were noted in western Mosul. The population of western Mosul is around 400,000. The al Jadida area southwest of downtown was devastated. It is estimated that over 200 civilians were killed in the bombing. Belgium is investigating the event. Belgium is participating in the United States led coalition against ISIS. Bodies are still being recovered from the events two and a half weeks later. ISIS is an obstacle to the progress in the recovery of bodies by dropping bombs from drones.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4368346/Belgium-probes-Mosul-airstrikes-killed-200-civilians.html

Food and water are in short supply. Civilians are trapped with no escape. ISIS is taking people’s homes and vehicles. Stolen homes have been rigged with bombs. Stolen cars are used for suicide bomb missions against enemy tanks.

“I am with my family in my neighbor’s house, which is fairly big and contains about 35 people. Children are crying from hunger and we have run out of the flour. We have only wheat and bran that we put some in water to become soft and give it to the children.” Omar, 39 year old resident of the Old City in Mosul.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-mosul-west-old-city-iraq-battle-war-civilians-air-strikes-us-coalition-daesh-a7663146.html

Reports estimate ISIS is down to roughly 1,000 fighters. Weapons and ammunition are reportedly starting to dwindle. ISIS started with approximately 7,000 fighters in Mosul…

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-begin-to-run-out-of-ammunition-weapons-in-the-battle-of-mosul/

And this is lurking…

Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened and the palace is dissolved.

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

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

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

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

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

See Isaiah 17 as well for the Burden of Damascus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Please enjoy the celebration dance provided by Kurdish forces.

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

 

Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Euphrates River

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Trend Update: Israel & Syria Exchange Missiles, March 2017

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 17, 2017 by paulthepoke

Zechariah 12:3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.

March 17, 2017: Israel and Syria have exchanged missile fire. Syria fired a surface to air missile towards Israel. Syria is reported to be shooting missiles at Israeli Air Defense jets. Israeli newspaper Haaretz indicates the Syrian missile was shot down by the Israel missile defense Arrow system. The missile was intercepted north of Jerusalem.

Arrow is one of three Israeli defense systems. Arrow has capabilities to intercept missiles above the Earth’s atmosphere. A second system is the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome can take out short range rockets. The third system is David’s sling. The sling accounts for mid-range threats.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/03/17/israels-arrow-anti-missile-system-scores-first-hit.html

Syria claims to have shot down an Israeli jet. Israel is denying the report and indicates all aircraft are accounted. The area in question is the eastern part of the Homs Province.

“As part of its right to defend the sanctity of its territory, the Syrian air defense responded to this aggression and shot down one of the planes while the rest of them were forced to flee,” Syrian Foreign Minister.

Syria has also called on the UN for assistance in the matter.

“Syria calls on the UN Secretary General and the President of the UNSC to condemn this blatant Israeli aggression, to force Israel to stop supporting terrorism in Syria, to implement all UNSC resolutions on counter-terrorism, including resolution No. 2253, to withdraw from the whole occupied Syrian Golan to the line of June 4th, 1967, and to implement resolution No. 497 for 1981,” Syrian Foreign Minister.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions.

“Our policy is very consistent: when we identify attempts to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah, and we have the intelligence and operational feasibility – we work to prevent this. That’s how it’s been and that’s how it will be, we have determination, and the proof is that we are acting, and everyone has to take this into account,” Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.

The Syrian Foreign Minister also believes Israel is supporting ISIS. This sounds crazy. But it is important to remember Syria is of the Shia brand of Islam and ISIS is of Sunni belief.

“This flagrant attack is part of the Zionist enemy’s persistent efforts to support the terrorist gangs of ISIS. It will be responded to directly with all possible means.” Syrian Foreign Minister.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/226872

On Friday, March 17, 2017, Russia requested Israel’s envoy Gary Koren regarding the military action. This occurred in less than 24 hours after the Thursday night missile exchange per The Times of Israel.

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