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Debunking Replacement Theology: Church on Earth

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Replacement Theology, Revelation with tags , , , , , , on July 26, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 10 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

Let’s look at an overview of the book of Revelation. The point of the exercise to look at the physical location of the church and Israel in time and space. When and where are nation Israel and the church located.

Before we get started, an observation in vocabulary for the book. The Greek word for church εκκλεσια/ekklesia is mentioned 19 times in Revelation chapters 1-3.

The word εκκλεσια/ekklesia is not used again until Revelation 22:16. The context of verse is a reminder. This is a message to the churches. It is warning information. A serious storm is coming.

Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

In Revelation 1, The Apostle John is taking information and writing down the record from the Island Patmos on Earth. Patmos is an island in the Aegean Sea. The word “Patmos” means: my killing. The Apostle John was sentenced to the island of “my killing”. Where are you going? My killing.

Patmos is a small island approximately 10 miles by 6 miles. It is a rocky island. Tradition has John receiving the “Revelation” in a cave on the south side of the island.

Scholars generally believe Revelation was written during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. He ruled from 81-96 AD. The early church writers Irenaeus, Eusebius, Jerome and others indicated John was sent to Patmos by Domitian in 95 AD. John was released 1 1/2 years later.

Historically Patmos was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Today the island belongs to modern day Greece.

Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are written to seven churches on Earth in what is 21st century country Turkey. It would appear John sent one “book” or epistle to the seven churches. The book was sent from the island of Patmos. The order of the seven churches listed is geographical and clockwise in nature. The first stop on the mainland of Turkey was Ephesus. Next, the letter would have gone north to Smyrna. The third stop was north in Pergamum. Following Pergamum to the east and a bit south was Thyatira. The fifth stop to the south would have been Sardis. A jog to the east and the letter stopped in Philadelphia. The last stop to the south and east was Laodicea.

Four of the seven churches in Revelation have references to Satan. Jesus is the one talking directly to the churches. Jesus got His information from God the Father (Revelation 1). This is not conjecture. The churches with the reference to Satan are: Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Philadelphia.

Per the comments of Jesus, Satan clearly has a foot hold in Turkey to the churches in Revelation. Satan has a religious system and structures in place in this geographical area on Earth. If Satan’s home land is modern day Turkey, would it make sense for him to establish his kingdom with his minions here?

Revelation 1:11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” -Jesus

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This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. 

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Will Babylon Rise Again? -Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Iraq/Babylon/Shinar, Mark Wilson, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 12, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…” — Revelation 18:2

For generations, many prophecy teachers dismissed the idea of a future literal Babylon.

“Impossible.”

“The city is a ruin.”

“Babylon is merely symbolic.”

Yet today, that objection is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Iraq is investing billions in infrastructure. The massive Al-Faw Grand Port and Development Road corridor aim to connect the Persian Gulf with Europe, Asia, and beyond through a major commercial network. No, this does not prove prophecy is being fulfilled. But it does make a future economic hub in Iraq far more plausible than skeptics once claimed.

Commentary and analysis on the Al-Faw Grand Port and Development Road below provided by Paul Lehr.

For countries on the western shores of the Persian Gulf: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, the Al-Faw Grand Port and Development Road will allow them to bypass the Strait of Hormuz to the north.

The road and railway go through the heart of ancient Babylon and the modern day Babylon Governorate in modern day Iraq.

https://twitter.com/i/grok?conversation=2076028099804737649

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And that matters because Babylon occupies a unique place in Scripture.

❖ The Bible Begins and Ends with Babylon

The first organized rebellion against God emerged at Babel.

“Come, let us build ourselves a city… and make a name for ourselves.” (Genesis 11:4)

Under Nimrod (Genesis 10:8–10), humanity united politically, economically, and spiritually in defiance of God.

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Now turn to Revelation. The final world system is centered around “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17–18).

The parallels are striking:

❖ Global unity apart from God

❖ Political influence over nations (Rev. 17:15)

❖ Economic dominance (Rev. 18:3)

❖ Religious deception (Rev. 17:5)

❖ Sudden divine judgment (Rev. 18:8)

The Bible’s story opens with Babylon and closes with Babylon. That doesn’t feel accidental.

As Andy Woods notes, Babylon serves as one of the great bookends of biblical history—a symbol of organized human rebellion against God from Genesis to Revelation.

❖ A Remarkable Amount of Prophetic Attention

Consider how much prophetic real estate God devotes to Babylon.

Isaiah 13–14.

Jeremiah 50–51.

Daniel’s prophecies.

Revelation 17–18.

References stretching from Genesis to Revelation. Few cities receive such sustained attention across the entire biblical narrative.

That alone should make us cautious about dismissing Babylon as a minor theme or reducing it to a vague symbol.

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❖ The Literal Reading Is the Natural Reading

Babylon appears nearly 300 times in Scripture.

Babylon means Babylon in Genesis.

Babylon means Babylon in Isaiah.

Babylon means Babylon in Jeremiah.

Babylon means Babylon in Daniel.

Yet when we arrive at Revelation 17–18, many suddenly insist Babylon must become something entirely different.

Why? If Jerusalem means Jerusalem…

If Israel means Israel…

If Egypt means Egypt…

Why should Babylon not mean Babylon? The burden of proof belongs to those abandoning the normal reading.

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❖ A Destruction Still Future?

Isaiah writes: “Babylon… shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 13:19)

“It will never be inhabited, nor will it be settled from generation to generation.” (Isaiah 13:20)

Jeremiah adds: “Babylon shall become heaps.” (Jeremiah 51:37)

“No one shall dwell therein.” (Jeremiah 50:39)

Yet when Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the city was not destroyed like Sodom. There was no sudden fiery annihilation. No permanent overnight devastation. People continued living there for centuries. Alexander the Great even planned to make Babylon his capital.

A fair question therefore emerges: When was Babylon ever destroyed the way Isaiah described?

Many futurists conclude the ultimate fulfillment still lies ahead.

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❖ Revelation 18 Sounds Like a Real Commercial City

Read Revelation 18 carefully. The chapter is saturated with economic language.

“The merchants of the earth have become rich…” (Rev. 18:3)

“Cargoes of gold and silver…” (Rev. 18:12)

“Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance.” (Rev. 18:17)

“In one hour such great riches came to nothing.” (Rev. 18:17)

Merchants. Cargo. Luxury goods. Shipping. International commerce. Global influence.

Many futurists see Revelation 17 emphasizing a religious Babylon and Revelation 18 highlighting a commercial Babylon.

Whether one accepts that distinction or not, the language sounds remarkably concrete.

The rise of major Gulf trade infrastructure makes such a scenario easier to envision than at any time in modern history.

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❖ The Same Pride, The Same Judgment

Genesis 11 records mankind saying: “Let us make a name for ourselves.”

Revelation 18 records God answering: “In one hour your judgment has come.” (Rev. 18:10)

The first great rebellion.

The final great rebellion.

The same spirit.

The same pride. The same desire to build a world without God.

And the same Judge.

No one should set dates.

No one should claim every construction project fulfills prophecy.

But believers should watch. Because the city that launched humanity’s rebellion against God may yet play a role in its final rebellion before the return of the King.

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…” (Revelation 18:2)

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Church & Israel, Separate

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Replacement Theology, Trend Update with tags , , , on July 9, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 9 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

The church is not the nation Israel. Members of the church are to rule and reign with Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself makes it very clear, the church and Israel are different. The followers of Christ will judge Israel.

Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

2 Timothy 2:12a if we endure, we will also reign with him…

The reminder of ruling with Christ is the last message He gives to the churches in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 3:21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

The church will even judge angels as well as the world. Paul explains this in his first letter to the body of believers in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

Until these things happen, our destination as a member of the church is one of two places. Obviously, believers in Christ who are alive are on earth. If we die before the Lord comes for His bride, then we go to be with Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Members of the body of Christ who have physically died are said to be “asleep”. Sleeping is not an eternal state. At some point, we get up and awake. A physically dead body is resting. The soul and spirit are with the Lord as noted in the verse from 2 Corinthians. Bodily death is not eternal. A section in 1 Thessalonians 4 captures the concept of sleep and order of events for members of the body of Christ. This section is addressed to the church, not Israel. Notice, the letter is written to those “in Jesus”. Israel was not and currently is not “in Jesus”.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

~

This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. 

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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You Might Be a Supersessionist -Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , , on June 23, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

Scripture is clear: “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid!” (Romans 11:11). God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Yet some theologies openly teach that the Church has fully replaced Israel in God’s plan and promises. If that sounds familiar, these might hit close to home.

  1. If you read “apple of His eye” in Zechariah 2:8 and immediately apply it to the Church instead of Israel, you might be a Supersessionist.
  2. If you call God’s treasured possession in Exodus 19:5 a “temporary title” that’s now been transferred to your denomination, you might be a Supersessionist.
  3. If you prefer the rotten fruit of Augustinian allegory over the plain promises God made to the descendants of Jacob, you might be a Supersessionist.
  4. If you believe the specific land promises in Ezekiel 36 are really just poetic language about heaven, you might be a Supersessionist.
  5. If Justin Martyr is your hero for declaring the Church the “true Israel,” you might be a Supersessionist.
  6. If you think the word “Israel” in the New Testament always secretly means “the Church” except when it’s a rebuke, you might be a Supersessionist.
  7. If you claim the Church is now God’s treasured possession while smirking and calling modern Jews “Christ-rejectors,” you might be a Supersessionist.
  8. If Augustine’s City of God convinced you that the millennial kingdom is simply this present Church age, you might be a Supersessionist.
  9. If “one new man” in Ephesians 2 means ethnic Jews disappear into the Church like salt dissolving in soup, you might be a Supersessionist.
  10. If you celebrate Replacement Theology but rebrand it as “fulfillment theology” so it sounds less heretical, you might be a Supersessionist.
  11. Bonus Time: If you read “all Israel will be saved” in Romans 11:26 and immediately start explaining why it doesn’t actually mean what it says, you might be a Supersessionist.

We are not to boast against the natural branches. As Paul warns in Romans 11, the root supports us — we do not support the root. Our calling is not to replace or dismiss Israel, but to walk in such joyful obedience and genuine love that we provoke the Jewish people to jealousy, stirring them to recognize their Messiah through the beauty of a grafted-in people who honor God’s irrevocable gifts and calling.

Charles Spurgeon declared it powerfully: “I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough about it. But certainly, if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this.”

May we heed the Word, reject boasting, and live as a blessing that draws God’s ancient people back to their Messiah.

Drop your own “You Might Be a Supersessionist” lines in the comments, let’s keep the sharpening going!

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Israel’s Restoration

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , on June 15, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 8 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

The body of Jesus Christ (the church) and Israel are two distinct, separate entities with two different destinations.

Every Old Testament prophet except Jonah discusses the restoration of the nation of Israel. This promise is not made to the church. The Abrahamic Covenant is for Israel. Keep in mind, the church was not on the scene when the prophets spoke to their people, Israel and their city Jerusalem.

Isaiah 65:9 “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there.”

Jeremiah 30:3 For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, “when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.” The Lord says, “I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.”

Ezekiel Chapter 34

Daniel 7:14 And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.

Hosea Chapter 2

Joel 2:19 The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied in full with them; and I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.”

Amos 9:14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.”

Obadiah 1:17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

Micah 2:12 “I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with men.”

Nahum 2:2 For the Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, even though devastators have devastated them and destroyed their vine branches.

Habakkuk Chapter 3

Zephaniah 3:20 “At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.

Haggai 2:9 “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,” says the Lord of hosts, “and in this place I will give peace,” declares the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah Chapter 8

Malachi 3:12 “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.”

I would challenge any one to show one place where God states He replaced Israel with the church. Examine the Scriptures. Where is it?

~

This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. 

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Is the Kingdom Here, or Is It Still Coming? Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

An infographic titled 'Is the Kingdom Here... or Is It Still Coming?' illustrating the Bible's four phases of God's Kingdom. It features sections on 'The Kingdom Within,' 'The Kingdom Growing,' 'The Kingdom Coming,' 'The Final Test,' and 'The Eternal Kingdom,' accompanied by relevant scripture citations and descriptions.

Many believers assume the Kingdom of God is either entirely present or entirely future. Scripture presents a richer picture.

Jesus reigns today. Yet Satan is still called “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Christ sits at the Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3), yet wars continue, nations rage, and creation groans under the curse (Romans 8:22).

How can both be true?

The answer is that the Kingdom unfolds in stages. What Cotton Mather observed centuries ago is still worth considering today: the Kingdom is not a single moment in history but a divine program moving toward its climax in the reign of Messiah.

❖ The Kingdom Within

The Kingdom first appears in the hearts of those who trust Christ. Jesus declared, “The kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). Paul wrote that believers have been transferred “into the kingdom of the Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Every conversion is a kingdom victory. Every transformed life demonstrates the authority of the King. Yet no one could honestly look at today’s world and conclude that God’s will is being done on earth as perfectly as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Something more remains ahead.

❖ The Kingdom Growing

Jesus compared the Kingdom to a mustard seed that grows from small beginnings into something far larger (Matthew 13:31-32). Through the spread of the gospel, Christ is gathering people from every tribe, language, and nation (Revelation 5:9).

Yet this present phase exists alongside rebellion. Peter warns that the devil prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). John says “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). The King reigns, but His enemies have not yet been publicly subdued.

As Paul explains, Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). The word until points forward to a future manifestation of His rule.

❖ The Kingdom Coming

The prophets consistently describe a future earthly reign of Messiah.

Isaiah foresaw a day when the nations would stream to Jerusalem and learn God’s ways, while weapons of war would be transformed into tools of peace (Isaiah 2:2-4). Zechariah declared, “The LORD will be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9). Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would receive “the throne of his father David” and reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:32-33).

David’s throne was never located in heaven.

It was in Jerusalem.

Daniel saw the same future. After the succession of Gentile empires represented by the great statue, a stone cut without human hands strikes the kingdoms of this world and becomes a mountain filling the entire earth (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). The stone does not gradually improve the kingdoms of men.

It crushes them.

John describes the fulfillment after Christ’s return: “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

The Millennium is necessary because God’s covenant promises require it. Abraham was promised a land forever (Genesis 17:8). David was promised an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:16). Israel was promised a future national restoration (Ezekiel 36:24-28; Amos 9:14-15). The Millennial Kingdom is where these promises become visible history.

As John Walvoord observed: “The premillennial interpretation is the only one that provides a literal fulfillment of the Old Testament promises concerning the kingdom.”

❖ The Common Objection

Amillennialists often ask: “Why would there need to be a future earthly kingdom if Christ already won the victory at the cross?”

Because victory and implementation are not the same thing.

Christ defeated Satan at the cross (Colossians 2:15), yet Satan still deceives the nations (Revelation 12:9). Christ conquered death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54-57), yet people still die. Christ is King today, yet the kingdoms of this world have not yet become His visible kingdom (Revelation 11:15).

Others argue that Revelation 20 is symbolic. Yet the sequence remains remarkably straightforward: Christ returns in Revelation 19, Satan is bound, the saints reign, Satan is released, final judgment occurs, and then the New Heaven and New Earth appear. The burden of proof falls on those who would collapse these events into a purely symbolic present age.

❖ Why Is Satan Released?

Perhaps the most fascinating question in prophecy concerns Satan’s release after a thousand years (Revelation 20:7-10).

Why allow one final rebellion?

Because God demonstrates forever that humanity’s deepest problem is not environment, politics, education, wealth, or government. During the Millennium, the world experiences perfect justice under the direct rule of Christ (Isaiah 11:1-9). Yet when Satan is released, countless people still choose rebellion.

As Jeremiah wrote: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

The final revolt proves that the problem has always been the human heart. Even paradise cannot save a person. Only regeneration can (John 3:3).

❖ The Kingdom Consummated

After the final rebellion comes the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Death itself is abolished (1 Corinthians 15:26), Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), and God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

The Kingdom reaches its eternal form. No curse. No death. No rebellion. No tears. God dwells with His people forever:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4

The Kingdom began in hearts. It grows through the gospel. It comes in glory when Christ returns. It endures forever in the new creation.

The prayer Jesus taught His disciples has not yet been fully realized: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

But the day is coming when it will be.

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Israel’s Destiny

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , on June 3, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 7 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

The body of Jesus Christ (the church) and Israel are two distinct, separate entities with two different destinations. God spends more time in the Bible talking about the destination of Israel as compared to the church.

First, we will look at the destiny of Israel. Ultimately Israel will be restored to the greatness God promised to Abram in Genesis 12. Israel will be a blessing to all nations. Jesus will rule His kingdom from Jerusalem, Israel for a thousand years and into eternity. But before Israel gets there, difficult times will come upon the nation and the world as have never been before. Jesus makes the comment this will be the worst time in the history of the earth. However, He will preserve a remnant.

Matthew 24:21-22 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

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Unfortunately for the nation of Israel a set of seven or seven years remains on God’s time table. Daniel’s people are fellow Israeli’s. Daniel’s holy city is Jerusalem. The verse from the prophet is very clear. Israel’s future is deal with sin and end it. Judgment comes first then restoration and peace.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

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This period is known as the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” The concept of Jacob’s trouble comes from the prophet Jeremiah 30. God makes it very clear to Israel. Judgment is coming, but I will not forget you. There are many examples in the chapter. Here is one of the verses.

Jeremiah 30:11 “For I am with you,” declares the Lord, “to save you; for I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly and will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Ancient temple complex with people gathered around and a winding river in the background

The Apostle Paul in the New Testament book of Romans makes it very clear. God is not finished with nation Israel. He makes this statement writing to members of the church in Rome. His writings included the idea of Israel’s election, Israel’s rejection, and Israel’s future restoration. Paul is in serious angst and agony regarding his fellow countrymen. He would go to Hell for Israel. God has not kicked Israel to the curb let alone replaced them with the church or any other group of people or nation.

Romans 9:3-4 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises…

The Apostle Paul is emphatic. There is NO way God has broken His promise to His people and nation, Israel. The idea is consistent in the Old Testament and New Testament. God has not changed His mind.

Romans 11:1-11:2 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Malachi 3:6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

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Today in the early 21st century, Israel is back in the land and a nation as prophesied. Israel has resurrected as a nation. This time, they will not reject their Messiah. The statement below is becoming more of a reality as time passes. There are Jews who believe in Jesus and the number is growing. The world will ultimately receive blessing.

11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

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Romans 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

Focus on the word “saved”. It is the Greek word σοζο/sozo. The word is defined as to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; one (from injury or peril); to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health (Strong’s Concordance).

The tense of the verb is future. The verse is prophetic. Israel will be spared and preserved in the future. At the time of the writing, Israel had yet to be dispersed to the world let alone regathered back to the land. The nation will not be destroyed.

~

This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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“Where is the promise of His coming?” Why Scoffers Rise in the Last Days… Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 30, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

An infographic discussing biblical themes of prophecy and skepticism, featuring illustrations of text highlights from scripture and quotes by C.S. Lewis.

You don’t have to look far to see it.

Mockery of Scripture. Dismissal of Christ’s return. Confidence that everything will continue as it always has.

The Bible said this would happen. Not as a minor detail, but as a defining mark of the last days.

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The Atmosphere of the End Times

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self… proud, arrogant… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…”

This is the soil where scoffing grows. When self becomes ultimate, truth becomes optional. When pleasure is elevated, accountability becomes offensive.

Scoffing is not merely intellectual doubt, it is moral resistance to a holy God.

Truth Rejected, Myths Embraced

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching… and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

It is not just rejection, it is replacement. People exchange truth for what feels better, what affirms them, what removes conviction.

And when truth confronts them again, the response is not humility—it is ridicule.

An Ancient Voice Still Speaking

Isaiah 5:18–19 “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it… let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near…”

Different generation. Same defiance.

“Let Him act now.”

“Prove it.”

~

The Root: Willful Blindness

2 Peter 3:5 “They deliberately overlook this fact…”

This is not honest doubt. It is chosen blindness.

Scoffers are not lacking evidence—they are resisting its implications.

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The Pattern They Ignore

God has judged the world before. From Genesis 6–7, the flood stands as a historical warning: judgment delayed is not judgment denied.

Scoffers dismiss the past because it threatens their present.

~

The Days of Noah Return

Luke 17:26–30 “Just as it was in the days of Noah… they were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage… until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all…”

This is the deception of the last days: Not chaos, but normalcy. Not panic, but indifference. Life continues… until suddenly, it doesn’t.

Two Witnesses: The Scoffers Foretold

2 Peter 3:3–4 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires…”

Jude 18 “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

This is not one voice, it is a confirmed pattern.

Scoffing is prophecy being fulfilled in real time. This is not honest doubt. It is chosen blindness.

As C. S. Lewis observed: “A man cannot be made to see a thing which he does not wish to see.”

Scoffers are not lacking evidence, they are resisting its implications.

The same Word that predicted scoffers also predicted the King’s return.

Prophetic Certainty Scoffers increase. Truth stands. The timeline moves.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me…”

The question is not whether He will come. He has already spoken.

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The Final Word

And Scripture leaves us with this—not speculation, but certainty:

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

His delay is not absence. It is mercy.

Every day that passes is not proof that He won’t come— it is proof that He is still calling.

But mercy has a horizon.

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WHAT IF THE SABBATH IS FAR MORE THAN A DAY OF REST? -Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Creation, Mark Wilson, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 21, 2026 by paulthepoke

Again, At this time, I would like to introduce Mark Wilson to the website!

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

An infographic exploring the significance of the Sabbath through biblical references, with visuals depicting creation, covenant, exile, prophecy, and the kingdom.

What if it is one of the greatest prophetic themes in all of Scripture?

What if the Sabbath is actually a window into:

  • Creation…
  • Covenant…
  • Exile…
  • The Tribulation…
  • And the coming Kingdom of Messiah?

“The Sabbath is woven into the fabric of redemption itself. To profane it was to reject God’s order. To honor it was to trust His provision, His timing, and ultimately His promised rest.” — Arnold Fruchtenbaum

Most people think of the Sabbath as merely a command about resting one day a week. But in Scripture, it becomes much bigger than that. The Sabbath is about God’s order for time itself.

~

The Sabbath was established before Sinai, before Moses, and before Israel even existed.

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy…” Genesis 2:2–3

Notice carefully:
God did not rest because He was tired.

The Creator of heaven and earth does not grow weary.

The Sabbath was a divine pattern.

Work.
Completion.
Rest.

Humanity was created to live under God’s rhythm, not endless striving.

The world belongs to Him.
Time belongs to Him.
History belongs to Him.

~

❖ THE SABBATH BECAME A COVENANT SIGN

When God entered covenant with Israel, the Sabbath became one of the defining signs of that relationship.

“Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations…” Exodus 31:13

The Sabbath separated Israel from the nations.

Egypt never stopped working.
Babylon never stopped striving.
Pagan empires trusted productivity, wealth, and power.

But Israel was commanded to stop.
Every seventh day they declared:
God is our provider.
That required faith.

Imagine refusing to work one full day every week in the ancient world.
Imagine letting farmland rest every seventh year.

That was not economic logic.
That was covenant trust.

~

❖ THE LAND ITSELF WAS TO KEEP SABBATH

This is where the theme becomes even more profound.

The Torah commanded Israel not only to observe weekly Sabbaths, but Sabbath years for the land itself.

“But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land…” Leviticus 25:4

Every seventh year the land was to rest.
No planting.
No harvesting for profit.
Dependence upon God.

But Israel repeatedly violated this command.

And eventually God judged the nation through exile.
“He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword… until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths.” 2 Chronicles 36:20–21

This is astonishing. The land was owed rest.

For centuries Israel ignored God’s Sabbaths, and finally the land “collected” what had been denied. Many believe the 70 years of Babylonian exile corresponded to roughly 490 years of neglected Sabbath years.

One missed Sabbath year every seven years. Seventy missed Sabbath years. Seventy years in exile.

Suddenly the prophecy of Daniel 9 becomes even more fascinating.

~

❖ DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS

While reading Jeremiah’s prophecy about the 70 years of exile, Daniel receives a larger revelation:

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city…” Daniel 9:24

The word “weeks” literally means “sevens.”

God places Israel back onto a prophetic timetable measured in sacred sevens.

The exile was not random history. It was covenant history.

Time itself was being accounted for. And according to the futurist understanding of prophecy, one final “week” of years still remains: the future Tribulation period.

A final seven-year period connected to Israel, Jerusalem, covenant, desecration, repentance, and ultimately the return of Messiah.

~

❖ THE SABBATH WAS ALWAYS POINTING FORWARD

The Sabbath is not merely about physical rest.
It points toward restoration. Toward completion. Toward the Kingdom.

Scripture repeatedly connects future redemption with rest.
“There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…” Hebrews 4:9

The prophets describe a future age where Jerusalem is exalted, the nations stream to Zion, war ceases, and Messiah reigns from David’s throne.

That is ultimate Sabbath-rest. Creation itself longs for it. The earth has never truly rested under righteous rule since Eden. But the coming Kingdom changes that.

~

❖ EVEN THE STRUCTURE OF HISTORY REFLECTS THIS PATTERN

Many Bible students throughout history have noticed something remarkable: God often works in patterns of six plus one. Six days of labor. One day of rest.

Some early Jewish and Christian interpreters connected this pattern to human history itself: six thousand years of fallen human rule followed by a thousand-year Messianic Kingdom.

Whether one accepts that framework fully or not, the symbolism is undeniable. The Millennial Kingdom in Book of Revelation 20 looks remarkably like the fulfillment of the Sabbath principle on a global scale.

The King reigns. Creation is restored. Jerusalem is central. The nations come up to worship. The curse is restrained. The earth rests under righteous government.

~

❖ THIS TRUTH SHOULD CHANGE HOW WE LIVE

The modern world glorifies endless striving.
More work.
More noise.
More anxiety.
More control.

But the Sabbath principle reminds us that we are not sustained by frantic human effort.

We are sustained by God.
Sabbath teaches trust.
Dependence.
Worship.
Perspective.

It reminds us that our identity is not found in productivity, achievement, or exhaustion.

And spiritually, it points us to the greatest rest of all: rest in the finished work of Messiah.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The Sabbath theme begins in Genesis.
It moves through Sinai.
It echoes through exile.
It shapes Daniel’s prophecy.
It points toward the Kingdom.

And one day, under the reign of the Messiah, the world itself will finally enter its promised rest.

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Church Origins & Shavuot 5786/2026/5951

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , , on May 19, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 6 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, Feast of the Harvest, and Pentecost are synonymous. Shavuot is often associated with God giving the Torah, the birth of Judaism. Pentecost is often associated with God giving the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church. God chose His appointed holiday to reveal aspects of who He is.

Same holiday… A Historical event for nation Israel and the giving of the Law. A Historical event for the birth of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

On a Gregorian calendar, we are in the year of 2026, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Thursday, May 21. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Saturday, May 23.

The Feast takes place in the month of Sivan on the 6th and 7th of a Hebrew calendar. This is the Hebrew year 5786 on the traditional lunar calendar.

On the solar Essene calendar, Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins on what is Sunday, Sivan 15th, 5951 or May 31, 2026. Yes, the Counting of the Omer is calculated differently by the Essenes as compared to how the Pharisees and others mark time.

Other calendars have the Appointment on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

~

The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: an assembly, congregation; the whole body of Christian believers. People called out from the world and to God, the mystical body of Christ; the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. -Strong’s Concordance

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words breaks down the word εκκλεσια/ekklesia. The following definition and contexts are provided by the dictionary.

εκκλεσια/ekklesia: from ek, “out of;” and klesis, “a calling” (kaleo, “to call”). The word is used in many different ways in the New Testament. Below are some examples of contexts and usage of the word.

In Acts 19:39, ekklesia was used among the Greeks of a body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of state. In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) it is used to designate the “gathering” of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a “gathering” regarded as representative of the whole nation.

Acts 19:39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.

In Acts 7:38 ekklesia is used of the nation Israel. Here the word is translated as “congregation”.

Acts 7:38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

The example below presents the term ekklesia as a mob in Ephesus. Here the word is translated “assembly”.

Acts 19:32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

The focus of the term ekklesia in this book is on the body of believers in Jesus Christ. The term is used at least 111 occurrences in the New Testament. The majority of the instances, it is translated as “church”.

The first time the word ekklesia is used in the New Testament is by Jesus Himself.

Matthew 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

www.mf.no/bibelprog/vines?word=%AFt0000173

People dressed in historical robes standing and talking around a fire pit in an old stone courtyard lit by torches at dusk

Jesus uses the word ekklesia. Christ states He is the person doing the construction. He also claims the church is His. “I will build My church.” -Jesus.

Embedded in this verse, “…and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” -Jesus.

Some would argue this as a pre tribulation rapture statement. Hell and the antichrist are not going to win against the church or the body of Christ. Hell is not stronger and will not prevail against the church.

Compare this statement by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 against Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 7:21.

Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him…

The reference to “him” is the antichrist. He is allowed to “overcome”. Conquer is the idea expressed in the Greek language. The antichrist is given authority to do whatever he wants. This guy is a universal dictator and acts with a heavy hand over the tribulation saints.

Daniel 7:21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them…

In the Bible, horns are equated with kings, kingdoms, and leaders. This was the case in the writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 is consistent with verses in Revelation 13 and 17. The language regarding beasts and horns is consistent.

This section of Daniel 7 is in the Aramaic language. Interesting observation, this section of Daniel that focuses on gentile worldly kingdoms is in Aramaic and not the original Hebrew. The Aramaic states the antichrist is making war. He is winning and prevailing against the saints.

The church is in Heaven as of Revelation 4 before the tribulation starts. The context of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7:21 is on Earth.

People are being persecuted and killed by the antichrist. These are the people who did not believe in Jesus Christ at the time of the resurrection and rapture. They were left behind and came to understand the truth about Christ later. The Tribulation saints are a different group of people than the church.

The church or the body of Jesus Christ is not overcome by Hell, Satan, the beast, or false prophet. Jesus said.

The term ekklesia is generally translated as the church, the body of Jesus Christ. Scripture does the best job of defining the idea. See the three examples below.

Colossians 1:18a He is also head of the body, the church…

He is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:22b-23 and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

There are many other examples in the New Testament where the church is described as a body of believers in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5).

The church is not a building. The church is not nation Israel. The church is a body of believers attached to the head, Jesus Christ.

~

This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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