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This Week in Prophecy: Biden Diplomacy, Mark Robinson, Shrimp

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Blood Red Water/Aquatic Death, Culture, Gaza Strip/Philistia, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2024 by paulthepoke

Judges 16:1 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and had relations with her.

History tells us, Samson had a thing for Philistine women.

Israel says they are going to finish Hamas. An invasion of Rafah is looming. President Biden is pushing for a cease fire to start before the holy month of Ramadan begins on Sunday, March 10th.

Come to Jesus meeting: a moment of sudden realization, comprehension, or recognition that often precipitates a major change. -Merriam Webster

So a demented Gentile man is going to pressure a Jewish man, the leader of Israel, and change his mind about the security of the Jewish people. And He is going to lead with Jesus.

Even God can use Joe Biden to tell His chosen people about His Son, Jesus.

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Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Introducing Mark Robinson… Here are some quotes from his comments below. Do your homework! He is going to say controversial things. The media is already taking this man out of context. Left wing media is refusing to show pictures of him. The main stream media is terrified of an African American who stands strong on Christ. Pray for this man’s safety.

“It’s time for grown ups and it’s time for Christians to start standin’ up and stop being afraid to tell the truth.”

On Biology… “Ain’t but two genders.”

“Ain’t nothin’ but men and women.”

“You can’t transcend God’s creation.”

On Eduction… “2 + 2 don’t = transgender.”

“We need to get back to teachin’ ’em how to read, instead of teachin’ ’em how to go the hell.”

The clip is only a couple of minutes in length.

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Hosea 4:1-3 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

Clearly, the event off the coast of Yemen is not the fulfillment of the Hosea prophecy. But, take a look at the conditions stated and the context of the culture prior to judgment. Does this sound familiar? It should be a wake up call!

“There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

The dead shrimp below are due to human activity. Can you imagine the smell? Yes, God can use idiot human behavior to fulfill His will.

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

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Quakes in Various Places, Japan, March 2022

Posted in #PaulthePoke, China, Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 16, 2022 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:11a There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. -Jesus

March 16, 2022: A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Japan’s Fukushima prefecture. This is roughly the same place that was hit 11 years ago. Tsunami waves were estimated at about 3 feet above normal tide. It is estimated approximately 2,000,000 people lost electricity.

USGS

March 12, 2022: China has locked down 51,000,000 people. The population of 24 million people in Jilin province has been quarantined. Jilin Province is located in the northeast of China and borders North Korea. Shenzhen’s 17.5 million residents have been locked in. And Dongguan’s 10 million are shut in. This is part of the Omicron wave. Shenzhen an Dongguan are located across from the island of Hong Kong in the southeast of China.

Google

The lock downs are part of China’s zero COVID policy. Jilin City mayor and the head of the Changchun city health commission were fired this past weekend. They did not live up to the Chinese expectation of COVID management. China is not willing to live with the virus. China is scrambling to build hospitals. These medical facilities are being completed in approximately one week. One particular hospital is capable of treating 3,900 patients.

Shenzhen is the silicon valley of China. The city is also home to a busy port.

https://news.yahoo.com/china-orders-51-million-lockdown-124651019.html

Click on the link below for analysis and commentary…

This is our world today. There are wars, threats of more wars, kingdoms against kingdoms, plagues, famines, and earthquakes.

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

Got Jesus? He wants all of us.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/gospel/

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The Yoke’s on YOU…

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Freedom in Christ with tags , , , on January 30, 2022 by paulthepoke

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ESV

ζυγός/zugos is the Greek for a yoke.

Literally, a yoke is a wooden bar placed over the neck of a pair of animals so they can pull together. A yoke was used on oxen by farmers to plough a field. As a matter of practical application, the law requires two of the same animals to be yoked together.

Deuteronomy 22:10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

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Figuratively in a Jewish sense, a yoke is a heavy burden. It can be seen as a symbol of oppression. In Jeremiah 27, God asked Jeremiah to place a yoke on his neck as an object lesson for the nations. Figuratively, God was asking the nations to place themselves under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Note the consequences of the nation if there was disobedience of God’s directive.

Jeremiah 27:8 But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the LORD, until I have consumed it by his hand.

Click on the video link below for additional analysis and commentary…

A yoke unites two people to move and/or work together as one. As believers, we are called to work together in the understanding and study of Christ. We are to set our minds on Jesus.

Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

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Granted, we are not under the Mosaic Law today in Jesus Christ. For Christians, the issue is not marrying within our tribe or country. We are called to seek the like-minded in Christ in marriage. The command is to avoid being unequally yoked in marriage.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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We are going to serve something. As believers, we are called to be slaves to Christ. Serving Christ’s yoke of love is easier than serving the yoke of one’s own sin or vice.

2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

The Greek word for depravity is φθορά/phthora. It can also be translated as corruption, destruction, decay, rottenness, or decomposition. Apart from Christ, this is where humanity is headed.

Humanity has two choices. We can be yoked to Jesus. Or we can be yoked to slavery that is sin. Jesus Himself called us to be yoked to Him.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

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Turn to the yoke of Jesus Christ and do not look back. Do not return to your life of sinful behavior. This is the message from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:1. Do not be like the dog returning to his vomit. Peter confirms the same notion. Things will only get worse.

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

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This Week in Prophecy: Natural Disasters, Russia & Belarus & Natural Gas, Xi For Life in China, Taiwan Straits, Jesus the Thief in the Night

Posted in #PaulthePoke, China, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 18, 2021 by paulthepoke

This Week in Prophecy

https://valortube.com/groups/paul-lehr/

Natural disasters are breaking out across the Middle East. Fires are raging in Lebanon. A 6.3 earthquake in Iran.

Meanwhile, is Iran’s Supreme Leader’s health failing???

Ezekiel 38-39 remain front and center in the news. Russia and Belarus appear to be colluding to manipulate natural gas prices to Europe. Russia’s Vladimir Putin is playing the good cop while Belarus President Lukashenko is the bad cop.

President Xi Jinping appears to be headed for President for life in China.

Saber rattling continues to come from China as they threaten Australia and allies if they come to the defense of Taiwan. “If Australian troops come to fight in the Taiwan Straits, it is unimaginable that China won’t carry out a heavy attack on them and the Australian military facilities that support them.”

Jesus, as well as others, said He would “come like a thief in the night” when He comes again. American culture is asleep at the wheel concerned with world things…

All of this and more on This Week in Prophecy.

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Jubilee, Part 5, Humanity Falls

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 14, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:23 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.

God transfers authority and possession according to His own choice. He owns everything. The point of the post is to see how God transfers authority in leadership over the earth.

Please do not make assumptions in doctrine regarding marriage based on these verses. Marriage is a discussion for another day…Hint, both parties submit to Christ (Ephesians 5).

Jeremiah 27:5 By My great strength and outstretched arm, I made the earth, and the people, and animals on the face of the earth. I give it to anyone I please.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/15/jubilee-part-4-return-to-your-land/

In the beginning, God gave authority over the earth and everything in it to humanity. Notice authority was granted to both the man and woman equally. Authority was not given specifically to the man. See the two verses below in Genesis 1.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

There are two verbs of interest in the verses above. They are “rule” and “subdue”.

The Hebrew word for “rule” is radah. It is used as a simple action verb and radah means: to have dominion, rule, or subjugate. The verb does not necessarily imply harshness or utilizing an iron fist. There are examples where God instructs the use of temperament and respect. 

Leviticus 25:43 ‘You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere your God.

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The Hebrew word for “subdue” is kabash. It is used as a simple action verb and kabash means: to bring into bondage, enslave, make subservient; to subdue, force, violate; or dominate, tread down. In other words, use force if necessary. Kabash is used in the context of conquering the land in the book of Joshua and the military victories of King David. -Definitions per Strong’s Concordance

The leadership structure radically changed with the original sin in the Garden of Eden. Originally, God transferred authority of the earth to the man and woman equally, humanity. A consequence of the fall in Eden is God redefined the dynamic of the relationship between the man and the woman. The woman lost her position as co-ruler with the man.

Genesis 3:16b To the woman He said… “Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

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Notice God’s comments to Noah after the flood in Genesis 9:7 “As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”

There is no mention of “rule” and “subdue” anywhere in Genesis 9. Humanity’s authority over the earth is lost for now.

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With the fall, humanity lost authority over the earth. As of now, look who is in charge. 

1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 

Currently, God has transferred authority over the earth to Satan.

In the beginning, humanity’s co-rulers (Adam and Eve) failed to rule and subdue the earth. Leadership structure and order were radically changed.

In the end, humanity’s co-rulers (Jesus and His bride the church) will succeed, fulfill, and restore God’s promise in the Millennial Kingdom.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us…

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This Week in Prophecy: La Palma Volcano, Putin & Erdogan in Sochi, Gas Prices Soar, Iran War Games

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 5, 2021 by paulthepoke

This Week in Prophecy

https://valortube.com/groups/paul-lehr/

photo: Gazpom, Tass/Russia

The volcanic eruption continues to intensify on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Turkish President Recep Erdogan in Sochi, Russia earlier in the week. Ezekiel’s Magog invasion continues to take shape as the two countries strengthen ties.

Natural gas prices are reaching all time historic highs across Europe as Russia cuts supply. The backdrop… As Israel begins to establish itself in the energy industry with their newly found, plentiful natural gas resources.

Iran has moved significant military hardware to their border with Azerbaijan. Tensions are increasing with their neighbor to the north and west. Iran also confirmed their proxy military resources throughout the Middle East.

Tropical storm Shaheen entered the Gulf of Oman and is bearing down on the Straits of Hormuz in a rare meteorological event.

“And the waves and the seas shall roar…” -Jesus

All of this and more on This Week in Prophecy.

https://valortube.com/groups/paul-lehr/

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Sabbatical Year/Shemitah, Part 3

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2021 by paulthepoke

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

In today’s world, the verses above are radical financial and economic concepts. All debt, regardless of size, is forgiven at the end of every seventh year. Imagine, a clean financial slate.

Think about how these verses would influence lending and borrowing practices. Larger loans would occur early in the seven year cycle. Debt structure would not look like it does today. The 30 year mortgage would be toast. Loans would likely be much smaller. Personal savings would be promoted. People would be more inclined to live within their means.

Think of all the debt and credit offering practices: home mortgages, car loans, student loans, and credit cards just to mention a few. Debt is oppressive and restrictive to freedom. Consider how each of the above would be financed or paid if debt was forgiven at the end of every seven years. Consider the change in personal spending habits.

Creditors would be more careful how they loaned their money. There would be less loaning of money. Creditors would likely make less irresponsible loans to customers who do not have the means to pay. If implemented today, debt bubbles would be a thing of the past. At the end of every seven years, everyone would be debt free. If debt payments remained at the end of the cycle, it would be forgiven. Poverty would likely be diminished significantly.

Responsibility would be increased on both the lender and the borrower. These practices would significantly cut into corporate banking profits and affect their stock prices. We likely would not see these behemoth corporate banks that dominate our economic landscape today.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

Interest free lending would promote national unity and good will toward your fellow countryman. It is a matter of looking after your neighbor and brother. Financial collaboration would be an outcome. People would be more interested in the success of others.

God does not want us to take financial advantage of our fellow man. These loaning practices were built into society by God. He understands the capacity of greed demonstrated by humanity. Don’t shaft your neighbor.

These financial concepts are nowhere to be seen in today’s economic world. Most people are not aware these statutes exist. Would our lives be economically easier if this were in place today? What a concept, it is a universal blessing from God if one loans interest free to their countryman.

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The ultimate example of God’s release or remission is in His Son. Jesus forgives us of our debt, sin. 

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

Our transgressions are forgiven as a matter of grace and mercy. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 

He has paid our debt without charging us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

It is His payment that allows us to possess eternity in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

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There Shall Be Seven Weeks: Feasts (Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot/Booths)

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Fall Feasts, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 22, 2021 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25b …there shall be seven weeks…

The context of this series of posts is the course of the Jewish people for the initial 49 years of the 483 year period communicated from the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt post exile. These events are covered in Nehemiah 8-13. Israel is returning to God’s Law. The focus is on God’s appointed holidays. This week, the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is the topic.

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

This is the last of God’s appointed feasts or festivals. This holiday is known by many names. It is called the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, the Festival of Tents, or the Feast of the Harvest because it was after the harvest in the fall. Simply put, it was also called “the feast” or “the festival”.

This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21. When working in the fields during harvest, people lived in tents. The tents served as a reminder of the forty years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. The holiday is a reminder of the provision and safety God showed Israel during their travels in the desert as noted in Deuteronomy 8. The feast is a thanksgiving for the harvest of grapes (Exodus 23:16). It is to be a joyous festival (Deuteronomy 16:14). Sabbatical rest without work is part of the holiday. (New Manners and Customs of Bible Times).

Jews sing Isaiah 12:3 Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation, during Sukkot. The feast is a reminder to the Jewish people they lived in tents after the Exodus from Egypt. In addition, the Feast of Tabernacles requires sacrifices of sin offerings and burnt offerings. At the time of preparation for the morning sacrifice, a priest descends to the Pool of Siloam amidst great music, celebration, and singing of Isaiah 12:3, and fills a golden pitcher with water. After dipping his pitcher in Siloam’s water, the priest returns to the Temple Mount and pours the water into one of the silver basins by the altar (Wayne Stiles, Insight for Living).

All three members of the Trinity will dwell with humanity. Isaiah 12 refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit and the reign of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was given to believers of Christ at Pentecost (Acts 2) and ushered in the Church Age. He will return on the Mount of Olives with an earthquake. 

Zechariah 14:4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.

Revelation 19 has Jesus returning to Earth to initiate his 1,000 year reign and He will live with humanity.

The ultimate expression of “the feast” after the Millennial Kingdom is with God and the New Jerusalem. 

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them…

And He is going to live and dwell with us, forever…

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There Shall Be Seven Weeks: Feasts (Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement)

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels, Fall Feasts with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2021 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25b …there shall be seven weeks…

The context of this series of posts is the course of the Jewish people for the initial 49 years of the 483 year period communicated from the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel. The city of Jerusalem has been rebuilt post exile. These events are covered in Nehemiah 8-13. Israel is returning to God’s Law. The focus is on God’s appointed holidays. This week, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is the topic.

Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is celebrated on Tishri 10th. It is the last day of the 40 day period of Teshuvah.

This holiday is viewed at the holiest day of Judaism. The day is a Sabbath day of rest. Yom Kippur is the only day a fast is required. The day begins at sun down. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest was kept awake during the dark of the night. The high priest was dressed in a white robe. Sacrifices of a bull, ram, and a goat occur. The priest makes a sacrifice for himself and for the nation of Israel. Yom Kippur is the day the high priest came into the inner sanctuary of the temple to make sacrifices on behalf of the nation of Israel. He is the only person allowed into the inner sanctuary. This day is the only day the high priest is allowed in the inner sanctuary. He entered the highest holy place with incense and coals. The incense was burned. Next, the recovered blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat, the top of the Ark of the Covenant. This is the busiest day of the year for the high priest.

See Leviticus 16 for specific details. New Manners and Customs of Bible Times

In the 21st century, we have a high priest. 

Hebrews 6:20 …where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

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Today, animal sacrifices are no longer necessary, even when the Jewish Temple is rebuilt. 

Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 13:11-12 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

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Some believe this is the day at the end of the 7 year tribulation that Christ will physically return to Earth and establish His millennial kingdom.

Hebrews 9:28 …so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

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Teshuvah 5781/2021

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Teshuvah/Repent with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2021 by paulthepoke
Israeli Moon Society

The new moon has been sighted and confirmed by a couple of different groups in the land of Israel. Trained spotters from the Israeli Moon Society and the website http://whenisthenewmoon.com/ are in agreement. The new moon was spotted on the evening of August 9, 2021 on our western Gregorian calendar.

But there is disagreement with the month. The Israeli Moon Society says it is the beginning of the month of Elul.

The Temple Institute relies on the Israeli Moon Society. Secular Hebrew calendars and our western Gregorian calendars proclaim the month to be Elul.

http://whenisthenewmoon.com/ says it is the beginning of the month of Av.

Imagine that, humanity disagrees on how to tell time as God has directed. Personally, I don’t know who is right. I will defer to God …But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. -Matthew 24:36

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of the religious calendar. Jewish tradition points to the name of the month to be an acronym of “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li” a quote from Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine… 

In Aramaic, the vernacular of the Jewish people at the time that the month names were adopted), the word Elul means “search”. Per Strong’s Concordance, Elul means “nothingness” in the Hebrew. The month is mentioned one time in the Bible. 

Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 

http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.myjewishlearning.com .

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The month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. The point of the season is to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.

It is a time to return toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. It is a time of inward reflection and sincere self-assessment. The goal is a change in lifestyle away from sin to obedience in God’s word. The 40 day period starts on Elul 1 and ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

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There are many examples of the significance of the number 40 in the Bible. Notice, the examples ultimately demonstrate a turning away from sin and a return to God’s word. The result is a changed mind, a lifestyle consistent with obedience to God.

On three occasions, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for 40 days and met with the LORD. Israel had worshipped a golden calf and committed idolatry against God (Exodus 32). Moses pleaded with God for mercy against His chosen people. He turned to God and instructed the people of Israel to turn from their sin. The golden calf was destroyed (Exodus 32:20). After the destruction of the golden calf, Jewish tradition has Moses ascending Mount Sinai on Elul 1 to Tishri 10 (Yom Kippur) to receive a second set of tablets. Moses came down from Mount Sinai when the people had repented (http://www.chabad.org, http://www.hebrew4christians.com).

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With a lack of faith in God, Israel was left to wander in the desert for 40 years. God told them He would help them take the Promised Land. Only two men believed, Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 32:12). The others did not turn and trust God. 

Numbers 32:13 So the LORD’S anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the LORD was destroyed. 

It was considered “evil” to not believe God. When this came to pass and the last one died. God brought His people back to the land for the taking. 40 years later, the Jewish people returned to God and His word. Course of nation Israel had changed. The Law, God’s word, was reintroduced to the people before they entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy).

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Noah and his family were in the ark for 40 days and 40 nights during the rain and flood. The world was being judged for sin. The corruption of mankind is described in Genesis 6. Noah and his family had 40 days and nights to contemplate their watery environment as a consequence. They turned and responded to God. Their lives were spared in the ark. They had nowhere to go and plenty of personal time for self-reflection.

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Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11). Every time Jesus was tempted by Satan, He turned to God the Father and quoted Deuteronomy. Jesus’ responses to temptation were to turn to the word of God (Matthew 4:4), to not put the Lord your God to the test (Matthew 4:7), and to worship and serve the Lord you God only (Matthew 4:10). Jesus resisted the tempter and was obedient to His Father.

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